Invitation to the Night Realm!

Invitation to the Night Realm!

===> COH <===> 3/1/2020, 2:03:37 PM <===

    Mo had sent word to Xiu via a raven-spirit to meet him up at the mouth of the abandoned mine that served as the mundane entrance to the lost necropolis hidden below the sands of the mojave. Mo paced around the interior of the cave as he waited.

    An unusual messenger for sure - but the witch seems to have gotten the message, since quite a long time later, she finally comes down the mineshaft - and once more she climbed it rather patiently. When her feet finally make contact with the ground next to the pool, she softly exhales and brushes her hands together..before she begins to make her way towards the strange, lost Necropolis. The terracotta guards at the entrance - those that are left - get eyed with suspicion, but not with nervousness, as the witch strides through. As usual, the girl is rather naked - and given the call, is sporting the full rune-and-symbols-and-tribal-lines body paintjob. Her dagger is strapped to her right thigh, and a small assortment of pouches and a satchel is held at her waist with a braided leather cord around her torso.

    Mo's impatience is driving him up the walls. Literally! Xiu will arrive at the impromptu base camp to find the irrepressible youth pacing UP one of the walls, and then onto the ceiling ABOVE before reversing course and coming back down to the natural ground to start the circuit anew. Mr. Fu is nearby, poring over what appears to be a map or some sorts.

    Xiu's eyes narrow a bit as she sees the unexpected motion along one of the walls - and then lets out a soft chuckle as she sees that it is, indeed, Mo. However, she heads for Mr. Fu First, and then slowly crouches down next to the miniature dragon before she scritches his head. "Greetings, honorable Mr. Fu. I see the matter seems to be quite urgent. Or Mo simply had too much coffee."

    Fu looks up when Xiu approaches, and gives the witch a small smile, lifting his head up so that she may scritch down beneath his beard and under his chin. "Thomas is somewhat impatient, yes. Much has transpired since last we spoke. We recovered Captain Levinbolt's zeppelin, and are in the process of restoring it for a journey to Hollow Earth. But there is another more pressing matter that needs tending to first."

    Mo blinks at the sound of approaching footfalls and then leaps down off the ceiling to come and greet Xiu. "XIU!" He'll offer up a hug. "Thank goodness you were able to come. I was worried the raven might've gotten distracted."

    "Zeppelin?" Xiu murmurs and lifts her head a bit, looking over at Mo as she tries to remember details about that Captain. Etherite, right! "I see. That did not take logn." she remarks, before a frown moves her expression and she glances back at the dragon. "'Hollow Earth'?"
    Her thoughts get interrupted by Mo approaching, and she pushes herself to her feet just in time to return that hug - gently. "Greetings, Mo. You were lucky. I normally don't watch out for spirits, but it happened to fly in on a small rite."

    Fu nods, remarking, "We had a little bit of help from the sorcerer Emrick, the sorceress Grace, and one of Emerick's friends by the name of - Wick?" The little dragon grows thoughtful. "Hollow Earth - one of the places the Captain used to visit. He had a small forward operating base there that holds something I need to recover."

    Mo enjoys the hug from Xiu, then steps back. "What Mr. Fu said - but we now have another thing to deal with. Another old friend and member of the Irregulars has asked our help. Orson's soul - he's of the Akashayana - is being held by Emma-o in the Night Realm. His one time lover, Fatima, found us and requested our help."

    "...huh." Xiu murmurs at something, and then lightly smirks. "I met Grace down here, yes. But Emrick and Wick? Very...interesting." she murmurs, her eyes narrowing a bit before they relax. "What is this 'Hollow Earth'?" she wonders, before she smacks her lips together and listens to Mo.
    A hand gets lifted. "Take it slow. I understand the soul of the Akashic part, but who is Emmo-O, and where is this Night Realm?"

    Fu takes a deep, slow breath, then rears up on his hind legs a bit to get a better look at Xiu. "Kakuri, also known as the Night Realm or Shikome Hell, is one of the Yin-aspected Thousand Hells. It is is the domain of Emma-O, one of the older Yama Kings." The little dragon looks troubled.

    Mo nods, "Fatima - her codename was the Ouroboros when she was with us as an Irregular - she used to be a Chakravant, but ah. Then became something else. SHe and Orson were lovers. And frequent foes of Emma-o's designs on the middle kingdom."

    "...hrm." Xiu lets out after Fu's words, her arms crossing. "So..essentially, the soul of that Akashic is in the otherworlds. Some sort of asian hellscape." she murmurs. "That..is quite a trip to take." Her eyes flick towards Mo and she smirks. "Ouroboros. The one with the teeth?" she takes a guess, recalling the story of how that Euthanatos was rather..toothy! "Alright, let me put it like this..." She slowly inhales. "What are the odds of people even making it down there (because down there just is appropriate for a hell..) and back again, *and* free that soul?
[+WATCH] 11:54 am: Kristen has connected.

    "Orson's soul, his Avatar, is the embodiment of the Fenghuang," says the little dragon. "Great odds or no, the yama king cannot be allowed to possess it and keep it from the cycle. Already it affects the middle kingdom in negative ways." Fu drops back down to peer at the map. "But in answer to your question? With a dhampyr for company? The odds are always better than even." Which was saying something, given what it was that was being discussed!

    Mo look to Xiu, "Fatima came to us. So she must be pretty desperate. Things didn't end on the best of terms between her and the Captain. But ... Orson is - was - the heart of the Irregulars. I owe him a debt on the Captain's behalf. I - I have to try."

    "...hrm." Xiu lets out once more, before she crouches down again, and then settles down cross-legged. "Well, what can we expect when we go down there?" she asks, looking between the two. "What kind of landscape? What kind of...population? How large is the place? Do we have an easy way to find that soul once we are down there? Can we ensure that we can travel back?" she goes through the hard questions in turn, and slightly tilts her head. "I know how you just jump down mineshafts, Mo. That might not be the wisest decision when the mineshaft is a literal hell. We need to take care and prepare."

    Fu pushes the ma forward to Xiu with a tiny clawed paw. "There. Off the bay of Ensenada. There are two small islands. One of which holds a yn attuned dragon nest that is sometimes used by the Quincunx as a forward operating base. Thomas can create a Shallowing there, and we can pass through. On the other side, I can guide us to the portal to Kakuri." The little beast's brow furrows, electricity arcing around his tiny body.

    Mo eyes Xiu, then gives a dramatic sigh, "I know I know. Fatima will be with us. Her body was destroyed when she went in alone after Orson, so she'll be as one of the Yellow Springs denizens, but still helpful. And if we're lucky? Once there, we might can run into Jizo the Wanderer and petition him for help! He's one of the more famous Akashayana, and a thorn in Emma-o's side, helping the righteous that end up lost there."

    Xiu eyes the map - and really, just takes in the info as it is given, because she probably has no idea who the Quincunx are, nor what Kakuri is. Or the Yellow Springs. "So, we create that portal there, have a guide, and then go in. Alright." she says. "Or two guides. That kind of helps. Because a trip like that *really* sounds like it needs as many knowledgeable people It can get." Her eyes flick up. "Which I am not, by the way, so...what can I do?"

    Fu looks up at Xiu, "Thomas is a dhampyr, and a sorcerer, but this - this is lightning people business that may require magics a bit stronger than what Thomas or I can muster. And since Fatima is currently unable to cast her magics, lacking a body. We need all the help we can get from those with stronger kung fu, so to speak."

Mo smiles and nods,"Your magic is strong! Stronger than mine, for sure, at least. And you can help handle the shikome if they decide to attack us instead of parleying?"

    Xiu lets out a soft laugh, and she brushes some of her braids back. She can't help bit - she's lightly grinning. "I guess. But you presume that I can just willy nilly handle some sort of hell.." she softly and softly inhales. "I will lend my aid, but it is not exactly a situation I ever could hope to prepare for."

    Mo nods quietly, pawing at the ground with his feet as a dark cloud washes over his expressive face.

    Fu looks over and then gestures Xiu closer, speaking softly. "Thomas - his father is one of the akuma. An agent of the thousand hells. Not Emma-o's, thankfully, but. One day, it is Thomas's destiny to bring a reckoning. It is my duty to prepare him for such a reckoning." The little dragon looks thoughtful. Pensive. And not a little bit worried.

    Mo mutters, "If Xiu doesn't feel like she could be prepared, what chance would I ever have when the time comes." It unusual, to see the youth sobered by anything, but this, this apparently weighs heavily on him.

    The witch lets out a soft chuckle. "Hey. I have never even been to the otherworlds." she remarks with a light shrug. "And what you are talking about is not just some trip past the gauntlet, but into some literal asian hell. How could I ever prepare?" she points out, before she pushes herself from her cross-legged sit into a crouch. "I am a priestess of the Earth Mother. All I have ever dealt with is on this side. In this world. You are asking me to prepare for something I cannot even imagine. As I said, I can lend aid, but I will be going in absolutely confused and blind."

    Mo looks up suddenly. "Oh man, I forgot Suzume was coming back to help us make plans. I'll be right back." And with that? Mo takes off at a tear, running UP the side of the mine shaft like Neo out of the Matrix and disappearing into the darkness. Time will pass, and then the youth will return, running down the side of the mine shaft, carrying Suzu on his back. He leaps down the last fifteen feet or so, landing deftly on his feet, and allowing Suzu to disembark. "You'll love Xiu, she's a real badass. And I've met my share of badasses, so that's saying something. She's agreed to help us!"

    Xiu, on the other hand..is left down in the first courtyard of that old and ancient metropolis. Next to tiny-dragon Mr. Fu and a map. She arches an eyebrow as she watches Mo dash off, and the witch softly exhales. "And there is his energy again.." she murmurs, slowly, before she blindly reaches out and gently scritches the dragon's beard.

    Fu nods to Xiu. "Thomas carries a great burden. He was born to take his place at his father's side, but his mother hid him away. And she paid the ultimate price for it. He blames himself. He's good at throwing himself headfirst into distractions as a result."

    Of course, Mo-san's passenger is both desperately holding onto him and to the battered messenger bag that she's rarely without. Suzume is already well-accustomed to Mo-san's frenetic energies and bears it with patience. "Ah. I will trust your judgment on this, Mo-san," is intoned after some moments. This admission is made against her better judgment, but it is what it is. Once they're on the ground, though, she slips free and dusts herself off. She'll follow him to camp and, there, offer a bow for both Fu-sama and Xiu-san - mindful to avert her gaze at the sight of the latter.

    Mr. Fu looks over when he hears the arrival of another guest. "Suzume! Welcome back!" The little dragon raises a clawed paw and waves her over to the makeshift camp.

    Mo gives Suzume a smile. "Xiu, Suzume. Suzume, Xiu. Now we're all acquainted!" He opens up a messenger bag of his own and passes around snacks before putting on a pot of coffee over the small fire.

    When Mo hits the ground back at the mineshaft, Xiu's eyes slightly narrow. "Huh. He brought somebody.." she murmurs, and then she pushes herself onto her feet - sadly leaving Mr. Fu's chin unattended again. She rises straight, which all told brings her to about the same humble size as Suzume. Humble, at least, in the Americas.
    Xiu waits, until they finally come into view, and there is a subtle, amused smirk moving Xiu's lips as she sees how Suzume averts her gaze. Xiu seems very at ease about her current state, and she strides slowly towards the other woman before she holds out a hand. "Xiu ("Sheoo") Tong. Nice to meet you, Suzume." she says, while Mo begins to make things more hospitable.

    "I am pleased to see you again, Fu-sama. And it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Xiu Tong-san." Introductions collected and returned as appropriate; it's apparent that she's a new resident to the country, on the basis of accent alone; she's not been here nearly long enough to soften it. So it might be understandable when Suzume blinks at Xiu's offered hand, taking a moment or two before she accepts it with her own - cool, smooth, and delicate. She bows her head again, then moves to sit somewhere relatively distant from the fire.
    "Mo-san was speaking your praises," says she to Xiu. "But he did not tell me what you did to earn them." Curious, that, even while she rummages in her bag for a few things.

    "Xiu has strong kung fu, says Mo with a grin. "And she's agreed to help us on our trip into Kakuri!" Mo, darling, you say that as if it was a good thing! (Which no one ever considers a visit to one of the thousand hells a GOOD thing)

    Xiu herself is *probably* chinese, given the name and her looks - well, the parts of the looks that aren't just weird right now. Xiu takes the hand gently, the two girls so utterly different in physique. Opposites, really. An equally gentle shake later she lets go, before she bows to Suzume and then turns to settle down next to Mr. Fu again. "No need to look away." she says as on her way back, glancing over at Suzume. "I would not show my body if I minded." Simple enough, and as she settles, that hand returns to give Mr. Fu all the pettings he deserves. Xiu's nostrils then flare and she mmmhs. "Mo, are you..making coffee?"

    Mo nods. "Ground it myself!"

    A soft, vaguely melodic hum follows Mo-san's explanation. "Ah, so." Suzume flicks a look to Xiu-san briefly, then resumes her retrieval process. Notebooks. Papers. A book; then, two. Writing implements. There's a glance to Xiu and a scrap of a smile, a fleeting thing that vanishes within the blink of an eye. "Of course, Xiu Tong-san," she replies, only to bend her head again. Contrite, but also serving to avert her gaze again. "But your level of comfort is not my own. My apologies if I have done anything to offend."

    Mo pours out coffee for everyone in small tin cups, passing them around, including a particularly tiny one for Fu. Now that everyone is snacked and coffee-ed, he returns his attention to the matter at hand. "To recap - Emma-o is holding the Avatar of the Fenghuang hostage in Kakuri. We know this because Fatima, the Fenghuang's ex-lover and a former Chakravant, came to us as a ghost, and told us what had happened. We've located a yin attuned dragon nest on the smaller of Isla Todos Santos and I'm gonna create a Shallowing so Mr. Fu and Fatima can guide us into Kakuri. Then we rescue Orson's Avatar. Then we all come home."

    Xiu lets out a soft chuckle, and nods towards Suzume. "Ah, rest assured, you did not offend. All I am doing is liberating you of any of the usual bad consciousness regarding looking at somebody exposed." She waves with a hand. "There is none of that when it comes to me. All you need to consider are your own feelings towards it, and the actual reasons for them."
    When Mo hands out the tins, she eagerly takes hers - the witch clearly not opposed to a good old Cup o' Joe it seems, and she takes a careful sip before she licks her lips. "And as I told Mo...I have absolutely no experience with the otherworlds. Especially not strange hells. While I have the ability to cross over, I admittedly never but once used it." She shrugs. "Most of my business and care keeps me on this side of the world, so...I will be going in blind. Mo, however, mentioned those guides that might be able to help."

    "Of course," Suzume intones. "I have drawn nudes before, Xiu Tong-san. The matter is merely one of context. But. Your words will be scattered to fertilize the soil of thought." A minor thing, but she's a quirky little bird. The coffee is accepted, but set aside, untouched. Suzume flips to an empty page in her notebook and, while Mo-san speaks, she takes notes. Her brow furrows slightly.
    "I have brought some small offerings, Mo-san. But I am not sure that I have enough." It's difficult to say, really, and it's often best to err on the side of caution. "I have explored on the other side of the Wall before. It is best to show deference and respect - but, above all, to obey the guides. Speaking with the spirits is one of my few strengths." Matter-of-fact, that. "You will be safe."

    The campfire will flicker then, as if buffeted by some unseen wind. The temperature around the small gathering will also drop precipitously, albeit for but a few brief moments. All this will cause Mo to look around, "Is - is she here? Has Fatima come back?"

    Fu's little brow will furrow and he'll look to Suzume, then Xiu.

    Xiu takes a second sip, before she sets down the tip and gestures at the map. "The Guides in this case will be not spirits, but souls. Akashics, actually." Xiu remarks as she gestures along the map. "Mr. Fu said we will be opening a portal on this island, and that Fati-" Xiu stops as the temperature notably changes..and she slightly tilts her head to the side. "...huh. Normally I only know of this kind of..change when it comes to winter spirits." She softly inhales, lifting her gaze upward a bit. "I have no idea if souls are cold.."

    From the other side of the rather weak Wall down here - a ghost of a woman manifests from a nihil. To those that can see ghosts - She's clad in a shroud that looks as if woven of night, her pale face standing in sharp contrast. She approaches Suzume, whispering to the Bone Flower. "Are you the speaker with the dead that MoGui spoke of?"

    "Mm." Soft and melodic, that. it's when the temperature drops and the campfire gutters that Suzume reaches into her bag again to pull out a small trinket of white jade. Small and of the kind that's relatively easy to acquire. She sets this before her, fingers curved over it like a cage. She shuts her eyes for a moment and draws a breath before releasing it.
    "Yes, she is here," is for the gathering at large. When she opens her eyes again, she is able to see the ghost and a small smile plays at the corners of her mouth. "Yes. I am Hayashi Suzume. These are my companions, Fu-sama, Mo-san, and Xiu Tong-san. We are very pleased to make your acquaintance, Fatima-sama." She bows her head and rolls her wrist, bringing the trinket up to offer on her palm.

    As Suzume's actions pretty much indicate that, yes, a spirit is present, Xiu's eyes narrow a bit. She closes her eyes and lowers her head a bit, inhaling deeply...as she begins to murmur. A soft, low chant, almost growled at times - and in a language probably neither of them speaks. Gaelic. Xiu reaches for one of her pouches, and retrieves a tiny wrap before she unwraps it. A small brown piece of...something. A tiny piece that she slips into her mouth and seems to swallow, before the short chant continues. She tilts her head back, eyes still closed as she takes another deep inhale..and then her eyes open, looking over into Fatima's direction. Glassy eyes, unfocused, but a couple of blinks later they seem to regain a more solid expression.
    Xiu rises - and then formally bows. "Greetings." Clearly aimed at the soul that has joined them.

    There will be a channeling of wraithly arcanos, and then the bit of jade in Suzume's hand will vanish! Consumed by spectral forces and transitioned to the other side! "Thank you for the offering, Suzume. And Mo and Fu and I? We go way back," she steps closer, and it is now that the woman's features can be more clearly seen, albeit remaining somewhat idealized and hazy around the edges. Most prominent? A maw of razor sharp teeth between her red lips that are only revealed when she smiles, which is NOT often. She looks clearly Southeast Asian.

    Fatima looks to XIu. Long and hard. As if scanning the woman. "You're - you're one of us, then? But not a charavanti, nor akashayana?"

    Mo makes his way over to settle in next to Mr. Fu, "I wanna see he whispers," and Fu nods, concentrating for a moment before lending Mo the power of Spirit Sight. "There you go, Thomas. Now hush," whispers the little dragon.

    She bows again, forehead nearly touching the ground from her still-seated posture. Her fingers curl into her palm when the jade is accepted, filling the void briefly. Suzume considers the items she's laid out, then stacks them neatly for the time being. A sidelong look is given to Xiu-san - curious, of course, but the moment is far from appropriate and she makes a mental note instead. Fatima-sama's further words just add fuel to the fire of her curiosity.
    "Ah. So he had mentioned," she notes to Fatima-sama. "We are grateful for your guidance and aid, Fatima-sama. I believe Mo-san was going to provide a way for all of us to follow you." Or maybe it was Fu-sama? Foolish bird, closing her notebook so soon!

    Oh, Xiu steps forward - striding towards Fatima, and as she is but a couple feet away she leans in close, as if to look over that strange maw. She shows no fear - if anything, there is a strange eagerness in her expression. If she could touch it right now, she probably would - but then she leans back and shakes her head. "No, I am not." she says. "Verbena. Priestess of the Earth Mother and Dark Flower of Lilith." she formally introduces herself. "Mo that you were once one of the Chakravanti."

    Fatima nods to Xiu's inquiry. "Chakravanti, then Idrana, then ... Nagaraja. And now this. All steps along the journey of the soul." A pause as he considers Xiu, "Lilith's brood. We might have had much in common, once upon a time." Then sh looks to Suzume. "MoGui's magic has grown, if he can bring down the wall at the dragon nest," she whispers, giving the dhampyr a /look/. "The Captain would be proud, his little sidekick all grown up."

    Fu frowns, and unconsciously interposes himself between Mo and the spectral woman. "We do this for the Fenghuang, Fatima. You broke with the covenant and followed your own path into the yin. Now Emma-o has come to collect and were it not for Orson's love of you," the little dragon trails off.

    Only slight movements follow on Suzume's part; she shifts from sitting to kneeling and rests the backs of her hands on her thighs, fingers curled into a meditative posture. She looks from Xiu-san to Fatima-sama, with a flicked look to Fu-sama and Mo-san as well. She seems content to listen, to absorb, and attempt to make some sense of things.
    But, as she's addressed, there is only a slight nod from her, a bloodless pressing of lips into a flat line. "We shall see what other gifts he possesses, Fatima-sama. If it is impossible, then I will follow alone if it must be done." Xiu's strange words are taken and filed, though their meaning is - predictably, perhaps - elusive.

    The witch seemingly can't help but lightly smirk at the quip of Fatima towards Mo, and she eyes the man for a moment. It's not like Mr. Fu can hide the guy behind himself. "Oh, he is most impressive at times. And a daredevil if I have ever seen one." she simply remarks before she looks back at Fatima. "I am not sure what kind of journey you took, nor those terms. But.." she says. "If you can guide us through the hell that awaits us, we are surely better off for it." She lightly bows again. "I would offer some of Mo's tasty coffee, but..alas, I guess." she says and then turns, to settle down next to her cup again.
    There is one last question lingering on Xiu's mind though, and she voices it as she picks up her tin again. "Fatima..why is it that you cannot move on? is it merely the state of the Akashic trapped by Emma-o?"

    "Emma-o wishes to confirm me as one of his shikome. Tried to. But Orson," Fatima says wistfully, "My beloved Orson, the bright Fenghuang, champion of the Akashayana, came to save me, and his Avatar captured in my place," she gives by way of sidestepping a direct answer to Xiu's inquiry.

    Fu growls, then steps back, making his way to jump into Xiu's lap, feeling better that Mo won't be suddenly spirited away. "Fatima's journey is complex. Her pursuit of her path has been to date - singular. But such is the way with many of the lightning people, no?"

    Xiu's eyes subtly narrow for a moment. And then she blinks as Mr. just makes it onto her lap. She can't help but chuckle, before she begins to playfully scritch the little dragon with both hands.

    "When we recover Orson-san's... Avatar," the word is carefully shaped on Suzume's tongue, "will that release you, in turn?" It's a tangled mess - one that is certainly above a lowly cemetery-keeper's paygrade. Which means it will require effort to straighten out and make things right. She glances to Fu-sama when he speaks and offers a slight nod. "We are here to assist, Fatima-sama. Whatever must be done to set matters to rights - this will be done."

    Fatima nods. "Emma-o will suffer a defeat the likes of which he hasn't suffered In. An. Age. Should we prove successful in our efforts, that is," she clarifies. A sigh. "Make your preparations, and let me know. Send a shadow-sparrow. I will await at the dragon nest on the island. If I learn anything new, I will send a shadow-sparrow in turn."

    "What are the consequences?"
    Xiu asks the simple question even as she continues to scritch the dragon's hide. "What will be the consequences of taking a soul from what sounds like an actual leader of that little slice of hell?" Xiu tilts her head to the side. "It is nice that we are helping a soul reunite with their lover, but what will Emma-o do in turn?"

    Fatima looks to Xiu, "Nothing new. We are enemies, have been enemies, and will be enemies. Orson's sect among the Akashayana are dedicated to thwarting his reach into the middle kingdom. Emma-o has had designs upon me for some time now. Adding me to his harem of shikome." She withdraws into her cloak of nihil - "The rest of you will hardly rate notice. Except for Fu, but such is the price one pays for being one of the last great dragons of the middle kingdom."

    Suzume's mouth flattens again and draws tight. A grimace; bloodless and pale. An answer sits at the tip of her tongue but, when Fatima-sama voices it, she inclines her head to the night-clad figure. "We are little more than moths to //them//. A nuisance and nothing more. They will delight in our destruction, but will not expend the effort to see it come to fruition." Fu-sama and Fatima-sama being the obvious exceptions, but she speaks as one that knows well her place on the Wheel. "What offerings and sacrifices would be best to bring, Fatima-sama?"

    Fatima peeks out from the shadowcloak towards Suzume. "Jade, of course. Paper. And perhaps a comb and some hairpins - the nicest that you can find." A smile is spared the bone flower and then she looks to Xiu, where Fu sits on her laps. "You little clever dragon, you. Pulling together another group. We never had one of the wan kuei with us before. Interesting times you and MoGui find yourselves in these nights."

    "Oh yes, Mo is all about putting the Irregulars back together..." Xiu murmurs, while she reaches for her cup and takes another sip of coffee. She licks her lips. "I still wonder just where they have parked that zeppelin.." she murmurs to herself, and peeks around the large cavern they are in. Certainly not here, right?

    Mo looks at Fatima with some degree of sadness in his eyes. "Maybe - maybe you could come back with us once in a while. After our task is completed. We recovered the zeppelin." A smile at Xiu as he turns, "Em is working on getting her running again."

Fatima arches an eyebrow, then laughs, revealing that maw full of razor sharp teeth. "The Captain never liked me, MoGui. He only tolerated me because of Orson. I would honor his memory in some other way than casting a pall on his beloved airship. Besides, that thing might even attack me - who knows. Those aetheric contraptions of his," she mutters.

    "Of course, Fatima-sama." Suzume bows her head again as the offering suggestions are made, palms pressing to her thighs and forehead nearly to the ground. She straightens after, her expression schooled to neutrality. "Perhaps it is ordained in the Heavens," she muses, eyes lifting as if in search of the sky; but it's veiled by rock and this is perhaps for the better. "Mm. We shall see what plans the Heavens and Hells have for us." Silence follows as she observes the interplay of Mo-san and Fatima-sama with curiosity.

    Fatima looks to Xiu, "A pleasure meeting another of the Nine. See you soon, sister."

    And with that? The former mage turned wraith vanishes into a nihil!

===> Log ended by user <===> 3/1/2020, 6:22:17 PM <===