(6:30:17 PM) Earthflame: Khaira hums to herself as she wanders through Sigil, back in her white sundress and straw hat, for all the world looking like a pretty dryad enjoying a stroll... A somewhat odd contrast to the goth clubs she passes. But her real destination is the Temple of the Raven Queen- Not a goth club, despite the close proximity and the apparent similarity between them.
(6:32:05 PM) Ikiryo: Speaking of such, she spots several very gothy people lined up in front of it complaining about it should be open by now.
(6:34:23 PM) Earthflame: Khaira tries to figure out if they're actual worshippers or confused clubgoers as she approaches the door, looking up to see if Sarandiel or her monologuing partner were on duty.
(6:36:41 PM) Ikiryo: My city, I can not deny her. My city screams. She is my mother. She is my lover, and I am her avenging angel.
(6:36:41 PM) Ikiryo: Yep, up there crouched like a gargoyle in dark clothing is the partner.
(6:37:08 PM) Ikiryo: Sarandiel isn't up there. It seems like the people in line are mostly clubgoers.
(6:37:46 PM) Earthflame: "Hi!" She waves to him. "Oh, I have something to give you!"
(6:38:17 PM) Ikiryo: He pauses, looking down at her and giving an awkward wave.
(6:39:44 PM) Earthflame: "Come down here!"
(6:40:55 PM) Ikiryo: He leaps off the roof, the stoic dark haired angel in his dark outfit and long coat tailored for wings landing near her.
(6:41:14 PM) Earthflame: "Ooooh. How do you get your coattails to swirl like that when there's no wind?"
(6:42:10 PM) Ikiryo: "Practice." His voice is gravelly and dark.
(6:42:59 PM) Earthflame: "Neat! Anyway, I want to find Sarandiel and I should probably talk to the priest, but- Oh! Right!" She smiles, handing something to him... A small, dark red piece of thick card. "I'm setting you up on a blind date!"
(6:43:41 PM) Ikiryo: He takes it, looking it over. "Interesting."
(6:44:13 PM) Earthflame: "I need to give the other one to her some time and they're linked. You'll know when she gets it! And then you can use it to arrange a place and time but you won't know who each other are!" Khaira smiles warmly. "I thought you might have fun!"
(6:45:30 PM) Ikiryo: "...thank you." He nods, leaping back to the roof after gesturing to the back entrance to the church.
(6:47:27 PM) Earthflame: She gives him another smile and a wave as she goes around to the rear doors, entering... Wondering if she should have told the club goers it wasn't a club.
(6:49:38 PM) Ikiryo: Inside...is a mess. The place is torn up and a lot of it has been smashed. The dark haired young man that is the priest is working to clean up the mess. He's clearly been here for hours, judging by the sweat making his dark shirt cling to him and the fact he looks exausted.
(6:50:03 PM) Earthflame: "...What happened here?" Khaira heads over to him, looking worried. "Are you okay?"
(6:51:28 PM) Ikiryo: He looks up, wiping his forehead with the back of a hand. "Yeah, I'm fine." He gives her a smile. "We had someone try to trash the place a few days ago. Still cleaning up."
(6:52:14 PM) Earthflame: "Let me help." Khaira moves over, frowning as she starts to pick up the pieces. "Who would do something like this?"
(6:55:31 PM) Ikiryo: Most of the damage seems to be focused on the religious icons. "We're not sure yet. Necromancers or Necoho worshippers."
(6:56:19 PM) Earthflame: She nods. "...How did they get in here? Didn't the Angels notice- Is Sarandiel okay?"
(6:57:21 PM) Ikiryo: "We were dealing with a minor zombie uprising in a crypt district, we were all out at the time." He shakes his head. "She's fine. She's just tired after helping clean up."
(6:58:04 PM) Earthflame: She nods. "I'll go see her after helping, then... Although I did want to formally reintroduce myself..."
(6:59:23 PM) Ikiryo: "Oh, yes?"
(7:00:11 PM) Earthflame: "Well, let's finish this bit first."
(7:01:58 PM) Ikiryo: Khaira doesn't feel anything odd...but the background sensations are a bit difficult to make it work.
(7:04:23 PM) Earthflame: Khaira gets the little area clear before standing with a sigh. "I'm sorry this happened to you. Anyway, um... I came to you last time worrying I was dead, right? Good news! I'm not! I'm actually a spirit Of Death! Close, but different!"
(7:05:51 PM) Ikiryo: He chuckles. "I thought so. Congradulations." His bright smile makes it pretty clear he'd be very handsome if he put some work into his apperance.
(7:06:17 PM) Earthflame: "Oh, and then I found out-" She reaches into somewhere, bringing out the silver bells. "I'm the Abhorsen!"
(7:06:37 PM) Ikiryo: "That, I did not predict." He nods, grinning
(7:07:49 PM) Earthflame: "It was a real surprise! I never even knew my parents before I became a spirit. But I thought I should say hello in an official capacity!" The bells disappear again. "...I'm still kind of figuring out what it all means but I'm fighting Cryx and- Oh right, I wanted to tell you about that Abyssal boyband in a soulsteel spaceship. I thought the Church would want to know."
(7:08:41 PM) Ikiryo: "An Abyssal...oh no, not again." He smirks.
(7:08:55 PM) Earthflame: "...You've dealt with one before?"
(7:10:25 PM) Ikiryo: "Mostly a joke. Battle of the bands, back in uni." He shakes his head.
(7:10:59 PM) Earthflame: "Ohh... It sounds more fun than this one." Khaira goes over the basics of her recent clashes with Cryx, its abyssals and soulsteel automatons.
(7:12:15 PM) Ikiryo: His smile very quickly fades, going quiet as he listens.
(7:14:23 PM) Earthflame: "...and then there's the whole confusing mess with the Quori and my body but my friend Blueshift is dealing with that right now so I'll talk to her about it later... But I think we'll need help, to really stop them."
(7:15:13 PM) Ikiryo: He nods. "I'll make some calls, get the word out about this."
(7:15:46 PM) Earthflame: "Thank you..." Khaira gives him a nod, and a strange, sad smile, looking thoughtful for a moment.
(7:16:58 PM) Ikiryo: He pauses...and puts a hand on her shoulder.
(7:17:17 PM) Earthflame: Khaira chuckles. "...It's not that. I just had a funny thought."
(7:18:47 PM) Ikiryo: "Oh, yes?"
(7:19:34 PM) Earthflame: "You're the kind of man my younger self might have asked to father a daughter... Diligent, compassionate, faithful..." She sighs, shaking her head again. "...These days I'm thinking less and less like a Dryad and more and more like a Hunter... Like an Abhorsen."
(7:20:28 PM) Ikiryo: "Nothing says you can't be both." He blushes slightly. "Anyway, I'm just following my calling."
(7:20:54 PM) Earthflame: "You're a good man." She gives him a warm smile... And then frowns. "...And I've forgotten your name. Sorry... I still have problem with memories at times..."
(7:24:03 PM) Ikiryo: "Nicolae Miroslaw."
(7:24:42 PM) Earthflame: "Right, Nicalae... Thank you." Khaira smiles at him. "I'll go check up on Sarandiel... But let me know if you need my help with anything, okay? It's kind of my duty now... I think, anyway."
(7:25:08 PM) Ikiryo: "It's fine. It's just cleaning up."
(7:26:16 PM) Earthflame: Khaira bids farewell before heading out and towards Sarandiel's apartment...
(8:03:25 PM) Ikiryo: It doesn't take her long to find the place. It's not a huge but it's in a nice neighborhood
(8:04:14 PM) Earthflame: She remembers the way from last time she was here! She heads up to knock on the door!
(8:04:47 PM) Ikiryo: It's a few minutes but eventually the black haired angel opens the door, looking tired. "Yes...oh."
(8:05:17 PM) Ikiryo: She's dressed in grey short shorts and a black t-shirt with a silver raven on the front. Khaira thinks that's her pajamas
(8:05:19 PM) Earthflame: "Hi." Khaira smiles. "I'm back! And I heard you were tired from Nicolae after the vandalism but I thought I'd come by and say Hi and tell you a couple of things. Can I come in?"
(8:05:32 PM) Ikiryo: "Sure." She steps aside to let Khaira in.
(8:05:51 PM) Earthflame: Khaira steps into the small room. "Okay, first thing... I'm not dead!"
(8:06:28 PM) Ikiryo: "You are not?"
(8:06:52 PM) Earthflame: "No! It turns out I'm a spirit Of Death, rather than a dead spirit. Apparently it can be kinda hard to tell the difference!"
(8:10:53 PM) Ikiryo: "That's great to hear." She gives Khaira a hug. It's a bit tired but it's sincere.
(8:11:14 PM) Earthflame: Khaira smiles, squeezing her back. "You're tired, so I won't keep you long, but there's one other thing..."
(8:12:01 PM) Ikiryo: "I'm fine, I'm fine. Sleep can wait."
(8:12:24 PM) Earthflame: Once more, she presents the bells. "I'm the Abhorsen!"
(8:13:35 PM) Ikiryo: "What...seriously?"
(8:13:51 PM) Earthflame: "Yep! It was really surprising!"
(8:14:47 PM) Ikiryo: She reaches up to touch Khaira's charter mark. Just to test.
(8:15:29 PM) Earthflame: Khaira's hand rises in the natural response... But then pauses. "...Do Angels have marks?"
(8:16:45 PM) Ikiryo: "Not quite in the same way...we're made of marks."
(8:17:21 PM) Earthflame: Khaira nods, pressing her finger to Sarandiel's forehead anyway... A politeness, if nothing else.
(8:18:33 PM) Ikiryo: A ripple running through her, mark after mark flowing into view for a moment before fading.
(8:18:58 PM) Earthflame: Khaira smiles a little at that. "...It's beautiful."
(8:20:22 PM) Ikiryo: "Thank you...wait...so I got into a screaming argument with the abhorson herself?"
(8:21:03 PM) Earthflame: "Well, I didn't know so I don't think it really counts."
(8:21:39 PM) Ikiryo: "Still...oh gods, I shouldn't have done that."
(8:22:16 PM) Earthflame: Khaira pouts. "...I don't want you to treat me any differently because of my title. Friends should be honest with each other..."
(8:23:23 PM) Ikiryo: "...I think I threatened to banish you over the emo comments."
(8:24:10 PM) Earthflame: "And then you gave me a proper education in the merits of gothic rock!" Khaira grins.
(8:24:43 PM) Ikiryo: She pouts. "It's important."
(8:25:35 PM) Earthflame: Khaira giggles. "We should hang out some time... But I should let you sleep. And... Oh, I forgot to ask that... But it can wait until I see you and Nicolae again."
(8:26:18 PM) Ikiryo: "...alright?" she looks confused.
(8:26:40 PM) Earthflame: "Basically I need to find a super holy site of the Raven Queen. And the homeworld of the Abhorsen. Maybe both at once?"
(8:29:19 PM) Ikiryo: "...hmm...I don't know the latter...but maybe Letherna?"
(8:29:28 PM) Earthflame: "Letherna?"
(8:32:09 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "It's a fortress of the Raven Queen. In the First Precinct."
(8:32:22 PM) Earthflame: "Ooooooooh."
(8:34:02 PM) Ikiryo: "It's...not safe but it's very holy."
(8:35:42 PM) Earthflame: "...Not safe? What is it there to protect against?"
(8:36:14 PM) Ikiryo: "The dead that try to get back into life."
(8:36:43 PM) Earthflame: "...But that happens everywhere. Why do they need a fortress?"
(8:37:54 PM) Ikiryo: "The place it overlaps with is a tomb world. A world made lifeless by the great time war."
(8:38:16 PM) Earthflame: "...Ohhhhhhhh. That does sound dangerous."
(8:39:22 PM) Ikiryo: "More worryingly, it was a test location for the Eden Project. An entire world of old, violent deaths...and a torrent of new life."
(8:39:47 PM) Earthflame: "...The river must be incredibly turbulent."
(8:41:14 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "The wards normally hold well, so it's not a battleground but sometimes there is a swell."
(8:42:59 PM) Earthflame: "...And what I'm planning might cause one..."
(8:43:50 PM) Ikiryo: "What are you planning?"
(8:45:31 PM) Earthflame: "Umm... I'm kinda friends with an Abyssal. But she's a good person! She doesn't like doing all the mean deady stuff. And she's surprisingly good at Charter Magic even though her mark is almost warn away to nothing... So I thought I'd try to restore it, in a way that didn't conflict with the abyssal stuff. Abhorsen's are a nexus of Free Magic and Charter Magic, so... I thought I could try?"
(8:46:38 PM) Ikiryo: "An Abyssal...I'm not sure you can trust one if they say they are good."
(8:47:04 PM) Earthflame: "They don't Say they're good. They find it very hard to say anything nice about themselves... But their actions tell the true story."
(8:47:57 PM) Ikiryo: She looks unsure.
(8:50:30 PM) Earthflame: Khaira sighs. "Well... If it works or not will tell the true story, I think... I'm pretty sure what when I do it, it'll be Her judgement that matters."
(8:51:23 PM) Ikiryo: "Right...just be careful. Abyssals are bad news."
(8:51:42 PM) Earthflame: "I know... But I think this might be a chance to redeem one."
(8:54:49 PM) Ikiryo: "If that's possible." She hugs Khaira.
(8:56:37 PM) Earthflame: Khaira hugs back. "I also told some stuff to Nicolae, but you can wait to hear that later... You should rest."
(8:58:41 PM) Ikiryo: "Awww..." Her complaining sound becomes a yawn part way through.
(9:02:36 PM) Earthflame: Khaira rubs her back, easing her back towards the bed. "Rest... We'll go for a drink or a dance later or something."
(9:04:20 PM) Ikiryo: "That would be fun."
(9:04:51 PM) Earthflame: "When you're rested." Khaira turns to leave... Pausing and glancing back. "...Um. How's Zaphkiel?"
(9:06:40 PM) Ikiryo: "...I'd rather not talk about her. She's well enough now."
(9:07:03 PM) Earthflame: "Alright." Khaira nods. "Sleep well."
(9:07:30 PM) Ikiryo: She nods, seeming to try to complain she doesn't need sleep. She's yawning too much for it to be coherant though.