<CaesarStoryteller>	It's a freshman mixer, that's almost all you could call it. A small ballroom complete with a polished, hardwood dance floor is in the middle of the room, but no one's dancing and there's no music. Just the chatter of idle talk as the Lost mingle about and drink from the punchbowl on the big table off to the side. It's late Autumn, and the Autumn King shows his crown - a wreath of dried...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...branches and autumn leaves wound about the broad-brimmed black hat he wears. Two of the other monarchs are there as well, the King of Spring and the King of Winter. The latter watches the crowd in stoic silence from a chair, while the former slides his way through the crowd, schmoozing and flirting.
	* Mary	are slouching in the far corner away from the music with their back pressed up against the wall, nervously chewing on a campus phonebook looted from the entrance.
	<Leonide>	Leonide, for once, isn't with her boyfriend, since he had shift. Due to that, she is basically next to Mary with a cup of what she wouldn't bother calling coffee, just watching people and playing with a deck of cards in her free hand.
	* Mary	glance at Leonide and slide a little further down the wall away from her.
	* Elise_Garratt	shuffles nervously around through the crowd in a state of wonder and confusion.
	* Mary	pull the shredded phonebook out of their maw and tug a stray page out before balling their hands into fists and stomping determinedly toward the nearest snack tray.
	<Leonide>	Siiip. She takes out some carved thing and leaves it on Mary's chair while taking a sip of the 'coffee' before moving about to see if there's any other Summer Courtiers.
	<Leonide>	=___= Where the hell are some of her own damn Court? She keeps flipping the cards in one hand.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He slides right up to Leonide just as Mary leaves, all six feet plus of gangly, rabbity man in an ice cream suit. The King of Spring or, "March!" he says, offering up a hand to the girl. "The name, I mean. Couldn't help but notice you weren't mingling all that much. Can't have that." Long, floppy rabbit ears dangle out from under the white porkpie hat he wears, and he moves light on his...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...feet. "You're new in town, aren't you?"
	<Leonide>	"Not really. Just not to the outward group." Drink.
	* Mary	stop awkwardly in the middle of the dancefloor and glance around under their long unkempt hair for some good eats.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor glides across the floor towards Mary. He's dark and gaunt, dressed like a Plague Doctor, a birdlike mask affixed permanently to his. "Good evening, Mary. How have you been adjusting?" A note of concern in the Autumn King's voice.
	* Elise	looks longingly at the snack tray.
	<Leonide>	She is giving a mildly awkward look at the Autumn King, but that's normal. She works in pathology. "I'm sort of still getting used to things. Like the hosptial and seeing crap."
	* Mary	glower at him sullenly. "We're fine. We're hungry."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March knocks back his drink. It smells spiked, fruity. "Oh, you'll get used to that. It's a new life! A new time for you," he says to Leonide. "You affiliated, yet?"
	* Mary	raise the crumpled phonebook page in their fists and start to chew on it.
	<Mary>	"How are you?" they ask between chomps.
	<Leonide>	She grins, pretty creepy for a statue. "Been Summer for almost five."
	<Leonide>	"Not much change, really."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"You know, Mary, there is plenty of food here...of a more normal variety..." He gestures to the laden table. Snacks of all types.
	<Leonide>	"Still studying to be a doctor, still studying diseases."
	* Mary	grunt. "Thank you." They turn to follow his hand toward something dense.
	* Elise	fidgets as she stares at the variety of food on the table.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elise doesn't remain all by her lonesome for long. A creepy, twitchy man of about...oh...twenty years comes up next to her. "You don't like these things either, huh?" He bristles with insectile legs, running up the sides of his body to the whiplike antenna, making him seem exactly like a giant caterpillar.
	<Leonide>	She begins to mender towards the snacks, talking.
	<Leonide>	"It sucked but I keep hearing from the Three that it sucks harder for most people."
	* Mary	glance at the juicy-looking caterpillar before grabbing a handful of weenies.
	* Elise	stumbles backwards at bit as she's taken by surprise. "I... I dont know"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March follows alongside Leonide. "Summer, mmm? I wonder where our Furies are, at that?" he muses aloud. "Oh, yes. Yes, it's terrible out there for our kind, isn't it," he replies, taking a small stuffed grape leaf and popping it into his mouth. He doesn't sound like he really believes that. "But you're getting along all right, miss...?"
	<Leonide>	"Tinderman." She takes a small sausage and pops it in her mouth.
	-->|	John (GateKeeper@sux-B55AF383.estv.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca) has joined #chicago
	<Leonide>	She is starting to consider the March Hare really full of shit already.
	<Leonide>	"Knowing the lady Furies, busy. I just came because I didn't have shift."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor's hands are...well, pretty damn creepy. Each finger is a syringe. "It's good to hear you're fine, Mary. Adjusting can be difficult. It's a fearful world..."
	* Mary	slide back a little closer to the Autumn King, the only person here they don't think might try to kill them right away.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Oh, yes. They are full of sturm and drang, those three. But Miss Tinderman, certainly we can be on a first name basis, I do hope. I gave you mine, won't you give me yours?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The centipede-like man regards Elise with unblinking, compound eyes. "Yeah, frankly, I don't trust this lot at all...but it's safer, yanno? I mean, ah...I mean, you don't wanna go back, do ya?"
	<Leonide>	She raises her eyebrows a little. "How about taking a guess, Rabbit? Here's a clue, where the Furies are said to dine, so would a namesake of mine and his men."
	* Elise	shudders at the mention of going back and swift shakes her head no.
	<Elise>	swiftly*
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March makes a big show of pondering that, rubbing his chin and tilting his head. Then he sweeps his hat off his head and makes a bow. "I'm afraid you've got me over a barrel Miss Tinderman. I'm at a loss..."
	* Mary	offer the Doctor a weenie. "Still hot. We didn't touch it."
	<Leonide>	Her nose wrinkles. "Not one for mythology, huh?"
	<Leonide>	"Or movies."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"My name's Tom," the centipede says to Elise. "Tom Thousand." Named for the legs, no doubt. "And I ain't goin' back either. Had enough of that shit, yanno? Got...got right the hell out. But it doesn't mean I wanna be some sorta...freakin' servant to those guys," he says, hooking a...leg...at March.
	<Leonide>	She sighs, adding, "Gerald Bulter ring a bell?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March grins. There's the buck-teeth he ought to have. "I'm afraid not. I generally spent my movie-theater time in the back row...and while I was at school, I mostly studied a-broad..."
	<Leonide>	She groans.
	* Elise	looks over at the rabbit man.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor plucks the cocktail weenie from Mary's fingers and brings it to eye level. "Ah, would that I could," he says, from behind his permanent plague-mask.
	* John	walks surreptitiously over to the punch bowl
	* Elise	glances around nervously. "A, a servant?"
	<Leonide>	She downs her coffee, shaking her head.
	* Mary	grunt. "We could get you a Pepsi."
	* Elise	looks down at her feet. "...but he said noone was a slave here..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"I tend to eat while I work," he says to Mary, folding his fingers together, the sharpened steel of his needles pinging softly. "I'm more concerned with your current happiness..."
	<Leonide>	"Me, I was nose deep in books, and then there's the fact I was playing games."
	<Leonide>	She shuffles her deck with one hand, grinning.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Nah, nah...we ain't slaves," Tom Thousand says. "But they're the leaders, we're the lessers. It's how it always is, innit? Someone's in charge..."
	* Elise	nods her head slowly.
	<Leonide>	"How about you play a game with me and if you win, I'll tell? If you lose, you have to use my surname and not ask anyone my first name."
	<Mary>	"We're happy. Food's good. We don't have to catch it."
	<Mary>	"Doesn't scream."
	* Mary	reaches a tentative hand up to the weenie impaled on a syringe. "We can take that if you don't want it."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"If I win, I want you name...and dinner with you," The Mad Hare says, metaphorical whiskers twitching with mirth.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor offers the weenie back to Mary, clearly unafraid of the gnashing teeth in her wide maw.
	<Leonide>	She arches her eyebrows. "Fine."
	* Mary	tug it off the needle and turn it to paste with a loud snap.
	* Elise	looks back up to Tom, "So who are the maste- leaders here?"
	<Leonide>	"Poker or Rummy?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"No, it doesn't scream. We prefer the screams to be on our own terms...or not at all."
	<Leonide>	She bounces to a table, looking gleeful. Game, game, game~
	<Leonide>	"Or do you have another card game you know?"
	* Mary	grunts and swivels her head around, watching Leonide bounce by.
	* John	looks around, pulls a large flask out of his coat pocket, and pours something into the punch
	<Mary>	"We live with her."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Four of 'em," Tom says, pointing at the rabbit first. "March is Spring, The Doc's Autumn, the Furies ain't here, but they're summer...and the frosty bastard in the chair over there, that's Caius. He's Winter." He points at what looks very much like an ice-tinged devil reclining in a soft armchair, just watching.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"That's good, Mary. Quite good. I feel...exposure to the others would be good for you." He seems to know of Mary's particulars, at least how she arrived.
	<Leonide>	She is gracefully shuffling, her black eyes actually twinkling and being happy.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"No, no. Poker's fine...quite fine," March says, settling his lanky frame one one side of the table. "I assume you want to deal?"
	* Elise	murmurs "Masters of the seasons..."
	<Mary>	"We have a bed with springs."
	* John	quickly puts the flask back into his pocket, and shuffles away from the punch
	* Mary	tilts her head a little more, obscuring her face almost completely. "We're going to go find Elmer."
	<Leonide>	"Correct."
	<Mary>	"There's beer in the punch."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Yeah, Masters...but at least ya get to choose if you wanna follow 'em..."
	* Mary	shuffles away from the Autumn King.
	<Leonide>	"By the way, you might want to keep an eye on the punches, there's something in it." She deals.
	* Elise	looks puzzled by that statement.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"I prefer there being something in the punch," he says, grinning brightly. "Makes for a better party."
	<Leonide>	"I figured." She rolls her eyes.
	* John	makes himself look as innocent as he can. Which isn't very, as his face keeps shifting
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elmer isn't hard for Mary to spot. He's in the corner, broad and massive as befitting a the bullish sort he is.
	<Leonide>	Leonide is abusing the fact she looks more like a Gravewright than a Gameplayer.
	<Leonide>	"But yeah, I've been out about six, met the Furies about five ago, though I met the Good Doctor after a week."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"You courtless?" Tom suddenly asks Elise. "Or you under one o' their thumbs too?"
	<Leonide>	She is eying her hand before showing her hand and then arching her eyebrows.
	* John	walks up behind Elise, and shifts to look like a colour-inverted Tom
	* Mary	awkwardly push their way toward Elmer, stopping every few feet to keep other people from running into them.
	<Elise>	"I think i'm courtless..."
	<Leonide>	THere's a little bit of annoyance in her eyes, but then again, maybe he was just lucky. Another round as she deals again, still talking. "What about you, Rabbit?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Lovely ladies, the Furies. I've been trying to...crack their resolve, but the remain ever resistant to my charms..." He shows his own hand, two pair neatly matching hers. "Oh, that's a draw. We playing 'til one of us wins, m'dear?"
	<Leonide>	"Correct."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elmer spots Mary coming from a mile away, and the big Broadback actually looks a little uncomfortable. She damn near tore up the seats in his car. But he doesn't flee, figuring she wants a familiar face. "Ho' there, Mary."
	<John>	Of course She's Courtless, why would Anyone give up their Freedom
	<Leonide>	There is a long, awkward, annoyed silence as she looks at her hand.
	* Elise	freezes in place when she hears someone behind her.
	* Mary	grunt. "Hi, Elmer. We told Leonide that we wanted to get you another tape. We don't know if she got it yet."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Damn right!" says Tom, before turning to look who spoke and nearly jumping out of his skin at being confronted with a reasonable double. "Jeezus Christ, man don't DO that."
	<Leonide>	"You show first."
	* John	releases the face, and grins like a cheshire cat on crack
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Yeah, uh...it's all right, Mary. Take your time and everything. You doin' okay? Gettin' enough to eat?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March splays his cards out in front of him. "Oh, there's nothin' good here...guess my charming bluffs don't work so well..."
	<Mary>	"Yes."
	* Elise	sighs in relief. "H-hello John."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"You two know each other?" Tom looks back and forth between John and Elise, twitchier than normal.
	* Elise	nods.
	<John>	Name's Jim. Jim Cohn
	=-=	John is now known as Jim
	<Leonide>	She shrugs, placing her own hand down. "As empty as the grave here."
	<Mary>	"We want to go to McDonald's after this." Their voice turns conspiratorial "We're going to make her if she doesn't take us there."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Maybe I should deal?"
	<Leonide>	She nudges the deck towards him.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March shuffles...he's not bad...and then deals out the cards.
	* Elise	bows her head at Jim and tenses up. "I'm sorry- I though you said your name was Jonh..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Jim? John? Fuck me, my heart's still poundin' a mile a minute...I ain't got the head for this..."
	<Jim>	Easy Mistake. Jim, John
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Tom rubs a hand across his brow. His antenna twitch.
	<Leonide>	She puts her hand under the table, grasping the leg.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elmer manages a smile down at Mary. "That's good to hear. Anything good on the table? I ain't ate nothin' yet..."
	* Elise	looks up tentatively. "i'm... not going to be punished?"
	<Jim>	sorry if I Scared You
	* Elise	smiles nervously. "Really?"
	<Jim>	why would I Punish you for that?
	<Leonide>	"I keep hearing people escaped from their... Keepers?"
	-->|	Daeren (bookwyrm20@sux-95570B96.cinci.res.rr.com) has joined #chicago
	* Elise	is stumped by the question.
	<Leonide>	"I just remember Death cheating out of our deal and I tried throttling him." She looks as sweet as can be as she states this with a cold grin.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Yer lucky I didn't punch you!" Tom sputters at Jim. Not that he looks like the kind of guy that'd punch...more like the kind of guy that'd run and hide.
	* Mary	manage to hide their face even more. "We didn't see any... salad. We only like meat."
	* Mary	slinks back in the opposite direction of the raised voices.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Oh, is that so? You shouldn't make deals without expressly banning cheating...that's something you're going to learn. Quickly, I think..."
	<Jim>	It's Not a Problem
	<Leonide>	"I did already." She smiles.
	<--|	Daeren has left #chicago
	<Leonide>	"I have learned a bit from the Furies."
	* Elise	"Jim, am I allowed to eat the food here?"
	* Mary	grunt. "Elmer, are you in a Court?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"They have so much to teach, don't they?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elmer clucks a thick tongue against his teeth. "Yes'm, I am in a Court. In the Summer Court, in fact. I aim to give 'em back twice what they gave me."
	<Jim>	why wouldn't you be, Elise?
	* Jim	seems genuine confused
	<Leonide>	She seems very straight faced as she eyes her hand.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March seems mildly amused about the whole deal.
	<Leonide>	She shows it casually.
	<Elise>	"I- uh-" Elise fiddles with one of the cuffs on her wrists."I used to have to ask to do anything..."
	* Mary	feel bad about eating meat around Elmer. "Well... we might have to go now. Goodbye." Mary shuffle off toward Leonide to see about that trip to McDonald's.
	* Elise	looks down ashamed.
	* Jim	pulls a :I face
	<CaesarStoryteller>	There's a brief flash of surprise on March's features, but he hides it quickly. "Never would have though you could beat three jacks," he says, spreads them out on the table. "Miss Tinderman."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Before things can progress, however, the doors to the small ballroom suddenly SLAM open. In the doorway stand three young girls, nearly identical...though something's off. It's more like they were three different girls who'd been broken down...and then built back up again to look similar. Crowded together, the aura around the three elementals seems to form a roiling summer storm, anger...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...flashing in their eyes. "It has been STOLEN!" they exclaim in one voice.
	<Jim>	the only person you have to ask is yourself, Elise
	<Leonide>	She smiles. "By the way, next time you cheat? I will beat the shit out of you with the table."
	<Leonide>	She gets up to look at the three Furies.
	* Jim	looks sharp. literally
	* Elise	ponders Jim's words. Well she would had the doors not been slammed open.
	* Mary	looks suddenly sharklike at the noise before shrinking back into her hair.
	<Leonide>	She wipes up her cards and walks over, "What's been?" Formality from a Wizened?
	<Leonide>	Yeah, sure.
	* Mary	use the distraction to procure some road weenies.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Winter King is up and out of his chair in a flash. "Tisa, Alec, Meg! What is the meaning of this?" "The book," replies Tisa, winds gusting around her. "The symbol," adds Alec, rainwater on her skin. "The basis of our Freehold," finishes Meg, lightning crackling across her face. "It has been taken and we are all in danger!"
	* Jim	absent mindedly shifts to look nearly like the three
	<Leonide>	"Book?"
	* Elise	summons the courage to grab a piece of cheese during the shouting.
	* Elise	looks very pleased with herself as she feasts upon her catch.
	* Mary	grunt and silently swing a hand out with a paper plate of weenies on it in front of Elise, their eyes still fixed on the commotion.
	* Jim	grabs a few
	* Jim	munches them while watching
	<Elise>	"Thank you."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Caius, we must have retribution! It was taken tonight. It must be found tonight!" all three state again. Caius Long tugs and his pointed beard and nods, then turns, his bifurcated tail whipping behind him and addresses the crowd. "There's been a breach of security. I'm afraid we have to postpone the night and enact a search for this thief. Something quite valuable has been stolen."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	March frowns and gets up from the table. "You'll have to beat me senseless another time..." And he goes to join the other Monarchs.
	<Leonide>	She puts her cards away, walking with March as she sighes. "Bosses, what does the damn thing look like?"
	* Elise	enjoys her gifted plate of weenies.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Furies turn their eyes on Leonide. "You are a valued courtier, but still a neophyte. We shall handle this," they says, in that creepy unison voice. March nods at the Gravewright as well. "Don't worry your cute little head, we'll sort this out." Then he raises his voice. "Party's over, everyone! Gonna have to clear on out!"
	* Mary	glance around for guilty-looking people.
	<Leonide>	She sighs again, giving a look at March like she really wants to smack him, but hey, nothing to do?
	<Elise>	used XP from clarity trade
	<Elise>	i think
	* Jim	whispers "Just like in the Movies"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The rest of the fae begin to leave in groups. Twos and threes and it doesn't take long for the ballroom to mostly clear out, leaving the deliberating Monarchs and any stragglers behind.
	<Elise>	"Jim where are we going?"
	<Jim>	ummm
	* Mary	grab Leonide's arm with a very firm grip. "Leonide. You said you'd take us to McDonald's."
	<Leonide>	"I know." She grins. "And we are going to go."
	* Mary	let go. "OK."
	<Leonide>	Her grip doesn't leave a mark and it felt like stone. "Let's get going, shall we? Anyone else you want to bring?"
	<Jim>	We could head home, if you want, or we could follow them
	* Jim	points at the person who said mcdonald's
	<Leonide>	She gives a glance at Elmer. The fact Mary's socializing is something she should encourage.
	* Mary	grunt. "We don't know... would he eat fries?"
	<Mary>	"Maybe not."
	<Leonide>	"I don't know what he eats. Why not ask?"
	<Mary>	"Did you get his tape for us yet?"
	* Elise	isn't sure how to respond to making decisions.
	<Mary>	"We said you would get it."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elmer just gives a wave at Mary. "You two have fun," he says, and ambles on out of the room too. "RIGHT!" says March, clapping his hands together. "So we're in agreement. We'll each take a quarter of the campus, see what we can find..." Now the Monarchs are leaving too, heading out the door.
	<Leonide>	"Which one? I got several, but they are all at home." Her nose wrinkles.
	* Mary	stalk over to Elmer just before he makes it to the door, ignoring any input from Leonide.
	<Mary>	(ahem)
	* Mary	grab Elise's arm on the way out and grunts. "Come on."
	<Leonide>	She blinks with a little surprise. Okay, new person, this will be awkward. She leads the way to her beat-up old minivan that was her mother's. It has some chew marks.
	<Jim>	well, Mcdonald's it seems to be
	* Elise	yelps a little before keeping pace with Mary.
	<Leonide>	Indeed. She'll get intros once they are driving. Oh, and "Mary, which tape was it again?"
	* Mary	haul themselves into the minivan and grunt with the impact. "Um... ABBA."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The place is empty when you come out of the ball-room. The U of C is known for its gothic architecture, and really the place you're leaving looks more like it was built as a church. The walls are big stone blocks, the windows narrow vertical slits. Outside, the night air is crisp and cold. Steam rises from the grates.
	<Leonide>	"Ah, that one. Yes, I got it."
	<Leonide>	She is rather blissfully unaware, partly due to the delight of winning and the glee she'll have in beating the bunny with something.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Leonide's too concerned with her minivan. But everyone else notices something...that skitters from a pool of light under a streetlamp, into the rising steam from one of the grates alongside the building. There's an audible scrape as the grate's moved. Whatever it was, it wasn't a dog. Too many...legs for that.
	* Mary	grunt and halt closing the shotgun door. "Was that the centipede?"
	* Jim	pulls a :|
	* Jim	puts on his tom thousand face
	<Leonide>	"Huh?" She looks up from her pocket, trying to get keys.
	<Elise>	"Tom?"
	<Leonide>	She is still confused. "Who's Tom?"
	<Jim>	Tom? is that You?
	<Elise>	"He had lots of legs"
	<Elise>	"He talked to me at the party"
	<Leonide>	"Okaaay." >.>
	<Elise>	"And he was a bug"
	<Leonide>	:/ She doesn't like the whole 'not being in the know' thing.
	<Leonide>	"What Court?"
	<Jim>	He seemed ratherJumpy
	<Elise>	"None."
	<Jim>	No court
	<Leonide>	"Ah." ... Her nose screws up again.
	<Elise>	"Are you a servant of a court?"
	<Leonide>	"I am OF a Court, but I'm not a servant."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	There's no response from Jim's query. If it was Tom that disappeared down into the grate, he isn't showing himself.
	<Leonide>	"It's just a bit suspicious, that's all."
	* Elise	shys away. "I'm sorry im sorry..."
	<Leonide>	"It's okay." She shrugs. "I have a temper, but I'm working on it."
	<Elise>	"But tom said people in the courts were servants... I'm confused..."
	<Leonide>	She rolls her eyes.
	<Leonide>	"Maybe you shouldn't ask an outsider about it."
	* Elise	looks sullen.
	* Mary	have no idea what's going on here.
	<Leonide>	"Anyways."
	<Leonide>	"McDonalds' or should we see if we can beat the monarches to the punch?"
	<Mary>	"McDonald's."
	<Elise>	"Who is McDonald?"
	<Leonide>	"It is a place to eat."
	<Leonide>	"Greasy fare." She grimaces, holding on her hands. "I tend to get a milkshake there, and that's all."
	* Mary	wipe a little drool off of their lip. "Meat."
	<Leonide>	"I make perfectly good steak." Now SHE is sulking a bit as she gets into the minvan.
	<Elise>	"Jim?"
	<Mary>	"Not enough fat. Dishes are too clean. Burgers taste like dead animals."
	<Jim>	Mcdonalds... sounds good
	* Elise	's head is spinning as she has no idea of what ot make of all this.
	<Leonide>	"I can get a well marbled one and cook it rare if you want, or do bacon. All you need to do is /ask./ " She is in the driver's seat, waiting for everyone.
	-->|	Leviathan (Leviathan@sux-F8336CC5.war.clearwire-wmx.net) has joined #chicago
	<Jim>	well, come on the, Elise. Let's get in
	* Elise	stumbles a little trying to figure out how to get into the minivan.
	<Leonide>	She gets the ignition on once everyone is in and buckled and settled, heading for the McD.
	* Mary	pull their seatbelt across them with a short grunt. "Still doesn't taste like animals. Too clean. Needs gristle." they say, emphasizing the last word and straining the seatbelt. "Meat."
	* Mary	mouth parts open slightly, gnarled fangs slick with spittle reflecting the passing streetlights and neon signage.
	* Mary	are making a very subtle hissing noise with their throat.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's fairly late and the streets are mostly empty, thanks to the encroaching cold.
	<Leonide>	She is pretty good at driving sometimes, and she asks, "What are your names, anyways?"
	<Jim>	Name's Jim. Jim Cohn
	<Elise>	"My name..." smiles for a moment. "I'm Elise Garratt."
	<Leonide>	She nods. "Leonide Tinderman." She glances over her shoulder for a moment. "And yes, I kept it from that damn rabbit because I don't like him." She rolls her eyes.
	* Elise	takes her jacket off while she's in the car.
	* Mary	hiss "...rabbit..."
	* Mary	try to open the glove compartment.
	<Leonide>	It's easily open, and oh look, Leonide left something chewable there.
	<Mary>	|:[ ]
	<Leonide>	It doesn't looked FINISHED, but it's half-carved into a dragon it looks like.
	* Mary	best the dragon and feast on the spoils.
	* Elise	rubs the back of her neck idly.
	<Leonide>	"You don't care for the bunny either, Mary?"
	* Mary	look over at Leonide, startled out of their revelrie. "Oh. We don't know him. We want some rabbits," they say around a mouthful of dragon wood.
	<Leonide>	"Noted, I'll see about getting some. The trust fund has almost matured, at least..."
	* Mary	punctuate her response by cracking the dragon in half.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Here come the Golden Arches, a glowing bastion of food and warmth in the lap of a smiling clown.
	* Elise	furrows her brow, remembering something.
	<Leonide>	"Drive in or go in?"
	* Mary	picks one of the larger splinters out of her gums.
	<Leonide>	Has no problem giving options when she doesn't give a damn on it.
	* Elise	is unable to place it at the moment.
	* Mary	grunt. "We don't care. They put it in paper anyway."
	<Elise>	"I..."
	<Leonide>	"Hm?" She looks at Elise.
	<Elise>	"Can we go inside?"
	<Leonide>	"Sure." She pulls into a parking spot.
	* Mary	has her seatbelt off before the van even hits the parking lot.
	<Mary>	"Meat."
	* Elise	reluctantly puts her jacket back on.
	<Leonide>	"You'll BECOME meat if you don't keep that seatbelt on until the car's off!" >:< "What if we hit something!"
	<Mary>	"More meat for us," they grunt as they quickly shuffle in, snorting the greasy air happily.
	<Leonide>	"You won't be able to eat if you are /dead./ "
	<Leonide>	She is following Mary like a worried mother.
	<Leonide>	She has her wallet out as well, and stops at the door to make sure the other two get in.
	* Mary	walk straight to the counter and start ordering, keeping her eyes well-hidden under her snarled hair.
	* Elise	follows Mary and Leonide taking in the sights as they tickle the back of her memory.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Inside, the air is warm and rife with the smell of sizzling meat and over-cooked fries. It's dead in there, though, only a single homeless guy sleeping in one of the booths. Behind the counter, manning the register, is a dog.
	<Jim>	makes his mein look like ronald
	* Elise	takes her jacket back off.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Well, not quite a dog. But he's certainly doglike. Black fur, he's kinda got a muzzle, looking sort of like a cross between a goofy, congenial black lab and a human. His nametag reads 'Baskerville.' "Welcome to McDonald's! How can I help you?"
	* Jim	mixes some dog into that ronald
	<Leonide>	"Just a milkshake for me, chocolate swirled with strawberry... And..." She looks at the others.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Baskerville blinks at Jim, momentarily confused. He does that weird headtilt thing dogs do, then begins to ring up the order.
	* Mary	order three double cheeseburgers and a twelve-piece mcnuggets. "And whatever they're having," they say, waving a hand at the others.
	<Jim>	10 piece Chicken Nugget meal, honey mustard and some Spicy Buffulo Snack Wraps, extra sauce
	* Elise	is completely confused.
	<Leonide>	"What are you hungry for, Elise?"
	* Jim	whispers to Elise "Pick some food
	<Mary>	me grunt. "She wants a filet'o'fish and a strawberry shake."
	* Elise	stares the menu unsure of where to begin.
	<Leonide>	She gives a look at Mary.
	<Elise>	"I want a filet'o'fish and a strawberry shake"
	<Leonide>	"..."
	* Mary	continue to stare straight ahead at the food warmer.
	<Leonide>	She still pays.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Baskerville rings it all up, poking at the touch-screen. There's a DING from the back, as something finishes cooking and he looks up, momentarily frozen and alert...then smiles at Leonide. "That'll be 32.94. So didja you guys hear about the missing book? The Doctor came in asking about it and everything, like ten minutes ago."
	* Elise	nods.
	<Leonide>	"We were there when the Three Bosses came in with their underwear in a twist."
	<Leonide>	(er, edit:)
	<Leonide>	With their graves all walked over.
	<Jim>	on that note, what's this Book
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"I should hope so! It's just awful." He looks at Jim like he's daft. "It's what Mr. Long and the others founded the Freehold on, when they all made the first oath together."
	<Elise>	"Why... would someone take that?"
	<Leonide>	"It's a symbol."
	<Elise>	"Symbol?"
	* Jim	glares at the hound, as Mcdogald turns demonic
	* Elise	scoots away from Jim.
	* Jim	releases the Face
	<Leonide>	"Emblem? It represents soemthing, but I'm not the one to ask, I'm a doctor, not a magician."
	<Jim>	Symbols have POWER
	<Elise>	"Ohh... like my collar did..." Elise looks down and mutters something.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"It's more than a symbol, and symbols are powerful things already. That book IS the Freehold, in a way." He blinks again at Jim, blanching at the demonic dog-clown face...but seems to take this as a cue to hurry up with the order. "Um...um, but that's all Ireally...um...really know about it. I'm sure Gabe at the library could tell you more..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He turns and busies himself with getting all that food onto trays.
	<Leonide>	She gives Jim a Look. @#$% Darklings.
	<Leonide>	"Do you really have to do that?"
	* Elise	traces her finger along her neck.
	<Jim>	Do What?
	<Leonide>	She does a gesture that is supposed to be 'putty face.' ... It isn't very effective when the person doing it has stone for skin.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Once he's got all the food assembled, Baskerville slides not one, but FOUR laden trays across to Leonide. Two of the trays are for Mary.
	<Leonide>	She actually balances two of them easily, figuring that Mary will grab her two.
	* Jim	grabs one
	<Leonide>	"Thanks.'
	<Leonide>	She sits down and sips her milkshake, sighing again.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The dog's eyes glaze over, becoming pools of black, as he watches you, that friendly sort of grin fading from his face. He's staring at all of you, but PAST you as well. "Oh...oh my. That's...that's terrible. I'm so...I'm so so sorry..."
	* Jim	looks behind him
	* Elise	looks at Baskerville oddly, "Yes?"
	<Leonide>	She gets up, setting her cup down as she picks up a tray and gets to the dog. She looks about to make sure no one is around before taking the tray in both hands and... WHAM! SMACK over the head. "Snap out of it!"
	<Leonide>	She isn't intending to hurt him, just... knock some Clarity into him.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"So much trouble in your future...pain...death...I'm so sor-" WHAM! He gets clocked between his floppy dog ears. "Ow! Hey!" He rubs the spot on top of his head. "What was that for?"
	<Leonide>	"You were spacing out and sounding really damn off. I thought you were going nuts."
	<Jim>	you were Trancing out
	<Elise>	"What did he do?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Was I? Wow. Sorry about that." He's still rubbing the top of his head. "Hope I didn't scare you." And here he is apologizing for being smacked on the noggin.
	<Leonide>	"Just worried about you." :<
	<Leonide>	"We need to all stick together." She shrugs.
	<Jim>	does it happen Often, Dog Man?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Does what happen often?"
	<Elise>	"His name is Baskerville not dog man..."
	<Jim>	Black eyes, proclaiming our doom?
	<Leonide>	"He wouldn't know if it did, I don't think."
	<Leonide>	"You'd have to ask people, not him."
	* Mary	finishe their disappearing act, making the three burgers disappear in rapid succession.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	His ears fold back. He looks like a dog that's just been scolded. "Your doom? I haven't...I haven't done that in...in a long time. I wouldn't..."
	* Elise	stares at Mary in awe.
	* Mary	keep their eyes on Baskerville and Leonide. "Finish your fish," they grunt to Elise.
	<Elise>	"My fish?" Elise looks around on the tray trying to find the fish sandwhich.
	* Jim	starts chomping down his extra-hot sauce snack wrap
	* Jim	moves on to the next one
	* Elise	bites into the filet-o-fish.
	<Leonide>	"You have done it before? When?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Before...you know...when I wasn't here," he says, looking frightened.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-end session-
-------------------------------------------------------------
CaesarStoryteller>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Our intrepid group mixed and mingled with the rest of the freehold, before an important book was stolen. Then they went to McDonald's.
	<Leonide>	Weee.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The next day, Leonide is at the hospital...
	<Leonide>	And being a good little lab tech in pathology.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	On her walk to the old, gothic building that morning, the season was in full evidence. Skeletons and bats and vampires adorning windows...kids already running about in masks and costumes, hours before mischief night truly begins...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Halloween is here.
	<Leonide>	=_= Joy, the Good Doctor must LOVE it.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Indeed, he does. Even though he strides up in full view of you, Leonide, in the middle of the harsh fluorescent lights the hospital uses, it's as if he were skulking about in the shadows, waiting to pounce.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Good afternoon, Leonide," he intones.
	<Leonide>	"Good afternoon, Doctor."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Even with his mien, he seems more gaunt and birdlike than normal. His sunken eyes, behind his mask hint at a lack of sleep. "I trust you are doing well, despite last nights excitement?"
	<Leonide>	"Seemed calm after leaving. The others I left with said they noticed someone coming out of a grating, a Courtless, but I didn't see who." She is steadily micropipetting something into a disc.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Yes, yes...that's rather why I came to see you," he replies, turning his gaze down to her to work. "Pathology is always so fascinating," he says, and you can hear his silver-needle fingertips clinking together musically. "Like peeling back the layers of a mystery. I see so little of the actual work, down in the morgue."
	-->|	Jim (GateKeeper@sux-B55AF383.estv.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca) has joined #chicago
	<Leonide>	"You might want to talk to Mary about it more." She states distractedly, her jaw clenching just a little. "Or Elise. She talked to the one mentioned. They said something about a centipete."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Tom Thousand? No...no...I don't believe so. We've worked very hard with Tom to...mend his thieving ways. If you believe young Mary or Elise may have more illumination on the subject, then you should bring them with you." He draws back, bringing himself to an impressive, looming height. "The Queens of Summer requested you specifically. They wish to speak with you now. I do hope your...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...experiment can be put on hold."
	<Leonide>	"Let me do one last drop..." There. She stands up, rubbing one eye.
	<Leonide>	"It neecds time now anyways." SHe puts it in an incubator and goes to put her coat on the rack before following.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor only leads Leonide as far as the door of the hospital. "They're in their apartment. If you're going to bring your friends, do so...but make haste." With a sweep of his long coat, he vanishes back into the doorway.
	<Leonide>	She shakes her head, taking out her cell to call home to get Mary.
	<Leonide>	"My Queens want to talk to me, about last night. Since you had better eyes that day, I want you to come along."
	<Mary>	Leonide can hear the vague sound of scraping on the other end as Mary mumble into their side "Are you going to pick us up?"
	<Leonide>	"Of course."
	<Leonide>	She is heading to her car, etc.
	* Mary	grunt. "Is Elise coming too?" Something that probably isn't hope can be heard in their voice.
	<Leonide>	"Stop eating the phone. And I don't have her number. :/ If you have a way to contact her, I'd be happy to bring her along as well."
	* Mary	grunt. "You're out of wood. And your bedroom door is broken."
	<Leonide>	"Remember the deal: No eating anything in my room."
	<Mary>	"It was outside your room. You left it open."
	<Leonide>	"I'm in the car now and I'm about to get going. And I damn well know I left it closed."
	<Leonide>	There's a sudden very threatening note to her voice.
	<Leonide>	"Anyways. I'll be there soon."
	* Mary	grunt. "OK bye."
	* Mary	pause for a minute before their head swivels around the room, locking on the grocery bag that has their meager worldly possessions. Inside is the card with the phone number The Doctor gave her to call him. Maybe he knows Elise's number.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The doctor does indeed know Elise's number, and when Leonide picks Mary up, they're given directions towards the nearby park where the entrance to Jim's hollow is. The Monarchs are nothing if not aware of the few Lost under their care.
	<Leonide>	Leonide glances at the damage to her door with a bit of annoyance before gesturing Mary to come with her.
	* Mary	keep their eyes under their hair the whole time Leonide is inside their home.
	<Leonide>	"Mary, really. You shouldn't attempt loopholes."
	<Mary>	"We needed something harder. The wood is too soft now."
	* Mary	snatches back their hair and reveals their gaping mouth. "They hurt!"
	<Leonide>	"Noted." She rubs her chin. "I was actually going to suggest metal on the phone."
	<Leonide>	"You think steel or graniate will work? The latter will be a bit more expensive, but it may have a different texture."
	* Mary	grunt and mutter "We don't know."
	* Mary	hold up a scrap of paper. "The Doctor gave us directions."
	<Mary>	"To Elise."
	<Leonide>	"I can talk to the scrap yard," She nods as she takes the directions and reads them, "And we can pick up some metal on the way home for you to try."
	* Mary	mutter something inaudible that might possibly have been "bones".
	<Leonide>	"Mrm? ... Oh." She blinks.
	<Leonide>	"Bones aren't as hard as wood, but they may be more fun to chew on for you, you have a point."
	* Mary	remains sulking and silent.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You come upon the park soon enough. A little man made pond in the middle of a field of green. A gazebo here, a war-statue there. It doesn't take you long to recognize what the instructions were speaking of. Alongside the parking area is a long brick wall, forming the boundary of one side of the park.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	On it, the City is fighting a losing battle with local kids and gangs. It gets tagged, they paint it over, it gets tagged again.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	One set of graffiti never seems to get removed, though.
	<Leonide>	Leo just grins at it and is standing there patiently.
	* Jim	walks through a door painted onto the wal
	<Leonide>	"Ah, hello Jim." She has a stony face as she waves.
	* Mary	glances over and sees Jim, but keeps quiet.
	<Jim>	hello
	<Leonide>	"My Queens summoned me and apparently want details about last night. You three (where's Elise?) had better eyes than me then, so I wanted to bring you guys along."
	<Jim>	one momment
	* Jim	traces a face on the wall, and walks through
	* Mary	try doing what Jim just did.
	* Elise	walks out of the door looking somewhat irratated, and bumps into Mary.
	<Elise>	"Aaah, I'm sorry!"
	* Mary	grunt. "Oh. Hi, Elise."
	* Elise	catches her breath, and her wits, "H,hello Mary."
	<Mary>	"We wanted you to come with us. To see The Doctor."
	<Leonide>	"Queens."
	* Jim	pokes his head out
	<Mary>	"About last night."
	<Mary>	"Queens."
	<Leonide>	She nods in agreement.
	<Elise>	"Ok..."
	* Mary	turn their head irritably in the direction of Leonide.
	<Leonide>	"We can go out to eat afterwards if you all want."
	* Elise	looks nervous, wondering if she did anything.
	* Mary	have a brief intake of air at Leonide's words.
	<Jim>	All Right
	<Leonide>	She tries to smile and turns around. "Well, let's go."
	* Mary	glance at Elise and gesture her to come with.
	* Elise	follows.
	* Jim	walks out of the door, wearing a half-checkered, half silver suit, with a red tie and a glowing fedora
	<Leonide>	Once everyone's ready, she drives to the Queens' apartment.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The old brownstone where The Furies live isn't far away. They're up on the third floor, and once they buzz the group in, they're forced to mount the steps all the way to the door.
	<Leonide>	Leonide doesn't mind.
	* Elise	hardly notices troding up 3 flights of stairs.
	* Mary	are panting and gripping the railing with greasy, clutching hands by the time they make it up.
	* Jim	giggles creepily on the way up
	<Leonide>	Leonide is behind Mary to stay with her the whole time.
	* Mary	snap their mouth at Jim if they get the chance.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	At the door, they're greeted by Tisa, the pale Airtouched Queen. She regards the group with impassive eyes, then beckons them into the apartment. "Thank you for being so prompt, Leonide."
	<Leonide>	She nods. "Frankly, I'd rather not risk testing stone against the Elements' Fury."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's quite clearly the apartment of three Elementals. Bare white walls and no furnishings, save for three simple mattresses laid out along one wall of the large front room. The only notable accoutrement hangs above the mantle of the empty fireplace.
	* Elise	nervously looks over the room, sticking close to Mary.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	A spear, the dull color of unpolished brass. And yet it positively radiates with barely contained Wyrd. The weapon of Summer's punishment.
	* Mary	look around with glittering eyes under their hair, unconcerned or unafraid of anything or anyone in the room, until they see the spear.
	<Mary>	"Jeez." they grunt.
	<Leonide>	Leonide bows to Tisa, the other Queens if they are there, and to the spear.
	* Jim	looks at the spear, and his face starts spazzing out
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Alec, the Waterborn nods once at Leonide. "It is our Fury of which we wish you to be the instrument." "You know what was stolen from us? From the Freehold?" asks Meg, sparks of lightning crackling in her gaze.
	<Leonide>	"The book."
	<Jim>	A Symbol
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"The Book," all three breathe at once. "Yes, a powerful symbol. Our Freehold was founded on this book, six pledges of fealty to one another. The book binds us together and protects us," replies Meg, nodding at Jim.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"With the book missing," continues Alec, "We are vulnerable. All of us. It is vital that it be recovered before the turning of the seasons, or the armor that protects us from The Others could fail."
	* Elise	hides behind Mary when The Others are brought up.
	* Mary	doesn't respond to the word, and glances at Elise.
	<Mary>	"Where was it?" Mary ask casually
	<Leonide>	She grimaces.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"The Library," all three reply again. "Under Gabriel's care."
	<Elise>	"I think, Baskerville... mentioned a Gabe last night, at the McDonalds"
	<Elise>	"Are these the same?"
	<Leonide>	She looks back and forth at them, looking a little confused.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Gabriel is the Lorekeeper, our Antiquarian, yes. The book was under his watch."
	<Leonide>	"What happened that night?" Leonide seems thoughtful.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"We are not sure. Gabriel claims to remember nothing," says Tisa. "And we have been kept from our duties as we try, with the other Monarchs, to secure the Freehold again."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Leonide, the one who took The Book must be found. The one who took The Book must be punished. You will help us in this," all three say suddenly. "Before we give you your task, have you any insight to this theft?" The Three stand next to each other, a storm seeming to brew amongst them.
	<Leonide>	She looks at the other three. They had the better eyes.
	<Leonide>	"I remember my... friends, noticing someone leaving oddly, I think they said Tom?"
	<Jim>	we saw legs
	* Mary	grunt. "I saw that centipede."
	<Elise>	"It was Mary and Jim that noticed something."
	<Mary>	"It went into the sewer."
	* Elise	speaks softly, "they said it was the grate... it wonder if it still remembers?"
	<Mary>	"We saw i-" Mary stop and whisper to Elise with baleful breath, "What?"
	* Elise	muses quietly "I've never talked to anything aside from my chains..."
	<Leonide>	?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Legs? Tom Thousand?" Meg hisses. "We knew that Skitterskulk could not be trusted." Tisa and Alec nod. "If he vanished down this...grate...then he can be tracked from there," Alec says, focusing her stare on Elise. "You can speak with the metal?"
	* Elise	nods.
	* Elise	hangs her head in shame, "I'm sorry I didn't ask it last night..."
	<Leonide>	"Hey, it was a busy night and everyone was thinking of food."
	* Elise	lifts her head up and smiles weakly.
	<Leonide>	"So don't make excuses, we can check now."
	<Leonide>	"And you brought it up now, so..." She tries smiling again, only really pulling off a chirp to her voice, "I don't see a reason to say sorry."
	* Elise	almost starts to apologize again, but stops and smiles softly.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Then you speak with the scene, and we shall inquire about Tom Thousand's whereabouts. You have your orders, Knight of Summer."
	<Leonide>	"Yes, ma'am." She bows and waits for the others to leave before bowing to the spear and leaving.
	* Jim	glances at the spear, and shudders
	* Jim	leaves
	* Elise	leaves, feeling somewhat good about herself.
	* Mary	leaves, paying more attention to any boltholes or potential hiding spots than to court protocol.
	<Leonide>	And Leo drives them to the spot again.
	* Mary	get out of the car and root around for a moment or two.
	<Leonide>	Hm.
	<Leonide>	Leonide lets her eyes begin seeing the Dead.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's Halloween night. Of course there are ghosts running about! Look, there go two right now, dressed in bedsheets with holes cut in the eyes.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	But if you mean the unquiet dead...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Yes. There's one. Quiet and hollow eyed, pacing...as much as a ghost can pace...back and forth along a spot near the wall of the building you were in the previous night.
	* Elise	reluctantly puts her jacket back on as she exits the car.
	<Leonide>	She goes to the quiet one, and clears her throat.
	<Leonide>	"Sir, you seem troubled?"
	* Elise	glances to Mary, "Who is Leonide talking to?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The ghost snaps its...his attention towards Leonide. "Y...yes, I can't...I can't seem to...I don't remember where my class is. He looks up and down the walk as if he wanted to bolt in a direction, but can't choose."
	<Leonide>	"What class are you in?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The ghost seems to shudder and tremble, but doesn't speak. It seems difficult, Leonide, for it to communicate.
	<Leonide>	She thinks. "Why don't you take a break from it? You seem so frazzled that you won't be able to take notes."
	<Leonide>	"Listen, I'm trying to find someone, though."
	<Leonide>	"Maybe if you can help me find that someone (and thing), we can find your class."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The manifested ghost buries its hands in its head and shakes again. It looks up at Leonide with pleading eyes.
	<Leonide>	She tilts her head, offering her hand.
	* Elise	watches Leonide, puzzled.
	* Mary	assumes Leonide is on her phone again and is too engrossed in her snooping to notice otherwise.
	* Jim	watches Leonide, and thinks "Hurm...what does she see?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The ghost reaches out to touch Leonide's hand...then promptly de-materializes, gone from the area.
	<Leonide>	"Damn." She clenches her fist.
	<Leonide>	"Fucking ghosts."
	<Elise>	"Ghosts?"
	<Leonide>	She turns back to them, her nose wrinkled.
	<Jim>	ah
	<Leonide>	"Yes."
	<Leonide>	She points at her eyes. "I can see the dead. One of the two things I picked up during my game with Death."
	<Elise>	"Ohh."
	* Jim	looks uncomfortable
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary, meanwhile, has been busily snuffling about and she easily finds the scent of some...thing...leading down to the grate where you saw the many-legged form vanish.
	* Elise	shuffles around for a moment before speaking up, "I'm going to need something to clean the metal with... thats always how I got my chains to speak with me, they liked to be clean and shiney."
	<Leonide>	"I have some rags in my trunk, let me get them."
	<Elise>	"That would work."
	* Mary	grunt. "No."
	<Elise>	"No?"
	* Mary	get down on their hands and knees and peer at the grate with a wrinkled nose and slitted eyes.
	<Jim>	Do we know that it was Tom?
	<Leonide>	She walks over to check on what Mary is seeing.
	<Mary>	"We can smell it."
	<Mary>	"It's not the centipede."
	* Mary	scrapes a little fall debris off the grate and licks it out of her nail.
	<Jim>	what is it then?
	<Leonide>	"What is it?"
	<Mary>	"We don't know what it smells like."
	<Mary>	"Not Tom."
	<Elise>	"Should we follow it?"
	<Leonide>	"Describe it?"
	* Mary	tug on the grate to see if it gives.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The grate gives way easily.
	<Mary>	"It smells like a TV. And a person."
	* Mary	scrapes a little more leafy matter off to chew on thoughtfully. "You can clean it up now."
	<Elise>	"I don't think it likes being taken from its duties Mary..."
	<Mary>	"We need it open to go through it, don't we?"
	* Mary	look at Jim. "Or don't we?"
	<Elise>	"But its there to keep things out... it's rude to do that to it and ask favors of it at the same time."
	<Leonide>	She goes to get a rag to help Elise while she is thinking.
	* Mary	grunt in slight annoyance. "Well, we want to go through it."
	<Mary>	"...Fine."
	<Leonide>	"Wait a few."
	* Mary	sit down in a huff.
	<Leonide>	"Let her talk to it then we can go."
	* Elise	smiles at Mary. "Thank you."
	* Elise	turns toward the grate as she begins to clear away some of the leaves from it. "I'm sorry for Mary picking you up like that, you have a job to do right."
	* Elise	makes small with the grate, chatting idly about the weather as she continues to clean away the debris from it before polishing it over with the rag.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The grate looks much, much cleaner thanks to Elise's care. But it remains ever silent. Maybe it's already mad that it got dislodged by the first person to go through it.
	* Elise	glares at Mary.
	* Mary	are still sulking under their hair.
	* Jim	walks behind leonide, and reaches towards her hair
	<Mary>	"Can we go through it now?" they ask flatly.
	<Elise>	"I'm sorry Mary... maybe its still mad at the first person to go through."
	<Mary>	"So is The Doctor."
	<Leonide>	She takes a step forward.
	* Mary	try to smile at Elise.
	<Leonide>	"Jim, you really can't."
	* Jim	freezes
	<Leonide>	She actually shakes her head VICIOUSLY.
	* Jim	sighs...
	<Leonide>	And not a strand falls loose.
	<Leonide>	"Statue."
	* Elise	looks curiously at the two.
	<Leonide>	"Maybe you should say sorry for Mary and try again?"
	* Mary	shift their grin to the grate.
	<Jim>	I just wanted to be able to find you more Easily if I needed to
	<Leonide>	"If you have a chisel you can try hacking a piece off."
	<Jim>	you aren't annoyed?
	<Leonide>	"Well, you gave your reason."
	<Jim>	ah
	<Leonide>	"Why not go down into the sewer? There's bound to be metal down there."
	<Jim>	well, perhaps later you could give me a lock
	* Elise	looks downcast, "It didn't want to talk... it'd be rude to pester it..."
	<Elise>	"Maybe something down- down there would know"
	* Mary	starts to say something but stops before anything beyond an inhalation. "We think you're right, Elise."
	* Mary	squat down and pull the grate up again.
	* Elise	mouthes "sorry" to the grate.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It opens up easily. The air coming out of the hole in the ground is much warmer than the chill November night.
	<Jim>	then let us enter the reaking tunnels
	* Mary	squint their eyes against the rising warm air and descend gleefully to the Hunt.
	<Leonide>	She heads down as well, looking about for something she can pick up.
	* Elise	nervously follows after Mary
	* Elise	,noticing the warmth, takes her jacket off and ties it around her waist.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Down you go. The path leads in and under the building, down into a low, long tunnel. It's just high enough to stand up in, but it's cramped with the old, rusing pipes that run along the sides of the brickwork.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It doesn't stink, though.
	<Jim>	follows
	* Mary	walk into the tunnel, unafraid. Just like old times, only without the muffled shouts and cries from beyond thick walls. Not even a rat.
	* Elise	clings closley behind Mary, the reaction ingrained into her mind.
	<Leonide>	"Well, Law will love these."
	* Mary	mutters "We're sorry about your grate, Elise."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	There's some rebar on the ground, stacked up against a wall in a messy pile. Probably forgotten by some maintenance worker.
	<Elise>	"It's ok."
	* Leonide	kneels down to pick up one and looks very childlike and happy. ^_^
	<Leonide>	"I has a weapon now."
	* Mary	don't hear from twenty feet ahead as they sniff around for more of that TV smell.
	<Elise>	"Whats... down here?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary's nose leads you down the path unerringly. Not that there's much of way to go. It's mostly one long, low tunnel. The pipes often branch out, but they go through passages far too small to be explored by the likes to you.
	<Mary>	"Water and metal and plastic. And TV-smell."
	<Mary>	"Maybe homeless people."
	<Elise>	"What a TV smell like?"
	<Leonide>	"Staticy? If you stay over at my house, you can smell the one we have."
	<Mary>	"Sharp. Like thunderstorms."
	<Elise>	"Hmm... oh ok"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The tunnel narrows subtly, and the pipes lead through a wall. Offset next to the pipes, there's a old door, metal and corroded, almost hanging off its hinges. It's not shut...you could pull it open with an easy tug.
	* Mary	grunt and stop.
	* Elise	bumps into Mary.
	* Mary	look around for anything else or any place to hide.
	<Leonide>	Leo looks at Elise as if to say "Talk to it?"
	<Elise>	"Does the smell go into the door?"
	<Mary>	"Smells like it."
	<Leonide>	"I think you should talk to it, Elise." She whispers.
	<Elise>	"The door is pretty rusty though..."
	* Mary	s eyes glitter in the near-dark from the shadows of the corner. "You can talk to it, Elise."
	<Mary>	"We won't go through it."
	* Elise	walks up to door and runs her hands down the corroding surface. "You look like you've been neglected here in the dark with no to take care of you"
	* Elise	takes the rag again and begins to polish whatever surfaces she can, "They haven't even put you on your hinges properly..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	To you, Elise, the door seems to purr with pleasure at being treated so nicely. If you're going to ask it a question, you can do so right now...
	<Elise>	"I'll be sure to tell someone to come give you the attention you need. If you would, could you tell me if a person an electric presence has been through you recently?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	A rush of sensory information runs through your mind, Elise. It's all...touch, things that have brushed past it. You get the briefest glimpses of rats and roaches wriggling under it, but the door seems to know that's not what you want. It focuses in swiftly on the only other thing to go through it...and you get a clear impression of many legs, spindly twitching hands. It's impossible not to...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...tell who it feels like, despite what Mary's nose said. It definitely looked like Tom Thousand.
	<Elise>	"Thank you for your help."
	* Elise	turns toward the rest of the motley, "It feels like Tom, the centipede, was the last person through here"
	<Leonide>	Leonide seems unsurprised.
	<Leonide>	"COuld you thank it for us?"
	* Mary	grunt. "It wasn't Tom."
	<Jim>	hurm
	<Elise>	"I told it we'd send someone down to fix it up," looks over to Mary, "but what the door showed me felt like it was Tom."
	<Leonide>	"I think he may be using Contracts on this, and I have had the Queens and the Doctor mention he is a thief."
	* Mary	raise a fist to bang into the door, but holds it and breathes hard at Elise.
	<Mary>	"OK, fine. Can we open it now?" Mary try to tone their words down by the end of their abrupt question.
	<Elise>	"Just be nice to it."
	<Leonide>	"You can open it."
	<Elise>	"Leonide, could you help me later on getting someone to fix the door."
	<Leonide>	She nods.
	<Leonide>	"I can mention it to the Doctor and see what we can do, or... I could do it myself, really."
	* Elise	smiles at Leonide in the gloom.
	* Leonide	is grinning back.
	<Leonide>	"I'm a Wizened, no matter how much of a Gravewright I am."
	* Mary	refrain from saying anything as they put a hand on the door and tug it open.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Behind the door...is more tunnel. The pipes continue onwards. As you follow them, the tunnel air grows more and more fetid and hot. Steam doesn't seem to be just in the pipes any more...it's hanging in the air in front of you, wrapping about your features in a clinging cloud.
	* Elise	gently closes the door behind them once everyone is through.
	* Mary	pull their hair back away from their face for the second time that day and bare their teeth.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The pipes too seem...odder than normal. They're no longer taking a straight path along the side of the walls. They're starting to weave about, and seem patched and bolted crudely as they spiral crookedly along the tunnel walls.
	<Elise>	"I... don't like this place..."
	* Mary	look at the floor in front of them.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As you progress further and further down the tunnel...you notice barbed wire lining the pipes, curling like vines...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Wait...no...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Those are thorns.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-end-

CaesarStoryteller>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The intrepid heroes recovered the golden idol from the Thuggee cult, but found themselves dangling over the Gorge of Madness, the rope fraying one strand at a time.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Wait, no. They followed the Summer Queens' orders and went into the steam tunnels under the campus. At some point they realized they'd blundered into the hedge.
	<Leonide>	Leonide just facepalms.
	* Elise	clings to Mary nervously, "...thethe th-thorns..."
	* Mary	nose begin whistling air through it, increasing in tempo as her shoulders begin to hitch. A low moan crawls out of her barely-parted mouth.
	* Mary	flinches and bares her fangs at Elise!
	* Mary	snap their jaw shut and glare around, faintly shaking.
	* Elise	stumbles backwards.
	* Mary	hiss "Sorry," toward Elise and take a step backward themself.
	<Leonide>	She sighs. "Well, we have to go in either way."
	<Leonide>	She has the wooden plank she had grabbed over her shoulder casually.
	* Elise	nods nervously.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Behind you, Elise...the door you came through seems to have vanished. There's nothing but a tangled mass of barbed wire thorns, woven against a concrete wall. Luminous graffiti spells out alien looking symbols.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary, the scent you were following leads onward, nonetheless. Leonide's right. You'll have to go in.
	<Elise>	"The door! Where'd it go?"
	<Leonide>	"Seems like we were in the hedge a bit ago."
	* Mary	draw in a huge breath through their nose and let it out softly. "Shoes," they mutter.
	* Elise	looks at Mary meekly, "Sh-shoes?"
	<Mary>	"That's how they find you."
	<Mary>	"Blood in your shoes."
	<Elise>	"I'm not bleeding though"
	* Mary	stiffen. "Everyone bleeds."
	<Leonide>	"Let's keep following the trail."
	* Mary	creep forward, fangs bared, frithing the air in front of their face.
	<Leonide>	Leonide takes the rear, looking over her shoulder warily.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	A sound freezes you all in your tracks for a brief second: the skittering of claws on bare concrete, echoing down the tunnels. It sounds far off, but before you can get a lock on it, one of the steam pipes lining the walls rumbles and rattles loudly.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	When it settles, it's silent again.
	* Mary	snap their face upward, sending greasy tangled hair flaring out.
	<Leonide>	"Stay calm, Mary."
	* Elise	trembles, pulling her arms up to her chest.
	<Mary>	"Shoes and flags, shoes and flags..." Their attention slowly drops back down to the tunnel in front of them.
	* Mary	sag into a hunch and plod forward slowly.
	<Elise>	"No- no where to go but forward..." Elise whispers
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elise is wrong, though. Further ahead, the tunnel branches into a four-way intersection. The steams pipes that had been twisting along the walls of the tunnel spread out like a spider-web. The largest ones curve off to the right, with a twined mass of rickety pipes, laced with metallic thorns, leading in the other two directions.
	<Leonide>	"What do you smell, Mary?"
	* Mary	stop up short before the branching and peep cautiously around down the passages.
	* Elise	looks over the intersection, "which way Mary?"
	* Mary	curl their lips up and flare their nostrils.
	<Leonide>	Leonide is quietly listening for any other intrusion.
	* Elise	holds the chains on her cuffs still.
	* Mary	grind their teeth together. Were anyone able to see their eyes under the mat of scraggly, tawny hair, they could see their pupils swell arhythmically as her bent, magicked brain takes in the fetid air of the sewer-turned Hedge. Their first few steps forward are automatic, as their stance lowers.
	* Mary	drift forward, dragging one hand softly along the wall while the other clenches and releases.
	<Mary>	A thin string of drool makes a soft *pat* as it settles against the dusty ground.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The air in the steam tunnel is hot and damp, though it doesn't reek like a sewer might. It's just heavy with the scent of wet concrete and stone and...something else indescribable. However, Mary's talented nose picks up the ozone trail clearly enough. It curves away from the main branch of pipes and heads off in the other direction, to the left.
	|<--	Leonide has left xen.thisisnotatrueending.com (Ping timeout)
	-->|	Leonide (chatzilla@sux-2D0E507C.san.res.rr.com) has joined #chicago
	<CaesarStoryteller>	From that same direction, to the left...Leonide and Elise hear the skittering sound once more. Still echoing, but closer. Mary is too wrapped up in the scent to even notice.
	* Mary	chuff.
	<Leonide>	"To the left?"
	* Elise	nods, "we go left."
	* Mary	look back, glassy-eyed. "Coming?"
	<Leonide>	"Yes."
	* Elise	gets back to hovering safely behind Mary.
	* Leonide	is behind Elise and Sir-Not-In-Session.
	* Mary	toss their hair back out of their face and shuffle alongside the wall. "Close."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The tunnel seems to go on forever in that direction, and the thorns are encroaching. Deeper and deeper still.
	* Mary	flinch and draw their hand back as it runs over a thorn.
	* Mary	grunt. "Shoes."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Then, all three of you hear the sudden clatter of claws on concrete, right behind you! Everyone wheels at the same time, and you come face to face with monstrous rat. Patched, mangy brown fur. A sickening scaled pink tail. And an eerily human face that hisses balefully at you.
	<Leonide>	"Oh come the HELL ON." Leonide lifts up her plank and just rushes the rat with a grin that is more of baring teeth. "You're going to meet a nap time!"
	<Leonide>	There's a sharp CRACK on the rat's shoulder.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The hedgerat squeals angrily and skitters to the side from the smarting hit!
	<Mary>	By now Mary's senses are trembling, and when the rat makes itself known the only thing that stops them from immediately tearing into it is the distance between the two. By the time they cover it in two bounding leaps (impressive distance for such a stocky girl), the rat-thing has already been able to edge away!
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The rat-thing hisses again, brandishing crooked incisors that are almost growing through the roof of it's mouth.
	|<--	Elise has left xen.thisisnotatrueending.com (Quit: Leaving)
	-->|	Elise (RAWKLAWBST@sux-D61BF797.hsd1.tn.comcast.net) has joined #chicago
	* Elise	steps backwards, unsure of what to do as Mary lunges toward the rat beast, her eyes darting over the tunnel and the twisted thorn ridden wire looking for anything she can do to help.
	* Elise	notices a pieces of rope nestled with in the barbed wire and without hesitation thrusts her hand into the metal barbs for it.
	* Elise	clenches her jaw and winces at the all to familiar and exciting pain as she pulls her hand back with her prize, her hand laced with brilliant jagged red marks where the metal sawed into her flesh, blood trickling out from the cuts.
	<Elise>	Though by the time she has he hand back out the injuries have began to fade.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The rat crouches and springs at the nearest, smallest target. Poor little Mary who tried to wrap her arms (and teeth) around the thing. It lashes out at her with its wicked claws.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The rat slashes down Mary's arm, leaving a trail of bloody marks and a ragged tear in her clothes.
	* Mary	hiss and shriek as the scent of blood and viscera flood their nose.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim Cohn's features shudder and change as he focuses on the rat, trying to force it to fear the group...but to no effect at all. It bristles angrily.
	<Leonide>	Leonide uses the opening made by Mary to tower over the rat, tilting her plank in such a way to starting hitting again, her face cold with anger.
	<Leonide>	Another fearsome crash as she hits it... the plank may not be able to last...
	* Mary	stand in a daze, their minds taken back to the land of blood and stones and smoke leaden with the fat of damned children. The exhalation of blood from their near-friend's plank snaps their feral mind in that direction and they lunge at it, fangs bared, hands like hooks!
	* Mary	grab the sickening creature by its filthy fur and dig their hands in, grabbing fists of skin in a deathgrip!
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The hedgerat squeals and writhes, terror briefly lighting up in its beady black eyes.
	* Elise	looks down at the small red cuts on her right hand before glacing back up at the rat thing, clenching her hand around the rope. "I want to share this pain-" the rope bristles and thorns begin to sprout out of it.
	* Elise	recalls the countless times she has been whipped, "...this time i'll be the one delivering it..." Elise murmurs as she lashes out the thorny rope at the rat.
	<Elise>	The ropes slaps against the hide of the beast, the thorns lashing into the beasts hide through its mangey fur.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Writhing madly after the lash, the rat makes a desperate bid to break free of Mary's grip. But her stubby fingers remain latched in its scabrous fur. It can't get away without losing its hide!
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim Cohn notices right away the rat's not going anywhere. He simply takes the four steps forward he needs...and kicks the rat solidly in the ribs. It squeals in pain, eyes rolling in its almost human face, tail whipping dirt off the concrete.
	<Leonide>	She has a small grin as she lifts the plank one last time, and sets the plank on its face before viciously smashing her foot into the hedgerat's face with the weight of stone backing up her anger.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The rat's writing and squealing stops after that first stomp. A thick, black ichor...blood?...starts leaking from under the board.
	* Leonide	isn't going to stop until the board won't go any lower.
	* Elise	watches with grim fascination.
	* Mary	wrench their jaw open as they push the rat into the floor and lunge down savagely, oblivious to the pounding of the other's foot. Their teeth sink in to its dirty flesh, they feel its wiry bristling hair jut into their gums, and the dirty ichor doesn't taste like sewage. It tastes like love, and lust, and hunger, and the thrill of tearing something apart in the worst ways.
	<Leonide>	Leonide's survival instinct gets her foot out of the way in time, at least.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	That rat tries to squeal again, but the sound is wet and filled with blood. Feeble and weak, it lunges inward, as if it could bite Mary, but it can't reach with its weakly gnashing fangs.
	* Mary	tear away with its flesh dangling from their teeth and glares at it, watching it die as they gnash its bloody outers.
	* Mary	open their jaw wide, releasing a soft exhalation from the back of their throat as a rivulet of blood runs out from between two ruinous fangs to patter on the dirt.
	<Mary>	Their eyes glisten with tears of ecstacy.
	* Leonide	doesn't bother picking up the plank.
	* Elise	stares with her eyes wide, she's seen many ways of torture but nothing quite like this before.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Before Mary can fully tear into the dead hedgerat, a voice suddenly rings out. "My, that was quite the gruesome sight, eh Mssr. Scabgut?" "Oh, quite, quite Mssr. Spindleshank. A rather bloody way to make a meal." Down the tunnel, there are two forms, barely illuminated. One short, squat, and bulging. The other tall, gangly, and multi-legged.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-end-

CaesarSalad>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle, our intrepid heroes plumbed the depths of the Hedge in the steam tunnels underneath the campus. Pressing onward, they tracked their quarry, but were ambushed by a vicious Hedge Rat.
	<CaesarSalad>	With their combined might, they stomped the rat into the ground and feasted on its blood. Well, at least one of them feasted. And that only lasted long enough for the group to be ambushed once again, this time by two Hobs, Mssrs. Spindleshank and Scabgut.
	<CaesarSalad>	The short, squat hob steps into the small circle of illumination provided by Jim's ensemble. Its eyes glitter like a cat's in the light - no wonder they don't need light of their own. He's bulging, quivering with pouches of fat all over his body, making his otherwise prim and proper attire look disheveled. "Lost, are we?"
	* Mary	flick their head up from the giant rat's blood-splashed fur with a snap.
	<Leonide>	"Not at all," Leonide states with a smile, swinging the bat over her shoulder.
	* Elise	steps back behind Leonide and Mary.
	* Elise	mutters meekly "Mary knows the way."
	* Jim	twitches to attention, as though he had been somewhere else
	* Mary	push their hands into the spiney hairs of the rat-thing and rise to a crouch.
	<Mary>	"Go away," they hiss in a rasping voice, sending a fleck of black ichor out past their lips.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Funny," says the tall and spindly one, stepping closer as well. Even with the low ceiling, he someone seems to loom, peering down with lamp-like eyes above a small, upturned nose. "You seem Lost to me, as if you don't properly belong, isn't that so, Mssr. Scabgut?" "Indeed, Mssr. Spindleshanks," replies the fat one. "Especially if they're being lead by the hungry one, there."
	<Jim>	Go PlAy TrIcKs On SoMeOnE ELSE
	<Leonide>	"Oooh." Leonide grins slightly. "See, there's a thing. Lost has two meanings... Sort of like 'beat it' does too."
	* Mary	wipe their mouth on a dirty sleeve and stand up, casting their eyes around the gloom of the pipes and barbed wire for anyone else slithering up to them.
	* Jim	's face twitches out for a moment
	<CaesarSalad>	"Tricks?" says Spindleshanks, its many legs shifting about. "You've hardly given us a reason to trick you. On a night like this, certain rules have to be followed." "Ancient rules, rituals really. The rites of request and exchange..."
	<Leonide>	"Unfortunately, there's no Autumn Lost here." She tilts her head. "We are seeking a second Lost."
	* Jim	shifts until he resembles a patchwork clown of makeup and bleeding flesh
	* Mary	bare their teeth and snort, drawing in air and smelling for traces of the TV smell they've been following on the two horrid newcomers. Not too close, though. Their heart rate is up as brief flashes of being dragged off by two similar monsters starts to come back.
	<Jim>	LEave US Be, THINGS
	* Elise	nods emphatically
	<CaesarSalad>	"Ahh, so you are looking for a handout, is that it? There's a proper manner for these things" whispers Scabgut to Leonide, tugging at his frock self-importantly. Then Spindleshanks pokes at his compatriot's shoulder to direct his attention to Jim. "Oooh, look at that! He tried to trick us already..."
	* Mary	snorts again.
	<Leonide>	"Not a handout, simply your presence out of the way." Her face is deadpan.
	<Leonide>	"The only trick I have is the same one I did to a bag of bones, and it wasn't pretty."
	* Elise	looks confused, "thats not a trick, he does that all the time."
	* Mary	grunt and glower at them with red eyes and blood-smeared face. "You're in our way. The smell is going away."
	<CaesarSalad>	Scabgut rolls his glittering little eyes and grins at the taller hob. "Thick ones, aren't they? Oh well, guess we could be on our way, Mssr. Spindleshanks." "True, true. Even if we might have had something of interest to a motley little band like theirs. Never get a treat, if you don't ask properly, though."
	<Leonide>	"We are sorry for our rudeness, but we really would like to get going."
	<Leonide>	"Unless you want Mary to make one of you disappear, but that may not be a good idea."
	* Mary	continue to glare at them sullenly.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Oh, that's right doubtful," intones Scabgut, waddling off they way he came. The long legged, many-limbed Spindleshanks lingers, eying the rat on the on the ground. "Were you...planning on finishing that?"
	* Leonide	goes to pick up the leftovers and gives it to Spindleshanks.
	<Leonide>	"As I said before, we are in a hurry." She bows. "Farewell and sorry. Perhaps another time."
	<CaesarSalad>	He bends down lower and grabs the carcass in his tiny little arms. "Well, your loss, our gain. Couldn't turn out better, mmm?" And he lopes off as well.
	* Jim	mutters something. "...Goblins...can't trust them...never what they appear
	<Leonide>	She shrugs.
	<Leonide>	"Let's get this over with."
	* Mary	's head start to drift in the direction of the trailing blood spatter, before jerking with a start and snorting the air for the tangy smell that brought them down here.
	<Mary>	"We bit a goblin once."
	* Jim	unconciously releases the face
	<Elise>	"I saw some Goblins once when my old M-..." Elise stops abruptly her face tensing up in fear.
	* Leonide	pats Elise's arm gently.
	<Leonide>	"Just call it 'That Motherfucker' or something like that."
	* Jim	says, in a rare moment of lucidity "We all have bad memories..."
	* Elise	just shakes her head softly.
	* Mary	grunt something that sounds like 'butcher' and drag a dirty, sticky-red hand along the wall, avoiding the thorns and barbed wire.
	<Leonide>	"I didn't have memories of that." She shook her head. "I didn't even know it happened until it was over."
	* Mary	snort and hold perfectly still for a moment, head tilted quizically. They turn with a start and briefly embrace Elise with both hands. "You smell like afraid," they hiss before pushing away and rapidly shuffling down the hall away from the vanished hobs.
	* Elise	nods at Mary and brings her hand to her mouth and begins to suck on one of the larger lacerations on her hand.
	* Mary	raise their face to the low cloying ceiling and snort again, as their shuffling feet scuff dust around them.
	<Mary>	The footsteps lighten until Mary's feet are silently plodding, and the dim footsteps vanish completely.
	<CaesarSalad>	Mary leads you further and further down the tunnel, though it's as if her feet aren't even touching the floor. It's getting harder to even tell where she's walking.
	<Leonide>	Leonide is still keeping up the rear at this point.
	* Elise	stays close to Leonide.
	<CaesarSalad>	The trail comes to an abrupt halt, a sudden dead end. Nothing more that a blank, brick wall framed by the matte-gray barbs of the metal thorns lining this part of the hedge. No doubt it sends Mary into a fit of confusion, because the smell goes here. Right here. It doesn't go anywhere else! As you mill about, Jim...Leonide...you catch something off in the darkness the way you came, hugging...
	<CaesarSalad>	...against the wall. Glittering eyes, like a cat, stalking you.
	<Leonide>	Leonide turns around and NAILS it with her improvised weapon.
	* Mary	stop with their nose an inch from a spike of rusty barbed wire and snort angrily.
	* Jim	bristles slightly
	<CaesarSalad>	Leonide, your weapon CLATTERS against the ground. But the eyes...far off in the distance...pause for a moment. Then saunter closer.
	<Leonide>	She waits quietly, staring right back.
	* Mary	pound their fists angrily into bare spots on the wall and grimace, red-faced from exertion. At the sound of the baseball bat landing they turn back where the others should be.
	<Leonide>	Still waiting.
	<CaesarSalad>	Nearer...nearer still, the eyes bob at about headlevel, close to the walls, glowing in the reflected, dim light. And then...
	<CaesarSalad>	A slate gray tabby-cat slinks down one of the pipes on the wall, staring intently at all of you. It hops down to the ground, nimble as you please.
	<Leonide>	"What's new, pussy cat?"
	* Elise	stares at the cat tensely from behind Leonide.
	* Jim	looks at the cat suspiciously
	<CaesarSalad>	The cat slinks up, threading its way through your legs, tail held high and jaunty. It passes through the group, to the bare blank wall, and then turns and sits on its haunches. "I hate that joke," the tabby says, in a pleasant, deep voice.
	* Elise	moves away from the cat as it passes by her.
	<Jim>	shifts to be catlike
	<Leonide>	"I get tired of statue jokes too." She smiles.
	<Jim>	GOBl...in...?
	<Mary>	"Where's the centipede-man?" Mary ask dourly to no one in particular.
	<Elise>	"What-whats going on?"
	<Leonide>	"Since you want to avoid the joke, care to say a name we can call you by?"
	* Jim	is a suspicious lolcatman
	<CaesarSalad>	"I'm no more a goblin than you," he replies to Jin, turning an appraising eye to the feline-esque features. "I simply try to keep the rodent population down around these parts, so I felt I owed you all a note of thanks." The tabby lifts a little paw and licks it, rubbing it across his ears once. "Call me what you will, I've little need for a name of my own."
	<CaesarSalad>	Then the feline turns its gaze on Mary. "Centipede-man? Oh, he's no longer around. He used the door."
	<Leonide>	"Then Knight, I suppose will do." She looks a little annoyed after the cat tells what he knows.
	* Mary	grunt and sniff the direction of the cat. "We don't see a door. And you're a cat."
	<Jim>	IS THat sHApe your own?
	<Leonide>	"Mary, it means a door has to be made, I think."
	* Mary	turn around and rap the wall again.
	<Mary>	"We could make a door," they mutter quietly.
	<Elise>	"Did someone take your name?" Elise asks the cat as Mary serches the wall.
	* Jim	looks hard at the wall
	<CaesarSalad>	"And you're covered in rat blood," he replies to Mary, "And woefully ill-equipped for exploration. You don't even know the ways in or out." The cat preens himself again, taking care with the little 'M' shape on his forehead. "Knight, I like that. And no, like I said, what need do I have for a name? Useless baggage..."
	* Elise	frowns at the last comment.
	<CaesarSalad>	"If you have a name, can't it be used against you?" the cat asks Elise.
	* Elise	ponders for a moment.
	<CaesarSalad>	On the floor Mary, Elise, Leonide...there's a single, broken piece of chalk almost hidden in the shadows in a corner.
	<CaesarSalad>	And on the wall, a faint, dusty outline.
	* Mary	rap another dirty fist on the wall, harder this time.
	<Leonide>	Leonide picks it up. "I knew it."
	<Mary>	"Hey!"
	<Leonide>	"Hm?"
	* Mary	push some wire and branches away from the wall.
	* Elise	's attention is broken away from the question when she sees the outline in the wall.
	<Mary>	"Like Beetlejuice," Mary grunt.
	<Leonide>	"A knight is a good piece in my favorite game." She smiled. "Thank you for the time, Knight. Perhaps we'll see each other game."
	<CaesarSalad>	"Perhaps," he intones. A smirk in his voice, if not in his face.
	<Leonide>	She goes to the wall and traces the outline.
	<CaesarSalad>	You trace the rough outline of a door and...nothing happens.
	* Mary	smack the palms of their fists into the door.
	<Leonide>	"Do any of us know Dream?"
	* Elise	stares quizizcally at the wall.
	<Elise>	"Dream?"
	<Mary>	"Whaddyou mean?"
	<Leonide>	"It's a Contract."
	* Mary	mutter "You gotta draw a doorknob, Leonide."
	* Mary	tug on Leonide's sleeve.
	<Leonide>	She does so.
	<Leonide>	"I hear, I hear."
	<Jim>	...OPen SESame...?
	<CaesarSalad>	The cat...Knight...laughs - as much as a cat can - when the door still fails to open. His tail taps against the ground.
	* Mary	glower at the cat. "Don't laugh at us."
	* Elise	turns back toward the cat, "Does... Knight know how to open the door?"
	<CaesarSalad>	"It's not a *magic* door. Not until you...invest yourselves and make it one."
	<Leonide>	"Hey, if you knew something and they didn't.... Oh."
	<Leonide>	"I can't do it, I'm running low."
	* Mary	stare dimly from Leonide to the cat, uncomprehending of everything they're saying.
	* Elise	thinks for a moment.
	<Jim>	...I'll do it
	* Elise	walks up the door and places her hand on it.
	* Jim	bites his finger, presses it against the door, and concentrates
	* Mary	cross their arms and watch.
	* Elise	backs off when Jim approaches.
	<CaesarSalad>	The wall shudders and the barbed wire seems to curl back out of the way. A shower of dust rains on Jim as the bricks shift, mortar giving way to a yawning portal. You can hear the sounds of traffic. "Better," says the cat.
	<Elise>	"This is a... strange door..."
	* Mary	give the cat a half-scowl, exposing a slight gleam of jagged fang.
	* Elise	begins to nurse on her injured hand again.
	<Leonide>	"Farewell, Knight."
	* Elise	nods farewell to the cat.
	<Leonide>	"I may come hunting sometime for the sake of practice too." She grins as she heads out of the Thorns.
	<CaesarSalad>	"It's a strange place," Knight replies to Elise, and begins to saunter back down the tunnel. "Farewell." And then, a few feet away, the tabby stops, and turns...fixing his eyes on Jim. "One moment."
	* Jim	is... Wary
	<CaesarSalad>	The cat's tail flicks at the dust. "He wants to kill you, you know," he says, looking right at the still cat-like Jim. "You especially, but...all of you, in the end."
	* Jim	turns sheet white
	* Jim	whispers "...the clown of raw flesh...?"
	* Elise	shivers, "Who?"
	<Leonide>	She seems unsurprised. "Meh, if I die, that just means I'll get to fight Earlier than I thought."
	* Jim	is downright featureless
	* Elise	moves over to Jim, "Whats wrong? Who is Knight talking about?"
	<CaesarSalad>	At that question, the cat only grins. Its eyes glitter in the dark once more. Then he continues, as if ignoring Jim, now. "As to the one you were following, I doubt you'll be able to pick up his trail from this place but...well...when the wayward children returned to the city, so did the market. Maybe you can find what you're looking for there?"
	<CaesarSalad>	And with that, he slinks off.
	<Leonide>	She sighs, shaking her head.
	* Jim	walks through the door, oblivious to his surroundings and his companions
	* Mary	pulls on Leonide's sleeve again. "What market?" they whisper.
	<Leonide>	"The goblin market."
	<Leonide>	"I'd think."
	<Elise>	"Whats a goblin market?"
	<Leonide>	"A place Changelings and hobgoblins and other things buy and sell."
	<CaesarSalad>	There's a brief moment of darkness...transition...and then the far-off sounds of traffic suddenly coalesce as you all exit through a rusty gate between two buildings.
	<Leonide>	"But right now... we should think about eating, don't you?"
	* Elise	still shaken from the cat's comments, "what kind of things?"
	<Leonide>	"All sorts."
	<CaesarSalad>	Elise is too concerned with the markets to notice, but the rest of the group picks it up rather quickly. It's daylight, which probably means it's November 1st. And you're on the far North side of Chicago, a good hour on bus and train back to the campus.
<CaesarStoryteller>	-end-

<CaesarStoryteller>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle, the daring crew didn't trust a couple of Hobs but put all their faith in a sarcastic cat. There's just no accounting for some folks. They came out of the hedge mostly unscathed, but empty-handed, and on the far side of the city. After a jaunt back to campus, the group is left with a few choices on what to do. There is talk of the fabled Goblin Market...
	<Leonide>	Leonide seems disinterested and drained from the night's adventures either way.
	* Mary	seem dazed from their time in the Hedge. A smear of blood, both the black ichor of the rat-thing and their own is washed across their cheek and mats their hair.
	<Leonide>	"I think we should all just go home and talk in the morning."
	<Leonide>	"Because any extra adventures tonight will involve me starting a riot, I swear it."
	* Mary	cast wary eyes at their roommate.
	* Elise	nods, looking around for Jim but failing to find him anywhere.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim is, for the moment, gone. Mirrorskins are like that.
	<Leonide>	"We are still stopping at a butcher's and picking up meat."
	<Leonide>	"Just don't mind me if I attempt to cause a traffic accident. :|"
	* Mary	perk up at the mention of a butchers. "Bones," they grunt wearily.
	<Leonide>	She nods as she starts towards the car. "Elise, are you coming with us?"
	<Elise>	"Yes... I don't know how to get back to Jim's."
	<Leonide>	"If I get you to the park, you think you can get to it from there?" Her face softens for a moment.
	<Mary>	"You could stay with us," Mary mumbles.
	-->|	Gatekeeper (GateKeeper@sux-B55AF383.estv.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca) has joined #chicago
	=-=	Gatekeeper is now known as Jim
	* Elise	's face brightens at Mary.
	<Leonide>	"That works too."
	<Leonide>	"Anyways, we should get going. I can make breakfast in the morning, but right now..." She shrugs.
	* Elise	nods and follows along.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The group splits up for the day and night, with plans to reconvene the next day after everyone recuperates. Leonide and Mary are off in her van, while Jim and Elise head back to the park.
	=-=	Leonide is now known as Astra-Needs-Social-Badly
	* Mary	crawl into their bed and frown at the light through the shades for a minute before passing out.
	<Mary>	Some nine hours later they stir and creep out, finding Leonide still barred in her own room.
	* Elise	wraps herself up as tightly as she can in the blanket Jim had provided for her before curling up on the makeshift mattress of leaves and quickly falling asleep.
	* Jim	walks into a bar, and waits until he sees a polite, handsome man go into one of the booths, and takes his shape.
	* Jim	he then goes up to a woman with a ring on her finger, having just seen her fiance head to the washroom
	* Jim	says, in as lude a tone as he can, "So. I know a trick we can do with that ring of yours, if we head to the alley. You might be a little sore in the morning, though."
	* Jim	grabs the woman's ass, and as she looks at him, stunned, Jim walks in the direction of the booth his lookalike is in, releasing the face once out of the woman's sight.
	* Jim	Jim watches as the woman marches in the direction Jim was walking, with her fiance in tow. She spots the poor innocent fool, and screeches at him like a harpy. Her fiance grabs the confused and frightened man by the front of his shirt, pulls him out of the booth, and starts to punch the terrified man.
	-->|	empty (null@sux-FD4846EA.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) has joined #chicago
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As the bar-brawl takes off you get to drink in the emotions, Jim. The rage is fresh and good, going down like scotch.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It puts a fire in your belly.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The next morning, you come back to campus where you parted the night before.
	=-=	empty was booted from #chicago by YOU (CaesarStoryteller)
	-->|	empty (null@sux-FD4846EA.hsd1.pa.comcast.net) has joined #chicago
	* Jim	closes his eyes, and spins around. when he stops, he points at the ground
	* Mary	linger around the apartment from eight to nine, then whine a bit at Leonide to get up. Failing that, they dig up the grubby scrap of paper with Elise's number scrawled on it.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Well, Jim. While your deft contract use fails to point out where the Mad Hare happens to be, you do recall hearing once that ALL of the Court Leaders keep up residence and office on the campus grounds. Caius Long, the Winter King is a Guidance Counselor, for example. And you remember that March apparently runs the campus pub.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	So certainly, you could take Elise, pick up Mary, and find March...if you wanted to.
	<Mary>	One minute of crafty movement later, they have liberated Leonide's cell phone from her nightstand. Compared to all the half-remembered times they scurried for safety under the blades of Him, hiding in the shadows of the cold autumn night is hardly a care.
	* Mary	smother the speaker grille with one palm and slowly mash the numbers with the other.
	* Jim	finds a rabbit's foot buried 4 inches down
	* Jim	goes off to get Elise. There's Things to get, and fun to have, for today is a good day to ... umm, barter?
	* Elise	wakes up quickly and reluctantly puts a publicly acceptable ammount of clothing on.
	* Jim	wonders if he has some of that jalapeno juice left...
	* Mary	wonder why Elise isn't picking up her phone.
	* Jim	fumbles with his phone and his mickey of jalapeno juice
	<Jim>	HELLO I mean, hello?
	<Mary>	"Oh. Um. Hi, Jim," Mary grunt. "Um. Is Elise there?"
	* Mary	mutters into the phone with one hand blocking it, trying not to wake Leonide.
	<Jim>	ummm... yeah...
	<Mary>	"Um."
	<Mary>	"Can we talk to her?"
	* Jim	tosses Elise the phone, while slipping the mickey into the sleeve pouch of his grey suit
	* Elise	catches the phone. "H-hello?"
	<Mary>	"Uh, hi Elise."
	<Mary>	"
	<Elise>	"Good morning Mary."
	<Mary>	"We should go tell the Doctor about the tunnel."
	<Mary>	"And um,"
	<Elise>	"I mean... what do I say at this time? Oh yes! We should!"
	<Mary>	"OK."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You all know where the Doctor is found. The Hospital.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Of course, he's not with any patients...not any that are alive at least.
	<Mary>	"Um, can you walk there?"
	<Elise>	"We can."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	TIMESKIP
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Good Doctor's avian aspects seem even more pronounced as he stalks about the Hospital's morgue, his head twitching like an inquisitive crow at your words. "What did you find underneath the campus?"
	* Mary	look around at the other two.
	<Mary>	"We- there were, um,"
	<Jim>	we found a door
	* Elise	obediently replies, "Thorns."
	* Elise	shudders at the thought of them.
	<Mary>	"Some people. Not like us, um, they were goblins," she whispers the last part.
	* Elise	nods.
	<Jim>	and... a CaT. It ClAiMeD NoT tO bE a GoBlIn
	<Mary>	"And, um, we killed an animal." Mary look down at the corner of the wall and push their arms together.
	<Jim>	it was a BIG animal
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Wait, wait...thorns? Goblins? You mean to tell me...you found an entrance to the Hedge underneath the campus?" He leans forward with great interest, peering at you three over his beak.
	<Jim>	YeS
	<Elise>	"Yes Doctor, through one of the grates."
	* Mary	don't say anything. They continue to stare at the corner where the edge of the room meets the wall.
	* Jim	is dressed somberly today
	* Elise	places her hand on Marys' shoulder to comfort them.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Doctor steeples his fingers together. The sound of needles clinking together is...unpleasant, if musical. "This is not good. We'll have to close it. If Caius found out..." He shakes his head. "The book, though. Any sign of the book or the thief?"
	* Mary	flinch and sidestep a few inches, shaking their head slightly.
	<Elise>	"No Doctor, the thorn... tunnel ended... in a strange door..."
	<Jim>	The CAT mentioned a centipede
	* Elise	stares off as she fails to describe where it lead.
	* Jim	mutters something along the lines of "or was it me that said that..."
	<Elise>	"The cat also mentioned a market, Doctor"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"The cat that claimed not to be a Hobgoblin? Perhaps a Hedge Beast..." He trails off, and peers pointedly at Elise. Then he darts close, grabbing her by the arm. "The Market? The Market has appeared?" he asks, squeezing tight enough to bruise in his excitement.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary, you can smell dead things, here, by the way. Dead people, but they smell...off. Sick.
	* Elise	's arm blossoms into into a sprawling array of deep blue bruises.
	* Mary	frown and push their face into their shoulder, back turned to the others.
	* Elise	nods seemingly unaware of whats happening to her arm.
	* Jim	briefly flashes almost catlike
	* Mary	turn their head back at the Doctor's outburst, and catch a glimpse of Elise's arm.
	* Mary	choke out a gasp.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Doctor notices, though, and lets her go. "My dear, my dear...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispers. "But the market. I was so disappointed when I learned the Market no longer came to Chicago. And Caius...he prefers we have no contact with them. But the things we could learn..."
	* Elise	looks up at the Doctor quizically "Hurt me?"
	* Mary	grab at Elise's arm.
	<Mary>	"Let us see!"
	* Jim	turns stark white, with blue-black purple
	* Elise	the once catastophic buise on her arm begins to fade only moments after the doctor releases it
	<Elise>	"See what?"
	* Mary	release the arm and watch quizzically as the bruising outline of five syringes fades to smooth skin.
	* Elise	just stands there very confused.
	<Jim>	... your ArM w45 bRUISed
	* Elise	looks at her arm, which has returned to normal by now.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Yes, I...wouldn't want to hurt any of you," the Good Doctor says, recovering somewhat. "But what I'm going to ask you could put you all in danger. If the thief is using the Hedge to sneak onto Campus, it's possible the Market would be the best place to gather information."
	<Mary>	"This place smells like the dungeon."
	* Elise	blushes when she hears the word dungeon.
	<Elise>	"How do we get to the market Doctor?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Records from before the purge are scarce, but there was mention of the Market's entrance being at one of the old stockyards. Entrance requires that blood be spilled...that is all I know for sure. Caius would never allowed one of the Monarchs to go, but...if you three would for me, I would consider it no less than a favor for Autumn itself."
	<Elise>	"What kind of things do they have at the market Doctor?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Anything, my dear. Anything is for sale. Old things, new things, lost things, things you never need. So much can be learned about our kind there...but you must be careful. Rumor has it that..The Others sometimes stalk such gatherings. At the very least, an enterprising Hob could easily get the best of you."
	* Elise	's face lights up when she hears mention of lost things. "I'll go for you Doctor."
	|<--	Mitchell_Henderson has left xen.thisisnotatrueending.com (Quit: im going to kill myself and im never coming back)
	<Mary>	"We'll bite them." Mary's voice cut out at the middle of her blurt.
	* Mary	look up from their shade of scraggly hair at the figure behind the grotesque bird-mask. "What's a purge?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"The Purge, my dear," he says, almost a quiet coo. His eyes are dark. "Some...ten years ago, almost. Before the millennium, this city had a Freehold of almost 150 fae. And they all vanished. Every one of them."
	<Mary>	"Oh."
	* Elise	fidgets with the shackles on her cuffs.
	<Mary>	"Um."
	<Mary>	"Can Elmer come with?"
	* Jim	begins looking over his shoulder every few seconds
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"No, little one. I want to keep this out of Summer's knowledge. I fear if the Queens heard of the Market's return, they would storm in, demanding sanctions and deals. I want as unfettered access as we can. For...education's sake."
	* Mary	frown. "We don't know why everyone cares about Courts so much."
	* Mary	cross their arms and draw up close. "We have to go to a yard?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"They...protect us, in their way. We are stronger together than we are alone, yes?" The Doctor nods. "The largest of the defunct stockyards."
	<Elise>	"Where's that Dcotor?"
	<Jim>	We do this, without TELLING THE SuMMEr, then I say you GIVE US some power, without ties of allegiance
	<Jim>	just let us... "Tap" your court
	* Elise	begins to fiddle with her cuffs again.
	* Mary	moves a little closer to Elise, until they're touching shoulders.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Doctor smiles. At least, as much as a beak can smile. He puts out his hand. "All right, then. You bring useful information out of the Market, you will have Autumn's Goodwill. Breathe a word to Summer, and may a Autumn's curse be on you for a day and a night. The same should I go back on my word. Agreed? All of you?"
	<Elise>	"I agree Doctor."
	* Jim	waxes sinister
	<Jim>	deal
	* Mary	grunts out something indistinct.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Then we're pledged. Get to the Market." And with that, The Doctor is done with you.
	* Mary	, though they have a little bit of something near love for the first adult in six years to show them a kindness, are only too happy to leave the room that smells like rot and sick.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-----------------
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Half the day gone!
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You search about for hours on the South side, but it seems to go nowhere. You get directed down one street and up another, get accosted by homeless and leered at by strangers. Eventually, though, you find yourself in the old stockyard area, far to the south.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You can hear cows lowing plaintively, unknowing of their certain demise. All except from one, large, empty yard. That must be the place.
	* Mary	's nose are intrigued by the smells of offal and spilled blood.
	* Elise	glaces around, trying to make sense of the area.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's dark but you can see a door set in the wall on the other side of the fence from where the cows would be lead in to the slaughter.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And by the door...a very...very...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	VERY
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Large man.
	* Jim	walks up to the man
	* Elise	stares up at the man.
	<Jim>	This the PLAce?
	* Mary	turn in a slow arc, drinking in the atmosphere of dim slaughter.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's all too easy to see, with your fae eyes, that this man is no man. He's a hulking mass of goblin, skin like scales and small beady eyes. "Dis is da place," he says around a mouthful of teeth. "You pay da price?"
	<Mary>	"Whose blood?"
	* Jim	bites into his hand, and says "Where do I put it
	<Mary>	"Can we use anyone's?"
	<Mary>	The girls' voice are very serious-sounding.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The...thing...is wearing a long trench coat. When he sees Jim bite his hand, drawing blood, the Hob opens his coat to reveal a glittering mass of knives and small, glass jars. "Your blood. Put it in heah." He opens one of the tiny jars.
	* Mary	glance at Jim, then Elise.
	* Jim	squeezes his fist, dripping the blood into the jar
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Hob holds out the jar to Mary and Elise, next.
	* Elise	tries biting in her hand like Jim did, producing a sprawling welt with a small trickle of blood.
	* Elise	drips some of the blood into the jar.
	* Mary	raise one thumb to her mouth and bite down softly, drawing it away with a red bubble spilling out. A few patters drip into the bottle.
	* Elise	licks the wound as she draws her hand away.
	* Jim	puts on a pair of grey gloves
	* Mary	put their thumb in their mouth.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Blood collected, dues paid, the Hob moves out of the way. You pass through the door but enter a slaughterhouse...and the Hedge...and a bustling world of booths and hobgoblins. The scent of blood hangs in the air, old and new. Racks of meat dangle from stalls as alien barkers hawk their wares.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Cow, sheep, dog...and other creatures you can't even recognize. Raw and bloody, sizzling and fried, cooked to perfection...it's all available. And so is everything else, from any of the hundreds of stalls spread out over the rough stone floor.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Welcome to da Meat Market," the Hob says.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	----END----

CaesarStoryteller>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle:
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Three of our heroes were tasked by The Good Doctor, King of Autumn, to explore the local goblin market, which had been absent for nearly a decade. They were instructed to bring back 'useful information' from the market and to keep it quiet from the Summer Court.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And they're still on the lookout for the missing book.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Now they find themselves in a very strange and unusual place. A bizarre bazaar of cooking food, animals, slaves, stalls, and hobs known as The Meat Market.
	* Mary	wipe their mouth with a dirty sleeve, smearing the last traces of black ichor and their own blood off a cheek. Their nose carries them forward, and drool slips from between their ruinous teeth as a hand digs tightly into Elise's wrist.
	* Elise	looks around in wonder, taking in the myriad sights the market has to offer. "Where do we go?" she murmurs to no one in particular.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	On one stall in Mary's view, a crowd of hobs haggle over the best bits of some strange, plump animal roasting on a slowly rotating spit. It might have been a rabbit, if they made rabbits the size of sheep.
	* Mary	are faintly panting. "Blood," they hiss. "And gristle..."
	* Jim	is constantly looking over his shoulders
	* Elise	looks at Mary curiously.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Something else entirely catches Elise's eye. Several delicate-looking, feminine...creatures are dragged up onto a dais. Each is linked together through a chain that doesn't just go around their necks...but through them. More hobs appraise the potential slaves.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim...oddly enough, no one seems to be paying attention to you. Any of you. At least, not that you can tell.
	* Jim	forces himself to look as discreet as posible
	* Mary	lets go of Elise's wrist and drifts toward the slowly-spinning shrabbit, eyes beginning to glaze over.
	* Elise	glaces back and forth between Mary and the dias. She pauses for a moment before reaching out to Mary. "M-mary?"
	* Mary	push closer, stopping only when they realize they're getting close to goblins.
	* Jim	turns black and blood red upon seeing the dias
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Hob running the stall leans over from his high stool. He's an impish thing, no more than a foot tall, with a knife twice as big as he is for carving off slabs of...whatever the roasting creature is. "'Ey, THICKHEAD!" he shouts at Mary. "I got me eye on you. Norra scrap less'n you wanna pay for it."
	* Mary	cringe and bare their teeth from behind draggled hair.
	* Mary	glance back at Elise, finally noticing her presence, and seach their grubby pockets for something that hasn't already been consumed.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The likkle hob waves the point of the knife in Mary's direction. "Aw, put 'em away, thickhead. Putcher teef in me, the guards will 'ave you in chains in a tickety."
	* Jim	looks around for a herd of something spookable
	* Elise	notices Mary and then turns her attention to the impish hob. "What does it cost... sir?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You seem to notice the crowd around the stall has gone quiet, while the hobs all watch Mary and Elise barter. The impish one leers at Mary with one eye. "Tuck fer tuck. Vittles fer vittles. Whatcha got fer me to eat?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim, there's a single, old hob with chicken feet. And all around her, a crowd big, plump, clucking hens.
	* Mary	mumbles to Elise, "Leonide always pays for things..."
	* Jim	walks over to the old hob
	* Mary	pulls out the only thing in her pocket - a small slab of metal that was once a furniture brace before it was warped and punctured beyond use and holds it up, reflecting the greasy haze of the Market's light.
	* Jim	says "Chickenfoot. What for are they hens, prey tell?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He leans down through the wood-smoke, that little hob, eyes a-glow. "Ooooh." Nimble fingers snatch the brace from Mary's grasp and he brings it up to his teeth. What follows is the horrible sound of enamel grinding on metal. "Y'could chew on this all day and not make a dent. Is worth a strip..." And with that, he slices off a foot long chunk of meat - mostly crackling skin and fat - and...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...forks it over to Mary on the tip of the knife.
	* Elise	smiles and hugs Mary.
	* Mary	grunt, "Our stick-" and stand surprised for a moment before grabbing at the meat.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim, the old-lady hob stops in her tracks and the chickens all gather 'round her scaly, yellow legs. "For frying. What else would you use fryers for?"
	* Mary	turn toward Elise and try not to get grease on her. "We got some."
	* Mary	tear off a small piece and hold it out. "Want some?"
	<Jim>	well, chickenfoot. how about I borrow them for a bit? I have another use for a bit
	* Elise	shakes her head. "No I'm fine."
	* Mary	pop it into their maw and chew happily.
	<Elise>	"We should look around."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary, the meat is...pungent, but tasty. To you at least. You probably don't even notice the long, thin animal whiskers that sprout from your cheeks since you're enjoying it so much.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Borrow 'em? How'm I gonna sell 'em if you borrow 'em?" She's eying you with severe mistrust, Jim. But she hasn't said no.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Everything is for sale, after all.
	<Jim>	well, simple. You'll get them back, and then be able to sell them. but, if you want, I'll give you something that _you_ can use...?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Don't look like you got much on you...ain't got a soul, so that's no good to me. Ohhhh, but I know. I know what you have that I need..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"You can borrow my chickens for one minute...sixty seconds, mind you...if you give me 1/10th that time. Six seconds of your life. I'm an old lady...I need everything I can."
	* Jim	looks at the old lady shrewdly
	<Jim>	you give me five minutes, I give you a minute of my life
	* Elise	tugs Mary around through the market, browsing the various wares of the stalls in awe.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	She spits in her hand. It's thick and yellow, like yolk. "Spit and shake and we have a deal."
	* Jim	spits on his hand (the one that wasn't bitten open) and shakes
	* Mary	plod half a pace behind, contentedly devouring the rest of the slab piece by oversized piece. When they reach the final piece they do something that has been uncharacteristic these past few weeks and squirrel it away in a pocket.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Chickenfoot, as you call her, scratches twice on the ground and all the hens gather 'round Jim's legs. "Five minutes."
	* Jim	walks towards the slavers dias
	* Jim	stops about 5 yards from the slavers
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The slavers themselves don't notice you. The crowd doesn't really either, focused on the pretty young creatures for sale on the dais.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	A few on the borders of the crowd shuffle about when the chickens begin to mingle about their feet, though.
	* Jim	moves to where all the slavers are within 3 feet of him
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You focus on the crowd...but....nothing. More of the hobs are beginning to grow annoyed with the chickens.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You refocus on the crowd, willing the wyrd to work...and that annoyance suddenly curdles into a wave of dread that ripples through the crowd all the way to the dais. Even the chickens seem skittish.
	* Jim	grows a crooked, jagged beak. his skin turns into blood soaked feathers, and his hands turn thin and yellow
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The moment you turn into the demon-chicken that wave of dread just up and vanishes. Every hob in the crowd breaks out laughing and pointing at the feathered freak. The slavers cackle. The nymph girls in chains cover their mouths and titter. Even the chickens seem to be making fun of you.
	* Jim	lets the face go, and sheepishly walks over to return the chickens...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Chickenfoot snickers at you. "Well, that was amusing." She scratches once on the ground and the chickens gather 'round her again.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim easily catches up with Elise and Mary again, perhaps a little wiser. The Goblin Market is no easy trick. And you still haven't found what you're looking for.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As you all head deeper into the market, you begin to leave the stalls of boiling pots and burning meat. Now they're hawking cookware and odd utensils. More than one knobbled hob walks past with a teetering cart of plain ol' junk.
	* Mary	feel a pang of regret toward their old metal brace.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	All three of you, almost at the same time, zero in on a very specific stall. Heaped up onto a table is a veritable FORTRESS of books.
	* Mary	grunt and pull Elise toward it.
	* Jim	walks discreetly towards the bookds
	<Mary>	"Look. Books. Like The Doctor said."
	* Elise	nods. "Lots of books."
	<Elise>	"But what is the book we're looking for look like?"
	<Jim>	it'll feel like a bit of us, i guess
	* Mary	shrug. "We don't know..." They look down at the dirty ground. "Leonide probably knows."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Whatwhatwhat do you want?" a hissing little voice says from behind...inside the teetering stacks of books. A single eye, all pale and glossy, peers out from the shadows created by the stacks.
	<Jim>	a book
	* Elise	is a little startled but regains herself quickly, "A- a book."
	<Jim>	a symbol
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You see that eye widen. "Y...you're...you're not hobs at all." Two of the stacks slide apart, pushed by stick-like fingers laced with papercuts. A sickly-thin, pale form flinches from the light, but leans forward nonetheless. "You're Lost."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And you realize...he is too.
	* Mary	peer up through their scraggly hair at the one behind the books.
	* Elise	looks at Mary and back at the thing in the books. "I... think we know where we are..."
	<Mary>	"We aren't lost."
	<Mary>	"What's your name?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He glances back and forth, momentarily afraid. "Don't have a name. Can't have a name. He wrote it in his book and it's gone. His now."
	* Elise	rubs the back of her neck. "I... know what that is like..."
	<Mary>	"We're Mary. That's Elise. And Jim," they say, gesturing with a stubby finger toward the one imitating the face of a passing hob.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Are you for...for Them? Are you buying books for Them like I'm selling for Him?" The inflection in his voice tells you all you need to know. He's not free.
	* Mary	's face darken. "We don't talk about Him."
	* Elise	glances away and sighs softly.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Darkling...what else could he be, hiding from the light like that...eases back into the shadows of his books. "Then why are you here?"
	<Elise>	"We are looking for a book."
	* Mary	glare petulantly through the canyon of books.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"I sell books. Cookbooks. Do you want to see my latest acquisitions?" You can see that the books, unlike most everything in the Meat Market, aren't alien at all. They're all books from the other side of the hedge, the real world. Library books, personal books, brand new books still in the wrap...all stolen and lost.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim is seething with the thought that this Changeling is still under his Keeper's thumb, but given his last 'rescue attempt,' he's remaining quiet.
	<Mary>	"It's an important book. It was stole."
	* Elise	bows slightly, "Yes, please."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Most of them are," he whispers at Mary. Then he inches two tall stacks towards you. "These are the ones that just came in."
	* Elise	nods politely and begins to look through the books.
	<Mary>	"It smells like a TV."
	<Mary>	"And pipes."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As Mary does her best to...converse with the poor Changeling hiding amongst the books, Elise runs her fingers along the spines, reading the titles. They're mostly in English. "The Joy of Cooking." "The French Chef." "To Serve Man." "Chicago Style Eats." But that one looks out of place. What cookbook is bound in ancient looking leather like that?
	* Mary	glance at the stacks dismissively; most of the titles are too hard to read anyway.
	* Elise	picks up the leather book and rubs her hand across it, enjoying the familiar feel of leather to her skin, and examines it more closely.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	When you run your fingers over the cover, the embossed letters warp and change. "Faerie Tale&#8747;."
	* Elise	is surprised to see the book's title change. "Mary... I think this might be it."
	<Elise>	"Could you try smelling it?"
	* Mary	grunt and look away from a beetle three times its normal size trundling across the edge of a binding at Elise.
	<Mary>	"Smell it?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Smell the book, see if it's the one," Jim says.
	<Elise>	"If its the book that was taken, it should have a scent you recognize."
	<Mary>	"Oh, um, yeah."
	* Mary	grunt nervously and lean forward, inhaling widely.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Ohhhh yes. That's the one. You smell the ozone and the pipe-hedge...and fainter still, the aromas you associate with the Monarchs.
	* Mary	go stiff for a moment. "Hey!"
	<Elise>	"Is this the one?"
	<Mary>	"Yeah!"
	<Mary>	"We smell it... pipes... and TV... and the Queens, only a little like dead bodies."
	* Elise	turns to the darkling after Mary's confirmation, "What payment do you require of us?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Darkling looks to see what book you've taken, ready to charge you. Then he notices the title of the book. "That's...that's not a cookbook." He narrows his eyes and glances around once more, fearful as if being watched. "I can't sell it to you. He only lets me sell His cookbooks here. Of course...if...if you're free and against Them...you could just take it. It's not selling it, then..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You can sense he's deliberately bending the rules for you.
	<Mary>	"That's stealing," Mary chide, oblivious to their earlier contemplation of carnivorous larceny.
	<Elise>	"I- I... I have to give you something for it though..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"He only told me what I can do with cookbooks and...it's not one." He shrinks back into the stacks, pulling them around him. "Go. Just go!" he hisses. "HE could be watching..."
	* Elise	frowns a little.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim places a hand on Elise's shoulder. "MayBE we SHouLd..."
	* Mary	leave the rest of the shrabbit on the counter.
	<Mary>	"Here," she says to Elise.
	<Elise>	"Are you sure?"
	<Mary>	"We're sure," they mutter.
	<Elise>	"Ok then."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Book in hand, the three of you head back the way you came, making for the exit of the market. A successful trip!
	* Elise	is feeling good about herself, finding the book and all.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Then, in front of you, a stooped, hunchbacked hob...all bat ears and gnarled teeth gets in your way. Behind her, she's dragging a cart. And on the cart, a strange device. It looks like one of those...bingo tumblers.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Inside, a plethora of multicolored orbs, like gumballs...except each is wooden with a small brass hinge. "Dears, dears. Would you be interested in your heart's desires? My prizes, my gifts, they have everything you want...but never what you need. Will you draw one?"
	<Elise>	"Ex-excuse me," Elise tries to muster her voice beyond meek but finds it a little difficult to do.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim leers at the female hob, and his ears turn a bit bat-like too.
	* Mary	peer in at them through the cage. "What are they?"
	<Elise>	"What do they cost ma'am?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Treasures, little girl!" the hob titters from behind her snaggly teeth. "They contain just what you need, but rarely what you really want." She turns her eye...she only has one, the other is one of those colored orbs, blue...onto Elise. "My charge is normally a memory from each of you, just a tiny moment of your past. But since you're so pretty, if you give me one of yours...I'll let the...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...three of you pick a prize..."
	* Mary	turn away from the cage toward Elise, frowning.
	* Elise	blushes at the praise and bows her head slightly in thanks, and thinks for a moment.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	When you bow your head, the old hob's knotted hands come up swiftly to your temples. There's a brief...not pain...but a squeeze.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Elise, when you were seven a boy on the playground...a boy who was shyer than you were even...picked up the courage to whisper to you. It was February, Valentine's Day to be precise. Blushing, he pushed a heart shaped card into your hands...then leaned in and kissed your cheek, right at the corner of your mouth.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It was warm and soft and sweet.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It was your first kiss.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And now it's gone.
	* Elise	stares blankly ahead, unsure of what just happened.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The hob lets go of your head and gestures to the basket. "You first, pretty one. Pick what you want!" She turns a crank and the basket tumbles about, the balls rattling around inside. It stops, and you can see a little door, Elise, that you can reach through.
	* Elise	looks over the balls in the basket before reaching in and grabbing one that matches the color of her hair.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Once in your hand, the ball seems...larger than the ones in the cage. And it appears to...shimmy. And then it opens silently.
	* Elise	watches the ball closely.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Inside, a simple leather collar. Elegant, for the porcelain skin of a graceful neck. A single tag dangles from it, silver like moonlight.
	<Elise>	A smile slowly grows across Elise's face when she realizes what this is.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Go ahead, little darling," the old hob says to Mary, giving the basket another tumble. "Your turn."
	* Mary	look warily at the new collar and at the hob woman. When their hand creeps into the cage like a mouse stealing from a trap, it closes on the first ball and darts back out.
	* Mary	holds it up in both hands tightly.
	* Elise	begins to cry softy as she stares at her collar.
	<Elise>	oblivious to the world around her.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's blood red on one half and bone white on the other. If you'd actually grown up in the real world, Mary, it'd look like a Pokeball, but to you it's more like a hunk of meat. It's also MUCH bigger than Elise's.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It shudders and opens, creaking as if begging for a drop of oil.
	* Mary	's mouth draw open slightly, mimicing the spreading sphere in their hands.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Inside...there are two rubber soles. From tennis shoes. And they're soaked in blood.
	* Mary	drop it on the ground and shrink back almost two feet
	* Mary	crouch down low, panting.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Oh, no, dearie. No. It's yours now. You have to take it." She turns to Jim and gestures, making the basket tumble.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He reaches in and takes a single ball. It's multi-colored and never seems to look the same way twice. It shudders and opens...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And you all can see a small, square patch of what seems to be leather sitting inside of it. Tanned, with a dark blotch in the middle. Whatever it is, it makes Jim shudder.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Such a pretty girl, such nice friends," the old hob says. "Enjoy your gifts..." And she trundles off, leaving you to make your way to the exit.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	- END -

<CaesarStoryteller>	Last time on The Phoenix Cycle, three members of the motley traversed the Meat Market and came out with the book in hand as well as mysterious trinkets that appear to be tied to their very histories.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	No doubt the Monarchs will want to see the book now that it's been recovered, and The Good Doctor waits in the hospital to hear of what they may have discovered in the Market.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Of course, The Good Doctor also did ask they not breathe a word of the market trip to the Queens of Summer. A difficult task indeed, given that a member of the Summer Court - Leonide - is waiting in her car outside of the hospital.
	* Mary	forget about any promises they may have made and rush across the street toward Leonide's car, impacting against the side with enough force to make it rock gently.
	* Mary	grunt. "Hi, Leonide."
	* Mary	sniff.
	* Elise	follows after Mary, and tugs on her sleeve with a worried look on her face.
	<Leonide>	The statueque Gravewright grunts as her car rocks, glaring for a split second at the interruption before her face softens very little and she shakes her head.
	<Leonide>	"It's in the back and I got bones like you suggested."
	<Leonide>	"Elise, there's a bag lunch for you too. Nothing very fancy, just a pair of sandwiches, an apple, and some chips, but it's food."
	* Elise	bows her head in appreciation, "Thank you Leonide."
	<Leonide>	"No problem." She nods. "Anyways, where do you all mender off to?"
	* Mary	's face go slack for a second before they comprehend what Leonide means, yanking the back door open and rifling around.
	<Elise>	"We- we went looking for the book again."
	<Leonide>	She nods, looking a little annoyed (probably with herself) for not going with them. "Any luck?"
	* Elise	fidgets in place a little and looks over to Mary.
	* Mary	grunt and sit up holding something wrapped in thick layers of wax paper.
	<Leonide>	"You found it?" Her eyes widened. "Where?"
	<Mary>	"Thank you, Leonide," they mumble and look down to fidget with the seam on teh wrapping
	<Mary>	"Um, the Doctor said we weren't supposed to say anything."
	<Mary>	"To anybody."
	<Leonide>	Her eyebrows go up.
	* Elise	looks pensive, "It was in a dirty place... lots of old buildings. I don't remember seeing a place like it before very well."
	<Leonide>	"Seeing that he /is/ one of my coworkers, I could just badger him, you know."
	<Leonide>	"Who had it though?" She looks worried at Elise.
	* Mary	look back up, mouth hanging slightly agape and teeth visible just beyond in the blackness of their mouth. "He doesn't want anyone to talk about it."
	* Elise	looks meekly up at Leonide, "It was in a pile of other books..."
	<Leonide>	"That just says where it is. I'd hardly think someone would leave it nilly-willy. It's hardly a good game."
	<Leonide>	"That and if you didn't beat the bastard's punk ass, I want to. =_="
	* Mary	look back at the car seat.
	<Mary>	"He seemed nice."
	<Elise>	"Mary didn't smell the person- the person to beat."
	<Leonide>	"So someone /else/ had it?" Eyebrows again.
	<Elise>	"The person there just had a pile of books- didn't know what it was."
	* Mary	mutter "They thought it was a cookbook."
	<Leonide>	"What was the person who had it like then?" She crosses her arms somewhat suspiciously. "And once you two are done with lunch, we can turn the book in.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Leonide, you remember Knight...or, the cat you called Knight...suggesting the newly returned Goblin Market as a place to search.
	<Mary>	"Um..."
	<Mary>	"He smelled like spiders. And paper."
	<Leonide>	"Got a name? Maybe he has a few old gaming books."
	<Mary>	"And um, clicky pens."
	<Leonide>	She bites her lip, the sound of stone on stone a little.
	* Elise	looks down, "We didn't get a name."
	<Elise>	"All i saw were cookbooks though..."
	<Leonide>	"An address?" She deflates.
	<Mary>	"He was, um..."
	<Leonide>	"Seeing that I cook for Mary as well..." She still seems a little sad at no gaming books.
	* Mary	look at Elise.
	* Mary	make a tentative tugging gesture on Elise's collar.
	<Elise>	"I'm still not good with directions yet... sorry..."
	<Mary>	"Like that-"
	<Leonide>	She shakes her fist with an actually theatherical *huff.*
	<Leonide>	With a sigh, she just leans back in her seat. "Just finish eating so we can go give the book back to the Doctor."
	* Elise	quietly goes about eating her food.
	* Mary	lower their hand from Elise's neck and wipe it on their pants before unwrapping the bone.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Full of snacks and recharged after the day's events, you all head into the hospital. Down to the basement. This time, though, you don't need to go the morgue proper. The strange, birdlike Autumn King meets you in the hall and guides all four of you into his office nearby.
	* Mary	mutters a quiet courtesy.
	* Elise	bows her head in respect to the Autumn King upon meeting him once again.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It's a small, claustrophobic room, seemingly designed to put a sense of unease into any 'guests.' He perches behind his desk and looks first to Elise, Mary, and Jim...then at Leonide. A moment's silence, then, "So. Was it a success?"
	* Elise	produces the book, "Yes Doctor."
	<Leonide>	She shrugs, as if to say nothing.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Wonderful, wonderful," he practically coos, and runs his needle-fingers across the ancient, leather cover. "The other Monarchs will be quite pleased. And I have an ideal...ah...well. You won't have to worry about the particulars. Did you learn anything else on your trip? Encounter anyone or pick up something unusual?"
	* Elise	smiles proudly and displays her neck.
	<Mary>	"We met a boy."
	<Leonide>	"A cat, but that was before I left to recharge myself." She shrugs.
	<Mary>	"There were lots of p- lots of things there."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And now the Doctor's silver needle fingers reach out to caress Elise's neck. It's a disconcerting sensation, but at least he's more focused on the collar than her pale flesh. "A token! And you met denizens of the hedge?" He fixes his masked gaze on Leonide. "Did this cat speak? Transform?"
	<Leonide>	"Speak, yes. He seemed to be a hunter of the rats there."
	<Leonide>	"But due to last night, I was not there for when they found the book. I was too exhausted and so I returned to home to recover."
	<Leonide>	"No transformation, but I have plans to meet him again, or at least assist in his war against the rats within the Thorns."
	<Mary>	"We liked the cat."
	* Elise	nods.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"A hedge beast...interesting. Well, you've certainly fulfilled your part. All of you. And I'll fulfill mine. Take this book to Gabriel at the library...he'll hold onto it until we're ready for the ceremony. And show him this token you've found. Few know more about such things as our resident Antiquarian."
	<Leonide>	"I'll see you all there. I have to bother someone in ICU."
	<Elise>	"Mary, I left your shoes- token in the car, should i get them?"
	* Mary	turn and frown at Elise.
	<Elise>	"So no then."
	* Mary	look down.
	* Elise	gets up, feeling proud of herself, "Lets go take the book to Gabriel then~"
	* Mary	stand up and hesitate, looking at the Doctor for a moment while Elise bounds out in front of them.
	<Leonide>	Leonide waves her off. "I'll be fine."
	<Leonide>	"I'll see you at the library." She smiles.
	* Mary	stand still for a second longer before sniffing and following Elise's trail.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The library is just a short few blocks away. It's hard to miss a building that ugly. You get a couple weird stares from the grad students filing in and out, but otherwise you get to the elevators and head down into the special archives.
	* Mary	keep their eyes low.
	* Elise	looks in awe at all the books around her.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	In the basement, it's far less busy. Students aren't supposed to go here. It's where the old, unique, and expensive books are kept. Like the one you hold in your hands, Elise.
	* Mary	sniff the sterile air for Gabriel.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	And the man who watches over them all toddles right out, head bobbing happily. "Hoo! I'd heard you were coming. You have it, yes? Hoo, yes...the book. Let me see the book!" He's old and hunched, his face framed by a feathery white beard and dominated by the wire-frame glasses that magnify his owlish eyes.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He smells musty and dry, Mary, like the pages of an old, old book.
	* Mary	turn and smile at Gabriel.
	<Elise>	"Are you Gabriel?" Elise asks somewhat startled.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Hoo hoo, yes I am," he chortles. "I'm the bookkeeper! And now that you've recovered the book...I know I'll get to keep my job. Such a horrible thing to have it stolen."
	<Mary>	"He didn't mean to steal it."
	* Elise	bows her politely to Gabriel and hands over the book to him.
	<Elise>	"Mary I don't think the shopkeeper was the one to steal it."
	* Mary	shake their head. "No, he didn't steal it."
	<Mary>	"He didn't mean to have it stoled."
	<Elise>	"The Doctor also told me to have you look at my token, my collar... because he said you know about tokens."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"That I do. Hoo. The book is a token too, you know. It looks mundane...the sort of book you would expect it to be. Unless you know what you're looking for it will never look like what it is. Like a riddle in object form."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Come, come. If we're to research, you must must must meet my new assistant."
	* Elise	looks puzzled but follows after him anyway.
	* Mary	follows the friendly person.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He leads you through the stacks of dusty books to a ring of tables. And there, in the dim light of a reading lamp...sits a pale young girl with raven curls, intently poring over an open book.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Miquaia...some friends have brought us a new riddle!"
	<Miquaia>	Her eyes snap up from the book she had been pouring over, the large, almost luminous violet orbs blinking as her mentor returned with a host of unfamiliars. "A riddle you say, deareset Gabriel?"
	* Elise	glances over to Miquaia curiously.
	* Mary	sniff.
	* Mary	smile.
	<Miquaia>	Her large, loose curls seem to carry both the smell of a fresh rain and the pages of a crisp textbook. It's a gentle, wafting scent, almost graceful.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Indeed. A token we don't know the secrets of." He sets the book down on the table. "I thought, perhaps, you might want the chance to apply your researching skills to this new test.
	* Elise	looks confused as the two talk back and forth.
	<Miquaia>	"I would love that, Gabriel," she says softly, standing and almost floating over to where they all stood. "May I see the item?"
	* Mary	idly unwrap the cow bone and bring the exposed end slowly to their maw.
	* Elise	points to her collar, "My collar?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Your collar, if we may?"
	* Mary	bite down with a satisfying snap.
	* Elise	goes to remove it but hesitates for a moment before handing it over to Gabriel.
	* Mary	reach out with their free hand and clasp Elise's.
	* Mary	look at her with their jaw warped around the bone and grin.
	* Elise	smiles back at Mary.
	<Miquaia>	She notices the concerned look flit across the girl's face as well as the mild hesitation in her moon-like eyes. "I will be gentle with it," she coos reassuringly.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The owlish Gabriel takes the collar and hands it over to Miquaia. It's a simple thing, leather, with a silver tag hanging from it. You can feel the Wyrd in it, though, Miquaia. It's not a mundane object at all.
	<Miquaia>	She holds the item carefully in her thin, pale hands. The Wyrd throbs through the leather and then through her hands. She blinks and looks up to her mentor for a moment. "This is no ordinary trinket."
	* Elise	watches curiously, wondering what all the fuss with her collar is about.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"No, they usually aren't. But they hide secrets...you can study them, much like a book...or a riddle. Feel out the Wyrd hidden in it," he whispers.
	<Miquaia>	She quieted her mind, keeping the crunching of the stocky girl's maw on the bone blocked out. It took a few seconds, but then the Wyrd began to affect her, to flow through her differently. She felt absolute sadness. It crushed her heart, like a steel vice. She could almost hear the whispers of a former lover she never had casting her aside like old tissue. With a gasp, she felt her eyes flash back open, her breath still catching in her
	* Elise	looks at Miquaia quizically as she watches the emotions pan over her face.
	<Miquaia>	She caught her breath and spoke louder this time.
	<Miquaia>	"This collar can cause a sensation of absolute heartbreak to those other than the wearer."
	* Elise	is taken aback slightly, "absolute heartbreak?"
	* Miquaia	nods stoically.
	<Elise>	"Why...?"
	* Elise	glances between Gabriel and Miquaia.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Gabriel flutters. "Oh, my. A very...saddening thing, but it could be useful too. The ability to affect another's emotions is a powerful tool."
	* Mary	drop the bone and grab Elise's other hand, squeezing harder than needed. "Don't put it back on, Elise!" they bleat, eyes squeezed to slits.
	<Miquaia>	"I know no other way to describe the feeling. As for the 'why', that yet eludes me. I would chance a guess that it would make a good defense of sorts when in a tight situation."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"I couldn't have put it better, Miquaia!"
	* Miquaia	carefully hands the collar back to Elise. "It should have no such effect on you, though, dear."
	* Elise	stares pensively at the collar for a moment before fastening it around her neck once more, with a content look on her face.
	* Mary	drop their hands away.
	<Elise>	"I- I don't really care what it does, I just don't feel complete with out it."
	* Elise	she motions to the leather cuffs fused to her pale wrists and ankles.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Gabriel's attention has wandered away. He's like that. Flighty and a little dotty sometimes. "Hoo, the book seems a little damaged, here and there...a page torn out, perhaps. Should still suffice for our needs." He's flipping through the book of fairy tales. There are woodcut illustrations every ten pages or so.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Mary...one catches your eye. It's a monster behind bushes, stalking a young child. Its mouth is atop its head.
	* Mary	look at it dully.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Gabriel continues to flip pages. Another illustration...a young maiden, chained to a tree, menaced by a Master like the moon with stars for eyes...
	* Elise	gazes at the picture intently.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Yet another. Like the others, it seems old...a peasant pleading with death for a way to save a plague-ridden loved one. Death offers a game.
	<Leonide>	"... What the fuck."
	<Leonide>	How the hell did Leonide appear all ninja-like like that?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Still another. A trickster, a jester leading the young ones astray with his fun and games...before Gabriel snaps the book shut.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Pardon me?" he asks Leonide.
	* Elise	snaps out her trance. "Le- leonide!
	<Leonide>	"Sorry." She crosses her arms. "I'm with Elise and Mary. And I know that picture."
	<Leonide>	"The second to last one."
	* Elise	nods, "One of the pictures in there was familiar to me too."
	<Leonide>	"How you got Lost, right?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"You know this?" He opens the book once more to that old woodcut. It's estimated to be dated 1349. "This fairy tale?"
	* Elise	nods in agreement.
	* Mary	grunt. "We aren't lost."
	<Leonide>	"Mary, it's a term for what we are." She shrugs. "Well, at least what the Doctor explained to me."
	<Elise>	"I just recognize one picture..."
	<Leonide>	"It's a fairy tale?"
	<Leonide>	"... Shit, I do remember that's where I got the idea..." She scratches her cheek.
	* Miquaia	shifts in almost tantalyzingly uncomfortable anticipation and licks her lips as she realizes how much truth is being dangled in front of her.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Hoo hoo! Yes. hoo. We chose this book specifically because of its connotations. Many believe that The Others may have been the inspiration for such stories in their original forms. Our use of the book was supposed to represent our lack of fear andour...hoo...dominion over them."
	<Elise>	"The one with t he girl chained to the tree... and the moon... it reminds me of my-" Elise hesitates as a tear rolls down her cheek, "my... time... him..."
	|<--	Leonide has left xen.thisisnotatrueending.com (Ping timeout)
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Hoo...how interesting! Another riddle..." He ruffles the pages of the old book. The woodcuts flutter before you, almost taunting.
	* Mary	grunt and put an arm around Elise. "It's him for us too."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Very peculiar. In all my time I've not seen anything like it. Miquaia, I believe this is another test for you. You should stand by them, join this clever little motley. Work on this riddle," he says, tapping the book.
	-->|	Leonide (chatzilla@sux-2D0E507C.san.res.rr.com) has joined #chicago
	<Leonide>	She looks at the darkling with a questioning eyebrow.
	<Miquaia>	Doesn't even notice her fingers reaching out to touch the book, and then turns her careful gaze to the others standing before her. Her posture remains very upright, depsite the nerves she feels blossoming in her gut. She wondered if she would be accepted.
	<Leonide>	"I'd invite you to something to eat, but I have a dinner date tonight and we already have eaten lunch." She sighs, mildly disappointed.
	* Miquaia	bows her head politely. "Your generosity is humbling..." she trails off, hoping for a name.
	<Leonide>	"Leonide. And it's more of what I do."
	<Leonide>	"I like cooking." She shrugs.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Hoo my, well...don't get too busy tonight! The Monarchs will almost certainly want to perform the Freehold ceremony again with the recovered book. You'll all want to be there for it."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-end session-

CaesarStoryteller>	Last time, on The Phoenix Cycle, the motley returned the book to The Good Doctor and the Freehold proper. They also met with Gabriel, the owlish Lorekeeper who lives in the basement of the Regenstein library.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	There, they discovered some of the secrets behind Elise's collar. Presumably the other tokens found in the market have similar uses. They also encountered another one of Chicago's lost, the Antiquarian named Miquaia, and learned that the Monarchs would be performing a ceremony for the entire Freehold with the book tonight.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	For now, you have time to get to know one another...or get anything done you need to...before the ceremony.
	<Leonide>	That and that book.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	There is the matter of the book as well. How centuries-old woodcuts seem to reference your very own durances...
	<Leonide>	Leonide is unamused, but not exactly /surprised/ in her case.
	* Mary	don't seem to be concerned with any of the images in the book, only Elise's reaction to hers.
	<Leonide>	"There's plenty of stories of people playing games against Death." She crosses her arms sourly.
	<Jim>	coincidences... or trickery?
	* Elise	is just contented to have her collar back around her neck.
	* Miquaia	tips her head curiously at Leonide's outburst, not understanding the connotations of the artwork
	<Leonide>	"You saw the one involving the peasant and the game?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"It's a very old story," Gabriel agrees, adjusting his glasses. "Human beings...fighting against the darkness waiting at the end of all our lives in any way they can..."
	<Leonide>	"See, the thing is, my dad and mom died both of the same fucking sickness."
	<Jim>	Gabriel, could you... look at this skin?
	<Leonide>	"Doctors had no idea what it was. Dad dying is what made me want to be a pathologist in the first place."
	<Miquaia>	"That's a very sad story," she says sincerely in a voice perhaps too quiet to be heard.
	<Leonide>	"When mom got sick years and years later, I didn't want to lose her, and I couldn't think of anything." She shrugs, speaking hollowly.
	<Leonide>	"So I tried some old story, a game against him, chess."
	<Leonide>	Her teeth grind together.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"The oldest stories seem to have the most power, hoo."
	* Miquaia	nods in agreement with her mentor and then nudges him. "This one asked you to look at something, Sir."
	<Elise>	"Why- why are there others though? Like mine... and Mary's..."
	<Leonide>	"I'm betting the Hedge is fucking with us."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Hoo? What's this?" he leans over, blinking his huge eyes, and peers at the patch of skin. "Where did you get this, then?"
	<Jim>	Does that matter, really?
	<Leonide>	"If it's specifically us?"
	<Leonide>	"I'd say it means we should be on guard."
	* Mary	take a step closer to Leonide. "Leonide. We're sorry about your parents."
	<Leonide>	She shakes her head, grinning. "Hey, Dad at least was happy when he went."
	<Leonide>	"Mom was sleeping."
	<Leonide>	She shuts her eyes. "I guess the one to feel bad for is me. Death said he'd let my mom live if I won."
	* Mary	stand for a second and then embrace Leonide tightly.
	<Leonide>	She stiffens, but doesn't hit Mary or anything.
	<Leonide>	"T-thanks."
	* Miquaia	wrings her hands together, feeling slightly as an outsider in this display of tenderness.
	<Leonide>	"And that's why I want to beat Death's head in with a chessboard. :D"
	<Mary>	"Too flimsy," Mary deadpan.
	* Elise	grins at Leonide.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Gabriel prods the leathery patch of skin with one fingertip. "Hoo, yes. I see. Another found object, like the young lady's collar? Miquaia? Care to feel out this one as well?" Ah, he's trying to include his...well, his young ward.
	<Leonide>	Leonide doesn't move from Mary's grip. "It fits. I'll just make one out of stone."
	<Leonide>	"Or iron. Delicious iron."
	* Miquaia	blushes softly and steps forward from the shadows of the library's many shelves and holds out her hands to take the skin.
	* Elise	tilts her head to the side and sighs after a moment, casting her eyes downward, "I sometimes wish I could remember more about my parents... everything is so hazy."
	* Jim	hands miquaia the skin
	* Mary	arms go slack around Leonide.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	It feels like leather, Miquaia, but it's not hard to guess that it's human skin.
	<Miquaia>	The urge to throw up washes over her in a wave as she holds the skin in her hand, closing her eyes and trying to calm herself enough for the Wyrd to flow through her.
	<Leonide>	She lets out a little sigh as she is let go and checks something on her phone.
	<Miquaia>	Miquaia sighs and shakes her head, quietly handing the strip of flesh back to Jim. "I'm sorry, this seems more complex than the collar. I can tell that it has something to do with shapeshifting... and that it will only work on you..."
	<Jim>	...
	* Jim	goes all desert-storm camo
	* Elise	turns to Jim and wonders what he's up to.
	* Jim	shudders back to his normal shift
	<Leonide>	"What's wrong?"
	* Mary	look around at the gloom beyond their circle of light.
	<Jim>	GabrieL MAy i SeE the BoOK?
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Darkling looks down at the book in his hands. "Hoo, well...I should be getting it to the Monarchs...but I suppose we have time for one more look. It has become something of an enigma, hoo yes!" He places the leatherbound book on the table and slides it to Jim.
	* Elise	watches Jim curiously.
	<Miquaia>	The desire to reach out and snatch the book that is obviously so full of Truth is almost too much for Miquaia to handle.
	<Leonide>	"Hm. I wonder if the Monarchs' stories are there too... Are there any other woodcuts in that book?"
	<Leonide>	She approaches the book as well to get a look on the other side of the table from Jim.
	* Jim	begins to flip through the book, quickly but with purpose
	* Mary	take a couple steps away from the others while they're all occupied with the dumb book and look around at the high dark shelves.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The high, dark shelves are filled with more big, dumb books, Mary. Most just seem old, though one or two blow right past that and look positively ancient. Even you can gather that the loss of one of these books would be the loss of something unique. Like eating the last of an animal, ever.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As to the book...you stop three times. Just three pictures that catch your attention.
	* Mary	raise a hand to touch one of them, but then hold their hand still before quickly pulling it back into their jacket and looking around furtively at the empty aisle on either side of her.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	In one, a young...well, a young human (the gender is hard to determine from the rough art) sits at a table, books piled all around him/her. But he/she looks perplexed, close to tears. The writing makes no sense and the looming shape behind him/her has claws that will rend flesh if he/she doesn't decipher the books. Or maybe even if he/she does!
	* Miquaia	bites her tongue hard
	* Jim	ignores miquaia, too intent on the symbols within the symbol
	<Miquaia>	"The Truths," she whispers very faintly, a bead of sweat on her brow.
	<Leonide>	"Sssh."
	* Miquaia	snaps her gaze at Leonide, violet eyes flashing in a small amount of annoyance for the lack of empathy, the hissing shush a slap back into reality.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The second picture leans to the macabre. Plague ridden bodies like those from the woodcut that Leonide first associated with lie in a heap, surrounded by a miasma.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Sickness. Death.
	<Leonide>	She nods, as if she recognizes it.
	* Jim	turns vaguely death-like
	<CaesarStoryteller>	In front of it all, a beak-masked plague doctor. Wide-brimmed hat, glossy black goggle eyes, a cane for prodding and poking his patients...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	But this doctor doesn't seem to be curing anyone. He seems to be heralding that plague, leading it ever onward with bodies in its wake.
	<Jim>	NeEDleS...
	<Leonide>	"I was right."
	* Elise	takes a moment from watching Jim's theatrics to look at the picture, "Oh, its the Doctor."
	<Leonide>	She nods.
	* Mary	look up from inspecting a nest of spiders at the sound of 'the Doctor'.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The final picture that catches your attention. The Wild Hunt. Braying hounds lead the wicked hunters who are half animal themselves. Antlers and horns and bandy goat legs, but their very human hands brandish vicious weaponry of all sorts. They carry rifles to maim, traps to catch, and knives to rend soft flesh.
	* Leonide	tilts her head.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Two of the hounds have caught a rabbit in their teeth and they tear it in two. Its face is almost human and screaming. A second rabbit flees from the pack, never looking back.
	<Leonide>	"... And March."
	* Elise	returns to watching Jim.
	* Miquaia	feels a pang of sympathy for the man whose Court she heralds.
	<Leonide>	"I almost feel bad for threatening to smack him with the table now."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Gabriel closes up the book. "Hoo. How...educational." Even the Lorekeeper seems a bit shaken by the contents of the book, now. "I'd better get this to Mr. Long so the ceremony can begin." The owlish librarian turns and toddles towards the elevator in the manner of all bent, old men, before he stops and turns to the motley. Especially those who stared at the book.
	* Mary	peek out from around a shelf into the light.
	<Leonide>	"No wonder it should be hidden..." She checks the time.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Remember, though...hoo...a riddle that everyone knows the answer to is no riddle at all." He pats the cover to the book. "Some things are best kept inside."
	* Elise	looks back at the owlish man.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Do you understand?"
	* Elise	nods her head.
	<Leonide>	She nods, still looking at her cell. "That and some people don't get the riddle, period."
	* Miquaia	beams softly up at Gabriel.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He chuckles at Leonide and smiles at Miquaia. "Indeed, indeed." And then he's gone, leaving you in the library's basement.
	<Elise>	"The Doctor said to go the ceremony, we should go too."
	* Miquaia	looks around, obviously slightly nervous now that her mentor has gone.
	* Jim	looks around at the books, seeing if their's anything else to his interests
	<Leonide>	Leonide grimaces. "Sorry, I'm not."
	<Leonide>	"I have a date." She shuts the phone.
	* Elise	looks confused, "But the Doctor said we should go..."
	<Leonide>	"He never said I should, did he?" She headtilts.
	<Mary>	"Um." Mary look at Elise with a don't-push-it face.
	* Elise	opens her mouth to respond but can't think of anything for a moment. She looks down, "No..."
	<Leonide>	She seems a little guilty. "Elise, I do have a mortal life. I actually have a boyfriend."
	<Leonide>	"I try to maintain some level of normality to keep me from going crazy."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim, while the girls talk and debate, you check out the shelves. Blah blah blah...boring title after boring title. Most seem like incredibly dry texts. One sticks out, though. It's newer than the others, with a fairly nice, glossy dust-jacket. It's called "Chicago: A History of Blood."
	* Jim	surreptitiously pockets the book
	* Elise	looks at Leonide, "A boyfriend?"
	<Leonide>	She nods.
	<Leonide>	"... Do I have to explain the concept?"
	* Elise	thinks for a moment.
	<Leonide>	Her stony eyes are starting to... turn a bit pink. Not red, pink.
	<Elise>	"I- I think so? I remember the word... a lot before... I went..."
	<Leonide>	"Oh boy." She groans. "And I have problems explaining it too."
	<Leonide>	"So. There's a guy at my work, named Law. He's a nice guy who likes to play games. I like him and he likes my company too."
	<Leonide>	"So sometimes we go out together to join each other's company. But there's other stuff involved and it's really awkward to explain."
	<Miquaia>	"Having a boyfriend is the state of having a partner of the opposing sex with whom a mutual attraction and sense of romantic feelings are shared," Miquaia blurts out in a very factual way.
	<Jim>	...sEx...
	<Leonide>	"... That actually helps, Miquaia."
	<Elise>	"Oh... sex. I know all about that."
	<Leonide>	"Thanks." She grins before giving a RED-EYED *GLARE* at Jim.
	<Miquaia>	"Sex is not a factual part of having a boyfriend," she adds firmly.
	<Leonide>	As in 'I am going to fucking hurt you with the closest item' glare.
	* Mary	look at the ground.
	<Leonide>	And her fingers are getting pretty damn close to a chair.
	* Elise	is extremely confused now.
	* Miquaia	claps her hands together, noticing the tension rising.
	* Jim	notices leonide's expression, and backs away
	<Miquaia>	"Well, perhaps we all best be on our ways, then..."
	<Leonide>	Once Jim backs off, she realizes her reaction and gets a newspaper.
	<Leonide>	She then walks up and baps his head, her eyes still that blushing shade of red.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	--timeskip!--
	<CaesarStoryteller>	For the ceremony tonight, the Monarchs seem to have secured one of the on-campus theatres. Not that they needed the space - there can't be more than forty or so Lost gathered in the one place. But there's something to be said for a formal setting.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Indeed, everyone's dressed quite well. The word got around that you ought to put something nice on for this. You recognize a lot of faces from the 'mixer.' There's Elmer, looking uncomfortable in a slightly-too-small suit. Near the stage, March has his arms around a giggling, college-age girl. She's not Lost, but she's clearly drunk on a mix of cheap vodka and glamour.
	<Miquaia>	Miquaia is has changed into something more appropriate for the occasion, a lovely black dress that flutters out at her knee. Her pale ivory skin shows in stark contrast against the gossamer fabric.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The Summer Queens each wear a crisp suit, looking even more alike wearing the same clothes. Even off in the corner, there's Tom Thousand, looking skittish as every, but dressed in a button up with a bow-tie.
	* Jim	is wearing a black suit, with a black tie, a black hat and a black shirt. the suit gives the impression of radiating shadows
	<CaesarStoryteller>	You even notice a few folks that you don't recognize. Your eyes are drawn (as they so often are) to one of the fairest. He must be a Polychromatic, at the least, given the way he seems to be made entirely of stained glass, even his curly locks. Fragile, eye-catching, gorgeous.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Contrast that with his companion. A hulking brute of a woman, tall and imposing. She looks like she's carved from stone, with jutting fangs from her lower jaw. A gargoyle come to life, complete with tears of water streaming down her face. If she catches you looking, she glares at you. Not the friendliest type.
	* Elise	is wearing a rather risque lavender dress she borrowed from Miquaia, the color blending with her hair well. It sets a little too low on her, but Elise is content none the less.
	<Miquaia>	Miquaia, feeling slightly more composed than usual in such a revealing outfit, walks toward this unusual pair and offers her hand to the picturesque male. "I don't believe I've seen you around before."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The glittering rainbow of a man (dressed in a soft white shirt and simple black slacks) turns to you, Miquaia. And that's when you can see it in his eyes. That dazed, far-away look of those who didn't quite make it all the way back from the thorns. "Oh. Hello," he starts, dreamily...
	* Jim	glances around warily
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Before his companion grabs him by the shoulder and scowls at Miquaia. "Back off," she growls, leading the stained-glass man away.
	* Miquaia	retracts her hand tactfully and smiles disarmingly at the glass man's companion.
	<Elise>	"I wonder whats wrong..."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Jim, Elise...you find yourself approached by none other than everyone's favorite centipede...Tom Thousand. "Hey, h-hey...so uh...d-d-did I hear right that people thought I stole the book?"
	<Miquaia>	"He did not escape the Thorns as unscathed as we," she whispers to Elise quietly. "Though that is saying very little. His eyes tell his Truth."
	* Jim	shakes his head at the altercation between the word eater and the boulder
	* Elise	nods affirmatively at Tom.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	From time to time, the gargoyle of a woman glances over her shoulder at you all, as if paranoid you're going to do something to her friend. She seems...protective.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Tom Thousand scuffs at the floor with a foot. "The...the Doctor told me...said I was being...uh...investigated, y'know? Coulda been bad, huh? Glad its back. Made me realize I...gotta be more...y'know...part of the group."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He gestures at the crowd. That's the group he means.
	* Jim	looks at Tom and Shifts his features to seem as though he were made of book covers with centipede illustrations on them
	* Elise	turns to look, "I think i want to be part of the group too. I like being around Mary and the others."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	As usual, Tom seems a bit startled by Jim's theatrics. "Wh...what's up with that, man?"
	* Miquaia	figits demurely with the hem of her dress.
	* Elise	turns toward Jim, "Oh, Jim?" Elise giggles, "He- he does that. I'm not sure why."
	* Jim	affects not to notice Tom's Question
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"It's creepy as all get-out, man."
	<Elise>	"I- I find it... amusing." Elise offers a smile.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Anyways I gotta...better go, y'know? Need to talk with the Doc some more. 'Pparently, he's got some stuff he wants me to look into. Says there's more to th' city than we know." A bit of fear creeps into Tom's faceted eyes. "Oh, keep it on the down-low, though, okay?"
	<Jim>	Tom, I see you no longer belong to yourself, hmmm?
	<Miquaia>	Miquaia changes the topic as she senses the fact fluttering around this Tom Thousand like the dance of many orange and red oak leaves. "The Good Doctor cures your ails now, does he, Tom?" she says in a matter of fact manner that denotes she is not asking.
	<Elise>	"Ok, I can do that for you Tom- Jim?"
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He laughs and rubs at the back of his head, disturbing several of the legs that travels the length of his body. "Y...yeah, figgered it wouldn't do to not join in somehow. But...I ain't the type to look down on someone not in the Court, don't worry. I just want to help 'em out..."
	* Elise	looks at Jim. "What wrong the Doctor?... I like him."
	<Elise>	with the*
	<Jim>	NOTHing wrong with the Doc...ter, Elise... only...
	<Elise>	"Only?"
	* Jim	releases the book face, and withdraws from the conversation with his eyes flitting
	* Miquaia	places a hand on Elise's should gently.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	A sudden, hushed silence comes over the crowd, the susurrus of conversation dying off as footsteps ring off of the stage's wooden floor.
	* Elise	glances toward Miquaia.
	<Miquaia>	Miquaia smiles at Elise, her violet eyes making her apology as the hush falls, not wanting to interrupt the silence.
	* Elise	looks curiously toward the stage.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He strides to the middle of the stage, behind a podium set up for the event. For a moment, he looks like an infernal judge, dressed in a smart black suit, cold eyes surveying the gathered Lost. "If everyone could take their seats, please?" the King of Winter intones in his deep voice.
	* Jim	sits near the back
	<Miquaia>	A chill settles over Miquaia as she takes her seat gently.
	* Elise	takes a seat near Jim.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	His blue skin and frosty mien are striking even in the dim lighting. He strokes his pointed beard with one hand, waiting for everyone to settle and quiet down once more. The ice-bound crown of winter floats, rotating slowly, above his horned brow.
	* Miquaia	folds her hands in her lap, her body almost noticeably trembling as she waits for the ceremony to commence.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Welcome, everyone. I am glad you all could make it. This occasion is one of great import to The College." He speaks of the name of the Freehold, of course. "The book has been returned, thanks to The Good Doctor, and we can once more strengthen the bonds of our Freehold against those who would prey upon us."
	* Jim	turns blue
	<CaesarStoryteller>	The other monarchs sit on the stage as well. The Good Doctor nods once, to a smattering of applause.
	* Jim	looks, unimpressed, at the Doctor
	* Miquaia	applauds politely with those doing so.
	* Elise	follows along and applauds.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"We are Lost," Caius continues, "But we are Lost together. Our enemies our myriad, but we stand before them, each in our own way, unbowed and unafraid. Our very way of life will protect us from their depredations. As the seasons turn, so does the seat of power. In this way, we set ourselves apart from our former tormentors."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"And, being unlike them, they can no longer fathom our motives, our movements, our mindset. We shall be free."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"It is now Winter's time. Doctor, the book, if you would?" And the Good Doctor does so. "I ask each of you to make the Freehold's pledge if you would. Become a part of something greater than yourself and be safe."
	* Jim	prickles somewhat
	* Miquaia	crosses her legs, not entirely believing the statements from the Winter King, though hoping he is right. And with that hope bubbling in her heart, she stands. "I will take the pledge," she says firmly in the silence.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Off in the corner, another body stands. It's Gabriel. "Hoo! And myself as well." He nods at his protege. More and more of the Lost begin to stand. There's Elmer...and Baskerville. Tom Thousand. Now everyone's on their feet, joining in with Miquaia.
	* Elise	stands up as well.
	* Jim	stands, somewhat reluctantly
	<CaesarStoryteller>	He places his hands on the book. "Wonderful. This show of trust is exactly what we need. Please, repeat after me. I..." there's a pause, as he waits for those following along to state their names in a moment of cacophony before everyone's back on measure.
	<Miquaia>	A blush tinges her cheeks as she sees the bodies rising around her. With a loud, firm voice, she says her name. The name that everyone uses more than she. "Miquaia!"
	* Jim	quietly wispers "Jim"
	* Elise	rubs the back of her neck, "Elise... Garratt."
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"...do make this honor-bound pledge, through Winter's cold and Summer's heat, through the birth of Spring and the death of Autumn, to protect the Freehold and to serve the Freehold. Many lives as one, each as important as my own, and never shall I betray the Freehold to those would see it come to ruin. Should I fail in this, not from accident but from purpose, cast me out and curse for all...
	<CaesarStoryteller>	...seasons."
	* Elise	repeats after the King of Winter.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	Once everyone is finished, and Caius is satisfied, he closes his eyes. There's a sharp, sub-audible TWANG to the wyrd in the room, and each and every one of you feel the Pledge of the College settle around you. Binding...but comforting and warm. You're all in this together.
	* Jim	blanches visibly
	* Miquaia	is too full of warmth and a strong sense of hope for her own future and for finding the Truth to notice Jim's blanch.
	* Elise	ties to feel herself for anything different about her.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	"Very good." Holding onto the book, Caius steps from the podium and strides off backstage.
	<CaesarStoryteller>	-end session-

CaesarSalad>	Last time, on the Phoenix Cycle!
	<CaesarSalad>	Our intrepid heroes discovered some strange secrets hidden in the book they recovered, but handed it over anyways. Then they went their separate ways before the big Freehold ceremony...to which only a few of them showed up.
	<CaesarSalad>	And now, it's been a solid, if uneventful, two weeks. What has been done in the meantime?
	<Leonide>	Leonide has been working, of course. She has been going hedgeside about three times a week to go rat hunting with/for Knight as well to make that side a bit safer for the other Courts if they want to go in. Maybe a date once a week and keeping up with Law. There's one thing Mary and other people WILL notice. Leonide has started to wear something red every day now. Normally it's...
	<Leonide>	...something small, like a necklace or lipstick, and usually in a checkerboard motif, but still:
	<Leonide>	She is starting to wear a /color./
	<Leonide>	Mary-wise, she has started to pick up bones from the butcher's more often and she now makes soup at least once a week to get away with a HUGE FUCKING soup bone to give to the Ogre.
	<Leonide>	Otherwise being typical mildly naggy guardian.
	* Mary	sit on the couch, sulking. For two weeks they've been able to stonewall Leonide's question about the missing cookbook, and being confined to an apartment with an overzealous nanny has made them erupt a few times. It's a bit surprising then, that they look up and say sweetly (as sweetly as their throat can manage) "You look nice with red, Leonide," as she walks by on her way out the door.
	<Leonide>	"Thank you. And I'm still wondering about the cookbook." She heads out with a sigh, her voice echoing out.
	<Leonide>	"If you really hate that type of cooking, you can just tell me." *grumble*
	* Jim	has spent most of his time working on improving his home. He's gotten it to the point where his home will sprout large luxurious beds made of leaves and grasses that weave themselves together, and he's coerced some of the vines to sprout berries and gourds of drink. There is now also a a shifting sculpture of thorns in the middle of the hollow.
	<Elise>	With freedom and free time on her hands, Elise spent the first days simply walking to over to Leonide's place to spend time with Mary, though during her trek back and forth she found, or more or less recalled, that she enjoyed running.
	* Elise	found fuzzy memories resurfacing and spent several hours a day simply jogging around the campus with her prodigious stamina between her visits to Mary and attempts to help Jim improve the hollow.
	<Leonide>	Leonide may have suggested that on Sundays, the not-really-a-motley all come over for an actual dinner as well.
	* Elise	timidly accepts with a growing hint of a smile, relaying the message to Jim with more enthusiam than she was aware she had.
	* Mary	have been spending their time outside, roaming and slumming and getting their feet on the ground of this new place in the hinterlands. The one time Leonide came home before they returned was easier to explain away with a crude lie, and the cut on their shoulder was healing nicely under the Band-Aid they had the foresight to bring with.
	<Elise>	At the suggestion of Leonide, and with a little help from her as well, Elise has managed to obtain a job at the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center on campus. She wasn't entirely sure of herself at first, but Leonide said it would be a experience for her.
	<CaesarSalad>	Slowly, winter moves full force into Chicago. Maybe it's just the usual change of the seasons, but it does coincide with Caius Long, the Winter King's time in office.
	<CaesarSalad>	Nothing's been blanketed in white, but the cold is omnipresent with biting winds blowing off the wide, slate expanse of Lake Michigan. The kind of chill that you can feel in your bones.
	<CaesarSalad>	Maybe then it's no surprise that sometime after Thanksgiving, you each receive a summons to Caius' office. A visit with all of you at the same time.
	* Mary	arrive a few minutes late and mill around outside the office for a moment before trodding in.
	<Leonide>	Leonide turns up in her normal coat and a bright red scarf, her face deadpan and still pale, even with the wind making most faces ruddy.
	<CaesarSalad>	He works out of one of the impressive, impassive neo-Gothic buildings that ring the quadrangle. Despite the cold, it's nice and toasty inside, a combination of radiator heat and the milling crowds of students.
	* Elise	had arrived at the appointed time, dressed in layers for the season.
	* Jim	quivers in, wearing a pair of pants that seems to be made of many different fabrics, but has no seams, and a black, blue and red shirt with various pop-occult symbols written on it in tears.
	* Mary	stand inside the office, uncomfortably warm in their bulky winter coat and stocking cap.
	<CaesarSalad>	Caius Long is a guidance counselor, you see. One of the ones that the students often hope they don't have to deal with. The crowds pay you only minor attention for whatever reasons. Mary, for being young. Jim, for being ostentatious. Elise, for simply being pretty and vulnerable. Leonide alone seems to fit in with the Gothic surroundings.
	<Leonide>	Even she gets a problem because of being pretty.
	<CaesarSalad>	Long's door opens, and a shivering student steps out. You can hear his teeth chatter as he talks. "Th-th-thanks!"
	<CaesarSalad>	"Come in," the Winter King's voice beckons, and when you do enter, you notice the temperature is a good ten degrees colder, as if his radiator is broken.
	<Leonide>	Leonide grunts at the cold. She's much more of a summer person.
	* Mary	face become immediately more relaxed as they step into the chill of the Wyrd.
	* Elise	is glad she hadn't gotten comfortable enough to strip off the outer layers of her clothing.
	<CaesarSalad>	He stands behind his desk in a smart blue suit that compliments his icy blue skin. "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come," he says, gesturing for you all to sit. There are only two chairs.
	* Elise	nods at the question.
	* Mary	, polite despite their brutish demeanor, look around at the others without sitting.
	* Jim	nods warily
	<CaesarSalad>	Up close, you begin to see every bit of his Draconic ancestry. His blue skin is lightly scaled in patches, his face chiseled and regal. Even his teeth, straight and white, are slightly sharp. You almost expect them to be hiding a forked tongue.
	<CaesarSalad>	No one sits and the Fairest arches a sculpted eyebrow, then seats himself. "As reigning monarch, I felt it my duty to acquaint myself better with all of the Freehold. I believe you four are among the newest to join us?"
	<Leonide>	"Vaguely. Been here for several months, honestly."
	<Jim>	innnnndeed
	* Elise	glances between the others, "I think I'm the newest."
	* Mary	look at their feet.
	<CaesarSalad>	He has a notebook open in front of him, and scratches a bit of shorthand in blue ink there. "Forgive me, but your names? I am Mr. Long, of course."
	<Elise>	"I'm... Elise Garratt."
	* Mary	eyes widen a bit as they think about the question. A sharp intake of surprised breath escapes.
	<Jim>	I am Jim
	<Jim>	Cohn
	<Mary>	"We don't know what our last name is!" they trip out.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Whatever you call yourself will do."
	<Jim>	THEN pick one
	* Elise	looks downcast and fiddles with her skirt, "I'm sorry Mary..."
	<Mary>	"We can't pick one," they mutter. "Our name is Mary, Mister, um, Long."
	* Mary	snort a giggle.
	<Leonide>	She rolls her eyes quietly at Mary, before answering. "Leonide Tinderman, sir."
	<Elise>	"...I wonder if I'd know my name if it wasn't written on the back my neck..." she mumbles in a faint whisper.
	<CaesarSalad>	He's still scratching down notes. "Mmm. And...if my information is correct, at least two of you are not only new...but originally from this area."
	* Leonide	idly holds up her hand for that one.
	* Elise	looks up, "I am Mr. Long."
	<Jim>	"no, you are ms. garratt" Jim Jokes
	* Elise	looks confused for a moment before she figures out what Jim meant.
	* Leonide	snorts.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Yes, that's what I thought...and I know you, too, young Miss Mary, were picked up by Elmer not far from Chicago. Do any of you realize how unique this is for this city?" He sits back in his chair, fingers crossed now.
	* Elise	shakes her head no.
	<Mary>	"Um..."
	<Mary>	"Because he's a bull?"
	* Mary	grins shiningly and helpfully.
	* Jim	mutters something. "Unique...suspicious...no coincidents..."
	<CaesarSalad>	"No." He leans forward, eyes narrowed. "There have been no new Lost in this city for almost a decade. For reasons unknown, the previous Freehold was...removed. My goal is to not have a repeat of those circumstances."
	<Mary>	"Who, um, removed it?"
	* Elise	eye's widen.
	* Jim	bristles. literally
	* Mary	flinches at Jim's sudden sproutings.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Obviously, the fate of the previous Lost had something to do with The Others. Who else would claim them en masse? We must ensure that their are no ties back to the Thorns. Now, do you know what is left behind when one of The Others takes a soul from this world?" Another question, another arched eyebrow. He's testing you.
	* Mary	silently mouth the word 'shoes'.
	<Leonide>	"Fetches, normally." She pipes in.
	<Jim>	a trick... a body... a fake...
	<Elise>	"A fetch?"
	* Elise	begins to look worried, "What's a fetch?"
	* Jim	turns to elise
	<Jim>	a fake you
	<Jim>	a fake me
	* Leonide	nods in agreement.
	<CaesarSalad>	He nods, smiling grimly at Leonide and Jim. "Exactly." Then to Elise, "A fetch is a copy. A doppelganger left behind to live the life you could not and to hide the existence of The Others from their prey. They are rude simulacrums, but effective. And each maintains a tie with the Master that made it."
	<Leonide>	"Wonderful." She deadpans.
	* Mary	fidget with their fingers. "Us..." they whisper voicelessly.
	* Elise	weaps her arms around herself and shivers. "A fake... me?"
	<CaesarSalad>	He scratches a few more notes in his book, then closes it. "We cannot have these links within or around our Freehold. The danger is too great." He caps the pen and slides it into the pocket of his suit. "You each will find your fetches and you will take care of them if you wish to remain in the Freehold and in the City."
	<Elise>	"Take care of?"
	* Elise	's voice is becoming strained.
	<Leonide>	"I'm pretty sure I don't /have/ one."
	<Jim>	Cold-wyrm, mine is nowhere near. It will never come near.
	* Mary	step backward, knocking one of the chairs against the wall and panting as their vision clouds with being drug away and the half-remembered image of another her sitting in their her room
	<Mary>	"Shit-" they hiss, clenching their hands into tight knots.
	* Elise	continues shaking, "...whats 'take care of mean'..."
	<Leonide>	"Kill."
	<Elise>	"K-k-kill?"
	<Jim>	Cold-wyrm, would you have me travel half-way across the land to take a Child's parent?
	<CaesarSalad>	"If you don't have one, then all will be well. I am concerned only with those fetches in the city," he says, with another nod to Jim and Leonide. "I strangled my fetch in his bathtub while the water froze around my wrists, Miss Garratt."
	* Elise	falls to her knees with a look of horror on her face. "...idon'twanttobebadagain..."
	* Mary	jerk backward as Elise falls to the floor.
	<Jim>	Elise, would you have me... make the fake-you leave?
	* Leonide	kneels down.
	<Leonide>	"I can help, if you want."
	<Leonide>	"You aren't alone on this, Elise."
	* Elise	looks up at Leonide, "I'm good aren't I? I'm good right?"
	<Leonide>	"Yes, you are."
	<Jim>	Elise, you ARE good
	<Jim>	you are free
	<Leonide>	"I would be willing to bloody my hands. Defending the freehold is my /job/ after all."
	* Elise	reachs up to hug Leonide.
	* Leonide	hugs back.
	* Mary	continue panting.
	<Jim>	...
	<CaesarSalad>	"Then we're done here. You have until the Solstice. Good day." Without another look, he turns to his computer.
	* Jim	turns to the Cold-Wyrm
	* Elise	quickly moves out of the room.
	<Jim>	Frozen-Drake, need blood be shed, or if the fake fled, would that be well, or must we brave hell?
	* Leonide	helps Elise up and to get her out.
	<Leonide>	"You think we should go see about handling Elise's fetch now?"
	<CaesarSalad>	"Do what's necessary, Mirrorskin."
	* Mary	suck in a huge breath through their nose and see their near-friends leaving before they quickly follow out.
	<Jim>	fine and well.
	* Jim	follows
	<Leonide>	The Wizened isn't the best at being comforting, especially being made of stone. Even if it was wrapped up in a BIIIIG fuzzy coat.
	* Elise	collapses into tears once out of his office.
	<Jim>	Elise, my friend, though we must end the prescence of your fake, it need not be with knife and teeth, we shall simply need to make your fake take a trip, and never return at all...
	* Mary	pace back and forth, stomping their boots into the tiling over and over as Elise sobs.
	<Leonide>	"I'm still willing to kill her."
	* Elise	grabs hold of Mary and cries into her shoulder for a few minutes before she recovers.
	<Leonide>	"As I said before, it's my job. I'm Summer."
	* Jim	looks towards the grave-of-games
	<Leonide>	"What?"
	* Mary	charge straight at Elise with both hands out and knocks past her to the bulletin board on the wall behind them. With both hands dug in underneath they shove it, yanking it away from the wall. "IT'S NOT FAIR!" they scream at the top of their voice.
	* Jim	shifts into a demon-statue
	* Leonide	facepalms*
	<Jim>	DO YOU NOT SEE THE HURT THE IDEA CAUSES HER
	<Mary>	"HE CAN'T TELL US TO DO IT!"
	<Leonide>	She looks at Jim very calmly, crossing her arms. "It's the simplest solution."
	* Jim	bristles with protective anger, but forces himself to calm down
	* Jim	goes all FUCK CALM
	<Jim>	SIMPLEST IS NOT BEST WITH SUCH A TEST
	* Elise	looks forlorn "...I can't say anything there...not without being bad..."
	<Jim>	BESIDES BEING WHAT IT IS, WHAT HAS IT DONE TO DESERVE DEATH
	<Leonide>	"Breathe, Jim."
	* Jim	struggles with his righteous anger
	<Jim>	we...
	<Leonide>	"Isn't it a parody of life either way? And the Winter King had a point."
	<Jim>	will try the hard way
	<Leonide>	"The problem is that if it is a native, she WILL want to come home."
	<Jim>	first
	<Leonide>	"And isn't that more unfair?"
	<Jim>	talk with her
	<Jim>	make a deal if need be
	<Jim>	attack only if tricked...
	<Leonide>	"I still think it's unfair to force her away permanently for her 'safety.' Especially if she ever comes BACK, it means Elise has to LEAVE."
	* Elise	stands up and takes a deep breath.
	<CaesarSalad>	Mary, you easily rip the board from the wall. But it's cheaply made and in your furious anger, the cork-board comes apart, papers fluttering to the ground along with numerous push-pins. The whole thing falls to pieces, aluminum frame clattering on the floor.
	<Jim>	a DEAL with the thing. a Sealed one.
	<Leonide>	"The last time I made a fucking deal with one, I *lost* my mother."
	<CaesarSalad>	You realize, then...that you're still in the building. And there are students around. They're staring.
	* Mary	shriek in frustration and rage, shoving a plastic chair across the open space and slapping their fist into the wall.
	* Mary	sob.
	<CaesarSalad>	Suddenly, the door opens and Caius Long steps out into the hallway. "You will take this outside, NOW." His eyes gleam with frosty anger and the ice-laden winter crown hangs heavy on his head.
	<Leonide>	"Don't fucking deal with one." now SHE is starting to lose it, her voice very soft.
	<Leonide>	"They WILL trick you."
	<Jim>	I will sign the deal
	* Elise	walks away, her shoulders slumped.
	<Jim>	and if It breaks it, I will do what is needed
	<Leonide>	"It is still Elise's hide, you fucker."
	* Mary	stalk past the rubbernecking students, curling their lips and glowering at them.
	<Leonide>	She is walking out now, twitching
	<Elise>	"I want to see The Doctor..."
	<CaesarSalad>	Outside, the winter's chill hits you. But it's still not as cold as Mr. Long's glare.
	* Jim	walks out, bristling still
	<Leonide>	"Then go to him." Her face softens.
	<Elise>	"Where do I find him?"
	<Leonide>	"Hospital. I can take you there easily."
	<Leonide>	"At least that I can be useful with."
	<Elise>	"Thanks Leonide."
	<Leonide>	She smiles wanly.
	<Leonide>	"Seriously, though, you guys, I said it before. I did make a deal with one. Remember the fairy book page?"
	<Elise>	"I think he can help me... i hope"
	<Leonide>	"Promised to not take my mother if I won a game of chess." She hisses quietly as she leads the way.
	<Leonide>	"The asshole then turned around after I *won,* and said 'oh, I never said I'd keep your mother alive during the game.'"
	* Jim	whispers, quietly and very lucidly "I will protect her, grave-board. If this decision leads to her harm, may the flesh-clown take me."
	<Leonide>	She blinks at Jim.
	<Leonide>	"That settles it. It's out of my hands once Elise meets with the doctor."
	<Elise>	"I wonder what my mother is like now... I barely remember her," Elise wonder outloud.
	<Elise>	wonders*
	* Mary	startle when Elise says that/
	<Leonide>	After a moment, Leonide laughs bitterly.
	<Leonide>	"I just noticed something."
	<Leonide>	"You'd think that Long is the Summer King with how we are all acting now."
	* Elise	glances back to Leonide. "What would your queens say?"
	<Mary>	"God, what does that even mean," they snap. "We hate all this stupid court stuff!"
	<Leonide>	"They'd probably be pissed I said that, but with the subject, they'd probably agree."
	<Leonide>	"They are paranoid too."
	<Leonide>	"The Doctor didn't want you all telling me about the visit before because they would have been pissed too."
	* Elise	nods.
	<Leonide>	"Because they want to just shield it without exploring, not touch at all."
	<Leonide>	"Just huddle away."
	<Leonide>	"Mary, if you haven't noticed... we are all really pissed or upset."
	<Leonide>	"Wrath is summer's emotion."
	<Mary>	"WE DON'T CARE!" they shout, throwing their hands up.
	<Jim>	and the cold is despair
	<Mary>	"God, shut up!"
	* Leonide	keeps a stony face with all of this.
	<Leonide>	"Then don't ask."
	<Elise>	"Well the Doctor will know."
	<Leonide>	She keeps trudging though the snow towards the hospital.
	* Mary	thrust their fists down and stand still. "Fine!" they shout and turn away, stalking down the sidewalk in the opposite direction.
	* Jim	holds Elise up, and walks
	* Jim	shouts to Mary "mouth-of-many, it is unfair. This is what happens when we bow to others. It is a lesson well learned, biter."
	<Leonide>	"She's 15, Jim. Let her go scream."
	<Jim>	let her scream. yes. But let her learn as well. not either-or, but And
	<Leonide>	"We can talk to her later about it."
	<CaesarSalad>	The hospital is mostly toasty inside. You pass by some maintenance guys setting up the hospital's lobby Christmas tree and head into the basement at Leonide's lead.
	<CaesarSalad>	You find The Good Doctor in the morgue, once more. It's quiet as the grave, though he's not alone. A man is laid out on a gurney, half covered by a sheet."Leonide...Elise. ..Jim...is there something I can help you with?" At least he's more aware of your names than Long.
	<Jim>	Needle-hands... There is an issue with the Cold...
	* Elise	steps foward, "Yes Doctor..."
	* Leonide	leaves the room, since she is NOT in the mood to talk. She did say it was out of her hands now.
	* Elise	looks downcast, her delicate skin stained by her tears, "...Caius Long... he told me I have to 'take care of' my fetch..."
	* Elise	takes a deep breath and tries to keep herself from tearing up, "or else I'd have to leave... but do I have to be the one to do it?"
	* Elise	looks up at the Doctor hopefully.
	<CaesarSalad>	He swoops past the cadaver, moving for all the world like a massive carrion bird despite his scrubs. "Oh, no...no, my dear. Of course not," he says, touching her under the chin with his syringe-tipped fingers. "I thought this day would come. As I said before, Winter's dislike of all things from the Thorn is legendary."
	* Jim	adds in "Summer's tomb-pawn wants to kill that which has done no wrong but exist."
	* Elise	quickly closes the gap between herself and the Doctor and throws her arms around him with a joyous smile on her face.
	<CaesarSalad>	He holds onto Elise like a doting father. "They are unnatural, and...possibly dangerous," he says to Jim. ""It is a pity, sometimes. Much could be learned from these duplicates. They say, however...and it is only a theory...that each Fetch is made not only with the twigs and thorns, but also a piece of your very soul."
	* Elise	is crying again, but this time she definately isn't distraught, "Thank you Doctor!"
	<CaesarSalad>	The Doctor holds Elise at arm's length and peers down at her with his dark eyes, birdlike behind his mask. "Do you feel it, Elise? Is a part of you missing? Nothing physical, but a part that should be there no longer is?" He's plainly curious, now.
	<Elise>	"I... don't remember things from before very well... but I thought that was normal..."
	* Jim	looks towards Elise, then to the bird-mask
	<CaesarSalad>	"Memory loss isn't uncommon. But then again, we all seem to have fetches. Perhaps their is a tie. Either way, Elise...if the Winter King asked to to deal with your fetch, then you must somehow. If it comes to killing, you do not have to strike the blow yourself. I've heard of some hiring others to do the job..."
	* Jim	speaks deliberately "I suggested a deal, a SEALED one, with the fake of my friend. It has done no harm, and it will do her no harm. I've sworn it."
	* Elise	tries to summon forth the courage to speak on something but can't or won't, "...as long as I don't do it..."
	<Elise>	"Then I don't have to be bad... worse... at least"
	* Jim	starts to move towards Elise, but stops
	<CaesarSalad>	Looks pensive for a moment, then strolls back behind the gurney. He runs his needle fingers across the dead man's chest, apparently deep in thought. "Yes, a Pledge could work. They too are creatures of Wyrd and should be bound just as easily. But could you convince one?"
	<CaesarSalad>	He shakes his head, then turns to Elise once more.
	<CaesarSalad>	"No matter what you do, remember this. When it comes down to it, you are the only one who deserves existence. A Fetch may pretend to life, but at best they are tools to be used and at worst...at worst they will take you back through the Thorns. Brook them no pity. They aren't alive."
	<Jim>	...
	* Elise	nods.
	<Elise>	"Before I go... can I... join autumn like Tom did?"
	* Jim	jolts
	<Jim>	Friend...
	* Jim	turns sharply to the doctor
	<Jim>	...plague-mask. If they are not alive, then how can the fake-me be a father
	* Elise	lowers her head, "Caius scares me... and I don't want to be exposed...to him."
	<CaesarSalad>	He glances at Jim and holds up a hand. "One moment." Then to Elise. "If you are to join Autumn, you must not only face that fear. You must learn from it and know how to use it. Autumn is not for the meek, but the subtle. To face horror, you may have to be horror yourself. But from this you will learn, you will change like the seasons, and you will harvest the rewards. Is this what you want?"
	<Elise>	"Before I was taken I was afraid of pain, but then... I learned to not be afraid of it, i learned to like it... and I stopped being afraid of it. I want to do that with this fear."
	<CaesarSalad>	"All right then. With this Mirrorskin as a witness, I do accept you into the Court of Autumn, if you swear to uphold its tenets. You shall not avoid fear, but embrace it, embody it. The thorns, the Wyrd, the Contracts...you will study these, understand these, and use these against those who would harm your fellows. Under pain of exile, you will do nothing to endanger the Court or its goals....
	<CaesarSalad>	...Do you agree?" He puts out his hand, needle tips down.
	* Elise	places her hand against his, "I agree."
	<CaesarSalad>	You feel the Wyrd twist and turn...and it's as if the scent of dead leaves and cooling air settles around you, draping over your shoulders. "Then Welcome to the Court of Autumn. Now..."
	<CaesarSalad>	He turns to Jim. "What did you say?" he asks, head inclined like a curious bird.
	* Jim	turns to Elise "Why don't you head off, Elise? I will follow shortly"
	* Elise	smiles and trots off.
	* Jim	turns to the doctor
	<Jim>	The fake-me has children
	<Jim>	how can this be, if they don't live?
	<CaesarSalad>	"That should not be possible. Are you sure it has children of its own? They aren't adopted or from a donor?"
	<Jim>	they look like I did before, doctor
	<CaesarSalad>	His head tilts the other way. "Are they yours? Is it possible she was pregnant before you were taken?"
	<Jim>	no
	<Jim>	I was taken... long before they were a glimmer of maybe
	<Jim>	They live, doctor.
	<CaesarSalad>	"Well, then...if you're sure, Occam's Razor would indicate that the Wyrd has done something fantastic and heretofore unheard of. If this is true, then these children may be no more fully human than their father. Or you and I."
	* Jim	decides Elise must be far enough away
	-->|	Leonide_ (chatzilla@sux-2D0E507C.san.res.rr.com) has joined #chicago
	<Jim>	Still, they are real, the fake-ones live, and there is a reason I asked my friend to leave
	* Jim	leans towards the doctor
	|<--	Leonide has left xen.thisisnotatrueending.com (Ping timeout)
	=-=	Leonide_ is now known as Leonide
	<Jim>	She is my Friend. She was FREE. If harm comes to her through you, I will avenge her as only a mad one can.
	* Jim	steps back
	<Jim>	but until that happens
	<Jim>	I will obey this place's laws
	<Jim>	and honor you
	<CaesarSalad>	"You do well by your friend, Jim. But I don't fear for her and I don't fear you." The Good Doctor watches, waiting for you to leave.
	* Jim	leaves to meet Elise
	<CaesarSalad>	-END SESSION-