Tarot says, "Your appreciation warms my heart, Johann."

Johann says "Tarot, I thought you could never lie?"

Tarot says "I thank you for the concern: and no, I do not lie, Johann. It is nice to be
appreciated for what one is."

Tarot says "Rather than what others would have one be."

Mitre laughs distantly.

Mitre says "Wine. Do you have a favourite wine, Johann?"

Johann says "I did not think, Tarot, that you had room for warmth in your heart."

Johann says "Please, Tarot. Sit with us or I shall feel wounded."

Tarot raises an eyebrow. "I suppose it may prove educational."

Johann says "As for the wine, I have no favorites. I've always been a mixed drink type
person."

Tarot takes a seat at the small, round table.

Tarot joins you.

Mitre says "Damn."

At your table, Johann smiles at Tarot; his freckles stand out.

Mitre says "Order me something, then, would you?"

Tarot takes a seat midway between Mitre and Johann, her attitude relaxed but vaguely wary.



A tall, lean woman, wiry in build, her skin weathered by travel. Her thick crimson hair is
braided tightly off her face and her golden eyes are cool and deep-set under arching thin
dark brows. High cheekbones and a wide mouth give her a permanent air of faint amusement.
Her worn practical clothing and cloak are a dusty black. On her belt are several pouches and
one dagger. Long thin brown hands hang calmly at her sides. She moves with the easy stride
of the experienced traveller. Her poise is relaxed and cool. An old scar cuts across the palm
of her left hand and partway up her arm. Dark shadows are smudged under her eyes and her
face seems leaner yet than before.

Johann ponders. "I'll do one better."

At your table, Johann says "Excuse me a moment."

At your table, Mitre rests a currently amethyst gaze upon Tarot's face and hair.

At your table, Johann smiles winningly at Tarot. "I won't be long."

You stand and leave the small, round table.

Johann walks over behind the bar.

Johann has taken over bar duty.

Mitre keeps his eyes on Tarot, meanwhile.

You move behind the bar.

Tarot glances over to Johann for a moment, then returns careful attention to Mitre.

Johann rummages through drink containers, studying labels.

Mitre makes quiet conversation.

Tarot replies in a polite but low tone of voice.

Johann gets out three glasses. He puts ice cubes in them. Then, carelessly, he pours fluids
in them, dancing about slightly as he does so.

Johann takes the drinks over to his previous table.

Johann ends his shift at the bar.

You emerge from behind the bar.


You sit down at the small, round table.

At your table, Tarot says "No, not quite fear... Why, is that what you want?"

At your table, Johann sets a glass in front of Mitre, and one in front of Tarot, and finally one
in front of himself.

Tarot eyes the glass in front of her dubiously.

Johann holds his glass up to his tablemates. "Cheers!" he takes a drink.

At your table, Tarot says "Johann, you know that I only drink water."

Johann holds his expression carefully into a rigid smile.

At your table, Mitre says "It would make things that much more delicious."

Mitre looks down at the drinks.

At your table, Tarot says "That is assuming that you would ever be... eating."

Mitre shrugs. He takes a glass for himself and gulps.

Tarot takes a sip from the glass of water she still has with her.

Mitre's face gives the impression it is performing acrobatics while staying perfectly still.

At your table, Mitre says "Very interesting drink."

At your table, Johann says "Thank you. It's a specialty of mine. Won't you try it, Tarot?"

At your table, Johann says "Really, it's very good."

At your table, Tarot says "I stick to water, Johann."

At your table, Johann says "Really, Tarot. You're so...unadventurous."

At your table, Tarot folds her hands. "And still alive to enjoy it."

At your table, Mitre says "But to answer you, Tarot, I merely comment that one can taste in
ways that don't involve feeding. Really, Johann, I would have thought you'd teach your
companions some imagination."

At your table, Johann's expression falls slightly and he stares at the table, eyes growing
distant. 



At your table, Tarot says "I remember the last drink you offered me, Johann."

At your table, Tarot glances over to Mitre. "I am no... companion of Johann's. And as to
tasting, yes, true, but the context suggested the remark."

Mitre's gaze drops to Tarot's neck.

At your table, Mitre says "Implications are dangerous things."

At your table, Johann studies Tarot. "No, not a companion, which is too bad. I'm harmless,
Tarot. Really." (Harmless as a leprechaun, that is)

At your table, Tarot nods. "True. Which is why I prefer to stick to facts."

At your table, Johann says "Facts or facets?"

At your table, Mitre says "Then let's. What do you want to know about me? I'd rather have
you tense for the right reasons."

At your table, Johann looks up, his face returning to his whimsical grin.

At your table, Tarot raises an eyebrow. "What do I want to know? Well... I'm not sure. What
would you care to tell?"

Tarot sips from her glass again.

At your table, Johann says "I sense a game of questions coming on."

At your table, Mitre says "Oh, bother."

At your table, Mitre says "I'm not a private individual. I'm curious to find out what you'd
ask."

At your table, Tarot glances over at Johann. "No, no game."

At your table, Tarot says "But I would be curious about your wife, sir Mitre. I only saw her
in passing the other day, when you duelled Breckweiller.""

At your table, Johann says "No games? Ahh, but a game of questions is as enticing as the
reading of the cards."

Tarot half smiles, and takes a sip from her glass again.

At your table, Mitre says "Perhaps another time, Johann. This bar's too noisy to appreciate
the subtleties."

Mitre watches Tarot carefully for a moment.

At your table, Mitre says "What about her?"


At your table, Tarot shrugs slightly. "Simple curiosity. That is all. "

At your table, Johann ponders this, a bit more quietly.

At your table, Mitre says "She's a shadow, and able to survive me feeding on her for quite
some time. Her body is all power and she looks absolutely stunning in a collar and leather
get-up. Her lips would inspire many men to poetry, if they but felt them. Really. I could go
on and on. What precisely do you want to know?"

At your table, Johann says "Tarot, where do you go when you're not here?"

At your table, Johann looks at Mitre. "Ooh, she sounds wonderful."

At your table, Tarot looks faintly taken aback at Mitre;s words. "Well.. I was thinking more of
history, background, so forth. I could see that she was beautiful."

Mitre flutters eyelashes at Johann. "She is."

At your table, Tarot glances over to Johann. "I walk. Around. Everywhere. I even pop into
Niemand's on occasion."

Mitre's voice drops again.

At your table, Johann says "I mean...where do you go to sleep?"

At your table, Tarot shrugs slightly. "Usually under a hedge somewhere. Certainly out of
doors."

At your table, Mitre says "History. Hmn. I married her by accident and later we spent a
wonderful eight years or so in Milan. Have you ever been to Earth, Johann? I'd love to see if
I could find my old portfolio. I did some absolutely stunning modelling work, but left it behind
when I headed back. I miss it."

At your table, Tarot raises an eyebrow. "Modelling? In clay, or something like that?"

At your table, Johann says "Oh, yes, I go there often. Many different ones."

Bassor has arrived.

Bassor appears suddenly in a riot of sound and shape.

At your table, Johann says "If you want a place to stay, Tarot, I'm certain I could provide
one."

At your table, Mitre says "Mmn."



At your table, Mitre says "Modelling in the sense of self-molding, m'dear."

At your table, Tarot says "I appreciate the thought, Johann, but I am used to what I have, and
am quite comfortable that way."

At your table, Tarot says "Some form of shapeshifting?"

At your table, Tarot looks genuinely puzzled.

Bassor glances about calmly.

At your table, Johann says "Hedges are not comfortable. You need a bed."

At your table, Johann says "I insist."

Mitre laughs.

Mitre looks over to Bassor.

Mitre says "Don't *do* that."

Bassor nods to Mitre, and lifts an eyebrow, perhaps at his table companions.

Bassor smiles, faintly.

Mitre smiles. "I'll scold you later."

Tarot glances up, and notices Bassor. She nods politely to him before returning her attention
to Johann.

Mitre looks back to his table.

Johann looks up at Bassor, grinning like a madman.

At your table, Tarot says "You and a number of other people, sir, and I say no to all of you.
I am quite happy where I am. Out of the way."

At your table, Mitre says "Beds are good."

At your table, Mitre says "Find her an out-of-the-way bed, then."

At your table, Tarot shrugs slightly. "True, but I have no real need of one. And I am happy
where I am."

At your table, Mitre says "Maybe we should just kidnap you."

At your table, Johann says "An out of the way bed is do-able. An empty house. Just the
necessities. Food, water. Wine that you'll never drink. Soft sheets. Don't you like the idea of
lying in comfort for an evening?"



At your table, Mitre says "Removing the element of choice is ... mmn? Yes. Comfort. That was
my point. I think."

At your table, Johann says "True. Would you object, strenuously, to being kidnapped?"

At your table, Tarot's gaze becomes more wary. "I only take what I need, Johann, and I do
not need what you describe. I am comfortable enough as I am. I do not require anything
else."

At your table, Tarot nods. "Very likely indeed."

At your table, Mitre says "Really, Tarot. Have a drink."

At your table, Tarot nods politely, and sips from her glass of water again.

At your table, Johann says "Hmm. Somehow I don't think you would."

At your table, Johann ponders this.

At your table, Johann looks at Mitre. "What the hell. Shall we?"

Tarot sips from her glass again, looking warily from Mitre to Johann, as though she's not sure
whether she quite believes what they're saying.

At your table, Mitre says "It would be a wonderful way to alleviate a few hours' boredom. And
you can blame it on me."

At your table, Johann says "Nope. I can't. Let's go."

You reach your tendrils out, searching for your destination...

Mitre reaches for Tarot's wrist.

Tarot puts down her glass, glancing between the men again, warier.

Johann reaches out for Mitre. "Nono."

Mitre's hand pulls back.

Your tendrils make contact...

Tarot looks surprised for a moment.

Tarot flickers for a time.

Tarot has left.

Mitre laughs. "*Oh*."

Mitre says "That was lovely."

You reach your tendrils out, searching for your destination...

Johann grins at Mitre.

Johann says "She went for a walk. She'll be back."

You reach your tendrils out, searching for your destination...

Mitre sneezes. "This tickles, you nasty boy."

Your tendrils make contact...

Mitre says "Toodles!"

Mitre flickers for a time.

Mitre has left.

Pulling your tendrils back towards you, you move...

Somewhere in Shadow(#13597R)
Gentle greenish water laps against the rocky shore here; along one stretch of the beach is
sand, but it gets rockier towards the north, forming first small juts and boulders, then
greater ravines, and finally a sheer cliff off in the distance. Inward, toward shore, is a field
full of red flowers, their scent picking up in the wind and filling the entire beach. Beneath
the hazy clouds and the orange sun, several birds fly, their bright, cheerful sounds just
barely audible over the waves.

Contents:
Mitre
Tarot

Your tendrils snatch you forth.

Tarot is glancing round, surprised.

Johann says "Hurt? Never."

Tarot turns to look at the two men, her glance cool. "Where is this?"

Johann picks a flower and hands it to Tarot. "It's not quite the color of your hair, but I
hadn't the time to really match it up."

Johann says "This place has no name. I'm just merely rather fond of it."

Mitre says "I haven't the slightest."

Tarot glances at the flower, then back at Johann again. "No, thank you."

Mitre says "I like the green, though."

Mitre says "I don't suppose kidnapping necessarily includes restraint. Does it?"


Johann walks over to Tarot and, unless she resists, tucks it in her ear.

Johann says "Restraint? Why would I want restraint?"

Johann says "This is just a diversion. Tarot likes to see things, right?"

Tarot raises a hand to bar Johann's. "Again, Johann, thank you, but no."

Tarot says "And yes, I am an explorer, a wanderer: I like to see new places."

Tarot ignores Mitre's question.

Johann says "Please, Tarot? For me?"

Johann bats his eyelashes prettily.

Tarot folds her arms. "No."

Johann says "Consider it my card-reading. I'll even answer a question."

Tarot says "Johann. No."

Johann says "At least smell it."

Tarot sighs, and takes it from Johann's hand, raising it to her face.

Mitre chuckles and takes a few steps around the area. It's clear, perhaps, that he's
consciously making the effort to position himself for maximum aesthetic effect.

Johann says "This shadow is lovely. The only animals I've seen are birds, over the water. Few
and far between."

Johann says "I should like to fly out sometime and see if there are other islands."

Tarot hands the flower back to Johann. "Flying... yes. And a pleasant smell. Empty and quiet."

Johann tucks the flower in his own ear. It looks...positively ridiculous. 

Johann almost glows from devilish glee.

Tarot half smiles, looking out towards the sea.

Johann says "In an hour; more if you like but not less, I'll send you back."

Johann grins. "Good will and all that."

Mitre's eyes dance as he comes to rest.


Tarot half smiles again. "Thank you."

Mitre says "You seemed to know my brother."

Tarot says "Lord Bassor? Only vaguely."

Johann says "She has an inordinate interest in him, actually. He was the object of my second
payment."

Tarot raises an eyebrow. "Hardly inordinate."

Mitre says "Oh, oh, Johann, please, don't tease me like that."

Mitre says "*Details*."

Tarot moves over to lean against a large rock, her gaze turning out towards the birds
wheeling overhead again. "Merely sensible curiosity."

Johann says "Oh, I'm sure you could have come up with a better question than about Bassor."

Tarot shrugs slightly. "I wanted to know more about him, and I thought you might know
something. Chaos House and all."

Johann says "There is...hmm. If you're hungry and or thirsty, lunch and or drinks can be
arranged."

Mitre says "I ate."

Tarot considers. "Perhaps another glass of water, if it wouldn't inconvenience you?"

Johann smiles. "No inconvenience. If there's anything I love, it's showing off."

Johann says "Something to drink, Mitre? Perhaps something more palatable than my mixed
drinks?"

Mitre smiles quietly. "Again. Surprise me."

Mitre says "Have you ever considered opening a clothing store? With my taste and your
talents..."

Johann grins. He reaches out into shadow.

Johann says "A clothing store? I don't know. I do so hate standing behind counters."

Mitre says "We'll buy someone to do that for us and reap the benefits with none of the work."




Johann pulls and a bottle of wine appears. He sets this down, and then a pair of wine glasses.
Finally, a pitcher of and a glass. 

Johann gaily pours water for Tarot. "For the lovely redhead."

 
Slender, not of memorable height, this man is startlingly pale, his skin almost luminescent
in its absence of colour. All other details serve to accent the white: thin, dark eyebrows
arched over indeterminate eyes; a touch of blush to full lips; a head of loose, glossy black
curls that women have killed for. It is only appropriate that he is possessed of an artist's
hands -- nothing else would fit. He wears a vest of amethyst silk around an outfit that is
otherwise a uniform black. His clothes are of loose cut and, as accessory, he sports a
silver-hilted sword.

Tarot sighs, and raises her eyes to heaven, but accepts the glass of water and takes a sip.
"Thank you."

Mitre snags a wine glass for himself.

Johann grabs the wine and reads the label.

Johann says "Hmm. I hope this is good. I don't know wine from vinegar."

Johann shrugs and offers to pour Mitre a glass.

Mitre says "I'm not too keen on vintage myself. That's my wife's job."

Tarot says "Well, I certainly wouldn't, I fear."

Mitre holds out his glass.

Johann pours for Mitre, and then a glass for himself. He sniffs at it.

Tarot takes another sip as she watches the two men play at wine-tasting.

Mitre mirrors Johann, then sips.

Mitre swirls the wine around on his tongue.

Johann sips his wine. "It tastes like...it tastes like wine."

Mitre swallows. "I haven't the slightest idea what to think of it. Yes. Wine."

Johann says "Which is just about the most I can say."

Tarot's tone is dry. "My. You are clearly judges of vintage."

Mitre says "'Tis enough, 'twill serve."

Johann folds himself and sits loosely amongst the flowers.

Mitre says "My grapes are usually symbolic."

Johann says "As I commented earlier, I don't normally drink wine."

Mitre drapes himself across a spot of flowers, too, in time.

Tarot leans back against the rock again, and gazes out at the view. "This is beautiful, you
know. "

Johann says "I told you. There are many wonders in the universe. It's a pity to miss out on
them. Pretty soon you'll have to buy tickets to see stuff like this."

Mitre says "What currency?"

Johann says "Quatloos."

Johann grins.

Tarot says "I tend to see a fair amount while walking. One advantage over travel by Trump,
I suppose."

Johann says "Time is meaningless, but moments are fleeting."

Tarot raises an eyebrow. "Quatloos?"

Mitre says "Vaguely familiar. Are those silver?"

Tarot half smiles. "Oh no, moments are golden. Or so I think the saying goes."

Johann says "No, Quatloos are golden. Moments are fleeting. There one minute, gone the next.
That's the beauty of moments."

Tarot says "That they must pass and die? Impermanence? Transience?"

Mitre says "I sense philosophy."

Mitre says "Pardon if I yawn."

Tarot takes another sip of her water as she considers.

Mitre yawns.

Johann chuckles at Mitre. "Oh come now, my friend. Philosophy is the greatest science. One
cannot experience the pleasures of the physical without first questioning them."

Tarot grins for just a moment, the expression gone the next second. "I do apologise. I get
enough philosophy elsewhere: I shall try to avoid boring you with it here, and spoil this
place."



Mitre snorts. "I can experience pleasures without ever using my higher mental functions,
thank you very much. Existing solely in the spine can be one of the truest pleasures of all."

Tarot raises an eyebrow. "But the spine connects with the brain. You can't divorce the two."

Johann says "Ahh, but people often divorce the two."

Johann says "Haven't you ever heard of people losing their heads?"

Tarot considers that, sipping absent-mindedly from her water again. "Literally, or
metaphorically?"

Johann says "Well, both."

Mitre says "Actually, some sciences will tell you that the spine can process some sensory data
without ever involving the brain."

Tarot says "True. But I'm not sure it's relevant in this discussion."

Mitre says "Oh *bother*."

Mitre says "Now I'm sounding philosophical. Shoot me."

Tarot turns to Mitre. "And I fear I'm no scientist, so I couldn't tell you."

Mitre says "Good."

Johann says "I'm afraid I have no gun on me. I do, however..."

Johann grabs a flower and throws it at Mitre.

Johann says "Have the ability to wound you with kindess."

Tarot blinks for a moment. "I thought that song was only from my Shadow."

Mitre falls over onto his back. He doesn't spill his wine.

Mitre says "I die, Horatio."

Tarot raises an eyebrow, vaguely puzzled.

Johann's eyes get all foggy. "Oooh, Laertes really did a number. It was all the flowery speech,
I think."

Tarot says "I am afraid that you have lost me, gentlemen."

Johann says "One of the greatest tragedies of all creation, Tarot."

Johann says "Truly."


Mitre says "No. You're just a few hand-grabs away, Tarot."

Mitre considers.

Tarot takes another sip from her water. "And what is this tragedy, Johann?"

Mitre says "I liked the performances I saw of it."

Johann says "Let me sum up."

Johann says "A king, his brother, a Queen, and a Prince."

Tarot tilts her head, listening.

Johann says "The brother murders the King. The King's ghost visits the Prince and tells of
this treachery."

Johann says "The Prince...what does he do?"

Mitre says "Philosophises."

Johann says "Does he get angry? Yes. Does he get insane? Yes. Does he kill the Brother, who
is now King? No."

Tarot nods. "Vengeance, I should think. The root of most tragedies."

Johann says "He puts on a _play_."

Johann says "The play shows, in detail, what happened."

Tarot raises an eyebrow. "Are the listeners moved?"

Johann says "Oh, indeed."

Johann says "The King's brother runs out, beyond words."

Mitre says "I giggled."

Johann shouts, but not loudly, "Give me some light!" he cries. "He runs away."

Johann says "Well, the King's brother is horribly, horribly upset at the Prince."

Tarot says "And... Well, yes. Understandable."

Johann says "Sends him off to another country to die. But he doesn't die. He comes back."

Johann says "Does he kill the King's brother now?"

Johann looks to Mitre.

Tarot says "You tell me."

Tarot sips her water again. The glass is nearly empty.

Mitre says "Of course not. There's no pleasure in a quick end."

Mitre says "You have to watch the worm squirm."

Tarot's voice is dry. "I'm sure you would."

Johann says "Right."

Johann says "Instead, the Prince kills his lover's father. His lover's brother challenges him
to a duel."

Tarot says "You didn't mention the lover. Are they important?"

Pattern Lens has arrived. 

Mitre says "Only as additional corpses."

Johann says "The lover is only important in that she dies."

Tarot nods. "I see. Fill the stage with death, to prove that it's a tragedy."

Johann says "And, at the very end, The Prince and his lover's brother have a duel. The King's
brother convinces the Prince's lover's brother to poison his sword, AND has poisoned the wine
which is to be the price for the winner."

Tarot shakes her head slightly. "Overkill."

Johann says "The Queen accidentally drinks the wine. The Prince is taken by the poison, who
then turns and slays his lover's brother. Finally, in a dying breath, he slays the King's
brother."

Johann says "And Horatio is the only one left standing."

Mitre says "'I die, Horatio.'"

Tarot sighs. "Well, there has to be _someone_ left to eulogise the hero."

Mitre says "Though less florally."

Tarot nods, half smiling again. She finishes her glass.

Johann stands and goes to the pitcher. "More water, Tarot?"

Mitre says "Well. Now we've told her a story. What next?"


Mitre says "Pelt her with petals?"

Tarot moves over towards Johann, and the pitcher. "If you would, please."

Mitre snatches up a flower or two.

Tarot turns to Mitre. "What is the point of that?"

Mitre says "Point?"

Mitre says "Johann, she wants a point."

Johann fills the glass, grinning, and sets the pitcher safely aside.

Johann says "Have you ever been pelted with petals before?"

Mitre says "Find one for me, would you?"

Tarot folds her arms, taking care not to spill the water. "No. I haven't. And I usually want a
point to things."

Mitre starts making a pile of petals for imminent pelting.

Mitre says "Experience. Texture. Something like that."

Mitre says "Oh, I'm /rotten/ at motivation."

Tarot retreats to the rock. "Why bother, then?"

Johann says "Texture, certainly."

Mitre throws a handful of petals at Tarot. His aim's pretty good, all things considered. They
scatter.

Johann picks a flower and follows Tarot.

Tarot picks one off the side of a braid. "A flower petal. Soft texture. So what have I learnt?"

Mitre remains lounging in the petals.

Johann holds the flower by the stem, petals toward Tarot, brushing at her cheek with it.

Tarot sighs, and takes the flower off Johann. "Stop it. Why pick them and waste them?"

Mitre says "Keep that up and I'll want to adopt you as the son I never wanted."

Mitre says "That didn't make much sense, did it?"


Johann says "They'll grow back."

Johann looks over at Mitre. "Maybe if it were the son you _always_ wanted I'd consider it."

Tarot shrugs. "But you waste these ones that are here."

Mitre says "I'll work on it."

Tarot places the flower in a niche in the rock she leans against.

Johann says "Tarot, Tarot. It pleases me so that you admire the beauty of this place."

Johann sits down and leans against the rock, at Tarot's feet.

Tarot smiles. "It is beautiful, I do agree on that."

Mitre absently tosses another handful of petals toward the pair.

Tarot brushes a couple of the flower petals off her cloak: they flutter down over Johann.

Johann grins at the petals.

Tarot sighs, and removes a few more petals that have got lodged in her braids, running her
hand over the side of her head to check that she has removed them all.

Johann says "Hey, leave those on. You look good in petals."

Tarot sighs again, and smiles faintly down at him. "That isn't the point."

Johann says "What is the point?"

Tarot shrugs slightly. "At this moment, I'm not precisely sure there is one, but I am sure it
isn't looking good. The point, that is. If you understand me." She takes another sip of water.

Mitre says "My *gods* she has hair and skin like that and no appreciation for personal
aesthetics."

Mitre says "I arrest you."

Johann tsk tsk. "This whole place is about aesthetics."

Mitre says "I arrest you in the name of good taste and all that."

Johann says "It exists because I willed it into being and you're here because I asked you here
and and and..."

Tarot tilts her head at Mitre. "I'm not sure you can do that. I mean, who made you the
judge?"

Johann runs out, then giggles.

Mitre says "I possess incredible powers of arrogance."

Mitre says "So, I did."

Tarot flickers a smile for a moment. "Very well, then, I free myself."

Johann says "Yes, that's the spirit! Free yourself."

Johann says "Will yourself to _be_."

Mitre says "Johann, really. The wine's getting to you."

Tarot smiles again. "I am. I do. I am what I am. I do not intend to change."

Mitre says "Though this freedom thing. I could find it appealing."

Mitre blinks.

Mitre says "You don't intend to change?"

Mitre says "My /gods/."

Jonathan enters, with caution.

Jonathan has arrived.

Jonathan fades into view, walking along the beach.

Tarot tilts her head again. "No. I am what I am. Why should I change?"

Mitre says "Why, any-- hello."

Mitre is lounging upon the flowers.

Tarot raises an eyebrow at the newcomer, still leaning against the rock.

Johann leans against a rock.

Johann looks over at Jonathan. "I might be in trouble," he mutters.

Tarot says "Oh?"

Johann stands up and walks a bit away from the duo, toward Jonathan.

Jonathan says "Oh, hey."

Mitre looks from Jonathan to Johann and back.

Jonathan yawns and blinks.

Mitre says "Does this mean I have to get less decadent now?"

Johann concentrates, watching Jonathan. 

Tarot says "I think it's his grandfather, or something. Lord Jonathan Barimen."

Jonathan says "Am I interrupting something? I'll bail."

Tarot says "And that's up to you."

Johann says "Grandfather?"

Mitre sits upright. "Hell. A Lord."

Jonathan says "Yeeeesss?"

Johann's jaw drops.

Jonathan shifts from one foot to the other. "Hey, sorry to interrupt. I'll just go."

Mitre says "Tarot's hour's up, Johann."

Mitre jumps to his feet.

Johann says "Grandfather!"

Jonathan says "I thought we established that."

Johann runs over to Jonathan and launches himself at him in a hug.

Mitre watches Johann become a projectile. "But we can deal with that later."

Tarot has disconnected. 

Mitre says "I can cry if this is a tearful reunion. I'm very good at emoting."

Jonathan catches Johann. "Uh, hi. Are you feeling all right?"

Jonathan sets Johann down. "Hold on...Trump sending."

Mitre mutters to himself. "I'm feeling superfluous. I hate feeling superfluous."

Johann grins madly.

Jonathan says "What, what...oh, hi. Something on your mind, Uncle?"

Johann says "Nonono, come on, Grandfather!"



Johann grins, looking like a very young boy. "It's really him, Mitre! It's not the robot! Tarot!"

Mitre looks over his shoulder at Tarot.

Mitre says "She's been overwhelmed."

Johann sees Tarot asleep and calms down.

Mitre looks back to Johann. "Robot?"

Johann says "Oh, there was this robot Jonathan running the House for a while...and
grandfather was dead and it was all very horrible and oh God Grandfather, please say you're
not still going to turn Barimen into Sawall province."

Jonathan says "I think I missed something...do you want to drop in? I have people asking me
questions here, too."

Bleys appears in a rainbow sparkle, grasping Jonathan's hand.

Bleys has arrived.

Johann says "Uncle Bleys!"

Mitre says "Barimen. Sawall."

Mitre looks to Bleys.

Bleys grins cheerfully at Johann.

Mitre looks at Bleys. "Man in bright clothes."

Mitre says "I'm feeling faint."

Jonathan turns around and looks at Johann. "Sawall? What?"

Bleys says "Vampire in black clothes."

Johann grins over at Mitre. "It's not merely bright. It's *roaring* *hot* *vermillion*."

Mitre says "Am not."

Mitre says "I just like the schtick."

Johann says "The robot you wanted to make Barimen a Sawall province. Dara adopted him!"

Mitre smiles brilliantly.

Bleys chuckles. "You've stolen Jonathan's outfit, in fact." he notes, looking at Jonathan.

Jonathan looks at Mitre. "Oh, nice look. Are you a real vampire?"

Johann says "He's Cymbre's brother."

Mitre says "Afraid not. I could make fangs, though, if it'd help."

Jonathan says "I'd never wear amethyst."

Bleys says "Right right, rewind. Where have you been, Jonathan?"

Johann says "Or was that nephew?"

Bleys says "Me neither."

Johann pouts. "I like amethyst."

Jonathan says "Cymbre's brother? Oh, pleased to meet you. Cymbre was an employee of
mine."

Jonathan turns back to Bleys. "I..." His head snaps to Johann. "WHAT?"

Mitre starts.

Bleys holds up his hands, "Reality check." he says grinning, "Let's sit down and start from
the beginning before we all get shocked unecessarily."

Bleys holds up one hand and beckons.

Jonathan rubs the back of his neck. "I'll stand and look puzzled."

Bleys comments calmly, "Let's sit down at the table behind the boulder there and have a
drink, and get all unpuzzled."

Mitre says "A table."

Mitre says "Of course."

Johann looks at Bleys. "There's no...oh, damn you."

Jonathan wanders over and leans against the boulder.

Bleys takes Jonathan by the shoulder and guides him towards the nice table around behind
the boulder.

Mitre peeks behind the boulder.

Johann pouts childishly, but walks over to the table that is, indeed, behind the boulder.

Mitre says "You must know Bassor. Bassor does things like that. Bassor also has a tendency
to be a romantic, though, so I guess it doesn't really count. What are you going to decide we
want to drink?"

Bleys seats him down at one of the four chairs. There's a table there. Oak. Wine bottle. Four
glasses.

Mitre pulls out a chair and sits. "Ooh, more wine."

Bleys says "Mix it with anything and die, Chaosian."

Johann says "Bleys, be nice."

Mitre says "I can play purist."

Mitre says "Really I can."

Mitre smiles.

Jonathan sits, then, but doesn't drink. "I already have a hangover."

Johann squirms out and runs over to the now sleeping Tarot.

Johann ponders her for a while, and Logrus-shoves her somewhere safe.

Bleys says "Where have you been?"

Jonathan says "I was at this really cool party..."

Jonathan says "I kind of lost track of time. Did I miss much?"

Mitre says "I know that feeling."

Bleys says "How cool a party? Who with?"

Mitre says "I've been that feeling. What's there to miss?"

Johann walks back over to the table. He peers at it, somewhat annoyed.

Bleys grins at Mitre, "The end of the world. I keep missing it, and I don't know why. I should
abstain from drink."

Johann mutters to Bleys, "You... realize... away when... It just... this..."

You whisper "You do realize I'm going to have to send it away when this is over. It just
doesn't _fit_ and I _like_ this place." to Bleys.

Jonathan says "It was some pocket Shadow, I think. I don't really remember much."

Bleys mutters to Johann, "... just... place... the next shadow over."

Bleys whispers "We just moved. Your place is the next shadow over."

Jonathan scratches his head. "Before that...?"

Mitre drinks wine, at some point.

Jonathan reddens. "Oh. Yeah."

Bleys peers at Jonathan.

Johann says, "Oh." at Bleys.

Johann says "Grandfather. They sent me a body. I don't know who They are, though."

Jonathan looks at Johann. "Don't let this get back to Xin."

Bleys looks at Johann, "Sit down." he says, "And let's see where your stories mesh."

Bleys says "I'd like to hear Jonathan's first."

Mitre says "Oh, thank the Serpent."

Jonathan says "I, uh, woke up, see..."

Mitre says "Stories. I can do stories."

Johann says "And we had a funeral and Des let out all the Jonbots and one of them took over
and."

Johann quiets, biting his tongue.

Bleys says "MM-hmm?"

Jonathan says "On, um, Morlys Hendrake's bed. With a headache."

Bleys says "Unicorn's tits."

Jonathan looks at Johann oddly.

Mitre appears to admire Bleys' curse.

Jonathan says "A body?"

Bleys keeps the mild expression on his face, "Go on, please, Jonathan."

Jonathan says "Oh!"

Jonathan reddens some more.

Jonathan says "It was, uh, a pretty bad headache. I was sort of disoriented..."

Jonathan scratches his head. "I think I found a body and left it in my place, so no one would
discover that I'd left. Kind of stupid, now that I think about it."

Bleys says "You left a body in Morlys Hendrake's bed?"

Johann says "I _knew_ it was a fake!"

Bleys says "I hope it wasn't dead!"

Jonathan thinks.

Bleys makes a face, "Even *I* don't do that kind of stuff, Jonathan." he says, with a grin.

Jonathan says "I don't remember. It might not have been alive to begin with."

Jonathan says "I think I must have been really confused or really drunk. I don't remember
how I got there..."

Bleys covers his face, and shakes his head.

Jonathan says "Anyway, I headed off into Shadow until my head cleared. I guess I missed a
lot, huh?"

Johann says "There's a robot with the Pattern."

Mitre says "Oh, it's Chaos. Chaos happens. Really. Like I said, what's there to miss?"

Mitre blinks.

Johann frowns at Jonathan. "Did you put one of your bots on the Pattern?"

Jonathan says "No, don't be silly."

Bleys runs his hand through his hair, apparently trying to restrain some laughter.

Jonathan says "I built them with Pattern in the first place."

Bleys says "So your head cleared just now?"

Johann says "But it _walked shadow_."

Jonathan says "I'm not sure it's clear now."

Bleys says "Couldn't be trumped, but sure as heck it had some sort of Pattern power."

Mitre effects the affect of a fashionably lost man.

Jonathan says "Yeah, I've spent the last few years researching the subject. It's not
impossible."

Bleys makes a rewinding motion with his hand, "Here. Let's start again. Johann, you start with
your story."

Bleys says "Start with the body."

Johann takes a deep breath.

Johann says "Morlys brought the body to Barimen."

Jonathan says "Basing automata on the major Powers isn't impossible. Ghostwheel even
initiated the Jewel of Judgment, I hear."

Johann says "But it was clearly a fake."

Jonathan rubs his eyes and looks around in mild confusion.

Bleys says "We'll discuss the theory at some point."

Johann says "But I couldn't figure out who or why."

Johann says "So I let everyone think I was fooled and played along, trying to force a hand."

Johann says "We had a funeral and all that. I had to tell Gerard to go away cause I think he
would've spotted it."

Bleys sniggers softly.

Johann says "About a week later, Des let all the robots into the bar."

Bleys says "Why?"

Johann says "There were dozens of them."

Johann says "He said it was a tribute, but it was out of control. It was awful."

Bleys says "A tribute?"

Jonathan looks really confused.

Bleys says "Unicorn, remind me not to let him speak my funeral oration."

Johann says "One of them declared he was the real Jonathan and I couldn't do much to stop
him. He was a pretty tough robot. Thud decided he was real and, well."

Johann says "And then I had a big drawn out argument with the robot and he locked me out
of security."

Johann says "I didn't feel like getting machinegunned so I haven't been back in a while."

Jonathan squints.

Jonathan searches his pockets. "Hell!"

Jonathan slaps his forehead. "How drunk WAS I?"

Mitre has found a half-smile and frozen it on his face.

Johann says "It's been months."

Johann says "But you've probably been slipping the timestreams. I do that too."

Jonathan shakes his head. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. I *left all my stuff on the body*."

Bleys asks softly, still smiling, "Want me to check, Jonathan?"

Johann says "I never gave it back your trumps."

Jonathan says "You have my trumps! Gimme!"

Jonathan holds out his hand.

Johann pulls out his trump deck and sorts out a fairly large portion of them.

Johann hands them to Jonathan.

Bleys sits quietly, wineglass untouched in his hand.

Jonathan shuffles through them.

Jonathan slides out a glossy card, black on one side, rust-colored on the other.

Mitre blinks quietly. He busies himself with his wine.

Jonathan concentrates on it.

Johann says "I haven't seen Xin since the bot showed up."

Jonathan frowns.

Jonathan waves one hand angrily. He's concentrating.

Johann nods and quiets.

Johann looks over at Mitre.

Jonathan says "What? Why you little...No, shut up! Nine while Nine while Nine, blood runs like
water...mark!"

Bleys looks rather fixedly at Jonathan.

Jonathan drops the card. "I don't believe it!"


Johann . o O ( Please don't change that code )

Johann leans over to Mitre.

Mitre lowers his wine glass and listens.

Jonathan says "Well. Shit."

Jonathan leans back in his chair. "I'll have some of that wine, now."

Johann mutters to Mitre, "You should... probably like... of his uncles."

You whisper "You should meet Jayson. He'd probably like to see one of his uncles." to Mitre.

Bleys says "Can't break security?"

Bleys pours some wine for Jonathan.

Mitre blinks quietly.

Mitre looks at Johann.

Mitre smiles, suddenly, raises his glass, and nods.

Jonathan says "No, no. I just hate it when an experiment blows up."

Bleys raises an eyebrow, "What now?"

Johann says "Um, grandfather? Be sure to put me back on the security net."

Johann says "If I go back I really don't want to get blown to bits."

Johann says "It looks bad on a resume."

Jonathan says "I assume that was the 'bot that took over the House. Seems to have gotten
quite a lot of free will."

Bleys notes mildly, "Oh bother."

Jonathan drinks the wine.

Bleys says "I wonder what Dara will say. It would be interesting."

Johann says "Oh, yea. Dara."

Bleys says "Where are you crashing now, Johann?"

Johann takes a deep breath. "She, uh, adopted you."

Jonathan thinks.


Mitre closes his eyes calmly.

Mitre places the back of his hand to his forehead.

Mitre nods to himself, lips moving silently.

Mitre drops his hand.

Jonathan looks at Johann, then back at his wine.

Johann says "Umm, there's a cave up here I sometimes sleep in and I've got a place in Venice
I sometimes use and...well, just wherever I go."

Jonathan glances at Johann again, puzzled, then sips his wine.

Jonathan drops his wine, stares at Johann, and slaps the table. "SHE WHAT?"

Johann looks at his wrist, where a watch might be if he had one, which he doesn't. He looks
back at Johann.

Mitre starts.

Johann says "She adopted you."

Bleys breaks out laughing.

Jonathan goggles.

Bleys says, still laughing, "I can see there are a few things we're going to have to sort out,
politically."

Mitre says "She must have thought you had a cute ass."

Mitre says "I didn't say that."

Johann grins at Mitre. "Dara thought he had a cute...House. Really."

Jonathan shakes his head violently. "Er, why don't you finish the story."

Bleys says solemnly, "Had nothing to do with his butt. Nothing whatsoever."

Mitre says "Right. With wonderful... pillars."

Bleys nods.

Johann grins.

Mitre makes like to look at Jonathan's butt. "Oh?"

Johann says "Well, the scrapheap wanted to give Barimen to Sawall."


Bleys says "Structural integrity."

Jonathan rubs his face.

Bleys rubs the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger, expression carefully
controlled.

Jonathan says "I don't seem to have my gadgets on me. What are you packing, Johann?"

You say "Anything you want."

Johann waggles his fingers.

You say "Within limits."

Bleys says "I think it would be entertaining to study the robot."

Jonathan says "Skip the robots, do you have a slate or comm line?"

You say "I think it would be entertaining to blow it to smithereens."

You say "Oh, yeah, I still have my slate."

Mitre says "I'm abstaining."

Jonathan says "Let's have it."

Johann hands Jonathan his slate.

Jonathan pushes a few buttons on the slate that aren't labeled.

Jonathan punches in a few more things, waits, punches up a few more.

Mitre stares into his glass.

Jonathan watches information scroll past.

Mitre says "This must involve politics. I never did understand politics."

Jonathan presses some more buttons.

Jonathan says "Politics is the art and science of being a respectable bully."

You say "I really should have learned more about that slate."

You say "Politics is the art of looking like a good guy when you're a bad guy and looking like
a good guy when you're a good guy. And, most importantly, it's making the other guy look
like a bad guy."




Jonathan pushes a few more buttons, and flips it back to Johann. "That fixes the mechanical
problems. The organic ones are likely to take longer."

Bleys absently flips through his own set of trumps, pausing to peer at a few of them.

Johann takes his slate and puts it away. "Organic ones?"

Bleys says "Organic defences, yes?"

Mitre makes a quiet 'ah' sound.

You say "Oh, you mean the butler."

You paged Jonathan with 'No, namechanges don't do that.'.

Bleys seems slightly distracted, but soon goes through the trump deck and puts them away.

Jonathan looks at Johann. "I mean our political stature. I imagine there are a lot of
impressions I'll have to deal with."

You say "There's an easy solution to that, I think."

Jonathan says "Which is?"

Johann grins widely. "Oh, I've been dead and a bit out of my head. I don't know what I was
thinking."

Johann grins. "Works for me."

Mitre says "Sounds lovely."

Bleys says "I know the feeling."

Jonathan says "I'd only use that excuse if it weren't true."

Bleys rolls his eyes heavenwards.

Bleys says "So, have you shut down the 'bot, Jonathan?"

Jonathan says "Yeah."

Jonathan says "Going to have to dump its memory. If that function still works..."

Bleys says "You're a little ragged around the edges, Jonathan. Do you want to rest somewhere
else before you go back to Barimen, or start cleaning up the mess right away?"

Johann sighs and grins. "This is great. No more scrapheap. Things are going to be normal
again."

Bleys says "And change, maybe?"

Bleys smiles as he asks the last question, though he looks at Jonathan carefully.

Mitre stares at Johann.

Jonathan says "I think I need to speak to my wife. I don't know what she must think."

You say "Oh, Bleys, before you take Jonathan off to rest...I've been meaning to ask you."

Mitre reserves comment.

You say "Do you still have access to the Rebman Pattern?"

Bleys says "Why do you ask?"

You say "I was thinking of maybe walking it if people would let me. I'm tired of being a
vampire."

Mitre lets an eyebrow or two ascend.

You say "Well, no."

You say "I'm tired of being RULED by the vampire."

Jonathan watches Johann carefully.

Bleys glances at Johann and adds, "Did Morlys *say* she found the body in her bed?"

Johann considers. "Umm, she didn't say where she found it."

Bleys says "Which vampire, Johann?"

Johann points at his chest. "This one."

Bleys sighs.

Bleys says "We'll see."

You say "I was afraid to. The Logrus keeps telling me not to, but I think I need to."

Bleys says "Just don't do anything stupid like biting drunks or fey in the meantime, alright?"

You say "If you can't, I understand. It's a big political problem."

Johann turns bright crimson.


Mitre says "That's a lovely shade."

Bleys says "I approve of it too."

Johann looks furiously at his table and mutters.

Jonathan rolls his head around on his shoulders, his neck making gunshot cracking sounds.

Jonathan looks at Mitre. "I was fond of your sister. I was quite distressed to hear of her
death."

Mitre says "Yes. It's a horrible bit of news to come home to."

Mitre says "I don't have anyeone to buy cocoa for any more."

Johann's face gradually returns to its more normal pale. He looks relieved that Jonathan
didn't press the comment.

Bleys seems to be quietly admiring the scenery.

Jonathan mutters to himself.

Jonathan rubs his eyes.

Bleys says "You need rest, I think."

Jonathan says "How long was I gone?"

Bleys leans forward and puts one hand on Jonathan's shoulder, "Months. You should rest now."
he turns to look at Johann, "Do you and your friend want to come?"

You say "Umm, 2...3 months? I'm not very good with time."

You say "Maybe more maybe less."

You say "Going to Glingerry, Bleys?"

Mitre says "I really should get home, myself."

Jonathan says "I'm not really that tired, and I'd better sort some things out first."

Bleys says "Probably, unless you'd prefer I picked one of my other little resorts."

Bleys looks at Jonathan carefully.

Jonathan stands up.

You say "I have no preferences."


Jonathan looks at his clothes.

You say "Actually, I'm a bit hyper yet, so I should probably go work some of this off."

Bleys stands up as well.

Jonathan says "Damn! Who's been dressing me?"

Mitre says "You must have all the energy I misplaced, Johann."

Bleys chuckles.

Johann grins at Mitre. "I'm a sponge."

Bleys says "Take a walk with me, Jonathan, then let's trump to Barimen. And you can talk to
Xin."

You say "It's a pity Tarot passed out."

Bleys says "Black right?"

Mitre rubs his face.

Mitre nods.

Jonathan says "Generally."

Jonathan says "Let's go."

Bleys nods.

Mitre says "Toodles."

Bleys raises a hand in farewell.

Bleys walks away, slowly fading from view.

Bleys has left.

You say "See you guys."

Jonathan sets off to follow Bleys.

Jonathan has left.

Mitre says "Well."

Johann kicks the table. "Damn Bleys, bringing tables into my shadow."

Mitre says "I like it. Maybe send me back to Thanlis with the table?"

You say "Okay, give me a minute..."

You say "Got it."

You reach your tendrils out, searching for your destination...

Mitre smiles. "Be seeing. Thanks for the wine."

Mitre says "My /gods/ that tickles."

Johann chuckles, even as Mitre fades.

Your tendrils make contact...

Mitre flickers for a time.

Mitre has left.