<<OOC>> Maya says "So! You had just disposed of the Lilim, and were hanging around in front of the locked door, with the sentry's key-ring."
Mikki prods at the door. "Shall we unlock this, before someone else wanders by?"
<<OOC>> Jin says "...oh lord I'm probably being looked to as in charge, aren't I?"
<<OOC>> Maya says "Yes. ;)"
<<OOC>> Mikki figures Jin is the sensible one here, yah.
Jin nods. "Standing around outside isn't taking care of this any faster," she says.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Think of it as a team-building exercise!"
Ledenyca says "Sounds okay to me."
Mikki takes a breath. "Well... Me first. I know the slang." She holds her hand out for the keys.
Ledenyca scratches her back, and hopes she's the only Lustie in this place.
Jin passes the keys across. "We'll stay quiet to begin with, if you can talk us through this."
Ledenyca nods, brushing her hair back, and keeps behind the two. Just gotta act natural.
Mikki says, "I sure hope so." She checks to make sure the door _is_ locked, before methodically and _quietly_ trying each key, one by one.
<<OOC>> Mikki . o O (Because if you accidentally lock the door, it's embarrassing.)
Jin takes a moment to slide the guard's body a little out of the way so that he's not directly in line of sight when the door opens.
Ledenyca stands near it, so she's blocking most of the view down the passage.
The second key that she tries works. The lock clicks. The door is openable.
Mikki squares her shoulders into suitable arrogance, and opens the door -- quietly, but without hesitation.
Jin takes up the first-among-minions position behind the Impudite.
<<OOC>> Mikki . o O (I wish I had my _good_ vessel... But noooooo, the _Prince_ took it. Well, I'll show HIM. I'll SHOW THEM ALL.)
<<OOC>> Ledenyca pats a sad Impudite!
The room beyond is a Steampunk Fantasia Nuclear Reactor. Huge columns of gurgling fluids glow. Large computer banks whir as the tapes in them whizz through. Various things beep. It's a large room, perhaps a hundred metres wide, with various storage compartments along the walls and a particularly big computer bank at the centre. Two men are standing there, in what looks like fairly formal gear with white lab coats over it, arguing about something. The ceiling is clear glass veined with metal rafters, and the odd fish passes by above.
<<OOC>> Mikki isn't sad! Really! Mikki is a Mad Scientist! With a Mission!
Mikki enters quietly, but with CONFIDENCE, and heads for the two men.
Jin follows along briskly, with a slightly bored expression on her face.
Ledenyca resists the temptation to shrink down and proverbially put her tail between her legs, as she observes all the strange and frightening machines. What in the Lightbringer's name is all this? She doesn't like it one bit. But she has to pretend to be large and confident and, and stuff. So she will, and just pretend she isn't bothered by the machines.
They both look up as she approaches, blinking. One of them is a sad-looking fellow with lank hair, a stoop, and glasses; the other is much more vigorous-looking, with short-cropped blond hair, a duelling scar across his cheek, wide shoulders, and a dramatic stance.
The blond man looks at Ledenyca a moment, and frowns. He says, with a Germanic accent, "This area is off-limits to Temporary Leisure Personnel."
<<OOC>> Patkin says "It's Otto Skorzeny! Run! Maybe."
Mikki says, "She's with me."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca giggles.
Ledenyca opens her mouth, then snaps it shut. Right. With the Impudite.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Who's Otto Skorzeny?"
Mikki continues to get into range move toward them. She belongs here. She's not entirely impressed. She is _not_ intimidated.
The blond man transfers his gaze to Mikki. "And who are you? I hadn't thought we were due new junior staff."
Jin keeps pace with Mikki, wearing an expression that says "I am not letting on that I'm slightly impressed."
Ledenyca keeps behind Mikki, ready to do as told. She really hopes she knows what she's doing. She /looks/ confident, at least.
Mikki narrows her eyes. "You think _junior_ staff get Leisure Personnel? This is an inspection."
Ledenyca looks blandly confident, herself. Whatever the heck Mikki wants her to be, she will.
There is a pause. The blond man and the lank-haired man look at each other. "An inspection," the lank-haired man says flatly. "Identify yourself. Please."
<
<<OOC>> Maya says "Mikki, what is your current mental state?"
<<OOC>> arcangel says "Mikki is nervous, but covering it over with a double-dosing of PURE IMPUDITE ARROGANCE because she is BETTER than these (low-tech) peons!"
Jin resonates the two presumed-demons, maintaining her current neutral expression.
<
<
<<OOC>> Jin bah. "Well, the second one was successful."
Ledenyca also keeps neutral, and wonders what Band these two might be. She really hopes neither of them are Balseraphs.
Mikki quickly sorts through her mind for someone old, obnoxious, and Impudite.
<<OOC>> Mikki . o O (I am SO NOT going to give my name.)
<<OOC>> Ledenyca .oO(My name is Nybbas, you see.)
<<OOC>> Maya says "Blond guy: Current emotional state: nervous anger. Two strongest emotions: panic, because they're behind schedule, and concern, because they've been fiddling the books."
<<OOC>> Mikki . o O (Tempting, but... Lord Yves might not approve.)
Jin leans close to Mikki, and says quietly in the bored tone of an underling, "Do we wish to discuss the matter of deadlines now, or after other matters?"
The blond man's face freezes. The lank-haired man's hands tighten on his clipboard till the knuckles show white.
Mikki smiles thinly. "It might be instructive."
<<OOC>> Mikki is going to propose to Jin later, and never mind that she's not got her good vessel.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca XD
The lank-haired man says rapidly, "Naturally the objectives have been slowed to a degree due to the previous methodology of our late commander, but in his absence I feel confident in saying that all is going according to plan."
<<OOC>> Jin heehee.
<<OOC>> Jin loves his resonance, oh yes he does.
Ledenyca hnhs. Talking really fast, using big words, brushing blame away... sounds like a typical excuse, and she's heard a million of those before.
Mikki says, "Indeed. Please, in case the reports missed anything, expand upon the objectives, the flaws in your late commander's methods, and your plans to... make up the time."
The lank-haired man swallows. The blond man finds urgent business at one of the computer consoles.
The lank-haired man says, "May I request your name first, sir, so that I know whom I am reporting to?"
<<OOC>> arcangel says "Shall I come up with an appropriate name for some elder Servitor Mikki had to cope with as a poor wee fledge?"
<<OOC>> Maya says "Sure."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca hehs. Wishes Lede was a. smart, b. older, c. and higher up, as she imagines the better Lusties know a LOT of important names. Alas!
Mikki says, "You may address me as Sheva."
<<OOC>> Jin is just glad this isn't all going on in Helltongue.
The lank-haired man says, "Yes, sir. Er, Doctor Sheva. Where should I begin?"
<<OOC>> Mikki knows Jin doesn't understand it!
Mikki says, "Start with your objectives, and your late commander's... methods of pursuing them."
Ledenyca, starting to get over her future-shock a little, decides to peer about the room, trying to see anything interesting, or at least something to keep her nerves calm. Those fish sure are pretty.
The lank-haired man swallows. "Our first objectives were the distillation of nuclear fuel and the development of nuclear fission and fusion, sir. Those were all on schedule! Our reports prove it!"
Above, a giant squid pauses briefly, waving its tentacles at the little things beneath the glass.
Mikki drawls, "Were."
The blond man busies himself very obviously at the computers, displaying his Total Uninvolvement With Soon-To-Be-Punished Associate.
Ledenyca oooos at the squid. How large.
<<OOC>> Maya says "There have to be giant squids. You do understand this."
Jin quietly thanks God that, last she checked, Vapulans still hadn't managed to accidentally turn the entire planet into a nuclear wasteland. Despite all attempts in that direction so far.
<<OOC>> Jin says "But of course!"
<<OOC>> Mikki sweatdrops. Nooooo, it's JORDI!
The lank-haired man clutches his clipboard to his chest. "And then when the new representative arrived with the plans for Project V, we naturally devoted ourselves to it. Ah, I do understand that this was not strictly under orders from the Great Experimenter himself, but he has always been most understanding of individual enterprise! Most forgiving! And in any case, if we can succeed, think of the implications! Think of the POWER!"
Jin . o O ( I am thinking of the power. This is why, if it comes down to it, I'm rooting for the giant squid. )
Mikki says, "Think of Project V, and explain your interpretation of it."
<<OOC>> Mikki is rooting for... the representatives of Destiny! That would be us, yes?
Ledenyca .oO(I wonder what a nuculear is, anyways. That squid looks lonely. I hope it isn't too cold out there.)
<<OOC>> Patkin says "Maya: Otto Skorzeny was Das Ubermensch that all of the Nazis wanted to emulate. Tall, broadshoulder Aryan superman with a scar across his face. His claim to fame was basically being a Nazi action movie star. Hanggliding to save captured Nazi scientists from the Allies, wrestling bears, that sort of thing."
The lank-haired man's fingers twitch. "It was a great leap forward," he says with sudden enthusiasm. "Nuclear power is a new cognate in itself, a new perceptual jump -- but even the best of us had not yet fully considered coupling it with ethereal and celestial forces and using it to revive the Fragment!"
<<OOC>> Maya says "Aha. Thanks."
Mikki blinks. "You would revive the Fragment? You really think it can be done?"
Mikki, meanwhile, wracks her brains for _that_ bit of jargon. WTF??
<<OOC>> Maya says "Rings no bells."
Ledenyca huhs. Nuculear power... is it a fancy name for Essence, then? This Vapula isn't even supposed to exist yet, to her, and she already dislikes the guy. Also, she wonders why you need nuclear for a Fragment. How confusing.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Clearly it is something that is so central to the project that it'd look odd if you asked what it was."
Ledenyca looks confused for a bit. She whispers to Jinn, "What's a Fragment?"
<<OOC>> Mikki has a sudden feeling that this other representative may not be, er, local.
The lank-haired scientist beams. "We are certain of it! Of course, the force-proportionality requires more work, but the gene-splicing from the giant squid specimens has helped greatly in the biological reconstruction. All we need now is a definitively stable template and proper connections to induce the lifeforce! And then the Prince will live again!"
Jin responds, just as quietly, "We'll discuss it later." Having no idea, but not really wanting to try to explain that surreptitiously to the Djinn in this company.
Jin . o O ( ...Prince will live again. Okay, not knowing any more than that, I am categorically against this project suceeding. )
<<OOC>> Patkin says "They're going to bring back Prince Meserach?! Oh wait, that can't be right. At all."
Ledenyca huhs. A... Squid Prince? Spliced squids? Something. She really wishes she knew what this was all about.
Mikki allows herself to look... if not impressed, at least understanding of the potential power. "That _would_ be..." She takes a breath. "But your late commander... Please, some of the reports I was shown seemed to be vague in places. Tell me how that happened."
Ledenyca looks up through the ceiling, at the giant squid. It doesn't look like a Prince to her. Maybe it could be a Djinn.
<<OOC>> Mikki . o O (Vephar. Betcha.)
Jin rather wishes she had a clipboard and pen handy, to do the note-taking assistant role better.
The lank-haired man sees a glimmer of light in the darkness, the possibility of Shifting The Blame. "Well," he says huffily, "of course Doctor Mergan acted quite against normal procedure in not submitting full reports and in failing to take into account factors which _we_ made quite clear. Of course, after the Representative left, it all got a bit less focused . . . but anyhow, I am sure that you will be able to trace matters directly to Doctor Mergan's laxitude."
Mikki says, "I'm sure I can. And it was this... laxitude which caused the Doctor's... lateness?"
The blond man across the room twitches.
The lank-haired man says hastily, "Of course. Had he been acting with greater care, he would not have stepped into the reactor."
Ledenyca peers at the two men. Nervous bunch.
Jin murmurs, distantly, "That /would/ do it, I suppose."
Mikki coughs, covering her mouth. "Yes, it would," she agrees. "And... the Representative. I do hope that _all_ the project notes were left?"
The lank-haired man draws himself up stiffly. "They are in the Director's Office. It is currently occupied by Assistant Ranniah." An unholy gleam of purpose glints in his eyes. "Is she under suspicion, sir?"
Mikki says, calmly, "It is merely possible that some of the instructions were... misplaced, and that this is part of the cause of the... delays."
The lank-haired man deflates. "Oh."
Ledenyca quirks an eyebrow at the man while Mikki talks with him, and shakes her hair a little, moving a strand out of her face. She's glad Mikki isn't like these guys.
Mikki smiles. "Of course, if someone had _deliberately_ misplaced some of the files... I will have to see them, of course."
<<OOC>> Jin says "Incidentally, how long before I can try a new resonance use on the man it failed on the first time? CD hours, or CD minutes?"
The lank-haired man casts a glance at Ledenyca, and gives her a look of scorn before hastily returning his attention to Mikki. "Of course, Doctor, of course . . . I believe Assistant Ranniah will be there now, if you wish to visit her?"
<<OOC>> Maya says "Minutes. So about now."
<
Ledenyca hmphs to herself, and blands at the man with the lank hair. He's probably just repressed. Extremely repressed.
Jin leans over to Mikki again. "Doctor," she murmurs, loud enough to be heard by the others, "do we wish to compare with the notes we'd need to retrieve, or go there directly?"
<<OOC>> Jin does not know what kind of position Assistant is, in this case. Isn't sure if backup may be necessary...
<<OOC>> Maya says "Jin, the lank-haired guy is currently terrified, and his strongest emotion is smugness, because he thinks he's managed to pass the blame to someone else."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca thinks Elohim are the very meanest. She is sure the world would fall apart if there was such a thing as an Elohite of Factions.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca sniffles. Is sure these Vapulans are just very repressed and out of their minds, and just need to relax. Is sure she could have them whistling any secret they knew, but, would not /ever/ go that low. They look mean and sleazy, and since she's out of Lust, she can make her own standards now. So hah.
<<OOC>> Jin blinks at Lede. What? Has he not helped her find such marvels as comfy clothing and warm, spacious baths? Is not mean at all! (It would be counterproductive, under the circumstances.)
<<OOC>> Ledenyca giggles. Meant that comment outside of Lede. She thinks Elohim are okay. :D
<<OOC>> Jin cheerfuls. Oh, well. That's all good, then.
<<OOC>> Jin figures that, given the Djinn's apparent level of complex reasoning ability, it's best to stick with "Angels are nice. You want to hang around them more and be more like them, don't you?" tactics.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca says "She really doesn't know what to think of the Choirs. She's heard the talk in Hell, but... it didn't quite catch on her."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca giggles. Well, Lede is dumb, but is an extremely astute observer.
Mikki hmmms at Jin. "I would not want to waste time -- but neither would I wish to be... sloppy. Considering what happened to the last person who failed to follow intelligent safety precautions."
The lank-haired man says, "Or we will be glad to give you a tour of our section, Doctor, to demonstrate that _we_ are on schedule!"
Mikki hms again. She asks Jin, "Does _our_ schedule permit such a tour?"
Jin considers this for a moment. "If it's given efficiently, I believe so."
Ledenyca oooos. She could see more squids, maybe. Or this spliced squid that will bring a Prince back. Wait, what if Haagenti dies in the future, and he needs squid to be brought back? How awful.
Jin adds, dryly, "It wouldn't do to be the /cause/ of additional delays."
Mikki nods firmly. "Indeeeeed." She smiles at the lank-haired man. "A tour, then."
Ledenyca smiles. A tour. Good.
The lank-haired man nods, and bustles around, showing that this is the reactor, and these are the fuel storage compartments, lead-shielded, and these are the computer banks for the calculations, and these are the data storage units, and these are the fuel manipulation gloves and suits, and . . ."
The blond man hastily comes over to help deliver the tour, and, in consequence, raise his own status, given that you are not going to kill them both on the spot.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Anything in particular that you three want to direct the conversation to?"
Mikki makes mental notes, asks pointed questions now and then, and grills them on proper safety precautions involving the reactor and fuel storage compartments.
Ledenyca decides to smile kindly at the blond haired man, since he did not give her a dour look. May as well make them feel comfortable, so they don't get too jumpy.
<<OOC>> Mikki wants to know how to get at this stuff later and feed the time machine! Poor hungry baby.
Ledenyca wants to ask about spliced squids, and Haagenti, but refrains for now.
Their proper safety precautions are way behind normal 20th century stuff. They are duly chastised at the concepts that Mikki seems to expect of them.
The blond-haired man smiles back at Ledenyca, squares his shoulders, breathes deeply, and performs other signs of someone wishing to attract her attention.
Jin makes occasional noises somewhere between interest and critical comment when the tour turns to the fuel, and attempts to give the impression that, even if she's not carrying anything to write notes on, she will /remember/ all of this.
<<OOC>> Mikki ...remembers something.
At a reasonable break in matters, when she's busy grilling them on safety, Mikki taps Jin on the shoulder. "I thought I heard something outside," she says. "Please take care of it."
Jin nods briskly, and resonates Mikki on her way to the door to do exactly that. And, presumably, find some excuse for the downed guard.
<<OOC>> Mikki remembers we left an unconscious guard around, who should probably be... (Well, Mikki would take him to the time machine, strap him down, and kick him out the door when they leave.)
<
<<OOC>> Jin says "Ow. Fritzed resonance."
<<OOC>> Mikki winces.
Ledenyca blinks. Huh? She didn't hear anything. She always hears stuff, too. Maybe it was the squid again? She looks at Mikki curiously.
<<OOC>> Jin also nervouses at that a bit.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca eeeeek.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca nervouses too.
Jin takes to the hallway, and goes to make sure the unconscious guard is still unconscious. And still there.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Alas, a 666 would have been such fun."
<<OOC>> Jin whimpers. For certain values of 'fun'...
<<OOC>> Ledenyca jitters.
<<OOC>> Mikki does NOT want to meet Vapula, THANK YOU.
The unconscious guard is still unconscious and still there.
Jin promptly goes to drag said guard down the hall to the ship, to be stored in some handy cupboard there until a more convenient opportunity to place him elsewhere.
<<OOC>> Mikki is SO going to have to propose to Jin.
Jennifer has connected.
<
<<OOC>> Ledenyca !!!!
<<OOC>> arcangel fears that roll.
<<OOC>> Jin is an Elohite! Is supposed to think of useful, practical responses. He's just feeling a touch sheepish about not thinking of it first.
<<OOC>> Jin says "...okay, /now/ I'm worried."
<<OOC>> Maya says "Luckily for Jin, there are no other people coming along the hall at that moment."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca says "What the heck. o_o"
<<OOC>> Mikki... supposes a Divine Intervention might be kinda neat. If she can hide behind the Elohite.
<<OOC>> Ledenyca cries at the thought of what this means for tomorrow. One near II follow by one near DI is NOT a comfort.
Jin makes haste to stuff the guard somewhere handy, and return with all due speed to where the good Doctor is getting a tour.
In the Reactor Room, the two scientists are clearly browbeaten by Mikki's demonstration of scientific knowledge. (Admittedly she has an advantage on them.)
Mikki nods to Jin when she returns. "All right, I suppose that your safety methods are . . . adequate."
Both scientists breathe a sigh of relief.
Ledenyca takes in all she can, eager to /try/ to figure out what's going on here exactly, but without asking questions. She's unsure of her ability to do this, but it's better than standing around and looking stupid.
<<OOC>> Maya says "Ledenyca, you do probably pick up that some of the substances here need to be handled while wearing protective suits and with tongs, or else they will emit an evil radiance that will damage your Vessel."
Jin nods promptly back to Mikki, and takes her place again by the Impudite's side.
<<OOC>> Jin says "...hmm. Would it have been reasonably fast to find a clipboard or notebook and pen, in the TARDIN?"
<<OOC>> Maya says "And Mikki, you have located where they're keeping the thorium."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca sniffles. Irradiated Djinn would be bad.
<<OOC>> Maya says "I think that's reasonable, Jin."
<<OOC>> Mikki yay!
Jin pulls out her new writing instruments. "Doctor, was there anything that you wanted me to...make a note of?" she asks, with an arch look over the two scientists.
Ledenyca keeps away from the bad stuff, and near Mikki. She frowns. Nuclear stuff is bad, but it will fix a Prince. Okay. Makes sense enough.
Mikki does not hug Jin, though there is that sneaking temptation in the back of her mind. Instead, she says, "Oh, everything." She runs through the few points that Jin might have missed, including where the thorium is, and that their safety precautions will... do.
Jin jots these down appropriately, in...well, French, since she doesn't know how to write in Helltongue and feels she ought to make it look somehow more Official.
Mikki asks, briskly, "Is there anything else I should be made aware of, gentlemen?"
Jin waits for an answer, pen hovering over paper.
<<OOC>> Maya says ""Ou est le thorium?" "Le thorium est dans l'armoire.""
<<OOC>> arcangel heehee!
<<OOC>> Jin giggles.
The two men glance at each other. The lank-haired one says, "Only that we are devoted heart and soul to the future of the Project, Doctor. We only wish to help it result in victory and to be the first in a series of glorious discoveries!"
"Indeed!" the blond man agrees hastily. "Our sole aim is to serve the Great Experimenter! May we blossom under his rigid guiding hand and great vision!"
Mikki smiles upon them. "It will usher in a new age."
Ledenyca smirks, the tiniest bit, at that language.
Jin does not roll her eyes, but does not write this down, either.
The two men both stand rigidly, eyes glowing with inner devotion.
Mikki adds, "Although, if any of the project papers have gone missing, the timetable will surely slip, and _that_ would be... inconvenient."
Both men droop and pale.
Mikki says, "We shall hope that is not the case. If you could produce the project outlines...?"
Jin says, briskly, "One may hope that /someone/ has been doing the filing properly."
Ledenyca says "It'd be nice to know what's going on."
Ledenyca speaks in a vague and distracted manner, as she looks around for more squid.
The two men jostle to be the first to offer a sheaf of papers to Mikki and Jin. The blond man succeeds due to some vicious elbowing in the ribs while trying to get the desk drawer open.
There are no more squids at the moment, though there are a couple of Great White Sharks.
Jin takes the papers, gives them a brief once-over, and then hands them promptly to Mikki.
Ledenyca frowns. Those look mean and painful. Doesn't like those. Remind her of Calabim.
<<OOC>> Maya says "They seem to be basically reactor experiments. These guys weren't in on the Really Big Stuff."
Mikki takes them and starts reading, carefully.
Mikki hmmms. "And the papers on Project V?" she asks, flipping through.
<<OOC>> Maya says "On a careful read-through, they're about getting and sustaining reactor yield. Nuclear stuff. Sadly primitive to you, from your perspective a century later."
The two men glance at each other. The lank-haired one says, "In the Doctor's office, sir."
<<OOC>> Mikki is sure that Lord Yves doesn't want this thing succeeding yet...
Mikki says, "Safely tucked away, mm? Good, good. I do trust that Assistant Ranniah understands the scope and importance of them?"
"Yes, sir -- at least, I hope she does," says the blond man, clearly not averse to shifting the blame.
Mikki nods. She hands back the reactor experiment outlines, and asks Jin, "How are we doing with our schedule?"
Ledenyca takes a moment to languidly stretch her arms, high above her head, as she yawns a tiny bit. She also loosens her hair, shaking it out and letting it down for a while.
Jin flicks a glance over her notes. (Most of which are along the lines of "the thorium is over /there/.") "We're still within the time allotted for this part of our...duties." She carefully does not say 'investigation', letting the implication hang in the air.
The lank-haired man gives Ledenyca a contemptuous glare. The blond man gives her an appreciative stare, eyes lingering on her body.
Mikki asks Jin, "Do you see any... vagueness that we should get detail on, before we make sure that Project V has not had any important aspects go astray or fall into the reactor?"
Ledenyca smiles at the blond man again, and goes utterly blank and bland as she turns to look at the lank-haired one.
Jin hmms thoughtfully, flipping back to her first page of notes. "If you've already vetted the safety procedures for handling and securing the active material to your satisfaction, Doctor, I believe we may be able to move on."
Both men look most relieved by the "move on" concept.
Mikki smiles upon the two again. "You may return to your duties," she decrees benignly.
They don't quite breathe sighs of relief, but it's a close thing. With a, "Thank you, doctor!" from the lank-haired man, and a last lingering glance at Ledenyca from the blond man, they hastily return to checking and adjusting computers and reactors, endeavouring to display their diligence and focus.
Mikki leads the way out, gathering her bodyguard and assistant with a small gesture.
And once she's out, she locks the door again.
It locks with a quiet but satisfying click.
Jin murmurs, once the door is locked, "Did you find out where we can go to speak with this assistant, while I was gone? Or see her files; given the choice between the two..."
Ledenyca says "What was that about spliced squids for dead Princes? I am very confused."
Mikki turns around and hugs Jin. She hisses, "No, but I'd rather not ask someone to show us the way while there's No Guard Here..." To Lede, she says, over her shoulder, "They're bringing back Vephar as a nuclear-powered mutant squid."
Ledenyca uhs.
Ledenyca boggles.
Ledenyca says "That's bad, right? Who was Vephar?"
<<OOC>> Maya says "Want to give me an Int roll, Ledenyca?"
<
Jin says, quietly, "I stashed him in a closet. We can drop him back out when we're leaving." And adds to Lede, "A dead Demon Prince, from some time ago."
<<OOC>> Ledenyca poo. If that was a 1... it's Fou and Perception all over again!
<<OOC>> Maya says "Ancient Prince of the Waters. Died in big fight with Oannes or something like that. A volcano was involved."
Ledenyca says "Oh. Then that is bad, yes. Died in a volcano, right?"
Ledenyca hmmms. How mean, using squids like that.
Jin says "...something like that. We can go over more details later."
Mikki says, "You're wonderful, Jin, and yes, very bad." She makes herself stop hugging the Elohite. "We should find the assistant before someone _else_ shows up. I'm guessing that if the Lilim not-where-she-ought came from down _that_ way, we should go _this_ way." She points appropriately.
Jin is not objecting to the hugging! But does agree it's time to focus on other matters. "As good a plan as any. And now we have a few more details to work with when asking leading questions."
<<OOC>> Maya says "Which is incidentally the vague direction that you were getting the Very Bad Readings from earlier."
Ledenyca will follow, like a loyal puppy. Hopes they can stop the nuclear squid Prince from coming alive. That would make her feel good.
<<OOC>> Jin is perhaps a touch /startled/ that the Impudite is hugging him, but, hey, it's probably a good sign.
---