RP:Into the Wolf's Den

The Jolly Roger

Arien approached that door that opened out into the night spilling light onto the warf. The elf wore a different guise tonight, though she walked on two legs in skin as pale as the moon. For some reason, Arien wanted to be a woman, and not a general tonight. The events of days past seemed hell bent, set and determined to wrench from her the peace that had be carved out of chaos in her world, and the elf was as stubborn in letting go of it as she could be, within reason. The presence of that dragon warder in her shadow would bear witness to the fact that her own lack of weapon and armor was only an illusion that she was defenseless. But she would not need him..not here, where Leo was present, and she could still take care of herself. The gold would be released with a quiet nod of her head and the leggy elf dressed in that whisper of a summer's dress and knee high boots would cross the threshold. Yes. For one more night, she could be a mother, a lover a friend and mate, before she would don that which she'd likely never truly be able to run from. Again.

Leoxander had given Gwen a nod, and because she had no one to go home to, neither would he. He'd remain on that patrol, however tired, until he was certain all of the pack were safe, sound, sleeping. Gathering their strength for whatever the morning would bring. Although he'd just 'woken up' from his table nap, he was thirsty, and lifted that drink Gwen had poured him, which was now room temperature. It hardly mattered, went down all the same.

Arien would murmur softly in Leo's direction.

Arien said to Leoxander, "Save some for me.."

Leoxander turned his attention toward the door, toward elf and 'fake elf', that warder who smelled dragon. "You can watch the damn door." He'd inform the blonde, who he had no affection for, despite that he valliantly watched and protected his lover. He couldn't tolerate that scent filling his shop, right now, with so much else to worry about. It was a phobia, not unlike his spider dilemma.

Arien would flutter her fingers Gwen's way in greetiing as she entered the shop.

Leoxander eyed Arien... for a good, long moment.

Satoshi isn't actively seeking anyone or anyplace specifically, but the kit is on the island by a Fold member's request and has since been pacing restlessly from shore to shore. It's on her third circuit that she happens past the unusual metal doors, something about them screaming 'Wolf' to the vixen. Without thought her feet change course, carrying her to and through the entrance, where she halts, blinking against the change in lighting as she examines her 'findings'.

Arien 's warder melted into the night, without a word toward that rogue who'd made life damnably complicated for the red elf..and thusly for him. He'd be beyond that door with the wolf's directive however, his vigil silent, but impenetrable.

Gwenilyn looks up first to watc as Leo salutes her and smiles. At that point, the commotion of someone's entrance into the Jolly Roger snags the fae's attention. Seeing Arien, Gwen smiles warmly and waves in return. Gwen thinks to herself, (Now he will rest..... the one he needs most is here.) Aloud, se murmurs, 'Evening, Arien.'

Satoshi obviously doesn't heed warnings scratched into doors. Risk isn't a big concern of hers currently.

Arien 's gaze had lingered in turn on the rogue's eyes, her gaze searching his expression and something about it softened her even more. She'd be turning toward Gwen's greeting with a soft smile of her own however, before she was distracted by the arrival of the frost queen. Her lips curved slightly in greeting.

Arien said to Satoshi, "Never thought to see you cross those waters again Satoshi.." she murmured. "Many thanks, for the air support. And my apologies for the tardiness of communication.." She'd not say regarding what, but the queen would understand."

Gwenilyn 's eyes follow Arien's to the entrance of the woman Gwen does not know. Despite that, the fae will offer the woman a polite nod and soft smile.

Leoxander figured the wolf blood lingering a scent on the door step might have something to do with that scream, nonetheless, as he's done throughout that night, his gaze would be drawn to the opening of a metal door. Satoshi's entrance warranted no strife, and he's simply let her enter with a raise of his scruffily bearded jaw, looking back toward the elf. He'd scoot back in his chair at his table, giving her room on his lap and offering with a move of his arms.

Leoxander said to Satoshi, "I'd stick around, if you know better."

Satoshi returns the nods and smiles, albeit faintly, before responding to Arien, "We do what we must, Lady Elf, non?" A pause is followed by a nod to Leoxander then, and a quiet, "Duly noted. What's your boarding charge?"

Gwenilyn :: Belatedly she adds in Leo's direction, 'Unless you need me, of course.....'

Leoxander looked toward Gwenilyn, "I'm not letting you leave until I know you're somewhere safe. And not on your own." He'd heard her husband's absence, that night.

Satoshi finds herself a table near enough to hold a conversation with wolf and elf if need be, without audaciously claiming a spot at Leoxander's own.

Gwenilyn sighs softly. His concern is touching. However, the fae's sense of the ridiculous comes to the fore. 'I see. So you would prefer I curl up here on the table to sleep? Is that it?' She would offer him a wink at that.

Leoxander looked toward the once feline, now fox, seating herself at his table. Flatly.

Leoxander said to Gwenilyn, "The chairs recline, in the back."

Arien didn't need to be invited twice. She needed him, tonight. The elf would be taking those booted strides that would allow her to close the distance between them, then she'd be slipping onto his lap, and her arm around his neck, her cheek resting briefly against that blonde shag even as she settled, her eyes swinging back to that forsty presence.

Satoshi promptly scoots to the next table over, under the pretense of getting a closer look at an array of inks.

Leoxander motioned toward those tattoo customer chairs Alaine had built. They did in fact lay out for access. He'd stay, too, if he had to.

Leoxander let go of a sigh as the elf settled in across his knee, and he'd motion the frost magus back. "C'mon, Spooks. Been a rough night. I'm not gonna bite you." Not this time, anyhow.

Gwenilyn said to Leoxander, "*laughs* I take it you would tie me to one of those chairs if you had to......' Gwen shakes her head and graciously concedes, 'I suppose they look comfotable enough. certainly mnore so than this table....."

Niawtu shouted, "*a howl of utter boredom pierces the air and then turns into a voice* I -can't- get to sleep! Stupid uncomfy bed! *XD*"

Satoshi peers up from a bottle of blue that's caught her eye to flash a vulpine grin Leoxander's way. "I should hope not. You'd make us both horrendously sick, and that's the last thing either of us needs, eh?" She nods toward the ink, "Are these yours? Or an employee?"

Arien might have murmured then, "Vyshyr can go with you..he's more than competent to keep watch for the night.." Only a fool would provoke a dragon to war. "And she is not on the list.." Though it might feel at times like everyone in his care is hunted, for now..it was not the case.

Gwenilyn grto Arien. 'Thank you, dear one. erhaps you can make him see sense.....'ins

Arien had adressed that first comment to Gwen.

Arien smiled faintly Gwen's way, even as she contented herself to watch Sato discover the island of inks.

Arien said to Gwenilyn, "Leo discovers his own sense..in time." There was a ghost of a tease there."

Arien might have brushed her nose across his temple, then.

Gwenilyn giggles at Arien's comment and murmurs, 'No doubt you are right, there.'

Leoxander raised his shoulder in a shrug to answer, "Both." without looking at the design. They were his, or Keturah's, maybe even the Quidjithingy girl in the bird mask that pecked about. He hadn't seen her in months, though. To Gwen, though Arien had reassured, he said, "I might do just that, 'Dusty'." Since Mahri was using his nicknames, he'd return the favor, here and there. His arm stayed wrapped secured around the elf's lightly clothed waist, and he dug callused fingers in just a little, subtly.

Leoxander said to Satoshi, "I don't keep much of mine on the wall."

Satoshi falls silent at the answer, contenting herself to browsing over the various works of ink while privately musing.

Arien said to Leoxander, "You should..You do wonderful work." She'd trusted her own porcelin skin to his craft."

Gwenilyn rolls her eyes at the use of Mahri's nickname for her, then sighs softly. She really wanted to go home, though the chances of that seem increasingly slim. The fae tries ot think of something, anything that might change his mind on the subject, but at this point, can think of nothing.

Arien , careless of their company, would dip her head to brush lips across that web that crawled his neck then. She would take her moments whle they lasted.

Niawtu shouted "Scary Timelord Man? Can you read Nia bedtime story? I not go to bed without one!"

Satoshi's ears twitch, fairly certain she's caught the sound of someone signing their death warrant. But that could just be personal paranoia at work.

Arien would lean in to murmur then.

Gwenilyn hears that shout and winces, murmuring, 'Ah no. Nia hush.....'

Arien whispered something to Leoxander.

Leoxander glanced at Arien, hearing every word she had to say about him.

Leoxander has been ignoring those shouts most of the day, and will continue to do so.

Leoxander looked over toward Gwenilyn at Arien's whisper.

Arien might have lifted her head after, to the sounds that carried on the night wind.

Gwenilyn meets Leo's look, one brow lifting a bit.

Arien butted her head gently against that of the rogue. Really, what could be safer than a dragon across the hall?

Kasyr s' arrival isn't exactly easy to miss, given the cacophony of crunches that emanates from the wood of the wharf for a few long moments. It doesn't particularily help that the crunching noise restarts again in a few moments, closely accompanied by the beating of wings. Which might be why the hybrid has a sheathed sword over his shoulder when he moves to nudge open the establishments door with his foot- almost expecting a knife to be hurtled at his head for the din he created in his wake.

Satoshi doesn't throw a knife at Kasyr, but she's at least giving the door a dagger'd look. Namely for the source of crunching and wings, but hey... you can't be fond of -all- your icy creations, right? Nonetheless, despite glaring over the kensai's shoulder, the kit still lifts a hand in greeting, whistling a pleased little, "Ahoy~." to her husband.

Leoxander shifted his attention toward the door, but his brow lines relaxed at the scent he recognized. He'd look back toward Gwenilyn. "Let scales hang out in front of your place tonight, eh? Just so I feel better."

Arien 's head lifted again, eyes and ears fixed toward that unusual sound and fury at the door. If she'd had her sword on fingers might have reached for it, and the pirate would feel er body flex slightly, combat ready beneath the sensitivity of finger tips. Only when identity was revealed would the elf permit herself that exhale on a name that passed for greeting.

Leoxander said to Kasyr, "Long time, friend."

Arien said to Kasyr, "Ashen.."

Leoxander would call few 'friend'.

Gwenilyn snatches hrgaze from the stranger back to her employer and friend, speechless. (Which does not usually happen, so one might wish ot write it on one's calendar to document the event) A smile ike the sunrise is gifted Leo as Gwen murmurs,'Really? yes, of course! I love draons! I would be most happy to have him at my door.' A thankful glance is given Arien before she returns her gaze to leo. 'If you don't mind, I'd like to go now..' muttering ot herself, 'before you change your mind!"

Leoxander looked toward his elf, unwilling to speak civilly to her Warder. Best she gave the order.

Kasyr is pleasently surprised at the lack of hijinx his arrival caused, to the point that his originally guarded stance grows a bit more lax- the kensai content enough to simply slip into the edifice and promptly recline up against the doorframe. Smirking slightly at his wife, he can't help but offhandedly wave back, a fond "Ahoy, Madamoiselle" sent back in turn. From there, his gaze simply flicks between the others whose attention he gathered, briefly flickering over towards the faery, before he shrugs and focuses upon Arien and Leo, "Long time indeed, mes ami. A good evening to vous both, I pray?"

Satoshi bites back a laugh. "Good evening my tails..." she mutters to the scrap of paper she's begun to scribble upon, with the occasional glance going to the displayed inks as if in reference.

Gwenilyn wearily pushes back from te table and stands, preparatory to leaving.

Arien would have already made that order in that silent communication that existed between the dragon and elf, and vyshyr would be standing, solemn in the doorway with eyes fied to his temporary ward for the night.

Leoxander muttered low in response to Kasyr, looking toward the table for his half full drink. "I've had better, man." Might as well be honest. Wasn't like the war and the 'list' were a secret.

Satoshi might play pleasant and cheerful with the rest, but it's a useless effort to hide bitter tones and fouled moods from the Empath she's bound to.

Leoxander shifted his glance toward... the scribble Satoshi was forming. His brows would furrow.

Gwenilyn :; Before Leo can change his mind, the fae makes her way to the door, bidding one and all, 'I wish you all a good night and restful sleep. Blessed be.......'

Leoxander said to Satoshi, "Since when the hell do you draw?"

Leoxander waved off handedly at Gwen with his empty glass, finishing it.

Gwenilyn :: And wth that, the fae exits to wend her way home, a dragon shadowing her as she goes.

Satoshi glances down at the half-completed sketch, frowning. "I'm a mage, being able to draw runes, symbols, and arcane circles is a bit of a requirement to survive long," she explains, gesturing to the Mage Mark being pieced together.

Leoxander muttered in low, snide retort. "Well I'm not a mage, Cat." Sometimes, he forgot she wasn't one, anymore.

Leoxander had known her, or known of her, for that long.

Kasyr stretchs out, the hand that was clutching the sheathed blade deftly spinning it twice, before he allows it to simply slide down along his arm- a simple shrug used to coax it into settling across his shoulders. Despite the responses, the smirk still seems to be plastered across his features, "I don't doubt it...but than, I'm pretty sure we've all had worse... Et it's not like this newest development doesn't offer ...opportunities. Or..es there something I'm missing here?"

Leoxander needed another drink.

Leoxander looked back toward Kasyr, and if he hadn't sat at their table (which a tired player may have missed) the rogue would be booting out a chair to indicate to it. Satoshi was there, too. "You still hangin' with the Sin-eater?" Absently, casually conversing, in his usual pirate manner. He didn't have any shame when it came to his behavior, or bold topics.

Arien said, "Opportunities my ass.." Arien was ..less than thrilled at the timing of the paracite's reappearance and vendetta. She for one, had had no problem wallowing in the comforts that home, family and newly discovered love had to offer."

Satoshi smirks at Leoxander after adding another rune to her sketch. "What a pity. You'd be a fantastic rival~." The smirk loses its strength however as she looks toward Kasyr and gestures for him to join her at her table. "Opportunities, yes, but a bit of quiet is nice too. And preferred."

Arien might have stolen that drink from his fingers then, if he found one.

Arien was for once, less diplomatic in her speech than the frost queen.

In a raspy, deep voice, Vuryal calls out for the realm to hear, "Tenebrae comes forward for punishment at the gallows. The public is invited to witness what happens to those that failed the Empire."

Satoshi abruptly goes as rigid as one of her ice sculptures, save for a faint trembling that courses throughout her frozen frame. "Timeleech..."

Arien 's fingers might have flexed, then, into the curve of the pirate's shoulder as that too well known voice penetrated her hearing and psyche once more. Jolie..in hell. If it was not to stay, whatever emerged when it finally did..would make what they had known the sin eater to be the stuff of day dreams.

Leoxander suddenly... had a thought. Perhaps a drunk, unbelievable thought, and even his own instinct would protest. "Hey, cat..." He was talking to Satoshi, in case she didn't realize it.

Arien murmured, "That..can't be good.."

Leoxander does not respond to the voice, once again.

Leoxander said to Arien, "Shut up."

Leoxander closed his hand into a fist, trying to focus on his conversation with Satoshi.

Arien did so.

Leoxander would stare at Satoshi, determined for her to answer as though nothing were amiss.

Satoshi snaps out of her paralysis with an audible gasp, blinking unfocused eyes in Leoxander's direction, baffled and lost. "..wha?"

Kasyr rolls his shoulders, coaxing the sword off to one side, if only so it can be deftly hitched to the odd calico coloured belt which lay hidden beneath his trenchcoat. From there, he simply pushes off from the wall, casually meanders over to the pushed out chair, and proceeds to collapse into it with enough force that it starts to teeter back- only prevented from outright toppling by a particularily precarious balancing act the revenant proceeds to engage in, "You know, now et then- as es my normal habit, given my dissapearing acts, et the things I tend to get involved in. Pourq..er, Why, even?" Whether the hybrid is genuinely ignorant, or simply playing dumb is rather difficult to discern, given the wide eyed look of 'apparently genuine' curiosity being given to Leo. Both Arien and Satoshi are given a look, that smirk from before returning, "Better now, than him waiting to settle his scores with your lineage further down the line, or when you've grown old and lax. Or have you forgotten time is on his side...?"

Arien made herself lift her glass to her lips again, a quiet exhale offered as she willed her frame to relax itself of the worse of its tension. The living, and present warmth of the shoulders beneath her arm helped.

Leoxander took a moment to realize what he was asking. It sounded... ridiculous. But it also sounded like something he'd never contemplated or done, before. And this, coincidentally enough, seemed just the time for such drastic measures. "...You could teach me... something, couldn't you...? I mean..." A look traveled between Arien, Kasyr, then the frost mage again. "Between the three of you. I'm sure one of you could... well, f***... you gotta be born a certain way to do magic, or what?" There, it was blurted.

Kasyr isn't really smirking anymore. That message has, at least, wiped the grin off his face.

Leoxander looked back toward Kasyr. Truer words had not been spoke in some time.

Leoxander nodded once, at the Reverant.

Leoxander would rather just think of him as Tiefling always.

Kasyr said to Leoxander, "There is -many- many routes to gaining knowledge. ...I've stumbled over a fair few in my times, and have used some. Whilst to some degree, it es related to some innate potential within a person, that can be altered et surpassed..I..er..might have to go, however. Now et then might be coming a bit sooner than I thought."

Satoshi stares at Leoxander as if he's sprouted belled antlers and named himself Nancy. Obviously, the lycan has gotten her attention, and after a delayed moment processing the words and making certain his name -isn't- Nancy, the kit responses with words hesitant with thought. "I... it -may- be possible. There's usually... an innate knack for it. A seed, or there's nothing to grow, y'know..?"

Arien heard what Leo was asking..and she registered it. For some reason though, the elf..the mother, was locked onto that warning from Kasyr.. Their lack of action might some day incur a price that their children would pay for in losing their peace. Her eyes rested on Leo, lost for a moment in another place,before registering his request pulled her from it finally.

Kasyr is looking skittish. The vampire doesn't particularily look skittish, normally. Than again, the last time Leoxander or Arien saw the tiefling, he also probably didn't have the Calico tail that was currently unfurling from about his waist, and carrying his sword along with it.

Satoshi eyes Kasyr.

Satoshi adds a rather loaded look to that bit of eyeing. She's fairly sure she knows what he's thinking .

Kasyr narrows his eyes at Satoshi, his head just slightly canting towards the door.

Satoshi shakes her head ever so slightly. She won't be joining him. But the meaningful pat she gives her satchel, where a lyre lurks always, is all the explanation she needs for that.

Arien spoke quietly. "It may also depend on what magics you might have in mind to grow. There are many who walk in with what might seem nothing, to places of arcane learning, and comeout masters. But beyond the most basic spells, it might be hard to use our limited time to learn enough for use in combat situation."

Satoshi forces her attention elsewhere. Anywhere but the kensai. That doesn't stop her from quietly murmuring, "Go, but come back."

Leoxander looked from Kasyr's words, from silence on his own part, back to Satoshi, where he said. "I'm damn well sure if I paid you enough you could plant a seed." And a look back toward the Tiefling, he'd state sharply. "You'd be best to stick around the island for a while, both of you. There's a beach house next door to the governor's villa you can crash in."

Leoxander returned his attention to Satoshi, to pull her focus back on him. "Tell me what you could do, and what it would cost me."

Arien turns a solemn gaze to the magus. She understood the kit's worry, lived it silently, for Leoxander and she could not help but feel that that extra layer of protection to his soul that Ashen carried, would be something she could only dream of having for Leo.

Kasyr nods, before rather swiftly pushing away from the table, his tail curling down, before flicking his sword upwards- into a hand that waits to catch it. " I'm off. To crash the parasites party. Er, make sure noone gets brave et follows moi, mon amour, since it's obviously a trap." That said, the vampire makes a very quick beeline for the door, pausing just long enough to provide a nod and half bow to those present, "...Leo, I wouldn't tell you any of the ways I know to 'plant' a seed. Most of them would damn you, et those you know. Et with that...Adieu, et thanks for the offer of hospitality."

Kasyr exits south.

Kasyr shouted, "*From the abandoned wharf comes the fierce shriek of a dragon, and the rending of wood- Kasyr's departure proving to be as violent as his arrival*"

Satoshi readily seizes on the distraction the rogue offers, albeit her first reaction is a rueful look. "I can't plant seeds, and the few I've tried to grow have fled after the first lesson." She grimaces, recalling her name at the Mage Tower as the 'One Lesson Lady', but continues, "however, if there -is- something there, I can guide you through the founding theories. As for cost..." The kit trails off, glancing around the building and gesturing at one of the displays of art. "One of these from you?" It takes everything she has to keep the false smile on her face after Kasyr's left.

Leoxander watched Kasyr's exit, solemnly. Knowing... it wasn't the Tiefling that should be going out that door to face the Chronomancer.

Leoxander was hoping for more, but he hadn't honestly expected it. The rogue had no ability to perform magic, but understanding, that he could do. "You want ink? Done. I want you to stay on the island, and tomorrow morning we begin." He was pretty demanding with his own conditions, but the urgency was needed, given the situaiton.

Satoshi nods in return. Demands were distractions the kit was more than willing to accept. It certainly beats pacing the island. "At the least, I think I can teach you to access enchantments upon items. You may not be able to hurl elements from yourself, but a burning blade is better than a plain way. Except for the fact it's made of fire." Satoshi's at least attempting to make a joke to lighten the mood.

A hellish whip crack is heard, resonating through each kingdom as if a thunderclap were echoing.

Arien would touch her lips gently to the pirate's temple again, despite the fact that she felt as if she had lost part of him to that uspoken tension, that jont awareness of what was going on cities away. She didn't know if she could reach him, despite that she was sittinghere in his arms. Still she'd make her effort to add to the discussion.

A second hellish whip crack is heard, even louder than the first.

Leoxander seemed to flinch, a little.

Satoshi flinches involuntarily.

Leoxander shifted a look toward the warehouse doors...

Leoxander looked from Satoshi, to Arien. He should be with Kasyr, if nothing else.

Araina met the roar of the beast with a knock upon wood, announcing her arrival. Familiar faces met the eye, gaze connecting with that of the male's, momentarily, in silent question. She seemed to sigh slightly before shrugging, " The hell did I miss now?"

Leoxander stated sharply, just as Araina should enter. "F***..."

Satoshi eyes Leoxander in much the way she had eyed Kasyr earlier. He'd told her to stop them from following, but something tells her she won't be able to stop the lycan if he chooses to go.

Leoxander let his head fall into his hands for a moment, if he could.

Leoxander didn't seem to be listening, either way.

Leoxander shifted another look at the door, debating. He wasn't ready. He was g'damned tired of this, all the same.

Satoshi spares a glance for Araina before locking her gaze on the rogue once more. Taking a breath, the kit takes a wild shot, "Ink me. Now." It's all she's got in way of diversion, without physically attacking the lycan to end his debate.

Araina noted his expletive, looking swiftly from one woman to the other, " Governor." Bowing slightly at the waist, " Satoshi." A sharp look was cast towards the male, " Leo?"

Leoxander suddenly said a name. Almost like... 'Beetlejuice'.

Leoxander said, "Redhale...."

Arien might have trembled slightly there, on the rogue's lap if he had not already nudged her off. She would not try to stop him, if he chose to go. She would never stop him from being what, and who he needed to be.

Leoxander seemed to be waiting, angrily, from the moment he said that, looking around the warehouse room.

Leoxander might nudge Arien from his lap if he had to stand and say a second time, more demandingly. "Redhale...!"

Satoshi stares at Leoxander, utterly baffled by the strange word he's saying, and uncertain if he's snapped or attempting to summon that seed of magic himself.

Redhale appears in a cloud accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Araina tilted her head slightly, though if she found Satoshi's proclamation strange she said nothing of it, instead focusing on the name offered. It was vaguely familiar, " What about him?"

Leoxander looked toward the clap of sound and light, glaring through it.

Arien | The elf would be distracted enough that Araina's greeting would barely be acknowleged as she attempted to read the alpha's desire.

Leoxander said to Redhale, "Where is she?"

Araina figures she just might learn something if she sat back and waited like a good little wolf.

Satoshi follows Araina's cue, like an equally good little fox.

Arien moved then, rising and stepping aside as the rogue did, her own eyes turning to that direction his focus identified.

Redhale 's grinding voice let out a moan which shuddered through the walls of the tavern, a spine chilling sound which was accompanied by the literally chilling pressure that his presence induced. A thick black liquid began to well up from the floorboards as though the ground beneath the tavern was weeping oil, and as it pooled together it rose into strips of cloth which wound their way upwards through the air to form the lumbering shape of the undead man. As his mask floated to the surface of this mound the croaky voice rasped from the walls once more, "Leo..."

Redhale adds, "Where is who?"

Satoshi recognizes that mask, memories calling up images of Chaos blooms and crystallized faces.

Araina as well recognizes what might have been, having been allowed a certain stroll through the mind of the owner of such a voice.

Leoxander took a breath as that chill took his business. He hadn't wanted to summon death right there to the heart of his world, but desperate times call for desperate measures. "Don't play stupid, I know who you work for." The crypts, themselves, as far as he was concerned. "If you don't damn well do something I have to." And... he wasn't ready. Leo knew what this meant, though, asking the creature for that favor.

Leoxander said to Redhale, "You owe me..."

Redhale chuckled to himself, a noise that made the sound of a child choking to death look positively joyful, "You worry for her safety? She has gotten exactly what she wanted, and a whole lot on top of that. I would worry about your own hides before you decide to go playing hero. Rest assured, if someone I held this much alleigance to was in true danger I would not have answered your call so promptly."

Sterling sprints into the warehouse, dripping salty water and heaving tired breaths. Immediately, lavender eyes searches for Leoxander or Arien and once found, the woman hurries in their direction.

Leoxander dared to argue with a minion of death, himself, just as angrily as he'd curse Vuryal. "Aren't you damn well going to do anything? We helped you more than once when you needed your souls!"

Araina is merely a wall-flower for the moment, taking in what information she can as she was not needed. Anything that could keep her wife, and the people in this very room she cared for safe, she needed to know.

Leoxander shot a look from Sterling, but back, not trusting to look away from Redhale while the entity was in his shop.

Arien would be the one who turned eyes to Sterling, from her new place seated quietly at one of those spade chairs and tables.

Redhale said to Leoxander, "What would you have me do? I have no intention of going back on my word, but if you are asking me to do what I think is best for the people I know, then I simply must assure you that I am. Or rather, I am trying to, I came here because I thought you had an actual request of me."

Arien said to Sterling, "What is it pup?"

Sterling notices Leoxander's attention on Redhale and thus turns to Arien. Immediately, the girl drops down to split a ragged whisper with the red.

Leoxander narrowed his eyes at Redhales ever true words, before he demanded his conditions. I want at least a day. Two if you can buy them." It was asking Death's Advocate to interfere with Time, but perhaps Redhale would appreciate the chaos enough to comply. Particularly knowing... Leo would owe him the favor, now.

Leoxander said to Redhale, "Keep him busy. A day or two is all I ask."

Sterling leans away from Arien at this point, confusion and concern filtering across her visage. "Does this mean yet more unwanted people on Leo's island?"

Arien looked up and spoke quietly, into and over that conversation between the males.

Arien said, "Joliette has declared war on The Fold."

Satoshi remains silent, thoughts unreadable upon a face kept carefully blank.

Arien 's expression was carefully wiped of expression.

Leoxander looked toward Arien, from his place.

Leoxander narrowed his eyes. "Who is your source?"

Redhale rattled a sigh, "Telling a timelord to wait is an interesting idea... But I think you will have more than a day or two before he is bearing down on this island. The storm will hit well before he brings his own forces here, and it will strike at your land just as it strikes at your souls." He hmmed to himself, "I'm not sure if you in particular are in immediate danger, but it would be wise to get out as soon as you can. If you are still here when the time is up, I must admit I may be bound to kill you."

Arien turned those gem like eyes to Sterling. "Do you know why, dear? Was a cause given?"

Arien 's gaze flitted to Leo. "The pup is an eye witness..Unless there is anither dark haired woman who might smeel of death at the gallows tonight.."

Araina watched the scene play out before her quietly, deciding to hold up the wall behind her, booted foot planted firmly. Arms over her chest, she listened. Arien's words allowed a quick glance, a filtered sentence returning to her, " Cornelius? I thought it a rumor."

Sterling quickly shakes her head, her breath still panted and her entire body still pooling water on the floor. "Sterling wasn't there long enough to find out why and Sterling didn't care to get too close. The woman was speaking to that talking rat. Told the rat, "Tell the others. We are at war. With The Fold." Sterling does her best to mimick Joliette's voice, but it doesn't sound at all close.

Redhale raised a bony finger to point at Sterling, "Speak with her, she knows what is to come. I will try to halt the flood, but if you decide to change your request to, say, aid in getting you and your lot out of this place, I would be more than happy to comply. Send word to the Library."

Satoshi asks no one in particular, "Did this suddenly stop being the place of momentary refuge, then..?" Arien would bite her tongue on the idea that any of them would agree to be driven from the place that they had forged into a home.

Araina looked toward the Kit, " Seems that way, or at least headed that way. Which means, we're running low on protection."

Leoxander looked back toward Redhale. "I'm not damn well running from him. So you can forget that. You can go, now."

Leoxander glared at the source of that chill in his shop.

Sterling takes a step away from Redhale and his bony finger before ultimately deciding to settle, exhausted, into a nearby chair.

Araina glanced towards the male wolf, " I heard mention of Jolie in the tavern last night. Bits and pieces." She brushed a hand over her features in an attempt to recall, " Cornelius, I believe, had the bright idea to drug her and offer her to Vuryal as his bride."

Leoxander looked toward Satoshi. "I'm not running."

Satoshi meets Leoxander's look evenly. "You're a wolf. I'm not."

Redhale had the twist of a grin in his voice, "I suspected you would feel that way. Best of luck for the coming days, Leoxander. I sincerely hope I may see standing once the storm has passed."

Leoxander retorted to Satoshi sharply. "You're pack."

Araina returned his gaze, nodded, " I offered my loyalty, I meant it. I would see the pups gone somewhere safe."

Leoxander motioned Redhale away, dismissively.

Redhale disappeared with a snap and a bang.

Leoxander said to Redhale, "See you, Red."

Leoxander just looked around the shop for a moment, blankly. As though the presence of that undead, the summoning and conversation wtih such, had drained him, physically.

Satoshi settles back into her chair without a response, thoughts turned inward.

Leoxander suddenly looked for somewhere to sit.

Sterling snorts toward Araina's words before turning to Leoxander as if potentially hoping for praise for her work and hard work at that.

Araina shot a look before sighing and kicking a chair towards the Alpha, following with a steady hand upon his shoulder, " Sit, before you fall."

Leoxander slumped into that seat with some guidance, leaning into the back of it heavily. He needed sleep. A moment, just to take his mind off this. Brow furrowed in that perpetual knot, he shifted a blank but angry look toward Sterling. It slowly melted into something else, more frustrated, or concerned.

Leoxander pinched his brows together, beneath that fall of hair in his eyes.

Arien was still sitting quietly, numb. She had led her kin into a war, made choices in her life that had managed to strip them of their greatest assets, and left them alone now, as fodder to two who had every reason to execute a merciless war on what amounted to a severely weakened organization. The Time Lord was as efficient in his ability to delegate as he had ever been. Last time, it had been Mahri's clan that had been manipulated into his service.

Araina could give him that sleep he desired, but she doubted he'd enjoy the method. She left the guiding hand against his shoulder, thumb bracing insistent circles against the tense muscles at his nape.

Leoxander looked over at Arien, next, considering the stress on her expression. Or rather, the emotionless of it. Then he'd look up at Araina, realizing, numbly, that he was being touched. A look at nothing, and he said. "We'll be fine..." He sounded so tired.

Satoshi rises to her feet but pauses after that, uncertain just what her intentions are.

Arien was..torn. She did not think it right to ask the pack to step into a war that was not technically their own. They would already be called to protect the island on one front. She ..almost didn't know where she belonged anymore. But the longer she throught about it, the more she did, and it pained her heart to realize that she had fallen so far, that she would leave the clan to their fate, if that was her alpha's decision.

Leoxander continued to stare at nothing, even as Satoshi stood to, what he suspected, leave.

Araina was not a member of the Fold, but she had offered her service to Arien once before, and now would do the same, " You needing any more healers governor?" She could do very little for the woman's guilt. She continued easing some of the tension from the male, light, barely discernible tendrils of healing energy being passed from her fingertips to the wolf, helping him to relax, somewhat.

Arien said to Leoxander, "We will..but will they?" She didn't want to do this..didn't want to ask the pack to fight those who had once been their own. For the love of the gods, it would put Leo and Caedan..Rowen..in enemy camps."

Leoxander started to sink face first for the table, even with that very light touch.

Leoxander tried to lightly shrug it off, realizing it's affect. He said to Arien... "Yes..." But he couldn't look at her. Now that he made that promise, there were new duties to think about. But he hoped they could wait till morning. He wasn't going to make it much further than the beach without some sleep.

Araina paused in her movements, not wanting the male to faceplant into the wooden surface. She looked about the parlor for some possible place to settle him comfortably for the night as she bent down to heft an arm over her shoulder.

Sterling pushes herself to her feet and immediately wanders to the bar and then behind it. Quickly, she procures four glasses for herself, Arien, Leo and Araina as well as two bottles of rum. It's a balancing act to get it back to a table near Leo, but once she does, it's settled out in uniform but not touched. Instead, her attention shifts immediately to Leoxander, her gaze hardened under her damp blonde strands. "Leo, stop it. It is not easy to place trust into someone who constantly looks beaten already." She knew that isn't the case with the Alpha, but he looks so damn tired all the time lately. "Trust Leo, trust pack. Trust and be settled. Pack is always there, will always be there and pack will always fight tooth and nail for pack home." She reaches almost angrily for one of the rum bottles to yank out the cork with her teeth, and a good portion is poured into each of the four glasses. "Drink, and be at ease. Do not show this emotion to any other pack. It is disheartening."

Leoxander just slid his arm back to himself, stubbornly, his brow furrowed. "I'm alright..." He would go somewhere, eventually. Maybe just to that chair if the elf didn't take him to her home.

Satoshi said to Leoxander, "I need to think." She nods briskly to him, and the rest gathered before turning for the door. At the exit she adds to the lycan, "Tomorrow. We start. After that? What will be."

Leoxander shifted a stare through his hair toward Sterling. She couldn't understand, young as she was. But he wouldn't blame her for that. "I trust you, cub." He said, simply.

Leoxander said to Satoshi, "Tomorrow, Cat."

Arien would nod then, quietly, and no further words wold be forthcoming. The clan was not without its capable warriors and minds..They would be mre than capable of holding the line until it could be determined what role precisely, its allies might play.

Araina turned her gaze to him, glaring, though it was more playful than with intent, " Always so stubborn." Still, she moved back and continued her attempt at helping the male relax enough to sleep and murmured, " Going to fall daintily on your ass wolf, you're not careful." A nod was given to Sterling, " Thanks."

Arien said to Leoxander, "You need rest, Leo.."

Satoshi departs without another word.

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