#deeenn

There is a small garden off to one side of the dance floor, with carefully-tended plants both ornamental and herbaceous growing in waist-high raised beds; dark soil held back by metal barriers, and the thin rubber snakes of irrigation tracing pathways through the soil.  It is quieter here.  There are several of these planters, and the overhead growth lights mingle with the lamps of the Ball, casting dreamlike shadows across those moving between the rows. Several AGRIwards hover around the edges with near-parental wariness as the outsiders pass close to their plants, although they are not aggressive about it.

There is a single melon.  It is impressive.

*After her moment of panic and abrupt desertion of the dance floor, Blue comes across the garden area. She had been unable to find Nights and tell her who she had seen, the mass of people and music confusing her senses. Here it is quieter and calmer, the sight of earth and plants comforting and familiar to Blue. She takes a few deep breaths, her racing heart slowing. She lightly traces a finger over a leaf. It looks like it perks up at her touch. Or maybe it is just the light. It is peaceful here, as much as it could be amongst the general hubbub. Even here the muffled sound of dozens of inept and faltering conversations, echoing and distorting through the facility washes over her heightened sense of hearing like waves at a beach. As her breathing returns to normal she is able to just close her eyes and just…

*Focus.

*The sounds of the party slips away as she concentrates on her own heartbeat, a steady slow rhythm as she tunes out the ‘civilized’ background noise and reminds herself of what she needs to do. On the edge of her awareness she can hear the slight rustling of the leaves near her. A drop of water sliding down the curved outer husk of the garden’s centrepiece and also…

*Blue frowns. There is another sound, somewhere in the ducts above. A faint scratching like branches or grass on metal work, combined with the rhythmic thud of movement. She shakes her head. It is likely just poor maintenance, and even if not she really didn’t have time to worry about weird State people dragging bushes through the ventilation system.

*A young dark skinned woman in dull black lace lingers in the small garden. The smell of her perfume is heavy. She wears no jewellery, but her fingers are paled in a band where a wedding ring has been recently removed. Her black eyes meet Blue’s from across the small garden, and she moves closer, to within inches, with a glass of wine held slackly in her hand.

[Darcey Graves] You’d better be careful Mr. Blue Eyes doesn’t see that pretty little thing.

*Her eyes skim over Blue’s outfit in brief assessment, but pause on the jewel near her throat. She leans closer, confidentially.

[Darcey Graves] We take off our jewellery. You know, your teeth aren’t safe in your head… Not around that Dregland Woman…

*The last trickle of guests arrive at the Ball. They are mostly the elderly, the chaotic or the snobbish who pride themselves on thinking the festivities haven't started without them.

*At her side Laurence shakes the hand of the last guest and flashes that handsome smile he reserves for his clients. Chase simply waits, smiling kindly as the man turns to her. He pauses, he expects. It is with some annoyance that Chase presents her cheek to the man who chastely pecks it. She plays along, gloved fingers lingering on the man's upper arm and patting him as he goes on his way.

*A few more minutes pass before Chase feels Laurence's arm over her shoulders. His fingers are firm and command her to follow. As soon as she does the arm drops to her waist, more for his comfort than anything else. It is time for the rounds. For idle chit-chat. Avoiding the heart of the party for now the duo heads over to the gardens, hoping to find stragglers or loners, regaining their energy before tackling the bulk of the guests.

*Chase spots two women in the garden. The blue-haired lady with her bright eyes she recognizes as belonging to the Nights-woman. The other she identifies as a client but her name escapes her.

*The woman at Blue’s side almost touches her, but as the two approach turns her head swiftly to them.

[Darcey Graves] Well. Speak of the devil.

*Laurence squeezes his arm firmly around Chastity’s shoulder. A lit cigarette hangs from his lips and he takes it idly between his fingers and exhales a breath of blue-grey smoke. He wears a mask of blue velveteen. With one hand Laurence taps ash into the flowerbed. [Fairfax] And, very sportingly, she’ll appear, won’t she, Miss Halstead?

*At the light touch of Laurence Chase looks up. She smiles, chuckling to clarify her expression.

[Halstead] I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered, Mister Fairfax.

*Blue does her best to refrain from coughing, the scent of the cigarette smoke disturbing to her sensitive nose.

[Darcey Graves] Your wine is barely palatable, Laurence.

[Fairfax] Is that so, darling? It was something unpronounceable from your Cousin’s cellar. I was led to believe she had rather fine taste.

*Darcey’s eyes widen in shock and grief. But her composure returns promptly and her brow furrows. [Darcey] How are your family, Laurence?

*Halstead regards the citizen briefly. The smile melts from her face, years of conveying emotions without a lower face build up in her eyes, shaping a sincere loathing.

[Halstead] So… Since we're done being civilized creatures…

*She lifts up her one hand, a lit cigarette present. A similar one to Fairfax. A brisk tap of her finger dumps the ashes into the soil.

*Her scarf is inched down, just enough to take a drag from her cigarette, some cracks of marred flesh visible to Darcey Graves. The smoke swirls in Chase's mouth and nostrils, her upper lip twitches briefly before exhaling into the woman's face.

[Halstead] Family doesn't always stick around, madam. And neither will yours if you don't change your attitude sometime soon.

*She takes another drag, flicking her thumb to the butt, ashes float towards the citizen.

[Halstead] If that was all of value you had to contribute…

*She makes a limp movement with her wrist, shooing Darcey off like she were a bratty child.

*Darcey is wide eyed. She sidesteps, leaving Blue’s side, and takes a pace back. [Darcey Graves] This is the business you’re in now, Laurence?

*Laurence raises the cigarette to his lips. The end flares as he takes a long, unhurried drag, and exhales twisting smoke. [Fairfax] The wheels of commerce never cease to turn, darling.  

*Darcey steps away. Laurence regards Blue for a moment, and winks once, tilting his head.

*Chase leers after Darcey, her upper lip slightly raised in disgust before dragging from her cigarette again. The tip flares for a little while before it dims again. In one swift movement Chase pulls up her scarf over her upper lip, the smoke slowly trailing out of her nostrils like an angered beast.

*When finally she turns back to Laurence she is met with that same look he always has around particular individuals, that skin-crawling smirk. The glue-like charm.

[Halstead] Facilitator, we have the continue our rounds. I sincerely doubt Miss-… She isn’t in need of our services… Or yours for that matter.

*She turns to Blue, a casual smile only just visible on her face.

[Halstead] Have a pleasant evening, Miss.

*Laurence rubs his shadowed chin.

[Fairfax] Yes…

*They turn from the Garden, and return to the Ball.

*A few moments pass, Blue unsure what she was just witness to. She let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding and raised a slightly trembling hand to run through her hair. Her fingers light brushed the gem decorating her outfit as she lowers her hand, and she whispers to herself.

[BlueSky] I feel like I shouldn’t have come here…

*It is night, and an orange glow flickers atop a rough rocky outcrop overlooking the sea; the air still muggy from rain and the recently started campfire splutters to find purchase in the dark. Two figures sit away from it in silence, beneath a hastily stretched tarpaulin still laden with water from the recent downpour. Not a word is said between them, nor has it been, other than hastily yelped directions for a day that has mostly been spent pursued by a beast. They look up, momentarily, as one when roar from beneath them cuts through the air. A reminder of what might have been, but they are safe up here. For now*

*D_N has removed his flak vest and is tracing his fingers down the claw marks on the rear. It was just the tips of the claws that had caught him when he had dived into Adrian and sent them sprawling down the slope and into the forest thicket at the base. At the least the fall had given them a bit of a head start...*

*Adrian sits with his back to the other man, an expression of pained concentration on his face as as picks the remaining burrs and twigs from his suit and hair. The thick woods had slowed the bear down substantially, stopping it from reaching full speed as they had run and the bodyguard seemed to have a natural aptitude for knowing when to change direction to throw off their pursuer, until they had eventually broken the cover of the forest and made it to the beach and, eventually, their current perch in an attempt to wait it out until the bear got bored with them. They had hoped the rainstorm would have quickened the creature’s departure, but, as Adrian noted when a last droplet worked itself from his sodden hair down his face and into his mustache this has also been a… miscalculation*

*D_N removes something from his side pouch and begins playing with it. The same actions over and over again. Something metallic dances in his fingers, the light from the fire reflecting as if he were playing with a burning ember, or a lit cigarette before bringing his hands together with an audible -click-*

*Adrian sniffs, wrinkling his nose in an attempt to dislodge the water droplet...*

*-click-*

*Adrian shivers violently as the cold drop runs down his chin, and he looks around furtively to check he has not knocked the nearby pole, one of many holding up their makeshift shelter...*

*-click-*

*Adrian’s eye twitches as the growling of his stomach, itself an insult on top of injury considering their disastrous last attempt to get food, is interrupted by the constant and repeated…*

*-click-*

*Adrian snaps*

[Adrian] Would you bloody well stop that??

*Adrian turns quickly as he shouts the command. The first words spoken since they had set up on top of this godforsaken rock*

*D_N sheepishly brings his hands together with one last muted -click- as Adrian scoots over, carefully avoiding the water filled sags of the ‘roof’ above them*

*Adrian pinches his nose, trying to carefully find the words to address the elephant, or more literally, bear in the room*

[Adrian] Look, I know that you...

*Adrian stops abruptly, staring in horror at the object D_N has been playing with as recognition sets in. The body of it, fist sized and scored with lines like a pineapple is held by the release trigger in one hand, while the other grips the pin in dirt-smudged fingers*

*D_N absentmindedly fills the gap in conversation by removing the pin, flicking it round on his fingers and then replacing it deftly back in the hole, all without releasing the handle*

*-click-*

[D_N] Ah... sorry just an old habit ya know... Take my mind of things to have stuff to do with my hands and there ain’t many rocks up here small enough ta throw…

*D_N pauses, taking in the bug-eyed expression of disbelief working its way across Adrian’s face. It was as if the detective’s forehead was attempting to escape his face while his mouth soundlessly cycled through the every syllable he knew, and some that he didn’t*

[Adrian] Is… that a…

*Adrian pauses himself, as if physically forcing himself to spit the last word out*

[Adrian] GRENADE?!

[D_N] Ummm…

[D_N] ...

[D_N] Yeah??

[D_N] It’s my last frag! Still got an incendiary and a smoke in the pack too but those pins stick a little bit so they aren’t really good for…

*Adrian throws his hands up, narrowly avoiding the roof. All attempts to sugar coat his assessment of today’s debacle now gone from his itinerary*

[Adrian] -A grenade.- Why?!

*The first words falls like a hammer breaking a dam, and the words that follow spill like a torrent*

[Adrian] Is that how you pass the time in the State army, by playing with -highly destructive explosives- ? Wasn’t -one- time of almost getting us both ripped to pieces -enough-? TRULY, it seems like you have at least -something- in common with the silo-dwellers when it comes to -bloody death risks-!

*Adrian pauses as his mind finally catches up and he stares in horror at the now mortified looking D_N*

[Adrian] ...And why...Why… wouldn’t you throw that... at… THE BEAR???

[D_N] Well, that’d spoil the meat right? Plus isn’t that kind of a dick move, I mean it’s just a bear, it doesn’t…

[Adrian] Just a bear?

[Adrian] -Just. A. Bear?-

[Adrian] That thing damn near made a healthy snack out of both of us! Did you even have a plan? Or did your half-witted State brain not go beyond the step of “Approach vicious wild animal and act surprised”?!

[D_N] Well I dunno, I hadn’t thought that far, your plan to hit it with the branch from behind  didn’t exactly do much damage either, even when the bear was distracted…

[Adrian] Distracted? It was about to literally eviscerate you! I couldn’t exactly let it do that to a fr…

*Adrian huffs, not wanting to finish the sentence*

[Adrian] ...anyway, if you hadn’t dived in the way and knocked us down that slope it would have, well,  torn my face off.

[Adrian] So… thank you. For that. But it hardly counts - you got us into that terrible mess in the first place!

[Adrian] I can understand you not wanting to think about whatever weird illness it is you seem to have, but really...Perhaps that’s how you kept living in the -State- quiet to yourself as well? You didn’t want to think about something bothering you like, let me just say something, the fact you were working for a totalitarian regime with a list of war crimes so long you’d need an entire library to write it down? You just picked fights with the nearest man, beast, or inanimate object regardless of collateral damage, just to -distract- yourself!

*D_N looks shocked; some of this has obviously hit home*

*Adrian pauses briefly, straightening his ragged tie while at the same time realising he could just as well have been straightening a kitchen towel, judging by the state it’s in*

[Adrian] I mean, do you really think I haven’t seen this kind of thing before? You don’t get far in my line of business without being a bit of a ‘people person' and believe me, whether it’s picking fights or throwing decadent parties, it’s all the same thing in the end. Distraction of the thrill to forget the looming reality...

*Adrian looks indignant*

[Adrian] Truly, I know it well. And in retrospect, I wish I knew it less everyday.

*Adrian sighs*

[Adrian] A man has to make peace with his decisions, D_N, he can’t run from them or pretend he is somebody else...

*Adrian coughs at the irony of the statement, given the circumstances of his first meeting with the State in this area, while also feeling slightly sorry for the other man who is currently unable to meet his gaze*

[Adrian] Sometimes, we think we can run. We think we can keep up appearances forever. And my forever ended in one particular shot glass.

*Adrian sighs, remembering his own past and bad decisions, a lot of his fury spent*

[Adrian] I... remember one case in particular. A young man, by the name of... Artis, I believe. Always looking a bit more worse for wear than the last time I would have met him. I could hardly call him a criminal, but he was certainly no saint. A gambler. Lost track of his bets, his debts, started owing money to the wrong people, you know how it goes...He’d been quite a daredevil, too, before he let his coin and credibility slip down the drain. I think he might have been a Dreglander. You’d expect it from his looks. Always drank from a hip flask, too...he sort of reminds me of y-

[D_N] (quietly) yeah… I get that a lot

[Adrian] Well... We were trying to find his cousin. Stop him from going off the rails and getting involved in things he shouldn’t. We found him alright. Well, most of him. Artis blamed himself for it, the man felt his cousin was trying to ‘follow his footsteps’ in the city. We ended up finding the goons that did it. We asked him to meet us from the bureau there, and even before we arrived he’d burnt the warehouse down with everyone still inside, himself included…

*An uneasy silence lingers after Adrian’s story.*

[D_N] What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry? Of… course I am, I let my nature get the better of me again and it messed you up… ya right… I should take responsibility for it, like ya friend Arty.

*D_N looks Adrian dead in the eyes*

[D_N] Ya gotta punch me.

*D_N jabs himself in the cheek*

[D_N] Right here, I can take my lumps for my mistakes...

*Adrian is taken aback*

[Adrian] That is… not the moral I was hoping you would take from that story. I… is this how the State handles mistakes? I could figure it that way...I suppose whoever you worked for must have hit you countless times-

[D_N] Hit me? Don’t be ridiculous, man…

*Adrian relaxes*

[D_N] I only messed up real bad one time, and besides, CQC’s not exactly on the menu at ‘Inter-Departmental Assessments’ so she just shot me. Much more efficient.

*D_N lifts up his shirt to reveal a gnarly scar on his lower abdomen, blackness pulsing deep within it as if the void poisoning had latched onto the much older wound*

*Adrian blanches*

[D_N] Was a coupla years into workin’ for the boss. We were still on pretty icy terms, don’t think she fully trusted me yet. I’d been sent to retrieve this briefcase… One of those self contained science kits, ya know? A researcher had run off with it after using it to find out somethin’ important and it still had all the data. Anyway, I’d tracked them down to this abandoned PRI-FAC and this researcher turns out to be a lot more wily than I thought. Set traps up all over the place, oil traps, electricity, real nasty stuff, and by the end I was pretty riled up. Even then they managed to get the jump on me by setting up this dummy in a spin chair.

*D_N pauses and looks pained as he remembers*

[D_N] I let my temper get tha better of me and ended up caving their head in with the damn science case after I got em on the floor.

*Adrian looks shocked*

[Adrian] My God...

[D_N] I know right? Wrecked all the instruments inside or something and lost the data, I shoulda just… used the chair instead. I still reported to the boss, took that long walk to our spot outside of town. I knew what was coming. Thought I’d take one to the head but she got my gut and challenged me to make it further than the last guy. He’d got ‘in sight of the City’.

*D_N laughs*

[D_N] Jokes on her! I made it all the way back to her office. She seemed to trust me a lot more after that too. Liked that I ‘came back’. Was after that got I promoted to Praetorian an’ all. Caused a right kerfuffle, I’d dropped out a vent right into the interview for my ‘replacement’ ya see...

*Telepher is still in stunned silence*

[Adrian] You...went back?! You didn’t want… revenge?

*D_N looks appalled*

[D_N] Of course not! Don’t look at me like that, I knew what I was getting into when I signed up to work for an Auditor. Like you said, you have to make peace with your decisions, right? Gotta take responsibility. That was our deal, she saved my life back in that prison cell so it was hers to use. That’s fair, and if you mess up, you die. Except… I didn’t.

*There is a long moment of silence.*

*Adrian shakes his head*

[Adrian] I’m not going to hit you, D_N. Your former employers in the State might not have shunned violence but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m a detective, not a dunking stool.

*D_N frowns, aware that he has been outwitted and worried about the implications*

*Adrian smiles as he leans back*

[D_N] Gotta be honest, man, I’d be happier with the punch.

*D_N shrugs, and finally stuffs the re-pinned grenade back into a pocket.*

[D_N] Guess that’s the point though, right?

*Adrian winks, just as his back hits the pole behind him. There is a moment of shocked surprise as he realises he has forgotten his position within the awning, before he topples backwards, taking the pole out with him. Unsupported now the tarpaulin corner peels down and spills the remaining rainwater directly onto D_N’s head.*

[D_N] ...

[Adrian] ...

*The uneasy companions stare at each other. One tumbled backwards, the other soaking wet. A moment passes, and then: laughter. Booming, genuine laughter, but with a nervous edge to it, as both men absorb what they have learnt.

[18:30:56] * Specks of morning light fall through the foliage of the forest close to Katton. The grass crackles under the gentleman shoes of Adrian Telepher, by now tattered from walking around the wilderness with them. Finally having found an agreeable place to stay, he deemed a walk through the area not a bad idea. Besides, the fresh air is always appreciated, especially when your past experiences include a long-term stay in an underground bunker complex. [18:36:10] <Adrian> Hm-hm-m-hm *faint humming of a tune* [18:36:42] * The surrounding area so far includes a lot of forest. However, a strange disturbance suddenly catches the man's eye. [18:37:40] <Adrian> Hm- that's odd... [18:38:00] <Adrian> These branches look awfully torn. [18:38:59] * Adrian looks around the tree besides which he is standing, which seems to have been mauled by some form of falling object. [18:39:42] <Adrian> .. An object awfully.. man-shaped. Strange indeed. [18:40:54] * Adrian inspects the place further. Signs of a struggle would be an understatement to how the leaves of the tree look. [18:43:07] * Adrian looks to one of the still intact branches, and notices a small pouch hanging from it. [18:43:15] <Adrian> Now what's this... [18:44:14] * Adrian opens it, to find a vial of undefined liquid inside [18:45:22] <Adrian> Mh, better not try that...I've had my experiences with the consumption unknown liquids... [18:46:43] * Adrian puts the thick, dark substance back into the pouch and keeps it in his hand, while further looking around the site of struggle, or, as it's beginning to clear to him, something falling. [18:48:45] * Adrian's eyes follow the holes and tears in the trees, ending up at a ditch to the side. It's a deep gouge in the earth, with small roots sticking out of the sides, and a very big heap of earth at the bottom- [18:50:43] <Adrian> Wait a moment- Hello?! [18:50:54] <Adrian> Is that- is someone down there? [18:51:23] * D_N emits a barely audible grumble. [18:52:08] <Adrian> Well I never- excuse me! Are you alright? I'd come down there but- well, can you get up? [18:52:37] * D_N rolls over and groans, eyes blinking in the light. [18:53:10] * D_N winces and clutches his stomach. [18:53:32] <Adrian> What in the world...E-excuse me sir, why are you down there? [18:54:44] * D_N looks around, taking in his surroundings as if for the first time. [18:54:50] <Adrian> W-why are you in a ditch? [18:55:05] <D_N> ... Well... I dunno man. [18:55:19] <D_N> This IS a pretty good ditch though I guess. [18:55:37] * Adrian raises an eyebrow in surprise and confusion. [18:55:40] * D_N nods, but then winces in pain again. [18:55:45] <Adrian> I- er- I suppose. [18:55:53] <D_N> I mean ya got drainage. [18:55:59] <D_N> very low fecal content. [18:56:20] * D_N rummages through his pouches but comes up missing. [18:56:23] <D_N> Dammit! [18:56:32] <D_N> Mother's Ass where is it? [18:56:58] <Adrian> Ah- *takes the pouch* is it this that you're looking for? [18:57:08] * D_N looks up squinting. [18:57:14] <Adrian> It was hanging from a branch right there [18:57:32] <D_N> Yes! Ah man, yur a life saver! [18:57:51] <D_N> It musta fallen off when I fell... [18:58:04] <D_N> Uh, I don't suppose you could toss that down could ya? [18:58:23] <Adrian> Er, sure- [18:58:38] * Adrian somewhat clumsily tosses the pouch down. [18:59:06] * D_N flails slightly but manages to catch part of the strap as it falls. [18:59:24] <Adrian> Would you- ah, care for coming out of that ditch, however good it might be? [19:00:04] * D_N looks around at the above average ditch, before shrugging. [19:00:17] <D_N> Yeah that makes sense, gimme a sec though [19:00:55] * D_N uncorks the flask from the pouch and takes a swig, grimacing. [19:01:02] * D_N coughs. [19:02:11] <D_N> Just gotta let that work it's stuff and I'll be right to climb outta here, just gimme a minute. [19:02:35] <Adrian> Of course, of course- try not to, ah, fall. Again. [19:02:52] * Adrian looks to the side, and notices some berries on a bush. [19:03:09] * Adrian picks them and keeps them in his hand to look at. [19:03:16] * D_N grunts. [19:03:48] * D_N emerges from the ditch panting and covered in dust. [19:05:23] * D_N strolls near to Telepher and sits down next to a tree, in his crumpled black uniform. [19:05:55] * D_N brushes the dust from his armoured vest, 'A25' stenciled on the front in block lettering. [19:06:06] * D_N looks over to Telepher [19:06:10] <D_N> Ya see... [19:06:14] * D_N frowns. [19:06:41] * D_N claps Telepher's hand shut without warning as he was about to toss a berry into his mouth, the berries violently squashing to a pulp. [19:07:01] <Adrian> AH- I- what?! [19:07:12] * Adrian looks at D_N in shock as he wipes the mush from his hand on the bark and leaves of a nearby tree. [19:09:45] * D_N looks at Telepher in a confused manner. [19:10:18] <D_N> Ah sorry man, assumed you didn't want the squits from them things. [19:11:28] <D_N> Had em once on a mission when we ran out of field rations, messed my guts up for a week. [19:11:35] <Adrian> I-ah -I'm sorry? Are these- ah, poisonous? I do think they're not, but- [19:11:52] <Adrian> .. Are they? [19:12:01] * D_N holds up a berry. [19:12:24] <D_N> Ya see, this ones got the spiky leaves, thats the one ya wanna be careful of. [19:12:46] <D_N> There’s another with rounded leaves that basically looks the same that's pretty good though. [19:13:15] * D_N looks over Telepher in his suit and stylish shoes. [19:13:24] <Adrian> Ah. Must have gotten them confused... [19:13:27] <D_N> You ah... get out in the woods much? [19:13:36] * Adrian makes a mental note never to pick berries again. [19:13:55] <Adrian> More than is dear to me, lately. [19:14:13] <D_N> Hah, yeah I know that feeling... [19:14:15] <Adrian> But it's not that I have a lot of know-how.... [19:14:59] <D_N> Yeah, I kind of had to pick a lot of it up on the fly. [19:15:02] <D_N> AH! [19:15:12] <D_N> I forget myself sometimes. [19:15:19] * D_N holds out his hand. [19:15:26] <D_N> Names D_N. [19:15:31] * D_N pauses. [19:15:39] <D_N> The underscore is silent. [19:16:00] <D_N> Kind of a thing from where I'm from, don't worry about it. [19:16:04] * Adrian shakes the hand, albeit somewhat reluctantly because of the dust. [19:16:35] <Adrian> Adrian Telepher. Pleasure. And I know about the underscore thing...I've had to pick THAT one up on the fly, you could say, lately... [19:17:20] * D_N looks confused. [19:17:26] <D_N> Yeah? [19:18:18] * Adrian looks at D_N with slightly more suspicion, his State experiences not exactly having been very positive recently. [19:19:11] <Adrian> Yes, I- ah, co-operated with some people that had similar names- Wards, of the State, hmm? [19:19:34] * D_N 's eyes grow wide. [19:19:42] <D_N> Wait... wait... [19:19:50] <D_N> I'm back here? [19:19:57] <D_N> THAT wasn't the plan! [19:20:07] * D_N gets up and walks around gesturing wildly. [19:20:29] <Adrian> ...I'm sorry, but- what do you mean, here? [19:20:36] <D_N> I musta, got looped back somehow after the business with the cathedral... damn, the boss must... [19:20:55] * D_N looks up at Telepher [19:21:03] <D_N> Ah yeah... it gets kinda confusing. [19:21:09] <D_N> I can't really follow it myself. [19:21:36] <D_N> I was on a mission with my boss and... well it looks like instead of following on from them... [19:22:13] <D_N> ...I've come... home? Or at least close enough... [19:22:26] <D_N> It ain't irradiated like the last place at least... [19:28:21] <D_N> Ah yeah... in other words... that's a pretty good question... Where is 'here' anyway? [19:28:52] <Adrian> Well, I- ah, What I know about it is that it's a forest close to a local village. Katton, it's called, the town. [19:29:42] <D_N> Yeah? Never heard of it, must be pretty far away from The City I guess... [19:30:08] <Adrian> It's quite.. picturesque. And the Mayor is... well, never mind. You probably wouldn't believe it... [19:30:25] * D_N looks intrigued. [19:30:31] <Adrian> But the City, as you say, well, I'm afraid I really haven't seen any clues to a major city around here. [19:31:21] <Adrian> Only this place, a lot of wilderness, and a bunker complex that I've unfortunately found myself to stay in some time in the past. State property, that place. The denizens were... well, I'm quite torn between vicious and grim, but maybe, both at the same time is the most appropriate. [19:33:02] <D_N> Heh, yeah I know what ya mean. [19:33:15] * D_N looks at Telepher's appraising face. [19:33:29] * Adrian grins half-heartedly. [19:33:32] <Adrian> I suppose you do. [19:33:45] <D_N> No need to worry about watching ya words around me, I never really fit in much with em. [19:34:07] <Adrian> Heh, well if anything, that's a relief... [19:34:19] <D_N> I know what Assholes they can be sometimes... Some of em are pretty... [19:34:26] * D_N gets a looks of rage suddenly. [19:34:30] <D_N> Backstabbing. [19:34:42] * D_N shakes his head and clears his expression. [19:34:50] * Adrian sniggers. [19:35:03] <Adrian> Seems like you've had no better experience with them than I have. [19:35:22] <Adrian> Very well, D_N. [19:35:25] * D_N whispers something about a skunk haired *unintelligible* [19:36:30] * Adrian straightens himself, trying to look dignified. His suit and sharp, thin mustache make this not extremely hard. [19:37:32] <Adrian> How would you like to come with me for a while? Maybe I can help you out figuring out where you are, and you can keep me from choking to my death on poisonous berries, eh? [19:38:00] <D_N> Heh sounds good! [19:38:28] <D_N> I should probably wait until I can find a secure channel before touching base anyway. [19:38:40] <D_N> So it's not like I've got anything better to do. [19:39:11] <D_N> Lead the way man! [19:39:26] <Adrian> Indeed, indeed.. well, how about we go to a place more accommodating than these woods. [19:39:49] <Adrian> I don't want to imagine the tears the thorns have left in my suit at this point... [19:40:19] * Adrian walks back towards the hotel, careful to avoid any out-sticking branches. [19:41:51] * D_N slouches after him after a brief pause, careless of the branches that soon pepper his hair.