Atomos: The Linguist Part 2

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The ship took off the following week after plans were figured out. From the spider roof top running to the crazy religious figures everybody would be playing to fool the townsfolk and guards. The trip itself is pretty quiet and calm. You see several other airships, along with military ships, but are left alone the entire ship. The ship sets down outside of the city of Archadies at a airship warhouse dock. Cecil talks to a man at the dock, gives him a hug and motions to the group, "Everybody I want you to met Edge, a old friend of mine." The man wearing all dark molted greys and a mask nods to the group, "Hello. I hear you are trying to infiltrate the city to rescue Fusoya?"

Ainsley displays a mildly distracted look at Edge. The name is a bit odd to her, and the combination names is mildly familiar in some capacity. She just can't place why. She may have read something a few years ago, or experienced something along those lines. "Hello," she says, "That is the truth, yes. I gather you're going to assist us, judging by your aesthetic and the way you are being introduced to us," after which she crosses her arms. She thinks it would be nice to have someone along to help round out the general lack of 'behind enemy lines' experience the group has, so she manages a smile at him.

Zhgir has all the behind the enemy lines experience. All of it. He hoards it jealously, as he holds up his hands. "Zhgir did not do it. Do not listen to their lies. Zhgir will talk and has no intentions of betraying you when time is convenient." He leans over his head and whispers towards the rest of the group, holding up one of his extra hands over his mouth."Zhgir has this under control, yes. No worry required." He nods sagely, before looking like a proper caught spy.

Talen eyes first Ainsley and then Zhgir as they speak in turn, before he turns his gaze back to Edge. The male Viera seems to be considering the man's mode of dress, the large ears doing a small, twitching sort of dance. He looks to Cecil for a moment, and then back to Edge. "Greetings. It is as she says.", Talen says, gesturing to Ainsley.

Alba has already gotten into costume, apparently to practice moving and acting like someone other than herself. White hides are wrapped around her knives' scabbards, and her dress has changed to lightly armored leathers, with a sleeveless white robe atop. Capping off the disguise is an old, bloodstained thick gauze bandage, wrapping around her throat. Glancing at Talen's twitching ears, she raises an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes at the male that suggests the movements may have just meant something at her expense.

Edge looks the group over, "I hope you are prepared, the situation has changed. Fusoya has actually been detained in the Black residence, seems your coming here has been figured out somehow, or she is just assuming. Terra has always been clever like that." Edge glancing back to Cecil, "We can get to the residence and then find a way to sneak in from there. Getting out will be a bit tricker I think." A glance to Alba, "You bought a leper? Interesting that will help keep people from bothering us on the way there."

The look that Ainsley gives Edge directly after the word 'leper' is something of bewilderment. She follows his gaze to Alba, and if she could go pale, she would. "Uh." She looks over at Edge. "She is not a leper," she tells the mistaken man. "Let's... just... yes. Let's go." She gathers her disguise components out of her pack, putting the mask on so that she doesn't get recognized on the way over by any laymen who has seen a Wanted poster. "We should not dally."

Zhgir walks over Edge, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Then, without a word, he reaches and taps the man's mask with his fingers, looking nearly as if he was ready to peel it away - until he turns around. "Zhgir will run up to the rooftops!" He then looks around, trying to spot Alfie from the mess - just in case. Because spiders get everywhere.

Talen grins at Ainsley's reaction, though looks slightly disappointed as Ainsley corrects his observation. Zhgir's reaction furthers Talen's amused look, and he glances over at Alba. He nods to her, and then looks back to Edge. "It matters not, for people will decide for themselves, and if she is perceived to be a leper and if this is beneficial, then it works in our favor for people to believe wrongly. A moment please." The male Viera returns to the ship, and presently a black mage returns, the only evidence of whom it may be are the two ears that poke out through the top of the hat. "I am glad for the temperate climate here.", comes Talen's muffled voice, "This would be unbearable in the desert, I think."

Alba peers at Edge, then rolls her eyes, letting a short huff of breath out through her nose. Having been practicing her walk since before boarding the airship, she manages to move in something other than a catlike slink, but a keen eye could spot her gait as something other than she's used to; possibly attributable to injuries other than that around her throat. Once Talen emerges in his disguise, she nods her readiness, an ear turned toward Edge's update of the situation. Her lips purse, but she makes no other comment regarding the difficulty spike the party has stumbled over.

Edge holds out a map to Ainsley, "of the city, you may need this." A glance to the spider and then a shrug seeming unbothered by the creature. "The Blacks are dangerous, we should move quickly I will meet you there." Then just as Edge was there, he is gone. Cecil shakes his head, "He does that to show off I swear. We will be waiting here, be careful and prey you do not run into Terra." The man heading back to the ship, leaving the party to their own devices now.

Zhgir simply does as he was told; as in, runs towards the rooftops. It seemed he was more eager about this mission than rest of his party - but that usually meant very little. The arachnid barely breaks a sweat as he does too do a disappearing trick, leaving the rest of the group fend for their own until they find his signals.

Talen chuckles at the disappearance of both Edge and Zhgir, and the male Viera peers at the two females. "I suppose the map has where we're to meet Edge again, correct?" Leaning over the shoulder of the Leezard, he peers at the map, before looking off down one of the streets leading from the docks. Gesturing briefly at it, he begins heading towards it. "The map indicates this is the best route, so let us go, yes? Hopefully Zhgir will not lead us astray should we be confined to using his signals."

Alba falls into step next to Talen, back straight, hands lose at her side, attempting to project the image of a career adventurer simply strolling through the city on business. Her ears flatten a bit against the unfamiliar noise of Archades, but she does her best not to show her discomfort otherwise.

The city is a bustling metropolis of people everywhere. Merchants, beggars, guards, and the occasional rare race like a construct can be seen. The streets quickly become a maze of interwoven houses and blocks. The noise is constant background talking and people passing by. A few judges are cleverly avoided by Zhgir's markings and the map helps navigate the mash of streets. Alba manages to keep a good eye on the markers while Talen and Alba avoid any guards. As the Mansion of the Blacks come into view you see a large ten foot razor wired wall and can hear the occasional bark behind the wall. The mansion itself is impressive and perhaps one of the biggest houses in the city. Several guards are at the gate keeping watch with a few patrols going up and down the streets. As you take in the mansion a woman walks up behind the group and stops as she looks at Alba, "Oh your poor poor thing." Running over and offering the Viera a sudden and unexpected hug, "You should let me heal of your affliction. Come come with me we shall take care of it."

Ainsley has a map in her hands. Her behavior is suitably strange and not typical of a scholar, and her robes are modest enough. She carefully avoids guards with Talen, making sure to point them out with wordless nudges and little code words, if they need to get around them. Once they get to the Mansion, she looks up at the top of the walls and notices the razor wire. "Money breeds paranoia," she murmurs faintly, frowning behind her mask. Once she hears the woman, she turns her head, cocking it in surprise and bird-like confusion. She tries to get a good look at the lady, but doesn't stop her... because it might be a decent way of breaking into the place, if Alba is smart about it.

The sudden voice behind the group causes one of Alba's ears to snap back toward the direction of the voice, and she stiffens visibly at the sudden hug, face going flat and ashen for a moment. Looking down at the offender, she glances Talen's way, touching the bandages at her throat, and moving her hand through a couple of signals. <<Throat, cripple. Seasons and seasons past.>> A final gesture toward the woman makes the meaning clear; 'tell this woman it's too old to help.'

Zhgir seems to have an endless supply of critter skulls that he keeps hanging across the rooftops. But when they reach the mansion, Zhgir was already about to make his entrance - before he sees the woman hugging Alba. Waving his hands frantically, he attempts to voicelessly tell the others he has noticed the predicament - before his multitude of eyes turn around and he slowly rotates on his pieces of web strand to look to see if there has been any other reaction in the crowd. Like sneaky looking people trying to ambush the party

The male Viera is as surprised as the female at the sudden hug, and friendly voice. And for several long moments, Talen remains still and silent, his face hidden by the robes and hood of a Black Mage. A long and ragged breath can be heard, and the Black Mage extends a shaking hand. "Miss Black, her wounds are many summers old, and as to her current affliction, we are questing for its removal. You would not wish to offend the spirits who have been so kind as to offer their guidance. It will be alright." He draws closer, another ragged breath drawn. "Cecilia. You healed me once, remember? Long ago and far away, and I stood watch over you many a night afterwards. Would you serve me once, if I were to ask?", the black mage speaks, in a voice low, and sounding weary of the world.

Cecilia giggles and holds up a finger to waggle it at Talen, "Now now mr viera construct, your ears are sitting out of your hat you know, no need to lie to me. If you need help you simply had to say so! The only construct I have helped heal was this one that kept trying to set things on fire. Good fellow, was fun." The woman giggles again, "As for old wounds, piss pah, they can be healed if you know how. come come come lets get inside for some crumpets and tea. You will miss mother though, she is out on business." The woman starting off towards the front gate, "Well hurry up now!"

Zhgir has no idea what is happening down below. Expect that fire was mentioned. So he slowly, very subtly, slithers back onto the rooftop and looks for an alternative way to get inside the mansion. Maybe there was a clothesline? Maybe he could pose as a guard? Maybe he could simply vanish like Edge did? Actually, how did he do that? Zhgir pauses and rubs his chin, in deep thought. So many questions.

Alba blinks, glancing at Talen, frowning in puzzlement... then looks to Ainsley as Cecilia bustles off back into the Mansion, lifting a shoulder in bemused confusion. Her eyes flick up to Zhgir's general area, and she twitches an ear toward the gate, then shrugs, moving toward the open gate.

Talen is silent again for long moments, silent save for the ragged intake of breath. "We would be delighted to enjoy a crumpet or two. Please, do lead the way." He gazes at Ainsley and Alba, and follows behind the female Viera.

Cecilia walks up to the gate and waves everybody in. The guards look to each other, the leper, the viera construct, and then to Ainsley. Then shrugs their shoulders and step aside. One of them can be heard whispering to another, "Should send word to Terra, I think these may be who she is waiting for." Cecilia mentions in passing, "OH I think there was a forth with them, a spidering. Oh I just want to hug him and squeeze him." Giggling again she heads into the mansion. The inside is grand, and dark. The primary colors used are black and deep reds in all the designs. Cecilia leads her way through a few rooms an into a suddenly brightly colored room of soft whites and blues. "Ahh my room. Make yourselves confortable and remove those bandages so I can get a good look at you." Over to Alba. Then she glances around, "Oh where is that grumpy old man, my other guest. You will like him, never stops complaining." Giggling the womans skips off through a door mentioning something about getting tea.

Zhgir disappears from the rooftop for a while. It doesn't take him too long to find what he is looking for - soon to be very unfortunate stray cat. Making his way over the wall, he holds the feline tight in his arms as he silently mills along the crowd around the corner - before with near careless motion, he tosses it over the wall, hoping to distract the dogs in the most natural way possible. He wishes he could disappear like Edge, as he waits for an opportune moment to climb over and sneak into the mansion.

Alba's eyes follow Cecilia out the door, and with a sigh, she slips a pad from her pocket and a stub of charcoal, scribbling furiously. (Our disguise was wasted. We are known.) Closing her eyes, she shakes her head and moves to lean against the wall next to the doorknob, slipping a knife free from its scabbard and waiting for Cecilia to return.

Talen nods to Alba, and looks to Ainsley and then back to Alba. "So we must find what we came here for, and get out while we can. Though I do wonder who this old man she speaks of is."

Cecilia steps back in with another, "Found him! Everybody meet Professor Fusoya, the grumpiest old man alive." giggling and then stopping by the door to balance the trey of tea cups and kettle she is carrying. The old lunarian man just grumps at her, "I am not grumpy young lady, how many times do I have to tell you that?" Meanwhile outside the dogs are immedinetly distracted by a poor soon to be dead cat. As the cat has nowhere to really run it skitters about avoiding the dogs and proving a excellent distractino for the spider to sneak across with.

Zhgir takes the moment to dash across the courtyard after a momentary glance around. Seeing the windows are all barred, he decides to climb up onto the roof instead, laying really low as he looks for any way in - even if it happened to be a (hopefully) cool chimney. He was already ashen grey to begin with!

Alba's foot snakes out, closing the door behind Cecilia, her free hand coming up to tug the bandage from her throat, her dagger hidden behind her other arm, eyes narrowed in silent speculation. For the moment, she makes no move -- after all, a falling tea service makes noise -- but she gives Fusoya a once-over, then looks to Talen, eyebrow rising.

Talen draws in a breath, and can only stare from the depths of the Black Mage's robes. "Professor Fusoya, it is a pleasure to meet you. Cecil sends his greetings." The male Viera's ears twitch a few times before he continues. "Miss Black, would you allow us a walk with the professor while you tend to tea? Perhaps a few laps of the courtyard would brighten his mood?"

Cecilia glances back to the door and smiles, "Oh thank you for closing the door for me. Such a sweat heart you are." Then glances to Talen and ahhs, "but I just brought the tea. Should have a sip now. Oh Locke!" Glancing to another door as somebody steps in, somembody you all reconize. The captain you ran into back in the mining town when all this began stands in the door way. "Cecilia, I see you have guest." Eyes looking everybody over with a touch of a fown. "Yes, sit down and have tea." A sharp glance to the professor who clams up and nods slowly as he moves to a seat, "Yes I think you all should sit down and have some tea."

The chimney leads down and there is no fire set. The spider kin will find himself entering into a very brightly colored room wher everybody is currently standing

Zhgir peeks inside the chimney's opening, and then he sees people. He quickly withdraws, and instead dangles a familiar looking small bone key amidst the soot - hoping that somebody will recognize it, and not make much of a fuzz about it. Meanwhile, he just clings for dear life.

Alba returns Locke's stare at first, her hand slipping backward just slightly... to return the knife to its scabbard, both hands coming up to rake her nails through her waist-length black hair. Inclining her head, she moves toward the table, one ear twitching first toward the fireplace, then further to its side, another orienting on Fusoya's breathing. As she passes Talen, she squeezes the male's shoulder, tapping with the finger closest the fireplace.

Once more the male Viera is silent, staring out at the scene as it unfolds. Alba's touch seems to shake him out of his reverie, and his ears twitch in reply. But then he draws in that ragged sounding breath once more, and he reaches up to draw back the hat and hood of the robes he wears. "Cecilia.", he intones deeply, "Locke loves you, more deeply than a brother, and has so since you two first met. When you gave him bread even though you had nothing else. When you tended his wounds when he fell. Everything you two did together further strengthened the bonds. And deep down, you know you love him." The viera raise up a hand, gesturing to Locke, turning to face the man. "You know it to be true. You are only here because you love Cecilia, and since you are denied her, you are content to remain at her side, watching her grow. You let the spiderling go, on purpose. You let Edward go, on purpose. You failed, knowing that it would cause you pain and agony, because you knew it to be right. Even now you hope that your failure will cause the Mask to remain hidden, unfound." He draws another breath, sounding pained doing so. "If you want the Mask to remain out of the hands of people who would use it to wreak ruination upon the planet, well, it comes down to what you decide to do in the next few minutes, sir. Ask Cecilia to come away with you, let us purchase the freedom of Professor Fusoya with the promise of your own freedom. If you act NOW, things can be made right. Time is short, and the odds are against us, sir. What say you?"

Cecilia peers over to Talen as he speaks and shakes her head with a gentle smile, "Silly, of course he loves me. What best friend doens't?" The woman turns and puts the tray down and starts pouring tea, "Leave? Now now I cannot leave mother, this is my home." offers cecilia. Locke on the other hand has gone a bit pale from Talen's speech. He glances to Cecilia and makes a motion over towards her, "The situation is more complex then that. I have spent years trying to convince her." A rueful smile and then a glance to the professor who has oddly remained silent. "Professor, Terra will be requesting your presence when she arrives home." Eyes looking back to the group, "I resent those accusations you have made at me and my character. There are no secrets that are kept from Mother. Such acusations would cost me my life were they true." Eyes narrowing as he reaches down and pulls out a whistle, "I am left with no choice but to call the guards and have you detained until mother gets home." Lifting up the whistle, but taking his sweet time doing so giving pelnty of opertunities to be stopped.

Cecilia peers over to Talen as he speaks and shakes her head with a gentle smile, "Silly, of course he loves me. What best friend doens't?" The woman turns and puts the tray down and starts pouring tea, "Leave? Now now I cannot leave mother, this is my home." offers cecilia. Locke on the other hand has gone a bit pale from Talen's speech. He glances to Cecilia and makes a motion over towards her, "The situation is more complex then that. I have spent years trying to convince her." A rueful smile and then a glance to the professor who has oddly remained silent. "Professor, Terra will be requesting your presence when she arrives home." Eyes looking back to the group, "I resent those accusations you have made at me and my character. There are no secrets that are kept from Mother." His eyes glancing to Cecilia to make his point. "Such acusations would cost me my life were they true." Eyes narrowing as he reaches down and pulls out a whistle, "I am left with no choice but to call the guards and have you detained until mother gets home." Lifting up the whistle, but taking his sweet time doing so giving pelnty of opertunities to be stopped.

Alba does not look amused at the verbal and mental dancing about the topic, and the moment Locke begins to lift the whistle, she acts. Her outline blurring with preternatural speed, the first thing to be hurled at Locke's face is the sugar bowl, her free hand already grasping for her steaming-hot cup of tea.

Zhgir slowly sidles down the chimney opening. "It is already too late, Locke. Always the story with you, yes?" The arachnid strangely solemnly states - and then holding a small coin in his hands, attempts to nick it at the whistle Locke is holding. (Throw Stone)

Alba does not look amused at the verbal and mental dancing about the topic, and it shows on the deepening, impatient scowl on her face. The moment Zhgir speaks, she acts. Her outline blurring with preternatural speed, the first thing to be hurled at Locke's face is the sugar bowl, her free hand already dipping toward the tea tray as she hurls herself sideways out of her chair.

The coin hits the whistle soundly and knocks it out of Lockes hands who watches it fly across the room with a amused look. Eh suger gets more of a reaction as he holds up a arm to keep it out of his eyes and backs out the door, "Guards!"

Talen raises an eyebrow at the sudden chaos, and he claps his hands together, a loud crackle sounding in the air as frost gathers on his hands. With a wave of his hand, the area around the door become a blinding mess of wind, sleet and ice. "The chimney, now!", he whispers urgently, gesturing at the Professor, Ainsley and Alba. "Zhgir, help them up." To Cecilia, he offers a nod, "I am sorry to have caused you trouble. But... Locke loves you more than a friend. He loves you as a husband and wife might love each other. Search your heart and your history. You've been blind to his love, and Terra's unkindness to him, for far too long."

Cecilia lets out a shriek as the sugar goes flying across the room, "Noooo!" Ignoring everything else as she suddenly chases after Locke, "Locke the guards will not protect you from me! You know how I hate wasting food. Come here you!" Rushing out the room and forgetting about everything else. Fusoya stands up slowly and chuckles, "Sweatest girl you will ever meet, but forgets about everything else when food is wasted. She grew up on the streets after all. She tells Terra everything, but that little sugar fiasco will probably make her forget. Though Locke I was unaware was trying to undermine her. Oh I am missing things, getting to old." Eyes glancing to the chimeny, "I cannot climb up that, to small to fit into it." looking back to the others, "We have two options of escape. The front door, your disguises are so good taking them off will hide you even better. Or there is a sewer connection below." A shiver, "I know from the torture I endured there." Locke pokes his head back in the door, "Hurry, Terra will be home soon. The guards outside will leave you be if you are quick about it." then is running off again with Cecilia chasing after him, "Locke get back here!"

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