The Haven

[McBish]

This large house has has two stories and a basement. On the outside the brick walls have ivy and other plants growing up the side. In the back there is a small garden with a wide varity of plants. The first room you see when you enter is a large room with a fireplace. It is sparsley furnished but there are several plants in the room that make it seem more comfortable. There is a large dining room with a kitchen attached. Upstairs there are several bedrooms of varying sizes.

This is Jo Maarifa’s house, and place of business. Inside, when Jo is home, she is available to provide charms, cures, and divination. Also the rooms upstairs are available for those in need of a place to stay. She charges or doesn’t, on a whim.

The house and the yard around it are protected by several charms of some power. Undead of any kind are barred from entering the house unless given a specific charm by Jo. Spells with the evil descriptor or by evil casters are weakened to some extent. No possessed creature can enter the house and no one can be possessed while inside. Charm and dominate spells are weakened as well.

[McBish]

Jo comes inside and starts to unpack her bag. She places several plants around the house and in the garden out back. She claims a room for herself and looks over the kitchen. After getting the place put together fairly well, she takes a short nap before getting up and leaving.

-----------

Jo returns later that evening with a chicken over her shoulder. She throws it in a pen and goes to bed.

--------------------------

Jo gets up in the morning and makes a breakfast for herself. Then she heads out heading towards Trog's. She returns some time later.

--------------

Jo goes into her room and makes a large clearing in the center of the room and pulls out some chalk. She draws a circle in the center. She goes and fetches the chicken and proceeds to break it's neck and then pulls out a small dagger and start to butcher it. She takes the blood and draws several symbols around the outside of the circle. She places a necklace in the center and starts speaking in an odd language. After a few minutes of this she takes the necklace out and puts in a braclet and starts to speak again. After she is done with this she takes the chicken downstairs and cuts it into slabs of meat that she will cook later. She places the bones in a bowl of water and pours a powder into it and the meat and blood start to dissolve off the bone. With a smile she leaves her house.

[Kyrian]

Alain enters, helping Jo as she needs it.

[McBish]

As they enter Jo leans on her staff. Right lets get these chickens set away and then see about that wound.

[Kyrian]

Alain nods. "Sounds like a plan."

[McBish]

Jo leads the way to some pens and puts the chickens inside them. She places a pair of necklaces around the neck of two of the three chickens.

[Kyrian]

"What's that for?"

[McBish]

That one will now produce more eggs. The other will also produce more eggs, but for chicks not breakfast. Now, I have the yarrow some where around here. She searches for a bit. Got it. Ok come here and sit down. She motions to a chair.

[Kyrian]

"The what?" Alain asks as he takes a seat.

[McBish]

Yarrow. Helps with healing naturally. With a bit of hoodoo. Well... She holds a white flower (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Yarrow&btnG=Google+Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi) to the wound and chants a bit. Healing energy flows out of the flower and tries to heal the wound.

[Kyrian]

Alain winces slightly as the wound slowly closes up.

[McBish]

How's that, better?

[Kyrian]

"Yes...thank you." Alain looks at her and smiles.

[McBish]

Jo smiles to then stumbles a bit.

[Kyrian]

Alain jumps up and puts an arm around her to support her. "Are you ok?"

[McBish]

She winces a bit as he touches the spot where the spike hit. Apparently despite not showing at all it still hurt. I'm just drained.

[Kyrian]

"You need to get some rest. Are you sure that spike didn't do any damage?"

[McBish]

She places a hand where the spike hit and winces a bit. Nothing serious. And yes rest is needed. Can you help me upstairs?

[Kyrian]

Alain nods. "If you'd rather, I'll just carry you up. It'd go faster."

[McBish]

Jo hesitates for a second then nods. My room is upstairs and on the right.

[Kyrian]

Alain gently lifts her up and carries Jo upstairs. He enters her room, and gently sets her down.

[McBish]

Jo lays down with a sigh. Alain might notice the chalk circle with symbols in blood around the edge. Thank you. Feel free to help yourself to a room. Anyone upstairs will probably due. They aren't very fancy though.

[Kyrian]

Alain tips his hat. "Thank you for your help. I'll talk to you again sometime soon I suspect." He closes her door behind him as he leaves her room, and enters the next nearest room. Not even taking in the layout of the room, he flops onto the bed, making a note to ask about the chalk circle, and falls to sleep.

[McBish]

Jo soon falls asleep as well.

[McBish]

Jo wakes up in the morning and slowly gets out of bed. She checks her stomach where the spike hit her last night. Then she gets up and heads to the window and pulls open a shade and looks outside.

[Kyrian]

Alain wakes up and decides to train in his room.

[McBish]

Jo heads downstairs to the kitchen. She stops on the way and picks up four eggs that were in the pen where the chickens are. She leaves two others and heads to the kitchen where she starts to scramble them.

[Kyrian]

Alain continues his training until he finally strains his wound past it's stress point and falls to the floor, breathing heavily.

[McBish]

Jo cooks for awhile then heads upstairs and knocks on Alain's door.

[Kyrian]

There are a few grunts as Alain is picking himself up off the floor. He goes to the door, and opens it slightly, only revealing his head. "Yes?"

[McBish]

Just wondered if you wanted some breakfast? I cooked some eggs.

[Kyrian]

"Thank you. I'll be down in a moment, just need to grab my shirt."

[McBish]

Ok then. She goes back downstairs and divides the eggs onto two plates and puts some dried meat next on the plates as well. Then she gets some fruit juice and pours it into glasses.

[Kyrian]

Alain puts his shirt on and heads downstairs. He smiles at Jo as he sees the breakfast. "You're too kind."

[McBish]

It's no problem. Cooking four eggs isn't much harder than cooking two.

[Kyrian]

Alain laughs and pulls a chair out for Jo, offering her to sit.

[McBish]

Thank you. She sits down and starts to eat.

[Kyrian]

Alain takes the other seat and begins eating as well.

[McBish]

How are you feeling this morning?

[Kyrian]

"Better, thank you. And yourself?"

[McBish]

Better, still a little tired but not bad.

[Kyrian]

"Sorry about that last night....didn't think he'd actually attack."

[McBish]

It's fine. No one was seriously hurt. I guess he knows who I am now for sure.

[Kyrian]

"And who would that be?" Alain looks up out of the corner of his eye, continuing to eat.

[McBish]

Xemnas. Hopefully he will have second thoughts about coming after me agian after that.

[Kyrian]

"I doubt it."

[McBish]

So do I. But I can hope.

[Kyrian]

"Which is a good thing."

[McBish]

Jo smiles True. She finishes off the last of her eggs.

[Kyrian]

Alain finishes his food and smiles at Jo. "Thank you."

[McBish]

No problem. She takes his plate and hers and goes to the sink to wash them.

[Kyrian]

Alain sits back and closes his eyes for a moment.

[McBish]

Jo finishes washing the dishes and puts them away.

[Kyrian]

Alain's eyes remain closed.

[McBish]

Jo watches Alain carefully for a bit then goes and starts to collect herbs from drawers and cabinets.

[Kyrian]

Alain slowly opens his eyes and in turn begins to watch Jo.

[McBish]

Jo goes about collecting seeds, flowers, herbs, vials of liquid and powder, and even some bones.

[Kyrian]

"What are you up to?"

[McBish]

Jo turns with a smile. Hoodoo. Next time that guy comes after us he will be in for a bigger suprise than dirt men.

[Kyrian]

"Oh. Ok." Alain smiles back and continues to watch.

[McBish]

Jo places all the ingrediants in a bag and fetches to last things, a piece of chalk and a knife.

[Kyrian]

Alain continues to watch, interested.

[McBish]

Jo turns to him. Well I'm going to get to work. Feel free to come and go as you please, as long as you stay here think of this place as your house as well as mine.

[Kyrian]

Alain gets up and gives Jo a courteous kiss on the cheek. "You're far too kind."

[McBish]

Jo smiles, No, I am just kind enough. I hope.

[Kyrian]

"More than enough. And that's a good thing."

[McBish]

Jo smiles. Well I should get to work. She heads for the stairs.

[Kyrian]

Alain grins. "Ok. Hopefully I'll see you later."

[McBish]

I'm sure you will. She goes into her room and closes and locks the door. She then goes to work. For the next 6 hours or so she will be working on stuff.

[Kyrian]

Alain sits back down, not sure what to do for the time being.

[McBish]

Jo comes back downstairs streaching.

[Kyrian]

Alain's dozing lightly at the table.

[McBish]

Jo smiles and finds a pen and paper. She writes him a note and places it on the table infront of him. Then she heads out the door.

[Kyrian]

A few moments after the door closes, Alain wakes up. He looks at the note.

[McBish]

Note reads.

Hey Alain, saw you were napping and didn't want to wake you up. Just thought I'd let you know I went to Trog's so you didn't think I was kidnapped or sucked into some sort of vortex to hell.

[Kyrian]

Alain smiles and takes the note back up to his room. He returns downstairs a few moments afterwards, trench coat and hat on. He leaves.

[McBish]

Jo comes inside and goes upstairs and to bed.

[Kyrian]

A few hours after Jo came in, Alain enters, having spent the time around, thinking of what Jo talked to him about. He heads upstairs, and enters the room he used the previous night, heading straight to bed.

[McBish]

Jo wakes up and goes downstairs and cooks herself breakfast. She goes up stairs and checks on Alain but doesn't wake him up. She goes downstairs and finishes eating her breakfast then considers what she should do today. She decideds to go explore the Town for a bit.

[Kyrian]

Alain wakes up and heads downstairs. Not finding Jo, he sits at the table and decides to wait for her.

[McBish]

Jo returns a little while later.

[Kyrian]

Alain looks up and smiles. "Hey."

[McBish]

Hi there, how did you sleep?

[Kyrian]

"Very well, thank you. And yourself?"

[McBish]

I slept well.

[Kyrian]

"Are you ok?"

[McBish]

Jo sighs and sits down. Alain I think we need to talk.

[Kyrian]

"Ok..." Alain looks confused.

[McBish]

Alain last night, and the night before that, you kissed me good night. I'm fine with that if it was just a freindly kiss. But if it was more than that...

[Kyrian]

Alain shakes his head. "I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise, but it was only a courteous and friendly kiss. You've taken me in and helped me the past couple of nights, and I only did it in thanks."

[McBish]

Jo sighs in relife. I had hoped that was the case. Thank you for clearing that up.

[Kyrian]

Alain nods. "If I may just ask what the 'if' would conclude to?"

[McBish]

Well, if you wanted more than just freindship, I would have told you that I couldn't have offered you that. But that I would hope we could stay friends.

[Kyrian]

"I'm fine with being friends." Alain smiles. "I'm sorry if I'm getting nosy, and feel free to not answer, but is there something that makes it so you're not able to offer something more, or is it a choice you've made unto yourself?"

[McBish]

A bit of both really.

[Kyrian]

Alain raises an eyebrow, but doesn't want to press the situation if she doesn't want to talk about it.

[McBish]

Jo sighs. She thinks for a bit. I'd rather not talk about it right now.

[Kyrian]

"It's ok. I'm sorry I pressed it."

[McBish]

You didn't mean to I'm sure. She tries to think of a way to change the conversation.

[Kyrian]

"So were you up to anything interesting earlier?"

[McBish]

Just to a walk. Saw a temple of a fox godess.

[Kyrian]

"That'd be Inari's. I've not yet been, but I've read about the place."

[McBish]

It was very beautiful.

[Kyrian]

"So I've read. I really should go there one of these days."

[McBish]

Jo nods. You should.

[Kyrian]

Alain chuckles lightly.

[McBish]

Jo smiles. I think I'm going to take a nap.

[Kyrian]

"That's fine. I may go out for a bit later."

[McBish]

Ok then. Jo stands up and goes upstairs to her room. Once the door is closed and locked behind her she searches through her bags and finds a picture frame. She sits on her bed looking at it.

[Kyrian]

Alain sits at the table for a time and thinks.

[McBish]

Jo sets the picture frame on the table next to her bed then curls up and starts to fall asleep. A tear or two can be seen on her face.

[Kyrian]

Alain leaves.

[McBish]

Jo wakes up and gets out of bed. She glances at the picture by her bed and heads downstairs. She notices Alain is gone and heads out herself.

[Kyrian]

Alain and Jo return. They do stuff.

[McBish]

Jo's stuff mostly consists of creating necklaces and braclets, but she doesn't use any hoodoo on them. She sets aside another one and sighs.

[Kyrian]

"You ok?" Alain looks up from where he's been writing.

[McBish]

Yes, but you can only make so many necklaces in one sitting. Jo smiles.

[Kyrian]

"Ah, ok then." Alain smiles back.

[McBish]

Jo gets up and searches through the cabinets of the kitchen.

[Kyrian]

Alain watches her out of the corner of his eye, but turns his main attention back to his writing.

[McBish]

Jo makes a mental note to go to the store at some point to get more stuff. She goes and checks on the chickens. She sorts several eggs, some for cooking some for more chickens.

[Kyrian]

Alain puts his writing away and sits back.

[McBish]

Jo gets a watering can and goes about watering the plants that fill the house.

[Kyrian]

Alain dozes off a bit.

[McBish]

Jo sees that and wonders if she should wake him to go to Trog's with her.

[Kyrian]

Alain might like that.

[McBish]

Jo comes to this conclusion as well, esspicialy since she doesn't feel like being alone tongiht. Hey Alain, want to go out?

[Kyrian]

Alain opens his eyes. "Asking me on a date are we?" he teases with a smile to show that he is, and nods. "It'd be good to go out."

[McBish]

I just don't feel like being alone tonight. I was thinking about Trog's but I don't really want to get stuck in a rut.

[Kyrian]

"I read of a restaurant in Town...but I don't want to make you uncomfortable and think I'm coming onto you."

[McBish]

Two freinds can go out to eat together. Please don't worry about making me uncomfortable, now that I know your not interested in me that way I'm fine. Jo smiles hoping to make it look like she is really fine.

[Kyrian]

"You sure you're fine?" Alain looks at her as he stands and puts his coat and hat on.

[McBish]

Yes. Jo says almost compleatly meaning it. She fetches her staff.

[Kyrian]

Alain raises an eyebrow, having pretty good skills with detecting false claims and such.

[McBish]

Lets go. She says ignoring the eyebrow. She heads for the door.

[Kyrian]

Alain stays where he is. "What's wrong Jo?"

[McBish]

Jo sighs and turns to him. It's... it's the reason that even if I did want you to be more than a friend, I couldn't.

[Kyrian]

"Why's that?"

[McBish]

Jo stands there for a second then goes upstairs. She comes back a second later carrying a picture frame she hands it to Alain. It is a painting of her a man with an arm around her shoulder and a baby in her arms. They are all smiling.

[Kyrian]

Alain looks at it for a moment, then back up at Jo. "Oh..."

[McBish]

Jo closes her eyes trying to hold back tears. My family...

[Kyrian]

Alain sets the picture on the table and puts a hand on Jo's shoulder. "I'm sorry..."

[McBish]

Jo makes her way to a chair and sits down. Tears slowly running down her face.

[Kyrian]

Alain stands beside her, unsure of what to say.

[McBish]

You remember the plauge I mentioned? First he got sick then...

[Kyrian]

Alain sits down and watches her, concerned.

[McBish]

She was so beautiful. I couldn't do anything. All the people I've healed, I couldn't heal them.

[Kyrian]

"I'm so sorry..."

[McBish]

Jo sits there crying silently.

[Kyrian]

Alain, confused what to do in this situation, reaches out and gently rubs her back.

[McBish]

I'm sorry. I didn't want to burden you with this.

[Kyrian]

"No. It's ok. Raises a couple of questions, but I don't believe that they should be asked tonight."

[McBish]

Jo sits there and wipes her tears.

[Kyrian]

"It's going to be ok..." Alain tries to push questions to the back of his mind.

[McBish]

What is your question?

[Kyrian]

"I don't really think I should ask it now..."

[McBish]

Go ahead. She finishes drying her eyes.

[Kyrian]

"Please forgive me then if this question comes out rude or insensitive." Alain sighs. "Do you feel that, if you were to find someone you saw as more than a friend, that your late husband wouldn't want you to be happy?"

[McBish]

He would want me to be happy. But I loved him, them, so much. He was the person meant for me, there will be no one else for me.

[Kyrian]

Alain nods. "I see."

[McBish]

Jo reaches and picks up the picture and looks at it.

[Kyrian]

Alain watches her.

[McBish]

I try not to bode on it. But sometimes I just can't help it.

[Kyrian]

"I'm sure I didn't help things..."

[McBish]

It isn't your fault. Really.

[Kyrian]

"Jo...while it may not fully be my fault, it didn't help that I made you uncomfortable and thought that I wanted more than a friendship with you..."

[McBish]

Jo shakes her head. You didn't mean to, you didn't know.

[Kyrian]

Alain just looks at the floor and nods.

[McBish]

Jo sits there. I don't think I really want to go out anymore.

[Kyrian]

"I know the feeling..."

[McBish]

Jo nods. I think I'll go to bed. She stands up still holding the picture.

[Kyrian]

Alain nods. "Get some rest...hopefully you'll feel better in the morning."

[McBish]

Jo nods and heads upstairs and climbs into bed still holding the picture as she falls asleep.

[Kyrian]

Alain closes his eyes and tries to clear his thoughts. After a few minutes, he heads up to his room and goes to sleep as well.

[McBish]

Jo wakes up early in the morning. But decides to go back to sleep. Later in the afternoon she gets up and goes downstairs. She checks the chickens to find to chicks have hatched. She smiles and collects some eggs to cook and starts to do that.

[Kyrian]

Alain wakes to the smell and heads downstairs.

[McBish]

Jo is cooking some eggs.

[Kyrian]

"G'afternoon."

[McBish]

Hi Alain. Want some eggs? She seems to be in a better mood this morning/afternoon.

[Kyrian]

He gives a small nod. "Thank you."

[McBish]

Jo nods and then splits the eggs onto two plates and hands one to Alain as she sits down to eat.

[Kyrian]

Alain takes a seat and starts in on the eggs.

[McBish]

Jo eats quietly and quickly.

[Kyrian]

"What's on your mind?"

[McBish]

Just thinking that I need something to do.

[Kyrian]

"Oh." Alain goes back to eating.

[McBish]

Jo finshes her eggs and sits back.

[Kyrian]

Alain does so as well.

[McBish]

Jo takes the plates and goes to the sink to wash them.

[Kyrian]

Alain sits there, watching her and thinking at the same time.

[McBish]

Jo finishes washing the dishes then feeds the chickens.

[Kyrian]

Alain still sits there.

[McBish]

Jo comes back. What are you thinking?

[Kyrian]

Alain shakes his head, and looks away a bit.

[McBish]

Jo raises an eyebrow. Ok then. She goes and finds a wicker basket.

[Kyrian]

Alain gets up and heads outside.

[McBish]

Jo sighs and then heads out with her basket.

Jo returns later and sets the basket filled up with herbs and mushrooms and then goes to bed.

[Kyrian]

Alain enters, looking cut up. He stumbles and falls to the floor beside the table, passed out.

[McBish]

Jo comes down stairs and sees Alain and quickly rushes over to him. Alain! She kneels down next to him and checks his wounds.

[Kyrian]

He has a very weak pulse.

[McBish]

Jo gets up and runs around to the kitchen. She looks for something but can't seem to find it. In the end she grabs a bit of yarrow out of the basket and a knife. She runs over to him and kneels by him again. She takes the knife and cuts her palm without flinching. She takes the yarrow in her palm and speaks in her language and then presses it to his wounds. It should heal him somewhat.

[Kyrian]

Alain coughs and groans.

[McBish]

Jo puts the knife aside. Alain?

[Kyrian]

"Dear gods...my head feels on fire..."

[McBish]

Jo checks over his wounds again quickly.

[Kyrian]

They look better, but they're still there.

[McBish]

Alain what happened?

[Kyrian]

He moves his hands up to his head and groans again. "Two of them. Though they weren't like any of the ones Kyrian had described to us..."

[McBish]

Can you stand up?

[Kyrian]

Alain slowly struggles to get up. It takes him some time, but he manages.

[McBish]

Jo helps him stand and then tries to help him to the couch.

[Kyrian]

Alain is helped to the couch.

[McBish]

Alain, I'm sorry I'm out of healing charms.

[Kyrian]

"It's ok...I'm more worried about you than me."

[McBish]

Me? I'm one the all cut up.

[Kyrian]

Alain shakes his head. "But they'll still come after you..."

[McBish]

Let them. I'll stop them from hurting anyone ever again.

[Kyrian]

"How? How do you plan on that?"

[McBish]

By showing them they aren't the only one with power.

[Kyrian]

Alain gives a small sigh.

[McBish]

Alain what's wrong? BEside the obvious.

[Kyrian]

"It's nothing."

[McBish]

Then what was the sigh for?

[Kyrian]

"Nothing."

[McBish]

Alain, please don't lie to me. It wasn't nothing.

[Kyrian]

"I can't..."

[McBish]

Jo sighs. I guess. We should probably get you to bed. Unless you want to sleep down hear.

[Kyrian]

"No...I should go."

[McBish]

If your talking about anything other than going to bed then I'm going to have to insist that you stay. You are in no condition to go anywhere. And I won't let you.

[Kyrian]

"Please...I should go."

[McBish]

No you shouldn't. Jo says firmly.

[Kyrian]

Alain slowly gets up. "Yes, I should."

[McBish]

Jo tries to gently stop him. No. Don't make me stop you.

[Kyrian]

"Don't do this."

[McBish]

Alain, I don't care what secret you have. And if you want to leave I'll won't stop you, once you are healthy. But until then you are staying here.

[Kyrian]

Alain sighs and gives up.

[McBish]

Thank you. Now do you want me to help you get to your bed, or do you want to sleep down here?

[Kyrian]

"I'd like to sleep in the bed..."

[McBish]

Ok then. She stands up and helps him up.

[Kyrian]

Alain allows himself to be helped.

[McBish]

Jo helps him up to his bed and into it.

[Kyrian]

"Thank you..." Alain smiles.

[McBish]

What are freinds for. Sleep now. She slips a braclet off her wrist sneakily.

[Kyrian]

Alain doesn't notice as he closes his eyes.

[McBish]

Jo slips it onto a bed post and whispers something quietly. Alain should now sleep soundly and not wake up till the charm is removed.

[Kyrian]

Alain sleeps.

[McBish]

Jo sighs and goes downstairs getting stuff out of her basket that she had collected last night. She stops to wrap her hand in a banadage and then grabs a chicken and goes up to her room closing the door behind her.

[Kyrian]

Alain still sleeps.

[McBish]

Jo doesn't she spends the night enchanting several charms so she doesn't get much sleep.

[Kyrian]

As a big surprise....Alain keeps sleeping. This is not posted just so Jo is able to leave in the morning without her player having to worry about double posting or anything that requires more than just typing and hitting the post button.