Outside XII: We number things correctly.

[The Bushranger]

[Etra]

Brendan's player is promptly reminded of those IllumaStorm thingies RadioShack sold.

Brendan is reminded too.

He watches it for a moment before shaking his head and turning torwards where he hears people talking.

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

The moment Brendan stops looking at it, a whole little patch of rust vanishes, and the electricity dims almost imperceptibly.

Well, there's a door. Behind it there's a hallway. Maybe he could recognize Ash's voice way off behind it, but it's doubtful at this distance.

[The Bushranger]

[Etra]

But since he isn't looking at it, does it still happen?

Probably not, but he keeps heading in that direction, smiling when he does get close enough to recognise it.

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

Yes. And it's not like one of those plasma lightning globe Illuma-Storm things, sadly.

Brendan will probably hear the voices from behind the 3rd door to the left.
((Deadtime. Be back sooner.))

[Lex-Kat]

{Gersemi's Isle}

Gersemi?

{In the Shadow-Realm, between GLoG and NO}

Yeah well, if I'd been smarter, I would have talked to you. Seen if we could clone Happy and then killed the clone.

But instead, I did it my way, and almost got myself killed. I must be getting old.

[The Bushranger]

[Gersemi's Isle]

Quinn shakes her head. "Er...no. Happy Amikirr."

---

[Etra]

Brendan stands at the door, and knocks.

((Later!))

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

Cali opens the door. Hello, c-. Azna? she asks, turning to look over her shoulder. Because Ashna's in that direction. As are James and the Kalay person and an assortment of others, sitting by tables mostly, talking.

[The Bushranger]

[Etra]

Brendan nods, smiling at Cali. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?' he asks, looking up and smiling broadly in Ashna's direction.

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

Not that I know of. Nothing going on to be interrupted. She says, as quickly as normal for her. Ashna gets up and walks over to them, smiling happily.
What took you so long?

[The Bushranger]

[Etra]

"Sorry. I found some interesting stuff to look at on the way here. I think I lost track of time staring at the crystal thing," Brendan admits sheepisly, smiling back and going to put an arm around Ashna's shoulders to hug her.

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

The Heart of Kiber? It's neat, isn't it? It's quiet usually. We think it was even before Marin brought it back from the south pole. You can hear the wind around it sometimes, or imagine you feel it, even when it's sleeping.

Ashna returns the hug. Cali blinks in surprise. Careful around those things.

[AmberVael]

[Grasslands]

"It's Jump." Eva explains, presuming the boys would still be arguing. "It's a drug. It's nice stuff. Makes you happy for a while, but you see stuff, too. So it's not too good for drivin'"

Avalon nods idly, and waits for the little tussle to conclude, looking somewhat bored.

[The Bushranger]

[Etra]

"It is pretty neat, yeah. And it was pretty cool. I'll be careful, I promise." Brendan smiles happily, noticing the look of surprise and noting it. Maybe they're not used to PDA's.

((I must be off, alas - g'nite))

[Recaiden]

[Etra]

Good. It mightn't like other universes people so well. The wheel even more so.
Something like that.
"So when's the wedding?" Cali asks lightly.

((Good night, The Bushranger.))

[Mr. Moon]

Smirking, Allen takes the bottle, putting it in one of his - rather large - pockets, the pills clattering softly against the plastic. "There you go, see? That wasn't so hard, now, was it?" He asks, patting Jimmy on the head and releasing his grip on the boy's collar. As he leans back, Allen return his rifle to it's place across his lap, and looks back at Avalon.

"Sorry about that, Sweetheart." He tells the noble woman, suddenly all business once more. "You said you weren't in need of my services. I didn't see any body guards when we picked you up. For a young lady of your... stature, that seems to be rather... unsafe."

((>>
I believe this may have been missed?))

[AmberVael]

((Sorry. >>))

"Perhaps. But I have no desire to be hounded by guards."
Avalon says.
"I have become accustomed to being alone, across the years."

[Mr. Moon]

((Is okay. Lots of posts to dig through.))

"That so?" Allen's head tilts to the side thoughtfully, under the brim of his hat. "Years, is it?"
Under the brim of his hat, Allen watches Avalon very carefully, observing. He'd never seen anyone who looked so pampered before in his life. Soft skin, clean hair, good clothes, no weapons, or at least, none Allen had noticed. Spoke like someone who saw more books than combat.
Something was odd, here.
Something was very odd.
"All that time, alone, and you've never been attacked?"

[AmberVael]

"People are more likely to try and rob or ransom me than hurt me. What use is beating up a helpless girl, anyway? Most people don't try and hurt me, they just want my money, and they think they can get that without fighting. Some people try for kill- I guess because they don't want anyone around to tell on them, or maybe because they'd rather steal from a corpse."
She's remarkably matter of fact about it all, rather detached, in fact. Though, considering her words, she's carefully worded around saying if anyone had ever succeeded in their attempts...

[Warpfire]

Huh...

The Mime must have been really sleepy to pass out so quickly. Ah well. The show must go on!

Zee coils up in a tight ball and before long each of the heads snoozing away, her scaled flanks peacefully rising and falling. The cold doesn't seem to bother her all that much. Which is strange considering the fact that she's apparently an enormous reptile. Though should anyone feel compelled to venture close they're discover that the hydra seems to be internally heated.

It's the elemental steam energy that permeates her. Makes the critter function like a giant hot water bottle.

The sun slowly sets and thick clouds settle over the land. Thankfully they don't drop any snow or rain and do a decent job of keeping the night a little bit warmer. The downside, however, is that the stars are impossible to see.

Strange birds squawk at each other, huge black birds. With nasty looking yellow beaks and cruel claws. As hours pass more and more of the pests gather on rocks and trees and circling overhead.

Jacob eyes the birds for awhile, hoping that nothing will come of it. But as they become more and more numerous he just sighs to himself.

Never a dull moment...

He quietly makes his way over to Zee and nudges her.

"Hey," he whispers. No reason to aggravate the animals any sooner than they have to. "I think its your watch but more importantly...we may have a bit of a problem on our hands."

The archer glances over at Mime. Should probably get him up too, soon as I'm sure Zee is.

[Rebonack]

[Foothills]

The birds continue to gather. Gather in ever growing numbers. Perching atop the rocks and trees until one would think that they're covered in a ebony cloak of feathers.

A living cloak specked with hundreds of eyes like smoldering embers.

Though perhaps what's most disturbing is what they aren't doing.

Making sound.

The only noise that fills the air is the dull whistle of the wind and feathers against the air.

Zee gets poked.

Which results in a low grumble from the hydra's middle head as she slowly rouses from sleep. "Uurrg... Thanks..." she mutters as one eye gradually eases open. Though at the mention of proplems she becomes quite alert in a hurry.

She snaps upright, golden eyes scanning through the darkness...

And finding lots of really creepy birds.

"I see what you mean..."

The other two heads remain motionless. In fact, Zee's body is still coiled up on the ground resting. Only the middle head seems to be conscious.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[SSSF]

The walls stop spinning, but everything remains in cheery swirling colours, in fact they seem to be getting brighter, except the 'rabbits' who awkwardly try to prance around, but keeping their carrots in her general direction and staying the same pattern of coloured twists. A small man with a top hat, cards sticking out of the top, offers her a cup of tea.

Slythynia growls angrily, pushing away from the wall when it finally stops spinning. She draws her sword and rapier, glaring at the rabbits and...the man with a top hat...with cards in it? "Get that thing away from me!" She shouts, trying to knock the cup of tea out of his hand, "And somebody had better explain what the hell is going on here!"

[happyturtle]

[SSSF]

Ding! Top fllor, Fitzhenry. Looks like you're expected to join the old man and... Mime... at the balcony, by the look of the guards at the other door who stare stoicly ahead.

Fitzhenry does so. Molly's ticking is slowing. She'll need to be rewound soon.

[Lex-Kat]

[Gersemi's Isle]

Quinn shakes her head. "Er...no. Happy Amikirr."

Oh, that must have been that ghost that was here before. Such a sad thing, to loose your mother.

[EleventhHour]

[Valcano Minor]

Elle doesn't seem convinced. Mostly this is understandable through the fact that she hasn't let go of his neck and shoulders yet, continuing to hang off them. "You'll be freezing and cramped in the morning." She mumbles into his back, "Come on... don't make me force you..." She threatens playfully, trying to pull him back.

[Artemis97]

"People are more likely to try and rob or ransom me than hurt me. What use is beating up a helpless girl, anyway? Most people don't try and hurt me, they just want my money, and they think they can get that without fighting. Some people try for kill- I guess because they don't want anyone around to tell on them, or maybe because they'd rather steal from a corpse."
She's remarkably matter of fact about it all, rather detached, in fact. Though, considering her words, she's carefully worded around saying if anyone had ever succeeded in their attempts...

But she did say people had tried to kill her, and she was quite clearly still alive. To Eva, it seemed that Avalon didn't need guards at all, if she's lived so long without so much as a scratch on her. The young woman was curious, jealous, and just a bit frightened by their new traveling companion.

"Still, havin' someone with ya would keep people from botherin' ya."

[Lord Magtok]

{In the Shadow-Realm, between GLoG and NO}

Yeah well, if I'd been smarter, I would have talked to you. Seen if we could clone Happy and then killed the clone.

But instead, I did it my way, and almost got myself killed. I must be getting old.

Magtok shrugs.

We all have our good and our bad days, and so long as things work out now, it won't make much of a difference.

[Valcano Minor]

Elle doesn't seem convinced. Mostly this is understandable through the fact that she hasn't let go of his neck and shoulders yet, continuing to hang off them. "You'll be freezing and cramped in the morning." She mumbles into his back, "Come on... don't make me force you..." She threatens playfully, trying to pull him back.

She's right, y'know. You'll live, but it'll be freakishly cold and stuff tomorrow, and this is your mini-vacation thingy. So just listen to logic, stop this silly nonsense, and climb into the second sleeping bag, kay?

Magtok, with the faintest hint of reluctance, complies with the catgirl's command, after looking over the area one last time to make sure there's no lurking mountain goat ninjas or crazy old hermits out to get them.

[Warpfire]

[Foothills]

The birds continue to gather. Gather in ever growing numbers. Perching atop the rocks and trees until one would think that they're covered in a ebony cloak of feathers.

A living cloak specked with hundreds of eyes like smoldering embers.

Though perhaps what's most disturbing is what they aren't doing.

Making sound.

The only noise that fills the air is the dull whistle of the wind and feathers against the air.

Zee gets poked.

Which results in a low grumble from the hydra's middle head as she slowly rouses from sleep. "Uurrg... Thanks..." she mutters as one eye gradually eases open. Though at the mention of proplems she becomes quite alert in a hurry.

She snaps upright, golden eyes scanning through the darkness...

And finding lots of really creepy birds.

"I see what you mean..."

The other two heads remain motionless. In fact, Zee's body is still coiled up on the ground resting. Only the middle head seems to be conscious.

With Zee awake, Jacob slowly makes his way over to Mime. When he gets there, he tries to wake the mime up in a similar fashion.

"Wake up," he whispers. "Trouble."

A 'gallows humor' kind of smile comes to his face.

"Try not to be too loud."

He continues to watch the birds.

What are they waiting for? Still more of them coming?

[Beans]

[Alternate Bar]

Elodie doesn't look too sure.
But who else could have done it?

I honestly don't know.

Carrie puts a wing around Elodie.

[Moofin Bard]

((Or we'll keep it here.))

Elodie still looks at Tsuna suspiciously.
I still say you did it.

[Beans]

Do I even have a motive?