[ACRO] Outside VIII: We cater birthday parties

[Recaiden]

The guards look suspiciously at them both, especially Brendan, but wave them in after a moment.
Not at all. Something to do with that Peter guy maybe?
The students have already gone in and over to a staircase. Which is kind of glowing, the entry to it.
And this building appears to be a bookstore. Not especially wide, although the roof is pretty tall.

[The Bushranger]

Brendan shrugs. Guess there's one way to find out.
And that's to follow the crazy students down the rabbit hole!
He looks around, memorizing their path as they go.

[Recaiden]

The entrance and rows are clearly marked. There's a desk with a cash register off to the side, and more clearly, a big exit sign and signs with what type of book is there.
Leave and never look back? Oh, you mean follow them.
Well, it's a carpeted staircase. Straight, with a landing. The carpet's kind of blue, and the landing has magic looking symbols where normal people might put pictures.
Also a hatch in the wall with sounds of something moving coming from behind it. But the students are vanishing around the corner at the top of the stairs.

[The Bushranger]

Brendan chuckles. There is that, too, but where's the fun in that?"
He looks curiously at the hatch as they pass, although he's speeding up a little so as not to be left behind...

Magic bookstores are good places to get lost in, after all.

[Recaiden]

Ashna joins in laughing. I can think of a few places.
He might notice it start to open. Might not.

This isn't a magic bookst- well, it is now.

[The Bushranger]

Mwahaha!

Brendan laughs as well, then pauses as he sees the hatch shift.
Errr...love, is that supposed to be doing that?


BR, alas, has to head to bed now. =/

[Recaiden]

She turns back to look at it. Maybe. I have no idea what it's for.

Apparently it's for little kids to hide in, since there's one peeking around the edge of the hatch. Or there was. He vanished and closed the hatch when Ashna looked at it.

((Goodnight))

[Reinholdt]

[Poplar Island]

He opens the door. Gersemi is tied to a bed by wide strips of fabric, and another strip of fabric, twisted into a rope, has been forced between her teeth and tied in place. She seems to be asleep. A young man is sitting by the bed, softly playing a stringed instrument.

Wormholdt on the other hand, is not lost for words. He's seen much, much worse.

This is a sad thing.

"And what exactly is wrong that she must be kept in such a state?"

[Dirk Kris]

Those tingles get a pleasant smile out of Howl, reliving past experiences with her. "Let's go, then." And Howl walks through the city, just admiring the scenery. And Layla, but that's different.
"Who did your sister get married to?
And, if I may ask, what happened to your shoulder?"

Layla smiles as they walk along, looking everything over. Her hair pills down her back, loose, and from time to time the wind blows it into her face. Or Howl's. "Marle married BR, er, um, the Bushranger? They seem deliriously happy - it's adorable. Oh, and I got shot." The elf maiden shrugs like it's no big deal.

[Falgorn]

"I hope they're happy together." Do you, Howl, do you really? "You got...shot? Was the the whole ISF thing?" Howl's question was rhetorical. "Layla, I don't want to reopen any old wounds, but can I ask something? What was Jack like?"

[Dirk Kris]

Layla shakes her head a bit. "No. Long story short, someone volunteered to do security for the wedding without telling anyone. We got into a scuffle, but we're both OK." She smiles faintly, then grows more serious as Jack is mentioned. "Jack was...a multi-faceted man. In business, he was cold, intelligent, determined, ruthless. He got what he wanted - period. With me...it was another story." She smiles again, shrugging a little, wondering if Howl will pull away. "With me he was witty, kind, thoughtful, loving. Nearly every moment we were together, he spent doing his best to make me happy. And I was." She looks down at her left hand, at the rings still worn there. "It's hard to lose something like that, no matter what other people thought of him." Her tone is wistful, but she doesn't cry, isn't overly emotional.

[Falgorn]

Howl nods, absorbing all of the information about Jack. There was a tiny, tiny, tiny chance they could've gotten along, if not for Layla. "So, what do you do now, Layla?" Since Jack is dead, she has to have some source of income.

[Dirk Kris]

Layla holds her head up proudly. "I run the business. Still sing down at the club, still run the underground liquor and sex trades. I've been trying to get the ISF out because they just crush anyone who opposes them. I'm hoping I can get all of Inside under a single person's control. I've started by uniting the gangs, opposing the ISF and chipping away at their defenses. If we could get to some of their figureheads, I think the whole thing would topple." She smiles faintly. "In the meantime, I always make sure I am ready to defend myself, and surround myself with good people." She looks up and smiles. "That's why I'm so glad you're back."

[Falgorn]

Howl smiles, happy to hear the pride and authority in her voice. "I'm happy to see you too, Layla. More happy than you can imagine." And, since they are outside, they arrive somewhere that's familiar to the both of them. A tiny little glade, with a nice little tree and a lake.

[Dirk Kris]

Layla smiles as she recognizes their location. "Oh, Howl...I'd almost forgotten how pretty this place is." Beaming, she releases his arm and hurries over to the pond. She finds a flat, smooth rock to sit on, slips off her heels, and dips her legs in the water, slowly kicking her feet.

[happyturtle]

Wormholdt on the other hand, is not lost for words. He's seen much, much worse.

This is a sad thing.

"And what exactly is wrong that she must be kept in such a state?"

[Poplar Island]

"We sent for her some days ago when the miller's wife was ready to give birth. It was a long and difficult delivery, so she decided to stay a few days to make sure the wee lass would make it. The next morning, we found the Seidhkona having a seizure. We don't know how much damage she may have done to herself before we found her, but we have taken care that she has suffered none since." He shakes his head sadly. "Her only relief seems to be in sleep."

[Falgorn]

He sits down with her, a smile on his face. "I'd almost forgotten it was here.
Let's hope we don't get interrupted, like last time." He kicks off his shoes and dips his feet into the water, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

[The Bushranger]

She turns back to look at it. Maybe. I have no idea what it's for.

Apparently it's for little kids to hide in, since there's one peeking around the edge of the hatch. Or there was. He vanished and closed the hatch when Ashna looked at it.

((Goodnight))

[Ashna's World]

Brendan raises an eyebrow, then chuckles. "Looks like it's for playing hide-and-seek." He shakes his head. "We should probably hurry up and catch up..."

[Dirk Kris]

He sits down with her, a smile on his face. "I'd almost forgotten it was here.
Let's hope we don't get interrupted, like last time." He kicks off his shoes and dips his feet into the water, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

THE GROVE
Layla smiles and just relaxes for a time, her eyes closed in the sunlight. It's blissfully quiet here, peaceful. She sneaks peeks at Howl from time to time, discreetly. "So, are you gonna stick around this time, or run off and leave me again? Because that's twice now. I won't forgive you a third time."

[Falgorn]

Howl, laying on his stomach, glances at Layla. "No. I want to be here, to make sure you're okay..." He smiles at her, reassuring her. "I'm not going to leave, Layla."

[The Bushranger]

[Meanwhile, somewhere else...]

A certain white-haired, black-leather-garbed ghost approaches a certain hideout.

[Dirk Kris]

The Grove
Layla smiles and scoots a little closer to Howl. "Good, glad to hear it. I...I missed you. And there have been some times when I really wished you were here." She leans over to rest her head on his shoulder. Tingles! "Where are you staying?"

[Falgorn]

"I was staying in Feudal Japan...
But as of right now, nowhere. Why?" Those tingles get a slight blush out of Howl.

[Dirk Kris]

The Grove
Layla sits up and leans back, resting her weight on her palms. "You should come to the house, instead of staying at that grungy taverna. I...there's plenty of room. I just haven't been able to stay there alone." Layla looks down at the water...then remembers something. "Oh gods, the dogs! And Fenrir!" She jumps to her feet in concern.

[Falgorn]

Howl blinks. "What? What's wrong, Layla?"

[Dirk Kris]

Layla starts slipping her heels back on, hands shaking. "I was so worried about myself and the business...I can't even remember the last time I went home to make sure they were alright! Oh, I've neglected them! They must hate me!"

[Falgorn]

"So...close.... Let's go then, Layla." Howl puts his shoes back on, chuckling slightly. "Come on, you can't run in those shoes."

[Dirk Kris]

Layla nods, instead hanging her shoes over her back and taking off in a sprint. Her hair flows loose behind her, as if she's some sort of nymph.

((Now to find the House thread...))

[Falgorn]

((Have fun. )

Howl sighs, an amused smirk on his face. Chuckling, he runs to catch up with Layla, and, presumably, to the Moseley House.

[Reinholdt]

[Poplar Island]

"We sent for her some days ago when the miller's wife was ready to give birth. It was a long and difficult delivery, so she decided to stay a few days to make sure the wee lass would make it. The next morning, we found the Seidhkona having a seizure. We don't know how much damage she may have done to herself before we found her, but we have taken care that she has suffered none since." He shakes his head sadly. "Her only relief seems to be in sleep."

"She continues to have seizures even now?"
Well that was a problem.