A Change of Seasons IC

[The_Snark]

Oh, well. Ellie hadn't really thought that would work. She casts a pleading look over her shoulder to the guys as Lauren takes her arm and begins to steer her away, but both of them seem to have decided this is Girl Stuff and have suddenly become very busy with other things. They know better than to stand in Lauren's way when she gets one of her Ideas. (Unless it's like a really bad idea.)

A distraction is what she needs, she thinks. The best way to deflect Lauren from doing what she wants is to point out something else she wants more. But there aren't any cute guys sitting alone in the café, and anyway it would be kind of obvious if she tried anything like that. So Ellie lets herself be dragged along.

"Why do we have to wear dresses to this thing?" she ventures as they reach the sidewalk.

[Lesingnon]

Lauren's smile (somehow) widened even more as she saw that Ellie wasn't going to resist...much. And once they hit the sidewalk Lauren cut through the crowd with ease, slipping around people with sublime grace and quickly navigating the crowded pathway with sublime grace and not so much as brushing up against anyone else. That Ellie, whose arm she still has a hold of, couldn't hope to follow with similar ease is apparently something that hasn't occurred to her.

"Because it's a black tie event." The words are chirped out as though they explain everything.

[Ridai]

Time flies by and with it the few hours of daylight. While many eyes are drawn to the odd pair that is Lauren and Ellie for just as many reasons during their journey from one boutique to the next, a few lowlives find themselves the subject of the law's scrutiny and justice, their arrests a small prelude for things to come.

The Colonial Theatre is teeming with life, curious and excited mortals from seemingly all walks of life lured in by the mystery of the play. The opulent venue has seen many successful opening nights in it's century-long history, but there is something special in the air, the hope and anticipation for something truly remarkable, the energy suffusing the lively crowd.

The Scions can feel it too, although their heritage and experience might give them a different perspective on the atmosphere. The sense of wonder is there, but also an uncertainty, like some kind of background noise or something lingering just beyond the edge of their senses. The group soon manages to enter the building among the throngs of people around them, drawing a few looks and managing to get something to drink, if they so desire.

The peculiar feeling seems to suddenly intensify during one moment, senses briefly being drawn towards one particular spot. A young, pale woman leans against the wall by herself, somehow having managed to find the one spot that isn't packed, a glass of sparkling wine loosely in hand, the contents still untouched, as if she received it but doesn't know what to do with it. She wears a simple black dress, the same color as that of the thin shawl around her neck and her long, straight hair that partially obscures her weary expression. She seems pretty, but barely so, yet still she draws the eye, perhaps paradoxically so.

The Scions recognize her as Miria Edgerton, one of the surviving Scions of the assault weeks ago. Relatively little is known about her (including her as of yet unknown divine parent), mostly because her introverted self doesn't reveal much beyond what is apparent and few felt the need to dig deeper so far. Quiet, a little shy (or moreso?), but dependable (yet still someone who found herself being protected by others without asking for it), allegedly having seen much more than most Scions her age. And able to see the dead. Her blue eyes find the group and after a moment of uncertainty, she hesitantly approaches the fellow Scions. "Um, good to see you," Miria quietly greets them, a slight but familiar British accent accompanying her voice, and produces a little smile.

[Lesingnon]

She liked this dress. A shade of green that complimented her hair and eyes. As well as going well with her relics. It had taken her hours to find it, but they were all worth it. She liked the style too, low cut in front and a plunging back. The slit that ran up to mid-thigh let her show off plenty of leg...and move about relatively unhindered if she had to. Thankfully the slit wasn't quite high enough that she couldn't get away with a pair of those spandex bike shorts beneath the ensemble. Yay for some degree of modesty while flying in something that was not pants.

And yay for seeing people you thought were dead. Though even she has enough sense not to yell that out in a crowded theater lobby. She does take off like a shot, weaving straight through the crowd on a beeline to Miria. And immediately enveloping her in a tight hug, even managing to do it without jostling the glass of wine. "We haven't seen you in forever!" With "forever" of course meaning ever since the assault on that old factory that had haunted her dreams on and off for a month afterwards. "Where've you been, what've you been doing?!"

[Limos]

"So you're not dead. That's good to hear." Arsen says tersely. He pulls at the collar of his dress shirt as it pinches at his neck. The twin spatha medallions on his necklace jingle together underneath as he shifts them. His war blessed .45 Peacemaker is tucked into the back of his waistband where it will be easy to draw in case of trouble. "You got any idea what this shindig is about?"

[Ridai]

Miria winces in pain as she finds herself in Lauren's arms, suppressing the yelp that would have accompanied the reaction. There is the possibility that a little too much force was applied by supernaturally enhanced muscles, but Lauren soon recognizes the source of the pain due to her closeness. The remnants of a cut and surrounding bruise that have yet to fully heal over the outermost part of her jaw bone, concealed by her hair from most angles, serve as a first indicator of what Miria has been through and her body's current state, the first impression amplified by a slight glimpse of another, maybe even larger bruise beneath her shawl. The fact that the Scion doesn't show much skin only helps to fuel imaginations even more.

Still, the girl softly reciprocates Lauren's hug, perhaps even savoring the contact. Now that they are closer, the group recognizes that Miria has lost weight and probably hasn't been sleeping all too well since they last met. As she pulls away from Lauren, she answers with a lowered voice. "I've been at home. I... didn't want to risk people in the hospital asking where my wounds came from. I'm so glad all of you are alright." She pauses, adjusting her shawl a little.

Upon hearing Arsen's question, she looks confused at first, but then she looks at the assembled band and soon her eyes widen, a shiver running through her body, her voice a whisper as she regards the group. "Are there... are there titanspawn involved?" The Scion looks a little distraught, even a bit vulnerable, likely a result of her weakened state as she sticks close to Lauren.

Meanwhile, Ellie's ears pick up the faint sounds of a small commotion, maybe more of an argument of some kind, somewhere at the distant entrance, despite the multitude of sounds of all the socializing mortals.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"We are unsure," Ali replies.

"I don't believe so though. While the enemy certainly are a threat, they're not the only things connected to Fate. Though I don't know how prudent it is to be discussing these matters with other people in earshot."

[The_Snark]

Lauren's logic formed a perfect circle, with no chinks to wedge an argument into, and that was how Ellie found herself in a dress come evening. She looks awkward in it. It's a nice dress, deep crimson and not too fancy, and somebody has taken the time to wash and comb Ellie's hair (which is now merely unruly rather than unkempt), and Ellie herself is not bad-looking; it should have looked good on her. But somehow, the pieces don't seem to fit together right. Ellie doesn't feel like herself, and it shows.

She manages a smile and a "Hey" for Miria, though. There's no reason to let her unease bother other people, especially Miria. The other Scion is down enough as-is.

Just then something reaches her ears, and she tilts her head to listen. The sounds of distant argument are no louder than anything else, but the dissonance stands out like waves on the surface of a still pond. She can't quite tell what's going on from here, though. "Back in a sec..." She starts to drifts off in the direction of the noise, to see what the fuss is about.

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Does Assess Health tell her anything more about Miria's injuries?

[Lesingnon]

"Oh you should have called us, Ellie could have helped you." And she was...bustling off somewhere to look at something. Oh well, she said she'd be back soon. And she probably couldn't perform a medical examination here anyway.

"Dad had a hunch." The words were chipped in after Ali's statement, clarifying that first part of it. Then something else occurred to her, and the next question had even her feeling a bit awkward. "And , umm...how's your friend?" You know, the other member of her band that hadn't been killed.

[Ridai]

Ellie

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The impression Ellie gets from Miria's body speak volumes about the amount of punishment she had to endure during the assault. There are still signs of many bone fractures of various sizes as well as cuts, punctures, burns, tears and poison. The wounds would have crippled a mortal (if she survived them in the first place), which suggests at least some degree of supernatural stamina. Some of the wounds are supernatural in nature (likely dealt by the lindworm or curses) and some are healing quite slowly (for no apparent biological or biologically-related reason), but overall Miria is on her way towards a full recovery (also thanks to what seems like medical skills that were applied), even though it might still take another (unpleasant) week or two, maybe a bit more quickly if she manages to get some rest and relieve stress that weigh on her health as well.

Unrelated to Miria's health issues, Ellie again notices that something seems to be slightly... off about the other Scion's body, as if some details don't quite match up as far as her body and appearance go, even though both "states" feel natural. Whether this oddity that was already there when they first met is some kind of hallucination or real is hard to tell. Maybe it is both.

"I didn't have your numbers..." Miria admits to Lauren, looking a little ashamed, but firmly nods to Ali's statement. "Of course, I'm sorry." The mention of the other survivor, however, sends Miria back into an insecure state, with her averting her eyes, biting her lip and playing with her simple necklace beneath her shawl. "Losing Garret and Yasuhiro was hard for both of us, but I can't imagine what Gregory must be going through. I have barely seen him since the assault," she quietly tells the group.

As Ellie drifts towards the entrance, she quickly locates the source of the noise, spotting a towering man dressed in dark, robust casual clothes at the entrance who is finishing a short argument with another man. Something about pushing past him and his wife, condescending looks being thrown and other little issues. Ultimately, the larger man just shuts the small one up with a single glare, with the recipient backing away immediately, making himself as small as possible, like a submissive dog. The tall man is easily identified as Gregory Fannings, the other survivor of the second band of Scions involved in the assault, even though Ellie is sure that he didn't have an eye patch the last time she saw him. The Scion of the Morrigan has always had an abrasive demeanor and his mood seems dark, foul, amplifying that personality trait.

A path through the crowd opens immediately before him and closes behind him, no one wanting to cross his way. Gregory spots Ellie in the crowd, making him emit a low growl. "Heh. You," is all he says to her with his gravelly voice, giving a derisive contemptious look. He continues forward until he simply stops at the opposite side of the room from where the band and Miria are standing. Simply looking into their direction, Gregory doesn't move an inch and it quickly becomes apparent he is solely staring at Miria. And if looks could kill, the other Scion would have already died a thousand deaths. Miria has to look away, unable to bear meeting her (former?) ally's gaze.

Tension begins to rise, as the scene continues, a certain nervousness spreading through the people around Gregory, until a chime and the announcement that the show will start soon are heard.

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Rushed post is rushed. Still not comfortable in my role as ST and the heat over here doesn't help, either. =/

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ali nods as he listens to Miria, silently taking note of her temperament and seeing if everything adds up. After Gregory enters the room and everyone feels the tension rising, he makes his way closer to Gregory. Before the show starts, he attempts to engage the other Scion in conversation.

"Good evening, Mr. Fannings. It's good to see you're all right, and we're so glad you could join us this evening. How have you been lately?"

All the while, Ali watches and listens to Gregory. One didn't need to be a Scion to know something was wrong, and if Gregory was keeping secrets, Ali would find out.

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Ali utilizes his "Takes One To Know One" and "Stench of Guilt" knacks to see if there's something either Miria or Gregory are keeping from them.

[Lesingnon]

Oh that was cold. Like, someone flinging around the Frost Purview cold. And she had no idea what caused it...or the particulars of what caused it, at least. It must have had something to do with that assault. But the stare down did come far too close to schoolyard bullying than she really liked. And as Miria looks away Lauren steps slightly to the side; steel in her spine as she interposes herself in Gregory's view of Miria and divine radiance flashing in her eyes for the barest fraction of a second as she meets his one-eyed gaze.

And she didn't really get intimidated all that easily.

...partially because she didn't necessarily think far enough forward to worry much about the consequences.

[Ridai]

Gregory's stare withstands Lauren's emerald eyes, with Miria visibly surprised by the latter's actions. He acknowledges her, one of the Tuatha recognizing another, but there seems to be more to his gaze than sheer hatred and malice. The child of the Morrigan doesn't break eye contact as he is adressed by Ali and still does not at first as he answers quietly.

"Cut the fancy crap. A word of advice," he hisses before turning his single eye to the Yazata Scion before him. "there're nicer ways to kill yourself than stickin' 'round that broad." Gregory falls silent, staring intently before looking over to Lauren and Miria again, with the latter still looking vulnerable and shielded by the former. Without further ado, the tall man heads into the theater hall, as the many mortals slowly begin to filter into it as well. "Thank you," Miria quietly says, blushing from the sudden stress and relief that it seems to be over for the moment.

Ali

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Ali's mind embodies attention and vigilance, as expected, impartially but closely examining each sentence spoken by Ms. Edgerton and Mr. Fannings. Individual inflections are being evaluated just as much as the overall tone as well as what kind of picture they paint in unison with the accompanying body language. The two impressions remain unblemished, lacking the taint of deception or secrecy, which may or may not be more disconcerting in its own right. Still, Ali's attentive eye still sees a trace of guilt in Miria, but not of the kind that would alarm his supernatural abilities.

As far as potential threats go, the evening has been blissfully quiet, except for that short scene. Some might see this as a good sign, strengthening hope that it's safe, while tension might begin to build for others even before curtain time. There is still a bit of time left before the lights will be dimmed and the audience will grow quiet. There will be two parts with a break in between. Plenty of time, plenty of opportunities for action, should it become necessary.

Once the Scions decide to join the masses, they find their four seats right in the middle of the ground floor. Not quite as prestigous as the front row or box seats, but still chosen deliberately, having a good perspective on the theatre around them, including the front rows of the mezzanine and balcony, as well as the grand stage itself. The theater's interior is even more impressive than the entry hall or the corridors and rooms surrounding it. The band finds that Miria's seat is right next to their ones. And that Gregory apparently sits right next to her as is (to Miria's dismay), completely giving her the cold shoulder, arms crossed, face grim and not too excited about the whole event.

Upon taking his seat, Arsen hears a familiar voice, audibly surprised. "Arsen?" Remy stands right there, just as gorgeous, perhaps even more so, as Arsen remembers her, dressed in a dark-red evening dress and her hair (curiously of dark-brown color, unlike the reddish color like... Lauren's hair perhaps?) styled in an elegant manner, giving her a true lady-like look. She cannot compare to Lauren, but few mortal women can achieve such a lofty feat, after all. "I didn't think you would be interested in theatre, to be honest." Remy gives him an honest, happy smile. It seems the day has been good to her, despite the circumstances. And the evening seems to be good to Arsen, as her seat is next to those of the band.

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You can still do stuff before the show begins. Everything I described that happens in the theater hall itself happens once you go inside. It's getting really late over here, I hope it's okay that the play doesn't start yet. Gotta spend some more time on preparations and stuff on the weekend. Anyway, need sleep...

[Archpaladin Zousha]

As they take their seats, Ali purposefully sits next to Miria, hoping to come between her and Gregory should an altercation between the two of them occur.

Hoping to get a little more information before the show starts, he leans over to her.

"What happened to him wasn't your fault."

[Limos]

A broad smile breaks out across Arsen's wide face as he sees the girl. "I could say the same to you! You didn't strike me as the high society theater crowd, but yeah this isn't really my kind of shindig. How's your sister by the way? You had to go visit her earlier today right?"

He stops to consider the situation for a moment, frowning in thought. "These lugs are some friends of mine. Ali, Lauren, and Ellie." He indicates them each in turn. "Technically we know Miria and Gregory too, but they ain't talking to us tonight or something." He points to the quiet girl at the next table and her dour dinner companion. "Everybody this is Remy."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ali smiles at her, pretending to tip an imaginary hat.

[The_Snark]

On another night, Ellie might have gone over to talk to Gregory, even though he doesn't look especially happy to see her. But this is not another night; the one-eyed man's sneer is awfully disconcerting, she still feels like she's trying to wear somebody else's skin. She hesitates, and Ali heads over to talk with him, and then the doors to the theater open and the crowd shifts and the flow of people begins to carry them all inside to their seats.

Maybe she should give up, she thinks. It's probably not a good idea to talk about this sort of business in the middle of a crowd. But she has a feeling - maybe just nervousness, maybe something else - like she might not have a chance to talk to Gregory afterwards. Who knows? All the people around to hear might help keep him from shouting.

The seat on Gregory's other side is unsurprisingly empty. After a moment, Ellie ambles over to fill it (Arsen's friend gets an absent smile and nod of greeting on the way past). "What's up?" she asks him, without preamble. "You look angry."

[Lesingnon]

She still had no Idea what was going on. And sure, she was willing to give Gregory the benefit of the doubt because he was a fellow Tuatha but what was with the way he was acting. She'd have to pull him aside during the intermission or something and talk to him. Especially since she managed to get sufficiently lost in her own thoughts to miss the chance of grabbing either of the seats next to him. Oh well, she could wait...and kinda sorta be somewhat patient.

So instead she swivels in her seat as Arsen goes through all the introductions, giving Remy a bright smile and a cheerful wave.

[Ridai]

Ali

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Miria inclines her head towards Ali as he leans in, her expression shifting as she bites her lip. "It's... complicated. You weren't there when we were..." The Scion struggles to explain but stops, gripping her wrist tightly while she aborts an attempt to glance into Gregory's general direction before she even really starts it. "I don't know if we should discuss this here, Mr. Baraz." Miria whispers, visibly uncomfortable.

Ellie

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Gregory, arms still crossed as he is leaning back in his seat, gives a mixture of a weary sigh and a growl, not turning to look at the latina girl next to him. "If y'wanna chat, your buddies're over there," he mumbles, pointing a finger to the rest of the row left of him. The Stare is still directed at the stage, as if to make the show start sooner so he can get it over with.

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Feel free to make a Perception + Empathy check and/or whatever else you like to glean some information from Gregory or to coax something out of him.

Arsen

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"Pleased to meet all of you." Remy waves to the others and the band also sees Miria greet the young woman with a smile and a timid wave. "I rarely get to attend events like this one, but the ticket was a present and I thought, why not? Besides, you look good in a suit," Remy responds with a wink as she seats herself next to Arsen, crossing her legs and leaning slightly towards him, subtle hints of pleasant perfume surrounding her.

"Alice, my sister, is doing well, thank goodness. She's a tough girl and has made a lot of progress as of late, but nothing's really certain yet. But she was able to walk again for the first time in months. I'm so proud of her and Alice looked so happy, I wish mom and dad could have been there." Whether it is just an amicable part of who she is or something more, Remy talks to Arsen as she would with a close friend, feeling comfortable around him. The Scion can practically see and feel the joy and warmth that fills the young lady's being as she tells him of her sister, the memory wiping away sorrows and pain in this very moment.

"Gosh, look at me go on and on." Remy gives a sheepish smile as she blushes, momentarily holding her cheeks to regain her composure, the efforts only being rewarded with partial success (or failure, depending on one's perspective). "Did you give the cafe a shot?" A little redirection should help with that, though.

Lauren

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Having little else to do, with Lauren curiously, paradoxically being the one left without a conversational partner, the minutes before the show are spent taking in the atmosphere, the scenery, bits and pieces of the conversations around her and the contents of a small pamphlet. The latter reveals little about the plot of Lines in the Dark, instead it is filled with the usual PR non-content, praising 'unforgettable experiences' and 'genuine emotion' and whatnot while giving a list of the actors, actresses, writers, directors etc. Curiously, one role, simply called Finia, is simply listed without an actress next to it.

A look at the crowd again drives home just how diverse it is and not just mostly dominated by those with a lot of money or old, stuffy people. Lauren spots a number of young audience members somewhere around her own age, chatting with friends and trying to get one last look at their smartphones before drawing some frowns from other people, small groups taking their seats and a few people who seem a little out of it and move a bit erratically. Perhaps it is their first time at a theater? Ah well, there is hope it won't be long before the show starts and the looks (or outright open-mouthed stares) Lauren draws are directed at the stage instead.

Everyone

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As before, spoiler tags to keep things easier to follow. For some reason, Ellie's part took really long to figure out (random mini-blockade?), despite turning out to be the shortest bit... I originally tried to get the post done about ~10 hours ago...

Anyway, play starts next update, since I don't want to just cut short your conversations immediately.

Also, there are big theaters with tables instead of rows?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ali

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Miria inclines her head towards Ali as he leans in, her expression shifting as she bites her lip. "It's... complicated. You weren't there when we were..." The Scion struggles to explain but stops, gripping her wrist tightly while she aborts an attempt to glance into Gregory's general direction before she even really starts it. "I don't know if we should discuss this here, Mr. Baraz." Miria whispers, visibly uncomfortable.

"Perhaps another time then, when the words are easier to find."

Everyone

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Also, there are big theaters with tables instead of rows?

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If it's a dinner theater, then yes.

[Lesingnon]

A few of the stares are met with raised eyebrows, as if they were some sort of scolding challenge...because sometimes Lauren just can't quite help herself. But for the most part she takes in her surroundings, meaning she does her best to follow the conversations of Ali and Ellie. Because she needed to try to figure out what had happened at that factory, of course, Scion business.

...okay, it's totally eavesdropping. But can you blame her for being curious?

[Limos]

"Actually yeah, it was a great place." Arsen smiles at her. "Would have been better if you could have joined me."

[The_Snark]

Ellie tilts her head to look at her friends, then looks back at Gregory. "I don't want to chat," she says reasonably. "I want to know why you're mad. If you don't want to talk about it you can just say so, and I'll stop asking. But I really do want to know."

She lets it go at that, looking up at him with a completely open face: no pressure, no cajoling, no judging. She thinks Gregory is probably the sort of person who scorns help unless in dire need, so she doesn't offer it, only her own naked curiosity. Maybe he wants to tell people why he's angry, let it out like a bull snapping its tether and charging; anger can be like that. Maybe not.

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This feels like a Charisma roll, but to be honest I'm not at all sure which Ability this roll should use. Empathy? Presence? Investigation? I haven't played Scion enough to have a feel for what to use to draw someone into a conversation.

So this is the lowest possible roll; if you decide on Empathy, add 4 additional dice.
(6d10)[6][2][5][4][3][10](30) +1 autosuccess

[Ridai]

Ali

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Miria slowly nods her head. "Perhaps during the break or after the show? I... want the others to know, too." With that, Miria respectfully reclines back into her normal sitting position, her eyes forced to be kept straight ahead. Her face is a mask, almost motionless as the slender Scion sits next to the cross-armed, broad-shouldered Gregory.

Lauren

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The ones challenged wordlessly by Lauren quickly avert their eyes, although a few men still try to get another glance at her. Nothing out of the ordinary, really.

Yet one withstands her gaze a little longer, one whose eyes seem kind of empty, his stare seeming to go right through the Scion. His motions are erratic, somewhat abrupt, as with one or two others Lauren has seen tonight. With other a thousand people attending the premiere, there are usually a few odd ones involved, though. Eventually, the man is swept away by the throng of people navigating towards their seats. Still, something keeps nagging in the back of the head.

Arsen

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Remy chuckles. "Oh, that can be remedied," she assures Arsen before whispering an addendum. "But I believe there's a little something tomorrow evening before that." As she refers to the dinner they agreed upon earlier, Remy looks Arsen deep into the eyes, sharing a little moment, perhaps looking for something.

Be it a whim or something more lasting, the feeling of familiarity, of a strong bond is uncanny. It is strange, considering the pair talked to one another for maybe just an hour. But it is there.

Ellie

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Gregory remains silent for a while before he exhales and rubs over his face once with his hand. "Alright, alright. After the show." He looks down at Ellie's face with his healthy eye, absentmindedly scratching an itch around his eye patch.

Gregory has been far from the easiest guy to talk to during the short time he and Ellie exchanged a few words before the assault. In fact, he doesn't seem to care much about most people in general. He was part of a team though, so it is not all bad. While some resentment might be directed towards Ellie (and the other members of her band), it subsides for the moment.

Looking at Miria and Gregory, it has been some time since Ellie last saw two Scions that were this unhappy, the presence of the other and being forced to sit directly next to each other only making things worse. A lot of damage has been done and the exact extent is still largely unknown, with both trying to cope in different ways. One can only hope that time will be able to heal those wounds instead of festering and bringing them down even further.

There is little time for a follow-up, however, as Ellie is soon politely asked by an elderly man accompanied by his family if she could clear his seat, still holding his ticket in hand.

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I think Empathy is appropiate for what Ellie tries to do. I rolled the dice at home and added two stunt dice because I like how Ellie handles the situation and how well the attempt is described. You ended up with a total of seven successes.

Soon, the audience has filled the rows and the lights dim. All eyes are directed at the curtain that soon is pulled away, announcing the beginning of Lines in the Dark.

The play starts out with a sense of wonder and discovery as the audience is introduced to the strange world the plot takes place in, as if someone managed to fuse today's world with elements of the past and possible future into a seamless whole, giving a sense of familiarity while still making it appear foreign, mysterious. Every set piece seems to have a purpose, a little story to tell, giving the action context without a word.

The mystery is only increased by the main characters, a small group of striking individuals that go unnamed despite their impact and importance, although each clearly possesses a distinct personality that colors their speech, actions and appearance noticably. These heroes uplift the mood wherever they go, initially shown when a whole set goes from gloomy near-black-and-white to bright colors thanks to lighting and props. Although the other characters don't seem to openly call them heroes, they still seem to place hope in them as they seek to stop a great catastrophe from getting worse.

The most striking thing, however, is the initially obscured main focus of the play, a character called Finia. While almost all aspects of the play are quite fascinating and entertaining, even to the people new to the format, nothing comes close to be as captivating as Finia. She is the heart and soul of every scene she is in, the sheer presence, beauty and quality of performance of the actress elevating her above everything else, making the play truly breathtaking. The whole audience is taken by her in a heartbeat as she sings for the first time, spreading great joy to everyone listening to her, even her fellow actors who seem to blossom in her presence. To the Scions, it is clear that this woman is not just an exceptional mortal, her ability maybe even surpassing their own.

The character is soon revealed to be more than a singer. An assassin and temptress, a slave to an unseen and cruel master that directs her, makes her do seemingly contradictory things for unknown reasons. An inner struggle that is only hinted at at first slowly intensifies as the story progresses, with Finia aiding the heroes either directly or behind the scenes without revealing her true self to them. Yet one of the heroes falls for and is quickly seduced by her, her emotions and duty clashing with what could be genuine love for the young man.

The story is punctuated by song, either by the heroes or Finia or both in unison, as the play progresses from mystery to joy to a struggle and a first victory for the heroes and a romantic confession of love by the couple that marks the end of the first half of the play, although the emotional climax shows small, but very noticable hints that not all is well, sending the audience off into the break with eagerness to see what will happen next.

Arsen

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As the end of the first half approaches, Arsen can feel Remy lean closer, wrapping an arm around his and resting her head on his shoulder, a beautiful smile on her face as she witnesses the hero's and Finia's relationship grow. For lack of better words, the young woman is completely at peace, right where she wants to be.

The lingering familiarity that already surrounded Remy when she first met Arsen suddenly makes complete sense. Arsen remembers. The name of his companion is Remy Nichols, someone the Scion first met even before learning of his heritage, before he even got into the underground cage fights. Back then, Remy was a loyal friend, her athletic achievements and independent personality making Arsen take note of her when she still lived in New York. While others came and went, Remy always supported Arsen, even when he got involved in shadier business, giving admiration on the one hand and honest thoughts as well as comfort on the other.

Looking back, the news of Alice's deteriorating health and having to move away to support her family in any way she can saddened her greatly, forcing her to say goodbye when things were looking brighter for Arsen, with many things left unsaid and undone. Both drifted apart, each occupied with what life had in store for them, with contact eventually stopping, too busy to think about much of the past. It seems surreal now, but here she is. Remy, matured, made stronger by what she went through, by Arsen's side. She never was one who liked to draw attention to herself, Arsen knows. Maybe that is the reason why she didn't immediately remind him, hoping to be recognized instead.

The lights brighten again, with the audience left speechless for a moment as the curtain falls before eager discussion and chatting begins, the crowd partially dispersing into the hallways outside of the theater room. Miria seems more peaceful, moved by what she witnessed and thankful for the break from her sorrows. Even Gregory seems less angry, even telling the others before stepping outside the theater room, presumably heading to the bathroom or getting something to drink.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Ali nods at Miria.

"Do you think now would be a good time to speak?"

[Lesingnon]

Oh wow...what a performance, what an amazing performance. Lauren found herself wishing she didn't have to wait even the short while that the interlude would take to see what happened next. But oh well.

She is torn on what to do during the interview though. Part of her wanted to go off after Gregory and find out what was going on with her fellow Tuatha. But there was something else weighing on her mind too. What had been up with herky-jerky guy? He looked so weird...twitching like that. And Dad had sent them here to keep an eye out for strange things...

So she wandered off through the theater to see if she could find the guy. Or at least one of the other ones that had been all weird like him.

[Limos]

Arsen groans softly and buries his face in his hands as realization hits. "Oh man, Remy, I'm such an idiot. Here I am acting like some kind of bigshot, not realizing we already know each other. Ugh, I'm such a tool." he says softly to her, "You know you could have given me a hint or something, thinking about stuff has never been my strong suit. But I'm glad to see you again, it's been way too long."

[Ridai]

Arsen

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Realizing that Arsen finally recognizes her, Remy beams with joy, showing that same contageous smile he is so familiar with, made that much more precious by how long it has been since Arsen had last seen his old friend like this. Finally reunited, her reaction makes Arsen consider just how much she truly cared for him, even back then, and still does, a familiar enigma that slowly unravels before his eyes.

Remy's cheeks assumed a rosy tinge, visible even in the dim light. "I'm so used to having to start from scratch again and again that I was ready to do the same with you, but I'm so glad now that I don't have to. It's been so long, Arsen, but I don't want to wait anymore. I can't wait anymore." Remy's words are sweet whispers in Arsen's ears, mesmerizing like the voice of an angel. Without hesitation, without regard for where they are, something that has been waiting within the young woman for this very moment comes forth.

Remy's lips meet Arsen's as she turns the tables and takes the lead with a long, passionate kiss, coinciding with Finia showing her love to the one she yearns for. The notion that people sometimes only truly realize what they had when they lose it and Remy doesn't want to squander her second chance, choosing to embrace her opportunity. It has been a strange, wondrous day and Arsen witnesses that the girl he knew has blossomed into a woman, that his old friend is becoming much more than that if he allows it. This is it, a real chance to finally have a bit of peace and comfort, a precious little glimpse of a normal life that he yearns so much. A life with Remy by his side. They aren't the only ones sharing a kiss, a few more couples motivated to do so by the true emotion Finia shows, with the members of the audience who see them smiling in silent support as they are swayed by the play. Yet this moment belongs to Arsen and Remy, and them alone.

Remy only breaks the kiss as the curtain falls, her eyes looking deeply, affectionately into Arsen's as her smile is seen again, waiting for an answer to her unspoken confession, if it hasn't been given already.

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I hope this scene isn't too uncomfortable. >_>

Lauren

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Lauren gracefully strides through the aisles and halls with ease thanks to her inborn talents. It is rare to witness an atmosphere of such positivity as the audience glowingly talks about the play with family and friends, but also complete strangers, prejudices and social differences seemingly wiped away during this very evening.

Lugh's young daughter has to evade several attempts by strangers to involve her in a friendly chat on her way and she still sees Miria lead Ali into a room, briefly talking to an exployee of the theater beforehand. Eventually, she finds the twitchy man, first seeing him talk to a small group of people apparently oblivious to or ignoring his mannerisms. Once Lauren gets closer to him, she seems him with several glasses of sparkling wine in his hands, apparently getting something to drink for the group he was talking to and himself. When the Scion wants to be seen, the man stops dead in his tracks, looking straight at her, looking completely out of it and twitching, or maybe trembling, a little.

Ali and Ellie

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Miria takes a moment to react. "Hm?" A few heartbeats later, her face reveals that she snaps out of her blissful state and remembers what Ali is asking about, the corners of her mouth dropping a little. "Oh. I... I think so. Could you follow me, Mr. Baraz?" Miria rises from her seat and looks further to the left. A little smile crosses her face as she looks at Remy and Arsen before she turns to Ellie. "Would you like to come too, Ellie?"

The recovering Scion leads Ali (and Ellie, if she decides to come with them) through the almost dreamlike scene composed of the joyful audience. People chat freely, friendly with one another, a rare sight these days. They soon reach their destination, a door leading into a small room, like one with the purpose of providing amenities to a small group. Miria briefly talks to one of the theater's employees nearby, easily convincing the man to make sure they won't be disturbed unless someone wants to see her, apparently using the air of positivity to her advantage.

Once inside, Miria seats herself on an armchair, nervously playing with her shawl and necklace underneath. "So... I guess you want to know what happened back then..."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"To say the least," Ali replies.

"We are all in this together, and enmities between ourselves should be stopped before they start."

[Limos]

Arsen's tongue feels thick and clumsy in his mouth as he tries to form the words that would make this situation make sense. "Remy, I..." He stops, still confounded. A cold pit develops in the depth of his stomach as the reality of his life hits him. Maybe it was the flinty gaze Gregory was still giving his group that reminded him, maybe his own inability to ever have a good thing in his life. "I don't really know if it's safe for you, with me." his voice drops to a whisper, "Those friends you met, and me too, we're... not normal people. We're on the **** list of some seriously bad... things... and recently it got some other friends of mine killed. They were special too, not that you aren't special, but more like... Superman special." He struggles to think of more to say. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I love you, Remy." he finally admits.

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I'm really not one for the lovey dovey stuff, I tried to write something appropriate for Arsen's situation.