[Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers

[The Alexandrian]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"I already know a shop for fireproof things. I wonder if they have dragon suplies."

His mind drifts away as he thinks of typical dragon toys. His mind creates a Zefir-Puppet. A cold shiver runs down his neck and he tries to shake it away befor his attention goes back to Clariss.

"I think that's something I should handle well. And don't worry about my money I had some good things running during AMEN's bad times."

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Clarissa raises an eyebrow at this surprising announcement.

"Really? What were you up to? Is it a secret? I love secrets!"

Clarissa energetically bounces up and down on the couch like a perpetual motion machine!

"Tell me the secret! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"

From sleepy to wild in less than a minute! That's Clarissa for you!

[Reinholdt]

Kitchen, near Fridge

Sure, but now the flower is covered in white.

"Ugh. I need some rain. Kill Magtok for me when you see him for daring to try to poison me with his drink. Stu says, turning to head for the showers.

[Zefir]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Clarissa raises an eyebrow at this surprising announcement.

"Really? What were you up to? Is it a secret? I love secrets!"

Clarissa energetically bounces up and down on the couch like a perpetual motion machine!

"Tell me the secret! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"

From sleepy to wild in less than a minute! That's Clarissa for you!

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Zefir shakes his head.

"No. First this place has to many cameras so if I tell it you the whole world knows it. Next a secret is a secret cause you don't tell it everyone."

[The Alexandrian]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Aw! But Clarissa must learn the secrets! She won't take no for an answer! She won't relent and throw in the towel so quickly!

"But I'm not everyone! I'm Clarissa! I'm your friend and associate! And I bailed you out when that chaotic god-dude was mind-controlling you! Plus, I'm the best when it comes to keeping secrets. Let me prove it to you! Listen to this!"

Clarissa stretches, remaining silent for a moment or two before resuming the conversation.

"See! I didn't tell you anyone's deepest, darkest secrets! I'm good at this! Trustworthy!"

[Zefir]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"I still stay with my arguments. And still their are so many cameras here I wouldn't want to talk about anything here that shouldn't be made public."

[The Alexandrian]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"Fine! Be that way! See what I care."

Clarissa...
Sorta...cares a lot...
Sorta...

But Zefir did slip up just now. Stating that he doesn't want anybody to know something in front of all these cameras might spark an investigation if somebody's watching...

"Y'know, keeping secrets is a surefire technique to get in trouble if you're caught on film saying it. Which you probably are or have been by now. So, if I were you, I'd get the secret out into the open before a henchman schedules you for the comfy chair treatment!"

[5a Violista]

Kitchen, near Fridge

Sure, but now the flower is covered in white.

"Ugh. I need some rain. Kill Magtok for me when you see him for daring to try to poison me with his drink. Stu says, turning to head for the showers.

Kitchen, Near Fridge

"Okay, I will." Harley nods to Stu's sentence.

As he leaves, she waves 'goodbye'.

After he leaves, she turns around, sneaks another chocolate pudding, then rushes out of the kitchen.

[Reinholdt]

"Um...I don't know. I try to keep an open mind about what I do...and who I'm with." Isabelle shrugs, making Cedric let out an annoyed shriek.

"I'm up for just about anything, with anyone. I'm sure there's some things I wouldn't enjoy, but I don't encounter them very often."

[Ilpholin's Office-Isabelle]

"Well for fun, you could try the Mall or the taverns. It seems like there's always a party or two going on somewhere. Whether it's open to everyone or not is a different story. You just missed the riots in Riverside. Dropping in on Magtok unexpectedly is always fun. There's plenty of weird forests in Outside."

"Or we could just stay here and make out." Making out is fun too.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Hmm...I think Magtok might just slam the door on me at the sight of Cedric. He doesn't seem very fond of my little friend." Isabelle pats Cedric gently, "but parties sound fun, and I might find some new creature to improve in a weird forest..."

...

"Right now though? I like the sound of staying here and making out."

[Zefir]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"Fine! Be that way! See what I care."

Clarissa...
Sorta...cares a lot...
Sorta...

But Zefir did slip up just now. Stating that he doesn't want anybody to know something in front of all these cameras might spark an investigation if somebody's watching...

"Y'know, keeping secrets is a surefire technique to get in trouble if you're caught on film saying it. Which you probably are or have been by now. So, if I were you, I'd get the secret out into the open before a henchman schedules you for the comfy chair treatment!"

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Zefir smiles slightly. She is right. Technicaly he told that there is a secret.

"I know what I do. The secret isn't helping AMEn or hurting it. So I keep it a secret."

[The Alexandrian]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"..."

"Fine."

Clarissa grumbles, finally giving up on coaxing a secret out of Zefir. Why'd he have to be so stubborn! Clarissa wanted to learn about his past! His secret past! But she'll settle for less...

"So..."

"We've established that you did something while AMEN had fallen on bad times that earned money for you. You won't tell me what you did, but you are implying that AMEN pays you for your services."

"Why don't I get paid for what little I do? Are we a poor org?"

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Hot damn, it's about time." She's done this bureaucracy stuff for so long, she really hasn't had time for the good stuff.

She hops up to sitting on the desk leaning close to Isabelle. "Your place, my place, or office fantasy?"

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

Isabelle waves a hand, and her animal friends obediently make their way out.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call my place ideal. It's always rather noisy and animal-y there. And while I'm sure your place is lovely, that would involve waiting long enough to get there, and I'm not feeling that patient right now. So I guess that leaves us with office fantasy..." the magic monster maker says with a grin.

[Zefir]

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

"..."

"Fine."

Clarissa grumbles, finally giving up on coaxing a secret out of Zefir. Why'd he have to be so stubborn! Clarissa wanted to learn about his past! His secret past! But she'll settle for less...

"So..."

"We've established that you did something while AMEN had fallen on bad times that earned money for you. You won't tell me what you did, but you are implying that AMEN pays you for your services."

"Why don't I get paid for what little I do? Are we a poor org?"

[Main Room #2 - Zefir's Clarissa]

Zefir has several things running. And one thing he wanted to talk to Ilpholin after all. It's best if Clarissa knows as less as possible. I won't say he cares for her, but if she knows it things might change faster and in a different term.

"Money isn't that big of a deal in the Nexus. If you need some talk to the Ilpholin. So, let's get back to the topic. What should I know about the hatching?"

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Your boss called. It's time for your review." Ilpholin says, grinning as she slides down from the desk to straddle Isabelle, sit in Isabelle's lap, wrap the drow's arms around her and snog the magic maker.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Just when I thought my welcome to AMEN couldn't get any warmer-" Isabelle gets cut off before she can finish as Ilpholin begins her review, and gets to work on ensuring she passes with flying colours.

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

Well I suspect several things might end up flying.

Anyways, Isabelle is the first in a while to get a decent dose of Liquid Bliss. The highly diluted complete opposite of Liquid Agony that Ilpholin secretes.

Just in case making out wasn't pleasurable enough.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

Indeed, by the time Isabelle pulls away, she has a rather blissful expression on her face.

"Mmm, well, that felt...different. Not bad, mind you. Quite, quite the reverse." She tilts her head, peering at Ilpholin. "I guess I didn't do my research on this place thoroughly enough. I knew you'd be quite the sight, and quite the leader, but I didn't know about...that. Whatever...that was."

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"That'd be quite the lover as well dear. If you need some more research... I'd be happy to show you other things as well..." Ilpholin explains. I'm not sure how fully aware she is of that aspect of herself. She lies to me sometimes too.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Well, I suppose I have time to conduct some more thorough research. It, uh, wouldn't do to leave it unfinished, would it?" Isabelle looks just a little flustered, caught rather off-guard by the liquid bliss, but eagerly puts her arms around Ilpholin and hops off the chair and onto the desk, reaching for the curtain.

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"I do so hate it when employees don't finish things properly..." Ilpholin says, helping the curtain along as it falls. And there it goes. So predictable that curtain. I've only seen it stopped once.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

And when the curtain rises, Isabelle is slumped exhaustedly in her chair, a very satisfied smile on her face. "Well that was certainly...fun. I don't suppose you have a mirror, do you? I, uh, think you knocked a few feathers loose from my hair."

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Not in here. It upsets the vampires." Ilpholin says, nibbling a little at Isabelle's neck to emphasize the point. "If you wanted to join with me, you could have this whenever you wanted."

I suspect you could have this whenever you wanted anyways when it comes to Ilpholin.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Upsets the-" Isabelle can hardly get a sentence out without Ilpholin interrupting her. "N-never mind. J-join with you? What do you mean?"

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Let me help you evolve. Become better. It's different for everyone, but you'll never be tired again." That's always a plus. "And you and me will have ever more fun..." Also a plus.

Kiss kiss jawline, chin nip, kiss.

[D_Lord]

[Ye Old Security Room]

So you guys give me copys of all the blueprints you can get your hands on and I give you a view into all the curtains, that happen in the base. Fair deal?

Dude, I don't know about this, we could get in serous trouble for this, not to mention, it's deal with that thing.

Come on, being able to see into all that hot action. You can't tell me you don't want that.

If the boss finds out about this we are so dead again.

Are you going to tell her because I'm not, and I think we can bribe the other people with part of the action too. We should be just fine.

[Reinholdt]

[Ye Old Security Room Ilpholin's personal room]

The old security room was converted to Ilpholin's personal room (albiet with a lot of camera monitors) and has a serious access control system set into place on screen a while back. Ilpholin was rather happy when Isabelle didn't say her room.

Not unsurprisingly, Ilpholin didn't trust 147 people she can barely keep an eye on with radically different personalities and a willingness to be bought out by the lowest bidder.
They don't have any access to the security room anymore. It's by and large manned by Mister Squiggles now. The multiple eyes help.

[Mindfreak]

BioLab
Well...since Singingnoodle seems to have abandoned his character...

Megan sits down!
"Isabelle? Are you in the lab?" she called out.
She hoped she was, she would like to speak to her about an idea for a project...

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

Rather hard for poor Isabelle to think straight at the moment...

"I don't understand. B-better how? How does it work?"

But having seen the effects of her own work on improving animals, the effects of liquid bliss aren't enough to make her just blindly agree to something like this.

*****

[BioLab]

No Isabelle here at the moment, since her appearance may change depending on the outcome of events in the office.

Maybe.

[Reinholdt]

[Ilpholin's Office - Isabelle]

"Like me. Stronger. Smarter. You evolve." Ilpholin doesn't even know how it works really. She does know that she shouldn't be doing this on account of Darcy, but the temptation of the opportunity is really strong right now. Ilpholin loves nothing more than having true devotees to her, even if she makes them herself.

"Just trust me." Ilpholin whispers in Isabelle's ear, nibbling at it, caressing her.