[h3][center][color=330033]Nightshade Sylphium[/color][/center][/h3]
"[color=BFEEEE]No one's found Ryan yet?[/color]" Vanilla Lane was a woman with a sweet tooth. Currently, she had her fingers entwined with a candy cane, lightly nibbling at the end of the red and yellow candy. She'd sculpted a throne for herself out of snow, and was sitting sideways in a fluffy armchair. Well, it started as an armchair. It swiftly turned into a beanbag chair, to support her slouching. She'd just had an exchange with Kracko, leaving Vanilla with a box labeled Lefty's Cigarettes. She was smoking one.

The two dark wizards had found themselves an unoccupied building on the outskirts of the city. Well, the three of them did, really, but Kracko was outside, listening carefully from the roof.

"[color=aa2222]No. Kracko says she hasn't been able to find him, either. She's out now.[/color]"

"[color=AFEEEE]It's hard to think someone could hide him from her. Says she can feel the electricity in your heart...[/color]" Ms. Lane gave a shudder.

"[color=aa2222]Someone could shield against magic. Or...[/color]"

"[color=AFEEEE]He's not [i]dead[/i], don't be silly.[/color]" Vanilla gave the man a stare like he was stupid, eliciting a sigh from Lucius Milan. She got like this, sometimes. "[color=AFEEEE]We had to split, but we saw him get off. That [i]woman[/i] was coming.[/color]"

Lucius sat back in the chair he'd found himself, thoughtful. "[color=aa2222]Right. You said she fought you and Ryan, no trouble.[/color]" He thought about it for a moment and then grinned, flexing his shoulders. "[color=aa2222]But, y'know, if it's the three of us, I think we might stand a chance. Kracko and I could take her while you freed Ryan, and then we'd be able to take her down![/color]"

"[color=AFEEEE]Wh- hey! Am I not enough help?[/color]" Vanilla sat up, striking the back of her beanbag throne with her fist.

Ah, he found a button. "[color=aa2222]Ah, [i]no[/i], I just thought your talents would be better suited to, y'know, rescuing Ryan, not fighting that sword lady you're so scared of.[/color]"

"[color=AFEEEE]You're saying I'm weak.[/color]"

He totally was. "[color=aa2222]Nooo, I'm just-[/color]"

They both stopped when lightning flashed by the doorway, with an announcing Kra-CKO. Stephani Niles entered.

"[color=aa2222]Kracko.[/color]" Lucius spoke. He looked at her thoughtfully, wondering just how to approach it. She knew what he was going to ask, but was letting him speak first.

Vanilla spoke first. "[color=AFEEEE]Have you found him yet?[/color]"

[color=black]"[/color][color=eeee00]No. I can't find any trace of him. Unless he's been taken to a high security place I can't reach, like inside the castle or-[/color][color=black]"[/color]

"[color=AFEEEE]Then go there! You can move quietly if you try, I've seen it. Sneak in and find him. Security might even be lighter during the games.[/color]"

Kracko sighed, looking to Lucius, who gave her a nod. She turned and left, and Lucius rose to leave after her.

"[color=AFEEEE]Where are [i]you[/i] going?[/color]" Vanilla wasn't expecting Lucius to go anywhere in daylight into the city, with their cover blown. Crashing an airship into the city wasn't good publicity, either.

"[color=aa2222]I want to make sure she's doing what we think she's doing. I'll be back once I know.[/color]"

"[color=AFEEEE]You aren't making me go?[/color]"

Lucius turned only slightly to gaze over his shoulder at Vanilla Lane, already standing in the door, ready to walk through and close it again. He eyed the box currently laying on her stomach. "[color=aa2222]Would you, if I asked?[/color]"

Miss Lane just laughed once, in response, before going back to her candy and vice.