[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/LjFjyMp.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/A0ETWbS.png[/img][/center] [sub]banner credit to [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/hellis]Hellis[/url][/sub] [hr] [b]Time: Following Evening - After the Earthquake Location: Las Vegas, Nevada[/b] The Ambassador stood in the dead center of the largest room of their hotel, furniture was pushed aside for the need of space. Surrounding her were sigils of various symbols and elemental background. She spoke amongst her various allies, most notably among them were Captain Esen in his wispy transparent eyes holding steady, the pool of water from which Princess Lassantra’s image lounged. Three other sigils were Jordaan, the fire sprite retainer of Rhys. Duchess Gelsey, swathed in spider silks, years after The Ambassador had taken her seat of power she could barely look the human in the eye. Some were family patrons ruling territories in Paris while others were nobility. Many of which all turned to The Ambassador when word of Pixie Stix was attacked, then inevitably of her appearance after it. She dressed lightly for Las Vegas heat, but [url=http://s600.photobucket.com/user/cocorosa_photo/media/new/cadillac-1.jpg.html]fashionable[/url] as always. A white long sleeved collared shirt, with pearlescent buttons, bright pink pants and for now barefoot. Her matching prada purse was beside her grimoire on the desk. “[color=thistle][i]Remain vigilant. Gather your resources, your warriors, please relay any information you have to me directly.[/i][/color]” The Ambassador spoke, her eyes moving from one image to the next. “[color=thistle][i]I have heard rumours that Nêuvean Winterborn is raising his own army in retaliation against his territory being attacked. He wishes to hold audience with me, I will not know more until I speak with him.[/i][/color]” Captain Esen spoke up, “[i]Of course, My Lady. What of Queen Titania? She has returned to power as you said, will we be able to rely on her for help?[/i]” She shook her head, tucking blue hair behind her ear. Carefully she replied schooling her expression away from scorn to neutral, the only one to pick up on it was seemingly Duchess Gelsey. The former Earth Fey Duchess shifted uncomfortably. “[color=thistle][i]Our alliance has not yet been solidified, Captain. I do not expect to rely on her for this. For now, spread word Paris is safe. All I require of safe passage to and from Earth is their favour.[/i][/color]” Around the sigils the Fey all nodded, signalling the end of the meeting. A deep breath in and short exhale, Odette strode over to her desk where her grimoire lay open and the tricky box she had been studying since her return. The little puzzle was a good distraction from dealing with the Fey. Speaking with her allies had set a strange mood for her, a line of thought she entertained now with prophecies on the mind. She scooped it up in her hand walking over to where Mandate was, the mercurial golem sat her red ‘eye’ following the human as she approached. Odette pulled the couch a little closer to flop into it. Playing with the box in her hands, she swung her legs up over the back of the couch and hung upside down. Out loud she asked, “[color=thistle]Mandate.[/color]” Her tone curious. “[color=thistle]You must be built to live for a very long time. It sometimes makes me feel as if my time here on Earth will be just a blink. A drop in the ocean.[/color]” She gazed up at the golem, enunciating her next words slowly. “[color=thistle][i]Une goutte dans l'océan.[/i][/color]” Bach snorted in the background, flipping through the pages of her spellbook. “[color=darkseagreen]Your birthday isn’t for months, did you find a gray hair My Lady?[/color]” He teased. While Bach was seemingly content with teasing the Ambassador, Mandate found herself somewhat stricken. She stilled upon the couch for a moment, the glowing area within her eye that served as a sort of ‘pupil’ and central point seeming to focus upon nothing in particular. [i]That’s right, isn’t it? I’m going to be here for a long time. What about Miss Ambassador?[/i] It wasn’t a new thought, per se, but it hadn’t crept to the forefront of the golem’s mind in any significant way until the human herself had brought it to attention. And now that it was addressed, it couldn’t be ignored, could it? Finally, the golem shifted. Her eye focused briefly upon the Ambassador, before its attention fell to her own massive hands. She contemplated the sheen of them, and the thoughts came forward. [color=LightPink]”You know, Miss Ambassador, I read recently in one of my books that the ocean is probably billions of years old. I don’t know if that’s the case, with magic and mystery and strange things that most people don’t know about. Maybe the ocean was made a thousand years ago as part of a fairy conspiracy, but I think that’s probably not true.”[/color] Mandate giggled at the silly stray thought, tilting her head and finally refocusing upon the Ambassador. Slowly, she collected her divergent thought patterns as many little tangents were spun together. Still, she remained silent and focused upon the Ambassador for the moment, head tilted. She awaited further elaboration. Odette smirked a little at that, “[color=thistle]Who are we to assume a history book is fact.[/color]” Plainly ignoring Bach’s comment holding up the box. “[color=thistle]Take this box for example. Gwyneth left this to be found centuries after her death. What will I leave to remind someone I had once existed? Will you live centuries into the future to speak of who I once was?[/color]” Bach stopped to listen as well. She paused thoughtfully then tsked. “[color=thistle]Prophecies have turned my thoughts to how much I can accomplish - my own mortality.[/color]” Glancing at Mandate she noted, “[color=thistle]Not an immediate thing to worry for, my dear.[/color]” Mandate was silent for a time. Her head bobbed slowly in an acknowledging -or perhaps merely thoughtful- nod as her eye drifted to her hands once more. [i]These are our instruments, creators of our will made manifest.[/i] Not a thought, but a memory. Something prickled on her outermost layer, and she shook it away mentally and -ever so slightly- physically. The Ambassador needed an answer there, in that moment. She collected herself, and spoke. [color=LightPink]”I don’t know the future, Miss Ambassador, but I know more about the ocean than just its history.”[/color] Her burning crimson pupil was focused purely on the Ambassador’s face now, upside-down as the human was on the couch. The golem’s massive hand stretched out, and gently rested on her shoulder. It was a delight to touch. [color=LightPink]”The ocean is also force-”[/color] [i]Impact.[/i] [color=LightPink]-And even a droplet makes ripples. You’re smart, and powerful, and even strange things like fairies -sorry mister Bach- will look to you for guidance; I’m sure the way you move everything will be felt and remembered!”[/color] The golem’s mouth -previously inverted- returned to its smile as she delivered her ‘wisdom’ with a cheerful chirp. She was quite pleased with that one. Slowly the smirk she had turned into a genuine smile gazing up at Mandate, resting her head on the golem’s hand. She replied, “[color=thistle]That is very sweet of you to say, my dear friend. I am working on making my brief time on Earth a lasting impression.[/color]” Bach watched on, he opened his mouth to say something then choose to remain silent. Idly flipping through the pages once again. Odette’s attention was on the golem. “[color=thistle]Starting with cracking the puzzle on this box. But first-[/color]” She swung her legs down, forcing herself to sit upright. “[color=thistle]I have decided to hire someone new. A metahuman.[/color]” Bach perked in curiosity, “[color=darkseagreen]Oh? Anyone in mind?[/color]” She dug into her pocket to pull out her phone, dialing already, “[color=thistle]Not yet, I want someone who is a hard counter to the likes of Racheli, I am finding that diversifying our allies has found quite a bit of success as of late. Broker, Silence, and of course Mandate.[/color]” She nodded with a smile at the golem. “[color=thistle]There are quite a few gains to have ah- [i]Bonjour, Jacque![/i][/color]” In a short conversation in French, Odette spoke with her Shroud Syndicate contact, Jacque Morin. A man who came to her for work and she went to for accessing resources available in the criminal organization. They were in need of a metahuman willing to work for the right amount and strong enough to fight on her behalf or with her. The main requirements being heat/fire based, Odette knew Racheli's weakness was losing her connection to her virus through heavily applied heat. She gave Jacque no baseline for a starting price with vague instructions to set up a meeting when he found someone suitable. Ending the call, she stood up from the couch holding up the box. “[color=thistle]We have deciphered some of the runes on the box, I am ready to try unravel the magic keeping the contents of this sealed.[/color] Bach nodded moving the spellbook aside, as Odette walked to the desk. Taking a seat, she placed the box in the center of a paper sheet with similar symbols drawn in a circle. Deciphering what they meant was a matter of translation and some background knowledge on witchcraft. While with research they were able to understand some but not all. The heavy lifting would be in untangling the wards imbued in the box. Warding, a skill Odette was highly proficient in. Mandate, previously preoccupied with stewing in her own thoughts and fiddling with the necklace she kept off most of the time, looked up as the Ambassador spoke of the box once more. The possibility of meeting more new and interesting people was tantalizing, but this was more immediate. [color=LightPink]”I wish I could help more, Miss Ambassador, but I don’t want to break anything and I don’t think I can do magical stuff.”[/color] the golem noted, standing from the couch and moving to instead peer at the box from over the Ambassador’s shoulder. “[color=thistle]Your moral support works it’s own magic, my dear.[/color]” She said sweetly, straightening her shoulders she placed both hands gently across the surface of the box already she felt the thrum of the ward without inciting any magic. “[color=thistle]Bach please be ready to intervene for whatever comes next.[/color]” She said. He nodded his leafy head, his hands glowing with green now. “[color=darkseagreen]Ready.[/color]” So she began calling upon the arcane stream, the familiar blue misty magic outlining her hands and eventually her body. Lifting her hair off the back of her neck. The spell to unlock the wards were Fey in origin, originally meant to tamper with wards a household fey would incite over a home. Naturally it was adapted by Odette, suitably for deconstructing more powerful wards used by different magic practitioners. It was flexible, the magic that seeped into the box filling the runes. Wards were often created in layers around an object or person, it was a simple matter to either cut through the layers or unravel them one at a time. Find seams in a smoothed surface. The spell progressed exceptionally, finding the seams working beneath the layers. Her breathing was even as was her tone as she spoke the spell in French. What she felt next was the equivalent to a magical hammer over her head. The final layer she pushed through pushed back violently. The muddy light from the box overwhelmed the blue of Odette’s, instantly she lost consciousness falling forward in a slump. Abruptly with no sign nor warning. Bach hesitated staring at her then shook her shoulder trying to wake her up. “[color=darkseagreen]My Lady?[/color]” He whispered, confusion clear in his expression. He tried to rouse her using his own magic but it simply rolled off of her like beading water. He checked her pulse next finding a steady one against her wrist. “[color=darkseagreen]I-... I don’t know what happened.[/color]” To say Mandate’s reaction was energetic was an understatement. As soon as the human had slumped, the golem had begun to tense. Confusion, then panic. Her hands lurched forward on instinct, but she stopped short of grabbing the Ambassador, her thoughts in a flurry as her hands shook from indecision. Her mane of metal slivers shook and bristled, and her mind was already approaching a state similar to when the human had been seemingly kidnapped by the wind itself. [i]What? Why? Did she do it wrong? Miss Ambassador is smart, that doesn’t sound smart- did the box hurt her?[/i] Thoughts fluttered as rapidly as the beating of wings, and they only grew more frantic when the fairy reported rather inconclusively. [color=LightPink]”What do you mean you don’t know?![/color] the golem’s voice had risen to a level more reserved for cheers. Rather than waiting for a response, she lurched forward in the vain hope that she could do more than the fairy seemingly could. Her hand shot out as an afterthought, gently shoving Bach to the side by the shoulder. That she did so hard enough to send him stumbling was still rather light by the golem’s standards, and the ‘sorry’ that slipped out in that same panicked clip was barely even a conscious thought. [color=LightPink]”Miss Ambassador? Are you okay? Can you speak? What happened? Is it the box?”[/color] Questions were prattled rapidly at the unconscious ambassador, and suddenly her fear of hurting the human in her panic seemed less important. An index finger and thumb large enough to envelop the Ambassador’s wrist clamped down gently as she sought the pulse for herself. [i]Good, good- No, bad, she’s still not talking, she’s still unconscious, I’m failing again-[/i] [color=lightpink]”Miss Ambassador?!”[/color] Bach stumbled backwards he caught himself on some furniture then glared at Mandate, “[color=darkseagreen]Calm down! You idiotic golem, step away from her right now![/color]” He raised his voice to a snarl, one that Mandate may not have ever heard before. Bach stomped forward then snatched the box out from underneath Odette. “[color=darkseagreen]If she were dead, I’d be dead too![/color]” He explained losing his temper, gesturing with the box, “[color=darkseagreen]We aren’t just partners her soul is [i]attached[/i] to mine. Whatever happens to her, happens to me. Do you get it? Or do I need to reiterate to your impossibly naive and imbecilic programing that you are just a [i]tool.[/i] Bah![/color]” “[color=darkseagreen]I need silence and I need to concentrate without you broadcasting your every conscious thought. Pick her up and lay her down in the bed.[/color]” He snapped the order, while Mandate’s hand was pressed to her wrist, Odette’s pulse grew weaker at being separated from the box unbeknownst to the impatient Fey. Mandate’s smile disappeared from her face. Rather, her mouth disappeared entirely, leaving a blank expanse and her single crimson orb. It stared into Bach, as if intending upon burning a hole into him with its unerring lock. And then the Ambassador’s pulse began to flutter away, and her mouth returned as its inverse. Pouting and yet otherwise inscrutable, Mandate’s hand snatched out, and clamped over Bach’s upon the box. Lifting the Ambassador gently with her free arm, she tugged ‘gently’ upon her grip, intending to place the cube against her regardless of if Bach let go or not. She towered at her full 8 feet of height. [color=LightPink]”Okay. But the box stays with her. I think she needs it.”[/color] Her voice was its usual harmonious noise, and yet it was… Firm, and without cheer. It allowed for no argumentation. Her thoughts resembled a bubbling witch’s cauldron in their turmoil and implicit danger, but the negligible weight of the Ambassador was a swift reminder of her duty. Still, her eye’s laser-like focus did not waver. [i]Miss Ambassador comes first, of course.[/i] Bach let go of the box, stepping back looking straight up at the golem. Feeling like someone just walked across his grave and spat three times. He said with no small amount of venom, “[color=darkseagreen]Now put her on the bed.[/color]” He knew he should have some measure of fear to be left here alone with Mandate now, he certainly didn’t act like it. He grabbed her grimoire dragged a seat beside the bed and gestured with his chin, glaring. Finally, Mandate’s gaze moved away from the fey, focusing down upon the Ambassador’s face, then upon the bed. One arm lifting the Ambassador became two, as she relied upon the human’s position to keep the box balanced upon her. From there, it was a very simple matter to move her onto the bed, though Mandate was not at all brusque about it. Her hands hovered uncertainly over the Ambassador, as if struggling to decide whether to arrange her differently or not. She eventually settled upon simply seating herself on the floor beside the bed. [hider=Mentions] [@fdeviant]: Odette went and tampered with Gwyneth's box. [@Indy Cooper]: Odette contacted Jacque Morin to seek out a meeting with Forge. [/hider]