chicago ♔ i'd like to be my old self again, but i'm still trying to find it

[socialgraces]

WHO || Francesca & Val'drin Cabot [closed]
WHAT || Immediately following Elena's middle-of-the-night emergency meeting
WHERE || Francesca's hotel room, Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 11/12, 2013 [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ Francesca's smiling again as soon as they're in the hall, pretty determined not to let any amount of awkwardness ruin this moment, or such a romantic gesture, for her. She doesn't say anything as she leads him the fifty feet back to her room, flowers still in hand, and holds the door for him to carry the hourglass in.

It's as the door latches, and she turns to face him, that she finally speaks up: ] I'm so sorry about that. [ She holds the bouquet out in his direction. ] Care to try again?

Comments

[valdrin]

[ instead of taking it, he saunters casually closer. ] Well, I don't know that it will quite be the same. You see, I've lost the moment for the serenade I had planned.

[socialgraces]

[ she's eyeing him appreciatively as he moves towards her, her amusement and affection visibly growing ] I assure you, it was exceptionally romantic, even without the serenade. [ she raises the flowers closer to her face, taking a moment to actually enjoy them ] And equally surprising.

[valdrin]

Is it really that out of character for me to appear thoughtful and dashing? I'm not quite certain what to make of that. [ he's clearly teasing, however, and he raises a hand past the flowers, to her cheek ] I suppose I had to make an exception to my usual acting like a cad, if only for your birthday.

[socialgraces]

[ she leans slightly into his touch, pressing a little closer ] I suppose I was more amazed I could so easily forget how wonderful it felt to be the recipient of such thoughtfulness, only to be so generously reminded. Perhaps the best birthday surprise to date.

[valdrin]

I ran a bit late. I hope you won't score too harshly on punctuality.

[socialgraces]

I think this is a case where 'better late than never' most definitely applies. [ there's a warmth to her words that convey a much deeper level of meaning ] Last I knew you were half-way around the world, so the fact that you made it at all is certainly worthy of some bonus points.

[valdrin]

Yes, it's the strangest thing. [ he moves to set the hourglass down ] One moment Wynn's sending me off as if it's the most pressing matter in the world, the next La Krail's insisting I come here anyway to pick this up. I did what I could to swing the timing right.

[socialgraces]

Christos? [ speaking of surprises... oh wait, that's right, she did this. it was mostly so she could convince herself she wasn't avoiding any part of this confusing love-triangle-ish situation, but also on the off-chance val'drin would actually be sent to chicago, or she to him. regardless, she still feels a little conflicted, but getting what she wants through subtle manipluation has basically been her job since... forever, so she really shouldn't be so surprised it worked.

She gives him a conspiratorial smirk. ] Oh, yes, I may have had some... influence on all that.

[valdrin]

Devious as always. How do you manage to make it look so good? [ and he moves to wrap his arms around her waist, drawing her close. ]

[socialgraces]

They were legitimate concerns that do require your immediate attention. It just so happens I also required your immediate attention.

[valdrin]

Well, I should hate to leave urgent matters untended. [ and he kisses her warmly, minding the flowers she's still holding, even as he holds onto her tightly. ] I missed you, darling.

[socialgraces]

Mm. I missed you, too. I'm very happy you're here, if you couldn't tell. [ she gives him a meaningful smile ] I hope the promise of some possibly interesting discovery makes up for whatever we may have missed out on in Moscow, although it's not as if we can't make up for the rest here as well.

Speaking of which... [ she glances over his shoulder, hinting to either the hourglass, or the bed, however he wants to interpret it ] I don't know how long you have to leave to stay.

[valdrin]

[ he follows her gaze with a smirk ] I'm remarkably skilled at fudging my time sheets. Consider me all yours for the evening.

[socialgraces]

[ she breaks away long enough to set the flowers down (she'll worry about the vase thing later), before returning to slide her hands to his shoulders ] Well, it is my birthday. [ she gives him a suggestive once-over, taking a moment to appreciate that amazing disguise check ] And you're making me feel entirely under-dressed.

[valdrin]

It strikes me as rude to ask you to change, giving that it's your birthday. I imagine the only solution would be for me to under-dress a bit of all this. [ he grins, raking his eyes down her ] Although given the circumstances, perhaps a bit of business before pleasure, as much as it pains me to say it.

[socialgraces]

[ she deflates a bit at that. not that he doesn't have a point, she's just embarrassed for having suggested otherwise, and feels a little guilty. ] Of course. Much more pressing matters. [ and she's quick to pull away, looking apologetic ]

[valdrin]

Oh believe me, there's plenty pressing about the other end as well. However, I heard some disturbing rumors about the gravity of your situation here. Perhaps you'd care to fill me in?

[socialgraces]

[ she gives him a grateful smile for his effort at alleviating her sudden bout of insecurity... or whatever the hell it was, as she takes his hand to lead him further into the room. she seats herself on the edge of the bed, keeping her fingers intertwined with his, and leaving him a spot to sit next to her. ]

Well, there seems to be a sudden overabundance of outside drow interest and involvement in this mission, and if this hourglass is real, I highly doubt it's unrelated.

First, there was a tiefling, one of the more involved members of Chad Becksworth's little side-cult, who showed up at Eterna Jade's funeral, where Luthir and I instantly recognized his dark elf heritage. Then, there's Jade herself, who - along with her direct connection to Sehanine Moonbow - is also part drow. Apparently on her death-bed she mentioned something about her father, although we have no idea who he is or where we might find him... or what he has to do with any of this.

She also said something about protecting Lazarus and "the heartless one". [ she doubts that will mean anything to him, either, but it certainly seems important ] Before this group encountered her, the Eternal Jade was thought to be an artifact with some connection to the Lazarus talisman, only to be revealed as an actual person, albeit of powerful divine descent.

However, even when she was with them, her memories had been stripped from her and she had no recollection of the talisman or her connection to it. That, of course, didn't stop those who sought it from coming after her, and it was at the concert, when Rafael finally managed to somehow restore her memory, at least of him and their... love, that we believe Chad had finally had enough of her refusal to cooperate, and ordered her to be killed.

[valdrin]

[ his fingers play over hers, although he grips her hand as he hears some of the details. because wow, everything sucks. ]

For a cult that's supposed to consist of those who want to run Shadowkind off the planet, they certainly have their share of drow connections. Although it's possible that's approaching the subject from the wrong angle: they're Shadow slavers, aren't they? I did some research into the "Church". [ dryly: ] And doesn't it just sit oh so nicely with the tenants of drow civilization - the idea of dominating and enslaving all other races? Easy to see what common ground such strange bedfellows may find.

[socialgraces]

If that's the case, there's still hope they may just destroy each other in the process of... whatever it is they're doing. [ she shakes her head, shifting to face him ] I'm sorry, I think I may have told you some of this already. But it's what happened after I spoke to you last that may be of more interest, anyway. I'm certain it's the part Christos was more concerned with when he requested you come immediately.

The morning after we procured that hourglass we were called to meet with Rafael's new attorney. Apparently their previous legal counsel had suffered from an unfortunate - and timely - accident, and Burt had somehow come into contact with Jaka Teken'Duis, a drow lawyer with his own firm here in downtown Chicago. A family-oriented man, as was evidenced by his brother's presence at said meeting. So I... looked into him. [ she looks away for a moment, still not certain if that was the smartest course of action, all things considered ] It's a House name, of course, fifth ranked in the city.

[valdrin]

Fifth? [ his jaw works back and forth ] I can't say I've heard of them, but their position doesn't bode well. You've no idea what interest they have in this, beyond the drow connections?

[socialgraces]

I was hoping when we figured out which deity this hourglass might be connected to, it would explain more about their motivations, either way. I finally got Luthir to open up about Violet's nightmares, and they're fairly certain it's the Nightmare Lord, himself, stalking her dreams. Entreating her to come to him, with the promise of power, or whatever else it is she wants.

There's one thing I know for certain: if the Nightmare Lord is behind some of this, or connected to it somehow, there's no way House drow are working with him. So I've kind of had to labor under the assumption that while Teken'Duis certainly isn't our ally, we might share a common goal through a mutual enemy. [ she sighs, because she wants to work with evil drow even less than everyone else ] Jaka Teken'Duis has made it quite impossible for us to avoid him, regardless, even claiming the involvement of other rival Houses in the case, one of which happened to attack some of our members while they were out "investigating" with him tonight.

[ and then she takes a deep breath, because she's suddenly feeling very long-winded and slightly overwhelmed... ]

[valdrin]

Because it's certainly not enough to have an evil god snapping at your heels - what's a few powerful Houses relentlessly hunting something from you, as well? [ he plays it off dismissively because it's too terrifying for words, really. he moves his arm around her shoulders ] It's possible, then, that they attacked because they're aware you have the hourglass?

[socialgraces]

It's possible. [ she leans into him, placing her hand on his knee, because wow, physical reassurance sure is nice right now ] Or if they're aware of the influence said god may have on this whole situation, they may be acting on orders, toppling over each other to gain the Spider Queen's favor. You know, the usual. [ it's said as facetiously as she can manage at the moment ] Either way, I've tried my best to warn the others of how very much we don't want to be involved in any of their politics. I think it's just a difficult concept for them to fathom, the society on a whole.

[valdrin]

Well, it is rather difficult to fathom a system constructed around the whims of someone insane, after all. One can hardly blame them.