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

[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.

[socialgraces]

I know, I just... will feel personally responsible if something happens to any of them because of this. [ she pauses, closing her eyes briefly ] And I hate being so afraid.

[valdrin]

You'd be a fool not to be. But if there's one thing they've got right, it's that fear can be a useful survival skill. It means you still possess a will to live and fight for something, for one. The difference is you don't let it control the actions you take.

[socialgraces]

You have no idea. [ it's mumbled in agreement, not argument, but she still just feels immensely frustrated ] It's funny, I said practically the same thing to Finnick a few days ago. I guess it's just a lot easier to be confident in him than it is to have any in myself. [ she snorts lightly ] It didn't used to be like this. I was always quite certain of my self-worth, before, as I'm sure you can recall.

[ she looks up at him again, smirking a bit, but there's a significant warmth in her eyes as she meets his ] Everything's different now, which I suppose isn't all bad. [ she moves her hand to his cheek as she searches his face for some kind of understanding, especially since everyone else keeps telling her nothing's changed and she's starting to feel like maybe she's just going crazy ] Do you think that's going to change... how you feel about me?

[valdrin]

I hope that's not a serious question. Darling, you've gone through something terrible, but no one could blame you for being rattled by the experience.

[socialgraces]

You're right. [ and she looks away for a moment before pressing a kiss to his cheek, then the corner of his mouth, letting her hand fall back to his thigh ] You're always right. And I apologize, as I'm certain you didn't come all this way just to listen to me brood.

Would you like a drink?

[valdrin]

I think I could do with several, about now.

[socialgraces]

[ she smiles at him, giving him a real kiss this time, before rising from the bed to make her way to the mini-fridge. she pours them both a generous glass of fey wine - might as well make it worth the effort - and moves back to hand him one ] I have plenty more where that came from. [ drinking has sort of become her hobby, as of late ]

[valdrin]

[ he takes it with a grateful air ] With things as bad as you say, I can hardly blame you for keeping it close at hand. Cheers. [ and he raises his to tink against hers ]

[socialgraces]

Cheers. [ and she downs a good half the glass in one swallow b/c l o l what's self-control? then she makes her way over to where the hourglass is sitting ] So, what do we have to do to figure out if this is authentic or not?

[valdrin]

I could always give it the old flip. That would settle things right quickly.

[socialgraces]

[ she's just staring at him, not sure if he's being serious or not... ] And if it is, then what?

[valdrin]

Then I immediately regret my decisions. [ he smirks and has a sip. ] No, there are easier ways. I'll have to take it with me for a bit, however. I trust that's alright?

[socialgraces]

[ oh good. she wasn't sure if that was going to be one of those 'overcoming your fears' exercises or something... she nods ] You can do whatever you need to. I'm sure it won't be missed here.

It does seem exciting though, regardless of the implications. Or I suppose intriguing is more appropriate.

[valdrin]

Particularly why it's too dangerous to keep around such a green lot. Yourself not included, of course. Someone will cave to temptation, because that's what temptation is there for in the first place.

[socialgraces]

[ she's still studying the hourglass as she slowly takes another drink ] If it is real, then what do we do with it?

[valdrin]

Well, I'm loath to say the obvious. For purely selfish reasons, of course.

[socialgraces]

[ she's clearly curious, not accusatory as she runs a finger along one of the edges ] Do you think yourself able to resist such temptation, day in and day out, if only for curiosity's sake.

[ honestly, the hourglass's supposed powers frighten her much more than they'll ever intrigue her, but even she isn't sure she'd be able to be around something so powerful for long without giving in ]