The Silver Queen [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

Useless trash... no, please, I wish to serve, Master, I will do better.

She bounds off to get the kit, bringing it back with a small whimper of apology. 

[NPCs]

Pulling out a healing wand from the kit, the elf mutters a few times, then scowls. "Clean her off, report any scars or wounds. Do not lie to me. Understood?" He pauses, then his gray eye gleams. "You can use cloths for her body, but lick her cunt, arsehole and face clean. In that order."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She doesn't even whimper in complaint, relief flooding her body. Yes. I will serve.

[Carver Amell]

Carver and Zevran were well pinned down -- and worse, every moment he wasn't out there, he worried Isabela was in danger. Was she even in the building at all? What if she were being carted away, the trail going cold and stale, his Bela being taken and sold and never to be seen again?

His rage wasn't helping. At this moment, in fact, his rage is earning him a fresh burn as he doesn't quite retreat to safety fast enough. He slams his butt down next to Zevran, panting for air behind cover.

"Dammit. We're not-- dammit!"

[Tethras Clan]

"I know Carver," Zevran says softly, eyes on the doorway. If we lose control of that, we're done. "We have to hold out. Hold out and pray that Vigile is able to find the ship and Helene can mount a rescue." Which will take at least an hour, if not more, given the distances and time to gather forces. We have already held for a third of that, nearly half. "We must hold," he repeats wearily.

[Carver Amell]

"We can't," he says bitterly. "I wish we'd told Vig to send Helene after Bela. If he's taken her somewhere, they have a chance of getting her back if we hold his forces here."

[Tethras Clan]

"Of course we can," Zevran says with a scoff, eyes tight with pain. "Should the..." He swallows, trying to figure out how to... "If we cannot hold the door, if we must retreat to a cell, we will... attempt to open negotiations. For our surrender." Helene will not- will not let us- let us remain in chains. Have faith. Gods, please.

[Carver Amell]

Carver frowns. "Why would-- no. No way." He takes a deep, ragged breath. Better than dying. "I--" 

His shoulders slump, and he bows his head for a moment. "The Mabari." 

Then he lifts his head again, resignation mixing with new courage in his eyes. "We'll hold the door. We'll get through this." We have to.

[Tethras Clan]

"We shall," Zevran says softly. "Let me... take the lead. I... know how to survive this sort of thing," he explains bleakly, clearly not talking about the battle or the negotiations. It should not be hard to get them to focus on me. We really bit off more than we could handle, didn't we? I suppose there's a reason why adventurer groups almost always have more than four people. Mabari are a wonder but... 

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says softly. "And.. if we don't make it... it... I... it's been an honor." Coward. "Mostly because I... I care... I love you, man," he says, his voice hoarse.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran had started to draw up the reserves for a cocky smile, a charming wink, but falters as Carver continues. "Carver," the merikos drow murmurs, eyes closing in pain. Am I destined to always love those cursed to suffer? To... "I as well, my friend, my family. But I refuse to say goodbye. Instead... instead, I shall simply point out that we have a soft, welcoming bed waiting us back on the ship."

[Carver Amell]

He flushes, then, just a little. "Yeah. Okay. Once we get--"

[Helene Dakesh]

That's when the cannon goes off, blasting a hole open in the hallway, far enough away from their position to avoid showering them with dust and stone fragments.

"Attention!" a small voice calls, impossibly loud. "Attention please! This one apologizes for the interruption, but this is a hostile takeover! This one demands immediate release of this one's family, or this one will have to destroy the entire property!"

[Tethras Clan]

"...I love that tiny blue wonder," Zevran says, throwing his head back to let out an exhaultant cry. "And I'm quickly becoming fond of our newest feline friend." 

[Helene Dakesh]

The cannons go off three more times before Helene jumps into the hole they've blasted, Vig on the shoulder of their greatcoat hissing valiantly. Helene strides to the door and, when Vig jumps down to rub against Carver's shin, gives a small bow.

"I am Helene Dakesh, Seeker of Alydra, and I can do anything," they announce proudly, by way of greeting.