The Silver Queen [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette stares down at the cat, speechless. I could eat you for breakfast, cat. But... isn't he just like my Delilah?

No, he wasn't. Delilah had been fat, long-furred, and female; Vig was well-spoken, lean, and muscular. Still. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Would you... like to get clean or... I have a robe," Zevran offer Isabela, ignoring Coquette entirely. Carver is handling it.

[Isabela]

"A robe would be wonderful." I'd rather be home than clean just now. Teiris' wings, what was I thinking?

[Carver Amell]

Carver glances to Zevran, then shrugs. "Fine. Let's get out of here, we got what we needed. Where's Beka? I didn't see her on the way in."

[Tethras Clan]

In the hallway, Helene nears the 'playroom' but sees something perhaps worth delaying for- Silence throwing herself bodily at a solid oak door.

Zevran offers a wan smile as he digs out a robe. Offering it to her, he hesitates, then reaches back into his bag for a second one. "Do you... need healing, ma'bela?"

[Isabela]

Yes. Gods yes. "It'll keep." She pulls the robe on in short, jerky motions, getting to her feet. At least I can walk this time. The thought is so wicked, it bubbles out of her lips as a nearly hysterical giggle. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene picks the lock, yanking the door open boldly. Alydra was kind to send this one Zevran as a tutor, they think wryly, spying the canine form within as Silence rushes past them.

[Tethras Clan]

Silence sniffs Beka over frantically, slowly calming as she determines that her sister is... mostly okay. There's some blood crusted on her forehead and her fur is mussed as if she was dragged, but her breathing is slow and regular and there's light blue foam on the side of her face that Helene recognizes as a sedative.

"Deep breaths," Zevran says gently. "Can you take some deep breaths with me, ma'bela?" Not looking away from her, he adds, "Lady Coquette, is there a healer's kit down here? Potions or a wand?" 

[Coquette Blacquin]

A wand. The words spark something in Coquette; she starts forward, causing Carver to raise the sword in defence. Quickly, without much ado, she searches the body, pulling a wand out of Olocaryn's belt holster and offering it to Carver. 

[Carver Amell]

"Oh, uh," says Carver, blinking as he takes the wand, hands it over to Zevran. "Thanks."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran flashes a half smile in their direction, focus never leaving Isabela. "Alright, let me..." It takes him two tries, but he manages to activate it, taking off the worst of her wounds. "Can you stand? Do you... I do not... want to... intrude. But ask and I will."

[Isabela]

She takes a deep breath, letting it out as she stands, with a weak smile. "I'm fine. Right as rain. Let's go."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene staggers all of two steps before Danny helps them, taking the unconscious mabari from them with a nod. "Thank you," they say, nodding. "We must hurry."

[GamesMaster]

And so both groups meet in the hallway, a succinct exchange of information presaging a hurried trip back to the airship. As Helene sets to caring for Beka, who thankfully is only drugged asleep and not truly poisoned, Carver locks Vig and Coquette carefully in one of the cabins, the one they use sometimes for transporting paying customers and sometimes for keeping valuable cargo. 

And Isabela gets into the shower, scrubbing her skin until it nearly bleeds. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran sits outside the bathroom, back to the slightly open door. And talks. Rambles. Prattles on. Says nothing in a dozen words at a time, mindless chatter meant to soothe and assure Isabela she's not alone. That he's nearby, ready and willing to help if she so much as says the word.