Blood from Stone [AU]

[Shannon zi'Marass]

'Were surprised.' Kind of interesting, that phrase. After all, you can't really 'be surprised' unless you are meaning it in a hypothetical sense of 'I would be surprised if.' By the time you finished saying- or even thinking it- you'd already be done being surprised and just be confused or terrified or what have you. Shannon snickers. And most of the gangs I've been discretely supporting for my own purposes were very surprised, briefly, at finding out who has their balls in her purse. After the first forced retirement or four, they all jumped to fast enough and started helping out. Wait. 

"..shit, I'm totally a crime lady. How did I never notice that?" Shannon mutters to herself. "Yeah, really need to get that under control."

Next to her, Jaina clears her throat, causing Shannon to flush brightly. "By which I mean I need to divest myself of those assets post-haste? In... a safe and ethical way?" 

"Yes, you do," Jaina says tartly, still glaring a bit. I don't know that I approve of this match, not at all. I suppose she's trying to do well now but... Well. "When will we have word?"

"I don't know. Near as I can tell, C- she isn't in Coal and hasn't been. She's subtle but..." Shannon shrugs. In this sort of chaos, word of her would get out eventually. Even she can't remain unseen forever. "But my mystic is sure she's not dead. I was... very careful in how I phrased the question. We just have to..."

"Have hope," Jaina finishes, reaching up to touch the holy icon around her neck.

Looking startled, Shannon stares a moment, then smiles. "Right. That... that's a difficult thing for me. I... gave up on hope a long time ago. But..." Her eyes soften and she blinks rapidly as Jaina reaches over to lay her other hand atop the merikos aasimar's.

"Even the tiniest spark of hope can grow. Just give it time, and love and faith. My daughter is a strong woman." Well... alright. I suppose I can give her a chance. Poor girl... she has the same lost look in her eyes as Cindy did those first few visits. That she still does from time to time. 

A voice behind them breaks the emotional moment, causing both women to glance across the Smith kitchen table at the massive armoured male there. "Pardon, but you wished to be informed when the guard arrived to coordinate a cordon across Maple street. That completes the perimeter. We should be able to move our troops in and support your... irregulars within ten minutes," Warbound Sten reports. 

"Brillant! Focus on cutting to Cattown- that seems to be the heart of the rioting. Remember, nonlethal only unless you witness a killing crime first hand," Shannon says with a savage grin, though she tones it down at the cleared throat from beside her. "And, err, first priority is people, not property of course. And..."

"Be sure to work with the guard and look after children first?"

"Yes, that," Shannon agrees with Jaina rapidly, nodding. Sten nods, then withdraws. Sighing, the noblewoman leans back in her chair. "And now we... wait. Uselessly. This sucks ass."

"Language. And we can do more than that. We can pray." Jaina smiles softly. "I know it doesn't seem to help but... it does not hurt either, and it distracts you at the least."

"...prayer." Shannon laughs softly. "Sure, why not."

[Marian Hawke]

Prayer was about all Liz had to work with either by the time the group arrived in Nyra. They'd had to disembark the ship once they reached the gates, and was only her status as a Light's Daughter that got them into Nyra with the guard so overtaxed. There were ways in and out, of course, but those ways were harder with one member unconscious, and she needed to get Cindy somewhere safe before nightfall. At least Vig had caught back up on the way out of the tunnels -- she wasn't sure what she'd do if she had lost both a Mabari and a Pavitra in one bad move.

Cradling Cindy close, Liz steps out of the carriage in front of the Smiths house, careful to tip the carriage driver for daring to come this close to Coalside. I hope her mother's home, Liz thinks desperately as she cradles Cindy in a bridal carry, moves to kick at the front door in lieu of a knock. We're both covered in blood,  she realizes dimly, but fixing it seems impossible. All she can do is put one foot in front of the other, seeking safe refuge.

[NPCs]

Before she even gets in the gate, much less close enough to kick at the door, she realizes there's a statue in the way. Or... wow. No, that's just an eight foot and some coppers tall man with granite colored skin in fullplate. He studies them for a moment, then says in a deep voice, "declare your name and purpose." On the chest of his fullplate is Junon's holy symbol and on each shoulder is a noble family's crest, one Liz recognizes vaguely. One of the Lights, though not her Dad's or any of his close allies.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz stares up at him, stumped by the first question. "Uh. I'm bringing Cindy Black home to her mother?" she asks, hesitantly.

[NPCs]

His gaze snaps to the person she's holding. "This is Cindy Black?" His voice is a rumble. "You will follow me, now." He gestures, causing another person- normal sized and in leathers- to slip out of some shadows. "Guard." With that, he moves to enter the house, clearly expecting Liz to follow.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz swallows -- hard -- and checks to see if Vig is following before she heads forward. Can't back out now. Only way is to keep moving. I hope this isn't a trap, I hope Jaina and Kyle are safe.

[Smith Family]

When Liz enters the house, she gets a fair surprise- not only does she see Jaina almost right away, kneeling in the kitchen to pray, there's also a gorgeous merikos aasimar next to her. She's wearing clothes that likely cost more than the house she's in and her pose makes the Light ring she's wearing pretty obvious. With their eyes closed, they don't see them enter at first, but a pair of soft barks get their attention.

"Cindy!" both cry, springing to their feet. 

[NPCs]

The giant of a man grunts, then points down the hall. "Good, it is her. You will take to bedroom and I will heal her."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"What hap- right, of course. I have a wand as well if- and potions." The noble looks near panic, though she's holding it back for now. Jaina looks more ready to faint than anything else.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz takes half a step back, cradling Cindy close and looking at the aasimar. "Who are you?" she growls, in a low, menacing tone. It would be more effective if it wasn't clear she was on her last legs, struggling to hold the unconscious body of a lover that weighs as much as she does.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

The merikos aasimar pauses, taken aback. "Merchant Light Lady Shannon zi'Marass. Cin's... girlfriend, for lack of a better word." She hesitates, expression wavering between cool dismissal, gratitude and caution. "...you're Liz, aren't you?"

[Marian Hawke]

Girlfriend. Liz swallows hard, gives a short jerky nod. "Yeah. That's me. The ex," she confirms, awkwardly, the menace gone from her voice. "Can I... I'm sorry, I've been walking a long way," she adds, shifting Cindy a bit.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"I can only imagine," Shannon says softly, biting her lip. A bit... butch for me. If I want a man, I... well, actually, I suppose nowadays I grab a dildo and deal with it. Unless Cin is up for that sort of- gods, focus Shan! "We'll get you patched up as well. And this place is secure, clearly, so you can stay if you- I mean, if you don't mind, Jaina?" Right, not my house. 

[Smith Family]

"What? Oh. Right, no, that's fine. What's one more and... yes, of course you can stay here Liz." Jaina shakes herself, trying to fight past the greyness around her vision. Already have the za'Franes here, and the Davids from next door. Why not? Besides, it looks like Liz saved my girl so..

[Marian Hawke]

"It's... I mean, I'll take the healing, but I have to get back to my family," she says, hesitantly. "Last I heard the twins were heading for Summerhill so I'm sure nobody's checked in on Merrill and Helene yet. I mostly wanted to make sure Cindy and Vig got back safe. Is... is Aveline around? She'll want a report..."