Don't expect mercy from my government

[poll_the_stars]

One elf is starting to run out of time. The assassins plotting to kill her could show up any day now. She would really rather they didn't.

The irony doesn't escape her. She's still sending messages about her plans to sell off all of her lifespan and die to become a daeva with a lot of OTC currency. If she wanted, she could mint a ton of Ka, then let the assassins kill her. But the idea doesn't appeal. Some form of giving up, of letting them win. She's not often petty, but in this particular instance she thinks she'll indulge herself. Besides, it's not like they're the merciful type. She recalls Aisilian's perfect comprehensioned words. You were in quite a lot of pain...

No. No, she'll - not do that. She'll go spend a little while in Nexus.

She sends Miles a message.

So everything is packed and I have everything I need with me to flee my dimension before I get assassinated. Is now a good time?

Comments

[poll_the_stars]

Inavet blinks.

"Um," she says. "I. Am not going to freak out over the nature of maple syrup? Or start a war over it? Or be upset about its existence at all?"

[lurkingkobold]

How nice of you.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I'm pretty sure that's not the issue," says Miles. "I'm not sure what the issue is but I'm pretty sure it isn't that."

[poll_the_stars]

"Okay? Was it something I said?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"It... seems to have been the mere fact that I used the word 'elf'? I mean, elves in her world are bad news, this is an established fact, but I don't think I realized she was this nervous about the otherworldly kind still. Also, it's weird talking about my friend like she's not here when I'm pretty sure she still is."

[lurkingkobold]

The response that this gets is invisible, almost perfectly so, but someone who is sensitive to aura with arcany, and paying attention, may notice something a little strange happening.

[poll_the_stars]

Inavet flinches, and backs up a step. She doesn't touch her knife, but she has to correct the automatic reflex twitch towards it.

"What are you doing," she asks, an edge to her voice.

[lurkingkobold]

The aura, whatever it is, fades.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles is less than pleased by this turn of events! In fact he is kind of worried!

"Um?"

[poll_the_stars]

"There was an - the - something aura-related happening, I don't know what, it's gone now but I am concerned."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I... am not inclined to think there's anything to be concerned about... on the other hand I can see how me just saying that might be less than perfectly reassuring."

[poll_the_stars]

"I can't sense her," murmurs Inavet. "At all. I have no idea where she is. Do you know why she's." She waves a hand helplessly. "Or what she's inclined to do about it?"

[lurkingkobold]

Do, geez, give her a bit to think, get Miles away from the strange elf mage for starters, how about that one. Except apparently she can't move without the strange elf mage's strange elf magic noticing. Augh.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Um, 'nervous about elves', 'hide until you go away' would be my guesses?"

[poll_the_stars]

She looks at Miles for a long moment.

"... Okay." An observant eye might notice she's subtly shaking. "Okay. Uh. I am. Nice? Friendly? Not inclined to do, uh, anything bad? I. Was asked earlier to help figure out how to get you arcany, which. Still. Still willing to do."

[lurkingkobold]

Nnnnnnope.

[thisvorlunatic]

Augh.

[poll_the_stars]

"... Miles, where's my. Room? Or, I don't - actually know if I have one, do I have a room? I won't complain if you put me outside, I have slept in worse places."

[thisvorlunatic]

"There are plenty of rooms, of which only two and a half are in use, you can pick one of the rest. This way."

[poll_the_stars]

"Right."

She follows Miles, edgy but trying to keep it together.

[lurkingkobold]

If you think the kobold is letting Miles and the elf out of her sight, you are wrong.

She does wait 'till they're a reasonable distance away to follow, maybe that will be good enough to avoid the strange elf magic.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles tries to avoid looking too obviously protective of Inavet, but walking around with a highly nervous friend does tend to put him on guard.

[poll_the_stars]

Inavet twitches when she notices the kobold move.

"Are. Are you following us?" she asks, plaintively.

[lurkingkobold]

That is the thing the kobold is doing, yes.

Given the choice of following, with the elf being able to see that fact but not, apparently, where exactly she is, or letting Miles and his suddenly and inexplicably bad judgement be alone with the elf, she is going to do the first thing.

She's not getting any closer right now, though, so the aura starts to fade out again.

[poll_the_stars]

The elf backs backs away from the aura.

"Being scared I can understand, but why are you following us."