[Jack_Spade]

Despite the last sentence, Isaint replied:
<<Oh you are awake, good. Yes, as far as I know it's a permanent Astral Rift. Al, Jackhammer and I encountered part of it during our first visit down here - at least I think it was part of it. We saw the spirits of a Roman legion crossing.
And it seems as if the Flowers use that meta plane rather often for their ceremonies and even invite guests there.
Glad to here that you are up for that part of the quest.

We aren't heading up just yet - first we need to know if the manhunt is still ongoing. So relax, we'll be back soon.>>

[adamu]

Al stood up from the table.

While he rarely concerned himself with trivial niceties like operational security, he wasn't thrilled to be doing so much talking in front of the slaver girl. Or pure-as-the-driven-snow, unknowing daughter of the secretly-slaver clan. Or whatever her drug-pushing self was.

"Well," he said, looking around and chuckling dismissively at the wealth of wacky-tabacky festooning the room, "Can't say it's been a pleasure. But seems we got stuff ta do, an' you got stuff ta do. So what say ya jist say yes ta ever'thin', then you can all swap digits an' we can each of us be on our merry ways?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn has trouble putting a sentence together in her mind, crowded as it is with memories of what she had barely lived through and the aftermath.  She turns slightly, hoping the others do not see the tears flowing from her sightless eyes.  Her knees get a bit weak and she puts a hand out to steady herself against the wall of the shop.  She mumbles a few words that come across as something like, "Yes.  You are right.  I am a bit fragged up; maybe a lot fragged up.  I need some air."  She steps out of the shop and puts her back against the outer wall, wrapping her arms about herself as if they are necessary to hold herself together in one piece.  Once again, she sees the woman's face smiling with an insane joy as she raises a hammer and brings it down again and again, eliciting a small cry from the present day Robyn at the memory that her mutated brain will never let her forget.  Slowly, she sinks to the floor of the Market, finally realizing that she will never truly be well again, not seeming to notice the occasional passer-by that steps past her on their way to and from other shops in the Market.  The memories flood in again and she is temporarily lost in a place and time that has its claws so deep in her psyche that she is in danger of not coming back.  The huge Hell Hound takes up a protective position next to his mistress, providing a barrier from the few people that might have otherwise been curious about the rather pretty Elf sitting on the ground who seems to be swaying back and forth, lips moving in soundless words, one hand caught in the ebon fur of the hound sitting patiently next to her and the other wrapped around a clumsily carved wooden figure on a chain about her neck.

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere near Nightside Market, Below, London]

Despite her state Robyn’s extraordinary senses and Al2’s pricked up ears alert her to the figure that is standing suddenly over her…the ultrasound picking out the details of the skin tight suit over the lithe body and the immobile mask with the single tear dripping down… Satire the murder clown… she doesn’t speak, just gestures ~come~


***

#69

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn pulls her sanity and what is left of her mind together and manages to stand while pushing the horrible memories away.  >>I have one of the Harliquinade with me outside the shop.  I am being motioned to follow.  Should I leave alone or do you wish to come with?<<

[Jack_Spade]

<<Wait a second, we are wrapping up here anyway.>>

"Alright, seems like this isn't as secure a place for a meeting as we thought. Time for us to go and for you probably to use the back exit. If we need to contact you we'll leave a Data chip in the third plant's pot. You can use your spirit messenger.
Remember, we need the official agreement from your house for that masquerade/concert - if anyone found out, that's why we were meeting.
Also we need that official to conduct the wedding.

Until the next time.

Take care."

Isaint nodded towards Cara and turned to go. He was even more worried about Robyn than before. He didn't know how to treat someone with that kind of trauma correctly: Calling her out on her contradictory statements was damaging to her confidence, but ignoring it just meant that she might break at an even more inopportune moment.

[adamu]

Already on his feet, Al simply shouldered his shotgun and followed Isaint out.

As promised, there was a mime outside. Al didn't mind the mimes. They were stand-up folk. For freaks, anyway.

He'd seen this one before a few times, but hell if he could remember what it called itself. They all looked the same with the masks - name didn't matter much - for all he knew they rotated masks on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

True to its profession, it didn't speak, but definitely seemed to want them to follow.

So Al trailed along, mindful that any idiot could dress up like a clown, so this could just as well be a killer hippie in disguise....

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn nods respectfully to the clown and tells her that her companions are inside but coming out shortly.  When ISaint and Al emerge from the building, Robyn has already wiped the tears from her face and looks perfectly normal, or at least as perfectly normal as she can look.  She and the Hell Hound fall in behind the others as they follow the mime.  Robyn deploys her drones to cover their path to the front and rear and another circling above to give her a good sensor feed that she continues to link to ISaint.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint nodded to Satire, falling in step with the others.
"Nice to see you again. I'll never get used to the fact hat you guys never seem to have a problem to find us.
Does your appearance mean your boss is finally back?"
But all he got back was a vague and non-committal shrug. "Yeah, yeah I get it: We'll see it when we see it. Lead the way."

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere near Nightside Market, Below, London]
 
Perhaps unsurprisingly Satire leads you up through a couple levels of the Market to where you first met Hecate, what seems like an age ago.  Nonchalantly leaning next to the curtained entrance, Requiem greets you with a mocking bow, his death’s head mask grinning from the depths of a black hooded cloak that seems to absorb what little light is around…he gestures you in and Satire precedes you inside…
 
There you find the Harlequinade in various poses of exaggerated rest, all spiralling around the figure of Hecate in the centre.  She turns her three faced mask towards you as you enter, each face momentarily scrutinising you before the central one finally rests on you.  Her triple voice echoes in the chamber, although it seems to be pitched for your ears alone
 
“You twist the Fates around you like kittens tangling wool!  We have seen a great Masque is coming, you will accompany us, this is unprecedented in our time and We are not sure that it is a good precedent but such is Fate, we do not deny the Pattern for that is an exercise in futility.
 
We will perform the fall of Atlantis for the luminaries of Below, it has not been performed in recent times and the lessons of that event need to be remembered.
 
We know that you have other purposes, that is your affair, we do not get involved…”
 
***
 
#70
 
 

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn listens to Hecate and nods.  "Is there any place in your group for my music skills to perform the masterwork?  I am a quick learner and can focus on the music after I get two of our companions to a physician who can heal their minds..  It would be an honor if you would allow my skill to be of use to you, but I would understand if you have no room for me."

[Aria]

"There is a role for you, as We said, it is highly unusual for any to join the Harlequinade who has not been initiated in to the Masque, but in this instance it has been dictated by Fate and We are not inclined to argue... your musical gifts can be woven in to the Masque, I will leave you to speak to the Muses to determine how best this might be achieved...for your companions, We cannot yet see what form their roles will take, just that they will be there..."

[adamu]

Al's hands shot up in a don't-shoot gesture.

"An' jist bein' there'll be role enough fer ol' Al, thank ye kindly."

In point of fact, Al knew that his Thespian skill transcended those of any mime present, but the thought of prancing about on a stage in a clown costume filled him with greater fear and loathing than all the hippy-demons of Below.

He silently congratulated himself on his impeccable discernent in choosing the roles he would play.

He nodded a greeting of acknowledgment to Requiem, then nudged Isaint and whispered, "Let's beat feet afore they try fittin' us fer one o' they kooky masks..."

[Jack_Spade]

"Fate is funny that way." Isaint replied to Hecate. "Especially since I'm of the "No fate but what you make" persuasion. But we appreciate your company nonetheless.
As for my role - I intend to man the drums once more, as I'm getting slowly into the rhythm of beating things."
He grinned at Al at the aside comment: "Don't worry, I've got my own mask - and yes, time to finally get the shopping ready."


#488

[Mercy Merchant]

Without looking around, Robyn says, "I will leave you to your shopping, then?  I can meet with the muses and see what my role will be.  If you still intend to go up, I will arrange for Jackhammer and Iris to be treated and we can hope that they will be ready.  It sounds like I will need to do a lot of practicing to mesh with the Harlequinade."