[Irn0rchid]

Rose frowns, "She seemed to be okay with everything so far... lets give her a couple more minutes and then we can go check on her. Maybe she just needs a little time to assimilate everything that's happened? She can't have predicted her life would go this way last week..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robin nods and comes over to help you on the bench.  The two of you start talking about old times, from before you parted ways.............the boys, the bad grades, the bad booze and sneaking out for, well, for just about anything you weren't supposed to be doing.  You are interrupted by a noise from the doorway and turn to find Elaine standing there.  She has cleaned up her face and is smiling.  "I wish I had known you two back then.  Frag, I wish I had known anyone even like you back then.  I...I am sorry for just now.  Just being in a different house, a house I can sense love in, was too much, I guess.  All that house and no love in it.  So much money and yet nothing I much want to carry away.  Oh, except for the new game controllers we bought.  But even that was not there until you two came into my life.  Yeah, it was a trick, but I do not feel like it is still a trick."

Robin looks over at you then back to Elaine and shakes her head.  "No trick."

Elaine looks like she might break down again and some tears do flow from her eyes, but she does not try to stop them.  "Thank you.  Both of you.  You have rescued me from a horrible life and have allowed me to become part of your lives.  I can never say thank you enough."

[Irn0rchid]

A little uncomfortable from all the emotion, Rose shifts on her feet as Robin pats Elaine on the shoulder before quipping, "I'm going to remind you you said that if things don't go well in Thailand!" She smiles at Elaine's weak chuckle and continues, "We're all still on board with that right? We need to figure out what all we need to get ready or ask for before we go though. We only have a few days to plan at this point!"

[Mercy Merchant]

The others chuckle a bit at your humor then get a bit serious as you mention planning for the trip.  As you turn to the living room, Elaine pauses in mid-step and goes all white.  She hold up her hand and looks around at you both, her eyes wide.  "I just took a message from a Hilo Tanaka.  He says he is contacting me on behalf of the Oyabun.  The message is that he cannot reach Howard for some reason so is contacting me to make sure that I will be available at the house tomorrow to keep the appointment that the Oyabun made so he can look over the collection he has paid for.  What do I say?"

[Irn0rchid]

Rose pauses for second then realizes there might be an easy solution, "Let me ask Ni Ni. She's handling the journals and maybe she'll have an idea for the best way to deal with the Oyabun on this. Maybe she can pin the whole thing firmly on Howard?" The others look relieved at the prospect of a solution and she shoots a message to Ni Ni. <<The Oyabun has contacted Elaine in order to get access to the house tomorrow in the absence of Howard. How should we handle that? I don't think she wants to be there if the Oyabun realizes he's been had...>>

[Mercy Merchant]

The response from Ni Ni comes quickly.  >>I know Hilo Tanaka.  He was the main contact I was using for the ledgers.  Tough as nails, but reasonable.  My guess is that the Yaks already know they have been swindled and are trying to determine the damage.  They might consider Elaine an accomplice, but not being there will certainly give them that impression.  I would think that it is very much to her advantage to be at the house.  Try to stay calm.<<

[Irn0rchid]

Rose nods to herself and looks to the other two, "Ni Ni thinks that the Oyabun likely is fully aware of the pottery situation and he probably just wants to confirm it for himself. If we don't help him do that, he might think you're acting against him, which we definitely don't want. We could be there with you if you like? Or just watch over you through the house security system, right Robin? Either way, it sounds like you need to make that meeting..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Elaine nods and looks back and forth between the two of you.  She nods and smiles.  "Where have you two been my whole life?  I keep waiting for this to be just a dream as I wake up alone in my bed listening to Howard screwing someone he brought over to the house.  I feel like I have emerged from darkness and I owe it to you two.  Thank you for the offer.  I know I would feel safer, but I would understand if you want to stay away and safe."

Robin squeezes your hand then goes to hug Elaine.  "You are important to us, too.  What sort of friends would we be if we cut out at the first real risk?  Besides, the Liche King is only four bosses ahead of us and we have never been able to get past him with just two of us."

[Irn0rchid]

Rose grins, "Well, we've kind of been flying by the seat of our pants so far and it's worked okay, so might as well have all three of us there and just see how it goes. I guess once we finish dealing with that, we can focus on the Thailand thing. Until then though... did I hear mention of the Liche King?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Robin laughs as she takes both you and Elaine by the waist and pulls you to the living room.  "The fragging Liche King is way above our current levels and you know it.  We will have to defeat his three lieutenants to get there, but I think that we are ready for Lord Doom."

Elaine laughs and walks with you.  "God!  You two are incredible.  So cool and calm when I am feeling like screaming and running for the hills.  And have I mentioned lately how sexy you both are?  Let's kick some Doom ass and then let me show you how much I appreciate you both."

[Irn0rchid]

"Cool and calm? We're figuring it out as we go along, just like you." Rose laughs. "Real life is a lot more complicated than these games! So lets see about some simple escapism..." She shows Elaine to the couch and then goes to retrieve the controllers and passes them out. "Last one to the dungeon is a rotten egg!"

[Mercy Merchant]

The escapism on the couch seems to have an amazing effect on Elaine and Robin.  You had not quite realized how wound Robin is until you can see her actually relax.  The boss fight with Lord Doom is hard fought and requires the full attention of all three of you.  There is a lot of shouting and high-fiving when the demon lord falls to your combined onslaught.  After the fight, there is so much adrenaline and need in the room that the move to the bedroom is without thought.  Elaine once again shows you some of the things she has learned over the years and Robin brings out some of her toys to make things a bit more interesting.  It is nearly 3 AM when the three of you collapse in a sweaty heap and first Elaine then Robin drift off to sleep.

[Irn0rchid]

Mind busy with plans for the tomorrow (today!), Rose finally is able to fall asleep a bit after Robin does. Despite that, she still wakes before the other two and lies in bed mentally planning out different approaches to the Oyabun's visit. Eventually, matters are forced by biology and she carefully extricates herself from the bedsheets and heads to the bathroom. Or, at least, she thought it was carefully. She blushes in chagrin as she returns to the bedroom to face two pairs of eyes blinking at her from the bed. "Sorry, nature called. We should probably figure out exactly what we're going to do about the Oyabun's visit today anyway." The other two groan, but eventually acknowledge that she's right. "I was thinking that Robin and I should set up in the living room and be playing games on the trid when the Oyabun shows up. Elaine, you can greet him and show him around, introducing us as your friends who are visiting. Hopefully we'll seem innocuous at that point and the two of us can keep an eye on things; Robin using the house security system and me with some drones. You take him down to Howard's room, let him take a look, and then hopefully escort him out. We'll pretend to be focused on our games. If drek hits the fan, at least we'll be watching for it. How does that sound?"

[Mercy Merchant]

The other two each do their own rush to the bathroom and back and all three of you are soon sitting on the bed looking at each other and chatting.  Robin nods, "Once I am into the system, I can control all the cameras and alarms and keep us all under my eye, even when you, Elaine, take the Yaks into the den."

Elaine also nods, apparently having gained confidence from listening to the plan.  "I am sure that I will be fragging nervous, but I think that would be normal when meeting the head of the Yaks in Seattle, right?"

[Irn0rchid]

Rose jokes, "If you weren't nervous, then I'd be worried about you. Hopefully they're clear about your lack of involvement in Howard's shady dealings and it's just a simple tour and we all go about our business. Let me go check on my gear and then we can figure out what to do till it's time to go." Rose gets up and heads to the garage to make sure all the drones are charged up and ready to go.