The Model Employee.

[Yva]

Yva pulled her glove on, flexing her fingers within the tight ebonweave. Jak stirred behind her as morning sun stabbed him in the face. There was a grunt and the sound of the mattress squealing as he shifted his weight. She smiled, perching on the side of the bed to examine his profile. He looked so young when he slept. Of course, he was young, had been young before his fall so long ago, but she never noticed it more than at times like these, when he had no worries, when his armors were stripped away.

She wondered if he would ever age. She wondered if his sojourn as Arthas’s man had made him timeless. She wondered if she would have to watch him decay before her.

Don’t think like that. Enjoy the now.

Her fingers traced from his forehead to his cheek and then down his jaw line. His eyes blinked as the sleep fell away. He grabbed her hand, and without thinking, pressed a kiss to her gloved knuckle.

“You should rest,” she murmured at him. A hum started in her throat, but it wasn’t her song. It was an old Lordaeron lullaby her mother sang to her when she was a child.

“It’s far too early to be awake. Come back to bed.”

“I can’t today.” She leaned forward to press a kiss to his forehead, but his arms spilled around her and pulled her down, and she found herself lying on top of him. He kissed her then, and she almost forgot herself, enjoying his taste, enjoying the heat of his chest against hers.

Duty. You have a duty. You made a promise.

She groaned. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I have something to do today. I’ve been putting it off for a while.”

“You work far too much.”

“I know.”

“Did you need me then?”

“Always, but . . . “ She returned her hand to his face, the backs of her fingers stroking down his cheek. “Not now. Sleep, and I’ll be back tonight.”

He stole one more kiss before she rolled out of bed, escaping the dulcet lure of his heat and affection. She could feel his eyes on her back, but she wouldn’t look at him as she secured her cloak around her shoulders.

No, this time I will protect you – all of you. There will be only one name on the damned’s lips, and it will be mine.

“I love you, Jak,” she said, and the door closed behind her.

*****

There are ways to strengthen your bindings with your demons, but not all of them are safe. Many of them are not.

It was Ekrem’s words in her mind as her feet touched down in Telaar. He suggested more magic to keep the netherspawn behaving as netherspawn ought, and she agreed, but she was not working on binding them close today. She would abuse them, she would dominate them, and in the end, she would crush them. Her felguard loomed above her like a silent partner – ever watchful, ever listening. Eventually, she’d have to address whatever was working through him and the voidspawn, but . . .

One thing at a time. Crush the Eredar first. Your menagerie can wait.

Her dreadsteed’s feet pounded across the dusty roads of Nagrand. A half hour to the Consortium’s post, and then another half to find the forge camp with the Eredar prince ruling from the backline. There would be no quiet infiltration. There would be no reconnaissance. No, this attack would be loud. It would be bloody. It would be unmistakable.

Ice slicked over her gloves as the air around her crackled with raw power. A network of dull green lines appeared beneath her feet. Her shadows swam, crafting a potent glyph, burning it into the ground to anchor her magic.

She eyed the Mistress of Pain staring at her from behind a fel canon.

“Goodnight, lovely.”

Her ice flew.

*****

Crushing the will of an Eredar lord was exhausting, and Yva’s hand wavered as her resources depleted. Her magic was taxed, her body was taxed, and she felt a burn from the circle of power beneath her. She wasn’t sure, but her feet might be scorched again.

The last time you had burn marks on your heels. Good luck explaining this one. Jak’s going to love it.

He was on one knee now, his great staff lying upon the ground. He lifted his eyes to her face, his jaw clenched, his fangs digging into his bottom lip so hard they’d drawn blood. A torrent of demonic curses were flung at her, and she laughed, her eyes flicking wildly as her song bubbled from her throat.

“You will suffer for this, Ice Princess. By Narsh’zaran, He Who Claims You, you will suffer as no other,” he said on a gasp, and then his eyes rolled into his skull. The ground shook as his body struck earth.

“Oh do shut up,” she spat, abandoning the magics she’d spun around her. The glyph beneath her throbbed once more and then it was gone, now just a circle of char and ash. A shiver wracked her body and she coughed into her hand, dismayed at the wad of blood glistening in the palm of her glove.

A curse of agony. Clever.

“Bloody hell.”

She collapsed to her knees and rummaged through her bags, looking for a potion, a bandage, a piece of bread . . . anything to quell the pain.

The day had just begun

[Yva]

An hour later, her felguard was standing hip deep in the chest of the felled demon, using his great axe to splinter its ribs apart. Yva was still woozy, and every once in a while she had to guzzle water to keep her stomach from rioting. Too much magic had sung through her system, and now she paid the price with aching temples and nausea that wouldn’t quit.

She watched her minion work, waiting until the small heart of the Eredar was revealed after a particularly nasty, wet crack of bone.

Leeshvegen looked at her and bowed, waiting for his next command, his bloodied axe clenched in his fist.

“You’re done,” she rasped at him. He was dismissed with a flick of her wrist, vanishing in a pillar of purple smoke. She pulled a soulstone from her packs. A swift bolt of shadow magic splintered it apart, and her nose crinkled at the smell of fire and brimstone erupting from the new, dark fissure in the ground.

The chasm birthed moonlight skin and leathery wings.

“Misssssstressssss.”

“Take the obsidian, Cat,” she said in greeting. “I need the heart and eyes undamaged.”

Yva trusted the demoness's precision. Succubi were meticulous with the details; watching Jhory work on Jolstraer's tattoos had proven it to her, and Cattania – though not as ranked as Jhoryla – was skilled in her own right. Though her body was near vibrating in ecstasy as she knelt in the bloodied mess of Eredar, Cattania's hands were still. There was a saw motion, and a wet tear, and the fist sized heart was pulled from the carcass. Yva forced herself to standing, presenting a clay pot lined in ice.

Cat placed it inside, purring and cooing, her head bowed as if in reverence.

“Oh bloody . . . get the eyes now, you tart.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Within ten minutes, Yva's pot was full of eyes and heart, everything she needed to make her relic. Cattania was licking the blood from her fingers, her tail lashing like an oversized housecat. Yva tucked her prizes away, her lips flattening into a thin line. She wasn't feeling strong enough to do the summoning required to move the Eredar carcass, but she had to. She didn't have a choice, and oh gods would she sleep later today for it.

“Cat, I need the Oily Butler. I'm sorry,” she murmured. The succubus licked along her arm, eying her mistress, but said nothing. Yva dismissed her with another apology. Zangdok would be required for his strength, yes, but not yet – first she had to get to Tanaris, and thank the goblins for their ingenuity. No magic was required. She pulled the device from her packs, smiling at the oddly shaped thing, smiling as her skin seemed to flutter away into a thousand tiny lights . . .

And then reform in a teleporter. A Tanaris gobbo peered at her, a pair of odd goggles on his face, and she patted him on the head as she walked away. Her feet crunched in the desert sands.

“Hey baby, where are you off to?” he called after her.

Yva's lips twitched. “To raise hell.”

[Yva]

She found a spot in the southeast, between the silithid hives and the ogre encampments. There was an expanse of sand as endless as an ocean; the sun glittered off of it in a red haze that seemed to dance the longer she stared at it.

Yva slid from Enigma's side. There was no life in this part of Tanaris; there was nothing her creation could harm should it worm its way from the grave. It was, then, the perfect place to plant her monster. It seemed like the end of the world.

Even in this desert heat, the soulstone was cool in her palm. She crushed it to call the void. The granules of sand at her feet parted as a tendril of black forced its way to the surface from somewhere far below. The magic grew thicker, longer, until it formed a gyrating coil of dark magic. Eventually, the ugly sneer of The Oily Butler appeared in a dense mass of blue.

“Mistress Darrows, good morning.”

Yva turned away to busy herself in her packs. She didn't have anything she needed there, she just didn't want to look at that particular countenance for any longer than she had to.

“Dig.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Yes, but dig what?”

“A trench for an Eredar corpse.”

At first she thought he was groaning, then she thought he might be growling in anger, but after a time it became apparent that the deep, horrid lurching noise was a voidwalker's laughter. “Oh, this is rich. You did it didn't you. You actually did it, and all on your lonesome. My, you are such a delight when you . . . ”

Before he could finish his sentence, before he could utter another word, she turned around with a hand smothered in ice talons and buried it in his thick middle. He gasped in surprise, his head lolling back. His arms wrapped around her almost instinctively.

She lurched her claws about, enjoying his pained twitch.

“You'll dig, and you'll keep your commentary to yourself. I don't know who speaks for you. Narsh'zaran was it? Is that you in there? Listen well. I am my own woman. I don't exist to amuse you or any other nether being. Find someone else to claim.”

The void leveled its gaze upon her, ignoring the pain in its gut. The smile that crept across its mouth made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

“No.”

She tore her hand from him, trying to squirm away, but the arms around her were like vice clamps. There was no place to go.

“I'll banish the void and never summon it again. I swear it, I'll . . .

“You'll what, Ice Princess?”

The arms closed tight, and she grunted as the air was forced from her.

It tilted its head toward her ear, whispering in that overly refined voice. “I'll just find something else to control.”

Yva shrieked, her anger making the ice burst around her in a hardened block. The creature was forced away, but it didn't seem to mind. In fact, the bemused smile splitting its dark face reminded her of a parent waiting on a willful child to finish its tantrum.

“As you will, Yva. This could be easier on both of us, though. I would help you, if you allowed it. I have so much to offer a loyal servant. And you've already given me so much. You don't even know.”

Through the thick, clear ice, she watched the void turn towards the desert and begin its work. Sand flew as it blasted a trench into the ground with exaggerated sweeps of its arms.

Her mouth dipped into a frown.

Bloody hell, what am I dealing with? What IS that thing?

She could only hope the ice muffled her whimper.

[Yva]

With the Eredar buried and the voidwalker long banished to the nether, Yva went home.

The door thudded closed behind her. She pulled her shoes off and tossed them aside, gingerly approaching the couch to sprawl on it, face down into a pillow. Jak wasn't here, she didn't have to worry about looking pathetic. She could just ruminate on the demon, the ritual ahead of her, and the ache in her feet.

What do I do about the other? I'll ask Jhory and . . . Jhory. I need to finish her relic, and when I do, she'll be free from her temptations. She'll be better. Tomorrow, then. Finish it tomorrow and worry about Narsh'zaran later. Oh, my soles are burned. Stupid STUPID circles.

She didn't mean to doze, it just happened. She woke when Jak came home, his sabatons striking the fine wooden floor with heavy clangs that rumbled like thunder. He must have spotted her bags on the table because his voice rang clear from the foyer, waking her from her nap.

“Dear, can you help me with these shoulders? It's being difficult, and . . . “ He poked his head into the room. Seeing her huddled on the couch, one eye opened and drowsy from sleep, his voice grew quiet. “Damn it. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were resting.”

“No, it's fine.” She forced herself upright with a half-dazed smile, sweeping her hair away from her face. The torrent of yawns was stifled against the back of her hand.

Seeing him half in his armor, half out, she tottered to standing. A particularly sensitive part of her sole brushed against the rug and she winced, drawing in a deep breath. His eyes flicked down to her feet as she moved around him to unclasp the latches at the back of his neck. She hummed quietly, loosing everything as he'd shown her. Some of the buckles clicked as she freed them.

“You're injured.”

“Just a few burns. The ritual circles.”

There was a pregnant pause. She didn't want to see his face then because she knew she'd see nothing there. It would be devoid of emotion. Nothing was far worse than disapproval or a frown. It meant he was hiding himself away, perhaps to protect her from what he really thought. Jakob Balthasar was a man who could construct walls faster than any dwarven mason.

After a time, he made an odd noise that wasn't quite a grunt, wasn't quite a sigh. “I'll get the salve then.” The last of his armor came away. She watched him stack it neatly in the corner.

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

That was how they left it.

*****

Jak was off to work in Icecrown, Yva was off to the Plagues to the dilapidated tower she'd called home for a short while. She eyed the runes already in place from Jolstraer's debacle a few weeks back. It was all wrong for this, she'd need to reset them. She grabbed her notebook and began to sketch the proper alignment. The eyes and heart were in their clay pot in the center of the circle. Around it, she placed a spiral of shadow glyphs that would start a magical loop – when she surged magic into the circle, it would surge it back at her. Give and take, take and give. The relic would do much the same, absorbing magic into it and then doling it out in small increments over time.

She was still fairly certain this relic would scream when she was done with it. Similar experiments resulted in screaming items, anyway. The box she'd given Jak in Northrend those months ago still shrieked when you touched it. It spent its time tucked away in a closet now, so it wouldn't irritate anyone.

Poor Jhory. I hope she has some place to put this thing.

The alter was set up to mimic the larger circle, but with a soulstone at the center in lieu of demon parts. It would act as her control. Should the magic go awry on the floor, the small circle would be a back up resource, a battery, to keep her on track to finish things. Fail safes were needed to keep her safe.

Well, safer. Magic of this degree was never all that safe.

She broke out the mop and bucket and deconstructed Jolstraer's circle, toweling off the excess water to lay new lines. She used her colored chalks to build the magic, and was halfway through the sigils when she heard Him.

“Use this every fourth rune, Princess. Much, much more efficient.”

Something flashed in her head. She could see the arcs and lines of the glyph. It was something she'd never seen before, it was something new, and before she could think better of it, she was drawing it into the circle, her hand shaking all the while.

“Excellent. Now contact Aterion to Rintarus instead of Svicin.”

Him. He's telling you this, showing you this.

“Damn you, go away,” she hissed, her head jerking left and right and back again. She had no demons here, she had nothing, so where then was the Oily Butler's voice coming from? Where WAS he?

Oh no. Not in your head. You're not going mad again. No. No. No, no, no, nono, nonononono . . . not now. You've worked so hard.

“I'm simply trying to help. That rune is quite powerful, one of the most powerful I know. Use it sparingly and it will serve you well. Now open yourself to the shadows for me.”

“NO!”

She thrust herself to her feet, ignoring the dull ache there. She spun around, trying to find him as her song bubbled from her throat.

He began to laugh.

“Relax. I don't wish to harm you.”

That was when she figured it out. The soulstone, in the middle of the circle on the alter, was thrumming with shadow. Somehow, he was in there. Somehow, he'd forged a link with her and was in her shard.

“It could be a lovely working relationship Yva. I could hone your skills. You'd be more than just a nethermancer then. You'd be so much greater if you'd just let me . . . “

“Never,” she croaked, stalking around her circle. She reached for the soulshard, wanting to shatter it so he'd leave her alone, but as her fingers came in contact with the cool glass, something happened. He surged her, it was the only way to describe the wave of magic that he sent over her body. She gasped, her eyes rolling into her head as she staggered.

“I could give you that. Always. Wouldn't it be nice?”

Yes.

“NO!”

She lifted her hand and the ice came as she knew it would. It shrieked through the air and obliterated the alter, sending everything skittering into the wall. As soon as the soulstone cracked, the voice – the presence, because he was a presence, she knew that now – was gone.

The only evidence that he'd been there at all was the wicked magic tingling her skin and the rune painted on the floor.

She wilted. Her body folded in half and she whimpered.

Oh gods. What do I do now?

The circles didn't answer.

*****

Two hours later, Yva walked from her tower looking and feeling defeated.

In her hand was a small, polished stone with runes etched around the sides. It was the relic, and it was complete, and its completion had been amazingly simple.

She'd intended to ignore His rune. She'd wanted to, but his advice – though hell wrought – was right. From the reorganization of Aterion, Rintarus, and Svicin to the presence of the new glyph, he was right. The stone didn't have to scream. The ritual didn't have to harm her. Everything was so . . .

So easy. It felt so damned easy. Too easy.

Magic skittered over her skin, and she pulled it in. That, too, was easy. Normally the magic took her for a time, took her places she didn't want to go, where reality and madness blurred and only Jak's taste or a long night of sleep could bring her back, but she felt in control now. It swelled inside of her, feeling like it could burst into a maelstrom at any time, but her control was eerily steady. She could hold it and release it as she saw fit, not as it saw fit.

For once, Yva mastered her magic, not the other way around. And she hated it. She hated everything about it, because it wasn't right. The dark things shouldn't be this simple.

They shouldn't.

And yet, they were.

Maybe I am damned. Just maybe, they're all right about me.

I want to go home.

[Yva]

((Narsh'Zaran has been talking to Yva and putting thoughts in her head lately. Mostly, he threatens her with rotting and going mad if she doesn't take the offer he's put on the table. Below is a log from Cantrips and Crows the other night where Jhory accidentally tapped into Yva's crazy by making a joke that just went wrong. At some point halfway through, one of Jhory's friends showed up. It was one hell of an introduction for that paladin. <3))

*****

23:57:19.490 [3. exileic] Darrows: Well then.
23:57:57.581 [3. exileic] Darrows: Someone has a /macabre/ sense of bloody humor.
23:58:03.426 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: What's up?
23:58:09.696 [3. exileic] Darrows: I got an anonymous gift.
23:58:15.595 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: Oh lovely.
23:58:27.268 [3. exileic] Darrows: No, it's really really not.
23:58:32.303 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: Sarcasm.
23:58:34.667 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: Dare I ask?
23:58:46.418 [3. exileic] Darrows: I'll show you down below.
23:59:01.848 [3. exileic] Shaila: That sounds like it could be a pickup line. *snicker*
23:59:03.953 [3. exileic] Darrows: Which is . . . where I am.
23:59:10.255 [3. exileic] Darrows: *groans* Jhory, behave.
23:59:16.311 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: That wasn't me.
23:59:21.198 [3. exileic] Shaila: That was me!
23:59:25.028 [3. exileic] Darrows: . . . bloody hell. Shaila behave.
23:59:29.840 [3. exileic] Shaila: *laughs*
23:59:31.619 [3. exileic] Darrows: Both of you behave.
23:59:37.828 [3. exileic] Shaila: Yes'm
23:59:45.945 [3. exileic] Jhoryla: Pfft.
23:59:52.814 Jhoryla glances over with a concerned look.
23:59:54.884 Jhoryla says: Seriously though.
23:59:56.066 Darrows is sitting at the table with a book in front of her.
23:59:58.471 Jhoryla says: What the hell is it?
00:00:13.563 Darrows slides it across the table.
00:00:26.339 Darrows drums her fingers on the tabletop and looks away.
00:00:27.843 Jhoryla raises an eyebrow.
00:00:36.479 Jhoryla sighs.
00:00:53.609 Jhoryla hands it back with a groan.
00:01:19.325 Jhoryla says: I suppose they were trying to be funny.
00:01:26.647 Jhoryla rubs her temples.
00:01:28.221 Darrows says: It's dating advice for scourge.
00:01:35.838 Darrows says: Do I /look/ bloody scourged to you?
00:01:36.728 Jhoryla says: I see that.
00:01:47.250 Jhoryla studies Yva for a moment.
00:02:03.725 Jhoryla says: You're very well preserved.
00:02:22.184 You eye Toothhead up and down.
00:02:23.847 You point at Toothhead.
00:02:27.116 Darrows says: More appropriate for that.
00:02:34.909 Darrows says: And there's absolutely nothing rotten about me.
00:02:37.531 Jhoryla says: Well you're no ghoul.
00:02:43.692 Darrows mutters to herself.
00:02:44.264 Jhoryla says: A bit green in places.
00:02:47.926 Darrows says: I AM NOT!
00:02:53.746 Darrows looks aghast.
00:03:02.512 Darrows looks down, almost panicking.
00:03:08.231 Jhoryla shakes her head.
00:03:14.265 Jhoryla says: No! You don't look green.
00:03:23.389 Darrows pats her vest, looks at her arms, there's growing horror on her face.
00:04:45.368 Darrows peels a glove off and stares at the back of her hand, starting to hum almost frantically.
00:04:49.998 Jhoryla says: Yva...
00:04:52.606 Jhoryla says: Yva..
00:05:10.670 Darrows peels off the other glove, her eyes glazing over.
00:05:28.193 Jhoryla slips down next to Yva, wrapping an arm around her.
00:05:30.124 Jhoryla says: Yva?
00:05:33.949 Darrows says: DON'T TOUCH ME!
00:05:35.805 Darrows roars.
00:05:41.823 Jhoryla looks unperturbed.
00:05:43.228 Darrows slaps her hands away.
00:05:44.969 Jhoryla says: Yva, look at me.
00:05:48.310 Jhoryla squints.
00:05:49.569 Darrows shakes her head.
00:05:56.430 Jhoryla says: Please?
00:05:58.575 Darrows starts scratching at the backs of her hands.
00:06:06.790 Darrows says: If there's anything there, don't tell Jak.
00:06:08.511 Darrows says: All right?
00:06:10.851 Darrows hums again, laughing.
00:06:15.157 Jhoryla says: There's nothing there.
00:06:32.356 Darrows says: He'll find it if you did.
00:06:33.698 Jhoryla says: Light woman, you're human.
00:06:41.133 Jhoryla sighs.
00:06:43.183 Darrows says: And then he'll have to leave, you know, because he's alive and . . .
00:06:45.404 Jhoryla leans against the table.
00:06:55.007 Darrows rolls her bracers away.
00:07:00.428 Jhoryla says: It's never occurred to you that you're alive?
00:07:11.268 Jhoryla says: I mean, sure, I tease, but the truth is, you're alive.
00:07:27.044 Darrows says: No. I rose from a grave in Deathknell and . . .
00:08:07.164 Jhoryla squints one eye.
00:08:32.093 Darrows says: I'm cold and dead and I'm going to rot like he said I was going to rot and then Jak will go because I won't be suitable.
00:08:55.602 Jhoryla says: You're alive, and you're warm where it matters.
00:09:11.861 Jhoryla says: And you're not rotting.
00:09:16.120 Jhoryla says: And further..
00:09:28.470 Jhoryla says: Jak's not going to leave you.
00:09:29.906 Darrows whimpers.
00:09:37.219 Darrows says: If I'm a corpse girl he will.
00:10:15.457 Jhoryla sighs.
00:10:16.653 Darrows is humming and staring past her.
00:10:40.182 Darrows spreads her hands over the table and ice washes down the side to spill onto the floor.
00:10:52.630 Darrows blinks and the ice starts to move across the floor, over Jhory's boots.
00:10:54.962 Darrows hums louder.
00:11:19.390 Jhoryla watches the ice slowly move across her boots.
00:11:21.239 Jhoryla says: Hmm.
00:11:45.641 Jhoryla shakes her head.
00:12:04.398 Jhoryla says: Yva, Jak loves you. And it's not conditional.
00:12:18.356 Darrows murmurs, the only line that's discernable is "Ice and Fire and Wind". The ice climbs Yva's legs, and Jhory's legs.
00:12:37.558 Jhoryla shivers a little.
00:12:49.095 Jhoryla says: It's a pretty song Yva.
00:12:53.996 Jhoryla says: Look at me.
00:13:07.021 Jhoryla slips off a glove and reaches out.
00:13:39.877 Jhoryla says: Take my hand Yva, you're still in there.
00:13:41.412 Jhoryla smiles.
00:13:44.684 Darrows jerks her head, it's almost a disjointed movement. The ice surges up over her legs and thighs, a cord wrapping around her waist.
00:14:24.569 Darrows says: He said it's why I should listen to you him know.
00:14:27.321 Darrows licks her lips.
00:14:38.171 Darrows says: The voice, His voice. He said he'd send me rot if I didn't . . .
00:14:46.965 Darrows hums quieter and sinks her head into her hands.
00:15:05.340 Jhoryla says: He's lying.
00:15:11.791 Jhoryla says: He's lying to you Yva.
00:15:15.101 Jhoryla says: Listen to me.
00:15:26.280 Jhoryla stretches out, in an attempt to Yva's hand.
00:16:11.290 Darrows shakes her head and mutters to herself.
00:16:19.742 Jhoryla says: Take my hand Yva, please.
00:17:30.388 Darrows lowers her forearms and stares at them. She rubs her fingers down across her wrist, to her hands, and then she digs fingernails in, leaving big bloody tracks in her skin.
00:17:32.542 Darrows laughs.
00:18:20.844 Jhoryla growls, taking one of Yva's hands anyway. She worms her palm under Yva's fingers.
00:18:25.839 Jhoryla says: Take my hand, please?
00:18:27.261 Jhoryla frowns.
00:18:37.896 Jhoryla says: It was a cruel joke they played, and Narsh is lying. He's lying to you.
00:18:52.393 Darrows looks at their hands, blinking and frowning. She suddenly coos and turns her hand over, rubbing her blood over Jhory's palm.
00:19:06.291 Darrows giggles.
00:19:10.492 Jhoryla whimpers.
00:20:00.124 Jhoryla sighs and shakes her head.
00:20:09.204 Darrows says: Pretty little Jhoryla with the pale skin and rosie cheeks, bleeeeeeeding and bloody and beautiful and bright.
00:20:32.129 Jhoryla can't help but grin.
00:20:36.613 Darrows hums another song, this one overly cheerful. Her eyes still aren't focussed. The ice cord around Jhory's waist curls higher to her chest.
00:20:51.652 Jhoryla glances down at the rising ice.
00:21:04.871 Jhoryla says: Going to freeze me completely Yva?
00:21:09.392 Jhoryla begins to shiver.
00:21:37.280 Darrows reaches down and uses her sharp thumbnail to open something up in her wrist. She waits til there's a gash, and then she dips her finger into it. She rubs a swirl of blood over the back of Jhory's hand.
00:21:59.195 Darrows giggles, her eyes going huge.
00:22:02.624 Darrows points and laughs.
00:22:41.489 You lick your lips.
00:23:41.468 Jhoryla studies the symbol on her hand.
00:23:43.905 Jhoryla says: What is this?
00:23:54.118 Darrows says: Ice and fire and wind.
00:23:55.601 Jhoryla eyes Darrows.
00:23:59.952 Darrows murmurs and traces the shape with her fingertip, giggling again.
00:24:09.884 Jhoryla says: I see. What does it mean?
00:24:27.243 Darrows 's finger makes contact with her sigil, and the ice around Jhory's body starts to contract and then thrum.
00:24:55.253 Jhoryla cringes, her eyes going wide.
00:24:59.972 Jhoryla says: Is this how you do it Yva?
00:25:16.628 Jhoryla says: What's next, .. n..no more me? Going to blow me up?
00:25:32.769 Jhoryla says: Take out half the tavern with me?
00:25:37.164 Darrows shakes her head "No" and giggles again.
00:25:38.636 Jhoryla tries not to chatter.
00:25:53.608 Darrows licks her lips and leans in.
00:25:59.174 Darrows says: It'd have to be inside of you then Jhory.
00:26:00.500 Jhoryla raises an eyebrow.
00:26:02.815 Darrows grins.
00:26:13.584 Jhoryla says: Oh, then what are you going to do Yva?
00:26:16.349 Darrows reaches a bloody finger forward to her neck, and traces it down her throat.
00:26:20.069 Darrows says: Make it snow.
00:26:21.428 Darrows sulks.
00:26:22.041 Jhoryla shudders.
00:26:24.797 Jhoryla says: Snow?
00:26:26.884 Darrows says: The ice would go there.
00:26:30.486 Darrows nods.
00:26:32.764 Jhoryla says: Would it?
00:26:34.518 Darrows says: I like the snow.
00:26:42.549 Darrows says: It's my favorite thing.
00:26:44.425 Darrows hums again.
00:26:47.285 Jhoryla says: It's very pretty.
00:27:15.580 Darrows says: You can make snow angels.
00:27:21.184 Darrows says: If you wave your arms and feet.
00:27:27.066 Jhoryla says: We could go make snow angels together.
00:27:30.948 Darrows says: No.
00:27:37.635 Darrows sounds young and petulant.
00:28:10.126 Jhoryla says: You don't want to?
00:28:19.116 Jhoryla sounds more curious now than anything.
00:28:20.607 Darrows says: There are no angels anymore. They died with me in Brill. I see them on Mama's grave though.
00:28:27.955 Darrows purses her lips.
00:28:30.680 Katyani says: Why t' hell wud y' wanna make snow angelsh an'ways?
00:28:32.634 Jhoryla says: Did they?
00:28:34.469 Katyani eyes Jhoryla up and down.
00:28:36.922 Darrows says: There's a weeping angel there and . . .
00:28:38.911 Darrows looks up.
00:28:40.223 Jhoryla is frozen up to her chest.
00:28:46.710 Jhoryla says: Hi Kat.
00:28:47.547 You eye Katyani up and down.
00:28:50.693 Katyani says: 'eya Jhor.
00:28:57.603 Jhoryla says: And?
00:29:02.517 Darrows draws another sigil on the table.
00:29:03.753 Jhoryla eyes Yva up and down.
00:29:06.279 Katyani says: 'm I int'ruptin?
00:29:11.529 Darrows says: Ice and fire and wind.
00:29:15.711 Darrows grins.
00:29:17.361 Jhoryla nods.
00:29:21.369 Jhoryla says: Umm..
00:29:23.597 Darrows hums.
00:29:27.378 Jhoryla says: I don't know.. I'm sorta frozen.
00:29:34.133 Katyani peers at Jhoryla searchingly.
00:29:49.789 Jhoryla indicates the woman across from her.
00:29:53.940 Katyani says: ...d' I e'en wanna know?
00:29:58.644 Jhoryla says: She's having a bad day.
00:30:01.083 Jhoryla says: Yva?
00:30:04.945 Darrows says: The rush of the river the larks that sing.
00:30:05.792 Jhoryla says: I'm not going to talk you out of this am I?
00:30:12.944 Darrows says: Lavendar thyme and rose . . .
00:30:19.818 Darrows mutters and laughs, slapping the table.
00:30:54.088 Darrows says: Roasty toasty warm Jhoryyyyy-laaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
00:30:59.329 Jhoryla says: I'm not that warm.
00:31:01.118 Katyani peers at you searchingly.
00:31:02.276 Jhoryla says: Not at the moment.
00:31:04.012 Darrows drags out the last two syllables.
00:31:14.514 Jhoryla says: And you're not Cattania.
00:31:22.909 Katyani says: 'll bite. She norm'ly dis nutty?
00:31:26.181 Jhoryla says: No.
00:31:29.795 Jhoryla says: I did this.
00:31:31.466 Jhoryla frowns.
00:31:36.568 Katyani says: Wut'd y' do t' her?
00:31:39.299 Darrows says: No, Cattania's playing with the dollies in Stormwind and she'll break them into pieces and bring me home the best parts of them.
00:31:45.979 Darrows opens her palm and a soulstone is there.
00:31:54.503 Jhoryla narrows her eyes.
00:31:56.442 Darrows rolls it across the table at her.
00:32:12.315 Jhoryla looks at the soulstone with a bit of disdain.
00:32:16.364 Jhoryla says: I'm not sure.
00:32:18.876 Jhoryla says: Kat.
00:32:22.855 Jhoryla frowns.
00:32:32.797 Darrows looks at Jhory and suddenly /sees/ her for the first time.
00:32:37.370 Darrows says: You're cold.
00:32:38.418 Katyani says: Need any help... -resolvin- sumtin' here?
00:32:42.528 Darrows 's eyes go wide.
00:32:50.630 Jhoryla says: A little chilly Yva.
00:32:51.912 Darrows jerks her face around, looking for the shouting.
00:32:56.974 Darrows murmurs to herself.
00:32:57.254 Jhoryla says: Oh dear.
00:33:10.368 Jhoryla says: Umm.. I'm just kinda going with the flow here Kat.
00:33:15.700 Jhoryla says: And being stuck.
00:33:19.520 Jhoryla says: And..
00:33:21.140 Darrows climbs onto the chair behind her, crouching.
00:33:22.293 Jhoryla eyes Yva.
00:33:38.114 Darrows peers over her shoulder at . . . something. Anything really.
00:33:41.939 Jhoryla looks completely confused.
00:33:52.356 Jhoryla says: Okay, enough of this.
00:33:57.129 Katyani says: Yanno... removin' ice ain' m' best trick.
00:34:03.666 Darrows says: Busier than the gates of the nether on a dark afternoon.
00:34:09.356 Jhoryla draws the shadows to her, shattering the ice.
00:34:12.206 Darrows laughs at her own joke.
00:34:22.948 Jhoryla says: Leave the bloody nether out of this.
00:34:28.441 Darrows points at the floor.
00:34:32.456 Jhoryla grumbles, foldering her arms over her chest, thoug she's still drenched.
00:34:36.631 Darrows says: You made snow. The ice is snow and the angels die there.
00:34:44.847 Jhoryla says: I'm no angel.
00:34:48.073 Darrows wraps her bloody arms around her, humming. She rests her cheek against her shoulder.
00:34:53.087 Jhoryla says: ...
00:35:00.550 Katyani peers at you searchingly.
00:35:05.427 Jhoryla says: She cut herself.
00:35:12.738 Jhoryla groans.
00:35:34.474 Katyani says: Jhor, did I e'er mention dat yer taste 'n friends 's worse den yer taste in hats?
00:35:41.217 Jhoryla says: My hats are fine!
00:35:51.864 Darrows says: People taste like chicken.
00:35:54.121 Jhoryla says: So are my friends. And you're included in that.
00:35:56.142 Darrows says: That's what my husband said.
00:36:01.367 Katyani says: Compared to your friends, I'm prone to agree with you!
00:36:02.996 Jhoryla says: Your husband was a bastard.
00:36:08.739 Jhoryla says: And an idiot.
00:36:09.126 Darrows says: He's dead. Was dead.
00:36:11.202 Darrows says: All dead!
00:36:17.244 Darrows giggles.
00:36:18.161 Jhoryla says: Well yes, that goes without saying.
00:36:21.808 Katyani says: 'n wrong. 's more like possum.
00:36:27.828 Jhoryla says: Thanks Kat.
00:36:29.468 Jhoryla smirks.
00:36:32.212 Katyani says: N' prolem.
00:36:34.396 A sly smirk spreads across Katyani's face.
00:36:35.706 You eye Katyani up and down.
00:36:41.144 Darrows says: You're pretty and young.
00:36:57.017 Katyani says: 'll, tank y'.
00:37:13.110 Katyani says: I gez y' might be a'ight, but lemme tell y', t' creepy 's kina a turnoff, yanno?
00:37:45.550 Jhoryla says: It's okay Kat. Yva's going to marry Jak someday.
00:37:48.419 Jhoryla says: Someday.
00:37:49.585 Darrows says: You're sunny and bright like a warm spring day, flowers in May, flowers in May, but don't forget what the jay had to say, flowers in May, floweres in May.
00:37:51.504 Jhoryla says: She better.
00:38:00.758 Darrows hums again and hugs Jhory closer, giggling.
00:38:14.029 Katyani says: I... gez dat might matter, 'f I knew wh' Jak wuz, 'r cared?
00:38:17.534 Darrows says: Jak loves me until I rot away to nothing. Then he'll have to leave.
00:38:24.111 Darrows says: I'm falling apart.
00:38:25.562 Jhoryla says: You're not rotting away.
00:38:27.672 Jhoryla says: No you're not.
00:38:28.079 Darrows whispers. "I'm dying."
00:38:34.472 Darrows groants and looks around.
00:38:36.345 Jhoryla says: You're not dying.
00:38:40.821 Darrows says: NO I'M NOT.
00:38:42.277 Darrows says: DON'T SAY THAT.
00:38:53.031 Darrows tugs her hair and groans.
00:39:01.132 Jhoryla says: Kat, do me a favor, consecrate the area.
00:39:10.071 Katyani says: ...uh.
00:39:10.881 Jhoryla says: It'll hurt, but meh, do it.
00:39:13.693 Jhoryla says: I'm serious.
00:39:33.286 Jhoryla says: And if you have any wards in that skimpy top of yours, now's the time.
00:39:33.591 Katyani says: Jay? Dis 's me. It ain' gonna work t' way y' want it to.
00:39:47.556 Jhoryla says: You're a paladin! Do something, paladiny!
00:39:57.596 Jhoryla grumbles.
00:40:07.149 Katyani opens her mouth to say something, but then blinks, as if she realized something.
00:40:10.410 Katyani says: You know? Maybe.
00:40:25.655 Jhoryla says: I mean, it won't stop the crazy, but maybe it'll stop the freaking voice.
00:40:28.108 Jhoryla scowls.
00:40:30.496 Darrows says: He says he's going to rip me apart and toy with my insides. They're like snakes, what's below your belly.
00:40:41.870 Darrows reaches down and spreads her cold hand against Jhory's stomach.
00:40:56.464 Darrows says: If you rip them out there's miles of them. He wants to wear mine like a mantle and look so pretty.
00:40:57.299 Katyani mutters something utterly incomprehensible, before pressing her hand down to the ground, a wave of holy energy pouring out of her.
00:41:00.874 Darrows says: Won't he look pretty?
00:41:07.507 Darrows shakes her head.
00:43:12.985 Darrows bites her fingernails.
00:44:28.255 |Hchannel:Guild|h[Guild]|h Darrows: Me. He's going to rot me.
00:44:47.743 |Hchannel:Guild|h[Guild]|h Darrows: I'll fall to pieces all to pieces like a puzzle broken to bits.
00:48:46.274 Jhoryla cringes a little.
00:48:51.270 Jhoryla cringes a lot actually.
00:49:09.598 Jhoryla rubs her temples, looking miserable.
00:49:11.218 Darrows whispers something to Jhory.
00:49:11.517 Jhoryla says: Well..
00:49:18.136 Jhoryla says: That sucked.
00:49:20.931 Katyani pants slightly, the massive expulsion of energy clearly something she wasn't used to, trace amounts still causing her hands and eyes to glow slightly.
00:49:28.177 Jhoryla says: .....
00:49:30.365 Darrows giggles and slouches in the chair.
00:49:31.417 Jhoryla stares at Yva.
00:49:36.777 Katyani says: T... told you.
00:49:38.944 Darrows dips her head forward.
00:49:48.590 Jhoryla says: Oh he's going to suffer for that.
00:49:58.141 Jhoryla says: You did fine Kat.
00:50:00.459 Jhoryla squints back.
00:50:02.537 Jhoryla says: Is he gone?
00:50:09.312 Jhoryla taps Yva's skull.
00:50:17.709 Darrows shivers a little.
00:50:28.170 Katyani holds her hand up in a vague waiting gesture, stumbling over to sit down in the now empty chair.
00:50:31.168 Darrows licks her lips and looks up.
00:50:57.937 Darrows looks at Jhory, reaching a blood crusted finger foward to trace it along the ouside of her face. She hums quieter now.
00:51:10.561 Jhoryla says: Right.
00:51:13.171 Jhoryla says: Round two.
00:51:17.731 Jhoryla says: Kat, you didn't see nothin.
00:51:20.261 Darrows says: . . . that's where he'll cut, and then he'll be like Cattania, you see?
00:51:21.345 Jhoryla says: Anything.
00:51:27.521 Darrows stares at her.
00:51:36.529 Katyani says: T' hell y' talkin' 'bout, Jhor?
00:51:41.343 Katyani says: I wuz jez drinkin'.
00:51:43.347 Jhoryla stares at Yva.
00:51:43.739 Darrows looks across the table.
00:52:16.385 Darrows says: There's a cold to you like the northern winds in January.
00:52:24.880 Darrows blinks at her.
00:52:40.213 Katyani snickers at you.
00:52:46.196 Katyani says: Y' dun know t' half 'f 't, darlin'.
00:53:29.720 Darrows says: Darlin; dear the tricky witch, not scourge nor ghoul nor wicked lich. Ice in veins and ice in eyes, tongue with fork and wicked lies.
00:53:32.046 Darrows singsongs.
00:53:34.637 Darrows giggles.
00:53:43.319 Jhoryla says: Well, that fits the bill.
00:53:50.158 Jhoryla says: Wait a sec..
00:53:55.372 Jhoryla says: Where was I, oh yeah..
00:54:05.395 Darrows hugs Jhory again, murmuring.
00:54:11.710 Jhoryla takes Yva's face between her palms.
00:54:22.421 Jhoryla says: Well.. thing is.. it's not exactly a magical problem, but let's see..
00:54:30.325 Darrows says: You're going to take my face off like he will and wear it.
00:54:32.756 Jhoryla presses her temple to Yva's.
00:54:35.854 Jhoryla says: Nope..
00:54:36.300 Darrows begins to thrash.
00:54:40.824 Jhoryla says: And he's not taking your face..
00:54:44.817 Darrows says: YOU CAN'T HAVE IT IT'S MINE.
00:54:48.004 Darrows whines.
00:54:50.531 Jhoryla begins to murmur something.
00:54:51.491 Katyani says: P'session?
00:55:00.881 Jhoryla says: Not exactly, just a sec Kat...
00:55:23.670 Jhoryla continues murmuring, and something seems to seep from Yva to the woman next to her.
00:55:56.583 Katyani blinks, her gaze seeming focused on her own hands, seeming to just barely notice the lingering glow.
00:56:31.788 Darrows freezes, her fingers splaying against Jhory's back. She makes a low whistling noise.
00:56:40.935 Darrows says: N-n-noooo they're mine.
00:56:46.457 Darrows groans and flops forward.
00:57:03.215 Jhoryla pulls away, wrapping the smaller woman in her arms.
00:57:09.676 Jhoryla sighs, looking a little dizzy.
00:57:11.778 Jhoryla says: Kat..
00:57:23.797 Jhoryla says: My best friend, Yva Darrows.
00:57:27.641 Jhoryla groans.
00:57:40.231 Katyani says: Like I sed.
00:57:45.375 Katyani says: Shittier den yer taste in hats.
00:57:49.932 Jhoryla says: She's a nice person!
00:57:52.849 Jhoryla says: She's just..
00:57:56.757 Katyani grins wickedly at Jhoryla.
00:57:56.757 Jhoryla says: Having a moment, it's my fault.
00:58:29.006 Katyani says: Wut're y' talkin' 'bout? I didn' see nuttin'.
00:58:34.177 Darrows lifts her face slowly, blinking her eyes. The fog seems to have cleared. She just sits beside her, staring straight ahead.
00:58:56.601 Jhoryla squeezes Yva a little closer. She presses a soft kiss to her forehead.
00:59:14.539 Jhoryla says: Yva's a good warlock.. but she made a friend.
00:59:26.148 Jhoryla says: The sorta friend that you never want to make, if you catch my meaning.
00:59:28.818 Jhoryla eyes Katyani.
00:59:53.174 Katyani says: Ayup, t' sort dat dun become not-friends nice 'n easy.
01:00:01.427 Jhoryla says: Uh huh.
01:00:10.371 Jhoryla says: I think he's a Nathrezim.
01:00:14.247 Jhoryla says: I'm not sure though.
01:00:21.773 Jhoryla says: He's becoming a pain in the ass, at the very least.
01:00:28.319 Katyani says: C'd be worse.
01:00:38.868 Jhoryla gently rocks Yva in her arms, looking rather protective.
01:01:00.893 Darrows rubs her eyes like an over-tired toddler.
01:01:03.172 Jhoryla says: No one respects old fashioned contracts these days.
01:01:09.736 Jhoryla sighs at Katyani, the looks back to Yva.
01:01:12.549 Katyani mutters "Good t' know I wuzn' t' much use, won' be bo'erin' me t' much hopefully."
01:01:29.890 Jhoryla says: Oh, he won't bother you. I think you got the voice to go away though.
01:01:38.240 Jhoryla says: By the way.. that -hurt-.
01:01:41.413 Jhoryla laughs.
01:01:45.162 Jhoryla says: And not in a good way.
01:01:51.396 Katyani says: 'ey, I told y' I didn' know wut t' hell I wuz doin' dere.
01:01:56.321 Katyani says: Do', I gez I did.
01:02:03.846 Jhoryla says: I think that means you did right.
01:02:08.954 Katyani shrugs uncomfortably.
01:02:17.637 Jhoryla says: I'm not exactly a shining spectacle of holy goodness here.
01:02:23.527 Jhoryla laughs.
01:02:25.536 Jhoryla says: Yva?
01:02:52.872 Jhoryla is a mess.
01:03:21.069 Darrows says: Mmm.
01:03:29.181 Jhoryla says: You back with us love?
01:03:41.713 Darrows cracks an eye to look across the table.
01:03:43.423 Darrows says: Mmm.
01:03:45.689 Katyani says: I tink 'm 'ntirely t' sober fer dis, honestly.
01:03:50.842 You nod at Katyani.
01:04:01.541 Darrows says: My thanks for your assistance.
01:04:02.039 Katyani says: Prolly y' t' as well.
01:04:05.517 Darrows 's voice is raspy.
01:04:10.572 Jhoryla says: We all are.
01:04:12.679 Jhoryla mutters.
01:04:13.344 Katyani says: 'll rember t' mail y' a bill.
01:04:25.157 Jhoryla says: Fuck you too Kat.
01:04:29.392 Katyani smirks slyly at Jhoryla.
01:04:33.766 Darrows says: You as well, Jhory. I'm sorry.
01:04:34.300 Jhoryla groans, moving one hand to a temple.
01:04:44.227 Jhoryla says: Don't apologize.
01:04:56.234 Jhoryla glances back at Yva through squinted eyes.
01:05:19.449 Jhoryla says: Icecream.
01:05:23.679 Jhoryla says: This is going to call for icecream.
01:05:26.784 Jhoryla says: And a long bath.
01:05:44.459 Katyani says: Tell me y' ain' combin' t' two.
01:05:56.341 Jhoryla says: Icecream first, then I soak the wings.
01:06:01.690 Jhoryla says: I do have a little sense Kat.
01:06:04.228 Darrows says: I want my bed.
01:06:08.387 Katyani says: 'll, y' ne'er know.
01:06:08.834 Darrows frowns.
01:06:08.834 Jhoryla nods to Yva.
01:06:11.899 Katyani says: Y' might get greedy.
01:06:21.347 Jhoryla says: Want me to take you home?
01:06:24.285 Jhoryla smiles at Yva.
01:06:25.621 Darrows shakes her head 'no'.
01:06:31.099 Darrows lifts her fingers.
01:06:42.177 Jhoryla eyes Cattania.
01:06:51.545 Darrows smiles wearily at her succubus.
01:07:01.860 Darrows says: She'll see me home.
01:07:13.625 Darrows stands and stretches, frowning down at her ruined forearms.
01:07:17.767 Jhoryla says: Very well.
01:07:22.816 Jhoryla looks a little disappointed.
01:07:25.431 Darrows says: Thank you again.
01:07:25.431 Katyani says: Y' want me t' touch y' up dere t'?
01:07:37.283 You look at Cattania and groan.
01:07:53.546 Darrows says: . . . you could come if you want. Jak's probably asleep.
01:07:56.532 Darrows smiles at Jhory.
01:08:10.259 Darrows says: I thought you'd want to have drinks with your friend is all.
01:08:20.166 Jhoryla says: It's alright.
01:08:28.155 Jhoryla digs into a pocket.
01:08:31.639 Katyani says: I ain' gonna keep y' 'f y' wanna go, Jhor.
01:09:03.893 Jhoryla says: Let me see her out of the Cantrip at least.
01:09:15.821 Jhoryla stands.
01:09:21.739 Katyani says: Ayuh ayuh.
01:09:31.094 Darrows says: It was nice meeting you.
01:09:33.653 Darrows looks embarassed.
01:09:42.111 Jhoryla leans over, whispering something to Cattania. She presses something into the demon's hand, and closes it.
01:09:42.111 Katyani says: 'ey, gotta meet people sumhow.
01:09:45.138 You bow before Katyani.
01:09:50.761 Jhoryla says: I'll be back Kat.
01:09:56.147 Katyani raises her hand up in a feeble wave.
01:10:02.188 You blink at Cattania.
01:10:03.792 Jhoryla takes Yva's arm in hers.
01:10:05.872 You are curious what Cattania is up to.
01:10:26.880 Jhoryla says: One of these days, I'm convincing Catt to put some clothing on.
01:10:29.537 Darrows sets about applying gloves over her injuries. She winces - it smarts - but she hides them the best she can.
01:10:44.504 Darrows gives a tired smile.
01:10:50.159 Jhoryla says: You'll be fine.
01:10:53.528 Jhoryla smiles at Yva.