☆ Event Log: Snatched, Part Two

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Snatched - Part Two

I. A Great Escape (20th, Evening) It's been a miserable six days for the Mirrorbound and refugees kept locked away in a basement cell block, subject to all kinds of torment and experimentation. They're a resilient sort, though, and their efforts to organize and bolster each other are not in vain. As the time passes with no sign of the City Guard drawing close to their operations, the Rathmore family grows overconfident, and characters can hear them talking to each other about another mass-kidnapping in the works. The best opening comes late on the night of the 20th. A few of the family's numbers are out - notably, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother are attending an emergency meeting of Parliament, and Constance is making an appearance at the Coven. This leaves the more inexperienced cousins in charge, the lesser known Rathmores with no particular skill outside of cruelty. Changing of the guard begins as usual, a handful of Rathmores delivering some sparse rations and taking their time to choose a few prisoners to remove from their cells, but this time, the Mirrorbound bite back. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Daenerys and Asura, along with the prisoners preparing an organized revolt, a fire started in the torture room provides chaos and cover - and one dead Rathmore cousin, whose body gives up some of the keys to a handful cells. Time to play the cards you've held close to your chest over days of torture, your held-back spells, your tricks, your items that weren't confiscated. A mass escape isn't likely, with so many people still present in the building and so many of the captives injured and tired, but with enough of a distraction in the form of a prison riot, which may be enough to overpower the three Rathmores initially left in the cell block, a handful of scrappy Mirrorbound may make it out to safety before reinforcements arrive. a. The Escape Attempt There is one door out of the cell block, the main, heavy, warded door that the Rathmores enter and exit from every few hours. It's locked down tight - but it's possible to power through it, pick the lock, or charm it open. On the other side of the door, in the greater basement area, they'll find themselves free of the Bond dampening. Witch magic make take some time to return, depending on whether they were drugged or only charmed, but it'll be important to move quickly. The Rathmores' basement area is large - the size of the mansion above and the grounds put together, and they'll find themselves on the lower of two levels. The cellblock turns out to be a room within an even bigger room, with the stairs at the opposite end. The dangers are numerous: magical and mechanical traps set in areas marked off-limits, illusions intended to confuse and turn people around. There is only one completely safe path from the cellblock door to the stairs, unless they take the time to disarm the traps and illusions with their returning magic and abilities. That safe path is faster but more exposed, with two or three Rathmores in pursuit, and also the other people that could occasionally be heard outside the door - young aristocrats in on the kidnapping, who thought the Mirrorbound would be sent home. They're just as surprised to see you as you are them. In fact, it's not difficult to overpower these non-Rathmore kidnappers; they're obviously shocked to see Mirrorbound still here, in such states, and some are quite angry, or scared to learn what they've inadvertently gotten themselves into. A good handful flee instead of fight, but some others follow through on the shouted orders to go after you. Use the chaos your appearance causes to your advantage. Once escapees reach the upper basement level, up the stairs and through a hidden door, a few more traps remain, but up here, it looks more like a normal basement; servants' quarters, empty for some time now, storage rooms full of antiques, and winding hallways connecting them. It's easier to hide in this dusty maze to escape any pursuers, and eventually, they find the servants' exit out onto the back grounds. From there, freedom is just a run and a decorative, wrought-iron fence away. b. The Chaos Back in the cells, everything descends into chaos. The Rathmores are furious; while two or three of the cousins go after the escapees, the rest begin to gather down in the cell block, put out the fire, and the interrogations begin. They don't bother taking prisoners out to torment them now - they can't, with their torture room charred and smokey. Their main focus is forcing prisoners back in, and locking everything down with magic and heavy chains, to ensure no one else gets out. They grow more vicious now, and they begin speaking directly to the captives - they want to know which ones got free, how they managed it, who helped them, where they're going, who they're going to tell. Those who refuse to talk will be gagged or muzzled or simply beaten without finesse, and they'll move on to the next captive. Preying on the Mirrorbound's camaraderie with each other is the tactic they quickly turn to, hurting one to try and make another talk. The talk outside the main door grows louder in these few hours, angrier. Occasionally one of the Rathmore cousins will go out to spin some lies, or simply shout down any protesting. Some of the enchantments were damaged in the riot, though - they can hear you, just as well as you can hear them, muffled but still mostly clear. The more they hear from within, the more the confusion outside grows; all the better for the escaped Mirrorbound. ..."What's going on? Those were Mirrorbound that got out-" "We thought you were sending them home!" "You told us there was no risk, that this would make them leave-" "You don't need to worry about that! Go back upstairs!" "Someone needs to get a message to our Uncle Thomas immediately-"... They're all panicking as their grand plans, flimsy as they may have been, start to crumble around them. It's just a matter of time, now. The OOC post for the escape plotting is here if anyone needs to refer back to it! Eight characters will be escaping first thanks to a joint effort. The rescue will be underway within two hours of their escape, but those two hours are likely to be unpleasant for characters who remain in captivity. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

II. The Cavalry (21st, Very Early Morning) The City Guard is closer than the Rathmores think. Thanks to Mirrorbound investigative help, not always strictly legal but still appreciated nonetheless, they've all followed the clues back and determined a possible address. By the evening of the 20th, several members of the Guard and Witches from the Coven, along with any Mirrorbound who followed the trail, are camped out at a manse nearby, the home of a wealthy widow eager to see her nasty neighbors knocked down a peg. Without solid evidence, the Guard can't get a warrant cleared to search the property owned by a Mr. Barclay, assistant to Thomas Rathmore, but solid evidence comes as soon as eight Mirrorbound manage to fight their way out of captivity, returning to friends and Bonded. They are the last piece of the puzzle, and now legal action can be taken. Theodore Rosethorne, leading a small group from the Coven, sends out a magical message to just the Mirrorbound - they've been found. Anyone who wishes to help bring their missing fellows home, anyone who can help with much-needed healing, or anyone who wishes to bring their captors to justice needs to show up now, because time is of the essence. The Guard can't mobilize more men quickly enough in the middle of the night to be useful and they need all the hands they can get, without a floor plan of the mansion or solid ideas of the captors' numbers. They can barely wait an hour for more hands to arrive before it begins. a. The Rescue Sowilo, Theodore's Bonded Fae and a skilled hand at illusions (and seeing through such), leads the rescue efforts, along with some of Theodore's Witches from the Coven. With information from the escapees, they plan to go through the back, take the servants' exit, and make their way down to the basement levels, while Theodore's assault team will go through the front doors, making as much noise as possible. Sowilo's illusions will keep their presence masked at least until they get into the house. The aim is to get through as quietly as possible, find the cellblock, and secure a safe route to take the prisoners out without them getting hurt any worse than they are. It's easier said than done. Magical and mechanical traps of various types litter both basement floors, and heavy illusion work has been placed to obscure the way. Splitting into smaller groups to disarm the traps and deal with the illusions will be necessary, as the entire group will make its way down to the cellblock as quickly as possible. Sowilo hopes they face little to no resistance, with Theodore's group doing their job, but a few, Rathmores and otherwise, are bound to try and stop them; in that case, they will have to fight. "Make sure you can argue a case for self-defense, if you have to hurt them," Sowilo will tell the rescuers and later the freed prisoners on the way out, wings fluttering agitatedly. "Let them be arrested and publicly humiliated in court - ruin their whole family line for generations to come." He's not happy about it either, and will overlook some of the captors getting a taste of what they deserve, but deaths are not permitted on his or the Witches' watch: anyone who takes things too far will find that the person they're attacking has simply vanished - a convincing illusion - before they're handily knocked out with a spell. They face less resistance than the assault team, but less is not none; a few of the Rathmores are determined to salvage their efforts, and some of their unwitting aristocratic cronies have sided with them. Once they reach the cellblock, dismantling the enchantments that keep the prisoners restrained and addled is the first order of business for some. Others can start unlocking cells and helping people out of their restraints. Protection for the escapees on their way out will also be necessary, as well as medical attention back at the temporary base camp. The main focus has to be on those lost friends and loved ones, bringing them back out to freedom and making sure they're tended to - not on revenge. b. The Assault Theodore Rosethorne, along with some members of the City Guard and some Witches from the Coven, leads the assault. While the rescue team goes around the back, they plan to go through the front door, as loudly and conspicuously as possible. The mansion is large and needs to be swept from top to bottom for perpetrators and evidence that can be used in court. Those joining up with this team are warned that it needs to remain legal - the Mirrorbound and the refugees, all of them, have a very shaky, uncertain legal status within the city, and a mass murder could severely harm what good will they have from the locals as well as their status here. After all, many are still neutral to positive on the Mirrorbound, but that could change in an instant. The Coven will take as much responsibility as they can, but they cannot accept the blame for a senseless slaughter. Splitting into smaller groups will be necessary in order to cover more ground quickly. The aim is to locate, subdue, and arrest as many of the culprits inside as they can. The Guard provides magic-suppressing cuffs, and the Coven a basic knock-out spell, but since many will not go so willingly, some degree of force may be unavoidable. If there's one thing the rich fear, it's a legal black mark on their family name and reputation - the Rathmores will fight back harder than their underlings, but they're also the ones they need alive to face the justice system. Those outside the family, those who only knew about the kidnapping portion, are a mixed bag - some might fight back, siding with the Rathmores, but some might give themselves up once the realization of what happened in that basement sinks in. Once they make their entrance, things move quickly. Several wealthy aristocrats either flee or fight, but their attention is thankfully pulled away from the basement and toward the upper levels. There are dozens of rooms to search, and many are cluttered with an old hoarding family's antiques, furniture piled against doors and windows blocking access to some areas, hundreds of nooks and crannies among the sheer amount of stuff provide cover for culprits to hide in. It's going to be work to ferret them all out and bring them in. Worse still, the Rathmores have collected dozens of cursed or enchanted objects that may be used as weapons against the forces of justice. Some degree of force is expected, but still if anyone tries to take things too far, they might find themselves slapped into cuffs or knocked out with a spell themselves. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

III. The After (21st On) Activity continues all through the night and late into the morning at the former Rathmore estate. All the Rathmores and a couple dozen other wealthy aristocrats are brought out in cuffs over the course of several hours, while all the prisoners are liberated to receive medical attention and reunite with their loved ones. The Guard take statements from everyone who will give one - what they witnessed, what happened to them, what they know - and all who were affected are told they will be invited to testify at trial. A gathering crowd forms at the end of the street, wealthy neighbors aghast at the horrors they're learning had occurred right in their District. Most are disgusted with the once-prominent family. On the steps of the Parliament building, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother, all sitting members of Parliament themselves, are publicly arrested in front of colleagues and on-lookers early in the morning. Constance Rathmore is taken out of the Coven roughly in magic-suppressing cuffs, surrounded by a small group of furious Witches, students of the Coven who spent the week trying to find the missing Mirrorbound and refugees with Divination. They escort her to the prison themselves. All who are arrested are transported to holding cells of their own within the City Guard - all except those requiring urgent medical attention, who will remain cuffed to their hospital beds until trial. Nessie and Mhairi make an appearance at one point to give the Mirrorbound their sincerest apologies for what happened, and Mhairi delivers the news that they're pushing for an expedited trial in Parliament, in order to keep Thomas Rathmore from bribing any contacts. They, along with Theodore and Sowilo, and the Guard, are all open and forthright with what will happen next: public trial and a certain conviction, followed by sentencing. They don't expect that the Rathmores will get away lightly; what they did is too public and too horrific for even the anti-Mirrorbound wealthy to stomach. Those others who were involved, who weren't aware of what was going on behind that metal door, they'll still face justice themselves, no doubt. In the meanwhile, those kept hostage will need all the help they can get to reach something resembling normal again. Hug your loved ones, nourish your Bonds with each other, and begin trying to heal together.

Welcome to Part Two of January's event log, Snatched! An aftermath summary of the trial and sentencing will go up on Feb. 4, the day after the City Tracker deadline, so get your submissions in if you have them! More politically-oriented characters may find an opening in the near future to enact change within Parliament and provide their own representation within the city...

And as a general reminder, please make sure to use content warnings where necessary in your headers!

Comments

[morbide]

[He's said something to upset her, but Henry doesn't flinch. He keeps that slight smile on his lips.]

Yeah, but not everyone can escape all at once. Some of you had to go first. Right? So that you could come and get us.

[Henry shakes his head.]

Doesn't make it any easier, what you had to do. That's why you're standing here, after all, right? You wish you could trade your burden of guilt with the pain of the bruised and battered, in body and soul.

[showsnopiety]

[He was being reasonable. Which...she understood. But she didn't like it in the least. Because it was the truth.

She did run.]

I know. It's completely practical and reasonable. We're being harvested, we may be sold at any moment to another city and death is looming closer....

[She exhaled through her teeth, and if her nails weren't down to the quick, she would have ripped into her blanket already.]

I could deal with the pain better then most. It feels...painful but it's also....

[So, so good.]

[morbide]

[This is where his disconnect lies, easily. When Caren trails off, Henry hums in curiosity. It feels painful, but also...

Torture is not new to him. Pain has been driven into his skin so thoroughly that he can't feel it anymore. It haunts his memory, and as it does, he's unable to complete her sentence. He can't help the eager way he leans in, trying to complete the picture.]

You can deal with it, but I betcha a lot of other folks think they could, too. So if it's painful... What else is it, to you? I think this is where you've lost me, Caren.

[He wishes he could help ease the tenseness with which she grips onto the blanket. Watching her do so with her nails cut down so far would cause him to wince, if he weren't wearing that smile in its place.]

[showsnopiety]

Has anyone ever told you you have a perverted smile...

[He's not going away until he gets a answer. She knows the type. But may be this would make him leave her be. Agree that she was, in fact, terrible.]

Good. It hurt, but it felt good. It wasn't anything I could help. Even as I wanted it to stop, I wanted more.

[morbide]

Oh. Shucks.

[Calling his smile perverted...? That's a first. Henry flushes at that and laughs sheepishly, rubbing the side of his neck.]

Yeah, wowza. I wasn't expecting that. Soooo... are you a masochist, or something? I totally can't relate! I didn't think you were gonna say you actually found it enjoyable to any extent, but I guess that kinda makes sense, now...

[Why she might envy them, even when he imagines that the responsibility of escaping would carry such weight. It wasn't a sense of martyrdom, then...? Desire? He's still flustered. You did it, Caren.]

[showsnopiety]

[Well, she expected some kind of reaction and...oh wow, he's blushing. Look at that. She hadn't known he could blush.]

Yes, I am a masochist. It was part of...something I had previously.

[Not important. She looks away, staring at nothing in particular.]

It helped me survive before. But now you know the dirty little secret of mine. You can pretend I didn't say anything, if it helps.

[morbide]

[Now that's interesting.

Henry makes himself more comfortable at Caren's side, wrapping himself in his new cape the way she does with the blanket — he always ran a bit cold, but performing necromantic spells drains him significantly. He turns over her statement in his mind, fiddling with the edges of his cloak. Developing masochistic tendencies for the sake of survival... While he couldn't understand her before, that he can understand. He shakes his head.]

No, I'm not pretending anything. Unless YOU wanted me to. Did it help you survive stuff like this?

[showsnopiety]

[And here she thought that hearing such a strange confession would send Henry off with his excuses and fleeing to help someone who would be all too thankful for his attentions and magic assists.

But who knew. Maybe he was too tired from magic exhaustion.]

It did. I wouldn't have been able to offer anything if I'd been immobilized by pain.

What I meant before was...if it's uncomfortable, it's fine. Or disappointing.

[morbide]

I'm not disappointed. Don't think I have any space to have any kind of opinion on somebody's reasons for wishing other folks didn't have to suffer.

[That's a but presumptuous on Henry's part, but if she laments the heroics of others, of course it would be because she must wish nobody had to endure any further torture.

He breathes a laugh.]

You know what? When I see all of you filing out of there, I can't help but wish it were me. Weird, huh? [He struggles to articulate his feelings, his smile tensing.] ...Feeling guilty for having not been picked hurts in a way that torture doesn't. Masochism aside, I guess I'm saying I see why you're denying treatment. No amount of healing any of us healers could offer would make up for what you all had to endure.

[showsnopiety]

[Didn't have any space...huh. But she was quiet, and she listened to him, staring down at her blanket covered hands. And...she sighed, and closed her eyes.]

They're strangers wanting to touch me with their magic. While they're meaning well, they're still strangers.

After strangers had been touching me all week, dehumanizing me.

[She brought up a hand, showing him how, while mostly human, she had raised finger pads, like a cats.]

I had to listen while they were debating whether to leave me with my hand, or take it off for profit. I was meat. And every time someone comes close to touch, I'm reminded how I'm not a person. Just...meat. A creature used for profit, at best.

[morbide]

[Henry can't help it when he smiles at her hand. It's been some time since he's been able to take stock of Caren's transformation, and that means that a lot's changed. The Monsters are really something, and even though they're discussing the nature of her dehumanization and torture, he imagines what she must be like separate from all of that: fur and feathers, ears and wings, a unique amalgamation all her own. He wonders how she adapted and grew with it.

And next, Henry feels compelled to touch. But he hears her express her disgust for it, so he abstains out of consideration for her feelings. He wouldn't want to be the source for her upset. If she feels more at peace suffering with her injuries, being granted that freedom takes greater precedence than any wish to heal her.]

I can see why they'd wanna chop your hand off and make a shiny cune off it. It IS a pretty hand. I see Monster paws and claws in the black market all the time.

[Hm. He never used to think of them as being anything more than limbs belonging to a dead Monster, but this sheds some new light on the matter. Unsettling. Henry's no good at sugar-coating anything, though. Caren has reality right: people place a premium on Monster parts, and it's a miracle they didn't end up taking her hand, or worse.]

But just because you have valuable parts to people with messed-up priorities, that doesn't mean you're not a person. Profit's FAR from your "best" use, Caren. People who think that about you aren't good people.

[showsnopiety]

[If it wasn't for the retractable nails being so messed up, she'd have a very cute hand. She had to grow used to not being completely human, still struggled with the idea of some of the inhuman things she did. And she knew she would attack him if he tried to touch her.

She was had a sore point when it came to touching right then.]

Intellectually that seems reasonable. Logical. But it's not...sinking in. It doesn't make sense.

[morbide]

Mmm. I get that.

[No helping it when it's hard to settle in. He doesn't consider either of them to be "damaged goods," as the phrase goes, but he relates to the sentiment. When others tell him he's good, selfless, or considerate, it sits wrong in the way that telling her she's worth more than the sum of her parts must feel to her. Drawing that connection, it feels a little silly and hypocritical to be giving any advice or well wishes. But he does it anyway — Henry's not flawless by any means. He'd be the first to acknowledge that.]

All you can really do is trust what we say, if you can't believe it for yourself.

[Says Henry, who would vehemently reject notions that don't fit in his brain. Before he can acknowledge that, he quickly changes gears with a renewed smile, cheeky and playful.]

Hey, hey. Surely you got your torturers good, at least once, right? Did you tear into 'em at all while you were down there, or in your escape?

[showsnopiety]

[Yeah it might with reassurance and time but...it's not going to happen right off, and trying to force it...well, that'd make things worse in the long wrong. Or at least have her walk away.

Here at least, she's smiling a bit. Not a really nice smile, but still a smile. People...do try to be nice. But it's better to talk about the blows she managed to make.]

Not during the escape. I did damage the door locking us all in. But I managed to get an ear. Nearly an eye, once.

That was when they tried to pin me down, get my teeth. They learned not to try after I kept throwing them against the walls, despite the restraints.

I tried being one of the troublesome prisoners, maul them a bit so others could keep up the planning.

[morbide]

[Talking about the gore and glory is always a pleasant diversion. The Witch listens with rapt attention, smiling all the while and emitting a short giggle here or there when things get good: nearly an eye (but definitely an ear), when they learned better, being troublesome.

These are more comfortable, easy topics for him. Caren opens up significantly, so it must be the case for her, too.]

Look at you, raising hell! That's the spirit. They couldn't have asked for a better prisoner, huh? If I were in there with you, I'd be right by your side: I'd take their other ear, saw to it that your throw had that much more impact, and helped you keep them occupied for the sake of those tactical minds.

[He wonders if she hates them. It's a question he'd get so often from people, about his parents, his institution, the military... Doesn't he hold a grudge? Stuff like that. He doesn't think she needs that kind of question right now. He never cares for that kind of question, but at least he understands now where the thought comes from on the outside.]

Is there anything I can do for you, besides healing? Oh, oh, maybe you're thirsty. I remember that sometimes they'd make me go for days and days without food or water... Buuut I guess that depends on the intent of your captors, nya ha! So how about it?

[Giving them food or water is never because they care, if they did. It's to keep them alive so that they suffer for longer. He knows this.]

[showsnopiety]

It's been awhile since I could enjoy raising hell. It would have been nice if you'd been there with me-especially if you had a spell to give them the sensation of burning from the inside.

That would have taken the guards down for awhile, so the others could keep up planning the prison riot.

[Ah, that's nice. It's really nice to just talk and enjoy the violence, and the blood and gore. She does feel a little regret that she didn't rend them down.

But then Henry had to start the fretting thing with a side of suffering, a hint that he knew it was like. Her ears flicked back briefly, before straightening.]

Water. I haven't eaten all week, so I don't want to die from the shock of eating something.

[She smiled. Or grimaced. Take your pick.]

And I'm not sure what I'd want to eat. They tried to get me to eat one of my friends once. I got out of it by pretending to pass out.

Sloppy.

[morbide]

Wowzers.

[Henry laughs. It's not because it's particularly funny, but it's the kind of emotion he uses to replace things like performative wincing.]

So they starved you in hopes of showing how barbaric Monsters can be... Yeah, that checks out. Glad you didn't have to. Eat one of your friends, I mean. Especially when they look so tasty, being driven mad by pain and suffering and dampening of Bonds... Could've been a plate of entrails with blood for sauce! Mmm, tasty.

[Please pardon him... While he replies to her, he does a bit of backing up. He raises his finger to give her the indication that he'll be right back "in a second," before he shuffles off... and returns, with a metal cup of water, the sort they have with the rescue sector of the guard — they've prepared for this kind of problem. Henry offers it to her.]

Here you go! Normal water. I'm glad you had fun terrorizing the Rathmores, whenever you could. I totally feel you on the enjoyment piece. I miss war zones full of bad guys to pick off...

[showsnopiety]

The worst part was that it was tempting for a few moments. Hated that.

[She can't help that impulse, but it was there. But she waits for him to come ba k before she keeps going, taking the water and sipping.

Steady sipping though. It's tempting to guzzle it.]

I don't have a bond right now. But you know...we could go creature hunting. Mimics wouldn't be a bad idea if you want materials to sell.

[morbide]

[Such restraint, Caren! Henry tucks his hands behind his back, pleased to do some good. Go figure that lots of the rescue end up wanting to feel like they've helped when they feel so utterly helpless.

At Caren's proposition, Henry lights up.]

Creature hunting? Oh hecks yeah! That sounds like a blast! [He raises his fingers, and a jolt of lightning archs from one finger to the other.] I've been brushing up on my spell slinging in the evocation discipline, and I'd be TOTALLY into it. You'd come with me? Really?

[showsnopiety]

[She'd love another cup. But she pulled the cup away with a little regret.]

I thought you'd enjoy it. But yes, I'd come with you. I'd just need to make sure to bring a weapon with me-I was taught to use a short sword before.

[And she used her nails. And teeth.]

Is there any other weapons you think I should use?

[morbide]

Couldn't you just...?

[Ah. Henry catches himself before he finishes. One look at her body's enough to remind him that Caren might not be in the best condition to be attacking with her natural abilities. She's a Chimera, if her amalgamation of attributes are any indicator, but the Rathmores have likely stripped her of the weapons her body provides. Claws or talons, even her wings might be damaged. No wonder she's talking weapons.

He closes his mouth and smiles.]

A short sword's a good plan to have. I'm not super talented in weapons besides a teensy bit of knifeplay, since I'm so used to relying on magic... But how do you normally go about fighting, nowadays? I mean, if you weren't ravaged and hurting.

[showsnopiety]

They've taken that all away from me.

[She smiles, but it's more of a grimace. She's lucky she still has her teeth. But...it was a good recovery really.]

I used to do it far more refined-I had a special cloth that I could use but-it's more brute force these days.

It helps when you're strong enough to break bones with a bit of effort.

[morbide]

[To be honest, Henry looks for teeth when she smiles. He audibly sighs in relief when he sees them, having been alerted to the fact that she might have had all kinds of precious attributes taken from her.

A cloth? What ever could that mean? Henry decides that it must have been a blindfold or a gag of some kind, something to help in the "cleanness" of a kill. He nods, but wonders further if he should ask.]

Woooow... If you're still that strong, I doubt you'd need anything but a short sword. And even if you had to use what you could, I'd make sure to cover your back so that you could get as many grisly kills in as you wanted without all of the pain! I haven't been practicing for half a year so I could stand around and chew on my fingers, yanno. That way, if you need to blow off some steam sooner rather than later, I'll make it so you can without worry.

[showsnopiety]

[They had tried. But even with their spells, she was too nasty when it came to their pliers.

And too, they weren't sure what spell her teeth would be useful.]

It would take longer without one. That is, unless I beat them into a bag of bone pebbles.

[She considered. And then:]

I would sincerely enjoy it. However, it may take a week or more before I could travel very far.

[She may be stubborn, but she's not going to risk Henry's life due to it.]

[morbide]

[Henry hardly considers that she's thinking of his well-being when she says so, but he nods in understanding, taking it to be her knowing her own limits. Most people do, unless they're as chaotic as... well, Caren and Henry seem to be in their own rights.]

Sure! Totally understandable. I'm okay with waiting for as long as it takes, 'cause I'm not about to pass up a good time! Even if I have to wait a whole month for it.

[A pause. Henry raises a finger.]

Say. Are you sure you don't want any healing spells? I just thought I'd offer one last time, in case you changed your mind.