Singha: (roll per+emp guys)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Gahh, net connection's hiccuping...one sec.))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,4,7,9,2,7,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,8,7,4,5,3,7,

Singha: (Oh, one minor correction from yesterday: For init it's not wits+emp, it's wits+expression, I just noted that typo this am, sorry))

Singha: As you speed over the terrain, you notice a hill in the distance to the northwest, that has a silhouette of a boot--a combat boot--upturned with the toe pointing toward the sky, as if worn by a sleeping man. Behind it is a butte shaped like a Tombstone.

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Can I have a repost of the realm's rules?))

Singha: The road appears to be lined with some type of trees dead ahead, and the town itself has that typpical western clapboard construction you see in so many movies. To the south of the road, running parallel to it, are train tracks. The tracks lead to what looks like a small conical shaped mountain, atop which sits a mining structure. The particularly perceptive (which you both happen to be) will note that overhead the stars are those of the Southern Hemisphere. There is no moon in the sky.

Singha: Corrected Rules: ((okay, quick rules for this realm: You roll per+emp for all sensory attempts, such as vision, hearing, touch, awareness. You add wits+EXPRESSION to init rolls, instead of dex+wits. You roll Cha instead of STA and Man instead of STR, and Wits instead of Dex. In short, all physical stats are mental or social))

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Thanks))

Faris Chiaroscuro: The lion chuffs on seeing the hill, but keeps following Reyna.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She makes a mental note not to necessarily blow up this mine, just because she looks like Miss Zorro. ((Int+Survival to identify the trees?))

Singha: As you draw closer to the town, you see that what look like trees lining the road, are, in fact, gallows. But the kind of gallows one sees in the hangman game. Each gallows has a person hanging from it. (roll per+emp again to identify any of those hanging)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 8,4,3,7,2,4,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,1,2,6,6,6,2,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Was Emp, not my requested Survival roll))

Singha: Faris and Reyna both see one of the fresher corpses to be dangling is that of Jeremy Thomas. A little further down, closer to the town and obviously there for a few months, Faris finds Carla anc Karlos dangling side by side, a double hanging. Reyna's looking at the other side of the road and she sees Jimmy Cricket hanging there.

Singha: In the two gallows closest to the town, Va dangles on the side of the road with the mine, and Moe on the side toward the Boot and Tombstone.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Her nose wrinkles, and she looks to Frank and Hidalgo. "What'd they all get hung for?"

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Treason," he rumbles.

Singha: In the town itself, several cowboys and horses mill around on the streets. Festive music with a bit of a bossa nova flair plays from the saloon, which seems to be the center piece of the town. A dog, that looks half collie and half australian shepherd, sits on the boardwalk outside the salooon. When it sees Reyna and Faris and Frank and Hidalgo enter the town, it stands up and starts barking.

Singha: ((And just to clarify there are ~lots~ of gallows and lots of people hanging on them you either don't recognize, or are too covered in dust or locomotive grime for you to recognize.)

Faris Chiaroscuro: He regards the dog, slowing to walk alongside Hidalgo.

Singha: At the barking, Hidalgo slows to a walk, then stops. All the cowboys draw their six shooters-which look not like Colt .45's but Webley revolvers--and point them at Faris and Reyna.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He stops and sits.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She glances to the dog...then, to the cowboys. Her eyebrow raises as she subtly feels to where Harry should be.

Singha: The noise in the saloon stops and Cowboys--some Reyna, Ms. Pop Culture herself, recognizes from various Western movies--file out of the saloon, lining up on the boardwalk with their guns and rifles drawn.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: See, boys and girls, it pays to watch your television and have a DVD collection the size of Mount Rushmore.

Singha: "What's yer business here, strangers?" Clint Eastwood asks them.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He, on the other hand, never really got the whole pop culture thing, although he can recognise the occasional face here and there from older (much older) movies.

Singha: Faris finds he does indeed recognize Will Rogers, Gene Autry, and Monty Montana. Who actually look a little washed out, like colorized black and white.

Singha: Those who are actually paying close attention find that there are several Clint Eastwoods, each from a different movie.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He blinks languidly, waiting for Reyna to speak.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Which Clint is this that's talking?))

Singha: As Reyna feels around for Harry she feels a hand on her thigh, and a presence standing beside her.

Singha: (roll int+enig to figure out which Clint)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,7,1,1,6,7,

Singha: Reyna's not sure but she ~thinks~ the Clint talking to her is either from Bronco Billy or Unforgiven.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks to Faris a moment, then back to Clint. "We're just passing through. Looking for a man." She then looks over at Harry, smiling a little bit.

Singha: Harry, Faris finds, is a huge looking guy, ugly as sin, who bears a striking resemblance to Marv (MIckey Rourke) in Sin City.

Singha: "Looking for who?" Clint asks.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Hey, you." She grins at Harry, and looks over to Clint. Unforgiven or Billy Bronco... redemption or idealism. Hmmm. Tough call. She gives it a shot...either is good. "We're looking for Trevor Dunne."

Singha: Clint purses his lips, considering this. Some of the other cowboys exchange glances. "What do you want with him?" Clint asks.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: A glance to Faris, then back to Clint. "We're here to help him reform." Closest way she can put it that Clint might like.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She does a quick check to see if she can speak to Faris through Firesnake. You there, Lion-O?

Singha: Alas, Firesnake has no real power here, even if he had returned from going to Sea with Silkie.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Faris had used his name...no harm in her using hers, she supposes. "I'm Reyna." She nods to the lion. "That's Faris. This is Harry."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He simply sits, silent, blinking now and again.

Singha: Eastwood clears his throat and says "I'm William Munny." He nods to the others, who put their guns away. "Come on in and sit a spell."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He waits for Reyna to dismount, then rises to his feet and pads after her.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Okay, Unforgiven Clint. She nods, dismounting from Hilalgo and patting Marv-Harry on the shoulder. "C'mon, Babe. Let's get a drink." He goes to head in.

Singha: (roll per+emp)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,8,9,2,4,2,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 10,5,9,3,9,6,3,

Singha: About the only things Reyna notices upon entering the saloon is a) This is the only building that looks as if it hasn't been recently built, tho there is about 60$ of the structure made of new lumber. b) there are horses sitting around the tables and at the bar, drinking beer and playing poker.

Singha: (60% doh)

Singha: Karlos notices also that: there is a little boy sitting at one of the tables, playing cards with three horses and an Australian shepherd. The decor of the place appears like that of the Concerto before Malc remodled it. The bartender is Jan. The dancing girls are all Trevor's mother.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He chuffs a little. At least he knows this song.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Whoa. When the hell did we walk into a Normal Rockwell meets Pogs Playing Poker painting?" She mutters it as she looks around, then over to Faris.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Dogs))

Singha: Faris also notices that the rifle on the wall behind the bar is the same one from the house in the mining town, and that anyone in the bar who is with the military is wearing not US uniforms but dressed as participants from both sides of the Boer War.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She lets Faris take the lead from here. She is clueless.

Singha: "I'm afraid Trevor Dunne escaped," William Munny says, coming into the saloon behind them. "He's probably out in the Badlands. You'll have to form a posse if you want to bring him in."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He blinks up at Munny, his voice deep, rich, as he replies "Are you offering aid?"

Singha: Munny shakes his head. "I ain't like that no more."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He chuckles gently, but nods. "I see."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods to Munny. Of course he isn't. "You know where the Preacher is? Maybe he can help..." She means from Pale Rider, of couse. "Was Rooster out looking for him?"

Singha: Munny nods to Reyna. "Yeah. That little boy there offered Rooster twenty dollars in gold if he'd hunt the bastard down." He indicates the little kid playing poker with the animals.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: A glance to the boy. "I see..." She looks over to Faris, raising a brow as if to say Ideas?

Singha: "No preacher in this town," a soldier at the bar says to Reyna's request--in an Australian accent. "We're al pagans, here." (And if you're familiar with the flick Breaker Morant, this guy is...Breaker Morant. *G*))

Faris Chiaroscuro: His tail flicks, his gaze that kind of vacant that it tends to go when he's out of his depth.

Singha: (per+emp, Reyna)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks over at Breaker, not recognizing him. Her pop culture skills have failed her...damn Australian films, and nods, looking back to the lion.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 7,1,4,9,8,9,

Faris Chiaroscuro: He rises and starts padding slowly toward the boy.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: A sigh, and she looks at Faris, tilting her head over to the Kids, Dogs & Horses Playing Poker table. She walks on over, smiling at the group as they approach. "Howdy." When in Tombstone, do like the cowboys do.

Singha: As Karlos gets closer to the table, he realizes the little kid is Trevor at around age 8. The dog is of course Merlin.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He plops his bum down beside Trevor.

Singha: Little Trevor looks up and smiles at Reyna. "Howdy pardner." He has a Boer accent but it's clear he's trying to sound like a cowboy.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Do you mind if we join your game?" The Zeta-Jones version of the lopsided grin goes to the horses and Merlin.

Singha: Strangely, the music that the girls are dancing to is...Freebird.

Singha: "Okay," Trevor says, and the horses scoot back, the table magically growing to accomodate the lion and the beautiful woman.

Singha: (both of you per+emp on Trevor)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,10,2,9,2,2,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 4,4,3,3,6,3,6,

Singha: There are a few bruises on TRev's face and he sits stiffly, as if in pain.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He leans in, softly licking Trevor's face.

Singha: The Buckskin horse shuffles the cards and starts dealing, while the Paint sips his beer and the Appaloosa picks some lint off his hoof.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She takes a seat, looking over at Trevor and frowning a little. "What happened?" She gestures to her face as example of what she means.

Singha: Trev smiles and hugs Faris. "I'm glad you could make it."

Singha: He shrugs at Reyna, as if it's no big deal. "Oh, Va was cross wid me."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He releases a deep, rumbling purr.

Singha: "Is he your bodyguard?" Merlin asks Reyna about HArry, who looms behind her, protectively.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: The frown remains. "That wasn't nice of him." She picks up her cards as their dealt.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: A smile to Merlin. "More then that. He's an long-time friend. We're very close." She grins up at Harry.

Singha: The cards themselves have nothing on the face, but are blank.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He glances to Reyna.

Faris Chiaroscuro: 8,8,7,10,8,2,7,

Singha: Trev frowns at Reyna, then looks suspiciously at Harry. "Who is that?"

Faris Chiaroscuro: ~TP to Reyna~ "Trevor refers to Xu as 'Va'."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ~TP~ "Got it." She smiles to Trevor. "That's Harry."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He nuzzles Trevor's elbow, still purring.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "So you sent Rooster after Va, then?"

Singha: "Harry," Trevor repeats, lookign a little jealous at how devoted the two are to one another. He looks to Faris, and then picks up his card, sulking slightly.

Singha: "Yes, I did. I want him to hang with the rest of the bad people."

Singha: "He tried to destroy my town."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He chuffs softly. "We all lose our towns," he says mournfully. "But we build new ones."

Singha: "I dun't lose," Trevor says, eyes flashing viciously. "I ged even."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods. "Towns do have to be rebuilt from time to time. Sometimes we're not always thinking clearly when we do things. We do things we wouldn't otherwise mean to."

Singha: (and sorry, i'm still not fully awake, just assume there is no "th' sound from Trevor, he can't pronounce that.)

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Then you lose," he says softly. "And deep down you know it. Otherwise you wouldn't look at Harry the way you did."

Singha: He sulks as but Faris and Reyna go against him. He pushes away from the table. "I don't want to play wid you any longer."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He watches Trevor. "You know how to win, Trevor. Because you've seen it happen. But I'll understand if you're not ready."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches quietly, sighing a little bit.

Singha: (roll per+emp guy)

Faris Chiaroscuro: 6,9,4,2,2,5,1,

Singha: ((Guys that was supposed to be))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 9,8,3,10,8,4,

Singha: Faris, apparently has his back to the stage, and notices only the lights in the kerosene lanters flickering. But Reyna sees the dancing girls instantly transforming from listless, dishwater blondes, to horrifica, ravening skeletons

Singha: They leap from the stage at Faris and Reyna

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Uh-oh. The trip's turning bad. She looks to Faris. "Perhaps we should round that posse up."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Or not, as they attack.

Singha: (Init time guys, roll 1 dice, add per+expression)

Faris Chiaroscuro: He blinks up at Reyna. "I'm not hunting Xu down like a dog."

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,

Singha: 2,

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((That'd be 6 then))

Singha: (7)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((8))

Singha: (So, Fastest to slowest: Reyna, Faris, Skeletons. Declare in reverse order, skeletons are attacking.)

Faris Chiaroscuro: Well as yet he still has no idea they're under attack. So he gets up and starts toward the door.

Singha: (oh, I forgot one...))

Singha: 1,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Harry! Faris, attack from behind!" She moves to dodge a skeleton, then Shift up (Splitting Actions, dodge first, then skeleton)

Singha: (6) So at the same time Karlos gets up, Merlin leaps to intercept the skeleton attacking Karlos.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Rolling Dodge, then Shift))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((WP to shift))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,1,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,2,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((WOW))

Singha: ((ok, wits+emp to dodge, Wits+expression to attack))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Die pool the same))

Singha: 3,8,7,10,9,

Singha: 6,5,1,5,

Singha: 2,7,7,9,6,

Singha: 1,9,2,7,6,

Singha: 1,3,10,4,4,7,2,

Singha: 8,1,4,3,3,4,7,

Singha: okay, recap...

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((RECAP: You all suck.))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((I second that recap))

Singha: Reyne moves to dodge and shift, and manages to shift, but finds herself still wearing the restrictive ball gown. She sucks at the dodge and gets nailed by one of the skeletons which digs its claws into her and injects an icy chill of despair into her. Karlos almost gets nailed but Merlin launches himself at the skeleton and grabs it by the throat, but is impaled by her boney hands ath the same time. Trevor, stands there like a litt;e kid and puts his hands over his eares and closes his eyes, makinga keeninng noise.

Singha: ((Okay guys...for this realm, you roll WP to damage, and also to soak, so roll WP Reyna and Karlos to soak the damage inflicted on you by the skeleton moms.))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 8,7,8,9,9,2,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 2,8,6,5,3,10,2,8,

Singha: Reyna feels a whole shitload of toxic emotions trying to enter her, but she easily fends them off. Through Rose, Faris feels the attack on Merlin was meant for him, and his love for Trevor and for Merlin absorbs what could have been a fatal blow.

Singha: More of the skeletons attack, with three on Karlos/Merlin and three on Reyna/Harry.

Singha: Merlin is leaping to defend Karlos.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He turns, slowly shifting as he does so, widening his arms as if to offer the skeletons his embrace. He draws on Rose, on those blooms climbing his spine, circling his chest, and resting over his heart, and reaches out, offering nothing but the love he has.

Singha: 9,3,8,5,

Singha: 3,7,8,4,

Singha: 9,2,3,9,

Singha: 2,9,5,5,4,

Singha: 8,8,5,5,5,4,6,

Singha: 10,5,1,8,9,9,7,

Singha: 9,7,6,4,9,1,6,

Singha: 9,1,1,8,7,9,3,

Singha: (Roll WP Karlos, then roll 9 dice for Rose)

Faris Chiaroscuro: 5,5,8,7,5,9,5,5,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,2,3,4,6,8,6,7,7,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Corsets blow," she mutters, even as she notes Faris's maneuver. They're outnumbered...worth a shot. She calls out to Lady Whitesnake, and mimics Heart's action.

Singha: (Roll GN to activate LWS )

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,5,10,9,2,

Singha: (Now roll WP and 9 for LWS)

Singha: 4,4,6,8,

Singha: 5,8,10,8,

Singha: 8,9,9,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,1,3,9,2,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,2,4,4,2,7,8,9,3,

Singha: Okay recap...

Singha: Reyna opens herself to LWS, and feels her chest flare up with that warmth, that connection, she allows the skeletons to attack her, and is pierced 3 times, while Harry stands beside her and growls in frustration at what a dumb broad she is letting herself gett attacked like that. Karlos, too allows himself to be attacked, tho Merlin fights vailently agianst the skeletons... (more)

Singha: Reyna doesn't quite manage the conviction needed to defy these skeletons. She's not sure enough in her love, in her faith in Trevor, and the doubts start to flood her, even past LWS's warmth and protection. He doesn't really love her. What is she doing here, anyway? She should never have let Trevor manipulate her feelings this way...all he ever really does is use her for sex. He only fucked her to get back at his father...

Singha: Karlos, on the other hand, is eminently comfortable with turnign things over to Rose, and tho he's aware of the hatreds and toxins pressing on him, he's not affected by them, especially not when Merlin takes a chunk out of of one of the skeletons.

Singha: Trevor continues to stand with his ears covered, eyes closed, and screaming.

Singha: (new round, declarations?) The skeletons on Reyna start to consume her. The one's on Karlos are starting to dissolve and are backtracking and screaming in anguish and hatred. Merlin rushes over to help Reyna since Karlos has his in hand

Faris Chiaroscuro: He gently settles his arms about the nearest skeleton, and kisses her on the forehead.

Singha: 10,4,6,2,5,9,4,

Singha: 9,6,7,10,3,

Singha: 3,5,5,5,4,9,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Fuck this shit. She's trying to get her ass away and dodge, trying to will Harry to attack. "Harry, help!"

Singha: That's all Harry needs and he leaps into the Fray, scooping up Trevor and putting him in a headlock, saying "Call them off!"

Singha: (roll wits+sub to dodge Reyna)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Dodg for 2 attacks))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,8,2,2,

Singha: (so roll it 2x. *G*)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,5,9,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Full pools? I was assuming split actions.))

Singha: 5,7,6,4,

Singha: 7,6,9,4,

Singha: 7,6,8,9,

Singha: (No, full pools. You are, effectively thinking all of this, not physically doing it so not constrained by physical laws)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Okay, rerolls then))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,9,5,7,8,9,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,7,9,7,1,5,

Singha: (Roll WP again Reyna)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 9,5,8,7,3,9,

Singha: Okay recap: Reyna dodges one attack, but gets caught by the second, and is about to get hit by the third when Merlin leaps into the way and effectively takes the bullet for her, getting one of those icey, boney claws directly in the chest. But Merlin tears the face off the skeleton. (more)

Singha: As mentioned before, HArry scoops up Trevor and tells him to make the skeletons stop. Karlos' kiss dissolves the skeleton and makes it fall to dust. The other two on him run backstage, screaming.

Singha: Reyna successfully resists the effect of the skeleton's poison in her, this round, but not before getting a glimpse at the sheer, undadulterated hatred that the skeleton represents.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He smiles warmly. "Let him go, Harry," he says softly. "He has suffered enough threats and violence in his life. Do not compound it." He drifts toward the skeletons attacking Reyna, offering his hands to them.

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (Reyna has effectively glimpsed the heart of TRevor's madness, which is like a blast furnace of lust, hatred, love, and hunger all rolled into this dark, oogey, molten center. Roll per+emp to see if she can see anything in there that she can make sense of in the chaos))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,3,7,1,2,3,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((*Headdesk*))

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (It's just...too much...too scary and too painful to contemplate that Trevor hates her that much and that fiercely.))

Singha: The skeletons scream and run away from the advancing Karlos, and Breaker and another Cowboy (Terrence Hill from "My Name is Nobody" if you've seen that flick) shoot down the fleeing skeletons.

Singha -> ;e: When the skeletons are either gone or have run away, Trevor stops screaming and dives out of Harry's arms into Faris'

Singha: When the skeletons are either gone or have run away, Trevor stops screaming and dives out of Harry's arms into Faris' embrace.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She hits the floor ass-first, and curls her knees up to her chest, hugging them. She's shivering uncontrollably, as she bows her head down to rest on her knees.

Singha: "I didn't do it," Trevor says. "It wasn't me."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He hugs Trevor, kissing his hair softly. "It's all right, Trevor."

Singha: "I'm good," he promises Faris. "It's de otder one om what is bad."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He picks Trevor up, holding him close, rubbing his cheek against the boy's reassuringly.

Singha: Merlin limps under the table, severely injured. He collapses and starts licking his wounds.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Eyes are shut, and she leans over to rest against the table leg for support.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He carries Trevor to Reyna and crouches beside her, reaching for her hand.

Singha: Merlin whines and struggles over to lick Reyna's face.

Faris Chiaroscuro: "You should hold Merlin," he murmurs softly to Trevor. "Give him your love."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She's not paying much attention to the movement around her at the moment, showing only the scant reaction of a flicnh to Merlin's lick.

Singha: "I didn't do 't," Trevor repeats, reluctant to let Faris go. "Va will come and say 'twas me, but 'twasn't."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He nods softly to Trevor. "Hold Merlin," he repeats gently. "He saved our lives."

Singha: Trevor starts crying, but moves over to hug Merlin around the neck.

Singha: 4,6,5,4,3,5,8,

Faris Chiaroscuro: He settles down beside them, taking Reyna's hand in his own and letting her lean against him rather than the table leg, whilst giving Trevor room to sit on his lap should the youngster wish to. His free hand rests lovingly on Merlin's head.

Singha: As he does that, the music stops, and a tall, threatening stranger dressed all in black is at the door.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She accepts the hand and the new leaning, making a small whimpering sound as she rests against Faris.

Faris Chiaroscuro: His gaze flits to the door, but he remains where he is.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks up a little as she notes the music stop, bleary eyed with tear streaks staining her face, and follows Faris's gaze to the door.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He moves Reyna's hand to the rose over his heart and holds it there for her.

Singha: The OWW stands at the door, and the reaction from everyone in the bar is the typical one when the evil gunslinger nobody wants to face wanders into the local saloon.

Singha: "Don't coddle him," he says to Faris. "He's manipulating you again."

Faris Chiaroscuro: "I am not here to judge," he says softly. "Only to offer my love and protect you both."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She stares at OWW blankly.

Singha: Several of the horses who have been drinking beers turn around to face OWW. The three that were playing at Trevor's table reach under the table and pullout shoulder mounted bazookas and train them on OWW

OWW: He regards the tableaux in front of him, dark lips pursing pensively.

OWW: 6,7,3,2,6,

Faris Chiaroscuro: He rises and reaches for his sword, stepping forward to defend OWW.

OWW: As Faris reaches for his sword he finds not the hilt of a blade but a woman's hand.

Singha: (sorry crosspost)

Faris Chiaroscuro: He blinks. Okay. Harry is a gun is a guy. His sword is... He glances to her.

Singha: The hand is attached to Sarah Michelle Gellar in her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She lets things progress, frozen in place for a moment. Finally, she grabs the table surface and pulls herself to her feet, surveying the scene.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((AWESOME!))

Faris Chiaroscuro: Mushrooms are the way forward, it seems. He smiles softly, and murmurs "Protect him."

Singha: She winks and blows Faris a kiss. "Miss me?"

Faris Chiaroscuro: Memo: Request less mouthy weapons next trip. He smiles, a little awkwardly. "Always."

Singha: "Protect him?" she asks Faris, when she indicates OWW. "Mr. Tall Dark and Murderer?"

Faris Chiaroscuro: He blinks, and looks at Buffy. "Are we going to get into who murdered who right now?"

OWW: He frowns at Buffy's remark and holds his hands out peaceably. "I'm only here for the dog."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks from Faris and Buffy to Harry, nodding slowly. "You too, Harry. Protect him."

Singha: Trevor's eyes narrow as he regards OWW. His arms tighten around Merlin's neck.

Singha: "Sheesh, doll," Harry says, shaking his head. "Make up your mind."

Faris Chiaroscuro: He steps toward Trevor, crouching, scritching Merlin's head. "Don't squeeze so tight, Trevor," he murmurs gently.

Singha: "You know," Buffy says to Faris "I'm a Slayer and all, right? Killing evil, making sure the Hellmouth doesn't open, advising Willow on how to avoid total embarassment while dating..."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Forgive a girl a little trauma," she mutters, leaning back against the table surface for support.

Singha: 2,8,2,5,6,8,2,

Singha: 5,9,9,4,4,10,4,

OWW: 5,1,5,3,5,

Singha: Harry shrugs and moves over to OWW. "Whatever you say, sweetness."

Singha: (per+alert Faris and Reyna)

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,3,7,5,2,1,

Singha: 9(oops I mean per+emp doh)

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((I thought we were using per+empathy for all noticing things rolls?))

Faris Chiaroscuro: 7,5,7,7,10,4,9,

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((I like that one better *LOL*))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,5,8,8,7,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (Trevor is choking Merlin to death. Deliberately. To keep him from OWW))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Sorry, forgot a die))

Singha -> Faris Chiaroscuro: (Trevor is choking Merlin to death. Deliberately. To keep him from OWW))

Faris Chiaroscuro -> Singha: ((Figured as much))

Singha -> Faris Chiaroscuro: ((And OWW is oblivious of this plot on Trev's part, a bit more concerned with teh baszookas and figuring out who the hell Harry and Buffy are))

Faris Chiaroscuro: "He saved our lives," he repeats, gazing at Trevor. "I will not allow him to be taken, but you must stop."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks at Trevor, frowning deeply. "Stop it, now." There's an edge in her tone, and she drops to a crouch, to try and remove Trevor's arms from the dog, if he won't let go.

Singha -> Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Also there seems to be a split among those in the saloon. All the horses seem to be on Trev's side, with the cowboys more neutral and somewhat suspicious of OWW but not actively hating him))

Faris Chiaroscuro: He holds a hand out to block Reyna's own hands, but remains gazing at Trevor.

Singha: Trevor laughs cruelly and does his best to finish Merlin off, meeting OWW's gaze as the man seems to realize what's going on and takes a step into the saloon. (contested WP Trev vs Reyna)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She stops, looking up at Faris, then back to Trevor. Her hands remain ready to pull Trevor off at an instant's notice.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Fuck it. She pushes past Faris's hands to pull him off.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 6,2,2,5,3,3,

Singha: (okay contested WP Faris vs. Reyna if Reyna wins she can fight Trev for the dog)

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Trevor," he repeats, reaching out to lay a hand on the boy's shoulder. "If you kill Merlin, you will lose him. And you will always, always be alone. Don't do this. Please."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((There's Reyna's vs. Faris))

Faris Chiaroscuro: 10,6,2,7,10,3,3,8,

Faris Chiaroscuro -> Singha: And reaching out with Rose into Trevor.

Singha: Faris manages to keep Reyna back.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "He's not giving up, Faris." She looks suddenly desparate to get through to the dog, even though Faris has the obvious advantage. She has to try.

Singha: "I hate him." Trevor says, that insane brightness to his eyes as he locks gazes with OWW. "I dun't care. If it hurts him, I'll kill de dug."

Faris Chiaroscuro: "It's not worth Merlin's life, and it's not worth losing your love," he says softly. "Look at me, Trevor. Merlin is innocent, and he saved our lives. You love him. Don't lose him."

Singha: Buffy looks somewhat sickened by the little kid and regards Faris like he's crazy.

Faris Chiaroscuro -> Singha: ((I take it Rose is having no effect whatsoever, then?))

Singha: Merlin, for his part, doesn't struggle, simply accepts TRevor's intent to kill him.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Faris..." She struggles to get to the dog. He can understand later. Right now, he's killing it.

Singha -> Faris Chiaroscuro: (Rose is having an effect, just not the one Faris expects.)

Faris Chiaroscuro: He draws away, rising to his feet, allowing Reyna to pull boy and dog apart.

OWW: He takes a few more steps toward Merlin. But stops when the horses flip the safety off their bazookas. There's that high pitched hum of electronics charging.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: And she surges forward to try and get the dog away.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,6,8,7,4,6,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Was my WP))

Singha: Trev screams and bits and kicks at Reyna as she tries to pull him away from his object of murder. (contested WP)

Singha: 2,2,7,9,9,8,8,

Singha: And Reyna finds the Dark side of the Force is strong in this young padawan, and she is unable to get the kid's arms from around the dog's throat.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He closes his eyes a moment. Then opens them, staring directly at Trevor, meeting his eyes.

OWW: He slowly backs out of the saloon, breathing a sigh of relief when the horses flip the safties back on and the hum stops.

Faris Chiaroscuro: 7,2,5,3,10,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Trevor, please, stop....please. Don't do it again." She's fighting a losing battle. But still she's fighting. Struggle against the end that cannot happen. "Faris, help!"

Faris Chiaroscuro -> Singha: ((Piercing gaze))

Singha: 3,9,7,1,4,4,2,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 7,10,2,8,3,2,3,

Singha: In a very disorienting, lurching, stomach emptying wrench of the apparent time-space continuum here, you all find yourself back in the Doc's lab. Strapped to the table, being skinned alive, not by 8 yr old Trev but by 14 yr old Trev with an obvious hard on, is a woman that looks very much like Angelia, Trev's mum, Abbey Randelle, Ita, and Gennie all rolled into one.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She stumbles back a little bit, blinking, taking in the surroundings.

Faris Chiaroscuro: His hands lift to steady himself against anything he can reach, looking sick to his stomach.

Singha: Supervising this is the Adult Trevor Dunne, in his early 20's, the man that Reyna remembers from the dream where they were hunting shifters. He too is watching gleefully. Locked up in the cages, showing signs of torture are: OWW, 4 yr old Trev, 8 yr. old Trev, Adam, Fausto, Xu, Mas, and a blank-faced man that looks like Trevor when he was a prisoner of the Ghana.

Singha: Reyna, Harry, Buffy, and Faris are all wearing lab coats. The Doc and Roosthorn are watching from the observation theatre up above.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks around, stomach sinking, and she stares at the table, recognizing some of the people in the resemblance, not recognizing others. She's frozen for a moment, searching for something in the woman, and then looks away, to adult Trevor.

Singha: The roles of the various Fomors are played by Va, Trevor's Mother, Dirk, Jeremy and Sonja.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He steps toward the teenager, but turns to gaze up at Roosthorn and the Doc. "Stop this," he says softly.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She says it, much less softly, to Adult Trevor. "Make it stop."

Singha: "Nice of you to join us," Roosthorn says through the speaker, grinning down at them all.

Singha: "There's a table free for you, Reyna. Or should I say 'you colored spic cunt that Trevor has polluted his dick with?" Roosthorn says pleasantly.

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Now is the time for your loving, dear," he says softly, turning his back on Roosthorn and gazing at the Trevors, "And the time for your company. Now when the light of reason fails, And fires burn on the sea..."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Fuck off, freakshow." She keeps her gaze on adult Trevor. "You have the power to stop this, Trevor. Stop it."

Singha: For their parts, both the teenage and the adult Trevor appear to be in a trance state, very much like that Trev was in when he skinned Reyna and Ang.

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Now in this age of confusion, I have need for your company."

Singha: "I told you it wasn't me..." 8 yr old Trevor says tremulously.

Faris Chiaroscuro: "It's once I was free to go roaming in the wind of the springtime mind. It's once the clouds I sailed upon were sweet as lilac wine. So why are the breezes of summer, dear, enlaced with a grim design?" His voice remains soft, steady.

Singha: When Karlos starts singing, OWW slumps down in the cage, weeping. Va the fomor whirls on Karlos, advancing on him threateningly.

Singha: "It's show time!" Buffy says brightly, slamming a stake into Va's heart and sending him into torpor.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Harry!" She points Harry in the direction of Faris. "Protect him!" She moves to provide her own backup for her sentaimate.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He doesn't respond to Va's approach, gaze still on the Trevors, continuing gently "And where was the will of my father when we raised our swords on high? And where was my mother's wailing when our flags were justified? And where will we take our pleasures when our bodies have been denied?"

Singha: 4 yr old and 8 yr old Trevor both mouth the words to the song as Karlos sings it. The fomor Trevor's mother attacks Karlos.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He doesn't, cannot, break concentration to defend himself. Instead he trusts Reyna, Harry and Buffy.

Singha: Trev's mum becomes about 20 feet tall and sprouts 8 arms and all of them are trying to capture, to smother, to ensnare. Harry and Buffy do their best to defend Karlos and Reyna from this collossal creature.

Singha: ((Faris roll wits+expression, then GN then WP, Reyna roll WP, then wits+expression))

Faris Chiaroscuro: 8,2,6,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She moves to back up the weapons. "Trevor! Listen to Faris...stop this!"

Faris Chiaroscuro: 7,2,5,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 8,3,8,4,5,4,2,2,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 7,9,8,6,5,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 7,2,9,4,

OWW: 3,8,9,6,8,8,4,

Singha: 1,7,9,10,5,7,9,

Singha: 8,10,6,3,7,4,7,1,9,

Singha: Okay bear with me...lotta stuff happening.

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Yup. Bearin' :) ))

Singha: Faris feels the song somehow connecting with Father Peyote. Buffy lops off two of Mum's arms, Harry chops off 5 more and Reyna gets the last one and stabs Mum in the heart with her Catherine Zeta-Jone's epee (she's now in the underwear sword fighting outfit).

Singha: Adam, who looked almost comatose, seems to suddenly spring to life and slam his cage door open, rushing across the room, evading Dirk, Jeremy and Sonja, to hit a button on the wall that controls the loudspeaker/radio.

Singha: Johnny Mathis' voice sounds over the somewhat tinny speakers. 4 yr old Trev sings along brightly, as does Mas.: Look at me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree And I feel like I'm clingin' to a cloud I can't understand I get misty just holding your hand At this, both Adult and Teenage Trevor start howling and writhing and covering their ears.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: After cutting off the arm, she manages to get just enough humor to her, thanks to the heat of battle, to say "I have had the proper instruction since I was five...to KICK YOUR ASS!" before she tickles Mommy Dearest's aorta. ((Hey, I gotta be me.))

OWW: He also starts howling and gripping the bars, as if he's being tortured unmercifully.

OWW: (*G*)

Singha: The Doc and Roosthorn back away from the observation window as Jeremy pulls 8 yr old Trev from the cage and starts beating and raping him.

Singha: Sonja, for her part, immobolizes Fausto with a dart and starts raping him.

Faris Chiaroscuro: "For I am a wild and a lonely child, and the child of an angry man. Now with the high wars raging, I would offer you my hand. For we are the children of darkness, and the prey of a proud, proud land."

Singha: Dirk leaps on the now howling and immobolized Adult Trev and shoves his cock into the guy's mouth.

Singha: Giant Trevor's mom falls back off the sword and drops to the floor, shriveling up intothe corpse of a delicate, very beautiful but quite despairing blonde woman with a pair of dungarees stuffed down her throat.

Singha: Buffy makes an 'eww' face at all the raping going on and makes a round house kick to Jeremy's head, immediately going to protect the innocent.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (("I got my ass kicked by Sarah Michelle Gellar and all I got was this T-Shirt."))

OWW: He goes fetal, but starts mouthing the words to the song karlos is singing.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He starts again, from the top, raising his voice. He's not a trained singer. He's barely above tone deaf on the scale of competence. But his eyes are ablaze with passion, and his words come from the heart.

Singha: Johnny Mathis continues his love song and karlos and Reyna feel Rose and LWS flare more strongly in their chests. Walk my way And a thousand violins begin to play Or it might be the sound of your hello That music that I hear I get misty the moment you're near

Faris Chiaroscuro: "Now is the time for your loving, dear, and the time for your company. Now when the light of reason fails, and fires burn on the sea. Now in this age of confusion I have need for your company."

Singha: (ok wits+expression from you both, then WP))

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((1WP))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((WP to Expression roll))

Faris Chiaroscuro: 10,5,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,4,7,4,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 10,1,1,4,5,3,7,5,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 7,4,8,6,1,2,

Singha: 2,3,6,7,7,7,8,

OWW: 9,8,8,9,1,9,4,

Singha: 2,4,2,6,2,10,7,8,3,

Singha: 9,4,9,4,8,8,6,3,7,

Singha: Faris feels that link with Peyote strengthen, and through it, the link with Rose and LWS brightens and blazes out of Karlos and Reyna. Buffy kicks Jeremy but all jeremy does is turn into a Crinos werewolf. Buffy says "Uh oh. Nice Doggie." And backs away. Harry, on the other hand, smashes the furry Jeremy and knocks him away from little Trev, who runs over to what used to be his Va and Mum and starts wailing unconsoleably.

Singha: Through the link, Karlos feels OWW trying to 'leave' their shared dream and shake off the trip. He also feels the shared power of Rose and LWS trying to embrace him—to him, they are trying to entrap him, which makes him panic further.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He abruptly stops singing. "Go," is all he says.

Singha: 4 yr old Trev wavers a bit with his singing, the wailing that 8 yr old Trev is doing unsettling him and making him start to panic. Adam watches all this somewhat at a loss.

Singha: When Karlos stops singing, all that can be heard over the howling is You can say That you're leading me on But it's just what I want you to do Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost, That's why I'm following you

Faris Chiaroscuro: He turns, plunging his fist into Dirk's temple.

Faris Chiaroscuro: 5,7,6,5,2,1,3,5,

OWW: As much as he wants to go, something keeps him here and he's unable to break out of his cage.

Singha: (You gotta roll wits+expression to hit, Faris, then the WP to damage)

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((My bad))

Faris Chiaroscuro: 9,9,6,

Faris Chiaroscuro: 9,9,10,5,5,8,3,9,

Singha: Faris cold cocks Dirk, knocking him out completely, and Adult Trev turns on the guy, scooping him up to toss him on the spare skinning table.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Are we back to actions again? If so:)) Dreamboat's down, Mom and Dad are down. Faris has Soldier-Boy. So she goes after Sonja. "What's up, Doc?" And she tries to stab her.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,2,7,4,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 5,6,5,3,10,5,

Singha: Buffy lets Harry deal with Furry jer and roundhouse kicks Sonja, also cold cocking her.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He strides to the button Adam hit and thumps it to cut the damn speakers off.

Singha: Well, cold cocking her right into Reyna's sword. *G*

Singha: (hang on there Faris, we're still working on this round)

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Gotta vanish in 10))

Singha: 8 yr old Trevor continues to weep and embrace the bits of his parents, collecting the arms of Mum and putting them back to the sockets. 4 yr. old Trevor shakily continues to sing.

Singha: 5,10,6,9,5,10,2,

OWW: 7,4,8,9,6,10,7,

Singha: (okay per+emp from both of you)

Faris Chiaroscuro: 3,1,3,8,6,4,2,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 6,8,7,1,2,5,

Singha: Okay...Faris knocks down Dirk, Buffy and Reyna knock down Sonja while Jer gets knocked around by Harry. Karlos and Reyna both feel the monumental strength of will at the heart of OWW, who literally ~wills~ himself out of their shared hallucination, causing them all to wake up in the lab room with dry mouths and blurred vision. But just before they awaken, Faris catches a glimpse of the woman on the skinning table. Reyna catches a slightly better one, but they're still not entirely sure of who it was.

Singha: XU is breathing rapidly, clutching his chest, making noises like he is in great pain.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She struggles to her feet, swaying a little, and moves to Xu. "Xu?"

Singha: The CD Reyna put in is long since played out. The room feels cozy, protected, peaceful.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He shuts himself down. Shuts everything down. Distances himself from his feelings. He doesn't want to feel them. Doesn't want to fall to that sickness in his stomach.

Faris Chiaroscuro: 9,7,2,2,9,1,10,7,

Faris Chiaroscuro: Gets a pretty decent lockdown in place, and slowly rises to his feet.

Singha: Xu continues to moan, still clutching his chest.

Singha: Merlin scratches at the door, whimpering.

Faris Chiaroscuro: He looks to Reyna. "What's wrong with him?" His voice is quiet. Defeated.

Singha -> Singha: 3,5,7,8,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks back to Karlos, and them to Xu. ((Per+Med, then Per+Emp))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,1,7,1,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,1,6,3,7,4,

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((She knows that shrooms can sometimes give people heart attacks, and that's what he seems to be having, but then it could be a panic attack))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She blinks, wide-eyed. "Could be a heart attack, could be a panic attack. Let's assume the worst." She pulls her phone out of her duster.

Singha: (Oh wait...how did karlos restrain him? Cause i just realized he might not be able to clutch his chest, tho he would be trying to.)

Faris Chiaroscuro: ((Karlos used the restraints Xu provided))

Singha: (I know but did he restrain his arms in front or behind? Spread eagled?)

Karlos Basoalto: ((In front))

Karlos Basoalto: ((And now I gotta go. Can be back noon tomorrow))

Singha: (so yes, he's clutching his chest and writhing on the ground in great pain.)

Singha: (ok, thanks for playing, we can say Karlos went out to look after Merlin if you like?)

Karlos Basoalto: ((If you want))

Karlos Basoalto: ((He's an emotionally hollow wreck of a man. He'll go wherever he's put))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She grabs Xu's phone instead of hers, and calls Sonja. When she answers, Reyna sighs. "Sonja, it's Reyna. I think Xu may be having a heart attack."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "That depends on what one is. You mean the shock machine? I don't think so." She sounds tired, a little numb, and a little panicked.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Luddington."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She moves to check him for a pulse. ((Per+Med))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 6,6,2,8,

Singha: his pulse is very rapid and very strong

Singha: He gasps for air bewteen moans, his skin is pale and clammy, he's covered in sweat.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "He's got a pulse...it's really strong, moving very quickly."

Sonja Kabari: "Is he breathing?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Yeah, he is, though he's gasping for it. He's sweating, clammy, pale."

Sonja Kabari: Well, that narrows it down to only a few dozen possibilities. "Do you know cpr?"

Singha: "donwannadie, donwannadie, donwannadie!" he mumbles to himself

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Yeah, but it's been a while. I mean, my Red Cross card expired a long time ago, I think."

Singha: "neatdodegone, neatdodegone, neatdodegone..." he continues to murmur betwean groans.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She laughs a little bit. "Sonja, I'm not...well, I guess I can try. I don't know how successful I'll be. Not in the habit of arranging choppers."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Can I get a...I dunno, Per+Linguistics or Enigmas to figure out "neatdodegone?"))

Singha: He's either tiring, or the crisis is passing, as his groans are shallower and less heartfelt.

Singha: (Sure!)

Singha: (per+lihg)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 3,4,4,10,

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ('no dead go' in Afrikaans)

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (i spelled it phonetically, like it's pronounced)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She supplies the location. "All right. Will do."

Sonja Kabari: She's already walking out the door with a field kit as they speak. She'll flag a taxi and pay out the ass for a helicopter on short notice. (do I need to roll for that?)

Singha: ((no, you can spend a WP for an auto sux, catch one just returning from Atlantic city.))

Sonja Kabari: ((wp spent, let me know when she arrives in Luddington.))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She keeps an eye on him, trying to sooth him and keep him calm, watching for any change in him.

Singha: (we can fast forward to that. In the meantime, Xu will continue to moan for another 20 minutes, then tremble for another 10, then fall into a strange, deep sleep.)

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (roll int+enig)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 8,9,9,10,6,10,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((DAYUM. Why couldn't some of my WP rolls have been like that? Or Jer's recent Per+Emps?))

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (She realizes after seeing the patter that the shrooms made him have a 'waking' night terror)

Sonja Kabari: The chopper sets down in the nearest clearing, and Sonja climbs out, still in her lab coat and carrying a plastic and nylon satchel over one shoulder.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She calms down after he passes out. Ooooh, she's gonna be paying someone back for a helicopter something FIERCE...

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (pattern. She also realizes that what happened in the lab is representative of his 'true' psyche, where as the Cowboy part is where his younger selves retreat to when threatened.))

Sonja Kabari: Ducks her head and runs towards the building. God, she hopes this is the right place.

Singha: Xu's sleeping soundly. Karlos is upstairs with Merlin.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She's gotten all the psychedlics cleaned up and put out of sight, and is leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.

Singha: Sonja finds herself being put down in a parkinglot between a fenced pasture and a large steel barn. She heads to the door on the side of the barn that faces the parking lot.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She'd have unlocked the door, obviously, if it had been locked.

Sonja Kabari: BANGS on the door.

Singha: Sonja sees through the window in the door a shaft of light thrown across the painted ocncrete open area in the center of the barn from a room in the middle of the wall off to the right.

Singha: off to the left is a set of stairs that heads up over several doors along the left wall.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She moves to the door, moving the egg in the salt water bowl and opening it for her.

Sonja Kabari: Looks through the window, a thin crease between those perfect brows.

Sonja Kabari: She looks Reyna up and down, eyes going to the cigarette. "Put that out. Where is he?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She stubs it out in a nearby ashtray. The woman looks axhausted, phyiscally, emotionally, and mentally. "This way. He's sleeping, now."

Singha: He's on the floor in the lab room which is the open door off to the right. Sleeping soundly, still in restraints unless Reyna took those of.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She leads Sonja into the lab.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((No, they're off.))

Singha: so he's laying on the floor, naked, unrestrained, in a deep deep sleep that is borderline coma

Sonja Kabari: She looks briefly around, her curiosity will have to wait however. Kneeling beside Xu, she opens the bag and pulls out something like a pda, or is it a Startrek tricorder? Who knows. She's aiming it at Xu though. ((LIfe1/Matter1 scan))

Sonja Kabari: 6,2,3,

Sonja Kabari: 3,3,9,

Sonja Kabari: 6,4,6,

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: ((dif is 4, 5 sux))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches, leaning against the wall, vaguely intrigued.

Singha: He's alive. *G* (but that much is obvious without the magic and i think she needs 2 sux for it to work on someone other than herself?)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((She's rolling once for each dot in Arete, which means she got 5 succ.))

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (is the diff higher for being next to a non-technocratic node effectively?)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno -> Singha: ((Not for Life/Matter. Had it been Spirit, the gauntlet would have been really high, but that's it.))

Sonja Kabari: ((Sorry, should have specified extended roll.))

Sonja Kabari: The good doctor appears to be concentrating as she studies the display on the handheld.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Oh, the jokes she could make. Right now, she's not in the joking mood. So she just watches.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (okies, he's got psilocybin in his system, he's got some shroom half digested in his colon, he's got some alcohol in his system, he's got a strange burn on the actual muscle of his heart, very recent, that looks almost as if it was made via xray or something cause no other tissue has been injured...))

Singha: (He has some abreaction type injuries that are fading to his anus and throat indicative of homosexual rape, in addition to other abreactive injuries that are also fading indicating he may have been dreaming about being flayed alive.)

Singha: (sorry meant for that to be a PM, frikken touchpad sent it before I could PM it)

Sonja Kabari: She presses a few buttons and runs her hand over his back feeling for tactile anomalies on his skin... how the hell...

Singha: He's laying face up, btw, so to run a hand on his back you'll have to leverage him up

Sonja Kabari: "Help me get him on his back. Where did he get the mushroom?"

Sonja Kabari: (Make that on his stomach then. She wants to feel front and back over his heart)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She moves over to help her get him onto his stomach. "From me."

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (how hard is she pressing over his heart?)

Sonja Kabari: She rubs lightly at first and then harder, working to massage pressure feeling for surface and subsurface anomalies, organic or otherwise.

Sonja Kabari: "Why?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches Sonja work, her expression slighly disconnected.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "In order to perform a sort of vision quest so he could resolve some issues."

Sonja Kabari: "Is that what triggered his collapse?"

Singha: He screans when she massages the area, his eyes shooting open, clutching his chest and thrashing around in great pain.

Singha: (he clutches his chest, not his eyes. Doh. Grammar is our friend...))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "I can only assume so. I think that the trip may have triggered a...panic attack of sorts. A waking nightmare."

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (roll int+med)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She blinks as Xu reacts, looking to Sonja. That didn't look normal.

Sonja Kabari: "He has heart damage." She tugs her hand back, setting down the pda to catch him by the shoulders. "Anterior penetration," she mumbles.

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: 3,1,10,7,10,7,8,

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: She has just induced, strangely enough, something that has all the symptoms of a night terror.

Sonja Kabari: "Shhhh..... Hold his head in your lap, Reyna. See if you can comfort him."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "How does that happen, exactly?" She frowns. "Psychedlics don't do that."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She mods, pursing her lips, and moves to place Xu's head in her lap, crossing her legs Indian-style, gently stroking his forehad and temples. "Hey, Xu...shhh. Calm down...you're okay. I'm here...relax."

Singha: He keeps screaming for about 10 minutes then quiets, falling back to sleep.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Another terror," she says softly, once he falls back asleep.

Sonja Kabari: "No, this looks like radiation exposure. We need to restrain him for treatment."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Radiation exposure..." She frowns, deeply, and shakes her head. "Where are we taking him for treatment?"

Sonja Kabari: "I'm going to treat him right here if you have a means to restrain him."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She looks to the restraints near the couch. "Yeah, I think we're good. Gimme a sec." She grabs them and moves to restrain him, hands in front. ((Dex, no security, spending WP))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 2,2,10,2,

Singha: 4,7,4,2,9,9,5,

Singha: When Reyna goes to restrain him, he starts awake and blinks at them both, looking quite frightened. He eyes the restraints. "Waar is Va?"

Sonja Kabari: "No, he should be secured TO something sturdy. I don't want him thrashing about when I insert the probe. Don't block the chest area."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She stops, regarding Xu a moment. "Va's not here right now, hon."

Singha: He regards Reyna and the restraints, then looks over Sonja, brow furrowing. "Dwazzin me," he pleads. "I know Va sez twas, but tdwazzin me."

Sonja Kabari: "I know. Don't be afraid."

Singha: "Dwas de big one. Yeh saw 't?" He nods.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods. "I know it wasn't, hon. I know it wasn't you."

Sonja Kabari: "Yes, yes we saw it. Try not to move too much."

Sonja Kabari: ((did she get him secured per Sonja's specification?))

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She just nods to Xu, smiling as sympathetically as she can manage at the moment.

Singha: He nods and throws his arms around Reyna, clinging desperately to her. "Tell hem. When he comes."

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: Was her hand where the crystal used to be when his night terror triggered?

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Not yet)) She jumps a little at the sudden motion, and sighs a little, hugging him. "I will, honey. I will."

Singha: (She started to but he woke up, so i don't think so))

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (Yes but it's no longer there)

Sonja Kabari: "He needs to stay calm, too much excitement right now could cause an aneurism at the damaged tissue. I'm going to sedate him." Withdrawing a hypo, small bottles clinking as she selects the one she wants, making sure it's one that won't interact with psilocybin.

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: She figures the night terrors are memories of the surgery she put him through, removing it. Ent + Enigmas to verify?

Singha: "Denk you..." he says, desperately clinging to her. He closes his eyes and just holds her.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (gahead)

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: 3,9,7,3,5,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She holds up a hand, shaking her head for just a moment, as if to say 'wait.' She holds him, rocking a little back and forth. "You're okay, honey. Doctor Kabari here is going to give you something to help you rest, okay?"

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (not likely since the other times she's seen him have night terrors were after he was buried alive and after he got his face destroyed by taking on Nguyen's sentai (and jeremy) single handedly. What seems to trigger them are actual painful lifethreatening incidents)

Sonja Kabari: She waits patiently for Reyna to get him settled down and prepare him for a jab with the needle.

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (roll per+awareness if you have it, per+prim urge if you don't)

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: Secondary theory, perhaps the path the laser, or whatever damaged his heart took.

Singha: He glances to Sonja, looking her over dubiously before he whispers to Reyna "She's bleck."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: 4,8,5,

Sonja Kabari: She does a fine job not laughing when he notes that.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods a little. "She is. But she knows what she's doing, hon. I wouldn't let her do it if she didn't. She won't hurt you."

Singha -> Reyna Varinia Reiruno: (Reyna can feel some kind of warmth radiating from LWS when Xu embraces her, it's faint, and it throbs almost painful but not quite)

Sonja Kabari: She does however, arch one brow. "It's just a mild sedative. Are you ready?" Tearing open an alcohol pad and rubbing a clean spot on his thigh.

Singha: He looks at Sonja again and whispers to Reyna "Don' tell Va I let haar tdush me?"

Sonja Kabari: Digs around in the bag. Where are her gloves... Ah! Saved by latex. She snaps on a pair.

Singha: He gasps when Sonja swabs his thigh, since his cock leaps to life at that, and he slams his hand down to cover himself, wincing with the pain, almost panicking at his body's reaction to her.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She winces a little at something, then nods to Xu. "Okay...I won't."

Sonja Kabari: Plugs the bottle with the hypo and draws out a measured dose. "Don't worry, it won't get stuck that way."

Singha: "I know you didn' steal Moe's drinket," he tells Sonja seriously."

Sonja Kabari: Her voice even and calm.

Sonja Kabari: "I know. Don't worry about it." She pinches his thigh, expertly pressing the needle into the muscle and depressing the plunger, in one smooth move. He'll feel little more than a prick from the needle.

Singha: He doesn't seem to feel the pain at all, just watching Sonja while he clings to Reyna

Singha: (it a paralyzing agent or a sedative?)

Sonja Kabari: Caps the needle and drops it in the bag, glancing at her monitor. He should be out in about three minutes.

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: ((Sedative with a mild muscle relaxant.))

Singha -> Singha: 8,5,5,8,

Singha -> Singha: 10,4,5,3,4,3,

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She remains calm, just holding him, lightly petting his hair, letting Sonja administer the sedative. Once it's done, she nods to the other woman and looks to Xu. "There you go."

Singha: His eyes waver and he lays back down, going out in about 45 seconds.

Sonja Kabari: "Alright, lets get him pinned down. If he struggles during the procedure it could be... messy."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She leans over with his as he lays down, then draws back, a hand on his chest until he goes unconscious. Then she draws back, grabbing the restraints. "Still need these?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "All right." She goes to restrain him.

Sonja Kabari: "Yes. You have something we can tie him to? A bed maybe, desk?" Looking around.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Bed upstairs. I don't think we're getting him up there." She looks to the couch. "That do?"

Sonja Kabari: Her keep going back to the pda, as she monitors his vitals.

Singha: The sedative seems to have worked resoundingly well, according to her PDA.

Sonja Kabari: Shakes her head. "Not that well. You'll need to hold him if it looks like he's coming out of it. Don't let him touch the probe." Pulling a thin rod from the bag, she presses a button on it, and a long thin needle telescopes out.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Oh, yay. More probes." She sighs, and finishes restraining him. ((You want naother Dex+Security?))

Singha: (naw don't worry bout it)

Sonja Kabari: "It's a good 18" long. She runs her fingers over his chest, intending to enter the heart from just below the clavicle, avoiding the area that triggered the night terror response.

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: (dex + med to avoid hitting any important arteries or bronchial tubes) -wp-

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches, ready to hold Xu if the opportunity calls for it. She watches the doctor work with a clinical expression, appropriately and oddly enough.

Sonja Kabari: 9,6,9,3,9,

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (She gets it into his heart no problem))

Sonja Kabari: She carefully inserts nearly the full length of the needle, concentrating on the task at hand as she presses it directly into his heart muscle.

Singha: His only response is a pleading 'huhhhn'.

Sonja Kabari: A wire is quickly attached to the probe, and then to the pda, which she turns so Reyna can't see it, as an actual image of the heart comes up on her monitor. She studies it a moment, then switches over to data mode, and begins plugging numbers into the pda. (wp, extended roll, life 3)

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: (wp for each roll)

Sonja Kabari: 5,8,5,

Sonja Kabari: 3,2,7,

Sonja Kabari: 8,6,4,

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: dif 7, 6 sux

Sonja Kabari: She continues monitoring for several minutes, occassional blips coming from the pda.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: She gets an image of his beating heart, along with the pertenient data. It's a rather strong heart for a 47 year old, with not much plaque or arteriosclrosis. On the outside of the larger ventrilce, the musscle tissue of the heart itself has been burned in a pattern that resembles the Kanji he had branded into his chest when she first examined him (But which had been flayed from him when he returned for the actual surgery). Surprisingly, the sac surrounding the heart is completely undisturbed. It's like someone somehow branded his heart

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches quietly, maintaining her ready pose.

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: ((should heal him completely of the tissue damage))

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: Is the scar tissue impeding function?

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: the brand shows no sign of being microwaved or induced by radiation burns. It's as if something white hot had been physically pressed against the tissue.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (it is not a scar yet but actual injured flesh. Sonja finds that when she heals it, it erupts again a minute or two later, much like when she tried to make the blue mark in his skin disappear)

Sonja Kabari: Scowls at her monitor. Reyna's presence seems to have faded from her mind. There's just the data... and its solution.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (it doesn't interfere with the heart function at all, tho with every heart beat it must cause enormous pain))

Sonja Kabari: Switches to a graphic view, that crease between her brows growing pronounced.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches Xu. Focus on the mission. That's easy to do. Keeps everything else back.

Sonja Kabari: Sighing she leans over and carefully slides the probe from his chest. "This is beyond my skills to heal."

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (not sure what you mean by a graphic view)

Singha: Xu sleeps peacefully, sedated.

Sonja Kabari: She cleans it off with an alcohol pad before retracting it, plugs coming off as it's baggied and returned to the kit.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "What is it, exactly? A...radiation hole?"

Sonja Kabari -> Singha: Just making for a better read. Video vs. data. Graphic images vs. rows of numbers.

Singha -> Sonja Kabari: (okies *G*)

Sonja Kabari: "No, it's not completely through the heart. It's a burn, direcly on the muscle tissue."

Sonja Kabari: "He used to have a scar on his chest. Do you recall that?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: "Yeah, I do." She frowns a little bit, nodding.

Sonja Kabari: "That same symbol is now burned into the muscle tissue of his heart. I suspect, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But he's going to need time to heal. Unless you know someone else who might be able to accellerate his healing process. Assuming, of course, that it will heal, given time."

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She blinks at that, stunned, yet not surprised somehow. "All right." She nods. "Anything else."

Sonja Kabari: "No stress. His heart muscle is compromised. We should get him to bed. I'll stay and monitor for complications or infection. At this point that's all we can do."

Sonja Kabari: "Does that couch fold out into a bed?"

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She nods and stands. "Got it." She looks to the ceiling, and sighs. "Well, upstairs is taken...couch is going to have to suffice for now. Help me get him onto it?"

Sonja Kabari: She moves to grab him under the arms.

Sonja Kabari: "Gently..."

Singha: between the two of them, they get him onto the couch. (he still restrained or no?)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Unless Sonja tells her to keep them on, Reyna would remove them.))

Sonja Kabari: ((No restraints.))

Singha: okay so he's sleeping sedated there on the couch

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: Reyna gets him a blanket 'cause...well, he's naked.

Sonja Kabari: She helps get him situated and moves to his feet, flipping the couch cushion in half so his legs are elevated.

Singha: (and I'm going to drop out here, feel free to continue if you like)

Sonja Kabari: She sets up her pda as a little monitoring station, wiring him up to it with sticky little suction cup sensors applied to his chest, arms and legs.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((Thanks for the scene, Singha!))

: (thanks for joining it, hope it wasn't too surreal/boring/confusing)

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: She watches Sonja set up, moving back away from them, next to the door. Her arms come up to cross over her chest, and she takes a leans against the wall.

Reyna Varinia Reiruno: ((No, it was fun times. *G*))

Sonja Kabari: Considers setting up a mind interface to her gear. A little wetware maybe. She sets the pda to alarm if his vitals deviate from the specified range.

Sonja Kabari: ((And shall we pause here? I need food. *s*))