Nakmarr Party: Refueling

[Nykolas]

Nykolas has made his way down the stairs and to the feast hall. There are serving staff on hand to wait on you as if it were a restaurant. This is very helpful to him as he has less energy after getting all the way down here than he did when he started. Why is this place so huge? He wonders if AmKelosh was this big and he just never noticed it before. He can't help but feel sorry for the poor mortals and others who actually get physically tired more easily. Does the vampire enchantment make me stronger really, or weaker for not knowing how to deal with these things? He orders the beef stew and a steak, needing more iron and protein after all that blood lose. They offer him a wine list, but he insists on just water. He'd picked a chair with a high back and now leans against it as he waits for his food. He closes his eyes, but does not sleep. Instead he is listening to everything around him. Amaya said Shin killed those responsible. All of them, or just the one that pulled the trigger? He's not even sure if there was more than one at this point, but wasn't there mention of a pixie? He shifts his focus to listen for the smaller fluttering of wings, but hears none at the moment. But then with his vampire enchantment being weakened by the attack of light magic on him he might miss things he otherwise wouldn't.

[Troy]

To say that his night had been fraught with disappointment was an understatement. Forced first to stay with Lola until she sobered, then the commotion with that robot attacking people.. And he'd heard that a pair of sirens had been killed, to boot. Sighing dismally, Troy dragged a hand back through his tousled hair as he made his way into the kitchens for breakfast. Pale brown eyes skipped over the Keloshian, landed on the coffee, then darted back. Well now. A golden brow climbed slowly upwards as he took on Nick's attire. Perhaps there's merit to those rumors after all.


Taking a seat, Troy ordered a breakfast of apple cinnamon pancakes, two eggs and bacon with a cup of hot tea before his attention fixed on Nick once more. Settling back more comfortably in his chair, he propped his chin on his fist with a bored expression to match Nick's. "It seems your night was a bit rougher than mine," he commented mildly.

[Nykolas]

Nick pretends otherwise, but he's actually quite prone to loneliness and likes company when they're not intrusive. He mostly ignores the other man as he sits and orders. He remains leaned back in the chair with his eyes closed until Troy speaks. At first Nick just turns to look at him with a stoic expression, but then a slight smile cracks his facade and he gives a half shrug. “You had to babysit drunken Lola so that is probably debatable.” His smile fades again however. As far as he knows Lola and Troy are currently competition in the underworld. “Did you leave her alive?”

[Troy]

The question brings the briefest of half smiles to Troy's face. "She was still sleeping it off when I left. So yes, despite her fervent wishes otherwise, she's still alive right now." Serpent's Kiss was nothing to sneeze at, after all. And that wasn't even touching on the other drinks that she'd likely had before that. His shoulders lifted up in a brief shrug before he sipped at his tea. "I've never seen the point in drinking, honestly." Smoking was his only real vice, as far as things went. Troy took a moment to savor his tea before looking at Nick again. "Troy Vryce, by the way."

[Nykolas]

Nick is relieved to hear that Lola is well. He's grown fond of her friendship and would dispatch anyone that did her harm. He chooses to believe Troy for the moment and even more so after what he says next. “Nykolas Arepharis.” His breath seems to catch suddenly and he gets very still, not moving, not breathing. He'd meant to give his alias they all know him by, Nick Corwin. Veritas... He had half clenched his fist without realizing it. His true name isn't something he's in the habit of going around giving and it'd caught him off guard a little bit. He relaxes back into his chair and watches as his food he ordered is placed before him. He takes the water and has a sip before turning toward Troy, ignoring any looks the other is giving at watching Nick's reactions to his own words. “Tell me everything you know about the Terrata.” If there is still Veritas in the air, Nick might as well make some good use of it.

[Troy]

Now that's interesting. Troy observed Nick's reaction to his own words with faint curiosity. Something he isn't in the habit of revealing, from the look of things. The demand for information about the Terrata causes both of his brows to lift, amusement flitting through his expression. "Out in the open, for anyone to hear? I had hoped you might have a touch more subtlety." Not that he was entirely inclined to discuss the subject with Nick, either. No, he had hoped to question Arako and find out what he knew about Leon's pet project.


Lifting his tea, Troy took another sip as his breakfast was placed down in front of him. Still, it would be remiss to turn away a potential ally. His pale brown eyes made a study of Nick's features as he considered the idea, weighing pros and cons. "Perhaps we can discuss what I know after breakfast. Privately."

[Nykolas]

Nick sighs a little and leans his head back against the chair again. “Fine. If another fan doesn't come along and force themselves on me.” He picks up a fork and pokes at his food a little. He's too tired to eat, but he knows he has to. “This place is infested with them.” He furrows his brow at the thought. It's hard to be an assassin hiding in the shadows when everyone wants to put a spotlight on you. That was the point of the masks they used to wear. Rhianna assured him the masks would work. “Never trust a pixie...” He mumbles without meaning to. Veritas not only compels strongly for one to speak the truth, but also to speak.

[Troy]

Interesting fellow... Troy took another sip of his tea before he set into his breakfast. "Indeed. Or family either." It took a split second for him to realize he'd said that past bit out loud. His eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch in annoyance. Well, nothing to be done about it now, that was out there. Shrugging the matter off, he went back to his pancakes. This man could prove useful in his goals. He'd have to tread carefully, however. "You may be the better option, in the long run."

[Nykolas]

Nick furrows his brow a little and looks over at Troy as if the other man just set himself on fire. “For trust? You'd trust a strange assassin over your own family? And to what end? What are you after?” He knows Troy said they should talk somewhere else in private, but it's not like anywhere in this manor is really private anyway. He's sure Arako's got ears all over the place. Whispering shadows. He can't hear them without seriously trying right now with his injury, but he knows they're there. He begins to eat his food. His injury had him focused on just himself for a moment there and he almost forgot what a dangerous web he lives in. There's always a bigger spider also spinning

[Zarvan Thuxra]

Zarvan walks up to the table where Nick and Troy are talking and eating their breakfast. All the dishes look odd to him so he doesn't realize Nick's is not a traditional breakfast. He reaches over Nick's shoulder and takes the bread that was brought with the boy's food. He checks to make sure it was untouched by the rest of the food before he takes a bite. He leans on the back of the high back chair Nick sits in, his left arm laid across the top of the chair. “I vook avai da ka kudk da avail drakod. I'n kikd kavvu karr oxolavavo holo da oranavudo urr dhloudk.” He says in the Demari tongue, requesting Nick to go back into his closet to hide while Zarvan kills everyone at the party. His tone and manner are very casual as if he were simply asking if it was okay to eat that bread.

[Troy]

Troy's lips pressed into a thin line at the question. "You're only half as likely to kill me as family." As for what he was after? Oh, but there were many answers to that question, all of them true. He pondered over which answer to give before speaking. "I have a promise to keep." A promise twenty years overdue to be kept. But keep it he would. As Zarvan walked up, he flicked his gaze up to the pale man, studying him briefly. "A friend of yours, I assume."

[Nykolas]

Nick is distracted from whatever question he was going to ask Troy next when Zarvan is suddenly reaching over him to grab at his food. Rude! He frowns in disapproval and glares up at Zarvan. “I like you better when you're just a dream.” That isn't always true, last night when Zarvan was working magic to enable Nick to be stronger while his real heart repairs was nice. But right now the demari lord is being annoying and Nick doesn't like to be annoyed. Which is ironic since he's annoyed by so much so easily. He assumes Troy's last question was rhetorical so he doesn't answer. He also trusts his own reaction to Zarvan answers the question for him. “I will not do that. And you will not do that.” He knows Zarvan well enough to know he doesn't give up too easily though. His whole life when Darja or Zarvan want something they just press Nick until he gives in. “Mention it again, and I'll warn the host.”

[Zarvan Thuxra]

Zarvan remains where he is regarding Nykolas and eating the boy's bread. He glances back over to Troy after Nick is done talking and giving his little demands as if he were someone who could command Zarvan. He isn't really emotionally invested in his task to protect the boy anyway. Well maybe a little if he's honest with himself. This realization annoys him slightly. The boy has become like a son to him over the years, watching him grow but he is not a son to him. Yet he's still gotten more say in this boy's raising than he did with his own son. And both are creatures of darkness He knows he could keep pressing and Nick would give in, he always does. But Darja says to let the boy take the lead. Learn how to by doing. Zarvan still doesn't like it. There are only two creatures alive that can command Zarvan. Nykolas is not one of them. “Fine...” His tone is indifferent and bored as he reaches over to Troy's plate now and takes some of his egg with his fingers. He nibbles on a little of the egg. His tone and expression start to grow more serious as he continues. “Until you have commanded an army victoriously in a High War, do not presume to be able to order me again.” His glance moves slowly back toward Nick and his expression is just a step above stern fatherly. That expression says it all, I know where you live, I know how to hurt you the worst, and my disappointment in you would be great.

[Troy]

Troy makes no effort to hide his annoyance as the demari begins to pick food from his plate, pale brown eyes narrowing a fraction of an inch with his irritation. "Well then, as it seems that my breakfast is no longer my own, I believe I'm finished here." Pushing his chair back, the blond rose to his feet. "If you wish to speak, then I'll be outside on the second floor balcony. The northwest one," he added as an afterthought. His choice in balcony would put them near Shin and Amaya's assigned room, whether he realized it or not. Giving an incline of his head to Nick and a look of displeasure to Zarvan, Troy walked toward the door, already digging into his pocket to pull out a cigarette. Something told him that by the time the conversation was over, he was definitely going to need it.

[Shinkiro]

Rarely had Shin spent a night in such disagreeable tasks. His body still ached from the healing wounds of last night, bruises adorning one side and his back. The gunshot wound throbbed angrily with each step as he made his way down to the kitchens, fresh from a bath. After interrogating that dwarf, he had most certainly found himself in need of one. Rubbing a towel negligently over his unbound hair, Shin made his way toward the kitchens, intent on securing breakfast before checking in on his sister. The dragon had neglected to put on a shirt, leaving his upper body bare as he had traversed the manor. The whispers that followed hadn't pleased him much, but he was far too tired to care beyond the customary scowl of annoyance. The scales along his collar and down his arms glittered in the light. They made the bruises and the angry red of the healing bullet wound seem darker in comparison.


Entering the kitchens, he paused warily on the threshold to make a quick inspection for shadow bees before continuing. He well remembered their sting through his scales and wasn't eager to test the sensation without those in the way to muffle the sensation. His mismatched eyes landed on Zarvan, a brow arching before his gaze immediately moved to Nick. Walking over, he paused at the other side of the chair and smiled down at the Keloshian tiredly. "I'm glad to see you recovered. I was worried."

[Nykolas]

Nick frowns a little at Zarvan's words. He hears the threat, but ignores it out of disbelief Zarvan would act upon it. It's the promise of disappointment that tugs at his heart the most. He hadn't even realized he'd let Zarvan get that close and that realization troubles him as much as any of the rest of it. He doesn't have a father, never has had one, and doesn't need one. He has a meavi and a master and those are good enough. He sighs out his compliance, but says nothing more on that matter. Anything he might would have is distracted from this thoughts by Troy's plan to meet on the balcony. Nick nods once in agreement to meet, "After I replenish." On a normal day he'd have stopped eating and followed Troy immediately, but he's injured and isn't moving anywhere near his normal speed.

It's a few moments later when Shin arrives. Nick is still eating, and Zarvan has settled into a chair himself to finish off the non meat portions of Troy's breakfast. Nick doesn't look up right away when Shin speaks, but keeps looking at his flood playing the indifferent card as if he doesn't care. He tries to pretend not to care about anything most the time. He even tries to make that pretense his real state, but he can't turn off his heart, even when it is no longer in his chest. This annoys him and he lets the annoyance show. "I'm not recovered." He replies, the Veritas making him give the truth when he'd otherwise like to pretend he is fully recovered indeed. He turns his gaze to look up at Shin and frowns instantly, his brow furrowing, "And you're not clothed. What is wrong with you people?" He looks away again quickly, feeling the heat sinking down his ears and toward his face. This makes him frowns even more, he didn't react this way to Amaya, so why should he to Shin? "I have a meeting to go to..." He stands suddenly, getting up from his chair on the opposite side of the chair than Shin stands on and making a point not to look at Shin.

[Zarvan Thuxra]

Zarvan sits down in Troy's chair almost as soon as the other vacates it and proceeds to eat the boy's breakfast. Zarvan glances up and Shin but doesn't seem to care about the wounds or the state of dress Shin is in. But secretly he knows those wounds were gotten in defense of Nykolas and in pursuit of his enemies, so he makes note of them all. No matter how brief the look was, he knows Nick did as well. Keloshians are a warrior people, much like demari themselves. When he built the empire, Kayos took culture pieces he liked from everyone else that was already there. This makes him think his empire is superior to the others, but Zarvan disagrees. He doesn't protect Nykolas because he is Keloshian though. He's not sure why, Darja won't tell him, but if it's important to The Sleeper, it is important to Zarvan. He remains silently eating his breakfast, but watches Nykolas get up with interest. He then looks up to Shin to see if the dragon is going to follow the boy instead of having to do so himself. He's getting tired of following the kid around.

[Shinkiro]

A dark brow lifts before Shin looks down at his bare upper body. What was the problem? He was wearing pants and a pair of knee high dark leather boots. Why was the lack of shirt such an issue? "If you aren't recovered, then you shouldn't go alone. I've only managed to kill two of the three that were involved in the murders. The last is still at large, and might target you again." And wounded or not, the dragon had every intent on seeing to it that Nick was safe. Draping the towel around his shoulders, he moved as if he would follow the Keloshian.


"Will you be coming as well?" The question is addressed to Zarvan, even though his gaze never leaves Nick. He wouldn't presume to tell the demari to get lost. Not after he had helped to save the Keloshian. Though if he were being entirely honest with himself, he would prefer to have Nick to himself for a short while.

[Nykolas]

Nick turns on Shin suddenly, glaring intently. "You don't look any better off than, so who are you to judge me? At least I am well enough to finish dressing myself." He glances down Shin disapprovingly and then toward his own armored self. He doesn't think he needs to point out that one of them is ready for a fight, the other isn't ready for anything. “But this is a private meeting, you both stay here. Or go anywhere else where I'm not.” He turns quit quickly once more to storm away from the pair and toward the stairs that will take him to his meeting with Troy. The quickness of his movements makes his head swim only a little now that he's been replenished and it's not enough to show in his outer movements.

[Zarvan Thuxra]

Zarvan was half turned in his seat watching Shin when Nykolas has his little outburst. He opens his mouth as if to make a smart comment, but then the boy informs them they are not welcome. Zarvan arrived barely 'dressed' himself, but has learned over the years to put on more clothes around the boy. He does so mostly so the boy doesn't get all pissy more than out of respect for his wishes. He sighs like a parent watching their child having a tantrum and then looks back up to Shin amused, “You upset him.” He looks Shin over, wondering what it is about this dragon that can set the boy off when so few can.

[Coulult]

“I'm sorry, but the master asks that you remain down here for now. He doesn't believe you are up for climbing all those stairs.” Coul has placed himself between the Nick and the stairs. He holds both his hands up with palms toward the assassin as if to say please don't kill the messenger. He smiles a little sheepishly. “He wishes to inform you that the shadows will prevent it.” He smiles a little relieve, happy that he himself doesn't have to try to stop an armored Keloshian whom they suspect to be an assassin.

[Shinkiro]

Halting, Shin regards Nick with some surprise at the outburst. He blinks twice before his head tilts. "I also still have a heart inside my chest," he replied mildly. After a moment, he glances to Zarvan and simply shrugs. "It wasn't my intent to cause him any upset. But, if the lack of proper clothing is the only issue.." Both of Shin's eyes shifted to glowing gold. A small cyclone of sand obscured his form for a moment before vanishing. A deep grey tunic with finely tooled leather now covered his chest, sword hanging from his hip. Ignoring the ring in his ears that it had caused, the dragon reached for a piece of toast and began to eat it before looking toward the sound of Coul's voice. Well now, that ought to improve his mood, he mused wryly. Turning on his heel, he moved to follow after Nick and watch the show.

[Nykolas]

Nick is about to shove his way past the pixelf servant when the declaration of the shadows is heard. He glances up the stairs, his eyes moving to the darker sides of the wall and reaches out with his own shadow ability. The shadow do indeed deny him jumping abilities and seem a little hostile. That doesn't make any sense. I'm a shadow user too and I don't have to walk... the meeting. Damnit. He glances back at Shin and Zarvan and then rolls his eyes. Why didn't he make on of the other Slayers come into this party with him? Oh yeah, because they didn't know it was in a pocket dimension and it was assumed Wraith could slip in if needed. They better be saving that kid or I'm gonna be pissed. He remains at the bottom of the stairs for a moment and stares down Coulult in the hopes of making the other nervous. It always makes Nick feel better to be feared. His eyes are still on Coul, but his mind is registering that Shin is suddenly dressed. He isn't sure how he feels about that. Why does his opinion matter and why does the dragon insist on staying at his side? There is too much swimming around in his head and he needs to sit down. He really wants to go tickle the keys, but would hate to satisfy any fans by showing off his music skills. He makes no move to go up the sitars nor to go anywhere else, but just stands there staring down Coulult.

[Zarvan Thuxra]

Zarvan can't help but chuckle a little when Shin mentions clothing being the only issue. He doesn't believe that to be the issue at all anymore. Though it might not help... or hurt, depending. He turns back to the table and finishes off a drink before following Shin out into the hall near the stairs and to where Nick is. He watches the exchange, but says nothing. Finally things are a little amusing at least. He has so much to do elsewhere, but he's getting used to the idea of the task he's been given in the here and now. Ones as old as he take a long time to readjust their focus sometimes. He leans forward toward Shin's ear and as he glances down at the gray tunic says, “he likes blue.”

[Shinkiro]

Pausing a few feet away, Shin eats the piece of toast slowly and watches Nick. Doubtless this has something to do with the meeting that he mentioned. I wonder what it was about? He couldn't help but to be interested in finding out just who he was supposed to meet and why. Given the guest list, it could be any number of people. As Zarvan spoke, he leaned just slightly toward the demari, a brow lifting. Finishing off his last piece of toast, he chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. "A pity that my scales are gold, then." Oh, he knew very well that the other man meant his tunic. But changing it now would be rather silly. Though he did appreciate the little tidbit, and he would certainly bear it in mind for later.



After a few moments of contemplation, he looked from Zarvan to Nick. "Perhaps you would care to discuss what I've learned since last night? It may aid us in locating the last member of our murderous little trio."

[Nykolas]

Nick is adequately distracted by the offer of information that Shin might hold. He forgets most the time to take as much care toward himself as he does toward others. He and his crime fighting friends would like the Terrata removed from the playing field, but maybe it'd be nice to have those that almost killed him removed too. Too busy protecting everyone else to protect myself... The words echo in his head in the voice of his master, despite being in first person. FINE! He sighs and turns back toward Shin. “We should find somewhere more out of the way to discuss.” He already did a little self tour of the first floor so he stops to think about the least likely place to run into people making out. “Maybe the study that is next to that room we played the truth game in.” He doesn't wait to see if that is okay with any that might follow him, but turns the direction of said study and heads off.

[Shinkiro]

The location worked well enough for Shin. With a slight shrug of broad shoulders, he fell in behind the Keloshian to follow along. "I hope you at least were able to spend your night resting." Gods knew that he hadn't. Grimacing, the dragon shook his head before reaching back to begin binding his waist length hair into a tail to keep it out of his face. Between the searching, and then interrogating the dwarf, he had gotten precious little rest. He would have to remedy that soon. But before all else, he would need to check on his sister and be certain that she was safe.



Though, knowing Amaya, she was not only fine, but in the middle of a situation that probably didn't need any input from him. Quickly retreating from that particular line of thought, the dragon instead turned his attention to the matter at hand. "I've had enough of this party and then some."

[Kels]

First Floor layout reminder

SPOILER: Click to show

Post Edit: Improved images.

---

This first one is the entrance to Nakmarr Manor. You can see the ten foot thick walls that separate the manor house from the sidewalks of Serenity.



First Floor Room List: (from back left room, working clockwise)
Tailor
Feast Hall
Kitchen
Card Room
Library/study
Sitting Room
Privy
Bath
Sitting Room
Entrance
Sitting
Servent's Stars
Privy
Music Room
Game Room
Dinning Room

The center is the Ball Room

[Nykolas]

Nick doesn't respond again on the trip down the hallway toward the study. It's not as close as one might think and he's using up a lot of energy pretending he is fully recovered. He agrees with Shin however that the party can not end soon enough. He is separated from his team and his weapons. The absences of their voices in his head makes him very lonely. If not for this, he might fight Shin on following him around more, but it never hurts to have a guardian dragon around when someone is trying to kill you. Most the manor is still sleeping off their activities from the night before. Nick figures they won't get up until closer to lunch time. Nick glances around to make sure the room is empty, though really it probably doesn't matter. He's already heard people whispering about the chaos that went on the night before. No point in trying not to rise a panic among the guests now. He doesn't really care if they did panic anyway, he could just go into his closet while the idiots kill each other.

He moves to the desk directly opposite the door and turns one of the wooden chairs there to face the others. He's a little surprised there isn't something more comfortable to sit in in this room, or a bed. Arako seems the type to put a bed in every room, but the lack of a bed or sofa might mean this room will be theirs for longer than any other. He looks toward shin and gives a little flourish of his hand to indicate that Shin should go on with the sharing of information.

[Shinkiro]

Upon entering the room, Shin moves to settle himself comfortably into a chair, stretching his legs out with a soft sigh. "It has been a very long night." Folding his hands over his stomach, he fixed his mismatched eyes on Nick with a serious expression. "After you were settled comfortably last night, my sister ordered me to hunt. With her acting as my filter, I investigated the sites of the other murders. I encountered.. some difficulty in the kitchens in the form of shadow bees." And he would forever despise the little pests for that encounter. "I was able to catch a faint scent from the scene, however, and followed it to the servants' quarters. I killed the first of the three. He was also the one responsible for shooting you last night."


The memory of it was enough to cause his eyes to narrow, pupils constricting into thin slits as a growl far more suited for a dragon than an elf rumbled in his chest. "After killing him, I was able to see into some of his memories. He was working with a pixie and a dwarf, using a relic of some kind that allowed them to move without detection. I followed the trail to the dwarf, and found her in possession of the voice boxes taken from the murdered sirens."