On Board the Horizon

//--GM
You rest a few minutes or so, just long enough to realize how bloody exhausted you are, and then you feel a Trump call coming.

//--Daniel
Ah, you've got to be fucking kidding me, Daniel thinks. Holding off the call as best he can, he carefully extricates himself from Mandy, and stands within reach of her, sword in hand. Letting as little go as he can, he accepts the contact.

//--Gerard
Mandy has fallen asleep again, so all that is required is a bit of gymnastics to extricate yourself. You stand ready, open your mind the smallest crack you can manage, and the connection forms to a rain-soaked Gerard, standing on the deck of a ship.

He looks at you, glances at the sword in your hand, and then says, "Oshi said you had wounded. Can you bring them through?"

//--Daniel
Daniel breathes heavily a couple of times, he can feel an expression trying to form around his mouth, but he can't tell what it is. After a moment he just nods mutely. He sheaths his sword and collects his guns, then kneels beside Mandy to pick her up in his arms. "Hold on," he says to her, freeing one hand to reach for Gerard.

//--Mandy
Mandy just manages to ask, "... Who are you talking to...?" before Daniel climbs through the contact. Her eyes go wide as you step out onto the deck of the 'Horizon,' a smallish sloop from Gerard's half of Amber's Navy. A moment in the wet starts her gently shivering.

//--Gerard
Gerard gestures toward the captain's cabin in the stern, not even suggesting that he might take Mandy from Daniel. "Shelter us from the worst of this blow as soon as you can," he tells the wheelman, then follows you into the aft cabin opposite his quarters, smartly fitted as a sickbay more modern than the wooden sailing vessel would suggest from the outside.

//--Daniel
I take her through the door and set her on the edge of one of the beds. I help her lay down. "We'll be out of here as soon as you're well." I turn to Gerard. Never met the man in person, but hey, what the hell.

"It's been less than a day, but I don't know what..." I indicate her leg.

//--Oshi
Oshi will follow silently.

//--Gerard
After taking a moment to finish making Mandy comfortable, Gerard glances Daniel's way to say, "There's space below-decks to stow your gear, and a chest of castoffs you can find something... less wet from," wrinkling his nose at Daniel's proximity. "Not likely to be much for you there, Miss Oshi, but you can at least steal a shirt to sleep in." He pauses to hang an IV bottle. "Your friend will be here overnight, at least."

//--Daniel
Daniel looks up at Gerard wearily, nodding. "Thanks," he says, and to Mandy he adds, "I'll be right back," even though she's not much conscious.

//--Gerard
A final look seems to indicate that he'd like to talk to Daniel - or perhaps both of you - later, but there's no chastisement in his gaze.

Oshi and Daniel head downstairs.

//--Oshi
When she has a moment alone with Daniel she will get his attention, hand him the Trump Deck, and say, "I am sorry Daniel."

//--Daniel
Daniel hesitates a moment, and takes the cards. "You did the right thing, Oshi. I was coming to the place where I would have done the same, it was just... taking me too long." His face relaxes a little closer to smiling, "You could have, y'know, asked me."

//--Oshi
"I could not risk the chance that you would argue with me. You were not...emotionally prepared to make such a choice at that time. Still I should not have presumed." She bows her head in apology again.

//--Daniel
Daniel laughs a little, "Mm, yeah. Right again."

//--GM
The gangway leads below to two more rooms, each comfortably appointed but cramped, smelling of old candles and the sea. Low beams trouble Daniel little and Oshi not at all, and the narrow beds seem particularly inviting after the trip you've had so far. There is parchment, sea-safe writing tools, and a bottle of wine on each room's corner table, tucked in a basket tacked down against the roll of the sea.

//--Daniel
Outside the door of one, Daniel says, "I'm gonna find someplace to get cleaned up again. These clothes?" he looks down, "straight into the bin." He starts to head into the room, then turns back, "Oshi? You know I..." a complicated expression comes over him. "Thanks. I'm sorry, and thanks."

//--Oshi
Oshi looks confused. "There is no need to apologize, it was I who was in the wrong. We would not have been there if not for my request."

//--Daniel
"As you say." Daniel gives her a nod/half-bow and heads into the room.

Daniel does indeed get the clean clothes, find a place to wash up... twice, probably.

//--GM
When you go looking - assuming you eventually ask someone - you're directed back to your room, and a cabin boy brings you a near-steaming basin of water and a generous stack of towels, including a big, rough-textured one for the floor. The soap he provides smells of lamb's wool, and stings slightly on raw flesh, but does a superb job of removing all your trail-bitter. From the sea trunk, you're able to find a comfortable cotton shirt, a flannel over-shirt striped in various shades of red and rust, well-worn tan pants that bear more than a superficial resemblance to jeans, and suitable socks and undergarments, all a remarkably good fit for your size.

//--Daniel
He throws the old clothes including the much-loved greatcoat into the trash. He pulls out his few belongings including the weapons, cleans his pack and everything in it that's worth salvaging, and lays everything out to dry. He's going barefoot until the boots are salvageable.

//--Daniel
When he's done, he knocks quietly on Oshi's door. He's much more human, at least physically.

//--Oshi
She sits up and makes sure she is decent. Then says, "Enter please Daniel."

//--Daniel
Daniel pokes his head in the room. "Oshi? I'm heading up to talk to Gerard and sit with Mandy. You okay?"

//--Oshi
Oshi nods, picking up her backpack and Setsumi. "I will join you if I may. I have rested enough."

//--Daniel
"Sure, if you like. I don't know what he wanted with me; he'll tell us if for some reason he thinks it's private." Daniel gives her a brief, tight smile, and nods her out ahead of him.

He goes up, looking for Gerard.

//--GM
The lights are out in the infirmary, but the door is open. There is just enough light entering from the hallway porthole for you to just make out Mandy resting in the shadows. The drip of the IV almost keeps time with her soft, unlabored breathing.

Gerard is still in his quarters (this being about an hour after Oshi's talk with him), with the door just slightly open, as if in guarded invitation. He appears to be well into a pipe of fine tobacco, looking out at the ship's wake through a floor-to-ceiling window. It seems the 'Horizon' has cleared the storm, although the angry clouds behind you still threaten. A few leather courier pouches are scattered over the navigational map on his desk, bookended by a stout mug near his right hand and a slightly battered sextant near the edge of the well-worn desktop.

//--Daniel
Daniel knocks softly with the back of his hand and enters.

He ducks his head by way of a slight bow. "Captain. Thank you. You wanted to see us?"

//--Gerard
"You're welcome, Daniel, on all counts." He gestures toward the chair opposite his. "Perhaps you should sit. As we've never really talked, I'm not sure how you'll... appreciate what I have for you."

//--Daniel
Daniel raises an eyebrow, but finds the chair and sits down.

//--Gerard
While waiting for Daniel's word - or preferably his butt in the chair - he turns to Oshi, his somewhat paternal expression softening just a touch. "Chibi-san, I was going to give this to you later, but seeing as you're here...." He opens the only courier pouch with his own mark on it and offers Oshi the contents: an envelope of the finest creme linen paper, marked with the seal of Amber's queen.

The second courier pouch bears the mark of Amber, while the third appears to be from Caine, or some member of his immediate household or naval command. Thus far, Gerard has left them where they lie on the desk.

//--Oshi
Oshi says. "I will recieve those items when our palaver is complete." And then sits quietly and listens.

//--Gerard
Gerard lets the envelope drop beside the sextant, with enough of it over the edge of the desk to make you wonder if a good wave would have the message on the floor.

//--Daniel
Daniel waits, attentive with perhaps a touch of wariness that Oshi would detect.

//--Gerard
"When my brother said I'd be seeing you soon, I was a little annoyed, but there is a great deal that can be smoothed over with fine tobacco. Do you take a pipe?"

//--Daniel
Daniel shakes his head, "Thanks, though. Feeling a bit... delicate. I don't know why this all ended up on you, but I do appreciate it."

//--Gerard
Regardless of Daniel's answer, Gerard slides the pouch with Caine's mark on it toward him. "Despite some curiosity on my part, I haven't opened it. I think you can assume there's no harm for you in there, or my brother would have chosen a different messenger," and the last word comes out half-buried in an annoyed grumble. He pauses to apply fresh flame to his own pipe, and then leaves the lighter on the desk between you within Daniel's easy reach.

//--Daniel
Daniel does not hide his puzzlement. "I can't say I've had any dealings with Caine, or know why he should make you play this role." He shrugs as he leans forward and takes the pouch. As he's opening it, he adds, "Again, I thank you. If we'd been going to meet, I'd rather not have had to put you out like this."

//--Gerard
"Don't worry; I'm far more bothered with my brother's manners than yours. Actually, I like having a chance to put a face to... well, really, just to finally get to talk to the two of you a bit."

//--Daniel
Daniel actually looks forward in interest to hear the end of what Gerard's going to have a chance to do, and quirks a smile when he doesn't finish the sentence. He nods.

//--Gerard
Gerard does his best to act as though he said just what he meant to say, but you see his jaw tense over the pipe just briefly at your peaking interest, with the tight set fading quickly when your smile blossoms. "I'm on better terms with most of your generation, but somehow I missed out with you two, and I'd like to set that to rights. At least as much as we can before you two run off to whatever business you have next...."

//--Daniel
He opens the packet and looks through.

//--GM
Inside is a simple Trump deck, done in the style of the ones so often found in the Amber library. The pouch is empty other than the card case.

//--Daniel
"Hm," says Daniel. "Trump deck." He looks over at Oshi and the Gerard, and pulls it out for them to see. He also checks in the case looking for a note or something. Then he fans through the deck briefly, looking at the art style and at who's included.

//--Gerard
No note, even after a solid search and shake of the pouch. Gerard's explanation, if you can call it that, is, "I suppose we never really knew if you'd ever received one, Daniel. Until recently, you were more of a nasty rumor than anything else...."

//--Daniel
This earns a raised eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?" He has half that smile on his face.

//--Gerard
Gerard harrumphs. "Only if that's the sort of reputation you'd like to cultivate." He points at you with the stem of his pipe, eyes all serious now. "Corwin enjoyed such a manner, and it got him his eyes burned from his head in the end. Not a road I'd travel, my boy."

//--Oshi
Oshi speaks up, though quietly: "That will not happen to Daneil while I draw breath."

//--Gerard
Gerard looks at Daniel as if to say, See what you're leading this one to? before telling Oshi, "Loyalty is important, but so is sense. There's nothing flattering in being considered a regicide-in-waiting. The business you have, you best not squander any allies. The right hand withdrawn at the wrong time wounds deeper than a sword, Chibi-san, and is probably tenfold more likely to get you killed."

//--Daniel
Daniel sighs, irritated at Gerard's lecture, or perhaps at being the cause of a lecture to Oshi. "If I were anything other than an impotent fool, no one would be calling me a regicide-in-waiting. Random's reign here was nothing to do with what was between him and me, and it's over. Your king," Daniel lets a half-mastered grimace slip through on that word but forges on, "has nothing more to fear from me. You can believe that or not... share that with him or not, as you wish. If you can render any use out of him believing one way or the other..." Daniel shrugs.

//--Gerard
Gerard takes a long moment to collect himself before saying, "You went from a rumor to a veiled threat and back to a rumor so fast... but... I should not have allowed my concern to outrun my manners, Daniel." The remainder of his apology, if that's what this is, goes unsaid.

//--Daniel
Easing up, Daniel says, "'S no problem. I just... mm... never mind. I'm curious to hear how that went sometime. I mean, I had wondered, so many years ago, when I started getting these polite little Trump calls: like, how'd they find me? How did they even know of me? Was Random putting something around, or what?"

//--Gerard
"The first I heard of you, I suppose, was that someone had stumbled into the aftermath of the assassination attempt - no knowing it had been you until later. When Random recovered, went back, and then returned quite mum about what he had done to settle accounts, it... leads to a certain curiosity. A rumor arose - something I heard over wine one evening with my red-haired brother, I believe - that Random had crossed swords with kin out in Deepest Shadow, and come back lessened for it. Of course, that brother favors such rumors; indeed, collects them like they are precious to him some days. *chuckles* Then Random limps back to the throne... maybe six or seven months past... claiming that all was settled, and that the business of the crown was all he was to be about for the foreseeable future. It was an odd denial, but I took it at its face. My brother's last visit, then the Queen's, and finally, Oshi's call, and this... fortuitous little meeting."

//--Daniel
Daniel tries to puzzle this out a while. "Whoa, whoa. They think the assassination attempt was me?" He exchanges a puzzled look with Oshi. "I guess the question is, which assassination attempt? We know of one, plus the unpleasant conversation he and I had, which might count in some eyes. But the timing's weird. Plus, folks were contacting me even before that."

//--Gerard
"As I said, it was all rumor, and third-hand or worse in most cases. You started out sounding like someone who had blundered into trouble - the trouble that cost Oshi her brother, for lack of a better reference - and then the tale turned such that it was you behind it somehow... so you can see why I'd want to hear it from you, eh?" He scratches his head, a bit puzzled himself.

//--Daniel
"If you want to hear what I know of that matter, I'm happy to tell you. If Random's keeping something from you he hasn't told me, or told me why." Daniel looks at him for his assent, then continues. "Personally I'd tracked some rumors of Random heading for a card game in Shadow, and for a change I had a solid lead on the location. I intended to get there, take the scent of him, and decide what I was going to do when I'd had a chance to see him again. I admit, murder wasn't out of the question. I got close, set myself up a good scouting location, and got attacked by the real assassins. I was pretty much dead; Oshi pulled me out... must have been most of a day later?" He nods over at her. "I didn't get to see what happened to Random and those with him. Oshi told me after.

"When she had me on my feet, we tracked the assassins to some contact points on a near shadow. Killed our way to the top, basically. Last guy got away. You want to know who it was?" He's asking Gerard, but he seems to be looking to Oshi for permission.

//--Oshi
Oshi merely nods. She has a frown on her face, but you think that is due more to bad memories than anything else.

//--Gerard
Gerard clearly wants to know, but he also awaits Oshi's word, seeming more respectful of her than either of you would likely expect of an Elder. Maybe it's just in his character...?

//--Daniel
"Mm. Brand. At the time there was some thought it could've been a shadow. But after some investigations, Random seems to think it wasn't; he's not sure enough to talk, apparently. Oshi and I have spotted a couple more that were shadows, but..." Daniel shrugs. "Random seems to think he can't move against the guy directly, that he doesn't have enough evidence, that Bleys and Fiona wouldn't believe him, or would defend Brand again. 'Uneasy lies the head,' or whatever."

//--Gerard
"'Uneasy' indeed. Wasn't that long ago that I had a 'talk' with Eric, dead all these years. It didn't end well, but at least he wasn't a redhead." The big man shudders, and that appears to be all he has to say about that.

//--Daniel
"I'd kind of like to know why nobody can do anything about anything around here. Because I figure that's the business Oshi's going to be catching me up in, and I owe her, and I want to know why a bunch of people are sitting back watching me die before I go. It's a tidiness thing." Daniel gestures at his head. "I just... want to know."

//--Gerard
"If you were my son, or my daughter," glancing at Oshi, "then I would be strapping on my blade and going with you. But that is not the case... and hospitality or no, I don't think it's your place to question my industry, my idleness, or my duty."

He chews his lip a moment, eyes lowered as he wrestles with something in his mind, and then raises his gaze to stare into Daniel's eyes. "When the deed is done, I swear by Amber herself that you may come to me for shelter, and I'll defend you to the Unicorn's Chosen King himself, if it comes to that." He holds out his hand, with the weight of an oath to all he holds holy behind it.

//--Daniel
"If it comes to that, I may ask it of you." Daniel leans forward and shakes the man's hand, meeting his gaze seriously. When he sits back down, he adds, "But I did not mean to point out your inaction. Others are closer to the center, and even less involved."

//--Gerard
"We can only hope that it will not come to that." He settles back. Any offense to his honor goes unmentioned from here.

"So, if you ever wanted King Random dead, you say you're quit of the notion now, right?"

//--Daniel
Anyone can see the cold run through Daniel, but he shakes his head and nods, "Right."

//--Gerard
"I'd call that good enough. I'm sure your Uncles and I have all had murder in our hearts for each other at one point or another. Family will do that like nothing else can. Hell, I almost pitched your Uncle Corwin off a cliff once."

He reaches beneath his table to pull up a stout earthenware decanter and refreshes his mug with the steaming contents. It smells of roasted beans and alcohol in rich and comforting proportions. "Sorry, my manners again. Can I pull down a glass for either of you?"

//--Daniel
Slowly nodding, Daniel says, "Oh, yes, please."

//--GM
The flavor has an earthy, broth-like quality, with some qualities better found in a stew bowl than a coffee cup, but it warms you all the way down to your bare toes, and kicks just enough to keep you from drinking too quickly.

//--Daniel
Looking back at the Trump deck, can he tell if it's old, and if not, who drew it?

//--GM
Although Daniel is no expert, the art style appears to be Dworkin's. As far as age goes, there's really no telling with Trump. He can be fairly certain that the Texorami Trump that recently came into his possession are relatively new, for example, but only on the word of the presumed artist and other circumstantial evidence.

Fanning the deck reveals only the usual suspects at first, but toward the end you see some new place Trumps: the abandoned Basin City Petrol, a familiar corner of a certain sushi shop, and the coat room of Duncan's place. After that are Trumps of Queen Vialle, a secluded garden off of Castle Amber, and a seedy dockside that could be Texorami, Amber City, or any of a thousand million secluded warehouse alleys in Shadow. The final card in the deck appears to be blank - like the artist completed the front framing but never got to the subject. (Neither Daniel nor Oshi have ever heard of such at thing.) These cards' backs match all the others, and the brush style of the subject side is identical, so far as either of you can tell.

//--Daniel
Daniel looks at the place cards a long time, figuring out his question. Finally he fans them out on the table, inviting Oshi and Gerard to look more closely -- though he hadn't been holding them tight to his chest in any case.

Pointing at the last several cards, he asks, "So some of these places were known only to Oshi and me. How'd they get in there? Something going on with Trump I haven't heard of before?"

//--Gerard
"My brother has some Talent in that area, but I seriously doubt you'd ever get a straight answer from him about it." He pulls out his own Trump deck, fanning to the back until you can see the captain's quarters of a double-dozen ships depicted. "Every time I take a fancy to one, even fresh from the slips, he has something like this for me the next time we make port together. A little creepy, but I figure, best not to look a gift horse in the mouth until it starts eating your other livestock, eh?" His eyes linger over the blank one for a moment. He starts to reach for it, but then retreats his hand slightly and looks up at Daniel for permission before going any further. "Never seen the like of that last one before...."

//--Daniel
Daniel makes another shrug, this one of permission. "Me, neither. Go ahead."

//--Gerard
Gerard picks it up, looks at it long and hard... and then sets it back in its place on the table, seemingly without success. "Maybe it is what it looks like: unfinished. It feels like Trump, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere, or to anyone." After a pause to relight his pipe, "Then again, maybe it isn't meant for me," gesturing toward Daniel with his pipe stem.

//--Daniel
"I can't say I have much interest in playing around with Caine's traps. But I suppose we could call him and ask about it.

//--Gerard
Gerard bristles a bit, but unruffles quickly. "As I said before, if my brother had intended you harm, it would not have passed through my hands, Daniel. You have my word." He smirks at the second part. "If he is about something, though, I don't think you'll have his word on it until it's done."

"Do you want the Queen's parcel before or after you ask my brother to explain himself?" Gerard asks, pulling from his mug in an effort not to laugh impolitely.

//--Daniel
"Yes, of course." Daniel laughs a little, too. "I can certainly put off a conversation with Caine for another day."

//--GM
Gerard passes the Queen's pouch, and inside Daniel discovers two letters; one the twin of Oshi's, sealed tight in its envelope, and the other rolled semi-tight and held private by only a loose bow of pale green silk. The small scroll seems both more inviting and more dangerous: odd qualities to ascribe to a simple roll of parchment, but you feel them just the same.

//--Daniel
Daniel puts his hand on it and lets that feeling run a minute. Then he shakes his head. "These look more private, I guess. And I should check on Mandy. I could meet you later... before dinner? And I suppose I've got to figure out where to get Mandy to next, and where Oshi and I might be headed... if we're sticking together from here or crossing paths later."

//--Oshi
Oshi says: "I will find you before we depart the ship, that we may discuss our plan."

//--Gerard
"Well... if the storm stays off us enough to cook, I was going to eat on deck. If we haven't outrun it, I'm putting us to port for the night, and I know we can get a private room at a local restaurant to talk further. I can't imagine it would do any of us any good to talk on an empty stomach... unless you need to be on your way before I can fill your bellies. Your lady could use the night to recover, but If you have to be off, it'll only cost you the effort of carrying her, I suppose. If all else fails, I shouldn't be avoiding Trump calls anytime soon... but frankly, breakfast with your uncle hardly seems like a high price for her care." He winks.

//--Daniel
Daniel nods his thanks. "Not too high at all. And she's not my lady, just a nice girl who had the misfortune to get tangled up."

//--Gerard
"She's lucky to have fallen in with good company, then." He thinks a moment. "Anything you'd rather I didn't discuss if she joins us for breakfast tomorrow?" His face is quiet, neutral, while he waits for your answer, sipping his drink.

//--Daniel
"Since I don't know what you plan on discussing, I can't really answer that. But I don't reckon you can embarrass me to her. But I suppose if there's anything you want to talk about that she shouldn't know, for her safety, I'd be grateful if we got that through in private. I know some good places she can go, away from all this, and I'd hate that to fall through because she overheard the wrong thing."

//--Gerard
"I'll get my fill of gossip and plans for the future at dinner, and save the quieter things for breakfast, then."

"Daniel, you should look in on her properly, now that you're... presentable enough to not present a risk to her health..." smiling at his own wit. "I'll have a word with Miss Oshi and then send her on to meet you."

//--Daniel
He finishes off his mug and stands, collecting the Queen's package and the envelope with Caine's Trump cards. "Sure. Sure thing." He heads out of the cabin.

//--GM
Is Daniel heading straight across the hall to the infirmary?

//--Daniel
Yes. If Mandy's asleep, he'll sit by her and open his packets from the queen. Otherwise he'll talk to her a while.

//--Mandy
She was asleep, but she stirs when you sit near her. "Were you guys talking about me? My ears are burning...." She smiles as she turns toward you, looking much better than she had even a few hours ago.

//--Daniel
Daniel smiles back at her, leaning over to check her IV, the apparent temperature of her forehead, and so on, before sitting.

//--GM
The IV bag is nearly empty, and the antibiotic add-on completely so. You don't imagine that she'll want to eat or drink much after the spanking her intestinal flora have likely taken, so you may want to hang a fresh one - minus the drugs - after a few minutes or so. She's a little warm, but not beyond what you would logically expect from the blankets she's half-buried in.

//--Daniel
He does what is appropriate.

"Yeah, we were a bit.

//--Mandy
"I was going to ask if I should be worried, but if the look on your face is any indication, I think I'll be all right."

//--Daniel
"You look much better. Oshi was right to bring us here."

//--Mandy
She glances away for an instant at the mention of Oshi, but her expression is untroubled when she looks back at you to ask, "So... where is here? I'm seeing and smelling hospital, but feeling and hearing creaky old ship."

//--Daniel
"I suppose 'a hospital on a creaky old ship' is not so helpful." Daniel smiles and shrugs.

//--Mandy
She pretends to be cross with your answer, but her eyes are laughing.

//--Daniel
"We have access to a few people -- the captain of this ship is one -- by way of a technology that allows communication and basically instant travel. Unfortunately, my relations with most of these folks are unknown at best, hostile at worst. Like I said, Oshi chose well."

//--Mandy
"Instant travel?" She gives you a look like you're high or something, but the look disappears as soon as you mention Oshi.

//--Daniel
"You don't have to believe it, but it's how we got from where we were to here. I think you were a little awake when I first got in contact with Gerard -- with the Captain. Then he brought the two of us through that communication link to here, where he was at the time."

//--Mandy
Her eyes widen as she thinks back to getting here. "I... I guess I thought that was a hallucination. First you were talking to nobody, and then you picked me up, and I felt someone - this 'Gerard' - talking in your head... in MY head... and then it was raining, and I don't think it was raining where we were...."

//--Daniel
Daniel just nods.

//--Mandy
She chews that over for a minute, and then, "Does it only work person to person... so you need someone you trust on the other end? That makes sense of that crazy hike, at least. Well, part of it, anyway. Been in and around Basin City all my life, and I swear I never saw half of what we walked through before... ever."

//--Daniel
"Yeah, you do have to trust them. But there are ways to get to places, I just didn't have such a way at the time. We have one now, though, so our departure should be considerably easier than our arrival. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to keep moving once you get there. The fact someone else created a way there means it's made. But you will be in excellent company, and none of that moving will be... through the kinds of dangers we had to go through to get off of Basin City."

//--Mandy
Quietly, soberly, "You make it sound like you're planning to leave me there."

//--Daniel
"Uh, I had planned to, yes. But I stop in reasonably often, so if you don't like the place or the company, I'll can take you to try someplace else, or back to your home--though I don't think that place is fit for anyone."

//--Mandy
"Would I be working for you, or finding my own way? ...Not that I think I'd mind being a kept woman too much." The joke comes off a little weak, but she tries to smile about it, and your intentions.

//--Daniel
"You seem a pretty resourceful lady, but if being kept is what suits you, you're welcome to look for a keeper. I gotta tell you, I'm not him. I can help you out, financially, if that's what you need to get started, but Duncan and his people have so many more connections out there, they're much more likely to be able to help set you up. Hell, Duncan's organization may have work; there are definitely worse payrolls in the world. Plus he's got fingers in a lot of different businesses, almost all legit. You'd have a pretty broad choice of things to get into."

//--Mandy
"No, I... I guess I just needed to know for sure what you were about with me. You're... not what I'm used to, Daniel." She takes a breath to let the color ease from her cheeks. "I'm glad for the connect to Duncan, and I'm sorry if I was starting to sound like a crush, there." She folds her hands in her lap as comfortably as the IV will allow, eyes down, but trying to smile. "Did the Captain say how long before I'm fit to travel?"

//--Daniel
"We have some time, but you're doing very well. We can leave here tomorrow, or maybe the next day. But I'm not in a rush to go anywhere after that."

//--Mandy
Collected now, she faces you as she asks, "Is there any chance I can get a tour? I mean... I'd understand if it's a secret thing, but I've never been on a ship before, and it'd kinda suck if this was all I could say I'd ever seen of one."

//--Daniel
"Most likely, sure. I'll ask the Captain."

He stops and puts a hand on Mandy's shoulder. "Can you tell me what happened between the two of you? I could have prepped you better."

//--Mandy
"I... I don't think I can say." She looks a little paler just from mentioning it, and she glances over your shoulder toward the door even saying as little as she does.

//--Daniel
"Did you tell her you wouldn't?"

//--Mandy
Again, her eyes dart to the door. "I don't know what I can say that won't upset... things...."

//--Daniel
"You can say whatever you want to me that isn't a lie or doesn't break a promise, and it's in safety. That's my promise. As for upsetting things, between the number of times we've saved each others lives, and the debts we owe and family we share, whatever you say is not going to be a problem in that regard."

//--Mandy
*barely a whisper* "Oshi... she promised to kill anyone who dealt to you again... and I had only earned the one warning." She starts shivering, and it takes little imagination to see Oshi's cold stare locking down those pretty blue eyes and making her believe she was risking death the next time Daniel craved a little oblivion.

//--Daniel
"Ah. So." Daniel sits back. "Shit. That'll make things difficult someday." And then, in case she takes that wrong, he adds, "Trust me, it's better I know, before I get someone killed I don't want to."

//--Mandy
Still shivering, "You, uh... *soft gulp* you don't imagine she'd make an example of me once you were far enough out of sight, do you?"

//--Daniel
"No, I don't imagine she would. I'll be explicit about it with her, if you're worried, but I know she won't hurt you. Look at it this way: Oshi arranged to get us here, even though she knew I was resisting it, because she also knew I wanted you safe, and my route wasn't working."

//--Mandy
"I can take your word, Daniel. It's just... she scared the hell out of me, and I didn't think I scared that easily. I suppose I should be thankful someone so... formidable has your back."

//--Daniel
Daniel huffs. "Yeah, it's me who should be grateful. I am grateful. What I'm sorry about is that my fucked-up thing had to impact you. You didn't deserve it."

//--Mandy
"I'm not exactly an angel... but I'm glad you feel that way."

//--Daniel
"Who is an angel, anyway? I just meant, you probably deal with a lot of customers' baggage, and knowing how heavy mine can be, I should've done a better job keeping it off you."

//--Mandy
She chuckles softly. "I think you're my first customer to give a shit, actually. Probably the last, too, since I'm getting into a new line of work. I'd say you were more than fine, as connections go. We bent the rules in a few places, but you were a rose on every risk I took."

A little concern colors her expression. "Are you past whatever drove you to call me that night?" She puts her hand over his.

//--Daniel
Daniel's expression closes up a bit, and his eyes slide up to the right as he contemplates lying to her. Finally he looks back at her and says, bluntly, "No."

//--Mandy
Her grip on your fingers tightens reassuringly. "If you ever need to talk, or just someone you feel safe getting drunk with, you can call me anytime, all right? It might not be as 'fun' as last time, but...." Her other hand reaches out to touch your face, somewhere in that gray area between friendly and intimate. "No, no but. You need me, you call me, okay?"

//--Daniel
Daniel smiles at the irony. "I might do that." He lets her hand rest on his face a moment, turns into it a little so the edge of his mouth is just touching it. Then he catches it up and sets it back on the bed. "Mm. You need more rest, I'm guessing. Gerard won't be happy if I get you all worked up when you should be healing. And of the rules that shouldn't be bent, I'd guess 'not sleeping with the junkies' is right on the top of the list."

//--Mandy
"Nah, it's more like fourth or fifth, after 'don't lend your friends money' or something." Mandy starts blushing again. "Besides, all rules get bent; you just have to watch for why...." She wiggles down into the bed without really taking her eyes off of Daniel, like she's thinking he might disappear forever if she blinks. "Good night, Daniel," she whispers, and Daniel knows she won't fall asleep for a while, even after he's gone.

//--Daniel
"Mm, yeah. You, too." He puts his hand on her forehead briefly, just to catch again that she's not burning up any more, and heads downstairs to the cabin he's been given.

//--Mandy
Mandy's no warmer than Daniel would expect. She offers a tired, quirked smile to the gesture, but says nothing further.

//--GM
As you step out of the infirmary, you feel a chill - almost like the sensation of Trump - that quickly passes.

//--Daniel
That seems weird ;-). I glance around as I go; Do I see any signs of what that was about?

//--GM
Only that the Trump deck from Caine's pouch feels cool, even through the case; somewhat like Random's was when he Trumped away, but not as intense.

//--Daniel
Any particular card in the deck causing that? I hesitate with my hand on the deck, then realize, fuck it, I'm not gonna be that nosy. I turn and head down the stairs as planned.

//--GM
The deck feels very subtly different, but not any more or any less "Trumpy," and the feeling quickly passes.

//--Daniel
He sits on the bunk a minute, doing absolutely nothing at all. Then he leans back into the pillows of the bunk, and opens the Queen's letters.

//--GM
The sealed invitation on the Queen's stationery includes a plastic hotel key and a charge plate with the logo of the Basin City Royal Crown Casino Hotel on it. The invite itself reads;

Honored Cousin,
Our Sovereign, King Random, will be unable to host the card game that has become his tradition this year due to other, standing commitments that demand his attention. However, in the interests of preserving this anniversary, Her Majesty, Queen Vialle, cordially invites you to spend a week at the Royal Crown Casino Hotel as her honored guest. This marque promises you the finest food and drink, as well as a generous line of credit at the tables, and access to local entertainments certain to raise your interest.
HRH Vialle, Queen of All Reality

Clearly, this is not rendered in Vialle's handwriting, but the Queen's signet and signature at the end appear genuine enough.

The scroll opens reluctantly, almost demanding a sharp instrument before the wax would part. Its message reads:

Dear Daniel,
I have provided a few things to make your stay more pleasant. Some come from my own hands, and some from your great-grandfather, who has been most kind to me these last few months. I know that our relationship has been complex, but I hope that this time I've set aside will help set things right.

Yours,
Vialle

The scroll is unaccompanied, but now that it is open, you recognize the watermark of the same Basin City hotel mentioned in the formal invitation imprinted on the paper.

//--Daniel
Wow. Uh, weird. Seems like I do have to get back to Amber before doing much else.

//--GM
The tone of the letter seems to imply that whatever Vialle's talking about is waiting for you in Basin City, rather than in her possession... not that you should be dissuaded from looking into things any way you see fit. *eg*

//--Daniel
Heh. It's that I want to know which Vialle(s) we're dealing with here.

How long before dinner?

//--GM
From the noise on deck, he'd say the ship was going to be making port shortly. Daniel might have two hours, or a bit less.

//--Daniel
But in any case, I look through Random's Trump deck for the "Amber" Vialle's card. I compare it to the others for a minute, before concentrating upon it.

//--GM
The "Amber" card seems refined yet approachable, while the "Virgin" is only refined, and the "Tramp" is neither, oddly enough - more of a madam than a whore. Despite the visual differences, they all feel like the same woman - or at least aspects of her. Aside from that, Daniel lacks the training / experience / whatever to divine much more, as they all pretty much just feel like Trump to him.

//--Vialle
The "Amber" Vialle card cools rapidly, almost invitingly, but the first thing you 'hear' is her speaking to someone else in the room, "May I have a moment please?" Then, softly, "Yes, Daniel?"

//--Daniel
"Your Majesty, I recently was given some materials from you, and wanted to ask you more about them, if you have the time."

//--Vialle
Daniel hears a door in the room close. "I have time, but I'm in rather close quarters at the moment; a situation unlikely to change in the near future. The... political situation is such that I have to be careful what I say. Do you understand?"

//--Daniel
"Certainly. I assume that means you're not free to come here? I'm on Gerard's ship, coming into harbor, if that makes any difference."

//--Vialle
A slightly wistful look crosses her face. "Would that I could. Maybe when this business is done... if you're ever this way again."

//--Daniel
"I am pleased to see you well, in any case. That aside, I have heard Random returned to Amber some months ago. I take that to mean you were able to return also, before that?"

//--Vialle
"I returned some time before him, but I was able to Trump him and make sure he was all right."

//--Daniel
"Mm. As all right as could be expected."

//--Vialle
Something tightens behind that soft smile, just for a moment. "Quite so."

//--Daniel
"To my questions, then, in brief. I was just given two notes from you. One an invitation, the other... indicating some assistance you were providing on location. These things are truly from you?"

//--Vialle
She tips her head slightly, as if listening to ensure that she is alone as can be managed, before answering, simply, "Yes."

//--Daniel
"And, have you discovered anything further about the woman in the portrait?"

//--Vialle
The corner of her mouth quirks; maybe a suppressed smile, maybe something else. "Nothing I've foreseen projects her as a threat."

//--Daniel
"Ah. That's something." Daniel considers a moment before continuing. "I have something of Random's that I should return to him. What is his disposition at the moment? I could walk up there in a couple of hours, or I could contact him now."

//--Vialle
"If there's no personal message with it, it might be easier to let me send it on to him. I don't imagine he'll have much time at all until well after sundown, if then, but he usually comes to check on me before I retire each night." Daniel can't tell if that's an invitation, a warning, or something else, and Vialle doesn't look inclined to elaborate.

//--Daniel
"Tempting. But I should talk to him, at least briefly. I'd rather it not be by Trump, but I'll do it that way if I can't get to him in person. What do you reckon on my chances?"

//--Vialle
There's that head tilt again - listening for eavesdroppers? - and then, "Call on me again tonight and I'll have a better idea... *suddenly whispering* ...or even a hand to bring you through."

//--Daniel
"I will. Thank you."

I let the link slide closed, and put Random's deck away in my pocket.

Strange woman, this queen, in a dangerous place. But her delay gives me time to speak with Gerard further, and get myself ready, maybe slip into the city if I get the chance after we dock.

Lying there, I realize I am ten colors of exhausted. I let myself drift off, thinking, "I have got to get a new coat," and not certain whether or not I hope someone wakes me for dinner.

//--GM
Daniel awakens, suddenly realizing that the light is gone. He hears the creak of anchorage ropes, and the bustle of the crew has faded to virtually nothing.

//--Daniel
I get up blearily, listening for any sense that anything's wrong other than we've come to port and folks are doing what they should be doing.

//--GM
Nothing seems out of place. I'm not sure how much nautical experience Daniel has, but everything feels bundled up and quiet.

//--Daniel
If my boots are dry I'll get those on, tidy myself a bit, and head back upstairs, trying to get a sense of the time...

//--GM
Dry boots and a splash of water put a nice capstone on Daniel's nap. It's likely the steadiest he's felt since leaving Basin City.

When Daniel gets on deck, he finds that it's not much after sundown. A knot of crewmen are on the main deck, aft of the mast, enjoying a hearty meal from plates and bowls propped on whatever is handy. The first mate has put up his hat and unbuttoned his coat, and is telling a tale; likely some yarn about a naval engagement, from the way his hands are 'playing ships' to act out positioning and such.

//--Daniel
In what harbor have we docked?

//--GM
Looks like a semi-isolated slip on the edge of Amber City.

Gerard and Oshi are nowhere to be seen.

//--Daniel
I take it that means they weren't in his office either. I approach the little knot of sailors, and stand aside good-natured until the first mate acknowledges me. "I had a message for the Captain. Is he aboard?"

//--GM
As the laughter dies down at the 'dramatic' sinking of the pirate vessel in the story, the first mate answers, "Admiral Gerard is ashore. He made for the Lost Salmon Chop House with the little princess you came with, maybe less than an hour ago. Gave us word to leave you lie as long as you wanted, begging your pardon, sir." Several of the sailors mutter with dismay at the thought of missing out on the food at the Lost Salmon, but a look from the First Mate silences them.

//--Daniel
I add, "Would you tell him I will be back aboard before morning?"

//--GM
"I certainly will, sir."

//--Daniel
I head out into the city.