In Amber City

//--Daniel
I head out into the city. If Gerard and Oshi went over less than an hour ago, I might just catch them, and if not, the route allows me to perhaps see who my minders are.

I make my way fairly directly to the restaurant, using slightly less care than I usually take when I move through Amber City, trying to take note of if and when I get a tail.

//--GM
Aside from a brief 'someone-stepping-over-my-grave' chill as you first head away from the docks, you have no sensation of being followed as you head into the city, leaving you feeling oddly neglected... or worse. You feel like you're making good time, but the restaurant isn't nearly far enough away from the docks for you to regain a lost hour.

//--Daniel
If nothing shows up before I get to the Lost Salmon, I'll just head inside and ask after the Captain.

//--GM
As you approach the Lost Salmon, you spot Caine approaching the chop house from the other direction. He tips his hat in your direction with his off hand, his other arm visibly burdened with parcels, but the motion doesn't measurably alter his progress. Unless you stop or change pace in some noticeable way, you'll reach the entrance to the restaurant at the same time.

//--Daniel
I visibly pause, stepping to the side just a little, and invite him to pause a moment as well.

//--Caine
He does, smirking as he says, "Funny, I would have thought you were invited. Regardless, welcome to Amber, young Daniel." Caine pulls the largest of the parcels from under his arm and hands it to you.

//--Daniel
I accept it, looking surprised. "Thank you."

//--Caine
"It's not much, but I thought of you when I saw it." He glances toward the entryway just for a moment, waiting for you to open the plain-wrapped gift, but looking somewhat eager to get inside.

//--Daniel
I nod and oblige him. While I'm unwrapping it -- assuming we're not being watched over-closely -- I say, "And thanks, also, for the Trumps. They will be very useful."

//--GM
This street caters to somewhat upper-class, and is fairly quiet after dark. Caine smiles - although on him it's more of a smirk - and nods at your thanks. The brown paper and twine relents after a bit of tugging, and a long duster (comparable but not identical to the one Daniel just trashed) unfolds.

//--Daniel
"Ah, nice," I say admiringly. "And well timed." I hold it up a moment longer, then fold it over my arm. "Shall we?" I gesture towards the door and allow him to precede me.

//--Caine
Caine strides inside, extending pleasant hellos to the staff as they cross his vision, and nothing but smiles greet his arrival. He hands a small silk pouch to the tablesman on his way by, which is received with bright eyes and an eager nod of thanks, and then crosses the room to the table for six where Gerard and Oshi are already eating.

//--GM
Just as the second main course is being set, Caine sweeps in, with packages under his arm and a smile on his face.

"Are we too late?"

The plural is confusing until Daniel comes into view, a new duster over his arm in marked contrast to the worn sailor's clothes he's wearing.

Gerard stands, and the brother's face each other. Gerard: "Brother!" Caine: "Brother...." Gerard gestures toward open seats, and Caine settles opposite Oshi, putting his packages down on the seat next to him so that only the places beside Oshi and at the tail of the table (Gerard is at the head) remain for Daniel.

//--Daniel
Daniel had been heading for the chair beside Oshi in any case. As he arrives he says to her, "If you need some private time, I can take care of other business. Otherwise, I'd like to join the meal... and the conversation."

//--Oshi
Oshi just smiles at him joyfully. "I am always glad to have your company."

//--Daniel
Daniel smiles in return, then turns and tips his head to Gerard, "Captain." He drapes the coat over the back of his chair and sits. "Thanks for the rest. I was in more need than I knew."

//--Oshi
"I am glad you are feeling rested then." Oshi says still smiling at him.

Her smile fades as she turns to the other member of their party. "Caine-san. I am..." She pauses as if unsure she is using the right word. "Pleased to see you."

//--Caine
"Likewise," he says, as his gift changes hands.

//--Gerard
"Well, I wasn't about to drag you out of bed to feed you; too cruel a kindness, that. We've begun without you, but as we have all night--"

//--Caine
Caine interjects, "Actually, I only have an hour or two. My ship sails with the tide, and there are things to be done before that. Don't let that hurry you all, though." He sets a small parcel just outside the blast radius of Gerard's meal, and then hands a second parcel across the table to Oshi while she's between bites.

"Forgive me my presumption, Chibi-san, but there are some things a young lady should not be about without."

//--Oshi
Oshi raises an eyebrow in response. And then after debating for a moment whether it is rude to open the package here at dinner, she opens it.

//--GM
Inside she finds a Trump deck in the classic style and a simple hair ornament - a headband of flexible metal sheathed in black silk to keep her hair out of her eyes.

//--Daniel
"So, Caine, I was glad to see you on your way in. I'd been hoping to have the chance to speak with you. Gerard and Oshi and I have already had some interesting conversations about the past year in Amber..." he gives a wry smile. "Considerably less time has passed for us."

//-- Caine
"Found somewhere quick to kill time, eh. Something brewing, nephew?" Caine winks.

//--Daniel
"I think it was more that Random wanted time for something to brew here, before dealing with... any further situations. Or someone else did for him or for their own reasons. The Shadow was cranked way up, way past what I'd seen there before. Didn't detect the change until we came out and heard from Gerard."

//--Caine
Caine's jaunty mood visibly dims, and Gerard shakes his head between bites of roast herd animals. Caine replies, "Random has not been himself lately," as if that answered anything.

//--Daniel
"How so?" Daniel asks, not letting it lie. Then after a pause he adds, "I hadn't felt entirely prepared to pay him a visit, but given what Gerard's said about how much time has passed here, it is probably best if I did."

//--Caine
Caine seems to spend a moment choosing words before stating, "I don't recall him being quite such a moody bastard before. He was never particularly fond of the works of state, but this... seems a bit different... a bit more." Gerard nods his agreement. Caine then adds, "I've been avoiding him since he *smirking* limped back, *sober again* so I'm not sure what I could say to prepare you. I guess it comes down to whether you bear good news, eh?"

//--Daniel
Daniel muses on this, then replies seriously, "As always.

"He's said nothing about his purpose away, or his purpose now since he's returned, I suppose."

//--Caine
Caine shakes his head. "If he had, I would assume that he intended to put me to work in his plans, as secrets are the family currency."

//--GM
A server approaches. Caine smiles at her, and the two lazy gestures he makes apparently answer whatever questions she had for him. Then, to Daniel, "Welcome to the Lost Salmon. What's your pleasure tonight, sir?"

//--Daniel
Daniel leans back in his chair to smile up at her, his most-like-Random smile. "Dermot's Single Barrel, 20 Year, please, double, with a drop of water." Almost as an afterthought he adds, "Also the junipered venison, baked apples... and the greens, whatever's fresh today."

//--GM
A fresh salad bowl arrives even before Daniel completes his order, and the drink shortly after. Gerard seems well into his meal, and Caine isn't kept waiting long. Seconds arrive for Oshi before she's half done with firsts, and Daniel's order comes around the same time. For a bit, everyone is consumed with dining, although Caine does check his watch once between bites.

//--Daniel
Daniel seems content to eat and participate in any general conversation, like he's had his fill of the heavy stuff for the time being. He occasionally orders another whiskey.

//--Caine
Caine brings up a local regatta coming up a few months from now, and he and Gerard begin delving into the finer points of yacht racing. If either of you show any interest in the subject, Gerard invites you both to attend. (?)

//--Daniel
Daniel is interested enough to follow the conversation, but he's not much up on the current Amber styles and preferences in yacht-makers. Crewing styles and equipment he can follow. That may be enough interest to garner an invitation, but he can't commit to attending, and so declines with thanks.

//--GM
Gerard and Caine both nod, as if the invitation were from them both... and yet it had seemed like Gerard's idea alone a second before.

//--Daniel
Daniel does want to speak to Caine briefly before he departs, though, and so if Caine gets up for his meeting, Daniel asks if he can walk him out.

//--Caine
Caine nods as he pushes away from the table. "I can always spare a minute, nephew." Closer to the door, "What's on your mind?"

//--Daniel
"I just wanted to thank you again for the Trump deck, and for your sharing with me the... level of information you have. I can't guess your intent in that, but it does make many awkward conversations and revelations less necessary." Daniel smiles a little, his emotional exhaustion showing through the physical well-being he's managed this day.

//--Caine
"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't snooped past the front door of your friend's little... network. It was meant as a gift, not a warning, but you can take a caution from it if you see fit."

//--Daniel
"No, I understood that. Thank you.

"Also, the blank card. Could you tell me its purpose?"

//--Caine
Caine raises an eyebrow. "Blank card?" He looks for all the world like he has no idea what you're talking about.

//--Daniel
Daniel pulls the wrapped deck out of his pocket and hands it, entire, to Caine. "You'll see it's in there. I didn't want to activate it or damage it without knowing if it had some purpose in particular."

//--Caine
Caine takes the Trump deck from you, fans it out, and then begins paging card-by-card after a moment's pause. Finally, he takes out the card that had been blank and hands it to Daniel. "This is the only image I don't recognize...."

The card is of Mandy, dressed somewhere between Duncan's Rock and Amber style, with her foot propped up in the foreground and her lacy blue skirts hiked well past her knee to show off a generous cut of leg and a beautiful turquoise rose tattoo covering a pale scar on her calf. She's holding a Browning High-Power in two hands - either well posed or well versed in its use - and looking out of the card at you with that out-of-place open and friendly smile.

"Cute. Who is she?" Caine asks.

//--Daniel
Daniel looks at the card with curiosity, noting the details of the background and Mandy's dress and pose. "A woman of shadow: contact of a friend of a contact sort of thing," he finally answers. "Oshi and I met her, and we've been trying to help her relocate from a pretty bad spot. Prior to your viewing just now, the card had been blank."

//--Caine
The background could be Duncan's place, but you can't see enough of it to be sure.

Caine smirks. "Guess you've got something special there, then."

//--Daniel
"How do you mean?"

//--Caine
Caine smirks. "Trump are as permanent as anything. Unless someone's playing a game with you, I'd say having one change while it's in your pocket is something special, wouldn't you?" He glances at his watch, and then the sky, apparently hoping that's the end of Daniel's questions.

//--Daniel
"I would completely agree. What I'm asking is, did you or didn't you provide it, and did you or didn't you create it."

//--Caine
Some seriousness creeps into his expression. "It's from me, sure... but telling you where I got it would compromise several of my contacts. I'm sure you understand." His smile returns cautiously. "Is the why and how important?"

//--Daniel
"Not if you say you know the why and how, no."

//--Caine
"There's probably trouble in the cards for you... but not these cards." He laughs. "Don't you have enough to worry about yet?"

//--Daniel
"My opinion on that matter rarely counts for much." I smile back.

//--Caine
"Perhaps that situation will improve a few allies from now," he says with a wink. "Will that do for the nonce, young Daniel? I do have a ship to catch." He gives your shoulder a reassuring squeeze, a gesture you have never seen pass between your father's brothers in all your years of spying.

//--Daniel
Daniel nods in answer. Lastly he asks, "Very little has come up about the attacks on Random, and on us, and of Oshi's purpose. I hope if you have any information that would help her, you would share it."

//--Caine
He seems to take your measure for a moment before responding, very politely, "I have nothing to offer at the moment, but if things stay friendly between us, I may call if something comes to light."

//--Daniel
"I would appreciate that. I did not know Oshi's brother, but I do know her. It wouldn't sit well for her life to be thrown away on this game as well."

//--Caine
He smiles at your show of loyalty, and the expression is almost complimentary. "I'll keep an ear to the ground... but the tide won't wait, Nephew! I'll speak to you again soon, I'm sure." He starts away toward his business, waving goodbye.

//--Daniel
Daniel nods and waves back, and heads back inside to Oshi and Gerard.

Daniel comes back into the restaurant shortly after escorting Caine out. As he sits back down, he smiles at Oshi and then at Gerard. "You two have any plans after this?" he asks.

//--Gerard
Gerard smiles back, answering, "I was just about to ask Oshi if she'd ever considered crewing a racing yacht, actually...."

//--Oshi
Oshi smiles. "I have no immediate plans."

//--Daniel
"At some point this evening I have to catch up with... Random. But I do want to speak more with you, Oshi. And, Gerard, you mentioned earlier that you had more questions for me; I'd be happy to answer them. Should we meet back on the Horizon later? Head back there now? I can go either way."

//--Gerard
"Meet me later," Gerard says between bites. "You may have some insights into our King's situation to trade by tonight, and waiting gives me a chance to visit with Julian before we speak again."

//--Daniel
Daniel nods. "Oshi? That work for you?"

//--Oshi
"Indeed, it would be my pleasure to spend more time with Gerard-san."

//--Gerard
"Well, then I hope you are hungry, Chibi-san, for I am far from quit of this place!" and he waves the server back to freshen his plates.

//--Daniel
…heads out, scouting his old routes. Finally he does indeed re-contact Vialle by Trump.

//--Vialle
Vialle answers with little delay. "Daniel?" Her voice is conversational, and her clothes suitable for relaxing before bed, so perhaps she's alone this time.

//--Daniel
"Your Majesty. You suggested I contact you regarding the king's disposition before I come up to the Castle, whether by the front door or by Trump. And I hoped we could have a chance to talk more about the things Gerard gave me. I can't say at first reading that it would be my preference to attend such a gathering."

//--Vialle
Gently but firmly, "I understand your reservations, but there events scheduled that would not be suitable for Oshi alone."

//--Daniel
"Scheduled by whom?"

//--Vialle
"By me. I've made changes to the itinerary, in my husband's absence, that I think will improve almost everyone's satisfaction with the event.

//--Daniel
Daniel half smiles. "You might have noticed I've never attended 'the event' with the intent to participate."

//--Vialle
"Then wouldn't it be nice to sit down at the table with a hand you can actually play?" Her smile in kind is slightly predatory, but it does not seem as though Daniel is on the menu.

"As for the King, he has not come to see me yet this evening." After the smallest flash of either fear or irritation, her face becomes unreadable. "I believe he's visiting with your grandfather at the moment."

//--Daniel
"Ooookay.... Can you tell me more about that?"

//--Vialle
"Oberon's Cenotaph is within sight of Corwin's. Whenever his grandfather pays us a visit, my husband goes to 'pay respects' to his father the night after. I don't know what he does there, but the last time he went he returned reeking of alcohol and cigars."

//--Daniel
"Maybe you should find out. Not for me to tell you, really." He pauses, long enough she might think he was done speaking, then suddenly says, "I suppose if that's his routine I should try and catch him before he's too plastered."

//--Vialle
She is patient through your conversational gambit, only nodding after you're rightly through.

//--Daniel
After another moment's musing, he adds, "I will contact him now, if I can. Is there anything further we should speak of, before I go?" Daniel looks squarely at her across the distance between them, through the card, to assess her reply.

//--Vialle
Softly, gently, "I pray you have all you need, Daniel." Then, more conversationally, "I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what I've put together when we're done."

//--Daniel
"I may not have all I'll need, but I will certainly have all I have. It would be a pleasure to speak to you again in the future, Your Majesty. Thank you for your time." Daniel allows the link to close.

He stands there a time, fidgeting against the sticking point, then draws himself up to it and attempts to contact his father.

//--Random
There is a pause, with no sense of connection or invitation, and then the call goes through. You can feel as well as smell the alcohol through the tobacco haze as Random slurs Daniel's name in greeting. Then, slowly sobering, seemingly with as little hostility as an interrupted drunk can summon on short notice, "What?"

Random is sitting on a hillside, with a cenotaph in the background, and a bottle in his hand that doesn't appear to be local. It looks like rain where he is, and Daniel can see clouds gathering (not unnaturally) over all of Amber City.

//--Daniel
Daniel thinks for a moment. "My excuse is, I wanted to return your Trump deck. Can I come through?"

//--Random
Random jams the cork back into the bottle he's holding. "Sure..." and then he seems to remember to extend his hand for you to come through. He toes the fine wooden cigar box at his feet closed as an afterthought.

//--Daniel
I extend my hand to him and come through easily enough. As my passage folds closed the connection, I say, "You have some... interesting relatives."

I fish through my pockets to pull out his deck, all wrapped up. I find a spot to sit down and hold it out to him. "Came in useful, actually." I say, and smile wryly, "The cards and the relatives."

//--Random
"They'll find use of you as well, I'm sure."

//--Daniel
"I have no doubt."

//--Random
He pauses briefly, as if trying to remember where to put the deck, and then slips it into the cigar box. "I... it's good to have them back," patting the wooden lid.

//--Daniel
"We should play some music sometime, you know? I sold the bass a long time ago, but I could get another."

//--Random
He looks at you, completely dumbfounded, maybe thinking he was passed out and only hearing the alcohol talking, and then he realizes that you really did just say that. "Yeah... I'd like to. Maybe some night when I'm not so shit-faced, huh?" Something in his eyes looks like he just dropped a thousand pounds from his shoulders. "I... I keep thinkin' I'm gonna fuck this up any second, drunk as I am. Without the cards, you got a way back? Not that I want to be rid of you, but... now I need to talk to my old man a bit more...." His eyes wobble back to the cenotaph, and something unreadable but deep passes beneath his visage.

//--Daniel
I nod. "I'm good. I've got some errands in shadow, but I'll call when I can." I think about saying more, but instead I just nod again, shove my hands in the pockets of my new coat, and walk back on down the mountain.

*Back to the ship, where Daniel and Oshi pick up Mandy
*Head to Duncan's by Trump to drop her off and let Duncan know his place had been compromised
*Head to Basin City by Trump for Vialle's event