Colin's posts

"I know enough." Lex muttered.

"Well... I'll say THIS much." he told her. "She'll need someone there that she... implicitly trusts." he said. "Or as close to that as she gets." he went on.

"And... I think I know something that may help." he then said.

"I have a blend of tea from Rocky Fyrane that I was planning to give to my sister for her birthday in a couple of months. Supposed to REALLY promote peace of mind, eliminate stress, that sort of thing." he informed her.

"It's not a miracle cure by any stretch, but I can give you what I have to give to her, and get some more for my sister from Rocky." he offered.

"..." Lex was silent for a moment, listening to this.

"...that blasted elf, huh?" he growled, sounding far more serious than normal.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"Well, do what you can." he told her.

"I'm going to get to work." he said. "I know I was reading something about control and manipulation mana a week ago. It might come in handy here." he reasoned, before sighing.

"...is everyone okay?" he then asked.

"..." Alex was silent for a moment, taking all that in.

"I see." he said bluntly.

"Kiah, Kaia, AND Hazel." he said. "Risking his relationship with Jordan, and intruding on the relationships of others. I would certainly HOPE that this was not of his own volition." he commented.

"Now. Tell me." he said further.

"Do you know WHAT was making him act like that?" he asked.

Alex was clearly a little on the groggy side, but when she mentioned Bast, and how he was going to be unavailable for the next while, and she didn't even know how long, it had his attention.

"Ngh! Wha?" he asked.

"Unavailable? Why?" he asked her.

He then sat up more properly, shook himself away, mentally, and took a few heavy breaths.

"What's going on, Vae?" he then inquired.

"I get the feeling it's not good..." he mumbled at the end.

Jun nodded as he stood back up.

"I'll go check her immediately." he told her.

"And it looks like your wife is starting to slowly come around." he then said. "Her sister is still very much unresponsive, but Kaia is already starting to slowly return to who she is." he went on.

"Regardless, I shall leave you to care for them." he said.

"I'll look after Hazel as best I can."

She didn't have to look far, until she came across Jun, Kiah, and Kaia.

They were in one of the common rooms, and Jun had made sure the both of them had their shirts on again. He had them seated on one of the couches, leaning back into it for support, and had been looking over them.

He looked over towards Vae when he noticed her, and waved.

"After a more thorough examination of both, I have determined that neither are physically hurt." he reported.

"So at least there is THAT."

Hal just sighed again.

"Duly noted." he said.

"Anyway, go do what you need to." he told her. "The sooner you start working on the victims, the better." he went on.

Vae nodded in response and stepped out of the doorway, and as she did, she heard Hal say something to Sebastien. It was quiet, it was low, but she heard it.

"You'll be lucky to keep your job after doing what you've done to Hazel." he warned.

And that wasn't a threat. It wasn't even a promise. Kaia would probably forgive Sebastien. Odds are Kiah would, too, as would Ilias. Hell, Hazel would probably. But so many people liked Hazel, and wished the best for her, that the thought of someone harming her was something that was universally hated.

Sebastien still had a chance to retain his position, but... it wasn't looking good for him.

Hal just sighed and shook his head slightly, letting out a sigh that indicated he was quite exasperated, angry, but he wasn't quite sure how to take it out. Yes, Sebastien had been messing with family he wasn't part of, but still family. On the other hand, the one to truly blame for this was Vanessa. She had somehow gotten to him, and it was absolutely unclear as to how. Which frustrated him even more.

His anger was telling him that Sebastien needed to face severe consequences for this... but it would be unfair to do so, as this wasn't his fault. However, would be still be allowed to work there, SHOULD he still be allowed to work there, if he made people uncomfortable after this?

"...in the end, his future rests in the hands of Kiah, Ilias, you, Kaia... and Hazel." he lamented.

"I, in good faith, cannot level any proper disciplinary action on Sebastien. To do so would... in the end, just be satiating the anger I feel towards him right now, and would only be punishing him for something he is not in control of." he went on.

"So... for now, he will be put into isolation, and his fate will decide on you 5." he informed her.

"This is hardly satisfying but... when Vanessa Encrae is involved, 'satisfying' is never an option. Unless it's her own." he then growled.

@totalanimefan: Autumn is a season of death... but there is such beauty in that death. It's sublime, but morbid.

Hal dropped his hands and nodded.

"Yeah, sure." he said. "Might take you up on that." he told her.

"But Sebastien here needs to be put into special lockup so that he doesn't hurt anyone else." he muttered, standing up.

"Damn it, Vanessa, HOW are you doing this?" he growled, before looking at Vae.

"And yes, I know Vanessa Encrae is behind this." he told her. "Sariel confirmed it to me... and, well... relatedly, a wish she made backfired and she's now in a comatose state, with nobody knowing if she'll wake up, or how to expedite that process" he informed her.

"Something tells me it'll only happen when Vanessa's DEAD." he added.

Hal just leaned forward and place his hands over his eyes.

"....for fuck's sake." he growled.

"Great. Just beautiful." he muttered further.

"Right, You take care of Hazel, Kiah, and Kaia." he told Vae. "I'M going to have THIS one locked away." he said further.

"First Cameron kills Jeffery, then by daughter, almost kills Jake, now THIS..."

Hal looked over towards Vae and Sebastien, paused for a moment, and IMMEDIATELY acquired a look of sheer exasperation.

"Oh no..." he mumbled.

"For starters, yes. She did." he confirmed. "And I assume you know why?" he asked.

"Yes, yes, lycan attack, how long ago?" Vae responded and asked again, sounding more than a little impatient.

"I'd say... a week and a half ago. Two weeks, most." Hal answered her.

"Guessing THIS one is relevant to that?" he asked, gesturing to Sebastien.

Ilias nodded in response.

"I will." he said.

"I'll see you when I get there." he told her, as Bast stood up immediately.

"...yes." he replied, as he started to walk, and Vae started to follow.

'...they got to Sebastien... what... what the hell...?' Ilias wondered.

On the way there, nothing was said at all, and when they reached Arryn's area, they saw she wasn't there, as she'd gone home for the evening. The door to Sharp's office was open, and they heard him speak.

"I can feel your presence, come in!" he called.

Ilias thought for a moment, before nodding slightly.

"I have no active mana." he told her. "None that I can teleport with, innately." he continued. "However, I DO have ways to teleport." he then assured her. "So I can get to the theatre after finishing up here." he continued.

"Probably in a half-hour or so." he reasoned. "...45 minutes, at most." he went on.

"As for someone to be there for Hazel... ah... oh!" he then said, snapping his fingers. "Agent King!" he recalled. "Or... well, Tyson. Ty." he stated further, giving her more information.

"He and Hazel are SUPER close." he informed her.

"Also... I know you have several theatres that you cycle through and move around in." he went on. "Which one am I headed to THIS time?" he asked.