Session Start: Sun Feb 24 02:32:34 2008
Session Ident: #iog2
* Logging for #iog2 started
<Mikel> >> A fair amount of time has passed since the events within the mansion, some for the better and some for the worse (though which is what is always up to debate). Things remain at least somewhat calm in the Horam area, though in one part of it the calm is broken by shouts and the sound of wood striking wood as Mikel and Niri spar with each other, having settled into the tradition since Ien.
<Mikel> >> This time, however, it's with practice weapons instead of their usual equipment. Possibly a blessing, considering Mikel's throwing everything he's got into the flurries of strikes he launches with his own spear at Niri.
* Niri darts back and forth and in and out of different stances. She is wearing the outfit she obtained from China during their visit to the Vile Tribe, finding it is much easier to move in for sparring. Sweat beds on her forehead and runs down her face in rivulets.
* Niri pushes through Mikel's defenses to land a solid hit on his thigh with her wooden pole. "Ha! You were open there!"
* Mikel stumbles over a step, letting out a shout even as the wooden spear whips about in an attempt to take Niri off her feet. "Don't relax until you're sure you've won!"
<Niri> I'm already sure I've won, slowpoke! *She manages to leap over the low swipe of the spear.*
* Mikel tchs, whipping the other end of the spear up in an attempt to catch Niri in the gut with the shaft. "Not /that/ slow."
* Niri takes the spear shaft to the stomach, driving the wind out of her. "Oof!" She staggers back, gasping a little and clutching at her stomach and panting. "Not...bad..."
* Mikel can't help but smirk, taking a few steps back to let Niri recover. "Told you."
* Niri sticks her tongue out at Mikel, slowly straightening and catching her breath. "One more round?" She readies her wooden blade.
* Mikel readies the practice spear, nodding. "Sure. When you're ready."
* Niri nods in return, going into an attack stance. She darts in with an overhand strike this time.
* Mikel lets Niri approach, whirling the spear up as she swings to catch her strike on the shaft and direct it to the side.
* Niri 's attack is deflected, but she uses the momentum to bring it around from the other side.
* Mikel doesn't bother trying to catch that one, instead setting himself and rushing at Niri in an attempt to knock her off balance if not bring her to the ground.
* Niri manages to barely block his rushing attack, but she is still knocked off balance enough that she reels and falls over backward, hitting the grassy ground with a thud and lying on her back, looking up at Mikel with a slightly disgruntled expression.
* Mikel stumbles for a moment, though he manages to fall down onto the grass next to Niri instead of on top of her. "...draw?"
* Niri chuckles slightly. "Sure, draw." She takes a couple of deep, gulping breaths. "I think we're improving, though."
* Mikel lets the transformation drop, letting out a a slight groan before nodding in agreement. "...Yeah, I'm pretty sure we are."
* Niri watches Mikel's build and coloring go back to normal - admittedly a fairly interesting process. She nods and slowly sits up. "So. What now? I think we have a bit longer before the others will expect us back. And...honestly I'm not sure I want to go back to HQ right now. Too much tension and bad feeling there." She frowns darkly.
* Mikel remains where he is as the lightning and water willforce flows away from him, thinking. "...I'm starving, actually. I could use a bit of a break from the rest too, after last night."
<Niri> Mmmm. Guess I'm a bit hungry too. What're our options?
* Mikel mulls for a moment, finally hauling himself into a sitting position. "Depends what you'd like. It's a big city."
<Niri> Eh. Let's wander around and see what we find. I'm not in much of a decision-making mood right now.
* Mikel hauls himself up all the way to his feet, offering Niri a hand. "Fair enough. I think I saw something on the way here, anyways."
* Niri takes the hand, getting to her feet and dusting herself off. "All right, lead the way."
* Mikel nods, turning around and starting to walk. He looks around as he makes his way along the street at the parts of the city, letting out a sigh.
* Niri sighs too. "...I know what you mean."
<Niri> This...could have all turned out better.
<Mikel> Mm. If only she hadn't done that. If only I had figured on something in the damn food...
* Mikel sighs. "If only."
<Niri> Hindsight.
<Niri> If only we'd found a way to save Leah. If only we'd gotten to- well.
<Niri> You see my point. We could second guess ourselves from here to eternity and it still wouldn't do any good.
* Mikel shrugs, sticking his hands into his jacket's pockets as they pass a few more places. Eventually he slows to a stop at a resturant on the edges of Horam, gesturing for Niri to follow as he steps in.
* Niri follows, peering in the restaurant curiously. She eyes the jacket and nods in satisfaction to herself. Despite the bruises, Mikel looks a little more reputable in a jacket that isn't completely torn to shreds.
* Mikel reaches up to adjust the collar some, making sure to keep the neck bruises hidden as he grabs a seat at a table near a window, looking around. The place itself seems to be themed around various soups and noodles and the like, though it isn't too packed even though it's the late afternoon.
* Niri drops into a seat across from Mikel, grabbing a menu and musing over it distractedly.
<Niri> Guess I'll have...what is this? This thing. With the...with the fried pork and the sauce and all the stuff that's bad for you.
* Mikel snickers. "Everything that's bad for you is a pretty good start, I guess... think I'll go for some noodles and this soup... that's a lot of spicy warnings though."
<Niri> Wait, which one?
* Niri peers at the menu.
<Niri> No spicy. I don't do spicy.
<Mikel> Your loss, I'm doing spicy.
<Mikel> It isn't a real meal unless it leaves you in tears.
<Niri> Help yourself!
<Mikel> Also a few rolls.. and that should do it for me.
<Niri> Me, I'm sticking with this. With the sweet sauce over the deep fried pork and mmmmm so good.
* Niri closes her menu.
* Mikel raises a hand, flagging down a waitress to take their orders. He adds some tea on there to drink to his, as well.
* Niri orders tea as well, then sits back to wait for the meal to arrive. She looks out the window a bit distractedly and sighs.
<Niri> You know...I remember Mikayla from the Academy.
* Mikel blinks, tilting his head. "Really? I must have taken all the classes you lot weren't taking before I left."
<Niri> Well...I only had maybe one class with her, I think. But she was the kind of girl that everyone knows - beautiful, smart, popular. There was just no way to compete, if I'd ever bothered to try. Even being a bit of a celebrity wouldn't make much difference.
<Niri> Having famous parents kind of distanced me from most people, actually. But Mikayla was everything all the other girls wanted to be...at least until she started talking about her theories.
<Niri> But even then...well. She was charming, and beautiful, and really smart.
* Mikel leans back, watching Niri carefully as she speaks. Eventually he raises an eyebrow, managing a response. "...'cept she was crazy in the not so good way. You sound like you were a bit jealous of her."
<Niri> Well...maybe a little. I mean, maybe I was a bit jealous. She was DEFINITELY crazy though.
* Niri sighs. "I don't think any of us had any idea just how crazy. When Trune first told me what had happened...well, that was my first hint. I should have pushed for you guys to be more careful though. I knew what she was capable of."
* Mikel closes his eyes, mirroring Niri's sigh. "My fault, if anyone's. For the whole mess I suppose." He reaches up, rubbing his neck again.
<Niri> Mmm. Well, in PART I agree, but not totally.
<Niri> You guys messed up, but mostly in underestimating Mikayla's treachery.
* Niri stops, looking up eagerly as a server brings their food.
* Mikel opens his mouth as if to say something, though this is interrupted by the food's arrival. He snaps out of his dour mood for a bit at the prospect of a meal, thanking the woman before starting to dig in.
* Niri does the same and eats eagerly for a little while before speaking up again. After maybe a few minutes of silent enjoyment of the food, however, she looks up at Mikel. "I had a brief talk with Tanan afterwards. We...had to get away from each other for a bit. In case you were wondering why he wasn't with me for sparring."
* Mikel looks up from his soup and noodles, slurping up a few before frowning. "...do I want to know what he said?"
<Mikel> Besides that I probably should have sat in the cell, anyways.
<Niri> Sat in the cell? What do you mean?
<Mikel> Mm. He and Saki weren't, uh, too happy with me from what I could tell.
<Niri> And...well, to sum it up, he doesn't understand why Trune is upset about Mikayla dying when she was so obviously a danger to us all.
<Mikel> ...Ah.
<Niri> And then he started comparing Mikayla to Zophar, and made a comment about how he's not sure where he would draw the line when it comes to judging people for hurting others.
<Niri> He asked if he should really stop with Zophar, and then he said maybe he shouldn't be trusted.
* Mikel closes his eyes, mulling. "...reminds me of when I talked to him. He was wondering if he shouldn't be set aside after it's all done."
<Niri> Oh?
* Niri is quiet for a moment, picking at her food.
<Niri> I wonder if he meant that.
* Mikel nods, eating a few more noodles and letting out a 'whoo' at the spiciness. "Mm. I don't care for the idea and told him as much. I'd rather have the Prof back, as much as an ass he could be at times."
<Niri> Mm. Maybe. I...don't think we're ever going to get him back, though. Not the way he was. He's...different now.
<Niri> I'm coming to realize how very inhuman he really is.
* Mikel holds up his spoon, frowning. "Mm. I'd have to figure once Zophar's gone he won't be quite as bad."
<Niri> I hope so. I believe it, I think...but it's hard to be sure what will happen. Tanan doesn't think like we do. He can't even begin to understand the way we think, sometimes. Hopefully I can exert some good influence on him, anyway.
<Niri> But for now, I just needed a break...so he's spending the afternoon back at HQ, hopefully not pestering Trune.
* Mikel groans. "I'm sure Vytor's keeping him away."
<Niri> I hope so!
* Niri chuckles humorlessly.
* Niri polishes off the rest of her meal, then sits back and takes a sip of her tea. She looks out the window. "Getting dark, I think. What'd the others say - that they expect the army in a day or two?"
* Mikel finishes off his own order, frowning. "Something like, though they aren't sure where." He grabs the waitress's attention, gesturing for her to lean down so he can mumble something without Niri hearing. Soon enough she's headed back into the kitchen as Mikel sits back in his seat with his own cup of tea. "We'll pummel 'em and move on. Bigger fish to fry."
<Niri> That's for sure. And the sooner the better, I think, because otherwise Ryllan and Saki are going to lose all patience with the rest of us.
* Niri raises an eyebrow at Mikel curiously as the waitress leaves.
* Mikel closes his eyes, adopting a serene expression at the raised eyebrow. "Least we got some more folks on our side out of it."
<Niri> True. Speaking of which... *she gestures with her teacup at him* How did you ever manage that?
* Mikel chuckles. "One of them wanted a look at the new guy. She unlocked the cell and walked in when she couldn't see me since I was pressed up against the wall keeping out of sight. Threw the jacket at her to blind her and rushed out, leaving her locked in the cell. Her friend tried to run but I was clear of that damn diamond, so I immobilized her and laid it all out."
<Mikel> A fair few seem pretty fed up with their jobs.
* Niri chuckles. "Even so...that's somewhat impressive, that you managed to win over that many on your own." She eyes him suspiciously. "There must have been a trick to it."
<Mikel> I, uhm.
<Mikel> Might have displayed Gemini Storm earlier that night.
<Mikel> Rumors spread fast.
* Niri starts snickering.
<Niri> So, were they intimidated or impressed? Or maybe both?
* Mikel has since opened his eyes, though a grin crosses his face as the waitress comes around and sets a nicely sized piece of chocolate cake in front of Niri. "Scared witless."
<Mikel> Poor girl I had tied up was as white as a sheet.
* Niri grins in amusement, then suddenly stares at the cake. She eyes Mikel. "...What's this for? Is this your doing, Sayeld?"
* Niri gestures dramatically with her fork.
* Mikel simply leans back, closing his eyes and sipping his tea.
<Mikel> Perhaps.
* Niri twirls her fork in the air. "I shall have my revenge!" She then stabs the fork into the cake and takes a bite. "....Mmm. This is good."
<Niri> Want some?
* Mikel sets his cup down, picking up his fork and taking a piece. "Can't say no to that." He takes a bite, nodding. "This is very good. Worth the silver."
* Niri grins, feeling a little cheered. "The city's a bit of a mess, but things can't be that badly off if they still have chocolate cake."
<Mikel> It'll improve once the army's dealt with, I figure. Politics isn't my strong suit and I get nightmares thinking about sorting this place out though.
<Niri> Good thing Ryllan seems enthusiastic enough about dealin with it.
<Mikel> He's crazy. Absolutely crazy.
<Niri> ...Normally I would laugh and agree with you, but today I think I could do without the laughing.
<Niri> What he did was...a little extreme.
* Mikel frowns, setting the fork down with a sigh.
* Niri glances at Mikel
<Mikel> Mm. Dunno. After what she pulled...
* Niri shrugs. "I'm not pretending I have a better solution. It's just...ngh. I don't know, Mikel. I don't know if I'll ever get used to the idea that this is WAR, that we can't take chances."
<Mikel> ...probably better that you don't. We're gonna end it soon at this rate, then it's back to normal lives for us.
<Mikel> ...or some definition thereof.
* Niri chuckles a little. "Yeah, I guess so. Wonder what that will be for me, though? Not sure my life has ever been normal, especially considering who my parents are." She waves her fork, a bite of cake on it. "Want any more? If not, I'm gonna polish it off."
* Mikel shakes his head. "I'm good. Though you were planning on setting out and singing to folks, right?"
* Niri grins a bit. "Hmm. Yeah, I did say that. Wonder if I can manage it? It'd be so fun, and it would be an excuse to keep traveling..." She stuffs the last of the cake in her mouth.
* Mikel chuckles. "Like you need an excuse to go travelling. We've seen more of the world than anyone else has, I think."
<Niri> But not all of it!
<Niri> And that makes a world of difference.
* Niri grins at the cheesy joke, setting her fork down on the empty plate.
* Mikel lets out a groan, giving Niri a look as he digs into his pocket and sets down enough silver to cover the meal and add on a decent tip onto the table. "You're paying for that next sparring session."
<Mikel> In spades.
<Niri> Ow. Haven't you given me enough bruises?
* Niri gets up to follow Mikel out of the restaurant.
* Mikel makes a face as he steps out, peering up at the evening sky. "Not enough if you're making horrible jokes like that still."
* Niri sticks her tongue out at him with a grin. "I'm not as bad as Angie."
<Niri> Hmm. You can tell summer's coming. It's actually pretty warm out.
<Mikel> You aspire match her, though... and yeah. It's kind of nice.
<Niri> I don't really want to go back to HQ yet. It's like walking into a den of gloom.
* Mikel spares the sky another look, hrming a bit to himself before gesturing for Niri to follow as he speeds up a bit. She might notice him peering down the occasional side street. "Might have just the thing then, if I can just find..."
<Niri> Hmm? Where are you going?
<Niri> Wait up! *She hurries after him*
* Mikel skids to a halt after peering down one street, snapping his fingers with a grin. "Here we go! This way." With that he steps down the side street, making for a few crates that are stacked up alongside a building. He spends a moment or two looking it over before getting on top of one and starting to make his way up, trying to grab into the edge of the roof and haul himself up.
* Niri scrambles up after him with little difficulty, and no objections, though it's certainly a strangely random thing to do - at least, most people would think so.
* Mikel scopes out the rooftop for a moment or two before picking a spot where he takes a seat and then lays down on his back, pointing up towards the sky. "Much better."
* Niri raises an eyebrow, then looks up.
<Niri> ...Ooh. Good view.
<Mikel> This is why you don't doubt me.
* Niri flops down next to him, looking up at the sky. "I reserve the right to doubt you sometimes."
<Niri> Just not on things like chocolate and rooftops.
<Mikel> Progress.
<Niri> I suppose it is.
* Niri eyes Mikel out of the corner of her eye.
<Niri> And what the HELL was that back there, may I ask?
<Mikel> ...what was what?
* Niri points a finger at Mikel. "You. Drawing hits from the enemy. ALL hits from the enemy."
<Mikel> Just a little trick.
<Niri> What were you /thinking?/ You could have gotten yourself killed, you know.
<Niri> Don't give me this "just a little trick" thing!
<Mikel> It worked, didn't it? They got cut to pieces for their efforts and Trune got set free.
* Niri sighs.
<Niri> If I could ask you to drop the cavalier attitude for a moment...I'm serious about this. It's not just what you did. It's a pattern I'm seeing that I'm starting to worry about.
* Mikel closes his eyes, shifting so his hands are under his head. "What do you mean?"
* Niri thinks, trying to figure out how to word this. "You trying things that are really reckless are nothing new. I know both of us do it all the time. But lately there's something about the way you do it that makes me...makes me wonder if maybe you wouldn't care if you died."
* Niri looks a bit uncomfortable as she says this.
* Mikel doesn't respond immediately, eventually opening his eyes and looking over at Niri. "Mm. You think so?"
* Niri hesitates, then nods. "Am I wrong?"
* Mikel falls silent, seeming to be working it over in his mind as he looks back up at the skies.
* Niri waits in silence for an answer, still watching Mikel.
<Mikel> Mm. Maybe, at times.
* Niri waits for a moment, then says quietly, "Are things really that bad?"
<Mikel> ...they're.. better than before. At times though, well...
* Mikel sighs.
* Niri sighs as well and stares up at the sky. "Well, I suppose I can understand. It's not easy. But..." She halts, turning her next words over in her mind before proceeding. "I can't make things easier, really, no matter how hard I try. But Mikel, please - think about what you do before you do it. What we're doing is risky business, but don't take more risks than you have to."
<Niri> I know we both do it all the time - taking risks - but I don't want you to LET yourself die for any reason.
<Niri> None whatsoever. Okay?
* Mikel frowns, sparing another glance towards Niri for a moment as he mulls over his reply. "...I won't. I've got Zophar and Pandora to even the score with first."
* Niri looks at Mikel. Then sits up. Then continues to look at him.
<Niri> "First?"
<Niri> Even the score with "first"?
* Mikel blinks, looking a bit surprised as he looks up at Niri.
<Niri> If I'm reading too much into that, please tell me, but it sure sounds like you just said you wouldn't let yourself get killed until we defeat Zophar and Pandora...but after that, you might.
* Mikel frowns, opening his mouth to say something near immediatetly. He stops himself though, closing it again as he looks back up towards the evening sky. "...Mm. I refuse to before then, no matter what."
* Niri looks a bit strained, struggling to think of what to say. "But AFTER, Mikel? Please, just be straight with me, okay? C'mon, you're talking to ME. Can't you just tell me the truth?"
* Niri closes her mouth and grits her teeth together, blinking hard.
* Mikel looks up at Niri, seeming to give it a fair amount of thought before the adept lets out a sigh. "Haven't figured it out yet."
* Niri relaxes a little at this candid statement, but she sighs and leans back with her face still a mask of concern. Folding her arms underneath her head, she watches Mikel for another minute or two in silence.
<Niri> I know you've been through a lot recently. So have I. We've all lost so much in all this.
<Niri> But I want you to think really seriously about that, and about what you just said. Would it really help anything?
<Niri> ...I admit I have selfish reasons for saying this, too. I just lost one best friend. I'm not going to lose another.
* Mikel opens his mouth to say something, though he falls silent again as Niri continues to talk. Instead he opts for watching her, frowning still.
* Niri looks up at the sky, watching the stars through increasingly blurry vision as her eyes grow damp. She blinks a few times to clear them. "Please, Mikel. I'm begging you, please don't throw your life away."
* Mikel sits up, not quite sure what to say for a moment or two. Finally he reaches out to place his arm on Niri's shoulder opposite of him in a loose embrace. "I... alright, alright. I'm sorry."
* Niri sniffles a little. "...Mm. I'm sorry, that was a bit...blunt. Just. Well." Sighing, she gives up on figuring out what to say and just puts an arm around Mikel in return, going back to looking at the sky.
<Niri> ...I guess it isn't quite fair for me to get all emotional about it. Sorry.
* Mikel nods, pulling her close for an actual hug before pulling back a bit. "No, it's fine. Don't worry about it, alright?"
<Mikel> ...though if you expect me to stop pulling crazy stunts you're out of luck.
* Niri hugs back, then leans back and laughs softly, wiping her eyes. "Nah, that'd be asking too much."
<Niri> But any time you charge headlong into danger, I'm coming too, so remember that.
* Mikel gives Niri a bit of a look. "You're going to make Ryllan kill me."
<Niri> I'm not going to MAKE Ryllan do anything. What, you think I'm going to let something happen to me?
<Niri> It'd take a lot to take out Niri Salyan, you know!
* Mikel sighs. "You tell him you're charging in because I am and you're not the one he's gonna punch again. But fine."
<Niri> Punch again?
<Niri> When did he punch you?
<Mikel> After that mess with Venus ages back.
<Niri> ...Oh. That was a long time ago. And he hasn't punched you since?
<Niri> If that's true, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
<Niri> It's not like you haven't given him plenty of opportunity!
* Mikel gives Niri a look again, raising an eyebrow. "What is /that/ supposed to mean?"
* Niri grins. "If he punched you every time you did something reckless, you'd have permanent black eyes."
* Mikel sighs. "What do I do to deserve this."
<Mikel> I mean really.
<Niri> Oh, that answer is PAGES long.
<Mikel> You've been keeping a list huh.
<Niri> Of course.
<Niri> You have a list on me, don't you?
<Niri> You've recited from it before as I recall.
<Mikel> ...well, yeah.
<Niri> There you go, then. It's only fair. At least this time you can't say I did anything foolish!
<Mikel> That's the beauty of it
<Mikel> My recklessness cancelled out all other possible recklessness.
* Niri chuckles, leaning back on the roof again and closing her eyes. "Right. Is this a scientifically proven fact, then?"
<Niri> In any case, you pull that again, we will be having a talk.
<Mikel> ...it's a useful little trick, though.
* Niri opens one eye. "Oh? Seemed to me you almost got taken out a couple of times."
<Niri> How do you call that useful?
<Mikel> They weren't aiming at the rest of you, now were they?
* Niri raises an eyebrow. "Maybe they should have been."
* Mikel shakes his head, laying back down as well. "Nah."
<Niri> I CAN take an occasional hit, you know.
<Mikel> It's easier to draw 'em all in than to try taking off the arms of the stuff aiming at you though. I'm thinking outside the box.
<Niri> You can't seriously expect to constantly protect all of us from harm though, Mikel.
* Niri smiles, closing her eyes.
<Mikel> Maybe, but no one said I had to make it easy.
<Niri> I did.
<Mikel> Gonna have to refuse that order.
<Niri> Oh really? I beg to differ. I mean, hey, I've got Tanan! I'm fine, at least.
<Mikel> Still not going to make it easy for them to take potshots. Ice and lightning for all of 'em.
* Niri sticks her tongue out, eyes still closed. "Nyahh."
* Niri sounds a little bit sleepy.
* Mikel looks over at Niri. "...if you fall asleep it's gonna make getting down from here a pain."
<Niri> Mmph. But it's comfy here. I think someone's got ceiling heat.
<Mikel> How am I supposed to carry you down without falling over and cracking my head on the ground?
<Niri> No one said anything about carrying me! Just leave me here and send Saki or Vytor to wake me.
* Niri grins and rolls over on her side, pillowing her head against her arm.
<Mikel> But I have ice cold water available all the time.
<Mikel> Perfect for waking up heroines.
* Niri opens one eye. "Are you threatening me, sir?"
<Mikel> Just a promise.
<Niri> Don't wanna move.
<Mikel> Fine, we'll stay for a bit.
* Niri grins. "Good, I win."
<Mikel> This time.
* Niri yawns sleepily. "Besides, can hear the stars singing. 'S nice."
* Mikel blinks. "...Stars singing?"
<Niri> Mmhmm.
<Niri> Like the songs I use.
<Mikel> Huh.
* Niri hums some notes softly. "Kinda like that."
<Mikel> ...Hm, envy.
<Niri> Hm?
<Niri> Sometime I'll show you how to listen for it.
* Mikel closes his eyes, nodding. "That'd be good."
<Niri> But right now I'm going to take a nap.
<Mikel> Just don't roll off or something.
* Niri yawns, her head drooping a little. She really is nodding off. "Sure, no problem."
* Mikel opens his eyes, watching Niri for a couple of moments with a grin. "Good." With that he returns to his watching the skies.
* Niri really is asleep a moment later, her head lightly resting against Mikel's shoulder. She smiles slightly, as if still listening to something he can't hear.
<Mikel> >> End! Holycrapit'slate
Session Close: Sun Feb 24 06:55:33 2008