Northern Winds [NC-17] (IC)

[Mel Dragonkitty]

With the healing finished Mel stepped away. She didn't bother arguing with the gryphon. It was her experience that adventurers had a big blind spot regarding their own activities. Their kills were justifiable executions but creatures couldn't even defend themselves without being labeled as rabid killers. It was an odd sort of self delusion but the dragon supposed that it helped them sleep at night. She settled herself on the opposing seat and pretended to watch the city disappear behind them.

[Stygian]

The last buildings blurred by the train, as its acceleration slowly began to come to an end. The tracks were only a minor humming element now, as the speed and weight of the suspended carriages made it seem as if they were floating along. Lights gave way to moonlit night outside the windows.
   For a minute or two, the bat merely sat leaning against the wall and gazing out the window, pondering Cog's question. He responded slowly. 'Now... we stay together and alert. I can't see much option save escaping and taking the fight to somewhere where we can actually win,' he said, hand on one raised knee. 'But there are... certain things that I will have to find out. Because, truth to tell, I don't know too much of the situation as it is. And I must speak to some people about things first. Things that I'm not sure I can tell everyone at once.' He sighed, then shook his head slowly. 'In the meantime, I think that we should gather strength. Jann's Cliff is a good place both as a traveling crossroads and as a contact point. We'll take a day there, and see what we can find, and then we press on. I know someone who will be glad to help us.' Or something... he mentally added to that.
   There was half a minute's pause after that, as the bat leaned his head back, before he sniffed and his nostrils flared. The scent had grown gradually, but he hadn't really noticed it while thinking. Recognizing it instantly, Stygian looked down at his claws, and then over at Deirdre. The side of her jacket and shirt was ripped.
   'You've got blood on you,' he stated, sitting up and moving over. 'I think I cut you. Sorry for that.' He reached out, and pulled the gryphon's jacket aside, inspecting the white shirt underneath.

[Sunblink]

...Deirdre:

The healing was concluded with a disintegrating fluctuation of fading white light, leaving behind a soft and soothing balm which bathed the center of Deirdre's once-abused and bruised brain. Deirdre tested her newly-repaired head by inclining it to the side, realizing with pleasure that her headache had been entirely banished. Much to her surprise, shortly after she had brought up the location of her confiscated sword, Cogidubnus entered the cabin and presented it to her. Quite to Deirdre's relief, it was still sheathed in its scabbard and safe, despite Stygian's ambiguous explanation about its whereabouts.

A little taken aback by the polite mannerisms of the silver wolf, Deirdre accepted the sword and unsheathed a portion of the sword's blade from the confines of its scabbard. She had no intention of attacking anyone with it; she just wanted to examine its blade. Sure enough, it was in good condition, and, satisfied, she re-sheathed it and nodded affirmatively to Cogidubnus. "Thank you," she said, then turned her gaze back to Stygian, who was staring pensively out the window.

Then he noticed that she was bleeding. Deirdre blinked, staring down at the blood oozing from the lacerations in her chest. She hadn't realized--she had felt pain, when Stygian had accidentally scratched her, but she had no idea she was bleeding. The cuts were not serious, most likely. When Stygian approached her and started to peel back her jacket, she resisted, however--not violently, but spoke up with a strange amount of fierceness in her tone. "Wait, there's still something I have to tell yo--"

Too late. When the jacket was pulled back it exposed the white shirt torn beneath, the cuts in the fabric slightly marred with blood. It was hard to tell, but there were some traces of shredded bandage underneath her shirt--bandage wihch had been used to bind Deirdre's chest and keep it as flat as possible.

The Gryphon's face was slightly pink with blush beneath her ginger-hued feathers. Firmly, she nudged away slightly, shielding the cuts with her hand. "....Now you know," she muttered reluctantly, embarrassment in her voice. "Yeah. Might as well get this out into the open. I'm female."

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[Stygian]

Stygian blinked, looked slightly up at the rumpled part of the gryphon's shirt, a tiny hint of a bulge that even the bat himself had because of his pectoral muscles, but which in Deirdre's case now proved to be something entirely different. Then he raised his eyes, and seemed to look closely at her features, nearing her face. He sniffed once, twice, and slowly drew back his hand. Then he grinned, baring sharp teeth. 'Well. If that's not a pleasant surprise...' he said, and barked a gravelly laugh.

[Aisha deCabre]

It soon became easier to walk on the moving train; the bodies of those who were sitting had gotten more used to the speed than those who were standing.  But at once the large transport had moved out of that wobbly acceleration, and to a steady pace.  Outside, the dark sky gave way to a more natural black-blue hue, with the moon clear out of the window and giving the illusion of keeping pace with the steady passengers.

Finally a peaceful sight, Aisha thought, smiling in appreciation as she caught sight of the bright celestial orb through a window.  They reached the dining car without further delay, not even catching the sounds of anyone else behind.  The interior of the car was just as impressive as any of the cabins, if not more so.  Like a formal 19th-century restaurant, built lengthwise and stretching across from them in a long corridor with enough space to walk through without feeling too cramped.  Seats lined the windows, four or two to a table made of lacquered wood and draped with ornate tablecloths and soft lights set above them.  Equally decorated were the comfortably-padded seats, some of which were more like booths than tables.  There were a few people already enjoying the food at some locations--the place wasn't that crowded--and the succulent smell of different meats and things drifted from somewhere far past them in a kitchen portion.

The waiters tending to the passengers, well-dressed and formal, made Aisha wonder if perhaps the exhausted-looking adventurers would even be allowed in the car...though Gareeku still had his suit from the club on, And the panther her adventuring attire, bar weapons.  But the quick notion was put to rest when one waitress, a demure maned wolf, bowed to the new customers and allowed them in to choose a table.

"I wonder if the others will be joining us or going to bed right away," Aisha commented with a chuckle, smiling to Gareeku as she loosened her cape, placing it next to her while she sat down and poked through one of the menus that were set in front of them.  "I wouldn't really blame them if they did."

Nor would I mind if they did, she added silently.

[SpottedKitty]

Kerya looked up as Keaton entered the cabin. She'd just opened her mouth for a polite greeting, when the jackal's dress... flowed away was the only description she could think of. Before she could blink the jackal's clothes had changed into something completely different. And the little stoat still couldn't detect any kind of illusion being used.

"Ah... Keaton, is it?" she said after a moment of collecting her wits. She nodded out of the window. "We seem to have escaped clean away, although I think I can see a fire in the middle of the city somewhere behind us."

[Sunblink]

...Keaton:

At first oblivious to Kerya's stunned glance to her metamorphosis, Keaton cheerfully stretched her arms outward and individually flexed her muscles, feeling rather grateful to be back in apparel she felt comfortable with. Only when the stoat spoke up did she realize her presence. Keaton's ears pivoted upright and she glanced to the smaller creature, blinking. This was the newcomer, right? She had never met her before, but she seemed to have happened upon them by chance alone. No more, no less. Quite unfortunate. Keaton supposed that she owed her some relative effort at politeness.

"Hm?" Keaton canted her head, then stared outside the window. Outside, she could barely make out the distant, foggy silhouette of a cloud of smoke mushrooming from the besieged city. Damn, there was a fire going on. She wondered, morbidly, how fast the rate of destruction was spreading through the city, and how many casualties and survivors there were going to be. Were any authorities going to get involved, so to isolate the devastation? Surely Hazsal wouldn't go unnoticed...

"Yeah, we have," Keaton said in acknowledgment to Kerya's remark. "Lucky us, huh?"

---

...Deirdre:

Although Deirdre had braced herself for the bat's reaction by considering every possible response to her cross-dressing ever conceived, from outrage to indifference to mockery to sheer disgust to understanding, she found her expression shifting from embarrassment to--even deeper embarrassment, laced with befuddlement, after witnessing Stygian's reply, regardless of preparation. The sniffing, at first, she attributed to something meant to provoke her. Belligerent, yes, but Deirdre seemed to expect the worst from him. The laugh, however, completely disarmed her.

Ears flattening, Deirdre's membrane-glazed eyes stared awkwardly away from Stygian, narrowing in a viciously dangerous way which was reflected through the tension of her hands on the scabbard of her sword. What was the bat laughing about? She hadn't taken him for a lecherous character. Instead he just seemed genuinely amused. Despite what he was possibly amused about, Deirdre unconsciously brandished the talons on her hands, looking indignant.

"I'm sure this is all very amusing," she said, throwing her virulent glare about the room's occupants. While she didn't give a damn about what people thought of her, she still didn't appreciate what she perceived as heckling. "But may you all at least hold off any remarks about me being a dyke or asking which bathroom I go to until I get these cuts patched up? They're rather" - snarled through her beak - "uncomfortable."

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[Cogidubnus]

 The sudden revelation that, despite the masculine clothing, bits of facial hair, and otherwise completely androgynous figure, Dierdre was in fact a woman made Cog's eyebrow raise. Just fractionally. He paused for a moment, not quite certain what to say.
At her next words, however, spoken with such verve and acidity that the wolf almost had to take a step back, Cog's other eyebrow rose to join its brother. He tilted his head at the gryphon for a moment, appraising, and then grinned, showing a mouthful of fangs. The wolf shook his head, laughing softly, and then tipped his hat to the lady.
"Please. The right sort of skirt, on occasion, can be quite refreshing."

Putting his hat deftly back on his head, the wolf gave a shallow bow and walked out of the room and out into the main hall, intent on finding the dining car and a good cup of coffee, and then sleep.

[Mel Dragonkitty]

Mel, who had been startled out of staring at the scenery by the commotion on the opposite seat, blushed a little. Just because she had been a bit out of sorts at the moralizing of an adventurer was no good reason for sloppy magic. She stood and bowed quite formally to the gryphon. "Please pardon my less than complete job of healing you. If you still have faith in my ability I would finish what I started."

[Stygian]

'It's just the scrapes left,' Stygian said, inspecting his claws. Sitting back, he licked the black crescents with an erroneously long, tapered tongue. The taste soothed the tension that had come over him at the scent of blood a little. 'And I never saw a claw scar that wasn't beautiful.'
   The bat took a short pause, putting his back to the wall, before he directed a look toward the gryphon again. Of course, it was hard to see, due to his eyes. 'I didn't catch your name,' he said. 'Feel free to add any titles, if you wish.'

[Sunblink]

...Deirdre:

In spite of her previous apprehension, Deirdre was quite pleased--and stunned--to witness the collective reactions of the others assembled in the cabin. Cogidubnus had been relatively indifferent, and Mel was more concerned about any sloppiness in her healing magic, something Deirdre was highly grateful for. Where she had expected ridicule, apparently that was not her newfound traveling companions' intentions. Rather reluctantly, Deirdre peeled the lapels of her jacket off to the side so her cuts were exposed for Mel's convenience, allowing the dragon to work her healing spells over them. In short order each individual cut was closed, although blood still dappled the white fabric of Deirdre's shirt. She'd need to replace it.

Sighing, Deirdre shook her head, then tugged her jacket closer to herself after nodding her thanks to Mel. At hearing Stygian's remark about beautiful scars and seeing him lap the blood away from his wicked claws, her face seemed to fall flat again, although not in a particularly vehement way. Instead, she just glanced down self-consciously at her body, then said, as she redirected her gaze back up, "You must've seen the lucky ones, then." Stygian asked her about her name. Ears drooping, Deirdre sighed again, in resignation. "I guess it wouldn't hurt... my name's Deirdre." There was some bitterness to her voice in the next statement, "I also go by the name of Miss D, Deedee, and several homophobic slurs, because people seem to be particularly fond of that last category."

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[Gareeku]

As the train ceased it's acceleration, the wolf found it easier to walk as he followed Aisha down the train towards the food car. Looking out of the window, he too noticed the sky outside, and the bright moon that came with it.

Reaching the dining car, Gareeku looked around and grimaced slightly.
"Great." the wolf muttered in a light growl as he observed the clothes and mannerisms of the people already in the restaurant. "Aristocracy."
It was safe to say that he had no time for the more affluent people of the world, mainly because of the he expriences he had had whenever he had come across them. "Let's just find a table."

As if right on cue, a waitress approached and guided them to a table. Sitting down, Gareeku listened to what Aisha said and shrugged his shoulders.
"It's up to them." he replied. "Personally I need a break."

[Aisha deCabre]

As Aisha picked through the menu, periodically being indecisive about what she felt like eating, she perked her ears upon hearing Gareeku's rough voice.  Listening to his reply to her statement, she laughed softly.  "Trust me, you don't know how true that rings, especially for me..."

Settling on an item, she set her menu down and waited for the waitress to arrive.  While doing so, she glimpsed about the restaurant's surroundings.  While things looked somewhat proper, the presence of some people who were dressed even less formal then they were showed that the dining car went for an air of quiet and comfort, rather than any kind of higher status.  The prices were also reasonable...a good thing, as Aisha was never too comfortable in that kind of setting.

Her gaze had ended at the window, and then set back to Gareeku again, who seemed somewhat uncomfortable himself.  There was a pause, before the panther leaned an arm across the table and rested her hand over his own.  "I think that rings true for everyone else, too.  But at least we're safely away from the town and the chaos, and well on our way to figuring things out."  She smiled.  "We'll have our break, if I have anything to say about it."

That was when the waitress returned, asking them if they had chosen anything.  Aisha nodded.  "The steak for me, please."

[Stygian]

The last comment made by the gryphon caused Stygian's one eyebrow to twitch. 'Oh. Charming,' he said, not expressing particularly much more on that topic. He hadn't been sure from the start on that one point. Not that it was something that mattered much, but the bird being a drag king suggested she were homosexual in the first place. However, it did not make it certain. It was fairly amusing, but not interesting or outstanding enough to discuss at this point. Well, not interesting or outstanding enough to Stygian, that was. When it came to that sort of thing, trying to get disapproval out of him was as likely to happen as making a stone dance Flamenco by asking it nicely. He had a very clear definition of the things that he wanted to, or thought he had the right to criticize, and women merely dressing up as men and hitting on other women was not one of them.
   'Well, in that case, pleased to make your acquaintance, you aberrant slut,' the bat said, and stretched out his hand. 'My name is Ignatz Donovan, royal Asshole and Despicable Monster. Or so they call me.'

[Sunblink]

...Deirdre:

Even further disarming Deirdre from further defensive commentary was Stygian's next statement, leaving her only capable of lifting her eyebrow and staring with a great amount of skepticism at the proffered hand. At least these folks weren't going to heckle her; that was a decent start. Perhaps this acquaintanceship would be tolerable after all, even when Deirdre was going to be forced to be sociable with Keaton. This was something particularly unthinkable, considering her abhorrent tendencies and their past history.

Personally, Deirdre didn't mind being called an "aberrant slut." At least it was (what she assumed to be) sarcasm, not to mention it was more creative than the insults she had heard in her life. Rolling her eyes, Deirdre grasped the hand extended and shook it, trying to ease her body out of hesitance.

"Charmed, Mr. Donovan," Deirdre stated dryly, brushing some errant strands of hair out from her eyes. As time had passed, her hair had become rather disarrayed, somehow granting her more tomboyish femininity than her clean appearance did before.

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[SpottedKitty]

Kerya sighed and nodded her head, ears and whiskers drooping, still staring pensively out of the window for a moment before replying to Keaton. "I hate having to run like this, with our tails between our legs, but that — whatever — back there is just too powerful. Even if I were at my full strength, and able to use my full range of spells, I think I would be swatted like a newborn cub by that thing's least effort. Did you find out what it is? I thought I saw you in the club, going into the back rooms with Sebastian, then the next I saw you were fighting that bird-thing outside in the street."

[Stygian]

The steak, when served, was supple and juicy. The wine was rather good. And outside, the night and passing landscape were dark and cold, but the lamps and atmosphere inside were warm and comfortable. The only thing that perhaps Gareeku could complain about was the critical look the waitress had given him and Aisha for their disheveled appearance at first. Yet that had not returned. It was hard to think that things were going too smoothly at the time, really, as they were on the move, and the moment of relaxation and non-hostility was so fitting.

- -

As much as she was intriguing in herself, and as fun as he thought it was to speak to the more intelligent sort of adventurer, Stygian could find no more reason to linger and speak to Deirdre. They had tended to the gryphon and explained the situation to her. Now he wanted to see to their own business. And perhaps gain some more information on the adventuress at the same time. Not to mention that there were others he had not spoken to yet as well.
   As if to answer that last thought, the bat heard Kerya in the cabin next to theirs, speaking to Keaton. There was some background noise coming from the wheels and tracks below, but Stygian's hearing was likely the best in the group by far, and he could hear most of what they were saying. So he rose and excused himself, stepping out and over to the entry to the other cabin. He rapped the door with his knuckles twice, before sliding it aside.
   'It was an old acquaintance of mine. And I'm sure we'll hear more from her,' the bat responded to Kerya's query before Keaton had a chance to. 'We're only running for the moment, because we don't have a grip on the situation.' He walked in and sat down.
   For a few moments, Stygian merely looked at the little stoat, not gravely but not without some seriousness either. There was a curious hint of a smile to his features, but only just enough to soften them up. His black eyes though remained as hard and bottomless as ever.
   'I will apologize to you as well for dragging you along with us like this,' he said, after a short while. 'There just seemed like little else to do.'

[Cogidubnus]

 Cogidubnus slid into the dining car softly, and slid into the first booth in the car. It was situated in the corner of the compact, long dining-room, and although the space was limited, the large windows along the sides made the atmosphere feel large and open indeed. At night, away from the city of Haszal, the stars above were clear and cold, as was the waxing moon, pale in the dark sky. The leather seats underneath the wolf were icy, and a feeling of frost emanated from the pane glass windows beside him.

He held a hand up to feel the cold radiate from them when a voice interrupted. The wolf turned, setting his hat on the table and looking up at a very plainly-dressed mouse girl waitress. She had the smile of someone who had been on-shift too long, but wasn't feeling grumpy for it.
"Coffee, please." the wolf replied, and nodded his head. The waitress scribbled for just a moment on her pad, and promised she'd be right back before she ran off to take care of something else.

Cog turned his gaze back to the outside, and the almost crystal quality of the air outside the city. Something the wolf had always loved was the feeling and the sheer beauty of the night sky - something that had almost been robbed of him once, but despite the horror he'd once felt at the looming gaze of a full moon, he'd never lost his love for a cold, distant wind under a dark sky. The wolf took off his shades, setting them on top of his hat, and shutting his eyes for a moment to let them adjust to the sudden brightness looked back out at the darkness undimmed. He leaned into his palm, resting his chin, and suddenly grinned. The train rolled by a lake, of some sort, and in the almost icy-clear water the waves reflected the night sky. He reached out to touch the window.

"One coffee!" the waitress said, making Cog jump. "Is that all for tonight? Can I get you something to eat, maybe a dessert?"
"No, thank you." Cog said, looking away from the window and up at the mouse. "I'm fine."
"Well, holler if you need something." the waitress said, and strode away briskly. Cog sat still for a few moments, his eyes not-quite looking at anything before picking up the steaming cup of coffee in front of him.

He took a sip, and steam curled around the wolf's head.

[Boog]

Richard kept his eyes open as Stygian left the room. It hadn't sounded like anything bad had happened, and at least now he knew the newcomers name and actual gender. Really, other people's business was the only kind worth minding. It was fun, useful, and at times extremely relaxing. He leaned around the door frame to check on Deirdre for himself.
"Hey. You doing alright then?"

[SpottedKitty]

Kerya looked up as Sebastian entered the cabin. "There is no need to apologise, Sebastian," she replied with a smile, "coming along to help is the least I could do after you helped me with the rabbit who attacked me back in Haszal. Besides, I hardly think I would be safer back there, even if we had never met."

Her ears perked up as a thought occurred to her. "I just remembered — Sebastian, that rabbit, what was she? I have seen it is not unusual for people here to have wings, but I have never known... wait, let me show you."

With a few efficient gestures, the little stoat created an illusion in the middle of the table: a half-sized image of a white rabbit, blonde haired and wearing a businesslike red blouse and black skirt, sitting on a chair. Another gesture, and the illusion cycled through three different views of the rabbit. The first leaned forward, reaching out with one hand, her eyes glowing and a predatory grin on her face. The second sat frozen, her back arched in mid-convulsion, both hands clawing at her throat where something invisible throttled her with considerable force. Her eyes were wide and bulging, and her tongue had turned an unhealthy shade of blue. Just above and behind her ears, a pair of small wings stuck out of her hair, batlike and buttery yellow in colour. The third rabbit slouched low in her chair, arms hanging at her side and a look of utter horror and despair on her face. Her ears, and the wings that still stuck out of her head, drooped limply.

"There, that is what she looked like," Kerya said with satisfaction as she looked from Sebastian to Keaton. "Her name was Rhuddion Crys of Caerbannog, or at least that was the name she gave me. She is certainly no ordinary rabbit, but is she a monster of some kind? I could not sense if she was wearing an illusion, though. And am I likely to be attacked again if I were to meet another with wings on her head like this?"

[Stygian]

Stygian sat back opposite to the mustelid, crossed one leg over the other and folded his fingers together, looking at her seriously over them. He seemed not so much the professor about to give a lecture as a professional about to divulge something confidential to the uninitiated.
   'She was a succubus. That's the female form of the specific race that we commonly call 'Cubi'. I'll take it that if you ask such a question, you are not aware of some basic distinctions that we treat as self-evident,' he said, almost peering under his brows at Kerya. 'There are Beings and Creatures in this world. Beings are ones that do not possess any inherent magical or otherwise extraordinary abilities, as part of their genetic heritage. Creatures, however, do. There are many categories; Angels, Demons, Mythos... Cubi are just one of the most unpleasant and long-lived types.' He smirked, and then directed his eyes toward Keaton after that comment, giving her a look that suggested he was most pleased with himself. She was aware of his opinion on Cubi long since, but still it had never managed to settle with her entirely, something he found amusing. What was more, the whole truth of things and his past exploits and history, all of which she were unaware of, made it even more amusing. If only the jackal knew what experience he was speaking out of...
   'They are not all bad, of course,' Stygian continued, looking down a bit before raising his obsidian eyes to meet the stoat's again. 'In fact, quite a few are peaceful. They feed on emotions, and they have the ability to shapeshift to varying but extensive degrees, why they can adjust to pretty much any society or social situation. This makes it easy for them to blend in, and live as any other. However,' he proceeded, emphasizing markedly, 'they possess considerable magical power, and the inherent ability for thought-reading. They are also, as a racial trait resulting from their abilities, emotional and temperamental, power-hungry, disrespectful and capricious.' He ended this statement with a heavy, serious tone, seemingly adding weight to the statement that it were a fact.

[Mel Dragonkitty]

The healing of Deidre's scratches complete Mel resumed her window seat. She listened to the odd introductions quietly then watched Ignatz leave. If she had been willing to guess about anything the bat was up to she would guess that he was checking on the others. Silence having fallen she made a seated half bow, "I am Mel." At that point Richard poked his head into the cabin to inquire into the gryphon's health and if she had been about to add anything the moment was now lost.

[Sunblink]

...Keaton:

One would have feared that Keaton would be offended by Stygian's almost caustic summarization of the Cubi race, particularly his emphasis on the less than admirable characteristics her race was renowned for. On the contrary, Keaton's expression reflected nothing more than analytical amusement, especially as her eyes rested on the illusory caricature of the rabbit Succubus that had menaced Kerya earlier. Hilariously (or at least in Keaton's mind) enough, if Kerya were actually a resident of this world an impromptu attack from a Cubi wouldn't have been considered remarkable in a jaded Adventurer's eyes.

Stygian's opaque-obsidian oculars drifted her way once or twice, if only to confirm the mostly humored look on Keaton's face, or to display his pleasure. Keaton rolled her eyes at this. She was well aware of Stygian's perspective on Cubi, and it no longer bothered her. After all, it was no different from her distinct loathing of Angels, although in her mind she had a perfectly justified reason behind her prejudice. As Stygian concluded his explanation, Keaton couldn't help herself--she clapped her hands together a few times, as though applauding Stygian's presentation, albeit with prolonged slowness.

"Bravo," she said cheerfully, "But you seem to keep thinking that those last qualities guarantee a bad thing."

Keaton inclined her head in Kerya's direction, gazing down at the stoat. "But it is true. Cubi are all of those things. They are emotion-eaters, temperamental and short-fused sunsabitches. The grand majority of them are jerks, through and through, and are quite proud of it," Keaton recited all of those off with the flamboyancy and expertise of a master poet, not even flinching at how she was lambasting her own race. Pausing, she lolled her head back upright, then tapped her fingers to her temple, a smirk coloring her muzzle. "And while we're discussing Cubi at the moment, I guess I might as well throw a skeleton out of my closet for the sake of it."

A bit of concentration and Keaton felt the magically-composed shield restricting her head-wings splinter as it was breached by an invisible force, its imperceptible folds peeling back to herald the emergence of the two, leathery bat-wings from her scalp; the diminutive duplicates of their back-wing brethren. Individually, Keaton stretched each one to their full spans, cream-colored membrane pulling taut within their structures before she leisurely folded the head-wings into a more comfortable position.

"You see," Keaton said loftily, "I'm a Succubus too."

That look of smug satisfaction on her features, Keaton reconstructed the magical shield once more, each particle and iota of her head-wings beginning to fade and vanish altogether as they were encompassed and returned to their masquerading form. At first their sketchy outlines remained as the color drained in molecules, dissipating into nothingness, but then in almost an eyeblink that imperceptible mirage disintegrated with the remainder of any trace of her head-wings. There was no actual point to revealing her heritage so soon other than to toy with Kerya's reaction, but Keaton had reasoned that there was equally no point in being secretive about something she harbored no shame about. Besides, it was already painfully obvious she was a Succubus due to her previous exhibition of shapeshifting before...

Jovially, Keaton clasped her hands together, then looked to Kerya once more. "Any questions?"

--

...Deirdre:

On the other side of the door, Deirdre had taken advantage of the bat's departure to stand upright and assess her bedraggled and slightly bloodstained appearance, particularly the lacerations in her jacket, shirt, and bandages. She rested her sword on the seat behind her as Mel introduced herself respectfully. In response, Deirdre offered a small smile, trying to be relatively polite.

"Deirdre," she noted her name in response. "Nice to meet you, Mel." Okay, well, the circumstances behind their meeting considered, that was a bit of a lie. Couldn't hurt to be polite, however.

Scowling a little, the Gryphon fidgeted with her apparel slightly, attempting to find a momentary repair which could effectively conceal her slightly-exposed femininity, only for her efforts to be interrupted by the arrival of Richard.

At first Deirdre exhibited nothing but apprehension, but when she realized it was the Undead simian she had assisted prior to her incapacitation, she couldn't help but feel slightly relieved. Good, it wasn't Keaton or any unwelcome guests. Deirdre wasn't too familiar with the Undead fellow, but he was at least one of the ones who was grateful for the fact her car had been used as a getaway vehicle. Not to mention he had helped her to her feet after Keaton had belted her... that was something Deirdre wanted retribution for, but alas. Such vengeance would not occur yet. Besides, it was a visceral desire, something repentantly barbaric.

"Eh? Oh yeah, I'm doing alright," Deirdre said with a sheepish grin. "All things considered."

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[Mel Dragonkitty]

Watching Dierdre try to fidget clothing no longer fit to be anything but dust rags into something she could wear in public Mel felt a flash of sympathy.  Being more than a bit of a clothes horse a lack of appropriate clothing was something she could understand, and something she could cure. Reaching into the small purse on her belt she somehow pulled out the red camisole and pinstripe suit she had worn the night before when she had met up with the group at the Dragon's Grin. "While this is not exactly what you would choose for yourself you might find it preferable to what you currently have on." With that the disguised dragon held out the pile of fabric to the gryphon.

[SpottedKitty]

Kerya listened intently to the information Sebastian revealed. She nodded in acknowledgement, ears twitching as she considered her reply. Keaton's slow handclap and sardonic comments drew her attention before she could say anything, and the jackal's revelation of her own headwings left a stunned expression on the little stoat's face for just a moment before she visibly fought to bring her emotions under control. She took a deep breath, then let it hiss out slowly between tightly clenched fangs.

"My thanks, both of you," she replied, "that is useful to know. You may have guessed already, I am... not from around here. I found myself in Haszal by accident several days ago, and for the moment I am unable to return home. My magic works somewhat differently than the kind people use here. Some of my spells work, some do not, and some have... unfortunate consequences if I attempt them. I needed to talk to a local mage, perhaps trade information if I had to, and find out how to adapt my spells so that I could use them safely. But that —" she nodded at the third illusion-rabbit, staring despondently at a point over Keaton's shoulder, "was the first I met. I think that was part of what she wanted from me. She had discovered, from reading my thoughts I must assume now, that certain of my spells would be extremely valuable to her. She... spoke in my head — a most unnerving experience — and demanded the secrets of how my magic operated."

Kerya turned her gaze directly on the bat, then the jackal, an expression of grim resolve on her face. "I was taken unawares, I admit it. Even the most powerful Four Rings adept may be caught in such a way. Once. If there is a defence against this... "thought-reading", and I can learn it, there will not be a second time."

She gestured at the illusion, and the cycling stopped, showing the second rabbit gasping for breath as she was throttled. "I must thank you again for intervening when you did, Sebastian. I was very angry and in some haste when I did this; the spell is an assassin's weapon, which I do not like to use. But when needs must..." She crooked a finger, and the invisible something around the rabbit's throat abruptly shrank, squeezing even tighter.

Crunch.

Pop.

The rabbit's head leaped from her shoulders like a cork from a bottle, sailing across the cabin, headwings fluttering, trailing a spray of illusory blood. Just before the head would have landed in Keaton's lap, the entire illusion faded and vanished. "When needs must, I will." Kerya said with a steely glint in her eyes.

[Stygian]

The bat gave an almost irritated little look to Keaton. Not for her first comments; those he had expected, but rather upon her somewhat careless and abrupt revealing of her heritage. His thoughts on appropriate manner that followed were interrupted by Kerya's reply though. He tilted his head, and looked pensively at the little mustelid, as she explained herself and then demonstrated what she had been about in the club. And, Stygian noted, also making a clear point, practically stating that 'if you threaten me, this is what I'll do'. Of course it was only good manner that he regard this and respond properly.
   'Yes, well... Not everything is solved best by such means, and indeed not all Cubi or creatures are hostile,' Stygian said, his tone leveling out to neutral and careful. 'And there are far worse things out there than Cubi. Things like myself, for instance.' He gave Kerya just a hint of a smile. 'Really, it's always best to be attentive and careful.' There. He didn't need to threaten her or give her any sort of information, but merely suggesting things often went a long way. Hopefully the stoat would see, and look at things critically. And keep her cute little butt out of tight spots and in shape, he mentally added.
   Mostly satisfied, the bat leaned back once again. 'Anyhow, the only way is to adapt. I think you'll catch up on things quickly enough. Though, if you want protection from certain things,' he said, and gave Keaton another look, before turning his dark eyes to Kerya once more, 'I would suggest you speak to Mel. I take a... different approach to that sort of protection. One that is not easily imitated.'

[Boog]

"Good to know, I didn't take being shanghaied by these maniacs anywhere near so well." Richard snickered, "It's far beyond good to have another sane person around here, Deirdre." It occurred to the undead that she'd never told him her name herself. "Sorry about that, couldn't help hearing a few things," He lied.

[Sunblink]

...Keaton:

The look on Keaton's face was rather unreadable as Kerya demonstrated what she would do if someone threatened her. Specifically, using some sort of magical application of pressure, she had decapitated the magical doppelganger of her assailant by making its head pop like a balloon, sending its cranium sailing through the air. Just seconds before it was about to land in her lap, the illusion's head disintegrated. Keaton stared for a long time at where the head had vanished, her ears flat and her expression still locked in that suspension of disbelief.

Well, now that was one way to shut her up. The little stoat had a lot of spunk in her. Keaton could admire that.

Then, against the awkwardness of the situation, Keaton forced an indifferent grin on her face, one which wasn't entirely sincere. "Point taken," she said, folding her arms. "I'm sure you're pretty damn capable. That's good..." In response to Stygian's dark eyes shifting in her direction again, Keaton returned the stare, her chocolaty irises narrowed in thin brown halos around her pupils. For a moment, she looked offended, defensive. Keaton spoke up, "Hey, don't look at me like that, Styg. I'm not gonna do anything. I'm just breaking the ice is all. I swear. Figured there wasn't much use in hiding away my head-wings if we're discussing Cubi."

---

...Deirdre:

Deirdre was more than surprised when Mel unexpectedly produced a brand-new set of clothing for her to wear and offered it, as was evidenced by the look on the Gryphon's face. In-between busily adjusting her shirt and tattered bandaging, she managed to achieve some form of stability to her appearance so she could hesitantly accept the proffered bundle. Upon further inspection, it appeared to be some sort of pinstriped suit, which Deirdre was pleased to notice--she rather appreciated those variations of fashion.

"Hey, thanks," she said, checking to see if the suit was her size. Quite surprisingly, it was, even though Mel was seven inches shorter than her. Deirdre flashed Mel an appreciative grin. "I really needed this."

She turned back to address Richard, then rolled her eyes; the membrane-caked irises rotating in their scarred sockets. Methodically, Deirdre continued to adjust and keep her hairstyle neat and tidy. "Eh. I'll probably end up freaking out a bit later," she said with a flap of her hand. "Especially if there are some less than agreeable folks in this group..." Particularly, she was referring to Keaton, but she decided not to elaborate on that. Better to keep her grudges in the closet, for now. Richard knowing her name came as some surprise to Deirdre, but he then explained that he was eavesdropping on her conversation with Stygian and Mel. "Aha. No worries. I did scream rather loud, huh? Just about the only feminine thing about me."

A pause, then Deirdre sighed. "So, you heard everything?"

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[Gareeku]

As Aisha looked through the restaurant's menu, Gareeku was looking out of the window, watching the scenery race by as the train continued on its journey. Hearing Aisha speak, the wolf's eyes looked to the panther and, noticing that she seemed more or less decided on what she wanted, thought that he had better start looking through the menu as well.

As Gareeku looked through the variety of meals that the restaurant had to offer, holding the menu with one hand, he then felt something rest on his other hand, which itself was resting on the table. Looking away from the menu, the wolf blinked a few times as he saw that Aisha's hand was upon his. Looking at it for a few seconds, a dull shade of pink began to make itself present on his cheeks, visible beneath the white fur.

"And you sir?"

"...Huh?" Gareeku uttered as he looked up, seeing that the waitress had arrived to take their orders. "Oh...I...uh..."
"Don't worry about it." the waitress replied with a soft giggle. "We get couples all the time."
"We're just friends." the wolf grumbled back. "I'll have the steak as well."

[Aisha deCabre]

While the waitress came to take their order, and Aisha giving hers, she had almost forgotten that her hand was still resting on Gareeku's.  She observed his mannerism, and the blush spreading across his face...though it was barely seen on the void that was her own fur, just a line of black-red, she felt her own face flush with warmth as well.  She said nothing to the waitress's comment, but slowly took her hand away while the white wolf ordered, and nodded to their server as she smiled and walked off.

Somehow, food takes forever to come when one waits in near silence.  Aisha had also soon set her gaze to the darkness out of the windows, rather easily seen through the softly lit atmosphere of the dining car, only briefly glancing to the door to see who was coming through.  Seeing it was Cogidubnus, the silver wolf hardly noticing them, she turned her head back out into the darkness the train passed...through a largely clear sky dotted with stars, and the light from the moon casting an ethereal line of white-gray over dark clouds nearby.

"Beautiful..." she whispered, her face resting on one palm.  Though it appeared her concentration was on the scenery, the blush on her face lingered as forcefully as her thoughts.  What's gotten into me lately?  I don't think I've ever felt so...soft, around him.  Was I really that worried when he disappeared?  Or...

But soon enough, the smell of the succulent meat and the sound of footsteps brought her back to reality, along with a fierce growl in her stomach, breaking the silence.  The maned wolf waitress returned with their plates.  Aisha rolled her eyes self-consciously.  "Heh, finally.  Let's eat."

Still the questions in her mind didn't cease.