House of Masks 003b

Caspar puts the cup of tea in her hands. [3/1/2013 8:39:48 PM] Josie: She takes it and takes a deep smell of it, holding in the breath and then exhaling, before taking a sip. [3/1/2013 8:40:26 PM] Caspar: ((What's her attitude toward me? Indifferent or Friendly? Probably Indifferent at them moment?)) [3/1/2013 8:40:41 PM] Josie: Probably indifferent, yeah. [3/1/2013 8:41:32 PM] Caspar: ((kay, I get her up to friendly. 15.))  Have you been in this house before you got here the other day? [3/1/2013 8:42:31 PM] Josie: Illa: ... no. Have you? It's so big, I'm sure a whole town could live here. [3/1/2013 8:42:35 PM] Josie: She smiles wanly. [3/1/2013 8:44:20 PM] Caspar: No, I've only been here a few days myself. I'm in the room with the big library. The other day, we found this... room. The floor spun. The hallway outside had a mirrored ceiling, and when we looked up... we saw... horrible things in our reflections. [3/1/2013 8:44:39 PM] Caspar: I'm not so sure I like this place, but I think the feeling might be mutual. [3/1/2013 8:45:44 PM] Josie: Illa: ... Lissa only took this job because of me, you know. She thought it would be better here, and they offered a lot of money. [3/1/2013 8:46:26 PM] Caspar: Where were you before? [3/1/2013 8:47:31 PM] Josie: Illa: Back home.... it's a small town, you wouldn't have heard of it. I got... sick, and Lissa had to take care of me. [3/1/2013 8:48:38 PM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "Sick?  What happened?  If you don't mind answering." [3/1/2013 8:49:07 PM] Josie: Illa stares at her teacup. "I don't want to talk about it." [3/1/2013 8:49:14 PM] Caspar: Okay. [3/1/2013 8:50:00 PM] Caspar: Caspar looks at her. "You want more tea?" [3/1/2013 8:50:41 PM] Josie: Illa: ... yes, please. ... thank you. [3/1/2013 8:50:53 PM] Caspar: ((Trying to decide if I want to try another Diplo check to get her to Helpful. With my luck I'll roll a 1 and end up accidentally hitting on her.)) [3/1/2013 8:51:58 PM] Caspar: Caspar pours her more tea. "I'm from Solitiare.  When I was three, I drank a thing my father was working on.  It made me sick for a long time." [3/1/2013 8:52:29 PM] Caspar: A potion. I imagine I thought it was juice or something else sweet and tasty. [3/1/2013 8:52:41 PM] Josie: Illa: .... what happened? [3/1/2013 8:52:57 PM] Josie: Illa: You look all right, so you must have survived... [3/1/2013 8:54:57 PM] Caspar: Caspar sits next to her and takes her hand. His hand ripples and changes, becoming a near-perfect replication of hers. "My father said it was a 'destabilization of my physical form.  I'm pretty... mutable." [3/1/2013 8:55:48 PM] Josie: Illa stares. "... but that's good, isn't it?" [3/1/2013 8:56:10 PM | Edited 8:57:30 PM] Josie: Illa: Being whoever you want to be. Never needing to be anybody else. [3/1/2013 8:56:56 PM] Caspar: It's pretty good, I'll admit it. But a lot of times I wonder what I'd be if I hadn't drank that stuff. [3/1/2013 8:58:59 PM] Caspar: Caspar cups his chin. "This isn't what I look like.  I'm not a half-elf, but it's what I'd look like if I was... if I hadn't turned into what I am.  I used to spend a lot of time agonizing over 'what I would have been'.  My mom always told me that 'you are what you are'." His hand turns back to his own hand. [3/1/2013 8:59:35 PM] Josie: Illa: But you can be what you want to be. [3/1/2013 9:00:01 PM] Josie: She sets her mug down and takes his hand in both of hers, examining it curiously. [3/1/2013 9:00:44 PM] Caspar: Yeah. But sometimes I wonder what I really am. I don't really have my own face. [3/1/2013 9:01:12 PM] Josie: Illa: What do you look like when you're not... trying? [3/1/2013 9:02:20 PM] Caspar: I'm not sure. I've never.... not tried. [3/1/2013 9:02:39 PM] Josie: Illa: ... but aren't you curious? [3/1/2013 9:03:14 PM] Caspar: Kind of. But mostly scared of what I'd see in the mirror. [3/1/2013 9:03:44 PM] Josie: Illa: Maybe you'd just see you. [3/1/2013 9:03:56 PM] Caspar: Maybe. [3/1/2013 9:04:00 PM] Caspar: Maybe not. [3/1/2013 9:04:27 PM] Caspar: ... what happened, Illa? [3/1/2013 9:05:48 PM] Josie: She looks at you; her eyes are greenish. [3/1/2013 9:06:36 PM] Josie: Illa: ... I had a... a fit, and he was trying to help. [3/1/2013 9:07:25 PM] Caspar: What about the wounds? [3/1/2013 9:07:53 PM] Josie: She turns bright red. [3/1/2013 9:08:20 PM] Caspar: Caspar gives her hand a squeeze. [3/1/2013 9:08:32 PM] Josie: Illa: ... I don't know, I don't remember. [3/1/2013 9:09:22 PM] Caspar: ((Rolling sense motive.)) [3/1/2013 9:09:31 PM] Caspar: ((Man, finally. rolled a 20.)) [3/1/2013 9:09:47 PM] Josie: She's telling the truth, but she's also trying to hide something else. [3/1/2013 9:11:11 PM] Caspar: ((Is she being influenced by a mind-affecting effect? 25 or higher can detect that.)) [3/1/2013 9:11:20 PM] Josie: Definitely not. [3/1/2013 9:11:25 PM] Josie: Also, she doesn't smell like booze at all. [3/1/2013 9:13:03 PM] Caspar: Caspar nods, giving her hand another squeeze. [3/1/2013 9:13:06 PM] Josie: (back to the other room.)

[12:08:57 AM] Josie: You head outside. You can probably find a proper cemetery, or bury her on the grounds somewhere. [12:09:46 AM] Caspar: Taking Fran's advice, I'm going to see if there's any patches of flowers, perhaps magically sustained through the winter. If not, cemetary. [12:10:18 AM] Josie: You head for the grounds in the back of the house, as that's the most likely location for that. [12:10:46 AM] Josie: You don't see anything at first, but then a sort of odd tube-shaped thing a little ways from the house catches your eye--it's sort of greenhouse shaped. [12:11:26 AM] Caspar: Caspar heads in that direction. [12:12:27 AM] Josie: It has a door, and it's not locked. [12:13:00 AM] Josie: Inside, you find it's actually a sort of magical high tunnel--a greenhouse that utilizes the actual soil to grow things. It *is* full of flowers, at least on one end--there's vegetables on the other. [12:13:39 AM] Caspar: Hrmm. Probably not the best place to bury bones, then. [12:14:56 AM] Josie: It wouldn't be too bad, provided you put them on the path or right at the end of the path. [12:15:20 AM] Caspar: How big is it? [12:16:19 AM] Caspar: The tunnel, I mean.)) [12:17:00 AM] Josie: Huge! [12:17:12 AM] Josie: As big as a two bedroom house. [12:17:16 AM] Caspar: Caspar looks for a good place, then. [12:17:55 AM] Josie: You can go to the end of the path. There's even digging tools. [12:18:06 AM] Josie: And heavy gloves so you won't get blisters. [12:18:17 AM | Edited 12:18:31 AM] Caspar: How thoughtful! He gets to digging. [12:18:44 AM] Josie: Well, it is a magical garden, so it makes sense. [12:19:03 AM] Caspar: ((Sorry, I'm laying on my bed and trying to type around Wednesday who's laying on my upper chest.)) [12:19:06 AM] Josie: You dig a hole. You can try to lay her out like a person or just put all the bones together in a narrower hole; it probably doesn't matter. [12:19:09 AM] Josie: ((Cuuuuuuuute.)) [12:20:19 AM] Caspar: Caspar will keep them in the cloak. It's a nice cloak. He digs a deep hole, a few feet down. Then he covers it up, puts a few flowers on there, and is thoughtful for a few long moments. [12:20:58 AM] Caspar: I'm not a priest or anything. But I hope that the next world is happier for you than this one was. [12:22:11 AM] Josie: A bird warbles somewhere nearby, and it's quiet. [12:22:34 AM] Josie: It does seem like a nice place to be. Flowers everywhere and quiet. Peaceful. [12:22:56 AM] Caspar: Caspar lingers for a few moments before heading back into the house. [12:23:24 AM] Josie: Easily done! [12:23:46 AM] Caspar: Then he'll head to the Kitchen.

[12:42:48 AM] Josie: She's probably still in her room. [12:43:02 AM] Caspar: Caspar goes over and knocks! [12:44:12 AM] Josie: "Come in!" [12:44:33 AM] Caspar: He peeks his head in. "You feeling better?" [12:45:04 AM] Josie: Illa: A little bit, yes. ... you smell like blood too. Are you all right? [12:45:58 AM] Caspar: I'm fine. We went to retrieve some remains. Had to walk through some fresh remains. Didn't actually get hurt myself. I'm not terribly useful in a fight. [12:47:01 AM] Josie: She sets the book she's holding down on a stack of other books, and brushes aside her nearly-colorless hair. [12:47:24 AM] Josie: Illa: Oh, good. Ugh, that smell. [12:49:06 AM] Josie: She wrinkles her nose. [12:51:45 AM] Caspar: Caspar pulls his boots off and sets them outside the room. "I had forgotten about it.  Sharp sense of smell you have." [12:52:14 AM] Josie: Illa: Do I? I hadn't really noticed, I suppose. Thank you, that's much better. [12:53:01 AM] Josie: Illa: I've been trying to work out a better archiving spell. [12:53:13 AM] Caspar: How's it going? [12:53:45 AM] Josie: Illa: Pretty well. I've come up with a spell that should work, but I haven't decided yet what information I should gather. [12:53:59 AM] Josie: Illa: Author and title, obviously. Date of printing. Printer. [12:54:33 AM] Josie: Illa: But should I include the subject? And number of pages? [12:56:35 AM] Caspar: Caspar moves over and examines one of the stacks of books. "Definitely subject.  My mom loves books.  My father made her a portable hole that has a small library inside so she always has access to her most important books.  Once you have the spell figured out, I'l love to be able to send her a copy." [12:57:32 AM] Josie: That particular stack seems to be about shapeshifting. [12:57:38 AM] Josie: Illa: Of course. [12:59:12 AM] Caspar: Caspar has probably read most of these. "Hrm.  She helped me read this one when I was seven.  Polymorphism vs. Physical Stasis." [12:59:30 AM] Josie: Yep. [12:59:35 AM] Josie: Illa: When you were *seven*? [1:02:05 AM] Caspar: My parents are crazy smart. Dad's an Artficer. Mom's a powerful Wizard. I got a really.... eclectic education. [1:02:42 AM] Josie: Illa: You must be from Solitaire, then. [1:02:58 AM] Caspar: Caspar nods. "Yeah." [1:03:39 AM] Josie: Illa: How many wives do you have? [1:04:24 AM] Caspar: That's always the first question people ask! I'm not married at all. [1:05:03 AM] Josie: Illa laughs. "Well, you do hear things. Are you a horrendously powerful mage too?" [1:06:54 AM] Caspar: I'm not, really. I'm not terribly good at magic. It could be because of the potion I drank. [1:07:18 AM] Caspar: Caspar shrugs. [1:07:34 AM] Josie: Illa: Oh... that's too bad. They don't like people who aren't mages down there, I've heard. [1:08:53 AM] Caspar: It's... awkward, yeah. [1:10:07 AM] Josie: Illa: I've always found magic easy.... I read all the time when I was little and spellbooks just seemed like more books. [1:10:22 AM] Josie: Illa: On days when I was too ill to go out, books were my friends. [1:10:32 AM] Caspar: ((Factotum is not a class you take for its magic. At level 2 I get to cast one 0 level spell per day. -_- )) [1:12:01 AM] Caspar: I can read the spells, I understand them and how they're put together. But whatever that spark is that turns them from a random collection of symbols and letters into a brief alteration of reality, I don't quite have it. [1:12:40 AM] Josie: Illa: Well, it's probably good you're here, then. Meneluininese don't care if you have magic or axes, like my sister does. [1:13:54 AM] Caspar: Mm. I'm just kind of walking the world right now, learing things. [1:14:48 AM] Caspar: I envy your ability, though. I think mom really wanted me to be a Wizard. [1:15:40 AM] Josie: Illa: It's not that great. The really big spells take decades to learn. [1:16:29 AM] Caspar: I suppose that's true. And I suppose it frees me up to learn lots of other things, too. [1:17:21 AM] Josie: Illa: And I bet you can run and jump and climb and swim, too. [1:17:40 AM] Caspar: No, not really. I'm pretty frail, actually. [1:17:43 AM] Caspar: (( 8 Con!)) [1:18:30 AM] Caspar: It's my amorphous body structure, I think. [1:19:20 AM] Caspar: I'm kind of unstable. [1:19:55 AM] Josie: Illa: Here, let me see your hand again. [1:20:02 AM] Caspar: Caspar holds it out. [1:21:04 AM] Josie: She takes it in hers and examines it. "It looks like an ordinary hand to me." [1:21:41 AM] Caspar: Physically, sure. Metaphysically, they only thing that holds it together is my will. [1:22:42 AM] Josie: Illa: No wonder you can't do magic, your mind is holding you together. Can you change temperature too? [1:23:28 AM] Caspar: Not really. My body temperature stays the same. [1:23:45 AM] Caspar: ...can I ask you something? [1:23:55 AM] Josie: Illa: Of course. [1:25:27 AM] Caspar: ... I'm sorry if this is too personal. But, you and Ulisse. Are you.... lovers? [1:26:12 AM] Josie: She turns bright red. "No! No, not at all." [1:26:48 AM] Josie: Illa: Why? [1:28:25 AM] Caspar: Caspar smiles a little, gives a shrug. "... I didn't think so.  And if it's not terribly forward, I'm glad to hear that." [1:29:36 AM] Josie: She turns even redder, if that's possible. "... oh, well... I... people aren't usually interested. I mean, in me." [1:30:05 AM] Caspar: Really? How is that possible? [1:30:52 AM] Josie: Illa: I don't... get out much. [1:31:25 AM] Josie: She's telling the truth, but only part of it. [1:32:07 AM] Caspar: ((Yeah, I know she's holding something back there. Her mysterious illness.)) [1:32:33 AM] Caspar: Caspar nods. [1:33:07 AM] Josie: Illa: I'm not like Lissa. She's the strong one. [1:34:50 AM] Caspar: Well. The world's loss, then. I appreciate brainy women. [1:35:24 AM] Josie: She blushes again. It's the pale coloring, everything shows. [1:35:40 AM] Josie: Illa: Well... I'll try to make sure she doesn't plant an axe in your brain, then. [1:36:15 AM] Caspar: To be honest, I've been interested since you introduced yourself as a librarian, so. [1:36:18 AM] Caspar: And that would be lovely. [1:38:03 AM] Josie: Illa: It's so sad here, though. Nobody's read any of the books here for years, maybe decades. And I don't even know what's in the other wings. [1:38:48 AM] Caspar: I'll tell you what. As we head out into the wings while mapping and exploring, any books I see, I'll grab them and bring them to you. [1:40:18 AM] Josie: She beams. "Good. But there's whole *libraries* in there, you know." [1:40:55 AM] Caspar: Well, then we'll at least have the paths to them mapped. [1:42:01 AM] Josie: Illa: Thanks. That's... really sweet. [1:42:25 AM] Josie: She squeezes his hand a little bit. [1:42:52 AM] Caspar: A librarian without a library isn't a librarian. She's just an... ian, I guess. [1:43:00 AM] Caspar: Caspar squeezes her hand back. [1:44:13 AM] Josie: Illa: Of course there's enough to keep me busy in this wing alone, really. [1:45:05 AM] Caspar: I'm sure we'll be able to keep you in work for quite some time, Illa. [1:46:47 AM] Josie: Illa: ... If I were you.... I'd want to know. [1:47:14 AM] Caspar: ... I do. [1:48:22 AM] Josie: Illa: Then you should find out. It can't be that bad, can it? [1:49:31 AM] Caspar: I have a pretty high tolerance for the unusual. You should meet my grandmother. [1:50:32 AM] Caspar: Caspar takes her other hand. "So tell me." [1:51:07 AM] Josie: She blushes again. "I... I meant what you look like when you don't try. Not.... me." [1:52:01 AM] Caspar: I don't think I'm ready for it yet, though. [1:52:42 AM | Edited 1:53:29 AM] Josie: Illa: ... what do you want me to tell you? [1:53:36 AM] Caspar: I want to know about you. [1:54:22 AM] Josie: Illa: There's... not much to tell, really. [1:56:15 AM] Josie: Illa: We've had a quiet life, mostly. Lissa takes care of me. [1:56:56 AM] Caspar: Yeah, your sister is... terrifying. [1:57:44 AM] Josie: Illa: You just don't know her yet, that's all. She's wonderful, really. [1:57:55 AM] Caspar: Not saying it's a bad thing. [1:59:20 AM] Josie: Illa: She's so strong. And she takes care of my when I'm not well. She... does have a temper. [2:00:51 AM] Caspar: I noticed. That's not a bad thing. [2:01:15 AM] Josie: Illa: I do too, I just... don't get mad very often. [2:03:59 AM] Caspar: Everyone has a temper. When I get mad my skin turns red sometimes. [2:04:37 AM] Josie: Illa smiles. "Really? Show me." [2:05:08 AM] Caspar: Caspar turns his skin red. "I'm obviously not mad right now." [2:05:59 AM] Josie: Illa snrks. "You look like one of those demons." [2:06:14 AM] Caspar: Which? [2:07:15 AM] Josie: Illa: Imps? Or quasits. I always forget. [2:07:40 AM] Josie: She sits down on a couch near the window. [2:12:02 AM] Caspar: Caspar sits next to her. "Probably imps.   Whats your favorite color?" [2:12:21 AM] Josie: Illa: Green. [2:12:51 AM] Caspar: Caspar turns his skin green! [2:13:34 AM] Josie: She laughs. "If you can look like anybody, how did you decide what to look like?" [2:19:46 AM] Caspar: Well, when I was a kid, I just went with my appearance before the accident and aged it every few years. Through my adolescence, I had a new body every day. Puberty and on was very awkward, so... I choose not to explain that. When I got to adulthood, I just combined features from my parents and randomized them a bit until I found a face I liked, that could be a 'default' me. [2:20:41 AM] Josie: Illa: Your parents must be good-looking then, or you have good taste. Or both. [2:21:27 AM] Caspar: He blushes a bit. You know, darker green. [2:22:37 AM] Josie: Illa snrks. "You should turn off the green! Have you ever lived as a half orc?" [2:25:40 AM] Caspar: Caspar goes back to normal. "Yeah.  Half-orc, dwarf, halfling, elf, half-giant, gnome, kobold..." [2:27:46 AM] Josie: Illa: What's it like? [2:28:48 AM] Caspar: What's what like? [2:29:36 AM] Josie: Illa: ... being you. [2:31:17 AM] Caspar: I don't know that I could describe it. I've never been anyone else, not really. No matter what I look like, I'm always me. [2:33:00 AM] Caspar: ((oh.)) [2:33:14 AM] Josie: ((Oh?)) [2:34:29 AM] Caspar: ((Just had an idea about her. Hope it's not true!)) [2:34:36 AM] Josie: ((Succubus?)) [2:34:47 AM] Josie: ((What idea?)) [2:35:07 AM] Caspar: ((...She's addicted to that crazy magic drug, isn't she? The one that lets you ride someone else's consciousness. That's her illiness, that she's an addict. and Ulisse is her dealer, basically.)) [2:35:32 AM] Josie: ((Certainly possible, and maybe even likely!))\ [2:35:51 AM] Josie: If she's a succubus you're about to find out, as she leans over and kisses Caspar. [2:36:39 AM] Caspar: He kisses her back! She could kill him! He doesn't have any levels to drain, and only has 8 con! [2:37:21 AM] Caspar: ((Succubus didn't occur to me.)) [2:38:11 AM] Josie: ((Oops!)) [2:38:33 AM] Josie: When it's over he still has his soul! Dodged that bullet. [2:38:44 AM] Josie: Also she's blushing again. [2:39:36 AM] Caspar: He smiles at her. [2:40:55 AM] Josie: She smiles back. [2:41:10 AM] Caspar: That was unexpected. [2:41:32 AM] Josie: Illa: Well... you're always you. [2:42:19 AM] Caspar: Isn't everyone? [2:43:04 AM] Josie: Her smile fades a bit. "Sometimes." [2:43:44 AM] Caspar: he frowns. "What did I say?" [2:46:15 AM] Josie: Illa: Nothing. It's not important. [2:47:24 AM] Caspar: ((22 SM on that nonsense!)) [2:48:11 AM] Josie: Yeah, transparent lie. It's important, she just doesn't want to talk about it. [2:49:17 AM] Caspar: Of course it's important. But I can tell you don't want to talk about it. [2:50:14 AM] Josie: Illa: No. ... thank you. [2:50:57 AM] Caspar: It's okay. [2:51:11 AM] Caspar: ((He's gonna get his malleable little heart broken!)) [2:51:27 AM] Josie: ((Crushed.)) [2:51:42 AM] Josie: Illa: ... you know, you smell like flowers now. [2:51:52 AM] Caspar: Do I? [2:52:19 AM] Caspar: ((Well, you were supposed to say 'nah'! Or something like that.)) [2:52:45 AM] Josie: ((EATEN ALIIIIIIIVE.)) [2:53:01 AM] Josie: Illa: Yes. I just didn't notice it before. [2:53:37 AM] Caspar: Caspar sniffs. [2:55:05 AM] Josie: You don't smell anything! [2:55:13 AM] Josie: But you were in the greenhouse, so. [2:56:05 AM] Caspar: Oh. Yeah, I was in the greenhouse before I came in here. [2:56:54 AM] Josie: Illa: It's nice. [2:58:28 AM] Josie: She leans on his shoulder. [2:59:42 AM] Caspar: He smiles at her. "Will your sister really put an axe in my brain?" [2:59:58 AM] Josie: Illa: If we get caught. [3:00:45 AM] Caspar: Well. We needn't rush things. [3:01:45 AM] Josie: Illa: She won't unless you hurt me somehow. [3:03:24 AM] Josie: Illa: And I can't imagine you would. Would you? [3:04:17 AM] Caspar: I wouldn't. [3:04:38 AM] Josie: She smiles again. [3:06:06 AM] Josie: Illa: Good. It feels safe, being here with you. [3:06:50 AM] Caspar: Good. [3:06:58 AM] Caspar: Hey... have you been having nightmares? [3:07:59 AM] Josie: Illa: I haen't been sleeping much. But... yes. [3:09:23 AM] Josie: Illa: What have you dreamed? [3:10:43 AM] Caspar: He frowns. "It's the house.  It's been giving us nightmares.  I'm not sure why." [3:11:57 AM] Josie: Illa: Are you sure? Lissa said she thought the house liked me. [3:14:11 AM] Caspar: My nightmares started as soon as we started sleeping here. It might not be the house itself, but something powerful in the house. [3:14:51 AM] Josie: Illa: But what did you dream? [3:15:32 AM] Caspar: There was a double of mine. Murderous. [3:16:32 AM] Josie: Illa: Oh. I dream I've hurt people too. [3:17:16 AM] Caspar: That seems to be a common theme. Showing us twisted versions of ourselves. [3:18:44 AM] Josie: Illa: It was horrible. [3:20:30 AM] Josie: Illa: I'm glad I'm... not the only one. [3:21:40 AM] Caspar: No. All of us that have to sleep are having them. [3:22:47 AM] Josie: Illa: You do have to sleep, then. [3:23:05 AM] Caspar: Yeah. [3:25:29 AM] Josie: Illa: ... so do I. Would you... would you mind staying here with me while I sleep a little? There's books to read, if any of them interest you at all. [3:27:07 AM] Caspar: Caspar smiles. "I can do that.  I'd just to my room and read, otherwise.  Might as well do it here." [3:30:14 AM] Josie: Illa: Thanks. I'd feel.... safer. [3:30:30 AM] Caspar: I won't go anywhere. [3:31:08 AM] Josie: Illa: You're very kind... [3:31:27 AM] Josie: She draws her feet up onto the couch and goes to sleep right there, still leaning on him. [3:31:52 AM] Caspar: /me, for his part, grabs a book and starts reading it. [3:32:26 AM] Josie: And there we can stop so I can sleeeeeeep.