Lovely 14.7

[10:26 PM] Xho: Sunshine is still there; she's put her prosthetics and her outer layer of clothes back on, and is reading a book with a plain black cover. [10:30 PM] Pharolvir: "Everyone else is here.  And we still have the tea.  You want to come and say hi?" [10:31 PM] Xho: Sunshine jumps a bit, not having noticed the door open. "Certainly! ... did you talk to him? What did he say?" [10:34 PM] Pharolvir: "...oh, Ulisse's not here.  Sorry.  I haven't seen him, yet.  But these are my friends.  You already met Chance and you can meet Ann.  She's...interesting." [10:36 PM] Xho: Sunshine grabs her staff and gets to her feet (foot?), then picking up the book again. "I... have something for you." [10:38 PM] Pharolvir: "...ok." [10:38 PM] Xho: She hands him the book. [10:38 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... just give it a chance, even if you don't approve. [10:39 PM] Pharolvir: looks at it. [10:39 PM] Xho: No title or author on the cover, plain black binding, very cheap. [10:40 PM] Pharolvir: "...what is it?" [10:41 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Look inside. It's not from me exactly, but they said I could read it. [10:42 PM] Pharolvir: opens to the first page. [10:43 PM] Xho: "A Vindication of the Rights of Man: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects." [10:44 PM] Pharolvir: "...is this...masculinist literature?" [10:44 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Yes. It's very new, a lot of people are very upset about it. There are book burnings and things. [10:45 PM] Pharolvir: "...you really want me as an equal?" [10:48 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I don't really know how, but I definitely don't want to marry anybody who's going to kneel at the wedding, so I think I'd better work out how. [10:48 PM] Pharolvir: hugs her [10:49 PM] Pharolvir: "You are the sweetest woman from the Underdark I've ever met." [10:50 PM] Xho: She hugs him back, smiling a bit. "But it's not from me really. It's from your father. I do want to finish it when you're done. If you don't mind." [10:50 PM] Pharolvir: "..........my father?" [10:51 PM] Pharolvir: "...I...he...what?" [10:51 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... well, I did tell them you were alive. [10:52 PM] Pharolvir: ".........................wait, what?" [10:52 PM] Xho: Sunshine: Your family. After I had the divination done I asked your mother for permission, and let her know you were alive, of course. [10:53 PM] Pharolvir: "................ok.....ok.........o.......kay." [10:55 PM] Xho: Sunshine: He came to my house in the middle of the night to give me this for you. It was very cloak-and-dagger. [10:55 PM] Pharolvir: "...I think we should go get more tea." [10:56 PM] Pharolvir: "...I am...we can talk about this later.  You should meet everyone first." [10:57 PM] Pharolvir: "...if you're up for it."(edited) [10:58 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... it's hard to be seen by other people sometimes, but these are your friends. [10:58 PM] Pharolvir: "They are.  And they'll be kind too." [10:59 PM] Pharolvir: smiles and carresses her face in a loving fashion [10:59 PM] Xho: She relaxes a little bit, and nods, limping back into the living room. [11:00 PM] Pharolvir: helps her through. [11:01 PM] Xho: Balance is probably a major part of her issue; the prosthetic makes it tough to feel where the ground is all that well. [11:02 PM] Pharolvir: makes a mental note to consult with Tython on improvements. [11:27 PM] Pharolvir: goes into Ulisse's room with him and Sunshine.

[11:27 PM] Pharolvir: "So...some things...were discussed." [11:29 PM] Xho: Sunshine sits on the bed. [11:29 PM] Xho: Ulisse takes a chair; there is another chair available or Pharol can sit on the bed as well. [11:29 PM] Xho: Ulisse: I do understand. [11:30 PM] Pharolvir: "...you do?" [11:33 PM] Xho: Ulisse: You're from the same culture. She's obviously a very good match, and comes without the... "massive" seems inadequate here... never-ending? eternal? baggage that I have. And probably will always have. [11:33 PM] Pharolvir: "...I don't think you do understand." [11:33 PM] Pharolvir: "Or...not completely." [11:34 PM] Xho: Ulisse: No? [11:35 PM] Pharolvir: "Um...I am...thinking I might date Sunshine.  I do want to learn what living with her is like and if we are actually as good a couple as we seem." [11:35 PM] Pharolvir: "But...I was also hoping to date you...too.  As like...a thing." [11:36 PM] Pharolvir: "Drow culture does allow both for marriage to multiple partners and for married nobles to take...lovers." [11:36 PM] Pharolvir: "...these are usually privileges for women, not men but...well...surface world is different." [11:36 PM] Pharolvir: "But I only want to do it if everyone is open to it and we can all...like each other." [11:36 PM] Xho: Ulisse: ... oh. [11:37 PM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I did not see that coming, no. [11:37 PM] Pharolvir: "...I kind of didn't either.  Sunshine was the one who hit upon the idea." [11:38 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Does she know? [11:39 PM] Pharolvir: ((...I thought Sunshine was in here with us.)) [11:39 PM] Xho: She is. [11:40 PM] Pharolvir: ".....no...that's um....no." [11:42 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... know what? [11:43 PM] Pharolvir: "...that's for Ulisse to decide if you need to know." [11:47 PM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I have a lot of baggage. ... significant baggage. I'm not even sure where I would start. [11:47 PM] Pharolvir: "...I mean...we all kind of have baggage, don't we?" [11:49 PM] Xho: Ulisse: ... usually not the kind that becomes homicidal when thwarted, but. [11:49 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... is it an ex-lover, or... is it something I can help with? [11:51 PM] Xho: Ulisse eyes her curiously. She instinctively turns her bad side away a little bit. [11:52 PM] Xho: Ulisse: ... no, not really. Essentially, my family is... difficult to manage, and in my efforts to subvert their wishes I have trapped myself in a bizarre game of playacting that has made my actual life... also difficult to manage. [11:53 PM] Pharolvir: "..........................that's....kind of all of us too, isn't it?" [11:54 PM] Pharolvir: "Unless Sunshine's got a really happy relationship with her family...which judging by your sister...seems unlikely to me." [11:55 PM] Xho: Sunshine shakes her head. "Not really. ... do they know... no, it can't just be liking men. That seems normal here, yes?" [11:56 PM] Xho: Ulisse: Very normal. No, it has more to do with money. ... I'm a thief. I steal large quantities of money from my family and give it to people I feel deserve it more. And I really hope you're not going to divulge that to anyone. [11:59 PM] Xho: Sunshine: ... who do you think deserves it more? June 15, 2020 [12:02 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Frankly, practically anyone, but I specifically funnel most of it through various fronts and shell companies into a wide variety of generally small, local charities. Unwanted children primarily, but also one soup kitchen, a shelter for battered spouses and one animal shelter. ... I didn't really want to get into that one but they shoved a kitten at me. [12:03 AM] Pharolvir: "Oh!  That reminds me.  I may know of an orphanage that could use some more money to feed the children." [12:03 AM] Pharolvir: "It's where Qiva left the children we saved." [12:03 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Which one? [12:04 AM] Pharolvir: gives the name of it. Cause he remembers, even if his player does not. [12:05 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Ah, St. Cuthbert's. They're already on my list; I'll see what I can do. [12:05 AM] Pharolvir: hugs him [12:06 AM] Pharolvir: "You're such a good man." [12:08 AM] Xho: Ulisse smiles a little bit. "I'm not sure I'd go that far." [12:09 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I would. It seems like a worthy endeavor. How does that involve playacting? [12:10 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I steal it by pretending to use it on drugs and ahh, loose living, I suppose you might say. [12:11 AM] Xho: He turns his attention to Pharolvir for a moment. "... I had meant to ask you how you wanted me to handle... that." [12:11 AM] Pharolvir: "...handle what?" [12:13 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I gather people are already looking for me. And they are going to notice if I turn up completely sober, without three or four random people on my arms in one of the less savory bars in the city. [12:14 AM] Pharolvir: "...I see.  ...what if we covered you in alcohol and dumped you in an alley for you to be seen climbing out of?" [12:14 AM] Xho: Ulisse: That would work for one night. [12:14 AM] Pharolvir: "Could you fake a hangover from a three-day long bender?" [12:16 AM] Pharolvir: "...and then fake being on a bender for...ever?" [12:16 AM] Xho: Ulisse sighs. "No." [12:16 AM] Pharolvir: "...I am seeing the cracks in this plan." [12:17 AM] Pharolvir: "You've tried to go sober before.  What'd you do those times?"(edited) [12:17 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I came back when it didn't work and resumed my ... "normal" life. [12:18 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I thought you said you pretended to use it on drugs? [12:18 AM] Pharolvir: "...it was a really good performance." [12:19 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I was stupid enough to actually use absentia, thinking one time wouldn't do any harm. ... I was wrong, and up until three days ago I really was very, very dependent. [12:20 AM] Pharolvir: "Tython and I managed a chemical compound to help purge it from his system." [12:22 AM] Xho: Sunshine: That's very impressive. It isn't... popular, in the Underdark, but I have seen its effects. [12:23 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Best to avoid it, believe me. But that's beside the point at the moment. What should I do? [12:24 AM] Pharolvir: "...um...ok." [12:25 AM] Pharolvir: "We need a cover story that will explain your absence.  Allow you to be sober.  But also not ruin your cover story for the money being diverted towards your charities." [12:27 AM] Pharolvir: "...a fake kidnapping seems the most obvious solution to the first problem, but creates bigger issues going forward." [12:27 AM] Pharolvir: "Have you gotten any ideas in the downtime?" [12:29 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... no, but I would prefer something that doesn't involve me fucking two or three random people a night anymore. [12:30 AM] Pharolvir: "...........I have a really, REALLY bad idea." [12:31 AM] Xho: Sunshine is clearly a little surprised by what Ulisse just said, but doesn't interrupt. [12:31 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Oh? [12:31 AM] Pharolvir: "...what about pretending to fuck one person a night?" [12:31 AM] Pharolvir: "...what are marriage contract laws like on the surface world?" [12:32 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... contract laws? [12:32 AM] Pharolvir: "How many married partners is one person allowed?  And what is the hierarchy there?" [12:37 AM] Xho: Ulisse: A priest from Solitaire probably wouldn't have an upper limit, and that's legally binding here now. And there is no hierarchy. [12:38 AM] Pharolvir: "...so, if you married me, I could still marry Sunshine?" [12:38 AM] Xho: Ulisse: We'd.... have to all be married to each other for that to work. [12:39 AM] Pharolvir: "............I mean........." [12:39 AM] Pharolvir: "...that seems...doable?" [12:40 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I'm not sure you realize what you're getting into. [12:40 AM] Xho: Sunshine: He still hasn't seen... what I look like. [12:40 AM] Pharolvir: "This is admittedly much faster than I first wanted, but eloping could explain your disappearance, motivate your sobriety, and would be a potential cover for your money funneling." [12:41 AM] Xho: Ulisse: I don't care what you look like. [12:42 AM] Xho: She winces a little bit; Ulisse softens. "... what I mean is, generally speaking I'm more attracted to what's in people's heads rather than what said people look like. ... I'm a shapeshifter, it's all very superficial to me." [12:45 AM] Pharolvir: "...people up here seem to be generally less concerned with appearance." [12:46 AM] Xho: Ulisse: And that's how I can tell you haven't met my family yet. [12:47 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... your plan could work, but it would... have very long-term effects on both of your lives. Not all of them good ones. [12:47 AM] Pharolvir: "Hence why I said it was a bad idea." [12:47 AM] Pharolvir: "...but I'm also not having a lot of other ones." [12:48 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... are you a changeling, then? [12:49 AM] Pharolvir: "..................." [12:49 AM] Xho: Ulisse sighs and rubs his forehead. "No. No, I'm a demon. Half." [12:49 AM] Pharolvir: "...you remember how your diviner thought I was captured by demons?" [12:51 AM] Pharolvir: "...maybe you both need time to get to know each other.  ...and maybe I need some time to think." [12:51 AM] Xho: Sunshine: Oh. ... my family has some planar ancestry as well; it isn't that uncommon. [12:53 AM] Pharolvir: "...I think I am gonna retreat to my room.  You two...should talk.  I think you'll find more things in common." [12:53 AM] Pharolvir: ((Which is code for, I may go to bed and don't think I have more.)) [12:55 AM] Xho: ((Fair enough!)) [12:55 AM] Pharolvir: ((I'm sorry.)) [12:55 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... are they also sex demons? [12:55 AM] Xho: ((Nope, that's fine!)) [12:56 AM] Xho: Sunshine shakes her head. "... she was a lillend. I still have..." [12:57 AM] Xho: She pauses, and puts a hand into her hair, tugging at something, and then holds her hand out to show a little white bit of fluff. Ulisse peers at it. [12:57 AM] Pharolvir: smiles [12:57 AM] Pharolvir: will slip out and go to his room to plan. [12:57 AM] Xho: ((Sounds good!)) [12:59 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... these grow in your hair? [12:59 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I pluck them out every day. [12:59 AM] Xho: Ulisse: Why? [1:00 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... my hair would be full of feathers, otherwise. [1:01 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I must be missing the part where that would be a bad thing. [1:01 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I suppose no one would care, here. [1:06 AM] Xho: Ulisse: No. And Pharolvir certainly doesn't. [1:09 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... he really cares for you. You can see it on his face when he looks at you. [1:12 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I'm not so sure that's a good thing. [1:13 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... it's better than the alternative. [1:16 AM] Xho: Ulisse: For me. I'm not so sure it is for him. [1:16 AM] Xho: Sunshine: ... I might be able to help. With the money, I mean. [1:17 AM] Xho: Ulisse eyes her. "How so?" [1:18 AM] Xho: Sunshine: I was the only person alive after we took down the elder brain. ... everything they had belongs to me now. I invested it, but... there is income from that. [1:21 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... that would make us less dependent on my odious family. [1:22 AM] Xho: Sunshine nods. [1:22 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... and you'd be willing to just give it away? [1:23 AM] Xho: Sunshine: If Pharolvir doesn't mind. I can't easily travel anymore, and it's hard to... do a lot of things, now. I'd rather give it to someone who needs it than just... sit on it like a dragon. [1:24 AM] Xho: Ulisse: ... I can see why he likes you. And I think I am beginning to like you too.

Message #ulisse-and-pharol