Mummy Game 010

[9/16/2013 8:23:57 PM] Kate: March 1922. Luxor. [9/16/2013 8:25:23 PM] Kate: After the long trip south, Felix sought a bit of refuge from murders and past lives with the Countess in the posh Luxor hotel she's putting everyone up at. Of course, it didn't work, and instead he got to witness the horrible death of Ramses while somehow actually *being* Ramses. [9/16/2013 8:26:51 PM] Felix: ((Which was fun. [9/16/2013 8:27:15 PM] Kate: After that, supper seems a little bit anticlimactic, although the cooks here are French and the food is much better. Most people seem to be in a rather subdued mood, except for David, whose mood is very much "barely suppressed rage." He mutters under his breath a lot about curses, reporters and competing archaeologists who he feels are bent on horning in on his turf. [9/16/2013 8:28:28 PM | Edited 8:30:18 PM] Kate: Just after supper, his sister Celestine demands Felix bring her to some low, horrifically dangerous hotspot. [9/16/2013 8:30:26 PM] Kate: Celestine: I know you know where they all are. [9/16/2013 8:30:49 PM] Felix: Not *all* of them. I'm not sure what you expect to find at one of these places. [9/16/2013 8:31:19 PM] Felix: They're not exciting. They're not interesting. And the danger is of the very apathetic kind. [9/16/2013 8:31:35 PM] Kate: Celestine: All right, what *would* be interesting or exciting? [9/16/2013 8:33:53 PM] Felix: Felix thinks. "I'm not sure, Cel, I wasn't exactly here as a tourist last time. [9/16/2013 8:34:30 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well, what *were* you here as? [9/16/2013 8:34:47 PM] Kate: (("Ancient Egyptian war general.")) [9/16/2013 8:36:10 PM] Felix: Back when I was in the Legion.  There was a pretty nice cafe where we'd go to.  Not terribly exotic, though.  They did have some dancers, though, to capitlize on all the soldiers. [9/16/2013 8:36:59 PM] Kate: Countess: Were they *very* pretty? [9/16/2013 8:37:19 PM] Kate: Celestine: Dancers or... "dancers?" [9/16/2013 8:38:06 PM] Felix: Dancers.  I think they were the daughters of the guy who ran the place. [9/16/2013 8:39:09 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well, take us there, then. [9/16/2013 8:39:28 PM] Kate: Celestine: I like dens of iniquity, all the most interesting people go to them. [9/16/2013 8:41:49 PM] Kate: Countess: If we are going sightseeing... [9/16/2013 8:41:59 PM] Kate: Celestine: If Felix will *take* us. [9/16/2013 8:42:34 PM] Felix: All right, all right. [9/16/2013 8:43:46 PM] Kate: Celestine grins. "You're such a soft touch." [9/16/2013 8:43:51 PM] Kate: Countess: *Is* he? [9/16/2013 8:43:59 PM] Kate: Celestine: When you know how to get around him. [9/16/2013 8:46:14 PM] Felix: Felix grins. "I'm not dad, Cel.  You dont' really *need* to get around me.  And I know if I don't take you somewhere, you'll wander off on your own." [9/16/2013 8:47:24 PM] Kate: Celestine: You know me *so* well. [9/16/2013 8:48:18 PM] Kate: Countess: And how *do* you... "get around him?" [9/16/2013 8:48:49 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well, persistence is key. [9/16/2013 8:49:02 PM] Felix: Also not acting like I'm not in the room helps. [9/16/2013 8:50:16 PM] Kate: Countess: Felix, how do I get around you? [9/16/2013 8:50:42 PM] Felix: The question is why would you want to? Am I that overbearing? [9/16/2013 8:50:58 PM] Kate: Celestine: For the *fun* of it, obviously. It's just a game. [9/16/2013 8:51:18 PM] Kate: Countess: One must be careful not to make people one's pieces, yes? [9/16/2013 8:51:56 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh, Felix would *never* be just a piece. That would be so boring. [9/16/2013 8:54:30 PM] Felix: Felix shakes his head. [9/16/2013 8:55:05 PM] Felix: It's not always a game when you play with people, Cel. You think poor whatshisname you went to Cairo with thought it was a game? [9/16/2013 8:56:22 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well he *should* have. [9/16/2013 8:57:06 PM] Kate: Celestine: I never lead men on, Felix, they always jump to their own conclusions *quite* on their own. [9/16/2013 8:58:11 PM] Felix: Mm. Just stop treating me like dad, okay? [9/16/2013 8:58:46 PM] Kate: Celestine: I'm not. If I were treating you like dad I wouldn't've asked in the first place. [9/16/2013 8:58:49 PM] Kate: She glowers at him. [9/16/2013 8:59:49 PM] Felix: If you want something, just *ask* me. Don't *play* with me. I'm quite tired of being played with. [9/16/2013 9:01:22 PM] Kate: Celestine whips around and gives the Countess a very *hard* look. "So *that's* what this is about. Well you could have just said three was a crowd, Felix, you didn't have to be so damned catty about it." [9/16/2013 9:01:34 PM] Kate: She drops her cigarette, grinds into the dirt and stomps off. [9/16/2013 9:01:58 PM] Felix: ... wait, did we skip a few lines ahead? Cel, come back here. [9/16/2013 9:04:01 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh no, I'm done! I'll just stay in my damn room like a harem girl slave, would that be better? Go and do whatever it is you want. Ass. [9/16/2013 9:07:06 PM] Felix: Come *on*, Cel. If I didn't want you around, I'd just *tell* you. I don't play 'catty', you know that. It's just been a rough trip. I had a dream where I got stabbed in the chest and died last night. I'm cranky. [9/16/2013 9:07:52 PM] Kate: Celestine: *How* would I know that? I haven't seen you for years, you just *left.* [9/16/2013 9:08:08 PM] Kate: Celestine: And then you never came back, not once, not even for Christmas. [9/16/2013 9:10:29 PM] Felix: ... dad told me not to come back. He said that you guys blamed me for mom dying. Did you ever get any of my letters? Or gifts? I sent you a bracelet just a few months ago for your birthday. [9/16/2013 9:10:49 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... *What*? [9/16/2013 9:11:48 PM] Kate: She stares. [9/16/2013 9:15:58 PM] Felix: Mom got sick and died. while I was away at war. After I lost the eye, I sent home a letter. Dad said that 'maybe I shouldn't come home for the holidays' and insinuated that it was because you guys were mad at me. I believed him like an idiot, because I blamed myself anyway. [9/16/2013 9:17:05 PM] Kate: Celestine bursts into tears. This is where Felix, as her brother, has an advantage: Celestine almost never cries when she's upset. She does cry when she's angry--there's a family joke about her "boiling over." [9/16/2013 9:18:53 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... that no-good, lousy, lying *weasel.* That heartless, low, conniving, son of a bitch! I'm going to *kill* him! I'm going to fly back tomorrow, no, TONIGHT, and I'm going to punch him right in the damned face! Oh, he thinks I'm unladylike now, does he, wait 'til I give him a black eye to match his BLOODY BLACK HEART! [9/16/2013 9:19:08 PM] Kate: Even the Countess takes a very small step back. [9/16/2013 9:23:41 PM] Kate: ((SHE HULK SMASH!!!)) [9/16/2013 9:23:42 PM] Felix: ... I let him convince me not to come home. You might as well give me a shiner, too. But do this one. [9/16/2013 9:23:50 PM] Felix: Felix points to the eyepatch. [9/16/2013 9:24:05 PM] Kate: Celestine: You unmitigated ASS. [9/16/2013 9:24:36 PM] Kate: She hugs him tight. It's actually pretty bone-crushing, considering she's not a very large woman, but she leads a very active lifestyle. [9/16/2013 9:26:30 PM] Felix: He hugs her back. [9/16/2013 9:27:37 PM] Felix: ((For what it's worth, the way I see it, their dad *did* blame Felix on an irrational and assumed the rest of the family would too, so told him to stay away 'for everyone's good'.)) [9/16/2013 9:27:48 PM] Kate: ((Yeah, that sounds about right.)) [9/16/2013 9:28:33 PM] Felix: ((Trying not to pain their dad as cartoonishly fiendish or anything.)) [9/16/2013 9:29:50 PM] Kate: ((Nope, that *does* sound about right. He's kind of an ass, but he's not evil.)) [9/16/2013 9:30:26 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... I have to tell you something later, Felix, but not right now, all right? [9/16/2013 9:31:18 PM] Felix: All right. C'mon. Let's go to that cafe. [9/16/2013 9:31:25 PM] Felix: Felix puts his arms out for both ladies! [9/16/2013 9:33:09 PM] Kate: Celestine gives him another hug and then makes room for the Countess, who seems somehow much smaller than Felix's sister for a moment. Although Felix has more or less instantly become the envy of every man within view, who do not know the prettier girl is his sister. [9/16/2013 9:36:34 PM] Felix: ((Indeed!)) [9/16/2013 9:37:17 PM] Kate: The three of you head out to a horrible dive! It's surprisingly nonhorrible, much cleaner than one would have expected, and a bit swankier. The dancers are still there, and they are actually dancers, having learned a variety of dances from around the region. [9/16/2013 9:37:56 PM] Kate: There's liquor for the Christians and tea or coffee for the observant Muslims, and there's even some food. [9/16/2013 9:38:24 PM] Kate: The Countess is mostly quiet and drinks very little and eats even less. [9/16/2013 9:38:47 PM] Kate: Celestine, on the other hand, seems to have the soul of a bar brawler trapped in the body of a beautiful young woman. [9/16/2013 9:40:34 PM] Kate: Despite not knowing the local language and having only a vague grasp on what anybody's saying, she comes very close to starting at least three fights over the course of the evening. [9/16/2013 9:40:54 PM] Kate: Not, mind you, as the *object* of the fight, but as a direct participant. [9/16/2013 9:41:51 PM] Kate: ((BRB a moment.)) [9/16/2013 9:41:57 PM] Felix: ((okay!)) [9/16/2013 9:43:30 PM] Felix: Felix sits and watches Celestine almost pick fights, ready to jump in if one actually starts up. He also tries to draw Yelena out a bit. [9/16/2013 9:47:31 PM] Kate: She responds to questions but seems to be thinking about something. [9/16/2013 9:48:24 PM] Kate: Eventually, the group decides to head back to the hotel, but after walking at least a mile, Felix realises that the group is thoroughly lost. [9/16/2013 9:49:03 PM] Felix: Felix looks around for a familiar landmark. [9/16/2013 9:51:03 PM] Kate: There's a lot of dust in the air for some reason; it makes it even harder to get one's bearings. [9/16/2013 9:51:36 PM] Kate: Then Felix almost runs into a massive pillar, carved with hieroglyphics. [9/16/2013 9:52:09 PM] Felix: Felix stops, looking for the others! "Is it just me or is it abnormally dusty here?" [9/16/2013 9:52:40 PM] Kate: They seem to have disappeared! [9/16/2013 9:53:36 PM] Kate: Then the rest of the area comes into focus, suddenly, as if in a dream--row after row of carved pillars, all with writing and carvings, elaborate friezes and panoramic art. [9/16/2013 9:54:04 PM] Kate: Felix knows what it means. [9/16/2013 9:54:26 PM] Felix: Felix reads them! [9/16/2013 9:55:02 PM] Kate: He also knows exactly where he is--the Precinct of Amun-Re, one of the four temple areas of Karnak. [9/16/2013 9:56:28 PM] Kate: And he remembers the place quite well, having often come there to worship. Though not particularly pious himself, it was what people did, so he did it. [9/16/2013 9:57:18 PM] Kate: Rows of sphinxes, massive pylons, obelisks with writing all the way to the top. [9/16/2013 9:57:37 PM] Kate: The White Chapel of Senwseret I, the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut. [9/16/2013 9:58:52 PM] Felix: Felix frowns. "Okay, Cray, keep it together." [9/16/2013 9:59:00 PM] Kate: There's even a picture of Felix somewhere, he knows, smiting his enemies and shown as a god, like all members of the royal line. [9/16/2013 10:00:07 PM] Kate: For a moment time seems to stand still, and Felix is buffeted by crowds--old people, young people, men, women, smelling of perfume and goats and furs and human waste... [9/16/2013 10:00:31 PM] Kate: Then the crowds are gone and he's in a dusty corridor of pillar next to Celestine. [9/16/2013 10:00:35 PM] Kate: Celestine: Keep what together? [9/16/2013 10:01:19 PM] Felix: Felix puts his hand on his head. "I might be going crazy, Cel." [9/16/2013 10:02:03 PM] Kate: Celestine: What's wrong? [9/16/2013 10:04:39 PM] Felix: I keep seeing things. [9/16/2013 10:04:48 PM] Felix: Felix puts his hand on one of the pillars! [9/16/2013 10:05:00 PM] Felix: I know what these glyphs say. [9/16/2013 10:06:31 PM] Kate: Celestine: What do they say? [9/16/2013 10:07:15 PM] Felix: Felix reads the closest one! [9/16/2013 10:08:15 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... well, that's pretty impressive. Have you been taking lessons from Ariadne on the sly? Because I *know* Yelena doesn't speak Egyptian. Or... read it, or whatever. [9/16/2013 10:09:39 PM] Felix: No. I just had a vision... or something. I saw this place when it was new. [9/16/2013 10:10:58 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... Felix, you didn't *have* anything to drink. [9/16/2013 10:11:32 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... she's not giving you pills, is she? [9/16/2013 10:12:03 PM] Felix: Of course not. [9/16/2013 10:12:18 PM] Felix: I can read *hieroglyphs*. [9/16/2013 10:13:08 PM] Kate: Celestine: Or you *think* you can. [9/16/2013 10:13:21 PM] Kate: Celestine: Do you know, really? I mean, have you asked David or Paul? [9/16/2013 10:14:07 PM] Felix: David would just as soon deck me as soon as I suggested anything remotely supernatural. ... I'll ask Ariadne. [9/16/2013 10:14:17 PM] Felix: Felix takes a rubbing of one of the pillars! [9/16/2013 10:14:51 PM] Kate: Celestine: Ari would know. ... wait, where did the Countess go? [9/16/2013 10:14:58 PM] Kate: Felix takes the rubbing! [9/16/2013 10:15:21 PM] Felix: Felix looks around! "Yelena!" [9/16/2013 10:16:04 PM] Kate: There's no answer, and the dust is rising up again. [9/16/2013 10:16:24 PM] Kate: Roll a D10! [9/16/2013 10:17:03 PM] Felix: ((7!)) [9/16/2013 10:18:10 PM] Kate: He hears a sound a little like a whimper off to his right. Celestine has already drawn her knife. [9/16/2013 10:20:08 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... how long has she been missing? [9/16/2013 10:21:09 PM] Felix: I don't know. [9/16/2013 10:21:17 PM] Felix: Felix goes over to the whimpering noise. [9/16/2013 10:23:29 PM] Kate: He weaves among a series of massive pillars, and finds a body, lying on the ground, blood everywhere, a sharpened stone still sticking out of the chest. [9/16/2013 10:24:31 PM] Felix: Celestine! [9/16/2013 10:24:40 PM] Felix: ((Who is it?)) [9/16/2013 10:25:04 PM] Kate: It's a woman. [9/16/2013 10:25:34 PM] Kate: It's Taia! But then it isn't--it's an Egyptian woman of about the same age with a passing resemblance. [9/16/2013 10:25:39 PM] Kate: And she's quite dead. [9/16/2013 10:25:55 PM] Kate: Celestine, directly behind Felix: I'm right -- oh God. What *happened.* [9/16/2013 10:26:42 PM] Felix: I don't know. We need to find Yelena. [9/16/2013 10:26:51 PM] Felix: Felix checks, is there anything in her mouth? [9/16/2013 10:27:07 PM] Kate: There is. [9/16/2013 10:27:35 PM] Kate: This time there's no Anubis symbol, just a single hieroglyph: [9/16/2013 10:27:41 PM] Kate: Sheut, the shadow. [9/16/2013 10:31:23 PM] Felix: ((Done in blood?)) [9/16/2013 10:31:55 PM | Edited 10:32:59 PM] Kate: Yes. [9/16/2013 10:33:08 PM] Kate: Celestine whispers, "Do you hear that?" [9/16/2013 10:33:14 PM] Felix: Felix listens. [9/16/2013 10:33:29 PM] Kate: You can hear somebody up ahead wheezing a bit. [9/16/2013 10:33:44 PM] Felix: Felix moves in that direction. [9/16/2013 10:37:45 PM] Kate: He finds the Countess, standing on top of a sphinx with bare feet and bloody hands, staring into nothing. She takes a step forward and she's standing on top of it. The drop is only about 25 feet, but she'd probably break something if she fell. [9/16/2013 10:38:48 PM] Felix: Yelena! Wake up! [9/16/2013 10:38:55 PM] Felix: Felix rushes forward. [9/16/2013 10:39:11 PM] Kate: You can do that. You can probably climb up there yourself, if you want. [9/16/2013 10:39:29 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... her hands are full of blood. Felix, be careful, she's killed two people. [9/16/2013 10:40:38 PM] Felix: Felix will climb up. [9/16/2013 10:41:55 PM] Kate: Roll a D10! [9/16/2013 10:42:04 PM] Felix: ((Oh dear. 1.)) [9/16/2013 10:43:45 PM] Kate: Oh dear indeed. [9/16/2013 10:44:09 PM] Kate: Felix slips down and hits his nose on the sphinx, instantly transforming it into a fountain of blood. [9/16/2013 10:44:16 PM] Kate: The Countess doesn't seem to notice. [9/16/2013 10:45:39 PM] Felix: Felix tries to climb again! [9/16/2013 10:46:32 PM] Kate: Roll again! [9/16/2013 10:47:56 PM] Felix: ((6! Better.)) [9/16/2013 10:49:13 PM] Kate: He scrambles to the top of the sphinx, and the countess is now on the very edge of the statue, several steps away! [9/16/2013 10:49:26 PM] Kate: If he makes a false move, he'll startle her off or just plain *push* her off. [9/16/2013 10:49:35 PM] Felix: Yelena? [9/16/2013 10:51:20 PM] Kate: No answer. She doesn't seem to hear. [9/16/2013 10:51:38 PM] Felix: ...Taia? [9/16/2013 10:53:20 PM] Kate: She turns around, but somehow loses her footing, slipping to one knee. [9/16/2013 10:53:33 PM] Kate: She grabs the sphinx, but her hands are still damp. [9/16/2013 10:54:15 PM] Felix: Felix dives for her! Tries to catch her by the wrist at least. [9/16/2013 10:54:54 PM] Kate: He grabs her by the upper arm, hard; she doesn't make a sound. [9/16/2013 10:57:05 PM] Felix: He tries to pull her up. [9/16/2013 10:58:02 PM] Kate: Roll a D10! [9/16/2013 10:58:18 PM] Felix: ((8! That's more like it.)) [9/16/2013 10:58:48 PM] Kate: He manages pretty easily, without dislocating her shoulder or dropping her, or falling himself. [9/16/2013 10:59:04 PM] Kate: Celestine, now from below the statue. "Felix! What's going on?!" [9/16/2013 11:00:37 PM] Felix: I've got her. I need you to help me get her down. [9/16/2013 11:01:00 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh, good. [9/16/2013 11:01:21 PM] Kate: He can hear her running back up around and up the steps, and then her voice comes from beside the sphinx. "I'm right here." [9/16/2013 11:03:17 PM] Felix: okay. Grab onto her legs. [9/16/2013 11:03:58 PM] Kate: Celestine does. "Got her. Yelena? Yelena, are you all right?" [9/16/2013 11:04:18 PM] Kate: She's shivering, and white-pale, eyes wide. [9/16/2013 11:04:38 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh god, Felix, you're full of blood now too! What the hell happened? [9/16/2013 11:05:08 PM] Felix: I slipped, fell face first into the statue. [9/16/2013 11:06:13 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh, all right. [9/16/2013 11:06:37 PM] Kate: Between the two Cray siblings, they manage to get Yelena down the side of the statue. [9/16/2013 11:06:48 PM] Kate: She promptly collapses in Celestine's arms. [9/16/2013 11:07:57 PM] Kate: Celestine manages to keep her from falling to the ground, but grunts under the sudden weight. "... don't tell her I said so but she's a lot heavier than she looks, Felix. Maybe it's the weight of all the murders. Do murders make you fat, or just heavy?" [9/16/2013 11:08:27 PM] Felix: It's not her fault. There's something going on. [9/16/2013 11:09:03 PM] Felix: She's not acting under her own free will here. [9/16/2013 11:09:37 PM] Kate: Celestine: Yeah, I introduced you to a crazy woman, that's what's going on, Felix. [9/16/2013 11:10:25 PM] Felix: If she's crazy, so am I. [9/16/2013 11:12:22 PM] Kate: Celestine: Felix, you're too smart to be in love with her, so let's just go bring her to the police. They'll sort it all out. I'm sure if she's crazy they'll just put her away somewhere nice and quiet. [9/16/2013 11:13:06 PM] Felix: I'm not making excuses for her. I think there *is* a curse here. [9/16/2013 11:15:58 PM] Kate: Celestine: Oh, Felix, come *on.* [9/16/2013 11:18:40 PM] Kate: She hands Felix Yelena, finding her far too heavy to maneuver with. [9/16/2013 11:20:24 PM] Felix: ... I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy enough to cover for a murderess. And I"m not crazy enough  to make this stuff up. [9/16/2013 11:21:23 PM] Kate: Celestine: She's not even that good-looking! [9/16/2013 11:21:45 PM | Edited 11:21:57 PM] Kate: The Countess is trembling again, and seems oddly cold. [9/16/2013 11:22:34 PM] Felix: I'm not lying, I"m not covering for her. [9/16/2013 11:24:30 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well what do you want to do, then? [9/16/2013 11:24:43 PM] Kate: Celestine: She's killed two people! People she didn't even know! [9/16/2013 11:28:55 PM] Felix: I keep having these dreams and visions. Where I'm this Egyptian prince named Rameses. He was killed with a dagger to the chest. These aren't just dreams. they're so real. [9/16/2013 11:29:14 PM] Kate: Celestine: Felix, that's her telling you you're *next!* [9/16/2013 11:29:31 PM] Felix: By sending me dreams? [9/16/2013 11:31:33 PM] Kate: Celestine: Well you *have* noticed two people have been *stabbed to death*, right? [9/16/2013 11:31:46 PM] Kate: The Countess seems to be getting colder in Felix's arms. [9/16/2013 11:32:24 PM] Felix: Felix sets her down and tries slapping her face, it worked before. [9/16/2013 11:33:33 PM] Kate: She twitches, blinks, and stares at him. "... Felix?" [9/16/2013 11:35:08 PM] Felix: Yeah, it's me. What's the last thing you remember? [9/16/2013 11:35:49 PM] Kate: She answers in Russian. [9/16/2013 11:36:02 PM] Kate: Then blinks and tries again. "... we were walking back to the hotel." [9/16/2013 11:38:02 PM] Felix: That's all? You don't remember climbing to the top of a statue? [9/16/2013 11:38:33 PM] Kate: She sits up. "... what statue?" There are a dozen in a row. [9/16/2013 11:38:52 PM] Felix: He points. [9/16/2013 11:40:50 PM] Kate: Countess: No, I don't remember. [9/16/2013 11:41:01 PM] Kate: Celestine: ... Felix... [9/16/2013 11:45:36 PM] Felix: ... it happened again, Yelena. You wandered off. And we found another body. [9/16/2013 11:47:32 PM] Kate: Countess: ... fuck. [9/16/2013 11:47:52 PM] Kate: Countess: ... we are going to have to chain me up or something. [9/16/2013 11:49:05 PM] Kate: Celestine: Can we at least get back to the hotel? [9/16/2013 11:49:39 PM] Felix: Felix nods. "Yeah, let's go.  We'll... have to figure something out.  Can you keep this under your hat, Cel?" [9/16/2013 11:50:36 PM] Kate: Celestine: Give me *one* good reason I should! [9/16/2013 11:52:36 PM] Felix: I'm asking you to give me the benefit of the doubt here. What's more likely. That there's a supernatural curse at work? Or that I'm nuts? And defending someone nuts? [9/16/2013 11:53:14 PM] Kate: Celestine: Fine, but she'd better not kill you, Felix. [9/16/2013 11:53:25 PM] Kate: Countess: I could not do that. [9/16/2013 11:55:56 PM] Felix: We need to figure out how to stop this. [9/16/2013 11:57:15 PM] Kate: Celestine: Fine, fine, but back *there*, not *here*. [9/16/2013 11:57:42 PM] Felix: Let's go. [9/16/2013 11:57:53 PM] Felix: Felix pulls out a hankerchief to sop up some of the blood on his face. [9/16/2013 11:58:32 PM] Kate: It works. It's fairly obvious he's had a bloody nose, though--which gives the Countess an excuse for having blood all over her dress. [9/17/2013 12:02:07 AM] Kate: ((*poke?*)) [9/17/2013 12:02:26 AM] Felix: ((Sorry! Cleaning up after Wennie. Hairball.)) [9/17/2013 12:02:47 AM] Felix: Felix helps Yelena make their way back to the hotel, then. [9/17/2013 12:03:26 AM] Kate: It causes a little bit of a stir when you come in all over blood, but they see the nose rather quickly, and by then the Countess is walking under her own power, though she never did find her shoes. [9/17/2013 12:04:09 AM] Kate: Eventually you make it to your own room, outside of which Celestine gives you a meaningful Look, and then leaves. You're left with the Murderess. [9/17/2013 12:05:29 AM] Felix: Felix gives Celestine a nod. [9/17/2013 12:05:35 AM] Felix: Felix then rubs his eyes. [9/17/2013 12:06:15 AM] Kate: The Countess undresses immediately and gets into the shower, shivering again as she does. [9/17/2013 12:08:48 AM] Kate: She comes out pretty quickly, shivering, with goosebumps everywhere. [9/17/2013 12:09:17 AM] Felix: Felix is sitting on her bed, head in his hands. [9/17/2013 12:10:51 AM] Kate: She goes straight to him and hugs him. It's a little bit damp. "It was not you, Felix. It was me. I did it. I can turn  myself in tomorrow." [9/17/2013 12:11:59 AM] Felix: It wasn't even you. It was Taia. That's the name you responded to when you were on top of the statue. I'm just not used to having a problem that I couldn't deal with. It woudl help if we had some idea of what we could do to stop this. [9/17/2013 12:12:46 AM] Kate: Countess: If I turn myself in, it will stop. [9/17/2013 12:13:16 AM] Felix: No, it won't. We'll keep having these visions. [9/17/2013 12:13:36 AM] Kate: Countess: But I won't hurt anyone else. [9/17/2013 12:17:00 AM] Felix: But it's not your fault. [9/17/2013 12:17:38 AM] Kate: Countess: Does it matter? What would I do if I killed your sister? You? [9/17/2013 12:18:21 AM] Felix: If you turn yourself in, they won't let you out. [9/17/2013 12:19:24 AM] Felix: ... it's your decision, Yelena. [9/17/2013 12:19:46 AM] Kate: Countess: And everyone would be safe. You would be safe. [9/17/2013 12:19:53 AM] Kate: She kisses him. [9/17/2013 12:21:20 AM] Felix: Felix kisses her back. [9/17/2013 12:21:27 AM] Kate: Roll a D10! [9/17/2013 12:21:36 AM] Felix: ((3.)) [9/17/2013 12:22:38 AM] Kate: Suddenly Felix is kissing someone else--but he's still in the hotel room with Yelena. [9/17/2013 12:23:38 AM] Felix: Felix blinks and looks at whoever he's kissing now. [9/17/2013 12:24:57 AM] Kate: It's still the Countess. She blinks. "... are you all right?" [9/17/2013 12:25:55 AM] Felix: Did you feel that? That... displacement? [9/17/2013 12:27:34 AM] Kate: She shakes her head. "No." [9/17/2013 12:28:05 AM] Felix: It was like I was kissing someone else for a moment. [9/17/2013 12:30:33 AM] Kate: Countess: Try it again. [9/17/2013 12:31:13 AM] Felix: Felix does! [9/17/2013 12:31:24 AM] Kate: Roll a D10! [9/17/2013 12:31:42 AM] Felix: (music) [9/17/2013 12:31:45 AM] Felix: (( 8 )) [9/17/2013 12:34:10 AM | Edited 12:34:20 AM] Kate: Felix notices her eyes go grey just before she closes them, and then realizes the reason he feels like he's kissing someone else isn't that he's gone anywhere or having a vision, but that she's doing it in an entirely different way--the total involvement, the way Taia *has* kissed Ramses in Felix's visions. [9/17/2013 12:34:51 AM] Felix: ((Her eyes are normally blue?__ [9/17/2013 12:34:58 AM] Kate: Ice blue, yep.)) [9/17/2013 12:35:41 AM] Felix: Do you... feel any different? [9/17/2013 12:36:18 AM] Kate: Countess: ... I've just killed someone for no apparent reason. Of course. [9/17/2013 12:36:41 AM] Kate: She sits down beside him. [9/17/2013 12:37:08 AM] Felix: ((Are her eyes blue again?)) [9/17/2013 12:37:12 AM] Kate: Yes. [9/17/2013 12:41:52 AM] Felix: ... I mean, beyond that. [9/17/2013 12:42:58 AM] Kate: She thinks about the question. [9/17/2013 12:43:27 AM] Kate: Countess: I feel as if I am standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall. [9/17/2013 12:44:22 AM] Felix: This woman... Taia. The one that loved Ramses. I think she's trying to bring them both back through us. [9/17/2013 12:45:24 AM] Kate: Countess: Then what will happen to us? [9/17/2013 12:45:36 AM] Felix: I don't know. [9/17/2013 12:46:52 AM] Felix: But when you kissed me... it felt like it was *her* kissing me. And it wasn't a vision or anything. And I swear I thought I saw your eyes turn grey. [9/17/2013 12:48:30 AM] Kate: Countess: ... what should we do? [9/17/2013 12:49:08 AM] Felix: I don't know. I don't know how to stop it. [9/17/2013 12:50:43 AM] Kate: Countess: ... this is my responsibility. [9/17/2013 12:53:17 AM] Felix: ...what will you do, then? [9/17/2013 12:53:59 AM] Kate: Countess: I'll turn myself in tomorrow morning. [9/17/2013 12:54:40 AM] Felix: All right. [9/17/2013 12:55:28 AM] Kate: Countess: I have murdered people before. When I chose, how I chose, *who* I chose. [9/17/2013 1:00:52 AM] Felix: Felix nods. "It's your choice.  I wont' stop you from turning yourself in if you feel you should." [9/17/2013 1:02:23 AM] Kate: Countess: You'll be safe. [9/17/2013 1:04:41 AM] Kate: Countess: I could not save you last time; this time will be different. [9/17/2013 1:05:10 AM] Felix: .... if it is Taia driving you to do these things... I think I'm safer than most people. [9/17/2013 1:08:46 AM] Kate: Countess: She would die for him. [9/17/2013 1:09:21 AM] Felix: ... they seemed very commited to each other.