Revenant Bound - Chapter 2: Introductions

Chapter 2: Introductions

Aboard the Revenant

Vasedra
The transport pad solidifies around them, the world of the vessel slowly resolving out of a field of light and fel-glowing green.

As dark as the Revenant's exterior is, the interior is equally bright. The walls are made of some substance the color of ivory that is inlaid with a bright silver metal at joints and high up near the ceiling, forming traceries along the surface like veins or circuitry. The room is bulbous, shy of rectangular and devoid of right angles, organic, with a high archway over the open door and two floor-to-ceiling ribs along two extremes of the space that look as much like sinew as structure.

Off to their right, a control panel sprouts from the floor, equally white and formed as if by stretching taffy and molding a flat, crescent-curved surface into its top. A conduit of clear fibers lit within by fel-green energy runs along its pedestal from floor to panel, the bundle alive with pulses, crackles and sparks all safely contained within. A colorful assortment of gems of all shapes and sizes populate the panel at its terminus, their vibrant tones a distinct contrast to the muted colors of the six-armed shivarra demoness who mans them.

Raeisley
The paramour blinks but not from surprise, she seems stubbornly content to keep her act of indifference and dispassionate observation. With each shutter if the lids her iris changes color, a magical filter akin to spectral sight ten times she blinks and each color assumes to the hue of the particular magic being sought. Caressing the ships form with her eyes she says a single word.

"Irony."

Araatris
Ary takes the few steps forward to start examining the panel. "Sed, may I?" She glances over her shoulder. Almost absentmindedly,  she asks the shivarra, "What is your name?"

Vasedra
The void knight grins slightly and makes a 'go ahead' gesture to Ary. At her question, the tall demoness looks down at the human and then over at Vasedra. The captain's nod is almost imperceptible.

"I am Shirraz," the woman says in a surprisingly gentle voice that echoes slightly, mysteriously. She folds one pair of toned ruddy-skinned arms under her ample bosoms as another brushes a few crystals in the console to finish powering down the transport ring.

She doesn't wear the tall headdress so common for her kind, instead revealing long, dark, wine-red hair that is loose but dotted with black-streaked war braids and demure, pointed ears pierced with winking, disturbing gems.

Her 'uniform', if it can be called that, is a tight, revealing leather cuirass with a perilously deep neckline and blackened metal accents over deep crimson to match her hair. Her sleek, muscular belly is thoroughly revealed by the short top and the low-slung glorified loincloth 'skirt' that dangles in folds of soft leather layered with cloth from a decorative metal-link belt.

Shirraz wears no pauldrons or weapons, but her copious amounts of exposed skin bear scrolling, graceful stygian tattoos that are familiar to Ary, and her eyes are a depthless, impenetrable black.

Sedra speaks up. "Shirraz is the Revenant's navigator and second-in-command."

The shivarra nods simply.

Raeisley
"Shivarra, state what is the Legions greatest strength and your master." Raeisley states the command harsh and completely devoid of her usual sultry comforts. advancing on the demons position she blinks once more her eyes return to the frozen pond frost eyes she looks up at the demon.

Araatris
Sighing, Ary adopts a patient look as she gazes at the panel. Her shadows creep lightly over the buttons. She leans down to explore the cords. "Raeisley, is an interrogation now part of the tour?"

Vasedra
Siding with Ary, Sedra steps up near the panel and faces Raeisley, resting a fist on her hip by the shadow-wreathed blade there, but as she opens her mouth to speak, the demoness holds up one of her hands. The void knight presses her lips into a tight line revealed by the fel-green glow of the conduit before she grudgingly nods her permission to her crewmember.

Shirraz addresses Raeisley as she steps away from the console toward her, giving Ary room to explore and lording her significant height over the smaller eredar.

"The Legion's greatest strength was the devotion at its core, but that was lost eternities ago, diluted by infinite numbers and armies conscripted instead of won." Her black glance goes to Vasedra, and though there isn't censure there, there is a complicated meaning in the silent look that passes between them before Shirraz focuses back on the Paramor.

"As for my master," she gestures with one hand of many toward Vasedra. "I am loyal to my captain, the Bloodbinder's Desire."

Sedra winces and sighs softly, but the look that Shirraz gives her is rather transparently warm and is returned with a less certain warmth.

Raeisley
Raeisley warms giving a small nod. "At least you are only a watch dog rather than also being a failure of your species. Thank you." Twirling back to her original position on the platform. "Final inquiry. If the Bloodbinder shall place a order to the Revenant's captain and they refuse, what is your next action."

Araatris
"Well, I can't argue that particular question. However, I would assume that this Bloodbinder would outrank Sedra." Ary avoids the name provided by the shivarra. "I am curious as to your answer, Shirraz." The young woman smiles politely even as she examines the panel in front of her intently. She makes a pleased sound as her fingers brush the edges.

Vasedra
Shirraz looks from Raeisley to Ary and back, her brow raised. To the human, she says, "You have odd ideas, lovely little thing. As it must be, my loyalty is to my master. As it must be, hers is to hers. One can never serve two masters."

The shivarra's attention pins Sedra even as she addresses Raeisley directly. "If the Bloodbinder should place an order to my captain that she refused, I would council her toward more wisdom and less foolishness and sought-after suffering. But I would follow her orders, as that is my place."

The rather amiable demoness' hollow voice takes on a very lightly warning edge as she continues to hold her captain's gaze. Sedra, for her part, says nothing.

Raeisley
"An acceptable if not expected answer. Is it a tour then dinner or dinner and the tour?" She looks away from the demon waving a dismissive tendril. "I wonder how the cannoneers will reply... hmm."

Araatris
Ary glances at Shirraz, "Very human ideas, I suppose. And Raeisley, I think I'd prefer to have the tour first myself. Are you that hungry?" Her glance only briefly goes to the other draenei. "Shirraz, this really is an excellent set up. So, is each system on its own power crystal? What about redundancies?"

Vasedra
The tall shivarra raises an amused brow at Ary, her bowstring lips curling up. "The answer to your questions is complicated. Perhaps we will have to sit down after your tour in a more intimate situation and discuss it at length."

Sedra presses her lips together and warns vaguely, "Shirraz..."

The demoness' smile widens as her black gaze goes to the eredar, and her expression turns knowing. "There's no need for jealousy, Desire. We can make room for you in the access vein as well, I'm sure. It may be tight... and ho-"

"Shirraz," the eredar bites, interrupting her, "make sure we're on course for the Cleaver, please. You may go."

Her navigator smiles and bows, folding three of six arms across her stomach. "As you order, captain." Still, her chuckle trails her out the door.

Vasedra pinches the bridge of her nose and looks from Ary to Raeisley. "Just...ignore the innuendo. It's endless. Let's move on with the tour. Provided your snack has tided you over, Raeisley?"

Raeisley
The Paramour doesn't immediately respond, instead looking around the white room. Daydreaming perhaps or plotting. "Were heading to the warship then?" Her tail sweeps low, a tendrils raised to her lower lip.

"So much for me needing to behave. Why are we going there, Thrall?"

Araatris
The lone human glances at the terminal once more then sighs, stepping away. "Easily ignored. I'm not interested in playing with your crew. We can move on as you wish."

Vasedra
"Next time you call me a thrall, Raeisley, I will ignore you." Sedra's frown is barely lit enough to see.

"We're going to the Cleaver because it's a better idea than hanging above the shore outside Bradensbrook and hoping no Gilneans notice us. The Revenant is already upset at having to submerge in the cove for so long."

The void knight beckons them after her as she turns away and leads the way through the door and into a hall of similar construction. "You aren't guaranteed to disembark, there. Maybe none of us will."

The eredar doesn't give them a chance to respond, stopping in front of a closed portal that looks more like scissored panels of bone than a more familiar door. She doesn't do anything in particular that's obvious, but at her gesture, the two panels slide apart, revealing a spacious room beyond with three liquid-filled tanks ringed by equipment in the same style as the transport controls and one smooth, ivory table. Shelves and cabinets line the walls, packed with bandages and vials of chemicals, potions, and other medical paraphernalia and nestled amongst a few apparatuses of obscure function.

What can only be described as an appendage of the vessel extends down from the center of the room, over the bed. It swivels toward them as soon as the door opens, a teal glow at its tip darkening to fel-green.

Sedra steps in, unconcerned and also unwilling to let either of them lead.

Raeisley
Raeisley doesn't move from her place and lets the Captain take her friend along. She is stuck staring at the walls mouthing the words. "Blood vessels or nerves."

Araatris
"Sedra, is this a living vessel?" Ary asks suddenly, staring at the thing in front of them. She only manages fleeting glances at the rest if the room. "This... is your infirmary?"

Vasedra
"Yes," her friend answers, addressing her second question first. After that, she tilts her head in silence for a moment.

"Neither living nor dead, I think. It's not amazingly clear. But the Revenant has some sentience. Just enough to be... helpful and... irritating." The medical stalk swivels toward her, and she puts a hand on her hip, staring up at it as if daring it to object. "We're still working on a few things."

Raeisley
Raeisley steps up to a wall tracing a finger along the slivers of silver she takes a breath channeling a pinch of warmth into the tip. "You'll have to forgive me, darling. I need to see her anger before I can be sure."

Her ear wiggles listening to the muffled chatter pushing it away, it wasn't important to her right now.  She Follows the vain her touch turns to a caress, letting her hand feather the wall.

Araatris
The human nods. "Interesting." She looks around and pauses, frowning. "Where's Raeisley? I thought she was right behind us."

Vasedra
Sedra frowns and strides back toward the doorway, the panels scissoring open once more. "A good question..."

Raeisley
"I once had a ship like you, fast and strong. Stoic and trust bled into every planks. She was called the Jade Lion." She whispers coming to the organic 'corner' of the room.  She moves closer to the wall pressing her cheek to its ivory surface to feel the purr of energy buried within its walls.

"I never felt more free than when standing upon her prow, even as the world hunted me. I like to believe she was happiest sailing the high seas, dashing through patrols, taking on Men-of-War with thrice as many guns."

The Paramour's voice wanes, softening to a sweetness not tainted by her normal coy demeanor. "I have to pretend to not be impressed, I still need to find the catch. love." Her hand gingerly strokes silver vain.

Araatris
The human woman follows her friend back the way they came. "She must have gotten distracted by something."

Vasedra
"Yes. Let's see what tangent she's off on." The void knight's hooves click on the deck as they head back to the transport room.

Raeisley
Her ear twitches, the voices have stopped then begun growing closer. "I think they are coming back to claim me, love. I'm sorry."  She emits a soft coo closing her eyes, lowering herself to a squat against the wall.

"Unless you can open a hole for me to escape. We could play hide and seek with them.. just for a bit." Her sweet smile rises just into a smirk enjoying her silent admiration.

Vasedra
Sedra stands in the doorway, watching Raeisley crouch against the wall with her head tilted. "I might worry that you were fainting from hunger if I couldn't feel the Revenant's reaction to whatever you're doing, Raeisley. Why are you trying to charm my-"

An access panel to the crawlspace dilates by the Paramour's knee, opening like a mouth or, perhaps, a sphincter.

Sedra gasps as a man's playful laugh rings through the room from nowhere in particular.

"Stop it! That wasn't my thought!"

Raeisley
With the quickness of a child leashed free, Raeisley vanishes into the hole with her own echoing laughter. "So you are a boy! I was wondering why she was calling you a 'he'." She snickers her eyes blinking to a bright green lighting her path.

Araatris
Ary covers her face with a sigh. "Did your ship just eat her? Can't you tell it to just spit her back out?"

Vasedra
Vasedra sighs to match Ary's, glancing over at her friend. "I can open the panel, again, but... Are you coming?"

Raeisley
Not one unfamiliar with working on her knees, she moves quickly through the cramped crawl spaced with a utterly delighted smile. "Is Revenant your real name? Perhaps something shorter just for us ♪ How about Reven~ Keeps the original flair."

She stops at a intersection emitting a thoughtful hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

"We'll avoid the soul forge - we can't having me get to your heart on only the first game after all. Right♥! Which way to the cannonade deck?"

Araatris
Ary snorts. "Is the other option to spend one on one time with your crew because if that's the case then I'm safer with you." She tugs her ponytail tighter and straightens her dress as if readying herself.

Vasedra
Sedra smirks. "You're safer with me. Come on. I know where she's going." The eredar heads for the door, not the panel through which Raeisley escaped, beckoning the human with a wave of a hand.

Raeisley
"You'd of loved her, the Lion that is - ironically she was called the lion instead of the lioness but she was a Pandaren vessel for the Grand Alliance~ I didn't keep her there for long ♫ before her first year commission we are raiding the high seas. Now - I know what you are thinking, a sloop doesn't belong out there but that was the madness of it all."Her smile grew with each crawl forward.

"We'd come from the blue, riding the fog. It was a sight to make even Kul'trains blood freeze~ How are you like love?" She stops plopping down in the shaft she rests for a moment. "Do you prefer speeding about them, bleeding their crew with each pass of the cannon or are you a bit more... bold." Her fangs peak from behind her lips, tail raising it caressed the low ceiling.

Araatris
Vasedra's friend hurries after the draenei. "Are you connected to the ship enough that you can tell that or is it just a good guess." Her bare feet make no sound on the metal deck, but her skirt rustles around her ankles.

Vasedra
The Revenant is silent to Raeisley's queries and monologue, only the pulse of the conduits, a curious mixture of fel-green and a brighter teal energy drifting through his corpse.

Sedra glances back at Ary and pulls her hood off slightly, enough to reveal the silver and ivory interface device hooked over her pointed ear and lain against her temple and cheek. It looks enough like the ship to be unmistakable.

"I know where she is. I'm not sure why he went... rogue for a moment."

Raeisley
The Paramour continues to scuttle below with nothing but a vague sense of directions leading her towards the prowl interior all the while sharing stories of heroism and heartbreak. The way she choked a tear when the first cannon ball pierced her ship. She shared poem of the sea and even sang an sinking captains ode.  But eventually she stopped glancing back at her trail why wasn't she being followed. The thought nagged at her pride rather than her sensibilities.

"Reven can you open another hole? Downward I want onto the hull."

Araatris
Sighing, Ary shakes her head. "I'm not sure I like the idea that your ship can be sweet-talked. Seems like it may be a good thing to research before it becomes... a larger concern."

She continues to follow, pondering. "Though, I suppose it is good that we have found out now at least."

Vasedra
The eredar striding quickly ahead of her nods, her frown hidden in her cowl. "Yes, I suppose there is that. We agree that it's worrisome. Something... someone echoes in the Revenant. I'm not sure what or why, but I don't think it's an original part of the vessel. I haven't had enough time to look into it."

She pauses, suddenly, tilting her head. "Ah. That's perfect. Vaxos will take care of her." Putting her hands on her hips, Sedra swivels back to Ary, her luminous blue eyes dim in the bright hall.

"How angry do you think I should be with Siren for this ridiculous little game?"

>>>

Farther down the crawl ways off the halls, Raeisley implores the ship to open a hatch to the hull. Not long after, a hatch does slip open by her shoulder, a beefy hand darting through and grabbing her by the upper arm. Powerful muscles yank Raeisley immediately through the hole, tossing her to the deck in the weapons control center with an accompanying growl.

A massive, scarred wrathguard demon with the "party line" black eyes and scrolling tattoos scowls down at her, fists clenched, as if daring her to move.

Raeisley
A girlish yipe and the Paramour flies like a brick thumping against the floor. Raeis tucks he legs rolling with the momentum still she stops popping up like a Daisy from the snow she raises her nose to the air with a huff. "I know not what offends me more, love."

She pouts her eyes closed hands assuring her bow was still attached before twirling in place left hand behind her the right forward pretending to holding a sword in the style of a duelist.

"Or the fact you had me in your hands and let go."  Her eyes open, the Silver obscured under dense winter ice.

"I am happy to see Vasedra has kinsmen aboard." Her lips creeps to a smile which she covers with two tendrils "No matter how altered - cousin, love~ tell me who is your master?"

Vasedra
The demon stomps forward, hostile and surly, "Not you," he growls, reaching for the smaller eredar.

Raeisley
"Don't say that just yet, love..." she lowers the invisible 'blade' sweeping her other arm behind her back. Her tail whips behind her high with excitement and as vicious as a succubus whips.

"Are you sure you can handle me, cousin?"

Araatris
Back in the other part of the ship, Ary shakes her head. "This is between her and you. I'm not sure it's a good idea for me to weigh in on how cross you should be. However, I do think that perhaps at least a token bit of anger is justified. After all... you can't have her running around your ship like that all the time..." The human smirks, attempting to not be amused by the disconcerting situation.

Vasedra
Sedra sighs and nods, beckoning Ary after her as she turns to walk at a more leisurely pace down the hall. "Yes, Raeisley is ... irreverent, at best. I suppose I have begun to be equal parts amused and annoyed by her insanity."

Araatris
The human steps in beside her. "She's interesting I suppose. Time will tell. Are we heading to her location?" She gestures sweepingly forward.

Vasedra
"Of course." The eredar snorts. "I'm not leaving her scurrying like a devious little rat through my ship. And I'm ... getting less confident by the moment that Vaxos can handle her."

Sedra winces.

Araatris
"Who's Vaxos? Surely your crew can handle one wayward person." Ary slows at an intersection as they turn. "Then again..." She smirks. "I'd like to think I could hold my own. I suppose Raeisley would as well. I hope he's not in charge of any critical functions... just in case, of course."

Vasedra
Sedra shrugs, and the light catches the way she wrinkles her nose. "Vaxos is a wrathguard, a transformed eredar, who pilots when I don't wish to. And he is... theoretically?... supposed to be my guard. However, I don't get the impression that he likes me much. He is one whose loyalty and devotion I don't trust, at the moment."

She leads them to a round shaft with no doorway and a membranous pad on the floor, gesturing Ary in. "I think he would answer Siren's question very differently from Shirraz."

Araatris
Ary tilts her head. "That type is a little more hard-headed. I think they feel like you have to earn everything. They're a pain to control." She steps into the shaft. "Spar with him. It'd probably go a long way." She leans her neck to the side and it pops softly.

Vasedra
Nodding, the void knight grins lightly at her friend. "That's good advice. Thank you. I forget, sometimes, that you get a very unique... perspective on the demons we face. I just stab them and avoid their minds altogether; I've never needed to understand them, before." She snorts a little laugh. "Though between the crew and the nameless blades, I suppose that is changing quickly."

Another membrane slides across the tube in which they stand, like an eyelid closing horizontally. There's a slight tingle, and when it opens, they are looking out at a slightly differently shaped hallway with the same structure but lower ceilings.

Araatris
"Well, I suppose that's one advantage of the abduction. Moving about Legion ships doesn't bother me. I suppose it could make one uneasy otherwise." Ary steps out without hesitation. "I'll be on my guard around Vaxos. Is there anything I shouldn't do should he... be less than respectful?" The human looks a little more than eager to test her will should it be needed.

Vasedra
Sedra tries not to let her frown at the mention of the abduction show, but the light from the hall catches her face as she turns. Still, she calmly and coolly says, "If he is less-than-respectful of you, I will deal with him myself. He is my crew, whether he likes it or not, and as such I ... believe I am responsible for both his behavior and his punishment. It would look bad to the rest of them if you broke him without at least getting my permission."

She manages a little, dark smirk. "So simply ask first, if you would."

Araatris
Ary laughs, echoing down the hallway. "Very well. I'll ask. I'd rather your crew did not think me helpless, but I'll only act if necessary." She glances about. "How far away is she now?"

Vasedra
"The weapons control room," the eredar points to a door just barely visible at the far end of the hall. "It makes me nervous to think about what she wanted to do in there, but I've locked everything out." She leads the way with clicking hooves. "And the ship seems to be back to normal. I think I've decided what to do with her after this ridiculousness."

Araatris
"Oh? And what are you going to do?" Ary drops back as they near the door to let Sedra pass through first.

Vasedra
The void knight's grin under her cowl is wicked. "Continue the tour, of course. With a special destination just for Raeisley."

She turns toward the door, and as it slides open, she blinks and stumbles back.

Raeisley
The scene could not be made more ridiculous if it were a drawn caricature.  Vaxos was a mountain being assailed by no less than nine Raeisleys, each indulging in their own variation of annoyance. The Raeisley under his left has her teeth sunk into his forearm, happily waggling her tail while the second under his right seems bored, acting as dead weight she pouts hanging upside down peering at the intruders. The other seven are spread evenly across the unfortunate demon's limbs, two on each of his legs riding around like a child on their parent's foot, another two are taking turns sitting and pulling at the demon's tail and lastly a pair of Paramours precariously dangle on at his shoulders vying to ride on his shoulders.

All of this buried in a chorus of chimes from the various 'women' ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪"

Araatris
"Am I... am I hallucinating?" Ary closes her eyes tightly and then reopens them. "What in the fel is going on?"

She shakes her head. "Wait. Do I really want to know? That's likely to give me a headache..." Her voice drops into an exasperated mumble.

Vasedra
Vaxos roars and tries to grab for the Raeisley on his left shoulder, his black eyes swinging to the door. He would never actually ask for help, but there's an annoyed desperation in his face as he glances at the two women in the doorway.

Growling, Sedra stalks forward, her grin devolving instantly into a scowl. "Raeisley, that's enough of this game! Get off him before I pick one of you to stab."

Raeisley
"Start stabbing". A voice emanates from them bouncing off the walls, all their lips don't move outside of their chiming, they seem determine to terrorize

Araatris
Ary pinches the bridge of her nose as she settles her back against the wall just inside the room. "Sedra, if she's that willing to let you stab her, I doubt she's one of the ones hanging off him." To Raeisley, she comments, "Did he do something to deserve this level of annoyance?"

Vasedra
The void knight narrows her eyes, thinking a quick command to the vessel through the interface at her temple, and his senses settle in atop her own, a deeper interlink than she has used with the ship, thus far. Sedra winces and presses a steadying hand against the wall at the odd sensation, but her attention searches through the deck for the weight of feet or the warmth of flesh. She can feel her own weight shift as she turns toward Vaxos and his second annoyed bellow.

"Momentarily," she reassures him, curt.

Raeisley
They are identical physically.
Raeisley chortles, reflecting off the wall. It's not a magical rather a projection of her natural voice. One of the women is doing it, though.

"Nervous, oh captain.. my captain? One and nine chance isn't too risky."

Vasedra
Sedra's look only darkens, and she doesn't answer Raeisley's taunt. She only says, "Answer Ary's question. Why are you harassing Vaxos? Why play this game at all? I'm regretting that I gave you an invitation to my ship."

She stomps forward, her senses still half-overlain with the ship's, and grabs the closest Siren by the arm, yanking her away from the wrathguard. Her swords still aren't drawn. Yet.

Raeisley
"I don't feel so inclined to answer ♪" The Paramours stop their harassment simultaneously, at least to the annoying degree. Those at his leg's rise and pose themselves as if hiding behind the demon like a guard, those at his tail take the join effort to hug the mass of muscle to their chests nose raised to the air 'dignified'.

"But I would be willing to make a trade ♫~" The Shouldermours leg go of his horns dropping to rest on the length of the imposing creatures shoulders.

Araatris
Ary frowns, crossing her arms. "A trade? For what?"

Raeisley
"A answer for an answer, of course. ♥"

Araatris
"What's the question then? I won't promise an answer any more than you, but we can listen." The human watches the Paramours with a dry amusement.

Raeisley
"How possessive, she speaks for you  Vaa-seeedra ♪ How many persons claim to be your keeper, the number is higher than I can approve of." The Raeis biting on Voxo's forearm stops, her blue tongue briefly appearing to slide across her upper lip. A flash of cobalt on azure.

Araatris
Ary meanders to the Raeisley that has been biting. "I'm not her keeper. She's a friend that chooses to act as my bodyguard. I issue requests, not commands."

She stops in front of the biter. "Do you feel better now that you've drawn blood?"

Raeisley
Biter doesn't speak, merely simpers at the hoomen, her tail flicking behind her in a self-indulgent C.

Vasedra
The void knight stares between Ary and the biter and the Siren in her grip, gritting her teeth in annoyance. She looks carefully over the group of them and the void-touched wrathguard before her hand tightens painfully on her Raeisley's arm, and she growls, "You harass my friend. You take the opportunity to play disobedient games with my ship. You taunt and tease and raise your nose like you are something more than just insane. I'm starting to believe that part of your story less and less. I'm not sure there is as much method to your madness as you assert, Raeisley. Paramour.

"But I was at least a bit amused for a while. Raeisley being Raeisley. Until I saw how poorly you treated my crewman for doing nothing more than trying to keep you from digging yourself into a deeper hole. I told him not to harm you, and he followed my order. Despite you and your foolish ways." Her false, blue eyes look up at Vaxos briefly before she returns to the Siren in her hand.

"As the humans like to say, 'It's all fun and games until someone gets their heart ripped out.' " The void knight bares her teeth under the hood as she grabs her Raeisley by the low neckline of her gown and lifts her off her feet, pulling her away from Vaxos and Ary and the others.

She uses the same trick she used in Highmountain and again, with far more control, on the Eclipse, muttering her little mantra beneath her breath.

"Quiet... and still... and closed."

Shadows pull free of nowhere, gathering like a shell in a circle around her hooves, and the power of the void within a few feet around her body is ruthlessly crushed, suppressed. Absorbed.

Raeisley
The Raeisley gains a seizure like affect, freezing her eyes dialect rapidly, contracting and opening -- and then nothing. All of the Raeisley's laugh in musical chimes. "♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫!"

"Did you really think that would work?" The voice echos again. The Raeisley in her arms shrugs smugly. "It might actually... but no. You'll have to get clever with it, Captain, my Captain or save us all time and accept the trade."

Araatris
"But you still haven't asked your question, Raeisley. She should know what's on the line for the trade." Ary moves on, looking at the feet, the tail, then the shoulders, studying them as shadows roil about her. "Well, I'm still not sure any of these are actually her." She pauses by the one looking bored. "This one seems rather... unenthused for having a new game to play. Perhaps she is the original that he grabbed."

Raeisley
"You'd be correct ♪ Before we could even raise a tendril he was upon us. As for the trade, I want to know why we are here, Even you hoomen knows that Vasedra is a pragmatic woman." Bored Raeis tongue slowly pokes out at the woman.

"You don't honestly believe we're here for a leisurely tour do you, darling?"

Vasedra
Sedra simply grits her teeth and shoves Fake Raeisley #3 away from her roughly, sending the Paramour copy stumbling against the wall. She says nothing at all, her glare going to bored Raeis.

Araatris
Ary snorts. "Well, I'm sure that's one piece. I doubt that she expected that I'd be along, so it has nothing to do with me. She was only half awake when I called upon her. Why else would she call upon you then?" The young woman steps back to give Vasedra room.

Raeisley
Raeisley #3 winces landing against the wall with a thud. Recovering herself she dusts off and poses haughty as before arms crossing under her breast. Boredisley however gains a smile, her tendrils reaching up to adjust her dress about her breasts.

"You seem Listless captain?"

Vasedra
Rumbling a surly "About time," Vaxos hands Raeisley off to Sedra like a particularly distasteful sack of potatoes, and starts pulling, nudging, kicking, shaking off the othersleys. The eredar takes her wayward 'cousin' from him with equal distaste, holding her by the arm in an iron grip and pulling her away.

"Vaxos. You are relieved," is her response before her attention fixes on the Raeisley in her grip.

"Listless? No, Siren. I am annoyed." Her luminous blue eyes under her cowl are narrowed. The suppression aura around her is still clenched and silent; she hasn't yet released it. "I'm not sure that you deserve to know the answer to your question, Paramour. I'm quite sure you don't deserve the rest of my promise."

Raeisley
Put into the woman's arms, something changes with this Raeisley. There is the smells normally associated with her, flash scents of homes gone, or loved ones passed, it is there for a moment and then -gone-. Stripped away. As for the other Raeisleys they make their own theatrical tumbles and pouts as Vaxos so unkindly removes them from his body.

Araatris

Ary tugs at her ponytail to tighten it, making note of the wrathguard as if memorizing his face before looking at Sedra and Raeisley. "I'd say it is time to release your doppelgangers. There's no more purpose to them."

She leans against the corner of a console, watching them.

Raeisley
"We rarely get what we deserve don't we, Desire ♪" Boredisley chimes with a confidence of a world beneath her hooves even in the iron grip of the knight. When she speaks her mouth this time does move, her tendrils coil about her own throat making a choker.

"And sometimes we get more~ ♥"

The dopplegangers all turn their eyes to Ary, adjusting their hair and dress they all wear a variation of a devious simper. They all take one step to the port side of the room.

Vasedra
Vasedra frowns, and her grip on Raeisley's arm tightens. "Where did you hear that name?"

Araatris
Raising an eyebrow, Ary regards the other Raeisleys. "What do you plan now? To harrass me as you did Vaxos?" She still half listens to the other two.

Raeisley
Another step, this time with a click to their hooves the eight others move to the wall.

"Your Second in command, love. Shirraz. It's a cute pet name. It made things all the more clear to me when Rhavos listed you under the same moniker." Eyes a identical frosted blue as the others Boredisley head cants to the left glancing down at the woman's grip.

"You're bound to bruise me if you keep squeezing."

Vasedra
"Bruised, you might stand out from your twins, at least."

The eredar frowns, glancing up as the room's door constricts after Vaxos' exit. She also looks over at Ary and the othersleys.

"The Revenant will not play your game twice, Siren. If you think you'll send your copies scurrying in his walls, think again. Let's go."

Araatris
The young woman sighs and strides over and gestures for the dopplegangers to follow them. "If you're not going to disappear, then you should stay in sight."

Raeisley
They all look at her from their line, leaning back as needed to show their faces then all stick a blue tongue out at the woman.

Boredisley laughs, she covers her mouth with her tendrils shaking her head. "This is why I refused to teach you, love.  But I will obey ♪ Come along girls." In tandem they all kiss their hand and gently tap the wall before prancing off forming two lines behind Vasedra. Arms at their waist they wait. Boredisley points a tendril at the arms that bind her she looks back up peering into the cowl with innocent intent and her not as innocent simper. "Are you going to hold me the whole way."

Vasedra
"Yes. I am." The void knight glances back at Ary before she drags the Siren ahead of their ridiculous entourage. After a while, she looks over at the other eredar, taking secret pleasure in the way her aura cheapens some of Raeisley's glamour. "Would you have preferred that I stab all of you, one by one, at random? Would that have been obedient enough for you? Or mad enough? Or perhaps just enough of me being what you expect?

"I didn't invite you here to destroy you, so you'll excuse me for working around that option."

Araatris
Ary trails after the group, taking the time to be able to glance about the ship at her leisure. She nods briefly at Sedra when she catches her gaze. "So, did you just invite her up here for a tour then?" Her tone holds a dry amusement.

Raeisley
The lines part allowing Boredisley to look back between her and Sedra's shoulders at the hoomen with a coy suggestion of a smile.

"She's unable to voice the desire to keep me for herself forever~" the Paramour winks at the knight. Her free hand grips the arm holding her captive, offering herself the appearance of being escorted rather than dragged along.


"None of the above, I wanted to see what you'd do, love. Have I ever preached obedience? I think rather the opposite."

Vasedra
Sedra's answer to Ary's question and Raeisley's inserted answer is a snort and an extra tug on the Paramour's arm as she hurries through the hallways, around a pair of corners and through a junction to the left.

When she finally speaks, it's to answer the last statement. "You've only preached two things to me that I can discern, Siren: ill-defined disapproval and insanity. I'm still not sure if or why I'd want you to teach me anything. Now, for the next stop on our tour..."

She rounds one last corner before they stop in front of a featureless section of wall. Sedra only looks at it before a membranous door slides open in front them,  revealing a plain room with a bench along the back and a console and a few pieces of equipment in the front quarter.

Araatris
Ary frowns. "What's this room?"

Raeisley
"It would appear to be a cell. Perhaps a torture chamber and my apparent stop." She sighs patting the knights arm. Pouting she puffs her lower lip.

"You know if you needed me to follow you could of just asked~"

The entourage all take their own pouting look with a hint of apprehension. Boredisley seems content to her games.

Vasedra
"I disagree. Asking has never gotten me very far with you."

The void knight not-terribly-gently pushes Raeisley's back up against the far wall, in one particular location where the bench is interrupted for a few feet and the wall is smooth and bare. The ivory of these walls is untraced with silver, unyielding everywhere except where it gains a sudden compliance behind the eredar, conforming and then sucking itself along her back and shoulders.

Sedra grabs Raeisley's right forearm and pushes her wrist against the wall as well, cold and irritated and quiet.

Araatris
The young woman grimaces briefly at the sight, but turns to the console and examines it instead. "I do believe she asked several things that were answered in varying degrees of... not enough. You have caused a bit of trouble for her."

Raeisley
"You should hear about the time she nearly murdered me. Afraid of her own shadow as it were~"

She moves to shake her shoulders but is unable so instead sasses with her hips, slithering tail around to poke at the knights stomach. Although a true actress, some things the body can't hide, her wrists and arms stiffening to the cold.

"You still haven't fed me either, such a mean hostess" she coos crane her head forward she presses a tongue to her canine.

Vasedra
Vasedra holds her arm still as the Revenant scans Raeisley and the "wall" flows into a cuff around her wrist, still connected, for the moment, to the ship's panel. Around her body, like the outline at a murder scene, the material scribes itself with symbols in a mixture of fel-green and brighter teal tinged with blood red, runes of simple warding that attune the room's fields to the Paramour's magic.

They dissolve visually back into the ivory, but their effect is still strong and tangible within the space: mana suppression. Arcane magic brought to bear is absorbed by the field before it can be raveled together into a spell.

At a silent signal from the ship, Sedra steps back and lets go of the Siren. The wall does the same not long after, leaving only a white-and-silver cuff around her wrist.

Araatris
Ary glances over shoulder. "Interesting. Though I am loathe to admit it... I am hungry as well. Do you have a stocked galley, Sedra? Food isn't something you usually concern yourself with."

Raeisley
"She has an excellent cook by her own boast ♪"  Boredisley looks down at her wrists and gives a fruitless tug releasing a soft sigh.

"She refuses to let us go game hunting for a proper Argussian meal~ Or at least a fine substitute " Her eyes half shutter dreaming of past and future meals her mouth holds partly open before snapping shut.

"Ary was it..? You should continue to press the question on my behalf"  Raeisley turns as much as her horns will allow her to press her cheek against the wall with a small mew. "It was fun while it lasted, Ravan." she mews.

Vasedra
The void knight ignores her newly-acquired captive, just throwing up a hand and turning to walk to a very specific point in the room. She scowls at the Raeis-copies and points toward their 'mother'.

"Keep her company or get dumped in the Belly. I'm sure whatever you are, you'll make a nice meal. The choice is yours."

Araatris
Ary leans a hip against the pedestal. "She's annoyed enough as is, and I'd rather if my Blade wasn't cross with me. It makes for headaches."

She tilts her head thoughtfully. "You prefer an Argussian fair? I'm afraid that I've not yet tried it."

Raeisley
The Paramours take their places against the wall, those who can take a bench crossing their legs eyes closed with a soft smile, nearly grateful for a rest.

Raeisley herself does so also, nuzzling into the wall she looks deceptively comfortable. Her lips creep to a smile then a smirk of someone who is exactly where they want to be. "How does it feel everyone always claiming you as property, Oh captain ♪" She opens her left eye half way to watch them depart.

Vasedra
On a line just beyond Sedra's hooves, sinew-covered bones rise from the ground and mesh into the ceiling, closing the Raeisley collection into the cell.

The eredar watches only Raeis Prime, resting her hand on her hip with a pair of glowing, luminous eyes narrowed to match her scowl. "Ary doesn't claim me as property, Siren. She honors me with a title rooted in our friendship. Everything I do for her is because I want to, just as with everything she does for me."

She walks to the chamber door, tension in the lines of her body, and beckons her human friend with a wave. "This is something you'd have learned firsthand if you stopped letting your mountain of assumptions get in the way.

"Think about it while you starve and drive yourselves crazy."

With that, she turns and stalks out.

Araatris
Ary strides behind, her much shorter legs moving quickly to keep up with her friend. "So, you truly intend to leave her here then?" It was not an accusation, but a curiosity. "I'd have thought that you'd keep the original at least." She glances once more over her shoulder at Raeisley.

Raeisley
The Paramours eyes close, wave a tendril farewell. The others seem content to wait, like a lobby filled with talbuks.

Vasedra
Sedra clenches her fist and doesn’t glance back. "Why would I keep her? I gave her a bit of trust, and she made me regret it. Let her rot while we eat."

Araatris
The young woman raises an eyebrow. "Very well. I will not complain about food. Do you know what we are having?" Ary bides her time to ask her questions, hoping to put Sedra back at ease.

Vasedra
The eredar snorts, leading the way back to the blink tube. "Argussian dishes. I think Vaxos secretly enjoyed the challenge. He even went to Highmountain for the beef she wanted."

Araatris
"So, that's her real punishment? Missing out on the meal she wanted so badly?" Ary's lips twitch upwards slightly. "And Vaxos is the cook?" That last question holds a measure of mild surprise.

Vasedra
"Yes. Vaxos is the cook." Sedra glances down at the human as the tube's threshold blinks shut and open, then she steps forward, again. "I was as surprised as you."

As they round a bend in the hall, she pauses by an open archway, resting a hand on the pommel of her blade as it whispers something tender into the quiet moan of the engines in the background.

"Missing dinner is only part of Siren's consequence."

Araatris
Ary tilts her head up as they stop. "And the other part of it?"

Vasedra
Her friend gestures her in to what is clearly the ship's mess, where a trio of dishes have already been laid out at the central, crescent-curved table.

A succubus leans indolently against an ivory-fleshed work table near a series of pieces of equipment and dirtied dishes, looking like she suddenly woke from a long boredom at their entrance. Her cold, cunning black gaze follows Ary's progress into the room hungrily for a moment before it warms and her pretty pink lips turn up into a smile.

Sedra answers her before turning any portion of her attention to the demoness. "She gets to stay in my brig for ... an indefinite amount of time, I suppose." She sighs. "I was going to try to feel out if I really do want to ask her for her help. Now, I suppose I'll have to try to make that determination through the bars... and endure her for longer."

Araatris
With a soft hum of agreement, the red-head slips into the seat on the right, leaving the central seat for Vasedra. "She is interesting. Perhaps the promise of this meal would help her see your way." Ary smooths her tattered robes as if they were more a silken gown.

Her gazes flickers to the succubus in amusement before continuing speaking with the eredar. "What did you want to ask her help with?"

Vasedra
Sedra settles the nameless blades at the far end of the table and then slips into the seat beside her friend, her gaze on the third dish. She taps a finger thoughtfully. "She knows things... about the void and the power in its dark, empty places, about the whispers. She has... well, predictably mysterious knowledge and words that can help. I've seen it. She says she can... I have a master, not a teacher."

The woman frowns and lifts a hand up to her temple under her cowl, pulling free the ivory and silver interface device. It curls into a nondescript medallion in her palm before she tucks it in a pouch at her waist.

Meanwhile, the succubus tucks a pair of metal goblets and a carafe of something cold and weepy into her hands. Hips swaying, tail flicking rhythmically, she comes over to the table and delivers their drinks.

"My darling captain," she says possessively to Sedra, sliding a free hand across the back of her armor. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your guest?"

Cazas' voice is lower-pitched, but as melodious and simpering as Raeisley's when she tries.

The void knight tenses and draws away from her touch, waving a hand. "Cazas, this is Ary. Ary, Cazas."

With a warm smile, the demoness' touch gets transferred to the little human, and she slides a hand up her arm. "I am the ship's... hm... hostess?" She laughs softly at her own humor.

Araatris
Ary does not pull away from the touch, but she does look at Cazas skeptically. "Hostess. I suppose that is as good a word as any. If you are looking for more, you will be disappointed." She smirks dryly.

She leans forward, placing her elbows on the table as she studies Vasedra. "Would that I could help more, but I am still... new."

Vasedra
Her friend merely nods slightly at Ary and pulls off her gauntlets, setting them on the table.

"Cazas," Sedra says her name with emphasis, a subtle admonishment in her tone, "is the ship's log-keeper. Her responsibilities are operations and logistics for the crew."

"And pleasure, of course," the demoness leans down close to almost press her cheek by Sedra's as she contorts to fill their cups.

The void knight holds still, tensing once more. "No. That is not one of your duties."

"Oh?" The succubus pouts prettily, toying with her tail as she drapes herself along her captain's side. "I served very well in that capacity for the beautiful Weaver before you. And, really, sweet captain, I am so good at it. Don't you r-"

"Cazas." Sedra bites her name out, her fingers clenching on the edge of the table. "That will be all. Deliver the third plate to our prisoner before you return to your duties."

Araatris
The human rests soothing fingers on Sedra's arm around the demoness. She ignores Cazas, as she draws her pony tail over one shoulder with her free hand. "Sedra, tell me more of the other crew members while we eat."

Vasedra
The sayaad takes the third plate and turns away, her tail flicking happily against her hocks as she goes.

The eredar ignores her and turns toward Ary, finally reaching up to pull her cowl back from her face for the first time all night. Her dark eyes search her friend's face for a moment before she relaxes, and her lips lift slightly, wryly.

"The other crew members... You may have met the best of them, already. And before you say it, I know. These are not friends I am surrounded with." She glances at the food.

"Eat. I will tell you what little I know of Venom and Ire while you try the curried beef. It's a passable replication of one of Perrix' old favorites."

Araatris
Araatris turns to her food and tries a few small bites. "It has a good flavor though I can't quite describe it, but..." The human smiles almost to herself. "It is spicier than I would have guessed."

"Venom and Ire certainly don't sound as pleasing on the surface." She reaches for her cup.

Vasedra
Sedra snorts, poking at her own food listlessly. "Pleasing?"

She doesn't turn her amused smirk on her friend, but it's aimed at her nonetheless. "Pleasing..."

"Venom is silent, mute. I've found her hard to read, that felsworn kal'dorei. We have a history, she and I, from a while ag-." The hand she lifts up to rub at her darkening cheek doesn't do a good enough job of hiding her blush. "... a few years ago, that is. I-I haven't had enough time, yet, to decide if she is still angry at me for burying my axe in her back or not."

Sedra can't help but dryly joke, "If she's holding  a grudge, she hasn't told me so."

"As for Ire...? Also a fallen demon hunter. She is waiting to draw conclusions, I think, but she is the opposite of Venom. She speaks and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind." That said, she puts a bit of curry in her mouth and chews with disinterest.

Araatris
Ary chuckles. "Ire sounds a little bit like you. I would still like to meet them if they are here." She sips are her drink, trying to keep the building fire in her mouth at bay.

"Will I have a room on this vessel or do you intend for me to stay as far away as possible?" The human watches Sedra carefully. "Unless you think they will... beguile me."

Vasedra
"They're not here at the moment."

The void knight's fork stills at Ary's question, and she looks over at her friend. "You... do you want quarters on the Revenant? I was afraid this ship would trouble you after what you just went through. I've been... worried that coming here would upset you, but you haven't seemed bothered."

She makes a face, self-deprecating and sour. "Then again, I'm not always the best at being able to tell..."

Raeisley
Paramour waits still as the walls she is bound to. Her entourage has vanished she is silent with scarcely a breath, a onlooker may suspect death had suddenly taken the Pristine Eredar.

Araatris
"The voices are well controlled, but I admit that I didn't like seeing Raeisley..." Ary shakes her head.   "The ship itself doesn't bother me. If you asked me to connect with it, I would rather not."

Ary grimaces as she finishes her meal. "There are many things that are distasteful that I'd rather do first."

Vasedra
Vasedra shakes her head and sets down her fork, resting a hand on the human's sleeve. "I will not ask you to connect with him. He is not the Eclipse, and he will never be. I'm even working on convincing him to let me replace the soul engine with something less... repulsive."

As if startled by her own vehemence, Sedra glances away and pulls her hand back. "I don't... I think the Soul Cleaver is safer. I would rather you consider that your haven than this ship. And it is easy to access since it's here, now. On Azeroth. But if you want Revenant quarters, you can have them."

Araatris
The red-head nods. "Yes, I would like a place here as well. It may not be safer, but there is a convenience in it.  I would likely never be here without you anyway unlike the Soul Cleaver." She smiles at Sedra. "Now, how likely is Cazas to cause trouble with Raeisley..."