Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: Not face, he just felt that someone's attention was on Svarik. I thought it was some Spirit or something more powerful that would be a challenge, so Tide was very protective. Erdel would sense it as well, but having Tide with them made him generally more at ease as he trusted him as to someone more experienced... I am sorry Tide was in the way all the time, he was just very worried and didn't want to make it easy for anyone to hurt meadow king on his watch... and he doesn't need sleep, so, it's always his watch, heh... :D

[Mirach]

(OOC: Should we forget about it then, or give the assassin a chance? :))

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: I am about giving him a chance, if you want to keep him an assassin. He might need to be a super extra skilled human, or Demon or Spirit assassin or something quite powerful, though, to get over defenses of house + everyone keeping king safe. I was personally very curious, and would like to stir things up a bit, we just need to find a way how, as house is supposed to be rather safe, and both Erdel will stay with Svarik during night, and Tide wanted to do the same... It would be great if we could let the mysterious figure get to them, though, as it would be change of pace and I was quite curious about it and would love to see what someone who can escape and evade gaze of a demon do :)))

[Mirach]

(OOC: I wanted only Erdel to have the credit for it, so he can prove himself to the Organization. How about Tide keeps talking with Xia for all the night?)

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: It's a little bit of a stretch, but it's possible in character - Tide would consider Svarik safe in almost impenetrable home, so as he would really want to take his time to explain everything to Xia properly - and that would also take Xia out of the picture, because she would want to protect Svarik as well. Now, it only leaves Hans and Sage. I think Hans would want to go around the house whole night, to make sure everyone in his guard is as alert as possible to possible dangers. Hans would generally, being who he is, suggest that they see if they can catch this strange person if it tries anything, so he would suggest himself that setting up a trap where only Erdel would remain to protect Svarik would be a best idea, because the assassin seemed to not deem Erdel is a threat. That could explain Sage also not being there, but giving assassin a space for coming in, so they can catch him if possible. )

[Mirach]

"So that's why you all were so subtly protective? Don't think I didn't notice... But someone recognizing me is not such a big deal. Maybe he was in the city for the coronation. It doesn't mean he should automatically have ill intentions," Svarik replied.

(OOC: it doesn't have to be a trap, they can set a guard before the door)

[VisAnastasis]

" That is why we didn't worry you to spoil your day. It can be anyone or anything. We only know of it that it was someone that sow you and recognized you, and someone that recognized Tide, and backed away. We rather chose to be more protective, than to have you injured on our watch. It wouldn't be proper, and Falcon would be displeased. Your neck is too delicate to be cut on my watch. Suck spots should be only saved for kisses, not knives, or such, in my opinion. " he couldn't help but joke, despite his eyes were serious. " If it is somebody that recognizes you... It can be someone random, yes, but someone random with such skill to evade demon's gaze unnoticed and get lost in crowd from perceptive eyes of demon. If it's harmless, neat.. There is option it may have been someone who wanted your help, but was too scared to come forth when he sow Tide. Tide can be quite intimidating when protective. But then again, it could be someone who wanted you ill, and just decided to wait to see if Tide will leave your side and give him better chances... Trust me, I have a good sense for this. Falcon's and mine line of work requires one to be extra perceptive of stuff like those, and I see a king travelling incognito to place he's never been at, and I see someone recognizing him and not greeting him, but running away the opposite direction, and I smell trouble. "


(OOC: Sage can say he'll have to take care of obligations he had postponed to be with Svarik the whole day in other city, so he doesn't neglect his people, why Hans takes care to organised as good defense as he can. That can be excuse for putting a guard while leaving himself - most of the guards would be on down floors and garden, trying to prevent anyone from going in. )

[Mirach]

"That's why Erdel is with me," Svarik said. "And we should be safe here, right?" he asked, but couldn't help it but feel a little uncertain.

[VisAnastasis]

" You should. Against most supernatural threats, and most humans. But think about it this way - there is lot of extra weird supernatural forces going around, and there are lot of crazy humans like Falcon who would not flinch one bit to climb along facade of a building to kill one person they particularly hate. Night will be his ally, because my human forces are more vulnerable at a time they can't see well and are tired from long day. " Hans replied sensibly. " I will organize a full defense against any possible intruder down - if it's human, it should give him a bloody hard time trying to reach you. If it's not human... There comes in the house - it's magical barriers should alert us, or at least make it very hard for magical intruders to enter. But I would rely on Erdel the most. We can make the defenses such that, once intruder is revealed, he will have very hard time escaping. But in the window between possible attack, relying on someone with super strength and speed is much more desirable than relying on humans or on house programming. "  

[Mirach]

"Before I was a king, they just wanted to capture me. I thought I will be safe from that after becoming one. How silly of me... Now they just want to kill me..." Svarik murmured a bit tiredly, with resignation. 

[VisAnastasis]

" Well, Falcon did say he regularly stops anything shady from happening to you at mansion, and that he had to install special measures to assure your safety additionally while you was, as he said, injured, after coronation. " Hans noticed. " It's nothing new to you, I suppose. We just were not expecting a King, and everyone here loves Sage, so we were not quite prepared for level of security your visit would entail. That is why I am quite happy you've brought protection with you, specially since Tide got so worried about your little baby demon. "

[Mirach]

"Sorry for causing you trouble..." Svarik murmured. "I hoped nobody will recognize me here..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Somebody recognized you even if you died your hair - and it was highly unlikely somebody traced you all the way from capital to here. " Hans summed up. " It can't be helped. You are man of importance. Even if you was no king, but only Falcon's best friend, you would be man of importance, trust me. " Spirit grinned a bit. " None the less, I am the one that should apologize for the inconvenience. I should be protecting you, as your host, and I'm having to inform you about those unpleasantness. Please, don't tell Tide, he wanted to avoid telling you, but I am a little bit wiser, I hope, than keeping you in the dark and counting on luck. It is late already, so I shan't bother you for longer - would you like us to dine now? I can see Tide whistling in his own super excited way as he explains, so it could take him a while. We could leave them some pie when they finish the talk, for later. You should have a fun day tomorrow, still, so you should go have rest, while I organize defense, and Sage finishes up some of my obligations in meantime. "

[Mirach]

"Oh, I almost forgot about the pies! They must be ready by now, I hope somebody took them out of the oven..." Svarik said. "We can have dinner now, if they didn't burn."

[VisAnastasis]

" Something burning in my kitchen? Humbag! " Hans chuckled, acting out an old grumpy voice, as he stood up. " You deem me fool. I told the cook on the way out to take it out in right time. I'll go fetch it. " he bowed dandily, and he indeed did so, and came with two servants, helping him carry the two wonderful tasty pies they made, and the tray with various juices and mead.

[Mirach]

"Speaking about cooks," Svarik said thoughtfully as Hans returned, "don't you know by chance about one who came from the capital? His name is Jake, and is a great cook. Would you knlw if he sought some job in your city?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Sure, Falcon first send him to us, through our witness protection program. Lad wanted a fresh start - we don't ask many questions about Falcon's recommendations. We trust him he knows why certain people want to stay of the grid and that it's for their good. We gave him recommendations for the 4th city, actually. You should have asked, we could have visited today. He works in a mansion of one lord there. I am not sure how long he'll stay at a job - he seemed like a generally tense fellow. I told him to come by if he has any problems or wants recommendation for another job, but it's been two weeks since I send him of, and I somehow don't really have feeling he'll send me a postcard. Looks like a lad that keeps to himself
 and likes to punish himself with solitude, really, despite he's cute. Do you know him well? You should know we helped him change his name legally, so you'd have more trouble finding him under his old name. That's what witness protection program is all about. "

[Mirach]

"He came here? I'm glad, I hoped to find him and didn't know how to do that... Pity I didn't ask sooner, but we can fly to the 4th city tomorrow. "

[VisAnastasis]

" We established protection program with Falcon after we met, me and him, through letters and our influence. He sends us his people that want to start anew here, and we send him our people that want to start anew at capital. We protect his, he protects ours - it's a very helpful system. He directs everyone he sends of to sea at us first, through our trading caravans, so we can do our magic. " Hans replied, none the humbler. " I can give you an address of the palace so you can fly there and recommendation so you'll be allowed entrance. He goes by the more common name out here nowadays, as Meredith. It means *guardian of the sea*. I thought it was quite cool name for a silent guy, so I suggested it while putting him to our system. He looked like Meredith to me, and he agreed to it, saying it's even, as long as it's a common name, bleak, easy to forget and not notice. Quite a nihilist you got out there. I wouldn't say it's bleak, but it's very common here, that's what I told him. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you, it's good that you cooperate with Falcon. I don't know where I would be looking for him otherwise..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I deem that's why he sent you to me. I mean, to *us*. " Hans corrected himself gently. " To inform you of anything shady for general authority. To be honest, I do not tell you this because you are king - but because you're Falcon's friend. If Falcon sent you, then he'd want you to be informed, I deem. " he said, glancing at king with interest in his intelligent eyes, and he cut them all out a piece of pie, and handed them around. " If you have any other questions, please - shoot. I'd be most pleased to answer them now, while Tide is not in the room. We generally don't speak much about business with Tide around. We don't want a lovely thing with his sense of right and wrong to start dealing justice around and get into trouble... He is not exactly born for life of politics. He unapologetically does his own thing. " Spirit smiled faintly, it being a trade that brought trouble, but still, a trait of creature deeply beloved by him.

[Mirach]

"I sometimes feel like that around Falcon," Svarik admitted. "Like I'm just getting into his way and causing worries or troubles..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am sure Falcon appreciates it enough that he is alive and that he can sign laws in your name. " Hans replied cunningly, revealing he knows more than he's leading on about life in capital. " From what my sources tell me, he's been signing laws in your name since pretty much day one. I'd be very happy if I were lord Falcon right now. Such power is certainly worth the extra bother.. But I digress. All fun aside, I really do think he's not doing it for power this time. " Spirit said, leaning back on sofa and biting into delicious pie. " His handwriting was always despicably good, you see. I was so jealous of his classiness. You just couldn't read anything from it. He could be killing people, but his handwriting, man - it was always so beautiful, with such polite classy language. But right after coronation, first letter I got from his was with shakier handwriting, rushed out and angry, and he even called some people *bloody swines* in it. My sources speak he was unavailable and absent from Organisation work for days ever after, mysteriously busy with you. He did not work, he did not reply to my letters for two weeks. " he narrowed his eyes innocently. " That is, like, closest to his earnest friend status you can jump up to in his book. Now, that is some quality Semai material. "

[Mirach]

"You would be the same if Tide got hurt, wouldn't you?" Svarik asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" *Well, I would try to kill the *bloody swines* first, mind you, if I can. It would be least I could do. " Hans added with little, chilly smile, underneath polite demeanor, there being some darkness. " I imagine Falcon desired to kill them as well, but you look like a person that'd mind that. I guess difference from you and Tide is that Tide would not mind it, if it's bad people. He's a little bit less... nuanced... When it comes to anyone causing harm to anyone unfortunate. He hates strong taking it out on the weak and helpless. I would have certainly stopped anything I am doing to look after him, though, yes, you are right. He had always done same for me - I could never return him his love with equal measure otherwise. "