As the sheriff and the naked gex stare down, Gank slips into the floor and rises outside. She knocks loudly on the door. "Ma'am, are you okay?" she yells, "You're using an excessive amount of water." The words flow with an odd twang, an errant emphasis, splashing their river.
Tanglepork and Jevoi keep eyes locked. The sheriff then motions with her eyes for Jevoi to answer and fades from sight, her gun still trained on the gex.
D: She could do that?
J: Gnomes are tricky, like short, chaotic elves.
L: They sure are.
J: Mind out of the gutter, Mum.
Jevoi slips back to the shower and quickly turns it off, then loudly rushes to the door. She opens it just a crack and leans to look through. "Sorry," she says to the tentacled cabin boy that she's surprised to see, "I didn't mean to offend, but it's been so long for me. It's so nice and warm."
"Not a problem, Ma'am," says the disguised Gank, "But we do have a sauna and a pool, if that is to your liking."
"I might- might look into that," says Jevoi, "Good-bye."
"By the way," says Gank the cabin boy, preventing the door from closing, "Captain found a bag last night. Might it be yours?"
Jevoi groans slightly in confusion and looks back at the mess Tanglepork made.
"Black leather, likely bigger on the inside?" asks cabin-Gank, "Would you have been on the deck last night?"
"That might be mine..." answers Jevoi slowly, "I'll-"
"It's been placed in the storage vault," interrupts cabin-Gank, "Feel free to retrieve it when it would suit you. Just ask the clerk on staff to assist you." The cabin boy bows and and exits stage left, fading into the floor to return to Jevoi.
"Well, isn't that nice of them, " says the invisible gnome, "You stay here; I'll get that for you."
L: Good thinking, Gank.
G: Thank ya, thank ya. I try my best to keep my house alive.
Gank watches the less-invisible-then-she-thinks gnome leave. When the door closes, she thinks, 'No trick, she actually bought it.'
Jevoi returns to the shower to get dressed. Still under her piled clothes is the bag. And still in the bag are bottles. And still in those bottles is dust. "I need to get this to Loom," she says to no one really, "Then the sheriff is her problem."
Jevoi awakens slowly. Her body greatly resists separation from the bed, adhering itself to it like honey. With considerable effort, she rises.
The cabin's shower is pleasant and its water warm. As she cleans her scales, Gank keeps watch on the cabin. The ship's distractions may not avail the lawgnome's thievish intent.
There had been no disturbances during the night, or whatever could be considered night in space. Does time even flow here in this outer void?
'She's here,' thinks Gank, 'Keep the water on.'
Jevoi slips silently back into the cabin's other room. Despite the door out still being shut, Jevoi can clearly see the gnome searching her things. Naked, but armed, Jevoi sneaks closer.
Tanglepork suddenly turns around, gun drawn. "Walked right into this, Kiddo," she says, "Where's it at?"
"Where's what?" asks Jevoi.
"Don't be coy~, Jevoi~," sings Tanglepork, "The faeriedust: where is it?"
"You think I'm some addict?" snarls Jevoi, still dripping wet, "Why would I have that?"
"You make it?" Tanglepork's voice carries sarcastic confusion. "I'm the one keeping my overzealous deputies from undoing your mommy."
"Cretin," yells Jevoi, "You have done my mum!"
"Every woman in town has done your mommy," Tanglepork rolls her pretty little eyes, "Regardless, you need to pay your taxes~."
"I'm not bribing you," says Jevoi, "How did you even get in here?"
L: I wish.
A: She doesn't pay taxes?
J: That's not- can we focus here?
"I asked Lurentooz for the key." Tanglepork holds up a purple tendril-esque key; it squirms in her hand. "Even out here, the law is abided."
The skeletal remains whirl through the air. Jevoi covers her head with her arms and tries to keep running straight, Tanglepork attempts to evade by zigzaging, and Luminița attempts to swat the flying bones out of the air.
Gank emerges from the ground and slides back into Jevoi. 'Turn around,' she thinks, 'We have to keep her in place.'
'What are we doing?' asks Jevoi, skittering to a stop, 'What's the rest of the plan?'
'Run at her,' thinks Gank, 'Don't stop.'
With a frustrated groan, Jevoi abouts-face. 'Better be a good plan.'
Tanglepork runs past her without a word, but a look that says, 'You're gonna do something stupid, ain't ya?'
'We're sending Grammy back to Hell,' thinks Gank, bringing a subdue soulsight back into Jevoi's eyes, 'When you've got her in the circle, slap that b***h!'
Jevoi can now see Ioana's silhouette in the dust storm and the runes glowing inside the ground, now several meters behind the lycan. "Alright, you old biddy," yells Jevoi, running around along the storm's spin, "You want Ling? Well, I'm at least half Ling."
Ioana howls again. "LING! VENGEANCE!" She twists to pursue Jevoi.
D: Did she anything else? G: Most ghosts form from one extreme desire; they're actually really boring people. D: What was your desire? G: I guess, not die? I'm a special case.
Jevoi stops at the edge of the runic circle and turns toward the storm. She spreads her arms apart, low. "Come on, you broken clock."
The storm escalates in intensity and speed.
Jevoi holds her ground as Ioana approaches, Tanglepork and Luminița far away in the dark, then just as the ghost hovers inside the circle, she slaps it. "Go to Hell, fur-hag!"
The magic of the runes opens a gate under the ghost and forms a barrier around Jevoi. The gate begins sucking with far greater force than Ioana's storms, pulling her in. So too are the bones dropped like water in a drain. But the gate doesn't close; it keeps sucking. Tanglepork and Luminița are pulled into it.
Luminița digs her claws into the ground, clutching desperately to survive. Tanglepork snags the lycan's leg; her screams inaudible over the rushing wind.
Jevoi hops out of the bubble protecting her and grabs Luminița's arm.
'What are ya doing?' thinks Gank.
'She has my tome,' thinks Jevoi, 'The whole reason we're here!"
"I've got you," Jevoi attempts to say, but her voice is sucked away by the wind. Jevoi, unfortunately, would not be strong enough to lift Luminița in normal conditions, nor combat the vortex, so attempting both only has one reasonable outcome: down the drain.
Keeping her eyes on the gnome's soul, Jevoi slips out of her cloak and slowly crawls along the ground. She creeps around to the side of the old home.
L: I reckon, ya were still dressing like I had at that age. J: You dressed as a rogue to hide your wizardry; I dressed as one because I was one. We are not the same. L: And the wig? J: It's a good wig; it fits the outfit.
Jevoi spots a broken window, but feels Gank pulling her away. The shattered glass could hurt or, more importantly, make noise.
'Up,' thinks Gank, 'No one ever looks up.'
Unfortunately, Jevoi's boots prevent her from climbing the surface as fast or quietly as she could, so she continues around the house toward the backdoor.
L: And that's why we don't wear shoes, Dalini. J: You can fly, Mum.
Jevoi can see the soul of Tanglepork also approaching the house from the other side. She remains perfectly still, waiting for her target to approach. The ecstasy of an assassin, the eyes of a monster.
G: Rude. Those are my eyes.
Tanglepork slowly enters the open door frame and sneaks into the house with her weapon drawn. Jevoi sneaks in behind her as she enters into another room on a collision course with Luminița.
Carefully, Jevoi draws a knife from her side. It's sleek, sharp blade is etched with a vampiric rune and it's been far too long since she's had a chance to feed it. The black hilt is almost invisible in the dark forest home. Jevoi brings the knife into attack position; her heart beating rapidly, she slips closer to her target.
L: We heard it before: ya wanted to be an assassin. J: If you're going to force me to listen to your tangents about women; you should allow the same for my weapons.
The three women, all ready to strike, were getting dangerously close together. One must wonder who would strike first. None would suspect who it would be.
As Tanglepork enters the room Luminița hides in, Jevoi lunges for her. The lycan leaps out of her position at the gnome, who attempts to fire her gun, but her aim is thrown off by the floor collapsing beneath her. The other two fall in immediately after.
J: It was about twelve years ago. L: After that cult nonsense. J: Yes, Mum. One story at a time.
A lanky black-cloaked figure walks alone down a dreary forest path. The path is old and seldom used. The sun overhead shines upward illuminating the other side of the world, reflecting back down far dimmer and weak enough to blocked by the few clouds. The noises of the forest sing: the breeze through the trees, the chirping of bugs, the hooting of an owl, and the howling of wolves in the distance. The figure marches forward, boots stomping on dirt, as her mind wanders.
L: I figured. It's when you ran away from home again. J: Let me tell the story, Mum.
The trail leads to an abandoned home. Years of neglect have let nature tear it down. It's roof has largely collapsed, it's door broken open, and the tell-tale signs of animals litter the property.
A figure cloaked in red waits by the broken door. As the other figure approaches, she growls, "Are you looking for trouble?"
"I have seen enough of it," answers the first.
The figure inside leans her muzzle out and says, "Set them down there."
"Tome first," says the one outside.
"That's not how this works," growls the one inside, "You put them down and I'll tell you where your d**n book is."
"I'm not putting it down," says the one outside in a matching tone, "Until you prove the tome is here."
"Maybe you can just give them to me then?" asks a dainty, third voice from the trees.
"Were you followed, d******e?" yells the voice in the house.
"You really think I didn't know about your granny's old house, Luminița?" asks the voice in the woods, "You, in the black, let me see what you've got there. It's nothing illegal, is it?"
"Of course not," says the black-cloaked, "There's nothing illegal in these woods, Sheriff."
"True that," says the voice in the woods and then a gunshot rang out. The black-figure fell to the ground. "Shame your mommy couldn't bail you out tonight, Jevoi."
D: GASP! Is that how you died? J: I didn't die. L: Tanglepork? Hmm. J: Yes, Sheriff Tanglepork.
Jevoi remains still on the ground. Gank's ghastly hand gently places the bullet onto the ground and her eyes envelop Jevoi's. She can see the soul of a gnome hiding amongst those of the trees, sneaking toward the house.
"You want to run~, Loomy~?" asks Tanglepork, singsongly, "You can try~eye~!"
Jevoi can see the soul of a large bipedal wolf lurking in the house, poised to strike.
The dining hall is a grand display: many lengthy tables, elaborate chandeliers, fancy crystal 'candles', and cushioned chairs. Jevoi sits at the head of the table with Angustias on her right. Dalini sits on the left with an unimpressed Ling beside her.
Ling looks down the table into the empty room. "Where's the rest of them?" she asked.
"We're eating earlier than usual," says Jevoi, "I don't want to overwhelm Dalini."
"Don't want to be seen with me," accuses Ling, "Or want my eyes on ya?"
Before Jevoi can respond, a chime rings out and four covered plates float to the table.
"Eh, what's this display for?" asks Ling, "Why not some bloke?"
Jevoi pauses, as if realizing something, but disregards it.
The group uncover their food: Angustias has massive steak, Jevoi and Dalini have fruit salads with snails, and Ling has a large insect.
"Dire roach!" says Ling, "Ripper, the lobster of land." She breaks off a leg and begins sucking the meat out.
Dalini begins scooping fruit into her mouth by hand.
"Use a spoon, please," says Jevoi, pointing to the by Dalini's bowl, "It's rude to use your hands like that, Dalini."
"Okay," says Dalini, picking up the spoon and carefully trying to pick up the pieces.
"The fork may be more useful," says Angustias, cutting up the meat before her.
As Dalini stabs a strawberry, she asks, "So how did you meet?"
Jevoi swallows a bite of food and coughs. "That's- that's a bit of a story."
"We got time, Jevoi," says Ling, cracking open the roach's carapace, "And we got a third witness here too."
Gank briefly flickers behind Jevoi with a malicious grin, as Jevoi sighs. "I suppose we shouldn't keep it a secret."
"Wait," says Jevoi, standing, "Are you telling me that we only started hanging out because my mum was paying you?"
Gank floats up to Jevoi, mimes the act of putting an arm over her shoulders, and laughs, "Ya think I was your friend immediately after I knocked ya out?" As Jevoi's face falls, Ganks continues, "I think ya know exactly when we became friends."
A little laugh comes out of Jevoi. "I think I do."
"Ripper," says Ling, "Now ya can leave."
"Do you think I'm going to leave just because we told a few stories?" asks Jevoi, stepping toward Ling.
"Do ya think I'm letting her leave just 'cause we did?" asks Ling, remaining on her chair.
"Family drama," mutters Gank, "I'm out." The ghost fades back into Jevoi's body.
"Why can't we go, Nana Ling?" asks Dalini, "I want to know what's going on."
Ling grimaces, then sighs. "I suppose," she says, looking at Jevoi, "That's really the only way forward."
"Great," says Jevoi, opening a magic gate beside her, "Come along then. You're going to love this, Dalini; I have so much to show you." She looks at Ling, who is slowly standing, and says, "And you too, Mum. Much to show you."
Dalini hops over to the door and Ling stumbles toward it. The wizard takes one last look at the ruins of her old home before following her family through the portal.
The three geckos remain sitting around the old brick house. The empress on her conjured throne, her daughter on the conjured stool, and her mother, the wizard, on her molded dirt chair.
"So, what happened next?" asks Dalini, "What did Gank do?"
Ling tips the brim of her violet wizard hat up to eye her daughter. "Yeah," she asks in a mock tone, "Who can continue the yarn?"
Jevoi rolls her eyes, "Oh, that would be-"
"ME!" yells a specter bursting out of Jevoi's body. The ghost of a four-armed lizard woman leaps into Dalini's face.
"A GHOST!" shrieks Dalini, running out of the room, crying.
"Gank!" yells Jevoi, "You said you were going to do something cool."
"That was cool," says Gank, floating back to Jevoi, "Look."
The adults peer over to Dalini hiding behind the doorframe. The young gecko is shivering in her tattered brown dress.
"No, Gank," says Jevoi, "What would have been cool was you saying, 'Hey,' from the doorway or while sitting next to her. Walking up from the wrong angle. We've been over this."
"I saw an opportunity and I took it," says Gank, crossing all of her arms smugly.
"Gank?" asks Dalini, slowly sneaking back to the group, "You're her friend?" Dalini looks the ghastly charda up and down. "Are you dead? ...Are you my other mother?"
"Yes. Yes," Gank says with a nod, "And NO." Firm head shake. "Your mom's already told you where she is. D'ya forget?"
"Why were you in my mum?" ask Dalini.
"That's where she lives now," says Ling. She waves to Gank, "How's unlife in my daughter treating ya? Speaking of, how's the missus feel 'bout it? Sharing her wife's a**e?"
"This is not an appropriate topic," says Jevoi, raising her hands in offense, "For several reasons, Mum."
"Same old, same old, Doc. Ling," says Gank, "And that's not a problem since-"
"STOP!" says Jevoi, clamping Gank's ghost mouth shut, "We're not talking about this!" She points at Ling. "You are the worst."
"So, what happened when you beat up my mum?" asks Dalini, now on the stool again.
"Yes, continue the story," says Jevoi, sitting down, "Please, anything else, right now."