... So what'd I miss?

[galvanizer]

[Here's a voice that hasn't been heard on the network for some time - deep and rich as always, though with a bit of a long-suffering sigh mixed in.]

Sometimes these Trumps make me feel like a toy they like to put away before bringing back out again at random.

Does anyone know how long I was gone this time, and is there anything extreme that I've missed? This is Asaraanda Adaar of Thedas, by the way, for those I haven't yet been able to meet. Easy enough to spot, just look for the giant with the horns.

Comments

[wholeheaded]

[ it's the familiar sitting room, but there's also a stairway up and double doors leading out to... well, through the glass it looks like a rather inviting ornamental garden. meanwhile Ambrose himself is over by the bar cart, grinning.

I promised I would be! Now, are you more in need of proper whisky or haphazardly distilled local liquor?

[galvanizer]

How about we start with the whisky and see where we go from there? [She smiles lopsidedly and approaches Ambrose, doors closing behind her.]<'small>

[wholeheaded]

That I can do. [ and Ambrose offers a glass with ice and a generous pour of brown liquor, inclining his head as she approaches. when she takes it he picks up his own, similar glass and offers it up for a toast. ]

Sorry you're back on this journey but I have to say it's good to see you, Asa.

[galvanizer]

Thanks. [She returns the toast, lightly clinking their glasses together.] At least if I'm going to be thrown back into this mess, it's with good friends.

[wholeheaded]

Exactly. [ he nods and plops onto the most expansive sofa, gesturing for her to join him. ] So you just... wandered off again I guess? I didn't hear about a dungeon.

[galvanizer]

I wasn't in a Dungeon, no. I guess the Trumps decided to put me away for a bit to find some new toys, but at least they didn't keep me in stasis for over 3 years again.

[Settles comfortably on the sofa, bumping her foot to his pointedly.]

So, how have you been?

[wholeheaded]

The Trumps would rather be called the Arcana. [ there's a pause. ] Trumps Trumps Trumps Trumps Trumps.

[ he bumps back, then slides casually to her side because gravity and things. ]

I've... I'm surviving. We revisited a jaunt setting from not long after I began Traveling and. Well. My infiltration married Daneel's infiltration and we're sort of... going with it.

[ he holds up his right hand, the cowrie shell bracelet around his wrist. ]

[galvanizer]

[Her eyes brighten on seeing the bracelet.] Oh! Congratulations, that's beautiful.

[Reaches out to touch the bracelet gently, and then she pauses, glancing up at him.] Does this mean I shouldn't be too cozy with you? [She doesn't sound upset about it, just genuinely curious if it would be more polite for her to lay off whatever this 'arrangement' of theirs was]

[wholeheaded]

[ it's... not something he's thought of very much, honestly, what with her being gone and Nigel's affairs becoming more straightforward and complicated. Ambrose knows this marriage is just for them, impossible in Daneel's home world and far-fetched but tolerable in his own, but in liminal space? relationships among Travelers have always been complicated, so he wants to keep this simple. ]

[ he sets his glass down and curls closer, his smile lopsided. ] We can be cozy as we like, I think. What I feel for you hasn't changed, Asa, and neither has his approval of that.

[galvanizer]

That's... refreshingly good news. [The smile returns and she puts an arm around Ambrose's shoulders, drawing him to her side and giving his head a nuzzle to one side of the zipper.] Thank you. I'm sorry I missed the wedding, infiltrating or no.

[wholeheaded]

It couldn't be helped. [ his eyes drift closed briefly and yes, he is still comfortable here and there is relief in her presence. he hadn't expected that from their first meeting, but... she offers another sort of safe haven, not the same timbre as Daneel's steadfast security but he knows things will be all right with Asa. he kisses her shoulder softly and draws back with a smile. ]

If you want I'll replay the memory, but for now...sorry, I didn't even ask. D'you know which one you spoke with?

[galvanizer]

Strength. Lots of arms on that 'woman', by the way. [A small, wry smile.] She seemed nice enough, for a Trump.

[Then she's glancing over what little of her skin she can see with her usual garb.] No idea where the Mark is, though.

[wholeheaded]

[ Ambrose looks up at her and smiles, slow and steady. ]

Strength suits you, honey. I'm glad you got a nice one.

[ he draws away slightly to survey her, all analytical. ] Right, so. Any idea where we should start? Has the mark on your hand changed at all?

[galvanizer]

[Considering it, she pulls off her gloves and examines her hand, the green Mark of the Rift very much still present, still looking like a strange, glowing fissure on her palm.]

No, that's still the same as ever.

[Turns both hands this way and that to no further marks.]

[wholeheaded]

[ Ambrose takes her hand and studies it, tracing the Mark gently and curiously. ]

Sometimes, I've heard, they like to mess with preexisting decorations. I'm glad they didn't this time. [ and he leans down to press a soft kiss to it. ] Right. Not hands. Arms? Do we want to cut to rest-of-torso?

[galvanizer]

Oh? [Smiling as her fingers curl in to lightly stroke his cheek before he draws away from her hand.] Is that purely for educated curiosity, or just a way to get my top half naked?

[wholeheaded]

[ aha. there's a pause and a tiny flick of eyebrow. ]

Seventy percent the former. Is that acceptable?

[galvanizer]

I think I can live with that.

[wholeheaded]

That's good. [ still, he makes a show of studying her arms and twisting around to get a look at the back of her neck. just in case. ]

[galvanizer]

[Not that there's much to be seen on her arms due to her outfit, but she allows it regardless, smiling and bowing her head forward while sweeping her braids to one side to bare her nape.]

Anything?

[wholeheaded]

[ he peers but... there's nothing. as apology he drop a small kiss at the top of her spine. ]

No. We're gonna need more research.

[galvanizer]

[Long suffering SIGH... that's completely ruined by her grin.] All or nothing, as usual. [So she starts undoing her top, red ropes coming free so she can tackle the actual shirt and whatnot. It eventually leaves her in her chest wrap, the wide band of cloth covering her breasts entirely... though there's a few points of very precise scarring just under her collarbone that definitely wasn't there before she vanished last.]

[wholeheaded]

small>[he twists around to see properly and frowns. the scarring is gently traced with his fingertips but his eyes are on hers, concerned. ] Did Strength do this or.. . what happened?

[galvanizer]

[She glances down at the scarring that leads under her chest wrap.]

It might be the Mark...? Some people were given scars instead of tattoos, right?

[She loosens the wrap enough to let it sag down between her breasts, the mark revealed.]

... I guess it could have been much worse?

[wholeheaded]

...wow.

[ he touches then lion's nose and tilts his head, smiling up at her. ]

Well. Welcome to the chest-Mark club. At least your is symetrical, they know your strength is in your...heart.