3/6/2003

01:58 AM

Logfile from Ichijin.

 

Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1

Mahogany is prevalent, drawing along the dramatic lines of this rather swanky penthouse. Opening into the outer hallway is a pair of double doors, raised upon a couple of steps before the sunken front area. With expansive wood floors and vaulting ceiling, the space afforded is extraordinarily luxurious.  Even more impressive is the view granted by the panel windows that look out onto a wide balcony dressed with topiary and the spread of Manhattan.

Within, there is a grouping of leather couches rather close to a fireplace and just off to the side of an open bar area. Further along and closer to the windows is a long dining table rimmed with high-backed chairs as off to the left leads to the kitchen. On to the right is a set of stairs that lead up towards a loft that overlooks the entire area. Over all, there is an almost impersonal aura to the place, with no personality other than what the interior decorator left it with.

Obvious exits:

Exit   Loft

 

The kitten, Jaki, has followed gamely where his mistress goes, including to the strange, plush apartment. Despite having slept for a couple days with the barest of movements - never give a kid a concussion - the girl Aubrey has finally awakened, tending first and foremost to the nasty bruise at her temple. A few murmured words and a silvery glow later, she is back to normal, and wandering around with wide, perceptive eyes, going through papers and personal effects alike.

 

Sebastian portals in from work, as her usual. Again, much more convenient than via ground transportation, or even a short hop via helicopter. He negligently waves a hand behind him, only to view a now rather cluttered apartment. Well, at least with Lexie gone there aren't guns laying about. "Hello."

 

"Ni how," Aubrey answers, as she distractedly flips through a set of what may or may not be financial reports. "I mean, hi. Your name is Sebastian Davis?" she asks, brow rising in mild interest. It seems that when she's not unconcious or being threatened, she's actually rather polite, an Asian brand of respect for elders hardwired into the main body of her training. "My name is Aubretia Kincaid, but Aubrey works just fine. I suspect you live here?"

 

Sebastian watches the girl for a long moment before moving forward, and eyeing that kitten. If it isn't a dog, it has to be a cat. Tomorrow, a wayward oni is going to show up with a hamster. It would be fitting. "Yes, that it is... Well, Aubretia Kincaid, it is nice to know that you are now with the living. Care to explain yourself?"

 

Aubrey bows formally - after, of course, an initial check of Sebastian's chi. "I am Karashoumon, a servant of Sungnocha, hearkening from the Cult of the Waning Moon, outcast from China to Taiwan. I have been specially trained all my life to fight for the forces of the Yin. It was only before I fell unconscious that I learned of the infidel." Oh yes, she just had to be a religious nut. Then again... they're all pretty much religious nuts. "I was sadly uninformed of the situation, when a purple-haired woman smacked me in the head. I am displeased with my ineptitude, but now as I am better informed, plan to make it up to my god and my fellow warriors." She pauses, staring up at the man with nearly matching looks as the guy she had enslaved before. Hrm. "Was this explanation sufficient?"

 

"It'll do," Seb muses, watching her with that ever-unemotional gaze. "Sungnocha?" Even better. He must call up Mrowen soon here. Very soon. "There is another of your god here in this city. Akusui, she is called. I'll help you get into contact with her as soon as possible." He eyes her for another long moment, moving around the seating area and towards her. "Care explaining what exactly you were trying to do... to the... infidel?"

 

The kitten paws at Aubrey's leg, and the girl lifts the small body to her shoulder. "I suppose your namesake isn't here yet, Jaki. Ahh well." She blinks rather owlishly at Sebastian, then says, wincing, "Well, I hadn't known that we had had an enemy. I approached the most powerful person in the city that I could find, but he refused to speak to me immediately. I merely thought he was withholding information because he was weak and had fallen prey to the corrupt and idiotic humans of the world. So I was going to take him away and question him fully, but he was very big and I - being the child that I am - am still very small. So I cast a spell, thinking that, since we were both fighting to rid the world of soulless sinners, that he would forgive me in the long run." See? She's got logic...

 

Sebastian stares at Aubrey, and then stares at her a little longer. It is during this time of staring that a hand lifts up to at first rub at his brow before moving back to comb fingers through his hair. "Clearly your... Cult of the Waning Mood did not tell you that besides Yin, there are those that are associated with Yang in this world as well?" This one is going to be a problem, along with the rest. "Well, I certainly hope that Kourin knocked some sense into your head when she hit you, because what you did was insanely stupid. Then again, I should not be all that surprised considering... And if Nicholas forgives you... well, we shall see, won't we?"

 

Karashoumon

A cool blend of different flavors in the universal frame and build of childhood: she's all sharp angles, short height, wide features, with the barest beginnings of escape forming around her athletically lean build. Hair is a mass of ash-blonde, shining full and thick. While the shape of her face, from high cheekbones to pointed chin, has a distinctly Chinese taste, the bright blue eyes - with the barest touches of moonlight-silver slivers within - cannot be anything but pure Western culture. The tiny frame is efficiently packed with slim muscle beneath skin that is an odd compromise between two different shades of pale.

Silvery silk ensures that movements are agile and free, shimmering down to her wrists and ankles and concealing the fighter's bandages she has wrapped tightly around forearms and calves. Even her feet are covered in matching slippers; the only divergent part of her ensemble is a vest of soft black leather bearing a strange embroidered insignia, long flaps protecting her legs without restricting them. It is belted primly at the waist, and at either hip she has shoved two sai, totaling four. Hair is bound in two thick pigtails with bands of cloth, trailing down her back.

On her shoulder, claws gripping into the leather, is perhaps the most unusual sight: a small Tonkinese kitten, with a collar and tags.

Karashoumon appears to be 12 years, 3 months, and 4 days old.

She is awake, but has been staring off into space for 9 minutes.

 

Aubrey frowns defensively, her brows pressing together across her forehead. "The Cult has had a longstanding tradition in Yin magic, martial arts, and poetry. Yes, I do understand the presence of Yang, but they were represented in my country by the Emperor. We lived in harmony, until the Opium Wars began. The perseverance of the Yin and destruction of the Forbidden City is an omen of our rising. I had not realized that the gods would wish us to be at odds, since all their servants are suffering." The frown deepens dramatically, and she takes a step back. "Kourin was the purple-haired woman? I do not think that misinformation equates to stupidity. As for her, she will be the first that I shall kill, for my injury, and her honorless attack. Who was the strumpet that headlocked me, by the way?"

 

Sebastian looks bored quite often, but now he is managing to surpass all previous bored appearances. At the end of her story, the man moves to cross his arms over his chest, watching Aubrey with an almost expectant expression. "Kourin is not to be touched, unless it is by my leave. And if the woman had not knocked you unconscious, you would be dead, child. In fact, I rather applaud the woman's reaction to /not/ kill you, when she should have had every right to do so. And the strumpet... I must assume to be Lexie. Your miko."

 

Aubrey takes a couple steps back from the man, and hands become a blur as two of the sai are whirled into her fists, rendering the girl armed and dangerous. "Why? Are you in league with them?" Her lip curls upwards, a look of utter disgust on her face. "It seems that everywhere I look is corruption. Senseless sun gods, blinded by their own glory, and the deceivers, deceived. You are just as dirty as my father must have been. Perhaps I shall kill you instead of him." Yes, let's forget our primary objectives, Aubrey... Vengeance and redemption are supposed to come /second/ to world domination.

 

Sebastian watches her as calmly as before, although now his hands aren't so conveniently crossed any more. He seems to sigh though, "You are new, and for that I will forgive you for your impertinence, child. But this will be the only time. And so, I shall explain things slowly to you. My entire existence is to serve my god, and for you to question if I am in league with them is an insult of the gravest sort. I will not explain my actions to you, or my association with that of members of the Yang. I have my reasons. Question me again, and you will be taught a lesson."

 

"Then we are at an understanding," Aubrey says quietly. "My life has been devoted to Sungnocha, from when I was bound to my mother's womb. I did not intend to insult you, or accuse you of bad faith, Sebastian Davis. I know that you speak the truth, so I will ask you to empathize with me. I am twelve years old, and since I have been sent out on my mission, have been told I have an enemy to my lifelong cause, and have had my priestess headlock me so that I could be struck unconscious. I apologize if I seem suspicious, but America has not given me too kind a welcome." A smooth movement thrusts her sai back into her belt, and she cups a small fist in her head, bowing formally.

 

Sebastian cants his head just a tad to the side as she speaks, not quite looking at her sideways but it is close. "You seem to be rather insistent upon your age, child, but I will put that into consideration. Perhaps... next time you might consider thinking, or possibly just staying home, instead of leaping into situations without thinking. One would assume strategy would be a part of your teachings, but I must have been mistaken." He /really/ needs to get her handed off to Morwen, and soon. "I accept your apology, and I also ask of you to please try to use more restraint."

 

Aubrey glares at Sebastian. "I have no home. I was sent unto this place to perform my duty, in the ways I had been trained. We are warriors, are we not? Until I found Nicholas and the others in that cafe the other day, I had no clue if fellow warriors even existed, merely that some catastrophe had happened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Going there, and finding nothing, I had no people to latch onto." Awww, look at those big, wide eyes. "Restraint in what? So that we may fraternize with the enemy?" If he's going to make her apologize to Nicholas, she ain't going near the guy. He's one scary mofo!

 

Sebastian peers across at her, still looking not all that relenting. "Yes, a 'catastrophe'. Rather intriguing that was. Quite a few of us were there... along with that fellow that you tried your trick on. He helped to create it. We all did." He sighs though, shaking his head from side to side. Chibi eyes do not work on this one. "Until such time as Morwen can be contacted, I might allow you to remain here. /Might/. But only if I get assurances that you will abide by my rules and will behave." Another sigh. "Restraint in your actions. And in associating with the enemy, one can learn much. This is obvious."

 

"I'll behave!" There is, however, a reason why Aubrey's called Empty Promise, and she doesn't need spell casting to prove it. She does keep up the Sad Chibi act, her lower lip slowly edging out. "But... I didn't even know there /was/ enemy. I thought it would just be a revolution. If you could give me profiles on all of the Yang that you know, that would probably be much more beneficial to me, since I can only detect if they have power or not. This place reeks of it," is an added comment, though her tone borders on approval.

 

Ever feel like the Yin babysitter? Seb has been for quite some time now. "Well, now you do know and you are the wiser for it? I can give you profiles, yes, of those that I know are around of the Yang. It is not complete. Although I'm still hesitant..." A slight frown, "That is because there are three of us here. Well, two... besides you, I rarely see the other one." Too busy trying to get busy with the Byakko no miko.

 

Aubrey nods her head solemnly, smirking gently. "Why hesitate? We are of the same side, are we not? Anything I do is solely to the Yin's benefit, and if there is anything you need assistance in, I can be of service. I'd like to think I'm very useful." If not too strategic. Boo hoo. "Oh, I forgot! This is Jaki," she says, introducing the kitten with a flourish. "I am the void. When my opposite, the spirit, comes to replace my kitten, I will fall in love with him and live happily ever after!" Perk perk.

Sebastian would twitch visibly if he had it in him. Luckily he doesn't. "Sounds like a wonderful bedtime story," he murmurs, not doing all that well in humoring her. "They are in my office, and I will have to locate the files correctly... can you ward?" Because if so, he is going to put her to work to earn her keep.

 

"Yessir. Not traditional, powerful wards, but I can add my own flavor to them," Aubrey answers promptly, touching fingers to her sai for comfort, then twisting her head curiously at Sebastian. "Now that you mention it, I've a question for you... Um, your middle name is Montgomery. Was that, perchance, your father's name?"

 

The strategist in him is already plotting possibilities. "You'll have to tell me precisely what you can do, besides ambush fellow sorcerers, especially this flavor." Sebastian is already glancing away, more to looking out the window as she asks her next question. He responds with a vague and echoing, "Perchance." His attention is a bit more centered on other things.

 

"Just a bit of sorcery, so long as you don't gag me," Aubrey answers. "But mostly I manipulate people into thinking what I want them to think. So if I weave something subtle into a normal ward, it will be a little more effective than straight magic." Ahh, the science of metaphysics. The girl catches up easily, tugging impatiently at Sebastian's sleeve. "It's /important/."

 

Sebastian's attention eventually drifts right on back to Aubrey, frowning just the slightest. "I'll have to actually see that in action." But not working on him, thank you very much. The last thing he needs is more messing around his that head of his. The tugging earns something of a smirk, "What is important? Yes. Montgomery. Now quiet, child."

 

"Where is he now?" The words are accompanied by an all too anime sound, the ringing metal of any weapon being put into action. If there's one thing that Aubrey is defensive about, her mother is it. As focused as she is on her job, there's nothing like being able to discover her long-lost father. She just wants to make him a little more lost.

 

"Blasted into non-existance, or a million particles, take your pick," Sebastian answers rather blithely. But in the next breath he is glaring down at her. "Whyever is there the need for this questioning, child? Is there something of purpose you seek here, because if this is idle intent it will stop now. I'll not be badgered while you remain here by my grace."

 

Aubrey blinks at Sebastian curiously, her brow furrowed. "You did it?" she whispers, big blue eyes welling with tears. Brace yourselves, folks: this is going to be the weirdest temper tantrum ever. "He raped my mom! I was gonna avenge her and send her his nads as a birthday gift! You ruined all of my plans!" she whines, pouting, the sai resting idly in her hands as she whimpers.

 

Sebastian is smoothing out any wrinkles in his suit coat left by the girl's fingers, only to narrow a glance at her next words. "I should say so. I suppose you could call it my baptismal moment, if we really must." His frown disappears in the next moment, only to stare at the girl rather coldly. "Well, I'm sorry to ruin your plans, my dear, but these things happen. Please give my deepest sympathies to your mother for having to endure the pain of the man. Always did just take what he wanted, and be damned all else."

 

Aubrey was never too good at that two and two thing. Eventually, though, she comes up with four, and her eyes widen. "Wait," she murmurs, her mouth widening at Sebastian, eyes going bright and blue. Kitten evacuates just in time, before Aubrey vaults herself at the man, going for clingage whereever she can get her little hands. "That means you're my half-brother! And you'll take care of me and give me candy and toys and goofy smiles. Right? Right?" Do you really want to disappoint a powerful armed sorceress?

 

Sebastian is doing an excellent job of scowling, and looking aloof. The usual. But then he is attacked. Normally, he is pretty good about this sort of thing, mostly escaping. If he was really well prepared, he would have already had a portal handy to fall through. Although, he doesn't. And so the man is falling back a few places, catching the back of his legs on one of those plush leather seats, and promptly falling over. "I'm your /what/?!"

 

"Weeeell," Aubrey begins, still attached to Sebastian with a vengeance, "if Mongomery Davis was your father, and the same Montgomery Davis who ran Davis Industries was mine, then the math adds up - we're half-siblings. I could look inside your head to check, but do I seem far off?" She does share the same hair, the same slender build. "Ooh, and watch." Clearing her throat, she lets her eyes smooth over, icy and impassive - it's a pretty good impression, all things told.

 

Sebastian is draped over the seat, with the girl over him. Of all the uncomfortable situations that he has had to endure since coming to this city, this would have to be one of the worst. He stares at her, not looking all that 'impassive' at the moment. Maybe a little horrified as the emotional lock-box cracks just a bit. "No, that's quite alright," he is immediately mumbling, gaze searching the girl. "Well, I suppose... Oh dear, Homasubi... Sungnocha..." No, will not question the will of the gods. Never do that. But still! "That was rather good." He slumps, apparently giving in. "It is a distinct possibility."

 

Aubrey holds a finger up and solemnly intones, "Daddy must've been more potent than he thought, or just fated to screw himself over via his progeny. Sadame," she says, smirking. "Fate." The little girl is turning out to be quite the linguist, and has not yet even pulled out her big guns. Her voice deepens as she becomes serious, her lips pursing. "Or maybe the gods were searching for a connective between the factions. I take it that you are not as bonded as you could be, even between your own clan." She raises an eyebrow at Sebastian, then mewls, curling up into him. "Hee! Brother!" she coos, then falls soundly asleep.

 

Sebastian is in hell. Granted, some oni might rather enjoy being in such a place, but where Seb is at right now is in no way a welcome place. But, she is thankfully falling asleep, even if it is atop him. Curling up?  "Homasubi..." he murmurs softly. Should have just stayed in Cape Town. But being the good aniki that he is, or through necessity, he is gathering her up to take back to one of the bedrooms.

 

Aubrey is sleeping, but Jaki is not, doing that malicious cat thing of winding in between Seb's ankles en route. Hell! Yay!