Utena yawns and sits up from the bed, giggling softly. Gets .. well.  
'dressed' and primps in the mirror just a little, humming a faint nothing
of a tune. In good spirits- though heading to a place like Evilania isn't
exactly a pleasure trip... it's going to be different than LAST TIME.

Xelloss snores. z.z Tuckered out. You really must have drained his
energy..  one of the things about the world of dreams, it can be
unpredictable, sometimes. (But not unpleasant, it seems.)

Utena pulls away from the mirror and looks down. So cute when he's
sleeping like that.. she wanders over, brushing her finger along his nose
and kissing quietly. "It's probably better." She giggles. "Otherwise you
wouldn't even let me out of the house like this... sleep well." She yawns
a little and turns to go.

*ding dong* Xelloss doesn't wake up. He's too out to hear.

Utena?'s and frowns a little, drawing back, and striding easily down the
hallway and away from the stairs, to the door. Opens it a little and
peeks.  o.O

Some lanky teenager in a uniform is there. "Delivery, ma'am? From a.. Ms.
Logos?" He holds up a small box.

Utena blinks. "Oh." She nods, and opens the door more fully, forgetful
that she's currently underdressed by just about ANY standards. Smiles
sweetly.

The guy's eyes bug out and he starts to get a nosebleed. O.O; Holds out a
clipboard shakily. "S-s-s-sign here, ma'am.."

Utena grins softly, taking the board. "Sorry. I'm getting ready to go
somewhere." She writes her name and hands it back, if he can stop shaking
enough. Blushes a little.

The guy makes a few swipes at the clipboard before finally grabbing it.
Then he hightails it. O.O (And vanishes. Did Reason open a portal just for
him to come here? Or is he dreaming being here at her request?)
...regardless, the small box has a note attached.

Utena takes the box and peers at the note. Hm... strange.

'Utena -- a little something I've had for awhile. It should make your trip
easier. Flip it until it comes up heads to use.' In the box is.. it's not
a medallion, but it's larger than a coin. Has some arcane writing on it,
and what looks like a train of cars.

Utena scratches her head a little. "What the hell..?" Turning it around in
her hands... then shrugs some and tosses it up into the air, watching the
light play off its edge.

The coin lands back in your hand.. and comes up heads. A portal opens,
like the blue portal to the world of dreams.. but it's green. Weird.

Utena slips the coin away into a hidden pocket inside her boot and hms...  
green portal? She leans forward, poking her head through it a little to
see what's waiting on the other side.

VOOP -- on the other side is a dimly lit room, with plenty of bright neon
to outline it.. a machine in the center, a glowing platform connected to a
small terminal, and a large map of the world nearby. What IS this thing?

Utena steps through, and as the portal closes down behind her she boggles,
heels tapping against the floor. Not a CLUE, really... her eyes get big as
she gives it her best to figure out it... drawing out the token and
looking at it again. Train cars... some kind of transport?

The language doesn't help; it's not even remotely close to what you know.
Some ancient civilization? A magical one, if this place is any indicator.
The terminal at the platform just has one large button, though.. with a
simple ideograph on it. 'Push'?

Utena mutters softly, "I have a headache." As she gazes around the
equipment. Is it a good idea to go around randomly pushing buttons? She
hems and haws and leans on a console and looks at the world map and grins
sheepishly, and hmms and haws and hems some more... Well, what the hell.  
She strides over to the platform, tucking the coin away again, and presses
that nice big button that seems to say push.

BLOOP. A ghostly person stands across the way.. a young man, maybe a
little older than you, in wizard's robes... and speaks in a language you
have no hope of understanding. Then looks at you expectantly for a
response.

Utena eheh's softly. *sweatbead*. Offers a nervous little smile and
responds, "Evilania?" in a questioning manner. Of course, for all SHE
knows he's telling her the mysteries of the universe, a really good
casserole recipe, or telling her to take off all her clothes and prepare
to be boarded... but... the coin did show transport...

The figure pauses. Then speaks. "Dialect adjusted -- central continent
newspeak. Repeating message. Hello, I'm Merlin Giga, and welcome to the
Sub Way. Please state commant." command.

Utena COUGHS and falls into the floor. *WHAM* Merlin GIGA?? As... in...
X.x She stands up and rubs the back of her head and grins weakly. "Uhm. I
want to travel to Evilania..." Pauses a breath.. ".. please?" n.n

Giga blinks. "Evilania is not a known destination." Pause. "Internal dates
show approximately four hundred years since previous use. Chances are high
that geographical labels have changed since database was last updated."

Utena says, "f... four.." Utena TWITCHES. "Okay. Let's try this again...  
uhm." She thinks HARD and tries to remember when Xel showed her Evilania
on the map before they went the FIRST time... "How do... ah!" She thinks
for a moment and reaches into the air and plucks the map she borrowed from
Love into her hands. Shows it to Giga. "Scan this. New labels."

Giga puts on a pair of reading glasses, and squints. "Scanning. New labels
acquired. Eviliana corresponds to Evilland in Sub Way database. Is this
your intended destination?" (Boy, you'd think in 400 years they'd have
thought of a more original name for the damn country..) They're EVIL. They
don't want to THINK...

Utena nods. "That's the place..." She tucks away the map.. somewhere. Best
not to ask where or how. *crinkle*

A chair forms out of the floor.. a comfortable looking one. "Thank you.
Please have a seat, and fasten safety belt for transport."

Utena blinks again, and sits, crossing a knee over the other, and looks
for and finds the belt. Sits nice and straight and smiles brightly and
hopes this thing doesn't kill her... ehehe. n.n;

WHUM... you can feel acceleration. Although in what direction and how
fast, you don't know...

Giga says, "Our time of arrival is estimated at ten minutes. Would you
like a refreshing beverage, snack or in-travel magazine? Do you have any
questions?" Utena ghs softly, and uhms.. hands digging into the arms of
the chair...  ".. What is this... uhm, sub way? Are you ... you're not
real, are you?"

Giga nods. "This is only a simulated astral projection, to provide an easy
to use interface to the Sub Way. It is based on Merlin Giga, the system's
creator. You may wish to visit the Great Library in Evilania and read the
biography 'Merlin Giga : Last of
 the Red Hot Thaumatological Hackers' for more information. This is the
Sub Way, a transportational aid linking most major countries and cities
together."

Utena. o O ( But it hasn't been used in 400 years... ) She looks over the
projection, curiously. "Are you an image of the -same- Merlin Giga that
created the Giga spells..?"

Giga nods. "That is correct."

Utena suddenly has a LOT of questions. But probably no time to ask them
all. She just gazes on the figure, taking in details and feeling a bit of
a shiver down her spine.. a remnant ghost of someone gone, speaking with
his voice and wearing his features.. like Dios was...

The acceleration.. stops. Ooogh, stomach.

Giga says, "We have arrived at the destination. Please use the green
portal on your right, and thank you for using the Sub Ways."

A green portal opens, just beyond the platform.

Utena brushes her gloved fingers over her abdomen. Yurgh. But probably
less dangerous than nudging in Paradox's fashion. She unfastens herself
from the seat and stands, wobbling a little.. nodding as she moves toward
the green portal and steps through. Can't deny that's both scary and just
a little creepy, too..

...especially since you arrive in a dank, scum soaked alley between two
disreputable buildings in the part part of town and the bad part of the
country... but that's actually normal here, isn't it? Rats look at you and
scurry away.

Utena laughs. The whole COUNTRY is the bad part of town.. sucks in the
rancid air and smiles some. Time to let the Mazoku blood play a little..  
it's like playing a part, really... takes another breath to get herself
pumped up... then just walks right on out, wearing this dark little 'mess
with me and I rip your intestines out with my little finger' sort of
smile.  It's not something she has to really fake.. letting even that tiny
amount of Mazoku blood out of its cage to play... well. Heh. The question
is, in a vile armpit of a place like this, where the hell would someone as
morose as Loathing hide himself?

It's a good thing you're wearing that expression. It's familiar; the other
people loitering around you and skulking (it's like walking, but eviller)
have expressions like 'mess with me and I rip your intestines out with my
thumb' and 'with a pair of sciss ors' and one guy even has 'with a spoon'.
He looks especially mean. Hmm. Well, where Loathing is is a harder task.
You might not even be in the right part of the country, for that..

Utena gazes around while sauntering. Sick and twisted and so extremely
STUPID it's really kind of laughable... it makes her smile more, that
Akio-on-a-blood-high sort of smile. She doesn't really feel conflict with
this and her 'usual' self... cat's out of the bag. But dammit, this gets
OLD after a while. And so there's a little hint of irritation in her eyes
too. He's probably drinking himself into a miserable stupor and whining
somewhere. Maybe that Troll's Head Inn place... hm. Where IS she, anyway?

I don't know, but maybe you can ask the guy that's on fire over there
running around screaming.

Utena checks- does he have a duck on his shoulder? She could only HOPE.

Looks at him to hear what he's screaming about exactly- or is it just
'help me help me I'm burning up' which should be obvious to even an
untrained observer like herself?

Yeah, it's something along the lines of 'oh god oh god it hurts oh god it
burns'. Then he stops screaming because he's collapsed to the street and
is just crisping over. But you can tell he came from a nearby building
that's gone up in flames. A few peopl e watch, but nobody mvoes to help;
that would be a good thing to do.

Therefore, Utena doesn't either. But she watches. Anyone stupid enough to
get caught in a burning building here... well, she shakes her head and
feels sorry, but tough break. She feels a momentary ping of guilt about
that and stuffs it away- or rather, it
 gets eaten. This is not the place for that kind of sentiment- not unless
SHE feels like getting set on fire too.

You overhear a pair of evil people chatting. "Third time this month, isn't
it?" "Yeah. He must be really upset." "You sure it's him?" "Uh-huh. I
checked, his mark was on the street. Low body count, though, there were
only three people inside." "Maybe he's
 losing his edge."

Utena hms. Mark on the street? She looks, while crossing her arms over her
chest and enjoying the nice warm fire against the appallingly dead and
lifeless and sticky air. Why does she have this sudden wish for
marshmellows?

The pair continue. "I don't know if you should say that aloud, sis. He
could be anybody." "What makes you think he's a he? She could be a she."
"Come on, some chick couldn't be the hottest sensation in mass murder.
They don't have the stomach forAAGHHGHHH GH"

The man runs off with a knife on his stomach.

His sister hmphs. "Crybaby." She leans against the nearby building and
resumes loitering.

Utena giggles, amused. "Nice move." She comments idly, while still
examining the building.

The girl hmphs. Surveys your outfit, which isn't much different from hers;
but a giggle and a 'nice move'? "Eh, fuck you."

Utena supposes she REALLY ought to keep going. Buildings burn down all the
time, right? But she's curious as to who did it. Ignores the Evilanian.  
SOME people just don't know how to take compliments. Anyway, she's wasting
time.. onward. She shrugs and starts to walk off again.

The building, like any building around here, was substandardly made and is
little more than ash now. Whatever 'mark' there was is not obvious to you.
So, on you go. ...with the Evilanian woman following you.

Utena turns around after about a block of this, feeling the eyes. Smiles.  
Not a pleasant sort of smile. "Have you got an unnatural attraction to me
or are you just following me because you don't have anything better to
do?"  Crosses her arms over her chest. "I'm getting bored with this
already."

The woman mimics the gesture. "You're not from around here, are you bitch?
I could tell by the giggle."

Utena does it again. "Oh, you mean that? That's what I do when I think
about eating someone. You feel like being dinner? Though, you're kind of
scrawny."

The woman hmmms.. eyeing you, and licking her lips. "I could eat you out.
I bet you've got a tasty little one in those panties." Grins. "So, you
like my knifework, huh?"

Utena shrugs. "It's passable. Crude." Grins back. "Almost good enough to
call incompetent. Anyway, knives are for amateurs."

The woman grins. "Shows how little you know. The One has taken knives and
elevated them to ART.." she draws a knife, and makes a gentle, tracing
curve in the air. "I saw some of his first work. It was breathtaking. I'd
be honored to be in his future rages .."

Utena rolls her eyes. "Aaaaand?" She watches the woman, some private and
detached part of her noting there IS skill there- in a rather grotesque
sort of fashion. "Glowing reviews of pointy objects aside, I've got other
business here. And I've eaten recently."

She hmphs. "I saw you watching that building. You're interested in The
One. Admit it." She sidles on up to you... "And I could tell you anything
you need to know.." Utena mms, letting her eyes shutter half-closed,
reaching a gloved hand beside her to you and stroking her fingers in a
lazy, slow and bored fashion along your cheekline... before removing her
hand callously. "Bored now." She pushes at your upper arm. "You're not
even worth it."

This only infuriates her. She grabs your arm. "I could rock your world,
girl. You don't have the eye for flesh. Or for information, apparently.
You interested in what I know, yes or no?"

Utena looks down her nose at you. Of course, information is EXACTLY what
she wants, and her approach seems to be working just fine... She sneers.  
"You haven't impressed me yet. Why should I be interested in a
skin-and-bones proposition like you?"

The woman pauses. Then reaches behind herself, unfastens something and
strips the bikini top off -- showing off what she has to you, and it IS
fairly impressive. No words, just dares you to still be bored.

Utena whips a hand out, thumb and forefinger seizing a nipple and twisting
it. Hard. "So? I've got two of those. And any cheap slut can take her
clothes off for the first thing with warm blood that comes along."

She moans a bit, as you trust the nipple.. mmmming. "Not bad.." Grins.
"I'm not just good for a romp. I know all the underground scenes. All the
connections and movers and shakers. I can be your in, since you're not
from around here. Interested?"

Now, normally, she'd be freaking out. Internal panic, system meltdown,
values crunch. But.. it's kind of fun. Messing with their minds and all..
they're all irredeemable bastards anyway, so who cares if she smacks them
around for her own amusement? She sh rugs. "I suppose." Conveying her
utter disinterest and boredom in the notion through a carefully controlled
tilt of her shoulders. That's better. The woman grins. "So, let me be your
guide. Where would you like to go, what would you like to know?" She
refastens her top. "Unless you'd like to tie me up first and have a little
fun..?"

Utena gets a little bit of this.. smile. Envisions it for about .05
seconds.. okay, be fair, maybe a LITTLE longer, before tilting her lip as
if your very PRESENCE disgusts her utterly... "Get back in line, bitch. I
don't eat when I'm full. But... if you absolutely have to pant around and
be my dog, at least try not to drool and bark so loudly. And be so kind as
to point your nose in interesting directions instead of rubbing it in
shit." Translation... eh, whatever. You pick.

Actually, that does confuse her a little. Did you just insult her,
playfully tease her or dismiss her? o.o ...whatever. "I can wait.. so.
Information. Name it, you got it, if I got it."

Utena mms. "Not that I give a rat's ass, but this 'one' that you're raving
about. Maybe I missed something the first time, though I really doubt
that.  Hook me up."

She mmms. "He's wonderful. The latest sensation in mass murder. Nobody
knows who he or she is.. just that every now and then, a week or two
apart, The One does something. Sometimes explosions, sometimes simply
leaving a victim carved up to find.. but alwa ys with his mark nearby. The
word HATE scratched into something. You should see his work, it's
wonderful.. the most intense flames, the sharpest cuts, the most extreme
behaivors.." She almost seems aroused by it.

Utena. o O ( That's Loathing, all right. He's on some kind of spree. ) She
shoves your arm. "Put your tongue back in your mouth. You know where he is
or not?"

She gets defensive. "If I knew, would I be here? I'd want to see him. I'm
a big fan. NOBODY knows where The One is. Odds are he's in an inn
somewhere, since his last three works were in the area, but nobody knows
what he LOOKS like. Nobody lives to tell."

Utena gets another smile. Of the 'Boy, do I know something YOU don't'
variety. And shrugs then. "Yeah, yeah, of course not. So show me where the
happy little inn is. We'll just see."

She hmphs. "There are ten inns in this city. Find them yourself, I'm not
going to waste my day doing THAT." Hmms, changing her tune. "Unless you
wanted me to get a room with you for awhile..?"

Utena snorts. "You haven't had it for a while, have you?" She brushes her
fingers out again, curling them along the side of your neck and around the
back before pushing you forward slightly. "I'm not hungry now. But I might
be later. So why don't we just see."

The girl frowns.. but nods. "Fine. I'll be at the Death's Head Inn. And
just so you know it's worthwhile.." she GRABS onto you, and presses her
lips to yours, a fierce, lustful kiss..

Utena turns around and SLAMS you into the nearest wall, snarling softly
under her breath while devouring your lips with her mouth. If this is a
game of prove yourself or shut up, she intends to WIN it, her knee pushed
right up between your legs and her hand jamming up around your throat. For
a good few moments longer than she MEANS to before she jerks herself back
of you, glowering. "I don't like it when my dinners try to take bites out
of me." she rumbles.

The breath gets knocked out of the woman, as you slam her into the wall
and assault her.. when you withdraw, she pants for breath, moaning..
turned on. "OHHhh.. yeah.." she smiles. "I think I can wait, if you're
that fierce a diner..."

Utena gestures. "Are we getting the damn room or not?"

She doesn't waste any time. Moves swiftly down the street, heels clacking
on the pavement, until she reaches an unmarked building.. ducks inside.
It's a cheap inn lobby.. shabby. VERY shabby. Steps up to the desk. "One
room, two hours.." glances at you. " Better make it five."

Utena follows along, having formulated a plan to take care of this while
you turn and start moving. "Better make it 24." She drops a few gold coins
on the desk. "I like to take my time while I'm eating."

That ellicits a smile. She quickly heads upstairs, snatching the key as
she moves.. unlocks a room, and enters. It's really a terrible room, but
with a sturdy enough bed.. someone left some ropes nearby. How
appropriate.

Utena smiles to herself. How convenient. Shoves the girl with her forward
toward the bed. "Face down. Now."

She flops onto the bed, balance askew.. adjusts herself, to lie face down.
MMmms, excited. "I can take it pretty far up the ass, you know.."

Reality check. This IS Evilania. This is expected.

Utena mms. "I'm sure you can." Her voice heated and lambent, as she
settles onto the bed, swinging her leg over you and sitting on the soft
part of your rear. Tsks softly, picking up the rope that happens to be
conveniently still attached to the headboard... makes an audible sound of
disgust. "Low quality. I've something better." She reaches, and nudges a
good, sturdy set of manacles into existence, grabbing your wrist and
locking them down, hopping back to follow up with the ankles as well. The
chains are quite thick and she doublesecures them to the actual FLOOR and
WALLS, not trusting the flimsy furniture here to hold. Her hand goes over
your eyes, drawing back with a heavy, dark fabric that effectively
blindfolds you- ties that off. And sits a moment over you, pondering.

She doesn't resist at all -- if anything, she's doubly thrilled. "You came
prepared.." Mmm. She twists a little, testing it.. tensing some muscles,
relaxing, enjoying. "Much better than the usual.."

Utena jerks your head back by the hair, and slaps her hand over your
mouth, leaving a heavy gag in place of her fingers before she lets go of
you. And then.. swings off the bed, chuckling softly; you can hear her
feet moving toward the door. "Now, you can just wait here for a while,
until I'm hungry again." She had no intention of actually DOING anything
with her.. but this way, she can quietly work herself up without hurting
herself. Or -me-, thinks Utena grimly, as she starts to step out of the
door without looking back.

The gag sticks; all you hear then are passionate mumbles.. she seems
content to lie there. Probably expecting you to come back.. actually,
what's going to happen when this room gets rented out again tomorrow and
she's there like that?

Utena shrugs internally. It won't particularly matter- she'll probably
really enjoy anything that DOES happen to her. Meanwhile, she DID serve a
useful purpose, so Utena feels a little warmth toward her for that.  
Loathing's around here somewhere, and unlike the rest of these clowns, she
DOES know what he looks like.

Time to play the Great Chaos Detective, then. The clerk is at the desk
downstairs, but are you really going to get something out of someone who
gets paid to forget things? (or can he be paid to remember?)

Utena strides off downstairs. Offering no explanation for why she's here
and the girl's still there- not that it would really matter anyway. She
leans over the grimy counter (which does wonders for displaying her
cleavage) and gives her best Akio smile to the clerk. "So, tell me about
the 'one'." Drops a coin on the table. *clink!* "You seen him?" *clink!"  
"Around here?"

The clerk pushes the coin back. "If I knew, it'd be worth a lot more than
that. But I don't know. Nobody does."

Utena reaches out and grabs your collar. "I know what he looks like. You
want to know too? I'll even TELL you what he looks like. All YOU have to
do is tell me if you've seen him."

He doesn't even blink -- just fingers a button on the counter. "There are
crossbows hidden in the walls, you know. Don't mess with the management.
You wanna deal, we can deal cool. Got it?"

Utena lets go, smiling. Takes that as a yes. She's still leaning over the
counter, though. "You want to know, don't you? I bet everyone wants to
know around here..."

The manager nods. "Of course. He'd be mobbed with fans. Until he drops out
of sight again." Leans back. "So what's he look like?"

Utena tells you. In excruciatingly accurate detail. Down to the kind of
knife, the clothes she remembers him wearing, and the way he leers and the
crazy look he's got. "So... seen him?"

The manager thinks. "Yeah, I seen him. He was in here a week ago. But he
left right after one of his killin's. Probably changing location, didn't
leave a forwarding address." He glances at the stairs. "Hey, you leave
your lady friend up there?"

Utena shrugs. "I paid. Kick her out after 24 hours, it's all the same to
me. I got bored." She yawns. "Okay, so he's moving..."

The manager ohs. "You roll her for cash? If not, I could kick a discount
on the room from what I get outta her pockets and services."

Utena shrugs again. "Whatever you get from her 's all yours if you point
me over to the next inn."

The manager nods. "Good. I'll call the boys in to work her over." He
gestures to the left. "You wanna go down that way for three blocks, then
right right. Look for the unmarked red building with the Eye of the
Illuminati in the window. The rates there are
 awful, though."

He ohs.

"Another coin'll tell you who else is looking for him."

Utena chuckles dryly, eyes veiled. "Noted. Of course, a businessman's got
his professional pride to look after..." Blinks. Puts down said coin.

The coin goes away. Amazing how stoolies can do that so fast. "Small horde
of minions in light blue clothes, with armor. Looked like an army
detachment. 'course, they were looking for the one, they didn't know what
he looked like. So you've got a leg up."
 Grins. "Three more coins and I'll tell you who ELSE is looking for the
one."

Utena groans softly... an army? Shit. GREAT. Just great. An army in light
blue clothes. Chasing a wingless. Must be the same assholes that trashed
poor Love's shop... must be. She irritably produces those three coins-
it's worth it, and glowers. "Keep talking."

The man snatches the coins up. "Someone dressed like you showed. But
taller, older, more muscular. 'course, that describes half of everybody in
this town, but she had weird hair. Curled on both sides."

Utena blinks. Blinks AGAIN. "Oh, SHIT."

The man hmms. "That sounds bad. I think I'm done dispensing information.
Better go now." He gets up, and knocks on the door to the backroom..
opens. People playing poker. "We got a rolled in 3-C. You boys go have
some fun."

Utena whirls on her heel and turns to go. ELLEN's here? SHIT. This makes
things worse. Now she really does have to find that goddamn wingless
before he gets killed or kills her or... oh, SHIT. Punches out into the
street and follows the directions he gave her...

The Eye of Illuminati Inn is.. spooky. Everybody in here is wearing monk's
robes, and the front desk is a sacrificial altar. Of course, the clerk
seems just as bored as the last one.

Utena calms herself when she walks in... approaches the .. altar.. with
her eyes flaring. Drops a few coins. Going to have to repeat that whole
thing over again.. except this time no girl up in the room... clears her
throat irritably. "I'm looking for the one that they're calling the one."

The monk ohms. "All seek the one, to bask in the wisdom of his violence,
the method of his madness, yet few find what they seek. Those who do never
live to speak of it. He is the black wind that howls." Pauses. "Haven't
seen him."

Utena nods. "Okay, fine." Drops another couple of coins. "Muscular woman
with curled hair on both sides or an army of thugs in light blue?" This is
getting expensive.

The monk sweeps the coins into his robes. "The all seeing eye thanks your
monetary donation, and you will ascend many levels towards the nirvana of
light. Room 4, down the hall."

Utena says, "... Which one?"

Utena pushes back from the 'altar', her eyes darkening. "Who's in room 4?"  
Just to clarify.

The monk rubs his fingers together. Universal gesture for money.

Utena drags her finger over her throat. Universal gesture for 'tell me or
I hack your head off.'

The monk traces a religious symbol in the air. "I ascend with the light of
the all seeing eye. I fear no death. But my prices are very reasonable."

Utena snarls and puts down two more coins.

He sweeps the coins up. "May your journey into the infinite future be
eventless and meaningful. The curly-haired chick's in there."

Utena inhales. "Right. Blessing be." She stomps off to said room 4....  
stopping when she nears it to listen. With Ellen's reflexes she doesn't
need to go charging in there wildly and get her head cut off.

Absolute silence in the room. Maybe she's not home.

Or she knows someone's here. Utena puts her hand on the door to see if
it'll open when she tries it.

Nope; it's still closed, by doorknob. If you want in, you'll have to make
a little noise.

Utena knocks on the door. "Ellen?"

A figure drops down behind you, and has a knife to your neck before you
can even blink. "Not a hair, little kitten, or I paint my door." Ellen's
voice.

Utena doesn't move. "Dammit, Ellen, it's ME."

Ellen doesn't move. "I'm aware. Why are you asking around about me? I hope
you understand, I can't be too careful when on an operation."

Utena says, "Why are you chasing a wingless?" Utena hisses. Not moving."

Ellen steps back, withdrawing the knife. "It seems you know more than I
do, then." She tugs a string, and her inn door opens itself. "Step into my
office."

Utena moves through, instinctively brushing her fingers over her neck with
an exhale.

Ellen steps through after you.. and doesn't have the knife in her hands
anymore. Her outfit IS very similar to yours, actually. "I'm chasing
someone the Breen are chasing. I don't know what a wingless is." Utena
sits down on the edge of the bed, watching you shut the door before saying
anything. Happy to let the 'fuck you' mask drop a little while away from
most prying eyes... ".. the... 'Breen'? Listen, Ellen, someone important
to me had their shop stomped on by some kind of military detachment. They,
and you, and I, are all looking for the same person."

Ellen rubs her chin. "Where exactly was this and when?" Doesn't say why.  
Not volunteering that yet.

Utena sighs. "Darra, a shop belonging to my mother, who happens to be a
collector of rare things. There were multiple matching bootprints in flour
on the floor.

Utena says, "It wasn't more than a week or so ago."

Ellen sits on a chair, with one leg draped over the back of the chair and
one on the floor. "Yes, they were near Darra at that time. We were too
slow on the draw, and I opted to skip ahead to their next projected visit.
Here.  Did some tracking, found they were looking for a psycho called 'The
One', and did some digging too. Nobody knows who it is."

Utena shakes her head. "I know."

Ellen raises an eyebrow. "Care to share?"

Utena looks back at you. "I'm not sure I should say too much more than *I*
have. My reasons for wanting to find the person are very much my own."

Ellen says, "My reasons for wanting to find this person are matters of
state. I suppose that's fair." She thinks. "I'm not sure what the Breen
want. Why destroy a random shop, why come here to hunt a myth? Trevor can
be quite obfuscated sometimes.""

Utena looks away. She knows.. or thinks she knows, but doesn't know the
connection. "I have to find him, Ellen. It's important."

Ellen ohs? "Do you know why it's important? I don't. Trevor only seems
interested in where The One goes, not who he is. And he never seems
satisfied with the answers he gets."

Utena rubs her fingers through her hair... and looks down at the shabby
bedcovering.

Utena says, "Uhm. It's... complicated. To do with the Lord of Nightmares.  
Chaos and Order." She looks away."

Ellen gets up, and paces.. while doing some unusual stretching exercises.  
"Trevor Goodchild, duke of the Breen Duchy, has apparently found a
powerful ally who is directing him on this surreal treasure hunt. First to
trash a shop in Kaiou, now to find the hideout of The One in Evilania.
There seems to be no connection."

Ellen pauses, balanced on one leg. "Oh?"

Ellen lags.

Utena lies back on the bed, gazing at the dingy and stained ceiling.
"There is a connection. The 'One' is my mother's brother. I think your...
your 'Trevor'... is hunting the family of my mother. And I think he's
doing it because Order's telling him to.

Ellen hmms. "Family affairs. And with gods as well. Although I've never
heard of a god of Order." She leans over closer to you, studying your
face.  "So what are the Breen looking for? Was your mother hurt in Darra?
I was under the impression from my sources that they only broke things in
her shop."

Utena nods. "No one was hurt." Her profile's still as it was the last time
you saw her.. perhaps a slight sharper edge to her nose and her chin as
time is passing and she's maturing... her eyes turn sideways toward you,
to look at you. "I don't know the reason why either. But if these Breen
are in line with Order.. then they may be trying to intimidate or harm my
mother's family... I don't know why either, though."

Ellen shakes her head. "Trevor doesn't scare without purpose. He's very
goal driven, and his goals advance his power... or fill one of his many
twisted goals for the Breen Duchy." Frowns in distaste. "He once sponsored
a program of magically enhanced thought policing golems. So unmutual
thoughts could be purged."

Utena winces. "Ellen, I don't know why, but we should keep moving. While
we sit here talking about it, we might be missing our chance to get ahead
of them."

Ellen finishes her stretching. "And where do you plan to go? I'm just as
far behind as Trevor is. Lead me like a lamb."

Utena sits up again, a slight erf as she pushes her back off the bed.
"I've been going about this the hard way. I should just.. be direct, for
once. I was trying not to be.." But dammit, if she shows her wings,
HERE... still, she doesn't have to use -them- to get where she needs to
be.

Ellen ohs? "And what direct method do you suggest?"

Utena shakes her head. "Never mind. We need to get to the next inn. Do you
know this area? I'm not familiar enough with it.

Ellen nods. "The next inn is about five blocks from here, right down the
street. It has a sign reading 'Our Lady Of The Negotiable Affection'. I'd
suggest you get started.

Utena blinks. "Me.. you're not coming along?"

Ellen hooks a leg behind herself.. unlatching the window with her toe, and
slipping the leg out. "I never go by the streets. It's too obvious to
those following me." and WHISK, she's gone.

Utena blinks again. Staring after. She... huhs in a daze, and hurries to
go. Five blocks down. Right. She moves quickly, not wasting time.

You proceed along normally. It's getting quieter on the streets; less
people out and about, but that's not unusual. What is unusual is the JERK
you feel around your neck, which in less than two seconds pulls you
THROUGH the street (?!!) and lands you in a
 comfortable chair. Um. Well, it's disorienting enough, to say the least;
the ceiling looks whole, so how'd you get here?

Utena YELPS and stares around herself... "... what the HELL..?"
Breathless, the breath knocked from her in her astonishment at being
yanked around like that...

The tugging feeling around your neck remains.. some sort of force binding
your neck to the chair. A similar one is around your knees, and waist..
but leaving your hands free. The lights are dim.. revealing only two
soldier types with crossbows, in light b lue armor.. and a fairly calm and
poised man with blonde hair and a good manicure. "As you said, the direct
approach can sometimes be best," he says, in a completely non-mocking or
sinister way.

Utena shifts, squirming and raising a hand to try and.. brush away the
tight force clamping around her neck. "..." Her eyes dart from side to
side, noting the men. Soldiers in light blue armor. Wonderful. She looks
back to the man that spoke, dryly. "Trevor, right...?"

The force isn't going away; it's using some magic you're unfamiliar with.
Trevor nods. "Right as you are. I trust Aeon explained a little of who I
am." He takes a pitcher of lemonade from a soldier who walks up, and pours
two glasses from it, one for hims elf and one for you. Places yours on a
... on the head of some man dressed mostly in brown leather, who has a
tray strapped to his head. The man crawls over, offering it to you.

Trevor says, "Refreshing beverage while we wait?"

Utena shakes her head, her eyes flinching and her shoulders hardening at
the same time. "... no.. thank you." She lets her hand fall, unable to
figure out the field, and touching it.. disturbs her in a way she can't
explain. Her eyes remain fixed on Trevor, suspiciously. "What did you do
to me..?"

Trevor hmms. "I'd hate to think I was an ungracious host." He claps once,
and the serving man crawls around, undoing your boots. "Oh, it's a fairly
simple technique. Only an amateur would fall for an illusionary trick
floor and force lariat. Similar to ho w you asked all around town about
the one we seek without really paying attention to stealth."

Utena absorbs the subtle insults, looking away, turning her head. Her
voice is flat when she replies, "Subtlety and stealth don't usually work
very well around here." Her eyes close as her boots are slid down and away
from her legs, revealing her smooth, slender calves. This.. this is
familiar...  why is it familiar...? And then it hits her like a lightning
bolt. Akio.  Akio was like this. Her eyes turn back toward Trevor
shuddering.

The serving man then procees to fondle your feet.. not tickle them.
Tickling makes you laugh. This is a caressing, soothing motion.. alluring
strokes, skilled. He doesn't look at you, just pays attention to his
task..

Trevor doesn't even seem to notice this. "So. You seem to know what The
One looks like, according to the witnesses who easily gave you up. Care to
enlighten us?"

Utena has a very unique and ingrained weakness- most people don't, but she
shares it with Akio... to the manipulation of her feet and ankles.
Delicate motions under the arch of her foot... she whimpers softly. "..y..
you're making something out of nothing."

The man continues his massage, his caresses.. sensual, like a lover. He
touches every square inch, then gently licks at your toes.. just nipping,
at first, but enough to make them cool to the air.

Trevor shakes his head. "I would hardly call The One nothing. If rumors
that persist are right, he knows something we need to know. And if they're
false, we can look for it ourselves, but it would expedite matters. We
don't intend to harm him, of course."

Utena's hands tighten up as she feels the carressing and the motion of a
tongue sliding between her toes... it's making it hard to focus... that
and the vague pressure on her neck. She shakes her head. "... he's just a
pissed off... messed up person..."

The man applies his tounge in full.. making sure to trace your curves. Did
Trevor know you were susceptible to this? Or is it just random chance?
Either way, it's something you haven't experienced in awhile.. something
you haven't shared. All that pent up
 desire for this act..

Trevor nods. "He's very messed up. In a beautiful sort of way, but that's
besides the point; he really has no place running around uncontrolled in
society. But I'm not here to school the boy. I just want to ask him where
to find something. Perhaps you can
 aid me?"

Utena's head lolls back against the back of the chair, her neck settling,
eyes starting to slip closed. "..." Breathing hard and trying desperately
NOT to let this affect her, but it's such a ... a bizarre and unique
sensation... things spiral around her and she feels hazy need descending
on her mind, her legs stiff and shivering, toes spreading. "... you're...
with Order.." She manages to drag her mind back to the 'conversation' with
effort..

Trevor taps his foot. Nods to the man, who spares a hand to undo your
bikini bottoms.. but then retracts the hand. "Please, feel free to enjoy
yourself. It's a courtesy I extend to all my temporary prisoners; why
torture? It's so impolite. I try to make t hem feel at home."

Utena breathes out heavily, as if trying to keep her head above water, her
hands tighten around the chair arms. "... what do you want..." She can't
even creep back into the chair or draw her feet away, the rigid force
pinning her.

The man servicing your feet speeds up.. covering more, using his hands and
his mouth, worshipful. Trevor smiles. "I just want to know what he looks
like. That's all. I give you my word as an honest man that I have no
intentions of harming him." Hmms. "You
 know, Aeon is a foot fetishist too. You really should ask her for some
tips."

Utena shakes her head. In denial of you or what your man is doing to her
it's hard to say; she doesn't want to aid you, hazy mind or not.. Her head
shakes from side to side, slowly, face contorting.

Trevor hmms. "I'd rather not harm you. You are a personal friend of
Aeon's, it seems. I wouldn't want to fall away from her good graces
again." He sighs. "I suppose you'll just have to disappear completely. It
seems wasteful, but I respect your decision t o not help me."

Of course, the man-servant doesn't stop.

Utena moans again; she was taken off her guard and hasn't been able to get
back ahead of it... she tries to jerk her feet away now, her knees might
be pinned, but she can still kick, even if there's no power in it. ".. l..  
Leave.. us.. ALONE." She struggles, her eyes opening, trying to burn the
haze out, blue deeply suffused... within... with the golden chaos of her
gift... and she tries to escape, phase herself out... wanting OUT of that
chair and NOT being here...

Something's blocking your chaos. The strange forces that are binding you
to the chair. It's Order's influence; weak, but strong enough to hold you
in this delerious state...

ping

ping

The two soldiers drop. Trevor looks around, surprised -- then Aeon pounces
him, knocking him to the ground.

Utena thrashes, recognizing the bindings on her now, she kicks at the man
to get OFF her feet, driving her toes toward his nose sharply. "Get... the
hell... OFF ME!"

The man falls backwards, possibly with a broken nose -- the bindings
loosen enough to pull away from, just as Aeon gets up, keeping a pocket
crossbow aimed at Trevor as she backs towards you. "Hurt?" she asks, one
word. Utena shakes her head. "Just my pride." She yanks herself out of the
chair quickly, barefoot, and scrambles toward Aeon's side.

Trevor rises -- a crossbow as well. But aimed at Aeon. "Well well. Aeon
came back for her little friend. Very interesting."

Ellen/Aeon steps towards him.. after brushing a hand past you, to stop
you. "She's not involved. She just was in the neighborhood looking for him
for personal reasons. She's harmless."

It's a good thing you moved that hand, because Utena's wings were about to
snap open.. a glitter of angry gold deep in her eyes. But your hand moving
through the air distracts her momentarily, and she shrinks back. "..."

Trevor ohs? "Harmless, is she? As harmless as anybody living in an
uncontrolled state can be. As harmless as you. What proof are you offering
in her defense?"

Aeon walks over, heedless of the crossbow...... and then grabs Trevor,
kissing him full on the lips.

Something's funny. Aeon must have tucked something into your.. brassiere,
when she waved her hand in front of you; a small note.

Utena jerks back, her eyes wider STILL. She turns to bolt, while Aeon..  
uhm.. distracts him... padding on her bare feet quickly toward the door of
the room; she can feel the note, but this isn't the time or place.

The door leads to stairs.. which lead up to .. the street. It's a weird
optical illusion, but it works. You're free.

Utena staggers back to the surface, racing to collect herself, the hard
and bitter ground hurting her soft feet's pads. She pulls the note from
out of her chest and eyes it hastily in three sweepovers while trying to
make sure she doesn't get fallen open by random Evilanians.

'The inn we talked about. Room 13. I'll keep Trevor occupied.'

Utena moves off hastily. But her senses are out now, flared in full, and
she doesn't CARE if it makes her a walking neon glow of light on the
metaphysical level... she's gambling the populace is too busy devouring,
ruining and killing each other to notice her movements.. and she moves
fast, the ground blurring as she continues to that inn and barges in
directly with a VERY angry look on her face...

It's an inn with a theme somewhat like 'this is a shabby inn' only moreso.
The clerk looks up just as you storm past, down the hall... to door 13. It
looks like any other door, but is closed.

Utena KICKS the damn door in.

A knife embeds itself in the door just as you kick it in; thrown too
early. Loathing's in there -- ready to kill whoever just barged into his
room, getting another knife ready...

Utena snaps her wings out to full, letting her body radiate with her
anger, and reaches out to GRAB Loathing by whatever's handiest- arm,
collar, neck... "WE ARE LEAVING. WORLD OF DREAMS. NOW."

Loathing's anger can be just as strong as yours.. and he does have talents
to back it up. He PUSHES at your anger, trying to quell it.. pulling away.
"Leave me alone! EVERYBODY leave me ALONE!!" Black aura creeping off him
to battle your gold..

Utena shrugs. "Fine." Nudges reality under your feet and opens a gate
there to drop you back into Love's shop.. whether you like it or not,
she's going to try and save your sorry ass and get us both OUT of here...

Loathing wasn't expecting that. He drops through the floor.. and into one
of the aisles of Love's shop. It's been cleaned up considerably, although
the shelves are mostly bare.. just a few stray items. Love looks up in
alarm, at your arrival.. Loathing ge tting to his feet fast, knife razor
sharp with hate, ready to gut you for that offense...

Utena follows a moment later, her eyes absolutely furious. "I just saved
your sorry ass from something a LOT nastier than you imagine... ORDER IS
HUNTING YOU, you stupid son of a bitch... he's hunting ALL of us! They
were CLOSE to you." Her wings are still open, shining.. she's angry too..  
breathing hard and choppily. "You go ahead and wave that stupid knife
around, but it wouldn't have done SHIT if ORDER GOT INSIDE YOUR HEAD."

Love steps forward behind you, and lashes out with her talent.. a calming,
soothing force washing over you from behind, even though it's focused on
Loathing. "Be calm, brother! She is a friend!"

The words give Loathing pause -- him? Hunted? Then the talent smacks him
like a medical cocktail. The knife falls, and he leans on a shelf heavily.
"..dirty trick.."

Utena staggers back, falling to the floor, her wings flickering out like a
candleflame blown in the wind... still there, but the force of them
dissipates as Love's soothing talent moves over her and wraps its arms
around her, a gentle breeze blowing along her body to cool her rage.

Love ahems. "Now. Utena. What is going on, exactly?"

Loathing looks up.. the look dulled, but he's attentive. Forced into
complacency.

Utena breathes heavily, but it's the hard exhalations of someone coming
down from a long run, easing back the throttle. She gasps softly, "... the
men that broke down this shop.. were hunting him in Evilania. They're
joined with Order... used some kind of ordered force on me. I don't know
what the connection is, but .. but they want 'to ask us where something
is'. Loathing remains silent..

Love hms. "So.. we are being stalked by humans in league with Order. I
see."

Utena nods slowly, standing up, and trembling now.

Love considers. "...but why didn't they hurt me? I only live a short
distance away. They had plenty of time."

Utena says, "I don't think they're out to hurt. They're out to ..  
intimidate. To drive us somewhere. I think they want to drive us into a
panic. But I didn't..." She shakes her head, and wraps her arms over her
chest. "... I couldn't find out why."

Love sighs. "I'll have to leave my shop. We can't take chances. You had to
evacuate Loathing." Then he speaks. "...they weren't after me."

Utena looks down to the other wingless now... "Then who are they after,
Loathing..?" It's an obvious question.

Loathing looks up. "Not who. What. I heard.. rumors. About some goons in
blue who were looking for me. One of them, a soldier, let slip that they
wanted to find the dungeon."

Utena rubs her palm against her forehead, frowning. ".. 'the dungeon'..?  
What the hell is that...?"

Loathing shrugs.. "A rumor. Some dungeon that is hidden under Evilania, a
big one, that the founder of the country made to put his torture victims."
Hehs. "I got mythical reputation, they link one myth to the other, think
I'm some spirit from that place c ome to walk the earth and kill."

Love almost frowns, at this description.. she doesn't approve of her
brother's activities. Even if she still loves him.

Utena says, ".. The One."

Loathing nods. "Exactly."

Utena sits back down again, before she falls over. "Why? Why is Order
continually trying to use chaos...? What possible USE could something like
that BE to him..?"

But is Trevor really chaotic? You heard his words... ordered society,
control, and his experiments with thought policing. Who better to use than
a human who already agrees with Order?

Love shakes her head. "I don't know. But I can't stay here. Loathing,
you're coming with me. We'll find safe haven."

Loathing scowls. "No. I'm almost there. Almost there to control my..
problem. I have outbursts every week or so, but.."

Utena sighs, looking to her mother with sad blue eyes. "You should come to
the world of Dreams."

Loathing panics. "NO. No. I'm not going there!!"

Utena says, "They can't follow you easily there. But as long as you stay
in this world, there's a chance you could be found.""

Love sighs. "...I think it'd be best if we did. Sorry, brother. But.. we
don't have to see her. Okay? I'll protect you." He is very afraid of the
Lord of Nightmares, remember. Loathing calms... slightly. But remains on
an edge, like a razor.

Utena nods. "You don't have to see her. You can stay in Not-ops, in the
house. It'll be okay." She shakes her head, unhappy about this... needing
to talk to Xel about it. He knows a LOT more about the lore of Evilania
than she does.. but she does know one thing. Trevor is her enemy... She
walks over and watches the two wingless... waiting for them to be ready.

Love keeps a calming hand on Loathing's shoulder. Nods to Utena. They're
ready.

Utena walks over and touches Love's arm quietly. And that's all it takes..  
a moment of concentration, and transition.. then you're there, in Utena
and Xel's dream-parlor, standing next to the comfortable white couches.
Utena sighs, her head hanging.

Love sits on a couch.. leading Loathing to sit next to her. You really can
see the similarities between the two, in their faces.. and sometimes even
in the eyes. Love speaks. "We'll be fine now, Utena. Look into this,
please.. find out who wants to hurt u s."

Utena nods tightly. "I'm going to stop him. I won't let Order get away
with this." She shakes her head and leaves the two to have some space to
themselves, stomping upstairs and pushing into the bedroom, radiating a
little dark cloud; there's actually one over her head as the dreamspace
responds to her. A little black cloud with little flickering lightnings
inside.

Xelloss is inside, eating ice cream and reading OUR BODIES, OURSELVES.
Blinks. "Who rained on your parade?" o.o [spoofed by Xelloss]

The little black cloud lights up with letters that say 'Order'. And Utena
stomps toward the closet, peeling out of the leather and reaching, bare,
for that damnable cosmic object of Urd's.

Xelloss ohs. Doesn't appreciate the strip show; not with serious things
afoot. "I see. What's he done now? I hadn't sensed any major movements.."

Utena groans. After the requisite embarrassing and stupid transformation,
she walks over and brushes her hand along your forehead, effectively doing
the same thing as what the beanie hat would do.

Xelloss blinks. "..."

Xelloss says, "Oh my."

Utena sits on the bed. "Now.. get out your old evil Mazoku brain for a
moment. Am I walking right into a trap?"

Utena says, "he KNOWS that I'm trying to protect the wingless. Therefore,
by attacking them he forces me to move them here, where humans can't
easily reach them."

Xelloss hmms. "Yes and no."

Utena says, "But once they're HERE, he can attack us all at once. The
whole family."

Xelloss says, "Yes in that you're doing what he wants, and no in that he's
not after you. Or them."

Utena frowns. "I thought that he WAS." She flops backward into the bed,
snatching a little of the ice cream and nibbling on it moodily.

Xelloss ahhs. "I'm not certain he was. Love's right; they could have
attacked her. Instead they moved on her shop. And Trevor.. interesting
individual, and I had no idea you were a foot person.." n.n;;; "Trevor
said they wanted information. Loathing said they wanted the dungeon, not
him.  See a pattern?"

Utena blushes faintly at the foot thing and grins weakly. "It's.. not like
an everyday thing..." she murmurs, before... thinking. "information.  
Dungeon. Not people. Things. Things that are inanimate and can be
possessed.."

Xelloss muses. "If I was going to steal something from a shop but didn't
want people to know what I stole.. or if it was INSIDE something.. or
both... I would trash the shop. In the mess, who could track a single
thing?"

Utena blinks.

Xelloss says, "Well, that's how I would have done it."

Utena gets up suddenly and scrambles to pick up her bag over in the
corner.. the one she took with her to Darata.. carefully pulling out the
little tubelet of pure order.

Xelloss asks, "Who would think to look for a lost item when it seemed like
a senseless hate crime or intimidation... ano?"

It has a curious effect in this world.. the air.. feels colder around it.
More real. Not the hazy dreaminess usually here.

Utena shows it to you. "Reason loaned this to me..." She blinks again. "..  
under the university.." her mind is jumping.

Utena says, "Under Evilania.. under the university.. .oh, CRAP."

Utena says, "Something was broken up and buried, wasn't it.. in different
places.. scattered like the Mazoku keys..."

Xelloss hmms. "Darata U. Fun place. Lots of arcane and weird things that
they play with with wild abandon.. what?" Ahhhs. "Yes, I could see that.  
Parts of a whole, perhaps. It'd be fitting in the quest motif."

Utena says, "Something we don't want Order to find, right...?" She looks
from the smooth silver tubelet to you. "Any ideas what it might be...?""

Xelloss hmmms. "There are two of these, right?" he asks.

Utena nods. "Reason has the other."

Xelloss takes the tube from you...... and slips it over his hand. It fits
on his wrist snugly. "Nice fit."

Utena flinches. "Take that off!" She yelps.

Utena moves over and tries to tug it away from your wrist.

Xelloss takes it off. "I don't think it was meant to effect me," he says,
calmly. Passing it back.

Utena looks at her wrist. Her right hand still wears the gold bracelet

Yuffie gave her, with the materia... she frowns. "I've been afraid to put
the thing on..."

Xelloss ehhehs. "Well, I wouldn't recommend YOU do it. You're rather more
closely tied to chaos than I am. I'm just employed by the Lord of Chaos.  
You're her pet." ^_^;

Utena shoots you a look. "Arf arf." Dryly. "But think about it, Xel.  
Dramatic arc in effect. Use a piece of the enemy to find the enemy...

Xelloss hms. "I don't follow."

Utena sighs. "I'm going to try it. Be ready to bail me out." She pulls
back her left sleeve. "This metal still seems familiar to me..." Then she
looks over to you, a weak little smile. "I'm supposed to wear it, I think.
It's got that ominous cloud of a plot device around it."

Xelloss ums. o.o "I'm not certain this is a good idea.."

Utena exhales through her nose. "Maybe not, but I may as well see what
happens." She shifts the tubelet over to her right hand and cautiously
starts to slide her left hand into it.

It slides in.. but as it goes in, it feels HEAVIER. Not that it'll fall
off your hand, but it's light a weight.. almost like a manacle that binds.
Your strength weakens.. of course, this is only one peice. If you had more
on you, like the other tube..

Xelloss gets ready to pounce if you start exploding or anything. o.o;

Utena pulls it off. If she can. The sensation is too unnerving...

You can't pull it off. It's locked onto you. Designed to contain your
chaos, to bind it.. weaker and weaker... unable to do anything about it..

Xelloss pulls the tube off, and you regain control and strength
immediately.

Utena lets out several deep breaths. "... okay. bad plan. Very bad plan."

Xelloss says, "What happened? o.o;"

Xelloss keeps the tube AWAY from you.

Utena swallows back on the air, gulping it down. ".. it's a... chain. A
binding.'

Xelloss nods.. nods. "I see. Well. We'll just keep this safely away from..  
everybody else." He's a little shaken up.

Utena is more shaken than YOU.. it was dragging her down... "Xel... yes,
put it away, but.. when you were acting as the letter carrier for the
duels... do you still have one of the rings?"

Utena stumbles back and sits on the bed, her hand pressed to her heart..  
she looks at her left wrist as if expecting to see it still there... like
a cold burn on her skin, she can dimly feel a ghostweight..

Xelloss ehs? Hmm. "I suppose... let me check." He fishes around in his
robes. Takes out a pencil, a rubber chicken, an alarm clock, a football,
Excalibur... ah. "Here." Holds out the rose signet.

Utena takes it from you and turns it around in her hand... god, the old
design.. just touching it and feeling it brings back... she pauses. "Bring
the tube back over."

Xelloss ums. He HESITANTLY hands the tube back.

Utena takes the signet and the tube... careful not to WEAR EITHER of them.  
But she looks at you, hefting the weight of the two pieces. "... You're
better at this. Test them together."

Xelloss hmms. He studies both of them. "Well....... I can't see any
physical similarities.."

Utena says, "... But look at the way they both shine the same..." She
turns them around, showing you the way the light plays. ".. There's...
aren't they made of the same thing..?""

Xelloss shakes his head. "No. One's a silvery metal, the other... has
TRACES of a silvery metal, but it's a different material." He leans back.  
"I'd hazard to say that they're similar, but not for the same purpose. The
ring probably has maybe two percent of the strength the tube has, at
best."

Utena exhales slowly, and nods, handing both back to you. "... All right.  
Then I can put that aside, I guess. It's just."

Utena says, "... I'm -sure- Dios is related to Order. I KNOW it.""

Xelloss nods. "I wouldn't doubt it. But these two items have different
purposes. Even if they SEEM to have the same making methods. I don't doubt
a relation, but only in the way water is related to acid; both liquids."

Utena nods. "All right."

Xelloss hms. "So what next?"

Utena says, "Now bury both of those in the closet somewhere."

Utena says, "DEEP."

Xelloss ^_^;

Xelloss asks, "Actually, I have a safe place I keep dangerous things.. may
I?" Utena nods. "Feel free."

Xelloss takes the ring and the tube, and... they go away.

Utena leans back on the bed. "I'm not sure what's best. If Order's seeking
things that are buried, then we should try and beat him to those things
and destroy them if we can. But if he's going to keep sending his human
thugs after the wingless, I can't just let him do that, either."

Xelloss ahs. "I hate to burst your bubble, but I have no idea how to
destroy that item. It's REALLY solid, from my appraisal. n.n;"

Utena groans. "Okay, fine. We can't destroy them. But I can put up a
goddamn null field and shove them inside another dimension or something."

Xelloss nods. "Goal is to keep Order from getting all of these things. And
we have one already, so it's a toehold."

Utena says, "But is that more or less important than the wingless? I can't
do both at the same time."

Xelloss says, "I'm not certain Order is after the wingless. Maybe as a
secondary goal, but if he gets these things.. maybe it wouldn't matter."

Xelloss hmms.

Xelloss asks, "What is the PURPOSE of these things, do you think?"

Utena closes her eyes and settles back comfortably (as comfortable as one
can be beint over a bed with her feet still on the floor...)... thinking.  
"It felt like a manacle. But.. it could have been... some part of some
bigger thing.." She fumbles for the words. "Like.. a golem. Putting
together something that will do exactly what he wants it to do. Humans are
always a little chaotic, no matter how they are.. that's just how humans
are.

Xelloss hms. "You think a golem is in some guy's dungeon and torture
chamber?"

Xelloss asks, "Or in Love's shop?"

Utena says, "... No. Pieces of it."

Xelloss ahhs. "What are the other pieces, then?

Utena says, "Maybe those were the wrists or something...  Reason said she
couldn't identify their origin but that they seemed to be part of
something else." She turns her head toward you, smiling weakly. "Sounds
crazy, doesn't it.. but it makes sense to me. If he can't find a human
agent because I keep ruining them.. then all he has left to use that will
do EXACTLY what he wants.. is something that isn't human."

Utena says, "Something with no chaos... something made of pure and perfect
order."

Xelloss hrms. "I'm not convinced. It's possible, yes, but.. it doesn't
seem personal enough, if these two have a huge fued." He shakes his head.
"We won't know until we collect the rest of it, anyway. I'd suggest
getting the other manacle from Reason, trying to find some clue as to what
got taken from Love, and then maybe finding The One's dungeon."

Utena nods. "You're right." She stands. "I should go now... Try and clear
some time, I'll need you when I go back to Evilania. You know the land
there a lot better than I do."

Xelloss nods. "Been there often enough." Smiles. "We're ahead of them,
Utena. They're still poking around in Evilania, whereas we have more
information."

Utena takes mild comfort from that, walking over to you and putting her
arms around your neck. "I wish I could stick around. I'm tired after
today, but I should at LEAST talk to Love. Love and Loathing are here, in
the house, downstairs.."

Xelloss nods. n.n "A good idea."