News:
10/17: New - EK 101
10/20: The Undersea has Invaded!
10/17: New - EK 101
10/20: The Undersea has Invaded!
Cam's Place
Contents:
Cameron
Thistle
Cameron is sitting on his couch and hops up to greet Thistle. "Hey man. Thanks for coming."
Thistle pokes his head in first, glancing around before he offers a little smile and slips all the way inside. "Of course. Did you get hold of Chuck, I imagine? I...ran into him myself, while I was telling Jan, so gave him the preview -- apologies, if I stepped on toes?"
Cameron shakes his head. "Oh no. Not at all. Yeah I talked to him last night. He should be on his way. Jan can't make it, but I don't expect -all- the leaders of our community to show up. Not just for lil old me." He chuckles...a tad nervously.
Erin opens the front door and walks in.
Erin has arrived.
Erin arrives promptly on time, with a crisp knock at the door.
Cameron opens the door for her. "Hey, Erin. What's new?" He claps his hands together and rubs them together...a tad nervously.
Cameron quickly adds, "Come on in. Make yourself comfy."
Thistle grins faintly at Cameron, and murmurs, "It'll be fine. Whatever the audience." He glances toward the door as well, his grin fading into a less emotional smile as he inclines his head deeply in Erin's direction. "Ms. Umbradine."
"She's not out on the 17, that's 'new'," Erin tells Cameron with a tight smile. "Although there are some interesting abandoned homes up there. I didn't think the Homestead Act applied this far west." The girl steps inside, giving Thistle an almost mirrored nod. "Mister Porpentine."
Chuck opens the front door and walks in.
Chuck has arrived.
Cameron opens the door for Chuck, "Hey, man. Thanks for coming. Come on in."
Monica has arrived.
Polychrome has arrived.
Cameron opens the door fo Monica right after Chuck arrives. "Hi, Mon. Come on in. The whole gang's here. Except Penelope, but I understand...she does -run- half the area. -And- I'm not her problem." He grins...a tad nervously.
Thistle looks around for a moment, then wanders over and leans against one of the support columns to get out of the way as more people come in. He offers Chuck a faint smile and a little wave, then looks over at Cameron and murmurs, "So...just what are we planning to try, here?" He flicks a glance back to the door when Monica comes in, and wiggles his fingers with a tiny grin.
"Yes, you weren't very specific in your phone message," Erin whispers, stepping aside to make room for the boatload of people in the apartment. She gives Monica a nod and smile.
Monica smiles at Cameron as she steps in. "Hey." She waves to Thistle and Erin and the Chuck as well.
Chuck nods to Cam and the rest of the crew, stepping away from the door and listening.
Cameron says "Um, make yourselves comfortable. I just moved in, so I'm not real prepared to entertain guests. Sorry. And yeah, I'm sure you're all wondering why I invited you here. Well not why I invited you, but why -here-. Well. I -do- have a reason for that. I think. (He pulls a box of books over and sits down on it. "I've been thinking about the clue the cat-sphynx-lady gave me. And just to re-hash, the clue was: she's on that part of the map that cartographers don't know. The same label applies." Thistle brought this to my attention: It's not "Here there be Monsters. It's Here there be -Dragons-.""
Thistle murmurs, "Have to thank Jan for that one. I only get credit as messenger."
Cameron continues. "And here we are in the Vicounty of Dragons, right? Well, that's not a huge help." He smiles Thistle's way. "It's a great -start-, but it's a big...well...viscounty. On the brink of a nervous breakdown last night, I came to the conclusion that my would be killer wouldn't be that vague. That wouldn't be cool. And more importantly to her, that wouldn't be very sporting. So there's more."
Erin adjusts her thumb underneath her knapsack's strap, listening silently.
Thistle grins briefly, but then tilts his head curiously and waits for the next bit.
Monica's head bobs; she listens quietly.
Cameron says "So. There I am. (He points at the couch) Literally right there. At 3 AM, talking to myself. I do that. And I hear myself say: "Well, heck, she could be -anywhere-. She could be in the next apartment laughing her cute feline little butt off." And then it kinda hit me. I remember reading about this place on the Chimnet..thank you, January...about my new home. Here. St. George Apartments. About it's name and what that was all about. St. George was a famous Dragon Slayer.""
Chuck says "So far so good."
Thistle chuckles quietly. "So. Hiding someplace in the apartment building, you think?"
Erin coughs quietly. "I spent a good hour poring through maps of where she might be, over dinner at Rosie McCann's. She was in the next booth over the entire time. We had a little conversation while I was 'searching' for her hiding spot. This sounds like a theme."
Monica snickers. "St. George Apartments. That's cute."
Cameron nods and stands up and does the pacing thing, like he's delivering a closing argument at his own trial. "Cool. And so I get to thinkin' some -more- about how crazy that sounds. BUT the irony is just dripping with gooey, juicy, ironic goodness." He looks between Erin and Thistle and nods. "Exactly. I think she's literally right under my nose. It's so...literature-ish. Just like out of a fairy tale or the end of an M. Night Shyalaman movie. Bruce Willis is dead. Samuel L. Jackson's the super villain. And Miss Sphynxy-poo is somewhere in this very building."
Chuck tries to process that image, fails, returns to neutral. Nothing to hear here folks.
"Do you have a plan on how to canvas the building, Mister Fisher?" Erin asks in a dispassionate whisper.
Cameron turns to regard Erin and points at her, nodding. "In fact...no. I never really got that far." He winces.
Monica rubs her chin. "Wellll... what sorts of places do Sphinxes like? Do you have her name? If there's computer records, I could hack into them, don't tell my mom."
Thistle murmurs, "Well, it's a -start-, I suppose." He pauses, then scratches his cheek before murmuring, "I doubt she's taken over anyone's apartment that we know. So...we can cross off Jan's and Ole's..." He pauses, and looks over at Monica before he grins. "Mum's the word. While she had a formal name, she was going under Billie. I suppose we -could- start by just going downstairs and looking at the tenant list next to the buzzers."
"Well, she's either hiding and squatting here, or she knows somebody and she's staying in their apartment," Erin whispers, looking to Thistle and then Chuck. "Any other kithain live here that wouldn't necessarily tell you if they had an exotic visitor? Alternately, which tenants in the building have been on vacation recently -- we can talk to the super."
Thistle murmurs, "And...why would they be telling a random tenant and his crowd of friends who had or hadn't been on vacation recently?"
Chuck says "We can check, but it's likely not too obvious."
"Because I'm sure one of us can be very persuasive, Mister Porpentine," Erin tells her kithmate without heat. "We aren't exactly mundane figures."
Chuck says "We could also check the parts that aren't apartments."
Thistle mmms softly, studying Erin flatly for a bit before he looks over at Cameron. "Do you have a map that they issue to tenants, or anything like that? She said she was on the part of the map that cartographers don't know. Like the roof, the storage spaces, the back spaces they don't label?"
Monica scratches her head. "Do any areas of the apartment building have names? What did she say, again?"
Cameron shakes his head. "I don't have a map. First things first we can ask the person downstairs if anybody by that name. Um. Arva was the last name. If anybody by that name lives here. And I don't think she'd be -hiding- in somebody else's apartment. Again...not very sporting. I like Chuck's idea. Somewhere other than the actual -apartments- Roof is good, too, Thistle. Basement maybe?
Thistle nods slowly. "If they have one, it's a thought. Why don't we go down and see if there's a map we can get, and then start checking off the unmarked spaces one by one?"
"Roof's more likely than basement," Erin murmurs.
Monica nods. "Map. Map good. Yes."
Cameron smiles a bit. "I hope we win. Cause I'd love to light up a cigar after all this and comment on how much I love it when a plan comes to together."
Thistle shakes his head. "Come on, Hannibal. Let's go find that office."
Monica giggles faintly, glancing to Thistle. "I was gonna say that."
Chuck says "I pity da fool."
Cameron grins and opens the door. "Let's hit it."
Erin follows along after the train of pop culture references. "Map first, mailboxes second, then splitting up to canvas?" she asks. "Just attempting to clarify the plan, here."
Cameron says "Yes, Ma'am, I believe that is the plan."
"Right-O," Erin murmurs, hitching up her knapsack as she follows.
Chuck says "Let's get it on."
Downstairs, one finds the expected debris of the apartment complex: mailboxes, manager's office, stairs leading down to the janitorial offices and potential basement.
Monica trails along cheerily.
Erin lets the others deal with the manager and the maps, and drifts over to the mailboxes, examining names. A moment later she reaches behind herself, digging into the knapsack without taking it off, to produce a well-worn leather journal and a pen.
Cameron walks with everybody and eyes the stairs going down. "20 bucks says she's down there somewhere. Hangin' out with Freddy Kreuger in the boiler room."
Cameron mutters to the rest of the gang. "Anybody feel like doing the talking here? Subterfuge and espionage really isn't my bag..."
Monica chews on her thumbnail, a little lost as to what to do. So she keeps an eye out.
Chuck says "I'll handle the manager. You guys go look in the basement."
There are no names resembling 'Arva' on the mailboxes.
Cameron stops and holds up hand. "Wow. We are literally -splitting up and looking for clues-. If this didn't have the potential to end in my grisly demise by clawing, I'd be laughing right now."
Thistle murmurs, "Splitting up the party always seemed like a bad idea to me. Maybe I've read too much Lovecraft."
Monica tugs on one earlobe and glances around, squinting. Sometimes she takes a step to the left, sometimes to the right, yaddah yaddah. She ends up by the basement door and makes that 'this way' gesture with her head.
Erin folds her journal closed and wanders back towards the little clump of conspirators. "Splitting up the group is logical and effective," she whispers. "Stop being so paranoid. This is a matter of honor, not a monster hiding in the shadows. Who's coming downstairs?"
Monica raises her hand. "And if you do meet a monster, run through lots of doors in a hallway."
Cameron glances at Thistle then Monica and makes his way toward the stairs, as nonchalantly as possible. Which is probably pretty stupid, since there probably isn't anybody watching them. He glances at Monica and smiles at that. "Nice."
Thistle just sighs, shaking his head as he heads for the stairs. "Let's go look down among the spiders, then, and work our way from the bottom up."
The gang, sans Chuck, make their way down the stairs.
Chuck waves and heads off, searching for a manager or a janitor or some such fool to connive.
The stairs go down and down and down. Far deeper, really, than stairs in California have any business going.
Thistle frowns a little as the group starts down the stairs, murmuring after a few moments, "I...somehow think we may be on the right track. That, or we're all goign to be eaten by a grue."
"Well, at six inches per step, and we've gone down fifty, we're going to reach sea level soon," Erin observes quietly.
Monica removes a hammer from her toolbelt and nods. "I don't think that sort of thing counts in some cases."
Cameron squints and glances at Thistle. "Zork. Nice." He winces and looks around as he continues to walk down. "And then gravity will reverse itself and we'll all pop out of some poor fella's garden in China."
"Yes, Miss Lane," Erin murmurs with a slight smile. "My point being that this is one of those cases. Either that, or we might drown at high tide."
...and down and down and down. The steps are changing, from wood to gray stone to brown slabs hewed straight out of the rock. Anybody bring a light?
Thistle mmms, and murmurs, "Already past it, actually. We're not that far from the beach. And hey -- I like Chinese." He looks over at Monica and her toolbelt, and whispers, "Don't have a flashlight over there, do you? Pen light?"
Erin rummages in one of her belt pouches and slips a headlamp onto her forehead. "Mister Porpentine, I'm clicking this on -- you might want to shield your eyes as they adjust," she warns, and then follows through.
Cameron shakes his head. "Never have I felt more cheated out of my right to Infravision. Being an elf and all."
Monica rummages about, then stops. "She's got it."
Thistle closes his eyes, and waits for the light to come on before opening them again slowly, frowning around at the stones.
Cameron says "Well, color you prepared, Erin. Then again you -are- an archeaologist."
The stairs gradually taper out, coming to what appears to be a cave floor. The catacombs stretch in all directions.
Cameron looks back over his shoulder. "Um. Somebody really needs to tell Chuck about this I think.
"She's like Indiana Jones," Monica says, "But without the penis."
Erin closes her eyes, and mentally marks a tally. Three thousand five hundred and six.
Thistle looks over at Monica. "You have another light? I can go up and get Chuck, if you do."
Cameron says "Hang on. Does anybody have a cell phone?"
Thistle blinks. "Cameron...do you think cell reception is going to work down here? In a cave that isn't in the mundane world?"
Cameron frowns. "Point."
Monica rummages about her tool belt, producing a wee flashlight for Thistle.
Erin winces slightly, then drops down to touch the floor with a splayed hand. "We're out of the Autumn World," she nods. "And, old as all this looks, kids, this is all new. The dust is... for show. Too regular."
Cameron says "Sorry. I'm like a dimensional travel virgin."
Thistle takes the light, and salutes Monica with a tip of it to his temple. "I'll be back. Don't get lost." He flicks it on, then heads back up the stairs. Tromp tromp tromp.
Monica beams at Cameron. "Awww. You're popping your cherry."
Erin straightens with a fluid motion, looking from one tunnel to the next. "Any more cryptic clues, Mister Fisher, or shall we just start down one of these at random and keep taking left-hand turns?" The beam of her light flashes over to Thistle's retreat, and she adds, "After Porpentine returns with Lewis, of course."
Cameron glances at Monica and smiles, but blushes a bit as well. "Um. Right." He squint at the ground. "Dust huh? Any tracks?"
Cameron says "Man we need a ranger."
Monica squints again. "Well... kenning, maybe."
Erin puts up a hand. "No, don't," she hisses. "It's... a little bright in here, ken-wise."
No tracks.
Monica pauses, then whispers to Cameron, "If it's a riddle contest, try 'what's red and green and goes round and round and round'.
"If she's trying to make this difficult, Mister Fisher, she's quite capable of not leaving tracks," Erin reminds Cameron, "although that might suggest she'd only proceed down those with adequate overhead for flight." The sluagh glances from passage to passage, gauging their headspace.
Cameron double-takes at Monica. "What's that?"
None of them look large enough to fly down.
Monica murmurs, "A frog in a Cuisinart."
Cameron smiles a bit. "Um...good one, Mon...good one."
Cameron frowns and stares out into the darkness. He scratches the back of his head. "I'm stumped. Maybe Chuck or Thistle'll have a good idea."
Monica eyes him. "It worked for Merlin in the Chronicles of Amber," she huffs.
Cameron smiles wider at her. "Thank you, Monica. I've got some oldies but goodies of my own, though. But if she gets all those, I'll try that one."
Monica pauses, then says, "We should go... up."
Cameron says "Up? Back up?"
Erin smiles wanly, for all that the others can see it against the glare of her headlamp. "Mister Fisher, we may just need to start exploring. Makes me wonder, though, if Miss Arva brought all this with her." The sluagh looks over at Monica. "Back up to the apartments?"
Monica shakes her head. "No, up here. Up. Sphinxes are burial places and catacombs, aren't they? But the actual sphinx is /over/ the... well, it sounded better in my head."
Erin bobs her head. "That sounds about right, Miss Lane. Let's see if this little pocket of the Dream has a surface."
Cameron says "Let's just wait on Chuck and Thistle to get back, then...let's take a look around."
Monica winces. "I hope they didn't run into any trouble."
"Mister Fisher, I wouldn't recommend it," Erin whispers in the gloom. "There's no guarantee that this place is 'safe'... even within sight of the stairs."
Cameron says "I wish I had a sword or something...yeah I know. But waiting is -definitely- going to get me killed. I don't know how much time she's giving me to find her, but I can't imagine it's much longer."
Monica rummages in her toolbelt and offers Cameron a big wrench.
Cameron takes it in his hand. "Cool. Thanks. Kinda like a mace."
"Well maybe at the end of this you will have a sword," Erin murmurs. She again crouches to examine the floor. "If Miss Avra is as much the traveller as she seems to be, and travels through the Dream as much as the Autumn World, it's possible she created this realm when she arrived." Whether or not she's speaking to the others is a good question.
Monica nods to Cameron. "Adamantium. Tough stuff."
Cameron looks at the wrench and marvels a bit over it. "Really? Suh-weet." He glances back up the stairs, furrowing his brows.
Thistle eventually makes his way back down the stairs, with count in tow. "Lots of stairs. Sorry about that."
"Welcome back," Erin whispers in the darkness, not looking towards Thistle in order not to blind him. "Mister Porpentine, Miss Lane pointed out that our quarry, if she's true to her mythic habits, should be found above-ground."
Monica adds, "Above the catacombs, above ground. Thingie."
Cameron nods. "We probably oughta just get to exploring. I...I'm not sure how much time I have left before -she- comes looking for -me-."
Thistle whispers, "If she were above gorund, she'd be on the maps, though, would she not? "
Chuck says "Then let's get the fuck going, shall we?"
Chuck comes down the stairs in a bit of a mood.
Monica shakes her head. "No, not if the place above this is Dreaming and is not mapped."
Cameron glances back at Chuck. "Everything go ok up there?"
There are five options, tunnel-wise. North, south, east, west and sort of south-southeast.
Chuck says "Sort of. Let's get."
Thistle looks over at Cameron then, and says slowly, "You're looking for her. The bit about her coming to look for you is incentive. She's not going to kill you when you're on the path to her door." He peers over at Monica, and notes, "People map the Dreaming as well, though. Just because we don't have the map doesn't mean the space above isn't on one."
Monica sighs. "And it doesn't mean there's not a map of this place, either."
"Mister Porpentine, that arguments works for these catacombs, as well," Erin agrees. "Mister Fisher, pick a tunnel and let's head down it. I hope you all won't mind if I go first -- I don't want any of you to get yourselves killed."
Cameron says "Five. Well, naturally. There's 5 of us. (He grins some and fishes around in his pocket and takes out a 6 sided die. He bends down and rolls it on the ground. He looks up and counts the passages.) "I think I'm gonna try South. Gotta let fate take -some- part in this.""
Thistle shrugs faintly. "Fair enough." He watches Cameron, nods, and heads down the southern passage.
Chuck says "South."
Cameron snatches up his die and drops it back in his pocket and follows suit.
Erin nods her head once, and strides towards the southern cavern. "Everybody always stay within sight of one of the lights," she advises the others, "and don't hesitate to shout if it starts getting away from you."
...and the procession heads off to the south. Where, for quite a while, there is merely tunnel. Then, in the distance, a light begins to show itself. Just dim, at first.
Chuck says "Cool, a train."
Thistle keeps walking, though slows his pace when they get closer in case it's not their quarry.
Cameron says "The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel...Or...(he looks at Chuck with a comically sour expression)...that."
Monica laughs at Chuck.
Chuck doesn't even look over, "When you can snatch the sarcastic comment from my teeth, then you will be ready grasshopper."
Erin isn't one to assume that a tunnel that has thus far been safe continues to be such, and proceeds with wary caution.
Monica trails along behind the others, then abruptly raises her hammer and swings about. "HA!" WTF?
Thistle twists around immediately, light flashing toward where Monica is with a scowl, already in a crouch.
Billie, who is walking behind Monica, falls back and folds her arms, eyeing the nocker dubiously. "Ha. That's the _best_ you can do? Freaks. Fucking freaks." She moves to brush past her, heading for the light. "Hey, guys. Yo, Fisher. You found the cave, good boy."
Chuck says "Right. Let's get this on then." He seems rather sanguine about the whole thing, and unsurprised even, "Where to now?"
Monica lowers her hammer, frowning a little. "Hey, this thing is fucking hurty, bitch!"
Erin's headlamp flashes backwards a beat later, the archeologists' eyes slitting. "Good afternoon, Miss Avra," she whispers.
Thistle arches a bristly brow even as he straightens, stepping back to let Billie past when she gets close enough. "Ms. Billie. A pleasure, again." He offers her a faint smile, then gives Monica a sympathetic one before he starts heading toward the light again.
Cameron lifts his eyebrows in surprise. "Um. Thanks. Hi, Billie. Nice place you have here."
Billie offers a small wave to the group in general, continuing onwards. The 'light' proves to be the overhead bulb of a disturbingly normal-looking little apartment living room that could easily belong almost anywhere upstairs, if it weren't for, y'know, the stalactites. "Thanks. I work hard to keep it up. Everybody have a seat, if you would; it's time for Fisher and I to play. Bathroom's to the left, mind the minotaur."
Cameron's eyes go wider. "You have a minotaur? Coool." He glances toward the bathroom.
Thistle looks around for a moment, then flicks the flashlight off and finds a seat in the corner of whatever couch there is to be found.
There's a couch. Some easy chairs. The 'bathroom' appears to be the mouth of another tunnel.
Erin follows after, clicking off her headlamp as she steps into the light. She finds a space of wall to hold up with her shoulder.
Monica plunks down onto the couch, still holding her hammer.
Cameron wags a finger at Billie. "Veeeeery crafty of you. Setting up shop right under my nose. Kudos to you. So, um, how do you wanna play this?"
Cameron leans over to hand Monica back her big wrench. "Thank you muchly."
Billie takes a seat herself, legs crossed, and says, "We can go the traditional or we can stay as we are. Your choice. I know what some," a glance to Erin, "expect, and I can oblige, but I'm good either way. I ask a question. You answer. Get it wrong, die, get it right, you can ask me one. I get it wrong, you win, I get it right, I ask another. And so on."
Monica takes the wrench back and stows it in the toolbelt.
Cameron swallows. "Ok. Fair enough. Well not so much fair, but...right..." He grabs a seat across from Billie. "Ok. Well...lets get to it. No real reason to push this off any longer." He swallows again, a little paler than he was just a minute ago.
Billie flashes a quick, sharp smile, and says, "All right, first question -- we'll start it easy, to warm you up. Why did they cancel Star Trek?"
Erin gives Billie a somewhat bemused smile, but keeps to her wall without comment.
Monica blinks a few times. "Huh."
Cameron blinks. And then again. "I was sort of expecting something a bit more. Riddlish." He frowns a bit. "Which Star Trek?"
Thistle chuckles quietly, even as he shifts slightly on the couch so that he's leaning against Monica's shoulder. "Hey, Cameron, don't knock it."
Billie's eyes narrow. "Is that your answer, Cameron Fisher? Think carefully."
Monica glances over at Thistle and smiles a bit before turning her attention back to El Duelo and biting her bottom lip.
Cameron shrugs and squints. "Well they cancelled the original Star Trek because it's ratings weren't "good enough" for the TV execs. And that's a fact."
Billie nods. "Fair enough. Your turn."
Cameron opens his mouth and closes it. "I was gonna ask you some...riddles. Would you prefer some pop culture or sc-fi questions as well? And no that doesn't count as my question. I'm trying to be courteous here."
Erin clucks her tongue, and looks to Billie.
Billie shakes her head. "Sorry, it _does_ count as your question. Ask a question, get an answer. My answer is: ask me whatever you like, I'll answer it the same." She flicks her wings half-open, and says, amiably, "I am no man, but I have the heart of Richard; I am no falcon, but my eyes are keen as Gwydion's. I have seen the wood that borders on the desert sand, and watched the ages pass from a place outside of time. What am I?"
Cameron frowns at Billie. "Well that was just -cheap-. Alright, Lemme think..."
Billie shrugs. "Never said I wasn't, guy. That's not how you riddle a sphinx."
Erin suddenly snorts, and holds the back of her hand to her nose, and gives Billie an apologetic look.
Monica blinks twice, looking highly thoughtful.
Billie props her chin on her knuckles, eyes on Cameron, wings now halfway-spread. Thus posed, she waits.
Monica scratches her bum.
Billie's tail begins to twitch, metronomically. "Time, Cameron. It's passing."
Thistle watches Cameron intently, arching a brow a bit as he waits. Mouth shut.
Cameron frowns. "Nope. No clue." He sighs disappointed. "Mon? Can I have that wrench back?"
Erin's hand finds its way to her holstered pistol.
Monica squeaks, freezing in place.
Billie sighs. "Wow. No clue. That's...actually really disappointed. You have two choices, now. I can kill you -- and I _will_ kill you, trust me -- Lady Darkness, get your hand off the gun, you can't stop me that easily. I can kill you, or you can wager one of your little friends and go again. Double or nothing."
Thistle just blinks at Cameron in disbelief, then sighs deeply and rubs the bridge of his nose. He looks over at Billie then, and whispers, "Can one of us pay to give the man a hint?"
Monica squeaks again. "Wager us? Um - to be killed?"
Billie nods. "Uh-huh. He fucks up, I kill you. Dead like doornails."
"It's not for you, Miss Avra," Erin whispers. She glances over to Chuck, question evident.
Cameron calmly looks toward Monica. He almost whispers, "Monica. I'm going to need your wrench. Please." He glances back at Billie. "Let me just defend myself. And we'll get to this, ok? One sec."
Penelope has arrived.
Chuck shakes his head a bit at Erin, waiting this whole thing out.
Monica rises from her seat, wincing and drawing the wrench from her belt to offer it to Cameron. "I'm not sure it'll do any good."
Billie sighs. "Caaaaaameron. I am _offering_ you another _option_. Now wager me a hanger-on before I have to split your skull open. Brains stain."
Thistle eyes Cameron, and snaps in a hiss, "Don't be stupid. You're not trained enough to beat her. Take the option, and remember that sometimes the answer's obvious. Like where we found her in the first place."
"Mister Fisher is a little too noble to offer up someone else for his own benefit," Erin tells Billie dispassionately.
Chuck says "Fine. He offers me up. Next question."
Cameron says "Me neither. (He looks back at Billie, blinking) I can't do that, Mr. Bill. (He eyes Thistle) I'm wagered you once for a year and a day of your life...I'm not wagering the rest of it, Thistle.""
Billie looks to Erin, and replies flatly, "So offer yours...aaaaah." Chuck receives a brilliant smile. "Thank you." Back to Cameron. "Your question, guy. Make it good."
Thistle grunts, and shakes his head sharply before he leans back in the couch, folding his arms over his chest with a scowl.
Cameron eyes Chuck, startled. "No. No I did not agree to that at all." He looks back at Billie. "That's not acceptable."
Penelope slips into the back of the group. Don't ask how she found them. But she did. She stays silent, arms folded as she tries to catch up with the scene.
Thistle mutters, "Cameron? Remember when I said things weren't acceptable on the fucking boat? Go with it. It's not your -choice-, here."
Billie shakes her head. "He's an adult, he's allowed. Your. Question."
Cameron gives Billie a serious frown. After a full minute of silence he pipes up: "Alive as you, but without breath, as cold in my life as in my death; never a thirst though I always drink, dressed in mail but never a clink. What am I?"
Billie sighs. "A fish, Cameron. You're a fish."
Cameron says "Dammit. Yes I am."
Chuck facepalms. "I knew that one and I suck."
Erin shifts against the wall, arms folded before her.
Penelope's brow furrows. "Oh, no." she says, expression now going from solemn to worried.
Billie shrugs. "I'm pregnant every time you see me, but never will give birth. What am I?"
Cameron frowns. "You're a full moon. That's a crappy one."
Billie snorts. "This from the man who was a fish. Your question."
Chuck says "Considering you gave up the fish, you're in no position to cast aspersions."
Monica flaps her hands and squirms.
"Coulda been a photo of a pregnant woman," Erin offers to no one in particular.
Thistle sighs deeply, and just shakes his head as he turns and hides his face against Monica's shoulder.
Thistle whispers "When they both end up dead because Cameron is fucking with the legendary Pokemon, will you at least come with me when I carry their bodies to Jan?" to Monica.
Cameron frowns. "At least mine made better sense. Ok. I run over fields and woods all day, under the bed at night I sit not alone, with a long tongue hanging out, I wait for a bone. What am I?"
Billie raises an eyebrow, replying mildly, "You're a boot."
Cameron sighs. "Well I was looking for shoe, but I think the judges will accept that one."
Thistle senses Monica squirms a little more. "I will. Oi."
Monica squirms a little more and pats Thistle's shoulder.
"Something tells me she's heard most of the traditional riddles before, Mister Fisher," Erin whispers from her wall.
Monica fidgets some more.
Billie nods. "Mmmmmmm-hm." She shakes her head, and says, calmly, "I watch the ship's sails turning black, but not one bears his body back; I stand and watch the endless sea. I wait for him -- he'll not for me. This question stands to end my rhyme -- what is my name, and my wait's time?"
Erin's smile is less amused, this time, and more annoyed.
Cameron says "Hrm. The Queen of Ithica and I think the wait time is 20 years. Penelope's her name. (He glances over his shoulder at Penelope and gives her a smile. Nervous smile...but ya know...He looks back at Billie.) Lady, you are getting pretty obscure..."
Billie smiles brightly. "Your question, bucky."
"She's stayed pretty close to home the entire time, Mister Fisher," Erin whispers, and watches Cameron for his next.
Penelope lets out a little sigh of relief, and returns Cameron's smile with a supportive one of her own.
Cameron says "When set loose, I fly away, Never so cursed as when I go astray. What am I, Billie?"
Billie wrinkles her nose. "A fart. Gee, thanks." She gives a small shake of her head. "The cost of making only the maker knows, valueless if bought, but sometimes traded. A poor man may give one as easily as a king. When one is broken pain and deceit are assured. What is it?"
Cameron says "A promise. Let me think."
Billie pops her claws, and starts to study them, casually. "You think. I'll consider filing."
Monica buries her face in her hands.
Cameron says "Thought I was gonna get you with the fart one. (He grins.) Ok, When I am filled, I can point the way, when I am empty, nothing moves me. I have two skins: one without and one within. What am I, Billie?"
Billie sighs. "You're a glove. Work with me here, Fisher. Your friends are bored out of their tiny minds and waiting for me to gut you. Now. Lovely and round, I shine with pale light, grown in the darkness, a lady's delight. What am I?"
Cameron says "A pearl. What are the names of Zartan's original three dreadnoughts?"
Billie blinks at that, and then replies, as she rises, "Not a damn clue. You win. Your stuff's in your closet upstairs. Thanks for playing, and I have a receipt for you to sign, if you'll hang for like, five minutes."
Cameron just blinks. "Wait. That's it?"
Chuck shakes his head, "Okay, let's make this a learning experience. Cameron, the next time you go up against someone, don't butt your head repeatedly against the brick wall of their strength. Go after a weakness."
Billie heads for the desk, then stops to blink at Cameron. "Well, yeah. Who the fuck said this had to be hard?" She moves to get a clipboard from the top drawer. "I need you to sign on the line to prove I made delivery."
Monica blinks. "Who /were/ the original three dreadnaughts?"
Cameron stands up a little shakily. "I guess that teaches me to play fair, huh?" He walks over to the desk. "You gotta pen?" He glances Monica-ward. "Buzzer, Ripper, and Torch."
"Who the hell is Zartan?" Erin chimes in.
Cameron says "G.I.Joe. A Real American Hero?"
Billie offers him the clipboard, and a pen. "Sign there, if you would."
"Is he the one that could change color?" asks Penelope.
Chuck says "Shoulda asked Barry Bond's BA in 1993."
Cameron signs, still kind of in a daze. "Ok." He hands the clipboard back to Billie. He looks back to Penelope. "That's the one. And my Grandpa told me I was wasting my time watching all those cartoons..."
Monica looks over at Billie. "Have you heard the red and green round and round one?"
Billie asks, "What, you mean a frog in a blender? Okay, guys, you're all done. Wanna scoot? I need to pack this place up and get moving."
Chuck stands up, "Okay, done risking my life, I'm going home to take a nap."
Penelope gives Chuck a grin. "I'll take Cam home?" she offers. "I want to see what's in his closet."
Cameron nods. "Ok. Thank you, Billie. Nice meeting you. Let's not do this again, real soon, ok?"
Billie shakes her head. "I got no other standing contracts with you. You're reasonably clean."
Chuck waves to Penelope, "He's all yours if he wants."
Monica nods to Billie. "Right, that one." She waves, rising to her feet.
Erin disengages herself from the wall, and gives a final glance around the 'bedroom'. "See you round, Miss Avra," she tells the sphinx with a stiff wave.
Cameron rubs his eyes. "Thanks, Chuck. Thank you, everyone." He glances at Billie. "Headin' off, I guess?"
Chuck opens the door and walks out into the hall.
Chuck has left.
Billie nods. "Heading off. Away. Home. There's little call for a sphinx in Santa Cruz."
Cameron says "Ok. Well. No hard feelings. Have a safe trip. Next time, let's just grab a beer and trade riddles for fun next time, ok?"
Penelope offers a relieved smile to Thistle, Monica, and Erin. She watches Cameron with an inquiring expression.
Billie nods to Erin. "See you, I'm sure."
Monica heads out.
Monica opens the door and walks out into the hall.
Monica has left.
Cameron wanders back over to the crowd. "Well that tired me out. Well, no, it should have but it didn't." He still looks a little pale but smiles at everybody left. "Thanks guys. Well you guys wanna see what I did all this for?
Erin follows the procession back to the stairs. "I'd like to," she whispers with pale interest.
Cameron smiles and nods. He smiles at Penelope. "Thanks for comin' down. You didn't have to. I know you've got a march to run. But I'm glad you did."
"So would I." says Penelope and she adds, "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier."
Billie waits until everyone has exited her area; follows them up the stairs; closes the door. Examination later will find only a janitor's closet. Game over.
Billie goes home.
Billie has left.
Cameron says "Pshaw. It's all good. I'm still alive."
Cameron heads up to the elevator and rides up to the 3rd floor with Penelope and Erin (and possible Thistle...)
Cameron opens the door to his place. "Come on in."
Penelope steps inside, looking about curiously. Wonder Woman is cast a look of amusement, and she turns to see who else is entering.
Erin follows after, thumb under her knapsack strap. "One wonders if there was a manticore, chimera, and hydra down those other passages," she whispers, apparently to no one.
Cameron says "I think I've had enough adventures for the day. Maybe tomorrow we can go look. (He chuckles, color having returned to his face). O.K. Let's...let's see what Santa left. (He opens his closet door and stares into the darkness within dubiously.)"
Erin stands behind, at a respectful distance. "Mister Fisher, did you... remember anything?" she asks quietly, "when we were going down the stairs? Little flashes of memory or something? Or have you been to Fort Snelling already, with his Excellency?" She looks with interest into the darkness of the closet as she asks.
In the middle of the closet, next to a dirty clothes hamper and beside Cameron's one and only suit apparently, is a suit of armor. Banded Mail it looks like: black leather pieces among and over spanses of chainmail soaked and stained red...hopefully by paint. The unoccupied set of armor surrounds something like a snake. A sword...a short sword...that strangely resembles a reverse meat cleaver somewhat. The blade is pure black and the handle is red. Small arcs of what looks like sickly, dark-purplish lightning zing and swim up and down the blade. Cameron stares. "Huh." The sword looks just like this except black: http://www.dragonblades.com/Dadao.html
"Well, that's interesting," the sluagh murmurs upon seeing the weapons of war. "East meets West. What's that within the armor?"
Cameron squints. "It's certainly not a Holy Avenger, now is it?"
Cameron frowns. "Um. No I don't remember anything else...to answer your question...this is -mine-? This doesn't look like anything I could use or wear...I mean it's kinda cool lookin'. But it
Cameron says "But it's also kinda -evil- lookin' to boot..."