stealth_andsecrets | Where the Wicked go after Death

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Where the Wicked go after Death

Purple leans against a wall, inside the back-room of the Caritas. For the last hour or so, she has watched Winston (War) tend carefully to the ailing Lorne. Many of her siblings were around the bar, as one of Lorne's requests was for them to get acquainted with the business (so they could run it once he was gone from this world.).

It was almost too much to bear at times, to watch Lorne get sicker and sicker... and feel so helpless to help him. There were so many times when she was so close to tears... sick to her stomach with the thought of losing him.

Winston came to sit beside her. He smiled softly, looking at his younger sister. "Where is your boyfriend today?"

"You need to speak to him?"

"Yes. I do."

Purple pulled out her PINpoint, sending Niverian a message, asking him to come to the Caritas as soon as he was available.

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Graeme starts to get uncomfortable with the line of questioning. He is quite unhappy that the Guardian seems to think one would react differently than the other.

"Would not the reaction and consequences be the same?"

"The Master is more tied up with many other affairs... and often it is easier for any of us lost souls to find the Mistress. She finds time for us..."

Cipher Nine makes note of that reaction, and pays a little bit closer attention to Graeme as a result. Nervous people tend to give away lots of things in their body language and tone of voice. "Sound reasoning," he concedes. "But Persephone and Hades aren't the same person. Or deity, rather. They have different personalities, different mindsets, different priorities. So no... their reactions would not necessarily be the same, and as a result, the consequences might not be the same either." He pauses for a split second. "That's not something everyone realizes about authority figures, though, so you didn't make a mistake or anything of the sort. That it was reported to Persephone first simply makes things a little more... complicated, from my perspective." (Which is putting it mildly, as far as Cipher Nine is concerned.)

Graeme crosses his arms, and addresses Cipher Nine frankly. "Not all of us are the favorite of the Guardian... so we don't get access to the Lord."

"No they ain't the same person. But the Mistress has always ruled fairly before. And I wasn't aware that going to her would make things complicated with you. How could I?"

"I just told you I wasn't blaming you at all," Cipher Nine replies, a mildly frustrated tone coming to his voice. "I was explaining why I needed to know the things I've been asking about, since you seemed confused about it." He narrows his eyes at Graeme a little. "Why so defensive all of a sudden?"

"Just seems to me you looking for a reason not to blame your friend. Must be nice... to get off scot free..."

"Can I get back to my punishment now?"

"Lindsay didn't do it," Cipher Nine repeats, quietly and sternly. "And fine. I have nothing further to ask you." He turns and walks away, back towards Purple, taking a few deep breaths to get a handle on the frustration that had risen up in him a moment ago.

"You look upset..." Purple was not close enough to overhear the conversation.

"The conversation got a little... vitriolic towards the end," Cipher Nine answers, stepping a little closer and taking her hand, squeezing gently, using the gesture to let out some of the tension built up during the conversation. He takes a deep breath and adds, "Graeme seems to be on the level, and he didn't actually have a clear view of Lindsay, so it's possible he could've been mistaken. But... he also mentioned reporting what he saw to Persephone before talking to anyone else." He leaves off there, allowing her room to draw her own conclusions, or voice her own thoughts and/or questions.

"Unfortunately love, no matter your feelings towards Persphone, you can't expect everyone else to feel the same way. I expect Graeme was just doing what he felt was right."

"I know," he replies gently. "I'm not putting the blame on Graeme. There's no way he could have known there was any reason not to trust her, and I didn't expect him to know. It's her I suspect, not him." He shakes his head a little, frustrated still—not with her, but with himself, because apparently he keeps miscommunicating with people here, which is something he hasn't had problem with for almost a decade now. "He thought I was trying to blame him, I think. That's one of the reasons it got heated. But it's Persephone I suspect now, not anyone else. I'm not sure she was thinking of the Underworld's internal law and order when she told Hades what Graeme said."

"We can't go to Hades with your suspicion without proof..."

He nods his agreement. "I know. Any thoughts on our next step, dearest?" He has a few of his own, but as far as he's concerned, Purple's not just along for the ride. So her input is important—she gets as much of a say as he does.

"Either find another witness, question Lindsay himself, or question Persphone."

"Lindsay," he suggests immediately. She had the same ideas he did, apparently, and he was already leaning that way. "We need his side of the story. Which no-one apparently got when this first happened." Which concerns him, but those are concerns he'll address later. For now, they need to go to the Malebolge.

"We need to find safe passage to where he was moved..." And unfortunately she is not sure where to start.

Neither is Niverian, at least not at first. "I'm not sure where we might find one," he answers. "But... Mum and Dad might know."

"Hey... maybe we could use the opportunity to talk to your parents about Lindsay's mood. Get their impression on what happened."

He smiles broadly at her. "Good idea," he agrees. "So we just have to find them. Knowing this place, it won't take long."

"Lead the way, they usually sense you are looking for them, when they appear."

Cipher Nine smiles a little, and heads further into Tartarus, since they have to head that way anyway. He keeps a close eye on their surroundings, looking for his parents and trying to ignore the sight of suffering souls. Which, for him, is much harder than it seems.

They will have to alter their direction, heading a little out of Tartarus actually before his parents show up. They show up at the edge of Limbo, the world between the two worlds of the Underworld.

"As unfortunate the circumstances bring us, I am glad to see them again."

"As am I," Niverian agrees as he spots his parents. His pace picks up a little, a small smile crossing his face, and he goes to hug Lorvia and Nalresan as soon as he's within arm's reach of them.

Lorvia and Nalresan pull Purple into the hug as well as soon as they can reach her, Lorvia greeting both her son and Purple with a kiss on the forehead as well. They linger in the group hug for only a few moments before Lorvia asks them, "You're here about Lindsay?"

"We heard that he was moved into the Ninth Circle... and trying to determine if it was the right and just thing."

((I figured it was a safe assumption that Lorvia and Nalresan would've helped get the word out about Lindsay being moved. >.> Also, if you could PM me what Lorvia and Nalresan would know about the situation, that would be awesome :).))

Lorvia breathes out a quiet breath. "Good. Word got to you then. As soon as we heard about it, we tried to get a message to you."

Cipher Nine arches an eyebrow for a moment, but then decides that he shouldn't be surprised. "Word reached us, yes," he confirms. "What's your take on the situation?"

"We don't trust that the entire truth has seen the light of day," Lorvia answers. "That's one of the reasons we tried to get a message to you."

"Did you notice any difference with Lindsay when you last saw him?"

"He was happier. Especially when we returned with one of his ex-loves." Nalresan answered. "He seemed a little anxious, at the best."

"But we know he wouldn't risk anything," Lorvia added.

"We need to see Lindsay and talk to him. Can you take us to the Ninth Circle?"

((borrowed them instead. A little easier))

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