For the love of life, we'll defeat this

[dynast_queen]

WHO: Amal and open!
WHAT: Going around town, vanquishing monsters and trying to get back in contact with her...contacts.
WHERE: All around the city! If you want interaction with Ashe/Amal, just put the time of day in the subject line!
WHEN: ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WOOT WOOT PARTY

Comments

In Da Clinic

[eatshootsnleves]

Roy slept with a gun under his pillow these days. For all the good it'd do him, sure, but somehow he didn't think Gabe would come hunting for him in his hospital bed anyway. If anything it was for the beasts in the streets, a flashback episode if there ever was one - he'd already shot an ornery dragon that stood about knee-high to a horse and spat sparks at the clinic curtains.

He was worried. Journal contact with the voyage hadn't lasted, and he could only choose to believe that was because they were somehow out of magical range - and not because they'd gone under the waves.

[dynast_queen]

It was harder to get to the clinic than Ashe had thought it would be. I should not have dallied as long as I did. Rivelata was a shadow of its former self. Ashe was, at least, glad that she'd gotten Larsa and Penelo out of this mess, though what mess they were in she had no idea.

She knocked on Roy's door before letting herself in. "Roy."

[eatshootsnleves]

He was propped up on pillows when she came in, bandages stretched across the burns on his chest. "Howdy, stranger." he greeted, but the flickered smile didn't reach his eyes.

His journal was held shut in one hand, thumb idly stroking the binding.

[dynast_queen]

Ashe walked further into the room, feeling more than a little awkward without her heels. There were a lot of thoughts running through her head at that moment. Most of them were angry. Seeing him lying there, though, guessing what he had done and why he had done it, it was hard for her to stay mad. Well, that mad.

"You did not leave with the boats."

[eatshootsnleves]

He shut his eyes for a second, and then looked at her head-on. "No. I didn't."

Yeah, he owned it. "For what it's worth, I didn't exactly plan it that way." He'd just seen two bad choices, and picked the one.

[dynast_queen]

"I realize that. Those explosions...and then when I saw you on the journal, I figured..." Ashe trailed off, moving over to the window. She usually found the sound of rain against glass calming, but right then it was distracting and annoying.

"There is still Jan," Ashe said, trying to sound okay with that fact. It didn't really work. At least Marcus was there too.

The only way to feel marginally better about their situation was to move on from the subject of the boats. They both knew communication had been lost and they both knew there was nothing to be done about it. The Queen felt like she should ask how Roy's recovery was going, but there really were more important subjects to talk about. Besides the fact that she doesn't do emotion well.

"In any case, we must needs focus on the tasks at hand. I need to get research into Jan's brand underway as soon as possible, but with the weather and the animals, keeping the citizens from danger is our top priority." She turned to look at Roy, arms crossed. "Agreed?"

[eatshootsnleves]

"And Marcus, and Red." Roy chimed in. "And the little bird."

Ngh, yeah, it wasn't exactly a stellar lineup. "No arguments from me. A safehouse on high ground would be the easiest to defend. We had a warehouse, last time the monsters went wild, and--"

He cut off abruptly, eyes widening as something occurred. "-- and the King offered sanctuary after awhile, too."

[desert_bloomed]

The little bird. Ashe was pretty sure she knew who Roy was referring to, and it didn't make her feel any better at all.

Ashe narrowed her eyes, an idea starting to form. "Perhaps we can force the King's hand somehow." It really would be safest for everyone in the castle. They definitely had enough room. "The King was able to subdue Sylar for a time, after all."

And if she could get in there, she'd be able to do some snooping, find more out about the King's magick and Jan's brand.

[eatshootsnleves]

"Three birds with one stone, ah?" God, if Red could see him now - but it made damn good sense. "Maybe we can use that royal healer - next time somebody's injured, dump 'em on her." Which was a little rich coming from a raspy guy in a clinic bed, but to his mind this wasn't real injury anyway.

[dynast_queen]

"She seemed genuine in her sympathy," Ashe agreed, nodding. "We know not what sort of influence she has with the King, if any at all, but we do know she is not generally let outside the castle."

The Queen crossed her arms, beginning to pace. It felt strange, not hearing the click of her heels on the floor. "If we were to make the situation seem worse than it is, the King would have no choice but to open his gates for refugees."

[eatshootsnleves]

"If that's a call for monsterbait, I volunteer." Better him than most anybody else, anyways. "Otherwise, what'd you have in mind?"

[dynast_queen]

Ashe shook her head, clasping her hands behind her back. "Monster attacks have been going on consistently for the past several days. If the King were going to use that as a catalyst to evacuate the city proper, he would have by now. We need a threat much more dangerous." The Queen turned to Roy, jaw set. "Perhaps something similar to what put you here."

[eatshootsnleves]

"Oh-ho." Now they were getting interesting, and he met the Queen's solemn expression with a devil's grin. "I know Sylar's just itching for a rematch without the cannons."

[dynast_queen]

"Unfortunately for his battered ego," Ashe began sardonically, "that wasn't quite what I had in mind, though it does worry me that you should come to that conclusion first." Oh please, Ashe, like you weren't leading him on. "It is enough for us to simulate an attack, or a rash of attacks. With my ice magick and several explosions, it should be no hard task."

[eatshootsnleves]

"They do say I know something about explosions." Roy stretched in bed, grimaced at what burns were still raw. "Name the date, your High- ah, Your-whatever-you'd-like-to-be-called, and I'll be there with bells on."

Preferably a date at least three days in advance, so he had a little healing time. Ooosh.

[dynast_queen]

"I go by Amal now," she said, good humor finally returning to her voice. "Amalia is the proprietor of the bookstore now, and Amello of the bakery. They are fraternal twins." Not exactly the best cover story, but whoever sincerely wanted to find out her real identity would anyway, at any cost. It was a good enough cover story for now.