Reunions (E 2.1, H 2.1, L 2.1)

Helix,
She smiles and looks over at her raven, "Mage is my protector. If I'm in trouble, I can send him to find another Talon. He's really good at keeping track of everyone. Give me a kiss, Mage," she says softly. The raven turns and opens his beak and gently touches the tips of his beak to Zephyr's cheek. She grins, proud of the bird's reaction.

"Are you hungry?" she asks as she heads for the hallway and beckons you to follow.

Litch,
Janelle enters the room without hesitation, her demeanor calm and professional despite the blood, smoke, and grease stains marring her suit, shirt, and tie. "I'd like to understand more about our situation. You rescued us from those raiders. Who happened to have a missile that could take down a plane..." she takes note of the new weapons in your armory but doesn't mention it. "And now, we're here. I can assure you Princy would reimburse you for saving us, but you'd need to take us to The Tower for that. That said, without our butler, I'm worried about Parker's health and would like to make sure she's okay to travel. And I don't want to separate Paisley from her mother if I can help it. So... what's your plan, sir?" She folds her hands behind her back and waits patiently for your answer as Kes softly mutters "sir" with amusement.

What do you do?

Litch,
Janelle takes the compliment as well as one could when you aren't her boss, but her savior instead. You ask about the situation at the Tower and she frowns. "I'm afraid you likely have more up-to-date information on the sitrep than I do, suh - than I do, Litch. We've been in Chicago for a couple of weeks visiting Parker's family. I know Princy was attacked and that our butler and advisor have left. Parker insisted we return once she heard about the trouble, but she did speak with Princy, so I know he's alive, at least. I doubt I can keep her away from Princy for long, even if it is dangerous."

Helix,
You trail Zephyr as she leads you down the hallway into a large kitchen. The room appears to have been a kitchen before the Great Flood, so there is a hood for the oven and a large stainless steel industrial refrigerator. There's only a trickle of power here, though, so the Talons have had to make do with less opulence than you saw in the Vault.

Zephyr's other raven flies into the room and caws with a higher pitch. Both ravens fly to an island and walk back and forth excitedly as Zephyr prepares a simple meal of a hearty soup - which appears to be a lobster bisque of some kind - along with some bread. She makes two bowls, putting one in front of you and taking the other. She sits near you on one of the stools at the island and breaks up her bread to hand-feed the ravens. "Been a weird week for you, hasn't it?" She says casually, opening the door for conversation as she watches her ravens gobble up the bread.

You notice the whispers are quiet now. It was in the back of your brain for a few minutes now, but other thoughts dominated. But the Roost, a place for the Gray Wing, seems to ward them away or something.

What do you do?

Litch,
"Lucius," she replies after only a moment's consideration - she seems to judge you enough of an ally to spill that secret. "Edmund, no. Lucius? Probably. I've always considered him an opportunist, but Princy valued his insight and clever tricks. I very much want to return to The Tower and try to dig up who is the assassin, learn how Princy is doing, and try to clamp things down."

Syd,
Javan starts to reply, but Merlin raises a hand, "The Fountains? Alright, I can take you. Jav, keep an eye on our guests while I make this run. C'mon, Syd." He ambles towards the rope ladder down and heads for the dock. "I assume you don't have anything to trade for these supplies?" he asks when you join him.

Litch,
"Kamae isn't one I'd save either. I agree that Edmund isn't an assassin," Janelle says simply. She doesn't waver under your steely gaze, but she isn't defiant, either. Purely professional. "I'd like to get an update from my boss, but I can't leave Parker and Paisley alone - no offense. Would you be willing to send one of your people to The Tower with a message from us? I assure you they will be paid for the effort." She carefully, and slowly, reaches her hands up behind her neck to pull a nice-looking golden necklace out, pulls it over her head, and offers it to you, "Worth a couple of jingle to the right people."

What do you do?

Helix,
Zephyr listens to your brief description of your latest days. When you ask why she keeps asking, she shrugs, "Sometimes a burden is lighter when shared. My moms both say that. It's been more true than not." She slurps some of her own soup, then offers more bread to her birds. "This place can be an escape. Or... at least a pause."

Syd,
Merlin doesn't stop moving, but he does slow down a bit to keep close to you. "Stuff is just what you can keep. Used for trade. Skills are what makes someone valuable, Syd." He glances over his shoulder as if to indicate what you're leaving behind. "People like Javan, Kes, and me, we're killers. The world's full of them. Dime a dozen. You? You're a healer. Very rare. Very important."

He pushes open the door to the outside and walks down the dock towards his jet ski. "We'll figure out a way to get them what they need, alright?" He looks back at you then, checking in with you.

What do you do?

Helix,
"Did you really want to be a caged bird?" Zephyr asks pointedly. "All you'd ever be to those people would be an item they bought and paid for. We frelling saved you. Well, my father did."

Litch,
Janelle blinks, "No, the necklace is my payment, to you, for taking the message. I can speak it to your Talons, or write it down if you think they might need that. They can deliver it to either of the twins. Wendy or Dez. They can speak with Princy and will be easier to reach." She offers you the necklace again - it seems as if it's an important item to her.