Ch.2: "Trouble in Paradise" / Volcanic Paradise Island Arcadia

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells Buck, "I've never eaten her pancakes before, but her cakes are to die for. And pancakes are close enough that I feel confident in saying that you're in for a treat."

She manages a somewhat shaky smile for Vin and says, "Good morning. I'll tell you about it in a bit."

Then she follows Sapphire, asking the fairy, "Did you and Phoebe sleep any at all, or did you stay up all night?" She decides it's none of her business what the two of them may have been doing.


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[Legendary Sidekick]

In the Private Room
Sapphire and Phœbe have prepared a bath for Kell. In addition to steaming hot water, there is a bowl of fresh fruit on a tray that is attached to the tub.

In answer to her question, Sapphire says, "We had a lot of catching up to do. Let's just say if you get in the tub while we're still in the room, we won't be affected."

Phœbe blushes. "We'll give you privacy if you prefer, but you can call us if there's anything you need."

The tray attached to the wooden tub would make it possible for Kell to write her letter, though she'd probably want one of the fairies to give her a towel for her hands as well as the tray before she attempts to write anything. The fruit is only a few orange slices and some grapes, likely meant as a courtesy, not a complete breakfast. The fairies surely know Kell will want to have breakfast with Vin.



By the Fire
Leto follows the scent of Desma's cooking, and the van Donks follow her.

When they come out, Buck is speaking to Desma. "You have much talent at the hearth, Miss Desma. I think we could make an excellent dinner and dessert team, do you not agree?"

Desma doesn't answer aloud as she is focused on her work. She does seem encouraged by the man's words.

Vin and the other men are moving an additional table from Buck's room. There are thirteen people, and the tables seat six each, not including fairies. Since Nissa and Hess aren't very big, there should be enough room for everyone.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell smiles at Phoebe and Sapphire and says, "As long as I'm not making things difficult for you two, I wouldn't actually mind if you stayed, but it would be mostly for friendly conversation, not because I need you to do anything for me. Well, not right away, anyway. If there's something the two of you need to do, however, don't let my little request keep you from getting it done - it's very low priority."

Then she tells Sapphire, "By the way, thank you for your gracious offer last night. I meant to reply to you, but I guess I was just too tired. Anyway, I have a feeling we may be heading to Sardis Forest after we deal with the Lava Demon, and if that's the case, I may take you up on your offer, since Vin couldn't go there even if he wanted to."

Then, regardless of whether the fairies decide to stay or not, she slips out of her clothing, hangs the chiton on a peg on the wall, and steps into the tub, sitting down and relaxing for a moment. The hot water feels wonderful! Though not as good as being with Vin felt in my dream, she admits to herself. But I can't afford to dwell on that. Rescue the fiancees first, and remember that magic won't work on the Lava Demon. And we still don't have any info about what might work with that thing. I hope this rescue mission is only that and not a confrontation with the Lava Demon. I'm not at all certain we're equipped for that yet.

She nearly calls out to Helix, then decides to let the blue-green unicorn sleep some more. He had a pretty physical day, too, with all that getting shot in the rump and then chasing down Vin's friends. I'll let him sleep. Besides, I think it's going to be a while yet before we're ready to head his way.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

In the Private Room
As Kell strips, Sapphire doesn't seem to react. Phœbe does, though not the way Sapphire did before. She is calmer once Kell is in the water.

Phœbe has to sit for a moment. She breathes heavily, then when she is calm she asks, "What was that?"

Sapphire grins, then she says to Kell, "We can talk if you like."

The two fairies sit on the tray, curious about what their hero has to say.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

As she bathes, Kell says, "I'm sorry if this question seems prying. I don't mean it to be. If either of you happened to sleep last night, did you by chance happen to dream? I woke up to a disturbing dream this morning, and it sounds like Leto had an odd dream as well. I haven't yet had the chance to ask her about hers, but I'm starting to wonder if some or all of us are under attack by Zeus, as he was prominent in my dream. It could be just the virgins in the group being targeted, or it could be just Leto and me, as I have reason to think Zeus may see us as the biggest threats. That's what I'm trying to figure out - who's being targeted, and whether those being targeted are being assaulted in the same way. One way to keep a step ahead of Zeus is to communicate among ourselves about what he's up to."

Then she tells them, "After my bath, I want to get a message out to Callisto and try to learn if she had a dream about being with Artemis romantically before Zeus seduced her. That's something Zeus won't expect us to do - learn his tactics by communicating with his previous conquests."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

In the Private Room
The two fairies hold hands and let out a sympathetic "O-o-ohhh…" when she talks of the dream.

Sapphire says, "We really didn't get any sleep last night."

Phœbe says, "Maybe you're scared of Zeus because of what you saw in the flames, but… oh, that would be an awful fate! I think writing to Callisto is a smart move. She's a nymph, too, so she can use the same magic and write back."

Sapphire says, "I can get you everything you need to write the letter. Just say when."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Remembering suddenly that she's not supposed to be telling what she knows about the battle the Immortals are fighting, Kell tells the fairies with a rueful laugh, "My dream was basically about Zeus taking Vin's form and seducing me on our honeymoon, so I suppose maybe I am a bit anxious. I just want to make absolutely sure we're not being targeted." Kell decides to leave it at that for now.

Finishing up her ablutions, Kell suggests, "Why don't you gather the stuff for the letter while I dress? I'll write it here, since it's quiet, unless someone else is waiting for a bath?"

Once the fairies have left the room, Kell quickly dries off and redresses and thinks about what she wants to say to Callisto.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

In the Private Room
Phœbe sits on the tray while Kell dresses. After Kell is dressed, she hears a splash. She turns to see Phœbe's clothing in a heap on the tray.

Some bubbles rise from the bathwater, and after a few seconds, the wingless fairy comes up for air. "Ah… you're dressed," she says with a sigh of relief.

Sapphire zips into the room with a quill. Midori has an ink well and Ruby and Copper have a sheet of parchment. The fairies place everything on a table then leave, except for Sapphire. She sees Phœbe and says, "I guess we're next in line for the bath. But we'll be quiet while you write."

To the fairies, the tub may as well be a pond. The two swim around and, aside from a few tiny whispers, they are very quiet. If Kell decides to watch them swim, she'll notice that Phœbe is the better swimmer.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles when she sees Desma. "This looks every bit as good as it smells. Do you need help with anything? I could start serving if you want."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Fire
Desma happily accepts the help. "Lay them out, and I'll add the syrup, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, whipped cream… oh! And I have to heat the raspberry jam!" Desma turns to take care of the jam, then starts flipping pancakes onto plates as they are ready…

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell asks Sapphire, "If I needed to describe you to someone who hadn't met you, what description would you recommend that I use? I'm not sure how long it will take a bird to get my message to Callisto, nor how long it will take her to get a reply written, nor whether I will even still be in Arcadia when her bird arrives, so I was thinking I'd have the message delivered to you, if you wouldn't mind. I figure I can get it from you the next time we come here. But for her to command her bird to make the delivery, she needs a pretty good description of the person the message is supposed to go to. Though I suppose I should ask whether you and Phoebe are planning on changing your living arrangements, and if so, what town you'll be living in?"

While she waits for Sapphire to answer, she begins writing her letter.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

In the Private Room
Sapphire peeks up over the side of the tub and smiles. She has pale skin, wavy turquoise hair, and her eyes are sapphire blue. She says, "I have freckles, but you need a close look to see them." Kell can see a single freckle on Sapphire's left cheek, and another on the right that is barely visible to her big eyes. Both freckles are high up on the cheek, close to the eye.

Phoebe says, "Callisto might have seen me when talking to you and Leto." She peeks up so Kell can see her face. Phoebe has tan skin, hair red like wine, straight and short, and her eyes are pink. "You should mention that I don't have wings. I don't mind. You want to make sure the letter gets to us, right?"

Sapphire says, "We'll stick around here... at least for now, while you need us and while Buck needs healers."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell writes her letter.

Dear Callisto:

My name is Kell Silvertide, and I am the nymph who suggested that Zeus may have been the one to seduce you in the HearthVision the other day. I am writing to you for two reasons:

1. To let you know that at some point after I finish my current job, I’ll be heading to Sardis Forest to try to touch base with the nymphs there and have them get your message to Artemis. I can't tell you exactly when that will be, but to that end, I wanted to know if there is anything that only Artemis would know about you that I can use to validate the message and help Artemis to realize that the message is, in fact, from you.

2. I awoke this morning to a rather unsettling dream in which I married a man I just met who I find very attractive and after we consummated the relationship, I went to lay my head on my new husband’s chest only to find that my husband was a middle-aged man with grey hair on his chest. Right after that, lightning flashed nearby. It's not hard to make a connection to Zeus. it’s entirely possible that I am just a little unnerved from what I heard on the HearthVision, but I was wondering if you happen to remember whether you had some kind of dream about being with Artemis romantically before Zeus came to you in her form. I can’t shake the sense that Zeus is targeting me and perhaps some of my friends, and if he is, anything you can tell me about what tactics he used with you aside from passionate lovemaking would be much appreciated.

I will be sending my message by bird, and since you are a nymph yourself, I know you can send a reply in the same manner. I am unsure whether I will still be in Arcadia after today, but I ask that you send your reply to one of two fairies named Sapphire or Phoebe who live in Ogygia, who will be stationary. I can get the message from them. Sapphire has wavy turquoise hair, sapphire blue eyes, and pale skin. Phoebe has hair the color of red wine, pink eyes, and tanned skin. She’s also wingless.

I look forward to hearing your reply.

Sincerely,
Kelleia “Kell” Slivertide

Upon finishing, she thanks Phoebe and Sapphire, then folds the message up and sticks it in her pocket. She needs to be outside to call her birds, and she figures she can do that when they get back to Nude Beach.

Grabbing a few of the grapes from the tray, she nibbles them as she makes her way back toward the dining area. Desma's pancakes are really starting to smell good!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Shortly after Kell enters the dining area, Sapphire and Phœbe enter the room dried and dressed. Sapphire is flying with Phœbe cradled in her arms.

Leto helps Desma serve the pancakes, allowing two dozen people (12 human, 1 nymph, 11 fairies) to eat while the pancakes and jam are still hot. Buck serves freshly squeezed orange juice.

It's a good meal, and there is conversation, but not much as long as there is still food on the plates. Desma takes advantage of a break in conversation between Kell and Vin.

"Kell?" she asks. "Can you write a message when you get to Arcadia?"

She hands Kell a note:

Asst. Manager Brian,

I will not be coming to work my shift today. I've been hired my a man named Buck L'Orange. He's found a use for my talent and Phœbe's as well. Neither of us will be back at the Tiki Mix, and possibly, we will never return to Arcadia.

Please understand we were attacked, and I almost died. Now that I've been offered a second chance at life and at a real career, I'm not passing up this opportunity.

I wish you well,
~Desma

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Accepting the note and quickly scanning it, Kell tells Desma, "Congrats on your career change. And certainly for the immediate term, I think you'll be safe here. But why do you need me to write a note when I have a note right here? Do you need a copy and are out of paper or something?"

While waiting for Desma to reply, she tells the group, "As soon as Desma replies, there's something I want to ask all of you."





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[Legendary Sidekick]

Desma laughs. "Oh—I misspoke! I mean can you send the message I wrote? You know, with a bird or something. And I'll get in touch with my aunt and uncle, but later, and I'll consider going to Arcadia if you think it's safe."

Buck L'Orange says to Kell, "I suppose there are plenty of seagulls on the beach where the Arcadian hearth shall take you? In that case, may I bother you to send a bird on my behalf?"

Buck holds out a sealed envelope.

Buck L'Orange The Hearthland Patty Melt Plambot Mansion, Arcadia ​

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell grins at Desma and says, "I thought that's what you might have meant, but figured I should make sure."

She accepts Buck's note as well and after scanning the envelope, asks him, "So Buck, is The Hearthland part of Ogygia, or is it its own place? I'm sending my own message as well, and it's a good thing we nymphs aren't limited on the number of times we can call animals to aid us in a day. But I asked for a reply to my message, and told the sender to send her birds here. I told her this is Ogygia, and just want to make sure her birds can find this place with those directions."

"Also, Vin said something about needing to kill someone to get into the Plambot Mansion. Do you happen to know anything about that?"

Then she says ruefully, "And I STILL have a question for everyone after Buck replies."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Vin says, "I only meant it's hard to get invited to the mansion. I hope you don't have to really kill someone to get there!"

Buck says, "An Orange Phœnix will understand what I mean by the Hearthland. Perhaps others know of this place, but you are right to have your nymph friends send their birds to Ogygia. The large tree outside the temple of Demeter should draw plenty of attention to a bird, I suspect.

"This message to Patty will get a reply, but not by messenger bird. She will find her own way to contact me."

Desma says, "So what's your question? I'm dying to know! But not literally dying."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell grins at Desma.

She says, "Some of you may have noticed that when I wandered in here earlier, I looked a bit ragged. I woke this morning from a disturbing dream. "

Pausing for a moment to give Hess a considering gaze, she says, "In a nutshell, in my dream, I was seduced by Zeus in a volcano that didn't burn. Leto mentioned having an odd dream as well, and Leto, I'm sorry I couldn't respond to you when you asked about it earlier. While it's certainly possible that my dream was just my mind's way of processing what we saw on the HearthVision last night, the timing strikes me as being possibly significant, given our plans for today. I'm curious whether any of the rest of you had odd dreams as well, and if so, if you would be willing to say what the dream was about. If any of you feel your dream was too personal to share in front of the group, feel free to pull me to the side after breakfast."

She sets herself to finally start enjoying her breakfast. As she told Buck, it's delicious!


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Midori says, "My dream was weird too, but it's a recurring one where I'm in a bird cage and kids make me say stuff."

Bridgette says, "I dreamed I was a ballerina."

Hanna says, "I had five dreams, but I forgot them all."

It seems like, with the possible exception of Leto and Midori, nobody had a nightmare. Certainly not as terrifying as Kell's.

Vin says, "I want to tell you it's just a dream, but if Zeus really did do something terrible to you, it wouldn't be your fault. I was silent on the matter last night, but I'll say it now. Hera's wrong to punish those women. She's blaming the victims and her husband keeps getting away with…!" Vin is speechless, and a little tense. He takes a breath and says, "Io and Amy didn't do anything wrong, and Callisto just seems very nice. Being changed into animals is the second-worst thing that happened to them if you ask me."