Justice leaves for Mirros

Having had sufficient time to catch up, walking through two districts. They arrive at the Arcara mansion, one of the biggest and most lavish in the Garden District. The front is made entirely of white quartz brick fronting, marble pillars, softly glowing amber and green windows that depict the lush gardens it sits in. 

The whole front walk is filled with white roses, the favourite of the family. Sort of a part of their history now. The tiled front path has etched protection runes running all through and around the entire house, flanking the doors, around the windows and gates. An impenetrable fortress, looking like a dollhouse. 
The front door is painted a gentle teal and gilded with silver runes and the family name in both Common and Elven. 

It flies open at this point and a beautiful white haired elf stands there in a filmy layered gown of soft white muslin that fades to a deep ocean blue. Her violet eyes are furious and her stomach is protruding oddly on such a slender figure. She holds a big blue crossbow on her hip and then aims at him.
"Oliver William Arcara, you swore to me you would always be home before sundown for our children and-" She flings the crossbow down, beheading a nearby topiary tree. "VERITYYYYYYYYYYYYY"

Surprisingly spry for the most pregnant woman Verity had ever seen, she was soon enveloped in dress, breasts and lady noises. 
"Felicinè, if you thought he was cheating - you should probably stop giving me third space." Verity manages, not sure where to push her away from. Ineffectively waving her hands behind a fairly generous rear as well. 

"Oh we're so happy you're here, I've been thinking about you so much. I heard about the thing in the place and OH I've been off work for so long." the beautiful elf says, hoisting Verity up the stairs as Arcara II goes to retrieve the sleep bolt, the head of the tree and the crossbow with a smile at his elegant wife. 

The hallway is as expected, white marble, fresh flowers, small side tables. However, they don't go into any of the ridiculously expensive and formal sitting rooms that they pass. They go downstairs into the basement kitchen area, with comfortable careworn couches, plush old rugs and a roaring fire. Where Magister William Arcara the first is sitting and reading, his hair fully grey, curling around the collars of his official robes. His arm slung around a lovely youthful looking elf, his wife Hazel - an accomplished alchemist, artificer, and Archmage of her own right. They appear to be reading the book in tandem and discussing it. Hazel Arcara has soft blonde hair that hides the few white hairs she is having, her skin is a deep tan and her eyes are a pale green. Their posture is pure love and trust. It was time to ruin the peace - but she needed a little more time with this moment. 

Verity holds her arm out for a moment, as usual Feli and Oli stop at her command and watch her as she watches the scene. There's no argument that she's earned a moment to look upon them in repose. Eventually her arm comes down and they can go past. Still, hungry for the warmth, she just sits quietly and waits for them to notice her as the others head into the kitchen. She can smell some sort of stew, but then there is the fresh smell of cutting greens. 

At the smell of the salad preparation, William and Hazel look around. Almost alighting their eyes on her at the same time. The soft welcome of proud parents, as she hunkers forward and clasps her hands. 
"Before the other two get back, I need you to do me a favour. Abort the next phase. I'm staying." 
Hazel shuts the book angrily. "Abort- This was the agreed upon plan." 
Arcara the greater calms her with a gentle hand swiping her back. "You have found a balance? You won't run?"
Verity nods curtly. "You have to trust my instincts. I'm not running this time. I'm staying. I know that's tough because I can never really come back."
"Yes well where does that leave the children?" Hazel adds, folding her arms and looking... not surprised, but disappointed. "You won't train them?"
"No. They're good enough together. They will achieve on their own. I will be here for incidents, for emergencies. I will always come for Arcara. You know this." 

The conversation is abruptly ended as trays of stew and bread appear for each person to eat at the couch. Verity is furnished with a salad and some bread. 
Felicinè looks absurdly pleased that she remembered, so Verity remembers to thank her at least twice during the meal. Which is mostly filled with conversation about current events, the Katherine Diary exposer's identity, the intentions, cases that are unsolved, The rental mansion needing a body cleanup - which she filled them in on whilst nibbling on pansies, nasturtium and cress. 

"Will you be staying for the night?" Hazel asks finally. The stew having tempered her anger and her manners. Which everyone smiles at her still reluctant expression.
"No, darling, I doubt she would impose on us." William says and stands with a faked groan. "Good stew as well, best you've made I think." which circles her back to her pleased expression as everyone does the double cheek kiss dance, farewells, yes we will catch up soon - absolute lies. 

He walks her to the door and as they are alone, he places his hand on her stomach and reviews the situation as it were. Nodding satisfactorily. 
"You did it." William says simply.
"Sometimes all it takes is some self belief and a good man." She replies, giving him a fierce hug. "Don't you die on me anytime soon Arcara. I'll always need you in my life." 
"Well I'm afraid young lady, I can't promise that - but the fact you would oblige an old man in thinking he's needed by your kind.." he puts his hand over his heart. She puts her hand over it.
"Best of luck with Felicinè and Oliver's child. I am praying for an arcanist." 

And as she skips down the warded stairs, she can hear his distinctive deep melodious laugh, and she drinks it in as she strolls and stares at the stars. 

She sends Chestnut along to Threshold with a group of adventurers, allowing one of them to ride her on the proviso they watch their pack and keep feeding her carrots all along the way. 

Sticking her thumbs in her boots, she stands in the orange grove in front of Kelvin's walls. Taking in a deep soothing breath of the fresh citrus and farmland. Looking around at the buildings and taking note of little changes and subtle wearing on some of the brickwork, she taps it as she goes past and tests. Realising it's someone's initials for someone else. Laughing at her lack of understanding sometimes, she ducks her head and enters Kelvin proper. Trying not to be the crazy woman laughing alone in a City full of people willing to give exorcisms. 

Hurrying towards the Quixotic Dragon, she is almost swung off her feet by a green and gold gauntleted hand on her elbow. 
"Oof!" she says gracefully as she swings all the way round and into the Knight with his helmet off. 
"Sorry sorry sorry Councilor, sorry." he says placatingly, taking an appropriate step back. "I just wanted to catch you real quick, you said whatever I needed..." 
She looks up, and up, everyone is really tall these days. Squinting at the floppy brown hair, big earnest brown eyes and pale chiseled features. 
"Oh, Brenten. Hey, how's your Knight Training?" Verity says conversationally, flicking down her hood and smiling at the young man. 
"Yeah well that's just it. You know Twilight Night, I've got an invite and I don't know.. I cant'.." He miserably hands her an invitation with his name on it, plus a guest.  For a formal dinner, drinks, dancing. The theme is fairy dust and sparkle. 

"You need an outfit?" she asks curiously, pointing at the page. 
"Yeah and..." he shifts uncomfortably.
"A guest!" she says and slaps her head with it. "Kid, I can't I'm sort of in a thing."
"I thought you broke it up with that Wraith guy and some Ajamar is like a fling guy?" He says hopefully, a crowd of his squad gathering on the grassy patch beyond the bridge. 
"Oh, no. That's his Merc name and his real name. We're uh, it's a proper. Consider me married." she says with a smile and claps him on the shoulder reassuringly. "However, I know you've met my friend Valerian who is even more beautiful than I. It's possible they're free and sparkles is an event they will make an exception for. Val can make sure you're appropriately dressed in court finery. Would that suffice?" She offers hopefully, helpfully. 
"That would be amazing.." he exhales all his stress out and gives her a very appropriately spaced hug. "Keep that for Val, I've got another copy." 

He hurries back to his team who are already questioning and prepping for the gossip train. She smiles and waves at them with the invite and get's a whoop of cheers in reply. 
"Kids these days." she mutters to herself as she tucks the invite in her boot. Stalking towards the Quixotic with as much as she can muster, so she doesn't get stopped again.  

And well shit, she makes it to the door and it's unlocked. Making her keys basically worthless. 
"THE SIGN IS FLIPPED TO CLOSED. IT'S MORNING." Arandie yells from the bar, as she sits crosslegged, drinking a suspicious looking coffee that has liqueur beside it. 
"You're flipped, and it's morning - uh, hope you're closed?" Verity says, bad at rhymes and word puzzles, as she locks the door behind her. Waving her key. "Lock doors idiot." 
Arandie just flexes a superior dark cocoa bicep in return, still wearing her panties and a 'Quixotic Dragon -  Hits Hard' t-shirt. 
"Alright, you're the boss, boss." Verity says and hops up beside her, after grabbing a bottle of water and eyeing the takings papers. 
"What do I owe for this auspicious visit, and you didn't bring patrons?" Arandie says, with a slight hint of offended but also worry. 
"No worry, I was just coming back from Mirros and I wanted to let you know why I've not been in." she replies carefully, nudging her friend gently on the shoulder. "I know you've been a bit offended I don't come in as much and I..." 

"Hey it's no sweat, you're in a thing, you're in Verge. They've got a cage." The half dressed bar manager says, raking a hand through her dark hair.
"No, Thorvven doesn't let me participate. I've got too many round 1 KO's" Verity says haltingly. "I'm just not really fighting at all lately. I've gotten a bit too big for my biggest boots - you might say. I might come if you need me. If you've got someone hard hitting or if you want me to wear mittens in the bunny matches.." 

Arandie eyes her with a challenge in her eye, head tilted, Verity mimics the motion and they wrestle off the counter, sending papers flying. They both hit the stone floor with a smack, but Verity has the weight and the strength to just sit on top of the half dressed woman and lets her thrash around angrily. 
Arandie socks a hard jaw hit, but this is a test. Verity doesn't sell, just sits on top of her and lets her hit and hit and hit. Repeatedly going for her soft spots, even smacking her head against the stone counter. Watching the blood drop and then the wound close up. 

The empty bar sounds of fist on flesh and hard breathing. Eventually Verity just holds Arandie's arms down and says "Enough."
"What happened to you?" raspy, upset, tired, angry. "Why..." 
"I'm sorry Kiddo. I need to be like this, it's not really something I can hide much anymore." she rolls off and offers a hand, pulling her old friend to her feet. "I'm going to be working back home more. I just wanted... I needed to tell you." Verity tries to explain as she is shoved out of the way. 
"I should be happy for you. I'm not. I'm real sorry. I can't talk to you right now." Arandie spits, and those long dark legs disappear into the back rooms. Leaving Verity alone with the mess she made. 

Knowing it would be insulting to put those papers back in the wrong order, on the wrong spot. To sweep under the rug what fuckery she just caused. She grabs a vase from the lilac clothed table and goes to toss it at a wall. The whole table comes with it. 
"The fuck?" Verity says at the table. 
"HEALTH AND SAFETY" Arandie says from the conference room, blowing her nose. "Put the table down, you insufferable bitch." with no real heat in it. 
Verity puts it back down, upside down. Crushing the flowers and exposing the table legs. Hoping it gives Arandie a laugh she can't suppress as she leaves the way she came, locking it up tight. 

Walking again, across the cobbles. Head down, please for fucks sake. No one stop me. 
"That's the dumbest face you've pulled all week my love." Comes the slinky melodious voice of the only Valerian Steele the world could make. 
She turns around and throws herself at him, squeezing every inch of lanky elegantly robed elf. 
"I'm so fucking happy you're in my way." She says as they pat her. "Mirros was hard."
"Yes, I know, I was just there.. I make it that way." They purr satisfactorily, looking at long newly painted soft green and pale yellow fae sparkle nails. "Hey now, this is the longest hug. What is it?"

"I just told Arandie I'm not.. fit for full time fights. She was offended, upset, you know.." she trails off.
"Yes, our girl is very sensitive. You backed her so that bar was a hit, now you're backing off. It's hurtful." 
Verity scrubs at her fringe angrily. "I'm so stupid, I didn't even think of that." 
"Sometimes you just only see things that make sense to you, Vee. It's okay." 

"Speaking of which, I got you an invite into the Twilight Night party." she says and hands him the paper from her boot. Their eyebrows climb into that silky blonde hair in response.
"Knight Brenton?" Their head cants to the side.
"BBP." She replies and puts a hand up to just slightly less tall than Valerian.
"Brown hair, brown eyes, pale... I can work with that. I'll stock up on sequins and glittery netting." Their eyes already full of plans and /plans/.
"You're the best. Thank you. Hey that's him over there waving." She motions to him over by the bridge.
"Oh myyyy, yes, BBP, but DBBP." They waggle brows and wave back with a kiss blown. "Delicious, by the way."
"Thanks my brain was going to d-" She coughs and puts her hood up, scarf on. "I need to get home, my head isn't where it should be."
"I know a lot about head you know-" They are cut off with a Verity slap to the arm and then a linked one, as they sashay out of the Griffon City. 

Discipline and order, always in the upper level where possible. The room is again, carpeted black and white - but swirls of elegant flowers and a brocade like pattern. Expressively placed benches, metal racks, cuffs, whips and chains dot the room. Currently at least thirty people, in groups of dominant and passive positioning. The creak of leather, and the slap of violent care. 

Verity glances sideways, admiring the design of the dominant female costume. Extensive leather, mesh, and deeply sharp heels. Metal knee plates with razor sharp spikes, darkly painted eyes and red lips. The contrast of white, straight teeth as they smile and encourage one another. 
Catching the eye of a friend, she bows her head and they smile at one another. Both wearing matching lip paint in Firebrick Red. 
During this time a gentle cough surprises her, as a lady approaches her with a whip and offers it. Verity quickly shakes her head and follows the rules of polite silence, pointing to a door that has been pinned with blue fabric for the evening. 

The woman's mouth pops open in a surprised 'oh' and she lowers her eyes respectfully and backs up slowly. Returning to her position kneeling on a scatter of marbles. 
It takes all kinds, she thinks absently as she carefully walks out of their zone - trying not to draw any attention as she puts hands on the blue door. Jiggling the handle once, waiting, twice, then three times quickly. Leaning down to hear the lock gently click in acquiescence to her request. 

It opens only enough for her to carefully breathe in and slide through, holding her hand against the black pearl buttons on her coat-dress. 

Compared to the other rooms, this one is positively unexpected for most. The carpet is a non permanent pale white plush, the huge room is lit extremely dimly. A fire brings most of the warmth, directly across from the door. On the left and right sides of the room, the corners are shielded with silk screening - again in white. Her senses aware enough to recognise there are figures behind the screens in seats. 

In front of the fire, a desk with her dear friend Magister Acara sitting at it. On the corner of the desk, a familiar, sleek figure slides off and stands. 

Verity folds her arms and prepares mentally, putting up as much as she can to block the physical presence of the incredibly tall femme fatale. Dressed in a lurid green leather dress with the visual appearance of being soaked wet, the woman walks with the hip-sway of a predator and prey at the same time. The movement of the walk reveals a hip high slit in the gown, despite it also having a neckline that reaches navel. The slick, wet blonde hair is severely combed back - a matching poisonous green at the very ends. With a predatory smile, as she reaches Verity's side.
"No hello, Ma Petite?" she says with a vague Glantrian accent. 
"You don't get shit, Belle Cher - and you know it." Verity growls in response, refusing to crane her neck upwards to the foot taller creature. 

"Madame was just leaving. As her meeting is over." Magister Acara says, waving a hand absently. He seemed calm, but there was a flicker of concern in his cornflower blue eyes as they stood off in the doorway. 

"Yes, I'm rather busy - you know... a lot could be on my plate." the verdantly gowned woman says with another brilliant smile, tucking a stray hair behind Verity's ear and sliding out the blue door. 
Internally trying to simmer down, Verity stalks forward to the center of the room and waits patiently. Due process. 

Regretting nothing, even as Verity hit the ground and tried to continue her momentum to avoid too much damage - she ended up laying on the small lawn of the garden. Her shoes lying nearby, as she stared up at the starry sky and exhaled deeply. Angry, but vindicated by her explosion. 

Once she'd gotten her bearings, she was up and carrying her shoes. Striding towards the gates, she passes a group of revelers who shout "Good party!" to which she just makes a zipping her lips motion. Which gets another loud cheer. Shedding leaves, bits of silk stockings and her slow burning anger she puts the heels in front of a nearby door as a donation so she has her hands free for any issues on the way home. 

Fortunately, expectedly the streets are full of nighttime comings and goings. Especially party goers and tavern patrons, to whom she gives a wide berth. They do the same, so assumedly she looked particularly tragic. 

Finally making it to the borrowed apartment she was staying in, she steps into the alleyway and draws down the ladder for the attic room. Avoiding any contact with other people. Which was immediately ruined by the hand on her arm, to which she turned and swung - barely avoiding punching the face of Ajamar. 

Startled, his golden tanned face and pale eyes with that floppy silver grey hair. He holds the shoulders of her tattered outfit and gapes at her. Verity throws herself at him fully and hugs him tightly. 
"You stupid idiot, I almost belted you." she says, muffled into his soft dark valentino coat. 
"Yes, I see that. It appears you've already been in a fight though." as he pulls back and examines her from exposed toes, ripped stockings, torn coat dress and messed hair. 
"Sort of. I kind of jumped off a roof out of the meeting I had. It's.." 
"Complicated?" 

They both laugh, causing some stares from passers by into the dimly lit alley. 
She points at the ladder and begins to advance on the rungs "I'm taking my alternate route in, but you can go in the front and I'll open the door for you? I just don't want to talk to the doorman like this." 
"No, I can climb. It's fine." He replies, taking off his coat and slinging it over his arm. Following her onto the small balcony and through the glass doors once she opened it with her key. 

The apartment takes up the whole attic. Sloped ceilings create a pale white tentlike appearance. Encompassing a large white claw footed bath, a small food preparation marble bench, a large desk, floor cushions and under the opposite side - a large white bed with a filmy canopy. 

"Pretty unexpectedly nice for an alleyway entrance." Ajamar says, hanging up his coat carefully on a hanger - tidy as always. Just as Verity turns on the bath taps and dumps handfuls of herbs and soaps in it. Then shedding her ruined clothes haphazardly like a whirlwind of mess, including the rain of leaves from her hair. 
He just folds his arms and smiles at it warmly, the familiar opposing forces at work. 
"So why did you escape a meeting? Did they tell you not to do any paperwork?" comes his witty poke, as he walks over to rescue her out of her buttoned coat dress that she's trying to wrench over her head. 
"Oof.. no.. they brought up that stupid dickhead and then also questioned my loyalty." comes her huffing reply as she is finally extracted from the hastily made outfit. Peeling off her armored bodysuit from beneath and laying it on a nearby table for repairs. 

"That sounds like they're intentionally trying to upset you." his frowning reply is perplexed, as he also begins undressing, after closing the curtains on the glass doors. "Is that what it is?"
"It felt like it maybe, or potentially they are just guilting me into a job. Hostage negotiation, recovery of items.. the usual." she says, lifting up her foot and examining her bruised toes. 
He climbs in across from her, turning off the taps and blowing away some bubbles - letting them rest in her hair. To which she adds a bubble crown to her head and leans back with a sigh.
"Thanks for visiting me." Verity says with a smile.
"You? I'm just here for the bath." He replies cheekily. 

With the dossier fully packed up, resealed and reignited with magic. Verity sits down at the dresser and begins her preparations. 

First colouring her hair a deep sable brown, pinning it under her nape to simulate a short haircut and clipping it into place with ribbons and flowers. Taking cosmetic paints to go over her natural freckles, making them deeper coloured and more prominent. Then taking a metal tool and dipping it into brown paint and extending and making her brows messy and youthful. Layering a thin waterproof pale pink paint on her lower cheeks to make them fuller and then spraying it all down with a thick mixture that made it all stay put until rubbing alcohol was used to remove it. 

Then opening a trunk in the room, she removed chest strapping, a flowery summer weight dress, white boots and striped stockings, as well as a fluffy frilly silk and lace parasol that would conceal her katana. Carefully dressing as a well to do teenager, layering her armor underneath the outfit and then adding a padded layer to keep it soft to the touch at a brush, it wouldn't hold up to more than that. 

Finally tying the pale sage green sash of crepe and lace, she did a quick twirl to check the noise levels and nods curtly. 

As always, she checks her spelled council book. Nothing urgent, but a note from Marshal Nassus that her carriageman had been concerned about her not being at the pickup point, fortunately Ajamar had returned and assured everyone of her safety. She facepalmed carefully, sighing deeply at her own circumventing of process once again. Fucking fuck. 

She quickly penned a note apologising to all and sundry and reminding them to be safe. Also noting that she would have to be leaving all her things with the Acaras for a job. That she'd be out to sea for a few days. 

Then she quickly updated her log for the group and ensured they had received that she would be using Plan: Dolly and would meet an operative at the docks in two hours for cast off. 

Feeling a bit like a cast off, she packed all her things into a locked trunk and locked them in the room for pickup. Strangely unconcerned about her safety - but definitely annoyed at all the layers of cosmetics, she emerged to the shocked concierge and swanned out the door. First test passed, definitely not passing for Verity Voclain. 

So, despite her hatred of water - she headed to the dock district, and did her best not to stomp or stalk. Twirling her concealed weapon and dawdling at windows, taking the time to think about all the incredibly violent ways she would make these pirates regret being born. 

It only took two days of pacing the deck space for Kelsey to give in and finally seek out Verity. 

Standing far away from the edge, leaning against a netted cluster of crates for support they stood together in somewhat companionable silence. She assumed KC was working up the nerve to say something particularly caustic and then walk away. Instead she was surprised, for once.

"I was really angry at you after everything. I couldn't believe that you would just shrug off everything that happened and take the removal order and walk." The brooding figure offered finally. "You fought everything with tooth and nail, you broke every rule. Then you just shrugged and went to Threshold." 

Verity considers this statement carefully, hands wound through the net as she gazes out at the true killer - the sea. "Some things are for the best. I ruined your life, I obliterated my family, Arevik copped the stairs, his wife and child also died. What more damage should I do? Who else would die for my hubris?" 

"I got a medal.. after you left. I still can't partner with anyone who's on 'his' side.. but.." Kelsey holds the gold oval locket at her neck, garnering a small smile from Verity that she catches quickly. "It was too nice to throw away, okay. Don't be smug." 

"Yes well, one day we'll come to terms with what happened in the Teppes." replies Verity with a suddenly solemn expression, squinting at the bright clouded sky. 

Beside her, Kelsey bristles and begins a tirade that is cut short as she realises there are others out on deck with them. Instead, leaning in close to the much much shorter woman. "You're so goddamn cavalier. I circumvented a kill order for you. I didn't know at the time it was forged, but I did it anyway. I'll never work with an Enforcer that's aligned with C-" and then halts suddenly, holding her throat at just the spot Verity's long thin scar is. 

"It's okay, I know you didn't mean to almost say it. It's fine. It's fine." extending her hand out and placing it over, as best as she can to soothe her friend. "You risked everything for me and I never came back. I know that. I miss you all the time. I wish you'd do as I asked and follow me. I wish you'd come to Threshold too. "

"I told you V-.. Dolly." as she glances around quickly. "I don't like the adventurers and they won't like me. It's a mix gone wrong. Girl enforcer gets lynched in small town, is the headline." 

"Well I-" Verity is cut off suddenly by the ringing of the ships bell, harshly and as loud as possible. Causing a stampede of footfall on the deck. Suddenly surrounded by Kings Forces and Mages, the Private from docking strolls over and eyes them both narrowly. 
"Better go below deck. Another ship spotted on the horizon, ETA will depend on the wind speed.." giving Verity a strange thin smile as she walks towards the stairs. Realising he has stopped Kelsey for a chat, her ear twitches and she stops to tie her boot. Listening in. 

"What're you talking to the kid about, Enforcer?" he asks with cold interest. 
"She was just scared of the water. Can't swim." comes the smooth and honest reply. After all, in her armor - Verity very well, could not swim. Scared well? Is a healthy respect really being scared of something? 
Satisfied, the odd Private steps aside. Rank mismatch, another undercover? Her mind whirring as she hurries down below to prepare for potential boarding. 

"Something's off." she mutters to Kelsey as they turn backs and unlock their personal quarters. 
"Yeah, some of the crew know me - but not all." Comes the irritated reply. "Watch yourself." 
"Same to you.."