Endgame

"Indeed," Noctis said, "I had invited friends over for drinks, but they left early. There are still drinks, and some food if you would indulge me with your company." Noct took a step away from the door, and gestured for Keter to come inside.

--

"Agreed," Mortal said, "Lets get going."

Once at home, Astarte paid the driver and went inside and to bed with a cup of tea.

The trio stared.

"Please explain."

Cop<I'm afraid that's all I can say.>
=========================
Selena<Well, that's enough of that.>

*Once there are a few grooves in the bars, she turns & starts walking away.*
=========================
Keter<Of course they did. Oh well. I suppose I really don't have anything better to do.>

*Keter takes slow, long strides into the room. Ven bows as she passes, but if Keter notices, she pays her no attention.*
=========================
*Once parked, she leads Mortal into the lobby, where they are greeted by Kane.*

Kane<Good morning. I will be your commanding officer for today. Don't give me that look, Officer Euryale.>

"Hey!" Stefan called after her. "Just what the Hell did you come here for?"
Hector approached the bars.

"Nonsense," Dalia looked at Aroma for a moment, then back to the officer. "Why not?"

"Do watch your step," Noctis said, closing the door, and following after her, "We had an unexpected guest, and there are still burn marks on the floor. I don't want you to dirty your shoes."

--

Mortal gives Kane whatever look Euryale was giving him as a sign of solidarity.

*She doesn't answer him.*
======================
*Aroma looks between them warily.*

Cop<It's on a need-to-know basis.>

*He smiles.*

Cop<And you don't need to know.>
=======================
*He glares at them.*

Kane<I can't wait until you go on break. Well, let me show you up to Zolt's room. It's on the top floor, so we should take this.>

*He waves an arm & a set of gold grilled doors open nearby, revealing an elevator with red padding on the walls.*
=======================
Keter<It won't matter much, once I'm on Ember Island.>

*She sits down, spreading her arms & legs & leaning her head back. Ven approaches her timidly, wringing her hands down in front of her waist.*

V"Um...would you like a drink, Miss Aurora?"

*Keter rolls her head to look at her. She is not wearing any make-up.*

Keter<Hm? Oh, yes. Hot tea, 3 cubes of sugar. Thank you.>

*Ven nods & heads off to get that.*

Mortal heads over to the elevator.

--

Noctis sits down next to Keter, and frowns, "Heading back to Fire Nation? Republic City will be a sad place without you."

*Eve heads to the door and answers it*
---
*Tirea continues heading to her mother's house, not stopping for anything*

*It's a cop!*

<Hello. I was wondering if you might be interested in a job.>
========================
Keter<No one will miss me. Even the Fire Sages & the Admirals are strongly suggesting that I should retire.>
========================
*He leads them into the room where Zolt is in bed with his head bandaged. There are 5 other Metalbending Officers in the room.*

E"His respirator & neck brace have been removed."

Kane<Yes, soon he will be ready to go back out into the world.>

E"What a shame."

Kane<Indeed.>

Mortal follows in after them. Having nothing useful to add to the discussion she just stays quiet.

--

"They don't know what they're talking about," Noctis said, "They won't know what they'd be giving up. I certainly wouldn't ask you to leave if I had the choice."

<What kind of job?>
---
*Tirea slips though the back door to find her mother waiting*

Ryoku:<How'd it go?>

*Tirea shrugs*

<I didn't talk to Gabe.>

Ryoku:<It's alright. It'd still be a little awkward. Do you still want to go looking for apartments?>

*Tirea nods and Ryoku points to a small table where some newspapers have been lad out. Tirea starts looking though them*

Hector melted the block off ice from around the lock and brought it to him, making a small blade out of it. He looked out into the dark, suspicious. Stefan stepped over to the lock and started torching it.

"It concerns my safety, apparently," Dalia sat up further in her hospital bed. "So I do need to know. Or I want you out of here."

<I'm afraid that, since this is a public building, your safety is public safety. So you don't really have a choice.>
===========================
<Reporting all of your astronomical & astrological findings to the department.>
===========================
Keter<Well, I'm afraid you don't have the choice. I was voted out of the United Republic, & now it looks like I have no job in the Fire Nation either. I don't know whether to call them inbred ingrates, or marvel at how a Firebending Master could be defeated by a single opponent who can't even Bend at all.>

*Ven comes back, setting the tea on the table. Keter takes it & quickly gulps it down.*
============================
*The lock glows red, but doesn't seem to do much else.*
============================
*Euryale sits in one of the vacant chairs. Making sure her armor skirt thing is as flat as possible, she begins writing up that complaint.*

*Eve shrugs*

<I don't see why not. I publish my finding once I confirm them.>

Mortal sees Euryale, and remembers that she had planned on penning a complaint of her own, which she goes to do as well.

--

"I believe you're being too hard on yourself," Noct said, "And not hard enough on them. If they cannot see the fact that you're marvelous, than they're fools."

Keter<That is easy for you to say. Your campaign was successful. In fact, mine was the only one that failed.>

"Perhaps this is a bad time...do you need more tea?"

Keter<No, you can go. *Sigh.* It doesn't matter who's right, I fear I have no choice but to comply.>
==========================
<I fear I haven't seen them. In any case, you wouldn't be publishing them, rather, you would be submitting a report directly with the department. A classified report.>
==========================
Kane<And what are you 2 doing?>

*Eve crosses her arms*

<Could I publish two different reports? One for you and one for the public?>
---
Ryoku:<Anything?>

*Tirea shakes her head*

Stefan persisted in torching it, hoping that it would eventually melt. Hector started cutting through the bars that had already been dug into by Selena.

"I'm going to make a call," Dalia started getting up and out of bed.

"Paper work," Mortal said.

--

"Your campaign was the only one targeted by sabotage," Noct said, "If anything you shouldn't be mad at yourself, but at those who wanted to see you fail. Whether you comply or not, do so on your own terms. To do otherwise would be beneath you."

Keter<I suppose you speak true.>
==========================
<I suppose, once we clear the information as safe.>
==========================
<By all means.>
==========================
*Hector is slowly slicing through the bars & the lock cracks a bit.*
==========================
Kane<Well, look at that. Looks like it's time for you to go on break.>

*Euryale looks up.*

E"Already? It seems like hardly any time at all has passed."

Kane<Too much, if you ask me.>

"Rude," Mortal said, standing up.

--

Noctis smirked, "I feel as though that is high praise, coming from you. Anyway, did you perhaps want something stronger than tea?"

*Eve thinks for a moment then nods*

<I don't see why not. How should I turn in the reports?>

E"Whatever. Let's go get something to eat, Mortal, honey."

*Kane raises an eyebrow at this PDA.*
============================
Keter<No. I'll be fine, with just the rest of the pot. As for praise...I'm expecting you to keep the rest of those fools in line. Especially Tarrlok. I don't trust him.>
============================
Cop<We can send an officer to a prearranged time & place to collect your findings.>

Eve:<Sounds fine to me.>

Mortal follows after her, "Sure thing, but hospital food is horrible..."

--

"I don't trust him either," Noct admitted, "As for keeping them in line, it will be such a chore without your company, but I shall endeavor to meet your expectations."