Endgame

*Keter steeples her hands.*

Keter<Good, good...do you still have my card?>
======================
E"Alright, well, where do you want to go?"

Kane<Go anywhere. Just get out.>

"Of course," Noctis said.

--

Mortal thought for a second, "I think I saw a sandwich shop close by when we were coming."

<So, what do I get out of this?>

<...Money?>
===================
Keter<Excellent. Should you need to contact me for anything, my assistant here will be able to forward any messages to my estate on Ember Island.>
===================
*While they're waiting in line, Euryale looks out of the window.*

"Oh, look at that. Day time moon."

*She points to a spot near the sun, but out of the direct glare.*

"Thank you for the offer," Noctis said, "But I'm still going to miss you."

--

"Oh, cool," Mortal said.

They persisted in their escape efforts.

Dalia hobbled over to the telephone and called her home.

*Eve shrugs*

<Why not. Will that be all?>

Cop<Well, signing this contract, of course.>

*He hands her a sheet of paper.*
===========================
*Euryale eventually orders a spicy chicken sandwich with lettuce & tomato on toast in the most bizarre filler post ever.*
===========================
*Assuming Ven was wise enough to put the tea pot down with that cup, Keter pours herself another cup.*

Keter<Well, I must be leaving shortly, so if you need anything of me, best speak now.>
===========================
*Something audibly popped inside of the lock mechanism, but several minutes later, Stefan's not making any progress. The bars are about a quarter of the way sliced through.*

*Eve reads the contract very carefully to make sure that she understands what she's agreeing to*
---
*Tirea sets the newspapers down*

Ryoku:<Nothing?>

*Tirea shakes her head, then gets up and heads for the door*

<Where are you going?>

Tirea:<To spend some of that money we won.>

*Tirea heads out and starts off towards the nearest major shopping area*

Mortal gets ham, and cheese on a roll in the half hearted follow up post.

--

Noct frowned, "So, I suppose this is it. I had hoped to do so much more with you."

Keter<Such as?>
=========================
*Euryale suggests they go on a walk while they eat. Assuming Mortal agrees with her, which she usually does, they are now walking along the hospital fence, because it is lined with trees that give nice shade. Even so, Euryale can see the moon when she looks up through the trees.*

E"Wait...is it just my imagination, or has it moved closer to the sun? The moon, I mean."
=========================
*It basically says what she's already verbally agreed to.*
=========================
*Tirea arrives there without incident.*

*Then Eve goes ahead and signs it, then hands it back*

<There you go.>
---
*Tirea sets down on a bench*

I should really ask about it first...but I think they'll really make me feel better...

*And thus Tirea stands up and starts looking around for something like a pet shop*

"Mold the city into what we wanted it to be, talk and relax," Noct said with a hint of longing, "Comfort each other when needed."

--

Mortal looks up and frowns, feeling a small pit of panic, "You don't think that it'll eclipse, do you?"

"I do. This is horrible, why weren't we told about this?! We need to get back to work, right away!"

*She shoves the remainder of the sandwich in her mouth in a probably less-than-attractive manner & chews furiously.*
========================
*She sees a building nearby with kittens & rabbits in the windows, with awnings protecting them from the sun. It's either a pet shop or the most depraved restaurant idea ever.*
========================
Cop<Excellent. We'll be in touch.>
========================
*Keter smirks.*

Keter<There may still be time for that. Though I am, for all intents & purposes, exiled in disgrace, I can still offer my help in secret. And perhaps one day I will be able to return.>

Eve:<I have a report done right now that I haven't published. Should I give it to you?>
---
*Tirea heads over and enters the store*

"I would like that," Noctis said, "But there is one other thing I've wanted since I first laid eyes on you." Noctis leaned in, and placed a hand on Keter's knee, "I would love to sleep with you, if you'd do me the honor."

--

Mortal frowned, "Great. I'm going to be useless." She had been eating faster than Euryale, and so has less sandwich to stuff in her mouth at the end. Standing up, then swallowing, she says, "Well, lets get going."

Each of them persisted in their efforts.

Dalia asked her father, when she got him on the phone, what he knew about a 'threat' on her life.

*Probably nothing.*
================================
*Only Hector gets any further, & not by much.*
================================
"Ymhoohm."

*Euryale swallows.*

"Sorry about that. I meant to say, 'You may not be able to bend during the eclipse, but you will never, ever be useless.' And yes, let's."
========================
Cop<Yes, if you wouldn't mind.>
========================
*A woman with brown hair tied into a bun behind her head approaches Tirea. She wears brown slacks, a stiff green shirt, & a green apron.*

<What can I do for you?>
========================
Keter<As do all who lay eyes on me. A nearly unattainable prize. Hopefully, you appreciate well what you have earned. Let's take you to your bedroom.>

*She stands, rather unexpectedly sweeping Noctis into a bridal carry.*

Mortal smiled and hugged Euryale, "Thank you, Euryale." She then let go and began heading back.

--

Noctis smiled, "Why certainLY!" Her voice hits a higher pitch when she is swept up. The act itself puts a blush on Noct's cheeks, and she wraps her arms around Keter, "I apologize. I was caught off guard..."

And they continue their riveting escape.

Dalia told him to check on her by phone every hour and returned to her room, eyeing the cop warily, "Why hasn't my family been informed of a 'threat'?"

*Eve goes back into the apartment and returns with a few sheets of paper. The report is mostly about the date and time of nearing eclipse, but also mentions the date of the next full moon. Eve hands it to the cop*
---
*Tirea looks around, then starts when she hears the voice*

<Oh, um, I'm thinking of buying a pet but I'm really not sure what kind yet...>

*He skims over it.*

<A little late to publish this, don't you think?>

*He points up to the darkening skies, where a semicircular shadow is growing over the sun.*
==============================
*The escape is still going at a snail's pace.*
==============================
*The cop does not answer.*
==============================
<Something furry, or with scales? Maybe the best of both worlds? We have some lovely weaselsnakes & tortoisehares.>
==============================
*Keter just smiles in answer to Noctis. Presumably using some kind of rich woman sense, she climbs the stairs & navigates to her bedroom. Once inside, she kicks her shoes off & pushes the door closed with her foot. Then she sets Noctis down on her bed & traces the hem of her dress with her fingers. Slipping them under it, she begins to peel it off.*
==============================
*And so they push through the crowd as the sky gets progressively darker.*

E"We're back, let us in."

*The guards exchange shifty glances.*

<I'm not so sure we should do that. We've got tips that Zolt's assassins might be in police garb.>

*Someone behind Mortale shouts, "In that case, let 'em in!"*

<I was meaning to publish it, however I was attacked and nearly killed. I've still been recovering.>

*She goes inside and grabs her bag with her eclipse gear*

<I should really be off, I must start my observations.>
---
<A weaselsnake sounds interesting.>

"Ridiculous," Dalia turned and left the room again, heading out to reception and sitting down in clear sight, arms crossed.

The escape continues nonetheless.

Noct kicks her shoes off as well when she was placed on the bed, and unzipped her dress so that it would not tear as Keter began to undress her. All the while she uses her one free hand to hook around Keter's neck to pull her into a kiss. This also serves the double purpose of bringing her close enough so that Noct can undo Keter's zipper as well.

--

"Yeah, let us in," Mortal said, "We're certainly not assassins."