[h1]<font size="1"> This is a private thread for my http://shadowlack.com/persona.php?id=12Riot Stormwing</a>, and Jodie/Shriker's http://shadowlack.com/persona.php?id=608Cayson Lapices</a>, http://shadowlack.com/persona.php?id=2Jaceen Lapices</a>, and http://shadowlack.com/persona.php?id=542Koani Grader</a>. It takes place at the Grader manor (with flashbacks to Jaceen's house). The timestamp is 22° Mia 81380, with flashbacks dating on the 21°.</font>[/h1] Riot rolled over in bed, and her eyes automatically strayed to the digital clock placed on the night stand. 4:03, it told her with its bright green numerals, and the thill couldn't help but smile. She was warm and cozy, the room was dark, and she had several more hours to rest. Thus, it was with a happy smile that she turned back over, once more snuggling tightly against her bed fellow, Cayson. As she drowsed against his toasty body heat, the youthful female's mind recollected the events of the past two days... Early yesterday, Cayson had surprised her by asking her to do him a favor. Since it was pretty apparent that the two were a couple now, he'd wanted her to accompany him and Radin to a small dinner party at Jaceen's house. Cayson had known that Jaceen had acquainted with Riot, personally as well as through all the publicity, and he'd wanted to see her reaction to their pairing. Thus, the thill had agreed, and the two of them, as well as Radin, had gotten prepared for the get-together. At the last minute, Radin had backed out, citing illness, and so Cayson and Riot had traversed to Jaceen's place by themselves. The look on her face when she'd opened the door to see those two hand in hand! She'd ushered them in, nonetheless, albeit with an awkward air about her that had persisted through the multi-coursed meal. They'd made small talk, mostly Cayson telling Jaceen about his latest ventures in life, and then, finally, over dessert, Jaceen had revealed the true source of her discomfort. Upon hearing that the yellowed kiom was getting together with Cayson, Koani had requested that they both stop by at her place afterwards, so they could talk. Koani had asked them to spend a night or two at her Grader mansion, as well. Jaceen had explained to Case and Riot that she'd accepted the invitation, and that the two of them — Jaceen and Cayson, that was — were expected at Koani's abode by nightfall. As she'd said this, she'd looked at Riot. None of them had known what to do... ...so Riot had ended up accompanying them to Koani's place. How she'd wished Radin was there in addition to Cayson, both of her boys to protect her! Not that the Grader kiom had done much. Of course, her expression at seeing Riot with her son and her sister-in-law had been absolutely horrified at first, and her invitation into the house had been stiff and full of disbelief, but the two had coexisted pretty well, considerably better than they would have if Cayson and Riot had divulged that they weren't just there as friends, but as lovers. Apparently, though, Koani had used the first excuse she could find to leave the house — after she'd spoken with Cayson and Jaceen, of course. She'd told the three of them to make themselves at home, and had showed each to a room. She'd then quickly exited the manor, saying she had business errands to attend. Neither Jaceen nor Cayson had believed this, and Riot had known it to be a crock of shit. But, so what if Koani had left, most likely to scream her lungs out into the nearest pillow case? All three had been able to breathe easier for her absence. Of course, with the enormous house to themselves, Cayson and Riot had run amok. Just minutes after Jaceen had retired for the night, the two of them had cavorted about the house. They'd found a secret stash of wine, had opened a bottle, slow danced in a small ballroom on the top floor, played some video games in the basement, and then the two of them had eventually slunk off to their respective bedrooms around two o'clock in the morning. Of course, only ten minutes after she'd tucked herself in, Case had showed up in Riot's guest room, shimmied under the covers, and, well... As she relived those particular moments now, Riot found her ears and toes curling with delight. She was so giddy, in fact, that she surfaced from her half-asleep state, and lifted her head. She peered down at Cay's peaceful visage, and even brought up a white hand to brush a stray strand of blond hair out of his face. After admiring his beautiful countenance for a good minute or two, she then placed her soft cheek over his, and closed her eyes once more.
Cayson murmured contentedly as Riot shifted and cuddled against him. Case was only partially awake. He was aware of the warmth caused by Riot's closeness, and the softness of her cheek against his. He nodded his head slowly, the movement causing their cheeks to rub together. Despite everything, and everyone he knew would be working against them now, he felt at peace. It could have been worse, he continued to remind himself. They had shown up at Jaceen's residence. Cayson, despite his own reasoning of wanting to see Jaceen's reaction, had been extremely nervous. Case had knocked on the door and had waited in figeting silence while Jaceen came to answer it. Jaceen's reaction had been quite typical of her. Cay should have known that she would have taken things quietly and accept them - after her initial shock of course. However, Jaceen had continued to act a little awkward throughout the evening. Despite the strangeness in the atmosphere, the trio had managed to keep up the talking and even have a few laughs. Cayson soon wrote off Jaceen's awkwardness as concern for Koani. She was most likely worried about what she would think, as was he. As it turned out, Cay's assumption had been fairly correct. Jaceen had been worried about Koani. Her worry went a little deeper than he had expected though. Over dessert, Jaceen had softly confessed to them the problem. Koani had, in fact, been over at her place that afternoon. She'd even helped prepare the meal that they were eating. Cay had wordlessly shifted around the half eaten dessert on his plate at the mention of that. He should have known. The food should have tipped him off. Jaceen had never been much of an elaborate chef, and this had been a very well prepared meal. The fact that Koani was actually supposed to be here on this night had made his stomach do a little flip flop. Suppose he and Riot had come over while she was still there? Then Jaceen mentioned that Koani wanted to have them over this very evening - as compensation for her inability to show up for supper. This was of no consolation to Cayson who had been shuddering at his first imagined scenario. He had pushed away his dessert, the urge to eat it had vacated him. Koani's reaction when they showed up hadn't been too unlike Jaceen's. Surprised? Sick? Horrified? Koani's eyes had locked on his briefly. Cay had squirmed a little under their pressuring weight, trying to smile as he did so. She had clenched her teeth then, and had just gone with it. Cayson had seen her act similarly to this several times before. She'd become stoic. One time he'd had to sit in on a meeting with Koani and a lawyer. This stiffly professional, restrained attitude she was displaying now was very similar to how she had treated that lawyer. Koani had remained polite, civil, but not excessively so. It was as if this entire ordeal was simply business to her and she had treated it with detachment. Case had been relieved when Koani had excused herself. In fact, everyone there seemed to do a collective sigh of relief. Cayson suspected she was lying though. Part of him wanted to grab her and force her to stay. Force her to cope and accept things. He didn't like seeing his Mother upset. The other part of him, which won out, simply let her go. Let her deal with it in her own way, it had reasoned. Jaceen had left Riot and Cayson to their own devices, saying she was going to sleep, but instead had ended up burying herself in one of Koani's books. Cay and Riot had been free to explore the house and engage in whatever it was that caught their interest. The slow dancing had been the topper for the night, until of course, he'd slipped into Riot's room in order to snuggle with her. "Mm, the day wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," whispered Cay, his voice rather thick and dream-like. He reached up softly with a hand and slowly traced a finger down from Riot's chin to her throat.
"Yeah, it went fine," Riot murmured back, a smile etching onto her mouth as she felt the arden's fingers trace from her chin to the angles of her collarbone. His touch was so simple, but it ignited something within her, caused her insides to stir, the butterflies to flock in her stomach. She couldn't help but respond by snaking her arms around Case's torso, her hands slipping inside his shirt and sliding up his back in a tight hug. "I don't think she likes me, and I'm not sure I like her, but it went as well as it could." ...well, indeed. The best part of the night, aside from the slow dancing, which had been intimate and pleasurable, had been when Cayson had quietly opened the door, slunk across the luxuriously carpeted room, and slipped under the covers. Riot had been half asleep, but every square inch of her flesh had been tingly and alert when the orange male had drawn up beside her and kissed her awake. The two of them had put all tense thoughts about Koani aside, had forgotten where they were, and had commenced to enjoy each other's company in the dark room. Before last night, Riot had gone a long time without hugs and sweet, sweet kisses, but Cayson had definitely fulfilled her. They hadn't even had to do anything worse than kiss and touch to feel together, and Riot had been so elated at that fact. She had never felt so close, so happy, so comfortable, so safe, and so in love with anybody else before. After a good half hour of snuggling, cuddling, hugging, kissing, nipping, biting, and giggling, the two had eventually wound up asleep. The house had been deadly quiet, but not in a disconcerting sort of way. It had the atmosphere of a den, a cave, a hideaway... Riot could easily imagine sleeping years away in this place... But something had woken her. Even as Riot shifted her head so she could nose the soft patch of fur beneath Cayson's ear, one of her own ears flicked, and she abruptly froze. Every inch of her body stiffened, and then she slowly lifted her head away from her counterpart's, and propped herself up on an elbow. Both of her white-tipped ears then cocked forwards, and she strained to hear anything at all. But there were no sounds... just quiet. The odd thing about that was, though, this wasn't peaceful quiet. It was suspenseful quiet. Looming quiet. The calm before the storm, or so it felt to the thill. "Hey, Case, do you get the feeling we're being watched?" Riot queried, her voice joking and serious at the same time. Her eyes cast about the room, as if searching for a hidden camera or the like, and her ears continued swiveling, as if waiting to hear footsteps.
"I think she just needs time to adjust," Cayson said, his words coming out with a bit of a purr as Riot hugged him. An adjustment period? That's all this was, right? Koani would have to accept his choices. Riot was who he wanted (Dude, she beat up your Mom). Perhaps Koani thought he had brought her along with him out of defiance. Cayson hoped that wasn't the case. He'd never outright defied Koani. Well, aside from a few times when he was younger. To openly spite her was something that he had never really wanted to do. Not because he feared punishment, or what she might do in response, but simply because he cared about her. Just as he did Jaceen. Really when it came down to it, Cayson was still torn between the two of them. Jaceen and Koani's coexistence, as it was viewed by him, had always been choppy. Riot had now been entered in that already messy equation. So Koani would have to simply accept things. Or... or what? It didn't matter. Cayson's eyelids fluttered, but otherwise remained closed. Riot had pulled her arms away and had propped herself up on an elbow. Cay nuzzled her arm playfully, not catching the change in atmosphere at all. At least, not yet anyway. He was still too buried in sleep. "Not really, no," he responded. "Maybe she just got home or something." Cay had no idea what time it was, but figured that they hadn't been asleep for too long. One AM, two maybe? He rubbed at his eyes, blinking them open and then glanced at the clock. Four AM. He shifted himself around and then nuzzled Riot again. He was still too sleepy to really think or even notice the subtle change in the house that she had already become aware of. ( Previously... ) Koani had done a stupid, stupid thing. She'd been stressing herself out a lot lately. There had been a great many things that needed her attention. Things that to had be executed carefully. Papers that needed checking and signatures. Reports, lectures, publicity. All of that mundane work. In addition to that, Koani had also been mentally struggling with herself. There was one deed in particular that needed being done. One that she would trust to no other. And it had been this deed, this request, that had made her insides twist and wish to vomit as soon as she had heard it. There was the Council of Twelve to contend with as well. Or rather, what was left of the Council. On Zamfir's word, the Council of Twelve had been permanently disbanded. The news still hadn't been made public, which was quite an awesome feat. In the Council's place, as dictated by an anonymously drafted paper and signed by Zamfir, there was to be a new Council. Not a Council of Twelve, but a Council of Thirteen. It looked to be very promising, but Koani did not, could not, pride herself on it. The aforementioned request had been eating away at her. When Cayson and Jaceen showed up with Stormwing on her doorstep? That had given the elder thill a rather much unneeded shove. Still, she had managed to keep face and play hostess for a little while. All the while her insides screaming at her to get out, to leave. She didn't want to deal with this particular problem. Not now anyway. Not on this night. So once she had deemed it appropriate, Koani had primly excused herself. Saying that she had some unexpected business. This was only a partial lie. The business first of all, wasn't at all unexpected. Secondly, the business wasn't expecting her for at least another few hours. Nevertheless, Koani had donned a heavy coat and left her abode. Alone. Stupid. Once outside, she had clicked off her Tele-link. Stupider. Most everyone, her guards in particular, thought she was to be spending a much needed, quiet, relaxing night at home with some family. The Mia air was frigid and bit at her. The winds were particularly brutal, and whipped about her form. Koani had then tampered with her home's alarm and security system. She set it on a bit of a delay. Those watching it would figure it to be simply a system hiccup. They would come to investigate anyway, but by that time, she'd be gone. Even stupider. So alone, unseen by her own cameras, Koani set out. She walked. Unaccompanied and tempting fate itself. Eventually several blocks down the line, she came across her studio. It was dark. She had entered and trailed through the empty halls like a ghost. The studio was her old life. That life was over. Koani shortly vacated the building and set out walking again. Her mind was whining and wanting to be silenced with alcohol. It nagged her. Wishing her to numb it somehow. She denied its request. She walked until she didn't quite know where she was, and once there, she sat down beside a snow drift and cried.
Riot continued to listen, ears turned at angles to get optimal hearing range, but the house remained quiet. It was a disconcerting sort of silence, but she couldn't put her finger on it. After a minute or two, she decided it wasn't worth getting worked up over. Besides, snuggling with Case would be a lot more fun than being suspicious. Sliding back onto her side so that her nose touched his, Riot sighed contentedly. "Maybe," she replied absently to what Cayson had said, but her mind wasn't on the house anymore. It was on her orange bed mate... her "boyfriend"... her Cayson. Now that the two of them were awake again, she thought it was as good a chance as any to resume their cuddling. Slipping her arms around him once again, she pulled herself towards him, until their chests were together. She could feel the vague throb of his heartbeat against her, and she purred coyly. Then, because she was rather flexible and not restrained by heavy clothing — she was wearing only a tee and a pair of cotton shorts — she drew up her legs and curled them about his, so that they were in a complete embrace, from head to foot. Giving a slight, airy giggle, Riot then put her forehead against Cayson's. "So many are probably against us being a couple," she whispered to him. "Jaceen seems awkward about it, and I'm sure Koani dislikes it quite a bit. I'm also sure Radin is a little bit uncomfortable..." Despite her rather negative words, a smile could be found on her muzzle and in her eyes, and the touch of her white fingers against Case's back was tender, affectionate, and, in its own way, happy. "Despite that, though, I'm so glad to be with you. I've had my fair share of 'boyfriends,' but I feel like this is the first time where it really means something, and will really last... know what I mean?" The brown thill hummed then, as if thoughtful, and opened her mouth to nibble delicately at Cayson's lip. As she did so, one ear flicked, for she thought she'd heard something... a distant, dull noise somewhere in the house. She continued with her nibbling and kissing, though. Until, at least, the noise came again, this time louder and more definite, though still muffled. "Okay, there's definitely something up," Riot said flatly, letting go of Case's lip. She didn't sit up this time, or even move, but stared at her consort's face, waiting for his eyes to open so she could look into them. "I think somebody... or two somebodies... are yelling somewhere in the house."
"Yeah, so nothing to worry about. Probably just working late," Cayson said. "Real late," he added as the time crossed his mind again. He really didn't want to dwell on Koani. He'd much rather focus on nicer things at the moment. Like Riot. Somehow she had managed to curl herself around him. He hugged her tightly, then loosened a hand and let it trail up and down her back in a half sort of back rub. Cay grinned as Riot put her forehead against his. How he loved that laugh of hers. His grin faltered a little as Riot spoke, but then it swiftly returned, broader than it had been before. "I know what you mean... for the longest time I was actually a little afraid and unsure of things. I wasn't sure if you even liked me... and Radin, he's just, spiff you know." Case deliberately didn't touch on Jaceen and Koani. Yes, something was definately wrong when it concerned them. "I've had flings here and there, but nothing, nothing quite like this. Nothing as meaningful as this." Cayson returned Riot's nibbles and kisses, with playful ones of his own. The first noise he heard, he passed off as nothing. Perhaps something had fallen over somewhere in the house. The second time he heard it happen, it wasn't simply nothing. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times. His green-blue eyes reflecting and seeming to glow a little in the sparse light given off by the digital clock. "I think so too," he said, looking into Riot's mismatched eyes. Someone was yelling, or fighting. Only Jaceen and Koani were supposed to be in the house, so that meant... what? Cay suddenly felt as if his stomach had been replaced by a lead weight. ( Previously... ) Koani had been drawn out of her self-pitying episode by an insistant beeping noise. At first, she didn't know what it was. She sniffed, clearing her eyes, and looked around a little dumbfounded. It was freezing out. Her tears had formed icy trails on her face. Even with her heavy coat, Koani felt chilled to the bone. Slowly, she began to realize where the beeping was coming from. It was her day planner. She absently fished it out of one of her pockets, her movements suddenly feeling alien to her. She flipped it open. It stopped beeping immediately. Written on the screen in soft glowing letters was one simple word: Promise. Koani's insides seemed to shrink and tighten inside of her. It was going to be now, or it was going to be never. She stiffly rose to her feet, suddenly aware that she was shivering. Or was she shaking? No, not shaking. She was just cold. Koani slipped the planner back into her pocket as she looked about herself. With a resigned sigh, she began walking. When she had reached the first street sign, now having a vague impression of where she was, she had turned her tele-link back on. The first person she had called was Vythe. He didn't ask her why she was where she was, but simply said he'd be around to pick her up shortly. They, or rather she, had business to attend to at this dastardly hour. Vythe had shown up in record breaking time. He'd taken one look at her face, and frowned. Still frowning, he had carefully ushered her into his vehicle. Inside it was warm, and Koani felt herself beginning to thaw just a little. "Are you sure...?" Vythe had asked. Koani had answered him with a wordless nod. Yes, she was sure. Sometime later, after she had fulfilled her promise, Vythe drove Koani home. Koani was silent. Her brain felt like it was overloading, and she felt as if she were to start speaking, she wouldn't be able to stop. Everything would just come out. So she just swallowed. The ache in her heart throbbing. Vythe parked around back then walked Koani up to one of the side doors. The two of them stood a little foolishly in the cold for several moments. Koani not wanting to talk, and Vythe wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say. So instead of saying anything, he drew Koani close and hugged her. She felt rigid and tense in his arms. Then he did something completely unorthodox. He tilted Koani's head and kissed her softly on the corner of her mouth. Koani's eyes widened, then narrowed just as quickly. She untangled herself from Vythe and shoved him away. "Go," she hissed. She then hastily unlocked the door, entered, closed and locked it, then had fallen against it with a quiet suppressed sob. ( Quite presently... ) After regaining herself, and putting away her coat, Koani stalked down one of the halls toward her room. She was going to sleep. Sleep, and call in sick tomorrow. And then maybe sleep some more. Walking down the dark hall, she noticed a faint light coming from her Study. Koani neared the room and entered. She shut the door softly behind herself. Curled up in a plush chair by one of the room's large windows was Jaceen, her nose buried deeply in a book. "Hi," Jaceen said a little flatly, her attention still being consumed by the book. Her greeting was returned with silence. "I was waiting up for you," Jaceen continued, slowly peeling herself away from the book. "I wanted to..." It was then that she got a good look at Koani. Jaceen froze. Koani didn't seem like herself. "You've been -" Jaceen's statement was cut short by a piercing glare. "No, please. Continue. I've been what?" Koani's words were sharp. Pointed and dagger-like, not at all unlike her glare. "Crying," Jaceen finished, letting the book she was reading drop out of her lap. Koani let out a short bark of laughter. She began to pace, shaking her head a little as she did so. Jaceen slowly rose out of her seat. She wanted to soothe the obviously distressed Grader. She reached out to touch Koani on the shoulder, to get her to stop her pacing. Koani twisted out of reach, the spikes along her spine flaring up. "Don't touch me!" she shouted, causing Jaceen to flinch and pull away. "I just want to help," Jaceen said quietly. Obviously, this was the wrong thing for her to say at that given moment. Koani rounded on Jaceen, her sharp gaze once again piercing the younger thill. "Ssana?" sneered Koani, dropping somewhat into a snarling language that wasn't quite of this world. "Narrn you want to help? Rrrrrah! Ine could krus une! I came and requested your help several weeks ago. You said no! I remember that distinctly!" "I didn't think you were being serious," Jaceen answered, still quiet. She was beginning to regret having stayed up. Koani had always been a little imposing to Jaceen, but now the lukuo was beginning to scare her a little.
Though Case's words had been sweet, and Riot wanted nothing more than to be a sweet, simpering sap with him, she couldn't ignore the situation unfolding in another area of the house. She now recognized the noises as feminine voices, both pitched at a higher than usual range. One was yelling, and the other was slightly raised, but moreso pleading than anything else. The manor was much too large for her to pick out individual sentences, or even words, but Riot got the gist of things: Koani and Jaceen were in another wing, arguing about something or other. Her immediate reaction was guilt. She liked Jaceen, and hated to think that it might be her presence that was causing a chasm between the two kioms. She just wished... that she and Case could be what they were, without it upsetting others. She knew that was an impossible whim, though. Her relationship with the Lapices arden was something that had been and would continue to be under very tight scrutiny. In fact, she'd already seen pictures of them, obviously taken with hidden cameras at one of her night clubs, in a popular tabloid, with a saucy caption. Koani didn't seem to subscribe to that particular magazine, though, and she probably didn't know they were lovers, not just friends, either. If this argument between her and Jaceen was fueled by the thought of her and Cayson being friends — how bad would it get once the truth leaked out? Yes, guilt certainly stung the young thill right at that moment. Guilt, as well as curiosity, had moved in, and simple luxuries like sleeping and cuddling had left by now. Knowing this, Riot sat up in bed. One of her white hands sought out Cayson's warm palm, and she squeezed it, before letting go. The teenager then slipped from the sheets, placed her feet flat on the floor, and wandered over towards the door, which was ajar. She picked idly at her shorts, which were slightly askew due to all her rolling and hugging, and then ended up near the threshold, frozen, ears alert. "You're" - "and you" - "being irrational?" - "trying to" - "wasn't." "I really wonder if they're fighting about us... me, rather," Riot muttered under her breath. She didn't say anything else, though, but only listened for more morsels of the ongoing argument. "Where were" - "business" - "is Cayson" - "fine." Abruptly, the fight seemed to end. Ri blinked, and found herself tilting her head forwards, as if waiting for it to pick up again. It didn't, though. Instead, she heard something like a vague huff, and then a door slammed. Heavy, angry footsteps then echoed about the house, and all of Riot's fur stood on end when she realized they were getting louder every second. "Shit. Case, I think she's coming this way." She didn't know which 'she' that was, but she could certainly guess. "Shit," Riot repeated, before turning from the threshold and diving under the blankets. Pretty stupid, really, but she had nowhere else to run and hide.
Jaceen stood stock still in Koani's study for a moment. Koani had very neatly slammed the door in her face as she exited the room. The two of them had fought before, but not quite like this. Not so openly. Part of Jaceen didn't want to comprehend what had happened. It wanted to slink away and to hide. Let things blow over. She was feeling somewhat responsible for this entire mess now, and what if something else were to happen? Jaceen tugged open the Study door. It had gotten a little stuck by the force of Koani's slam, but Jaceen managed. She bolted down the hallway after Koani. Koani was upset, but also angry. So angry in fact, that for some time, she was actually considering striking down Jaceen. She wanted to see her hurt. Jaceen had said she had been, was being, irrational. Sweet, caring, little Jaceen. Could it be that this entire night had been built on the foundation of irrationality? No. And for Jaceen to even suggest that? Koani had nearly lost it on her. Despite her current temperament, Koani was quite far from being blinded by it. She hadn't come unhinged. She was angry, but also purposeful. At the last moment, she had enquired about their other guests. Both Cayson and Stormwing were presumably still in the guest wing. Koani had taken this bit of information and had promptly left with it. Jaceen, perhaps out of fear for Cay and Riot, had come speeding after her. Of course Koani had heard rumours about her son's more recent doings. His name was one of the one's she had her press personnel highlight for her. These things were only rumours though. Things that were perhaps only based upon a small fraction of fact. She'd find out the truth for herself. "Koani, please don't!" Came Jaceen's voice from behind her. It was shrill and a little panicky. Koani had slowed in her pace as she neared Cayson's room. Koani gave Jaceen a falsely dubious look, as if to say Don't what? Cayson's door was shut. Koani opened it and let it swing softly inward on its hinges. She looked inside. It was empty. Jaceen had stopped several yards away, trying her best to read Koani. Koani pivoted on her feet and continued down the hall. "You said they were here?" Koani hissed, her voice had taken on an alien quality. Jaceen took several skipping steps, trying to keep up with Koani's angry stride. "Yes," Jaceen answered, although meekly, for at that moment she had cast a glance into Cayson's room. He wasn't there. Jaceen brought a hand up to her mouth. Of course, she'd known that Cayson and Riot had been an item for quite some time now. Students, as well as her coworkers, frequently felt the need to share the latest gossip with her. "And you knew," Koani said quietly, accusingly. Jaceen stopped in her tracks. Had Koani just read her mind? It seemed unlikely, but... Jaceen stammered, unable to answer. Koani came upon Riot's door. It was slightly ajar. Koani worked a small object out of one of her pockets. Jaceen tried to see what it was, but Koani obscured her view. So with this small thing clenched in her good fist, Koani pushed the door open the rest of the way. It bumped against the wall with a dull thud. *** Cayson's heart was thudding in his chest. He had sat up in bed when Riot had gotten up to see if she could discern the shouted words. Koani and Jaceen were fighting. There was no doubt in his mind about that now. Although what exactly they were shouting about, he didn't know. He didn't really want to know either. In all of his life, he had never heard them raise their voices at one another. At least, not whenever he was present. Then the shouting had stopped... only to be picked up by the sound of heavy footfalls. Case squirmed. Had Koani hurt Jaceen? He was only mildly relieved when he heard Jaceen's pleading voice coming from the other end of the hallway. She was okay, but both of them were right outside now. Cay huddled against Riot, wrapping an arm about her form. She was hiding under the blankets, and if this had been any other circumstance, Cayson would have laughed. Several hissing words were spat out from behind their partially open door. Then the door swung inward, bumping against the wall, and made Cayson flinch. Standing in its wake, somewhat silhouetted in the door frame was Koani. Her form was unmistakable. Because of the lighting, Cayson couldn't make out her expression. His eyes drifted down to her clenched fist. Something inside of it was glowing a soft aqua. After a moment of standing vigil, Koani spoke. "Cay," she said, her voiced strained but commanding, "Stormwing." Jaceen must have said something just then, for Koani whirled on her feet and shouted down the hall. "Jaceen? I'm going to put this as politely as possible. Could you please shut the fuck up?"
Once she'd fled under the covers, Riot curled into a ball against Cayson's form, glad for the arm that wrapped around her protectively. She grabbed his free hand with one of hers, interlocking their fingers, and squeezed tightly. Despite his comforting presence, though, Riot found her heart beating swiftly, and she could hear blood roaring in her ears. She couldn't say why, either. She wasn't afraid of Koani, exactly, having asserted herself quite violently over the kiom once upon a time. She didn't fear physical harm from the Grader. Yet, on the other hand, her entire being quaked because, though she didn't dread injuries to herself, she wondered if Koani would do something to harm Cayson, whether that was physically or emotionally. Almost worse yet, what if Koani used her influence to tear the two of them apart? There were so many ways she could do that... and as Riot considered them, she shook a little, her breath catching in her throat even as the footsteps thudded ever nearer, now accompanied by unmistakable voices. Soon, too soon, Koani's voice was just outside the bedroom door, and Riot felt herself freeze. She was hidden under the dark blankets, and couldn't see what was going on, but she easily picked up the sound of the door swinging inwards. This noise was followed by a moment or two of silence, and then Koani said hers and Cayson's names in a stiff, commandeering sort of way. Though Riot had known all along that she would be discovered, and that hiding was useless, she felt very exposed when the elder pendragon spoke her name. At the same time, it was like a beckon, and she found herself sitting up, dropping the covers from around her head. Her eyes immediately found Koani, silhouetted in the doorway, and a ripple of unpleasantness flowed up and down her back when the Grader swore at Jaceen. The kiom then seemed to refocus her gaze upon the two in the bed. "Fuck," Riot breathed quietly, her mismated gaze idly flickering to Koani's clenched fist. She was holding something, and the thill felt a chilly sense of apprehension. "Koani," she then added, louder and clearer, never taking her eyes off the powerful female. She'd hidden at first, fearing what Koani would see, and think, but now she was quite steady as she squared with Case's mother. "Jaceen," she also tagged on, for she knew the Lapices kiom was outside in the hall, as well. Even as Stormwing kept her eyes upon Koani, her hand was still clenched in Cayson's, and she squeezed it again. This time, it wasn't a silent plea for support, but instead a brave signal of companionship and love. Of course, she still feared what Koani would think — especially since she'd caught the two of them sleeping together, although they were both fully clothed, and had done nothing beyond "second base" — and what she'd do as a result. But she'd beaten Koani once, and could do it again. Of course, that's not what she wanted... she just wanted for all of them to get along and accept the past and one another... but, in any case, she'd stand up for herself. And for Cayson, now, too. For their new love.
Koani didn't care if Jaceen had been upset by her harsh words. The only reason Koani really tolerated her now was because of Cayson. Before Cayson, the only reason she had tolerated Jaceen was because of Saber. She was always thinking of someone else it seemed. Guarding those she liked and masking her ill feelings with niceties. Koani's dislike was not at all one-sided. She knew that Jaceen, although she had never said it out loud, rather hated her. Jaceen blamed Koani for the death of her brother - Koani's husband at that time. Koani hated that guarded, accusing look that came into Jaceen's pupil-less white-yellow eyes when she looked at her sometimes. At least Jaceen seemed to know when to stop. This wasn't her territory anymore. The yellow hued pendragon downcast her gaze and remained silent. Satisfied with this, Koani's attention had swung back to Cayson and Stormwing. Koani wasn't sure just what to think. Always, always, she had been lenient with Cayson. She hadn't torn him away from Jaceen (although she had so dearly wanted to). She had respected his trade choices. Koani knew all too well what it was like to be forced in that area. She hadn't even raised an eyebrow when Cayson had told her about one of his boyfriends. Koani knew that she should respect Cayson's choice in partners. But this? This was pushing it. Her son, "together" with Stormwing. The thill who had roughed her up. The thill who was in cohorts with the murderer of Karryasa. What had Cayson been thinking? Or maybe that was it. He hadn't been thinking. Maybe this was even another form of revenge on Stormwing's part. To deliberately steal away Cayson some more. Just as Jaceen had done. Cayson had already missed out on so many opportunities because of Jaceen. What was going to happen to him now? Koani's hand tightened even more around her held object. It bit sharply into her palm. And Zamfir. Cayson had missed out on so much when it came to him. Koani appeared to reel on her feet for a moment. She gripped the doorframe lightly with her bad hand to steady herself. She really should have just gone to bed. *** Cayson, to say the least, was unsettled. He'd never heard Koani talk like that. Koani had always been so pretty in his mind. So refined. So in control. To him it seemed beneath her to speak so crudely. This was a new side of her it seemed. When Riot had addressed the two females, and then had squeezed his hand, Cayson had squeezed tightly back. He didn't like where this situation was going, but he was going to weather it out with Riot. He'd protect her if things turned violent. He'd be damned if he didn't. "Mom?" Cay said, his voice unnaturally pleasant given the situation. He hoped that by calling her that, he'd soften her a little. Remove some of that violent energy that she seemed to be radiating. Instead, his word seemed to have a rather adverse effect. He could feel Koani sneering at him in the darkness. "And don't you forget that," Koani had answered him tartly. Then, without warning, she chucked the object that she had been suffocating in her right hand at him. It twirled through the air, sparkling. Case raised his free arm to shield his face. Whatever it was, it hit him squarely in the chest, bounced, and came to a rest in his lap. Cayson lowered his arm and blinked. "What?" He looked down at it, now recognizing what it was. It was a brilliant gold-silver and beautifully crafted medallion with some good weight to it. Somehow it was giving off its own light. That soft aqua. Cayson looked at it hard. The side that was facing up on his lap depicted the Grader family crest. He leaned lightly against Riot, breathing softly now. Then with his thumb and forefinger, he touched it and lightly turned it over. The glow it gave off seemed to flicker when he made contact. The reverse side depicted what Cayson knew to be Zamfir Grader's personal insignia. His regal star. "Zamfir's..." This was the medallion that Zamfir always wore about his neck. There was no mistaking that. Cayson looked up at Koani, his eyes beseeching her for an answer. Somehow it didn't seem like she'd be supplying him with an explanation anytime soon.
When Koani tossed the item towards Cayson, Riot, too, lifted an arm to shield herself from whatever it was. It turned out that such a move was unnecessary, though. It bounced off the arden's chest, then landed safely in his lap, where it sat, glowing dully with an aquamarine light that reminded Riot strongly of the Sagar sea. She looked at it with surprised, dubious eyes, wondering what it was, and somehow knowing that it held great significance. Yet, it was only when Cayson turned it over that she got a true inkling of its importance. The back side had bore the Grader family crest, but the opposite side had Zamfir Grader's own sigil on it. This was obviously a priceless artifact that belonged to the Arch Magos, perhaps a very personal piece of jewelry. With another, strong sense of apprehension, Riot wondered what it meant that he wasn't wearing it, and why Koani had thrown it at Case. After studying the glimmering piece, she found herself looking once more at Koani, a questioning look now in her eyes. Suddenly moving decisively, Riot squeezed Case's hand one last time, and then let go. Keeping her face turned towards the door, and her eyes pinned upon Koani, she moved towards the edge of the bed. She swung her feet to the floor, as she'd done several minutes ago, and then stood. For a moment, she paused there, next to the bed, as if unsure of what to do. In the next moment, though, she padded gingerly across the bedroom, until she was just a meter or so away from Koani. Her stance was stoic, but not challenging, her gaze shrewd, but not spiteful. It was obvious that there was more to this entire situation than anger over her and Cayson's relationship — but what? "Call me crazy," she eventually said, making a dubious sound. "But I have a feeling this isn't all about Cayson and me. What's going on?" Riot's tail flicked as she spoke, and she glanced past Koani's shoulder, to see Jaceen hovering in the hallway beyond. She looked wounded, and her lips were pursed; she'd obviously been whipped by the Grader kiom's words. The young thill did not look at her too long, though. Her gaze wandered back to Koani, then to Case, who was still sitting upright in the bed, the medallion in his palm. He looked as confused as she felt. But, as with Jaceen, Riot did not spend too much time gazing wistfully at her lover. Once more, her mismated gaze sought out Koani's icy eyes, and she waited to see if the elder female would bother answering her question.
Koani watched Cayson as he carefully handled Zamfir's medallion, his shadow spidering faintly on the wall behind him. The craftsmanship in that piece was awe inspiring. It was the same type of technical expertise that Koani herself had wanted to attain when she had been younger and much more full of dreams. Magicka woven right into the metals. It had presence. Just holding it gave you a feeling of empowerment. However, that power seemed to have failed Zamfir. Koani found herself struggling to keep her face as Cayson looked back up to her. His eyes questing for answers. Koani turned her head, disregarding his look, and glanced out into the hallway. Jaceen was still looking at the floor, her ears pinned back. Zamfir's request that Cayson have the medallion had seemed queer to Koani. Rightfully, it should have gone either to herself, or to one of her siblings (lousy lot that they were). But Cayson? If the wrong sort of pendragon were to see it in his possession... She hadn't liked the idea when Zamfir had first mentioned it, nor did she like it now. When she looked back, it was to see that Riot had stolen closer to her. Koani instinctively prickled. It wasn't that she felt threatened by her. Koani was tense. So high strung that she felt as if at any given moment her strings might snap. When Riot asked her just what was going on, she wasn't exactly sure what to say. She felt burdened with this secret. Quite overwhelmed by its immense weight. She wanted to both try to forget it, and share it at the same time. But share it with these three? Cayson shouldn't have to shoulder a weight like that, Jaceen was a Lapices, and Riot, well... "Yes, some things have been happening... but don't think that I'm not still upset about this," she said stiffly. Koani's gaze flitted from Riot, to Cayson, and back again. Had she just said that? Some things? Things? Oh, Koani. Stop trying to fool yourself girl. There are words for what you've done. "Zamfir died last night," Koani stated. Her voice taking on a strangely professional note. She'd rehearsed for this type of thing after all. Today, right now, was just a warm up, she thought. Preparation for the barrage of questions that she knew she was soon to be hit with. Cayson was gaping at her, looking as if he had been struck by a brick. "The official press release for tomorrow," she continued, "is going to be a little... romantic. It's going to say that he died of a broken heart. Slain by love... Ever since Mom, ah, Karryasa left, he hasn't been well. Really it was a heart attack, but you know, the media will really like that poetic jargon. The general public will eat it. I've..." Koani blinked, suddenly remembering Vythe. He'd stepped out of line. Had he been anyone else in her service, she would have fired him on the spot. Vythe was sharing part of her secret though, and to cut him loose, well, Koani didn't much like the idea of having him as a potential enemy. He knew a little too much.
"Yes, some things have been happening... but don't think that I'm not still upset about this." By 'this,' Riot knew what Koani was implying — she was angry over finding her and Cayson sleeping in the same bed. Though the two females had quite the rough past together, the younger of the two could understand Koani's sentiments. She could imagine that any mother, regardless of their history with the culprit, would be upset at finding her son in bed with his girlfriend. However, on that note, Riot and Cayson were both fully clothed, and they hadn't done anything too upsetting. And she wanted to point this out, say, "Hey, there's nothing to be upset about..." But Riot never got the chance. Even after the Grader kiom had expressed her anger at the situation, she continued to speak, this time about... ...Zamfir was dead? This was startling news. Riot nearly wheeled backwards as she heard the words slip from Koani's mouth. This was huge, groundbreaking news, and she could only imagine what would happen when the public found out. Yet, it was on a personal level that she felt the most stunned, especially when Koani explained the cause of death. Zamfir had died of a broken heart? It was all because of Karryasa's untimely death? Though Riot had not had anything to do with it personally, she felt guilty about the whole thing. Kakosenas was responsible for this... her best friend had set into motion this grievous cycle. "I..." Riot wanted to say that she was sorry, but the words caught in her throat. She felt odd saying them to Koani, anyway. Plus, odds were that Koani didn't want to hear sympathetic words from Riot. Hence, instead of offering her condolences to the kiom, Riot spun around on her whitened heel, and ran back towards the bed. She slipped down next to Case again, putting her arms around him, one about his back, the other up along his face so that her palm was flat on his cheek. She then drew him closer to her, so their faces were close together, and she closed her eyes. Riot had no real idea about whether Zamfir and Cayson had been close, but she imagined it would be a blow, nonetheless. She'd never experienced the loss of a family member, never having had any kin she knew of, but she thought that Case might need the comfort. She did. "I'm sorry about your grandfather, Case," she breathed, before kissing his cheek.
Cayson blinked, quite slammed by his mother's words. Zamfir gone? It seemed absurd. He'd always been so sturdy. So in control for as long as he could remember. Invincible. Then again, Case had thought the same about his Grandmother, Karryasa. And now they were both gone. So what did that mean now? The end of the Graders? Surely Koani wouldn't have that. She'd dropped the Lapices last name years ago just to return to her maiden name. Cayson at the time had been very bothered by that. Had she been trying to forget his father? Little pockets of death seemed to be riddling themselves around the orange arden over the years. Koani had already died on him once - would she do it again? The arden was suddenly incredibly grateful for the arms that came about him and the soft kiss. He wasn't quite sure how to feel right then. Scared, upset, anxious? There would be tumult by the break of day. Everyone waking up to the news of Zamfir's death. The propaganda. The documentaries. Slander, no doubt. Cayson figured that the reality of it all would settle in for him eventually. It just seemed like a far off dream right now. Case hugged Riot back, closing the medallion in a fist. He wasn't sure what to say though. Were there even words? "So that's yours now," Koani said as she watched her son and Riot interact, her face expressionless. "He wanted you to have it for some reason." Although what Zamfir's reason had been, Koani could only guess. Most likely he had some sort of ulterior motive... yet the gift could have simply have come from out of the goodness of his heart. Whatever his reasoning, Koani still did not like Cayson being in possession of such a weighty item. "I thought that he had been getting better." It was Jaceen, stirred out of her quietude by Koani's devastating words, she'd chosen to speak again. Although Jaceen's comment seemed innocent, the look that accompanied it was quite loaded. Koani's eyes narrowed. "I lied. What were we supposed to do? Depress everyone with reports of his steady decline? Make way for the apocalypse? Slip into anarchy? Let some punk organization try to foul up the Grader reign? No. Someone needed to pick up the slack. It ended up being me. I guess I didn't really know I was lying at the time. I was blinded by hope." "And those papers you had drafted? The ones you wanted me to look at? Totally unrelated, hm?" "All of that is irrelevant." "I don't think it is. Koani, you knew. You knew that both of them were going to die." "That's not quite true," came Koani's cagey response. "Quite?" Jaceen picked out the word and tossed it back at her. "Even if I did know, it doesn't lessen the impact." "Oh, come off it!" Jaceen shouted, being uncharacteristically insensitive given the recent events. "No. You stop being an insensitive bitch. Keep your skeptical comments to yourself. I won't have them right now," Koani flared. Jaceen's mouth opened to retort, but she thought better of it and bit her tongue lightly. It didn't seem like the time, or the place to be pressuring Koani. Specially while Jaceen was a still guest in her house.
Riot continued clinging to Case, even as the two kioms began to exchange heated words. Her eyes watched the two, wondering what exactly they were talking about, and she found her ears twitching and her mind spinning as she considered the implications. Jaceen's accusations were a bit too vague for drawing conclusions, and Koani's anger was probably just a side effect of her grief, so it would be a little much for Riot to assume the worst. However, the thill could not shake the feeling that something was... off here, suspicious. Had... Koani had something to do with Zamfir's demise? Had it been assisted suicide? Or... murder? These thoughts were at the extreme end of the spectrum, but as Riot squeezed against her orange consort, she couldn't help but ponder them. It could explain a few things, at least. But, it was neither the place nor the time to press about such things. Koani had made it quite clear that interrogation was unwanted, and her tolerance would probably be even shorter with Riot than it had been with Jaceen. Hence, the banded female chose to simply not comment. Instead, she unwrapped her arms from around Cayson, and sought out one of his multi-colored hands with her own white one. She squeezed his warm palm as she did so, and nuzzled the soft patch of fur beneath his ear. "Maybe you should lay back down, get some rest, considering the news," she whispered to him. She bent her head forwards so she could look at his face, wanting to gauge his reaction to this, to everything. Whether he would become apathetic, angry, or tearful, she was ready to support and comfort him. "I'll be here if you need anything, from a simple hug to a barf bucket," she added on with a small smile. After this brief reassurance, Riot turned her mismatched gaze away from Case, and once again stared at Koani and Jaceen. It seemed that their argument had been nulled by the Grader's words, but the tension still hung in the air. In fact, Ri could almost believe that vibes of heat, anger, and indecision were flying off Koani herself, as if she might explode any minute now. But she didn't comment, didn't do anything, but look wonderingly at the kiom, waiting to see what would happen, what would be said, next.
Jaceen stole away down the hall, figuring that both she and Koani were finished for the time being. Pressing her suspicious accusations further would most likely instigate more fire and brimstone than Jaceen was willing to deal with at that moment. She'd confront Koani some other day about all of it. Perhaps once things had had some time to roll a little with the public. Jaceen was immensely bothered. If Koani had known that her parents were going to die - had she also known, years prior, that Saber was going to die? It seemed likely. Cayson nodded his head weakly, a twisted frown on his face. Riot's suggestion of going back to sleep seemed like a good idea. "I think so, yeah. Getting a little sleep before it's... everywhere." Case peeled open the hand that had been holding the medallion. He hadn't realized it at the time, but he had been clenching it. Soft indentations of both Zamfir's star and the Grader crest were lightly traced on his palm. He deposited the medallion on the night stand beside the clock. It glowed warmly in contrast to the clock's harsh neon light. It was like a night light. For some reason, the idea seemed quite funny to Cayson. Zamfir, having this medallion, as a night light, because maybe, he was afraid of the dark? He would have laughed, had he not felt his mother's gaze still upon him. Instead, his attention turned fully to Riot. Riot, who, every time he looked at, seemed to make his heart swell. She seemed to make everything alright. Just having her close by put him at ease. She said that she would be there for him, and Cayson knew that he himself would always be there for her as well. To love, to protect, to share their lives together despite adversities. Case couldn't imagine it any other way. How had he even lived before being with her? (Oh, the clichés.) Case brought his muzzle close to Riot's ear, then whispered in soft, sincere Ramathian, "Ri'ni, E lyba iyo." He then kissed her gently on the cheek before starting to settle back into bed. Everything would be alright, wouldn't it? "Good night," Koani said, although her aura still appeared to be radiating anger, her words were quiet, compassionate even. She drew the guest bedroom door shut as she left. Koani hadn't particularly liked dropping that bomb on Cayson, but it was better that he found out from her first though, right? And not some lunatic on the streets, the papers, or at school where she knew there was going to be a lot of talk. Koani headed toward her room which was located almost at the opposing end of the manor. The light in her Study was still on. She slipped in and turned it off before walking the rest of the way down the hall. Once inside her room, without removing anything, she flopped onto her bed. Although exhausted, it didn't take her long to realize that she wasn't in any mood to sleep. Nor was she in a mood to cry, as she thought she might be. Her tears were spent. Koani pushed herself up into a sitting position with a bit of an effort. If she wasn't going to sleep, she could at least make herself a little more comfortable. She pulled her day planner out of her skirt's stitched pocket and lay it down on her bedspread. She unhooked her Tele-link and set it on top of her planner. Then, methodically, she began to remove her jewellery. The necklaces first, followed by her larger earrings, and then her rings. Laying them each on the bed alongside her planner. She only paused once when she had been about to pull off Saber's ring. Why did she still wear that? Part ra-nine. Part artak. She pulled it off and set it amongst the rest of her things. Koani let her spikes fall flat against her back as she leaned upright against her headboard. She wasn't looking forward to tomorrow, or later today as it happened to be.
"E lyba iyo, syy," came Riot's whispered response to Case's words, and she watched as the arden put the medallion on the bedside table, next to the clock. 4:49, it now read, but the thill wasn't concerned about the time. She soon turned her gaze upon her companion, quiet as he shifted around, and laid back, his blonde hair a splash against his pillow as he settled onto his back. If she had been him, Ri would have stared up at the ceiling for hours, but Cayson squeezed his eyes shut, and it wasn't long before his breathing became shallow. Even as he fell into sleep, the female leaned over him, and gave him a sound kiss upon the nose, a silent hope that his dreams would be untainted by the grisly news of Zamfir's death. Eventually, Riot peered upwards, to see if Koani and Jaceen were still there. The kioms weren't, though. They must have left while I was focused on Cayson, she thought to herself, and shrugged. The banded pendragon began to settle down beside Case, even if she didn't expect sleep so easily, but then a thought seared through her brain like electric fire. Zamfir's dead — and you know she had something to do with it, a little voice said inside her head. She went to her bedroom, but you know there's no way she's sleeping. Go find her. She'll tell you what really happened. Riot had never been the kind to hear voices in her head before, but she obeyed without questioning it or hesitating. She quickly touched her fingers to Case's cheek, a sort of "I'll be right back" gesture, and then the thill slipped from the bed. She stealthily padded towards the door, which the Grader must have shut on her way out, and slowly opened it. Koani's and Jaceen's scents lingered here, but the two of them were gone. Silently, so as not to awaken Case or disturb anything else in the large manor, Ri slipped from the room where her lover slept, shut it with a quiet click, and then crept up the lush corridor, tracing none other than the Grader's scent. It took quite a while for Riot to navigate her way through the house; it seemed Koani's bedroom was across from where she and Cayson had been holed up. The entire way there, she kept her breath low, and her white toes were soft and quiet upon the varying rugs and floors. Eventually, she did wind up in a far wing, where there was a long hallway. There were doors upon doors here, but all of them were closed... and only one had a strip of goldenrod light beneath its door. Koani's room, Riot said to herself. She arrived before it, paused, and then lifted her hand. Forming a fist, she then rapped her knuckles lightly against the wood.
Koani still sat propped up against her headboard, her eyes closed. However, she was quite far from the gates of dreamland. Koani was swimming in a sea of troublesome thoughts. At first she had tried to ward them away by working. She'd pulled out one of her sketchbooks and had tried designing various items. When that failed her, she had turned to writing. Her sentences wouldn't form correctly, and Koani found her Ramathian was looking a little spotty. Her good hand had picked up a noticeable quiver. So with that activity dashed, Koani had retrieved a photo album. One that she actually kept under lock and key. That in itself was strange, as the purpose of such photo albums usually was to be shared with others, not locked away where the sun couldn't shine like a dirty secret. Inside there was a great deal of imagery. Of herself, Saber, Jaceen... friends that were now estranged, later on came Vela, Mystique, and then Cayson. Then they stopped. The rest of the book's pages were blank. Red hot pain was now seeping into her left shoulder. Koani closed the book and let it fall off of her lap to land gently on the floor beside her bed. There would be no respite tonight, she thought. No escape. Koani gently massaged her shoulder, hoping to subdue it's fiery cries so that they would at least drop down to a more bearable level. It was when she was doing this, eyes closed, that a knock came from her door. Koani's pink flawed eyes opened and she sighed softly. No respite at all. "Come in," she said, and began to clean up some of the papers that littered her bed.
Upon being told to enter, Riot gently prodded the door open. Soft, mellow light spilled over her form as it escaped the room, lighting up a patch of the corridor around her. She soon crossed the threshold, however, and shut the door, leaving the hallway in darkness behind her. "Koani," the thill said with a nod, standing just inside the door. The Grader was sitting up in bed. She hadn't been sleeping, though, of that, Riot was certain. No rest for the weary, she thought, but she did not voice it. "I knew you wouldn't be sleeping," she added, with a bit of a 'heh' noise afterwards. The two females were nowhere near comfortable enough to share a room without tension, much less a bed, so Riot did not move forwards, to sit on the edge of Koani's. She continued to hover near the doorway, though she did step sideways, as if she wanted to be out of the way, lest someone else enter the room. Who would, though? Jaceen, come back to continue their argument, thinking Koani was alone? Vythe, to come and guard the Grader's bed? Perhaps Cayson, wondering where Riot had wandered? "I'm not your daughter-in-law yet," Riot spoke, carefully enunciating the 'yet.' She had no doubt in her mind that the day would come when she and Cayson would seal the deal for eternity; she had never felt this way about anybody else. "But I'd like to be in your circle of trust. Tell me, please, what really happened tonight? Zamfir didn't just die on his own, did he?"
Koani looked up at her visitor as she straightened a few more papers and set them in a neat pile beside herself. She was simultaneously disappointed and relieved to see Riot enter. Part of her had been hoping that it would be Jaceen, having got a second wind and ready for another round. How Koani would have enjoyed to forcibly drag Jaceen out of her house by the scruff of the neck. Simply push her out onto the cold streets. However, Koani knew Jaceen a little better than perhaps Jaceen knew herself. Jaceen's outbursts were usually few and far in between. She'd bide her time now, so Koani, in the meanwhile, would wait as well. A shadow of a smile highlighted Koani's face as Riot mentioned that she knew she'd be awake. "Ah yes, the wicked, we don't sleep." Cayson must have fallen asleep Koani figured. Sometimes Koani envied him and his ability to force sleep upon himself. Sleep was definately not something she herself got enough of. Koani was immune to most pain killers and sedatives. And alcohol? She never kept that in the house, save for special occasions when it was permissible. Considering the outcome of their first meeting, offering Riot a drink now would be in bad taste. Instead all she had to offer were words. "He loves you," Koani stated, "and you love him." She'd seen their gazes. She'd recognized Cayson's adoring look. Although Koani wasn't all that in tune with Riot's feelings, she was with Cayson's. He was serious concerning his intentions. Koani started to massage her bad shoulder again as she thought. Thankfully, its fire was starting to die down. "This circle that you speak of? Once you're in it, there's only one way out." It was a threat of course, and a none too subtle one at that. Had Riot's intentions toward her son been tainted or untrue, Koani figured that she would have left right then. However, Riot lingered. Koani found herself at a loss for a moment. She wanted to speak. To tell someone. But Riot? "Zamfir's death... and tonight. Actually, I think if I wanted to, I could argue that Zamfir didn't die at all tonight. If I wanted to fall into that sentimental realm, I'd say he died when Karryasa did. Losing her, broke him. Quite literally. He's been dying ever since. Your friend though? Concerning her, I have no regrets. Had I the means then, and the media not stepping on my tail, I would have killed her for the hurt she caused my family instead of simply sending her on a jaunt to prison. Afterwards, I think I may have felt a little guilty. Not exactly for killing her though, but because I know that she wasn't entirely to blame."
