Re: Back on duty ... again

[Guest]

Venis looked up from her tea. "Yes, Joseph, thank you." Joseph nodded and returned to the employees room. She sat the cup down and rose from her seat. It was time. She needed to make some arrangements. She had things to do in the coming weeks and she wanted to get as much done before they got swept up in Christmas.

She went and got dressed in something a little more appropriate for leaving her room. Baggy sweat pants and an over sized T-shirt would not do. So instead she put on a long floral dress. It had short bell sleeves and was floor length. She put a clip in the back to draw it tight at the waist.

She slipped into a pair of four inch pumps the same color as the flowers on the dress and headed out of her room. She headed down the stairs to the second floor. She walked down the hall a small distance and then stopped. This was going to be something new for her. She scratched her head and raised her hand. Then, upon Gawain and Airtia's door, she knocked.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Dressed and ready to head out for the day it only made sense that Airtia would be the one that opened the door. She also had been notified that someone was approaching the door and, therefore, was not surprised when there was a knock.

Airtia wore a simple smile when she opened the door and then nodded when seeing who it was. "Greetings Venis." Standing in the doorway, one hand on the knob and the other stretched to the side and pressing against the frame. "What can I do fer ye?"

[Guest]

Venis looked up once the door was open. But before her eyes even caught sight of who had answered she spoke. "Hello Air." She then saw her dear friend standing before her. "Oh, is this a bad time? You look dressed to go out. I can come back later if you guys are busy." Yep, stall tactics. V was good at those. Especially if it had to do with something she had never done before.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

With the smile still in place she shook her head and drummed her fingers upon the door frame. "Iffen it were a bad time then I would 'ave either nae opened the door, or said as much upon opening it." Therefore Venis had nothing to worry about. For Airtia, going out - unless it happened to be the off-beat chance it was somewhere special - meant her low pants, boots and shirt dark red leather bodice. She even wore her blade strapped on to her back.

"Nae need tae come back later. Do ye need tae step inside, or shall I step out there with ye?" Her hand still across on the door frame. Could say it was acting as a type of barrier.

[Guest]

Venis was getting rather fidgety. She was playing with her wedding rings. "I wouldn't exactly call this a hallway conversation. But if my coming in is a bad idea, you can come up to my room." She thought to herself that she wasn't going to be able to do this. She was on the verge of saying never mind and fleeing. Not because Airtia seemed to be blocking the doorway, but because she was unsure about her being able to do what she was about to do.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

"Let us walk and talk shall aye?" Her hand came down from the door frame and she took a step forward. Unlike Venis, Airtia was not in heals - her boots were flat - and therefore she was shorter than Venis. That didn't make much of a difference to her.

As she stepped forward she closed the room door behind her. Gawain knew that she was going out and she was in contact with him anyway. "Something seems tae be on yer mind by the way ye are worrying the rings on yer fingers. Iffen I did nae know better I would say that ye were nervous." Speaking casually and nonchalant for she didn't want Venis to feel any added stress.

[Guest]

A slight chuckle escaped her as she stopped fidgeting with her rings and wiped her hands on her hips. "Nervous, je?" Ok she was a little nervous. They reached the stairs and headed up. Venis had thought about using a shortcut, but changed her mind. "I've just ... I've got a huge favor to ask." She was making progress. She had gotten that far.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

That's what all the nervousness was about? A favor? Airtia couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "But of course Venis. We are friends. Iffen ye wanted a favor all ye ave tae do tis ask."

What type of favor could it have been for Venis to act as she was? As they walked she studied Venis. It was true that she hadn't had the time yet to sit down and catch up with her but, it seemed to her that Venis needed help.

[Guest]

She drew in her bottom lip for a moment. "I know, and that was what brought me to your door." She opened her door and let Airtia in first. But she didn't kick the diamond in place, she closed the door behind them. Airtia might remember that if her door was closed than it meant that something serious was going on behind it.

She offered her a seat. "Would you like some tea Air?" She headed for her desk. Even if she didn't want the tea, V's wine glass was over there and she wanted a glass of blood wine something fierce. "I have Peppermint, chamomile, and Earl Grey." She poured herself her glass of wine.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Airtia did not mind a closed door. A lot of people liked their privacy, even if they were not doing anything but reading. She moved in towards a seat, but did not sit down, choosing to stand by the seat for now. "Nae tea, but thanks." She was never much of a tea person. Cider. Now that was a different story. Then there was a pause before she spoke again.

"I don't doubt that ye are a hospitable person, but ye did nae find me fer pleasantries." Airtia mostly always stood with her feet apart, braced in a way, but it was very comfortable for her. "There tis nae need tae stall. What's the favor?"

[Guest]

Venis chuckled then. "I know." She took a drink, not a sip, a drink of her wine. She walked over and sat down in the other chair. She wasn't going to be able to say this standing up. "I ... uh." She took a deep breath. "I need ..." She was about to say the one four letter word that had not left her mouth in this context in over two hundred years. "Air, I need ... Help." That word left a bitter taste in her mouth. It was like she was admitting her own inadequacies. She hadn't asked another being for help since she became a God. It wasn't her, she knew who and what she was and what she could do. But this was Casie, and her mind. Venis would bite the bullet for Casie. Even if it did bring a blood tear to her eye.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Obviously that was something incredibly difficult for her to say. A few times Airtia wasn't sure that Venis was going to get anything out at all. Not being a person to ask for help either, she could relate to Venis' plight.

Stepping forward she spoke, "Ye mean that ye would like my vantage point on a situation. It can mean the same thing and prevents ye from 'aving tae use the other word." Her smile grew a bit and she spread her hands before her. "What can I do fer ye?"

[Guest]

Venis smiled. "I wish that was the case, but no, this time I honestly need ... ya know, let's call it back up." That was a little better, actually it was a lot better. Her smile returned and was more genuine. "Casie came to me the other day, she's been having terrible nightmares. And she wasn't remembering them. So I went in to see what was going on. There's a dream walker, and Air, he's nasty. He reeks of evil. He's trying to get to the part of her memories that will tell him where her twins are. Problem is, she doesn't know exactly. She only knows a general location."

She took a sip of her wine, it had cooled so she warmed it again without even thinking about it. She set the glass on the table and scooted back in the seat crossing her legs. "I put her brain on lock down while I was in there and scared him off, for the moment. But he will be back. I can go back in, but I can't put her on lock down again. It could cause damage. I need to get him out of her head for good, without hurting her."

She started fidgeting with her wedding rings again. "Can you go in with me Air? Protect Casie while I get him out for good? I'm going to let him know that he is in the wrong mind for finding the twins. If he gets into my mind he will get lost in the labyrinth and go insane. But Casie will be safe, and no matter how evil he is, he can't harm me." Well, that was the long and short of it all. She had a plan, and Airtia was the best woman to help her with the job. Casie being right across the hall made Venis very in tune with her. She would be returning to V's room shortly.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

While Venis spoke Airtia let her finger idly slide along the back of the chair. There were reasons Air locked her mind off to visitors; even those who would want to read her thoughts. Aside from the ones she allowed access, to enter in would cause grave injury.

"Ye could seek the person out in the waking world and kill him. Though it may take a while tae find them iffen ye don't know where they are." There was a slight pause. "Ye could also kill him in while we are in Casandra's mind. Save yerself a trip." The thought brought a smile to her face.

Though they had different ways of going about an objective, this did not mean that they could not work together. One thing that Airtia was concerned about was the fact that Venis had shut down Casandra's mind; she wondered how much of her was left functioning and how much was a mindless doll. "Sure. I'll go with ye. It should be fun."

[Guest]

Venis' smiled matched Airtia's. Like minds those two had. Something is a problem, kill it, like a mosquito. Venis chuckled at that thought. "I have a feeling I won't have to hunt him down in the waking world. Something tells me, he will be delivered unto his death." Was she predicting the future? Maybe a little.

She took another drink of her wine. "As far as killing him in Casie's head, I don't want to hurt her. Which is why I don't want to lock down her mind again. I mean, the first time I locked her down and then unlocked everything again without a problem. He will have new defenses and tricks when we meet again. I might need Casie to be able to move."

She set her glass down again and slapped her lap as she got up from the chair. "So, when do you have time to do this?" She knew Casie was having the nightmares again, she would hear her at night. She figured Casie could be coming around at any time, maybe even that day.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

"What I was on my way tae do can wait iffen the two o' ye are ready tae now...." She never saw much of a point in delaying things, especially if everything needed was available.

Taking her hands from the chair. A person's mind often said a lot about them and she wondered what Casandra's mind would say about her. Overall , this should be an interesting experience. "Iffen nae...then let me know. But, by what ye were saying, I think I will linger around a lil."

[Casandra Lightheart]

Cassie woke up in a cold sweat Kjay was in the bed with her wimpering and licking her hand.

The nightmares were getting worse her sleeping patterns were eratic because if it.

Grabbing a robe she pulled it on and opened the door crossing the hall, Kjay stayed on her heals. V's door was closed she knocked. She knew she looked like hell she had dark circles under her eyes and she was pale as a sheet.

[Guest]

"It's not locked Casie." She smiled at Airtia. Venis moved one chair behind the other. "You want to take your own way in or tag along Air?" She pulled up the chair from her desk and put it next to the one that was behind the first. She would have to leave Kjay to guard the room. Taking him in there could get him hurt. And the room needed an extra set of eyes.

[Casandra Lightheart]

Cas opened the door and walked in closing in behind her. She just looked at V and and Air and nodded.

"Hello Airtia, Venis."

They had never been what anyone would call close or even friends but Casie did trust Airtia, and from the way the chairs were placed and the fact that she was here ment that this was who Venis was getting help from.

[Guest]

"Have a seat Cas." She walked over to Kjay and knelt down to her knees. "Kjay, come here boy." She put her hands on either side of his head and began to fluff his fur and scratch behind his ears. "Ok, I need you to do me a big favor boy. I know you're a good boy, and I have a treat for you later. So listen good ok?" She placed a kiss to the top of his head.

She laughed as she looked at him and he looked back at her like he was listening. "Ok, look. Airtia and I are going to take very good care of Casie, but we need you to watch our backs. Watch the door for us. Don't let anyone in other than Gawain or Tasha. Ok?" She fluffed his fur again and continued to scratch behind his ears. "You're our back up boy. No one other than Gawain or Tasha. Ok. Anyone else comes through that door, they're puppy food. Ok?"

Kjay seemed to understand. So she kissed the top of his head again and then got up. She walked over to the chairs. She still didn't know if Air was tagging along or taking her own route. "Hey, Cas, thanks for bringing the bouncer." She chuckled and tilted her head towards Kjay.

[Casandra Lightheart]

Casie sat down she was to tierd to argue.

Kjay looked from Cassie to Venis and then went over to Venis and sat down. He understood her compleatly. He was to watch the door no one but Gawain or Tasha. He has to attack anyone else on site. He was enjoyig the scratching and when she kissed the top of his head for the second time he moved over to the the door with his back to the woman and sat down.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Curiosity was what got the better of her and why she chose the option that she did. "Greetings Casandra. I will tag along. " The extra chair must have been for her. the set up with interesting. It reminded her of a train.

Now she went over and took a seat. "Would hate tae end up in one place and ye tae be in another. Might defeat the purpose." The manor of which Venis would take for entry was the curious part.

[Guest]

Venis sat down in the chair that was left. "Ok Casie, are you ready?" She looked next to her at Airtia. "If you touch my shoulder or something, you'll get drawn in with us. Just don't let go, you'll get pulled back out." She placed her hands on Casie's head and closed her eyes. Her music began playing in the room again, at a very quiet volume. It was just enough to help Casie relax.

She began to rub her temples as she spoke. "Clear your mind Casie, concentrate on nothing but my voice. Go to the total emptiness. Make sure that there's nothing going on. The only sound is the sound of my voice. Is the path clear?" She continued the massage. She could feel Casie's heartbeat and breathing change.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She nodded. She had done this before and was ready. She closed her eyes and concentrated on V's voice. Soon she was breathing deeply and her heartrate had dropped to a resting state. She was sleeping.

[Guest]

Venis could feel Airtia's hand on her shoulder. She was relaxed to, or what amounted to relaxed for her at least. "Ok, Casie, we're ready, lets go to that place of peace. Take us where you felt the most at peace and relaxed. Your safety zone." Venis didn't know for sure if it was going to be the same place or not, she thought it might be, but you never knew when it came to the minds of others.

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