P3: Chapter Four

XLIII

M3Dussa

As the words “I went by Ragnar” left his mouth, his heart which had been beating hard since he recognized BeAutyBrokEn, started beating so hard he was sure she could hear it. It wasn't helping that she was now completely still, he wished he could see past all her veils and see her expression. After a few beats, he felt he needed to say something. Before he could open his mouth she ran at him, her various layers flowing in the wake behind her. She was on him her arms wrapped around him before he could react. Which was for the best as his first thought was she was attacking. Because of this thought it him a moment to recognize the hug, when he did he returned it.

They hugged.

After a time, which M3Dussa was unable to measure, they broke apart. “I’m so sorry you were Tokened,” BeAutyBrokEn said, “Was it because you were quitting?”

“I don’t think so. I did tell them, so I guess that could have been why. But aSTARTe said something about needing blood to become the Black Hand, so I took that to mean it was planned. In one way she was right, I never would have gone along with their plan.”

“But you told them you were leaving?”

“Yeah, I don’t know. But I do know I’ll see them again, and when I do I’ll ask them.”

“That seems fair. I am thrilled that you found me, but I have to ask, what are you doing here?”

M3Dussa laughed uncomfortably, “Well when I came back, after Ragnar, I realized the only friends I thought I had stabbed me in the back. I couldn’t go back there. Plus that area is swarming with their minions. I remembered that you had agreed to work with Ragnar. I was hoping the agreement would be good for me too?”

“Of course! I will absolutely work with you. There’s just one thing.”

“What is it? It can’t be that bad.”

“I guess that depends on your view of clans is after your experience with the golden hand. I mean I guess you’re right it’s not that bad, you will need to join up with my clan.”

“Is that it? That’s not a problem for me, in fact, the protection and support of a clan will be helpful until I’ve gained a level or two.”

“Oh good! Come let’s get you to the Tee Dome, introduce you to ThElder404 and get you signed up with the T88’s.” With that, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him down the path back to Ral’ya. They chatted while they walked, soon she wasn't leading him, they were holding hands.

If you had asked M3Dussa how long this walk was he couldn’t have told you. In fact, if you pushed him on it you would find that he really didn’t remember walking at all. He remembered leaving the bridge behind and they stopped before a building, his memory of the time between was fuzzy and pleasant.

“What is that?!” M3Dussa blurted when he had torn his attention away from BeAutyBrokEn. The building that they had stopped before stood out in that its aesthetic was different from any other building he could remember in AntruA. All the other buildings, he could remember, had been styled after either American West or Medieval European Castle. This building had a Classical Greek feel, with marble columns guarding the door and the corners he could see. A blue slate dome topped the two-story building.

“I think that it’s The Tee Dome. It didn’t look like this before,” BeAutyBrokEn answered, “but that’s what was here anyway.” Then thinking of her little perch, “I have seen the landscape change to better accommodate the principles in a particular area. So maybe that’s what happened here? Come on, let’s check it out.” She dropped his hand and grabbed his arm, pulling him after her.

The inside was dark and set up like any other social room he had been in, in AntruA. A bar like set up along one wall, tables filling the rest of the space. The one thing that stood out to M3Dussa as he slithered after his arm, was the staircase behind the bar. BeAutyBrokEn pulled a chair out from a table. “Sit. I need to report in, then I’ll bring ThElder404 to you. Okay, are you good? Good, I’ll send someone with some Tonic.” With that, she was gone in a swirl of fabric and lace.

M3Dussa watch as spoke to the principle behind the bar, then she started behind the bar and up the stairs. The other principle had come from behind the bar and was walking towards M3Dussa and his table. When the principle placed a full pitcher on the table, followed by two goblets, it became clear that he would have to interact. It was with a little frustration that he pulled his attention from BeAutyBrokEn and focused on the principle who stood patiently.

VicTim2020

Level 2

Wallet-2Au

Maybe noting M3Dussa’s attention VicTim2020 gestured to an open chair before the goblets and the pitcher.

“Please,” M3Dussa replied.

Before he sat, VicTim2020 filled both goblets, then passed one to M3Dussa. After he was seated VicTim2020 raised his glass to M3Dussa, “To the Thunder 88.” he said then took a long sip.

“To the Eight Eight,” M3Dussa mumbled into his goblet, not totally sure what the Thunder 88 was. He drank anyways. It was pleasant but left a metallic taste in the back of his throat.

VicTim2020 took another long drink then shaking his head he chuckled. Finally, he looked at M3Dussa. “I’m sorry, I just had to see the principle who BeAutyBrokEn wanted to join up with the 88.”

“Is that a big deal?”

“Not really, it’s just that BeAutyBrokEn is kind of a celebrity here, and she has never recruited anyone else before you, so yeah you’re kind of a big deal.”

“I don’t even know what that means?” M3Dussa said loudly, then was uncomfortably aware of every pair of eyes turning towards him. He was saved from having to explain his outburst by BeAutyBrokEn, who slumped down in a chair halfway around the table, after a look at her face M3Dussa thought she might be crying. A tall white man in a long white robe and with long white hair and beard, sat in a chair next to BeAutyBrokEn.

“Are you alright?” M3Dussa asked BeAutyBrokEn. She didn’t say anything just folded her arms on the table then dropped her head into the created dark triangle. M3Dussa watched for a few minutes while the only movements she made was the shaking of her shoulders.

“What happened? Is she okay?” M3Dussa demanded of the tall stranger. Then he focused on the man in white.

ThElder404

Level 3

Wallet-15Au

“Oh, you’re the leader of this clan,” M3Dussa said in a small voice when he recognized the name.

“Yes, I am,” ThElder404 said with a laugh,  “and I know who you are, or were.”

“Oh.” M3Dussa said in an even smaller voice.

“No shame.” ThElder404 said then continued, “Beauty told me about you, up in my office. She said that you want to join the Thunder 88 and if you did she intended make you part of her hunter squad. If that’s what you want, you have my blessing.”

“That's wonderful but I’m not doing anything until I know that Beauty is okay,” M3Dussa said trying to sound firm.

“How gallant.” ThElder404’s laugh rolled out across the table. “I promise she’ll be fine, she just needs a few minutes, she just found out her friend got Tokened.”

M3Dussa turned back to BeAutyBrokEn, “Beauty I am so, so sorry.’

She lifted her head from her arms, “M3Dussa, relax I’ll be fine I just need a minute to collect myself. Are you a member of the 88 now?”

M3Dussa wasn’t sure so he turned to ThElder404, “Am I?”

“Not quite,” ThElder404 said as he pulled a scroll from his robe, and unrolled it on the table. “Sign at the bottom.” Once that was done, he picked up the scroll rerolled in and returned it to his robe. “Now you are. Nice to meet you. Good luck out there” That said he stood and left the table, patting BeAutyBrokEn on the shoulder on his way to the stairs behind the bar.

Left alone at the table with BeAutyBrokEn, M3Dussa had no idea of what to say or do, so he waited.After what felt like forever but could have less than five minutes, BeAutyBrokEn raised her head and looked around while playing with her veils. M3Dussa waited for a beat then asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine just pissed. And my veil keeps sticking to her face. I know that like you, she’ll come back, but these Tbags make me so mad.”

“Believe me they make me mad too.”

“How thoughtless, of course, you have strong feelings over this. ThElder404 sanctioned you joining my hunter squad. If you have no objection I say we go and hunt this Tbag down.”

They finished their Tonic got up and left the building together.