Transguild Promenade, Tenth District, Ravnica (Monday, Fandom Time)

[deathsmajesty]

Ravnica was a much better plane to do one's recovering on. For one thing, it was still intact (or, well, as intact as any plane could be that housed the Izzet, the Rakdos, the Gruul, and the Simic), which meant that they were no longer lacking in the creature comforts that a disaster-struck plane simply couldn't provide. Liliana had left Gared with a truly obscene amount of money and told him to start overseeing the repairs to the structure of Vess Manor as soon as he could find enough surviving competent craftspeople to handle them.

They had gotten some news in the intervening time; Olivia Voldaren lived and had proclaimed herself Lord of Innistrad. No one knew what had happened to Sorin, but he hadn't shown up and beheaded her with his claws for the audacity, so it was possible that the previous Lord of Innistrad hadn't survived the battle. Liliana privately assumed he'd Planeswalked elsewhere when the fighting had gotten to be too much, but Olivia certainly wasn't telling--not that Liliana had gone to confer with her 'friend' in person. Runo had also survived, or so the gossip said, though much of the Stromkirk line had been twisted by Emrakul's corruption. Piotr had been one so corrupted, and 'put down' by Thalia and her cathars in the new 'Order of Saint Traft,' whatever that was. Kristoff was said to have survived, though the same could not be said of most of his grandchildren, all of whom had been human and thus, easy prey. The Falkanraths had been similarly twisted, and rumors said there were barely a third of them remaining. The Markovs had, of course, been mostly slaughtered in their home (though Liliana now had an idea of what happened there), and while Olivia had declared herself the victor of the battle with Nahiri the Lithomancer and her army of Eldrazi spawn, a large percentage of her line had died on the battlefield as well.

It was truly a fascinating time in vampire politics right now, and if it didn't involve being on a plane where privation was a fact of life for even the most rich and powerful, Liliana would be gleefully watching as they all fought and scrabbled for power, probably with popcorn.

But since Innistrad was in such a pathetic state, they had decamped to Ravnica for a bit, where they could enjoy peace, plenty, and the pleasures of civilization. Liliana had merely had to mention the quality of healthcare she might receive at the Clinic to immediately convince Ignis that Ravnica was a much congenial locale for her recovery. And so it had been; in fact, they were even taking a stroll along the Transguild Promenade from the South Plaza towards the Gateway Plaza, where the Hall of the Guildpact - and, according to her spirit spies, the 'Headquarters of the Gatewatch' - were located.

What a crazy random happenstance.

[NFB for distance and for the paramour, please]

Comments

[chef_chocobro]

Innistrad was in chaos right now, but most importantly, it was still in tact, and Ignis had spent a good deal of the last few days reminding himself of that fact. That disarray created in him an itch that he desperately wanted to scratch, not only for the sake of order, but also for the sake of his main objective in wanting to save the plane in the first place: the opportunity to wedge himself there in between the gaps, to do right and good by its people and its vampire clans especially. To strike while the iron was hot, so to speak, though, in his case, the iron was building relationships and building bridges...both physical and metaphorical, really.

But Liliana's recovery was tantamount, and, in addition to that, though he would regard it far less important, he needed to recover, too, and she was not about to let him downplay the fact that he had spent nearly an entire week pushing himself well beyond his limits, and would remind him that it would catch up with him. His time as a carbuncle did seem to have some rejuvinating properties, but it was not complete, and he would, begrudgingly, admit that perhaps it wasn't quite time to go throw himself directly into vampire politics again.

One might find a benefit in striking while the iron was hot, but it could also be wise to let a storm settle a bit before venturing out into it.

Besides, Ravnica had much better coffee.

And Ignis deeply loved its more cosmopolotan urban sprawl, the familiarity of a proper city, and while it certainly wasn't the same as Insomnia, it held the same rhythms and beats and life. The sounds, the smells, the flow of energy. As much as a part of him was worried and concerned about missed opportunities, the majority of him had to admit that this was doing him a great deal of good.

Much better, too, to enjoy it not as a bat, although, if you wanted to talk creature comforts...

[deathsmajesty]

Fortunately for his newfound love of the plane, surely there was nothing that could ever happen that would make visiting impossible!

"Invigorating, isn't it?" Liliana said, her arm through his as they made their way down the thoroughfare. "Innistrad's mana has a depth and richness to it that is unmatched by any other plane I've experienced, but none of its cities can match the sheer joie de vivre of the Tenth District."

[chef_chocobro]

Perish the thought! What in the world could possibly go wrong there??

"I must admit," said Ignis, who leaned against Liliana in a way that truly did have nothing to do with needing the support...at least not physically...as they strolled, "I have greatly missed being in a proper city again..."

Pity New Insomnia hadn't been an option, but peace and privacy and anonyminity was not a luxury a Hero of the New Dawn could be afforded there, and that was, quite possibly, what he was reveling in the most.

(That, and the coffee).

"But you're right, there's a revitalizing energy here that would be quite difficult to match. Although I'd certainly credit a portion of that to the company, as well."

His arm squeezes hers, a small but weighty gesture.

[thegatewatch]

So about that peace, privacy, and anonymity...how much would you say you enjoyed reveling in it, Ignis?

Amusingly enough, he may have (begrudgingly) gotten used to Innistrad where any time spent outside the manor could lead to somebody recognizing Liliana and demanding her time and attention, the name being called out right now was Ignis'.

Well. Sort of.

"Iggy! Hey Iggy! Woo, Iggy, over here!"

[chef_chocobro]

As a matter of fact, he was enjoying it greatly, actually, quite a lot, why do you as--

Ah.

Well, Ignis had to give purse of the call credit. At least she knew to leave not even a shadow of doubt that she was trying to get his attention by being very loud and clear, though he suspected that his need for such cues was not actually a strong deciding factor in these choices.

"Chandra," he said, stopping to turn her way with a nod in greeting. "Hello. What a...surprise."

He was going to leave that adjective open for when he could learn a bit more about the encounters nature, especially as his senses reaches out to determine if any of the others were with her.

[thegatewatch]

And just in time to pick up the disapproving grunt that was Gideon's contribution to the conversation.

"Hello, Ignis," he said, giving the man a faint smile before turning a steely glare onto Liliana and a very short. "Vess."

Chandra's greeting was much more effusive. "Hi! Liliana, right? So great to see you upright and not bleeding again!"

[deathsmajesty]

"Why thank you, darling," Liliana said with a rich chuckle. "I assure you, it's even better being upright and not bleeding." Her violet eyes, still full of amusement, slid over to Gideon. "Hello...what is your name again?"

Another grunt.

"Suit yourself," she said with an elegant shrug. "I'm fine with calling you a walking anatomical diagram." She glanced back to Ignis, eyebrow raised. "Perhaps you'd be so kind as to do the honors, my darling? Since I don't believe I caught the name of most of your companions during the battle."

What with being too busy saving their asses and all.

[chef_chocobro]

Which, all things considered, would be a more than fair excuse for that particular social gaffe, and Ignis really dodn't think that was just his bias at work there.

"Gideon Jura," he offered, helpfully, with a bit of tilt of his head to offer apologies to the other man for the concession to decorum. "And Chandra....Nalaar, I believe it was? I trust the two of you are doing well? My apologies for being a bit...indisposed by the end of everything on Innistrad...."

[thegatewatch]

"You mean with turning into a foxicorn?" Chandra asked eagerly. "What was that even about, anyway? Does that happen a lot to you?"

[chef_chocobro]

"The proper term," Ignis said, with a drawl that seemed to preemptively accept that proper would not be aligned with Chandra's preferred, "is a carbuncle, actually. But, no, for me, it doesn't happen very often--"

And almost always at the end of Marxh or the beginning part of April, oddly enough. Funny how that worked out!

"--and is actually a rather recent occurance. But it could be worse."

Here, he gave the soft hint of a smile.

"A friend of mine finds himself frequently beleaguered with the occassion of turning into a plant."

[deathsmajesty]

That noise coming from Liliana could have been anything; it wasn't necessarily a snort of amusement at Beefslab I being a plant. Honest.

"So, what do we owe the..." she eyed Gideon again. "...pleasure of this run-in?" Liliana asked, forestalling Chandra's ten thousand questions about carbuncles, transformations, and Ignis' friends. "How delightful, if unlikely, that in a district of millions, we should run into one another by merest chance."

[thegatewatch]

Another grunt from Gideon before he unbent himself to reply with words, "Not chance." He gestured down the street back the way he and Chandra came. "We're near the Hall of the Guildpact. Jace noticed you from one of the windows."

"Purple gown and a gold headdress? Could only be you, or so he said," Chandra added.

"And once it was determined that it was you two, Chandra and I volunteered to come and see if you would be willing to come back with us for a bit," Gideon finished in a low rumble.

[chef_chocobro]

It was Ignis' turn to make a faint sound of distaste, although his grunt came out with a much softer, almost humming quality.

Color him skeptical, but somehow, he didn't think Liliana's distinctive sense of style was entirely all there was to that pinpointed recognition.

"Well," he noted, "our agenda for the day is a rather loose one." Especially by Ignis' standards! "But I believe I shall defer to the lady as to whether or not we'll be included to add this small," wishful thinking, there, "detour to it."

Ignis was fairly certain he'd be perfectly happy never interacting with Jace Beleren ever again, but he had to admit, he was getting that slight itch of curiosity in the back of his brain.

"What do you think, Liliana?"

[deathsmajesty]

What a crazy random happenstance, indeed! Who could have guessed that wandering along the Transguild Promenade could lead to such a thing!

Liliana allowed herself a small smile. My very own Gatewatch. "We might as well, my darling," she said. "You know how Jace can be. This is probably the least frustrating invitation we'll get from him, if he has business with us." She let her smile fade into a small moue of displeasure. "And I've had quite enough of Jace Beleren dropping in unexpectedly, thank you. I'd prefer my current staff to remain unaccosted."

Leaning in, she added, sotto voce, "He might get us discounted tickets to the Platform."

Go ahead, Ignis. Deny the power of a bargain.

[chef_chocobro]

Discounted, love?

"At this point," Ignis murmured back in kind, "anything short of free I'd consider a grevious personal insult."


But she did have an excellent point, vis a vis meeting with Jace on slightly more...premeditated terms. And if Liliana was amenable...(Too amenable? He was certainly putting a tiny pin in that thought)...and curiosity would only wins ip bedeviled him...

The sigh wasn't entirely necessary, no, but you better believe Ignis was going to make a point of using it.

"Then, by all means," he said, the wave of his hand almost performatively dismissively, "lead the way."

[mtggarystu]

So suspicious, love!

Still, that decision made, the four of them made their way through the crowds and towards the Hall of the Guildpact, a grand and imposing building nearly a hundred thousand years old. Fine marble and gilding, as well as giant stained glass windows that portrayed nine of the Guild paruns--Dimir, of course, not being represented at all, and the Simuc parun more of a suggestion than a figure proper.

Easing around servants, staff, guards, and waiting supplicants, they made their way to Jace's quarters. Ignis would find them very recognizable indeed, save the lack of a spiraling staircase down from the center of it. And there, leaping up from one of the seats, was Jace.

"Lili! Ignis! You're both looking a lot better than when I saw you last! Thanks for getting them, you two." He grinned at Chandra and Gideon; Chandra returned it and Gideon grunted again. "Come in, sit down, make yourselves comfortable. Lavinia is getting us more coffea and probably something to eat."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana made her way through the room with a surety that also spoke of some familiarity, oddly enough. "Hello, Jace," she said. "Don't call me Lili. Though yes, I'm pleased to hear that we look better more than a few inches from Death's door and no longer furry." She dropped gracefully onto one of the couches, tugging Ignis along with her.

[chef_chocobro]

Unsurprisingly, Ignis followed Liliana with ease, the tug hardly necessary, but still quite a bit appreciated. As he settled beside her, he considered holding out until the arrival of this promised coffea to get fully comfortable, but no need to prolong things more than necessary.

"Jace," he answered back with his own nod. "To what do we owe this particular invitation?"

[mtggarystu]

"I mean, first some congratulations, right?" Jace replied, if a little too quickly for that to be entirely genuine. "I mean, we saved a plane from complete destruction, and we couldn't have done it without you, Ignis. You were there from the very beginning, doing your best to help me out, keep me on task, and put all the pieces together. That deserves some thanks and celebration, doesn't it?"

[chef_chocobro]

"Oh, well," Ignis said, after a very short pause that seemed to still fill a lot of space, "I'm sure we all deserve quite the round of applause for our various efforts to the cause."

But what had started as a subtly sarcastic drawl in response to Jace's indelicate attempt at flattery found itself settling into something far more genuine.

"Truly," he added, "I owe you all a great debt of gratitude, and I apologize that I could not properly express it when we parted ways, given my state of being at the time.

"Particularly you, Jace."

The cool lift of his eyebrows served as the only hint that the lines of sincerity might be blurring again.

"As you were the one to bring this blight to my attention in the first place."

Though....would anyone care to remind him why there had been a threat to Innistrad to begin with? Anyone?9

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana's own pride was smarting here. They couldn't have done it without you, Ignis? While that was certainly true enough, let's not forget that they would have all died several times over if she hadn't been there as well. It seemed like a little 'we couldn't have done it without you, Liliana' was also due.

"Yes, it was quite lucky that the only lead you could chase down brought you to my home and my paramour," she purred. "You never did say why your contact stopped talking to you, Jace. What happened?"

[mtggarystu]

As expected, Jace looked slightly discomfitted. "Ah, yes, that," he said. "Well, after the three of them were released--" Still relying on that passive voice there, yup "--I had promised my contact that we would imprison them again. But, ah, we ended up killing the first two instead."

"Mmm, I see," Liliana said.

"It really was the safest way," Jace insisted.

"Of course."

[thegatewatch]

"My home faced much destruction." Nissa Revane, the elf supremacist animist, said, entering the room behind a stern-faced woman bearing a cart of refreshments (including, of course, several pots of fine Ravnican coffea). "We did what we had to do protect it."

[deathsmajesty]

"Mmm, of course," Liliana said, smiling slightly as the elf flinched at the sound of her voice. Honestly, buck up a little. You're a Planeswalker, aren't you? Show a little spine.

She didn't let her disdain show on her face, however. After all, she had a goal in mind. "Is Zendikar home to kor, by any chance?"

"Yes," Nissa replied stiffly. "Or, well, it was. I don't know how many remain after the Eldrazi destruction."

"Ah," Liliana said with a nod. "And so the last piece falls into place."

And with that, she was going to help herself to some of those refreshments, thanks much. A reminder to these children that she knew far, far more than they did.

You don't have to like me, but your Gatewatch needs me.

[thegatewatch]

"Err, yes..." Jace said, curious and frustrated in equal measure when it became obvious that Liliana has no intention of explaining herself further. He hated not knowing things. He looked first to Ignis' for help, but seeing he didn't feel the need to ask Liliana for clarification, looked to Gideon instead.

Gideon sighed, and moved forward a bit. "With the contributions of everyone in this room, we were able to save another plane, and protect the Multiverse from destruction on an untold scale. This is what we came together to do; the Gatewatch was formed because only together can we stop interplanar threats that no one else can--and most people won't even know about. We need Planeswalkers who are clever, capable, and willing to stand between planes and dangers on a scale vaster than most people can understand..."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana watched Gideon ramble on and on, focusing on Ignis more than her. Whether he was attempting to exclude her deliberately or just didn't think she was interested was unclear; Gideon was nice enough to look at, but she had known zombies who were smarter. This was all a very nice speech about the Gatewatch, and how they were just starting up their do-gooding, and wouldn't Ignis like to be a do-gooder too?

Jace was looking at her, that puppy-dog look in his eye still. At least make up your mind, child! She bit down on her irritation. She needed him and his puppy ways here.

[thegatewatch]

"...so will you join the Gatewatch and stand with us against interplanar threats, Ignis?" Gideon finished. "Protect other planes the way you protected Innistrad?"

[chef_chocobro]

The first thing Liliana would notice from Ignis was a soft, wry huff of sardonic amusement. Planeswalkers who were clever and capable, was it? And yet, there was Jace Beleren anyway?

But he knew he was being a bit uncharitable. As flawed as Jace might be as a person, there was no denying his skill and his own sort of brand of cleverness.

But his little awkward bid for relaying all the heavy lifting of the speech to Gideon? Now that he would judge Jace for completely and without remorse.

He shook his head slightly as Gideon continued, and then Liliana might catch a rare thing indeed, and a subtle one, but she would likely recognize it better than anyone as a carefully controlled expression of confusion.

"Oh," he said softly. "You're asking me?"

Yes, he understood he was masquerading around as a Planeswalker himself, but it was more the...singular nature of it that was throwing him. Had they already asked Liliana? Some time, perhaps, while he was still transformed? Was that why she was so willing to accept Jace's invitation, knowing they'd be asking to bring him on board? Or perhaps they were planning to ask them separately? Terribly inefficient, were that the case.

Well. This was giving a few more things about this encounter a bit more of an...interesting light, now, wasn't it?

[thegatewatch]

"Of course you, why wouldn't we invite you?" Gideon asked.

[chef_chocobro]

"Well, I suppose I certainly can't argue with you on that point," Ignis had to admit. "It's just that I figured..." In his defense, it wasn't as if he could see who any of you all were looking at when you were talking to them. He frowned, logistics and technicalities filtering through his head, as well as a great many other things. Because Liliana was right, of course. He did rather enjoy being a do-gooder, but there were now two saved planes to add to his belt, and he had found both experiences to be, quite frankly, perfectly miserable.

At least this one had been relatively quick, though. Did he really want to go through more of that, especially with this lot more than likely causing as many of these plane-threatening crises as they were saving them?

But then there was that unshakeable little habit of his known as duty, reminding him that the idea of knowing he could be helping and yet actively not...

Gods, why did they have to go and drag him into this? When he should just be reveling in nothing but this new pathway to eternity with Liliana at his side?

But what good was eternity, whispered a small ghost of a past that seemed eons ago, if you weren't going to do anything with it?

"I suppose," he finally ventured, "that it all depends..."

His attention shifted to the person beside him on the couch.

"What say you to all of this, Liliana?"

[deathsmajesty]

"Well, you certainly don't need my permission, my darling," Liliana said. "And it doesn't seem like they're talking to me, so..."

"Gideon." Jace's voice was tentative, slight. He nodded towards the far corner and the two of them shifted over there to talk quietly amongst themselves. Liliana made sure to show no hint of the smile she felt, while Chandra chattered at them both to relieve some of the awkwardness of the moment. Yes, Cloak Boy, bumble your hesitant way toward your sincere desire to help me.

They came back a few minutes later and it was clear Gideon was not happy about it. Though Liliana was not sure Gideon was ever happy about anything. You should at least delight in your youth and attractiveness while you still have it. Why are children so dumb?

There were more do-gooder words about do-gooding, Gideon asking if she, too, would keep watch, but Liliana was too focused on the oath to pay close attention. She had thought extensively about the right approach to the oath. Too sincere, too sugary, and suspicions would be raised—suspicions that would make her next steps harder. But too cynical, too revealing, and those suspicions would instead be confirmed. She needed a delicate touch, a hint of cynicism but with her heart clearly in the right place. Worse yet, she wasn't just trying to convince these idiots children, but Ignis, who knew her far better than they ever would.

"Oh fine," she sighed. "I can already tell that Ignis wants to - or at least feels obliged to anyway - and who am I to interfere?" A slight wrinkle of her nose, another sigh, and she was offering up her oath. "I've learned over the past year and a half that together we're more powerful than we are alone. If that means I can do what needs to be done without relying on the Chain Veil, then I'll keep watch. Happy now?"

[chef_chocobro]

Well, Ignis had been willing to give the others the benefit of the doubt that perhaps he had perceived even more about this situation incorrectly, but now there was no denying that they had been intentionally skirting around Liliana or her potential inclusion. And while he would have suspected it wasn't a thing she'd like to be involved in regardless, it did not settle well with him that they had been skirting around the fact that none of them would even be here to have this discussion without her. To dismiss her so roundly, and not even have the decency to even be subtle about it...

But Liliana would never go in on something like this, and he prepared for her to thoroughly thrash the entire notion down to its very conceit...

...only to have her...acquiesce? Agree? With an almost certainly performative casualness, at that. And that tug of cynicism, of doubt, found itself settling, though, with the rest of her words. He knew she was sincere, at least about wanting to rely on the Chain Veil less, and she had shown up in the end, hadn't she?

He certainly didn't want to do this unless it was with her; and he'd suspected that would be an easy out, a convenient excuse. But if she was genuinely interested?

The next tug was in the corner of his mouth upward, Just slightly.

"Well, if even Liliana is on board," he stated, "then I am truly bereft of reasons why I shouldn't be as well. Truth be told, you wouldn't even need an oath from me to begin with. Should any of you seek me out for aid or assistance, it was already yours. But, since I do have a healthy respect for the proper order of things and neatly official boxes, yes. I will keep watch."

And he'd even be good and not make some remark about the questionable nature of that particular wording.

[mtggarystu]

"Excellent!" Jace said, all smiles now that everything has been sorted to his satisfaction. Chandra was also happy with the outcome, cheering and making enough noise for all four of them.

Which was good, since neither Gideon nor Nissa were particularly happy about Liliana's inclusion and were not pretending otherwise.

"So, we're using these rooms as our headquarters," Jace continued. "Everybody's been given their own personal suites, just speak to my assistant Lavinia and she'll assign you somewhere. She knows what we are and what we're doing, so you won't have to worry about hiding it from her. And--"

"Oh, no thank you, darling."

"Huh? What?" Jace stopped, looking almost comedically confused. "No thank me for what?"

[deathsmajesty]

"No thank you for the offer of rooms," Liliana said crisply. "I have my own townhouse, and I see no reason why I should give it up and move in here. I quite like my own space, thank you."

Not that the Hall of the Guildpact wasn't large enough to fit all of them and never notice, but Liliana Vess would die before she relied on Jace Beleren to provide for her.

"You...do?" Jace asked.

"Yes, Jace," Liliana said, slowly and simply, like talking to a child. "I've been renting that townhouse since before we met."

"I...didn't know that."

"Yes, Living Guildpact, I'm aware," Liliana drawled. "But unlike some Planeswalkers, I prefer to maintain residences on the planes where I spend a great deal of time, rather than acting like an itinerant drifter. So you may keep your rooms, Ignis and I are fine in our current lodgings."

Please note she wasn't sharing the location of said lodgings. Look what happened the last time he had known where to find her.

"Now then, as delightful an exploration into true friendship as this was, I do believe it's time for us to depart. I promised Ignis we'd try for Millennial Platform tickets tonight. Unless you happen to have any...?"

"Err..."

"Yes, that's about what I figured," Liliana sighed. "It's a good thing I didn't join this group for the perks." She said it with a touch of a smile, but just a touch. Besides, her pleasure was genuine. The best lies always contained enough truth to slide through.

She was now a member of the Gatewatch. Futures unfolded in her mind, full of promise and ambition.

"My darling, are you ready?"

[chef_chocobro]

"I do believe so," Ignis replied. This was not entirely true; especially regarding the conversation with lodgings, he'd had a few questions pop up into his mind about logistics, but, quite frankly, he was sure it would all be sorted out should the need for this Guildwatch crop up again. He would like to think that it would be a good, long while before they had to worry about it, but, considering this lot....

Well...

But he also didn't feel very compelled to get into it now, either. His mind was already working towards something else, and for that, he would need to be alone with Liliana again. And so they made their departure, back out into the streets of Ravnica, and once he was quite certain they were a good distance away, the arm around Liliana pulled her in closer.

"Darling," he said, hoping to finally put this nagging curiosity to rest, "what are you scheming here?"

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana nearly made the fatal misstep of freezing upon those words; only centuries of deception let her continue on with not even a hitch in her strolling stride.

Damned too-perceptive paramours.

"Me? Scheming?" she asked with exaggerated innocence. "You don't believe I have been struck with the overwhelming desire to join the ranks of do-gooders?" Her over the top shock lasted through until her brain could hastily provide a convenient explanation. "My darling, that's terribly hurtful. Surely I could have no ulterior motives...like shoving myself directly where I'm not wanted and making them choke on the everything that I am."

Well, she didn't have to feign that bout of spiteful amusement and offense, at least. It would have the utter ring if truth.

[chef_chocobro]

There was a faint huff at that, a little too indignant to be fully amused. "The absolute nerve," he said, letting himself get distracted from his main point because it had been building up ever since he realized that this invitation hadn't been intended for her at all. "None of us would have even been here to even have that discussion if not for you, and then to blatantly disregard that while apparently singing the praises of everyone," oh, his voice was dripping with vitriol as he echoed Gideon'scwords, "in the room. So, yes, quite frankly, making them choke on just how much they owe you as often as possible is quite the noble pursuit indeed, but..."

Just because he was going to detract from his main point didn't mean he wasn't going to circle back around to it.

"That doesn't take into account why we were so eager to accept this audience in the first place, my love."

What was that? About too-perceptive paramours?

[deathsmajesty]

They needed to be stopped at all costs was what.

"Well, if you must know, I was hoping to be invited back into their little coffea klatsch, she huffed. "In no small part because if they're going to continue blundering into problems, I want to know up front what they're doing and who they're antagonizing, so I can prepare myself for whatever happens. I certainly don't wish to get caught in the middle of things because of their short-sighted ignorance."

She let that linger there in the air between them, as if that was all she was going to say, before relenting and adding, "And because they may prove to be useful."

And then, even more reluctantly still, "...and, because, it wasn't the worst thing. Standing up to Emrakul. Keeping her from killing you..." And then she put on her most ungracious and truculent expression. "And if I'm going to be pulled into doing so anyway..."

[chef_chocobro]

Whatever Ignis was going to say at the end of that lingering died away on his tongue as Liliana continued, and he was all the more glad to have lost it. A soft smile took its place. Had he guessed these ulterior motives correctly? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Perhaps he was just glad that she'd told him any of it at all.

He leaned in to kiss her.

"If it's any consolation," he offered, "I do hope to reduce such incidents significantly in the future. "

[deathsmajesty]

And how much had she said that was the truth? How much had she carefully left out, trusting that she could keep him focused on certain aspects more than others? And how much was truer than she even knew?

Who could say?

"Hmph," Liliana sniffed, "I'm not sure how you retained that sense of giddy optimism in the face of Jace Beleren, but here you apparently are."

She kissed him again as they made their way to the steam trolley station to head back to her townhouse in the Fifth Precinct. Not that she was tired, mind. She just wanted to get Ignis home. They could try for Millennial Platform tickets another time.

"It will be interesting to see how they manage the mental gymnastics of keeping their distaste for me, and yet calling upon my power, don't you think?"