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Nine Roads Alani	When you're following someone to their home, the destination is not usually to a storefront. And yet, that's where Alani is taking Vetiver. There's enough room on Alani's chariot for two or even three, if they're friends (and not wearing spiked armor). The pair of mares pulling Alani's handsome dark wood chariot are powerful, built such that they're neitther clearly racehorses nor clearly warhorses, but strong and capable. Alani barely has to work the reins, to be honest--they know exactly where they're going, and they get there with panache. As the chariot trundles on down the busy Western Great Forks storefront street, it stops in front of a tall, three story wooden storefront structure squeezed between two more elaborate businesses. A small but nicely painted sign reading "Courier" hangs over the human-sized door offset to the left side, while most of the right side is dominated by huge double doors. The rest of the structure is square, solidly built but not fancy, and unadorned. "C'mon in. Let me get the girls situated and we can head upstairs." Alani hops out without hesitation, unlocks one of the large double doors, and guides the horses, chariot, and Vetiver inside. The entire first and second floors is, basically, one huge room. There are stone pillars providing support for the third story loft, and a staircase along the left side going all the way up, climbing the left and then back wall to lead to the third floor. The rest is a large stable, essentially, far more than two ordinary horses might need. In fact, the back wall to one side has plenty of hay, tack, and other such needs for horses, and Alani immediately gives Vetiver a cheesy grin. "Hey, can you shut the door? I just need a few minutes down here and we can head upstairs."
Vetiver Mirror	Vetiver happy rides along in the chariot, content to let the world roll by. Watching the colorful storefronts and crowd of people pass by with a kind of rapt attention. The woman's small size means even if there was three it would likely be a comfortable ride. With just two one might hardly notice her presence. As the chariot rolls to a stop, she almost seems reluctant to hop off. Mostly following after Alani so she could try and slyly slip the horses each a sugar cube if they will have it while their master is not looking. Inside though her curiosity peeks again. With the eyes of a natural snoop she begins curiously poking and peeking at anything that catches her eyes "Hrm? Oh sure." The moment of distraction paused as she snaps back to the present and going to the large double doors. Straining for a moment before putting her whole weight of her body and trying again before they begin to move. Strength clearly not one of her strong suits. "I like your place. One gets sick of mansions and castles. Places like this are waaaay more cozy."
Nine Roads Alani	Alani laughs out loud as she heads back and helps Vetiver with the door. "Easy there, hon, it's heavier than it looks." Not really, since it looks kinda heavy, but whatever. Regardless, Alani closes it behind Vetiver and, if she takes the chance to slip the horses some sugar cubes, they gleefully--and slyly--accept. One ebulliently takes the treat, and the other has it out of Vetiver's hand before she's even really ready to give it! "Well, I kind of had this place built the way it is for a couple of reasons. It's weird, I know, but that works because I'm weird." She grins cheesily. "And tthe top floor -is- quite cozy, despite being a full suite. You'll see. It's kind of a rebellion against my manse back home, which is miraculous, stately, evocative, wondrous...and about as cozy as living in an iron carriage in a snowstorm. I just needed a place to be -me-, you know? And my manse is far, far from that. Maybe in a couple millennia I'll have more of a stick up my hindquarters." Alani grins again, with an expansive gesture. "Anyway! Welcome to my home! The first two floors are...well, they're called the stables when normal folk come by, but they're really a training ground. Not sure if you've seen me fight, but I need a lot of space, frankly, especially upward. And I already mentioned the top floor. Anyway, Skere and Adrath should be comfortable for a while--they're far more than mere horses, I assure you--so we can head up."
Vetiver Mirror	Stepping back to let Alani handle the door Vetiver gives a shrug, "I would have gotten it. Probably." Going back to snooping in the meantime. Brushing a hand over the saddle tac and peeking in easily opened containers. "I heartily support rebellion." Giving the horses a little wink as she says it. "Particularly when it means you get to be more yourself. Big empty spaces, never really got the point myself. I hear you one hundred percent." "Never seen you fight." Shaking her head with a smile, bending her neck to look up now as she considers the space needed. "Falcon Style?" the only Martial Art that need verticality she can think of. "Never seen anyone fight with Falcon Style before but I've heard things. It would suit you." Her natural path of snooping bringing her to the stairs right about the time Alani offers to take her upstairs. "Skere and Adrath, thank you for the ride." Giving a wave as she continues upstairs.
Nine Roads Alani	As the pair of Sidereals make their way up two flights of stairs to reach the loft, Alani's grinning as she rapidly hops up the stairs, full of energy, and adopts a fake stately, wise voice. "Excellent! Your sifu taught you well." She giggles a bit and continues in her normal voice. "Well, seriously, though, yes, I've mastered Falcon. And I rather enjoy it! I find flying through the air thrilling, honestly, like a mini-adventure." She grins wickedly. "My enemies, not so much." All her ebullience fades, though, as she turns and reaches out for the doorknob to the door at the top of the stairs. She frowns deeply, giving Vetiver a furrowed-brow, worried look. She reaches down the stairs again, beside Vetiver, and without a word plucks a large, darkened wood wagon wheel that...just happened to be leaning there. A tracery of stardust glistens along the spokes as she hefts it effortlessly over her shoulder, and carefully opens the door. Inside is a sitting area, noticeably better appointed than the area down below. Suspiciously so, in fact, for a simple Great Forks courier. The room is dominated by a pair of plush sofas facing each other, with a low table in between and a fireplace on one end. Two of the corners have nice end tables on them, with a flowerpot and a tea service respectively. Large-ish curtained windows face towards the exterior wall near the door leading in, and a door on the other side of the near wall leads further into Alani's suite.
Mahendru Divya	Seated on one of the plush sofas is a slender woman writing in a journal book on her lap, making no effort to conceal her presence here and with no visible weapon or armor in evidence. Her dark complexion and the way she's made up her features suggests she's Champoori or possibly Prasadi, even if the robes she wears are decidedly local; in fact, they're the stark yellow raiments of one of the Messenger-Slaves of Burnt Umber, a local commerce spirit whose priesthood handles a message delivery service across Great Forks. Upon noticing the door opening, she looks up, closes her journal book and dips her head into an acknowledging nod before rising to greet the other two women. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion," she says, her accent faint but tellingly Champoori to the linguistically trained ear. "I was in the area and heard of an opportunity to connect with some colleagues so...here I am. I did bring a nice bottle of Laris Velvet Liquor to hopefully make up for my manners." She gestures to a bottle placed prominently on the low table between the two sofas. Judging by its name alone, it may be centuries old. Then she smiles, looking interestedly at the other two. "I'm Divya, by the way. Mahendru Vashar Divya."
Vetiver Mirror	"It always sounded flashy too. I struggled myself to find a style. Kinda tripped backward into Monkey style." The polite thing to do when one fighter shares their style is to return the gesture after all. Vetiver leans to the side. Curious why Alani has paused at the door, Noticing the tension in the air the weapon taken "Wasn't me." Muttering under head breath toc add "For once" taking a step back so that Alani can have the space she claims to need for her combat. "I can hear one person. Might be spirits too, hard to tell with the ones down stairs." She doesn't reach for a weapon simply stays ready on the stairs. Seeing who is in side though she relaxes a bit more and pats Alani on the shoulder. Letting her know it is okie to relax. "Uhhh Divya right?" scratching her head and digging deep to put the rest of the name to the face, introducing the new face to Alani in case she doesn't know "Ya, Mahendru Divya a Seer as well." Slipping past the courier and finding a spot on the couch to flop down onto. "Vetiver Mirror." Introducing herself casually in case Divya forgot.
Nine Roads Alani	As Alani shuffles in, it's clear from the outset she does not recognize or trust Divya. Fortunately for possibly both of them, Vetiver's squeeze on her shoulder, and the following response to Divya's introduction, does at least begin to let the blonde relax. She sets her wheel down, edge up, and leans forward a bit to balance her weight on the center of the wheel as she looks Divya over. "Mmm. Mahendru Divya..." She tries the name out on her tongue, not quite pronouncing it properly, though more due to her own moderate Northern accent than any attempt to snub. "Well. Welcome to my home," Alani adds with a wry look. She then grins slightly. "Your penance for breaking in is to pour us all some of that, since it -does- certainly look good. So," she continues as she flops onto her own couch, one leg over the other, the wheel resting against the side of the couch. "Nice to meet you. I'm sure you know I'm Nine Roads Alani, and it looks like you met Vetiver a long time before I ever did."
Mahendru Divya	With practiced poise, Divya produces three glasses and obligingly unstops the liquor bottle and removes the cork (revealing that it has indeed been sealed a -long- time). If she's conscious of any of Alani's tension, she doesn't show it. Instead, she flashes a smile at Vetiver Mirror and says "So nice to see you outside of the office." Once a glass is set in front of the other two, the Oracle resumes her seat before tucking her journal book into a messenger bag resting next to the sofa. "Yes, you know how it is. Even in the Ivy, we do occasionally bump into others on our way to the latest archive stack, hmm?" While the answer is to Alani, the friendly wink is for Vetiver Mirror. "A shame we haven't had more of an opportunity to work together. But Bureau business does take up a great deal of time, yes? Speaking of, am I interrupting some? I thought I'd stop by and be sociable but if this is a work engagement, I don't mean to interfere." She sips from her glass before adding, "Unless you'd like a little extra help, of course."
Vetiver Mirror	"Breaking and entering is usually my shtick." The russet haired woman says with a chuckle. Reaching for her glass with much excitement. Happily giving it a little sip. "Not sure if I should be happy I'm not the one in trouble or bothered your crowding my style." Her own northern accent slipping in as she talk through the glass. Looking pleased as punch to get such good booze for free. "I'm usually on retrieval jobs, or sorcerous activity surveys. Not usually a two-person job, I haven't been on a big team till recently." Glancing back to Alani considering if she should open up about the topic of the evening with their sudden guest. "Well mostly doing some planning for looking into a pair of exigence. We might have a rogue god exalting folk off the books."
Nine Roads Alani	Alani crosses her legs and leans back, goblet in hand, seemingly not quite so put out as before, save for perhaps a bit of a comically wry look at vetiver's mention of breaking and entering. She takes an appreciative sip of her own. "Hm! I will not insult either of you by pretending I know much about liquor, but this -is- good. A very nice choice." She chuckles a bit, listening to vetiver and noddling in time with the words. "Mmm, well, my mission is hardly a secret. I was sent here to Great Forks--and not long after formed a Circle, since the Golden Barque clearly was not alone in deciding something needed to be done--to find out about as many of the Exalted here as possible. Mainly to find out how their auguries for the city were so atrociously bad. Turns out the place is more awash with them than we'd thought, as Vetiver can agree. So we've come to talk business--finding some of these Exigents and figuring out who's making them--but...not secret business." She laughs. "Secrets business, but not secret business? Regardless, it's nothing any of the Fivescore shouldn't know."
Mahendru Divya	Divya arches an eyebrow. "Rogue Exigence? That's not too common, given the price tag." She frowns a little. "Maybe a pantheon? One God on top pushing subordinate spirits into it? Off the books, though, that's-" She chuckles then at Alani's description of the status quo. "Yes, Great Forks isn't what I expected. Until I started stopping by lately, I think I'd gone a good decade since my last visit. Far more Exalted here this time than before. I met a mountain of a man from Ysyr as memory serves, a champion of the arena, who I rather suspect is more than he seems." A thought suddenly strikes her and she grows a bit less whimsical conversational, getting more serious. "I also met a man. Captain Deryl Lakian. If I'm not mistaken, he might be one of Aurora's Chosen. An ancient Incarna slain by the ancient enemy, whose Chosen are rumored to still turn up now and then. His memories and the nature of his powers certainly suggests that. But I'm not aware of any connection between Aurora and the Exigence." She pauses and shrugs once. "Dangerous or not, he's a useful man. As most Exalts can be, if they're nudged in the right direction. Do either of you have some assets that might help get to the bottom of this rogue spirit? I can certainly talk to my contacts but the other Exalted have their own ways to solve mysteries, many of which can be useful to us."
Vetiver Mirror	"It can be anything from rogue gods, to exalts too shy to speak their true nature with the Hunt always a threat honestly. More work for us in any case." Vetiver swirls the drink, letting the dark red substance oxidize in her cup. "Every time I hear the list of know exalts the number always seems to go up. Had I known you were in the area I would have invieted you to the meeting I held a week ago. We tried to get everyone caught up on the known exalts and the like. I'll send you the copy of the notes." Not letting the growing pile of work she imagines continue to grow she takes another long drink. "Now that we are all caught up on work." A bit more cheer in her voice. "What about something more fun. Alani and I were talking Martial Art styles. Seems me and you got some shared hobby in lock-uh smithing. What do we all do for fun creation side?"
Nine Roads Alani	"Eh, I'm not so certain it isn't just gods with their own agendas. Not saying there isn't a conspiracy, mind you, but I'm saying it's not a guarantee. But the point is, heck, we don't know. It's time to find out." Alani grins and sips her booze again. "As for your Ysyrian friend, that can only be Fudou, right? I -know- he's an Exalt of some sort, and...I think the Arena hyped him as an Exigent? Which is certainly possible. He was introduced to me by someone I know is a Solar, though, Silk Moon Lotus. I don't know what all she knows, but she's connected. "Anyway! I rather like the idea of a more fun talk. In fact, talking about serious crap gets annoying after..." She pauses and looks at her goblet. "Eh. Don't tell my sifu I used that word," she mutter wryly.
Mahendru Divya	Divya silently toasts the two women with her own goblet then and takes another sip. "Ah, then Martial Arts was the topic? I'm a Throne Shadow practitioner myself. Nothing like the old classics, even if Arcane Fate makes them a little more work to use than they used to be. I admire a skilled artist, while wishing I could make the time to be one." She shrugs helplessly. "I'm a victim of my own plotting, I suppose. Always many balls in the air, never enough hands to catch them all." "Fun? Hmmm." Divya leans back into the sofa, relaxing into its plush surface. "I'm rather partial to singing, myself. I have a fair voice but honestly, I'd rather listen to a good performance than put on one myself. I grew up in a musical family, really gave me an appreciation for the many kinds of music there are. I'm a fan of a good spa, even if Yu-Shan's ruined me for what's available Creation-side. Of course I love a good book but that's no fun to talk about, no?" Divya grins at Alani. "I have enough wanderlust to see the appeal of Mercury's ways, seeing new places is certainly fun. New people, new foods, new smells. New architecture, ornamentation, new building materials." Self-consciously, she laughs at herself. "Amazing how I can turn every bit of fun into something that sounds like someone's job..."
Vetiver Mirror	"Monkey Style myself. Never seen Throne Shadow though I hear its popular in our circles. Seems like a long walk to just punch someone in the face." Making a mock punch with one arm. "I like exploring places I shouldn't be of course. Puzzles. Watching the world out a window. Ooo plays love a good play. Which is kinda like a music show if you go to the right one." Said with the same kind of cadence one might describe how they like long walks on the beach. Refilling her glass though she considers. "Wait wait wait. Go back" Waving one hand trying to bring things back a moment, the other lifting her glass up to toast Divya back. "Your Sifu wont let you say crap?" Giving Alani a very deadpan look that turns into a smile that can only be call Grinch-esc. "Oh man do I have a whole lexicon-no whole horizon of filthy words that would make crap sound like, uh well crap." Leaning forward in her chair now, ears perked tail swaying behind her she is at full attention now.
Nine Roads Alani	Alani giggles in response to Vetiver, hand over her mouth, then takes another sip as she organizes her thoughts. "And as I was telling Vetiver earlier, I've mastered Falcon Style. I -do- love flying high, I won't deny. But I -may- be working on a more...advanced...technique to go along with Falcon and thrown weapons." She grins wickedly for a moment. "Maybe one day, I'll use them all together. But for now, it's a work in progress. "As for your styles, I have to admit, Throne Shadow is one I can see the potential, certainly, but I've just never had that honey tongue I'd need to -make- that many friends. And, hey, I gotta admit I like hitting bad guys and -really- like winning. Throne Shadow's not quite as visceral to me. As for Monkey, that honestly sounds like fun. I admit I have too much on my plate as it is, though!" She chuckles again and looks at Vetiver. "Crap indeed. It's not the specific word so much, it's more about staying genteel and polite--gotta not embarrass her in front of the other Sidereals, you see--and let me tell you. My family were wandering merchants across the near North, and I heard--and repeated--every curse word in every language from Rubylak to Grieve. Not any -other- words, mind you." She laughs. "I was a little hellraiser. My family..." She pauses, looking crestfallen for a moment, then sighs. "Anyway, I'm not saying my sifu was wrong. I can see the need sometimes. I just...I don't know. It doesn't come easy. Not sure I could remember any of those words now, Vetiver, but we'll have to compare someday."
Mahendru Divya	At the suggestion of a honey tongue and a lot of friends, Divya simply bows her head graciously, like she's accepting a commendation. There's a conspiratorial grin to go along with it, implying she's not actually that full of herself though. "I have entirely too many people to hit, I'm afraid," she admits to Alani. "It's why I do most of my violence through agents and organizations. I just don't have the time to hit that many people myself." That grin widens playfully. Hearing about Alani's history causes Divya to tilt her head slightly, thoughtfully, as she listens. At the end, she nods. "A warrior faces many battlefields. Perhaps your Sifu is trying to prepare you to face more. To be able to meet new kinds of conflict with new ways." The Champoori woman looks thoughtful then, perhaps reflecting on her own experiences. "A good lesson for me too, come to think of it. I'm too used to using the strokes of the pen and tongue to fight for me. You never know what Fate has in store, though." She wrinkles her nose with suppressed laughter as she hears herself speaking aloud the popular saying. "...Well, you never know what you might have to do about what Fate has in store, anyway." Then she glances over at Vetiver Mirror. "So we have wandering merchants. I'm from a family of singers. What's your story?"
Vetiver Mirror	Vetiver scoots closer to the side of her couch that is closer to Alani. Leaning closer eyes perhaps the most serious they have been even if the rest of her looks like a half drunk cat. "Alani. It is very important. Speaking from the chest, freeing it, not keeping it bottled up. Letting the cup over flow when there is too much. It is the essence of Monkey style. Its good for you. Never cage yourself." Eyes keeping contact the whole time. "Say fuck." Tone serious, edging on dire. Tail twitching she looks to Divya as if looking for backup. Not immediately getting it she bristles a little but relents. Finding her seat again. "I will not push. Sorry" she adds quickly. "I am from a family of shrine priests and priestess." She clears her throat almost shy with the information. "Very much not a hell raiser back then." Giving a little smile to Alani. This time reaching out knowing that look in her eyes. "As much as I am glad to be free. There is family I miss too."
Nine Roads Alani	At first Alani looks a bit confused, then weirded out, and then, with a tiny, serene smile, the answer comes to her. "Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck. Fuck fuck fuck." A beat. "Fuck." She nods her head firmly in confirmation of a pronouncement of the highest order. And then, she smirks, leans back against the side rest of that couch, one elbow on the rest, the knuckles under her chin. "Also, do you always sit on a girl's couch, stare into her eyes, and ask her to say fuck? Or is that unique to me?" She laughs good-naturedly, then turns to Divya. "Anyway, to answer your question...I see what you're getting at, of course. All about teaching -me- to make friends and influence people. And for every word you said about being well-rounded and ready to use agents and so forth, it matches a word Sifu has said to me about -not- being so damn direct. I guess the point is we have a lot of different jobs to do, and in the long run we need to have all the tools in the bag. Not just hit everything like it was a nail, because all I got's a hammer."
Mahendru Divya	The lesson in profanity is simply hilarious and Divya makes no effort to conceal her amusement at the situation. A consummate actor, she's done her share of swearing 'in character' but, talking with fellow Sidereals, this is as close to the 'real' her as she lets herself get and so her cheeks color faintly from peripheral embarrassment, even though neither woman looks embarrassed. This was not something the Mahendru family was brought up to do, not in the elegant courts they performed in. When the topic turns back to lessons, though, she immediately shifts to a more comfortable pose. Teaching as a discipline itself is something she's rather fond of, after all. "In an ideal Creation, we shouldn't need to be all the tools in the bag. You look at the stories of the Lawgivers, who could afford to be 'priests' and 'warriors' and 'savants' and only step out of those lanes when it suited them. Same with the Lunars." She shakes her head in a brief shiver of fear at that thought. "The Realm's Terrestrials might understand us better. Fire or Water, Earth or Air, Wood alike, they often have the freedom to develop the unique talents of their Aspects...but -all- Dynasts have certain expectations, don't they. Of social grace, of skill in art and war. In an ideal Creation, we should be able to operate in teams where each agent of Fate can afford to specialize entirely and leave gaps to their colleagues." "But as we all know, better than anyone else, we don't live in an ideal Creation." Ending on that grim note, she instead puts on her smile once more and raises her glass and toasts by saying "To Creation. Why we have jobs and why we drink."