Log:The Twins Retire

The Twins Retire 2014/03/22 	 Jennifer Lorelei

1

Undermoon Embassy
Atop the rocky cliff near the end of the bridge stands the tiny "fairy tale" castle that serves as the Undermoon embassy. It's no larger than a large house, and its great front gate (with drawbridge to cross a decorative moat) is only the size of a normal door. Its slender towers are topped with graceful spires from which fly pennants of many colours and designs, but chiefly of purple and silver. Over the main gate hangs a rectangular flag of the same colour.

That's the outside. As soon as one passes through the gate it's another story - the castle is vast, the walls tall, the spires tower above the courtyard! Various buildings of the same graceful architectural style are found among the gardens of exotic flora, and the place is busy with staff, both human and fae.

Old Friends
Jennifer makes her way relatively slowly to the Embassy gate taking in the spring like weather and peaceful surroundings. At the gate she identifies herself, surrenders her weapons (her cold iron sword having been left behind) and asks a guard to inform the Princess of her arrival.

Informing Princess Stephanie turns out to be not as quick as one might hope - it involves sending a message to Undermoon. For all that, Jennifer doesn't have to wait very long - Lorelei is soon riding up to the gates of the embassy herself, on a horse that is travelling well beyond the speeds one might expect of the animal.

Lorelei dismounts swiftly but elegantly. "Jenn! It's been too long!" And she goes to hug her friend.

Jennifer smiles as she sees the mode of arrival. "Hi." she calls out. Then as a second thought, when in Rome, etc, she bows, "Greetings, Princess Stephanie." she says more formally.

Jennifer smiles as she is hugged, and hugs back without any hesitation. "It has been a long time, hasn't it. Longer for you than me I'll guess, though."

Lorelei says, "A lot, I imagine. How long has it been? I lose track.... Have you time to catch up, or is this something urgent?"

Jennifer smiles, "It's not urgent, Lorelei. I have all the time in the world." Her eyes look weary.

Lorelei says, "That doesn't sound like you.... well come then, and let's sit and relax and talk - do you drink fae wine?"

Jennifer says, "Oh, yes. I do indeed. Our first trip to Undermoon kind of spoilt me in that regard. So much so that most non-fae wines now taste flat and lifeless."

Lorelei grins. "I know what you mean. Mind, chocolate and coffee have pretty much overrun Undermoon, too.... I'll send for a bottle then. Come, let's go to my chambers - we can be alone there..."

Jennifer nods and follows Lorelei, saying on the way, "It's been almost a year and a half for me, Lorelei, since I saw you last. How long has it been for you on Undermoon?"

Lorelei says, "It must be about ten times that, then - well, give or take. I've been here some of the time, and on yet other worlds as well.... To be honest, I've given up trying to keep track."

Lorelei leads through the garden toward the royal apartments.

Jennifer stops to admire the garden, "Oh, this is beautiful, Lorelei." She says. Crouching she leans forward to smell a flower. "It's odd, isn't it," she muses to you, "How the Twilit Worlds have such faster time rates compared to Earth, while most of the dimensions I've been on have the same time rate." She stands and resumes walking, "Do you think it's because the Twilit Worlds are Fae realms, possibly?"

Lorelei says, "Well... they're inherently magical, anyway, which is why the fae migrated there, long ago - well, that and to escape the dragons. It might be related to the time differences, though they're not the only dimensions to have different passage of time. Honestly, though, I think Alex probably has more idea than I do!"

Jennifer nods, "Are you in touch with Alex? I want to get hold of him. I left a couple of messages when I got back this morning but nobody seems to know where he is."

Lorelei Frowns. "No, I'm not. We both got so busy and somehow we fell out of touch. But I thought it was just me...."

Jennifer shakes her head, "No, I asked Jon and he has no idea either. Alex just seems to have out dropped of sight completely. Same with Jade. She's nowhere to be found either." She shrugs, sighs.

Lorelei says, "Maybe they've gone off somewhere? I don't know. Surely if anything was wrong they'd get in touch?"

Lorelei sighs. "But then I suppose I haven't been the easiest to contact - and you've been off-world too, at times anyway."

Jennifer nods, "Yes. I can't imagine anything that the two of them couldn't handle, or at least get a message to one of the old team. Let's hope they're together enjoying a quiet peaceful life."

Lorelei smiles and nods, and leads Jenn into her private apartments - decorated in a mixture of Earth and Undermoon styles.

Lorelei says, "Now tell me what you've been up to the last year and a half!" she says, waving Jenn to a seat."

Jennifer nods and slumps back in the indicated chair, She closes her eyes for a few moments, "Can we be overheard or scryed on in here, Lorelei?" she asks.

Lorelei sits down and says, "I certainly hope not, given how much we spent on security. It's probably one of the more secure places on the planet though...."

Jennifer nods. Still leaning back in the chair she says, "Fighting a war, Lorelei, on a half dozen dimensions. Fighting against Shield. My family, heroes and metas from as many dimensions. And now it's over."

Lorelei says, "Over! And...?" She hardly dares ask the question. "How did it go?"

Jennifer says, "We drove Shield out of dimension after dimension. Not without losses. Some good people didn't live to see the end. Finally Shield had Jefferson's dimension and its own. Last night we took back Jefferson's. And sealed Shield up in their own dimension. Don't ask me how because I have no idea. Timmy, Nils from Jefferson, do you remember him, Jasime and Malcolm from off world, created this - device - I suppose you could call it. Anyway the effect of it was to block dimensional travel to and from the Shield World.""

Lorelei nods, looking greatly relieved. "It really is over, then! And yes - I remember.... Shield really frightened me, I must say. It really brought home what threats are out there... and, really, made me the more determined that relations with the Twilit Worlds had to go well!"

Jennifer nods, "Yes. It's over. Now we have to start picking up the pieces. Take Jefferson's. We drove Shield off it. But plenty of the native metas who cooperated with Shield are still there. They'll need to be dealt with. But there are Jefferson heroes who can hopefully handle that. It's the same with most of the other dimensions that Shield invaded and polluted with their presence. There's rebuilding work to be done. But, finally, no need for the likes of me, Lorelei." She sighs, "The kids are going to hate me. Jennie and Jessie. I kept them out of the fighting. I couldn't bear the thought of them getting hurt. But they'll never forgive me."

Lorelei nods. "Never say never. Perhaps they'll understand. At least eventually."

Lorelei opens the door to a ring of the bell and admits a servant, bringing the wine, breaking the conversation till the servant leaves.

Jennifer nods. "Maybe." She sighs again, and waits for the servant to leave. "The last few years have changed me, Lorelei. I've become what I was intended from birth to be. Although I think for a much better cause. To give just one example, a couple of days ago while setting up the invasion of Jefferson's with Jon, I dropped into the Gym. And sparred with one of the new heroes in the city. I held back, took it easy, and still injured her. That's what I've become. And I'm tired, Lorelei. Tired of war. Tired of fighting. Tired of being a warrior. I want to retire. To hand in my badge, hang up whatever tattered rags of a cape I can still claim to possess and live in peace. But I can't do it here. I mean, on Earth. I've made too many enemies. Same on Jefferson's, on any of the dimensions where we're been fighting."

Lorelei nods. "I can understand that." She smiles. "It just shows how much you've grown, really. I can't imagine you *wanting* to retire when you were younger. Though I truly don't want to imagine how hard the war was to get you to this point." She suddenly has a thought. "Was that why you were tying to contact Alex?"

Jennifer nods, "To tell him I was retiring? Yes. And to see him again. High School was both the worst and best days of my life. I made friends there that will remain with me forever. Alex was one of them. Howl, Matt, and of course my closest friend of all, you."

Lorelei says, "That - and I was thinking he'd be someone to talk to if you want to retire off-dimension. The other obvious choice being me, of course."

Jennifer nods, "Yes. Lorelei... Princess Stephanie of Undermoon, I formally request your permission to migrate to the Twilit Worlds."

Lorelei grins. "Of course - of course you can come! Well, officially the request has to go through Mum - unless I'm taking you into my household or such.... And I'd love to have you there! I've been missing you so much..... I mean - unless you want to stay far clear of the court and everything... I'd understand that too."

Jennifer smiles, "Well... Is Lothven still captain of the Palace guard?" she asks, trying to be nonchalant about it. But you can see she's really quite interested in the answer.

Lorelei doesn't really try to hide her smile at the question. "He is."

Jennifer says, "Well... Maybe I could find a trade or something to do not too far away from the court then."

Lorelei smiles and nods. "I'm sure someone of your talents could find something..... - " Her face falls. "But -"

Jennifer stills, looking at Lorelei and waiting...

Lorelei adds in a hushed tone, "This is highly confidential. Of the I'd-have-to-kill-you level, and I'm sure I can't do that and wonder if anyone can - so do keep it quiet...."

Jennifer smiles, "Isn't that my line? 'I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you.' I remember you once getting so mad at me for telling you that. Of course I'll keep it quiet."

Lorelei continues, "I'm not going to be living at the royal palace, much longer. I'm about to add Duchess of Westmarch to my titles - though the engagement hasn't been officially announced yet!" She breaks into a broad grin.

(editor's note: The engagement of Lorelei and Duke Vanatherion will not be publicly known by player characters prior to a formal announcement by the Undermoon Court.)

Jennifer comes out of the chair and rushes over to offer you a hug, "Oh, Lorelei, that's wonderful. What's he like? Is he good looking? Huh, of course he is. It comes with the pointy ears. I'm so glad for you."

Lorelei laughs. "Yes he is - and well, he'd probably be a superhero, if he was from round here. A great warrior and - well - he's just ... I mean he's just good, decent, too - that might sound like faint praise but really it's not. I think you'll like him."

Jennifer says, "I'm sure I will." She smiles, "He really must be someone special, Lorelei. You're bubbling like a high school girl." she teases lightly. "This is wonderful. Uh, do I get to be a bridesmaid? If there's such a thing in the Fae wedding ceremony. I'll even wear a dress. Just for you."

Lorelei says, "Well, you're invited, of course! But I don't think there will be anything like bridesmaids really. The plan is to use (mostly) a really ancient form of wedding - there's politics in that. As there is in the timing, which is why it's hush-hush." She smiles ruefully. "Nothing's simple when you're a princess."

Jennifer nods. "What is the attitude of the court going to be. Are you likely to have trouble from the traditionalists? I can put off retiring for a while if you need someone to watch your back." she offers.

Lorelei says, "Oh, all mixed, as you'd expect. We've worked hard at this. To be honest, a lot of what I've been doing for the past 15 or whatever years is PR work to improve my acceptance by the fae. And then his appointment as duke wasn't exactly without controversy. But that's the whole point to the ancient ceremony, older than the kingdom - older than Atlantis, I think! It's an affirmation that the marriage is more solemn than the kingdom itself - makes even more solemn the king's recognition of me and of him as duke, in consequence. It might seem strange to you, I don't know, but the fae have massive respect for tradition."

Jennifer listens and nods. "And the Fae have had a long time to develop those traditions, haven't they. I think I can understand, at least a little. We hadn't had anywhere like that long, but there are traditions in my family that are respected by all of us. Traditions are a part of who you are after all."

Lorelei nods. "Exactly. Which isn't to say it's all going to be done the ancient way, but the core of the ceremony will - of course, not all the details have been worked out. But yes, I'd love to have you there, Jenn, in my 'tribe' - that word should give a since of of just how old this tradition is!"

Jennifer says, "I'll be delighted to be there, Lorelei. Oh, I just can't tell you how happy I am for you."

Lorelei says, "I'm hoping to get the Princesses' Guard reorganised too - I'm afraid I made a bit of a mess about how I got it together in the first place - for security there. And of course to continue the work I formed them for in the first place."

Jennifer pulls a hanky out of her jeans and dabs at her eyes.

Lorelei grins, and can't help a soft laugh. "Careful, Jenn. You'll ruin your tough-girl reputation."

Jennifer dabs again, "I can't help it. I'm.." She blinks and then gives up dabbing and simply wipes the tears from her eyes. "You aren't going to tell anyone about this, are you?" she asks in a voice half pleading and half laughing.

Lorelei says, "Of course not! And," she adds with a grin, "I'm sure you'd never permit yourself this luxury if you didn't know security here was so good."

Jennifer nods. Looking up, her eyes teary she essays a faint smile. "That's only the second time I've done this. You were there for me the first time, remember? In the coffee shop. You were the first person to see the real 'me' under that tough image I was working so hard to project."

Lorelei nods. "I remember. We've both come such a long way since then!"

Jennifer nods, and if Lorelei allows she hugs you again. "Yes. Fairytale Princess. That certainly can be said to have come a long way. Even if it didn't come without its own problems. And with a lot of help from you I've made a journey nearly as long. From brash ex-wolfguard brat to a mostly respected member of society."

Lorelei says, "I'd have never made it without you, either, Jenn. And I don't just mean because you've done such a good job keeping me alive."

Jennifer chuckles, "I had to, Lorelei. Who else was I going to turn to to pick the right Prom dress for me?"

Lorelei laughs. "There is that."

Jennifer smiles, "Lorelei, I think this calls for a toast." She goes over and lifts the wine bottle to pour each of us a glass, looking at you to see if you approve.

Lorelei says, "I couldn't agree more!"

Jennifer pours and hands a glass to you. Lifting her glass she makes the toast, "To Peace. To the Duke of Westmarch and the happy union."

Lorelei raises her glass, returning simply, "Peace and happiness," which she wishes no less to Jenn.

Jennifer drinks the wine, glances to make sure there's another pair of glasses, and seeing there is, throws her glass into the fireplace. The old Russian tradition, so the glass can never be used for a lesser toast.

Lorelei is a bit surprised, but does the same with her glass.

Jennifer notes the brief surprise. "It's a custom Howl taught me, Lorelei. After making a toast the glasses are thrown into the fireplace and destroyed so they can never be used again for any lesser toast."

Lorelei says, "I was aware some people did it but not that you picked up the habit....." She grins. "Might be worth checking if the glasses are priceless before doing it though, around here...."

Jennifer says, "Oops."

Lorelei says, "No worries, these ones aren't."

Jennifer wipes her brow. "Thank heaven."