[ismilealot]

Nicolai says, "Have old drop spot. Keys, nuyen. Head to Market Street." He and Hellfire hold a silent counsel with their eyes. A council that has both men looking grim.

[gilga]

Blackbird watched Velenkoradi defies gravity and just floats in the van, while everybody else were struggling to just hold to something. The drive was terrible, and he was dizzy afterwards, he felt sick but they were safe. He watched the interplay between Yelena and Arc with curiosity - "is Arc trying to quit? Seriously why is she denying her a smoke... in this proefession she is unlikely to reach old age anyhow..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena holds Arc's eyes. "Yelena give up cigars.  Arc give up cigarettes.  At least until cannot stand it.  Deal?"

After getting an answer from her friend, Yelena takes a seat and watches Nicolai and Hellfire talk to themselves.  She cannot make out what they are saying, but their expressions do not look very cheerful.  She shrugs and looks over to Jedediah and Blackbird. "Yelena thank both.  Mojo was well used and helped much in getting justice for those long murdered.  Thank you."

[Qwikfix]

The look on Arc's face as the smoke was plucked from her lips, followed by the pack from her hand, was that of surprise, not expecting to be denied of her vice.  That surprise shortly turned to irritation as she scowled at the elf woman, pouting as she gave a sigh. "Hmph...fine, yeah yeah...I don't gotta like it though..."

With a defiant move of her body, she straightened up, fishing a snack from her pocket and munching away, occupying herself as Nicolai gave directions.  "safe house.  Got it.  I'll get us there."  shifting the van back into drive, she was underway in moments, the ride significan try easier this time around...

[ismilealot]

After an hours drive they arrive at Nicolai's coordinates. They found themselves at a dirty, trash filled lake. "We must drive van into lake to hide it. Then swim through sewer pipe, soon we will come to area you can stand, will have air. I will access key, open safe house. Cold will be very bad, must prepare for shock, tie selves together to help the weak, unused to cold." he says.

[SmilinIrish]

This is it, this is where he drowns us.  He wants Yelena for himself.  Jed casts his vision out to see the way.  He needed to see where this was going, and what was waiting for them.  Might not matter.  He wasn't sure he could make the swim.

[spoiler]smilinirish:12D6E5 → 5( (1, 5, 4, 5, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 5, 6, 6→ 5 successes against 5) )[/spoiler]

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena looks at Jedediah and Blackbird.  "Spirits help?"

[SmilinIrish]

Yes, I will summon a water spirit to help help us through.  It's the only way I'll be able to make it.  Hope the cold doesn't kill me outright.  Jed was feeling particularly crotchety. It was already cold enough.  Now he had to play polar bear?

[ismilealot]

For Jed, finding the hideout was child play. It was the area underground whose wards made it a black hole in the delicate web of mana that they were surrounded by. Getting through the wards was another matter. Jed pushed and pushed, but the darkness held sway and denied him access.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

[gilga]

Marco sighed "Swimming is a matter of body shape you know, so is heat loss.  I can just change you to some more aquatic form and you will find maintaining your temperature and swimming immensely easier. Why do we want to get into that place again? Can Hellfire get in there on his wheelchair? Also isn't the lake kind of a predictable place for the car and will expose the whereabouts of your little secret hideout?

The van can continue as decoy, we can drive it remotely. Personally, I find it a bit difficult to trust Nikolai's secrets after his entire Bratva has been compromised. I'd rather take my chances with our original exit plan. If we do not have a safe ride - I am sure I can help transfer us to where we need. We do not really require cars for mere transportation."

[SmilinIrish]

Jed nods along with Marco's words.  I agree.  You've been greatly compromised Nicolai.  Your hidey hole is warded, so I can't scout it.  With all respect comrade, perhaps you and your associate want to stay there, but maybe it is time for us to part ways, yes?  Jed watches Yelena's face to judge the reception of his words.  Milaya, have you accomplished what you came for?  Is it important for you to retake the entire bratva, or does justice demand only that you eliminate your rival?  I will stay with you, whatever you choose.  But if you are done, maybe it is time to make our way home. Switching to Orzet, he murmured The emerald city is still home, yes? Returning to Russian, Jed sighed I came for you and Ms. Arc. I expect she won't leave without you.  I won't leave without either of you.  It's your call.  Glancing at Marco Jed realizes he is grateful for his friend's perspective and the common ground they share.   His safehouse is warded.  Our spirits cannot follow.  Your spell won't get us past the ward.  We would have to drop all our defenses to enter, and have no way to foresee what awaits.  I can't leave the girls.  But my life is lived.  Yours is beginning, and beginning anew.  Do you wish to stay, or leave?  Jed waited, hoping that he would remain with them.  Glancing at Yelena, he hoped that she would agree they needed to keep moving.  Addressing Nicolai he said I speak plainly because now is the time for frankness.  I don't say this to disrespect you.  You've been betrayed with dire consequences twice now.  Do you at least know by whom? He carefully watches Nicolai and the old man.  The eyes are the window to the soul.  Does he see defeat there, anger, malice?

[spoiler]I have 14 dice in judge intentions.  I'm trying to get a read on Nicolai and the old man to my statement that he has been betrayed twice
smilinirish:14D6E5 → 3( (1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 1, 1, 5→ 3 successes against 5) )
I edged to reroll misses and only got one extra hit, so 4.  Considering that I'm confident in the ability, and edged the check, I'd say that whatever you tell me I'll be positive that I'm right.
[/spoiler]

Jed wondered what Joshua was doing right now.  If nothing else, in his twilight, he had saved that young man's life, and had been a catalyst for his rebirth.  He had dealt with a dragon and walked away, if only because the dragon needed something of him.  He had held Joshua and nurtured him until he found direction.  Hopefully, this wasn't the end.  He needed to get the girls home.  As long as he managed that. 

[gilga]

Blackbird was silent, and seemed to look at Jed, as if he was considering his response.

In his mind he lied down on the snow and made a snow angle. He looked at the wonderful snowflakes, and felt inspired. He spoke words of thought: "I am not very much concerned about survival. In fact, I am uncertain if I truly exist right now.  I have no past and I clearly have no future...  all that remain is the present - one moment after the next.  I am just like these snowflakes - gliding the air only to be piled up as snow on the terrain.  I think that you and Arc are the only real people in here. I am not sure if there is hope for the rest of us, we are too far gone."

Few moments later he seems shaken out of his day dream. He blinks a few times and say.
"In short -  I am staying. I am not yet fast enough to dodge the rain."

[SmilinIrish]

Jed smiled and nodded. It was a typical Marco response. His friend thoughts were deep, and his feelings were deeper still. Looking to Yelena, Jed watched.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena nods.  She is completely unable to understand Blackbird's mind, but she does understand his words.  "Very well, all stay.  Nicolai, Yelena's companion right.  Why trust safe house if other places known to enemy?  And how Hellfire get in?  Why not all go Vory judges?  Have truth and have body."

[ismilealot]

Nicolai considers Jed's words and looks him steadily in the eye as he answers. "Safe house is from before. All who knew, long time dead. Do not know betrayer. Tsina decker live long enough to tell all of kill. All faces known, broadcast to gang. Safe house has identities, new clothes." His face changes and he looks grim. "But correct. I have not been there, forty years. I do not know if others found. Only know secret alarms never trigger." He looks at Hellfire. "I tie Hellfire to me. He and Yelena must live. Is why go to safe house. Need to locate friend and use to find bosses. If not, no place safe. Bounties on all very high. Pride in kill us higher." He spreads his hands wide. "But, if mojo can change forms, much safer."

Velenkoradi tires of preening in the small space of the van and glides through the van wall into the morning air. He delights in making tiny tornadoes of the lightly falling snow and the newly minted sunrise makes a metallic glint inside one of them. As Marco watches, the glint rights itself, and separates from the rest of the snow to home in on the van.