Scene #597:

Owner	Pose
Beli Klum	Night in the Vault finds Beli sitting on one of the couches dressed in loose black pants and a blue tank top, a black laptop on her lap battling against the natural glow of her skin with it's own screen's radiance. Slender fingers tap at keys now and then, but she mostly stares at the screen with a tired on her face, eyes faintly narrowed. She's at least recovered since the attack on Purgatorio. No wounds linger on her, and she was cleared from medical a couple of days prior. Mentally, however, she still hasn't quite settled. She needs distractions, and in this case, the distraction comes from planning. Looking at various kinds of defense systems, thinking of good points and bad, considering how they might be merged, considering what would blend best with Purgatorio, what would make the people there most comfortable. She has to plan, think, keep her mind off whatever negativity still lingers from the events of the attack. It won't help anyone if she just smolders and seethes. The rephaite sighs, lifting a hand to rub her eyes. Perhaps, she thinks, she should turn on a light or something. That never seems to occur to her, when she's practically a lightbulb herself, but it also seems she's more absentminded than usual. Distractions...
Cecily	Distractions. A fox-shaped one is inbound hard and fast. She'd finally come back from a long trip in the frozen wastes of her homeworld, only to find certain dreadful news. Cecily practically pries the doors of the lift open when it stops at the Atrium floor, and she immediately zeroes in on Beli. How could she not? The woman is a beacon. "Beli!" she gasps and jogs towards the couch. She's wrapped up in more clothes than anyone has probably seen her in, her durable body still not enough to handle the cryostorms. Cloak, cloth, and wrappings of fur and more make her look more at home on Hoth than here in the Vault. "Are you alright? What happened? ...why?" she takes a slow breath, pulling her cowl and cap off, ears lifting and a sorrowful expression on her face as she gets within arm's reach of her wife, looking her over.
Beli Klum	Beli almost doesn't register the sound of the rising lift. Cecily's gasp, however, makes the rephaite's hand drop as she abruptly sits upright. She blinks, turning to see the fox emerge wrapped in more covering than she ever expected to see, considering Cecily's resistances. Confusion flits over her expression, but with it comes a light, uncontrolled smile. "Cecily..." Carefully, Beli sets the laptop down beside her, stands to her abnormally tall height, and takes her wife in a firm, close embrace. For several moments, she just stands there, keeping Cecily held close against her, surrounded by the embrace of her arms. Finally, however, she lets out a slow sigh and steps back again, looking down at Cecily with a slightly fainter smile. "I...am alright, yes," she replies softly, lifting a hand to brush blue bangs aside from her eyes. "I...mm. Purgatorio was attacked, but everyone is still safe. Setsuko, Tony, Ainsley, and Faruja came to my aid right away. It was..." The angelic demon falls silent for a moment, her smile fading. Her arm falls to cross over her torso, fingers grasping at her other arm. A light frown begins to settle over her features. "...something is very wrong with D. Under Dracula's orders, I guess, he wanted to get the girls from his world that I was protecting. That I did not cure of their vampirism yet. I need to go back and do that once I have settled a little more, but..." She swallows slightly, then forces a sheepish smile. "...I am not in a very kind state after that..."
Cecily	The vixen manages to shed a good portion of her outerwear before she's wrapped up in an embrace. It's one she clings to for as long as she can, her tails joining in as they're freed from the loose garments covering them. She seems reluctant to even let Beli step back, but she doesn't fight it for but a moment before taking a long, slow breath. Cecily looks up at the woman, listening, eyes wide. "I read the reports... I'm sorry I wasn't here to do something about it..." she murmurs quietly, still sounding like she's struggling with disbelief. "Did.. did he really? Could he... after he helped with everything..." she bites her lip, looking even more distressed than she had before. Back into Beli's space she moves, taking her hands and giving them a squeeze as she keeps listening. "Are you really alright? Are the others alright? None of... your peace was disturbed?" she may have gotten the answers already, but she wants to hear them again, feeling like she's in some unpleasant sort of dream. "Please, love, tell me what I can do..."
Beli Klum	Beli shakes her head, glancing aside as she considers the vixen's words. She certainly doesn't look at peace; something clearly still nags at the back of her mind, faintly smoldering as the subject of those events is brought up again. When her hands are taken, she turns her gaze back to Cecily, meeting her wife's eyes. The halfbreed manages a small smile, gentle and reassuring. "...you do not need to apologize. You had your own things to deal with; you could not have known. Everyone else did wonderfully, anyway. Purgatorio is unharmed, and the girls are still safe there. None of the souls were injured. It went about as well as it could have gone, really." Again that smile fades, though. Beli gives Cecily's hands a gentle squeeze as her head lowers slightly, moving away from Cecily's gaze. Her voice comes in a low murmur, barely audible even at such a close distance. "...I...do not know what to think. He...Ainsley and Setsuko have figured out that his sword must be affecting him somehow. Not /controlling/ him, but...influencing him. Changing his core beliefs enough that he does not notice. It is not really him, but...it...might be, somewhat. I do not know how he could..." The rephaite feels heat welling up inside her, latent wrath boiling just below the surface. The heat moves from her hear to her eyes, where molten glass begins to seep free. She blinks, then pulls a hand from Cecily's to wipe the strange tears away, attempting to push down the wrath inside her. After a moment, the hybrid clears her throat and continues, slightly louder than before. "...I am trying to stay distracted. Purgatorio needs defenses now. Some people have offered options, but...the scale is a little daunting. I should probably invite people over when I have some time, so they can see what they are dealing with."
Cecily	Cecily seems at least somewhat reassured at the talk of no further harm other than the initial injuries and disturbance. She squeezes those hands again, nodding, though frowning as her gaze is evaded momentarily. When that glass comes, she leans up, unable to keep from trying to kiss the tears away in conjunction with that hand. "Shh..." she whispers softly, closing her eyes. "I'm home now. I'll try to help, love. And... I'll try to get some answers from D, if I can. We.. were there together. He fought with us, for you..." she exhales a slow, shuddering sigh, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, love. Let me... maybe I can help, a little?" She slowly pulls back, drawing Beli back towards the seating, not wanting to force the woman to keep standing nor keep standing herself. "I can offer some ideas or direct help for the defenses... and at the least, a lot of small efforts from a lot of us could go a long way if the scale is that daunting..." she shrugs her shoulders, then pulls off the last of her jacket, stretching her bare arms and resting in a familiar tank top once more. "Perhaps even some... automatons from my... other half's world... for the outer gate..." She seems keen on helping change the subject off of D and onto future protective efforts.
Beli Klum	The kiss draws a slight smile from Beli, brief though it is. She exhales a slow, tense sigh, then complies with the descent back onto the couch. Her knees are brought up to her chest once she finds her seat again, arms wrapped around her legs, forehead resting on her knees. She leans toward Cecily slightly, but as her eyes drift closed, she seems more intent on curling up within herself. "...maybe," the rephaite murmurs, breathing out another sigh. "...the lake is mundane enough that I would rather not draw attention to it, even if the Confederacy knows where it is now. At least Paradiso and Inferno do not...and there is no telling when they will lift the ban on assaulting each others' homes, Purgatorio included. The longer it takes them to guess where Purgatorio is, the better." Her eyes open again as she contemplates for a moment longer. "I was considering golems or something of the sort for the various levels. The souls I took from the archangels and demon lords could empower them, maybe...but I do not have the first idea what could be possible with things like that. I am not even sure if I could separate those souls from myself." The rephaite's brow furrows again. She lifts her head, looking at Cecily with concern and uncertainty. "...D is powerful. Very powerful. What is more, he...seems to have no restraint now. He is like me when I allowed my demonic nature to overwhelm me, but stronger and more...calculating. If you went after him..." She bites her lip, trying to restrain the shiver that runs through her body. "...I...do not know what would happen. I am afraid of you taking that risk. He barely seemed intent on restraining himself when I stood in his way, and I was already close to him before."
Cecily	When her wife sits, Cecily watches her curl somewhat. She frowns, and with arms and tails, attempts to pull Beli into her lap. A warm, soothing embrace, and a familiar one. So she hopes. And she listens, nodding, "...the smallest machines of the White Queen were not small... several could be put on standby for hard landing should the portal become compromised, but... as sentinels they'd be very obvious.." she murmurs quietly. "Unfortunately, golemancy and magic aside is beyond me, even if you could figure out how to split like that..." she rambles on a little with it. "Too many things or people coming and going could also be a disruption, but I had an idea for that if you wanted.." she shrugs slightly. But on and off she listens, keeping silent as the subject of D comes up again. "I'm not afraid of him," she whispers softly. "He hurt you... and I want to know why. We descending into the depths of Inferno for you, and ... whatever has a hold on him..." She sighs, eyes staying shut tight, her form shaking somewhat. "I love you, Beli. And you know I would take any risk for your sake. I can... I can bounce back from almost anything... so long as our home is safe. So long as you're safe."
Beli Klum	Beli doesn't resist the pull, leaning into Cecily even as she remains in her private curl. It's a comfort, reminding her of warmth, tenderness, and affection, inspiring her compassionate nature to rise to the surface against her wrathful emotions. Perhaps that could help her think more clearly. She listens, nodding here and there, leaning into the vixen embracing her. Another sigh falls from her lips, and she leans in to rest her forehead against Cecily's, letting her eyes slip closed again. "...I only worry for your safety. I do not want you put at risk for my sake. I...do not want to lose someone else..." Her arms release the embrace of herself and instead slip around Cecily again, holding her wife close against her. Her embrace is tight, clutching. Afraid. A shiver runs through her again. "...I trust you. I will not stop you, if that is what you want. Just...please. Come back safely. Please." The angelic demon forces her breathing to remain slow and steady, surpressing her anxiety and tumultuous fear. Her grasp loosens slightly, but she shows no sign of wanting to let go. "...we will see what we can do for Purgatorio, I guess. I have the whole Union to help me...and you. There has to be something."
Cecily	Cecily tries to keep her talking to a minimum, more intent on soothing the woman in her arms. She holds her tight in her lap, her tails warm and soft, her arms secure. "You won't lose me," she whispers softly. "I promise." Her lips meet her wife's, a soft kiss taken when foreheads press together. "We made our vows, and I'm yours forever. And you know I'd dive headlong into the Abyss to bring you back to me..." she whispers. Her eyes stay closed and she emits a small whimper as she's held so tight. The squeeze is returned, and she just holds on to the woman she loves. "I promise," she repeats softly. Then a small nod, "I can ask my mother if she wishes to extend patrols to your world, at all... or the sands around the tower of souls..." she gives the island's landmark a name. "...though finding someone to construct golems of sand, clay, and stone would be less intrusive and more 'passive' of a constant ward."
Beli Klum	Slowly, steadily, Beli's tensions are eased. Not removed, but as the rephaite begins to relax in Cecily's arms, she at least begins to show the signs of recovery. Wounds of fear, hurt, and anxiety will take time to heal, but perhaps it will not take too long. "...thank you." A weary breath is released as Beli leans against the vixen, lowering her head to rest it on Cecily's shoulder. "...maybe," she murmurs again. "Your mother is already busy enough. I would not want to trouble her even more, particularly when it is so out of the way. But...you mentioned something to help people be less noticable? Maybe that could help with whatever we end up doing. It is something to consider, at least..."
Cecily	One of Cecily's arms loosens from around her wife, her hand coming up to soothingly caress the woman's hair. She dips her head in and kisses her temple, nuzzling in gently. "She has a lot of people under her command. Sending a handful to visit every now and then might be relaxing for them, too." There's a shrug of her unoccupied shoulder, and soon her eyes fall shut. "Less noticable... right... perhaps a sort of cloaking umbrella near the lake, or over it... a holographic or thermoptic shell. Would disguise people coming and going... and since there isn't anything actually.. out there but serenity... someone may be hard pressed to see that there's really anything there.." she offers quietly.
Beli Klum	Beli listens in silence, leaning into Cecily and remaining almost completely still, save for her steady breathing. She seems mostly intent on seeking quiet comfort for now, but soon enough she nods and murmurs a response. "...if they would enjoy it, then...that might be good, I guess. It would not hurt to talk to them. Still...it would be good to see what can be set up that would be present at all times, on top of that." She sighs softly, shifting a little in her seat on her wife's lap. "That...may be a good idea, too. Maybe we can get that set up before things are moved in. It is something, at least...something to make sure the demons and angels take that much longer to find it."
Cecily	The quiet comfort is all too pleasant to the fox. Even when her wife speaks, Cecily doesn't respond for too long. She just holds and comforts and cuddles her twin-natured beauty. At last, though, she does have words, nuzzling softly against Beli's hair. "Could work in conjunction with each other. A shielded forward watch on the lakeside, as not to disturb the souls... and then something more permanent on the inside that's perhaps less intrusive?" There's another little shrug. "...with some of the infantry constructs on standby to drop... in the absolute worst case. They didn't hold up to Elites very well, but ..." she grimaces. "...the forces of Inferno and Paradiso were to... aggress... they might fare better.." The way she speaks hesitantly makes it clear she doesn't like the idea of anyone intruding on Beli's sanctuary any more than the rephaite does. "I've no doubts our allies in the Union have much more substantial and varied ideas to offer, too..." she murmurs. THen a long, slow breath is exhaled in a sigh. "...I'm home now, love."