Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One

[Shayuri]

"No, but..." Hearing himself turning defensive, Jacen holds a hand up with a grin.

"Listen, I know all I have is suspicions. And honestly, even though the idea it's your brother is one I came up with, I know there's problems with it. But there's problems with the tale as told too... There's something -missing-. Some piece we haven't got ahold of. Like Melagaunt...what's THAT got to do with anything else? But it couldn't be random."

He looks at the window.

"Do you feel like taking a walk today? Maybe they'll finally let me out of the house now that the 'test' is passed."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"The official cause of death for Meleagant, according to the healer, was a combination of two poisons that together resulted in a heart attack," Marie speaks softly, her lip trembling a bit as she thinks of the death in her own house, "Apparently Gabriel is the one that told him that."

*She tries not to dwell on the unhappy occurence, instead turning to his proposition.*

"Yes, Jacen, I would like to take a walk, if we can. I think it should be okay, since the official story is that you are staying here to protect me...But soon, they will have to do the switch, and you will have to play me for several days straight in case the Pumpernickel has spies...I wonder if they will let us use Tommy's plan--have you heard it? In that plan, to make sure no spy notices that there are two of me, one of which has stayed behind, they will sneak me out with your friends Tristan and Gabriel disguised as you. What do you think? I'll be able to wear a sword just like you do!"

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen nods. "It'll keep you out of harm's way...it's a good idea," he says. He gets up off the bed and goes to Marie's closet to look at the floor, but of course the blood has been cleaned by now.

Tristan, himself, and Gabriel. Three musketeers, three duels. One was a gentleman's duel, one was inadvertently to the death, and the other was potentially lethal but the loser escaped. In all of them, the musketeers won. Drugged bread, drugged sword, dead Melagaunt. Guillarme's wounded pride and blademaster training. The escape of the Crimson Pumpernickel...who had seemed a fool, but fought remarkably well in spite of it. The gem, the prophecy, the theft. Marie.

In his mind he tried to connect these dots, tried to see what emergent order lay within; what pattern to indicate a guiding mind. Three men. Three duels. Three foes. And something else...something hidden just out of sight, poisoning swords and drugging bread and stealing gems...

"I need to see the others," he says absently. "Tristan and Gabriel and Hyacinthe. Sometime today."

(OOC - I should ask at this point so I don't embarass my poor character again...and you can answer in the OOC thread if you like... What is known so far? Was there blood from the escape? If so, where did the trail end? Was Marie's closet searched? Kitchen staff questioned about the tainted bread? I should have asked all this before, but posting from work means I have to be kind of furtive. )

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: As Marie said, the blood indicated that he swung by rope from the balcony to the outer wall, then it stopped there, suggesting he bound his wounds carefully before proceeding. Marie's closet was searched, but nothing interesting was found. The kitchen staff could not explain the tainted bread, bu Heartmelt could have easily been added to the dough in a mere instant without anyone noticing (the Sleight of Hand check would not be hard).

"I think they were going to call them in anyway. And maybe later today also is when we can try Tommy's plan, no?"

*If Jacen has no more questions for Marie, the two can enjoy a nice walk through the garden, with Jacen not cross-dressing for once. Marie rests her head on his shoulder and talks to him about flowers and swords and his dreams.*

*Eventually, the other Musketeers and Hyacinthe arrive.*

(OOC: @Everyone Else--don't let this stop you from posting things your character did in the meantime. I see I didn't solicit that before, but I was sort of expecting it)

 

[Fenris]

OOC: Just enjoying La Cage Aux Jacen Tristan would have spent the day resting (and healing)

 

[unleashed]

(OOC: @Everyone Else--don't let this stop you from posting things your character did in the meantime. I see I didn't solicit that before, but I was sort of expecting it)

OOC: I've been unwell for a while, and it may continue for some time yet, so just go on without me if I don't get around to posting.

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Sure thing--as noted, after several days, we've reached the point where they ask Tristan and Gabriel (and Hyacinthe too of course) to come back (Jacen wants to talk to them, etc). So you can post their arrival.)

 

[Fenris]

After several days of rest, Tristan and Gabriel (and of course Hyacinthe) head back to the manor. Looking a good deal better they are greeted by Tommy at the door. "I will say Tommy, you Dulirands do know how to throw a party" says Tristan with a laugh when he sees Tommy.

"Now how are things coming along here?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Ca va, so it goes," Tommy replies, "Perhaps we should discuss in private."

*When they are somewhere where a servant could not overhear, he adds:*

"I am still not sure if my father will accept the risk, but I am hoping he will do so. If so, we need to switch Jacen and Marie soon, hopefully today or tomorrow, so that the time leading up to the rendezvous will be that much less suspicious and the transition will be seamless. And Jacen wanted to talk to you too. He will be here soon."

(OOC: Jacen can pop in here if he likes as well)

 

[Fenris]

"Ca va, so it goes," Tommy replies, "Perhaps we should discuss in private."

*When they are somewhere where a servant could not overhear, he adds:*

"I am still not sure if my father will accept the risk, but I am hoping he will do so. If so, we need to switch Jacen and Marie soon, hopefully today or tomorrow, so that the time leading up to the rendezvous will be that much less suspicious and the transition will be seamless. And Jacen wanted to talk to you too. He will be here soon."

(OOC: Jacen can pop in here if he likes as well)

"Sounds like a plan. So Jacen can pull off the disguise well enough?"