Let's Make A Deal

lorddiomedes

PrinceRandom

Diomedes nods gravely. "I was hoping that you weren't really going to take me up on the offer. I do really hope that I didn't offend you with it.

Random shakes his head no.

Let's get moving."

"Hit it," Random replies.

With no pursuit in sight, Diomedes heads to the End of All Roads. They leave their traveling rock behind when further movement through Shadow demands it.. heading North.

Please describe Diomedes' journey homeward and we'll see what happens.

"A long way home and too d*mn far to walk." Diomedes declares, once the rock is safely behind them, as they stand with the journey North and home before them.

"I know you're more for automobiles than ships, so we'll go by land." Diomedes says. "Besides, its easier to drive in shifts than to sail most ships."

Over the next hour or so, Diomedes influences shadow as he walks with Random, seeking a useable internal combustion engine vehicle that will get them most of the way to Amber. Nothing too obvious to attract attention, but still, Diomedes scares up a small town where, waiting for them is a reservation for a blue mid sized car, brand new, with a full tank of gasoline.

"Enjoy your trip Doctor!" says a sunny blond girl from behind the car rental desk as she hands him the keys. As promised, a clean comfortable mid-sized car, painted the closest color one can actually get to Flora's eyes and still be on a metal surface, waits for them in the parking lot.

"It takes some getting used to that most shadows arrange things that I have an advanced degree or two." Diomedes comments. "It happens even when I don't consciously do it."

"I'll drive first." Diomedes adds, and lets Random relax as he pulls - Show quoted text - onto a picturesque coast highway and begins driving along it, with a coastal mountain range to the immediate west and left, and the deep blue sea to the east and right. Keeping the lovely view as long as possible, Diomedes begins their journey of shifting shadow...

"I never heard of Cantuckee, but this chicken is fairly good." Diomedes says at one point, munching on some fried chicken tenders they obtain in a nameless shadow.

"Thann-k quoo!" Random says in rude imitation of the lady at the drive-thru, chortling as he licks his fingers.. and littering as he casually tosses napkins out the window rather than cutter up the floorboard. "Otherwise we'd have to stop and get it 'worshed'," he explains.

The car is a little more sporty now, but has retained its delicate color.

Diomedes continues changing shadow in workmanlike fashion, changing the properties of the car when a gasoline engine becomes less and less usable as they head north, toward the Eternal City. He trades actual driving time with Random, doing the shifting somewhat more slowly when his Uncle behind the wheel.

And so they continue to drive toward Amber, and Rebma.

"Christ-on-a-stick," Random mutters. "Got another call coming in.. "

"Hang on!" he calls to someone else.

He glances over at Diomedes. "Think I'm going to take this one, Dio" he warns. "If your older cousin would lay off the sauce once in a while, she'd realize you gotta talk once in a while to hear something."

"Good luck." Diomedes says quietly and low. He turns to continue to concentrate on the Endless Road.

He mutters something about kids not respecting the way things are done.

"Yes?" Random says to the other party. "Oh," he says immediately. He looks like he regrets having answered already.

"Okay, fair enough. Talk," Random answers.

There is a pause while his uncle listens to the other party.

"Alright," Random says carefully. "I guess that's enough to what do they say.. open a dialogue."

"Pretty far from Amber," he answers. "Why?"

"No, no- I've not see the kid in years."

Diomedes raises an eyebrow, but continues to concentrate on driving.

There is a pause. Random shrugs.

"Even if that were true, the point is moot. If I see him, I'll tell him." Pause. "Just a friend, though after this, I dunno." Random smiles at Dio just out of the trumps periphery. "Its alright sweetheart, you just keep driving." Then he blows his nephew a kiss- though Dio will realize this is all part of a ruse for whoever is on the other end of the call.

Diomedes just manages to avoid laughing and spoiling the entire effect. - Show quoted text -

"Yeah, I saw him, its true. Dina's going kill Drake for telling you, if she doesn't kill Eric and Flora first, you know." Pause. "Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I like her. Easy on the eyes, has a lot of cute friends.. but yeah I get sick of being pushed around by a semi-functional alcoholic." Pause. "Well, our perspectives aren't necessarily going to be the same."

"Yeah, Drake told me about Dad. I still find it hard to believe." Random cocks his head. "Honestly now, he hasn't any attempt to trump him. and we've exhausted every other option?"

Pause.

"So lets pretend I'm not very smart, what is being proposed?"

"Who?" Random asks, but from Diomedes point of view, it sounds almost rhetorical.

"No one has suggested Benedict?"

"What does he think of the whole idea?"

"I see," Random nods. "And Bleys?"

"Oh hell." Random's eyes go wide. "Okay.. I can see where that would pose a problem."

"Gerard, Julian?" Random asks, finally giving a solid clue as the other party.

"And the girls?"

"So that just leaves the kids... and Corwin of course."

There is a long pause.

"I need time to consider it. He doesn't sound as if he has it together as much as I'd expect. On the other hand," Random rubs his five o'clock shadow, "you make good case. Give me some time."

"Yeah, I'll call you back."

The exchange appears to be over. Random turns to Diomedes. "I don't know if he believed me or not, but we've just been made an offer."

"You, or you and I both?" Diomedes says curiously, relaxing a bit on the gas pedal and turning his peripheral vision to his uncle. "Trying to follow that call with half of the conversation isn't the easiest thing to do, especially while driving."

He pauses a beat. "There's only three choices as to who called you, and only one of those that makes any sense." Diomedes continues. "Assuming you weren't speaking to someone in the third person."

"So what's Uncle Caine's offer?" Diomedes asks.

"A way out of vendetta and back into the good books with people who really don't like me," Random replies. "And for you, mutual assistance and good will."

"Caine hates my guts," he explains, "and usually has no qualms about showing it. We have.. history. 'Cause Caine has never been a front runner as anybodies Heir, that gives him a certain freedom in expressing his dislike. He's offered to wipe the slate clean. Welcome me back home. Make sure I get to sit at the big kid's table."

Diomedes looks politely dubious at Random's words.

"Sounds like a pathetic joke I know," Random snorts. But then he tilts his head to the side a little and gets a very serious expression on his face. "I gotta say though, twenty years is been a long time to not be a prince in more than name only."

"And you.." Random shakes his head. "Drake must have hinted that you might be found with me, though I trust him not to have told his dad the specifics. I think something you did, something you must have said to someone has opened the door to this.. gesture." Dio's uncle turns to look at him directly, sitting in the drivers seat. "They got the second most important question figured out; they know what you want."

Random sighs and takes a moment before continuing.

"Probably help with your Dad, and any other problems you have. To win you over to their side, maybe Brand too. Desperate times like these makes for strange allies sometimes. Don't know what to tell ya kid. I think Caine is a prick, and Eric is worse- but then again, they got no beef with you. Of course they want to use you, but I would guess they expect you to know that. Sometimes these situations are as simple as giving you what you want, particularly if its within their power to give. Your grandfather did that all the time, but no one remembers those times. People only ever tell stories about the stick, they never remember the carrot."

"I gave a secret, a big secret, to Eric, Flora, and my cousins." Diomedes says finally, after a long pause to consider Random's words. "They...Eric and his friends, might suspect that I didn't tell the entire truth and that I know more that they can get out of me, or out of Dad. They might be trying to pry me apart from the rest of my Grandmother's Clan." Diomedes continues.

"Not out of the bounds of my imagination," Random remarks, encouraging Diomedes to continue.

"Caine mentioned Bleys has done something that is a problem?" he prompts Random as the sun peeks behind a tall, glacier covered mountain that strikingly stands as a sentinel near the sea. "And did Caine mention Theia...Aunt Fiona, at all?"

"Eric is alleging that.. ah.. Bleys and Fi- uh.. got rid of Dworkin. He's put of a warrant for their arrest for questioning, and for Jack and Rosalind too."

Random looks away.

"He left you and your father off of it."

Diomedes' responds by slamming the car horn, hard. As the horn sounds, there is the sound of cursing in several languages. Diomedes stops his tirade of words as soon as the horn ends.

"Took advantage of me!" are the first words in Thari that Diomedes says. "And they are going to blame me for blabbing. I admitted a secret to Eric, Flora, and my cousins. And he's turned it around into an attack. Damn him."

Random doesn't say anything for a few minutes, letting Diomedes cool off. Taking a small risk, he decides that its likely that they have a cooler in the backseat with some ice cold beer.

Reaching back he pulls two out and pops one of them open, and offers the other to Diomedes. He nods encouragingly. "Its not even against the law," he appeals to his nephew to take it. "Any more," he adds gingerly.

Diomedes nods, holding the can. He only takes a small sip as he continues to drive.

"Yeah, they do that," Random continues, remarking on the more important topic at hand. "Then they turn around and offer to help you, once they maneuvered you into needing their help in the first place. Standard operating procedure at Number One, Kolvir Hill."

Diomedes takes a defiant sip and then drops the can into the nearby cup holder.

"They get you thinking that everything is a trick." Random takes a swig and looks even more sober than he did before. "You don't want to let anybody get close to you, or get anything on you, otherwise its just a trap. A way to tie you down, a way use you. Then you can't tell the difference between all the snares and the real thing when it finally does comes along."

Diomedes has a feeling that while Random is sympathizing with his troubles, he's also talking about some of his own.

"Its the curse of being at the bottom of an age heap." Diomedes finally says. His free hand hovers over the can but he finally doesn't take it and instead puts both hands on the wheel. He continues to talk although he doesn't face Random.

"Older siblings and relations, more powerful ones, and trying to find your own piece of the pie is difficult. I can sympathize, Uncle, I really and truly can, being the youngest of the redheads."

"Rosalind, even though she is only a few years older than me, probably thinks I can't be let out on my own for long without a keeper." Diomedes admits.

"F^ck her," Random blurts out. "Not literally, they actually have rules against that. But if she has that sort of opinion, then she should have been there to back you up. Not leaving you to get sweated out by Eric all by yourself. I've never met her, but she sounds like Fi- with a stick up her backside. I can't abide a Monday Morning Quarterback."

"Well." Diomedes says. "I've often tried to figure out how it is that she is Uncle Bleys' daughter, and Jack is Aunt Fiona's. Jack's always, at least to my face, hasn't treated me as a child. You're probably a little more familiar with him, his being older." Diomedes offers.

"Yeah, Jack's okay," Random confirms. "He's like Drake. Tries to stay out of the games, with an equally varied degree of success. Though I know Drake likes to keep his hand in whatever is going on just so he can mess with everybody right back."

"Have no clue about Roz though. Guess I'd have to size her up to give you a real impression."

Diomedes looks up at the sun and its color in relation to the sky. "We're getting closer, but this is a pretty long haul, Uncle. We could do with an afternoon's and night's relaxation and rest before continuing. Whether or not any offers are accepted, rejected or dodged, we should be at our best as we get closer to the Maelstrom."

"And it might bore you to death." Diomedes adds. "But I do need time to replenish my quiver, so to speak. I feel a bit naked with half of my spells gone."

"Then find us some accommodations, Doc. And speaking of being a bit naked, and my last night before going to Rebma, why don't you make mine a brunette?"

"Food, shelter, and diversion. I'll probably not have time to enjoy the third,myself, but I will see what comes up, Uncle." Diomedes promises.

"Deal," replies Random.

Over the next hour, Diomedes carefully makes small and careful changes to the shadow, allowing the sun to sink toward sunset as he makes the small changes to make their stay in shadow complete.

Accommodations are first, and a few moderately upper class hotels wind up appearing on the horizon on the coast of this region of shadow.

"You do like the sea, don'tchya?" Random observes. "That's fine, so long as you're taking care of the details." He frowns then. "I used to."

Diomedes nods thoughtfully. "The element of water is in my blood, Uncle."

Diomedes continues driving as they loom larger, the son of Brand making small alterations to the shadow as they approach to form a charming coastal city for the hotels, and a world built up from it.

What Diomedes comes up with is a temperate coastal area with lush forests, and striking mountains in the distance. The effect, if Diomedes was on Earth, would be not dissimilar to Vancouver Island, Canada. Some very liberal ideas about one night stands is thrown in for Random's benefit, and a arcane background level for his own work is a quiet but unmistakable note. The technology level is not dissimilar to that he saw in Flora's shadow.

A prominent banner welcomes tourists to city of Catherina's Hope. Once they stop for petrol, the two of them discover that this city takes in a lot of seasonal trade. Rival cities in the region draw in a lot of vacationing university students, and Catherina's Hope capitalizes on some of that same exodus, but in a much more controlled and upscale atmosphere. Just what Diomedes wants; a festive environment for his uncle, that will still allow him to get some work done.

The changes are complete by the time Diomedes pulls into the parking lot of the Saint Catherine Hotel. Diomedes leads Random inside the lodge like interior and straight and to the hotel clerk for his arranged reservation.

The Pattern doesn't fail him. The friendly male check-in clerk flashes a grateful smile as he accepts the credit card that Diomedes produces from his wallet; and only hesitates a half a second after being told that they don't need any luggage carried.

To their 'individual' respective suites of course (that there were two reservations must have been that requirement that Diomedes made that he could actually concentrate on anything). The clerk volunteers to make the suites adjacent so the two men can stay together as a group.

Diomedes accepts the change.

Thirty minutes later, he and Random are in a large suite, and food ordered in advance has arrived. On the menu are a pair of large deep dish pizzas, one with "columbian bacon" and the other with a more Greek feel with olives and feta. Some hot wings, breadsticks, and beer round out the menu.

Random is pleased. "You might be a little refined kid, but by Her Grace," he gestures to the food, "I think there's hope for you yet. Doc." This is said with appreciative good humor. "Feed me and get me laid, hell you're working on becoming my new favorite nephew."

"Until you find a better." Diomedes grins.

"Anyway, there is a Women's team of Pyramid players on the floor below us." Diomedes says to Random. "The highly charged and physical nature of the sport means that they'll think a good looking like guy you, Uncle, will be fresh meat, especially after they come back from winning their game tonight."

"Good deal," murmurs Random as he bites into a chicken wing.

"Most of the suspects are brunettes." Diomedes adds with a grin. "If I finish my spell work, I'll join you."

"I wasn't serious about that," Random says with his mouth full. Swallowing he adds, "I'm an equal opportunity lay. Yeah though, good times."

Diomedes blushes slightly.

After they've gone through about half the food, and Random has unwound with a couple beers, he retires to his room to freshen up and see to his hygiene. His plan, he shares, is to head down and watch the the long strong legs and tight swimsuit Pyramid uniforms.. and oh, nominally the game too. Then he intends on searching for some complicated situation that will result in a vague smile on the face of some woman at a future bachelorette party many years hence.

Diomedes is of course welcome, by Random, to come along and make his own complications.

Two hours later...

Diomedes pushed back from the table and regarded his options. Two spells had been recovered with his diligent efforts. He was still down four spells.

"Greffet" he says, looking down at the floor as if he was able to look through the floor at the adventures of his uncle, just getting warmed up.

"I should just stay here and replenish my spell slots completely." Diomedes says, to no one at all. "If I don't and we're caught off guard..." Diomedes speaks aloud, continuing to argue with himself, the scent of salt water in the air, from his spell work rather than the nearby sea.

"Temptation." Diomedes said. "I shouldn't have made this place quite so tempting." Diomedes laments aloud. And then he looks at the table again and looks at the door.

"If I don't go, I'll lament it all evening, and probably won't be able to get all that I want done in any event." Diomedes rationalizes. "On the other hand, I would be crimping Uncle Random's style. My appearance could ruin his own attempt at relaxation."

Diomedes pauses to freshen up prior to going to downstairs. Wash his face, brush his teeth, all courtesy of the materials provided for last minute travelers by the Hotel.

Perhaps in deciding that his jacket is to heavy for the climate, he hangs it up; that is when the note falls out and onto the carpeted floor.

Bending down, Diomedes can still feel the heavy parchment like paper, folded twice over. Dampened in the rain and now dried into a well creased little square.

"The note." Diomedes says to himself.

Dio looks around, as a matter of instinct. Here in his private suite, he is alone at last.. Even if a gentle window and the sounds of splashing from the pool below comes wafting through the sliding glass balcony door, Diomedes can not be observed.

After a second deliberation he unfolds the paper and begins to read:

'I can only hope with all my heart that you have not just taken this out and announced your possession of this correspondence in front of Random. If so, Diomedes, then even as you read this- make up a lie to divert his interest. It is paramount that you do not casually share this. To put your mind at ease, Random is not a poor companion. However his trustworthiness is expanded when he doesn't know enough to betray.

I once promised you, that in the fullness of time, I would tell you what is going on. To the best of my knowledge you have never betrayed me, and you have kept my counsel, and heeded my advice- even at the cost of some personal loss.

So today is the day that I stop playing games with you, and we go about our important work. The situation is dire. If you will recall from our conversation in Rebma, I said we will both be powerless to stop tragedy from occurring. At least by ourselves.

The event I wish to avert is nothing less than the destruction of Amber itself. She is assailed from enemies from within and from without. Some of whom, you have already encountered. Some of them you have already turned to your path instead of their own. Nevertheless the greatest threat Amber faces is none of other than Corwin himself. This is one possibility that the future holds, and even as we speak his daughter is unknowingly enabling that possibility to come about.

The other tragedy is that your father was aware of this possibility. To avert the destruction of the One True Earth, he attempted to stop Corwin. Unable to change events, Brand then tried to kill his brother, in the misguided and bloody manner that he learned from our mutual patriarch. Brand shot out the tires in Corwin's car which nearly took his life. And should Corwin be turned from his reckless future, Brand will pay the price in his place. Unhinged by paranoia and manipulated- I foresee him taking a dangerous course that will ultimately see him cut down like a mad dog.

Diomedes nearly drops the note in shock at this point. It takes an effort for him to continue reading.

Dire, as I said. However as much as it pains me to say these terrible things- I suspect what happiness with the Rebman lady this already cost you. What you have bought with your heartache is this opportunity to work with me to find a Third Way. We will find a way to redeem both these men.

What I need you to do, foremost, is to keep this information to yourself. Now is not the time to recruit others, for I do not think they will believe us. We must rescue your father; but he may have to abide for a time. Had we rescued him yesterday, you would not have been able to reason with him. When the times comes, you must be in the position to restrain him long enough to get him listen to you; for you may be the only one who *can* get him to listen. Unfortunately, it may take some time before we are able to come to his aid. I must ask you to abide.

The moment now belongs to Corwin, and we must see what he does with it.

You must play this cautiously Diomedes. You can not assume the good intentions of even your dearest cousins, because what I ask of you amounts to a faith they may not have. And I can not casually come to your rescue. We must wait for the best time to act.

Unfortunately, I can not see any further past these recent events. There will come a great confrontation, and I no longer can rely on prescience, even in Tir Na N'goth. Events shift constantly in that precarious place. Now I live in the present moment, just like you and everyone else.

"Tir" Diomedes says softly. "Of course." He continues to read.

A final warning. Now, more than ever before, I believe that I have an adversary. Not another manipulator of events like the Seers, but possibly someone who is not aware of me, even as I can not identify them. Yet there is an outside influence at work in Amber, I'm sure of it. Another reason to keep your confidences as to what we do as much as you are able.

Stay the course, head to Rebma. Expect it to be a great theatre of events both big and small. You are not expected, but that will be the place to be.

I would burn this note if I were you. On the other hand, it might be the one thing that could save your life someday. Your call. My Magic Eight Ball is now "out of order".

Yours in trust, D.

PS. After you said something, I wanted to make sure that the Tower metaphor was clearly understood. I get it now, the whole loop. Odd, one never gets used to that.

Diomedes holds the note dumbly in his hand as he heads to the bathroom. Not to throw up, even as his stomach rumbles and twists with what Delwin has unleashed upon him. No, it is to the bathroom mirror that Diomedes goes, and to his reflection.

"You bastard." Diomedes speaks to the mirror but not to his own reflection. He then releases a stream of invectives in Greek, Enochian and every other language that he knows, just as he did in the car with Random so recently.

It is a minute or two before Diomedes turns on a sink, and lets the reassuring sound and flow of the water calm him down . He first splashes his face with handfuls of the living giving element, and then he takes a washcloth to wipe his face, letting its moist coolness bring down his passionate anger.

"I need a drink. And what's more, I need to start acting like the Laertiades, and stop getting pushed around this chessboard."

Diomedes very carefully refolds the note along new lines until it is the length and width of a trump card. He then retrieves his trump deck and inserts the note in the middle of it and closes it again.

With the note secreted thusly, Diomedes then heads downstairs, to get a good stiff drink and find diversion of a different sort, even as the wheels of his mind turn with the beginnings of a plan of what to tell Random.

Diomedes pulls the door to Room 505 closed and takes the elevator down
from the fifth floor to the lobby, that leads to the beach side bar
and pool area. A few boats, with and without sails, glide around on
the coastal waters as the sun is starting to set. Music comes from
concealed speakers as hotel guests are starting to come out for a bit
of early evening fun.

Diomedes pauses a moment to wistfully look at the coastal scene, standing there and listening and observing for a few moments.

Finding Random is easy. One only has to follow the loud voices,
shouts, and laughter. Under the shade of a couple large umbrellas,
tables have been drawn together. Empty bottles, glasses and empty
appetizer plates litter the table top, while seated around them are a
half dozen attractive and athletic young women, and smack in the
middle is Random, like a prince.

Diomedes pauses as he reaches the outskirts of the principality that the Prince of Amber has carved out for himself. He then gives a slight graze of the head and moves forward until Random, even so enthroned and distracted, cannot miss him.


His eyes light when he sees his nephew. "Ladies," he says calling
their attention. "This is the guy I was telling you about. My cousin
Deon, single, eligible.. and if I failed to mention it before.. med
school graduate summa cum laude."

Diomedes manages a slightly weak smile, his gaze only rotating from Random to his companions as he starts to bring Dio up to speed.


The ladies are not so cliche as to coo, but Diomedes is given a half a
dozen up and down glances simultaneously.

Random wastes no time and starts making introductions. "Babbette,
Shari, Mallika, Tamara, and we always have to have a Jennifer.. and.."
The list goes on. One of them doesn't look like an athlete, but looks
at Dio with deep soulful eyes, "...Team Manager, Aishwarya..."

Diomedes eyes look over each and every one, the smile a little less false and painted on. The last manages to get a much more authentic smile and bright eyed look, at least compared to his previous mien. His attention turns back to Random and relapses to a more somber one.

"We need to talk-later, cousin." Diomedes says firmly, and Random can see Diomedes trying to push away his mood from his body language and gaze with force of will alone. "Its nothing that is going to interest your new friends, and in point of fact probably would bore them to death. And I am *sorely* in need of distraction." Diomedes says. "And a drink."


Diomedes need say no more. Random catches the drift and plays off it,
drawing no more attention to any underlying gravity in his nephew's
actual mood. "Sure thing," he replies thoughtfully, "we can take care
of that."

Random looks around the table, like he's searching for some place that
they can squeeze Diomedes in. The man is actually a fine actor. He
starts to stand up and half points and gestures around, finally
settling in the direction of the lovely Team Manager. "Hey why don't
we pull up a.." He moves like he's going to do it himself, but
instantly Aishwarya and the woman next to her shift their chairs apart
to make room, and someone pulls over an unused chair from a nearby
table for Diomedes. "That's it," Random says cheerfully as he settles
back down and sips on his liquor laden tropical drink.

Almost as if his uncle decided that it would happen, a smiling waitress walks up to stand at 'Deon's' shoulder and asks him he'd like something to drink.

"Thank you." Diomedes says with a nod. "I'll have a Serpent's Tongue, with ice."


"Got it hon," she smiles.

The ladies start to chat, and Random raises a finger and calls down the table. "Could we get another one of those appetizer sampler platter things?"

"Sure," the waitress smiles at him taking a half step closer to him.

Random looks all around, "Anybody ready for another round?" The suggestion is met with nods and smiles. Random looks back to the waitress. "Why don't you just set me up a tab? And... put it all on my bill," he adds quietly, handing her a credit card.

The waitress smiles even wider, "Sure thing," she replies. "I'll just clear some thing dishes away and I'll be right back for those drinks."

"Thanks, cousin." Diomedes says easily.

And thus the mood around the table is very relaxed and easy.

Diomedes eyes turn to find the team manager. "So how did the girls do in their match...Aishwarya, was it?"

She smiles and lowers her eyes subconsciously, but then she lifts them to meet his. "Pronounced it right the first time," she replies and her smile comes to full bloom. "And yes-" she emphasizes, "we sure did."

Diomedes nods as he regards the smile.

This remark is met with cheers of "Yeah baby!" and "Whoohoo!" and high fives by the more rowdy ladies. Even Aishwarya makes a little fist and jerks her arm in a motion like someone pulling a slot machine handle. They're all clearly celebratory.

Diomedes relaxes and smiles as he looks around.

"We're going to playoff's now, Southern Conference," she explains. "We're from Humana State. Its sort of a big deal for us because we haven't had a team in the playoffs for the last five years."

Diomedes nods. "Welcome back to the Playoffs."

"I'm not that good," Aishwarya confides with a little smile and a roll of her eyes, "so I'm just the Team Manager." She looks down the table at some of her friends and gives a little laugh. "We managed to ditch our Coach for the night." More cheers follow.

"So while the dog is away...the cats can play." Diomedes improvises with a smile.

"And tonight," one of the other women says raising her glass,
prompting a hasty and sloppy toast, "we play!"

"Just a different game besides pyramid, I hope," Random adds. "Because
I think five of you could actually take me." This is met with
laughter, cheers, and some rather bawdy remarks.

Random is busy with the obviously wilder ones, laughing and joking, enjoying himself. Things are still fairly tame now, but given an hour, somebody will be doing belly shots.

"You just graduated med school? Or was that your pre-med undergraduate degree?" she asks, those big eyes watching Diomedes as she pauses to sip on the straw in her frozen drink.

"I just finished my second of the programme of two Foundation years on top of Medical School." Diomedes explains with a smile for the Team Manager. "I've yet to go into my specialist curriculum."

Interested, Aishwarya asks him what he plans on specializing in.

"Endocrinology." Diomedes responds easily. "It dovetails with my love of research and lab work, so I hope to be a practicing doctor as well as do some medical research."

In turn, she reveals that she is undecided, but is considering forensic anthropology.

"A lab profession as well." Diomedes beams. "Dem Bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Tell me more..."

Eventually Aishwarya and Diomedes learn that the heavy partying exhibited by the others is neither of their own styles. She's easy to talk to, and fascinated by some of the 'modified' stories that he can tell of Epirus and Shadow. Sooner or later they drift over to another table so that they can hear each other better. As the stars come out, the moon in this place is spectacular and full.

Diomedes stares at the Moon.

"Its nearly bright enough to be able to see colors at night." Diomedes says at one point. "I have an Uncle Girard who still sails a lot, and knows the night sky better than anyone I know."

Opting for a long walk on the beach, soon there is nothing but shimmering moonlight on the waves and the distant lights of the hotels to light their way. Nothing but the soft sound of the surf to interrupt them. Without a word they find themselves holding hands.

Aishwarya is easily one of the most beautiful women Diomedes has ever seen, on this world or any other. This evening she has found a man who is intelligent, fun, and listens to her. It seems only a matter of course that eventually, once Diomedes kisses her, that her soft lips would not want to be apart from his for quite some time.

When they do stop, there is the inevitable blush, with the smile that really isn't guilty at all. They both note that its quite late, and Diomedes escorts her back to the hotel, still holding hands. There is conversation. 'When are you leaving?' 'Maybe we can meet up some time and go out?' 'Let me write my number down.' All the things that usually happen on a great first date.

Aishwarya is not the kind of lady that one would describe as easy. Otherwise she'd be with Random and his new posse. Yet when the elevator stops and they kiss goodnight.. there is hunger on both sides. She worries what Diomedes will think of her. When he reassures her, she listens.

After all, Diomedes walked to a place where a one-night stand was possible.

With regret tossed to the wayside, Diomedes leads her to his room. Now perhaps glad that he has his own private suite.

Later, when the music and noise filters through the walls from Random's room, neither of them pay any attention. Later still, when the hotel detective can be heard talking to Random about keeping the noise down and Random is in turn shushing his giggling drunken 'guests'- Diomedes and Aishwarya could care less.

They are too busy quietly making love.

Eventually the noise fades away entirely, leaving the two of them curled up in each others arms. Pleasantly tired and relaxed. The worries of the universe can wait till tomorrow, for now Diomedes drifts off asleep and in peace.