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Post by Jules on Apr 3, 2008 22:58:14 GMT -5
The new hideout was to date the best they'd ever had. In the Endless wastes where no one ever came with a transport egronomically designed to cross the harsh terrain on very little and inexpensive fuel (camels). The well built three room shanty was roomy enough to house a large meeting room with maps and documents sprawled all over and that weeks paper and important clippings, etc. Books lay in stacks all over the place, and on the floor in places where Diaspro had inevitably tripped over them. There was a low lying table as the center focus of the room, with luxuriant cushions thrown around it, the pile at the head of the table (Diaspro's unargued throne) was a litte higher and a little more comfortable then the other piles. There was a small open concept kitchen but they usually ate preprepared foods that they brought down with them, but when Jasper got sick of their whining he would cook for them (and threatening to stop if Diaspro pinched his cheek just one more time).
Diaspro herself had her own place back in Dreamland, but she was planning on some action soon and the D.E.N couldn't risk being so available to investigation.
Diaspro was currently sprawled on her cushion thrown, looking amazingly graceful only because she wasn't moving. Her hands curled perfectly in her lap and she had her head tilted back, resting at the perfect angle creating an ideal dent in the pillow. He knees splayed in an idllyic fashion and her white toga dress pleated with precision. A statuesque vision as always.
James, who was never that far from Diaspro, was in fact at this moment across the room, sitting on the kitchen counter staring at her, helpless and rather misplaced loved in his eyes.
When Diaspro 'caught' him staring (she'd known he'd been doing it all along but so relished in the feeling of someone loving her so completely without her returning a smidgen of the same) she rolled her head and straightened in her throne.
Which completely ruined her gracefullness, for the moment Diaspro moved it was clear that klutz and lumberer was etched into every gesture.
"Come on guys." She called, and there was perfectly toned about her voice, even if it wasn't what you'd call beautiful, it was pleasant on the ears. "It's time to get some planning done."
James, who was a tomato red at having been caught staring remained on the counter. If Jasper went to sit down first it would look better. Then he wouldn't look so eager to sit on her right side, and discreetly kick his cushion pile just a little bit closer to her. She knew too, she knew all to well and that made it so much worse.
The way she was looking at him now, with one eyebrow raised and that little smile on her lips. She knew he was aching to be the first one there lest she doubt his love for her. Stupid woman. He got up, slowly and walked langourously towards the table and then nonchalantly kicked his pillow pile a little farther away from her (just a few milimeters). He sat down slowly and was still there before Jasper even had a chance to respond.
Diaspro let out a little laugh and James scowled. He knew that she was well aware kicking his cushion that far away from her was the biggest step he'd made in telling her off in decades.
"James, be a dear, and fetch me a glass of water." Taking his agreement as a forgone conclusion she thanked him premptively and he grumbled loudly (on the inside) as he hurried to the kitchen to get it to her before her throat dried out completely like it was wont to do.
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 3, 2008 23:40:40 GMT -5
Jasper, having overheard Diaspro's command, stepped from the kitchen with a glass of ice water in his hand, which he handed to James, trying to hide the amused twitch to his lips, before taking his place at the table. He stretched out his long legs, crossing one ankle over the other. He cast a languid glance at Diaspro, and waited.
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Post by Jules on Apr 4, 2008 0:08:22 GMT -5
James didn't like the fact that he was so transparent either. Especially infront of someone like Jasper who was infinitely more manly then he was and it wasn't fair because if Diaspro spent her time around him and compared him to Jasper it might never been enough looks to make her realize he was actually good looking. He mumbled a thanks to Jasper but that jerk ended up sitting before him. A momentary sneer cross James face before his placid friendly look overtook his hound dog features and he handed the class of water to Diaspro, who had forgotten all about ever asking for such a think and so brushed away his pestering hand when he offered the glass to her.
"Drink it yourself." She said a little harshly, leaning forward to unstack papers so she could get a better look at them all. Stung, James would mope for a good two seconds. Of course, Diaspro ignored him entirely in the actual formulating of the plans, he only did actions bits and rarely had anything good to input*.
"I think it's about time D.E.N started getting known. We need some publicity."
She licked her lips and turned to James, who had just drained the rest of the water in the glass.
"Get me a drink, won't you?"
*This was largely unfair. James had lots of helpful and quality things to input. He had a tendency to overcomplicate the way he said it to make himself sound smart because it was the only way he could think of to impress Diaspro. It actually ended up peeving her off, making her feel stupid and writing him off as largely useless when it came to ideas.
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 4, 2008 0:15:09 GMT -5
Diaspro's general disregard for James was annoying since because James couldn't input, or wasn't allowed, or was sent to fetch something, it fell to Jasper to comment on Diaspro's plans. He didn't enjoy the responsibility, preferring to just be told what to do.
"What would you suggest?" he asked in a low voice that held that slight rasp that came from disuse. "A petition to the newspaper?"
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Post by Jules on Apr 4, 2008 0:22:19 GMT -5
Diaspro sometimes felt exasperated with her lot. She had one team member who talked in jargon and the other barely enough and when he did it was like he was doing the world some great favor by uttering a single syllable and it was hardly ever helpful.
Deep down, Diaspro wouldn't really change them for the world (maybe for Hina).
"I was thinking graffiti, clear and in public places. James." She adress him, since he'd just returned and handed her the water she'd asked for twice now.
"Yes?"
"Could you get some graffiti on The Opera Di Incubi, and maybe the Rissa Grande?" James frowned and thought about it, taking his seat again.
"The Opera Di Incubi will be an easy enough location due to relaxed security and the productions not being shown at the moment, it's off season. But The Rissa Grande proves more of a challenge as it's security is not quite so relaxed. And then we have to ask, who would see it? And what should it say? The message should be effective but by placing it on the prison it may serve to only emphasize that Nightmares do serve justice...sometimes."
The incredibly stony glare Diaspro gave him made his voice wither in his throat.
"Nightmares do not know the meaning of the word. As for how'd they'd know, we'd start rumours of course, and we can hit houses too. Main streets, shops. And on the prison I was 'You All Belong In Here' and then I want witticisms elsewhere. "Your death with come from the den" Etcetera."
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 4, 2008 0:36:22 GMT -5
"Your death will come from the DEN is not witty," Jasper pointed out dryly. Getting around security was something that came easily to the extremely lucky, so he wasn't worried about that. Though, he did feel that James had a point. The prison was perhaps not the best target.
"The prison might not be best right now because the king just served his own son with house arrest, so obviously some justice takes place, without prejudice."
Wow. That was long-winded. Sometimes he had to be when he was reminding Diaspro that James was right (which happened more often than he cared for).
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Post by Jules on Apr 4, 2008 0:44:17 GMT -5
This was not helpful. Not only had all of her ideas been shot down into the ground, but no new ones had been put on the table. She crossed her arms, a harsh movement like all of her movements were.
"Well fine." Her lower lip stuck out in the perfect pout. James wanted badly to make it go away. "Have any of you got better ideas?"
"Not better!" James assured hurriedly. "Just more pratical and applicable." He despaired when he saw Diaspro sniff in contempt and so he figured this was about time to show off.
"Jasper brings up a good point, the son, Alexander. He is a weak spot. He just set fire to the Gaia, a beloved club." Diaspro sniffed again because they'd refused her membership and ever since she told anyone who would listen that she found a dead rat chopped up with her salad there once and henceforth refused to return.
"We can do something with this Alexander, perhaps befriend him.....use him. Get him to cause more mischeif and do more damage to the royal image."
Diaspro sighed and waved a hand in ugly dimissivness. "Whatever." She was no longer sure if this was a bad, or good idea.
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 4, 2008 0:53:47 GMT -5
Jasper, though not madly in love with Diaspro, didn't want her to feel rejected.
He looked at James thoughtfully. "Did you have anything in mind?" he asked, in an obvious vouch for James' idea.
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Post by Jules on Apr 4, 2008 1:03:30 GMT -5
"Yes. Break him out of house arrest, I'm good with tnt, fireworks, we can tempt him." James began fidgeting because he wanted to bring something else up but was frankly terrified. He was desperately trying to figure out a gentle way to tell Diaspro she probably wouldn't be the best woman for the job. The Prince's taste for flirting was astronomical but Diaspro wasn't everyone's taste (which just mad James insanely lucky). She was oversized and only seven inches or so shorter then Jasper and all though she was perfect, she wasn't delicate and the way she moved wasn't pleasant and just all this together meant that maybe they needed some better female bait.
He tried to convey all this to Jasper through his eyes because maybe he had a better way of putting it. Diaspro seemed lost in thought but her voice jerked him out of his desperate searchings and he prayed she wasn't about to volunteer.
"I don't think I'll do field work. I'm not up to the prince, I'd snap his face off in half a day. We need some pretty little thing to do it for us. But where do we find someone like that? Or you two could do it, but I think we have a better chance with the female."
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 4, 2008 12:56:46 GMT -5
"I'd rather not," Jasper said bluntly. He wasn't Mr. Makes-Friends-Easy in the first place, but he was fairly sure that even if he was gifted with social talents, the reckless young prince would get on his nerves.
Unbidden, Jolene rose to the forefront of his mind, like she often did with only the slightest of nudges (such as the mentioning of the word female), but he forced her away with practiced calm.
"I don't know any pretty little females," he put in, helpfully.
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Post by Jules on Apr 4, 2008 22:38:20 GMT -5
Diaspro gave a rough sigh. Things should be easier for them. They were the good guys! Some beacon of light should show them the way to go, something should be there to guide them. If Hina were here she'd know what to do. She wouldn't sit around and sigh. Diaspro's back straightened at the thought and her blue eyes blazed with a very weak imitation of what was supposed to be 'Ira intensity'.
James edgeda little farther away and shook his head. He definitely didn't know any pretty little females. But he was suprised and slightly mollified that Jasper didn't either. He'd have figure Jasper as the type to know at least three. Maybe four.
"I could try, but I think our chances would grow exponentially if we were to recruit a pretty little female to our side. She shouldn't be Dream, which means we'll have to hire a Nightmare." He said this with the proper amount of disdain even though personally, James didn't have too much agaisnt the fellows. He knew better then to mention that in front of present company (which made up most of the company he ever had on any given day). "And so our true intentions would obviously have to be hidden and we should perhaps consider blackmail to ensure sucess."
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 5, 2008 22:20:35 GMT -5
ooc; Um, did you have anyone in mind, just asking?
Jasper rubbed his temple. "If none of us know anyone," he said slowly, "then perhaps our first mission should be to go find someone?"
In his experience, there were Nightmares that could pass as Dreams, and Dreams that could pass as Nightmares. Grudgingly, he suppose he could admit that in that sense, Nightmares and Dreams were more like each other than they realized, and perhaps could learn to get along...
---but clearly they couldn't, and that's why this was right.
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Post by Jules on Apr 5, 2008 22:34:00 GMT -5
ooc; I really don't have a clue. It would need to be someone who had something to be blackmailed with, and I was talking to Molly and Bela seems like a good idea?
"Right well, that can be our job for today." The threesome was going to look odd, out in Chimera, chasing after pretty Nightmares and asking them personal questions, or perhaps following them around. Diaspro wasn't exactly good at the stealth thing, so following them around to figure out what they could blackmail them with would be a challenge. But she had ideas.
"We should start somewhere shady, somewhere a mother wouldn't want to find her daughter. It saves us the trouble of finding out if the girl has something to hide if we go to the place she's hiding it."
James nodded because not only did he agree with mostly everything she said, this time it was a good idea. However, his judgement might be clouded. Ok. Compared to clouded his judgement was opaque fog, but still. He had enough common sense to on some secondary level recognize when Diaspro was being an idiot.
"Right. What about bribing, how much have we got collectively?" "Not enough. I spend it most on those laughter bombs that we just have to use at some point..."
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Post by Miss Jack on Apr 5, 2008 22:54:25 GMT -5
ooc; Okay, yeah--- totes works for me! Shall we PM her and move the thread?
Jasper stood to his feet without a word (his version of 'Okay, gang-- let's go!'), walked to the door, and shrugged leather, seen many better days jacket onto his broad shoulders. "The Faded?" he inquired, to be sure, one eyebrow raised.
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