<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Night with Rachel</span></span></div><br/>“I don’t know what sorts of encounters you usually have, but things with mortals are usually a lot more mundane, really!  Well, things get weird here sometimes, but usually just when some outsider comes in, such as present company.  But usually people just go to work, make meals, talk to friends, and go about their business.”<br/><br/>“What?  Almost every girl has sex their first year?”  If that were true, at least Kleris didn’t have to feel like as much a slut…  “But yes, mundane, mortal fun is still fun.  You just have to connect with that small, personal scale with other people’s social lives.  Souls and binding are big obvious effects, obviously, but making friends and being a part of their lives is touching their makeup of the world, so that can be very rewarding and fun.  And usually you don’t even notice until later!”  Kleris’ mind went back to all the friendships and adventures he’d made in just a few short months and how they had personally affected everyone involved.  So when Rachel made her sudden declaration of intent, he wasn’t sure he heard right.<br/><br/>“Calendar?”  As Rachel described her idea, getting more excited, Kleris’ natural reaction was to shoot it down, that was wrong!  Wasn’t it?  A curious, impulsive part entertained the idea, as he’d certainly enjoy the final product.  And then there was the thought of actually being a subject; not only would he be a pinup girl, but then all of those students and perverted men would be ogling the girls, ogling him, as his image seductively stripped on their command…<br/><br/>As his face flushed with nervous excitement at the very idea, he was shaken out of the reverie by Rachel ramming the ceiling and landing on the bed.  Kleris had to pick his cup back from the floor and find a rag to throw on the wine, giving Rachel the time to steamroll her plan.  “Um, well, I’m sure there’d be interested girls, and I’m sure there’s already an underground market, and I know a place in Redlight that would take them too--”  No, stupid!  He wasn’t supposed to help her!  But, maybe, he rationalized, doing a little consensual mischief would satisfy her before she did something really evil, and teach her slightly more benevolence, or at least benignity.<br/><br/>Sighing, “I’ll talk to the illusionist nerds who were already trading pictures of girls around if they’d like to go semi-legitimate in return for higher production values, like proper lighting instead of candid images through the bushes and drunk girls passed out on the floor.”<br/><br/>Leaving Rachel to nurse her head and her drink, Kleris figured his best point of contact on such matters would be Lillin.  She may know any interested girls, and help organize personnel.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 84, the Riedran Embassy</span></span></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg13053925#msg13053925">Quote from: Skynet on 17-03-2017, 08:52:24</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Well, being a Riedran myself, I work for the establishment by default," Retario answered. "Unlike in Breland, every aspect of life is managed by the Inspired, divine monarchs who evolved from lesser forms in previous lives. Even the lowliest cobbler has been trained and assigned his duty, for everyone's assigned to where they can do the most good. As for myself...well, they didn't want to let my charm go to waste. My duty is to 'promote international relations between east and west,' which is open enough to let me pursue my own goals for that."<br/><br/>The changeling let out a yawn and stretch, inadvertently putting an arm around Kleris. "But not to worry; service comes with its perks. Like being allowed to help out an old friend reunite with his lost... daughter?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>The whole culture of Riedra was quite foreign, underlying every other aspect of their government and policies it seemed.  It was easy to take for granted one’s relative freedom to pursue anything in Khorvaire--resources permitting.  To have such direct control over every citizen was astounding; their bureaucracy must be vast and organized indeed.  Kleris smiled understandingly, “No, um, daughter is fine.  That’s what I am at school after all…”<br/><br/>The embassy had a definite presence as they approached.  Not only fitting the foreign government’s seat of local power, but something else undefinable.  And without getting a sense of magic was strange indeed.  It was like a ringing that persists after a lightning spell, so faint and internal that one might forget if they’re actually hearing something or just remembering.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><em>The Inspired,</em> Horishkad intoned. <em>They are not alone.</em></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><em>They?  You mean the royal “they?”</em>But there was no further explanation.  As the official subtle interrogated Retario, Kleris tried to look demure and inoffensive, and not give away that he didn’t know what anyone was talking about.  It was only after they’d walked well away that Kleris was able to exhale again and give him a side-eye of disapproval.  “Yes, the dream-meditation Horizon Room, quite self-evident?  Are we going to take a nap?”<br/><br/>If its purpose wasn’t entirely clear, the Horizon Room was at least impressive.  It was apparently a giant library and observatory.  “Meditate and open, um, I’ll give it a try.”  Kleris had had divination classes with lots of theory about opening one’s mind--or others’--and if wizardry wasn’t a discipline of mental focus, he didn’t know what else could help.  Sitting down in the massive device, Kleris tried to decipher what Retario was fiddling with, but it was all crystals and lenses.  Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes and focused inward, ignoring his confusion of the embassy, feeling his heart beat and lungs breathe, and looked back in time.  There was his recent date with Rensha; the successful completion of the musical; winning his first wizard duel; his first kiss at school, and first sex; further back, there were the days in the city, living with mom and working the shop; cooking, cleaning, greeting customers; celebrating holidays, baking confectionaries, the simple days of the small family tending to their life and each other…”