Dionysus He says, "Where is this wondrous box? Or should we find dinner first?"

Aurelia "The airship, my cabin." She tilts her head, then nods at the question.

Dionysus "Do you like seafood?"

• Aurelia considers, and nods again.

Dionysus "Then I know a good place. This way."

• Aurelia smiles happily and follows.

Dionysus He leads you to an out of the way seaside restaurant. As you arrive, he says, "An old friend owned this before the war. His sons own it now. They treat me right." And as he opens the door, someone calls his name. They hug, & you get lead to a good table with a nice, seaview.

Aurelia No objection to Kashaji?

Dionysus They ask he stays just outside the door.

• Aurelia asks him to do so, then.
• Aurelia sits, looking out at the view admiring.

Dionysus Kashaji stays.

Dionysus Bartleby says, "Gotten all of your songs, if you don't mind my asking?"

Dionysus "Save the moons?"

Aurelia "And the reevers..."

Dionysus He smiles, "Right. You ready for this?"

• Aurelia bites the corner of her lip and looks out at the sea again, then back to Bartleby and nods.

Dionysus He smiles, "I have a few tricks up my sleeve that might help, & my band isn't without resource. Tomerane can make it snow, anywhere. Leonas is actually handy with a knife, & Leia has some fire in her. And Kansallus agreed to join us tomorrow. His sword arm's still as good as his guitar playing."

• Aurelia blinks. "Kansallus..?"

Dionysus "My old partner! The other rogue."

• Aurelia tilts her head, then after a moment smiles.

Dionysus "He's the one that busted me out when I was captured by reevers."

Dionysus "I reminded him of an old friend, he said."

Dionysus "My playing, anyway."

Aurelia "What friend..?"

Dionysus He looks thoughtful, "He never said, come to think of it. Some old flame, I suspect."

• Aurelia murmurs, "Ah..."

Dionysus He sighs, "It's such a shame we can't play the songs on the tickets to anyone yet. There's some on ours... I want to share them with you, so badly."

• Aurelia blushes, then smiles. "At the contest..."

Dionysus He nods, "Did you meet that pachydermion? Brother to your old drummer?"

Aurelia Did we? I don't believe so.

Dionysus No, you never did

• Aurelia frowns slightly at having Gaja recalled, and shakes her head.

Dionysus "He had this machine. It... It kept the music on disks. It wasn't magic, either. It... He had a... You play, then it keeps the song you played & can play it back. Called a phonograph."

• Aurelia furrows her brow. "A machine..?" She then smiles, giving up trying to figure it out. "I would like to see such a thing."

Dionysus He nods, "He's collecting songs for the contest on it, but he also collects other songs. It's... I've seen magic, & miracles, & works of art, & I've heard poetry & songs, & seen Gifts, but that weird music box was more astounding than all that."

• Aurelia continues to smile as she listens, enjoying Bartleby's pleasure.

Dionysus He talks about music, asks you about things you've been up to, etc. The food is good, very good. Fresh seafood.

• Aurelia enjoys it all, answers all questions and occasionally voices thoughts and some of the better of her recent experiences. She also makes sure to order something for Kashaji.

Dionysus They give Kashaji something, boneless.

Aurelia Good.

Dionysus After dinner, you go to the ship?

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus The Torch on duty waves you in.

• Aurelia leads Bartleby to her cabin.

Dionysus He follows, & all night he's been holding back his emotions, with happiness leaking out the entire time, his stress slowly dying as it stays sealed. Now, all of it washes away as he arrives at your cabin. He stops you at the door & kisses you.

• Aurelia pauses, surprised, then kisses back, embracing and blushing.

Dionysus He pulls you inside the cabin, toward the bed.

Dionysus Gently

• Aurelia follows his lead.

Dionysus If you don't stop him...

Dionysus Well, it will go all the way.

• Aurelia does protest if he begins removing clothing or touching the wrong places. Weakly at first, she's still not sure what he knows, or... well, what to do.

Dionysus He stops if you stop him taking anything off. He smiles, "Sorry. Got carried away. You wanted to show me the chest?"

Dionysus His smile & his emotions tell you he knew exactly what he was doing & wasn't 'carried away,' but that he doesn't mind stopping either. He's a rogure.

Dionysus Rogue

• Aurelia hugs herself and bows her head a touch. "Bartleby..."

Dionysus "Yes?"

Aurelia "I am... I want..." She stops and shakes her head, unable to figure out how to say anything. After a moment she stands and goes somewhat unsteadily to the chest.

Dionysus Bartleby feels nothing but patience. "It's all right. You don't have to worry. I won't force you to anything you are uncomfortable with."

• Aurelia bows her head again, back to him as she kneels over the chest. "You would not wish me."

Dionysus He frowns, "Don't be silly. I very obviously do."

• Aurelia says quietly, "Beauty is illusion. Under silk and lace lie ugliness and deceit."

Dionysus "Beauty is the core of you. If you were ugliness beneath, it would shine through."

• Aurelia stands again, leaving the chest untouched, and turns back to Bartleby.

Dionysus He's looking at you wtih concern & care.

• Aurelia watches him silently for a moment, then, "My father... he is Hornet Rust."

Dionysus He frowns.

Dionysus Confusion, then anger. "That lying bastard."

• Aurelia blinks.

Dionysus "He... told you /Hornet Rust/..."

Dionysus "He said Hornet was your father?"

Dionysus "I'll kill him. He told me he told you!"

Aurelia "He..?"

Dionysus "Kansallus!"

Dionysus "Hornet Rust is a /black ender/, Aurelia. He can't be your father."

Aurelia "Black..? But Grimdancer..."

Dionysus "Is Kansallus's. When Hornet made him serve him."

• Aurelia stares at the sword.

Dionysus "He left that behind when he left. He was purified. But he kept the sword, because he mastered it."

Dionysus "It's part of how we got away."

Dionysus "And a long story."

• Aurelia returns to sit on the bed.

Dionysus "Were you worried I'd hate you because your 'father''s a monster?"

Aurelia "Because I am as my father is."

Dionysus He shakes his head. "I don't understand."

• Aurelia bites the corner of her lip again, watching him and looking for words. Failing to find any better, she reaches back and begins unbuttoning her dress.

Dionysus He gets up to help you.

• Aurelia lets him, though she's trembling nervously.

Dionysus He kisses her.

Dionysus Now it goes all the way?

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus Fade to black.