The Chicago War Room. (3/12-3/17)

        "Yes, I'll help. Just... stop doing the eyes." It's really hard for her to maintain her tough and confident demeanor when she wants to pinch your cheeks from the cuteness. "I'll teach you Spirit Tongue and we'll get you an essence jar..."

        Before Ysolda can elaborate, the grand ballroom's doors swing open.  A dozen people stride in, most of whom look for all the world like pirates - real honest to God pirates. In the front is a woman with a rifle in one hand and a severed head in the other;


  

    Quite nonchalantly, she strides across the room, drops the head on the table (with a sickeningly wet squelch) and says, "One deader head, as promised. I'll take our fee, now." She then hops up to sit on the table's edge and starts picking bits of gore off her gun. It's worth noting that hers is not the only weapon currently in need of cleaning - many of her crew (as you can only assume she's the boss) have weapons coated in fresh blood. These must be the Tolltaker Knights you've heard about.

        Among these newcomers, though, is someone familiar; the dark hair and eyes, the unshaven jaw, the long coat... that arm, the one that doesn't seem quite real, that you expect to spark with electricity at any moment... and the scowl on that face. That was the same scowl he wore when he had Cassidy hanging several stories above the Chicago streets; that's Tycho.

        Helena smiles from ear to ear. This? This is what she's been waiting for. This moment. She starts to make her way around the table. "Hello, sweetie," she says. Tycho looks up, and all the rage he's been carrying for the past century just melts away. They rush into each other's arms; if this was a romance film, the kiss they share would be the kiss where the music swells, a fountain bursts to life, and doves take flight from nowhere. Here, in this moment, all is right with the world. When they finally break for air, Helena flashes Tycho a mischievous grin. He chuckles, and their image blurs for a moment. When they come back in focus, he's obviously winded yet can't stop smiling and she's fixing her hair looking incredibly smug. "So these nice kids broke me loose," Helena gestures to the party members.
    Tycho nods. "And I owe each of you a great debt." He meets everyone's gaze in turn, gets to Cassidy, and hesitates. He looks... conflicted. "... didn't I try to kill you?" Both Helena and Ysolda have to stifle laughter... how often has this conversation happened?