The Tickle Finger of Fate

**CyledyrWyllt** · May 12th, 2011 10:25 PM

Mr. Bates leads the Legate of Mists(and those that choose to follow him) to the lobby elevator, and thence to the thirteenth floor. Mortal guests of the hotel would never notice that the Four Seasons even has a floor between the twelfth and the fourteenth. Not that unusual really, when you consider that most hotels don't. It had been one of HAL's ideas to make such a common superstition work to their advantage. If Mr. Bates happens to be reflecting upon this fact, he doesn't show it. After a short walk down the hallway, the Autumn Wizened stops before an unremarkable door. However, he pauses just before knocking.

"Mr. Pereg? I should inform you that I felt it prudent to have someone of formidable knowledge and strength to watch over Mr. Tickle until such time as you could interrogate him."

The hotel manager looks rather uneasy as he knocks on the door.

"Miss Jasons? It's Mr. Bates. I've brought Mr. Pereg."

Rick recognizes the muffled voice from the other side of the door. It reminds him of pungent herbs and broken teeth.

"You may come in."

May 13th, 2011 05:52 AM

Sweet Tooth followed Mr Bates across the lobby and then into the elevator. Standing there idly noting the whoosh, whoosh and slight change in air pressure as the floors slipped by on the other side of the door Sweet Tooth continued to bask in the warm glow that Tommy’s genuine introduction and handshake had provided . Such guileless sincerity deserves to be rewarded. “Bye the way Tommy Sweet Tooth would be honoured to show you a few tricks some time and don’t worry Sweet Tooth knows a few that don’t contain any fragile props,” he said cheerfully. “Also Sweet Tooth only pulls rabbits out of hats to so your feline friend is safe.”

As the group stopped at the unremarkable door Sweet Tooth turned his thoughts back to the task at hand. “So Mr Tickle ... sounds like the name of one of Sweet Tooths former workmates. What’s his story?”

May 13th, 2011 07:19 AM

Tommy shifted himself toward the back of the elevator so as not to crowd the others. He nodded appreciatively to Sweet Tooth with a small grin on his face before he reminded himself why he was in the elevator in the first place. When the doors opened, Sebastian scuttled out with Tommy following behind the others once they exited. Tommy looked over a generic landscape painting of a beach with a lighthouse in the background until Mr. Bates spoke, drawing his attention to the door to wonder what picture lurked behind there. Sebastian laid down and tried to peer through the tiny sliver at the bottom of the door, but couldn't make anything out. He paced back from the door and settled by Tommy, his tail swishing agitatedly. They would have to wait for an answer.

May 13th, 2011 12:16 PM

Patrick follows the group, still quietly humming the Sesame Street theme to himself as he follows at back of the group following Mr. Bates. He was concerned about Rick's attitude back in the bar, by the odd fellow with the talking cat and the Clown's strange performance.

He stops the quiet humming as they near the door and the frightened Bates knocks. The Darkling hears the creepy voice from the other side of the door.

That does not sound like Katy Perry.

**Lesingnon** · May 13th, 2011 01:00 PM

"Tickle is a Bridge Burner. He seemed to favor the use of his hedgespun, clockwork contraptions to duct the Hedge off from Sacramento. He claimed that he was doing it for altruistic reasons, in attempt to hinder one of the Gentry that was operating in the area at the time. Whether that's true or not, the Hedge reacted differently than expected. It's lashed out against people traveling through it, and imprisoned Tickle within his Hollow before we went in to find him. He seemed repentant, and even if he isn't it's worth seeing what we can learn from him." And he was pretty sure that answered everyone's questions to this point.

And then he learned that Betony Rue was in there...how wonderful. Her cheery countenance was just what he needed to brighten his day. "Oh...good thinking." Though from the sound of it, he didn't quite consider it to be a pleasant surprise. Then he turned to the other Lost with him, a hint of warning in his tone. "Tread carefully around her. And, try not to make any off-color jokes." A crack about his balls from Sweet Tooth and he'd hardly be surprised if Betony Rue cut them off. And he had little doubt that she was well-versed in the proper medical technique for doing so.

Then he pushed open the door, and found himself in the presence of the Witch of Bitter Winds once more. "Miss Jasons, good afernoon. I hope Moira's doing well."

**CyledyrWyllt** · May 13th, 2011 03:07 PM

Rick opens the door to find a rather small and sparsely furnished room. Betony Rue Jasons, the Autumn Court's Witch of the Bitter Wind, sits in a straight-backed chair facing away from them. The Ogress doesn't turn when she speaks, but appears to be concentrating on something in front of her.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pereg. Due to Miss Nutkins attentions, she is much better. Thank you."

Her voice sounds like she is trying to swallow salt and razor blades. There is a slight pause before she continues.

"I will leave you to speak privately with Mr. Tickle... in just a moment."

The small, red-furred form of the infamous bridge-burning Wizened sits cross-legged on the bed before Miss Jasons. A deck of cards and a wooden board with pegs in it appears to be laid out before him and they each hold a few cards in their hands. To those familiar with the game, it would appear that Tickle is teaching Betony Rue how to play cribbage. Mr. Bates remains in the hallway and does not move to enter the room, but graciously gestures for everyone else to please do so.

May 13th, 2011 09:43 PM

Sweet Tooth takes Rick’s advice to heart and shuffles crabwise into the room. With arms straight down the side of his body, palms of his hands pressed to his thighs, he stops just in the room to one side of the door. Eyes flickering attentively around the room with lips squeezed flat in a thin horizontal line he waits to see what will happen next.

May 13th, 2011 11:29 PM

Tommy nodded somberly to Rick's summation of Mr. Tickle. There was a lack of nuanced understanding in what was said as he didn't know some of the words used. It was this that led him to regard Tickle with narrowed brown eyes once he ducked his head down and occupied a spot on the other side of the door. More than likely, he still wouldn't have given Tickle the benefit of the doubt even if he did know that the red Wizened appeared contrite. Sebastian had different thoughts on the matter as he padded in and regarded the captive. Having lived in the Hedge for so long himself and being witness to the mercurial and dangerous nature of the place, he felt a twinge of sympathy for the red Wizened. Fear can make people do just about anything if they haven't simply snapped under its oppressive weight. It didn't change just how crazy it was though to think any permanent change could be affected and controlled. All of this precaution was truly well warranted.

He sat beneath Tommy's long black coat, ignoring the dirt as it fell. It was better to be inconvenienced than at risk. There was also the possibility that being from the Hedge could set the man off, and he wasn't sure how deep the prejudice may or may not run through everyone else in the room at this fact. His fur raised a little reflexively and claws slid out as these thoughts ran through his head. He tried to calm himself, but biology was hard to combat. His golden eyes combed over the rest of the room, and he tried to adjust his feelings by focusing on the cards or the ogress guarding Tickle. He looked up at Tommy's hands, wondering if he was the only one on edge. They weren't clenched, so that was a good sign. He returned his attention to the game, and forced himself to win his own struggle with fear at this moment. Otherwise, there would be little difference between captive and he in the party of captors.

May 14th, 2011 09:45 AM

Abigail walks along the group while carefully listening to what Rick is saying. She wouldn't want to miss anything important but as she hears how Tickle's plan backfired an upsetting thought just goes through her head. 'If you play with fire prepare to get burnt.' What disturbed her was not the actual thought but the sweet malice that accompanied it.

"Understood." She mutters when Rick finishes his explanation even though she didn't understand how a single man could try, or even succed, in doing something like that or how the freehold could even allow his crazy plan to proceed for so long. This was giving her a lot to think about but her pondering had to be postponed to give space for the matter at hand.

Once inside the room she nods towards Miss Jasons before moving to stands two steps behind Rick while silently waiting for the questioning to start.

**Lesingnon** · May 14th, 2011 06:28 PM

Well this was kind of awkward. He wasn't nearly enough of a glutton for punishment to tell her to hurry up and finish, ultimately it didn't much matter whether they talked to Tickle now or in a few minutes. But sitting here and watching the two of them play was, well...awkward. At least she seemed to be in a comparatively good mood. "I...didn't realize you were into card games."

The Tickle Finger of Fate

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