[Bazaar] Looking around

[sigmacaine]

Sigma gets into the car and slides down to make room for Fox.

[Fox McCloud]

Fox steps in the car and sits in the back at an awkward angle to fit with the armor on.

[Solitaire]

The door is firmly closed behind Sigma and Fox.  The chauffeur takes his position on the other side of the vehicle, and it peels out, at high speed. 

(OOC: John & Cass, heading off list)

[D]

When the youths reach the nearest kiosk the video display terminal reacts immediately to Echo's presence.

An artificial, yet mellifluous contralto voice speaks from speakers at the base, and the ceiling of the semi booth.   "Greetings Director Gamin."

[Fox McCloud]

(((Goes off list...Somewhere....Dunno where.)))

[Echo Gamin]

Jason grins as he is led by the little Octagon, "So, Echo, I missed you at the last Gathering. I was looking forward to seeing you there."

Echo is clearly surprised. "You did? You were?" Her delight is obvious, but the pleasure ebbs from her face for at the realization of a sweet opportunity lost.

"I didn't know." She frowns. "I've been keeping sort of a low profile for a while now. It didn't occur to me that there'd be anyone looking for me who didn't want me dead. There seem to be a lot of those lately... But if I'd known...  I would have... I dunno... tried to be around more visibly I guess." She looks up at him and her smile returns. "I feel safe when you're around."

When the youths reach the nearest kiosk the video display terminal reacts immediately to Echo's presence.

An artificial, yet mellifluous contralto voice speaks from speakers at the base, and the ceiling of the semi booth.   "Greetings Director Gamin."

She turns to face the screen and says in a clear voice, "Good afternoon. I'm seeking a quiet place to have refreshments. Soda, ice cream or something. Please locate."

[JasonNightcaster]

"I didn't know." She frowns. "I've been keeping sort of a low profile for a while now. It didn't occur to me that there'd be anyone looking for me who didn't want me dead. There seem to be a lot of those lately... But if I'd known...  I would have... I dunno... tried to be around more visibly I guess." She looks up at him and her smile returns. "I feel safe when you're around."

Jason's face darkens at this and a dangerous look comes in to his eyes which have turned golden. "Who? Who tried to kill you, Echo?."

[Echo Gamin]

Startled for just a moment by the change in him, Echo steadies herself and then squeezes his hand and nods. She takes a breath and begins.

"Um... Well Pope Friggem'all did kill me." She lowers her eyes moment remembering. "His psycho housemates helped him. They kidnapped me from the bazaar and..." She looks up at him clearly shaken at the memory. "It was a few cycles ago I know, but it never feels like that. It feels like it was last week. I still have nightmares where I can't move and I can't get away and begging them to let me go and that crazy look in his eyes... and of burning." She shakes her head. and studies the ground. "I died."

There's a heavy pause.

"I think Hyran res'ed me... Sigma took me away from there. I stayed with him on the base for a while. He and Velgauder kept an eye on me. And then -- well I ended up off the base -- and it was bad. I just sorta fell apart. And that's when Ashleigh saved me and brought me to Monte Cristo. And he's been trying to get me to come out more, but it's been hard. And even when I do come out, I'm usually close to the bazaar-- or hiding. Usually both."

She shakes her head and looks up at him again. "I'm sorry, you just asked for the whos. And I'm all rambling and dumping all this crap on you that you don't need to hear.... I talk too much." The rest comes out in a clear but rapid report. "So um, all of Lightfoot was after me for a while. And Aiskon put a hit out on me. But I think Ashleigh has resolved all of that peaceably now. But Lugosi... I'm always terrified I'll run into them. And, I never assume I'm safe around people who have wanted me dead before."

She shrugs and continues her voice quiet and sad. "All in all I seem to have a talent for getting into trouble. And I never know who I'll piss off next. So I've developed a talent for keeping my head down to compensate." She flushes and looks a little bashful. "I also have a talent for yammering on, so if you feel like you're not getting a word in edgewise, just poke me or something."

[wcshoe]

Within eyesight of the two, Cutthroat can be seen, scampering around the Bazaar and looking oddly gleeful. Slung across his back is FAITH, but cradled in his paws is a new weapon, sleeker in design and somehow sinister in appearance.

The small otter spots the two and heads toward them, pausing to sniff the air a few times here and there, but not in a threatening manner...

[Echo Gamin]

At the sight of the excessively armed mustelid, Echo tenses noticeably. She moves a little closer to Jason instinctively. Her voice lowers and there's a slight tremor in it. "John Logan took the blow for me last time I ran into Cutthroat. Didn't matter that I didn't have what Cutthroat was looking for. He was just as willing to kill me for not having it as for not handing it over. I'm supposed to be safe from the Lightfoot now. But I never know."

[JasonNightcaster]

As Echo goes over things, Jason listens intently. "Aiskon. That explains Zane's actions." he mumbles to himself. Jason's look softens and he lifts her chin with his finger so she's looking him in the eyes that have gone from golden back to blue, "Echo Gamin, no one shall hurt you so long as I have a say in the matter. This I promise you."

Jason smiles gently at her, "Oh and don't worry about talking too much. I tend to be quiet anyway. It's nice to have someone fill the gaps."

At the sight of the excessively armed mustelid, Echo tenses noticeably. She moves a little closer to Jason instinctively. Her voice lowers and there's a slight tremor in it. "John Logan took the blow for me last time I ran into Cutthroat. Didn't matter that I didn't have what Cutthroat was looking for. He was just as willing to kill me for not having it as for not handing it over. I'm supposed to be safe from the Lightfoot now. But I never know."

Jason places himself between Echo and the small Lightfoot. "Hello, otter spirit. How fares your hunt this day?"

[wcshoe]

The smallest Lightfoot stops, and appraises the two other Avatars. "My hunt? It fares poorly. The Badgers MacGregor made a new rifle for me, but it just makes thinks disappear. Rocks, trees, birds, planets, whatever. They just disappear. Forever. There is no noise, there is no flash of light, there is no body left afterwards. Not much of a hunting weapon, when you think about it. I prefer FAITH, but I promised them I would test it here in the Nexus."

He tilts his head to the side, as though trying to remember something. "Oh yeah. Echo. It was brought to my attention that you decided to not share anything from our recent trip to that quantum lab with House Lightfoot, though we did a lot of the work. Is this so?" There is no threat in Cutthroat's tone as he asks, only a mild curiousity.

[Echo Gamin]

"I..." Echo seems entirely distracted by the gun in the same way that leaves mugging victims unable to describe their attackers later. "I...  I didn't... " She grasps Nightcaster's sleeve for support  and looks helplessly down at the otter. "Why can't you just leave me alone?? All you do is cause fear and pain! I don't want anything to do with your house! I just want to be left alone!!"

[sigmacaine]

Sigma exits the car, still holding the baguette, and now clutching an envelope. He looks incredibly angry. He stalks through the Bazaar, looking for... something. It doesn't appear that he knows what. He spots Cutthroat, Echo, and Jason, and heads over.

[JasonNightcaster]

Jason, still standing between Echo and Cutthroat, looks at Echo with a pained expression, "Echo, please calm down. The otter spirit, Cutthroat, has made no threat to you right now. He just asked a question." Turning back to the Lightfoot, Jason smiles "Cutthroat, do you intend harm to Echo should her answer not satisfy you?"