[[ coming from Setting up, Round and Round we Go, and They Found me ]]

Sage's Pizza place wasn't exactly around the corner, it was across the Potomac River in DC proper. It literally was the best place to be for what was about to go down. Walking distance from the spots we knew our assassins were about to take their shots. Or at least where Sage and the other intel pointed them to. It was perfect for it. And the timing was down right near impossible.

Sage sat in a booth in the far corner with an entire plain pie on a stand and the empty baby carrier for Lily when Nox dropped her off. Hopefully it wasn't in the middle of his conversation with Connor but you never know. Connor and his wife weren't exactly privy to his schedule, though they were here to kill him for some reason, he just wasn't sure why.  There was no other reason for out of the blue for Connor to contact him. Sage had been digging deep all night, though he suspected he had his own things on his mind too.

Ryker was at another table, while Nox sat in a window booth with his back to the window, and Lily propped in his lap while his legs feet were on the seat by the aisle holding the child firmly in the light coming through the window.  He wove a four inch thick wall of air as hard as steel and hopefully strong enough to stop whatever caliber bullet she might use to take him out.  A secondary weave of shattered glass floated invisibly through the air by the window to eliminate the use of a laser sight.  Probably not enough to deter a power augmented sniper, but enough for her to not use that pesky laser that would get a clean shot.

Sage had several stealthy drones flying through the air around the buildings in question and Nox had the feeds on the hud on the warrior lens he now wore. He hated contact lenses, but Sage insisted that it was better for this mission and for the future augmentation of his new arm.  Whatever he had planned Nox wasn't sure but having a functioning hand would be nice.  But it was still days or even weeks away if he had to wait on his body to heal naturally.

Nox ordered a couple of slices of pizza heavily loaded with meat and vegetables, probably more than the people wanted but pizza was so not a thing he wanted to eat, but a good pie was hard to come by and he did enjoy one now and then.  He also just a plain slice of cheese, a simple slice but the one he'd actually indulge in.  He had a glass of water with lemon and waited for Connor to show up. He imagined Ayden was about to set up her rifle on the building adjacent them and he'd be in shortly there after.

The suite was a hive of activity through which Lore wove her way without looking, eyes on the wallet’s holoscreens containing all her notes for the evening. Jessika was proudly grassroots, but this was also a big night, so Lore had arranged for everything to be taken care of – hair, makeup, jewellery and accessories, dresses, childcare, transport, predrinks (for nerves), nibbles (to counteract the alcohol, obviously). The list went on. Though what she was actually going through right now as she dodged the bustle was what she knew of the expected guestlist – names, connections, cues for the smalltalk. Especially the latter.

In all honesty Lore would have much rather preferred coordinating entirely from the shadows, but neither was it appropriate for Jessika to attend alone. By now she’d given up correcting on her own connection to Damien every time someone introduced her as his sister. Privately she wondered if Jessika didn’t actually prefer it that way, considering what Lore assumed of their own relations. So, accompaniment by the new Patron’s “sister” it was. It felt a strange prestige given her actual earned acumen, but it seemed to eclipse it here. And honestly Lore let it. She preferred not talking about Damien. Or thinking about him.

So far as she knew, Damien himself remained behind in Mexico, apparently uninterested in accepting his new crown in person, though she had a whole section dedicated to contingency in case he just showed up. He was as insouciant as a lion, and just as majestically dangerous, which meant his whims weren’t the sort of thing she had any fun predicting. He’d better not just show up. Not only would it make the most awkward third wheel of her, but it would also mean she could have spent the evening doing something a little more aligned to her taste. Which generally involved far fewer people.

“You’re going to be late,” someone said, to which Lore affected half a smile. Actually she still had six minutes before she needed to sit down for hair, which gave her plenty of time to have a quick chat with the chauffeur about their entrance.

[[written by ai]]

Scandal Beneath the Spotlight: Eliot Lagueux and Helena Asquith Ignite Opera Night with Passionate Embrace

The elite of Moscow were left clutching their pearls—and their opera glasses—at last night's sold-out performance of La Traviata at the Bolshoi Theatre, as whispers of scandal erupted from the private balcony box occupied by none other than Eliot Lagueux and Helena Asquith.

Eliot, the youngest son of the billionaire family behind Baccarat Glass and current Moscow Facility Manager, has been a regular feature in Moscow's social circuit. Known for his meticulous charm and sharp business acumen, Eliot has also been the subject of frequent speculation regarding his personal life. But few could have anticipated his latest romantic entanglement with the enigmatic 'Black Widow' of London society.

Helena Asquith, the aristocratic heiress whose name has long been associated with both wealth and controversy, made her Moscow debut just a few short months ago following her sensational trial and subsequent acquittal in the mysterious death of her husband, Cillian Finnegren. Now the owner of the infamous underground fight club, the Almaz, Helena has cultivated a reputation for chilling composure and ruthless efficiency.

Yet it appears the Ice Queen may have finally thawed.

Witnesses reported that the couple arrived separately, but it wasn’t long before they were spotted sharing drinks during intermission, their conversation laced with hushed laughter and undeniable intimacy. The crescendo came in the final act when, as the heroine sang her final aria, Helena and Eliot were seen locked in a passionate embrace, silhouetted against the velvet drapes of their balcony.

“It was like something out of a romance holo-drama,” one opera-goer gushed. “Helena looked like she might devour him right there. And Eliot didn’t seem to mind!”

The pairing raises eyebrows not only for its passion but for the combustible mix of power and legacy Eliot, has struggled to shed the shadow cast by his family’s tragic losses and his own mysterious past health issues. Helena, meanwhile, has never truly escaped the scandal of her husband’s death—or the rumors of dark experiments whispered to occur beneath the Almaz’s glitzy façade.

While neither party has issued a statement, their public display has ignited speculation about what this union might mean for Moscow’s elite.

What’s next for this power couple? Are wedding bells in their future, or will their fiery affair burn out as quickly as it ignited? Only time will tell, but for now, all eyes are on the Bolshoi’s most talked-about pair.

Ana came down the stairs in a red satin night gown wrapped in red satin robe. The rest of the help had gone to their rooms so there was no one to see her but him. And it was always a wonder that she was openly his now. Even if he'd never accept her marriage proposal. There was too much at stake.

"I thought you were asleep?"

Ana smiled. "I was, but I got a text from a boy who is apparently on American time right now and forgot the hour here in Moscow."

"Nox texted you?" 

Ana nodded. "I thought it might be an emergency since he'd never text at night otherwise, but it's nothing so dire. He's safe, with Sage but he wanted my advice."

Christian raised his eyebrow. "Girl advice?" Nox didn't like girls, he was not that sort of gay man who was especially effeminate so it wasn't about make up or clothing. "From a motherly figure?"

Ana shook her head. "Well maybe. It's not exactly parenting advice he's looking for, though he has a doll of girl on his hip at the moment."  Ana came close to Christian and he could smell her high end perfume she'd always used to lure him into the darkest closets of the house.  

He hummed in appreciation and nuzzled her neck. "Are you trying to distract me?"

Ana laughed that knowing laugh and he was ready to take her up stairs but her wallet was held in front of them while she wrapped around his body. A picture of a tiny baby girl lying on Nox's lap. Couldn't be anyone else's legs, Christian knew those ripped jeans anywhere. Most people would think it was a fashion statement but Christian knew otherwise, he was just to unbothered to buy new ones unless they were unsalvageable because of monster ichor.

"Her name is Lily.  She's the progeny of rape by monsters, the mother passed giving birth and Nox has taken on the guilty responsibility of raising her now."

"Ana, that's not guilt. He wants more. He's taking responsibility. He's growing up."

Ana nodded. "He took in a handful of other children, that are staying at his place in the Red Light District. There are a lot of displaced orphans and he can't take them all in. A lot of displaced people in general he says he wants to help. A whole church full of refugees. He asked me if I knew any foundations he could contact to set up an idea he had."

Christian laughed. "Growing up indeed. Did you tell him of your work in Madrid?"

Ana shook her head. "Not yet. He's having Sage compile his idea and send it to me. I will tell him of Second Chances after we've read his plan." Ana sighed. "How does the child who is most broken have a more full life than our child? I wish Cruz would see that he is more than Jivana or the Vega name."

"Cruz is finding his way for the first time in his life, Ana. He'll find his way. Nox has been finding his since he was 16 years old. And Sage, well his life hasn't been easy either. The three of them have their own challenges."

Ana laughed. "And Elyse too, she's working Kallisti too. Sometimes I think we should send Cruz there. The house of burlesque seems to be a far better learning environment than Moscow University."

Zef sat in her apartment staring at the two devices sitting on the coffee table. She had no idea what they were, or how she was supposed to use them.  This looked like dangerous and creepy bugs like something you'd see in horror flick.  She sipped at a glass of white wine and wondered what Jaxen was doing, or what he'd been doing while she was gone. Though from the calendar she hadn't been gone more than a few days, but she'd done had a baby and spent a month or more nursing him before her son had been ripped away from her. He would lead a rebellion and thwart the gods, it was a small price to pay to end them in whatever time he was. But still, Zef was sad. She'd never get to know him. 

She should make a visit to Jaxen soon. But right now she wanted to tear him a new one and she couldn't exactly tell him he had a son, and that he'd been taken from them cause of some deal he made. When had he made it?  It didn't matter, it was done.

And Jaxen still owed her a child. She sent him a text.

Meet up?

She didn't care when, or where, but she needed to give him ... she didn't know what but she had to see him.  Angry sex was still good sex and probably he wouldn't even notice.

Zef picked up one device and held the cold metal in her hands, the gem staring up at her. "What the fuck are you?"

So Asc mentioned in chat that we are close to 20,000 posts here, and it got me to thinking that we’ve been here for over ten years. So I looked. The date on the Ascendancy’s biography is June 15, 2013.

That means as of now - we’ve been here about 11.5 years. 
1600 threads
19,700 posts
A user created and maintained wiki
Character/author driven worldbuilding
So many characters

That’s a recipe for some great storytelling. What we’ve done here is truly amazing.

Press Release from the Holy See
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

His Holiness Pope Patricus I to Visit Moscow Ahead of Christmas

Vatican City, December 1, 2046 – The Holy See is pleased to announce that His Holiness Pope Patricus I will embark on a brief apostolic journey to Moscow from December 17 to December 19, 2046. This historic visit underscores the Vatican’s commitment to fostering dialogue, promoting peace, and nurturing relationships with religious leaders worldwide. 

While in Moscow, the Holy Father will meet with prominent religious officials, including members of the Russian Orthodox Church, to continue building bridges of mutual understanding and spiritual solidarity between the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

In addition, Pope Patricus I will meet with the Luminar of the Brotherhood of Ascension, a recently established religious movement that has rapidly gained influence on the global stage. The Brotherhood of Ascension advocates for spiritual unity and the moral elevation of humanity, and His Holiness hopes to engage in a meaningful dialogue about shared values and the responsibilities of religious communities in an era of unprecedented change. 

His Holiness will also hold a landmark meeting with the Ascendancy, an interfaith council of global influence dedicated to addressing moral and ethical challenges in a rapidly changing world. 

This journey reflects Pope Patricus I's dedication to ecumenical outreach and the deepening of interfaith cooperation during the holy Advent season. His Holiness believes that such dialogue is critical in reaffirming the shared values of peace, reconciliation, and the dignity of the human person. 

The Pope’s itinerary in Moscow will include: 

• A private meeting with Patriarch Kirill and other senior clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church. 
  
• An address to the Ascendancy, focusing on the themes of peace and spiritual unity. 
  
• A meeting with the Luminar of the Brotherhood of Ascension to explore pathways of shared understanding. 
  
• An ecumenical prayer service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. 
  

• The Midnight Mass of the Nativity of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24. 
  
• The Urbi et Orbi blessing and message on Christmas Day from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. 
  
• The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on December 29.