* It is Friday, the seventh of May, in the year eighteen eighty-six.  The waters
of the Seine lap at the hull of Avignon's boat as it sits at the dock, its
steam-powered engine growling like a sleepy dragon of myth.  Clouds of pale
steam and black smoke puff from its chimneys, but the gangplank is down and the
boat remains firmly tethered to the dock behind Avignon's home.
* Avignon himself stands on the boat's deck near the gangplank, his hand resting
on the railing as he watches his own yard and the street beyond his house.
* Gabriel has already found his way to Avignon after arriving at Avignon's pad
and changing back to normal. He doesn't look particularly happy, but doesn't say
anything as he leans against the railing.
* Terom skulks around Avignon's house. You'd think it'd be difficult, what with
all the bracelets and the dangling earrings and all, but she does a fine job. So
fine, in fact, that he likely doesn't see her coming until she's actually in his
yard and in plain sight, walking with her head held high, directly up to the
riverbank. She's wearing the same clothing she was earlier at the arcade, rip in
her shirt and all.
* Terom stops before she reaches it and just looks up at Avignon, eyes flashing.
She doesn't seem to notice Gabriel... well, that or she doesn't care.
* Avignon inclines his head respectfully to Terom.  "My lady," he says, "I am
happy to see you here, as ever."
* Gabriel doesn't mind being ignoredish.
* Terom raises an eyebrow at the 'my lady' comment. "You're happy to see me,"
she says flatly. "You do know that, for all the power your little gang throws
around, they're not very good at making sure people don't come walking up like
this. I might have tried to killed you."
* Avignon's blue eyes look sad for a moment.  "I do try to make myself difficult
to kill, but you have a point.  I did not see fit to recruit them into... guard
duty.  Gabriel here, or Omar are with me nearly always.  Perhaps I have taken
their presence for granted."
* Gabriel nods and replies to Terom. "I do have something to speak about the
others as well, but I feel you should go first."
<Avignon> Forgive me for saying so, but I doubt that my concern for my security
is what brings you here.  You mentioned the power my gang throws around, and...
well, ask of me what you will, my lady.  I should not presume to know why you've
come.
<Terom> I was under the impression you could take it from my mind with just a
thought.
* Avignon shrugs, though the motion makes his empty left sleeve shift strangely. 
"I could, but taking thoughts in such a manner is needlessly violent."
* Terom nods. "I would appreciate it if you could stay out of my head. I think
you would, too." She glances at Gabriel, then returns her attention to Avignon.
"What do you know about The Pauper?"
* The Captain bows his head again to acknowledge Terom's first request, but
raises it again quickly when she levels her question at him.  Half a dozen
expressions flicker across his face in a matter of moments, and he holds his
tongue so long that at first he seems to be unable to speak an answer.  Finally,
though, he sighs.  "That his real name is, or was, Gerard Martin."
<Avignon> That he was one of the best soldiers in all of France, and remains one
of her best warriors.  That he is a man full of rage, and envy, and power.  Much
and more, my lady.  What would you know of him specifically?
* Terom folds her arms, keeping her gaze steady. "I know those men who had me
surrounded - a situation your gang *kindly* broke up - were taking orders from
him. I want to know everything about him. I want to know why he would want
'help' from the poorer, less influential people of this city. And I want to know
where to find him."
* Avignon reaches his hand around to touch the base of where his left arm would
be, if he still had one.  "Very well.  Martin served under my command in the war
with Prussia.  He proved himself time and again, and fought with me for the
glory of France even when we saw that our struggles were futile."
<Avignon> After the war, we returned to Paris to find our homeland divided.  The
official government had made peace with the Prussians, and based itself in
Versailles.  Paris, though... sweet, proud Paris...
* The Captain shakes his head.  "The Parisians had rebelled.  As if they hadn't
seen enough blood already.  Martin stayed and fought with them, while I returned
to my post in Versailles."
<Avignon> Not long after that, I came to Paris once again, but at the head of
the army meant to end the rebellion here in Paris.  The Prussians did not yet
trust us enough to leave us be.  If we failed, they would surely invade again. 
We had no choice but to bring order to the city, or all of France would have
bled again.
* Terom scowls, but she doesn't say anything.
<Avignon> The Parisian forces sent us threats.  They had hostages, they said. 
We were not to enter their city, or the hostages would die.  It was a bitter
draught to drink, my lady.  Innocents would die if we stayed our hands, and they
would die if we followed our orders.  In the end, we invaded, and the hostages
died.  "The Bloody Week," they called it.  In two weeks it will have been
fifteen years past.
<Avignon> Gerard Martin earned his own name that week.  He opened more French
throats and burned more Parisian buildings that week than he had ever done for
Prussians during the war, it was said.  He went mad that week, perhaps before. 
He was certainly mad when I met him in battle.
<Terom> Mad how?
<Avignon> Mad with righteousness, perhaps?  His own thirst for blood?  Even I
cannot say, Terom, though I wish I could.  Three times I shot the man, and yet
he would not die.  He unhorsed me, smashed my arm nearly to pulp with a brick. 
His eyes were... not human, and his mind...
<Avignon> I dared not enter it in battle, but I did not need to.  Just one look
into his eyes nearly drove me to insanity myself.  I... I lost consciousness,
from the pain in my arm or the madness he pushed into my mind I cannot say.  I
awoke in a hospital, with medals and a promotion to replace my arm and my friend
Gerard.
<Avignon> He has been around in the fifteen years since them.  Europe, the
colonies in Asia and Africa, and of course here in Paris.  Wherever he goes he
brings trouble with him, but he has never been in once place long enough for
anybody to attribute a motive to his madness.  The poor usually flock to him,
for he promises them power and wealth.
* Gabriel simply listens. Story time now, and there's always time to bring up
what he wants to say.
<Avignon> I don't know the truth to his promises, but if this new gang of his is
any indication, then perhaps it is safe to assume that the only power to be had
will be his alone.  I do not know where he is now, or how long he has been in
Paris.  All I can offer you is speculation, Terom, and another request to help
me stop him, and others like him.
<Terom> Well, they don't seem to be flocking to him now.  This is the first I've
heard of this Pauper, and it was from those men of his causing nothing but harm. 
You don't know where he is, then?
* Avignon shakes his head again.  "I don't.  Nor do I know why his men would be
harrassing the people he typically recruits."
* Terom nods. "I'll have to find out for myself." And she bows her head low, her
knees bobbing with one hand to her side, spreading her skirt in a curtsey.
"Thank you."
* The Captain bows elegantly.  "It is my pleasure to help.  If I need your
assistance, is there any way I might be able to reach you?  I will no longer
enter your mind in any way without your permission."
* Terom straightens, looking at the captain with a grin, white teeth flashing in
contrast to her dusky skin. "I don't know why you'd need help from a heathen
gypsy like me, but I'm often around. Usually in plain sight."
* Avignon responds with a grin of his own, and a quip.  "Then I suppose I'll
know exactly where to find you."  He inclines his head again.  "I'm just an old
done soldier, Terom, but if that's the sort of person you need for any reason,
you know where to find me."
<Terom> An old, done soldier who's seen to it to make his own force to bring
safety and order to Paris?  That's what you said, once.  I wonder if that woman
in the machine saw to it to dig into her own pockets and pay for the damage she
caused.
* Avignon's expression sours, and he glances at Gabriel.  "I believe you had
something to say about that as well?"
<Gabriel> To say the least.  Their actions were inhumane and deplorable.  They
used force when it was not required and let the situation escalate far too high.
* Gabriel glances at Terom. "She had things under control and our presence was
not necessary."
<Gabriel> From what I observed Joan enjoys hacking down injured criminals in the
name of God, and Claudia has a perchant for opening fire with that... machine of
hers, as well as driving it through storefronts.
* The Captain sighs once again.  "They are unruly.  The business with that
Arctica woman went so well, I allowed myself to think that all of those who had
agreed to help Paris might show similar restraint and good judgement."
<Avignon> Nevertheless, I remain convinced that Claudia and Joan mean well.  I
will speak with them.  We cannot truly help Paris if we destroy more than we
destroy more than we save.
<Avignon> Similarly, it is worth noting that I was unaware that Terom was
already at the arcade.  It is not a place most people would go willingly, or
alone.
<Gabriel> This is true.  But they need to know and realize that actions like
that make us no better than those we combat.
* Gabriel sighs. "At least you understand that, miss?" He speaks to Terom.
* Terom nods. "I had the situation in hand."
* Avignon nods as well, though he remains pensive and quiet.
* Terom looks to Avignon. "I'll leave you now. Thank you again." She pauses,
then adds, "And keep that crazy bitch of yours in line. She seems to think her
money and machines can solve everything."
* The Captain nods again.  "I look forward to our next meeting," he calls after
Terom.
* Joan arrives! Whoever she is. She's not the tall sword-wielding blond knight
from before, but rather a short-haired, short-statured girl in a black dress.
Her eyes are blue, too. Not green. She steps out onto the dock slowly.
* Terom shrugs and tosses, casually, "You know where to find me. You'd almost
think I'm at home at a place like the arcade." She turns, heading off and
nodding to Joan as she passes her.
* Joan smiles timidly to Terom and moves to let her pass. She then continues
down the dock towards Avignon. "Hello, Captain."
* Avignon watches the gypsy leave, and then turns his attention to Joan.  "Ah. 
Miss Dark, what a pleasure.  Please, come aboard."
* Joan smiles and does so, hesitantly.
* Avignon pats Gabriel good-naturedly on the shoulder and murmurs something
about a bit of time alone with Miss Dark, and leads the young woman to a table
and chairs on the small ship's deck, near the prow.
<Avignon> Please, please.  Have a seat, Miss Dark.
* Joan follows, taking a seat at the Captains bidding. She smiles shyly.
* Joan comments. "I've never been a part of a team before. I hope she's
performing to your expectations?"
* Avignon takes a seat after Joan, and the smile he returns is much more
comfortable than the girl's.  "She?"
<Joan> Her.  Well, me.  I mean... We're the same person, but... not...
* Joan fidgets. "It's difficult to explain."
* The Captain tilts his head.  "I'd like you to try anyway, if you think you
can."
* Joan nods and thinks about it for a bit. "I guess... the easiest way to put it
would be we are two souls in one body."
<Avignon> Ah.  Yours and... this other woman's.
* Joan nods.
<Avignon> Do you have any contact with her at all?  Control over her, perhaps?
* Joan nods. "We experience everything together, and we transform back and
forth.... why do you ask?"
* Avignon drums his fingers on the table.  "I understand that she is very
religious, is that correct?"
* Joan nods slowly.
* Avignon offers Joan a reassuring smile.  "Don't worry, that's not at issue. 
It's just that she seems to get a bit... enthusiastic... during a fight.  Would
you agree?"
* Joan blinks. "Well, yes, but she-- we are in direct service of the Lord."
<Avignon> I understand that, Miss Dark.  I do not question your faith or your
motives at all.  However, the reports of her behavior during the fight in the
arcade earlir today suggest that perhaps she may have killed a man.  Maybe
unnecessarily?
* Joan looks down, biting her lip. "Maybe... But I don't think she intended to
hit him so hard. And also..."
* Avignon listens to Joan, his face the very picture of fatherly understanding.
* Joan looks up. "We are only doing what the Lord God asks of us. I understand
how we act may not seem right in the eyes of today's society, but... But what
the people consider right is not the same as what God does. Please understand,
I'm only trying my best to uphold God's will."
<Avignon> I do not hesitate to admit that it has been some time since I've been
to church, but does the Lord not value mercy and forgiveness as well?  Obviously
I can't presume to know what he wants, but...
* Joan nods. "No, perhaps the fault is m-- ours. Ours, for misinterpreting His
will." She looks down again. "I'm sorry if I made a mistake."
* Avignon brightens a bit.  "Cheer up, Miss Dark.  God may be perfect, but we
are not.  You shouldn't expect it of yourself, and instead just be willing to
learn from it.  In the future, though, please try not to kill anybody unless you
are certain that it must be done."
* Joan nods. "I'll try."
* Gabriel walks in camly, as if on cue.
* Gabriel glances at Avignon questioningly.
* Avignon looks up at Gabriel.  "Ah.  Hello again, Gabriel.  I hate to be such a
slippery host, but I need to check on the engineer belowdecks."
* The Captain stands.  "Why don't you and Joan have a bit of a talk while I'm
away.  Now that everybody is on the same page," he says with some significance,
"It would probably do you both a bit of good to get to know each other better."
* Gabriel nods at the Captain, then turns to Joan and finds a comfortable place
to stand or sit.
<Avignon> Miss Dark, I'm very sorry to chat so briefly and then run off on you
like this, but I'm sure we'll have another chance to speak soon.  Gabriel, you
can take my chair.  I won't be needing it down below.
* Joan nods and smiles at the Captain. "Thank you."
* Gabriel takes his chair.
* Avignon smiles amiably at Joan, and nods to Gabriel, before walking smoothly
across the deck and taking the stairs down belowdecks.
* Joan watches Gabriel timidly for a minute before coming up with a conversation
topic. "Captain Avignon is nice, don't you think?"
* Gabriel nods. "He is. A man of high ideas and a good heart, although I hope he
knows exactly what he's doing. Anyways, let me introduce myself. My name is
Gabriel Mehler, as you probably know already."
* Gabriel holds out a hand for Joan to shake.
* Joan shakes. "I'm Joan Dark.  A pleasure."
* Gabriel has a lack of accent. Not too surprising, really. "As is mine. So,
what brings you here?"
<Joan> I stopped by to talk with the Captain.
* Gabriel chuckles. "No, not that. What brought you to Paris?"
<Joan> Well, since we're going to be working together, I thought it best if I
got to know him.
* Gabriel nods. "Very well. Is there anything you would like to know of me?"
* Joan considers. "Hmm... Why did you decide to work with the Captain?"
<Gabriel> Simply, I didn't wish to abandon Paris, so I decided to work with him,
rather than flee the city.
* Joan blinks. "Flee the city?"
* Gabriel nods. "You've seen what's happening. I was warned that this sort of
thing would be on the rise, so either to leave the city or seek out the good
Captain."
<Joan> I see.
<Gabriel> You?
<Joan> I joined him because I believe our goals are similar.
<Gabriel> You believe?
* Joan nods.
<Gabriel> Enough about this talk of the Captain, though.  Do you have anything
to ask me as a person?
* Joan thinks. "Well... do you have any brothers or sisters?"
* Gabriel sighs. "I'm the last of my family, unfortunately."
* Joan looks apologetic. "Oh. I'm sorry."
<Gabriel> No, it's quite all right.  I've grown used to it over the years, and
there isn't really any way for you to know.
* Joan nods, hurriedly changing the subject. "How did you gain your powers?"
* Gabriel mmmms... "I... I really can't say. It's... mostly natural ability, if
you know what I mean." He thinks for a little. "Do you have any interests other
than crime fighting?"
* Joan smiles. "I like to read a bit."
* Gabriel chuckles. "What do you like reading?"
<Joan> Fiction, mostly.  Have you read Frankenstein?  That's one of my
favorites.
* Gabriel nods. "Yes I have. It's an excellent book, although I think she goes a
bit far into the fiction of it all."
<Joan> But that's what I like about it.
<Gabriel> That's good.  Do you appreciate art?
* Joan nods. "Yes. Although I'm afraid I have no talent for it myself."
* Gabriel smiles. "Well, you should learn then."
<Joan> That's easier said than done.
<Gabriel> Given enough practice and time, anyone can achive anything...
<Gabriel> But I understand what you mean.  It took a long time for me to learn
my art.
* Joan nods.
<Joan> So you are an artist?
<Gabriel> In more ways than one.
<Joan> How do you mean?
<Gabriel> I paint, but I'm also an artist of the musical kind.
<Joan> I see.
<Joan> That's impressive.  What instrument do you play?
<Gabriel> Violin, of course.
<Joan> Well... I suppose I should be heading home.
* Joan stands, smiling at Gabriel. "It was nice to talk with you. Next time,
you'll have to play something for me."
* Joan heads off!
* Gabriel nods and watches her head off. "I suppose so." He walks off the ship
at a leisurly pace.