Okay, so I don't think I remember all of where I was going with this, but this is at least some of it.

Lycaella~

I search the house one last time, already knowing I won't find anything, then make the last-minute preparations. There aren't many. I'm spared having to wait long--Mom arrives an hour ahead of schedule, and envelops me in a bear hug the moment she sees me. 

"Oh, thank heavens you're safe! I heard about the bombings--the rebuilding is remarkable, so much already--your father told me you were fine, but I'm so glad to see it for myself." She pulls back and holds me at arm's length. "Hey, let's have a girl's day out today. Just you and me."

I smile. "Of course."

She claps her hands and starts chattering again. "Brilliant! Let's go to the old cafe, order some brunch, catch up a bit--you've got to tell me more about this magic, the phone calls just aren't the same--ooh, is the spa on Berkely still standing? It's been ages since we've had a spa day." She raises a fist and beams. "Let's be off, off to support local businesses in a time of need!"

"Yes, and all your luggage can go to support the thieves," I grin, hoisting up a duffel bag.

I'm an expert at this. Spinning intricate stories to keep my parents happy, twisting the truth to cover my travels. But some things slip through anyway. She notices I'm worried.

"Okay, something's up. There's a perfectly luscious bowl of strawberries and cream sitting in front of you, and you haven't taken a single bite."

I pointedly take a bite. She gives me a look.

"Fine. It's just... one of my friends went missing. I'm sure she's okay, she's really smart and it didn't seem like she's dead or anything, but you know, she's not here."

Her expression fills with sympathy and concern. "Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry."

I wave her off. "It's fine. She'll turn up eventually. Now, since we're talking about this, I think something's up with you."

She sits back, surprised. "Who, me?"

I shake a finger at her. "Yes, you. You didn't ask me about Nygrune the last time I called. What's going on?"

She accepts the change of subject. "I'm sorry, honey, I guess I was just distracted. Your father and I are running the Guild since Cornelia disappeared."

It's my turn to reel back. "Cornelia Hornshaw? When?"

"Just before the start of September. She up and left on that wild badger chase with the train up north, and no one's heard from her since. Some of the younger staff wanted to supplant her, but we put a stop to that. We searched the area where she was last seen, but no one's heard from her in months, so we're stewarding the place in case she turns up again somewhere. I bet the Resistance has her, those filthy..."

"But there was no ransom?" I interject.

"No! That's the thing. Not a sight or a sound from anyone. But they could still be torturing her for information, keeping her whereabouts a secret for the moment, you know."

"I see," I nod.

"Your father's utterly lost himself in his work. He's been going through all the records, getting back to the basics, trying to figure out what kind of progress we've made, even sending out spies to see if we're still ahead of all the splinter groups. Spies, can you believe that?"

"Wow," I agree, and then stuff my mouth with cream-covered strawberry slices. So Dad wasn't in league with the SOCS, just trying to see what they were up to.

"We want to work on genetically engineering animals to grow replacement organs for humans, to help with the hospitals. Lots of medical science going on, you know." She lowers her voice. "Some of our ideas are coming from the Society of Concerned Scientists and their experiments with angels. I disagree with their ethics, personally, but you can't deny their methods work."

"Jeez, let's not get into that can of worms," I say. "Are you still doing lab work?"

"Oh, of course!" Mom affirms. "That's what I really love about the job. I'm getting into overseeing now, though, now that your father's sort of the stand-in head."

"Oh yeah? How do you like it?"

She shrugs. "It's actually rather nice. I get to see results, and lots of them, from all across the board. We cut out the old project with the Power of Wing because, as you know, we don't have it or that crow anymore, but we've gotten word that someone is going to sell the Power of Hoof in the annual flea market down in Mer. I'm going to go see if I can get my hands on it ASAP."

"The Power of Hoof?" I ask, intrigued. 

"Oh yes," she says conspiritorially. "It's very mysterious. Nobody knows who's selling it or if it's for real. There's just this one advertisement that's being copied and spread out absolutely everywhere." She sits back and gazes into her imagination. "The Power of Hoof. Just think! What secrets could it hold? It's been rumored that they could include a way to bestow life itself." She looks down at me and winks. "In the meantime, though, we've got the old, slow, reliable way of creating life ourselves." 

We laugh, and the conversation strays to other topics. Suddenly, it's evening, and Mom simply can't wait to sleep in her own bed again--"Not that the condo beds aren't nice, of course, but it has such character,"--so I whip up a magic-infused dinner and we call it a night at nine.

Lying awake in the dark, I feel a little giddy. It's just like old times, and yet totally new. Mom and Dad are in charge of the BIG. I'm learning magic. Laeta is alone on a secret mission. Nygrune is off in Mer, magician to the queen in a city where the Power of Hoof may be sold. I have a little information for the Resistance again. Mom is home for the night after a long day spent on just the two of us, keeping in touch.

~End RP. New established canon: Lycaella has a house phone which she uses to call her parents sometimes. Also new possible canon: Nygrune is in Mer and the service of Reinedela Ocean. Can I get approval on that, by the way? What's up with Ocean these days? How's she handling the flea market?

Topppp!!! Why won't this thing go up?!

*ties balloons and clouds onto thread* 

...Surprisingly, the balloons worked. xD

Nieke~

Hazel agrees, so Norah packs alongside us. Just before we leave, she checks her mailbox. I'm busy tucking walnuts into my belt pouch, but my attention snaps away when I hear her say "The Power of Hoof?!"

"What?" Hazel cries. 

"Here," Norah says, and holds up a poster. In one corner, large, bold letters announce that someone is selling the Power of Hoof. For a few moments, the five of us stand in dumbstruck silence. 

"That's going to make travel to Mer a lot more... insane," Hazel manages.

"For sure," I agree.

"We could take an alternate route, off of a main road," Norah suggests. "It might still be busy, but hopefully less so."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Hazel says.

"Lead the way," Ben says with a sweeping gesture. Norah smiles.

~ I wasn't sure what to do, but here you go.

Hi, I’m back. For the moment. I decided just now that I’m probably not going to be on often or consistently enough to still be responsible for any major plot stuff. Does this mean I’m leaving? Kind of. I might come by to visit and finish up that plot summary in the Power of Claw section, maybe even RP a little. Still, I don’t want to leave you hanging. Let’s say anyone who knows them can play my characters but Sybill gets the final say in anything Rose does, Trixie and Hazel can give the go-ahead on Nieke, and I don’t think Nygrune or Lycaella really got into anything big but anyone can do stuff with Lycaella’s dad. Don’t be afraid to say no to something. Keep them in-character. 

I feel like I’m giving my dying wishes, my last will and testament. I do have a fairly nasty cold. I was going to RP one final time, but I might just go to sleep. 

I feel like so many of us these days are feeling the same way, Viola?. Even I will admit that I've been thinking about leaving. (Although I can't right now, since my charries are so involved in the plot.) I'm honored you've entrusted me with making decisions on Rose. Thank you for being here, and also, thank you so much for being the first person on Kyngdom to ever roleplay with me. That was a long time ago, wasn't it? It was over a year and eight months ago. Farewell, Viola?. I wish you luck and good fortune in the many years to come.