From Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu Mon Feb 14 11:08:57 1994 Date: Mon, 14 Feb 94 10:40:40 EST From: Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu To: thari@umich.edu Subject: Kris' Campaign Log Chapter Thirty-two Felix notices that Foster is paying a lot of attention to Flora and Ariana. He asks if Flora will help outfit Foster. Foster objects, saying he wants to do it with Felix. Ahab realizes that Kimdyl is still missing, so he goes into the hall and Trumps her. He sees that she is holding Murine's body and looks in bad shape. She tells him it's about time as he pulls her through. He notices that she is now about six months pregnant. Kimdyl tells him that Murine got in trouble so she had to get her out of it. As they head for the infirmary, Ahab fills her in on his encounter with Deirdre. Once they reach the infirmary and place Murine on one of the beds, Ahab Trumps Ariana. Foster continues to stare at Ariana's chest. Felix isn't pleased by this behavior. Foster claims it's purely scientific. Ariana answers Ahab's Trump call. After hearing the situation, she asks if Ahab thinks she should bring Felix along. They both consider this and think better of it. Ariana goes through, leaving a confused Felix behind. Alex spends some time in Chaos, talking to his mother. She plans to show Eric her best side. Alex doesn't like this, but realizes that he can't do anything about it. Felix tells a page to locate Ariana and have her Trump him. Then he decides to just have the page tell him where she is. Foster notes that Felix is under stress and asks if it's internal or external. Felix says it's both, especially given what Ariana said before she disappeared. Before dessert is finished, the page returns and tells him that Ariana is in the infirmary. Felix offers Foster the choice of staying behind or coming along. Foster points out that he still doesn't really know anyone, so he opts to come with Felix. Ariana asks Ahab to keep Felix out of her way. Ahab hears Felix approaching and intercepts him. As he explains the situation to Felix, Foster tries to slip past into the infirmary, but Ahab cuts him off. Foster asks if his mother's in there. Ahab explains that she was injured, but they're doing the best they can. Felix reluctantly agrees to wait. Ahab goes back into the infirmary. Ariana says that she could use some additional medical help. Ahab tries Gerard, but he's pretty drunk and the Trump animates with difficulty. Ahab recognizes that Gerard is not going to be helpful and breaks the contact. He tries Driscoll next, but Driscoll's glasses block the contact from getting through. Eric's card grows cold, but doesn't animate. He Trumps Random, who suggests he try Fiona. He doe so, and Fiona agrees to come through. With Fiona's assistance, things proceed nicely. While Ariana and Fiona work on her sister, Kimdyl shapeshifts her arm back to a healthy alignment. Ahab asks her if the baby's a boy or a girl. She asks if he really wants to know. He says he'll tell her later. She asks what he'd think if she told him she was carrying twins. He tells her he'd have to think up another name. She says that when he gives birth, he can name the baby. He helps her back to their quarters where they cuddle for a while. Felix suggests to Foster that they see about getting his bed. They go to his room, and find the bed has already been delivered. They discuss where to put it. Felix asks if Foster was upset about getting clothes. Foster replies that he was upset about being dumped on Flora. He says he'd rather not be shuffled off on people until he knows them. Felix apologizes. He asks what Foster was told about his relatives. Foster doesn't want to repeat it. Foster points out that he needs some sleeping clothes. While Felix ponders how to do this, Foster summons a page to find him some. While they are waiting, Foster checks out his mattress. What he's looking for is unclear to Felix. Felix asks if Foster has a Trump of his mother. Foster retrieves his Trumps from their hiding place and hands one to Felix. Once Murine is stabilized, Ariana Trumps Felix. He is about to Trump Murine when he gets the contact. Ariana tells him he can see Murine now. Meanwhile, back in Bedlam, Heather is two weeks overdue. Driscoll suggests that she might want to have labor induced. Heather won't hear of it. Brand arrives with Rinaldo, saying "You haven't had it yet?" Rinaldo is set down to play with Eris. Brand asks if Heather's seen her obstetrician. Driscoll repeats to Brand want he told Heather. Heather says the child will be born when it's ready. Mary suggests that since Heather has an unusual constitution, it might be a good idea to induce labor. Heather says she won't do it. Brand asks if she'd rather endanger the child. Mandor wisely stays out of the argument. Rinaldo asks her if it will be born soon. She tells him it will be. He points out that he didn't say what Jasra wanted him to. Heather gives him a piece of candy as a reward. After more badgering from Brand and Mary, she eventually relents and says she'll consider having labor induced. Brand asks her to watch Rinaldo. Heather asks if she has a choice. Given that the other option is leaving him in daycare, she really doesn't. The local daycare would never survive. Alex asks Gramble if there's anything he should bring back to Amber. Gramble gives him a sealed package for Random and says he'd like 30 days notice if Alex decides to quit. Alex arrives in Amber and learns that Random is gone. He sees Foster disappearing around a corner. Not recognizing the boy, he decides to follow him. Ariana fills Felix in on Murine's condition. Foster wants to know the odds of her survival. Alex walks in and asks who's the victim this time. Both Foster and Felix frown at him, looking surprisingly alike. Ariana takes Alex into the hallway outside the infirmary and updates him on recent happenings in Amber. She asks what he's found out about Vetch. All he knows it that Vetch is out in shadow somewhere. Felix and Foster sit by Murine's bed for a while. Foster tells Felix that everything will be OK and leaves. Ariana motions him over as he walks out of the infirmary and introduces him to Alex. As they talk, it becomes obvious that Foster is feeling rather lonely and unwanted. They try to reassure him that Felix loves him, he just needs time to adjust. Foster eventually asks if he can go. Ariana tells him he can leave whenever he wants. Foster gets an odd look on his face upon hearing this. He leaves. Alex and Ariana go back into the infirmary. They talk with Felix about what to do about Foster. Ariana suggests Felix find activities they share. Felix says that Foster seems to have more in common with Ahab than him. They all agree it's important for Felix to spend as much time as possible with Foster. Felix plans to bring Foster to his parents summer cottage, once it's open for the season. Heather finally goes into labor. Mandor, Driscoll and Mary quickly bring her to the hospital. The delivery is surprisingly short. It's a girl. Heather names her Emer (pronounced Evair). Ahab goes looking for Fiona. He finds her in the kitchen making tea. He asks if Deirdre's almost done. Fiona says she will be done shortly. Ahab asks if she'll be injured. Fiona figures she will be, since the simulation was pretty realistic. Ahab wants to be there to help Deirdre when it's over. Fiona points out that Deirdre's never one for company in defeat. They talk for a while, as Fiona sips tea and eats scones. Ahab asks her to tell him when Deirdre is quite finished. Fiona points out again that Deirdre will not emerge unscathed. The spell was programmed to give Deirdre what she expects. Ahab thanks Fiona and goes looking for Foster. Ahab finds Foster in the library reading the Book of the Unicorn. Ahab asks if he's lonely and offers to play a game of Chess with him. Foster is happy to take Ahab up on the offer. Ahab learns that Foster is quite good and finds himself hard-pressed. Felix, Ariana and Alex walk to Felix's room. Foster isn't there. Ariana suggests checking the library. They walk into the library towards the end of the Chess game. Felix hangs out by the door with a pouty expression on his face. Ariana and Alex sit down and watch the game. Ahab eventually wins. He notices Felix standing by the door and decides it's time to leave. Foster asks if Felix wants to play. Felix says he's kind of rusty. Ariana encourages him to play anyway. Felix eventually agrees. Alex leaves. Ariana watches part of the game before going to bed. Felix wins the game, but it's a close thing. Foster is feeling rather tired, so they go back to Felix's room and get some sleep. Brand visits Heather in the hospital. He smiles at Emer, and says she's much better looking than Rinaldo was. He studies Emer carefully and says "Interesting." Heather asks what he means, but he tells her it's nothing to worry about and leaves. Mebd Trumps Alex and tells him she's a sister. Alex is grumpy due to the early hour. He asks if the child was a boy or a girl, since Mebd would be a sister either way. Mebd tells him it was a girl. Foster wakes up early and starts rummaging around. Felix is woken up by a loud crash. He gets up and finds that Foster has knocked over a vase while attempting to reach one of the books on the top shelf of the bookcase. Felix asks what Foster was trying to get. Foster says he was just trying to get high enough to read the titles. Not too many people are at breakfast. Ahab and Kimdyl opt to have breakfast in bed. Ariana decides to spend the morning sunbathing. She attracts quite a crowd of observers. Ahab gives Kimdyl a foot massage. They banter back and forth for a while. She tells him she could spirit herself off to Chaos and bring the child back when it's 60. Ahab responds that he was considering that, at which point Kimdyl throws a pillow at him. The pillow fight ends when Kimdyl grabs Ahab with the Logrus and hangs him by his feet. Kimdyl allows Ahab to serve her when breakfast finally arrives. Felix and Foster decide to go shopping and get breakfast in town. Felix rides behind Foster, since Foster is nervous about riding horses. As they ride into the city, Foster asks why Felix is wearing a skirt. Felix tries to explain, and reassures Foster that he won't have to wear a kilt if he doesn't want to. Foster has a chocolate-covered chocolate doughnut with hot chocolate for breakfast. Heather learns how to breast feed. She Trumps Fiona and tells her about Emer. Fiona comes through and surprises Heather by making baby noises at Emer. Heather tells Fiona about Brand's earlier remark. Fiona says that was mean and promises to have a talk with Brand. Alex uses the Logrus to figure out where Heather is in shadow and pull himself there. Random disperses the crowd watching Ariana and points out to her that he'd like for things to get done around the Castle. Ariana pretends she doesn't know what he's talking about, but Random doesn't buy it. He asks her to move. Alex walks into the hospital where Heather is staying and goes to her room. Mary answers his knock. She lets him in and checks to see if Heather's receiving visitors. Heather isn't happy about Alex's presence but lets him in. He looks at the baby, telling Heather that Mebd was gushing so much about her new sister that he had to come see for himself. He's brought a big, white teddy bear as a present. Mebd walks in and is surprised to see Alex so soon. She shows him her new belly-button ring. Heather frowns at this. Mebd assures Alex that Heather's mood will eventually improve. Ahab Trumps Felix while Felix is shopping with Foster. He asks if a pregnant woman can have alcohol at six months along. Felix thinks he's referring to Murine and says he wasn't there when it happened. Ahab looks annoyed and says he's asking for a medical opinion. Felix doesn't think it would be wise. Foster's shopping trip goes fairly well. Felix learns that Foster has a fondness for black and gray. Foster is shocked that Felix is spending so much money on him. When they are done shopping, Felix asks what Foster wants to do for the rest of the day. Foster asks what Felix usually does. Unfortunately, Felix usually goes sailing and wenching. Foster gets seasick, so sailing is out, and he agrees that he's a little too young for the wenching. They return to the Castle by late afternoon. Felix Trumps Gerard, who is talking to Isabeux. He asks if Gerard is available to meet Foster. Gerard suggests that evening as a good time. Felix asks Vialle for help in finding a tutor for Foster. Alex hangs around with Mebd in Bedlam. She wants to take him to one of the local clubs. She points out that he might want to wear something more appropriate. He mistakenly says she could probably buy him something, so she takes him shopping. Ariana walks the Pattern and has it take her back to Maui. She learns she's been gone for about a week. There is a message from Mark, her current lover, on her answering machine, asking her to call him. She does so, and they arrange to go out to dinner. Ahab Trumps Fiona to see if there's any news. Fiona estimates that Deirdre should be done by evening, so he can pick up the pieces then. Ahab is impressed. Fiona warns him that Deirdre will be in a bad mood, since Fiona felt it would be best to let her know it was a scam in the end. She also mentions she's visiting a newborn. Ahab asks if it's anyone he knows. Fiona tells him that genetically, the newborn is her grandchild. Ahab says he didn't know she had any children. She tells him that she didn't either. Eventually she reveals that it's Heather's child she's visiting. Felix tells Foster that his grandparents would like to meet him. Foster asks if they'll be at dinner. Felix says they'll be meeting him afterwards. Foster tells Felix to relax. Mark makes Ariana feel missed. She returns the favor. Alex goes clubbing with Mebd and discovers that she has taken up drinking. Kimdyl and Ahab eat dinner in their rooms. They quickly progress to other things.