She is relaxing. This... this might yet be salvagable. I may still have a friend in her. Jiro let out a breath slowly, eyes closing for a brief moment. Merciful Kamis, thank you.

Feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the martial artist follows Alex across the rooftops towards Sarah's place of safety, feeling a measure of hope for the meeting to come and not the dread of before.

[OOC: barring emergencies or further questions/comments from Alex, Jiro is content to travel the rest of the way in silence.]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:48, Thu 05 Apr 2012.

A few minutes later the pair finds themselves at the side door of an old house that has been converted into apartments.

Alex strides right up to the door and knocks loudly three times.

Jiro breathed evenly, trying to calm his nerves and be ready to face whatever situation might be before them when the door opened.

Sarah, I hope that between us we can reach our mutual friend; that today will be a tru victory and not a Pyrrhic one.

There is a sound of movement, followed by the door being swung open. Sarah looks at Alex with an expression mixed with hope and fear. There is a moment of stillness, then she throws her arms around Alex and starts sobbing. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Oh God, I'm sorry Alex."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

Jiro let out a breath. That was probably the best way for this conversation to start. I hope. Either way, our news can wait a few moments.

He glanced around the street, looking for anyone or anything that might interfere with a delicate and private moment.

OOC: Skill mastery on notice for a 22 - any furtive or probably crimal types looking on?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

Alex goes rigid. For a moment, Jiro has no idea of what she is about to do. Then she relaxes minutely. It is a slow process but over the course of a couple minutes Alex finds that she has wrapped her arms around Sarah and is shedding tears of her own.

Jiro lets out a breath. Merciful Kamis; thank you.

After a moment, he speaks in a low voice. "Perhaps we should go inside, where it is more private, that we can speak of... what needs to be spoken of... without airing it to all the neighbors?"

Alex nods and gently leads Sarah into the apartment.

Jiro follows quietly, making sure the door is closed and locked behind them. He hangs back a bit; feeling something like an intruder.

The apartment is quite bare, only the minimum of furniture and no decorations. It certainly doesn't look like a place that someone really lives in regularly.

The two woman sit down on a small couch. It takes a few minutes for Sarah to pull herself together enough to talk. "I... last night I made a terrible mistake. I made an assumption and I nearly killed you. As if I needed any more proof that the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Alex takes a deep breath "You're right about that. I'm not ready to forgive you for what you did last night. It still hurts, I don't have the words for it. It feels like I'm not really all here, like my body is a pair of pants a size to big and about to fall down."

Alex pauses and swallows. "But... I remember. I remember you, fighting Gabby that last time. Stopping the Walking Nightmare at the Gym. So... I'll listen to what you have to say."

Sarah looks pained but unsurprised by Alex's words. "Actually, I think it's time that I listen to what you have to say. I was angry and scared last night and I let that drive my actions. Again." Sarah closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You said you woke up in Alexandria's body without having any idea of what was going on. What do you remember from before that?"

Jiro held his breath at Sarah's question. I should have asked this days ago... Baka, at least, for now, pay attention. He said nothing, sitting quietly, wishing against all odds that this spell of civility and speech would not end quickly. Kamis, please comfort them; and please let us find a way to aid them, whatever form that aid must take.

Alex slowly nods her head. "Yeah. I remember that."

"I think I told you both the basics. How I woke up in bed staring at myself, then found that I was in someone else's head. What had me so messed up has been that the order of things has been unclear. Not to mention the fact that it's hard to tell one set of memories from another. Whatever else happened last night, the slight silver lining is that I think I can make a little sense of them now."

"I spent a while thinking about it, and you know what the last thing I remember before I went on a painful version of the end of 2001 and ended up in a back alley, Sarah? You casting a spell. I was in the middle of a circle, there were ripped apart demons all around it. I remember the feeling of being sucked out of my body and being sent into a void."

"That sounds like the ritual that I used to send Alexander home. If that's the last thing you remember then... Merde." Sarah looks horrified "What's this 2001 thing you're talking about? You mean like the movie? I never managed to get you to watch it."

Alex shook her head. "You never got Alexandria to watch it. I loved the movie, watched it a bunch of times. That's what you just don't get. I don't think I'm Alexandria. I look like her, sound like her, have some of her memories. But I also have another life, that of a common man in a common job. Only I don't think I'm him either." Her voice started to waver and she took a series of deep breaths.

"After I got sucked out of the circle, I ended up in the void. I don't know how long I was there. There were no points of reference, nothing to judge time or distance by. Just endless dark. Could have been five minutes, could have been five years. I just don't know. All I know is that I eventually saw a light. I flew towards it, or it towards me. As I got closer I saw home. I flew through the walls and was in my room. I saw myself... saw Alexander sleeping in bed. I got closer and closer until I touched him. I thought I was going to go back into my body and this nightmare was finally over."

Alex squeezes her eyes shut. "I didn't and it wasn't. When I touched him it was like sticking my finger in a light socket. He shot up in bed and we looked at each other. We both screamed. I couldn't go back into the body because something was already there and I think it was the original tenant. Don't ask me why or how. I just somehow knew it. After the screaming, I felt myself bouncing back into the void."

"This time it was worse. It lasted longer, and it started to hurt. A lot. I think that's why I forgot so much, the pain... If there is a hell it can't be any worse then that." Alex's voice breaks. "The pain went on and on. It felt like forever, nothing but darkness and pain. On and on until..."

Jiro winced, but stopped himself from speaking. Pain beyond all reason. And I stood aside as Sarah tried to inflict it again. Kamis... I have been a poor excuse for a friend...

Even as he thought that, his mind began to race. How could such as this have happened - what could have caused it... no, I do not know enough. Yet. His thoughts raced - and his heart went out to the friends he had helped so poorly. He wanted to speak, to offer some comfort... but he did not know what to say; words seemed a poor balm to offer and he had nothing else. Nothing that would be... appropriate, at least.

Kamis, what a mess.

Sarah leaned over and wordlessly wrapped her arms around Alex.

A few minutes pass before Alex is able to speak again. "Something or things found me out in the dark. I don't know what it was or they were. I heard words, they talked but it was to loud. It was like standing right in front of a rock bands speakers, all turned to 11."

Alex shuddered "I had a sense of sadness or regret or maybe pity. I don't understand what happened next. It was confusing, terrifying, and painful. They did something. It hurt worse then anything else. I begged for death, for the hurting to stop. I couldn't understand their words, but I knew they said no. I remember seeing something appear in front of me. It... it was a woman I think. She... oh god!"

Her eyes go wide. "It... it looked like Alexandria! It looked like me! They... that means..."

"That's why I woke up naked in the alley..."

A void between the worlds... things there too strange and powerful for mortal minds to grasp... Some benign, some hostile, most indifferent... Oh, Kamis...

They found a lost soul; and they tried to help. If Alexander still carried Alexandria's memories... no, not Alexander... Alexander's body was 'occupied'..

An echo. A soul's echo, lost in the vast dark between worlds; washing up at the feet of some eldrich god.

A god who was trying to help. Oh, merciful Kamis... they made a body for him... her... the two of them... out of whole cloth, and sent it here. The soul's echo must have still carried a trace of Sarah's magic. And Sarah was here, tracking Papa Jack, not in her home...

Jiro found his voice again. Hoarsely, he said, "Oh, Alex-san... Such an ordeal; such a time..." There was a long moment as he struggled for words, "And this one has been... so poor a friend... You have touched a face of god and survived, and this one attacked you for what it wrought within."

"I, who is so proud of his mystic knowledge and power, was blind to a great truth that stood before me. I... Sorry cannot be enough..."

For a moment, the martial artist was silent, shuddering as he held back a sob of his own; one of shame; and he slumped to his knees. "Alex-san... this one begs forgiveness; and perhaps a chance to help make this right."

If only I knew how...

[OOC: 19:48, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 27 using 1d20+9. Arcane Lore - analyzing Alex's story.]

Jiro see a look of understanding cross Sarah's face as she holds Alex. He's pretty sure that the same thing is occurring to her as just occurred to him. She doesn't say anything though, just keeps holding on and lets the tears fall.

Alex tries to say something, but she can't get it out. She collapses into Sarah's arms and cries. Tears of pain, and of relief.

Time passes and the worst of the emotional storm ends. It's now after noon.

Jiro let the silence keep; taking the time to sort his own turmoiled thoughts and let Alex cry herself out. Now, however, he judged it time to move on to other things.

In a low voice, he begins to speak. "So. We have learned of the past; now, I think, we must speak of the events of the day, and what is to come. The creature known as Father Jack is slain, at the hands of myself and Alex. So, too, is the vampire Destiny, and, I would judge, the vast majority of the common vampires that had plagued this city. Thus Alex-san and I promised the sorcerer Dragoneye, and we have held our end of the bargain."

"Dragoneye now owes us each a favor. Before this... understanding... I had thought to offer my favor to help Alex return home. That, I think, has suddenly become greatly complicated. I would also be more than willing to bid it to aid your own return, Sarah-san. You and your young one have a greater need than I."

A breath, then he continued. "All this, however, may be moot. I doubt Dragoneye's honesty in this bargain; he is of the Triads - something I did not realize at the start of our dealings. Were I alone, I would not attempt to 'cash in' the favor I am owed; but simply would send a message and take my leave of this place. There are other leads. But, I am not alone; and what we choose to do next will concern us all. I see several possible courses of action; we might go to Dragoneye for aid in returning you home, Alex-san and Sarah-san; or even just Sarah, if you feel Alex will be... unwelcomed... by Alexandria. We could simply take leave, and the two of us pool our mystic knowledge to attempt the same - my focus of study has been on transformation magic, but I have a broad base of knowledge and would be most happy to aid you. We could seek other allies, as well. Freedom City is on the east coast, but it is home to the greatest superheroes of this world; and they would, I think, be more trustworthy as well as possibly able to help."

"And Alex must decide what... forgive me, Alex-san, for the pronoun trouble... they wish for themselves. You are a friend, and I would help you if I can; if you want me to."