01<@Ardweden> [Day: Monday, September 13.  Time: ?]
 01<@Ardweden> [You're on a mission to save Tony!  After debating the correct 
course of action on actually saving him in the Haven, and then trying to walk to 
Tony's dream and ending up in a forest with Carlos, you've returned to the Haven 
to follow Kali's advice.  Namely: open the door out to teleport straight there.]
 01<@Ardweden> [One would hope, anyway.]
 01<@Ardweden> [Session Start.]
 06* @Imp focuses on Tony's place and opens the door.
 06* Kali takes in a deep breath and focuses, muttering "This had better work" 
under her breath as she steps through.
 06* Susano-o follows behind Kali, with as much focus but with less muttering.
 01<@Ardweden> [On the other side is a gray mist.  Kali steps out before Imp 
does, and she ends up on a familiar New York dreamstreet, with what looks like 
the exact same pizzaria before her.]
 06* Hien is glad they reached their destination this time! She was worried that 
she was starting to rub off on other people. ^^;
 06* Joan looks it over. Yep, that's a pizza place.
 06* Kali looks about then looks at the people who managed to follow her. 
Hopefully Imp was one of them because this is his gig.
 01<@Ardweden> [Familiar unfamiliar people walk by, ignoring you as before.  
Above, lights flicker on as night descends.]
 06* Susano-o loosens his sword, but otherwise just waits for the Imp, too.
 06* @Imp takes a deep breath. "Ready?"
 06* Hien nods.
<Joan> After you.
 06* @Imp heads in ready for a fight.
 06* Susano-o follows, wary, but not overtly aggressive.
 06* Kali makes her way in as well shortly behind Susano-o
 01<@Ardweden> [You walk on in!  The restaurant is just as packed as it was 
before, with Tony again flipping dough like a pro.  His dad's cleaning down the 
counter nearby.  Neither of them seem to have noticed you yet.]
 06* @Imp sighs and looks at the group, he looks pained. "look, some one else 
take the lead talk. If I do it..."
<Joan> 'E's your friend.
 06* Susano-o nods. "I understand, though." He looks among the others to see if 
anyone looks like they're volunteering.
<Hien> I'm not so sure I'd be good at this.
 06* @Imp looks at Joan. "I'm going to do everything I can to save him."
<Joan> Zen you should talk to 'im. I can't, I know nozing about 'im.
 06* @Imp looks hurt and jerks his head away staring at the wall now, not saying 
anything.
 06* Kali looks like she's half-listening to the conversation. Her gaze tries to 
focus on what's going on behind the kitchen but keeps shifting to the edge of 
the bar, then back, then back to where it was.
 06* Susano-o looks between them. "I can try again. If you want. But I didn't do 
a great job last time."
<@Imp> If I do it we are better off alpha striking.
 06* Kali glances, now at the kitchen, but not quite at imp and glancing out of 
the side of her vision. "Alpha what?"
<@Imp> going for the dad full force right now
 06* Kali sighs. "Look, can't you just talk to him without pissing him off?"
 06* @Imp gives Kali a look of disbelief and then shakes his head looking at the 
wall again.
 01<@Ardweden> [Around you, the dream continues as how you may expect, people 
chatting and eating, Tony laughing and having a good time with his father.]
 06* Susano-o looks at Tony. "I can talk. I can talk like you again, even. But 
it didn't really work great last time. I'd need to know more."
 06* Kali glances away from where she was looking. She deadpans, "Fuckin' lord, 
can you talk to *anyone* without pissing them off? You're pathetic, Tyl--er, 
Imp."
 06* Kali rubs her head and glances back for a moment, then back towards the 
restaurant.
<Hien> I thought the point was to convince Tony of the truth and, well...
 06* Hien looks at Imp. "You seem like the best one to do it. You know him 
better than any of us, after all."
 06* @Imp sighs. "Fine."
 06* @Imp slowly moves towards the counter, slowly. He's dreading this.
 06* Susano-o waits for him to get halfway there, and then starts to follow at a 
distance. He doesn't want to get too close.
 01<@Ardweden> [I'm slowly moves towards the counter, in slow motion.  Tony and 
his dad keep talking, and now that he's closer, Imp can tell it's about their 
annual trip to Rockefeller Center.]
 06* Kali does too, standing at the edge of the counter, trying to be close 
enough to listen in on the conversation but not too close to interfere.
 06* @Imp stops for a bit to listen.
 06* Joan stays near the door, folding her arms and leaning against the wall.
 01<@Ardweden> ["We're going to the Nintendo World Store this year, right?" Tony 
asks.  His father replies, "If it's not too busy.  It'd have to be after ice 
skating, and you know your mother wants to meet us for lunch..."]
 06* @Imp frowns at that last statment but stays listening now.
 06* Susano-o listens, too, as best he can. He wonders why the Imp isn't heading 
on. Is he waiting for the right moment?
 06* Kali frowns too, whispering, "Wait. They're not supposed to be together are 
they...?"
 01<@Ardweden> ["Why don't we just stop by a stand?" Tony asks.  "She always 
wants to go to those stuffy restaurants and..."  "She made a reservation," his 
dad chuckles.  "But we can get a hot dog and chestnuts before if you want."  
"Really?!"  Tony is *clearly* excited, a little more than would be seemly for a 
teenager, and his dad seems amused.]
 06* @Imp frowns heavily.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Yeah, we just won't tell her."]
 06* Hien stays near the door. She is dubious.
 06* @Imp heads up and sits down at the counter, waiting a bit, if they don't 
see him he'll reach out and touch Tony.
 01<@Ardweden> [They don't notice, but at Imp's touch, Tony starts and looks at 
him, and Tony's father also blinks, as if noticing Imp for the first time.]
 01<@Ardweden> ["Sorry," Tony says sheepishly.  "Welcome to... uh..."  He 
frowns.  "Do I know you?"  Meanwhile, Tony's father is eyeing Imp with what is 
almost certainly suspicion.]
<@Imp> Hey, what's the house special?
 06* Susano-o watches quietly.
 06* Kali tries not to breathe a sigh of relief with that reaction from Tony but 
she can't help but do it a little. She glances at the father for a moment and 
then again down the counter while she turns her gaze back to Tony's dad.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions with extra 
cheese," Tony recites from memory.  He glances at his father, who nods, eyes 
still very much on Imp.]
<@Imp> Give me a large.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Y-"  He glances at his dad again, who nods.  Again.  "Yeah, 
sure," Tony finishes, moving to the kitchen to do just that.  Meanwhile, his 
father frowns, folding his arms and still looking down at Imp.]
 06* @Imp is just sitting there, innocently, not destroying anything or being 
rude.
 06* Susano-o looks a bit hopeful!
 01<@Ardweden> ["What are you doing back?" Tony's father asks.  "Didn't you 
cause enough trouble last time?"]
<@Imp> Trying a friends pizza. Can't I do that?
 01<@Ardweden> [He leans against the counter, studying Imp... and wrinkling his 
nose at the smell, because ugh.  "You're a friend of Tony's?"]
<@Imp> Yeah, not that you would know.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Well no.  I try to give him his space.  Still..."  He looks Imp 
up and down.  "You really upset him yesterday.  And me too, honestly - I'm not 
comfortable with you being here.  I'd appreciate it if you ate your pizza 
outside."]
<@Imp> Sure, no problem. I'll eat the pizza outside. Tell me, what does Tony see 
when he looks at me?
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's dad looks at Imp like he's grown a second head (something 
that's been happening to Tyler quite frequently!).  "Probably the same thing I 
do.  You're a small red creature with bat wings."]
<@Imp> Mmm, thanks.
 06* Susano-o looks unsure about where this is going.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's dad shakes his head at Imp, because face it, he's kind of 
weird (even for a dream creature), and heads to the kitchen to help Tony.]
 06* Hien is relieved that nothing's on fire. Yet.
 06* @Imp calmly waits for the pizza.
 01<@Ardweden> [The pizza comes out!  It's even in a box!  Tony hands it to Imp, 
and his father's standing nearby, watching.  "Here you go."]
<@Imp> Thanks, say, I got a new hair cut recently, can you tell me what you 
think? 
 06* @Imp grins obviously bald headed looking at Tony.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Looks like you got it all cut, dude," Tony replies.]
<@Imp> Yeah, get many of my type in here?
 01<@Ardweden> ["Nope."  Meanwhile, dad is starting to frown again.]
 06* Joan runs a gauntleted hand over her hair. This isn't going too well.
 01<@Ardweden> [All of Joan's hair is still there!]
<Joan> ( woot! )
 06* Hien , also not posessing any hair in this form, is starting to wonder 
where this is going. She taps her fingers against her right leg. There's a faint 
clicking sound.
<@Imp> Can't imagine you do, how often do little red imps order pizza?
 01<@Ardweden> ["Got no idea," Tony says.  "Is that, uh, all?"]
<@Imp> Sure, just pointing out you don't get many customers like me in the real 
world. Course you don't get four handed ladies or dragons either do you?
 01<@Ardweden> ["I... really don't know what you're talking about."]
 06* @Imp twitches and looks around for help at this moment.
 01<@Ardweden> ["There's a nice park down the street," Tony's father interjects, 
and when he does, Tony looks relieved. "You could probably go there to enjoy 
your pizza."]
 06* Kali teleports in and touches Tony on the shoulder. "He means us."
<@Imp> Pizza needs to cool off a bit, what would happen if I burnt myself?
 06* Susano-o tenses visibly.
 06* Kali glances at Imp, hoping she made the right move.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony yelps, and when he turns to see Kali, his eyes go wide.  
And he quickly does not look at her breasts.  "Holy CRAP, you're tall!"]
<@Imp> Unusually so, maybe even impossibly so.
 06* Hien realizes that Tony has not noticed the seven-foot dragon standing near 
the door.
 06* @Imp is trying very, very, very hard to control himself.
 06* Kali smirks. "Yeah, I am." She glances at the dad for a moment and loses 
her smile. "How come you remember us and he doesn't?"
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's father doesn't answer that question.  Instead he says, 
"If you're finished..."]
<@Imp> Nah, I think we need Sodas for the group, got any?
 01<@Ardweden> ["Not to go."]
 06* @Imp shrugs. "Hey Tony got a big enough table for us then?"
<Kali> His mom isn't in New York, you know.
 01<@Ardweden> ["I, uh..."  Tony glances over Imp, taking in the dining room.  
"Doesn't look like it."]
 01<@Ardweden> ["Don't be ridiculous," Tony's father says.  "Of course she is."]
 06* @Imp shrugs. "I figure the divorce still happened and he's with his father 
instead of his mother. Seems happier here then the real world."
 06* Kali looks at Imp. "They're meeting with his mom here though." She glances 
at his dad. "I didn't know Ashgate was in New York now. Awful long commute..."
<@Imp> And likes stuffy restraunts. I think she likes the same ones I do 
normally. Course, had to try a perfect pizza from Tony. There's no way this 
pizza isn't perfect is there?
 06* Hien looks lost. This isn't new.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's blinking, trying to figure out why they're talking about 
what they're talking about, and Tony's dad just starts shaking his head.]
<Kali> Tell me about his mother, "Dad". She still with you?
 01<@Ardweden> ["Yes.  And I don't like your tone," Tony's father says.]
<@Imp> Ah, wrong, the divorce didn't happen. Not sure why they would have to 
meet her for lunch special then. 
 06* Kali smiles slightly. "You wouldn't have liked it just from me being here, 
I'd imagine anyway."
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony moves, scrambling away from Kali and closer to his dad.  
He's making her uncomfortable, for some reason.]
 01<@Ardweden> (she's making him uncomfortable, rather)
<Kali> A happy little family. <turning to Tony> Where do you go to school?
 01<@Ardweden> ["I, uh, why are you asking this stuff?"]
 06* Kali smiles at Tony. "Just curious. My friend here seems confused and we 
want to just clear the air. With pizza."
 01<@Ardweden> ["You're being fucking creepy," he says flatly.]
 06* @Imp hands Kali the pizza. He's not going to eat it. "She's always creepy. 
God, you should see her in the hallways at highschool slinking around looking 
all emo goth."
 06* Kali glances down at Tony for a moment. "You're looking at a woman with 4 
arms and a scaled little demon who breathes out stink breath and you're telling 
us that *now* we're being creepy?"
 06* Kali tries not to react to that. Because dear god she wants to.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony eyes Kali.  "Emo goth?"  He tries to see it, because he 
just can't.]
<@Imp> Sure, you'd remember her. You shot your first mega spitball at her. 
Course, you also said I shouldn't fling the half dollars at her.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's brow knits.  "I... think I'd remember something like 
that."]
 06* Kali tenses for a moment and tries to remind herself that Imp's actually 
helping.
<@Imp> Man it was an awesome spitball. I'd have thought you'd remember it.
 01<@Ardweden> ["No way, man.  Maybe you've got me confused with somebody else?  
I don't shoot spitballs at people."]
 06* Joan shakes her head and approaches the counter, leaning forward. "'Ey," 
she says to Tony.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony starts again, then he sees Joan and he smiles.  Finally 
someone (relatively) normal!  "Hi, can I help you?"  Plus she's pretty.  
Definite bonus.]
<@Imp> You always talked us down from doing anything really mean. Guess I was 
the bad influence.
 06* Kali tilts her head. "You don't? I assume you attend all your classes, get 
good grades, and never get in trouble at school then, right?"
 06* @Imp said that like it was a good thing.
 06* Kali glances at "Dad." What's his reaction?
<Joan> Oui monsieur, I'd would like to order a pizza, if you please.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's currently distracted by Joan and does not respond to 
Kali!  And his dad... is just watching.  He looks concerned, but he's not 
stepping in.]
 01<@Ardweden> ["Sure, what do you want on it?"]
 06* Kali said the last in a totally genuine manner, by the way, without a touch 
of sarcasm to her voice.
<Joan> Pepperoni, anchovies, sausage, meatballs, mozarella cheese, swiss cheese, 
bleu cheese, onions, peppers, oregano, tomatoes and bacon, sil vous plait.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's eyes cross briefly, but then Joan finishes and he nods.  
"Got it."  And scurries off to make a pizza!  And to get away from ALL OF THE 
CRAZY.]
<Joan> And an extra large, monsieur.
 06* Joan yells that after him.
 01<@Ardweden> ["Okay!" he calls back.]
 06* Kali watches Tony for a moment, staying close to dad. She seems to be 
taking a conscious effort for her lower-left hand to not go for her sword, but 
it's working so far.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's father, for the record, looks like he might be about to 
have a headache.]
 06* @Imp smiles at Tony's dad. That usually helps adult headaches.
 06* Joan leans back and smiles at Tony's dad. "'E is most 'elpful, non? 'E gave 
me a much different impression when I first met 'im, but per'aps zere is good in 
all people."
 06* @Imp then turns that smile on Joan. "Sure"
 06* Kali comments to herself, so Dad can hear. Possibly Tony, but it's soft. 
"No spitballs, no bullying...the perfect student...must be a bit of his mom in 
him, isn't there?"
 01<@Ardweden> ["Yeah," Tony's dad says, "he's a good kid."]
<Kali> And he helps out at the restaurant on top of that! Even during the 
Christmas season!
 06* Joan nods again. "Oui. Which is why I feel sorry for doing zis to 'im. But 
it is time to wake up." And in one swift motion she draws her sword and hacks at 
dad's neck.
<Kali> You must be a proud father. With a loving wife. In a nice house...good 
business...
 06* @Imp STARES at Joan.
 06* Kali teleports back at that, 10 feet away from the attacking Joan and next 
to Tony.
 06* Hien takes a step back. She may dent the wall if she's that close.
 06* Susano-o blinks a couple of times, his hands falling to his sides.
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's father's eyes open wide, and he moves to get out of the 
way, but not fast enough - Joan's sword slices his head off neatly, and after a 
couple of seconds, the decapitated body crumples to the floor.  Meanwhile, Kali 
appears next to Tony in the kitchen, and he looks at her.  "What do you want?" 
he asks.]
 06* Susano-o stares pretty dumbly at this development.
 06* @Imp looks at the body and up at Joan. "What the HELL, I can't go in 
fighting but YOU CAN?"
 06* Joan looks down at Imp. "I could see zis was 'ow it would end. You weren't 
convincing 'im of anyzing."
 06* Kali notices Tony's reaction and then forces a smile at him, trying to 
recompose herself. "I just wanted to watch how you made the pizzas."
<@Imp> Oh fuck you too.
<Hien> Um.  What do we do now?
 01<@Ardweden> [The body starts to melt away, turning into a black, gooey 
mess... and the rest of the dream begins to melt, too, like wax on a candle.]
 06* Kali frowns at Tony. "Bad news though..."
 06* @Imp sighs a bit, his face softening. "Thanks."
<Joan> Now? I guess we wait for... zat.
 01<@Ardweden> [And in the kitchen, Kali hears a harsh whisper from behind her: 
"Run."  Tony's eyes widen as he looks behind Kali.  "What- why-?"]
 06* Susano-o looks around, and steps closer to the others at the counter, now 
that this is happening.
 06* Kali points up at the ceiling that's melting away. "That." She then turns 
around to try and see the source of the voice, but frowns, porting back to the 
main part of the restaurant. "Guys. We should get out of here..."
 06* @Imp frowns and nods starting to move for the door.
 06* Joan nods and heads to the exit.
 06* Susano-o nods, and heads along, as well.
 06* Hien goes out the door, as she was right near it and thus couldn't get lost 
trying to find it!
 01<@Ardweden> [Two glowing red eyes peek out from the black puddle, followed by 
a sharp-toothed smile, before it widens, starting to swallow the area.  The 
place is still melting!  But the door's still intact.]
<@Imp> ummm... is that... good?
 06* Kali stares. "Does it *look* fucking good to you?"
 06* Joan exits. "I do not zink so."
 01<@Ardweden> [You also hear running and Tony screaming, "Dad!"]
<Kali> Shit. Imp. Go back for Tony. Let's get him out of here too if we can.
 06* Kali looks around frantically. "I don't even know if that's how it fucking 
works, but we've gotta *try*."
 06* @Imp teleports to grab Tony. "COME ON! I'm not letting a friend die."
 01<@Ardweden> [Tony's not where Imp left him!  In fact, Tony's nowhere to be 
found, though he's still screaming for his father.  "Don't!  Stop, don't go!"]
 06* @Imp frowns. "Fuck. LET IT GO TONY. Let go of your stupid fantasy before it 
kills you."
 06* Kali scowls. "Dammit. I don't think there's anything we can do now. Just 
hope it turns out alright. *Come on* Imp."
 01<@Ardweden> [The door melts away on one end and is swallowed by the inky 
blackness on the other, replaced (strangely enough) with screaming arguments 
between what all of you recognize as Tony's father and a woman.]
 06* Kali frowns and looks around frantically for Imp.
 01<@Ardweden> [Kali does find Imp, in all of this.  It's the only thing she 
sees clearly, though they can both hear the domestic chaos, as well as Tony's 
own running and, now, crying.]
<Kali> Did you find him?
 06* @Imp frowns and shakes his head. "No. He.. he needs help."
<Kali> Shit, I don't know...he's facing reality now. But if we wake up in 
here...
 06* Kali scowls. "Can you sense him?"
<@Imp> No. I never could. Okay. I faked it. I just want to help a friend.
 06* Kali stares at Imp for a moment. "You." She stands back up. "Fucking 
*asshole*. You know you owe all of us. Big time."
 06* Kali goes towards the source of the noise.
<@Imp> Look I got vague tugs but nothing else and they got weaker. Shit. I don't 
know what I'm doing, do you?
 06* @Imp follows.
<Kali> Do I *look* like I know what the fuck I'm doing?
 01<@Ardweden> [You hear a loud rumbling, and the ground shakes violently.  It 
sounds like a train, or a subway.]
 06* Kali stops for a moment. Then starts run/porting towards the train sounds.
<@Imp> No. But you got an idea.
 06* @Imp suddenly starts to run after her.
<@Imp> (just as suddenly)
 01<@Ardweden> [As you near the sounds, you see Tony's back, lights matching a 
subway train, and the silhouette of a man- just before he's hit.  Tony's 
panicked scream fills the air, and the dream shatters.]
 01<@Ardweden> [Session End.]