#earthrunes

Down, out, across, and up to the opposite rooftop.... ((I assume?)) Coradel is moving with smooth and focused grace.

"You...." She closes in on the nocker without slowing her pace. Fiona and pissed.

"To the baron, Cora. We are going to court."

"Look, maybe we can cut a furking deal..." the Nocker says

"oh, this should be good." Claire's eyes flicker

"We are." Her eyes still on the nocker, she purrs it. "I am looking forward to seeing what he decides to do with you."

"Oh...a deal?" Her teeth flash, but there's no pleasure in that smile. "That's adorable."

The nocker now has quite the girl-power escort as they get down to the street and ((presumably)) to the car.

the nockeer pales. as he is marched.

"Madame LaFair - thank you for earlier." Casual, a tone that belies the ready chimerical steel.

"Think nothing of it, " And she plucks one of the nocker's hairs, "mmm less than prime silk to be sure."

"Hey! OUCH!"

"Pretty sure we're being the nice ones, here."

Coradel reaches out to touch Sparrow's shoulder at some point, when the nocker isn't looking at them...a gesture of relief and reassurance, but for which of them is unclear.

She flashes a smile at Cora - and that betrays some of her nerves behind the bravado, but, in some ways - acting the part helps make it true, a confidence she normally lacks.

then , the pooka whispers near Coradel's ear, though Sparrow might hear as well, "Strings play music, but sometimes they choke. Don't confuse the bullet for the gunman."

Clear pride in the smile and nod she returns, but she keeps her attention and focus on the nocker.

Coradel murmurs back, "You mean that he was under orders? Yes...I'm hoping we get a pretty tale out of him on precisely that topic." But she also keeps a wary eye for other potential attack designed to finish the job he started, or to silence him.

That proves wise, they do get a sense of being followed.

"One heck of an ugly bird. But he might sing."

"Claire...I think somebody's coming after us."

the Swan pooka is walking away but no one seems to be following her.

A frown, and she calls out, "Miss LaFair, this way!" But now she's suspicious...was this all a set-up?

The Ailil says "Yeah, someone in the alley is watching us. Not sure who."

One hand grabs the nocker's bound wrists, while the sword stays steady.

To Claire she says, "Would you help our feathered friend to stay with us? I want her to come to the manor."

LaFair says gently, " My apologies, but ... are you certain? Some might think the Baron had gained a love of the ballet if i were there"

"You saved me, that is worth a boon."

Claire nods "Please Miss LaFair. You understand the need?"

The Swan pooka tilts her head up, proud and oddly wounded.

"You saved Lady Sparrow, and your home was damaged by this filth...you should be able to have your say."

"Of course, every swan must have her song, very well" she slips into the car with the others.

Crowded car. Much feather.

Coradel is aware of the the continued surveillance from the alley, and she looks in that direction before getting in the car, trying to get any glimpse of...whomever.

Kithian, yes, glamour but beyond that? No.

The Car starts to drive, and then Claire says "The alley just birthed a motorcyle. We're being trailed."

"Of course we are. I might actually be longing for Aug's witch."

"This is the part where I say 'what bad could happen?' " LaFair sighs.

And two more motorcycles peel in from other roads.

"Don't.say.that.'again." Claire shoots the pooka a look

"Dammit." Coradel looks behind them and pulls out her phone, calls Bachdion.

A female voice picks up with a giggle, "Bach's school of delights, honor student speaking"

"You might want to start thinking about who your friends are, nocker."

"Tell him it's Coradel, urgent."

Then away from the phone, "Delores, if you have any delightfully boggany ways of evading them...?"

"they're back up to kill me, the sons of bitches sent back up to furking kill me." The nocker says

"You cannot really be surprised by that," she snaps at the nocker.

Bachdion comes on the phone "Hello? Coradel? what's wrong?"

"This is what happens when you truck with dishonorable people."

"I can't affect motorcycles, but I maybe.. I can get one." She begins to chant, "LIght as a feather, stiff as a board, light as a feather, flipped like a cord."