<TIAMAT> *It's early the next morning and Teal, having put off writing up a report of the previous night's incidents last evening, is making up for it now as he scribbles wearily away in his office, occasionally murmuring irritably under his breath.

<JETMODE> *Later in the morning, there's a cheerful rat-a-tat knock at the door, and a jovial voice calls out. "Hey! Baron what-sit -- got a couple minutes for an old friend?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal glances up from the report, staring at the door with mild distaste, and, for lack of a better response, calls a bland "Come in" to whoever's on the other side of it.

<JETMODE> *The door pops open, and a tall, slim figure steps in, kicking it shut behind him and pulling a battered hat down off his head. He has a bright grin, green eyes, and long, blond hair, caught in a very loose ponytail about halfway down. He ambles over and flops in a chair, grinning. "Mornin', Devan -- how's life treating you?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal watches him for a long moment, slowly arching an eyebrow in recognition. "Blake -- Jack Blake?"

<JETMODE> <Jack> *contentedly* In the flesh! I had a job in the area, thought I'd stop in and see if they'd kicked you out yet. *glances around the office* Guess not.

<TIAMAT> *Teal, slowly and almost apprehensively: No...they haven't. *He pauses, leaning back in his chair and studying Jack for a moment. "How...have you been?"

<JETMODE> <Jack> Pretty good, pretty good. I guess I haven't really been in touch -- *fishes in his side pocket* Mom and Dad wanted me to join the army, but I had other plans, and they sort of involved slipping off in the night and disappearing for eight or so years ... *finds what he's looking for and tosses it on the desk*

<TIAMAT> *Teal arches an eyebrow again. "Is that so." He leans forward a little, peering at the object.

<JETMODE> *It appears to be a slightly worn -- but still highly polished -- rank insignia. Jack grins, slapping his hands down on his knees. "You're talking to Captain Jack Blake of the Speed Star now! Officer in the Guild of the Wing."

<TIAMAT> *Teal takes the badge and studies it for a moment, mouth twitching slightly. "Captain, you? I never would have imagined, Jack..." He glances back up at him. "The Wing is an awfully long ways from home to have gone to become an airship captain."

<JETMODE> <Jack> .. Well .. my other plans sort of fell through, if the truth be known, but I'd say this isn't all that bad a place to be, in the end. *gives a faint snort* I can imagine me as an airship captain a lot easier than you as the guy in charge of the guards, anyway!

<TIAMAT> *Teal gives him an indignant look, tossing the insignia back across the desk at him. "You might watch your language, my good friend, or I may be forced to put you in solitary confinement, and I assure you, you wouldn't appreciate the company down there."

<JETMODE> *Jack catches the insignia with an impish grin. "Still so touchy after all these years. Job givin' you gray hair already? I've got a spot open for a cabin boy --"

<TIAMAT> *Teal snorts. "And I've got a job opening for a nighttime janitor -- you could wash the toilets, and wash your mouth out while you're at it."

<JETMODE> <Jack> Are you kidding?! I bet I can guess what state they're in ... *shrugs easily and leans back* Well, I guess we're both pretty happy where we are. *pauses* But you gotta level with me, Devan, what the hell happened to this place? I haven't seen this much damage in -- well -- ever! I wanted to have lunch up at that cafe, too ...

<TIAMAT> *Teal shifts a little awkwardly, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Oh...ah...hah. Yes, well...we had...a bit of an accident a few weeks back. *faint sigh* A necromancer -- in training, might I add -- tried to summon a dragon that was rumored to be buried under the Arena's foundation. *pause* Turned out the rumors weren't so much rumors, and the dragon happened to be one of the Great Dragons. The last Great Dragon, in fact."

<JETMODE> <Jack> *stares* No shit. *leans back* Maybe that's what Tepe saw streakin' off northward, then. *laughs* Guess I owe him an apology -- docked him a week's pay for drinkin' on watch. *curiously* You execute the guy who summoned it?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Girl. And no, we haven't. *sounding irritated* Supposedly she has some kind of rapport with the beast, and as long as she's alive, she can limit his powers -- albeit only a little. But as long as she can and he can't return to full strength, we can't do anything to her. *faint snort*

<JETMODE> <Jack> *laughs* She must really be somethin' if you want to off her that bad. *pauses, grinning suddenly* Say, is she hot? You know, scale of one to ten.

<TIAMAT> *Teal shoots him a nasty look. "Shut up, Jack, you have no idea how much trouble she's been -- not even including the dragon!"

<JETMODE> *Jack whistles, arching an eyebrow. "Sorryyy! Touchy subject, I guess."

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs, leaning back in his chair again. "I apologize -- things have just been very .. chaotic the past few weeks ... and she has not helped matters in the slightest."

<JETMODE> <Jack> Well, I guess with the repairs ... *inquisitive look* You've got her locked in a cell, right? What can she do from there?

<TIAMAT> *Teal snorts again. "Plenty, I assure you. Genoa Rivermarch has ways of making life miserable without even trying hard...though last night, she put a little extra effort into things."

<JETMODE> <Jack> *laughs* What'd she do, kick the door?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Oh no, that's positively normal for her. No, last night she attacked one of my guards when he brought her dinner, then took out three more before I could get to her.

<JETMODE> <Jack> .. *blinks* Well, I'm impressed ...

<TIAMAT> *Teal, darkly: You wouldn't be if you were the one who had to deal with her.

<JETMODE> <Jack> .. *drily* I take it she's gotten you once or twice.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Let's just say I've had more problems with her in the past two weeks than I have all the other prisoners combined in the past two years.

<JETMODE> <Jack> You'll have to introduce me sometime.

<TIAMAT> *Teal waves a hand. "Come back in a year or two, we might move her out of solitary to keep the other prisoners company by then."

<JETMODE> <Jack> *drily* Provided we're both still around. *stands suddenly, stretching*

<TIAMAT> *Teal arches an eyebrow. "Indeed." He follows suit, standing and stifling a yawn. "I'd offer you lunch, but I'm slightly swamped here, as you may have noticed." He motions toward his desk, which is rather messier than usual with several stacks of unorganized papers and reports.

<JETMODE> <Jack> *waves a hand* No problem -- gotta go find my crew before they get too drunk to ship out. Nice talkin' to you again, Devan.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods, pauses, then smiles faintly. "Take care of yourself, Jack."

<JETMODE> <Jack> You too, man. See you around! *with a final wave, he ambles out the door*