3. [Sundown] Tighten The Screw

Okay. He thought it would never work. The guy was rapidly losing control, and information would need to be acquired directly now. The fact that the guy didn't know that the bullet was cold iron suggested to her that he wasn't privy to the whole plan.

"He died in the timeline before I adjusted it. Cold Iron, or something got around the Cunning. You can see why we might be a little displeased."

The hissing, the injuries, the Goblin Fruit... how the hell was Alexandrite healing from Solomon taking fruit? Kai pushed Glamour and scanned Alexandrite's Clarity a second time.

"Alexandrite, you need to start naming names and giving straight answers. What was it meant to buy time for?"

She slowed it down a little, hitting him with a barrage of slow, methodical questions in a flat tone. The guy was clearly mentally beaten to a pulp. 

"What are all of the names used by the assassin?"

"What was Lancelot's task from his Queen?"

"What was the specific set-up to kill Buck on the night of the Mabon Feast?"

"What was your role in the set-up?"

"Who is the Spring Courtier who goes by the code-name Lyre?"

"The King of Winter Sanctioned the assassination attempt?"

"Where was Lancelot when we were talking at the mansion?"

"Who was going to kill Lancelot in this plan? Under what conditions?"

"Where is the assassin holed up in Vegas?"

"Doesn't make sense," Alex sniffed, fluid leaking from the shards as the dull outline of the Mask flickered in and out of existence to try an accommodate two clashing realities. "Cold Iron would not time travel."

Solomon turns, gesturing for the needles pull back a bit in response as the Claviger swoons. The Knight of Scales swears quietly under his breath as he looks from the mote, stumbling a bit himself from the vertigo of looking up. As Oren's attention splits and tracks, he notes that the reactions he's been seeing appears to be an internal reaction, likely related to the head. The light itself is eerie, but the dust particles seem to be coming from the mote itself. He doesn't have specialized knowledge to understand if they're connected, but he thinks the White Knight is emitting some sort of neurotoxin into the air. Solomon maintains a steady walk, but it's almost like he's drunk. As the Fairest places a hand on the still form of the Hob, he whispers something to It, as the mote starts folding and shrinking. 

"F-from my understanding. He needed to fulfill his duties, still. I do not know more than that; not my business. Called herself Joan, and Poppy Colson for the maid identity- the only two I could find out. King Nohoilpi was aware of her presence and she was allowed to stay after I alerted the Silent Arrow."

A bit of vomit trickles from the mouth, the smell sharp and distinct, but Alexandrite doesn't seem to notice as their words start to slurr. "Th- all I did was look like her? Martinez shot at me. He was scared. She kicked him forward before he could." 

The question about Lyre caused them pause, thrown off by the sudden whiplash in direction of the narrative. "Um... that's...a Mask. I've worn it. So have others?"

"Oh! I n- know!" he giggled, "I made her promise she wouldn't hurt him, if he did what she asked. I think- Buck knows the Queen's True Name. She didn't say that. I spied. Um- the room he wouldn't use or look. Panic...room...just asleep. The task is in the Dream. He would sense him still around? I used Spring's blessings to keep him okay."

The cadence and tone had changed to drunken and almost childish, running his mouth freely and in a seemingly good mood. Solomon ate another chunk of fruit, attention roving from the light, to Alexandrite, to the needles, and back again with timed precision as he monitored how far he was pushing the line.

"Lyre's the name Ambrosia gave you?" the Darkling offered out of the blue, sounding surprised.

"Yes," The Inquisitor sighed, nodding towards the set of armour, and the fungal node drifted up and away from the light, back towards the carapace. The needles clattered to the ground as the pin prick on his hand was healed.

Thing were coming to light. It came as a surprise that Alexandrite knew practically nothing about one side of the story, yet gleaned insight into a small fractal piece; a card that only the Summers thought they had in their hands. 

The quill paused, for a moment. He leaned next to Kai, whispering in ear. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You're good," Kai muttered to Oren. The matter seemed effectively concluded at this point, Solomon doing what he was going to do.

The Fairest blinked, "What is the reason for the question, Oren?"

Alexandrite remained silent, the mood tense for a brief moment as Oren floats the question.  Solomon turns his attention back to the Claviger, with the rare expression of smiling.

"Rose. Oren. You're dismissed."

The pair withdrew, either reluctantly or immediately. Either way, the Knight waited in silence until they were both outside the Gate.