|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jan 5, 2008 23:54:11 GMT -5
Tourist company and photographer... either they really were tourists or they had some very creatively and well-thought alibis. That kind of thing could get them all sorts of places if they used it right. She would have to talk to Lee about that kind of thing when they were alone. Should she take them up on their suggested offer? If they really were competition, it would be the height of stupidity. Or, perhaps, a good way to keep them under tabs. And if they were actually tourists...
...they would make excellent bait.
"We've seen a few things," she offered noncommittally. "Most of them have been useless. Some... less so. Have you ever heard of a creature with scales?" Pausing, she looked at them both quite seriously. "Individual scales the size of a small saucer? We found one of those. And let me tell you, it's not from any reptile I've ever seen."
She took another moment to sip out of her mug and rip up a bit of the creature in front of her. In that time, the door to the inn opened and the Villa canine returned, slowing and halting when he saw that his 'companion' had switched tables. He approached cautiously, head tilted to the side. "Well. Hello there. Made some friends, dear?" The word was said with a hard emphasis.
Smiling up at him, she beckoned with a wing. "Yes, actually. Acquaintances, at the very least. Let me introduce you to Whip and Mnem. They apparently run a tourist company and have come to assess the competition here." Her eyes were quite expressive.
His own expression changed to one of idle curiosity. "Oh really? How very interesting. You picked quite the time to come and sample the local flavor."
|
|
|
|
Post by Bee on Jan 6, 2008 0:15:09 GMT -5
She had never seen such a creature--or even heard of one--but it sounded more than intriguing. Scales the size of saucers, eh? Monty would adore chasing that thing around--and chewing on it, and probably getting eaten, but that would solve a whole host of problems for everyone in the apartment. And the bounty on such a monster. It would be remarkable.
She was pulled from her thoughts by the arrival of Jada's friend. They had an interesting way of communicating. Dear. Not that she had any room to comment on odd relationships, especially with regards to present company.
"It would appear so," she told the canine with a smile. "Very nice to meet you. I think this creature--whatever it might be--would make an excellent story. Have you two been planning anything in particular as of late, or are you casting about for more information?"
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Jan 6, 2008 11:20:10 GMT -5
Rai kept his expression immutable at Jada's words, oblivious to any irritation Mnem might be feeling (and covering). He was trying to leave her independent as she desired and if she had issues with that, well, it's not like it really mattered because she inevitably had issues with anything he did and he just didn't care anymore. The Yarrows Garden canine's story, however, was an excellent cover and he was more than willing to play along so he gave no indication at his initial surprise at her words. Perhaps, came the brief, if somewot amusing thought, Mnem thought he was making up the story about his tourist industry.
Rai rose when the canine approached the table, putting out a hand with an easy-going face. "You must be Leland; Jada was just filling us in on why this is such an interesting time to be here. Please, sit with us." The stallion scooted over so Leland could take the place right next to the eagle woman. It was an overt gesture showing no interest in Jada besides as an acquaintance. Sounded like more than companions didn't mean they were monogamous. Interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jan 6, 2008 12:05:36 GMT -5
The canine glanced at his outstretched hand before reaching out and taking it in a brief but firm shake. To Mnem, he nodded politely, giving her a brief once-over before turning his eyes back to the equine. "Yes, I'm Leland. Lee, more commonly. Only she and my mother call me by my full name anymore." He gave her a brief Look, which she returned with a healthy dose of amusement and something else, as he slid into the chair offered. Closer, it could be clearly seen that this man was no office slave or Court pansy, as if they would think such. He was built thickly, a very solid sort of canine, with a very muscular build. His jaws, especially, seemed to be very 'built'. Obviously this was a canine who wasn't afraid of a little bite.
He drunk deeply from the mug in front of the falcon, setting it down with a sigh. "Cold out there, I must say. But as to your question, Miss, we have a healthy bit of information already. We've been here for a while scouting. You must have just arrived or I would have seen you, what with your colors in this place. We're planning some action for tomorrow, actually. A double hunt."
His brows turned down in a brief scowl. "One of our number has gone missing, you see, our magic adept. We'll be after him and the beast, with the creature as our first priority. If he's lucky, he's not already dead." The man's expression lightened slightly and he looked at the two of them, thinking thoughts not unlike but still with a different edge than Jada. "You interested in a scoop on this creature, an angle for your tourist agency? Or interested in seeing it killed as one threat put down, I suppose, one less 'attraction' for the Lakes? You seem quite interested. It might be handy to have another pair of hands on this hunt, especially since the other members of our team haven't managed them yet."
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Jan 6, 2008 12:31:09 GMT -5
Yet another thing that he didn't actually need to check with Mnem on; he knew she'd be just as interested as he to be a member of this hunt. "For those, none, or other reasons," the stallion said affably. "We'd be terribly pleased to join up on your hunt, at least for a few days."
Hopefully this would give both of them the information they were looking for. It was a bit worrisome to hear of the group's missing member and Rai had few illusions concerning their worth here; they were the cannon fodder, shock line, the expendable troops, so to speak. He didn't doubt in the least that Lee here and even Jada would throw them forth as bait when the time came. But they'd have a a surprise or two there; Shinrai was no one's bait.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jan 6, 2008 16:34:24 GMT -5
The canine and falcon both seemed pleased with Whip's conclusion, finishing their meal with more idle chit-chat and dodging any serious questions with vague answers. If the odd pair would be accompanying them tomorrow, they could speak more then. With a plan so firmly in mind, however, and now evolving with the addition to their little band, they would have to retire early that night after buying a few things from one of the stores before it closed.
"We will see you down here, either by the door or outside, come dawn tomorrow," Lee told the pair of them with a challenging smirk. "Whether you're here or not, however, we will be leaving shortly afterwards, so please don't be late." The falcon likewise smiled and inclined her head to the pair of them, eyes drifting over Rai before she followed her leader out of the inn.
Shortly after they left, the server stopped by for the tab, the meals of the other two having been paid in advance for the past few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Jan 6, 2008 17:22:54 GMT -5
Shinrai almost absently paid the tab, thanking their server in low tones with an easy smile. He stared at the door for a long moment, face unreadable as he contemplated wot he'd just signed the pair of them on for; he had no doubt that he would survive, but a feeling of foreboding threatened him yet again.
With a sudden shake of his head, he rose then turned his gaze down to the canine woman at the table. "Well, Mnem, should we retired?" It wasn't a real question; he was going to head upstairs whether she was ready or not, but he hesitated to see if she would follow. He gave a small smile as she seemed to stare at him curiously for a moment, but she rose as well and soon the pair had made their way upstairs to their designated room.
The stallion skimmed the room, giving a nod of satisfaction at wot he saw before moving to drop his bag on one of the beds and turning to glance at the woman for a moment before returning his gaze to his items. This wasn't the time to ask, he knew it wasn't but he knew he would anyway. It wasn't the time.
"So, Mnem. Are you ready to tell me the truth of wot you did to me?" He still wasn't looking at her, his voice even and cool.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bee on Jan 6, 2008 17:34:30 GMT -5
Mnem looked at the stallion cautiously. She knew what he was asking about--the only thing he could be asking about, but she wasn't sure she wanted to answer. The mystery and excitement going on in the Lakes had improved his disposition significantly (she too was in higher spirits: come dawn tomorrow, they were going on a real adventure), but there was really no telling. And Mnem suspected that he would react rather poorly.
And more mind games didn't seem to be much of an option--they grew tiresome after a while, anyway. They were working together, they were in an unfamiliar region, and they were alone in a room. There didn't seem to be a real way to avoid it.
She sat down on her bed, and shrugged lightly. Her mind was already working out the best way to phrase it. None of the options were really very appealing. "I suppose. I would like it if you sat down."
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Jan 6, 2008 17:57:02 GMT -5
Actually, he hadn't expected this to go as well as it seemed to be right now. He turned around so he could face her, then sat down on his bed. He gave her his full attention and a carefully arranged expression that showed nothing more than polite interest.
He was uneasy about her expression, her reaction and the fact that he still wasn't entirely certain he would believe anything she'd say. It was a difficult place to be. After he heard wotever she had to say would determine how he proceeded. He hoped she wouldn't lie. He hoped he'd believe her. He hoped... he hoped he'd learn the truth. That was all he really wanted.
His fingers tapped gently against his bone gauntlet though there was no sound. He resisted the urge to stroke it, though he used to when nervous. No, he'd had that trained out of him as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bee on Jan 6, 2008 18:18:28 GMT -5
She was glad he'd decided to sit down. She half-expected him to remain standing just to be belligerent. Hopefully this way she would have a moment to get out of the way if Shinrai decided to react exceptionally poorly.
"We met at the bar," she began, carefully. "I was looking for a lay. You were a good prospect. You got drunk. Very, very drunk. We went off and had a bit of fun. Minh was looking for a test subject to try out one of her new experiments, so we got you back to the apartments, kept you....sedated, by various means. Minh injected you. Since you were already out, I decided to do a trial or two on a couple of antidotes. We didn't have time to do much, really. You kept breaking out. There was...a bandersnatch frenzy in there, too. You helped us deal with that. Then we put you in a wagon, took you back to the bar, and called it quits for the night."
There. It was out.
|
|
