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* Catreenia wraps herself deep into her cloak again as she descends the porch steps of the Pear and Rabbit, stumbling a little. Stopping in the dust of the road, she looks around for a moment as if she has no idea where she is or how she came there. After a long pause, she chooses a direction at random and starts off, deeper into the warrens of Pleasure Island. <Stranger> ::carefully staying in the shadows, he follows the girl, his step light and his movements well concealed:: * Catreenia walks on, seeming not to care where she's going. After awhile, she lifts her head slightly to watch the signs as she passes them. <Stranger> ::pausing a moment, he stops in an alley to dispose of some things, including his cloak, which he wraps tightly around several other objects before nudging the whole mess down a sewer grate:: * Catreenia turns suddenly into a shopfront with three gold balls on the sign over the door. <Stranger> ::looks in a shop window, making a show of examining some of the merchandise on display:: * Catreenia spends several minutes inside, haggling with the shop owner for a good price on the ring she found nestled in the murderer's purse. * Catreenia heads back out the door with a somewhat lighter step, looking up and down the street. * Stranger follows along, stopping from time to time to look into windows. He pauses a moment to purchase a somewhat over-ripe apple from a vendor, which he eats absently while keeping an eye on the girl. * Catreenia does not pause until she reaches a fairly-seedy looking tavern. There she hesitates, but as a patron is thrown out into the street, cursing, she hurries on. <Stranger> ::stepping around the cursing drunk, he closes the distance between himself and Cat:: * Catreenia continues another few blocks until she reaches another tavern with a voluptuous ship's figurehead of a blue mermaid serving as the sign. She stares up at the sign for a few moments, and goes inside. * Stranger nods to himself with some satisfaction, then heads into the tavern, taking a seat near the bar which affords a good view of the room. * Catreenia orders her own bottle of brandy and a glass from the bar wench, leaning a little closer and dropping gold coins on the counter as she requests a private room in which to drink. The gold disappears, and Cat picks up her glass and bottle and follows the woman to a side room on the same floor. * Stranger frowns slightly, then follows discreetly, almost vanishing from sight completely as he enters the shadowy hallway. * Catreenia thanks the bar wench in a low voice, pushing the door closed behind her before removing her cloak with a sigh and slinging it over one of the chairs. With her bodice knife, she breaks the seal and draws the cork from the bottle, splashing a hefty portion into her glass. * Stranger shrugs, then taps on the door lightly. * Catreenia frowns, looking up at the door. "Private." <Stranger> ::in a soft voice:: I am sorry, my lady... I only wondered if perchance you wished to have a companion to drink with... <Catreenia> ::in a bitter tone:: I'm no good companion. <Stranger> ::laughing:: I've naught been accused ever of having good companions... <Catreenia> ::makes a face and sighs, gripping the neck of the bottle with one hand and resting her forehead on its lip:: Come in, then, if you wish. * Stranger steps into the room, shutting the door behind him. "You'll pardon my presumption, lady... but you did not have the look of one accustomed to the Island..." <Stranger> ::he smiles at her, a half-cynical expression formed by half of his mouth turning upwards. He studies her carefully with sharp brown eyes. His hair is dark brown and curly, pulled back into a sheaf of ringlets near his neck. He is wearing dark grey breeches, black leather boots, and a black shirt and vest. His age looks to be anywhere from late twenties to early thirties:: * Catreenia picks up her glass and belts it back, coughing a little as she puts it down again. "No, first time." She pushes out a chair a little with one foot. "I hope you brought your own glass. I've only the one." * Catreenia looks up at him, blinks, and squints a little, before shaking her head and pouring herself another drink. <Stranger> ::reaches into a small pouch at his waist, he pulls out something that looks like a leather disk. With a quick shake, he expands a collapsible cup:: But of course, my lady... one is... always prepared for these little eventualities... ::pours himself some of her brandy, then sniffs it:: I see you have chosen one of the higher quality shoe polishes... ::he grins his lopsided smile at her again:: <Catreenia> ::nodding:: What I had earlier was foul. If I'm to get stinking drunk, I might as well do it with something I can stomach. ::she looks at him, gauging the effect of her words and tone:: I warned you I'd not be good company. <Stranger> ::hooking a chair with his foot, he pulls it up, turning it and sitting down with his arms resting along the back:: Care to tell a total stranger what has caused you vexation? You can rest assured that I'll repeat everything you say to my close friends-- if I have any-- with great relish... * Catreenia drinks from her glass a little more slowly this time, finishing only half of it and topping it off. "Let's see... I've lost the man I love most in the world to my own idiocy... I've lost...myself... hurt a girl toward whom I bore no malice... ah, and I took hush-money from a murderer. *And* am currently cutting my classes. All in the space of an afternoon. ::she smiles with false brightness:: * Catreenia fishes the heavy purse out of her cloak and drops it on the table. "If you've come to rob me, here, I'll save you time. All I have. Just leave me enough for a second bottle, I'm an easy drunk." <Stranger> ::his dark eyes seem amused:: Sounds like you have had quite the busy day... you must have something extraordinary planned for the evening. <Catreenia> Mm. ::studies the grain of the table intently, one finger absently tracing the path of a knife gouge in the wood:: Perhaps I'll go try to find my great-grandmother... I imagine she could tell me what to do now. <Stranger> ::nodding thoughtfully:: Relations... often the best, most convenient source of bad advice one could hope to find. <Catreenia> Truly? ::picks up her glass for another sip of brandy:: I've found my parents to give quite good advice, usually... tho' of course, they're human, they're prone to... ::she grins mirthlessly:: errors in judgement. ::lifts her glass in a mock-toast to herself:: <Catreenia> ::staring at the grain again:: My great-grandmama, though... well, I've never met her, she's dead. <Stranger> ::laughs:: Well, then I suppose she's unlikely to tell you to be a good little girl... <Catreenia> ::murmuring:: Rather too late for that, I'm afraid... ::looking up again, studying his face:: Gods know this sounds like a line, but honestly, it's not... have we met, sir? Do I know you? <Stranger> ::glances at her:: Perhaps, not formally... ::stands, bowing:: Bastian Hooke, at your service, my lady. <Catreenia> ::somewhat automatically, she half-rises from her chair and descends again in a graceful curtsey, slightly spoiled by a small stagger to the left:: Catreenia Suchart. Not formally... then we *have* met? <Bastian> ::smiling his half smile again:: I'm afraid, my dear lady, that you have not yet fallen far enough from grace to entertain such truths as often meet such questions. Have another drink, my lady, and allow me to enjoy this moment of pretense. <Catreenia> ::blinks, frowning a little in confusion at his answer, but gamely takes another drink:: I notice you're not drinking, Master Hooke. Please, don't hold off on my account, I won't begrudge you it. <Bastian> ::obliging her, he toasts his cup to her:: Would you allow me the liberty of drinking to your rather bloodshot, but unusually attractive eyes, my lady? It's not often that I get to partake of the company of a pretty girl. <Catreenia> ::smiles a little, despite her mood:: Do as you will. <Bastian> ::drinking his brandy:: Then, to you, M'lady Suchart, skipper of classes and taker of bribes, perhaps the most beautiful novice rogue I've had the pleasure of corrupting... <Catreenia> ::drinks from her own glass with a short laugh:: Funny... that's just what I was about to call you. A handsome rogue. But if you're seeking to corrupt innocence, you've come to the wrong door. ::she raps her breastbone lightly with a fist:: Hollow, I'm afraid. <Bastian> ::leaning back:: Quite all right. I personally don't know what I'd do in the face of noble purity... I wouldn't wish to be contaminated. <Catreenia> ::raises an eyebrow:: And yet here you are, doing a good turn for a lonely drunk... ::smiling a bit, wryly:: <Bastian> ::refilling his cup:: No, my lady... I am protecting my interests and entertaining myself. That I can also provide you with amusement and heaps of unasked for bad advice is just gravy. * Catreenia finishes her glass and reaches for the bottle again herself. "Protecting your interests?" <Bastian> I admit to being curious as to your reasons for being here... and what you planned next. ::he winks at her:: <Catreenia> ::sipping from her glass:: I believe I told you both of those things already, sir. Why are any comings and goings of mine of interest to you? <Bastian> ::raising his eyebrow mockingly:: I have a friend... he told me a tale of a handsome young woman with a bodice dagger who trembled like a deer... and he wished for me to see that he was quite safe with his life in her hands. * Catreenia sets her glass down suddenly with a slightly trembling hand. "You..." She stares at him wide-eyed for the space of several slow breaths. "But-- I took your money. And I barely saw you in the first place. Why risk yourself so now?" A terrible gleam comes into her eye. "Have you come to kill me, then?" <Bastian> ::taking a swig of his brandy:: Rest assured, my lady, if I intended to do so, you'd already be on first names with your god. No, my lady... you intrigued me. I admit to being an eavesdropper amongst my other unsavory habits. <Catreenia> ::her eye goes measuringly to the bag of gold sitting on the table at her elbow as he speaks, sliding back to his face as he finishes:: Intrigued...? You... ::sounding a little horrified:: You listened at the door? <Bastian> ::he laughs:: No, actually... at the window... <Catreenia> So... ::cheeks reddening:: You heard everything, then. ::taking another swallow of brandy:: I'm glad I could amuse you. <Catreenia> ::eyes widening suddenly as, remembering, she looks up again:: Roni-- he's alright? That cry, you didn't-- oh gods... <Bastian> ::snorts:: I didn't touch your young man... I don't do work for free... unless highly provoked. * Catreenia sags back into her chair, closing her eyes and covering them with a shaking hand. "Thank the gods..." * Catreenia recovers herself after a long moment, clearing her throat and topping off her glass. "Although... he's not my young man. He never was." <Bastian> ::with a touch of disdain:: He doesn't exactly sound like he was *her* young man, either... <Catreenia> He... ::dropping her head:: he is. He loves her, truly. I... well, we were friends, but I wasn't... satisfied with that. ::her voice is filled with self-loathing:: And so when... he... I... I took advantage of a weakness. ::shaking her head slowly, a look of disgust on her face:: She deserves him far more than I ever could, now. ::softly:: I'm not even certain what I am anymore... <Bastian> ::nodding sagely:: I know what you are... <Catreenia> ::lifts her chin to look at him, an almost hungry expression crossing her face for a moment before she slumps back in her chair again, sounding tired:: What, then? Tell me. <Bastian> Drunk... and, I suspect, quite tired... but hollow, I think, is not on your list of accurate adjectives... ::smiling at her, he finishes off his brandy:: I think there's an all-too-human heart beating in there... <Catreenia> ::laughing bitterly, taking a swallow herself:: I almost think it stopped beating just before I walked out that door... but you mistake me, Master Bastian. ::gestures to her face:: This... it's a facade. Pretty outside, ugly inside. <Bastian> ::refilling his cup:: Perhaps it all depends on your definition of beauty... <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: What I am, what I've done... I've destroyed lives, just as surely as you do. ::lifts her glass to him in a toast:: <Bastian> ::mockingly:: You aim high, my lady, to compare yourself to Bastian Hooke, known to some as the Mace. ::he salutes her with his cup:: <Catreenia> "The Mace"? Not-- ::she smiles a little:: But I saw you with a knife... ::shakes her head, still smiling:: Ah, well, I've always been one to go for the best. <Bastian> ::shrugs:: We were all beginners once... a mace is very effective, unless you like a quiet death, with little clean-up. You seem remarkably unalarmed, my lady... may I say how refreshing that is? <Catreenia> ::laughing:: I believe a certain gentleman assured me not long ago that, had he intended to kill me, I'd be on a first-name basis with my god already. ::glances at her bag of gold again:: And I admit to having entertained thoughts of hiring you myself, a moment ago... most likely dashed now, I'm afraid. I couldn't afford you. <Bastian> ::shaking his head:: I seldom do work freelance, these days... you had in mind the young lady whose friend has broken your heart? ::he winks at her:: <Catreenia> ::toying with the strings of the purse, carefully not looking at him:: No... I've hurt her enough. Actually, I had in mind myself. <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow incredulously:: You'd hire an assassin to commit suicide, my lady? Most young ladies in your situation throw themselves into the river instead. Much more romantic... <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: I'm a coward, I doubt I'd have the nerve. And if it looked like suicide, I'd only hurt more people... my family, my friends, Roni... <Catreenia> ::smiling a little, toying with her glass:: My parents sent me to school here, in part, to keep me *from* suicide. <Bastian> ::considers her carefully:: You have tendencies towards hurling yourself in front of oncoming coaches? Pardon me for saying you don't look the type. <Catreenia> ::shakes her head, smiling wider:: Not intentionally I don't, no. No... my great-grandmother killed herself... over the same gift I have now. Well... they think that's why, anyway. They've kept me from the place of her suicide, so I don't know for certain. ::looking into her glass, her expression distant:: I'd like to know for certain... <Bastian> ::stands up and bows, extending his hand to her:: I have a proposition for you, my lady... I'll accompany you on your quest for the truth, and, as I have some free time until the Master needs my assistance and I've not had a companion in some time, if you'd like to accompany me on my holiday... If you still desire my services at the end of my holiday, they're yours for free. <Catreenia> ::blinks, looking up at him:: Truly? <Bastian> Truly, my lady. <Catreenia> Oh... my. I.... ::gropes for the bottle, filling her glass again and downing it quickly:: I accept. ::smiling at him more genuinely, her shoulders relaxing:: Thank you. * Catreenia takes his hand and, after a moment's hesitation, kisses his fingertips. <Bastian> ::smiling his crooked half-smile at her:: In the meanwhile, we shall have some laughs... come, my lady, I have much finer furniture polish at home... ::offers her his arm:: * Catreenia stands, gathering her cloak onto her free arm and taking his arm with her other. "Tell me, Master Bastian... have you ever been to Arabel on business?" <Bastian> ::opening the door:: My lady, I have been the world over on business... Arabel... yes... I believe there was a time... ::begins to tell her an elaborately constructed story of a second son of a wealthy merchant:: |
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