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<Bastian> So, what would milady like to do for the rest of her vacation? <Catreenia> ::grins at him a moment, before shaking her head playfully:: Hm... well... ::smiling a little:: I think I should get to know you better, milord. <Bastian> ::ironically:: It might be nice to know the person you're marrying, yes. <Catreenia> ::sniffs:: Well... I meant it when I said you were mysterious, milord.... <Catreenia> For that matter... you know next to nothing about *me.* Although... knowing YOU, you know nearly everything about me already. ::laughs:: <Bastian> ::giving her his half-smile, he drops a thick packet of documents on the table between them:: "Here, my lady..." * Catreenia gives him a puzzled look, pulling the portfolio towards her, opening it, and starting to flip through the papers within. As she reads, her eyes widen in surprise, and she glances up at him questioningly. With a slow shake of her head, she drops her eyes again, continuing to read with a growing expression of amazement and not a little fear. She looks up at him again, her eyes disturbed. "This... this is *me*...." She sorts through the reports with faintly trembling fingers. "I never... I... how..." * Catreenia stacks the papers into a neat little pile to slide back into their sleeve and sits back, studying his face with a look of wonder, watching him watch her. She licks her lips, and after a moment, raises an inquiring eyebrow. "So... where is *your* packet, milord?" <Bastian> ::puts a pouch of coins on the table:: My lady, you'll have to buy it. <Catreenia> ::blinks:: Buy it? From whom? <Bastian> ::giving her his half-smile again, he kicks his boots up onto the table:: <Catreenia> ::looks at him uncertainly:: Suddenly I feel very much the way I did when I was eight, and my father set me a lesson to teach me the value of money.... <Bastian> ::looking at her over his steepled fingers:: My lady, I can most assuredly introduce you to the guild. A lady with your appearance and connections would open many doors. <Catreenia> ::looking more uncertain:: Do you... want me to join the guild? <Bastian> ::giving her a boyish grin, a switch from his normal broody expressions:: My lady, I wish you to enjoy yourself. If it would amuse you to learn these skills, I can teach you. But I am content with you as you are. <Catreenia> ::relaxing:: Oh. ::eyes him speculatively, looks at the purse, and looks back at him, arching an eyebrow:: Are you certain that would be enough? <Bastian> ::picks up the pouch, mentally weighing it, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small uncut ruby:: I think so. <Catreenia> ::grins at him:: After all, milord... ::touching her hand to her packet:: You could have gotten the main of this from Tania for *free*, if you didn't mind your ear talked off your skull... Something tells me you don't have similarly... voluble... friends. <Bastian> ::considering:: Well, part of gathering information is assuring that you won't go home and have her say "Did you know this man with a beard was asking about you?" <Catreenia> ::eyes widening a little:: So... not only do I have to find out about you, I have to find out without you knowing I've been finding out? <Bastian> ::his eyes glitter:: Well, if you were a target, I'd not wish to alarm you. And if you were an assassin, I'd certainly be concerned, were you nosing into my affairs. <Catreenia> ::looking disconcerted:: You *are* an assassin, milord. Have you... um... acquaintances who might wish to... discourage attention in you? <Bastian> ::gives you a long look:: I have many friends who would take your money, tell you lies, and immediately inform me of your asking, if they didn't slit your throat on the way out the door. It is a dangerous game to play. I'd advice against it, without proper instruction. <Bastian> ::shrugging:: Or, you might stumble across someone who wishes me harm, or who wishes to advance in the guild over my fall. You never can tell. <Catreenia> ::looking somewhat alarmed, and taking a step back from the heavy purse on the table, answering in a faint voice:: Perhaps I should be content with marrying a man of mystery... <Bastian> ::tucks his hands behind his neck:: Ask me anything you wish, my lady. <Catreenia> Anything? ::blinks, and frowns in thought for a moment before looking up with a smile:: What things would you like me to know about you? <Bastian> ::shoots back without hesitating:: Which do you think are important? <Catreenia> ::smiles:: That's easy. Whatever you value. <Bastian> ::leaning back further, considering:: I? I value the few true friends I have. I place great store by those who keep their word. I like fine wine, quality workmanship and artistry. I also enjoy playing the game. <Catreenia> ::cocks her head:: The game, milord? Which one? <Bastian> ::laughs:: The Game... politics amongst the guild. <Catreenia> Ahh... ::nods:: In that case... ::pulling out a chair, turning it around, and sitting on it, resting her chin on the back as she studies him:: Who do you count amongst your true friends? And... have you any dire enemies, or is that a foolish question? <Bastian> ::laughs shortly:: My lady, how many times can you count my fingers? ::he waves his hand back and forth a few times:: However, I have only a few enemies about whom I am concerned. <Catreenia> ::nods:: <Bastian> As for friends, I believe I can count them easily on this same hand. ::holds up all five fingers:: Geremi, ::he puts one finger down:: Piotre ::puts his ring finger down:: Bienca Saberarrow, ::puts his middle finger down:: Il Roche, ::tucks his thumb in:: and, one hopes, ::points his index finger at her:: you, my lady. <Catreenia> ::blushes, and ducks her head in a nod. She chews her lip thoughtfully for a moment:: How... how do you think your friends will take me? <Bastian> I believe you will like Geremi. He is a good man, and one for whom I have the utmost respect, as well as being one of three men I've ever met who could outfight me easily. <Catreenia> ::raises an eyebrow at this last, and smiles a little:: He saved your life, milord... for that alone, I'd be well-disposed towards him. <Bastian> ::laughs:: Indeed he did, and at no small risk to his own. It was a brave, crazy thing he did... and I took him to task over it, when we were home and comfortable over a glass of wine. <Catreenia> ::chuckles:: I'll bear in mind your manner of thanks, milord, the next time you take *me* to task over something. <Bastian> ::seriously:: My lady, I would not wish you to risk yourself for me either. You nearly made my heart stop yesterday, galloping off like that. <Catreenia> ::dropping her eyes:: I'm sorry. You... you made me angry. I'm not used to feeling... ::she pauses to think, and shrugs one shoulder uncomfortably, not meeting his eyes:: ...like a burden. <Bastian> My lady, believe me, I never wished you to feel that way. I was not displeased with your company. I was merely having a great deal of... tension... between what I wanted and what I knew I must do. If I treated you unkindly, that was not my intention, and I ask your forgiveness. <Catreenia> ::instantly:: Granted, milord. I... ::sighs:: I was thoughtless... I didn't consider what it was I asked of you. I suppose... well, no. ::smiles faintly:: I *know* I misjudged you. <Catreenia> ::looking wry:: I suppose I owe Necromancer an extra measure or two of oats... <Bastian> ::shrugging:: Had you been... completely set in your decision, it would not have mattered so much. I dislike the truly self-destructive. But you seemed so desperately searching for some absolution, some evidence that you were worthy... I could not help but be touched. <Catreenia> ::blushes and looks down at the table, tracing the grain of the wood with a fingernail:: I still... doubt. I still have questions about things I never thought to question before. ::softly:: I had truly begun to think that I was failing so badly because, somehow, I was not *meant* to live happily. But... after learning just how... random... my "destiny" was... ::she sighs, and looks up, meeting his eyes:: I thought I might at least trust *your* opinion of me. <Bastian> ::nods, then cracks his knuckles:: My lady, we are, certainly, none of us perfect creatures. <Catreenia> ::smiles a little:: I never hoped to be perfect. But... true to myself, at least... ::looks down again, a sad, bitter edge to her smile as she shakes her head:: <Bastian> My lady, have done with this... your "fall" is in the past. Leave it there. You need not carry it around like a burden. Let it go, you cannot change it. You can only change what you do now, over those events with which you still control. <Catreenia> But, I... ::sighs, and nods:: I'll try, milord. ::studies his face again, and smiles a little:: You mentioned your "game".... What... will I be a-- a piece, in it? <Bastian> ::thoughtfully:: You could be. I admit to some qualms in this matter. You would prove a valuable weapon against me, to my enemies. And even by those who do not wish me well, you could be manipulated. <Catreenia> ::face firming, her chin taking on a bit of a stubborn cast:: I am *not* a tool, milord. And I take exception to any who might think to use me as one. <Bastian> ::touching her cheek gently:: Not to me, my lady. And believe me, I will make those who would use you thusly rue the day. However, Geremi is not the only man against whom a beloved wife has been used. I have no wish to join their ranks. <Catreenia> ::nods and cocks her head, an impish gleam in her eye:: So then... how might we turn the tables on them, together? <Bastian> ::thoughtfully:: One cannot defend against a weapon that one knows nothing about. We will have to explore the realms of your capabilities. And, perhaps, I shall teach you some of my skills, for you to use in your own defense. <Catreenia> ::nods an touches a hand to the lacings of her bodice, behind which her dagger is hidden:: I know a little knife... and... ::glances at the blade at his waist:: ...I think I may have... picked up a little more... * Bastian looks up, smiling slightly. "Will you retain that... knowledge?" * Catreenia closes her eyes briefly, tight lines around her eyes. "I... fear so." * Bastian touches her cheek, pushing a few wisps of hair out of her face. "My lady, I apologize. I had no right to force you to submit like that. I felt, however, that I could not let you... throw yourself away like that." <Catreenia> ::opening her eyes again, a flash of fire in them:: You offered. I didn't *have* to take the knife. ::fiercely:: And *I* don't feel as though I'm "throwing myself away" on you! <Bastian> ::nodding:: I know you don't, my lady. ::he leans back, kicking his boots up onto the table:: I, for one, am grateful. I feared... well, best not to ask, I suppose. <Catreenia> ::raising an eyebrow:: You feared...? <Bastian> ::closes his eyes, some shadow of memory crossing his face:: I do not know, my lady. I both feared you would kill me, and feared you would not. * Catreenia smiles a little and pulls off his boots, one at a time, pulling her chair closer to massage his feet. * Bastian opens his eyes in astonishment. "Watch the blades, my lady." <Catreenia> ::nods somberly:: You were ready to die... I saw it. And that alone spoke well of you... ::smiles a little:: I wasn't *so* distracted, milord, that I didn't see where you kept them. * Bastian sighs softly, looking at her. "'Tis best, my lady, that you broke our agreement. I would not like to know if I should have been able to keep my oath." * Catreenia carefully removes a brace of knives from around each of his calves. <Catreenia> Anything I missed? ::grinning a little:: Aside from the garotte in the seam? <Bastian> ::gives her his half-grin:: No, that's all. I am, after all, on vacation. * Catreenia laughs. <Bastian> ::considers:: My lady, are you a good actress? <Catreenia> ::raising her eyebrows as she massages his feet:: A good actress? ::blinks, answering slowly:: I would... think not... but... ::looks up with a soft sigh:: I suppose in one way or another, I'm usually playing a part... why? * Bastian leans back farther, his eyes closing. "It occurs to me, my dear Catreenia, that our best plan would be to... feign dislike for each other, to the guild. Let on that your family married you off for my fortune and that I am besotted with your beauty." <Catreenia> ::bites her lip:: Would such a fiction hold, for any length of time? Even on first impression, milord, you did *not* seem the sort to be... besotted. And my parents have been rather notorious, I'm afraid, for letting me have my way... <Bastian> ::considers:: Perhaps not. ::regards her from under his lashes:: But, of course, I am besotted with you. * Catreenia drops her eyes to his feet again, and blushes pink. <Bastian> Well, we shall think of something... I must admit to having some difficulty in thinking at all, while you are doing that. <Catreenia> ::smiles a little, rubbing his other foot, murmuring demurely:: Does my lord wish me to stop? <Catreenia> And... hmm. What would you hope to gain? That people would think we hated each other, and so not try to use me against you? ::snorts:: Even hatred can be used, m'lord.... <Bastian> No, my lady... only that we might play them against each other, as they intended to play us against the other. <Catreenia> Hmmm... it's a thought... ::smiles a little:: Tho' I think I'd have better luck acting like Tania... <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow:: Your friend? ::indicates the packet of papers:: <Catreenia> ::nods:: One of them. ::smiles fondly:: I love her dearly, but gods above, the girl is incapable of keeping a thought in her head for more than five minutes, I swear it... <Bastian> ::groans slightly as she works out pressure in his arch:: I've met some young ladies like that. I always felt they were not as dim as they wanted you to believe. <Catreenia> ::smiles a little wider:: Well, I admit to having done that occasionally... I'm perfectly *capable* of thinking. I just choose not to so burden myself, sometimes. ::grins, leaning forward a little to put weight into a stretch:: <Bastian> It has also been my experience that such ladies make excellent spies... ::watching her:: Men not always wishing to credit intelligence where it's due, they will often speak of things they should not, to impress a pretty girl. <Catreenia> ::murmuring half to herself:: You really *do* keep your tension in your legs... ::a little louder:: Mm, true. And men will often do things for foolish girls that they wouldn't for canny ones. <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow:: I told you I did... one of these days, it's going to hinder my ability to get away. <Catreenia> I'll just have to do this more often, then, and see that it doesn't hinder you.... ::working over his toes with her fingers:: Hm. Well, as far as adding a secret weapon to your arsenal, milord, I'm afraid I'm a bit useless... I believe I could count on one hand the students at school who have *less* offensively-useful talents than mine.... <Bastian> ::closing his eyes again:: That depends, my lady. A surprise is still a surprise. <Catreenia> ::nods and sighs a little, eyeing her thick dossier:: You think, with that, I'm going to be such a surprise, then? <Bastian> Well, it depends, my lady... I do not really understand what your abilities are, or what those words mean. <Catreenia> ::smiles a little, massaging his ankles:: Your turn: Ask. What would you like to know? <Bastian> ::sighing:: Tell me, what does all that "psionics" mean? I fear I have little understanding of that language. <Catreenia> Oh, well... ::frees a hand to draw the packet towards her, flipping it open again and turning it so she can read the pages:: Well... clairsentience, where my strength is... that's sort of a general word covering all the different ways I can know about things that I shouldn't, normally, know about... <Bastian> Like seeing the ghosts? ::he looks into her blue eyes and shudders slightly:: <Catreenia> So... I'm sensitive to the... ::thinks, casting about for a word:: ...the mood, the history, of a place. I'm aware of the presence of spirits. ::nods agreement with him:: Tho' I can't always actually *talk* to them. <Bastian> ::laughs shortly:: I'm afraid I'm really none too fond of the dead. They probably feel the same. <Catreenia> ::nods to his knife:: That was clairsentience, of a kind... object reading, postcognition... reading the past off of something that "experienced" it. ::shivering a little:: That's the strongest, and the one I can control the least, unfortunately. * Bastian puts a hand over his blade, his expression thoughtful. <Catreenia> Mmmm... ::thinking:: But it can be other things... for example, I can always find my way back to a place... like... paying out an invisible thread. I always know my direction. When I concentrate, I can know-- sort of-- *where* I am, in a general sense. And when I'm paying attention to it, I get a... kind of a tingle, an uneasy feeling, when I'm in danger. <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow:: That could be a useful skill. <Catreenia> ::smiling a little:: My thesis, actually, is a combination of some of those talents... give me an object someone is close to, and it can lead me to them. ::chews her lip:: At least, I think. It's worked three times, so far, but it didn't work on Prin's history book. ::chuckles:: <Catreenia> ::nods, looking wry:: If only *I* could define what I thought of as "danger"... were it up to me, it would steer me away from battlefields and suchlike... ::shuddering a little:: * Bastian indicates her package. "You discovered your talent painfully. I can see why you might wish not to study as hard as you were capable of." <Catreenia> ::drops her eyes to his feet again, working her hands up one calf:: Yes... ::looks up:: You found that, too, did you? <Bastian> How long, until you are done with your training? <Catreenia> ::cocking her head:: Well... until I'm done. Traditionally, I'd have another year to go... but so much depends on how the student progresses... ::makes a face:: And I don't always apply myself as I could. <Catreenia> Anyway, my lesser talent... ::tapping the page:: telepathy... that means contact, mind-to-mind. Reading and sending thoughts... concealing thoughts...causing attraction for something.... ::coloring a little, embarrassed:: <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow:: Reading thoughts? Can you truly do that? <Catreenia> ::holds out a hand and waggles it back and forth:: I'm not very good at it. I can send thoughts... I can touch another's mind, and get... ::makes a dusting motion with her hand:: surface impressions and thoughts. But nothing in detail. ::thinks a moment:: Communicate, if needed. But if someone's warding against me... ::waves a hand dismissively and snorts:: <Catreenia> ::her hands still their motion on his feet, lightly clasping them, and her eyes drift closed. After a moment, Bastian hears her voice inaudibly, in his head. Her lips don't move:: {I haven't much experience, though, "talking" to non-psionics, milord.} * Bastian nearly falls out of his chair, his eyes startled, his hand going, by instinct, to his blade. <Catreenia> ::she opens her eyes, looking at him:: {And *that*, milord, would most certainly give away to your enemies that there was something amiss...} * Bastian controls the second startlement, relaxing slightly. "I may have to get used to that, my lady. How far away can you reach me, like that?" <Catreenia> ::her hands tremble faintly on his feet, and she smiles slightly:: {I can hear you perfectly well, you know... mm, don't know range... I don't...} ::she gasps, and leans her head back, continuing out loud:: I don't practice *nearly* enough... gods... ::rubbing her temples:: Anything to eat...? <Bastian> Certainly... ::stands up, offering her his hand:: Shall we go see what's in the kitchens? Geremi usually has a well-stocked pantry. <Catreenia> ::nods, leaning on him, drooping a little and giggling softly:: Barefoot...? <Bastian> ::nods solemnly:: I have at least two blades still on me, my lady, and I doubt we shall be attacked in the kitchens. <Catreenia> ::smiles, hugging his arm:: That depends on whether you get between me and the food... you've not seen psionics students after classes. <Bastian> ::looks down at her:: I see my food bill going up by quite a lot. <Catreenia> ::wrinkles her nose, patting a hip:: I don't eat in volume, milord... just quickly. <Bastian> ::laughs, leading her to the kitchens:: All right, my lady. |
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