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* Lisl enters her house by the unlocked back door, a field-dressed deer slung over one shoulder, her bow-staff in her other hand. The sun has just set a scant half-hour ago over the trees, and the sky is still light enough to see by. * Lisl leans her bow-staff against the side of the fireplace in the common room and balances carefully as she kicks off distressingly muddy boots, leaving them where they fall. Looking tired, she heads for the kitchen in stocking feet with her load of deer. * Dawn is sitting in the kitchen, his boots propped casually on the table as he cleans his fingernails with a dagger. His blonde hair is shorter than Lisl remembers, and he sports a beautiful black eye and a tight bandage around his upper arm. He looks up as she comes in. "Evening." <Lisl> ::the deer falls from Lisl's shoulder with a loud thump and clatter of hooves and antlers as Lisl drops immediately into a fighter's stance, her Claws shimmering to existence around her forearms and her eyes going yellow, gleaming faintly in the half-light:: <Lisl> Aerdrie, Dawn, don't *do* that to me! ::she relaxes as she gets a better look at who it is without the deer blocking her view and nose:: <Dawn> ::smirks:: I knocked, but you didn't answer. <Lisl> ::scowls and gathers up her deer again, slinging it over her shoulder with a grunt to hang it in the cold room:: I was out hunting. The deer aren't considerate enough to come into town to be shot, you know. ::mutters:: I should make *you* mop the floor.... You picked the front, didn't you? The back was open, you know. <Dawn> ::putting his dagger away:: Yes, I know. Terribly careless of you. <Lisl> ::snorts:: My cousin stays here, and it's well known I have a bad-tempered attack dog. The sane thieves know better. Not that I've got much worth stealing, anyway. <Dawn> ::grins:: Usually see a better class of thief in this neighborhood, do you? Would it help if I shaved? * Lisl goes to the sink and pours out water from a waiting pitcher to wash off the mud and blood. <Lisl> Ha! Better class of thief... than *you* lot? Naaah, it's a pretty quiet neighborhood, far as that goes. Slim pickings, not generally worth the risk. Street of Steel comes by its name honestly, after all... most of us here make our livings by it. ::grins:: <Dawn> I'll take that as a compliment. And I know thieves who work this area, but they're all nuts. Or desperate. ::smiles thinly:: Or very, very good. <Lisl> ::grins:: Aye, that would be my cousin. She's... not been home for awhile, though. ::her grin fades:: <Dawn> Mm. Thieves are like that. Do you want to know what I'm doing in your house, or would you rather exchange pleasantries a while longer? <Lisl> Ha. I figured you'd get around to it eventually. You're the one here on business, I just got off work. ::dries her hands and stretches, popping her spine noisily:: Care for a drink, or will we be working soon? <Dawn> A drink would be fucking wonderful. And no, that's what I came to tell you - we've finished cleaning house. <Lisl> ::raises her eyebrows:: Just like that? No, ah, moon-related difficulties? ::opens a lower cabinet to fetch a bottle of Sembian, and reaches up for a pair of glasses:: <Dawn> I won't say *no* difficulties. But what we learned... it's best we handled the bitch on our own. * Lisl raises both eyebrows as she pours out a couple of liberal measures of brandy and offers Dawn his choice of glasses. "Do tell?" * Dawn selects a glass and eyes Lisl over its rim. "Do you trust me?" <Lisl> ::considers him, picking up the other glass and swirling its contents:: Least as far as I can throw you, which, all things considered, is pretty far. ::perches on a stool:: You already hold my biggest secret, Dawn, how far do you *think* I trust you? * Dawn shrugs. "There's trust, and there's trust." He holds up his good hand to show her a plain gold ring, and speaks a liquid word in syllables that slide off the ears. * Lisl's glass slips from nerveless fingers as eyes turn yellow again, her face twisting into a snarling mask of surprise and anger. She makes it off the stool and halfway across the table, but it looks to Dawn like her muscles are fighting themselves. With a soft, despairing whine, she withdraws again, hunkering just below the far side of the table, head lowered to one side, eyes averted. She whines softly in the back of her throat. * Dawn pulls off the ring, and with a practiced flick of his wrist, rolls the ring down the table until it bumps against her arm. "Wasn't sure it'd work on you." He puts his feet down and watches her warily. "That's how they were... confining her attacks to the 'right' people. *With* her permission, I might add. Man wearing the ring was her lover." * Lisl uncramps and shudders as the ring's effect fades, picking it up gingerly and rubbing the back of her neck as she slowly regains her feet. Her eyes are still yellow. <Dawn> ::tenses slightly, as if preparing to jump, watching her unblinking:: <Lisl> It... nearly didn't. ::her voice is a touch guttural, and she pokes at the ring in her palm, studying it:: You just played a very dangerous game, Dawn. Trust or no, I just berserked and damn near killed you before this thing brought me to heel. ::she takes another deep breath and lets it out slowly, running her free hand over her hair:: Neither state I'm particularly keen for anyone to see me in. <Lisl> They needed this to control her... gods, that's sick... then... she was cursed? And... is "was" the right word, I hope? <Dawn> Ask anyone - I like to play with fire. ::his voice is serious, belying the frivolousness of his words:: And aye. Story I heard is that she was enough of a bitch to *enjoy* the curse. Had the ring made so she wouldn't accidently kill *him*, and then they decided to see if they could make it pay. <Dawn> I called in a lot of favors - and promised a lot more - and had her forcibly cured. And then killed her. * Lisl relaxes by degrees, surveying the fresh mess on her kitchen floor. "Hells... well, the brandy wouldn't be doing it for me anyway, just now." She sighs and fetches a stone mug for herself, filling it from a heavy stone jug from waaaaay beneath the sink. <Dawn> The others are gone, too. Don't imagine you care much about them, but your friends in the Dragons should see a... return to normalcy. * Lisl's hands tremble slightly as she raises the mug to her lips, taking a deep draught and visibly loosening as the 'kick hits. <Lisl> Care? I care about whatever upsets my town. And that lot were *not* healthy for Marsember. <Dawn> And we are? ::grins and puts one foot back up on the table, relaxing slightly now that she's not about to kill him:: <Lisl> ::snorts:: With Pleasure Island a boatlength away? Honestly? They may not know about you and you're all probably much happier that way, but I don't think the Dragons could do without you, in a city this size. <Dawn> ::with wry humor:: A pragmatist. ::he lifts the brandy glass (cradled carefully in his scarred hand) and drinks:: It's not often I meet an honest citizen who has anything good to say for my kind. <Lisl> I'm born practical, Dawn. ::takes another swig:: And it's not often I meet someone who thinks an adventurer-- ex- or no-- an honest citizen. <Dawn> ::grins:: Well met, then. <Lisl> ::a touch sourly:: Aye. ::keeping her eyes on her palm, as she turns the ring this way and that:: That trust you were asking me about? You earned it, with this. But I'll be square with you... I'm going to have a hard time looking you in the eye for awhile, I think. ::reflectively:: I suppose I should count myself lucky you didn't just turn it over to Zoya, though. <Dawn> ::neutrally:: If it makes it any easier, recall that I work with criminals and whores... Fuck, I've *been* both. Embarrassment isn't something I can afford. ::with a hint of curiosity:: Why not... her? I thought you were good friends? <Lisl> Heh. ::looks wry, turning from the ring to study her mug:: Not your embarrassment that concerns me. And Zoya and I are good friends... she's probably one of the best friends I've got on this whole continent, if I thought about it. But... that's why. ::looks away:: I... have a hard enough time, people seeing... that. ::she takes another swallow of 'kick:: <Lisl> Time was, berserking even once outside of battle where anyone else could see me was enough to make me pick up and leave. <Lisl> ::she glances fleetingly at Dawn over the rim of her mug as she takes another drink:: And it's been... close to two hundred years since anyone's called me to heel that way. The last time... it was my goddess. <Lisl> I... ::staring sightlessly at the mess on her floor:: ...not with Zoya. Even as an accident, that would... strain our friendship. <Dawn> Mm. ::considers it, then shrugs:: If it makes you feel any better, I didn't do it for fun. <Lisl> ::smiles mirthlessly:: No, I don't take you for any kind of idiot, Dawn. ::considers the contents of her mug:: You did it because the easiest way to tell me was to show me, and I'd never believe you were giving me the right ring *unless* you showed me. Aye? <Dawn> That's... part of it, aye. ::matches her grim smile:: Don't let word of that spread. Not everyone thinks I'm a suicidal idiot, but it's a handy reputation to have floating about. <Lisl> Well... ::chuckles wryly:: You *gave* me the ring. I'm more than willing to have you called an idiot for that much, although I'd say it makes you even shrewder than I'd figured. <Dawn> There are those who didn't care for my plan to turn it over to you. <Lisl> I'm sure. ::takes another sip:: A ring that bought you a tame were could be quite valuable in your trade. Provided, of course, you started running immediately, and didn't ever intend to take the thing off for the rest of your days. <Dawn> ::nods:: And your goodwill is more powerful in the long run, anyway. For those of us who have... vision. <Lisl> ::toasts him with her mug:: And that you've earned. ::takes a deep breath and looks up to meet his eyes, almost cringing already from what she might see there:: * Dawn meets her gaze calmly, his pale blue eyes showing neither satisfaction nor shame, but - almost - a hint a empathy. He lifts his brandy glass in return, then tips his head back to empty it. "Good stuff, that..." * Lisl releases a breath she wasn't entirely aware of holding. "The Sembian government may be a cowardly, grasping lot, for the most part, but that doesn't keep them from making the best brandy in the world." She closes her hand over the ring, finally, and shoves it into a pocket. "Care for another?" <Dawn> I wouldn't say no. ::he grins:: There are advantages to being the boss, after all... <Lisl> ::pours him another, raising an eyebrow:: Oh? You're the boss, now? <Lisl> I'd heard the rumor that Mace was running things from underground, but... I'd wondered, who was really in charge. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows at her:: Mace is *dead*. I sure the fuck am not taking orders from a zombie. <Lisl> I know. ::shakes her head:: I was at the funeral, after all. Didn't know who that left on top of things, though. I'm glad it's... ::half-smiles:: ...someone with vision. <Dawn> There was some convincing to do. Word was, after all, that I'd offed him, and there were those that wanted to be loyal... ::shrugs and takes a sip:: All got sorted out eventually. <Lisl> ::snorts:: I don't doubt it. ::takes another swallow of 'kick, draining the mug:: He was a good man. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows and looks at her:: He was a good assassin. A fucking *brilliant* assassin. He was a pretty good leader, in a crisis. Not too bad at delegating... He backed Dusk and me when no one else would. Dunno what makes a "good man," in your book, but I'll drink to his memory. ::he lifts his glass and takes a healthy swallow:: <Lisl> ::grins:: Damn good fighter, in or *out* of hiding. I went a few rounds with him myself, if you'll recall. Brave, and honorable where it counted. That sums it up, in my book. ::grins:: Hells, even Nach liked him. <Dawn> So I heard. ::shakes his head:: Too bad... We could've used him, these last years. <Lisl> Ah, well. Comes for us all eventually. ::looks momentarily sour as she gets up to fetch a fresh glass:: At least, so I'm given to understand. <Dawn> For criminals, generally, a bit earlier than for others, so they say. <Lisl> Ha. Aye, well, that's not what got *him*. ::pouring herself a fresh brandy and raising her glass to Dawn with a lopsided grin:: Your health, Dawn. <Dawn> ::laughs wryly:: I'll drink to that. My health... and soon, I hope. ::he pokes at the edges of his black eye gingerly before he drinks:: <Lisl> Ahhh, I've seen worse. You got that wrapping up your business, or did you offend the lass that gave you the cloak pin? <Dawn> Cleaning house. I've had plenty worse. But I hate black eyes. Makes my vision all blurry, on top of the pain. <Lisl> Hmn. ::gets up and starts rummaging in a cabinet, pulling out a parcel of green cloth and unrolling it on her counter, releasing a sudden breath of herbs:: * Lisl checks through the little pockets sewn into the healer's roll, muttering under her breath in elvish. "Thought I... Ah, starwort, here we go." She brings a packet to her nose. "Still good." <Dawn> ::watches her with a mix of amusement and disgust:: You're as bad as fucking Dusk. Can't a man just complain anymore? <Lisl> ::fetches a clean linen rag from a drawer, spreading it open and tipping out a bit of the herb into it, as well as a few powders from other pockets, stirring it with a finger and binding it up carefully with a grin:: Not in my kitchen sitting two yards from my healer's pouch, he can't. <Dawn> ::snorts and tips back the rest of his brandy:: All right, then. But I'd best be going. Crimes don't just commit themselves in this town, you know. <Lisl> Ha. And I'm reassured, knowing you're on the case. ::wraps the little packet again in a piece of waxed butcher's paper, and tosses it to Dawn:: There you go. Soak it in wine for a quarter-hour and put it on your eye for two. It's an elvish remedy, it's pretty potent. It'll make you see a bit blue out of that eye for a day, but it takes the pain away and heals the eye a damn sight faster. <Lisl> ::grins:: Or if you'd prefer, you can suffer, and give it to Dusk to poke through. I'm sure he'd love it. <Dawn> I'm sure he would... Thanks. ::he tucks the packet into his cloak and stands, heading for the door:: You know how to reach me if you need me. I'll see you around. <Lisl> ::nods:: Aye. ...thanks, Dawn. * Dawn goes to the back door, peers out, and then disappears into the night. <Lisl> Heh. ::shakes her head and withdraws the ring from her pocket again to look at it. With a sigh, she repockets it and heads upstairs:: |
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