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* Angel is going over several 'internal' matters with Dawn. He seems cross and edgy but that just may be because Jewel's been gone for almost two weeks visiting family who would not be in the least bit understanding or sympathetic to his presence. * Dawn is pretending not to notice Angel's mood, though he does indulge in a few discreet eye-rolls. "No, I don't *know* that he's skimming off his fucking tithe, but I don't think a little bit of leaning would hurt him, either." <Angel> ::shrugs:: Go lean on him, then. I don't want to talk to him, the sniveling little bastard. He sets my teeth on edge. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows briefly, then nods:: Aye. What else have you got? * Cat disables the traps on the door and unlocks it, pushing the door open with her shoulder and turning as she hears familiar voices within. "Good night, Isa, and thanks again. I'll probably need you tomorrow or the day after, but after that, take a few days off, why don't you? Tonight, too. I should be fine from here, and you've certainly earned it." She waves to her retreating bodyguard and enters, tossing her bags on the floor with a sigh. <Angel> ::flips through his papers quickly, skimming:: Oh, Stripe wanted to inquire about offing a Lizard who's getting too close to him. Decided that Stripe's cover couldn't be true because he's half-or- ::breaks off suddenly as Cat comes in:: * Dawn eyes Cat, then drops back into the chair he'd jumped out of when the door started to open, dismissing the apple of fire in his hand. "Fuckall." He breathes out a bit of a sigh. "Don't you fucking *signal* before you come through the door, gorgeous?" <Cat> ::smiling as she sees the two with their heads together:: Hi. Thought you might be working tonight. I'm home." She kicks off her shoes with an air of relief, leaning against the door for a moment before turning to dutifully reset the traps and locks. <Cat> ::grins at Dawn:: It's my door. Why should I signal? ::eyes the disappearing fireball:: Then again-- I think I'm answered already. <Dawn> ::snorts and grins at Angel:: Relying too much on *your* fast reflexes. * Angel crosses the room, catching up Jewel's hand quickly. He touches her face with his free hand. "My lady. I'm glad you've returned. How was your trip?" <Cat> ::smiles, relaxing into his touch and going up on her toes to kiss his cheek gently. "It was a nice enough visit, but I'm glad to be home." She hesitates, her eyes clouding for a moment as she looks from him to Dawn and back. "Actually... I had cause to wish you *had* come, after all, niceties be damned." Her smile turns wry. <Angel> ::raises an eyebrow:: Trouble? <Cat> ::chews on her lip:: Not... precisely. ::she takes his hand, leading him back to the couch and sitting beside him, smiling a greeting to Dawn:: Am I interrupting something? <Dawn> Nothing that can't be postponed for a few hours. Or days. ::eyes them with a faint grin:: Shall I leave? <Angel> ::flips a few pages out of his stack:: Here, look into that Lizard of Stripe's, would you? See if he's leanable, or if he can be safety disposed of. <Cat> ::shakes her head:: Wait, not... yet, I think. Or... ::sighs:: I don't know. I... I'm probably making something out of nothing. ::looking at Angel:: It *was* a good visit. Mama is well, the shop is doing well. And it was good to see my little sister-- well... not so little now. ::laughs:: She's a woman grown, practically. She'll make Mama a fine heir, too; she showed me some of the puzzle-rings she made. Marvelously intricate, for her age. * Dawn takes the pages from Angel with only a nod, tucking them into his own pile. He watches Jewel as she talks, his head cocked slightly, waiting for the trouble. <Cat> ::bites her lip again:: They've taken a new journeyman since I visited last... nearly a year, already, I'd not realized it had been so long. ::shakes her head:: Anyway, he's close to Ellie's age, and... he... ::narrows her eyes:: There's something... ::looks embarrassed:: Well, he's polite enough, but... he makes me uncomfortable. <Angel> ::raises an eyebrow:: I daresay you haven't got the need for me around while you feel protective and older-sibblingish about your sister. <Cat> ::cheeks coloring:: Well... I can't say there's not a bit of that. I saw him watching her, sometimes, when he thought no one was looking. He's certainly interested in her. And the minx knows it, too-- she's too sharp by half, I swear. ::glances at Angel:: She's half the reason I thought it would be better to take Isa. ::small smile:: It wouldn't take her terribly long to notice how I look at *you.* And oh, the scandal *that* would cause! <Cat> ::sighs:: She could stand to learn a bit of... prudence, perhaps. Subtlety, at least. ::blushes deeper:: Well, perhaps it runs in the family. ::shakes her head:: But that wasn't all there was to it. He... I swear to you, there was a time or two I wanted to give him the recognition sign, just to see what he'd do. ::frowns:: <Dawn> ::blandly:: The old one, or the new one? <Angel> ::raises the other eyebrow:: Subtlety? Your sister? Heavens preserve us. ::his voice is faintly sarcastic:: <Cat> Heh... the older one. ::moves her thumb inside her left fist and taps the hand against the side of her thigh:: <Cat> Oh, hush, you. ::moves against Angel, bumping his shoulder with hers:: <Dawn> ::eyes the wall speculatively:: You think he's there to clean them out? <Cat> I... don't know. ::frowns:: I inquired-- discreetly-- ::giving Angel a quelling look:: of Mama, about his credentials. He does fine work-- she wouldn't have him if he didn't-- and he came well-recommended from his apprenticeship. I recognized the name. Not quite in the same line as the sort of work our family generally does, but well, that's what a journeying's for, isn't it? ::shrugs a shoulder:: <Dawn> What line *did* he come from? * Angel shoos Jewel into a chair while she's talking, divesting her of coat and scarf. He tosses her bags off in the direction of the 'bedroom' part of the flat. <Cat> Well, I understand he grew up around Arabel, but it seems he 'prenticed with Master Pimsleur, down in Suzail. He does a lot of brightwork, joining-caps and the like... fittings for furnishings, little jewelry boxes, like that. Mama didn't know much of the young man's family, just that they weren't jewellers or silversmiths. He'd be first to the trade. He mentioned to me in passing that his father passed several years ago, and his mama... when he was born, I gathered. <Cat> ::looking at Dawn:: Our family does personal jewelry... Mama's strapwork is something phenomenal, really. And Papa could do these vinework settings, it was like they were alive and the jewels were fruit. ::holds up her hand, showing her engagement ring beneath her wedding ring:: This was his work. <Angel> ::half-smiles:: I remember purchasing that from your father. He thought I was a right proper noble idiot. ::shakes his head bemusedly:: <Cat> ::grins:: You're a much better actor than I am, my lord. * Dawn nods at the ring and scratches at his face thoughtfully. "Arabel's a long way to go for a sting, if he's Suzail Shadowguild... I can drop a line to Whistle, see if he knows of a connection with this Pimsleur." <Cat> ::narrowing her eyes again:: I'd be... curious to know how he got placed with Master Pimsleur in the first place, but... he was given a good recommendation to us, and Pimsleur's word is good for Mama. ::sighs:: I sort of wish she'd taken my advice and hired some personal protection since Papa's gone... ::shakes her head:: If it were only theft, I think she and Ellie could deal with it right handily, though. <Cat> ::nods to Dawn:: I'd be curious to know if he knows anything of the boy's family, or anything of him, really. Bonesteel, his name is... Flavian Bonesteel. <Dawn> ::nods:: Suzail's a long way to go for an apprenticeship, from Arabel. I can have it researched. Cost a bit more than usual, though. I don't have as many contacts in Suzail... ::he pauses, his eyebrows lifting slightly with a thought:: Andrial's in Suzail, actually... <Cat> ::raising her own eyebrows:: Could she-- she's newer than I at this, I know, and gods know *I'm* not terribly good at the whole information-gathering end of things.... <Dawn> ::shrugs:: Dunno. Not her usual line. But she might be willing to at least be a go-between. It's good to have someone on the ground local, to serve as a contact. <Cat> ::nods:: If she'd be willing, that would go a long sight towards tracking down his doings there, I think. * Angel nods. "Leastways, she's ours, and trustworthy. Suzail and Dawn don't exactly had fond memories of each other." <Cat> ::nods, looking wry:: She's got to owe him *something*, at least, for that cock-up with Dusk's twin. <Dawn> Nightsorrow doesn't believe in owing anyone anything, gorgeous. <Cat> But... ::moving back to the couch and sliding her hand into Angel's:: ...there is a little more. Lest you think I'm trying to send you all scurrying about on a bit of women's intuition... well, honestly, it *could* just be nerves. Or paranoia. Or just... sleeping alone. ::makes a face:: I'm not helping my case here, am I? <Angel> Not particularly, no. ::he sighs:: My lady, one of these days you are going to get yourself into a world of trouble based on your simple inability to just... stop talking once someone's agreed to a thing. <Cat> ::wrinkling her nose at Angel:: Well, it's not like I could talk to *Mama* about it, and Isa's not exactly the chatty sort, you know. <Cat> At any rate... ::her eyes seeking Angel's:: I started having those nightmares again, at Mama's. Two or three, I think, while I was there. And I think he was in them. <Dawn> Nightmares? ::his eyes narrow:: 'Bender flavored? <Cat> ::hesitantly:: I... think so. That is, I'm not really certain. But... they feel a little like when I see the past, only... jumbled. Confused. Confus*ing*. And... ::looking sheepish:: Sometimes I wake up hungry, if I've had a few in the space of one night. That hasn't happened for... some time, now. ::lowering her eyes:: <Dawn> Fuck. You turning into Eyes on us? <Angel> ::crosses his arms, his eyes suddenly flat:: Like the ones you had when Tower was causing trouble? ::his mouth tightens into a thin white line:: Let me guess. You did *not* go talk to Mistress Quel'shu about this, did you? <Cat> ::squinches down even further into her seat:: My great-grandmama... the one I got the gift from... she started getting what *sounded* like flashes of foresight, before she died. When she was about... ::small voice:: my age. <Cat> ::quietly, looking faintly miserable:: No, my lord. I... well... they stopped, not long after he died, and then... I just kept forgetting. <Dawn> ::sighs:: Lady Quick isn't in Marsember now. ::he glances at Angel:: Waterdeep? <Cat> ::looking surprised:: She's not? <Angel> ::clenches his jaw:: If we have to, I suppose we have to. <Dawn> Nope. She packed up and went adventuring. No telling when she'll be back. <Cat> ::mutters:: Oh, gods... er. I had, um, another small question for her, but... I suppose it will keep. Unless... ::chews her lip:: Well, maybe her sister will be about. Although... ergh. This isn't the sort of thing I'd really like getting back to Master-- er, Waterdeep. <Angel> ::earnestly:: But my lady, I cannot help you with your psionic abilities. I've no expertise, and you're our senior-most member with those abilities. You *must* consult someone who can aid you. <Cat> ::nodding:: Yes, my lord. ::sighs:: You're right, of course. I haven't been mindful of my responsibilities, and I'm sorry. <Dawn> ::to Angel:: I don't like it either, but... ::raises his eyebrows at Cat:: You have another name on the list? <Cat> ::scratches her cheek:: Well... I can see what other professors are available. If it *is* precognition, Master Dupre should be able to help. ::dryly:: As much as he ever does. ::glancing at Dawn:: Master Dupre is rather... inscrutable, you could say. As befits a seer, I suppose. ::snorts:: <Angel> ::scratches his chin:: As you say. I'd rather Waterdeep keep his nose in his own business. He makes too much a fuss in mine for comfort's sake. ::mutters something under his breath that sounds rather threatening:: <Dawn> ::shrugs:: Long as you see *some*one. I only know enough about it to know you shouldn't be wandering around with an ability you can't fucking control. <Cat> ::sits up quickly:: I wasn't even sure it *was* an ability until-- ::sighs and leans back again:: I'm making excuses. I'll go in to the school tomorrow, and see who can be found to speak to. <Angel> ::exhales forcibly:: Thank you, my lady. <Cat> And I'd... just as soon not approach Waterdeep on... on the other matter, anyway. Lady Quick I can speak to, she has certain allegiances here, at least, but... ::hunches a shoulder and mutters something under her breath, blushing:: <Cat> ::squeezing his hand:: I'm very sorry to have worried you, my lord. I'll see to it. *Discreetly.* * Angel does not look entirely consoled, but pats her hand. <Dawn> ::gathering up his papers:: Well. If that's everything, I'm sure you'd appreciate it if I got the fuck out of your way for a while. <Cat> And-- ::looking back and forth between them with a worried glance:: You'll look into Master Bonesteel? <Dawn> Aye. Probably be a week or ten days before I get anything useful back, though. <Angel> ::gives his wife an almost predatorily hungry look:: Oh, most definitely. {And don't let the door hit you on the way out} ::he flicks his fingers at Dawn briefly:: <Cat> ::smiles a little:: Good night, Dawn. Thank you. <Dawn> ::smirks, and leaves without any further delay:: <Angel> Now, then... ::takes his wife into his arms:: I *have* missed you. <Cat> ::smiling up at him, relaxing into his arms with a contented sigh:: Perhaps nearly as much as I've missed you, my lord. It's good to be home. ::kisses him:: |
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