Lifting her fingers to the whistle at her neck, twisting it a few times and debating whether or not she would use it, Marlena let out a huff of breath. The man was infuriating, but she was keeping one thing in mind throughout his demands and attitude. A man this passionate for a book to be smuggled in would keep coming back for more. Cesar would be thrilled if he was willing to spend as much money as he promised. Having had problems the last time she met Cesar, this would be the perfect opportunity to draw another well known Tryst member to her side.
Because of this, she stood and walked to the door, shooting a glare up at Alecsander as she passed him. For all the benefits this could bring, she severely disliked this man.
Cesar is at the East docks... He runs out of a warehouse there.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Smiling beatifically at the glare, Alec pushes the door shut after she passes then does the same routine for the front door. Once on the stoop, he gives a small sigh. "Doesn't smell like books out here," he mutters perhaps a bit darkly. Rounding on Marlena, the smile comes back. Holding one hand out to his side, fingers extended, pointing vaguely in the direction of the East Docks. "Race to the district?" he asks, curious. "You're sharp, and you carry yourself well, but can you make it across town at a sprint?" His own, more direct, way of sizing someone up.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Marlena knew for a fact that she would never keep up, nor would she make it far. He knew he could, otherwise he wouldn't challenge her to such a race. At the very least she would be fast enough to hold onto a gap until she ran out of steam. She looked in the direction he motioned to before turning back to him.
Smiling, a hand slips down to grip the skirt of her dress before she winks at him and takes off at a run down the street, quite happily dodging and weaving around the people that she past, those people turning to watch her for a moment before carrying on with a shake of their head.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Oh, cheeky girl," Alec mutters before setting off after her, putting himself ten or so feet behind her and then matching her pace. Weaving in between people, ducking extended arms, and jumping over the occasional obstacle. "How long can you keep this pace?" he wonders aloud, pouring on the speed ever so slightly to gain marginally on her.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Marlena managed to keep her speed for the length of a street and then some, refusing to answer him, not even a smart remark. But as she rounded a corner to head towards the center of Wistvale, she could feel herself slowing down. She refused to give up, but it would be only another hundred meters or so before she had to stop.
She looked over to the man on her heels, a mistake considering he looked as if he could just keep going. Her brow furrowed when she looked back ahead of her, willing another very brief burst of speed from her legs. It failed miserably though as she saw the stand of a street vendor. What energy she has goes into trying her luck at side-stepping it, the corner catching her thigh and sending her into a spin as she attempts to regain her balance, landing back against the front of the stand.
Her hands grip the edges whilst she catches her breath, her chest rising and falling steadily as she draws deep breaths, looking up at Alecsander before laughing softly.
Not long... So it seems...
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Slowing to a fast jog, Alec scoops Marlena up, one arm around her shoulders, the other under her knees. He weaves in and out of the crowds, turning a corner and stopping, setting her on her feet. "Sorry about that," he says, smiling. "I'm just....oh, so anxious to get there quickly."
He takes a deep breath, a light sheen of sweat standing on his forehead, but otherwise looking for all the world entirely fine. "Do you need to rest, a bit?" he asks, something that sounds close to genuine concern in his voice. "Please do, but I'd like to get under way soon."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Her arms went around his neck almost on instinct as she was lifted, watching the crowds as he moves between people. She had caught her breath by the time he placed her on the ground, letting go of him and stepping away from him. Her legs were tired, but not aching or shaky, she could manage the rest of the distance at a leisurely jog if necessary. But she was in no rush, even if he was.
Looking up at him as she leans back against the wall of the house, she gives a smile, not forced but actually genuine to a degree. Her hair had become somewhat wild from the run and she lifted a hand to run her fingers through it, pushing strands back behind her ears as she spoke.
You never told me if my assumption was correct. Your interest in books of magic, are you a mage?
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Oh, you know what they say about assuming things," he says, returning the smile, as Marlena's hidden dagger lifts out of its sheath and slowly, ponderously, carefully making its way toward his hand. "It makes an ass out of you," he says, the knife flying into his hand, "and me," he finishes, holding the blade, hilt up, to Marlena with what he hopes is a roguish smile.
"However, in this instance, you are right." He tosses the knife into the air, where it cart-wheels above them for a good 5 seconds longer than it has any right to, before falling neatly back into the palm of his hand. "I am a mage. Metal has always been my forte, if you hadn't guessed it yet."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Marlena's head turns to watch her dagger as she feels it move, her eyes following it to his hand before she looks back up at him. She laughs and continues to watch it as it spins and steps towards him when it lands back in his hand. Her smile is charming, gentle upturns at the corners of her lips as she gets closer, stopping only when she there is a few inches between them, reaching and wrapping her fingers around the hilt. She waits until her grip is firm then starts to speak.
Impressive, Alecsander. But I'll have that back.
We should keep going, don't you think?
With that, she turns on her heel to begin walking to the Docks.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Releasing the blade, Alec takes a short bow before following closely after her. "Thank you ma'am, but please, call me Alec." He casts his gaze around furtively, as the neighborhood gets seedier and seedier. "You know, with a foppish name like Beauregard, I was expecting a more...ah...upscale neighborhood." Rubbing at the top of his spine with the side of one hand, he rolls his shoulders again. "Are you sure he'll have what I'm after?" he asks.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Marlena turns a corner and steps into a darkened alley, the docks and water visible at the other end and she stops outside of a door, turning back to him and smirking as she knocks twice, deep green eyes sparkling as she once again laughs at his observation.
Exactly the reason to be here. Why would you hide priceless and highly sought after items in a place where people would expect you to be? He may or may not have what you want right now. But I have no doubt he could get it for you.
A deep voice is heard then from behind the door. One that is demanding and filled with suspicion. "What do you want?"
It's Marlena. Tell Cesar I have something he will be very interested in. Namely something yellow in color, small and round.
There is nothing but the sound of boots scuffing the floor as there is movement on the other side followed by silence.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Well, I was under the impression you might hide it in plain sight." Shrugging, he raises an eyebrow at the door, shakes his head, and looks back to Marlena. "You know, put the illicit next to the...uh...licit, I suppose. Perhaps not displaying the illegal as one might display the legal, but still. The Sentinels, I would think, would be more apt to look at the shadier neighborhoods than the nicer ones."
Looking at the door, and considering the silence behind, he gestures at it and cocks his head at Marlena. "You want I should take the door down?" he asks, definitely loud enough for anyone near the door on the other side to hear. "They seem to be making us wait, and I don't particularly appreciate that."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
The voice came from another figure standing at the end of the alley, scarecrow thin and looking unsure. Dim yellow eyes looked from one to the other, and there was a definite sense of awkwardness about him.
Were you going to meet, uhh... He consulted a paper.
Mister Beauregard? I have an appointment with him, too, but it's nothing that can't wait. Well, actually. It's better to get civilians out of the way, really. So you go first, get what you need, and go. Well, no, I'll look it over first before you go, then I go in. We'll take turns, though you should definitely go in first. He paused, and pulled a wallet from inside his robe, popping it open and flashing them a cheap badge with the symbol of the Venator on it.
I am sorry. Manrick Loreburn, dark magic investigator. I have reason to believe these folks might be... He put a hand to his face and whispered conspiratorially.
Trading in books on banned magics. That's my job. Not to practice them, though that's part and parcel. Normally. A lot in fact. It's my job to make sure the books don't fall into the wrong hands by making sure they fall into my hands. Speaking of which.
He happily offered the two a gloved hand to shake.
Last Edit: Jun 17, 2012 20:36:08 GMT -5 by Loreburn
Degree in Post-Mortem Communication, an Offical Hemomancy Conditional Practice Certificate, License to Employ Pyrokenetics, Advanced Necromantic Exception Certification, Doctorate in Soul Magics and Related Sciences, Approved Demonic Event Technician from the Board of Infernal Affairs, Practicing Curse Removal Specialist.
She would have said something to Alec about trying not to anger the people that he wants something from, but she didn't get a chance. The strange man that walked up to them snapped her from any train of thought she had. He rambled, and that irritated her, not least the fact that in his rambling he'd demanded to look over whatever they came out of the warehouse with. Well. Not her. Alec. She was tired of people ordering her around today, it was't going to get any easier dealing with Cesar.
She looked to the offered hand then ignored it, deep green eyes darkening whilst looking to Alec, hearing movement behind the door and raised voices. If he wanted what could be in the warehouse, he could deal with the person standing with them, and her expression said that much.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Casting a glance down at Marlena, Alec shrugs before reaching out and taking Loreburn's hand, shaking it companionably, but turning his hand before he lets go, letting Manrick catch a glimpse of flashed silver, inlaid with onyx and white gold. Marlena might have caught a glimpse, if payed attention. "Hello, Mr. Loreburn," Alec says, bowing shortly, "Alecsander Greenwood, at your service."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.