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Post by Scott Free on Nov 13, 2006 21:18:52 GMT -5
As Mikasi slipped between the people in the crowd he reached into his cape to make sure that he had not lost the item he had been charged to deliver.
"Damn ghosts," he muttered under his breath, "Make me be an errand boy. Why do they want me to deliver this damn book to Sedaia Ramort, in the damned Shadow Den of all places." Though he had been to this black market on the occaisonal jaunt in order to aquire the odd rare text or item he was never very comfortable there. Why, if he ever felt comfortable here then he would have to get some sense knocked into him. A crowd of con-men, pick-pockets, thugs, and seedy merchants, all packed into large groups where it would be all to easy for a knife to be pressed into ones back or throat.
Although Mikasi wasn't afraid of a scuffle between himself and the odd miscreant, he didn't fancy his odds of escaping a whole gang if something goes wrong.
While that was bad enough he even had to confront Sedaia Ramort with a book that a large collection of ghosts dictated to him which they made him call, "A Collection of Grievances Against Miss Sedaia Ramort." If half the things those damn specters said was true then things were going to get interesting if he managed to find her. Well if things go south then there were a few new tricks he was looking forward to trying out.
Now if only he didn't have to worry about the pick-pockets.
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Post by Sedaia on Nov 13, 2006 21:45:44 GMT -5
Sedaia walked quickly towards her office. As was usual when she was in the safety of the Shadow Den, her demeanor was business-like and commanding. She needed to pick up a few papers before she continued her night's business. She was close to her office door when she heard some people muttering.
"Aye, the man just walked right into the Lady Dai's office, as if he owned it! I never seen him before."
"Oh really? The bastard! I wonder if he's a lover?"
"Nah, with m'Lady? As soon as to sleep with a sharpened knife."
Without commenting on the hushed conversation, Sedaia came to a halt. If there was a stranger in her office, he was likely seeking an audience. If he was seeking an audience, he would delay her from getting her documents quickly and going about her work. She seriously considered whether she needed the papers or not. She scanned the room while she thought.
Her eyes eventually fell upon a strange fellow moving through the crowd. He was tall and thin, and reminded her of a broomstick with legs. Though nervous, he walked with purpose. She knew most of the Shadow Den's regulars, and he was not one of them. She noticed him reaching into his cloak, as though to check for something in its pocket- she smiled. It must be valuable, or he wouldn't be so afraid of misplacing it. Sedaia allowed herself to merge with the movements of the other miscreants. She vanished.
She rematerialized directly beside him. "You seem lost." She said suddenly, attempting half-heartedly to startle him, "Perhaps I can be of assistance! I know the Den quite well; I know where everything is, every shop, every office, every person. Perhaps for a few paltry coins I could be your guide?" Sedaia did her best to adopt an honest, wheedling tone. If he deigned to hire her, she could ascertain his purpose here and perhaps get a chance to rob him blind.
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Post by Scott Free on Nov 13, 2006 22:17:23 GMT -5
As soon as the woman appeared next to Mikasi something seemed to click. She seemed familiar but it didn't become obvious to him untill on of the ghosts following him nearby called out to him,
" Thats the one mutt! She's the one who had mr killed in a fire!" Well it looks like he wouldn't have to look for Miss Ramort.
" Shut up you old fool," He muttered under his breath,"I can't afford any distractions." Then turning to Sedaia with a flair of his cape, gave a bow without taking his eyes off of her. " My dear I believe that you will be able to help me. You see my name is Mikasi Inu. I happen to be a journeyman of the stage and other forms of performance."
" What are you doing you dirty mongrel?" yelled the ghost of Gideon Void, "Kill her like she did me!" Sometimes it didn't pay to deal with these damned ghosts, they were too damned persistent. Bringing out the book that contained the written accounts which were dictated to Mikasi by a large group of people that allegedly had been wronged by this woman, and their own signatures. Which required a large amount of effort for the deceased to put to paper. If only it wasn't so hard for them to move even a pen.
"Though my aspirations and goals keep me occupied I am here to present you Miss Ramort, or do you prefer Miss Swift?" asks Mikasi as he holds the book in front of her, " I have been petitioned to act as an unofficial solicitor on behalf of the individuals whose signatures are located within these pages. They have requested for me to deliver this collection of papers in order to submit their grievances."
At this point he flicks one of his cards out of his sleeve into his free hand which is concealed in the folds of his cape. At least he was going to be ready if she reacts poorly to the book.
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Post by Sedaia on Nov 13, 2006 23:21:29 GMT -5
Sedaia could here the man's quiet muttering. She had keen ears, and was standing right beside him. She had met people who talked to themselves before, finding them to be easily confused, distracted by their own thoughts, and unreliable. But once the man began addressing her, she was impressed by the nonchalant demeanor he presented. She was immediately put on the defensive when he recognized her at a glance not by any of her pseudonyms, but by her full, given name. The fabricated persona was stripped away under the ferocity such an address inspired in her. She stood strait, and her face went as blank as a freshly bleached canvas.
Silently she reached out her hands and accepted the document from the proclaimed charlatan. It was a fairly thick manuscript. She looked silently upon its unadorned cover for a long moment and then tucked the book under her arm without opening it. She suddenly smiled a friendly, beaming smile at Mikasi. "Well then, it looks like you have a lot to discuss with me," She said, her voice assertive, yet open and friendly, "Why don't we retreat to my personal office where we can discuss these grievances in privacy?" Sedaia held out her arm, gesturing in the direction she wanted Mikasi to walk.
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Post by Scott Free on Nov 16, 2006 17:12:05 GMT -5
Mikasi noticed the blank look that flitted accross Sedaia's face before she invited him into her office. From what the ghosts had told him and what some of the ones currently following him were screaming, implied that there was are good chance that he would be killed if he entered the office. Then again if he tried to leave he would probably have to fight his way through the crowd. Ah, the illusion of free choice.
He began looking around searching for something that he could use to his advantage. Lets see: stolen jewelry, rare herbs, a wide assortment of weapons............... then he saw the proverbial jackpot, kegs of gun powder. Mikasi then slipped his cards back up his sleeve and determined how he was going to roll the proverbial dice. Well time to make the impossible possible, or for Mikasi to turn himself into a red stain on the ground and surrounding stalls.
"My dear Miss Ramorte I am honored that you are willing to discuss such matters with someone who you know so little of. Now!" proclaimed Mikasi as he clapped his hands together and brought them apart to reveal his wand which was now the length of a small brickbat," Before I ever walk into a situation where I have to possibly answer questions, I usually find a way to judge the measure of the individual who will be asking the questions."
As he said this he began swaying and weaving, back and forth, in and out of the crowd. Moving in a round about way toward the powder kegs. "Tell me Miss Ramorte," Mikasi began as he twirled his wand between his fingers,"What has a face but can never see, hands that can never hold, no legs but it can still run?" All the while Mikasi was praying to lady luck, good fortune, karma, and anything else that may be deciding to listen that Sedaia wouldn't decide to have him put down like a mad dog.
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Post by Sedaia on Nov 16, 2006 18:02:11 GMT -5
Sedaia paced steadily after Mikasi. As he spoke, her kind expression degenerated quickly into a sharp, angry scowl. People in the crowd began to take note of her presence among them. The onlookers that Mikasi was forced to sway around parted before her like mist at dawn. She had lost no distance on Mikasi, still standing only five feet away from him as he finished his riddle, and drew nigh the gunpowder which Sedaia took no notice of. The man trying to sell the kegs saw them approaching and backpedaled fearfully, as Sedaia invisibly slipped the strange book inside a deep pocket.
"I would guess the Clock Tower, Mikasi," Sedaia said coldly, glaring at the cane she saw twirling about in his hands.
Suddenly, lightning fast, Sedaia took two long steps forward, her left hand emerging from her pocket with a long, jagged knife. With her right hand she seized his cane (not trying to take it away but halting its spinning movement) with the left, she leaned close and pressed the point of her knife firmly against the stranger's belly (she was not tall enough to threaten him higher). She could now thrust on short notice to wound him with little difficulty. It would not be a killing blow, at first, but punctures to the abdomen were said to be painful.
"I think you misinterpreted my polite words as a request," she whispered to him, now very, very close, "I have no stomach for games. Disobey me and neither will you."
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Post by Scott Free on Nov 16, 2006 18:30:28 GMT -5
Seeing the poor reaction he was recieving from Sedaia, Mikasi decided that it might be in his best interest to slip away now before either of them resorted to violence.
"Fair maiden," began Mikasi,"I shall have to bid you adieu untill the next time our paths cross. If you wish to find out the truth about what is written on those pages that you now hold, or how I know so many little details that not even your closest advisors may know," he flicked his wrist causing the end of the cane to project an intense flame. Mikasi then pulled off the lid of a powder keg that was directly behind him," If you wish to continue this discussion at a later date when you may feel inclined to abstain from inflicting bodily harm upon my person."
He then lobs his cane over his shoulder in a high arc that would end in the open keg. " If you wish to find out more look to your answer at midnight." Mikasi's cape flares out and wraps around him as if of its own volition, hiding him from sight. As the cane sparked the powder, the shrouded figure began to fall to the ground, all that remained behind of Mikasi was his crumpled cape.
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Post by Sedaia on Nov 16, 2006 18:41:21 GMT -5
Sedaia was surprised when Mikasi vanished from sight.
I should have stabbed him. She thought in annoyance, looking at his cape on the ground. She picked it up and held it in her hands, the jagged knife vanishing impossibly up her sleeve. She became suddenly aware of whispering coming from all around her.
Sedaia the Swift had never been evaded so publicly before. Drawing herself up regally, she threw the overly long cape over her shoulders, deftly tightening the clasp. She started moving before the cape could settle, causing it to billow majestically around her. The King of Hearts stared out silently from his white backdrop. She did not spare a glance for any of the gathered watchers. She went directly to her office without looking back.
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