40th Summer 515 AV
Mid-morning
Mid-morning
The word stalking seemed to presently have an all new level that Fallon previously was not aware of. Sure, there was the general observation, the sly straining of ears to overhear a potentially vital conversation, there was even the act of following them about to their current lodgings and recording it on behalf of another. It was the subtle acts of espionage, to skulk about and look for clues - to even go back to said locations after and investigate without prying eyes. But this was different, and it was something that made her skin begin to crawl. While at a stall or within a store it would have been easy to hover and to appear as if browsing the goods, the same could not be said at a Bath House. If anything, to hover and not partake raised suspicion - why was she here? what was she doing? Is she waiting for something? And so paints the obvious target. Fallon's lips pursed into a line, the briefest of hovering outside the unassuming entrance of the Zastoska as she weighed up her choices.
She should have known, really, based upon the small slither of information that her client had provided. A businessman by the name of Bonce, he flittered around the offices and some social venues, but he also liked to hold some meetings within the bath house - something about establishing trust or dominance, she could not remember what exactly. Yet right now that did not matter, she had a choice to make and work upon as quickly as possible. The chimes continued to tick on, a chew upon her lip as she found herself faltering. She needed to go in there and overhear any meetings that may or may not be going on. Of course, the counter is that he could only be making arrangements for a later date and could come out at any moment. After another chime of waiting, Fallon wasted no more time and entered.
While the outside was unassuming, the interior was a stark opposite of that. Warm, though not overly so, was the first that came to mind, the scent of salts and soaps brushing against her senses. There was no music, she noticed as she stepped through, watching the shape of her target waddle away down the corridor and towards the changing rooms - towards the public baths she realised with a flicker up to the signs. One of the assistants greeted her briefly, a small offering of a collection of towels and soaps, before she was quickly whisked off towards the changing rooms. With a towel passed to her and gladly taken, the woman set about quickly preparing herself and stuffing her clothing into one of the lockers. The form was quickly covered and wrapped up after that, the quick steps leading out into the baths.
Eyes gave a sweep, her gaze flickering as she took in the open nature of the baths. Her back gave a prickle, yet the sensation was smothered by the thick layer of winding ink that covered it. She stepped, ears straining as she tried to pick out the voice of her target, the gaze searching the main pool that was letting both light and breeze travel on through. A slowed blink, she spied another man next to her target at one of the edges and so stopping short of it the woman promptly lowered herself in and listened. For a while there was silence, the gentle slurping of what sounded like tea being held above the lapping waters. On one of the other edges she could hear the gentle chastising of a mother to a child.
"So, where were we Mister Mance?" spoke Bonce in a low voice. He placed the cup upon the pool side. Fallon's ears continued straining, hands swirling the water around her as she continued to try and find a step in, "You require my assistance for something?"
"I do indeed," a gruffer voice, a warning brushed against her mind that the accent was distinctly not Zeltivan. And while it was clearer cut she would have associated it with a different city, "Couple of my lads are having problem filtering about into Zeltiva. Can't help themselves, rough lot they are. Need to keep them busy but in a place where we can still do what we were here for."
"So, you are looking to hire them out?" queried Bonce, "And so came to me seeing if I required services?"
"We've done distant business in the past. But yeah, somethin' like that. This is personal, and important."
"Personal how exactly?" She caught the glimmer of eyes sheepishly looking about before leaning over to whisper into Bonce's ear. What words were said were only met with a nod, "I see."