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[Kaie]

40th Day of Summer, 515 AV

The last job she'd taken on with Tina in Riverfall would not be the last. True to her word, when Kaie and her assigned partner returned the runaway Nakivak girl they indeed were given a proper reward. The event had sparked an undeniable curiosity within the woman. She couldn't help but ponder what other secrets a proud Akalak might pay to hide, not that Mizas were her sole motivating factor for feeling the urge to investigate. Her partner, an Akalak himself, had voiced intentions to blackmail and exploit their client down the line. The Myrian's intentions, while no more benevolent, were more quest-like. The quietly Akajia-worshipping Cutthroat Shadows clan characteristics certainly were not lost upon her so many year later. Perhaps the colorful Akalak race was worth her interest after all. It was all of this that brought the savage returning to Tina's on her own free will. An unwelcomed visit she would make all the same.

Kaie paused before the ornate door of the elder Konti woman. Her bronze fist hovered over the wooden barrier for a pair of ticks before it came down like a hammer-fist upon it. Another rhythm of knocking came when half a chime passed, and soon after the door slowly creaked open, stopped by the chain that still apparently was linked. It was more than the elderly living alone in Sunberth had been able to afford when it came to protection within their own homes. "You were paid days ago, Kaie. What brings you here?" the Nakivak sponsor asked from behind the partially opened door that separated them. The savage eyed the bright blue eyes that stared at her through the small crevice. She shrugged. "You said we did a good job bringing the girl home. Quickly. Quietly. Little incident. I thought you might know another guy trying to keep his pride." she offered honestly and rather matter-of-fact, raising a brow at the Konti elder. Amber eyes scanned what little she could see of the other woman's face. "You want to exploit the race that's housing you in their city?" The jungle-born couldn't help but roll her eyes and brace an arm on the door frame. "No. I'm recognizing a need you made me aware of and asking for a job opportunity if you know one." Tina remained silent for some time, that single eye staring at Kaie with an unrelenting gaze. She disappeared and the door shut, only for the sound of a chain dropping from its lock, and the door to open again soon after. It swung open to reveal the beautiful domicile of a woman who had clearly been well compensated for her services to the city. Grand rugs decorated the floors, chaises and chairs were scattered throughout the open spaces, and an expensive-looking desk across the room was seated before a length of windows offering a view of the sea below the cliff side. Tina gestured the Myrian woman in and closed the door behind her. "Tea?" she asked as she wandered out of the main room toward a small hallway to the left. Kaie shook herself from her brief moment of awe no different than the first time she'd entered the room. "Sure." The old woman smiled and vanished while the jungle-born was left to stand admiring the interior decorating around her.

Her feet brought her strutting across the room toward the familiar desk, passing it this time to stand before the windows behind it. It was quite a stunning view, really. The cliffs extended little from the buildings that housed many of Riverfall's denizens before it dropped sharply down toward the Suvan sea. Below the sea surged and swirled beyond to meet the thick ice that surrounded the shores. Small feet returned her way had the young woman swiveling back to spy Tina balancing two cups and a pot on a delicate tray. Her hands shook in a way that made the jungle woman inclined to ask the elder if she might help, but Tina swiftly landed the tray upon the desk long before Kaie had the chance to act on impulse. "Sit, please," Tina suggested with a gesture to the pair of chairs facing her desk. The Myrian took one last look outside the windows before nodding, turning on her heels, and finding a seat as instructed. The old Konti woman filled a teacup with tea from the porcelain tea pot, and placed it on a porcelain teacup plate before Kaie. Then she poured one for herself and seated herself in the chair behind the desk. Her wrinkled hands gingerly lifted the cup and sipped the warm tea. When she had swallowed the liquid and placed the cup back on the plate, Kaie relented to taste her own. It was earthy upon her tongue, but it sure killed the cold that had been housed in her body from traveling outside in the streets that day.

"Runaway Nakivaks are not usually a common occurrence, Kaie. When they happen, there is an official already in place to track them down and bring them back. He's far more efficient than anyone else in this city, and the reasons for that exceed ability alone," Tina admitted plainly to her guest before taking another sip of her tea. Kaie took another sip of her own before stating the obvious. "I have a very hard time believing you invited me in for tea if you were just going to shut me down." Tina smiled one of those knowing old woman type of smiles and slowly nodded her head. "I suppose that's true. I'm more concerned with your intentions. These things are not the business of an outsider. Especially one that's not even a citizen of Riverfall."
"Yeah, yeah, Akalak business and all that shyke. I've heard it."
"Then you have to understand I don't quite know why you would bother to ask."
"Because I don't really give a shyke nor do I really understand every little detail of what goes on here. I'm not really restricted by the social codes here and I don't have any interest in blackmail. In Sunberth we called that an advantage." Tina pursed her lips with a tight expression. "Well a lot of what's deemed appropriate and advantageous in Sunberth we call thuggish here."
"You made it very clear there are secrets and scandals some Akalaks find worthy of hiding even from each other." That had Tina sitting back in her chair with folded arms. Kaie searched her, but her gift yielded no animosity coming from the woman no matter how hard she focused.

The flames crackled and embers burst from the nearby fire as Kaie waited a painstaking period of time for Tina to utter so much as a word. The Myrian slouched back in her seat with her cup, drinking the warm tea more like a favored beer than a dainty refreshment. "Fine," the old Konti finally said exasperated, if not a bit begrudgingly. Kaie flashed her teeth, only for her host to raise a single wrinkled finger. "But! If I were to find someone in need of your services, for whatever reason, that becomes your business. I am not your boss. I am not your job bulletin. From now on, arrangements are your responsibility. Meetings, negotiations, everything. How would a client find you?" The mercenary placed the empty tea cup on the plate on the desk and adjusted the cloak around her shoulders. "The Night Tower. Dawn. Tell them to look for the Myrian."
"Akajia's temple?"
"Why not? It's a normal place for an Akalak to be found. It's public but not overcrowded. The priestesses are familiar with me. I wait for ten chimes when I'm finished with my business at the Night Tower. If they don't find me before that's up, they won't find me at all."
"That sounds fair. I wish you luck, Kaie." The old woman poured herself another cup of tea as she watched the foreigner. Capable of taking a hint, Kaie rose from her seat and made her way toward the door.
"Thanks for the tea." And then she was gone.

OOC:Word Counter: 24,318/50,000

[Kaie]

It was some time before the young Myrian found company within the Night Tower. As she knelt in silent reverence within the dark confines of the temple of Akajia, a sense of frustration expressed itself in the tightened knitting of her intertwined fingers. She did not expect an overwhelming client base let alone a sea of desperate, colored men throwing themselves before her to beg for her aid. Honestly, it would've been a small victory had she gotten a single one. Sunberth had never posed such an issue. There was always dirty laundry someone else wanted aired out, someone desperately deserving of a dagger through their heart, or at least a shackled lover hopelessly awaiting freedom. Freelancing was easy in a city with a cold, black heart. There was business to be made there. Preying upon people's fears, their greed, and their love was the most profitable endeavor Kaie had ever ventured in. She'd have been a rotten liar if she swore she didn't miss the deadly thrill the City of Anarchy posed. Yet, after all she'd been through with the Scars, part of her was skeptical if she could ever throw herself back into the antics she'd once secretly enjoyed. Whether it might be Fallon's, Zandelia's, Noven's, or even her own righteous voice of morality that whispered in her ears, nothing would be the same. Now the bloodthirsty, foolhardy Myrian street thug could see the repercussions of the activities she chose to participate in; and that young woman could exist no more.

Kaie restrained the growl that built in the back of her throat. No, she groaned within her thoughts begrudgingly. No one's showing up today. The young woman rose from her knees and ducked out of the temples upon finishing her prayer. Her dark cloak swirled about the ankles of her boots as she approached the opened door. The sharp cold wind that came with a flurry of flakes consumed her being much like it did the other wanderers throughout the city. Visibility was poor, but it was enough that even the illiterate foreigner could make sense of the direction she was moving through Riverfall. It wasn't all too shocking that, if no where else, the Myrian hadn't a single qualm when it came to finding the first tavern that welcomed her eyes. In a few chimes she was pushing open the door to the Blue Bull and settling into a warm corner. Facing the door with her back to the wall, the cautious savage was content to merely exist in the establishment warmed and lit by a crackling fire across the room. A few patrons turned to eye her. Some offered her that familiar, surprised glance that had them trying to inconspicuously nudge their buddy to see what they thought of her. More familiar though was the, to put it lightly, very unwelcoming look. A gentle buzz of discontent reminded her not all took kindly to her race's presence. She swallowed the sensation and focused on curling her frozen fingers until they warmed. At least the bartender had seen enough of her that he didn't care to give her a second glance.

"Would you like a drink?" an employee of the popular establishment piped up, surprisingly friendly, after a few chimes of undisturbed peace. Kaie drummed her fingers upon the wooden table and leaned forward in her chair. She flashed the woman the most polite smile she could muster. A learned habit from Syliras. "Not yet, thanks. I'll let you know," she replied lightly with a passive wave toward the other drinking customers awaiting the staff's tending. The barmaid smiled and nodded her head. "Of course," she chimed a bit too cheerily before turning on her heels and sauntering off to a nearby table of three Akalak of different color. The Myrian shook copper-skinned fingers through her wild, brown hair with a sigh. Winter was passing slower than she had anticipated. With the bay still frozen and the ships paralyzed where they hibernated, she was as hopelessly stranded as a tiger in a pit. If there was so much as a foot's width of land bridge between Riverfall and home, she swore she would've braved Morwen herself to traverse it.

Kaie let her right elbow prop up upon the table and her chin fall upon the palm of her hand. Amber eyes stared idly into the flames confined to the fireplace a short ways away, embers spitting and bursting skyward once more in pupil mirrors. The heat beat across her sun-kissed face, warming her cheeks in a way only Syna could in the summer. For a tick she dared to let her eyes slip closed. That's when the heat shut off, sending those fiery eyes snapping open to spy a great green mass separating her from her artificial sun. "Ten chimes my ass, Myrian," a gruff voice complained lowly before its owner seated itself at her table, permanently fixed between the savage and the fire. Kaie blinked away her reverie and sat up in her seat. "I guess I'm not surprised they didn't teach you how to count in your dirt villages." She set her jaw. Upon the table passive hands curled into tight fists. For a tick's time a corner of her lip twitched in a sarcastic, crooked grin. The fists uncurled to lay palms flat upon the ale-soaked counter. "Must've been too busy teaching disciplined soldiers punctuality," she countered smoothly in a way that caused the green man to sit up a bit more attentively in his chair, murmuring what was surely a string of impressively derogatory slurs in Tukant. "Look, I'm just here for a warm fire and a drink, but if you're here to piss me off you'll have your tavern brawl." There was no denying the thickening of her accent toward the end when she dished out her threatening undertone. "Tina was right. You're a pisser to be sure." She shrugged her narrow shoulders and sat back in her chair with crossed arms. The Akalak sighed and rolled his eyes. "Are you some sort of mercenary or not?" His voice was low and eyes shiftly. Kaie's tongued probed the inside of her cheek while her amber eyes searched his impatient gaze.

"What do you have for me?" The green man hesitated for several ticks. He stared at her for most of it and glanced over his shoulders twice. "For the love of the gods, if you'd rather hire one of your brothers don't waste my time." That had the man creating a resentful line in his lips before he resigned with hunched shoulders. His jaw adjusted in the persistent silence, and just before Kaie was about to either get up or dish out verbal insult, he finally opened his mouth. "Tina said you were professional when handling...sensitive information." Kaie nodded, fighting the impatience blossoming within her center. Get to the point, man, get to the point. He cleared his throat. "Well there's this Nakivak I've been courting. She's...she's just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Long black hair, heart-shaped lips, perfectly wide hips..."
"Did you want me to leave you alone for a minute so you can beat it out of your system?" It was hard for her not to smirk at his appalled expression. Guess we're not used to unlady-like women, are we? He shook his head. "Long story short, I think she's contracted to another man. If she's already claimed, I don't want to waste my time."
"Did you ever consider asking her yourself?"
"I did! Part me of thinks she's lying." Kaie ran a tired hand down her face, exasperated. Lovely. A stalking gig. "Okay then. So you want me to follow her and find out. Easy enough. I just need to know some things about her. The basics at least."
"The basics?"
"Yes, the basics." He stared back at her with an empty expression. Gods, she hoped he was good with that curved blade that hung from his hip because he was thicker than stone. "Name. Residency. Occupation. Does she have a sponsor? Does she have any friends? What does she like to do? Where does she like to go?" His face lit up at that and he nodded furiously, leaning forward to place his large hands upon the table, too. "Her name is Darla. She's an assistant at Moonstone Bath and Massage. Uh, what else...oh! I don't know her sponsor but she hangs out with this one girl constantly. Even when I take her out in the evening or a walk in the park, I swear this little freaky girl is everywhere. Penny the name I think. Can't ever get rid of her. Short with red hair, usually pig-tails. Drives me crazy we're never alone." The Myrian narrowed her eyes curiously at that detail. It was an odd occurrence if Penny wasn't somehow Darla's child by blood or adoption. That youthful nature made her wish to assume Penny could never be her lover, either. "I'm pretty sure she stays at Nia's Boarding House. Whenever I look for her and she's not at the baths, I can find her there to take her out. We've been out and about in the city for a week together but I know little else about her."
"All of that should do. Meet back here in seven days. Same time. If something's going on, I'll find it by then."
"Thank you....?" the man said with an extension of his hand, which the Myrian took to shake "Kaie."
"Kaie. I'm Rynos. What are your terms?"
"You'll pay me ten gold Mizas up front. At the end of the week when I arrive to tell you what I've found, you'll owe me the other fifteen for a total of twenty five for seven days of work. That's the contract."
"Alright then. Just know I will not be swindled, Myrian."
"I'll find your truth, whatever it may be. Just be prepared to pay for it." The man merely nodded his head in agreement before sliding out of his chair. He procured coins from a sack hidden away in his pocket, which his meaty green hands burrowed into to rifle for gold. Soon enough he was counting fifteen gold Mizas before her eyes and placing them before her on the table. The warmth of the fire rushed back upon her, heating her being as her body desired once more with his departure. However, the content Myrian would not have the luxury of remaining. There was a job to do. Before she could fully embark on her quest of dressed up stalking, homework was to be done. She could only hope that it wouldn't get her prematurely caught.

OOC:Word count: 26,103/50,000

[Kaie]

Within a few bells the Myrian mustered the will to remove herself from the tavern to begin her newest endeavor. The fresh Mizas paid up front by Rynos weighed pleasantly within her coin purse stowed cleverly away in an inner cloak pocket. She tugged the cloak tighter about her body, teeth chattering, and lips muttering foul curses beneath her breath (which, by the way, was plainly visible in the wintry air). Her inability to read had her swallowing precious pride and wandering up toward carefully chosen strangers. She'd first walk directly within a bystander's line of sight, be they a street vendor or a loiter, feeling her surroundings with her ability long before considering an approach. When one finally yielded no clear ill will toward her person, the Myrian resigned to wander their way.

"Common?" Kaie tried dumbly through chilled lips at the bundled human leaning upon a street corner. All but his eyes and nose were hidden beneath a thick scarf. The skin surprisingly visible was as brown as his milk chocolate eyes. Mitten-wearing hands shoved up beneath his crossed arms, but he nodded. "Do you know where the Moonstone Bath and Massage is?" Again, another nod. He shuffled his booted feet in the layer of stone swirling about the path. For petch's sake, people! She suppressed a sigh. "Could you...point me in its direction?" The next word was more like pulling a tooth than it should've been. She huffed out a breath of air. "Please?" The man shuffled in place some more, turning his whole body left and right to peer in both directions rather than simply his head. A mitten shot out to the right accompanied by a stampede of muffled gibberish. "What?" The mitten came up to his face this time and tugged the scarf down a bit to reveal chapped lips. He cleared his throat and jutted his chin to the right. "Sorry. I said to keep going down this path a few more blocks. You'll see it. Looks like your average bath house if you've seen one before. It's on the left." The scarf was tugged back up to ward off the wind that followed. Guess it's a good thing I know what a barbarian bath house is. Kaie glanced down the path, squinting her eyes. "Stay warm," was the thank-you she offered before venturing down the way in pursuit of her destination.

The stranger had proven himself to be right. Before long she was entering the impressive establishment that looked as if it had been carved out of one giant gem stone. The Myrian shamelessly rotated about on her heels to take in the wonder of architecture, likewise enjoying the shelter from the cold world beyond the bath house doors. "Can I help you?" a kind voice trilled from behind an ornate gem desk. The dark-haired girl smiled politely at the foreigner, and continued to light a small collection of candles nearby with the one in her hand. Should I take my hood off? Shyke. What if my target sees my face? The gig will be up if she catches a glimpse of me again. She bit her lip with an agonized expression before smoothing her features over. Then she turned on her heel and flashed her teeth at the speaker. "No, I'm sorry. It's wickedly cold out there. Would you mind if I sat out of the way for a few chimes until I can feel my fingers?" Could the employee smell the sketchiness, or would she mistake it for desperation? From what the Myrian could detect, it was apparently neither. The woman's face altered to resemble something more like sympathy before nodding all too enthusiastically. A palpable pity. "Oh, certainly! It's the most bitter winter I've seen in a while here in Riverfall. Take your time, though I have to advise you a hot bath would do the trick."
"Thanks. I'll consider it." Kaie wandered to the darker corner of the bath house lobby and seat herself on a gem bench. Just as out of sight as I can get, but not out of the ordinary. Just another poor, cold woman or waiting customer.

The door swung open to whip flakes of swirling snow into the bath house. Through it emerged a modestly built man with a frosted blonde beard. Amber eyes widened at the sight of him, brows shooting up as he shut the cold out and stomped his boots out on the rug. Kyle? The hunter swaggered over to the counter to place his thick forearms on the surface. The wink he gave the employee almost had the Myrian gagging. "Hey, Tara. You didn't just make those candles you've got lit did you? They smell amazing," Kyle purred in his rugged, Sunberthian accent. He lured poor Tara right in. "Lavender. You really like it?" she chimed up, leaning forward toward the young man whether she was conscious of it or not. "You wouldn't dare imply I was a liar would you?" She giggled at that, rolling her eyes in the face of his charm. Sunberth boys always had a motive for charm. That much Kaie did learn from her stay in the City of Anarchy. No, Kyle, but I would insinuate you're a petching idiot overcompensating for a tiny prick. Could you really blame her for her harsh thoughts? He did almost get her killed antagonizing a grass bear after all. Kaie folded her arms in her anonymity.

"Say, Darla's not back there is she? I was doing some heavy lifting and my muscles are killing me." He rolled his shoulders and winced for effect. Kaie sat up in her seat. He knows Darla? Tara adjusted the placement of a few nearby candles upon the counter and nodded. "She's busy with a client right now. If you'd like to wait I can let her know you've requested her." Kyle drummed his fists upon the counter with that stupid Kyle grin of his, thanking her, and then heading toward the benches with a whistled tune. She felt her jaw tighten. Here we gods damn go... He planted himself practically beside her, leaving only a few generous inches between them. His legs crossed and his arms reached back to lace his fingers together behind his own head. He continued his whistling, top leg shaking though he didn't give a single shyke in the whole world. Alright. This is all whatever. Keep your head low. As soon as Darla shows her face so you know who you're looking for, you can go. Just keep quiet and don't draw attention.

"Myrian!"
I petching hate you, Kyle. One of these days I'm going to kill you and not even have the decency to do it while you're peacefully asleep.
"Not still licking our wounds are we? I thought the Mizas would've fixed that when they fell into your palms." Kaie adjusted her jaw. Her hands curled and then relaxed from tight fists on her lap. Tara looked up from her desk, probably shocked to hear a fearsome race was within her establishment. Kaie turned to face him, shielding her face from Tara's view and forcing a smile. "They did! I'm saving them for a new hunting partner worth actually putting a bow in their hands. You must be exhausted from that heavy lifting though. Lifting your big head every morning from your pillow, I mean." Tara laughed along with Kyle, but the dark glint in her former hunting partner's eye signaled he indeed knew their verbal spar was meant to inflict minor injury. "You must've been very popular in your clan's comedy club. Hilarious, am I right?" Kyle looked to Tara and jerked a thumb in Kaie's direction. She offered only an awkward, tight-lipped smile this time and quickly buried herself back in her busy work.

"You here for sore muscles or hoping the stump between your legs gets a chance to stand up?" Kaie inquired sarcastically in a low tone. Kyle scoffed and mimicked her volume. "A little of both actually. Just waiting for the right time to ask for the latter. Darla seems like a goody-goody though. It's too bad the coloring books around here get to give her a go first."
"Over you? Shyke. I wonder how she sleeps at night."
"Probably doesn't."
"Please. I bet she's already started breeding. With all the 'coloring books' around here I doubt there's much delay."
"Darla? Nah. I had my fun with taken women back home. Shackled pussy is always more trouble than its worth." If they weren't in public she wouldn't have resisted the urge to smack him so hard upside the head he saw Dira.
"No contract then?"
"Nope. Not yet anyways. Not as of the day before." The hunter winked at her and extended his arms along the back of the bench. When his fingers rested on her cloaked shoulder, she was quick to reprimand him with a smack. The blonde man snickered and shook his head.

"Kyle! So good to see you again," a silky feminine voice murmured sweetly from the nearby hallway. Both hunter and mercenary turned their heads to spy the arriving woman, but it was Kaie who quickly turned away to peer only out of the corner of her eye. Long black hair. Heart-shaped lips. Wide hips. Looks like that's-- "Darla! How have you been?" Kyle rose from his spot beside her and greet the masseuse like an old friend with a tender kiss on the cheek. Without further ado, the pair moved back down the hall with Kyle's hand guiding her by the small of her back. He offered his frenemy only a mischievous glance before disappearing into a room where he would certainly continue his less-than-honorable antics. Kaie remained for some time within the warmth of the bath house. Part of her loathed to leave its safety from the cold, but the other hoped to delay her departure until the end of the bell. She compromised by leaving at the half, thanking Tara on the way out and venturing back outside. Her body immediately gave a shiver in the face of the chilly weather, and her feet almost begged to back right into the place from which she had just come from.


OOC:Word Counter: 27,811/50,000

[Kaie]

Standing there like a cold fool in the street, looking this way and that with squinted eyes trying to hide from the wind, Kaie couldn't help but consider the homeless beggars she'd encountered more than once in Sunberth. She frowned. Sunberth had been jolting through her mind quite a bit lately. A world away and one she left behind with a thick enough trail of blood behind her she would never needs breadcrumbs to find her way back. It was a shame no portion of her last visit brought the troubled mind of the Myrian any peace. The cloak was pulled tight to her sides, and if only moving for the sake of moving, she crossed the street to find herself interrupted by another building. Going in again would be weird. I'm not trying to stand here and get Kyle's attention when he gets out either...but I have to wait for Darla. A round of curses were muttered beneath her breath in the face of her own indecisiveness. Alas, the image of a poor Sunberthian wandered back into her head. Amber eyes scanned a pair of heavily bundled and blanketed bodies nearby. They huddled together on the snowy ground leaned against the same building Kaie faced, cross-legged and idle. Kaie trudged their way and seated herself just near enough to possibly be mistaken as part of their group, cross-legged and peering down into the snow that fell before her feet. Her lips twitched in mirth. It reminded her of the time she'd been on a job with Fallon and a vicious crowd of greedy citizens rushed them, broke them up, and sent her injured self into hiding. She was seated now no different than she was then, camouflaging herself in plain view with the suffering souls forgotten by apathetic peers. She could only hope the ruse would hold up just the same.

For half a bell she sat there, retreating into her own head rather than focusing on the shivers that wracked her body now and then. Mind over matter, and all of that. She let her head fall right down and her shoulders slump hopelessly like the two beside her when Kyle burst through the doors of the Moonstone Bath and Massage building. Kaie didn't dare lift her head, but the care free and cheery whistling that resumed as he departed hinted at coin well spent. Roughly twenty chimes after him, the door opened again to reveal a coated Darla. The young Nakivak glanced about the blistering streets with a flip of her hair before heading on her way. The sound of her high boots rung in Kaie's ears. Before the woman disappeared from sight into the thin crowd, the Myrian willed her chilled muscles to bring her body up right. Then it was time to resume that ever-cliche stalking she loathed. Strangely, she realized, it would be the first time she followed a target without malicious intent. The thought was mildly uncomfortable. The experience swiftly reminded her why she preferred sticking to pure mercenary work rather than swaying into jobs that resembled something more like private investigations. She shook her head and resisted the desire of her teeth to chatter. All the while as she navigated the others passing by, the Myrian was sure to keep enough distance from an oblivious Darla that she was being followed.

In a flash Kaie whipped aside the ends of her cloak to make room for her right hand to free her gladius from its sheath. Just before she brought the fearsome weapon out to shine in Syna's dull glow, her eyes settled on the individual who has so violently breezed past her being: orange pigtails. She ground her teeth and released the hilt of her sword. And you must be Penny. The little girl wasted no time settling into Darla's side so close their bodies practically touched. She couldn't have seen more than twelve cycles of seasons by the looks of her. Her limbs were scrawny but her movements were graceful for a girl her age. The only description for the nature the youth had for Darla was possessiveness. The Myrian's brow furrowed, and her pace quickened until she was within ear shot. "He was back again wasn't he? That boy," the high-pitched voice of Penny spoke up with a head turn toward her companion. Darla turned her own head to look down at the girl. Kaie could spy the eye roll even from where she was walking. "Kyle? Of course he was. When he's not asking for me he's 'stopping by to say hello'. Can you believe Tara asked me if we were having some kind of an affair?" Darla asked in her silky tones which were saturated with both disbelief and perhaps insult. The pig-tailed head shook with disapproval. "You should tel him to go away. I could chase him off for you." Darla smiled but shrugged her shoulders. "No need. He always pays me well. Besides, he's too charming. If a little flirting is all I have to do to get us out of Nia's I'll happily do it...even if I have to tease him." Kaie couldn't help but smirk at that. The way Darla spoke reminded her of Ruby's whores. Lingering around the prostitutes after a long night of performing and pleasuring always left Kaie with plenty of interesting, if not hilarious, stories. Somehow she had a feeling not even the masseuse could put a finger to any of them.

"Oh, shoot! I better not have left the keys at the bath house!" Darla groaned as they toed beside the drop down to the next tier on their way to their destination. Penny cocked her head in mild concern as her companion ventured desperately into her pockets. Presumably absorbed in her frantic searching, Darla's leading foot was oblivious to the patch of ice in her path. Before she knew it, she was yelling out as her feet went out from under her, hands flying out with open palms. Kaie thought she spied something metallic in nature soar from her relinquished grip on it flying through the air. Penny rushed to help the laughing Nakivak to her feet. "Wait. Oh damn me to the void!" the masseuse cursed as she turned wildly, searching. "What?" inquired the pig-tailed girl beside her. "The keys! I found them but I think I accidentally tossed them over the side when I fell." The woman frowned and peered over the drop with a sigh. Penny looked below, and after a moment, her face lit up while the Myrian follower lingered as nonchalantly behind as she could. "There! I see them!" The little girl glance behind them, before them, and Kaie was quick to pretend to be acutely focused on some other direction while she scanned. "Penny, do not!" Then, just like that, a swirl of light consumed the pig-tailed little girl. When it faded away, the orange head of a small cat poked out from the head of what Penny had been wearing in a heap on the ground. Kelvic. Well, that explains a bit. The last time she'd seen a Kelvic shift was in the woods with Vanari. To put it simply, the red head back then that the Myrian butted heads with turned out to be a fearsome tiger. Thus, Kaie wasn't too upset to find out the one closely associated with her target was none other than a glorified house pet.

The orange cat that was Penny made no qualms about racing down to the next tier in her nimble form, moving about as gracefully in her descent as when she walked as a human beside Darla. In a tick she was lifting the keys from the snow between her jaws and maneuvering her way back to her companion. The keys were dropped at the masseuse's feet before the feline traced a figure eight through her legs. "Thank you," Darla sighed as she bent down to retrieve the careless little girl's clothes and the keys. The walking resumed and what an odd sight it was, Darla and the possessive cat prancing at her heels. The walk to their destination was short at least. Before long they had arrived at a place Kaie could only assume to be Nia's, venturing inside. Well, now that we know where they live...there's no reason for me to stand out here any long. The Myrian turned on her heels onto to find something that made her smile: a nice, warm tavern. And there's the perfect spot to stake them out.


OOC:Word Count: 29,236/50,000

[Kaie]

With a good shove the Myrian succeeded in combating the wind to make her way into the tavern. Immediately there was a difference in the fire-warmed air. Bliss swarmed the young woman's heart as a hot blaze radiated against her thoroughly chilled flesh with the initial sensation of a burn. Amber eyes blinked about the room. It was not a fancy establishment to be sure. Given the short supply of clientele, she had a feeling it wasn't notorious in any of its forms either. The low key nature of the tavern all but deterred the woman from sticking around. The bartender, albeit with a distrustful expression plain on his face, offered a welcoming nod toward the foreigner upon entry. Out of conditioned politeness picked up long ago in Syliras, the young woman had the decency to give a friendly nod in return. Then she made no haste to wander toward the fire and seat herself near a convenient seat by a window. The seat creaked with the slightest pressure, but once she was seated, the Myrian was content to discover she had both a full field of the room and an easy way to peer out toward the boarding house across the street. She settled herself in and enjoyed the start of her temporary stay in the warm tavern. After all, if she'd heard anything about tailing, a stakeout was something along the lines of sticking around for the long haul. Never was a rumor about a profession so utterly correct.

Twice she found herself falling asleep in the bells that followed. More tavern patrons filtered in along the way. At one point the bartender had a full bar, and the sort was of the rowdy type to liven up the dark place lit only by a collection of scattered candles. Long past Syna's departure she remained in the tavern, staring out the window as if she could conjure something by sheer will alone. Eventually, as expected, the tavern had to close and the Myrian was booted. Part of her considered resuming a sort of homeless, impoverished image seated against the building across from the boarding house as she had done outside the bath house. A few rounds of whipping, wintry wind dissuaded her from the notion, however, and the Myrian quickly resigned to return to her own domicile for the night where she'd be warm beneath her own covers. The importance of building a positive new reputation professionally woke the young woman bright and early. Before Syna had fully graced the horizon, the savage was well on her way out the door heading back to the same musty tavern. A bronze hand tugging upon the door discovered the obvious detail she had overlooked given the time of day. Locked. Thus, the Myrian did what she loathed to do in such cold weather. Wrapping her cloak tightly about her body and tossing her hood up to cast deep shadows over her face, the jungle-born found herself seated against the building like an common bum. The steady stare of her tired amber eyes could've burned a hole through Nia's boarding house if she'd been given a more destructive ability.

Darla eventually exited the establishment with her Kelvic companion in tow. The little orange cat pranced by the masseuse's side, tail swaying proudly in the cold air. Just before they disappeared around the next corner, Kaie roused herself from her cold seat and followed with a healthy distance. As expected, she was led right back to the Bath House and a routine had quickly begun. Each day yielded the same results. Darla would exit Nia's, work her shift, and head home with Penny at her heels. By the fourth day the Myrian had all but given up the gig until the pattern was broken. After her shift at the Bath House, a familiar figure entered the establishment with a rare bouquet of winter flowers. Upon exiting, it was Rynos with Darla on his arm escorting her through the wintry city. Finally something gods damned interesting, the Myrian groaned and made haste to follow them. Rynos led his date to a garden surely for the purpose of wooing the mysterious Nakivak. It was there that Kaie left them and made the short cut to Nia's to wait them out. For the fourth day she sat in the tavern, more sober than she'd like to admit, waiting for the target to return home. Sure enough, after a few bells, Rynos bid her goodbye at Nia's door with a sweet kiss before they parted ways. And another boring end to another one of Darla's boring days. Does this girl even live? Defeated, the young woman sighed and let her head fall into her arms upon the old table. How does anyone do this kid of job, I mean really.

After a chime or two she forced herself to sit up again. With the intention of making one final glance at Darla's resting place for a full night, Kaie was ecstatic to find something else entirely. Peeking her head back out the door was Darla. Her coat was still snugly on her body as she glanced left and right down the street. Then, with the inseparable cat at her heels, Darla left Nia's into the cold dusk streets of Riverfall. Darla, I stand corrected. Once more Kaie ventured after the woman with as low a profile as she could muster. Around and around she followed the woman through the city's various paths, dodging backward glance or turning around all together when Darla's gaze managed to fall upon her. The Myrian tailed the Nakivak far longer than she might've guessed. Before long she had followed the woman as far as the top tier of the city until she paused outside some sort of tavern or inn. Darla's head began to turn to survey the streets again, which sent the Myrian sliding swiftly behind one of the other nearby buildings...with someone slamming in right behind her. The Myrian reached down, cursing, and drew her gladius from its sheath. She turned, jutting the sword up at the chin of the intruder.

"What the petch, Rynos?" she hissed at him, lowering the gladius but punishing the man with a firm shove. He had his big, green hands raised harmlessly for her. "I get nervous, alright!" he whispered back harshly. She rolled her eyes at the man.
"That jealous of the imaginary other guy?" The green Akalak's nostrils flared and he looked away from her, pretending to fix some imperfection on his cloak with a proud tug.
"Whatever. Just go home. You're paying me for a reason."
"And you still have no results!"
"If I knew you were so very worried about speed, I'd just string her up and torture her until I got whatever answer you're expecting. Since I'm assuming you want me to be discreet, this shyke takes time. I told you seven days. It's been four."
"End of the fourth day. Basically the fifth now."
"Is five the same as seven?"
"No, but---"
"My point exactly. Now go home before you petch this up." Rynos sighed and rubbed the back of his head. He hesitated for some time before he poked his head out before venturing back into the night. "Wait. She's out of the Kulkukan Tavern Inn." Kaie's brow furrowed at that. She shoved him out of the way as politely as she was capable so she could peer out for herself. Sure enough Darla was exiting again with Penny. Hugging herself, the masseuse navigated further along the top tier with two unknowingly hot behind her. Outside another building she paused. Knowing the glance around was coming next, both Myrian and Akalak ducked into another alley like fiends. Crouched low and closest to the corner, Kaie gestured for Rynos to hang back behind cover while she played the eyes. At first there was nothing interesting to note. Darla was just standing there in the cold, oddly anxious as she was secretive. Yet then a dark figure slowly crept from the shadows nearby the Nakivak in a mischievous fashion that tempted to Myrian to blow her cover with sword drawn.

Darla turned on her heel and squealed. Rynos practically lunged to reveal himself, but his attempt was thwarted by the strong arm on the Myrian propelling him back. "She screamed!" he hissed furiously at the jungle-born. Kaie merely smirked and shook her head. She raised a finger, gesturing for him to offer her just one more chime to watch the scene unfold. He relented, sitting back with enough anxiety to make her nervous. Peering back out, she found Penny performing a figure eight around the legs of a new set of legs. The newcomer and Darla embraced in the sort of way that made Kaie feel as though she were intruding merely for standing by. With a smirk, she waved Rynos forward.
"Looks like there's another after all." The man practically saw red based on his expression. He looked out, and when he did, his jaw dropped. "Oh..." Kaie couldn't resist herself from snickering at his expense. The Myrian rose and stepped into the street, patting Rynos on the back as Darla and the other woman locked lips before entering the Sapphire Star. It was really a shame how dark it had gotten. She couldn't help but wonder what a blush on a green man's cheeks looked like.


OOC:Word Count:37,289/50,000

[Kaie]

The Myrian clapped her hands together when the door of the Sapphire Star, an apparent club for women the owner of Godiva's often frequented, shut with a sound of finality. The jungle woman turned to Rynos with hands pressed together. "Welp, that looks like this concludes our business together. Mystery solved. I saw your fat sack of coins when we first met, so why don't we just cut to the chase and you pay me right here and now?" Kaie reasoned with the Akalak man, voice light upon the revelation she was officially finished with all the nonsense Darla's sneaking around had put her through. "No," Rynos responded firmly with crossed arms. He turned and made like he was prepared to walk away from the young woman, but Kaie stopped him firmly by turning him back by his shoulders. She laughed vacantly. "What do you mean 'no'?" The green man's dark expression turned darker. "No as in no." Kaie blinked and furrowed her brow with a set jaw. "You hired me for this gig, remember? Coins up front and coins when I was finished. That was our deal."
"Way I see it, I figured the truth out all by myself." Her jaw came slightly unhinged for a tick as he began to part from her. His heavy feet echoed loudly in the night. Are you petching with me? The Myrian stormed after him, catching up in a few long steps. She shoved him firmly from behind. Rynos turned to find an angry finger jabbed toward his face. "I sat in the cold. I stayed up for hours, all while watching your girl. I put in the bells and you're going to pay for them just like we agreed."
"Like the void I am!" Rynos shoved her back, causing Kaie to take a few steps backward to ensure she didn't lose her balance. Then, with a less than gentlemanly look, Rynos turned from the mercenary and began to swagger down the street.

With a yell Kaie plowed into the man, sending the hulking green Akalak into the snowy street with a Myrian attached to his back. Bronze hands shoved the man's face firmly into the cold snow as she crouched over him. "Fifteen Mizas, you son of a bitch!" Rynos used sheer strength to push himself up before slugging his elbow back at her. The firm desire to move from her spot seized her as he rotated at the waist. Kaie used both hands to shoved herself backwards off the man, removing herself from the range of his thrown elbow at the same time. Rynos quickly found his feet and turned to square to her. A dark green hand wiped the snow that lingered on his cheeks. "You're going to pay for that."
"You're damn right someone's going to pay."

The man rushed at her with his right hand cocking back in a way that clearly conveyed to the skilled jungle fighter he meant to strike. The desire to merely move from his way was gripping, but just as her fellow Myrian in Riverfall had mentored her, the warrior heart an her gift instead joined to work together. She lunged into him. The outside of her right arm slammed into the side of the man's throat, at the same time the outside of her left arm brought his hay-maker to a halt just before his wrist. The fingers of her left hand curled around his forearm and secured it down against her hip, while her right hand moved to grip his right shoulder as she transitioned to deliver two knees into his torso. Then, her left foot stepped forward while the right reaped him right leg from behind. Within a chime since he came at her Rynos was grounded onto his back with wide eyes. The Myrian stood tall with a strong grip still on his right hand. She positioned it so her right knee was rested just below the elbow of the Akalak's raised arm. Amber eyes glared down at the man. At first the green male made an attempt to tug his arm back and find his feet. His plan was quickly laid to rest when the Myrian pulled his arm toward her and placed her knee firmly just below his elbow. "You so much as make a face I don't like, and you're going to have to learn to play with yourself with your left hand." Rynos grit his teeth and stared up at her defiantly. If she were to guess, she would've figured he was weighing the costs and benefits to having his arm and pride broken all in one snap. With a bitter expression he raised his left hand in defeat while avoiding her gaze. "Fifteen Mizas. Count them. Now."

"You're a right pisser, Myrian. A real bitch," he growled as his left hand worked through his cloak to reveal his coin sack. Kaie arched a brow at him. "Good. Be a doll and spread that around, would ya?" He cursed but continued her demands nonetheless. One by one, she watched gold Mizas exit his possession onto the snow. He counted them in Common out loud and placed them beside his right shoulder as instructed. Only when one through fifteen were all accounted for did the Myrian send a kick firmly down into his solar plexus to keep him docile. Then she quickly gathered the Mizas from the snow and began to head on her way. "Well that was fun. Tell your friends," Kaie called over her shoulder before she left the man in the street to his own devices. Her last and final stop would be to the warmth of her own bed, far from Darla, Penny, and Rynos. No more running around waiting for something to happen relevant to her case. No squatting at corners to shiver like a fool in the cold. No more sitting for bells on end in smelly taverns clearly neglected for a reason by the public. No more thrill lacking jobs a street urchin in Sunberth could've been easily qualified for. And thus went the story of how she firmly decided at the end of that day that stalking was certainly not the job she was cut out for.



OOC:Word Count:38,326/50,000

[Konrad Venger]

Nice job! Your work has pleased The Sloth! Kaie XP: Rhetoric - 2 Logic - 1 Intelligence - 3 Negotiation - 1 Investigation - 2 Unarmed Combat - 1 Intimidation - 1 Lore: Rhetoric: The Right Answer Logic: Then Why Invite Me In? Intelligence: Cultivating a Contact Sunberth: City of Anarchy (and Prosperity) Rynos: First Client! Kyle: Like a Bad Penny Intelligence: Urban Camouflage Intelligence: Following a Target Unarmed Combat: Beaten But Not Dead Additional: +25gm Click Me! : "Coloring books"! Best Akalak metaphor EVER! Kaie, this really was a FANTASTIC story. Definitely one of the best I've read in the Riverfall grading thread. You were gradual and careful, building up the scenes, the story, the whole setting and characters beautifully. Your dialogue was great (still no romance for poor Kyle...) and that twist... dude, my JAW actually DROPPED when I read it. Poor Rynos... well, not really, because he was a prick, but anywho! Now Kaie knows her life and talents lie somewhere more simplified! Oh, and please make sure you go back and edit your post in the Request Thread to reflect the fact this one is now done and dusted. PM me with any questions and later 'tater!