Closed [Adelaide] A Man of My Word

[Nickolai Marin]

Summer 31, 514 AV

Although the hour was well after high noon, the young prowler's mind was still fresh with the events of the previous evening. Indeed, Nickolai's promise to his beloved Cecilia was made with the purest intentions, but it also left the man with quite the internal conflict. As he had shared with her before, all that he knew how to do was steal. What's more, he had all but devoted the whole of his daily life to the utilization of these skills in order to make the wealthy squirm. Despite this fact, the young larcenist was torn in terms of what to do. Would he hold true to the promise and attempt to give up stealing? Or would he simply work around his words and leave Cecilia in the bliss of ignorance? Whilst pondering this particular dilemma, Nickolai decided that it was best to begin the first day of his promise with the seeking of "proper" employment. To this end, he had initially ventured to the Traveler's Complex and asked around...

...And found out that a rare opportunity was being offered by one Adelaide Sitai.

The occupation in question was something that Nickolai was very familiar with, but had never personally ventured into: being a courier. However, over the years he had watched Cecilia demonstrate her talents of navigation in order to ferry messages and parcels to and fro. In all honesty, Nickolai did not think that being a Courier would be too difficult of an occupation to pursue; especially if his employer was a single individual and not a general establishment. Plus, as his beloved had said the night before, the young larcenist was smart; and as such he felt confident that he could earn this job with minimal issue. To this end, Nickolai braved the intense heat of the afternoon in order to trek upon the Kabrin Road. As he strode calmly along, he was greeted with the sights and sounds of the various Plantations...and felt his blood boil at the sight.

Slaves. More than he had ever seen in all his life.

They toiled endlessly in the heat of the day, overseen by menacing individuals bearing whips in hand. Some worked in relative silence whilst others sang deep tunes that, quite frankly, penetrated Nickolai to the core. They sang about strength and overcoming. They sang about the simple joys that were theirs to claim. They sang about family and their gods. Now, while the young larcenist was not exactly a fan of the divine, it amazed him how these who lacked the basic freedoms he enjoyed were so...capable of enduring through the small things. This fact reminded him of the days of struggle he had known whilst but a child in Zeltiva, leaving him significantly touched.

By the time that Nickolai had completed his "leisurely" stroll down the path, he had taken to humming one of the tunes of the slaves. Part of him wanted to join in the songs...but he knew he'd probably butcher the words and draw undue attention to himself. As such, he continued along the beaten path until he came upon the particular Plantation that held the opportunity that he sought. Of course, he was not going to simply waltz into the wealthy property; and was stopped at the gates as expected. A duo of guardsmen were there to inquire of his business at the Sitai Plantation, to which Nickolai responded truthfully. Fortunately, the blokes were already informed of the employment opportunity and were instructed beforehand to escort potential applicants onto the grounds. Following in their wake, Nickolai took a few curious glances about the grounds and afforded warm smiles or respectful nods to those he passed. Ultimately, the escort came to a conclusion before the steps of the estate, where one of the guardsmen informed him that he was free to proceed. Apparently, whomever he sought was located on the porch.

Drawing a calming breath, the young prowler strode confidently forward and ascended the stairs. Upon reaching the top, he came to a halt and placed his dominant hand flat upon his chest. Lowering himself into a half-bow, Nickolai then introduced himself. "Good afternoon," he began, "my name is Nickolai Marin. I came to inquire about the employment opportunity that is currently being offered; that of a personal courier?"
.

[Adelaide Sitai]

31st Summer 514AV

Adelaide had a headache. Not the quick shoots of pain that momentarily crippled her every now and again, but a throbbing irritation that had been growing in strength since breakfast that morning, where her grandmother, as per usual, had made another comment about the lack of whisky available to drink with her tea. Once again, Adelaide had made the mental note of providing some next time, knowing full well that she had more important things to do. It was part of the reason why she had decided that she needed a personal messenger and requested that her Uncle pay for one, who might take messages for her when she was doing her work on behalf of the Sitai family. Whether delivering invitations to guests for dinner parties, Soirées and Balls, sending personal communiqués, or order forms to merchants, asking for goods and the use of their services, it would allow everything to be done with greater efficiency. It would also give her a means of keeping tabs on what certain members of the Sitai family were doing, notably Aria, and whether business loans were being efficiently paid back. For this, she needed someone trustworthy and honest.

The job description had been put up the day before and, as Adelaide sat in her room still wearing her dressing gown, for she had not changed since breakfast, and going over the plantation finances, she had no notion that she might receive a reply so soon. What she was doing on the porch could be explained away easily enough... her headache had got worst and she had assumed, not wrongly, that the not so fresh air of Kenash would do her good. She had made her way down almost as soon as she had thought of it, after realising that opening a window just would not cut it, not even bothering to slip on her shoes. After all, the slaves were quite accustomed to seeing her wander around the house barefoot, her Uncle had gone to the Magistrates Office for the day and everyone else was either occupied in their rooms or going into the city. Not that they would care if they sort her in her state of mild undress, anyway.

Standing at the porch and looking out to the fields, her head was already clearing and she could focus a little more on what was going on around her. Her gaze settled on the sight of a slave in the distance, a dark shadow against the bright light and warmth of the sun. She sighed slightly, exhaling slowly and pulling her dark dressing gown tighter around her. She tucked a lock of faded hair behind her ear and sighed, realising that part of the reason for her headache must have been due to the anniversary that would invariably come the next day, or the day after. For some reason, Adelaide could not recall whether it was the 31st or the 32nd. She had, after all, always had trouble remembering what day of the Season it was. In a way, she envied those who didn't have to know, who didn't have to worry about dates.

At the sound of man's voice, she gave a start. She had been so focused on what was going on in the fields, watching with a certain affected disinterest but admiration for the bodies glistening with sweat, that she hadn't noticed the man arrive and bow.

"What?" it took a moment for her to register what he had said, her initial notion was to ask him what he was doing there even as she realised he had already said, "Ah yes. Mr Marin? Yes. The courier job... if you'll follow me."

She retreated back into the house and indicated that he should follow her.

"Forgive my attire - I had not expected such a quick reply. Or to really see anyone today. Uh..." she crossed a large hallway with walls covered in mirrors and opened a door to the right which led the way into a room with high walls painted a coffee brown with an ornate white ceiling covered in pretty friezes, the whole room complimented by white pillars, "This is the drawing room."

She sat down at an armchair, only just managing to stop herself from sinking child-like into it and instead tucking her legs behind its foot, carved like the paw of a lion, smiling at Nickolai.

"Can you tell me a little more of yourself? As in, previous experience in this sort of line of work and why you think this particularly job would suit you." she bit her lip lightly, trying to think of other questions and wishing she'd prepared some in advance, "Sorry, what did you say your name was?"

He would probably assume that she did not care enough to have paid attention to what he said and that made her flush so lightly that it was doubtful that anyone would notice in the semi-darkness of the room. Still, such inattention was embarrassing and unconducive to her doing her job properly.

"I'll just open the window to let in some air. And some light." she stood back up again and walked over to the window, doing just that, "And where did you say you were from?"

[Nickolai Marin]

To say the very least, the slight reaction afforded to his presence was not at all what the young larcenist had anticipated. The surprise which washed over the Sitai was synonymous with being shaken out of a daze: as if she had simply descended from her home in order to simply enjoy the sights of the day. Nickolai could, of course, relate with this particular activity; for he had indulged in it countless times during his childhood. For hours, he would sit at the docks of Zeltiva and stare out into the open seas; reveling in the taste of salt which came from the seabreeze as it blew inland. Of course, he did not partake in this act in the attire that his potential employer sported, but these were the apparent comforts of life within the famed Dynasties.

At once, Nickolai stood straight and tall whilst folding his hands behind his back. This was a prelude to the light smile which formed upon his lips in response to his potential employer's state. Although it was slightly amusing, Nickolai was not stupid enough to laugh aloud nor draw any undue attention to himself; and as such adopted a smile so benign that it could be considered polite. "Gladly." he remarked simply as the Sitai rose from her seat and motioned for him to follow. Long, confident strides then bore the young prowler over the threshold and into the so-called Drawing Room...which was impressive to say the least. Breaking his stance for a moment, Nickolai reached up and lowered the hood which slightly obscured his features; before once again folding his hands behind his back.

"There is no need to apologize m'lady," he added, speaking in the tell-tale accent of Zeltiva, "and might I add, your home is absolutely lovely." Sure, Nickolai felt as though he may have been laying it on a touch thick, but he would much rather come off as well-spoken and tactful than as a member of the common rabble. Upon taking her seat, Nickolai stepped a few paces closer before coming to a prompt halt. He then responded to her smile with the brightening of his own. Now, when she had made her request to know more about him and his reasons for seeking the position, an amusing thought slid into Nickolai's mind. He couldn't exactly divulge that he was a thief from Zeltiva...but the look on her face would have been quite the sight to see.

Instead, he told a flat-out lie, but uttered it as if it was the honest truth.

"Yes, of course m'lady." he began. "For just over a decade, I worked as a Courier in Zeltiva. I would ferry letters, parcels, and verbal messages to and fro; from the University to the Docks and everywhere in-between. I feel as though this particular occupation would suit me as it has been my sole occupation for the totality of my adult life." As the words escaped his lips, Adelaide rose from her seat and crossed the room in order to let in light and fresh air. This action was met with a silent nod, whilst he repeated his name and birthplace. "Marin. Nickolai Marin of Zeltiva." Once he had concluded speaking, he simply resumed the light smile upon his lips and awaited additional questions.
.

[Adelaide Sitai]

"Of Zeltiva?" Adelaide smiled, raising her eyebrows slightly, "Yes... I know Zeltiva. I know it very well."

He certainly sounded very qualified for the job and Adelaide could not help wondering why he had applied to her rather than for a job where he would be able to use his qualifications properly. After all, except when delivering invitations to a party, she maybe needed the use of a messenger three or four times a day. She had even been considering hiring one part time. Now, though she realised he would be of further use if he was accustomed to delivering parcels too.

"A decade - that's quite a while." she murmured, wondering how old he was. No older than thirty, she assumed, but maybe younger than he looked - twenty? Twenty-one? Either way, a decade was plausible and there was no need to question it. A thought struck her, "Are you literate? Can you ride?" then, with a little smile, "And would you be willing to help other members of this Household when needed?"

She was having a hard time coming up with questions to ask this seasoned expert so decided to move on with seeing how well he could do with delivering a note for her. Right then and there. She had been about to try and find someone to deliver a note to Aria about her spending and realised that this man would be as good as any. Not to mentioned that he looked tough enough not to be easily impressed by her half sister if she turned nasty at hearing the news that she was judged to be spending too much of the family's money on unnecessary things. Adelaide stood up and made her way to the door with a small smile.

"Alright. I won't waste your time or mine with useless chatter. I have a note that must be delivered to my sister, or rather half-sister, today. I'd like to see how you manage with it. I've left it at my desk so if you would like to accompany me."

Not waiting for a reply or to see if he was following, she swept out of the drawing room and into the corridor. After climbing a flight of stairs onto the first floor, she wormed her way down another corridor and opened the door to her room. On her desk was the note, where she had left it earlier. She sat down wordlessly and added a post scriptum to the end asking Aria to drop by at her earliest convenience, before closing it over and sealing it. It took her a moment to light her little wax candle but, once done, it took no time at all for her to imprint the Sitai seal and let it dry. Holding the piece of paper in her left hand, she stood back up and faced Nickolai with a small smile.

"I hope you can prove yourself as good as you claim to be." she laughed and held out the note to him, "This is to be delivered to Aria Sitai who has a room at the Heir Apartments on the East Bank."

Adelaide paused for a moment as she tried to think as to whether she had any more instructions for him or questions to ask him, but she supposed that this was enough.

"Ask her if she has a prompt answer and, if she does, wait for it before returning. Otherwise, return as soon as possible. Good Luck and don't let her intimidate you." then, as an afterthought, Adelaide added, "Of course, she probably won't. You're an expert at this after all."

Naturally, this would not test how good a memory he had for verbal messages but it would test his speed and his reliability, not to mention that Aria might probably reply with a verbal message. It was good, in a way, that the letter was being delivered to Aria of all people for, if the seal were broken by anyone but a master, she was the type able to notice immediately. It was, after all, part of what she did. All in all, things seemed to have come together and quite well.

"Do you have any questions? Naturally, we can finalise questions of salary and whatever else when you return."

[Nickolai Marin]

It came as no surprise that the woman born into the lap of luxury would be well-versed in the land known for education. After all, Nickolai had lost count of how many foreign vessels had sailed into port bearing wealthy heirs and heiresses, each bound for the University. Of course, the young larcenist was smart enough not to allow the true...distaste...of his current train of thought to slip out. Instead, he clung fast to proper etiquette and worded his response accordingly. "Ah, I see...It is both a surprise and a warmth to my heart to meet one who knows the splendor of Zeltiva; despite being so far away." he said, gently shifting the weight of his body to his right leg as to rest the left. Having spent literal bells walking down the Kabrin Road, his feet were rather annoyed with him at the moment...

As he made the subtle transition of weight, he strained to hear the words that the Sitai then muttered. However, due to the lowness of her tone, he could only catch onto a single utterance: decade. Of course, without the proper context, the young larcenist could not possibly hope to piece together what she had said; but in response choice to nod along ever so slightly. Nickolai dared not ask for a repetition of her statement, for in his mind that would warrant a black mark upon his first impression. After all, many did not see their mutterings as actual mutterings...and instead blamed the failure of others to hear them upon a lack of paying attention. As opposed to risking this particular conclusion, the young larcenist held his tongue and awaited the next inquiry.

And just as expected, there were a few.

The first was a question that caused the young larcenist to think for a moment. Having attended the University, albeit for an exceptionally brief span of time, Nickolai did learn the absolute basics of reading and writing. However, his rudimentary education focused more upon rhetoric and tactful utterances; as opposed to the penning of letters and prose. Yet, despite the limit of his abilities in this particular area, the young larcenist thought himself safe to speak the truth...albeit, the bare minimum. In contrast, the duo of inquiries which followed the first were elementary to answer; and once more Nickolai did not feel the need to lie. For a split second, he felt as though this might be a sign of Cecilia being right...but then quickly returned his mind to the task at hand.

"Yes m'lady, I am literate. It is one of the other skills that I gleaned from my time in Zeltiva. However, I was unfortunate enough to not learn how to ride a horse." he began, this time shifting his weight from his right leg to his left. With the utmost subtlety, he made the transition whilst continuing. [color=#21a6a1]"And I would be more than happy to assist other members of your Household as required. In fact, it would be my pleasure." Sure, this may have been a touch excessive, but the young larcenist was adamant that making an excellent first impression was vital. Upon concluding his words, his potential employer then sought to test his skills. Now, while there was nothing wrong with the nature of the test, the words that the Sitai spoke made Nickolai's blood hot.

It was the simple, yet obvious, act of pointing out the degree of relation. Growing up in such a close-knit environment, where survival was an uncertainty, the young larcenist came to see family as family. Whether his siblings shared the same parents or otherwise, they were still his brothers and sisters; and he would be damned if he pointed out such petty qualifications. However, Kenash was a stark contrast to the "values" that Nickolai prided himself upon possessing. Here, the purity of blood was more important than heaps of gold. This fact was blatantly obvious in the system which dictated the realm's existence; and by the very conversation taking place between the thief and the Sitai. However, Nickolai kept himself in check and maintained the calm, yet warm expression plastered upon his face.

Saying nothing, the young larcenist simply extended his palm and lowered his head; denoting that he would follow whilst she lead. Upon stepping off, Nickolai began to follow after, but also took the time to make a few mental notes. Sure, he had promised that he would stop stealing, but old habits died very hard...and rarely broke over the course of an eveninng. His eyes slid back and forth, noting the number of doors and the route that the Sitai led him through the house. He noted the sum of visible windows in addition to the estimated sum of individuals present on both the base and first floors. Then, following the ascent of stairs, the young larcenist came to a halt just within the doorway of the room the Sitai entered. At this point, he folded his hands behind his back once more and stood tall.

With a laugh, the Sitai procured the aforementioned letter and filled him in on the final details. In turn, Nickolai offered a light chuckle before reaching out and taking the letter in hand. He then opened his coat and stowed the precious message within its pocket before resuming his formal stance once more. "I will not disappoint m'lady." he began, lowering his head respectfully. Upon rising, he then repeated the instructions in an abridged manner. "Lady Aria Sitai, Heir Apartments on the East Bank. Inquire about a prompt reply and if it is so, await it. If not, return immediately...I've got it memorized." There was a brief pause in his diction before he added: "And no, I have no questions. I estimate that it will take approximately...four bells to accomplish. I shall be as swift as possible."

* * *

With that said, he rendered unto his newfound employer a polite bow in order to excuse himself and turned on his heel. Rising, he relied upon his observations in order to show himself out of the Estate and back onto the main road of the plantation. Despite the heat, Nickolai maintained a relatively brisk pace along the way and eventually arrived upon the Kabrin Road. Continuing onward, despite the protests of his feet, the young larcenist devoured two of the estimated four bells during his trek. Now, as the young larcenist was a resident of the Terraces, he knew the East Bank relatively well. While this knowledge was not as instinctual as his knowledge of Zeltiva's alleyways, he did know his way around to the Heir Apartments.

Wasting no time, he made his way to the complex in question and entered into the main building. There, he produced the letter (as a means of verifying what he then said) and inquired as to the residence of the Sitai in question. Upon witnessing the Sitai seal upon the letter, the individual "happily" pointed him the direction of her residence and Nickolai set off immediately. It took the ascension of a flight of stairs in order to reach the apartment, but upon arrival Nickolai took a moment to mop the sweat from his brow, run a hand through his hair, and clear his throat before politely knocking upon the door. "Excuse me! I'm looking for a Lady Aria Sitai! I bear a message from your sister, Lady Adelaide Sitai!" he called.
.

[Adelaide Sitai]

While Adelaide regained her bedroom, endeavouring to put some proper clothes on and start editing a piece of writing she had done the day before, on the other side of town, her half-sister - Aria - had just returned from a manhunt and was getting ready to snatch a few bells sleep before waking up again to pay her twin, Flavia, a visit. Pulling on a loose fitting salmon-coloured dressing gown made of silk and pouring herself a glass of Rum to take with her small dose of blue quill, she was irritated to hear the knocking at her door. There were many good things about having been asked to leave the Bloodflower Plantation to fend for herself and, high on that list, not being disturbed was one of them. An heir apartment in a secluded community of people she despised but likewise respected and considered wonderfully predictable had thus seemed the way forward.

She opened the door a fraction with a cloying smile, eyebrows raised as she looked through the gap. When she spoke, her voice was light and lilting, but had a dangerous quality to it, "If you're looking for the sister of Adelaide Sitai, then you have come to the wrong place." she opened the door completely and stood in front of the intruder, hands on hips, very close to exposing herself at any chime in her loose-hanging gown, "If however, you're looking for her half-sister then you've obviously done something right for once in your life. You may come in."

With that, the young woman stepped to the side to let the man in, her lips pursed slightly but her eyes bright with something darker than mischief, "Adelaide is not my sister. You may think it does not make much difference since we share the same father but, if you knew our history, you would not question why we set ourselves apart. That is not to say that I don't like her, and I don't believe that, in practice, she dislikes me... unless she's told you differently." the last was said with a note of glee that the younger Sitai sister knew to be unsettling. That was, after all, it's purpose. Her smile unchanging, she then closed the front door again and it shut with a satisfying click.

Yes. She and Adelaide were entirely different yet strangely similar. Closely related after all, they spoke the same language but used it differently. In their childhood, the younger child had had a reluctant respect for the older Sitai and those early beginnings had allowed Adelaide a portion of Aria's esteem for far longer than anyone else... both intelligent and both slightly manic, they had forged a very twisted relationship where, in spite of their many differences and in spite of strong hatred they held for certain aspects of each other's character, they had remained on speaking terms through thick and thin and it was not unknown to see them sharing a joke or a wary conversation. Without a word more, Aria snatched the sealed note from the messenger's hands with a little sneer, "Let's see what she has come to bother me with now. How much do you bet she'll be complaining about how much I spend again?" At that, she ripped off the seal (which she judged messy at any rate - it was just like Adelaide to do something in haste) and opened the short letter with a click of her tongue, "You were too slow for our bet I'm afraid, and I would have won at any rate. Money, family and more money. Ha! And obviously an added line at the end telling me how disappointed she was that I wouldn't help her with that recent family issue."

Aria shook her head in feigned sadness but her eyes narrowed slightly and settled on the messenger in front of her, "Did you want to stay for a while?" her voice had very suddenly gone quite sweet and, as per usual, was completely ambiguous. Whether she was sincere or not, hardly anyone was ever able to tell and, indeed, she often had trouble telling herself, "No... I don't think you did. You have to work - get back to the Bloodflower Plantation while you still have a job. Tell me, how is the old place nowadays? Dervain still ruffling his feathers and revelling in his own self-importance?"

Her last words were especially bitter as Aria sat down on a plush red recliner with golden tassels. The whole room had that same colour scheme, something Adelaide would have judged ostentatious and distasteful, but which Aria liked. The walls were panelled with a dark brown, almost black, wood, and the floor was covered in thick red carpeting. The room was cluttered with furniture, covered in dark green, red or black leather, often with plush golden cushions, but was otherwise completely tidy - there was nothing on the floor and everything remained in its proper place, as it always did. Aria was an organised force which could not bear mess. At least, not in a living room.

[Nickolai Marin]

Nickolai just couldn't understand it.

In his experience, those who one shared blood with were considered family. They were not subject to labels or degrees of kinship, such as "half sibling", but were simply family. However, the Dynasties of Kenash seemed to place an emphasis on the purity of one's bloodline; or at least it seemed. Judging from the introduction, Nickolai could only assume that Aria Sitai had fallen victim this this practice, for her words clearly made a distinction between a full sister and a half sister. Of course, the young larcenist knew better than to voice his opinion or his confusion at these matters. Instead, he simply regarded the woman with a respectful nod and did his absolute best to politely avert his eyes; for her dressing gown was only a sliver away from revealing.

"Thank you," he began, "my name is Nickolai Marin." The young larcenist was barely able to complete his own introduction before the half-Sitai began speaking again. This time, she elaborated and justified her making an emphasis on the difference in blood whilst stepping aside. Refraining from comment, Nickolai took two strides and entered the half-Sitai's residence; coming to a halt only a pace inside. Whilst she was still speaking, he took a moment to take in the decor, for it was not everyday that one was able to see the apartment of a Dynast. Much to his surprise, the aesthetic was very...red. Now, being that he was a typical male, he did not read into the hue selection as some sort of statement; but instead simply said: [color=#21a6a1]"You have quite the lovely home."

When the door slid shut and the half-Sitai stepped forward, she did something that shattered all of Nickolai's expectations. Without so much as a word, she snatched the letter out of his grasp and tore open the seal. Being that the Dynasties were ridiculously wealthy, the young larcenist had expected that they would also be educated in manners and common courtesy. However, the fact that Aria snatched the letter away meant one of two things; with neither being good. Either the Dynasties were not as tactful as he thought or she looked down upon him so much that she deemed him unworthy of the most basic of courties. For Nickolai, the latter was that which garnered the most response; for he literally grew up loathing the wealthy for this reason alongside a few others.

However, whilst Aria set about reading her letter, Nickolai held his peace. Instead of speaking his mind or wearing his thoughts on his sleeve, he simply folded his hands behind his back and awaited the conclusion of her reading. When this happened, the half-Sitai surprised him yet again by her initial inquiry. The young larcenist's immediate thought was to, respectfully, state that he did not want to stay; but Aria answered her own question before he could even part his lips. A moment later, she did pose a question that she allowed him to answer. "In all honesty m'lady, I am woefully ignorant of the affairs of the Plantation. I was only just hired this morning and have not become acquainted with the goings on as of yet." he began with a half-smile, "However, Lady Adelaide requested of me to inquire if you had a prompt response to make to this letter. If this is not the case, then it has been requested of me to return to the Plantation at once."

With that said, the young larcenist awaited a response...and sincerely hoped that she did not have a desire to write a reply.
.

[Adelaide Sitai]

Aria smiled slightly as he mentioned her having a lovely home. Of course she did - that was how she had intended it to be... and she always got what she wanted, even if she could not care less what the man thought. It wasn't so much pride in her home that forced her smile, but rather pride in how well she had been able to manage her independent life.

"Only just hired this morning?" the young woman pursed her lips together and smiled sweetly, before saying with a laugh, "I'm not surprised since, after all, it looks like it's your first time doing such work!"

Aria did not wish to comment any further. She had better things to do than waste time with the novice messenger and, really, if Adelaide wanted to hire people so far from the top of their game, that was her concern, not her half-sister's. Instead, Aria turned away and walked over to a golden-coloured desk with a black marble top and very intricately carved legs, a grandiose monstrosity in the corner of the room. She sat down on chair with a plush, red cushion and took out a quill. For a couple of chimes, she just stared at the piece of parchment in front of her and tapped her quill impatiently against her cheek before re-reading the letter again and finally standing up.

When she turned around to face Nickolai, she had a slightly dangerous expression on her face. Her voice, when she spoke, was very cold and had an almost crazed ring to it, "You tell my dear half-sister Adelaide that if she has anything to ask me, she can come here herself. Otherwise, I'm liable to shoot the messenger," there was a pause before she continued, "Tell her that I'm petching tired of her bugging me about the fact that I overspend and about family loyalties. After all, I earn my fair share of money and my loyalties are a lot more straight-forward than hers... if she wants to play the mature adult, fine. Just don't expect me to believe that pose of sensibility. She's just as reckless and frivolous as anyone else I know and she certainly is one to talk about spending money! Finally, tell her that if she and my Uncle were so keen for me to get involved in family affairs then my Uncle should not have told me that there wasn't a place for me on the Bloodflower Estate in the first place." the young Sitai raised her eyebrows and finished, mockingly, "Do you think you can manage all that?"

Of course he wouldn't say it all - Aria could tell. The man in front of her was a born liar if ever she'd seen one and she'd made a lifetime's habit of seeing straight through the lies of others. With a cluck of her tongue, she crossed to the door to the apartment and opened it wide ajar, so that the unwelcome guest could leave.

"Good bye Nickolai Marin." her voice sneered, as she turned to face him and indicated the open door, "It was a... pleasure to meet you. Do come again."

[Orin Fenix]

Grades are Served

 

Adelaide Sitai

]

Skill	XP
Planning	1
Endurance	1
Politics	1
Subterfuge	1
Observation	2
Socialization	2
Interrogation	1
Negotiation	1
Leadership	1

Lores

• Nickolai Marin: New Courier
• Couriers for Society and Spying
• Nickolai Marin: Hails from Zeltiva
• Nickolai Marin: Highly Overqualified

Extras :

It was so great to see you writing for another character. Keep up the good work!

 

Nickolai Marin

Nickolai, if you ever return to Mizahar PM me and I'll happily award you your grades.

Don't forget to edit or delete your grade request in the grade request thread.

If you have any questions or concerns about your grade please feel free to send me a message.