Closed Stealthy Like A Shadow In The Dark?

[Brandon Blackwing]

x

Day 7 of Fall 515 AV

The walk to Shinyama was long, two peaks in between the location of the Obsidian Club and the Cosmos Center made for quite the lengthy stroll. Time that Brandon would have spent alone with his thoughts, pondering about Sal and his death. How did he die? Did he pass away quickly? Painlessly? How did he feel when he felt Dira’s hand on his shoulder? Was he frightened? Did he beg for his life? Did he just accept it with a smile? All of them were things Bran would like to know, and at the same time would rather like to be kept in the dark about.

Fortunately for him, he’d not been left to retreat into the recesses of his mind. Someone had been following him as soon as he’d left the Cosmos Center, he had noticed it right away. Perhaps it was because he felt watched, his sense of awareness chiming in and informing him of possible danger that he’d been paying attention. Or maybe it was just a result of him feeling a little vulnerable at the time. Either way, he took notice of a certain rhythm of footsteps following him, a safe distance away –not too close, but not too far either- so they could follow him undetected while not losing sight of him.

A commendable tactic, but a futile one to use on someone like Brandon. Perhaps if they’d been a little more trained, had a little more practice, then he might not have been aware from the start. Brandon had done his best to maintain the pace, so the footsteps wouldn’t lose or change their rhythm either. They were difficult to detect within the crowd, yes, but not in the small alleys where not much people passed by, and there certainly wasn’t a sea of people present. Sure, Brandon would have been able to lose his shadow within a chime if he desired so, and even faster if he would have chosen to do so in the crowd, but that was not how he worked. Apart from the feeling of a possible threat, being tailed also brought up a sense of curiosity, and thus the Kelvic usually chose to confront them instead of shaking them off.

Well, if he –after identifying them- hadn’t decided it would be too risky, that is. Through the many alleys the bat had lead his shadow, a detour that was not actually faster than using the crowded main streets, but a whole lot more pleasant to use. With the wind blowing from the east, the person following him could remain undetected for a long while, however, in the alleys leading west –however brief those moments might have been- the air flowed from behind, carrying with it the scent of his follower. One of the first things he could make out from those brief whiffs of scent he caught, was that his shadow was a she, a female. Another was that he’d smelled her scent before.

When they reached the bridge to Zintia though, and the peaks all lead west, he was exposed to the scent for a longer amount of time, and he could easily link the scent to a face; the redhead from before. Brandon didn’t know for sure what business she had with him, but guessed it had something to do with her being pissed for what he’d said about herself, her culture, or her endal. Either way, he wasn’t worried, instead he decided he’d continue playing along, leading her to wherever he decided to go. Maybe the Obsidian, perhaps someplace else. It didn’t really matter.

Upon reaching Shinyama, the bat found it was time to spice things up a little, to toy with her a bit more. Up until now he’d been docile, allowing her to follow him, but that was it. Not suddenly slipping behind a corner, no disappearing in the crowd for a bit before reappearing… But now the wind sat right, and he didn’t need her footsteps anymore; the strength of her scent gave him enough of an idea to her relative distance and position. The Kelvic started with subtly fishing a coin from his pouch, holding it in his hand before pretending to stumble over one of the stones the street was paved with, dropping the Kina. It bounced off the street, between his legs to roll just a little bit further before stopping. Brandon turned around, crouching to pick up the coin, eyes scanning the alley for the redhead, wondering what she’d do to remain “inconspicuous”. Would she jump behind a corner? Would she try to hide in a doorframe? Turn away and pretend to be walking in the opposite direction?

x

credit goes to Euthisa

[Ornea]

Ornea was not at all experienced at shadowing people. First, she was a straightforward Inarta and her normal approach when she wanted to know something was to just ask about it. Second she wasn’t nosy and didn’t use to pry at other people’s business. Third, she didn’t know how to do it in practice.

The only reason she was trying her best to do it right now was the cosmos center man who was missing in action, supposed dead. Sal Mander had been investigating the same odd and vaguely ominous things Ornea had tried to investigate. Like herself, he had suspected some kind of sabotage to Lhavit was being planned. And now she had suddenly learnt he was gone, not long after their deal to cooperate. Gone, as in disappeared at sea, without a trace.

This made her more cautious than usual, as she didn’t wish to suddenly “disappear” too. She wanted to speak with Blackwing, but first she wanted to see a bit more of him and what he was up to. He did after all look quite shabby and there was something “dire” with his whole appearance. She wasn’t able to put words on the latter, but there was a vibe that made her feel it was best to not be too rash.

She didn't know yet how she would contact him, or even if she would do it. It would depend on where he was going and what she was able to find out.

When the man left Cosmos Center she followed, making sure to keep what seemed to be a safe distance between them. The man walked on like he had nothing to conceal and no reason to think somebody would follow him. This made it easier to shadow him without being detected than she had feared it would be. Despite her lack of experience at shadowing and stealth she felt she was successful when she continued to follow her target at a distance that seemed sufficient.

She took care to step lightly on the pavement of the streets. Every now and then she stopped to step into the shadows of a vaulted doorway, and from there she peered out to make sure Blackwing didn’t show any signs of having understood that he was being followed. Then she stealthed out to continue to follow him, her steps as soundless as she could make them.

The bridges were a challenge. Ivak. When she came to the first bridge she felt it might be impossible to make it all the way over to the other side without being detected. But she was Inarta, so she didn’t bail; she followed at a distance despite how there was nowhere to hide now...at least not to less savvy people who weren’t knowledgeable about the water duct system of Lhavit.

As an employee at Lucis and Lucis, the firm responsible for the water supply and other infrastructure, Ornea knew a bit more than the average person about the inner construction of the city. Most people saw only the glittering skyglass at the surface and never thought about the practicalities. What did they care about the ducts inside mountain and bridges where cold water from the Amaranthine river was transported as well as hot water from Kinell springs, or the sewers that took care of the natural waste, sending most of it to the plantation at Sharai ...

Ordinary people just weren’t concerned with these kinds of things, but to Lucis is it was part of the firms reason to exist. Some would maybe not find this part of the business particularly shiny and glorious. But Ornea had learnt to think of it as greatness. A wonder of construction and engineering, and of fundamental importance to the daily everyday life on the high peaks.

Along the bridges there were a few beautiful passages to the inside ducts, in case maintenance and repairs would be needed. These used to go unnoticed to other people, as the passages looked much like general pillars, just a bit thicker, but hey, who cared. But Ornea used her knowledge about the ducts and the passage pillars when she followed Blackwing, alternating between quick rushes between the passage pillars, and hiding behind them.

At the time they reached Shinyama peak she naturally prided herself at how skilled she had turned out to be at stealth and shadowing. She had started to feel like she had innate talent for sneaking around without being seen.

Then ... suddenly!

Blackwing stumbled and dropped a coin, and before she knew it he had turned around, crouching to pick up the coin, looking in her direction. As her attention had been selectively focused on the man and her goal was to remain undetected, her reaction was swifter than thought. She stepped into the shelter of the nearest doorway. Unfortunately this doorway was as meager a shelter as it came; the vault around the door was so small that it had no other function than being decorative. If she had had time to think she might have chosen a better place, but it was too late now.

She had to do the best of what little shelter she had found. The Inarta flattened herself against the door, pressed her back into the wood, and held her breath.

...

[Brandon Blackwing]

x

Brandon suppressed a grin as he saw the redhead acted rather swiftly, stepping in a doorway that was obviously not suitable as a hiding place. She’d not been paying attention to her environment, it seemed, which was quite a hindrance when following someone while trying to remain undetected. For the sake of playing along though, the bat did not allow his gaze to dart towards her, instead keeping an eye on her movements with his peripheral vision. It was easier said than done; he couldn’t really observe her all that well this way. Still, he could easily make out her fiery hair, so that would have to do.

He turned back around then, not having spent more than a few ticks crouched –he couldn’t really get away with taking chimes to pick up a coin after all, that’d be too suspicious. The challenge was to avoid her realizing he was aware of her tailing him; if she noticed, chances were she’d just give up, and then any chance to confront her would be gone. As would his opportunity to assert his superiority over her. So Brandon calmly walked on, trusting his keen sense of smell to keep track of his shadow. For a couple chimes he just strolled through the streets, not pulling anything, to let her calm down and relax a little. To lull her into a false sense of safety.

Sadly, this tactic shortened his playtime considerably, even with the detours he took to prolong this little game. Also, he couldn’t drag it out for too long, as she’d probably start to suspect something was amiss. Thus, a detour that did lead to the Obsidian Club was preferred, one that was not too long, but also not unreasonably short. Hm. Where was he now? Close to the Springwater Square, but not too close that his course was irreversible. If memory served, he’d soon be back on the main street, but there’d be an alley leading back out on his left, if continuing to walk towards the Square. That would do. That was the longest he could still stretch his amusement. Ah well.

Just like predicted, the Kelvic reached the main street, and as he’d been expecting, it was rather crowded –this was one of Lhavit’s most frequently used streets after all. The thief waded through the sea of people just like any other person, heading for the alley he spotted a couple dozen meters away. All this time he’d been thinking on how to give the Inarta another scare, and with this crowd here, it was obvious; disappear for a bit. Only, he couldn’t just do it with the snap of his fingers –well, he could, but it wouldn’t work- not with her attention and focus on him. However, they were surrounded by people, living, breathing, moving distractions. Some were small, some thin, but others were tall and wide. It was when slipping in front of one of those individuals that Brandon changed his body language, using it to make himself less important and less likely to be noticed.

Posture influenced charisma, Brandon found, or at least the degree of attention people gave you when you just walked by. Someone with very little confidence had little presence, and was not likely to be noticed. Someone with the opposite traits though, received the opposite effects. Brandon often considered himself to be in the latter category due to the way he carried himself, however, if the need arose, he could change it. Behold the power of body language! While in front of the big man, out of the Inarta’s sight, the bat started to slump, as if wanting to crawl into himself and disappear. His shoulders drooped, his straight back bent forwards a little, and his head was kept low. The very image of a timid individual, someone who didn’t want to be noticed, and often wasn’t. People didn’t find them interesting, so they overlooked them. That guy over there carrying himself as if he was royalty though? Fascinating. Interesting. Subject of attention.

Body language was one thing, but clothes were another, and if both worked in tandem, well, you were invisible. Brandon was quite sure his unassuming grey katinu, and black bryda were bland enough to aid him in his trick. In Wind Reach terms, the bat had been carrying himself as if he were an Avora, or maybe even Endal, but now, he chose to be a dek. The lowest caste had proven themselves to be invisible within the city of the Inarta, no one paying them any attention unless they needed them to do something, and even then they didn’t quite remember what dek they’d ordered around. They didn’t care either. Brandon was counting on his body language to have the same effect, for the crowd to make spotting him harder even if he wasn’t trying to slip away, and for his clothes to be bland enough to become part of the crowd instead of standing out.

At the same time, he started moving like he did when picking pockets; feeling the crowd and moving with it, like a leaf in the wind, slipping through gaps like water, flowing along with its stream. It made for some really fast travel through crowds, something the Inarta wouldn’t be able to match. Once he had almost reached the alley though, Brandon reverted back to his original pace and posture, quite sure that she’d be able to spot him then, if she’d ever lost sight of him at all.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

[Ornea]

When Ornea suddenly lost sight of Blackwing she stopped in her tracks. The man had been there ... and now he wasn’t. This was the kind of thing the Inarta felt really uncomfortable with. Her experience in Wind Reach when she had been so sure she had shot at a zith came to her mind. They had told her it had just been a shadow and the monster she had seen had only been an imagination. Was the same thing happening again? Had everything only been an imagination?

Blackwing had been in the Cosmos Center. That much seemed sure. She had seen his name on that document, hadn’t she - hadn’t she? And she had heard him speak about Sal Mander, hadn’t she - hadn’t she? She had tailed him over peaks and bridges ... hadn’t she? But all of a sudden he was gone and it was like it hadn’t happened.

A chill ran up her spine. Everything around her looked so real and solid. The busy Lhavitians were carrying their burdens, carts and tools as usual, and the atmosphere was as industrious and busy as ever. Despite this, she questioned her reality now. Perhaps it wasn't real?

And as she had stopped and was just standing there, confused, she was now being targeted by several okomos. The animals could be curious, and they were always on the outlook for food. They crowded her and the smell of goats filled her nostrils. One of them decided to donate a small heap of dung to the street and add to the smell sensations. Reality really was very, very real. Ornea didn’t want to think she would be able to imagine imaginary okomo dung. This just must be real, mustn’t it ?

Still nervous but set on believing she wasn’t totally addled, she searched for Blackwing with her gaze, but saw nothing. Ivak! What was this! Even if it all was real enough she must have been distracted and lost attention. She felt angry at herself. Why hadn’t she just asked to speak with him? Why had she been so clipped cautious?

An okomo was nibbling at her belt. She pushed it away, and moved on into the crowd. Perhaps she would be able to spot Blackwing again, if she continued. She walked on, and the small flock of okomos followed her faithfully, without caring that she tried to shoo them away and even called them “bleating cuckoos” under her breath. She said this nearly soundlessly as she didn’t want the Lhavitians to react. They loved those goats and the goats loved them. Unfortunately the goats also seemed to love Ornea now, whether she wanted it or not. They refused to leave her side.

Screw this! Blackwing had disappeared and she had no idea how to find him again, so she had lost her chance to speak with him about the ominous disappearance of the investigator. Instead she had become an unvoluntary okomo shepheard. She hoped to get rid of them at Springwater Square, where they would for sure go to the fountain and drink. If memory served she’d soon she’d soon be back on the main street ... her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly saw Blackwing again. All of a sudden she saw him, further down the street. A rush of tenacious resolution seized her. Now she would follow him! From now on she would be like an eagle following it’s prey.

As she came closer she saw an alley open to the left, right were Blackwing was. Worried that he would disappear in there and be gone again, she quickened her steps in order to try to catch up with him. The okomos quickened their steps too, stubbornly flanking her as she approached the man. Ornea still tried her best to move stealthily, and not be too obvious, but the okomos made this somewhat hard.

“An eagle needs a clipped goat like a fish needs to row a boat” she hissed at them, but the okomos didn’t mind. The animals were set on spending the rest of their day with her, if you asked them.

...

[Brandon Blackwing]

x

OOCSorry for the wait!

After a brief while of walking through the alley alone, fearing he might have succeeded in actually shaking his red-headed pursuer, the Inarta's scent was once more brought to the bat by the wind, a tiny bit stronger than before. Her footsteps were pounding the ground in a faster rhythm, and were joined by the clattering of hooves. No doubt some Okomo were following along, the sound too loud for them to be smaller creatures. Besides, there weren't that many beasts in Lhavit with hooves. It was quite curious though that an Inarta had gained the beasts' favor so quickly; Brandon had never seen or heard of someone who first arrived in the city and was already loved by the animals.

However, the redhead had also been capable of true Lhavitian politeness and manners, something no Inarta freshly flewn from Wind Reach would bother with. Hm. A long time resident who'd made a trip to Wind Reach and back then? It was possible, it would also explain why the bat had the vague notion she was somewhat familiar. True, he could have met or seen her in the volcanic city, but he hadn't really made too much attempts of actually mingling with the populace there. He hadn't cared too much about remaining an outsider, preferring that above being considered part of the Inarta residents. Some had really tried to blend in and to be accepted -like Dru, or Zhol, even Turrin- but Brandon couldn't care less. He hadn't planned to stay either, thinking of returning to Lhavit during the first season of his stay. And now he really had done just that -going against Alses's “order” not to return ever. Like he could just leave and never return. The Kelvic almost snorted at the thought.

Brandon continued his way through the alleys, not turning around once to look at the Okomo, as it was considered pretty normal to see or hear one of them, or even multiple, clip-clopping through the streets. They were almost on the square now, the detour he'd taken not really resulting into anything at all, but the thief didn't quite mind. The Okomo had kind of ruined the game anyway; they made it a little bit too easy, even if their smell obscured the Inarta's, and if the sound of their hooves almost drowned out her footsteps. The goats didn't try to be stealthy, and were quite oblivious to the fact that the person they were bothering actually was. The bat arrived at the Springwater Square then, and he quickened his pace just a little, heading for the Obsidian Club.

Even now -wait, what time was it? A bit past noon?- the Club was filled with people, though still considerably less than during night bells. There were still free tables aplenty, and the bat's personal favorite one was unoccupied too. It was located in the back of the club, near the wall, which gave him a good view of the whole room and the door. Usually he'd have dropped his coat there right away to claim it, but now there hardly was a need for that. Instead, he ordered a drink at the bar, spending one kina on a beverage, then another on “a favor”. “If a redhead woman comes in, please direct her to my table,” he said, placing another kina on the counter, “She's running a bit late.” The bartender -not the usual guy, whats-his-face, Rynas, but a young-looking guy lacking the confidence and experienced poise most bartenders used to have- flicked his gaze to the coin and back to the bat. “If you do, this is yours.” For now though, the thief placed his hand on top of it, and slid it back into his pouch. He gave the young man a questioning eyebrow, and when the bartender nodded, he did so too and headed to his table, beverage in hand.

Now all he could do was wait, but he did not mind at all; to drink was why he'd come here in the first place. He raised his glass to his lips almost solemnly, body drooping just a little bit as if it had sighed. “To you Sal,” he whispered to himself, only half-aware he was speaking out loud, “may Dira have granted you a swift and painless end.” He took a sip of the sweet alcoholic drink, surprised by how much he liked it. “And may we meet again in the next life.” He added then after a moment of hesitation, right before taking a rather large swig of the Lava Peach. A sigh escaped him, and he placed the beverage on the table, leaning back in his chair. His arms crossed themselves over his chest, and he sighed again, deeper this time. He took another sip.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

[Ornea]

Ornea had no explanation to why the okomo's were so loving. The petched goats!

But in lack of better idea she thought it might be because they knew somehow that she was working at Lucis and Lucis. The firm was responsible for Lhavit's infrastructure and well-being and so were the okomos, sort of. Perhaps they thought of Lucis as colleagues ... allies ... or perhaps they just appreciated the water of the fountain of Shinyama peak.

Who could know what the okomos were thinking?

It was impossible to get rid of them and when she saw Blackwing disappear into the club she feared the goats would actually enter together with her. But when she headed there they seemed to hesitate, like they were unwilling to go closer. They went to drink water instead. Good! The Inarta wasn't as fond of the okomos as they were of her. She was happy to be left to enter Obsidian Club on her own.

She pulled up the door and stepped in.

The club was filled with people despite the early hour. Ornea had stopped right inside the door and stood there looking around in search of Blackwing. She realized she didn't know how to strike up a conversation, would she find him in there. Clip, clip ... it would look pretty weird that she showed up here, wouldn't it?

What do you say in a situation like this ? How do you explain that the same person somebody met several peaks away suddenly turns up at next stop as well? Mere coincidence? An utterly bad explanation, as she would want to ask questions about Sal Mander and what Blackwing knew about the disappeared man's investigations last year. That would make it obvious that she was here for a purpose and had followed deliberately. And the question was of course why she hadn't spoken with Blackwing at Cosmos Center ...

She decided to order a drink and think. One kina ... it could be worth a kina to have a drink an plan her next step. But as it turned out, as soon as she had paid the drink and grabbed it, the barman said he had been told to direct her to a table where "a friend" was waiting for her. He winked at her in a conspiratorial way. Ornea took it the man was trying to play matchmaker and wasn't amused. She answered with an eagle-stare of the third degree.

"A friend? And who might that be?"

The barkeep's face didn't tell her anything. He gave her a polite Lhavitian smile. "This way".

He left the bar and guided Ornea to the back of the club. As she didn't want to cause a scene she followed. But she wasn't pleased by this sudden and unexpected turn of events, so she didn't follow directly in his wake but made a point of making a detour. She was there to have a closer look at Blackwing, not to fool around at random with people who wanted some company at their tables.

A gesture toward a table in the back of the club, near the wall, and the barkeep left the Inarta to her own devices. To be honest the young guy seemed relieved to get away without any more comments from her.

She had arrived from the side and not right in front of the table. Stunned, she watched the cloaked figure who sat there and heard him speak like to an invisible ghost only he could see. He took what looked like a large swig of his drink. The deep sigh he gave seemed as sincere as his words had done. Perhaps the Cosmos Center investigator Sal Mander had been a close friend of the shabby Blackwing. She hadn't really known the investigator well, and didn't know which his social circles were.

Anyways. She would maybe soon learn more. It worried her that Blackwing seemed to have known she would come and asked the barkeep to direct her here. Then again, right now he seemed immersed in memories and sadness and unaware of her presence. It was perhaps just a ruse. But even to her, a quite blunt Inarta, it seemed a bit rude to interrupt Blackwing right now. She wasn't sure what to do, so she sipped at her drink and tried to figure out a next step.

To suddenly just ask "So how did you know I'd come here?" seemed as stupid as stupid came. And to abruptly say "I want to speak with you about Sal Mander" seemed even more wrong. All the things at top of her straightforward Inarta head seemed so impossibly misplaced. Somewhat surprised she noted that she had started to think a little bit Lhavitian style, like the return to the glittering skyglass city had already started to affect her and change her more than she knew.

"Blackbird" she said after a tick of hesitation. She spoke as a Lhavitian, softly, but deliberately tweaked his name a little bit to the birdy side. "They directed me to this table."

Ledger-1 kina, for a drink, most likely a Lava Peach, we will see ...

...

[Brandon Blackwing]

x

As Brandon stared into space, the barkeep had done exactly as asked, having delivered the Inarta to his table. He hadn’t come to fetch his reward, but instead retreated back to the bar, probably more worried about the customers he kept waiting than pocketing a coin he’d be getting anyways, if not now, then it’d be later. Lhavitian people weren’t deceitful by nature, so his confidence in this was well grounded. Brandon himself might not be a Lhavitian born and bred, but he did pay those who did like instructed… if he’d promised them coin anyway.

The Inarta did not take a seat, nor did she speak or move all that much. She just stood and stared, and Brandon didn’t say anything to change this either. He was content to be silent and left alone with his thoughts undisturbed for a little while. Sal deserved to be the center of his attention now, likely for one of the last times. Sadly, it could not last forever, as the Inarta spoke up, mentioning a bird. Brandon frowned slightly, and lifted his gaze from the table and his half-empty glass. It was only when she added she’d been directed here by the barkeep that he realized she’d addressed him by his name… though it was an altered version.

“Blackwing,” he corrected her softly, “and yes, they did.” Another sip of his drink was taken, and he gestured to the chair nearest to the redhead. “Have a seat, it does not make for very pleasant conversation when you have to strain your neck the whole time.” He somehow managed a smile, though it did not quite reach his eyes. As to be expected, he wasn’t in the mood to laugh anyway, his thoughts pulled into a spiral of sadness and grief. It wasn’t like he was utterly devastated, nor that he wanted Sal to come back from the grave for him.

He could accept his death, and he did not resent Dira for taking him from the realm of the living. Death was a natural thing after all, and that Sal’s life had been snuffed out was not what bothered him. It would have happened sooner or later either way, if he’d died when he did or not. Besides, it would be unbecoming of someone bearing Dira’s mark to be upset about his Goddess taking one close to him, not to mention it would make him a hypocrite. No, it was just that he missed Sal, and he would continue to in the near future. His absence now was different than when the bat had been in Wind Reach. There he’d had the notion he’d see his friend again when he got back to Lhavit, but now, he knew he’d never see him again. Not as Sal Mander.

It was simply the fact that Sal’s departure left a hole in the bat’s soul, a gap where he hadn’t expected there was something that could be torn. Apparently he’d valued Sal much more than he had imagined. A friend. It felt inadequate of a description for the investigator, but Brandon did not know what else to call him. His hand brought the beverage back to his lips, and he downed the last bit of alcoholic liquid, placing the glass carefully back on the table. Eyes flicked back to the Inarta for a brief moment, and the Kelvic considered whether to get another drink, or break the silence. He decided on the former, as the redhead had been waiting for a time now, and surely could wait a bit longer.

Brandon didn’t take long, getting back to his table within two chimes, having paid the bartender for his efforts too, in the meantime. He sighed when he was seated again, for the first time since her arrival actually fixing his onyx orbs on her features. “Right,” he said, more to himself than his companion, its purpose to free himself of his somber thoughts. He never had been keen on letting his emotions getting the better him, though he often let his anger and irritation slip through. Satisfaction too. But now he pushed most of it to the back of his mind, like he usually did when busying himself with other things.

“So, let’s get to the point here. You have been following me here-” that much was obvious even to someone who hadn’t know they’d been pursued, her presence in the club was more than enough to come to that conclusion. “-but why? What could be important or sensitive enough you’d try and shadow me? ” Brandon had his suspicions, and while his paranoia was alarmed, thinking she had somehow found out about his profession, or Incognito, he dismissed the idea right away. This was his first day back in the city; she’d had no chances to find out any such thing. No, he was pretty sure this was about his taunting back at the Cosmos Center.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

[Ornea]

OOCThis post may seem somewhat short, but at the moment I feel it's right as it's conversational. I like the post this way. Hope it's okay.

From the moment she had been directed to his table it had been obvious to Ornea that Blackwing had known she had tailed him. She chalked it up to her okomo escort. The goats hadn't even tried to stealth.

She sipped at her drink. It was unexpectedly sweet and fruity, although with at touch of fire that told her it might be stronger than it seemed to be. She looked around in the location, let her gaze roam over the tables and the guests, and came to the conclusion she and Blackwing were likely out of range for being overheard.

Blackwing's eyes were so dark that they seemed black. The blackest eyes she'd ever seen. Perhaps it was because they were indoors, she thought. Now when they sat at the table and nothing else was going on, she could focus her whole attention on him. At first, when they arrived, she had just seen "another unimportant chiet". In Cosmos Center she had seen what immediately met the eye; the somewhat shabby surface of a not too polite man. She had (alas) also noticed the hidden strenght between the man's lean appearance. But now she also became aware that was a wibe of otherness she noticed but didn't understand. She didn't know why, but she felt he wasn't like people mostly used to be.

He reminded her of somebody. She didn't know whom.

"I will not lie. I followed you here." She smiled. "I guess you would have needed to be blind to not notice. The okomos are very sweet animals I'm sure, but they can sometimes be a bit more friendly than what's practical. I don't know if the goats really are as well informed as the native Lhavitians assume. But in case they are as smart as people say, maybe they pester me because I'm working at Lucis and Lucis, the firm that ensures the water supply of this city ... but anyways, I'm not surprised you noticed me."

Stating the obvious, was she ... but she didn't want to start to babble in an incoherent way. The topic she wanted to discuss was serious and perhaps not uncomplicated and she didn't want to go about it in a counterproductive way. She wanted to make Blackwing speak and find out if he knew anything about the that disappeared investigator's activities last fall. So ... how to approach this...somebody else might have started to think of suberfuge and manipulation, but this wasn't Ornea's way, not at all.

"And I'll be honest" she decided, settling for the behavior she was best at, the Inarta straightforwardness. "I followed you because I wanted to speak with you, but not out on the open street. I want to speak with you about the man you inquired about at Cosmos Center. Sal Mander."

...

[Colt]

Brandon Blackwing

Skills
If/when you return, PM me and I’ll release your grades once you’ve updated to the current season.

Ornea

Skills
Observation +4
Investigation +2
Socialization +2
Stealth +2
Animal Husbandry +1
Planning +1
Interrogation +1
Navigation (Land) +1


Lores
Barkeepers: sometimes unhelpfully vague
Brandon Blackwing: a shabby enigma
Brandon Blackwing: can disappear
Lhavit: more at work than meets the eye
Lucis and Lucis: the real heroes of Lhavit
Okomo: gentle, kind, annoying
Socialization: how to start a conversation
Stealth: remain aware of your surroundings
Stealth: when you fail, blame the okomos
Straightforward vs. Stealthy
What happened to Sal Mander?
What is reality, anyway?


Notes

Wow, this was a fun read, you two! I got to the end and was disappointed that there wasn’t more. I hope you enjoy the grades, and if you think you see any problems with the numbers, don’t hesitate to shoot me a PM!