Pagusel was, oddly, standing in a quite visible location, clear of the crowd of guests and near the entrance. It was a wonder she hadn't been spotted right away, but then again any of the patrons could have sworn she hadn't been standing just there a moment ago.
Pagusel observed Daq immersing himself in the crowd, her head tipped forward thoughtfully. After several seconds, she nodded with resolve and followed through with the bob of her head to step forward into the fray. As she stepped through a particularly tight gap in the crowd, her shoulders rolled back as if absorbing some unseen shock. She lifted her hands to push her hood off the crown of her head. Her expression was tight with discomfort, but she stiffened with resolve when she came up behind Daq.
"Pagusel," she said huskily. She put her right hand lightly on his right shoulder. Her eyes widened as they caught sight of the brown paper he held aloft, and the tenseness in her lips slackened slightly. "I am Pagusel," she repeated. She lowered her eyes to his eye level again and blinked slowly. "We needn't bother with my surname; it is foreign, and a single name shall do."
She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side in a cringe as a random stranger's hand brushed firmly across her back.
The Fix [Open]
Re: The Fix [Open]
Kutlin walked towards the two, he felt like he was playing "Follow the Leader" but who cared. He was to get his chemicals and Daq qas to get paid, Kutlin could already see that the man's attraction for the woman was not going to soon diminish so he just went with the flow of the situation. As he walked through the crowd, slowly pushing and nudging his way through what was left of the crowd, something felt odd to him. Something was not right with the crowd, it was like he could sense that someone here had thrown his senses out of whack. It was like a smell and a feeling rolled up in to one. It made him uneasy, his skin crawl and made him peak his alertness.
This was not an uncommon trait for a man in his position to acquire, and most of the time the feeling led to nothing. Then again, if something felt wrong then it usually was, regardless if it was harmful toyou or not it was still probably out of place. He stopped and looked around, his eyes told him that his sense was lying to him but Kutlin had always been a man that trusted his mind and body first and what was in front of him second. A man on top of a roof with an arrow trained towards you may still kill you, even if you don't see it.
He continued his pace again and was shortly beside the Daq.
" Master alchemist, shall we go now? I have no qualms in helping you to retrieve your belongings. In fact, the better prepared you are to do business, the more prepared I am to give you money for your business. What does peturb me somewhat is wasting time. We all have things we would like to accomplish before the night is out."
He gave a curt smile and tilted his head a bit towards Pagusel. He was not about to start pretending that his accusations about how Daq felt was false. Kutlin wanted chemicals, Pagusel wanted drugs and perhaps an end to her seemingly eternal boredom, and Daq wanted Pagusel. As far as Kutlin was concerned, everyone could walk away from this night happy and content. Kutlin wanted to find work again, it had been too long since he had felt any rush from completing an assignment. He wondered if there would be anyone in this town requiring his services...more permanently. He halfway despised the idea of being someone's personal assassin or mercenary or killer, whatever they wanted to call it.
Though, being around under someone's employ for a while had its monetary perks.
This was not an uncommon trait for a man in his position to acquire, and most of the time the feeling led to nothing. Then again, if something felt wrong then it usually was, regardless if it was harmful toyou or not it was still probably out of place. He stopped and looked around, his eyes told him that his sense was lying to him but Kutlin had always been a man that trusted his mind and body first and what was in front of him second. A man on top of a roof with an arrow trained towards you may still kill you, even if you don't see it.
He continued his pace again and was shortly beside the Daq.
" Master alchemist, shall we go now? I have no qualms in helping you to retrieve your belongings. In fact, the better prepared you are to do business, the more prepared I am to give you money for your business. What does peturb me somewhat is wasting time. We all have things we would like to accomplish before the night is out."
He gave a curt smile and tilted his head a bit towards Pagusel. He was not about to start pretending that his accusations about how Daq felt was false. Kutlin wanted chemicals, Pagusel wanted drugs and perhaps an end to her seemingly eternal boredom, and Daq wanted Pagusel. As far as Kutlin was concerned, everyone could walk away from this night happy and content. Kutlin wanted to find work again, it had been too long since he had felt any rush from completing an assignment. He wondered if there would be anyone in this town requiring his services...more permanently. He halfway despised the idea of being someone's personal assassin or mercenary or killer, whatever they wanted to call it.
Though, being around under someone's employ for a while had its monetary perks.
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Daq Bekkar
- Citizen
- Posts: 369
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:49 pm
- Name: Daq Bekkar
- Race: Humanoid Construct
Re: The Fix [Open]
Despite his sobering up, Daq nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt the hand on his shoulder. He whirled around and narrowly avoided bopping the woman in the nose with the hand he had held up.
"Aa--sorry," he stuttered. Then he heard her name--'Pagusel,' with a surname too 'foreign' for him to grasp. Enchanting. Nonetheless, more and more of him had begun to feel uneasy about the entire situation. How well did he really know this woman, who wouldn't even tell him her full name after he had told her his..?
This insight was brief however, and hardly had Daq thought these things when another distraction came up. It was that insistent man, his "employer" for the time being.
Pressed from both sides and surrounded by a noisy crowd, Daq struggled again to focus on any one thing. With a twitching, unsure motion, he extended the drugs to Pagusel. She would know how to put them under her tongue, he thought. No need to explain.
But there was one thing that needed explaining, as the young man--the young hitman--had reminded him of. It would be a struggle.
"Listen, Mis--er--Pagusel," he said. Then he blushed hotly as he realized what the assassin had nodded toward her about. Was it really like that? He lost his train of thought.
Clearing his throat, he started again. "Yes. Well.. this young man has made me a sizable offer to distill a sleep aid for him. But for that, we must venture into the city to get my equipment."
Daq could then think of no incentive for her to come along. What interest could the exotic Pagusel have in an old washed-up alchemist? Daq blushed more furiously at the irony of the assassin addressing him as "Master Alchemist." Then he noticed Pagusel's wince of discomfort as someone in the crowd brushed against her.
"I think the trip would offer a bit more solitude for you to enjoy what I've prepared. It wouldn't do to test it out in the middle of this hot, sweaty, pressing crowd. The night air is very cool, and the streets of Marn are sure to be nigh-deserted at this time of night."
The stilted, yet mildly elegant argument he had presented impressed him so much that he couldn't repress a self-satisfied smile. Through a gap in the crowd, he saw his employer for that night passed out against a wall. The assassin was right: delay was undesirable. If he could make it back to the cave by the next evening (before his employer came-to), he might even secure payment for his work at the drug station as well.
"Aa--sorry," he stuttered. Then he heard her name--'Pagusel,' with a surname too 'foreign' for him to grasp. Enchanting. Nonetheless, more and more of him had begun to feel uneasy about the entire situation. How well did he really know this woman, who wouldn't even tell him her full name after he had told her his..?
This insight was brief however, and hardly had Daq thought these things when another distraction came up. It was that insistent man, his "employer" for the time being.
" Master alchemist, shall we go now? I have no qualms in helping you to retrieve your belongings. In fact, the better prepared you are to do business, the more prepared I am to give you money for your business. What does peturb me somewhat is wasting time. We all have things we would like to accomplish before the night is out."
Pressed from both sides and surrounded by a noisy crowd, Daq struggled again to focus on any one thing. With a twitching, unsure motion, he extended the drugs to Pagusel. She would know how to put them under her tongue, he thought. No need to explain.
But there was one thing that needed explaining, as the young man--the young hitman--had reminded him of. It would be a struggle.
"Listen, Mis--er--Pagusel," he said. Then he blushed hotly as he realized what the assassin had nodded toward her about. Was it really like that? He lost his train of thought.
Clearing his throat, he started again. "Yes. Well.. this young man has made me a sizable offer to distill a sleep aid for him. But for that, we must venture into the city to get my equipment."
Daq could then think of no incentive for her to come along. What interest could the exotic Pagusel have in an old washed-up alchemist? Daq blushed more furiously at the irony of the assassin addressing him as "Master Alchemist." Then he noticed Pagusel's wince of discomfort as someone in the crowd brushed against her.
"I think the trip would offer a bit more solitude for you to enjoy what I've prepared. It wouldn't do to test it out in the middle of this hot, sweaty, pressing crowd. The night air is very cool, and the streets of Marn are sure to be nigh-deserted at this time of night."
The stilted, yet mildly elegant argument he had presented impressed him so much that he couldn't repress a self-satisfied smile. Through a gap in the crowd, he saw his employer for that night passed out against a wall. The assassin was right: delay was undesirable. If he could make it back to the cave by the next evening (before his employer came-to), he might even secure payment for his work at the drug station as well.
...
Re: The Fix [Open]
The noise around the unlikely trio seemed to swell with the increasing pressure of the crowd. This progress came inversely to the state of Pagusel's high, and so perhaps it was all in her head. She took Daq's proffered parcel without hesitation as her eyes rolled around their periphery, focusing not on him, or anything in particular but the perceived threat of the crowd.
She held the parcel close to her chest and prised it open delicately, already parting her lips with anticipation once she beheld the bluish crystalline powder. As Kutlin spoke, she was more intent on inspecting the substance visually, and she didn't seem to have awareness of his words at all. Her sleepy eyes gave away their faltering state of relaxation with hasty glances at Daq every few moments.
She was just lifting the paper to the level of her mouth when Daq said her name. Pagusel paused and her face was still except a slight flare of her nostrils as he began to describe their locale in unsettling terms. Her throat tightened visibly.
When she spoke again, her voice was chalky, nearly a whisper. "This environment is too oppressive for business. I will take your offer to go elsewhere." She turned her head to look at Kutlin and clasped her hands over her tiny portion of the yet unused drug. "You had no luck persuading this individual to overcome his impatience." The roll of her eyes was like a non-verbal sigh.
Long arms ducked back beneath the heavy cape and the drug was thus protected by a thick wall of matted fur. She turned tightly, inclined her head in the direction of the entrance, and pushed forward through the crowd. With each jostle of her shoulder against another's, Pagusel stifled a cringe.
Finally broken free of the crowd, Pagusel strode to the entrance and turned back to watch for Daq. She lifted one foot and placed its sole on the wall behind her and tipped her head back to rest its crown there as well. She blinked slowly at the feet of the crowd; by the keen sharpness her features adopted in those moments, she appeared to be having her first lucid thoughts of the evening.
She held the parcel close to her chest and prised it open delicately, already parting her lips with anticipation once she beheld the bluish crystalline powder. As Kutlin spoke, she was more intent on inspecting the substance visually, and she didn't seem to have awareness of his words at all. Her sleepy eyes gave away their faltering state of relaxation with hasty glances at Daq every few moments.
She was just lifting the paper to the level of her mouth when Daq said her name. Pagusel paused and her face was still except a slight flare of her nostrils as he began to describe their locale in unsettling terms. Her throat tightened visibly.
When she spoke again, her voice was chalky, nearly a whisper. "This environment is too oppressive for business. I will take your offer to go elsewhere." She turned her head to look at Kutlin and clasped her hands over her tiny portion of the yet unused drug. "You had no luck persuading this individual to overcome his impatience." The roll of her eyes was like a non-verbal sigh.
Long arms ducked back beneath the heavy cape and the drug was thus protected by a thick wall of matted fur. She turned tightly, inclined her head in the direction of the entrance, and pushed forward through the crowd. With each jostle of her shoulder against another's, Pagusel stifled a cringe.
Finally broken free of the crowd, Pagusel strode to the entrance and turned back to watch for Daq. She lifted one foot and placed its sole on the wall behind her and tipped her head back to rest its crown there as well. She blinked slowly at the feet of the crowd; by the keen sharpness her features adopted in those moments, she appeared to be having her first lucid thoughts of the evening.
Re: The Fix [Open]
As she walked away Kutlin made a slight nod to Daq.
"Ya know what? Not to be rude, but sometimes impatience just gets the job done sooner. Alot sooner than just sitting around here getting higher than an exploded gnomish blimp." He realised the implications of his words and looked directly at Daq.
"No offense ofcourse." He smiled and knew that the man was probably just sitting there staring at Pagusel and not listening to a damned word he was saying, but on the of chance he was...
"Any chance your ready to get your alchemological doo-hickeys back?" Still no direct response, no head movement or anything. Fates forbid he just give Kutlin a simple yes or no. Kutlin thought about that for a second....
"So are we taking lil miss euphoria or not?"
"Ya know what? Not to be rude, but sometimes impatience just gets the job done sooner. Alot sooner than just sitting around here getting higher than an exploded gnomish blimp." He realised the implications of his words and looked directly at Daq.
"No offense ofcourse." He smiled and knew that the man was probably just sitting there staring at Pagusel and not listening to a damned word he was saying, but on the of chance he was...
"Any chance your ready to get your alchemological doo-hickeys back?" Still no direct response, no head movement or anything. Fates forbid he just give Kutlin a simple yes or no. Kutlin thought about that for a second....
"So are we taking lil miss euphoria or not?"
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Daq Bekkar
- Citizen
- Posts: 369
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:49 pm
- Name: Daq Bekkar
- Race: Humanoid Construct
Re: The Fix [Open]
Daq tried to keep the expression on his face from looking too annoyed when he turned to stare at Kutlin. The young man was, quite obviously, a tactless simpleton.
"Yessss," he replied, clenching his teeth and hissing to try to contain his aggravation. "We are taking Pagusel, which is, I assume, who you meant by 'li'l miss euphoria.' "
Daq wasn't entirely sure what the young man had been playing at, with his nodding and 'meaningful' looks that accompanied his words, which, quite obviously, made little sense.
"I was just explaining to her the intricacies of our situation," Daq said. "Now.. if you're done pestering the man who is going to be making you some rather delicate chemicals, he is ready to get his 'doo-hickeys.' "
Daq pushed his way back through the crowd to his station. grabbed his pack and shouldered it carelessly. One hand holding the strap at his shoulder, he once again muscled his way through the revelers.
"And if a gnomish blimp were to explode, it wouldn't go any higher," he said on his way past Kutlin as he made his way to the entrance. "In fact, I'm rather sure that it would sink."
He pushed past a few stragglers on the crowd's edge, climbed the few stairs to the cave's mouth, and stepped out into the cold night air.
"Yessss," he replied, clenching his teeth and hissing to try to contain his aggravation. "We are taking Pagusel, which is, I assume, who you meant by 'li'l miss euphoria.' "
Daq wasn't entirely sure what the young man had been playing at, with his nodding and 'meaningful' looks that accompanied his words, which, quite obviously, made little sense.
"I was just explaining to her the intricacies of our situation," Daq said. "Now.. if you're done pestering the man who is going to be making you some rather delicate chemicals, he is ready to get his 'doo-hickeys.' "
Daq pushed his way back through the crowd to his station. grabbed his pack and shouldered it carelessly. One hand holding the strap at his shoulder, he once again muscled his way through the revelers.
"And if a gnomish blimp were to explode, it wouldn't go any higher," he said on his way past Kutlin as he made his way to the entrance. "In fact, I'm rather sure that it would sink."
He pushed past a few stragglers on the crowd's edge, climbed the few stairs to the cave's mouth, and stepped out into the cold night air.
...
Re: The Fix [Open]
As Pagusel stared at the great collective of feet that belonged to the weaving crowd, two pairs stood out--Daq and Kutlin's were stationary, like steadfast columns in a roiling sea of appendages. Her gaze rose to their faces. She was not within earshot of the conversation, but made out the visuals.
Kutlin appeared to say several things in rapid succession--his pauses were long enough for a change of expression for effect, but apparently not long enough for Daq's replies. Daq was visibly tense when he turned to respond. He was then coming Pagusel's way. The crowd swelled fluidly in her direction just before it broke for him, and her stiff expression when he passed her was an attempt to hide profound distaste.
Pagusel's brow slackened, and she pursed her lips, perplexed over what she'd heard Daq say on his way through the exit.
Pagusel stepped away from the wall and slipped first her shoulder into the crack that was the exit. She ducked into the narrow channel and disappeared from view.
Outside, Pagusel was suddenly striding several paces behind Daq. Her hood was flipped far down over the top half of her face. Dreadlocks of beastly fur dangled over her mouth and cut the steam of her speech into misty ribbons. "Tell me where we are going," she called after Daq. Even when she raised her voice to carry, it wasn't a loud sound, just rounder and clearer.
Kutlin appeared to say several things in rapid succession--his pauses were long enough for a change of expression for effect, but apparently not long enough for Daq's replies. Daq was visibly tense when he turned to respond. He was then coming Pagusel's way. The crowd swelled fluidly in her direction just before it broke for him, and her stiff expression when he passed her was an attempt to hide profound distaste.
Pagusel's brow slackened, and she pursed her lips, perplexed over what she'd heard Daq say on his way through the exit.
The idea that aerodynamics had been the subject of their almost-heated discussion on the dance floor seemed odd to Pagusel, as reflected in her expression. The crowd still bore a split a few feet wide where Daq had made his way out, and Pagusel could see Kutlin. "Unlike social conventions . . . the laws of physics truly are universal," she said in his direction. If he were close enough, he might actually hear her.. . . If a gnomish blimp were to explode, it wouldn't go any higher. In fact, I'm rather sure that it would sink.
Pagusel stepped away from the wall and slipped first her shoulder into the crack that was the exit. She ducked into the narrow channel and disappeared from view.
Outside, Pagusel was suddenly striding several paces behind Daq. Her hood was flipped far down over the top half of her face. Dreadlocks of beastly fur dangled over her mouth and cut the steam of her speech into misty ribbons. "Tell me where we are going," she called after Daq. Even when she raised her voice to carry, it wasn't a loud sound, just rounder and clearer.
Re: The Fix [Open]
"Daq, well I do believe she was referencing that to you, but let me interject if I will. I apologize for any rudeness or abruptness before on my part. Allow this conversation to serve as my true apology.
I have vowed to retrieve some items from the kind sir's lab shop. There seems to be some inconvenience for him to accomplish this on his own, so in exchange for his services in creating for me some things, I have offered mine in return."
He continued a steady gaze into her eyes as he said this. He had been truly abrasive in his speech and attitude towards her in the brief moments of their acquaintance. Now, that a sobering affect seemed to be wafting over her, that rudeness need not be continued.
"We would truly enjoy your company Ms. Pagusel. If you would do us the honor of gracing us with your presence."
He seemed to be back to his self again. Calm and collected, choosing his words wisely and flowing. The atmosphere of the addicts and scandals had proven a wear on him and his nerves. He felt that they were wasting the gift of life, and as far as he could imagine, as long as the individuals in his presence had a clear mind and rational, coherant thought. He would be polite and accomodating.
I have vowed to retrieve some items from the kind sir's lab shop. There seems to be some inconvenience for him to accomplish this on his own, so in exchange for his services in creating for me some things, I have offered mine in return."
He continued a steady gaze into her eyes as he said this. He had been truly abrasive in his speech and attitude towards her in the brief moments of their acquaintance. Now, that a sobering affect seemed to be wafting over her, that rudeness need not be continued.
"We would truly enjoy your company Ms. Pagusel. If you would do us the honor of gracing us with your presence."
He seemed to be back to his self again. Calm and collected, choosing his words wisely and flowing. The atmosphere of the addicts and scandals had proven a wear on him and his nerves. He felt that they were wasting the gift of life, and as far as he could imagine, as long as the individuals in his presence had a clear mind and rational, coherant thought. He would be polite and accomodating.
Re: The Fix [Open]
Pagusel hadn't caught up to Daq when Kutlin appeared beside her and interjected. His tone had so changed that Pagusel balked in her long stride momentarily to catch a glance at him to see she was still dealing with the same man. Seeing him from beneath the heavy mantle of her hood required an awkward rotation of the chin and a strain to the eyes. She flipped the hood down again with a forward shake of her head and resumed her fast walk.
"I presume, Mister Sir, that you have mistaken me for a person of special interest. I would not predict great enjoyment for any party were I to lend my . . . grace--to your company."
Pagusel held a slender hand up beside her face as Kutlin attempted to make eye contact with her. Her arm was bared to just past the elbow, and the pale spike of another tattoo line showed itself there, its majority buried in the cloak. Her slack knuckles faced him, a delicate, if hardly subtle decline to return the stare.
She continued quickly. "I understand Mister Bekkar is a skilled maker of things, and I will do business with him over the terms of his services. Your particular service is unknown to me, and thus I have no need to conduct a business exchange with you . . . Do you understand the things I say?" Her tone, as she asked the last bit, was perfunctory. She lowered her hand and glanced to Kutlin beside her, and then ahead to the swiftly disappearing figure of Daq.
"I presume, Mister Sir, that you have mistaken me for a person of special interest. I would not predict great enjoyment for any party were I to lend my . . . grace--to your company."
Pagusel held a slender hand up beside her face as Kutlin attempted to make eye contact with her. Her arm was bared to just past the elbow, and the pale spike of another tattoo line showed itself there, its majority buried in the cloak. Her slack knuckles faced him, a delicate, if hardly subtle decline to return the stare.
She continued quickly. "I understand Mister Bekkar is a skilled maker of things, and I will do business with him over the terms of his services. Your particular service is unknown to me, and thus I have no need to conduct a business exchange with you . . . Do you understand the things I say?" Her tone, as she asked the last bit, was perfunctory. She lowered her hand and glanced to Kutlin beside her, and then ahead to the swiftly disappearing figure of Daq.
Re: The Fix [Open]
Kutlin had already assumed the role as the third wheel in this entire situation. Ofcourse, to him, that wasn't such an unfortuanate position for him to be in at the moment. To have his appearance, and certainly in this instance his motives, unknown and uncared for, left little to be known and even less to be desired to know. He was fulfilling his purpose and that purpose was to fly beneath the shadows and soon forgotton.
He sped up his pace with his long and strengthened legs, keeping stride with the woman.
"A woman's grace is to especially something of special interest, atleast in my own opinion, be it however dismissed. I do admire your aptitude for not being diswayed, as for my previous and brief abrasiveness in attitude. I understand that you were indeed afore me. My time constraints seem to overwhelm me in the previous atmosphere. It is not for everyone, yet you seem to keep your wits and strength about you. Indeed, indeed ... it is something of special interest. Shall we catch up with our new friend and be about our business?"
He sped up his pace with his long and strengthened legs, keeping stride with the woman.
"A woman's grace is to especially something of special interest, atleast in my own opinion, be it however dismissed. I do admire your aptitude for not being diswayed, as for my previous and brief abrasiveness in attitude. I understand that you were indeed afore me. My time constraints seem to overwhelm me in the previous atmosphere. It is not for everyone, yet you seem to keep your wits and strength about you. Indeed, indeed ... it is something of special interest. Shall we catch up with our new friend and be about our business?"
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Daq Bekkar
- Citizen
- Posts: 369
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:49 pm
- Name: Daq Bekkar
- Race: Humanoid Construct
Re: The Fix [Open]
Daq noticed the two lagging behind, so he stopped. He was glad for the moment's rest. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, but his pack seemed to weigh on him more heavily than before. He placed his hands on his hips, shifted the pack around on his shoulders and caught his breath. The others had stopped briefly to chat with one another. Daq noticed with mild interest how Pagusel had shielded her eyes from the hitman, refusing to make eye contact.
They were still a bit more than an hour out from the gates, and Daq wondered how the two would handle the time together. Things had always seemed a little tense between them, and the man's advances seemed to be putting Pagusel off. He seemed unable to grasp or appreciate the enchantingly aloof fickleness of her habits, especially her inclination towards privacy. So far, she had seemed to put up with him with a gentle kind of annoyance. Daq wondered briefly if her extreme calm was just a mask that covered some kind of illness. Though he dismissed those thoughts quickly, they remained in the back of his mind. What kind of woman was he really dealing with? She was very strange.. more strange than almost anyone he'd ever met.
"Very unsettling," he muttered to himself as they approached.
"I hope you two weren't gossiping about me," he said. He forced a chuckle, which came out sounding rather nervous. "Well.. uhh. Let's get moving then?"
They were still a bit more than an hour out from the gates, and Daq wondered how the two would handle the time together. Things had always seemed a little tense between them, and the man's advances seemed to be putting Pagusel off. He seemed unable to grasp or appreciate the enchantingly aloof fickleness of her habits, especially her inclination towards privacy. So far, she had seemed to put up with him with a gentle kind of annoyance. Daq wondered briefly if her extreme calm was just a mask that covered some kind of illness. Though he dismissed those thoughts quickly, they remained in the back of his mind. What kind of woman was he really dealing with? She was very strange.. more strange than almost anyone he'd ever met.
"Very unsettling," he muttered to himself as they approached.
"I hope you two weren't gossiping about me," he said. He forced a chuckle, which came out sounding rather nervous. "Well.. uhh. Let's get moving then?"
...
Re: The Fix [Open]
Pagusel did not turn to look at Kutlin, but did periodically tilt her chin upward for a moment, her gaze kept low and forward. In this way she kept sight of Daq from behind the obscuring hood that covered most of her face. However awkward the act itself, Pagusel managed to pull it off fluidly, as this was likely a common method of navigation for her, or anyone who made a habit of traveling under a face-obscuring hood.
"Mister Sir," Pagusel said after Kutlin finished his entreaty. She lifted her chin to spot Daq standing still, and she gave a small start before continuing forward, more slowly. Perhaps it was the almost strenuous pace of travel that was confusing Kutlin to the point that her meaning didn't come across.
She still didn't look at him, but kept walking forward to where Daq stood. "Whether it was my constitution or my mental acuity that intrigued you at the party, I must insist you discontinue your advances." Pagusel said this all--even then imperative 'insist'--in a level tone devoid of any intent at charm.
"Perhaps you are intrigued by my aptitude for something, but I don't understand your dialect. Indeed, you understood the process of the queue after all, and yet we clearly suffer a more conspicuous gap in communication."
Pagusel was closing on Daq. As she came within earshot of Daq, she finally said to Kutlin, "You've mistaken my lack of a violent reaction for a tacit approval of your advances, and I cannot seem to communicate otherwise to you."
"Mister Sir," Pagusel said after Kutlin finished his entreaty. She lifted her chin to spot Daq standing still, and she gave a small start before continuing forward, more slowly. Perhaps it was the almost strenuous pace of travel that was confusing Kutlin to the point that her meaning didn't come across.
She still didn't look at him, but kept walking forward to where Daq stood. "Whether it was my constitution or my mental acuity that intrigued you at the party, I must insist you discontinue your advances." Pagusel said this all--even then imperative 'insist'--in a level tone devoid of any intent at charm.
"Perhaps you are intrigued by my aptitude for something, but I don't understand your dialect. Indeed, you understood the process of the queue after all, and yet we clearly suffer a more conspicuous gap in communication."
Pagusel was closing on Daq. As she came within earshot of Daq, she finally said to Kutlin, "You've mistaken my lack of a violent reaction for a tacit approval of your advances, and I cannot seem to communicate otherwise to you."
Re: The Fix [Open]
He laughed and as he was starting to fall behind, leapt up in a jog and has he passed her told her "Well it ain't the damned first time I've read you twitchy women types all wrong." He was now ahead of her and fairly close to Daq.
"Let's get this shite over with so she won't have to deal with my 'ahd-vahn-cez'."
Well he was about done with this whole situation. This was exactly the reason he hated working with other people, you never could figure them out. He certainly never worked with a woman. They were scheming and sly to begin with and if they weren't the ones trying to put a knife through your throat, or the ones you would have to rescue from 'said' villain.
As far as Kutlin was now concerned, maybe he had jumped into employment just a tad too soon. Who wanted to work for a doped up man falling for a woman who was so constantly drugged up and stuck up to realise it. What is it with this crazy world?
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword pressing down so that the sword would present itself more horizontal, it was dangling and shaking while he ran and he was irritating him. He reached Daq and slowed down to mimic his step.
"Okay Mr. Daq, exactly how damn far is this place? Your crazy if you think I'm walking a mile to the place just to walk a mile back with an arm full of your equipment. I've seen the stuff you would use, it's heavy, fragile and damned awkward to carry."
He looked at Daq but he almost didn't seem to hear a thing Kutlin was saying. This aggravated Kutlin more than it usually would.
............To be honest everything seemed to be bothering him more than usual. The atmosphere at the club was annoying but he usually wouldn't have reacted as he did. The man wanted him to retrieve his stuff FOR him,why? Why would Kutlin take such a stupid job? Mail carrier? Was he serious with himself?
He almost seemed like a different person than he had been just weeks before. Sure, it was a new town, but never before had a new town made him react in such a way.
His mind was racing, his body was hyper and it was if he just wanted to run and run all the way to Daq's workshop and then run and run all the way back.
He almost considered it for a second before he realised what was going on.
Before he had approached Daq he had ordered a drink. The man he ordered it from said it would put an extra kick in his step and keep him alert. Physical acuity and mental alertness were prime points in an assassin's repetoire. Maybe he had drank something else more than just an energy drink.
"Daq, I've been drugged."
"Let's get this shite over with so she won't have to deal with my 'ahd-vahn-cez'."
Well he was about done with this whole situation. This was exactly the reason he hated working with other people, you never could figure them out. He certainly never worked with a woman. They were scheming and sly to begin with and if they weren't the ones trying to put a knife through your throat, or the ones you would have to rescue from 'said' villain.
As far as Kutlin was now concerned, maybe he had jumped into employment just a tad too soon. Who wanted to work for a doped up man falling for a woman who was so constantly drugged up and stuck up to realise it. What is it with this crazy world?
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword pressing down so that the sword would present itself more horizontal, it was dangling and shaking while he ran and he was irritating him. He reached Daq and slowed down to mimic his step.
"Okay Mr. Daq, exactly how damn far is this place? Your crazy if you think I'm walking a mile to the place just to walk a mile back with an arm full of your equipment. I've seen the stuff you would use, it's heavy, fragile and damned awkward to carry."
He looked at Daq but he almost didn't seem to hear a thing Kutlin was saying. This aggravated Kutlin more than it usually would.
............To be honest everything seemed to be bothering him more than usual. The atmosphere at the club was annoying but he usually wouldn't have reacted as he did. The man wanted him to retrieve his stuff FOR him,why? Why would Kutlin take such a stupid job? Mail carrier? Was he serious with himself?
He almost seemed like a different person than he had been just weeks before. Sure, it was a new town, but never before had a new town made him react in such a way.
His mind was racing, his body was hyper and it was if he just wanted to run and run all the way to Daq's workshop and then run and run all the way back.
He almost considered it for a second before he realised what was going on.
Before he had approached Daq he had ordered a drink. The man he ordered it from said it would put an extra kick in his step and keep him alert. Physical acuity and mental alertness were prime points in an assassin's repetoire. Maybe he had drank something else more than just an energy drink.
"Daq, I've been drugged."
*Fwoosh*
-
Daq Bekkar
- Citizen
- Posts: 369
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:49 pm
- Name: Daq Bekkar
- Race: Humanoid Construct
Re: The Fix [Open]
Advances? Daq wondered what they had been talking about. It certainly hadn't been gossip about him. Something about the way Pagusel had said "lack of violent reaction" seemed to imply a certain familiarity on her part with violent reaction.. And the young man didn't seem to be cutting himself any breaks, calling her a twitchy woman type and mocking her accent.
In truth, it was Daq who was beginning to feel a bit twitchy about everything. His traveling party was... incompatible.. to say the least, and with the black smudge of Marn's gates just barely visible on the horizon, he was starting to have misgivings about the risk he was taking. The comic antics of the young man didn't speak well for his combat ability. Most warriors seemed to have a more level bearing. Zebren, for instance, would have simply shrugged off the woman's rebuffs. Or killed her.
It was that final unknown that weighed most heavily on Daq. Going into the city was much like performing a reaction in an unwashed glass. Who knew what was lying in wait for him, a hidden contaminant ready to spoil his carefully planning? Or worse.
The young man was talking at him, but Daq was mostly tuning him out. It wasn't far to Marn, and transport wouldn't be an issue. And then came the young man's sudden revelation.
He held the lantern up to the assassin's face, and the signs were immediately clear. His skin had a clammy sheen to it, one that wouldn't be the result of such a short walk. His pupils were already dilated because of the darkness, but their lack of contraction as he held the lantern to the man's face was another clear sign.
"Maybe," Daq said. It was a lie. The drugging was clear, but there was nothing to be done. The effect had already taken hold, and any counter-cures would simply cloud the body's systems, only further delaying a recovery, which, he guessed, would take hours.
"But it's unlikely," he continued. "Most addicts don't take to drugging strangers. It's more likely that you have a second-hand high, caused by the proximity to the drugs being used. It should pass by the time we arrive, if not sooner. It's not far, just stay with me."
Daq turned and shook his head. Perhaps subconsciously, he walked closer now to Pagusel than to the young man. Though he seemed rather alert and energetic, it was clear that he was irritable, listless, even twitchy. Under those conditions, he would likely be little use against Zebren in a fight. Perhaps, however, he could provide a momentary distraction for them should things go amiss...
"Cannon-fodder," Daq thought briefly, before returning to his considerations of cutting his losses.
In truth, it was Daq who was beginning to feel a bit twitchy about everything. His traveling party was... incompatible.. to say the least, and with the black smudge of Marn's gates just barely visible on the horizon, he was starting to have misgivings about the risk he was taking. The comic antics of the young man didn't speak well for his combat ability. Most warriors seemed to have a more level bearing. Zebren, for instance, would have simply shrugged off the woman's rebuffs. Or killed her.
It was that final unknown that weighed most heavily on Daq. Going into the city was much like performing a reaction in an unwashed glass. Who knew what was lying in wait for him, a hidden contaminant ready to spoil his carefully planning? Or worse.
The young man was talking at him, but Daq was mostly tuning him out. It wasn't far to Marn, and transport wouldn't be an issue. And then came the young man's sudden revelation.
Daq whirled around instantly. "What?!""Daq, I've been drugged."
He held the lantern up to the assassin's face, and the signs were immediately clear. His skin had a clammy sheen to it, one that wouldn't be the result of such a short walk. His pupils were already dilated because of the darkness, but their lack of contraction as he held the lantern to the man's face was another clear sign.
"Maybe," Daq said. It was a lie. The drugging was clear, but there was nothing to be done. The effect had already taken hold, and any counter-cures would simply cloud the body's systems, only further delaying a recovery, which, he guessed, would take hours.
"But it's unlikely," he continued. "Most addicts don't take to drugging strangers. It's more likely that you have a second-hand high, caused by the proximity to the drugs being used. It should pass by the time we arrive, if not sooner. It's not far, just stay with me."
Daq turned and shook his head. Perhaps subconsciously, he walked closer now to Pagusel than to the young man. Though he seemed rather alert and energetic, it was clear that he was irritable, listless, even twitchy. Under those conditions, he would likely be little use against Zebren in a fight. Perhaps, however, he could provide a momentary distraction for them should things go amiss...
"Cannon-fodder," Daq thought briefly, before returning to his considerations of cutting his losses.
...
Re: The Fix [Open]
Pagusel dipped her head again as Kutlin ranted in her direction. She actually did twitch, just a little bit, jerking her hand up to scratch her ear, when he said "advances." His accent on that word did seem to fit the rest of his speech, and it sounded so out of place. It could be that he was learning this tongue as a second language and still struggling with the words. She extended her slender fingers from their crooked position and held them at the side of her face until Kutlin moved on ahead.
Pagusel was not far behind the two. She paused to gaze down at her feet. Bits of dirt and a few shreds of rotted leaves had worked their way into her sandals and insinuated themselves between her toes. First her left foot, and then her right, she lifted in turn to shake free of the foreign matter. She bent at the waist and reached her fingers in at the sole of her right foot to pluck out a stubborn twig. Pagusel dropped her foot and trotted to catch up with the men.
She caught them just as Daq was inspecting Kutlin's face. The alchemist said something about a contact high, and this struck Pagusel as humorous. She had also seen the look of Kutlin's face, which she had avoided even glancing at before. The effects were pretty clearly the result of something more deliberate than a contact high.
As they started off again, this time with Daq at her side and the troubled Kutlin playing third, Pagusel turned her shrouded head in Daq's direction. She lifted her hand, this time not to shield her face but to lift the edge of her hood. She raised her eyebrows at Daq and blinked once, deliberately, in the direction of their other partner. "Asela-sela duppy kim," she said, probably to herself, though with the intent for Daq to hear her. She shook her hood back down, and the beastly dreadlocks bobbed.
Pagusel held her left hand up to gaze at the tiny brown paper parcel she had. She held it against the distant view of the gates. With a sharp inward sigh, she tucked the parcel back into her palm with her thumb and dropped both hands to swing naturally with her step.
Pagusel was not far behind the two. She paused to gaze down at her feet. Bits of dirt and a few shreds of rotted leaves had worked their way into her sandals and insinuated themselves between her toes. First her left foot, and then her right, she lifted in turn to shake free of the foreign matter. She bent at the waist and reached her fingers in at the sole of her right foot to pluck out a stubborn twig. Pagusel dropped her foot and trotted to catch up with the men.
She caught them just as Daq was inspecting Kutlin's face. The alchemist said something about a contact high, and this struck Pagusel as humorous. She had also seen the look of Kutlin's face, which she had avoided even glancing at before. The effects were pretty clearly the result of something more deliberate than a contact high.
As they started off again, this time with Daq at her side and the troubled Kutlin playing third, Pagusel turned her shrouded head in Daq's direction. She lifted her hand, this time not to shield her face but to lift the edge of her hood. She raised her eyebrows at Daq and blinked once, deliberately, in the direction of their other partner. "Asela-sela duppy kim," she said, probably to herself, though with the intent for Daq to hear her. She shook her hood back down, and the beastly dreadlocks bobbed.
Pagusel held her left hand up to gaze at the tiny brown paper parcel she had. She held it against the distant view of the gates. With a sharp inward sigh, she tucked the parcel back into her palm with her thumb and dropped both hands to swing naturally with her step.