Rhy'Din - Assassin for hire

[Ekaterina]

Dipping of the wooden sthingy would lift a chunk of potato in a
minute pool of stew gravy, and with a slight lean forward, the bite was taken
with the slip of the sthingy into his mouth. Much like a conisseur with a glass
of aged wine, he savored the flavor for a moment, to pass judgement on
his culinary skills. A smile then broke widely across his features with the
approving nod of his head, and it was a cross between throated chuckle and
murmured purr that quietly escaped. But the moment was brief as with the scent
of baking bread assailing his sense of smell, the wooden sthingy was laid aside
on the counter closest to the cook stove in exchange for the short handled
wooden paddle taken from the same counter. Heat from the oven wafted in a single
wave when the door was opened and as the loaf of rye was removed, the smile
etched higher at each corner. With the bread set on the counter to cool,
another but more distinctive chuckle was heard in the kitchen confines. "Now
if only I had the milk to churn into butter..." Another chuckle ensued with
that as he reached for the wine glass left sitting on the adjoining counter,
taking a sip of the crimson liquid, pausing for that moment in his work.

The bay would be ridden to the stables, there she'd slip
from the horse's back and lead him inside. Tack and saddle to be removed, a
vigorous brushing to follow, then the application of water to drink and oats
to eat. Turning then to exit the stables, crossing the grounds towards the back
door of the Pub lurking ahead. Soundless was the motion as she headed towards
that back door. The scent of food was captured with that inhalation of
breath, a pause taken in step as her head lifted to test the air yet again.
Something smelled really, really good. Onwards she'd continue until that back
door was reached and pushed open to bade entry into the kitchen as was habit.
Devoid of the usual adornment of gowns today, in its place she wore that
special made leather armor. Black leather pants which clung to hips and legs
down to where they disappeared into the tops of boots which ended just below
the knee. A vest of like material was worn atop the midnight colored poets shirt
worn beneath. Various sized daggers and knives could be seen intricately
strapped to parts of her body. Long hair fell free as usual, though it was
now positioned to drape over the right side of her face, almost like a half veil
in comparison. When she stepped inside it wasn't so much the added heat
that assaulted her, but that wonderful smell. It literally activated those
salivary glands. "Something smells good." Murmured to herself before focus would shift
to settle upon Nicodemis. "Are you responsible for that which I smell?" Bit
of a grin, although it was more of a smile to now ebb it's way upon unpainted
lips.

The wine glass was quickly lowered at the sound of her voice,
and turning his head to see her entry, the smile stretched to its fullest.
"Ah, Fräulein Ekaterina, Guten Nachmittag." An affirming if quick nod of his
head was made in response to her question, and with a hint of a grin hidden
behind the smile. "That I am. And I am a rather accomplished cook as well as
baker, if I may be allowed to boast." There was a slight shift in his
expression as he noticed the unexpected choice of apparel, the sight of which caused a
light wrinkling of pressed brows and miniscule lessening of the smile as he
studied her. "Would you care for a bowl of lamb stew or have you already
eaten...?" Breaking his gaze away and essentially making an assumption, he moved
to the dish cupboard, prying open the cupboard to retrieve a bowl. "Have you
just returned from somewhere or are you about to depart?" The question was
issued over his shoulder, its ambiguous phrasing an acknowledgement that he
expected an ambiguous answer in return.

Moving over to the cook stove to slowly inhale the scent
of the stew and the intermingling of the fresh baked bread. "I was going to
head into town and eat, but I don't think my stomach will allow that now."
Head turned so she could view him with that left eye and a bit of a grin in place.
Turning with a few steps taken to rest her back against the counter as she
watched him. "Actually, just returned. I'm no longer staying at the Inn. The
weather's good enough that I've chosen to prepare a camp in the forest. Many
different routes I can take so I'll never travel the same one twice, and lots
of areas in which to lose a possible tail." Arms rose to cross beneath her
chest. "There's a small creek near and plenty of caverns, so it makes for
comfortable lodgings."

A wooden ladle was taken from the cylindrical container kept
near the cook stove and with the bowl nestled in the palm with a cloth to
protect his hand, he soon was ladling out a goodly portion of the simmering
stew. "It certainly is more difficult to follow someone constantly on the move
than it is to watch someone who remains stationary..." He had half-expected
her news and had only been uncertain of when he could expect hearing it.
Despite the thoughts that his own statement provoked, the smile remained in his
expression and the pleasantness in his tone. Leaving the ladle to rest in the
stewpot, a sthingy was collected from a drawer before the bowl was offered to
her. "Bon appétit... but I'm afraid I haven't any butter for the bread."

Accepting the bowl. "Thank you." It would be lifted to
slowly inhale the scent that wafted up from it. "Best I've smelled in quite
some time." Peeking up at him with that left eye she'd just grin. "Who needs
butter when you've got gravy? Why ruin the taste?" Teasingly stated. The sthingy
taken in hand to dip out that first bite. An expression of pure pleasure to
ebb it's way upon youthful features. No words to be spoken, just that humming
like sound of .... "Mm Mmmm!" A grin as the food was chewed and it wasn't too
long after she'd be digging in with a hearty appetite, you'd think she never
eats with the way she was attacking that bowl of stew.

Freed of the bowl, his hand reached out again to reclaim the
wine glass momentarily set aside and lift to hover the crystalline vessel in a
suggestion of taking a sip. He watched her with as much amusement at the way
she ate as much as he did at her appreciation of his cooking, and all with
the smile creeping fractionally higher at each corner. Yet after a moment,
there was a subtle belying shift in his expression, and with a brief glance
down at the crimson liquid contained in the glass, the rise of his hand allowed
for a sip taken with a quieted air of momentary contemplation. Taste of the
wine lingered as lowering the glass, his head turning on a sideways angle, he
glanced over at her. "Aloysius and I spoke this morning and he reminded me of
something, a piece of information that I hadn't remembered last eve when
talking with you."

A pause in her consumption of that food, head rose as the
sthingy was held in mid lift to slowly lower into the bowl. "Oh? What's that?"
Quietly inquired. Another moment was taken before she'd again begin the polishing
off of her stew, trying to resist the urge to lick the bowl clean; although
she'd fail horribly and do it anyway's. One of those bad habits that's picked
up when you distance yourself from social graces for too long. The bowl would
be set aside before she'd turn to focus that pale eye upon him in full
once more.

"Rum Hill." Said simply, the two words were spoken as if that
were all the description needed, yet knowing the contrary to be true, another
sip of wine was taken before he explained more fully. "It's where I knew
Cricket to be living last. From what both I and Aloysius can remember, it's
a moderate estate just outside of a small town of, I believe, the same or a
similar name. But it's not easily found, it's well secluded by thick woods
and the path little more than a horse cart trail. There was an uneasy truce
between her and the town's inhabitants, quite simply they were afraid of her
and kept their distance." It was at that moment the sound of the pub door
being loudly opened, as clearly heard in the kitchen as if it had been the rear door
instead of the front. The glass was set again on the counter before the towel
wrapped about his waist, serving as an apron, was removed. "Seems we have
company..." Soon after, he was making his way into the common room.

With the sound of the door, any comment about to be made was stilled at that point. A glance over to
Nicodemis, then back to the door, which lead to the common room. It would be in Nicodemis'
wake that she'd follow the few steps behind. When he entered the room, shortly
there after so did she herself. Unlike the attire of the proprietor, her's
was of leather breeches tucked into the tops of knee high boots of midnight black
coloration, as was the leather vest worn over the midnight colored poets
shirt worn. Strategically placed about her person were numerous daggers and
throwing knives strapped firmly to her form. It almost gave her the appearance of
being the owner's personal bodyguard in the way she moved behind.

[Ekaterina]

Shaking his head with a quiet chuckle and a grin, Ekaterina's departure back into the pub was caught in his side vision, and leaving the two men to their own devices, he was soon stepping inside the pub himself. "The young man is too harsh on himself, if only he could see that what he does is an uncommon talent." Reaching the halfway point between door and bar counter had him stopping as his words brought a thought to mind which encouraged the smile to the proportions of a grin. "Much like playing the violin..." A chuckle followed that as he continued towards the bar, to slip behind the counter.

Glance over to Nicodemis with the slight rise of a brow and a light chuckle. "Point made Mien Fruend." He had her smirking at this point. She'd slip into the kitchen first to find that pitcher of what she now had a taste for. Upon finding it where she left it yesterday, she'd carry it back to the common room as she eased behind the bar in search of a glass. "I made some lemonade yesterday. It's steeped all day and night, so it should be ready." Offering to Nic after claiming a glass and filling it with the bright yellow liquid.

His original intention had been to pour out another glass of wine, or even to fill a snifter with brandy, but the offer of lemonade he found more appealing and gave a nod of his head, his hand held out in anticipation of taking the glass from her when filled. "You make me feel inadequate, did you know that?" Though the smile hedged on being a grin, it was still gentle as was his voice. "I feel like a hollow figurehead of an owner when it's you, and Aloysius, that actually take care of the pub."

Soft chuckle as she handed over the filled glass, snagging a second for herself to be filled once he grasped that offered. "That is until business picks up and you become overwhelmed with the required paperwork involved." Glance over at him with a grin as she set the pitcher aside to claim her glass. "Besides, my presence here is only until my lessons are considered paid in full, then it will be back to you and Aloysius again to fend for yourselves." Teasingly added.

"Ah, now I see..." Mock sagely nod of his head was in humorous contrast to the grin that became fully apparent as he furthered the teasing. "A diabolical plan, that, to leave me drowning in a sea of paperwork and Aloysius to be left at the mercy of the patrons." Another mock of a sagely nod was made as the glass was raised and a sampling taste taken. The effect was immediate, and much like her reaction when she had sampled the stew. Lifting the glass level with his gaze, his expression was appreciative, and in the next moment, as he spoke, dark eyes were shifted to focus on her. "But before you abandon us, I insist you surrender the recipe for this lemony nectar."

Soft laughter to sound as she peeked over at him with that single crystalline blue. "Besides, it's a proven fact, men who tend bar attract women, who in turn attract men, thus an influx of business. As fine looking as Aloysius and you are, combined with your sweetened demeanor, this place will undoubtedly flourish. Where as, I am more like the very fruit in which this drink was made of." Chuckling as she spoke, lifting the glass for emphasis of her words. Slow nod. "It's actually quite simple, it's just the steps have to be followed in proper order." A grin before that glass was raised to take a slow enjoying drink. Had to admit, she did make a mean lemonade.

"And here I thought the secret was in the lemons themselves." Lifting the glass quieted the chuckle, but pitched hues remained on her as another drink was taken. For a moment, he studied her over the rim, his focus held in particular to the flaxen curtain that concealed the right portion of her face. He debated on the importance of asking the question as much as he debated on the importance of the question itself, and such a debate could be seen in the depths of his dark gaze. Yet, he said nothing as lowering the glass, he lowered his gaze to the bright yellow liquid. Another silent moment was passed between them before a decision was made and advice offered in place of the question. "Some say that applying a piece of cool meat can reduce swelling and to an extent, discoloration..."

Glass lowered as focus turned upon him, left brow to rise slightly. "Meat? After the heavy purse I just paid to the apothecary for a remedy. I was always told they were charlatans, perhaps what's said is right." A bit amused, touch of a grin to form before her head tilted downwards to peer into her glass. "Well, lemons are the important factor, they have to be ripe and fresh." Glance back over at him. "You can use various citrus fruits to gain the same effect for different tastes either alone or in combination."

Lift of his gaze removed his focus from the lemonade to again redirect towards her, a slight frown forming in the otherwise understanding expression his features held. Again silence hung heavily between him before it was broken by the softened timbre of his voice. "If you wish not to tell me, I'll respect your wishes but it can't abate my curiosity...or my concern as a friend."

A bit of a frown as she looked down at her glass. Slowly her hand rose to brush back that curtain of golden strands. Right eye was black and blue, reaching down into her cheek. Bottom of jaw held the same coloration, at least the swelling had gone down that nearly closed the eye completely. She'd look up at him, now exposing the damage in full. "I was attacked at Bess' bar, taken off guard. I refused to give the man what he wanted, so this was what I got in return. I fought back, he didn't like it, though it did eventually get him to lose interest in me." Hand would move to draw that curtain of hair back over her face. "Packed crowd too, not a single individual came to my aide until long after he drug me outside and had me pinned down bruising his hand upon my face." A bit of a bitter tone there.

Visibly, his posture stiffened as he listened to her and a few disturbing scenarios were called to mind. Inhale was drawn harshly through the nose, and with a moment's hesitation, the exhale was released with the same steady and subtly audible sound. "And what was it he wanted?" The question was asked in a pointed yet hushed tone, but the anger harnessed behind the words weren't intended for her, but the nameless and faceless man raising his ire.

She'd look over at him. "What does most men want of a woman Mien Herr." Leaving it at that, the distaste of the whole situation again to touch upon her tongue. "If I hadn't been wearing a d**nable gown, he would have got his in return, I promise you that." A pause as her glass became visual point of focus. "Though he wasn't a man like you or Aloysius. His flesh was cold to the touch, his eyes gleamed red when I angered him. One thing is for certain, I'll never forget his face. Time is on my side, next time it will be I catching him off guard." Conviction could be heard in her tone. The glass rose and she took a healthy drink of the lemon drink, as if to wash the bad taste out of her mouth that reflecting upon that night had created.

Fingers and thumb tightened about the glass, the knuckles turning white with the effort, but restraint was what kept the glass from shattering in his grip and spilling the contents in a sudden downpour. Thirst had been slackened with the initial sips of the lemonade but understanding fully what she wouldn't expound on obliterated any lingering thirst. Dark hues turned downward to the glass in hand, noticing the white of his knuckles spreading through his fingers to discolor his flesh. It was with an odd, languid precision that the glass was set to the counter as with another inhale, he calmed himself back into sensible rationality. "Verdammtes Tier." The two words were quietly uttered and hardly above a whisper before with another calming breath took, his gaze again returned to her.

Looking up at him. "Now you know the reasoning behind the veil. I didn't wish to draw this type of reaction." She could see the tenseness in his stance. "I've been through worse before, it comes with the territory. Noble born and bred I may be, but I'm viewed as nothing more above a prostitute." Small shrug of her shoulders as she turned to set her glass aside. "I guess in a way, I don't differ much than they. I sell myself for large purses to see that another's darkest desire is fulfilled fully." Slight touch of a frown to ebb upon youthful features as she stared upon the glass now settled on the counter. "I'm the bad thing that happens to good people, Nicodemis."

[Ekaterina]

"Good is relative term." His voice was kept to the soft
volume but the harshness from before had faded from the timbre, in effect,
lessening the anger. "Unless a person can rightfully claim sainthood, no one
can be seen as wholly good." A drop in his gaze was countered with a rise in the
same, and as the anger faded further, the rigidity in his stance eased away
as well. It seemed there was something more to say on that particular point,
but such thoughts were kept secret. "I can only imagine what else you have been
through to compare to this but still, that doesn't excuse--" Abruptly, he
stopped with a shake of his head, his eyes closing for that moment. "It
appalls me is all, and it offends me as well."

Head turned as she looked over at him, a moment to study
him in the silence that followed after his statement made. "That's because
you're a good man, Nicodemis, one who inadvertently changes the lives of
those you come to cross." At this although slight it was, a genuine smile would
appear. "It's people like you that gives me faith in humanity, that they
aren't all like those with whom I do business with. A rare breed are those
like you and Aloysius, which is sad to say the least."

The smile returned was slightly more in response to the one
offered but still the sincerity behind it was true. "Thank you, Ekaterina."
Simple was the gratitude behind the proffered words, but as with the smile,
the warmth behind his quiet utterance was as genuine. Exhale followed inhale with
his shoulders visibly but minutely rising and falling with the effort while
the smile took on a fraction of increased length. But after a moment, the
curvature relaxed into its former crease. "If only I could influence those that
truly need influencing, perhaps humanity could see its salvation...?" Though
there was a shred of teasing behind the words, it was more the rise of a
single brow that brought a better focus.

"You influence more than perhaps I think you realize. Just
to sit and speak with you is an enlightening experience." Smile would take on
that rare showing of warmth. "You were able to befriend an ice queen, get her
to drop those protective barriers and trust in someone. Something I
haven't done since ...." A pause, she'd turn to snag that pitcher and refill
her glass. "...Something I haven't done in a very long time." Finishing off
her statement, she'd turn with that pitcher in hand and hold it up. "Need another?"

A nod was given in partial response to her question, and with
a gentle push across the polished grain of the counter, fingers and thumb
lightly wrapped about the glass to keep it steady when she poured. Dark gaze
would flit between the glass and her face, ultimately holding to the glass with
the last drop of lemonade poured to fill the vessel. "As much as that pleases
me, I can only hope that I haven't caused you to lower those barriers enough
to make yourself vulnerable. I mean, there is something to be said for closing
yourself away." Aloysius came to mind with that thought, but nothing more was
said.

Filling his glass, the pitcher would be set aside as she
looked up at him. Slow shake of her head. "Only in the friendship I hold with
you and Aloysius. I am still the person I was before I met you, that's not
something that won't change anytime soon. I've been this way for too long, it's
not like changing a shirt or into a gown from leather armor. I'm not a nice
person, nor will I ever claim to be, except in the instance of those like you
two and any other that might be gained as a friend in the passing of time.
Though I don't see that being something that will happen again soon." Bit of
a smile as she turned to take her glass in hand. "I've always took pride in
watching men run away from me." Side long glance over at him. "I'm not ready to
give those bragging rights up anytime soon either." A bit of a grin.

"Oh, in that case..." The glass was let go as easing past
her, he was slipping out from behind the counter, hastily but teasingly
explaining his actions. "...I should be running away to keep your rights
intact." Chuckling, he made a half-hearted attempt to dog-trot towards the door, but upon
curling his hand upon the latch, the other was raised to his chin. "Wait, I
can't do that." Though his head was partially turned in her direction, it was
only his eyes that fully rotated to capture her in his sight while a wide grin
spread across his face. "This is my pub. I certainly can't leave my pub, now
can I?" With that, a chuckle bordering on a laugh was let go.

Amused she'd watch him, slowly turning as he headed
towards that door. It was his pause and that which he spoke that caused her
laughter to softly sound as she slowly shook her head. "Well, you could, but
you'd eventually have to return, since you do live here after all." Her laughter to
continue with those words spoken. Amusement gleamed brightly in those pale
blue pools. "Besides, you I don't mind having around, it's ones like that
knight that was in here earlier..." Making a face. "...sometimes It's hard to
restrain my hand from wanting to cut their tongues out of their mouth."
Slowly shaking her head again. "Acting all miffed because I insulted them,
what do they think they do to me, or women in general, talking to them like that?" Soft
tsk tsking. "And denying the very act he was indeed performing. Now those
kind, I find great pleasure in chasing away!"

Hand came away from the latch as turning, he favored
retreating back to the bar and her company. "Had you been dead set, I would
haven't interfered but only requested you do so outside. The bloodstains, you
know..." The hand that had released the latch absently waved about predominantly
indicating the door over the pub's furnishings as emphasis of his words. A
stool was claimed with his easing onto the seat and the glass of lemonade
reclaimed as well for a sip. "Some men simply haven't the brain to strangle their
tongues."

A grin to ebb it's way upon her lips. "I'll remember that,
keep it outside, no bloodstains on the furniture." Slowly nodding as that
glass was lifted. "That's a task I can do with ease." Head tilted slightly as
she chuckled softly. "That is so true..." It was then she paused and her grin
took on a mischievous turn. "You know, better yet, I could drag them out
behind the stables to bury their face into the dung pile heaped there. Not
that they'd really notice since they usually create a quite sizable pile with the
words they sputter forth." Another grin that was soon hidden behind the glass
as it was raised to sip from.

A chuckle came first but was soon squelched with the sip of
lemonade taken, and for a brief instant as the glass was pulled away, he gave
the vessel a nod and murmured quietly. "Mmmm, yes, delicious." Lowering the
glass more had it hovering just above his lap as he shifted some on his seat,
effectively seated sideways to the counter's edge. His voice was raised to
his standard conversational tone with a belying grin. "Oh, I don't know that
it would be all that true that they wouldn't notice. Perhaps not that it was dung
their faces were being pushed into but that it wasn't their dung."A shrug
would follow that. "Maybe like certain wild animals, that particular breed of
men leave...markers...?" Realizing he was creating an
inconsistency in their conversation, he simply chuckled, leaving off the
thought vocally unfinished in favor of another thought. "Then again, maybe
you could just chase them away in the direction of the nearest cliff."

Snap of fingers prior to that index directed at him. "Now
that's something I never thought of. Good idea Nicodemis, I'll keep that one
in mind." Grinning largely, then a chuckle. "I guess that's why I came to
even consider you as a friend. From our first meeting, you have always treated me
proper, to actually sit down and converse with me on subjects that varied on
so many ranges." It was then she offered a smile. "Aloysius is the same way.
I feel comfortable in the both of your presence, never threatened. I like
that."

The grin took on the properties of a smile as with a canted
nod of his head, he acknowledged her last few words. "I've always felt that
to confine oneself to a single subject ultimately makes for trite and boring
company, not to mention conversation. I mean, there are so many interesting
things to discuss that can open up opportunities learn not only about the
person you converse with but the world you live in." At that, the glass was
raised for a sip of lemonade. "Personally, I find that the more things I can talk
about with someone, the more interesting that someone becomes to me."

"I agree fully. The one thing I truly enjoy, is listening
to someone who speaks with passion. Everyone has one area in their life that
they hold feelings for." Hand rose to motion towards him. "Like yourself ...
that violin is your passion, you can hear it in the music you play. I have
heard violinist in the past, but few can I say have touched me deeply, moved
me with the music they played." Hand lowered to rest atop the bar. "You're
one who has been able to accomplish that." A bit of a smirk. "You've soothed the
savage beast Mien Herr, a proud accomplishment that." Teasingly meant, even
if there was a heavy thread of truth involved.

Glass met with counter but still his hand remained wrapped
about its roundness while with the opposite elbow bent to the wood surface,
his chin found its rest in the curved palm. "Passion comes from the heart,
and that's where my music comes from is the heart. I've been told that passion is
the pouring of your soul into something, whether it's music, art, whatever."
Fingertips idly turned the glass around within their grasp as for a moment,
dark hues fell on the vessel. "I remember the first time I held a violin, it
was almost like...falling in love." A quiet chuckle was heard before he
continued. "It's hard to believe but I think that, that first screeching note
I tortured my teacher's ears with was the spark that ignited the passion I play with
today."

Softly she'd chuckle. "Ahh, so that's a given then, the
self torture that an instructor subjects themselves to." More of a smirk to
appear and another chuckle to follow. "Although, you have to admit, the
sensation is quite euphoric in nature. Sometimes to steal your own very breath away
with the realization of what's gained within yourself." Glass lifted to pause
midway as she gazed down at it, a pause as that silence engulfed the room for
several moments. "What makes it all the more amazing is when you get to
capture a glimmer in another's eye..." A bit distant. "..the appreciation in
what you've done. It's the motivation to continue on, pushing yourself
further to do better." Glass lifted to take a sip before it lowered, upwards glance to
refocus upon him as she smiled. "The good things in life!"

"Here, here...!" His response wasn't quiet but somewhat
softened from the tone employed moments ago, and lifting the glass from the
counter, he held it aloft as if in offering or countering a toast. A sip was
taken afterwards with his gaze lowered to the point of his eyes appearing
completely close, when in reality, they were merely slits. Once the glass was
lowered again to the counter, his hand reluctant to abandon it loose hold,
pitched gaze was lifted to reveal dark hues that with a glimmer of caught pub light, his
smile returned if having never left. "There just isn't enough appreciation in
the world for the good things in Life, so many undeserving people taking them
for granted."

"Yes, there is. I of all people can attest to that. Not so
much because of how I live my life, but in what I live my life doing I see it
all too often." Looking down at the glass. "There have been times where I
wanted to strike out on the financial backer of a contract, than the intended
mark." Brows furrowed as slowly those pale blue eyes lifted to rest upon him.
"Of course, I never do. I just do my job, collect my pay, then move on until
the next one comes along." Small shrug. "There's a lot of greedy people out
there who simply take what other's have worked so hard to gain, and get away
with it all because they're backed by wealth, power, and/or fame."

A knowing nod was offered as he listened to her, his silent
agreement in her view of the world in general. "It's the way of the World and
the axis on which it spins." Dark hues held to her, watching as he continued
in the hushed strain of voice. "Wealth and power alone are deceivingly
empowering and can never be completely satiated. Oh, there are those that can
content themselves with maintaining a level of comfort but as it's a
constant need even without the desire to have much more, a person remains
unsatisfied." Pitched hues would be lowered with the last spoken as a
momentary silence captured the room. "I haven't always been good or even
good-hearted..." The admission was made with quieter voice then from even moments before. "There
was a time when, by how you described yourself, I was very much the same. The
guarded exception to this was Aloysius."

Brows rose with that admission. "I find that hard to
believe seeing the man that's before me now. If this is so, what brought
about the change and why?" Piqued interest was placed upon him as she slowly
studied his features. Head to tip slightly to the left side with the last of his
statement. Brows had long since lowered now rose slightly again. "How so?"
Referring to his understanding of her ways. "What do you mean by the guarded
exception of this was Aloysius?" Perhaps there was a deeper kindred form of
their friendship not before realized. That unconscious part of each
individual that had a near pheromone effect with it's draw of others.

"Back then, he was the only person in whom I could trust and
confide. Granted, there wee those times when he would stand against me,
unrelenting in his efforts to show me the errors of my ways, but he was the
only person who knew me for the person I was." A pause was taken for a languid sip of
lemonade, the glass replaced to the counter before continuing. "But no matter
what dastardly thing I did or how loathsome I could be, he remained at my
side. Not that he approved of or supported anything I did, but he never turned
his back on me."

"Something you're lucky to have, Nicodemis. He's someone
who has stood beside you for a very long time. Not many get the privilege of
having anyone like that for a short period." Bit of a smile to appear. "Lucky
are you to have someone like he, and he's lucky to have someone like you to
watch each other's back." Glass lifted to take another sip before it was
returned to it's prior home upon the bar's surface. "When they're there
through bad times as well as good, there are parents that don't even do that."

A smile broke through as his head lifted from its rest on his
palm and the forearm lowering was laid to the polished grain. The warmth felt
from the conversation was reflected as a hazing of dark hues, the effect
momentary before the glass was quietly pulled closer but not lifted. "I am a
very lucky man, aren't I?" The jest was demure and subdued but not without
the small, slight grin. "I suppose the pivotal point in my life, which had me
reassessing myself, was meeting Indigo...after, of course, she and Aloysius met."

Brow rose, elbows now settle upon the bar and hands joined
with an intertwining of fingers, a cradle formed upon which her chin would
perch. "Really!?! What was so profound to make you stop and reflect to the
point in which you found yourself changing from the course you followed?"
Pale pools of blue were fixed upon him, curiosity wishing to be sated of not
only this turning point in his life, but the woman who's name kept coming up.
If she was going to search for her, it was best she learned some of the
woman's behavior.

[Ekaterina]

He could see by the raise of her brow that her curiosity had
been taken up a peg and such a thought had the grin altering to a smile of
the same proportion. "It was simply meeting the very woman who had brought
about such a profound change in my friend, such that I was compelled to meet her."
Silence provided a brief respite in which to collect his memories of the
past, and as he spoke again, there was a reminiscent element coloring his
gaze. "She was a gentle woman and quite the baker herself. In a few respects, she was
very much like Aloysius himself. She had a kind heart and caring nature about
her, perhaps a bit too quiet at times." Another pause afforded a quiet little
chuckle. "In essence, she was, as I saw her, the perfect compliment of a
woman for Aloysius, and he must have felt the same since he asked her to
marry him."

Listening as he described her, trying to paint a mental
picture within her mind. "Did they? Ever marry I mean?" There was so much she
had only tid bits of information on when it came to Aloysius and Indigo. The
more she learned, the more pieces of a puzzle that was being built she'd be able
to gain.

"No." The single word was quietly murmured with a hint of
regret, and followed with an inhale and its subsequent exhale. "Aloysius went
to Rum Hill to take her away, and I can only assume that Cricket finally came
to the realization that despite whatever she could do to keep Indigo with her,
she could hurt Indigo by depriving her of love...something of which I was
never sure if Cricket herself ever experienced. And so--" a quickened sip of
lemonade was taken "--Indigo left Cricket and Rum Hill on the promise of a
new life from Aloysius."

"Hmm..." A soft humming sound. A moment of silence as she
went thoughtful before refocusing upon him fully once more. "Now I've heard
two different stories on how it came to their end, well, sort of stories."
Another pause to ensure she recollected the information properly before speaking.
"Aloysius claims he simply stood by and did nothing, for that he'd never
forgive himself." Head lifted as fingers pulled apart to lower and wrap about
the glass before her. "Cricket held a venomous tone, when she asked me to ask
Aloysius where he was when Indigo needed him most." Head tipped to the side
slightly. "What do you know of what happened between them? Or what has
happened to her?"

Silence was kept as his gaze focused on the glass before him
and memories were again collected from the dusty recesses of his mind. "I
have no idea what happened to Indigo. The last I saw of her was the time I
accompanied Aloysius to Rum Hill. Cricket had begrudgingly allowed him to see
Indigo but insisted I was not allowed to set foot in the estate and thus not
be a party to what transpired. That was weeks, perhaps a month and some,
before what happened." A second silence fell between them for half the length of time
as the first. But with his continuation, brows were pushed together in a
thoughtful wrinkle above the equally thoughtful frown. "I don't know the
exact cause behind his actions, but in essence, he's right, he did nothing." It was
at this that dark hues would lift to meet pools of cool blue. "One night on
my return, I found him here in the pub, sitting here at the bar. I could tell
by the way he sat on the stool, shoulders slumped and leaning over the bar
as he was, what he had been doing in my absence. There was one empty bottle
on the counter and a half-filled one in his hand." His voice lowered as did
his gaze to the lemonade. "I could smell the alcohol on his breath even
standing behind him." Brows remained wrinkled as the frown become more of a
pursing before the glass was raised. "If I had been gone longer..." Words
trailed away as lifting the glass higher, a fairly lengthy drink of the lemonade was
drained from the glass.

There was still a few elements missing, a puzzled
appearance would work it's way upon youthful feature. "I keep hearing he did
nothing, but what was it he did not enact upon?" Forward lean on forearms as
she looked at him. "If you had been gone longer ...what?" A brief silence to linger
as she gathered her thoughts. "Why had he drank himself to such a state?"

"Because he felt sorry for himself, as drunkards are apt to
do." The quietness of his tone brought into sharper focus the flatness of his
voice as again, pitched gaze lifted to meet with blue pools of her own. "She
must have felt abandoned the morning he left the bakery and didn't return,
and it had to have torn her not knowing why when everything seemed so right
and good with the world. He, on the other hand, must have been beside
himself, questioning himself, and ultimately thinking, 'What have I done?' in a
rhetorical sense." Subtly, his tone had begun to rise with the negative
emotion behind it, and a pause was taken to draw a calming breath. "I suppose
what happened shortly after that was that he broke himself of his confidence and
began downing his sorrow in drink. He saw himself as less the man he was and
simply couldn't see how he could take on a wife, despite how much he loved
and needed Indigo. In other words...he brought about his own downfall and Indigo, I
imagine suffered for it, too."

Quite stunned she was upon hearing such information. "So
the only reason he never married the woman, was because he thought himself
not good enough?" Brows furrowed a bit in that further puzzled appearance.
Trying to make sense of exactly what happened. It would give her better direction
for the spanse of information she was gaining.

A single nod proceeded his verbal answer. "In a word, yes.
But you would never convince Cricket that was the reason. As vindictive as
that woman is, she would twist the truth and as if his intentions from the
start were to lead Indigo on and purposefully abandon her, to hurt her." Again,
he had to calm himself, finding that speaking of Cricket, even if only it was
to mention her name, he was immediately adapting a defensive attitude. "If
anything, Aloysius loved Indigo, heart and soul as I said the other night, and
the last thing he would ever want to do would be to hurt her. That's why he
will go to his grave knowing that's exactly what he did, intentional or not."

Slow nod of understanding, although hearing his play on
events, it poised another question. "How did Aloysius come to know Indigo and
Cricket?" Glass lifted to take a slow sip of the lemonade to soon after
return it to the bar's surface. She could be wrong in her suspicions, there was
only one way in which to find out.

"Aloysius met Indigo first, and through her, he met Cricket.
But not on the same occasion, at separate times." The glass was abandoned
with a slight push away before he continued. "He was on his way back to the
city and came across the bakery. I can't remember what he told me the exact
circumstances were of that initial meeting, but I do remember she was kind
enough to feed him and give him drink when he hadn't really any money to
speak of. From then, he would make return trips to the bakery for the sole purpose to see
her." A quiet chuckle was heard for a moment and a small grin was seen before
he continued. "Now how he met Cricket, I can't fully remember, but I believe
it was when Aloysius and I went searching for Indigo at The Travelers
Roost. A bit of a torrent meeting, that one was."

Suspicion ruled out and a slow nod as more information was
gathered and stored away. "It seems my answers will lie in the areas once
traveled by her feet. I'll have to ensure these area's are visited to gain
further answers." Bit of a smile as her glass was lifted to finish off the lemonade
it held, to then lower being set off to the side. "What was the turning point
for Aloysius, that caused him to finally crawl out of that bottle?"

[Ekaterina]

"Indigo." The answer was given simply and with a lightened
tone prompted by the slight grin seen on her face. "Well... That and the
sound verbal lashing I gave him when I learned what happened. But that was
some while in coming as he wouldn't tell me anything at all at first." Shifted in his
seated position had him placing some weight on the forearm laid to the
counter. "My anger coupled with the fact he had remained dry for several
years before this added weight to the importance of giving up his vice. You see, even
those times before when he would come and work in the pub with me, he
resisted the temptation. I was rather proud of him for that, too."

"Now I'm a bit confused. He corked himself within a
bottle's depths because of Indigo, lost her, then gained his sobriety because
of her?" Brows furrowed more. "So he met up with her again after he left
her?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and...no." The succession was intended to
answer her questions in order of her asking, and obviously in an abbreviated
form. "He made a few attempts but came away with failure, soon after that he
disappeared and it wasn't until several months later that I saw him again."
Brows crushed into a wrinkle as he took a moment to ponder. "Come to that, he
never did tell me where he'd been for that time."

"Ahh. All right." It was put into a better understanding
now. More information learned and filed away to conjoin all other founded out
to paint a bigger picture. "The way I see it Aloysius is as much a victim as
Indigo, and they both share the same source, Aloysius." Hands to fold
before her. "All the more reason to at least give him closure, if I can't
help him to find peace. That he'll never have until he forgives himself, and
we are our worse critics when it comes to that." Slow shake of her head. "It's just
like the lesson I learned long ago, taught to me by one I considered very
wise. He told me to never gaze upon their faces, to block them out as if they
don't exist, like a blank painting. Although I always find myself compelled to
look into their eyes.." A glance over towards one of the windows off to the
right. "I found I could do this with no residual after effects, unlike when I
first started." Slowly her attention turned back upon him. "My first two,
I remember their faces but for other reasons, their faces I had to watch as
life was drained. I knew then there was no turning back, what had started for
one reason turned into a path I ended up following to where I am today."
Redirection of those pale blues towards the same window once again. "What
happens to us is due to choice, we always have to options to pick from.
Repercussions are guaranteed to slap us hard across the face, when the wrong one is
chosen. Then there are those fleeting moments, that if not reached out to
snag they'll pass you by, in which you can find redemption. It rights not the
wrongs, but lets you know you're still alive and breathing, having not become one of
the walking dead fully."

Even as she drew her gaze away the second time, his remained
focused on her as he listened attentively to her words. "Looking into the
eyes is like looking into the soul. And when on the brink of death, you can
feel your soul touch theirs..." Pitch black gaze held level and steady for a
lingering moment before his attention was drawn downwards to reconsider the
abandoned glass with its few sips of lemonade pooled in the bottom. "Even if
you can look away or simply distance yourself by distancing your thoughts...you're
still haunted." A hand reached out to claim the abandoned glass and with a
lift, the remaining bright yellow liquid was completely drained away with the
back tilt of his head. Only a moment later, a quiet thump was almost
distinguishable when glass met polished grain.

A bit of a chuckle, although there was no sound of humor
to emit in it's presence. "Haunted. You know, when I hear people speak of
being haunted, as in their home, something they own, or an area of land..."
Attention would turn back upon him. "I find myself laughing at them. They have no
idea what being haunted is like. You part with an item, leave the home, or
never return to the land the problem is solved. But when you carry it around
with you.." Her hand lifted so that index tapped lightly against her temple.
"..that's a true haunting. These are not ghosts that can be laid quietly to
rest with some sermon delivered by a priest." Hand slowly lowered. "They
can't be rid of, tamed and controlled as long as you keep your mind stead fast, bury
all emotions and avoid long lasting interactions." Slow intake of breath,
held for but a moment as it was released in much the same manner. "It's one
of the reasons I honestly don't drink, it relaxes my mind to the point I'm
unable to keep them all contained."

Knowing was the slyness that colored his smile, and in
effect, giving it a grinning appearance. "I prefer to think I have a truce
with mine... I acknowledge that they will be with me for the remainder of my
days and in exchange, the content themselves with that and refrain
from...pestering...me." Dark hues held to that visible portion of her face,
seeing her in a different light with what he had been learning about her over
the course of the afternoon and evening. Save for his wife, Aria, and Aloysius, he couldn't
recall having conversations in which he felt as at ease at did that moment,
and he found the thought comforting in an unexpected way.

"A truce.." Light chuckle. "If only mine were that
agreeable. They're better kept sedated and locked within the cell I build
within the depth of my mind." Head tipped forward slightly as she gazed down
upon her hands for the moment. "I've heard tales told, that those who suppress their
inner demons, eventually become consumed by them to where they're driven to
the brink of madness." Brow rose as her head lifted and she'd just grin. "So
I've decided to reach that brink on my own before they can push me there and
thwart them of their eventual intent."

Chuckling was let go with a soft amused rumbling and bending
an elbow to raise the hand, cheek not chin was placed against the inclined
open palm. "I have this image of you standing on the very edge of a rocky
cliff, the sea below recklessly dashing itself against the rock face with broken
waves, and all the while you're laughing like a madwoman. You look over your
shoulder and see the wretched horde pursuing you, and that only makes you
laugh more manically before you shout something like, 'I've beaten you to it!' and
then before the first of the horde can even get within a meter of you, you
throw yourself over the cliff, laughing in triumph." Another chuckle was
heard after that, accompanied by a simple shrug and a smile taking the place of
the grin. "Of course, I hope that never really happens."