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 Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:56 pm
"Then I shall leave you to it sir. Ring for assistance, should you require it. I am usually nearby."
Bowing, Jan let himself out quietly, and closed the door behind him. Straightening his collar, he headed for the staircase once more, however with more purpose to his stride.
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:25 pm
Nines spent the better part of the next 18-24 hours diligently making sure everything was shipshape in his quarters, then enjoying quiet isolation to mull over things. As he said to Jan, his intent was to give both Roan and himself a chance to cool off, lest they begin butting heads again. He did not want to walk into another confrontation, all things given.
It was not until the next evening that he emerged once again, to politely seek Jan's guidance. He wanted to know where to find the lady of the house.
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:30 pm
Jan was generally around, as usual. Tonight, he was straightening portraits in the Long Gallery, and greeted Nines with the usual aplomb. The practical upshot of which was the information that Roan could be found on the rooftop garden, tending her beds of young rose bushes.
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Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:35 am
Polite thanks were offered, and Nines quietly excused himself to the stairwell. Pointedly keeping out of the way of those among the staff that he did encounter, he tried to make his way quickly to the rooftop garden, where he would gently knock on the door leading to the moonlit terrace.
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Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:28 pm
"Come."
The voice was somewhat muffled, and the reason why soon apparent. Beyond the door... green. Bushes and climbing roses covered the small roof top garden, with pots and benches interspersed among them in a pleasing array.
Amid the smaller pots against the wall, Roan was crouched in old clothes, with a trowel in hand and a small cutting which she delicately pressed into the soil in front of her before standing up.
Dusting compost off her knees, she sat down on the bench next to herself and wiped her brow, smearing a small smudge of dirt across her temples as she did so.
"Ah. Nines. Good evening."
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:01 am
Despite the tail, the mismatched eyes, and personal experience to know better, Nines would almost have said she looked...normal. Just for the fact that he previously couldn't have envisioned her doing something so mundane as tending to a garden. It didn't seem to fit.
Off balanced by the garden and gardener both at first, he simply nodded, before clearing his throat to break the silence.
'Evening Roan.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:25 am
Smiling as she noted how off balance he seemed, she pushed the trowel point into a pot of earth next to her and leant back.
"I have had links with the Royal Horticultural Society for a very long time. These are some rare cuttings from this years research at Kew, in London.
Human hobbies. They help keep us sane.
So. Would you like to start, or shall I?"
She sought her smokes as she spoke, before placing a lit stick between her lips and stretching her arms along the bench back.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:53 am
Very nice. Just...didn't expect to see this kind of setup.
As she lit up, Nines stood by, and quietly waited until she had indulged in her first puff. It was then that he nodded.
I believe the term "screwed the pooch" comes to mind about last chat we had.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:55 am
"Depends on which of us you are implying did so to the poor canine..."
A second smoke ring, a sigh, then she leant forward, elbows on her knees.
"You are aware, I assume, that there are to be some consequences? We have approximately three hours before Ice turns up to see to them himself, if I don't act sooner. Personally... I leave the choice up to you."
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:59 am
I think we both know who. And I do hope the staff will understand me when I say I spoke without thought, and certainly shouldn't have.
A sigh. Nines just heard news he was expecting, but didn't want to have to hear.
I understand. Whatever they are, we may as well be done with it.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:03 am
"I would recommend speaking with my head of kitchen staff. Word will filter down, and of course I will issue instructions to have your needs seen to fully."
Cracking her neck side to side, Roan stood up, her tail swishing slowly behind her.
"Let's head back to your rooms. We'll get things sorted BEFORE his Vileness turns up, and hopefully that will let me keep him away from you. Or you away from him. Either way, it can't be a bad thing, and as long as you don't go off the deep end on me, it'll leave me enough time tonight to finish planting these cuttings out."
Extending a hand to Nines, she stubbed out her smoke under her heel. Her expression was... guarded. As if waiting for another dispute between them to spring up.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:10 am
No need. I'd prefer to return to some semblance of self reliance, if nothing else. I'll speak to the kitchen staff, but beyond that I'll keep my own needs met, where possible. Again, hobbies to keep sane?
He took her hand, and nodded. Whatever lead she took, he was going to follow as best he could, with as little spoken thoughts about it as he could manage.
Lead on.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:14 am
As soon as he took her hand, the floor fell out from under them. Landing easily on Nine's floor after a shadowstep, he would likely stumble, considering he didn't know what was about to happen.
"Two things. For now. One, replacing what you sundered, and two, sending you off to do something practical.
I think you probably knew those were coming? Take a seat, and lets get those bands refitted, and you out the building before Deceit shows up. I promise it isn't going to hurt, and I think using your abilities will help you learn what you can and cant do a lot quicker than me trying to show you."
Standing next to Nines bedstand, she took out two more bands from the drawer and looked at him expectantly.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:27 pm
With the floor literally falling away from him, he did more than just stumble. His first reaction to the fall was to brace for impact. It made him look rather terribly silly as they landed; he looked like he was bracing for the floor to slap him silly, with his knees bent and his legs held wide, but it turned out to just be a slight shift that could have been easily handled.
Quickly, he recovered with no thought to how daft he must have looked. Brushing the momentary unbalancing off, he looked to Roan and shook his head.
Won't hurt. Right.
Ever the skeptic, he simply sat on the edge of the bed with no further statement; he would be stone still as she reaffixed his leash.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:53 pm
"Shadowstep. Part of the Obtenebrate Discipline. Obtenebrate is predominantly used by the Sabbat, and grants a lot of control over the shadows themselves."
She spoke as she lightly clipped the two bands around his ankle and wrist, securing them without paying much attention.
"Your first job is to deal with a fairly low level Lasombra who has use of this skill. She is believed to be responsible for the disappearance of several mortal informants in key positions in Durem. People, I emphasise, who were innocents."
Settling back, she sat down in the chair, looking at Nines.
"I can give you a good idea where to find her, but the rest will be up to you. Once you go underground... I wont have a way of tracking you directly, so please be careful. And sensible. Ice won't be able to get a fix either until you're above ground, but running would be very very ill advised.
...If I don't hear from you within 48 hours... I'll assume the worst and do my best."
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