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 Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 2:29 pm
Rajani always thought she was in relatively good shape but as she continued to run she felt her lung burning for air and her side started to hurt. Long distance running apparently was not part of her strengths and that was something she would need to work on at a later date.
With the way her body demanded she stop and take a break she knew she needed to find a place to hide. Raja wanted that shelter if she was going to cease her escape. Stopping just anywhere wouldn't do. Not if she wanted to stay away from Elsif. Her vile ex-brother was at it again, trying to take her back to a home that was no longer hers, and while she might have made great strides as far as her relations with normal people she still had a long way to go before she forgave him for the past.
So as she turned the corner to the market area and scanned the crowd she groaned. There were too many bodies to simply rush on through and she would stick out with her huffing and puffing. So that meant she needed to duck into the nearest shop and hope Elsif didn't figure out which one. Rajani chose at random which one to use and once inside she lurked by the door so she could peek out. Panting heavily she watched for any sign of the person she was evading.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 3:00 pm
Despite the joints of his limbs creaking from odd sleeping habits, Aire had been having a fairly good day. Business had been slow, which meant that his teacher's clients either kept in good health... Or, like today, had gone and asked the man to make housecalls, which left the 'prentice to mind his lab. Most neighbours were wise enough to steer clear of it, but every so often some child would work mischief, and no case was currently urgent enough to leave it to chance. Besides, the boy slept there anyway, and doubled as a cheap guard.
Having breakfasted on dried meat and washed greens, he'd got right to the experiments the old alchemist had left to occupy him. In this case, working dyes into an adhesive compound to see if it could be heat-activated under mere sunlight. The principles of the work still eluded him, but Aire's teacher had a habit of explaining after the fact when he was distracted. So engrossed in his notes and tool preparation, it took him perhaps a minute before he noticed the woman inside the tentflap. That because he had to hold a phial up against the light. "...Hello? Can I help you, Ma'am?"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 3:05 pm
The shifter woman was busy looking out at the crowd to see if she could find the familiar face that had followed her when she heard someone speak to her. It was enough to make her remember she’d used a shop as a hiding spot. She turned instantly at the sound and held her hammer up in an accusing manner. The head of the weapon was level with the boy’s head as she looked past it at him. Rajani couldn’t yet control the puff of breath coming and going but when a noise outside the shop got her attention her eyes moved in that direction. From where she was she was shielded from outside view but she could see clear enough that the shifter male she was trying to avoid was getting closer. Quickly considering her options she looked back at the boy.
”I need a place to hide and I was never here.” The way she looked at him said she was serious. Her hammer might be reserved for hitting bad guys only but she might make an exception if this kid gave her away to the one person in the world she wanted nothing to do with. ”Please.” She recalled that she needed to use manners and so added the last work but her tone was off. Still demanding rather than inquiring or pleading. By now she'd managed to get her panting down to deep inhales and harsh exhales but it was still obvious she'd been running away from someone or something.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 7:15 pm
That was a new one. To date, he'd never had a weapon pointed at his head before. (Except for the time with a fever patient, and to be fair, the man had thought himself captured by bandits from the clouds even before the poppy extract had taken effect.) Whatever it was, apparently this was important enough to threaten random people and remember manners at once. Thus, he didn't hesitate or change expression. Just a jerk of the left thumb towards the back-flap, and a caution, "Don't touch the glassware. Might use the insulation." Pressure was already building; the boy would flip out later, but if he could keep moving, it could be ignored for a time.
Walking over to the cabinet opposite the worktable, he opened the stained door and sifted through glass phials, searching for a pair of specific powders. Where did I put that tranquilizer? One to calm him, keep the panic tamped down artificially, and another to spill, mask any smell. Strong mint oil would turn the trick there, and this was unstoppered, allowed to clatter gently to the countertop, spilling everywhere and giving him an excuse to clean. The powder was found soon after, and a small dose poured into a beaker of water, swirling until it dissolved. The 'prentice chymist could already hear footsteps as he knelt down with a cloth...
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 10:28 pm
She blinked as she took in the fact that the boy didn't question it. After a second she nodded her head then moved. Rajani lowered her hammer and made quick work to the back where she could hide. She also made sure to heed the warning given. 'Don't touch the glassware.' She wasn't sure why that was mentioned, unless they thought she might break it. She gave a last look to the boy, watching him as he went to the cabinet, then disappeared behind the curtain, so to speak.
Not long after Rajani hid away in the back Elsif entered the little shop. He paused momentarily to let his eyes adjust to the dimmer lighting then when he noticed Aire he moved over to him. Clearing his throat to get the boy's attention he looked around at the shop again. "Excuse me.. Did a young woman just come through here? Curly hair, done in a braid to the side, crystals in bands on her arms?" As he described his sister his hands moved to elaborate.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 10:46 pm
Managing to down half the concoction before the man entered, Aire just managed not to go spare and throw things at the second intruder. "Been a quiet day in here, sir. Last person I remember was old Mailee, came in for the tincture we make for her rheumatics." And that was, barring the 'last' bit, true. The woman did indeed come by every two turns of the moon, having terrible aches in her joints. In part it was dietary, but she refused to hear it, and his teacher had admitted to a terrible affliction himself: a conscience. Also he liked the bawdy stories of her youth. They made his 'prentice blush down to his collarbone. In fact, his ears were showing a bit already at the memory. "Silly woman can't stop running at the mouth sometimes..." A small shudder, and he dismissed the memory in a shake of the head.
Having managed to soak up the oil with a rag, the slight redhead looked up again and slowly got back to his feet. "I was just working on something until just a moment ago, an' didn't notice anyone come in." Again, technically true. He hadn't noticed her entry until after the fact. "Caught me cleanin' up a spill, but that's all the excitement I've had today. Why, what's going on?"
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 12:52 pm
While in the back she could hear what was being said up front. Rajani half held her breath as she listened since she didn't want the boy to let her brother know she was in fact there. It would be a mess - literally. Her hammer being used in such closed quarters and with a lot of breakable things? It would be the equivalent to a bull in a china shop. Elsif watched the boy closely to see if he looked at all nervous. When he didn't notice anything at first he looked around again. "Huh.. I thought maybe she'd have come in here." Could he be wrong? Could she had escaped down an alley or slipped in front of a group of people long enough to throw him off? When asked what was going on he looked back at Aire. "She's just someone I've been looking for for a long time." His eyes narrowed slightly, though not necessarily at the boy. "Its time she returned home."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 2:57 pm
Forcibly tranquil or not, he couldn't hold back *some* sort of emotion. Especially as there may or may not have been at least one very dangerous person behind or before his person. In this case, quiet snark at the ridiculous turn the day had taken. Any nervousness might well be attributed to a stranger in arm's reach apparently glaring at him. "Ominous. So can I interest you in a chemical tool to assist your hunt, or...? Can suggest a couple lethargy essences." Deft, long-fingered hands hadn't stopped moving, cleaning, sanitizing while Aire spoke to the Shifter. Something told the Belrean that he wasn't going to make a friend with his second customer. Perhaps the vagueness of his business. Or his barging into the laboratory like he owned it. Or the first impression of his quarry. Or any number of things that added up and filed themselves under 'intuition'. This was going to be trouble, one way or another. Gonna have to tell the old man about this guy, just in case. "My teacher did assign me some work, and I need to get back to it if you don't want anything here."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 8:45 pm
The option of a chemical agent to help him was met with a look of surprise. He'd tried that once. Although it was more so aimed at disabling the tank of a man his sister seemed to keep close to when she was younger. Now.. well.. Elsif looked around again then half nodded his head absently. "Yeah. You have something that is fast acting and will last a while?" If he could get Rajani to pass out then he could just collect her and take her home, deal with her anger afterward. Rajani, meanwhile, opened her mouth like she wanted to protest but had to remind herself that she was hiding. Bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose she closed her eyes. If the boy gave her brother something to use against her then she'd have to be that much more careful. Or at the very least ask if there was a way to counteract the thing. She just really hoped that Elsif left the shop soon so she could escape back into the thick jungle. In there she could lose him a lot easier given a head start.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Seemingly even parts eager to please and get back to his projects, the slim redhead moved to the cabinet, sorting through phials again. The commentary didn't stop, now that it had begun. "Get the feeling you just wanna slow her down a bit. Knockout drugs are a lot more dangerous than anyone gives 'em credit for." Explanation tended to glaze eyes over if he went on long enough, and this one went distant-eyed on his own. Another tranquilizer was easy enough, and more importantly, she would still know what the man had. Leaving the unstoppered beaker at the side, he finally decided on what to offer. Something neutralized by a plant common to the area. "Baelstir. It's a slow-acting one normally, but if she's getting her blood pumping it'll take effect quicker. Put some weight on her limbs, if you dose it right. Leaves a lemony taste in the mouth, haven't figured out why yet." A small glass of a pale lavender liquid was offered. "If you're interested, it'll be about six silver coins."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 9:19 pm
Elsif waited as he was given the explanation then looked at the boy. "And the best way to administer it?" He was curious mostly to know it he had to get his sister to ingest it. Rajani gritted her teeth a little. Great! Now she had to worry about being drugged. She'd had sighed or groaned but she was still very much trying to keep quiet so that no one knew she was back there. Well, other than Aire. In the midst of her mental complaining she heard the Belrean mention the taste of lemon. She knew it well enough to know she didn't like it but now she also knew if she randomly tasted it in anything she ate there was a problem. Curiously she moved so that she could lean to the side and peek out at the pair. Of course she would hide away again if Elsif even glanced in her general direction.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 9:57 pm
. "Best done as an injection, like animal venom. Blowdart, or a blade-scratch, something like that. Oral works, but it's a slower thing, an' the taste gets stronger with the dose an' time from dosing. You could try it through the skin, but that's just a lot more hassle for less certain payoff." Alright, that hadn't quite worked. But at least it was a trick he was himself supplying, and knew how to get around. "If she has breathing troubles, do not do more than two doses. Guessing she doesn't, but just so ya know." He couldn't hear anything behind, sure, but he also hadn't heard her leave. So, it was best to wrap up the transaction and get the man gone. Setting the phial on the table, Aire took up a reed pen and inkpot, and set it to parchment. "So. I'll write you out a recipt an' handling directions, and we can settle up." It was gonna be pretty close, at only half-dose. The urge to laugh was a powerful one...
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 10:12 pm
Elsif was of the mind now that even though he'd not found Rajani inside the store as he thought he might he was glad to have come in. With something else to help him get some advantage over his sister he could surely get her home to their parents finally. He always had to return home with his head down in shame but now.. Now he had a shot at bringing his little sister home. He reached into his pocket and fished out the coin needed to pay for the new aide then waited for the receipt and handling instructions. Once all that was done and he had the chemical and such in hand he had no reason to stay inside any longer. He had a sister to find. Rajani stayed hidden and just rubbed at her own face, suppressing the urge to groan and go 'Why?' A small shake of her head and she looked around at everything once again. Just what kind of store had she slipped into? She blinked a few times as she noticed the amount of glassware there was. It made her curious about what all was in each one but she still didn't touch anything.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 10:54 pm
A thick red braid kept still, and its owner's back straight while Elsif put down his part of the bargain. At the least, there had been some profit of this circumstance. When the man left, the Belrean sank back into his seat, breathing an outward sigh of relief. That had been harrowing, and the half-dose he'd taken was good for a few minutes, at most. Aire waited a few more, making sure the footsteps did not return before he chanced getting up. Once he regained his feet, the boy turned, hand on the chair, towards the back half of his tent. "You still here, or did'ja take off while I wasn't looking?" The woman's unexpected host hadn't heard her leave, but that didn't mean she hadn't. Apart from that hammer and first impressions, it wasn't like she was familiar.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 6:57 am
Silence followed for a long time and the shifter thought about whether or not she should come out. It wasn't until she heard the boy move up front and speak that she deemed it okay to peek out. Rajani scanned the shop a little to ensure they were alone before she came out from the back room. "Still here." Obviously. While it had occurred to her that she could escape out the back she didn't think she could do so without making a bunch of noise. Or knocking something over. Raja pressed her lips together into a thin line as she got a bit closer to the red head. "Thank you for not telling him where I was." A nod of her head followed to show she was grateful. Her immediate people skills might still need some work but she at least knew when to give thanks for help.
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