Oloth -- Logs

Dawnstar Living Room
This comfortable, elliptical room is softly lit behind geometric sweeps of frosted glass supported by flowing trapezoids picked out in elegant ebony trim. The scarlet and gold flames in the recessed fireplace highlight its slate gray and lustrous jet frame, which echoes the graceful, stylized Deco trim. Dancing firelight gleams on the elegant ebony trim of recurring trapezoids that adorns the graceful dove gray pillars which rib the room. There are several comfortable, small couches, both recessed into the walls and freestanding in the room. A small matching table recessed into the wall proudly bears a refined, willowy Erté bronze. One entire wall is a huge, glass window, framed in cream draperies, and the rising sun spreads faint golden traceries in glory over all below you.

Dakini says, "Would anyone like something to drink?" She uses a bootjack by the door to remove her boots, then tosses her weapons-belt and jacket over one of the couches. She flops comfortably on the couch, settling with a contented sigh. "Hati, be a dear and get us something, would you? I think just tea for me. I've had enough honey mead for the night."

Dakini grins lazily at you from behind the reflective blue-green shades which hide her eyes. Her hair is long and tousled, a bright, red-gold mane that occasionally hides her small pointed ears. She's a tall, slender, strong woman, with small but callused hands, and well-muscled forearms. She wears a soft, comfortably loose, ivory silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over that is a sturdy, quilted, sleeveless tunic of dark indigo blue embroidered with intertwined silvery stars and ivory-gold unicorns. It is belted off snugly with a wide, well-worn leather belt. On her right hip, tied down about the right thigh, rides a holstered flechette pistol. On her left hangs a decorated and runically embossed scabbard with the plain, worn-leather-and-wire wrapped pommel of a short sword protruding from it. Sturdy, worn dueling gloves are tucked into the back of the belt, mostly hiding a cross-holstered dagger.
Currently slung over the couch is her battered, padded leather airwoman's jacket, heavily decorated on the back with a rabidly snarling, eight-limbed, winged beast, and numerous other colorful decorations on shoulders, arms, and front. Her long legs are fitted with snug breeches, and her knee-high, well-used black leather boots and jacket smell pleasingly of years of quality leather care.

Keesha settles on a perch. "I think I just burned off the last bit of mead I drank. I wouldn't mind another."

Keesha is a bat. She is relatively short, standing -- or more often hanging -- a little under 5 feet tall on clawed feet, including her oversized and elaborately ridged ears. Her grin shows a mouthful of extremely sharp teeth in a pointed muzzle, and a twinkle dances in her large-pupil'd eyes. She is covered in fine dark brown fur, almost downy on her wings, and somewhat coarser in a cowlick between her ears... her head fur is cut short to stay out of her way in flight. Keesha's arms are integral to her wings, supporting them on jointed bone spurs that extend from her elbows and wrists. Her hands fold back along the wings in flight... on the ground, her wings fold up, letting her use her hands with only a little loss of dexterity.
She wears a rather low-slung pair of shorts and a tunic split up the sides to accommodate her wing membranes. Both are in the same dark brown as her fur, and she blends easily into the shadows. An amber pendant hangs from her neck, a pouch is strapped to her left leg and a sheathed dagger is on her right thigh.

Safix yawns slightly, a little tired from the evening's unexpected excitement. "After-drinking drinks? How decadent..." She smiles. "Tea for me too, please, Hati."

Safix is a short (5 feet even), thin person with sharp features; a small pointy nose, high cheekbones, and a pointy chin ending a triangular face. Her skin is usually somewhat smudged with soot from working with fire in her shop, but under the darker bits she looks to fit into the average range of human skin tones, neither exceptionally light nor dark. Her thick mop of hair, just the wrong length to tuck behind her ears, is a sooty black. Moss-green eyes with a thin line of brownish red around the pupils peer out from under the black bangs falling halfway down her face. Though her eyelashes are also thick and black, she doesn't appear to have the dark body hair that plagues most thick-haired brunettes. She tends to dress warmly in thick baggy garments, though, so it's not like most of her skin usually shows.

Hati shifts back to elven form, standing against the door frame, and nods, "Of course, mistress." He takes note of what people wish, and vanishes to the kitchen for a moment or three.

You see a tall, fair skinned elf, as all of them seem to be. He has long, silver-grey hair, and delicate features, which would look feminine on a human. His piercing green eyes catch your attention though, with an odd sense of strength and confidence. His movements seem both graceful and somehow feral. He is wearing dark green leggings, lighter green shirt, and a leather vest and boots, as well as a black leather collar which shows clearly. The leather is intricately worked, and the collar seems to have, "Dakini's Hati" spelled out in elven script.

Safix looks at Keesha thoughtfully. "Do you need a lot of sugar to fly, like a hummingbird?"

Keesha grins. "Sugar and proteins. Flying does burn a lot of calories."

Safix nods solemnly. "Makes sense. Now I know how you keep the svelte figure."

Keesha grins at Safix. "Ayup."

Dakini snickers, then grins at the image of Keesha as a hummingbird -- now that would be madly flapping! -then smiles at Safix, "I like your new store. It looks quite nice. How's business going for you? Do you have your contact yet?"

Safix looks at Dakini. "Thank you! We worked hard to restore it from its previous owners' neglect and bad taste... I'm rather proud of it. But... what contact?"

Dakini tilts her head at Safix thoughtfully... then glances at Keesha, "Umm... you guys do know that you should pay your bribes, ja?"

Safix snaps her fingers, saying at the same time as Dakini speaks, "Which reminds me -- who do I contact to set up the, um, 'insurance' people keep talking about? Do I need to buy anti-theft protection from the Thieves' Guild?" She chuckles at Dakini's query. "Tip of my tongue, Dakini..."

Hati returns, carrying a tray, which he sets on a side table. He pours Dakini a mug of tea, and sweetens it with a little honey, before giving it to her. After that he asks Safix if she like sugar, honey, or cream in her tea, and delivers Keesha her goblet of mead. Dakini smiles and thanks Hati, taking the tea and inhaling with enjoyment. After a slow, carefully savoring sip, she grins at Safix over the cup, "Precisely."

Safix smiles and thanks Hati. "Cream, please. An old teacher corrupted me."

Keesha nods. "Been here before. It's like taxes, which there aren't many of here. One way or another, there's always some slug who needs some of your money."

Safix says, "So... how do I get a contact for the thief tax?"

Dakini says, "Well... I sort of sought out a contact, since I was in a hurry... but I suspect the appropriate person will come to you at the right time and... let their needs be known, as it were." She adds wryly, "They're rather... hinky about being talked about."

Safix says, "I'm guessing I don't just put a sign up in the window saying 'Haven't paid my Thiefs'geld yet. Please enter to apply.'"

Dakini looks faintly amused, "I know of one woman who was not just clueless, but apparently refused the, ahh... representative of the Velkyn -- and then was actually upset that she got kidnapped." She takes another sip of tea, then giggles and adds dryly, "No, not quite, Safix."

Hati smiles and prepares Safix' tea, handing it to her as she prefers it. Safix murmurs thanks to Hati. He pours himself a mug of tea as well, adding honey, and takes it off to sit out of the way, listening. He settles down, and curls about the warm cup. Dakini pats the couch, then glances over at Hati. She notices he's still an elf, "Oh, sorry... never mind. When you'd like." Hati smiles at Dakini and remains where he is, very occasionally sipping at his tea.

Safix says wryly, "Then I guess I'll have to stay open during the day more often, and start listening for double meanings in all my clients."

Dakini giggles, "Well, if you like I'll ask my contact to stop by your places of business?"

Keesha skrees, "One nice thing... if someone unofficial tries to shake you down, you can let the real Velkyn hunt them down and deal with them."

Dakini nods to Keesha, "They're quite um... they take extreme umbrage at competition." She grins, sipping her tea again.

Safix chuckles. "Sure, Dakini, if you could have your people call my people that'd be great."

Dakini nods, "No problem. Worst comes to worst, go to the Path at dinnertime, when it's crowded, and then mention that you're confused as to how to contact folks around here. They'll find you. So..." She takes a thoughtful sip of her tea, then curiously inquires, "What's the name of the drow lordling you're hunting, Safix?"

Safix looks momentarily guilty and then blinks, smiling. "Sorry, thought you meant something else. Um... I honestly can't quite remember. There are huge gaps in everything that happened back then, and his name is... missing. I remember the face, though... I think." She looks apologetic.

Dakini says, "Hm. Too bad about your memory. Well... can you describe anything memorable about him?" She pauses, about to take another sip from her tea cup, and with stern amusement adds, "And not that he's a drow -- we already know that!"

Keesha skrees, "It's not memorable around here, either." Dakini grins at Keesha as she sips from her teacup. Too true. Keesha laps at her cup... drinking upside down is an art form all its own...

Safix adds carefully, "I wasn't always, um, able to see what was going on very well, either... blindfolds, and I sometimes spent time caged, which didn't really help my, um, mind-frame at the time. Lots about him is hazy. I was terrified of him, for pretty good reason." She holds her teacup tightly and sips, stalling.

Dakini nods quietly to Safix, her humor evaporating as swiftly as the steam from her teacup. Softly she says, "Safix... if you'd rather not talk about it, do please feel free to say so." Hati manages not to growl at the idea of being kept in a cage, unhappy with that practice.

Safix grins, a little shakily but with a little real humor. "Well, he's definitely not my favorite drow, but I'm ok. It's over, right?" Dakini nods slowly, watching the smaller woman carefully. Safix says thoughtfully, "He was cruel in a very deliberate and... planned way, if personality traits help describe him. He was involved in trafficking poisons and other drugs, not just slaves, and some gemstones, but mostly the jewelry was a cover for smuggling the substances. He was very calculated about both business and pleasure, if you know what I mean."

Keesha skrees, "Sounds nasty."

Safix says, "He loved torture and money, and paid meticulous attention to detail when dealing with both."

Dakini murmurs absently, "Ssinssrigg lueth belaern... lust and profit. Have you tried the bazaar for him?" In a much less absent tone of voice she adds, "Please do not go alone."

Safix says, "Mental and emotional anguish were as much fun for him as the, ah, other."

Dakini nods, "I think it's an art form for the drow." Hati nods at Dakini's last suggestions, and sips again at his tea.

Keesha skrees, "Sounds like their style. They give us nocturnals a bad name."

Dakini smiles at Keesha, "Elitist." Her voice is teasing.

Keesha grins at Dakini. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

Dakini flashes an amused glance at Keesha, "Not I, my dear. What do you think the entire concept of nobility's based on?"

Safix smiles whitely, with sharp teeth. "I have done a little exploring... I thank you for your concern, but I don't have anyone to go with, and I've been all right alone thus far. Trust me that I've not been seen. I'm pretty good in the dark, Night be thanked."

Dakini gives the smaller woman a frankly disbelieving glance, "If you wish. Personally I wouldn't go without Hati." She tries to point out carefully, "It's entirely possible that you're being observed and allowed to do this... because it amuses someone."

Safix smiles, spreading her hands. "I don't have a direwolf to take along, or I would..."

Dakini rolls her eyes, then says gently, "Safix... have you considered asking a friend to join with you in mutual protection? Like... well, sort of like a substitute family, so to speak? And you and that person could go together?" Hati smiles a bit behind his mug, before hiding that with a sip of the tea.

Safix flutters her eyelashes. "Go together? Why, Dakini! are you asking me out?" Then she sighs. "Sorry, humor's kind of a knee-jerk defense reflex. Did you have somebody in mind? You're probably right. And since my adoptive family is dwarves and not too sneaky, it's not much use asking their help snooping."

Hati manages not to choke on his tea, or even to laugh aloud, but it's obviously an effort. Dakini tosses her head back, laughing delightedly, "Oh, you're priceless!" She grins, "Asking you out? No, I fear not... I do not pressure folk that way when there's any possibility at all that they might feel less powerful than I... it's not right." She waves a hand casually in Hati's direction, still smiling, "Ask him. He can tell you I don't."

Keesha skrees, "If you need an overhead surveillance person, I'm not too busy..."

Dakini glances up at Keesha, "Not in the caverns, Keesh. You'd be afoot then... but yes, Safix, taking Keesha along would be better than not."

Keesha skrees, "What, there's no decent overhead? Bummer."

Dakini says, "Oh, there's an overhead... but I'm not sure you could fly well in it. It's quite er... cave-y, if that makes sense. Crawl around in it, sure... fly..." She shrugs, "You'd have to check it out personally, I think."

Keesha grins. "We did evolve from cave-dwellers. That's not a problem."

Safix grins merrily at Hati's stifled laugh, then smiles at Dakini's comment. "You have no idea how hard I was not asking you guys about that aspect of the relationship... I thought it was politest not to go there." She eyes Dakini pointedly.

Dakini snorts amusedly at the small woman, "When people ask about that, I give them my standard answer... which is: 'get a life!'" She smiles lazily, "And yes... it showed that you wanted to ask, my dear." She chuckles, stretching her legs out and crossing them at the ankles, "Anything else you want to ask me, while you're eyeing me like that?"

Hati looks mildly perturbed, and says quietly, "Oh, no, there's nothing like that. Dakini would never do something like that."

Safix looks touched. "Thank you, Keesha... if there is a place you can go, I'll ask and be grateful, madam."

Keesha nods. "Seriously, I need to find that area myself. I have... things... that could be sold there at a profit."

Dakini sits up a bit, looking between the two females, "Um... are you both sure you want t-" she pauses, smiling with quiet affection over her shoulder at Hati, then continues, "Are you sure you want to be selling things there? Believe me -- and Hati too -- it is not a nice place to spend time... in any capacity." Her face is still and cold for a moment, "There's... a great deal of pain swarming there."

Keesha skrees, "Well, I need cash. I should check it out, at least."

Safix grins at Dakini, flushing slightly. "Maybe why you decided there was a need to be so damn blunt back at the Path? I wanted to drop through the floor for a while there... that's about all I have left to ask other than philosophically, Dakini." She smiles. "I really wasn't that pruriently curious about your sex life; just wondered as it related to our first discussion on slavery."

Dakini looks faintly curious... then laughs softly at the question, "Ah... that." She grins, "Well, if you're going to dally with quite possibly the most dangerously unpredictable um... man in Oloth, I'd think my small bonmot would mean nothing, ja?"

Safix blushes harder. "Who's dallying? I barely met the man! Why would he be interested in--" she waves a rather dismissive hand at herself -- "somebody like me? He's beautiful, not I." She drinks a sip of tea, looking flustered.

Dakini nods quietly, "Slavery is an honorable state, for both owner and owned. It is a responsibility, a duty -- for both. Abuse of power... that's something else again. That is a great dishonor, and fleeing such a person does not dishonor you." She smiles amusedly at Safix' last comment, adding, "Fishing for compliments? Tsk."

Safix says with obvious sincerity, "Stating the obvious." She adds a touch morosely, "It takes two... he's probably just joking." She drinks tea, then gazes into her cup.

Dakini chuckles, "Do you really need an answer to this?" She pauses, thinking... then smiles and shakes her head slightly, "Well... if you're attracting Alois, I suppose so." She considers for a moment, then tries to put things diplomatically, "Um... have you ever seen Alois eating?" Hati remains quiet, not knowing the drow in question, and trusting that Dakini knows of what she speaks. She has that habit. Keesha hisses, just for a moment before she catches herself. Dakini glances quietly at Keesha, then returns her silent gaze to Safix.

Safix blinks. "Not that I recall... drinking, yes... but I don't come to the Path for dinner all that often either. The company's nice... well, mostly." She looks wry. "Usually." She adds as shyly as a schoolgirl, "You really think he likes me?"

Keesha skrees, "Judging by scent... his diet is very odd."

Safix looks at Keesha. "I wish I had senses that acute... you'd learn a lot... it seems interesting. Can you distinguish species by scent, Keesha?"

Dakini nods, thinking how to phrase things again, but still politely, "Well... you might consider that." She pauses, listening to Safix, then sighs amusedly, "Stars, girl... did you not hear me in the Path? The commentary about naïve young women? That he doesn't usually appear to eat? Think! Dally with him if you wish, but do it with your eyes open!"

Safix says, "I did hear you, Dakini, but I was too busy being a blushing idiot to pay much attention to it. I'm a fool lately; I was much more confident in my old town, where I'd never lived as a slave -- and admittedly where there wasn't anybody I was attracted to either."

Keesha wingshrugs. "I'm not up to Hati's standards, but for simple things like that, yes. Species, gender, diet, and, umm... pregnancy have very distinctive scents."

Safix giggles. "I'm assuming Alois' secret isn't that he's pregnant."

Hati says, "Not remotely, no," and has a sort of odd look for a moment, which he loses when he sips from his mug again.

Safix turns to Dakini. "So... are you saying he doesn't eat, period? Or that he eats young, naïve girls? Does he kill them? Am I being lulled?"

Dakini chuckles over her teacup, shaking her head, "Safix... find someone you trust. Make sure they're trustworthy. If they're drow, it's usually wisest to start over and find someone else... because they consider betrayal part of the art form of torture." She gives Safix a wry glance, "You won't follow my advice, of course... like me initially, you also will think you can handle it on your own... but that's my recommendation to you. Find someone to cover your back." She pauses, then sighs, "He is dead, yes, but he's not likely to kill you, no."

Hati gets a sort of oh-that-explains-a-thing-or-two look. Dakini quietly savors her tea in the sudden silence. Safix blinks and sips tea. Keesha nods. "The diet... is extremely erratic. He doesn't eat food at all often."

Safix says quietly, "I am too trusting after years in a place where everyone was safe. I seem to travel from one extreme to another."

Hati says soothingly, "This is an extreme place, Safix."

Safix says plaintively, "But if I don't start trusting somewhere, I'll go crazy paranoid, and I've been there and it was miserable. I'm taking the chance on you folks." Keesha finishes her mead and sets the cup down. She resettles her wings and quietly watches and listens. Safix says, "I may be crazy, but I haven't liked a man in years. It's going to be hard to get rid of, scary though it is even without the dead thing. Um... how is he dead? This is confusing." She scrubs her scalp with her free hand. "I don't know why, but I like him and want to take the chance on trusting him too." She adds thoughtfully, "Aarrrgh!"

Dakini sighs, then smiles ruefully at Safix, "Well, this is probably where we're supposed to assure you that we're trustworthy, even if no one else is... but I'm not sure why you'd want to trust us." She chuckles, "Yes, of course you like him." She grins at the argh... she rather sympathizes.

Safix peers up at Dakini through tousled shaggy hair. "What's that supposed to mean, 'Of course I like him?' And what was that a little bit back where you said you understood... have you two been, um, involved? How do you know this?"

Hati finally finishes his tea, and sets the cup down on the table. Wordlessly, he shifts back to the very large wolf form, and walks over to stand next to Dakini, looking curiously at her. Dakini laughs! "Great stars, no, girl! I pick my lovers far more carefully than that! -er..." she pauses, looking embarrassed, "-sorry about that. Umm..." With relief she notices Hati next to her and shifts over a bit on the couch, changing the subject, "Heya, pretty wolf. Come hop up."

This is a huge, heavily furred dire wolf. From black nose to silvered tail-tip he is easily 8 ft long, and stands about 4 and a half feet at his powerful shoulders. His thick, silvery coat is glossy with health, and strong, curving claws tip his large paws. Long legs are built for running, and his green eyes are bright with intelligence. Half-hidden by his shaggy ruff, a wide leather collar can be seen, inscribed with colorful protective runes. In the center an elegant script can be barely discerned. In basic elvish it spells out "Dakini's Hati."

Safix says very quietly but with passion, "This is driving me up the walls. I can't sleep, some days..." She rolls a wry eye at Dakini but lets it go. "It's okay. I agree I have strange taste."

Hati comes up, but more carefully than a 'hop,' lest he knock the sofa over, and Dakini with it. He settles along the rest of the sofa, with his head next to her. Dakini rumples Hati's ears with quiet affection as she listens. She sighs at Safix' words, "If it's that bad, then sleep with him and get it over with, for heavens' sake. He's certainly not the most nasty person you could find here... you'll probably walk away intact, even if you lose your naiveté."

Safix smiles at the enormous wolf on the furniture. Hati wags his tail gently and relaxes there, listening. Safix snickers sarcastically. "Ex-sex-slave loses naiveté. Now that's a headline."

Dakini thinks a bit as she rubs the huge wolf's ears, then carefully adds, "We... met, a while ago. More than once... and had several chats, and I watched him with others." She thinks a bit more, then adds, "He's quite well mannered usually." She studies Safix unsmilingly at those last words... then sighs and shakes her head, "For a former sex slave... you should be able to see this, Safix."

Safix shrugs. "If you can't laugh at yourself..." she leaves it hanging, hands spread and a rueful smile toying with the corners of her mouth.

Keesha chuckles. "If you can't, we'll do it for you. What else are friends for?"

Dakini sighs again, leaning her arm on Hati's broad shoulders and her head on her fist. With faint bemusement she says, "Do you seriously not see this, Safix? What do you see here?"

Safix says quietly, "I've spent seven years rebuilding a life. I have very patchy memories, mostly emotional, and the skills from my time as a slave -- a very nice redheaded minstrel lass helped me discover that. Seven years learning to be a normal person has warped my healthy paranoia a bit... but..." she thinks about the answer... then sighs. "I see a powerful man who could have a one-night stand with just about anybody, bothering to be charming to a shy, stupidly naïve girl who just moved into town..."

Dakini murmurs softly, "If you want to be a normal person, girl... why are you in Oloth?"

Safix breaks off the analysis to look up and say matter-of-factly, "Because I want to kill someone, of course," then goes back to the thread.

Dakini answers Safix' self-analysis just as matter-of-factly, "New blood. No pun intended."

Safix says, "...so he logically probably wants to use me in some way. Am I guessing right so far?"

Hati flicks an ear idly, relaxed. Dakini smiles humorlessly, "For all I know, innocence tastes good to him."

Safix laughs bitterly. "He and I shall have to have a talk before we share any meals, then. The appointment we've set only involves sparring in the plans, though."

Dakini adds dryly, "In fact... I think any strong emotion will do... including your anger and bitterness. I think he usually gets fear though... that he can create himself."

Safix laughs harder. "How appropriate. I provide both lust and fear. I hope it's tasty. It's not doing me much good, I shouldn't begrudge him it."

Dakini nods, "Well, for an assassin he's pretty much an honorable fellow." She grins, adding, "A dead assassin."

Safix rolls her eyes. "Night save us all. Is anyone not here to kill somebody?"

Dakini nods quietly, watching Safix laugh, her eyes shaded, "If that is how you feel... then that is what you should do. Just keep in mind what you're doing... go into this with your eyes open." She nods, still not smiling, "Neither Hati, Keesha, nor I are here to kill anyone." Hati looks at Safix and yips once, wagging his tail cheerfully as he agrees with Dakini's statement. Dakini grins at the yip, and goes back to rubbing his ears.

Safix giggles. "The emotional thing would certainly explain being ex-lovers with Ophelia."

Dakini says, "Who, Alois? Umm... actually I don't think they were."

Safix says, "Oh... thought people were saying something about it in that light." She shrugs. "Not that it matters to me. I probably misunderstood."

Dakini pauses, trying to phrase things diplomatically again, "There are certain people who are um... attracted most strongly to the unattainable." She tilts her head at Safix, adding wryly, "Does that make more sense, I hope?"

Safix grins. "Who, me?"

Dakini says, "Who you what?"

Safix says, "Attracted to the unattainable. I honestly didn't think he'd ever notice or care 'til tonight... which encouraged the interest, because he was... 'safe.' For lack of a better word."

Dakini laughs softly, still rubbing Hati's ears, "No, silly, not you. You were talking about both Ophelia, and Alois. Them."

Safix smiles at Hati. "Oh, and I'm glad you're not planning on killing anybody, sweet wuf. I was paying attention to you too, honest." At Dakini's explanation she says, abashed, "Oh," then laughs.

Dakini studies the small woman for a moment, then deliberately says, "Hati... I bought him in the Bazaar. Part of our agreement was that he'd leave hatred behind, Safix. It's not impossible to do."

Safix buries her head in her hands. "I am an idiot tonight. If I didn't have unfinished business here and fancy living without worrying my ex-owner would eventually find me, I think I might go home to my foster family and stay there, single, forever. Who needs a sex life, or blood on their hands?" At Dakini's comment she nods. "It's a good idea. I just can't yet. I need to know I'm safe."

Dakini smiles, tilting her head thoughtfully, "Sex isn't bad, sweetheart. Just don't let a need for it override your common sense." More seriously she adds, "Blood on your hands... well, is that what you think you are? A defender? or someone who keeps the home fires burning?"

Safix says slowly, "My adoptive family found me naked in their backyard, covered in blood that wasn't my own. I need to find out what happened when I left here. I don't know whose blood it was... and I'd kind of like to know. It might make a world of difference as to whether I get to be a defender of innocents and all that, or... not so." She adds, "It's a hell of a thing not knowing if or who or how many you killed on a nice summer's night."

Hati chuffs once, somehow negatively to Safix. Dakini nods quietly, "Self-discovery is a good reason to come here. Self-defense is too. But... do you truly need the emotional turmoil of wishing to murder someone?"

Safix raises a finely arched eyebrow. "Is it better to leave him free to continue harming innocent children when I could save them by dispatching him?" She looks politely at Hati, frowning. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Dakini murmurs shortly, "I suspect he means that it's not so great to know either, sometimes." Safix decides not to pry. Dakini pauses, then asks thoughtfully, "So... when will you stop killing? Just when he's dead? There are other child abusers here... will you kill all of them too? What about those that abuse the weak -- the weak that aren't children? Surely those abusers should be dispatched, too?"

Keesha nods. "Might make an interesting long-term hobby, though." Dakini gives Keesha an exasperated glance, then looks back at Safix.

Safix nods. "I can understand that. Until I do know, though, I can't know whether it would have been better not to know. Y'know?"

Dakini laughs bitterly, "Yes, I know... I know that I didn't listen either, sweetheart."

Safix sighs, twisted smile returning. "This one's personal. After this... if I see it happening and I don't save them, who will? Too many people already say it's none of their business and look away. I'll have to find out what I'll do when I'm faced with it." She adds, "I have enough memory to know that the summer night I mentioned was not the first time I'd killed. Maybe just the first time it was my idea. Being in the city makes me remember more each week, as I remember more of my dreams when I wake."

Dakini chuckles humorlessly, "Personal? Why do the young always feel they must deal with all the world's problems themselves? What makes you think that killing one arrogant, self-centered man will make a difference in the grander scheme of things? Perhaps I'm cynical... but I've learned it's best to help your people, to keep them safe with all your power and effort... rather than squandering yourself in a fruitless effort to save everyone... including those that don't wish to be saved."

Safix says, "Faced with that to think about... I may still be a fool for liking Alois, but it's a more pleasant distraction than other things." She sighs. "As I do not actually know how old I am, I shall bow to your aged wisdom and agree with the sentiment. But as I said, whether I plan to turn vigilante or not, the truth of the matter and my feelings will only be clear when the situation comes up... if it ever does."

Dakini nods quietly, her face gone expressionless even as she quietly continues rubbing the huge dire wolf's ears, "He can probably help you find the man you want." She's silent for a moment, considering, then simply says softly, "Poor Safix... it must be lonely." She sighs, adding, "You have my sympathies. I hope your life gets... easier for you."

Safix says seriously, "You said you've watched Alois for awhile... has he 'used' many women? And have they been the same afterward? Does he hurt them?"

Dakini says, "Ask Eimi."

Safix says, "He who -- Hati? -or Alois?" She blinks. "Oh, shit. Not Eimi?"

Dakini says, "Alois. I'm very sorry, but... you seem singularly determined to harm yourself, I fear. I don't want Hati harmed in what you're doing." She sighs softly again, "Yes, Eimi... another naïve innocent. She was a sex slave too for a while." She ponders for a moment, then curiously asks, "Safix, I'm really quite puzzled... why are you so determined to do this alone?"

Safix looks repulsed and offended. "I would never harm Hati."

Dakini rolls her eyes in exasperation, "No, of course you wouldn't -- but he'd get hurt trying to defend you. Please..." She shakes her head, then just waits, still rubbing Hati's ears, to see if Safix can answer her last question. She's not entirely sure herself why it's so important to her.

Safix says stiffly, "Because I don't want anyone else harmed in what I'm doing, either. I may be a fool, and naïve, but I'll not drag anyone down with me in my foolishness if it proves to be such. I'm expendable. My family will miss me, but they have each other."

Dakini snorts amusedly, "You don't really believe that, do you? Do you really think your friends -- yes, you do have them, expendable or no -- will just stand aside and let you get yourself killed?"

Safix says, "And there's no one else either willing or who I'd allow to risk themselves for me."

Dakini laughs again! "Ah, so you won't let them make that decision for themselves?"

Safix laughs sharply. "You feel I'm determined to harm myself, and then turn around and ask why I don't want company in doing it?"

Dakini says, "Yup. Friends can pull you out of stupid situations... including attempts to get yourself killed. That's what they're for." She shrugs, "Look... all I'm asking is that you think before you act, all right?"

Safix says, "I've thought a lot, ok? Thank you for..." she hesitates, "...caring. You have no idea. I'm touched."

Hati gives Safix a long, slightly odd look when she suggests he has no idea, but settles again quickly. Dakini chuckles, leaning back against the big wolf, "Bah. I'm just being irascible and annoying. Don't listen to me... Hati never does." She grins humorlessly as she rubs his ears, shaking her head ruefully.

Safix smiles wanly. "Thank you for caring to warn me about the whole foolish, ridiculous, frustratingly desirable Alois thing, as well."

Dakini sighs, "Look, Safix. You'll do what you want to do, not the smart thing... people always do. But maybe now you'll be a little more wary, eh?"

Safix says, "If we have a one-night stand, I promise not to kill myself?" She grins.

Dakini waves a hand lazily, "You wouldn't anyway... you'd want another night. Plus it's not you killing you that we're worried about." She shakes her head again, her expression still rueful, and adds, "You're free to stay here the night if you wish... or not." Her voice is very dry as she adds, "Sleep well. But for now I'm going to bed... and I suspect Hati will soon too."

Hati sits up slowly, giving Dakini time to move, and steps back off the sofa, shifting silently to the elven shape. Dakini rises easily, slinging her weapons-belt over her shoulder, then heads for the inner door. She pauses to nod a somewhat grim good night to both Safix and Hati... then silently disappears within. Safix grins wryly. "'Night, guys." She whispers, smiling, "-and thank you... my friends."

Hati says, "Good night, mistress," as Dakini leaves. He collects the empty mugs and Keesha's goblet and puts them back on the tray, saying to Safix, "Please, be careful." So saying, he picks up the tray and takes it away.

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Last modified: 2001-Mar-24 21:20:14

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