(1865-09-16) The Fox and the Lady
The Fox and the Lady
Summary: Alina makes use of a certain semi-criminal sly Fox to find a couple of men she is looking for.
Date: 1865-09-16
Related: The Powerful Man metaplot
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Alina  Claudio  

Room Name
Room description
IC date of RP

The commons had been hit harder by the raid than some areas. Alina really shouldn't have gotten out of bed, but truthfully, lazing in bed further wasn't going to help heal her any faster. And when Marie had brought news that one of the various points of contacts in Four Corners might have some of the information Alina had been digging for…

Her hair had been darkened… but then, the previously shaved spot along her temple and back was growing back in with soft dark fuzz; showing the lie that was her normally blonde tresses. She had combed her nut-darkened hair over the healing would, and, dressed in common clothing, slipped out to do something productive. Not doing anything was giving her a headache.

So, this is why Alina al'Sylenthar, dressed in simple garb, dark-haired and stormy-blue eyed, was leaning against Kenan's Well, awaiting a contact.

New clients are tricky business when you conceal your identity and deal in recklessly illegal behaviors. This one came with proper references and a suitably large price tag. Combined, it's enough that The Fox shelves his trepidation and dons his working clothes. Close-fitting black vest and trousers, a loose, long-sleeved undershirt, a simple domino mask, and just enough leather armor in the right places that he's not completely vulnerable to attack. Tonight he also has a small, tightly wrapped parcel strapped to his back.

In an attempt to remain completely undetected, he has traveled from roof to roof to reach his newest client. When he spots her in their agreed-upon meeting place, he shakes out his bundle, revealing it to be a long, tattered beggar's cloak. He wrinkles his nose at the smell of it, but still throws it around his shoulders and pulls up the hood. The combination of mask and cloak is disguise enough that it's difficult to tell if he's old or young, large or small.

When he's satisfied, he slides over the edge of the roof, catches the gutter with his fingertips, and props his feet on a windowsill. After adjusting his grip, he drops down into an alley that runs perpendicular to the street where the two will be meeting. He dusts himself off casually, as if everyone arrives everywhere by falling from the sky, and then rounds the corner and steps into view. "I hear you've been looking for me," he says by way of greeting. "Here I am."

Alina regards her contact with some small disdain for the state of his clothing. Her hands are gloved, though in rough gloves suited for the rank she is passing herself as. One of those gloved hands gestures lightly to him, as she continues to lean against the well. "I was," she says carefully. "I understand you've a knack for certain things." She shrugs casually. Perhaps too casually. "Or information," she clarifies, when he has drawn close enough that their conversation is more private.

"I am a man of many talents," The Fox acknowledges. He holds out a rough wooden cup in both hands. He's also wearing gloves, and the fineness of the leather belies his otherwise unfortunate appearance. The tips of equally well-made boots peer out from under the edge of his cloak for a moment, then disappear when he shifts his weight. "Put something in the cup. Have to keep up appearances, y'know. Now. What can I do for you?"

A silver piece is placed in the cup, and Alina looks at him, consideringly. The craftsmanship is noted. "I have found that there are a pair of knights whose names keep coming up and causing me difficulty," she says simply. "I want them found. Ideally, found and brought to me, but if I know where they've gone…" she shrugs. "I can always have them brought to me by other means."

The Fox glances down at the silver piece, then up again and nods appreciatively. "Hmm. Two knights, you say? That can be arranged, but it will be expensive. Of course, curiosity compels me to ask what you plan to do with them." Just barely visible, the outline of his lips pulls into a small, sly smile. Still playing the part of the beggar, he rattles the coin in the bottom of his cup and bows deeply. "I'm many things, but a killer I am not. If that's your aim then I can't help you."

"Question them," Alina replies. "They have information that's valuable to me. That's why I need them brought, alive and intact. Not killed." She glances aside, musing. "Any idiot can kill someone."

"Any idiot but this one." The Fox straightens himself back up and looks his counterpart in the eye. He studies her for several weighty seconds before nodding his head. "So long as we can agree on that, I think we have an accord. Who am I looking for, exactly?"

Alina looks him over. The Fox had come with a remarkable pedigree, so to speak. Dare she trust him to keep his silence? She lets out a small breath. If she hadn't already believed it… she wouldn't be here. "The first, a Sir Robar." She shrugs. "A few search for him already." Some at her order. "Bring him to me first and I'll see you rewarded well."

The Fox salutes his newest employer with a wave of his cup and takes a small step backward. He raises his voice a fraction so she'll still be able to hear him. "Contact me via the same channels in two days. We'll arrange a meeting and I'll either deliver your knight or tell you where you can find him. Payment will depend on wether or not I'm the one who sacks him for you. Agreed?"

"Agreed. And for the second?" Alina considers. "A Sir Fitzroy. He I most wish to speak with at great length." She considers. "Both may be… difficult to find. I understand this is so." She pauses. "I have pressing business outside Four Corners and will be leaving in a day or so. However, I have agents you may speak with in my place. If that is satisfactory?"

There's a half-instant of hesitation before The Fox nods again. His hands retreat into his cloak and his cup is tucked away. "I'll arrange to leave them both somewhere close to here. This is as good a drop point as any. FitzRoy will cost you, though. He's more fop than knight, but he's very well protected. Acceptable?"

Alina blinks. "You know where he is already?" she asks, looking somewhat relieved. "One, that's good to hear. Any chance of arranging me to speak with the man within a day? Two at the outside. I must leave, but if I can have half of this thorny problem spoken with; the better."

"I believe I can expedite the process. For a nominal fee, of course." The Fox pauses to pull the hood of his cloak a bit lower over his eyes. His gloved hands appear again, this time with fingers laced thoughtfully together. "There. The abandoned tenemant behind you. I'll have him there and trussed like a turkey by this time tomorrow night. You can pick him up at your convenience."

<FS3> Claudio rolls Perception: Good Success.

Alina wrinkles her nose. "That seems… acceptable." She regards the Fox. "Don't damage anything. I need answers, and I've found people are less likely to give truthful ones when they are in pain." She scowls, and mutters under her breath. The words 'truth', 'Haron', 'Rook', and 'chess' can be heard among her grumbling.

The Fox tilts his head to the side minutely, then nods. "Intact and ready for questioning," he agrees. "And now I must depart. If I'm going to get this done in a day, I'll need to start now." He lifts a hand to touch his forelock. It's a gesture that's somehow respectful and mocking at the same time. "Pleasant evening to you, milady."

Alina nods slightly. "Tomorrow, then," she says, and pushes off the well, sauntering off.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License