Zhavi

"Can't say I've used it afore," she said through her teeth as she grinned at him. She might as well have been a painted dummy for all the lack of nuances in that expression of hers. "But I heard it burns blue." Rather than answer the prior question, she held out her hand with an imperial flourish. She was still jittery, still fidgeting, still burning up with energy.

"Mebbe. Probably." Her voice was sing-song. She was curled up under the scant shade offered by an outcropping of rock above them. Typical Keeper, ready to curse Azeyma at the drop of a hat. Stupid sun, anyways. "Why?" She dragged out the word, eyes flickering over to him with lazy interest.

Zhi removed her hand from the chair, took the pouch, and tucked it into her belt. She straightened, and dropped the case into his lap. There she stood, straight as an arrow, staring down at him. Her face was lax. Several beats passed. The silence was heavy. When she turned, it was abrupt; a fluid burst of energy that took her to the door on silent feet. She unlocked it. Her head was bent as if she was studying the knob when she said, "Melkire. I can't stop ye from enterin' th'city again. But ye best stay away from me takes. Stay away from me. I'll be keepin' an ear out fer yer names." She turned her head slightly to the side. The curve of her cheek was visible under the tangle of her hair. "I'll use 'em if it need be." She opened the door, and took a step through the doorway.

If he had been miqo'te, maybe he would have smelled the blood. Quiru's blood. Maybe. As it was, the stink of her, of the ocean, would be oppressive that close. "I'll be takin' me coin now." Her voice was soft. Almost gentle. Almost forgiving.

"Would ye like t'scout it, sweetin'?" Innocent had made a return. She wore it poorly, as usual. "O'course I have faith in ye, why wouldn't I? Yer jes so good wi'the city." She brushed past him, the energy burning within her giving her reason to take a bridge too quickly. She almost ran into someone's retainer, hopped up onto the railing, then the post, and then she was scaling the side of a building up. She peered down from the edge of its roof, her grin a terrifying sight for anyone who'd ever dealt with mischievous five-year-olds before. With a flick of her crooked tail, she was out of sight. Jager would either catch up and make it to the perch he'd so nicely requested, or he wouldn't. What did she care? She was flying.

Her eyes were empty. She reached out with the hand that didn't have the case in it, and rested it on the back of his chair. "I found yer secrets." The case was dangled in front of his face.

Zhi locked the door behind her. She put away her picks. She took out the waterproof case that yet held the papers. She walked up to Melkire. She stood toe to toe with him. She leaned closer. "Ye've been a busy lad, ye have."

Zhi was drifting. Eyes unfocused, she gradually narrowed in on Jager when he spoke to her, shifting from foot to foot as if she intended to dash off at any second. "Fire? Nah, but ye can bet there'll be spellcasters on hand." The offhanded warning from earlier had made its return: her opinion on his methods both clear and free of spite. His irritation was but a lark to her, and she took no pains to hide it. "Ye need a perch, I'll find ye a perch." Not a yes, not a no. Zhavi Streetrunner: vague reassurances at their best.

"I'd take coin t'upend ye arse over skull," Zhi muttered. It was useless. Working with this man was a gamble. That was all there was to it. Sometimes you won big, but more often than not you were cleaned out and left naked under the sun wondering who took your delicates. Yet, despite that, Zhi always felt compelled to roll the dice. Why? Nald'thal, she decided, had a love of upending the rutting scales when it came to Bellveil. "Tell ye what. Let's jes say a rival crew came an' started th'whole mess, an' neither yerself or me own self was gonna risk gettin' stomped and tossed off th'decks on a deal gone sour. Ye owe me a drink fer this, Bellveil. Ain't seen a run go this blimmin' crooked in years." She spat to the side, and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. Then she was back to glaring at him.

The dry heat of Ul'dah was too much for Yllaria. It was apparent in the way she stood, in her elongated silences. She didn't complain. Wewenoki would have been surprised if she had; she was not known to be faint of heart or resolve. Their boss, Thuvbhrat "Tabart" Sthalzoengsyn, had ordered them after one of Grace's most recent conquests. Mink had capitulated without a word, as she was wont, but Wewenoki had arranged a private meeting with the slim roegadyn. "It is necessary," he had been told, "you must follow my orders on this one, Noki, without questioning me." Noki was worried. Tabart was becoming more and more reclusive, more and more grim. He knew that Jaded had faced one of its longest downturns since the ring had left Ul'dah, and he also knew that beneath all the bluff and bluster about Heaven's Gate, Tabart considered it his fault. He shouldered it alone; was it any wonder he was beginning to falter under the pressure? Not like Noki could do anything about it from Ul'dah, for all their target seemed prepared to move. It was pointless to agonize over it. He knew that. But he couldn't help himself. He worried over Yllaria instead. "Fear not, my dear girl, I believe it is time that we apprehend sir Sasatani. Once he leaves, we will catch him outside the city, and then we may leave the desert." Her stare was long as she considered him in silence. She ended her survey of him with a sigh, but he could see the slight shift in her expression; he'd almost made her smile. Good. True, it was likely in exasperation with him (she was, after all, in her thirties and well out of girlhood), but he would take what he could get when it came to the morale of his longtime companions. Yes, they would catch Rurutani Sasatani on the road out of Ul'dah, when there were fewer people. Then they would make sure he never set foot near Heaven's Gate again.

That is precious! Thanks for sharing.

Welcome! Spiders, huh? While I still don't like them when they surprise drop me or crawl on me or near me or start moving towards me, I've come to find them a bit more . . . admirable since stumbling across on youtube a bit ago. He's so happy and enthusiastic! How many do you own?

Ahahaa, ohhh yeah I've been there. Some days it's best just to pretend they didn't exist. But, you know, none of that practice went to waste, right? Welcome to the RPC in any case, and here's to some fulfilling rp! Don't be afraid to poke about the events and rp discussion (or characters on the wiki) and speak up if you see something that interests you. People are very friendly and approachable. There are never enough kittens. Got any cute pictures?

Zhi closed her mouth on words that would not come out of Joz's mouth. She stood for a time, a little hunched, a lot awkward, but eventually gave up and sat back down. Her clothing chafed. She was bored as they waited, unwilling to try to make any more conversation with Lalataru or even look at him. She'd wanted him to tell her to go home for the day, to do more practice by herself, something else other than sit there in his presence and feel the weight of every job she was on in his calm, encouraging stare. He disgusted her. Eventually the fatigue that had overtaken her started to subside, and with it came a strange sense of fullness that she couldn't quite put a finger on. A sense uncurled within her, one that felt both strange and natural, tingling as if she'd sat on it the wrong way and it'd gone numb. Wholly familiar, but seen from a new angle. After frowning to herself for several minutes, she realized that it was likely what Lalataru had been trying to tell her. "Okay?" Zhi said, eyes sliding from the ground on one side of Lalataru to the other side and back again. "I think I feel it?" She hunched into herself a bit more. The admission made her feel exposed, and if there was one thing Zhavi Streetrunner hated, it was remaining in someone's company when she felt vulnerable.

Quiruru Quiru arrived first. The plainswoman was dressed in dark, murky colors; the sort that wouldn't stand out either in the water or against the stone that housed the north tower. Her hair was tied up in a high tail, and she wore goggles. Zhi couldn't see her eyes, but thought her to be cheerful, even without the telling smile. Unlike most who haunted the lower city, Quiru was rarely in a bad mood or had anything but a pleasant expression. That might have earned her scorn, except for the fact that, at least among Zhi's kind, she was the best there was at breaking and entering. Truth be told, Zhi wouldn't have been able to afford her had not the woman wanted into the north tower for her own reasons. They nodded to each other. They were both comfortable in the silence. They didn't have long to wait before their third showed up. Chirp. As loud and crafty a distraction as anyone could be. "How long d'ya need t'swim t'the base and climb up?" Chirp was looking at Zhi. It was Quiru who answered. "Ten!" Zhi shot her a look. Quiru's return grin was a work of art. "Kitty-cats can keep up, can't they?" "Fifteen," Zhi said. "Too tardy a time! Take my trials to heart: your tail will be tweaked if you tarry. Ten!" Zhi hesitated. Quiru marked the hesitation. She turned to Chirp and held up all ten fingers. "Ten!" She hoisted up her gear and turned back to Zhi. "Now we go." Then Quiru was scrambling down the rock to the water below. Zhi exchanged a glance with Chirp. "Slow ten," Chirp said, her smile wry. "Yeah, whatever. Jes as long as yer loud." Zhi stripped off the loose overshirt she wore. The shirt underneath was tighter to her body. "Hold, Quiru, lemme carry some o'yer gear --" Zhi scrambled down after Quiru and caught her right as she was about to hop into the water. "Cold enough t'twist yer nipples, 'tis, an' I'm a better swimmer asides." "Swimming, sailing -- don't sweat o'er the skills you solicited me for." "Err, right. . .jes hand me th'rig, at least." Zhi pointed to the waterproof lockbox Quiru carried. Once they'd haggled over the gear, settled on a compromise, and gotten into the water, they wound up at the base of the tower with only a few minutes to spare. Numbed fingers and feet made the climb more arduous than it should have been -- and as a result, Zhi heard Chirp's shrieks split the air long before Quiru managed to get one of the high windows open, and them inside. Everything needed for the climb was left behind the thick drapes. The dripping was unfortunate, but nothing about the job was clean, couldn't be with such a harsh timeline. The papers they needed were locked inside a cabinet alongside other such papers. The occupant of the office had retired for the night, and the night's watch had been drawn by Chirp's shrieking demands -- something to do with a married man and a bastard, if Zhi heard right. Still, dealing with a hysterical woman about personal matters would only require two of the guards at best, no matter how hard she struggled. Quiru took out one of the guards with a hollow needle filled with a potent soporific. It laid him out -- not enough to paralyze him and kill him, not something that would knock him out cold and do potential damage -- just enough to make him limp and delirious. Zhi gagged him and tied him to a sturdy desk as Quiru read out the papers to her. "Seems the sod sailed with several names. So it says --" Quiru listed the names in her soothing voice, chuckling over "Ghost" -- "What a long time it's been since I've last heard that name!" Zhi grunted, finished, and gestured Quiru towards the door. She waited by it, ears focused on the small sounds in the hallway beyond, when Quiru reached the last name. No. She froze. "Nim? We've need to nip out now." Zhi's ears flickered back, "Oh. . .aye, jes though I heard. . .summat. We're clear." They slipped out into the hallway, and back to the first office. Quiru chatted amiably as they geared back up, talking about past jobs and dropping hints about the one that had driven her to help Zhi with the tower. "It'd be folly for favors betwixt friends, but fair for fruitful trade. Wouldn't you say?" Zhi's lips quirked into a small, warm smile. "Always enjoyed me jobs wi'ye, Quiruru Quiru." Quiru chuckled and got into the window, regeared back up and ready to scale the climb back down. "Getting soft? Galili would grey to hear you glad-gadding like this!" Zhi secured the waterproof container that held the papers tight about her so it would not fall off in the water. She gave Quiru one last, bright smile before she climbed down too. No. They were nearing the rocky outcropping they'd started from some half a bell prior when Zhi swam up alongside Quiru. The lalafell's swimming stroke stuttered as she turned her head to say something, ask something. She was smiling. It wasn't personal. The first blow caught Quiru off guard. Right off the temple. Enough to make her sink a little. Enough for Zhi to wrap an arm around her throat, and her legs around the smaller woman's. Zhi'd gotten several deep breaths before, preparing her lungs. They sank. It wasn't personal. The resistance Quiru's clothing and flesh gave to Zhi's knife was minimal. Quiru wasn't weak, but she was in a bad position to get any leverage on Zhi. She'd panicked when they went under, and air had escaped her in giant bubbles. She'd tried to thrash and kick, but she'd sucked down water. She'd always been a weak swimmer. Blood in the water. The predators of the deep would arrive, eventually. But Zhi wasn't taking risks. She clumsily looped Quiru's lockbox around the lalafell's body -- blood was forming a cloud, getting in her face, her hair, her eyes -- before she let her former partner go. It wasn't personal. Zhi surfaced alone. The swim back to the rocks was hard. She couldn't feel her hands anymore, and her arms and legs barely did what she wanted them to. Her knife was missing. She'd have to get a new one. She stripped off her wet clothes, stuck them under a rock to fetch later. The large shirt she'd left was put on in its stead, hitting her at mid-thigh. It would do until she was able to get new pants. She was shivering hard when Chirp met her at their second pre-arranged spot. "Where's Quiruru?" "Another job she'd t'get to. Ye know how she is." Chirp laughed. "Eager, she is. Right, right, probably didn't want me t'call 'er a drowned rat." Zhi smirked, and laughed along. "Oh, aye, an' she looked th'part, too." She had to protect herself. No one else would do that. "Finish th'job, then?" Chirp rubbed her hands together. "Aye. Here's yer cut." Zhi fumbled the gil, and it went spilling onto the ground. "Drinkin' on the job, are we?" "Water's ruttin' cold, 'sall." Zhi watched Chirp pick them up. She couldn't keep her fingers closed around the coins. "Aye, yer shakin' worse'n a doxy on her first spread." Chirp clapped her on the back. "Good run. Feel free t'spend yer coin on me any time, Streetrunner." They parted ways. No one else would protect her secrets. Zhi went to one of her hiding spots, changed and got her hair as dry as she could. Her hands were still ice cold by the time she reached the Mizzenmast, by the time she reached room twenty-three. At least she'd stopped shivering so hard. She blew on her hands to warm them, and picked the locks. She didn't care if he heard her. She wasn't in a mood to knock. The door eventually opened, and Zhavi Streetrunner stepped inside, bold as you please. The only person she could trust was herself.

Shhh, let it happen. ((continued from in game rp because timezones suck)) "They was fished up some few bells ago. On a pinnace, they is. It's made o' wood." Despite the rough handling Zhi'd endured but a minute previous, her manic smile was still in place. She'd lost none of her cockiness, none of the wicked intensity with which she watched him. Like as not she'd have a good sized knot on the back of her head the following morning, not that anyone would be able to tell from looking at her. She watched him as he flitted through the shabby stalls, shadowed by the gloom. There weren't enough lamps in the Cleft. Never was. She was light on her feet as she followed him: a pixy vibrating with energy -- albeit one that stank of old booze and freshly rolled smokes. "Care ye don't step on yer own stones, sweetin'."

What what! Away I go.

Do a wikiiii! For both of your characters!

"Uhh. . .okay?" Zhi didn't have a clue what he was going on about. The most she got out of it was that either she'd know or she wouldn't. She straightened up, feeling something like a stitch in her side, and tried not to look as awkward and confused as she felt. Hells, she hadn't even planned ahead to figure out how Joz would feel about being so out of her depth -- hadn't realized that learning how to cast would be complicated, of all things. "So, err, do I jes wait? I guess?" Zhi didn't get embarrassed. Not since she'd finished her indenture to Galine. So, it could not be the heat of embarrassment that crept up her neck and stole over her cheeks. She refused to acknowledge it.

Hum, while I have no personal experience in vanilla, I felt it prudent to drop in and just repeat something I've seen Vixin of Life in Group 5 say fairly frequently (and she's bounced around guilds in top 50 world for a good long while) -- she always comments and says that current boss fights are much more difficult (at least on release and heroic) then the old vanilla fights were, and even BC. Probably it depends on each individual's definition of what makes something difficult, and whether or not you count only normal, or only heroic, or the overall, or just the race to world first. I've always been a middle of the pack raider, I was content to remain where I was at rather than try to guild hop up to the really good guilds (our best was like in the 1000s or 2000s). So for me, the difficulty was primarily those old timers in the guild who emmm, could not move. Or change targets fast enough. Or hit the right cooldowns. And, of course, the unending parade of tanks . . . but for the top guilds, there are still really, really difficult encounters. That one heal-boss in the Cata Rag raid, for instance, had numerous top guilds stuck for weeks. Healers were stacked to hell -- Vixin put up a blog about what it felt like to be held back by her class for the first time in memory (http://lifeingroup5.com/?p=2445 it's a good read), though she was eventually rotated in and was part of the first kill. But you know. Stuff. I certainly never saw fights at that level of difficulty. I wanted to, but we were slow, and nerfs. *coughcough* to demonstrate the perspective of a top raider in wow.... yeah I'm copying from her blog: just sayin'.

"O-oh." There wasn't much that could surprise Zhavi when it came to all manner of activity in the city itself, but this was wholly outside of her area of expertise. This was something new, something she'd never known existed within her own body. She got a funny look on her face: tucked in her chin and looked down at her own body as if she might see a new growth forming. "What's it. . .sposed t'feel like, then?"

Zhavi Streetrunner continued to watch the ships on the water. She remained silent for a little while, considering the information she'd gained. Finally, she said, "Have ye any proof ye can offer t'me?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: You don't trust the information to be accurate? Zhavi Streetrunner: "Funny ye should say that after our last meetin'. " She tapped a finger on her thigh. "Ain't about trust. 'Sabout what ye can hold in yer hands. Ye got any, or no?" Caereyn Doendragasyn lets out a slight chuckle. "Catch." He says, tossing a rolled up set of pages in her direction. Zhavi Streetrunner turned, and snatched the papers out of the air just before they smacked her in the head. She snorted, gave Doendragasyn an amused look, and tucked the papers away. "That include a list o'clients an'doxies?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: All of it. It's a full list of all of the dealings between Maioh and Tabart. You'll find the handwriting to be an exact match to Maioh's. Zhavi Streetrunner blinked. Her smile was bemused. "Scrag kept -records-? Herself?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: No, it's nothing so simple. Zhavi Streetrunner's eyes narrowed. She went back to looking at the ships, shifting so her weight was on her hands behind her. "Ye ain't tipped her off t'others wantin' information, have ye?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: Not at all. I simply acquired the information. Caereyn Doendragasyn: That is all. Caereyn Doendragasyn: Tabart may have...misplaced the list she acquired shortly after he got them. Of course, he had to return to get the information again, which Maioh was keen on, as it meant she could charge him all over again for what was in essence, nothing. Zhavi Streetrunner chuckled. "Fair. Scales seem t'tip themselves in yer favor, Cap'n. A'right, I'll admit yer cleverness. Did ye happen across anythin' else, or was this it?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: That is all the deal was for. That is all I brought. Zhavi Streetrunner showed exaggerated thoughtfulness. "But not all ye learned, 'sthat it?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: I have...readily available access to get more information, if I choose to. "Interestin'." Zhi tipped her face up towards the sky, though not without a wince for the brightness of the sun. She closed her eyes, her ears swiveling back towards Doendragasyn and his man. "Could be I could use a steady flow o'information. Could be I could find a flow o'steady information fer yerself an' yer crew. Might be said I have . . .knowin' 'bout more'n lowtown, here in ol' Limsa." Caereyn Doendragasyn: Indeed? So you fancy yourself an asset, do you? Zhavi Streetrunner's grin was overflowing with confidence. "I can be. Much as ye're clever." Caereyn Doendragasyn: Well then, It'd be a shame to pass up an asset. You propose a new deal then? Steady trade in perpetuity. Zhavi Streetrunner: "Aye, I do." An' if that ain't enough t'tickle yer fancy I'll give ye this fer free: this Tabart, aye? He an' his ring ain't workin' alone. Ain't sure yet what's afoot, but there's strange dealin' goin' on, an' it ain't jes turnin' over stones wi' th' doxies an' their keepers. So ye might want t'start . . . ahh, what's it? Diversifyin'" the last word was carefully sounded out, "yer dealin's. More'n they are. Storm's brewin', far as I can see." Caereyn Doendragasyn: Perhaps you're right. I do hope you'll prove valuable in that aspect. Zhavi Streetrunner laughed, drawing one leg back up onto the dock so she could turn her upper body to face him. "If I'm not, I 'spect ye'll come t'take it out o' me hide. Can't say I'd like that, so I'll be sure t' keep ye fresh. Ye have a pearl?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: My crew has a linkshell. Zhavi Streetrunner raised an eyebrow. There was a smug little smirk curling her lips. She pulled herself to her feet, dusting off her butt and legs. Given her general state of being, it was likely a gesture done for the benefit of her company, and not something out of any need to be clean. "Ye gonna offer me a pearl, Cap'n?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: Hmm... Zhavi Streetrunner: "Promise I won't lose it." Zhavi Streetrunner grinned, the expression -- shall we say -- shit eating. Zozo walks between them. "I'm against it, Thunder-boy. If you wanna start handin pearls out, there's plenty of better folks than this guttersnipe." Caereyn Doendragasyn speaks back to Zozo. "Perhaps, but none of them are presently in the same position to benefit us in the same way as she is. Zhavi Streetrunner tutted. "C'mon now. I'm a runner, not a snipe. Or can't ye tell th'difference? Losin' yer city sense, bein' out on th'water often as ye are." Zozo grumbles and walks back to the other side of the dock, stooping down and watching the water. A fat fish comes to the surface and watches him back. Then it spits water at him, and he falls back on his ass. "Oi! Ye bleedin pot o chum! Cmere!" "Ye keep . . . interestin' company, Cap'n," Zhi murmurs. Caereyn Doendragasyn | Zozo hops up andkicks at the side of the dock, as if to curse the fish. Then he turns to her. "Split hairs all you want, but the point is I don't like it." He walks toward her and starts talking again.* "And I'll tell you another-" He is cut off as a pearl whizzes past his head, toward Zhavi. Zhavi Streetrunner plucks the pearl from the air, looks at it, and then tosses it up and catches it. Within a moment, it's out of sight. Smug didn't even begin to describe the look she shot at Zozo, though she'd reined some of it in when she looked back to Droendragasyn. "Ye heard o' Heaven's Gate, Cap'n?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: Of course. Zhavi Streetrunner: "I'd be right pleased o' anythin' ye happen t'hear 'bout them. Now tell me," she became serious, her tone lowering, "what interests ye in th'city?" Caereyn Doendragasyn nods. "Easily done. As for my interests. Anything that has an effect on the balance of power. Who gets offed. Who takes their place. Who's going on vacation. Who's got an ambitious deal going down. Anything that someone in the right position can use as leverage. As for specifics... Caereyn Doendragasyn: Well, since I'm..."diversyfyin", you keep me posted in the same manner, for now. I'll need more information on these whorehouses and their relation to each other. [14:12]Caereyn Doendragasyn finally turns and faces her, taking just a few measured steps. Zhavi Streetrunner lifts her chin. "Might be ye've heard, but seems t'be th'rings are gettin'. . .right jittery. Been hits put out on the doxies o' Heaven's Gate. Still diggin' up who ordered 'em. Ain't had blood 'twixt th'rings like this fer years." Caereyn Doendragasyn: Hits... That seems a bit much. Caereyn Doendragasyn: Now that's interesting. Zhavi Streetrunner: "Aye. Not sure if it's t'do wi' the writs or not, but I'm fair sure ain't th'rings themselves thinkin' all this up. If there's one business in Limsa y'can count to be straightforward, it's th'rings." She looked away for a moment, eyes narrowing. "Say. . .y'ever heard o'Galleon?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: Galleon? I'll need some context. Zhavi Streetrunner: "Hmm. . .he's someone what has an eye fer books. Don't think it's his real name, but there's somethin' off about him. No matter. Jes me own curiosity." Caereyn Doendragasyn: I'm not familiar with him. Zhavi Streetrunner: "Never ye mind. Say, I think we're. . ." she broke off, glancing at the lalafell. Something passed over her face then, something cunning and not particularly friendly. It had disappeared by the time she looked back at Doendragasyn. "Say, ye ever go dicin' at Her Highness?" Caereyn Doendragasyn: No. I am not one who so carelessly uses his coin. Not very fond of the place, either. Zhavi Streetrunner's look of disappointment was swift and full of sorrow. "Ahh. Well. Too bad then. If ye've ever a wish t'play a game or three, ye jes let me know." Caereyn Doendragasyn: I'll keep it in mind... Zhavi Streetrunner: "Unless ye've further need fer me, I'll jes see m'self off." Zhi bestowed another cocky grin towards Zozo. Zozo makes a fist and leans toward her like "Youuuu...!" Caereyn Doendragasyn: I believe our business is concluded. For now. Zhavi Streetrunner: "Fair winds t'ye, Cap'n. An' yer crew. I'll be speakin' t'ye again." Zhi winked at him and walked back towards the city. Caereyn Doendragasyn: Indeed, I'm sure. Zozo walks up to Caer and puts his hands on his hips, just scowling.

Zhi snatched up the notebook and grease pencil from the ground, opened it up, and started trying again without another word to Lalataru. Her face was set in concentration, though the line of her eyebrows and the grim way she pulled her mouth to one side proclaimed something else going on in her head. It took her several more tries (her expression gradually smoothing) before a spark left her fingers. It fizzled out shortly after it materialized, leaving Zhi to stagger sideways. "Oh," she said. Her legs braced wide, and she bent to put her hands on her knees. The notebook and grease pencil were clutched awkwardly in between. Her eyes had gone wide. "Shit, that -- it takes th'stuffin' right out o'ye, it does." She sounded as if she'd been winded, or someone had gotten a good punch in under her ribs.

"Hm." Zhi sighed. Her voice was small. She'd returned to being meek and timid. "Nah, I jes. . .nevermind." She turned away from Lalataru, digging the toe of one of her overlarge shoes into the ground. "What do we do now?"

Zhi didn't sleep that night. Dawn was greeted by a string of foul words, the least of which was sacrilegious on several levels. There wasn't enough time any more to even take a shit, much less do anything so banal as sleeping or eating. There were people to meet, people to watch, palms to grease and gossip to listen to. She was constantly moving, fighting her way through the underbelly's complexities in her bit to fulfill her contracts and stay alive. She loved it, of course, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't care about the lost sleep. So it was she showed up looking sullen, with a lit pipe clamped between her lips; its bowl was filled with something energizing and probably illegal. She looked like hell, and smelled it too: the city's dank perfume hung about her, along with the stink of old booze and older sweat, still. She was just another of the city's phantoms, drifting about unnoticed. The bell was ringing out evening when she strolled up on the docks, watching the forest of masts as they dipped and swayed with the movement of wind and water. The harbor was always a hypnotic sight. She didn't offer a greeting to either Doendragasyn or the lalafell. They were both scrutinized in turn, and then summarily ignored as she went to the edge of the planking and sat with her legs dangling over the water. She could have easily been just another dockrat taking an unsupervised break from any number of duties. Always an easy role to play, in any case; few paid attention to the lowest hires on the crew -- unless, of course, you were supposed to be managing them. Zhi waited in silence.