Moonlit_Demon

Isabelle chuckled, "I shall. Be safe, Tani." She mused. "Remember.. if thou needs anything, call for me. Thou and thine crew were kind enough to give me a second chance once. This.. means a lot to me." The elezen shook away her own personal thoughts, "Aye.. call me if thou are ever in need. Tis nay for anyone but mineself."

Isabelle chuckled and sat back down, "I shall be fine. I would like to limit debts incurred as much as possible." She would glance at Tani, "Thou art very kind." Isabelle would muse, "I have one thing going for me.. without mine helm, would even thou recognize me?" The elezen seemed a little lighter as she chuckled, "Whatever thou needs.. if ever thou is in trouble. Please.. Call for me." Isabelle would offer her hand out, closed around something. "I will come as soon as I am able." If Tani held out her hand, Isabelle would place a linkpearl in Tani's palm.

Isabelle slowly shook her head, "Nay.. At the moment, I am in transit between... homes." The elezen would tilt her head, "Why..?" Isabelle noted the way Tani licked her lips. She would reach out with one arm and, if able, she would hug the little accountant. The elezen would be silent in that hug except for a few words, "Thank you.. for seeking me out."

Isabelle simply stared at Tani. She wasn't sure what to do. Could she trust the little accountant? Could she..? The elezen would slowly reach for her blade and stand.. Take a breath. Isabelle would sling it against her back, "What now then? I care not to hang either. There are some who rely on me. I cannot give up so easily."

Isabelle would nod, "Thou knowest me well. I would not kill without reason. Especially nay in cold blood... Which I did." She would lean back against those crates, pondering for a moment, the events that had transpired. "Balgerda was an old friend. One whom I mourned when I thought her dead. She .. softened me. When I thought she had died, I left mine crew and put mineself into this precarious position. Hence.. I found solace within thine crew." Isabelle would pause. Her hands clenched a bit to force down what could only be emotion. "She gave me no choice.. I had.. I had told her things in confidentiality. She knew mine face. She knew mine name. I needed to be sure that I could trust her. Pirates are always seeking favor with the Maelstrom by betraying others." Isabelle chuckled, "I should know.. I have done such. I have Been doing such since I left mine crew." She would sit up a bit and look at Tani, "Balgerda betrayed mine trust. We departed from the Roses after mine leg was mended.. Aye, that is why I limp a little still. T'was there by mine fireplace that.. I simply could not say more. She forced me to unveil more secrets. Secrets that would have me killed. I could not risk anymore and needed a moment to gather mineself.. This is when it happened." The elezen seemed to darken a little, "She went back on her word. Threatened me that if I left mine room, she would tell Tasa all I have spoken. Things that.. that I did not wish the crew to be involved in." Isabelle clenched her fists, "She swore to me. She gave me her word! She betrayed mine trust! What more could I do? How could I trust that she would not betray me anyway?" Isabelle looked up at Tani, "I ran her through. She screamed upon the linkshell some.. terrible accusations. Accusations that she knew not the true meaning of nor the context. She threatened me and she threatened mine friend, Holly, for her sister's crimes. An innocent! I nay meant to kill her. In mine fury, I kicked her and snapped her neck while she lay there bleeding on mine floor." She sighed, "T'was all such a mess. I cooperated. I gave up mine lance willingly. I still know not what I did wrong. Why should I wait..? I fled."

The elezen would glance at Tani, regarding her closely. "Is knowing the truth worth dying for, Tani..?" She would move and sit on a crate in the alley. "If thou art willing to die for it, I shall tell you... All.. Everything." Isabelle simply wanted to be sure. She wanted to see what price Tani would pay for such knowledge. The elezen simply had no time for anything else. "It.. There is much history between Balgerda and I. I will tell thou my side and what happened."

Isabelle watched Tani for several moments. Her fingers tapped as she crossed her arms. Thoughts ran wild. Could she trust Tani? Could she trust anyone involved..? Maybe.. "What is it that you wish to know, Tani? Ask as if this were to be the last thou sees me before the gallows."

She would chuckle and glance at Tani. "Exactly what thou were told. I murdered a crew member in cold blood. She was unarmed and then.. I escaped after surrendering mine weapon." The elezen would lean a little closer, "It is all true. Thou hast come a long way to hear the same answer. As Tasa has spoken, I am too dangerous for mine own good." She would wave off Tani. Clearly resisting the accountant's answer. This too, was new. "Thou should leave mine monstrous shadow before I cleave thine in twain as well."

The tall warrioress, now in armor as black as the void, leaned against the wall. She chuckled a little at the question and leaned her massive sword against the wall beside her. It had been a crazy series of days. Injuries, death, madness. Isabelle avoided the question, for now. She merely glanced down at Tani and in the most casual of tones, she'd simply ask, "Have thou been watering thine plants..?" The elezen almost seemed reluctant to talk. She wasn't even aggressive or her usual 'almost' cheerful self. Something had changed. Where she had once opened up freely to Tani, there was.. reluctance.

The elezen would glance around, "Oooh~ He's quite a handsome one.." Isabelle would point out a gentleman in.. strange, but oddly tasteful clothing. "Mm.. tis only too bad he is a miqo'te.. I hear they are rather lacking in 'strength'.."

Isabelle grinned and scooted closer. She'd turn around to face the crowds, peering at each one. The elezen took in all the details and grinned, "Mm.. What do you think of that one? No no, the roegadyn." The particular one she had pointed towards, though beautiful, would have been far less garish had she not worn such an outlandish choice of attire. Bright and brilliant colors with makeup to match almost looked... scandalously clownish. "Tis far too flashy. It practically screams attention~" The elezen would giggle to herself, still quite tipsy, "I think that perhaps this one had lost her way to the carnival.."

Isabelle slowed her drinking of her wine, self-conscious of losing too many inhibitions. She would smile and glance around, "Ahh, tis lovely. So much style. So much grace.." The elezen would smile and glance at Tani, "Tis almost too bad you aren't up there.. I'd say you're far more attractive than at least those two." The elezen would gesture to a few others. Their clothes were brilliantly and expertly made, but it just didn't suit their forms as well as others.

Isabelle wasn't so sure that having drank so much ale or wine was exactly a good idea. She'd muse and glance around, curious to take in every detail of the room. The elezen noted the crowds and laughed. She'd finish her wine and muse, "A favorite place of yours..?"

Isabelle would smile warmly, kindly. "Never. You fascinate me. Tis a mere wish to see you again." She'd pause, "If.. you would allow such a thing?"

Isabelle smiled, "That it does. I do hope we meet again once we've parted ways and other duties consume our time."

isabelle mused, "Quite.. however, would the answer 'green' truly be unacceptable? Whom would be at fault? The questionnaire or the respondent?" She would sip her drink once more, "Why not simply ask, 'what type of wood do you prefer?' or 'what kind of tree produces your favorite wood?'." isabelle would ponder, "I suppose that's often why people collect friends. Enough time with a person helps one connect to their wavelengths."

The elezen raised her glass, "Touche. As for me, mine answers were perfectly suited for me just as yours were suited for yourself. Different minds, different ideas, different expectations, different personal limitations." She smiled, "This is why I love to sing for people. A song sung a thousand time can have a thousand different meanings for others. It's fascinating~"

Isabelle laughed light-heartedly. "As I had said, you already had your own answer. Nothing short of the same would satisfy." The elezen would order another drink for the two, "Mm.. Tis only shows how long I have been away from Ul'dah. My silver tongue has lost it's shine." She would smile at Tani. Not a wicked or unwelcome smile but one sweet and soft. "You are quite attractive going on a tangent. Very charming." The elezen would muse, sipping her new glass of spiced honey wine.

Isabelle mused, "I'm all ears.. even if is you who repeats the same questions, tying in different things." She would rest an elbow on the counter and give Tani her undivided attention.

Isabelle chuckled, "There is no use in answering a question already answered. My answers don't satisfy which means you have them for yourself. Tis a battle made in vain. It isn't intellectual when both minds aren't open to the discussion." She shrugged, "What dictates that I must answer to your conditions when you won't accept anything but your own?" The elezen was a bit smug as she sipped her honey wine, "I think, perhaps, you may have considered me a victim to prey upon. With this assumption, you have never been so wrong." Isabelle looked at Tani and spoke plainly, "It is not I that is graced with your presence. Tis you who are graced with mine. I have no master to demand unruly things of me. I have no one to answer to but myself. Can you say the same?" She mused, "Perhaps this is why you seek to bully me under the guise of 'intellectual' conversation."

Isabelle was starting to catch onto Tani, "You don't like answering questions much, do you?" The elezen laughed, "Well, suit yourself. I'm rather enjoying the conversation... even if it is turning into nothing more than an audition." She'd order something a little different this time. Spiced mead. Warm. The elezen would savor the honey wine for a moment before answering, "There is no connection between fear of intimacy and a sharp mind. All people have flaws or personality quirks. Fear if intimacy merely falls under this category. One either enjoys it... or they don't. Tis one of the more simple questions you've asked thus far."

Isabelle shook her head and spoke rather non-nonchalantly, "No, to fear a sharp mind is to lack one." She'd finish her spiced ale and wait a little before ordering another. "Mm.. I still say intimacy. That is the one thing that can make or break either option. Intimacy in pleasure is a beautiful thing, even with as little a thing as simply playing music. Intimacy, on it's darker wave, towards pleasure is nothing short of controlling obsession." The elezen would tap her chin, "Which I suppose is the reason why most people would fear intimacy in both buisness and pleasure. Obsession. Consuming desire. Overbearing control and jealousy.. all which leads to disaster." Isabelle would glance at Tani. "What would you have chosen?"

Isabelle had an immediate response, "Intimacy. Fear of it or fear that it will control either aspect really."

Isabelle mused a bit, "Mm.. Personal challenges, perhaps? However, on the other hand, would it truly be a limitation if one finds both buisness and pleasure in it?" The elezen would tilt her head and ponder, "I suppose we'd have to set the rules on what exactly a limitation would be? Is it self-denial? An ordained rule? Something that is culturally unacceptable or acceptable?" She shrugged, "It's the same as the expression, 'thinking outside the box'. What ordains the rules of the box? How big is the box? Is the box the standard or norm? Or is the box considered expectation? Expectations can far exceed standards, afterall."

Isabelle giggled, "Can't a woman have both? That is like asking if one would prefer a man or a woman. Why set such limitations?" The elezen would re-wrap herself comfortably with her silk shawl and sip more of her spiced ale, nearly done.