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Mathalen, looks over at Gravalax, "Why didn't you come?"
"A few months ago, I started to sneak into your room at night." Like she had when she was little and had a nightmare, doesn't need to be said. "And... I don't know if they couldn't find me or if they didn't want to come where you had been... but they... found me."
Azhar looks around again, perhaps a little surprised, "Umm, no, I said we could see if we could, and I'm sorry, miss, but I came in with these two fine young women and it really wouldn't be good form on my part to have them waiting on me or leave without them. I do humbly apologize, perhaps another time?" his left eyebrow raises questioningly.
The blonde looks at the two girls, apparently noticing them for the first time. Immediately dismissive of Amaya, who can't be anything in those clothes, her focus remains on Tarvi for a moment, years of society training informing. She gets a sad pout, but slips a card from a bag and gives it to him, "For when you need a break from the merchant class."
Later, he'll purchase a bedroll. He'll say it's for her, but it's for him.
Gravlax swallows the nut, follows it with his drink, and addresses Mathalen's question. "I have been a scribe at the Courts for over a decade. There are certain Rules that one simply does not break. Regardless of the ... righteousness ... of the cause."
During breakfast, she comments, "Gravalax stopped by the store yesterday, I think he wanted to make some kind of peace offering but making sure your little sister wasn't left out of the play going."
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Mathalen thinks about that for a minute, her eyes gliding over the silent watchers at the table. "Happily you didn't miss much." A soft grin, "Except for the showboat who apparently wanted to get shot at." She takes a sip from the second drink.
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Gravlax sips at his drink. "But so long as he doesn't actually try to kill me, I can work with him."
Gravlax chuckles at Mathalen's description of The Raven. "Not the way he described it, but probably more accurate."
Gravlax takes another drink.
"That half the reason I gave up on dating, you know," with a grin, "all of the interesting guys were after your sister, not me. She shrugs, "This one is relatively harmless though, right?" Checking just how on her own guard she needs to be around the scribe.
Cassian takes a deep breath. "Janiven recruited him because her little cause needs a patsy. When the authorities inevitably close in, he will be the sacrificial lamb. When this happens, he will take down everyone around him. So we need to stay away."
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The blonde looks at the two girls, apparently noticing them for the first time. Immediately dismissive of Amaya, who can't be anything in those clothes, her focus remains on Tarvi for a moment, years of society training informing. She gets a sad pout, but slips a card from a bag and gives it to him, "For when you need a break from the merchant class."
Azhar's eyes soften somewhat, and he smiles as he takes the card, glances at it, and slips it in a pocket. "Thank you, Miss ." He blinks and gives her a little nod to go along with the smile. Azhar then turns back to Amaya and Tarvi, "So...were you feeling like seeing what we can see or shall I continue to icebreaker our way out of here?" There is just a touch of amusement in his voice. He continues, "It sounded like some of the others were going for a nightcap after. Did you want to join them as well? I'm sure we could catch up later...or now, either way."
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A pause, "Wait, he's the yahoo in the black outfit? The loud one?" She rolls her eyes, "If that is the case, I don't think he actually thinks as deeply or seriously as you do, Cass. He probably was just trying to annoy you by getting me to like him." Her tone annoyed. "Idiot."
Mathalen raises an eyebrow, "You know that..." searching for the right word, not trying to insult someone who seems nice enough, "showboat?" She straightens as she takes another pull at her drink.
Azhar's eyes soften somewhat, and he smiles as he takes the card, glances at it, and slips it in a pocket. "Thank you, Miss ." He blinks and gives her a little nod to go along with the smile. Azhar then turns back to Amaya and Tarvi, "So...were you feeling like seeing what we can see or shall I continue to icebreaker our way out of here?" There is just a touch of amusement in his voice. He continues, "It sounded like some of the others were going for a nightcap after. Did you want to join them as well? I'm sure we could catch up later...or now, either way."
Outside, leaving the voracious eyes of those inside behind. Tarvi shakes her head, glancing at Amaya. "I should get her home safe, I promised." She smiles, "Thank you for the escort, but we got here safely, we should be able to manage the reverse trip as well." Waving goodbye to those taking Gravalax up on the offer.
"Yes. Gravlax d'Antonio is The Raven," Cassian says, loud enough for neighboring tables to hear him. Then, a bit quieter, but loud enough for eavesdroppers to easily follow. "And by his own admission, the murderer of Shanwen Shanwen, but that's neither here nor there."
After breakfast, Cassian will separate from Tarvi for a bit to go see Janiven.
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Outside, leaving the voracious eyes of those inside behind. Tarvi shakes her head, glancing at Amaya. "I should get her home safe, I promised." She smiles, "Thank you for the escort, but we got here safely, we should be able to manage the reverse trip as well." Waving goodbye to those taking Gravalax up on the offer.
Azhar stops momentarily, a touch of concerned confusion, "Of course you could. But are you sure? It would be my honor to find the two of you safely to your destinations. That is what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?"
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"See you after? At the safehouse?"
Janiven isn't at the safehouse, but Arael is, he comments that she stopped by to drop off breakfast, but wanted to look into a new bandit group.
Azhar stops momentarily, a touch of concerned confusion, "Of course you could. But are you sure? It would be my honor to find the two of you safely to your destinations. That is what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?"
"Supposed to do?" Tarvi asks with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay, I'm not big on suppose to, need to or want to are more my style." She says with a smile as she starts to head off.
"Thanks," Cassian says, leaving.
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"Supposed to do?" Tarvi asks with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay, I'm not big on suppose to, need to or want to are more my style." She says with a smile as she starts to head off.
Azhar easily keeps pace (at least so far). His smile does not falter, "Didn't mean it that way. I meant, that's how I was raised. What I said initially stands, 'it would be my honor'. Tarvi, I want to. If you don't want me to, or if I make you uncomfortable, then I'll leave. If not, I would greatly like to accompany the both of you. Is that okay?" He looks questioningly at the two women.
bluff:
He is sincerely hoping that he can escort them to their destination. First to make sure they arrive safely, second because he does want to spend more time with them, even if for only a little while longer.
"If you need to talk to her, she shouldn't be gone too long." Arael offers, "Could she meet you somewhere?"
A take-10 on K:local would reference three branches of a d'Antonio family.
Cassian's voice is breezy, but it's not hard to detect the menace underneath or the steel in his eyes. "Oh, I was going to speak to her about a problem I was having, but I think being proactive might work. I'll speak to her this afternoon. Somewhere private."
Cassian will attempt to find a genealogy of the d'Antonio family so as to isolate the proper branch. Won't do to lean on the wrong one.
"Supposed to do?" Tarvi asks with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay, I'm not big on suppose to, need to or want to are more my style." She says with a smile as she starts to head off.Azhar easily keeps pace (at least so far). His smile does not falter, "Didn't mean it that way. I meant, that's how I was raised. What I said initially stands, 'it would be my honor'. Tarvi, I want to. If you don't want me to, or if I make you uncomfortable, then I'll leave. If not, I would greatly like to accompany the both of you. Is that okay?" He looks questioningly at the two women.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
The small group can overhear Rev's amusement. Funny, you'd think we weren't raised under the same roof. Azhar always pursuing girls that need protecting. Heh." Perhaps he wants to make it crystal clear that the two men are as different as brothers can be... If it wasn't blatantly obvious before. Azhar the hero. Rev is amused. of course that its the truth adds to the amusement factor for Rev.
Gravlax finishes his second drink. "Yes," he says, "I think it was really my friend that Janiven wanted. But he's hard to get hold of, and I'm not."
"He has no compunctions about the Rules of things."
Gravlax shrugs.
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Azhar easily keeps pace (at least so far). His smile does not falter, "Didn't mean it that way. I meant, that's how I was raised. What I said initially stands, 'it would be my honor'. Tarvi, I want to. If you don't want me to, or if I make you uncomfortable, then I'll leave. If not, I would greatly like to accompany the both of you. Is that okay?" He looks questioningly at the two women.The small group can overhear Rev's amusement. Funny, you'd think we weren't raised under the same roof. Azhar always pursuing girls that need protecting. Heh." Perhaps he wants to make it crystal clear that the two men are as different as brothers can be... If it wasn't blatantly obvious before. Azhar the hero. Rev is amused. of course that its the truth adds to the amusement factor for Rev.
Tarvi raises her voice so it carries back to where Rev is, "If your brother purses those that need protecting, he should look up the blonde in the theater, we do quite well on our own." Voice pleasant but just a hint of something sharper underneath. Her voice drops as she talks to Amaya and Azhar, lost to the distance for the group planning on drinking.
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"You believe in your independence, don't you?" Azhar says somewhat rhetorically, "So what do the two of you do? When you're not changing the world, I mean?"
Azhar does keep track of where they're going, at least enough to be able to get back afterwards.
She finishes the dregs of her second drink, looks over at the two who continue to sip at their drinks. "I really don't want you to take this in the wrong manner, but I get nervous drinking with those who aren't. They tend to be trying to work some angle which normally gives me a headache to think about." She smiles at Gravalax and Scalvo, "So I'd be happy to buy the two of you a third round, but I'll be heading before the booze gets the better of me."
Being quite taken with the adorable monkey, to say nothing of the handsome blue-eyed man she's seen once or twice, it is an easy thing to make up a simple lie that gets you into the hall of family records.
Then it is a just a matter of pouring through the dry documents, all in proper Infernal (and all taking three times as long as needed to say anything). ()
The three branches split back two generations, with the eldest son taking the lands and title, the middle son joining the church and the youngest having to make due with a ministry job. Gravalax would be the grandson of the third son. Grandparents are dead, one son (still living) who married. Notations of future edits to the family line.
Requiring Cassian to find another set of dusty tomes. Four children: elder son (Ortolan), twins (Balut and Gravalax), younger daughter (Casu). Notations that the eldest and the youngest have married with references to newer volumes. Unknown notation by the female twins name.
When he is finished, he'll meet up with Janiven.
and i am not refraining from drink she adds. i weigh twenty seven pounds soaking wet
She smiles, shrugging that the mention of Melilot's size, "I always assume that any of your people can do anything that one of mine can. I've seen that it is true most often enough."
Gravlax turns his empty cup upside-down. "No more for me tonight."
To Melilot: "I'm not entirely certain what you mean. Working at the Court does lend itself to euphemism and double-speak, but I didn't think I was doing so."
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Amaya, finally coming back to the world from the music in her mind, "I blow glass, family business." Tarvi smiles at the other girl, "And I make pretty baubles with too much money and far too little taste."
"And just what do you and your oh-so-proud brother do?"
Cassian probably could sneak up on her, but she is positioned so that she has a back to a wall, and even reading a book she is paying attention to the environment around her. He gets close enough to see the jack of diamonds that she uses to mark her place in the hard-bound book before she slips it into her bag.
Her emerald eyes are on him for the last few steps, her body resting against the wall, the scar on her cheek seems more noticeable in the full daylight. "Someone is making problems for you?"
"I realized about one street that way that my pants are at your house and I really don't have a way to get them without you." Pushing away from a wall that she hadn't quite been leaning against, as evidenced by the fact her cream dress is unsullied by the grime on the wall.
"And so I got to thinking and had to ask, just what is it that the bird can do that you can't?" There is just a touch of a sway in her step that was not there before.
"I was willing to let the matter lie," Cassian says. His tone is light. Gone is the playful menace he uses with her while flirting. Now, he speaks with confidence. The words are measured, even. Even though he sometimes speaks of things he is going to do, he sounds like he's talking about things that have already happened. Because at this point, they're inevitable. "But he had to go and threaten my sister."
He pauses, locking his eyes with hers. Only here does the tone falter into something altogether more raw. "My sister."
A deep breath and he is back to the earlier cadence. A woman like Janiven has heard this sound before. Men talk like this to distance themselves from murder. "I warned him once and I assumed the matter was settled. After all, I got him tickets to the opera, didn't I? Never threatened him again after that. And then he decides to up the ante."
Cassian stops, back to Janiven. "I'm afraid that I have to break our earlier deal. The upside is you're no longer responsible for his actions. The downside is I am going to show him the price for what he's done."
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The question may be rhetorical but Tarvi answers, "Of course, if I didn't I'd be a pretty bauble in some nobles house, petted, pampered and utterly unhappy."
Azhar smiles, does not comment further.
Amaya, finally coming back to the world from the music in her mind, "I blow glass, family business." Tarvi smiles at the other girl, "And I make pretty baubles with too much money and far too little taste.""I have never seen glass blown, and I do enjoy beautiful things. Mind if I drop by some time?"
"And just what do you and your oh-so-proud brother do?"Azhar chuckles, "Oh, not much really. Our parents suggested that perhaps it was time to seek our fortunes. We've been trying to make the world a better place ever since...and I guess Rev has been trying to keep me alive. Guess he's done a pretty good job so far." he pauses, "What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?"
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Her eyes, locked with his, harden when he mentions that Tarvi was threatened, "How and when?" Technically a question, but with an anger lacing the words, making it more.
She hears the murder in his tone, acknowledges it but can't accept it so easily. "Is it a price he can live with? Or one that will only be felt in next world?" her voice shades quieter. "I can't blame you for wanting to protect Tarvi, I would do the same if any of the people I cared about were still alive."
She stops, "But he may not be as defenseless to you as he wants to appear." A pause, "And I know what Tarvi will go through if you miscalculate."
With that, and a wave to Amaya, Tarvi turns down one street. Slightly startled, Amaya bows to the retreating girl and you. Quietly, to Azhar, Amaya comments, "She won't wait if you do want to go her way." And she starts down a different street, leaving Azhar at the crossroads.
He nods at the warning. "We're all defenseless when we sleep," Cassian says mildly. "And his parents are quite old. His brother is hardly an impressive specimen. Tell me. If I fail, what would he do to Tarvi?"
"I don't see him attacking Tarvi if you die," she says honestly, "Not his style, she hasn't done anything, she's innocent."
Her voice flat, "My belief in that is one of the only reason that I went looking for him before this started."
A pause, "She'll attack him though, if she finds out he was the reason you're dead." She knows what the outcome of the would be, so does Cassian.
Her voice goes quieter, slightly far away, "And she will lose something important if you're gone... The knowledge that there is someone she can always go to when she needs it, forced to face this dark city with no one that she can truly trust."
Cassian begins to walk away. At the mouth of the alley, he stops. Without turning, he says, "Whoever I remind you of. I'm not him."
He looks out into the streets.
"I'm so much worse."
He disappears into the crowd.
As you leave work, A familiar raven-haired woman falls into stride next to him. There is a dark brooding in her demeanor, a crispness in her walk that speaks of frustration, anger. "Do you have some time." It tries to be a question, request, but can't quite make it.
As promised, Janiven springs for a celebration. Food: fresh bread, meat (some interesting varieties on a stick, some more normal charred slices), and a few fruits. Drink: passable beer.
Arael is already there, talking about his thankfully brief arrest. Strong voice, a light baritone, "Happily none of them were experienced in questioning people. They don't quite get that if you want to force someone to give you answers, they have to be conscious. They were too... enthusiastic."
Noticeably absent is Janiven.
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You get to a place where the streets diverge. Tarvi looks at the big man, laughter in the sparkling eyes. "This is the place where our paths," motioning to herself and Amaya, "I'm sure it will be a very hard decision as to which of us to protect."t
With that, and a wave to Amaya, Tarvi turns down one street. Slightly startled, Amaya bows to the retreating girl and you. Quietly, to Azhar, Amaya comments, "She won't wait if you do want to go her way." And she starts down a different street, leaving Azhar at the crossroads.
"Now that's just playing dirty." Azhar says as Tarvi turns away, but her words gave him a split second notice. "Sorry 'bout this 'maya." he says. Acting without further explanation, he steps up behind Amaya and sweeps her off her feet and into his arms, then turns and starts after Tarvi (next round). "Didn't you promise to walk her home?" he says in a teasing, accusatory tone. "I promised to see both of you to your destinations safely, I can't do that if you split up, 'cause I left the rest of me somewhere else."
As promised, Janiven springs for a celebration. Food: fresh bread, meat (some interesting varieties on a stick, some more normal charred slices), and a few fruits. Drink: passable beer.
Arael is already there, talking about his thankfully brief arrest. Strong voice, a light baritone, "Happily none of them were experienced in questioning people. They don't quite get that if you want to force someone to give you answers, they have to be conscious. They were too... enthusiastic."
Noticeably absent is Janiven.
A dark cloud is over Cassian. He is quiet, eating sparingly.
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She stops looking at him, sapphire eyes evaluating.
As promised, Janiven springs for a celebration. Food: fresh bread, meat (some interesting varieties on a stick, some more normal charred slices), and a few fruits. Drink: passable beer.
Arael is already there, talking about his thankfully brief arrest. Strong voice, a light baritone, "Happily none of them were experienced in questioning people. They don't quite get that if you want to force someone to give you answers, they have to be conscious. They were too... enthusiastic."
Noticeably absent is Janiven.
"Where is Janiven?" Azhar inquires to no one in particular and everyone at once.
A dark cloud is over Cassian. He is quiet, eating sparingly.
He stops near Cassian. Standing, holding his plate. "...and anything I can help with, my friend? You seem...troubled."
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Amaya epps, going shock still as Azhar pulls her off her feet. Tarvi, hearing the sound, stops short. "Using your size like that very un-gentlemenly."
She stops looking at him, sapphire eyes evaluating.
"Yes, it is." Azhar says, "but from a troubleshooting standpoint, it seemed the best solution I had available." He turns to Amaya, "Sorry for the lack of warning, 'maya. Would you mind walking with us? I promise to see you home...or wherever else you wish to be escorted safely and soundly afterwards." and back to Tarvi, "Now, shall we continue?"
He stops near Cassian. Standing, holding his plate. "...and anything I can help with, my friend? You seem...troubled."
Cassian shakes his head. "It'll be solved. One way or the other." He seems unwilling to say anything else.
Azhar nods, slightly concerned. He says, "Very well, if you would like to discuss something, please feel free to let me know." He continues on to sit with the others.
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"Then we head to the Glittering Palace first, and then you walk Amaya home." She turns, taking Amaya's arm, leaving Azhar to follow the pair, if he wishes.
"Where is Janiven?" Azhar inquires to no one in particular and everyone at once.
Arael looks over, "She said she had a few errands to run when she dropped off the food." His tone unconcerned about the ranger.
Azhar nods, slightly concerned. He says, "Very well, if you would like to discuss something, please feel free to let me know." He continues on to sit with the others.
Cassian nods, no sign of any sarcastic comment jumping to his lips. He picks up a piece of fruit, cutting slices off and handing them up to Rygel, the entirety of his attention upon the door.
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Tarvi gives up at trying to read the much taller young man, "Fine. Put 'er down." Assuming that Azhar complies. Tarvi holds up a closed fist to Amaya, which the other girl copies. (1d3 ⇒ 3; 1d3 ⇒ 3) On the first throw, both produce scissors and Tarvi sighs dramatically, and with a smile, returns her hand to a fist. (1d3 ⇒ 1; 1d3 ⇒ 1) And both throw stone, a quick glare between the two, apparently similar girls. (1d3 ⇒ 1; 1d3 ⇒ 3) Until, finally Tarvi throws a scissors to Amaya's stone.
Azhar's grin gets a little lopsided for an instant, then softens considerably.
"Then we head to the Glittering Palace first, and then you walk Amaya home." She turns, taking Amaya's arm, leaving Azhar to follow the pair, if he wishes.
...and of course he does, and enjoys watching both of them as well as anything that might be amiss ahead.
"Glistening Palace? So is that where you live?" a slight pause, "Should I start calling you princess?" he is grinning, obviously teasing, and ready to dodge if needed.Azhar moves to sit with the others. He leans against a wall, munching on fruit while keeping half an eye on the door as well.
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Amaya, her light soprano correcting, "Glittering Palace. Tarvi makes jewelry, her parents sell them."
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Tarvi raises her voice so it carries back to where Rev is, "If your brother purses those that need protecting, he should look up the blonde in the theater, we do quite well on our own." Voice pleasant but just a hint of something sharper underneath. Her voice drops as she talks to Amaya and Azhar, lost to the distance for the group planning on drinking.** spoiler omitted **
"And he probably will..." Rev tells her matter of factly. "But he's honorable and stuff, and he always does what he thinks is right, so you might as well let him walk you home, since he's just going to follow you at a bit of a distance if you don't." He shrugs. "Well, good afternoon ladies." He nods to the two women, winks at his brother, and departs to join the drinkers.
Mathalen comments, "I like rules, rarely ever met someone that actually thinks the rules apply to them." She shakes her head, "If it was your friend Janiven was searching for then she isn't as bright as I'd thought. People like that are just begging to get caught, and they drag the people they know when they do." She looks at Gravalax seriously, "You should be careful of him."
She finishes the dregs of her second drink, looks over at the two who continue to sip at their drinks. "I really don't want you to take this in the wrong manner, but I get nervous drinking with those who aren't. They tend to be trying to work some angle which normally gives me a headache to think about." She smiles at Gravalax and Scalvo, "So I'd be happy to buy the two of you a third round, but I'll be heading before the booze gets the better of me."
Rev is listening, paying attention, getting a feel for the conspirators. He doesn't say much but he has a couple of drinks,apparently fading into the background.
And he ignores the fact that he's apparently been forgotten by the group. Probably for the best, since he usually inspired fear and distrust in those around him, with his tainted blood and appearance telling everyone exactly what they needed to know about him to judge his character. Not that he helped that image by being a sarcastic jerk most of the time.
** spoiler omitted **"Where is Janiven?" Azhar inquires to no one in particular and everyone at once.Arael looks over, "She said she had a few errands to run when she dropped off the food." His tone unconcerned about the ranger.
Rev is back to his, this is a terrible idea, gathering together when half the people in this room are wanted by the authorities, and why are we here... oh yeah, Azhar always needs to do the right thing expression. He detects poison before he eats, as he always does.
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The look Tarvi shoots him is far more pointed than a slap and far harder to dodge. "Not a princess." Her voice sharp, until she takes a small breath, regaining her more normal buoyant tone, "If I was, my parents would have far more free time on their hands."
Amaya, her light soprano correcting, "Glittering Palace. Tarvi makes jewelry, her parents sell them."
know:local:
Azhar laughs, a little apologetically, "I know. I've heard of it. I was teasing. Tarvi, I know you're not a princess, you've been making it very clear that you are a competent, self-sufficient, quite adept and able young woman whom I would very much like to know better over time, in whatever way you so choose. I would very much like to see your work some time, when you feel it is appropriate. ...and Amaya, your knowing what upsets your friend and standing up to remedy the situation is...quite commendable. You are a good person, and a good friend. Perhaps one day we can be as close as the two of you seem to be." he pauses momentarily, "Did you grow up together? You seem to have developed quite a bond. How did you first meet? do you remember?"sense motive dc20: