"Then it will handily distract males," Absinthe says, still smiling, "and add to the appearance of poverty." She actually giggles.
Rosa's lips quirk slightly. "Are you sure you aren't the one hoping to be distracted, dear?" Yes, she was paying attention to the earlier incident.
I can assist you in dressing... Segang offers with a smile.
"Only if you can keep your mind on business...other things can come later..."
"Pray forgive this unworthy one," Absinthe says, smiling, "but while you have a fine physique worthy of trysting, one is not inclined to sleeping with members of the clergy, lest one find oneself at the end of a deity's displeasure."
Thought we had an hour to kill. Segang grumbles good-naturedly to himself but complies with the all business request.
Melianthe grumbles as well. "A plague, and suddenly available meat. I will stick to fish and things I recognize. And Segang, please, step aside and let women attend to their own. Rosa, let me be of aid." She shoos him away.
"Pray forgive this unworthy one," Absinthe says, smiling, "but while you have a fine physique worthy of trysting, one is not inclined to sleeping with members of the clergy, lest one find oneself at the end of a deity's displeasure."
"As long as you...enjoy it."
Thought we had an hour to kill. Segang grumbles good-naturedly to himself but complies with the all business request.
"An hour? Really?" Rosa sounds a little insulted.
The large barbarian allows himself to be shooed away but does watch appraisingly.
Demitri just chuckles to himself at the back and forth. "This day gets more interesting by the minute."
Rosa blinks as Melianthe steps in. "...drat." ....okay, she may be unusually serious for the breed, but she's still a Calistrian.
Absinthe turns around, sees Segang watching, smiles -- and draws her rapier.
"One loves you as a sister, brother Segang," she says. "And as a sister, one cautions you to look away."
She makes a chivvying gesture with the blade, still smiling.
"The same goes for you, brother Demitri."
Demitri will turn away while pulling Segang away to do the same. "Let's give them some privacy."
"...but what if I didn't want privacy?"
"Then one wishes to have words with whoever raised you," Absinthe says. "There is a time and a place, sister Rosa. Now hurry up and get ready for the mission."
A sigh. "Right, right, later..." Rosa gets to the job....
"Um, the disguise? Here, let's use my kit."
Rosa blinks as Melianthe steps in. "...drat." ....okay, she may be unusually serious for the breed, but she's still a Calistrian.
"Oh come now, Rosa, I'm not so horrid," smirks Melianthe.
"Quite the contrary, really," Absinthe says, smiling demurely.
Rosa shakes her head. "Not as much fun if you don't want to see it," she points out.
"Hurry it up, now," Absinthe says. "Unreasonable people are waiting for us to report back."
Melianthe turns to regard Absinthe.
"I know you were born in a place where rules were twisted, so you may not understand boundaries. To that end, I'll make this very clear: unasked for contact is NOT welcome. Don't use the fact that we are dressing up Rosa as an invitation. I thank you for honoring this."
"Very good," Absinthe says, nodding.
Rosa just shakes her head as she strips down to her smallclothes quickly and efficiently in order to do the change.
I am sooo not looking.
"Eyes this way." Demitri chides the mischievous Segang.
After the undressing and redressing, Rosa and Absinthe make their way back to the butcher, filing into line with the other citizens. The line moves slowly, and most people in line try to remain patient and quiet. A woman with two crying children is let inside, but they emerge a moment later, shoved out by a pair of men. She pleads for forgiveness, but one man sneers. "Keep yer spogs quiet next time, an' we'll see." This one is tall, with a bushy unibrow and flat nose. Before returning inside, he faces the line and adds, "No more trouble, or we're closed fer the day."
When Rosa and Absinthe finally get to the door, it is nearly mid-day.
The wheezer hands over a wrapped package to the person ahead of you. Absinthe can only take one step inside before a heavy hand lands on her shoulder. "No scaggin' half-demons allowed. Kick off, now!" says Unibrow.
Segang paces worriedly at a safe distance from the shop. They have been gone a long time Demitri. Perhaps we should move in now? He says this after about 5 minutes have passed. He seems not to be good at waiting.
"A well articulated con takes some time, Segang. There is no cause for concern, yet." Seren states as calmly as possible although his face mirrors the worry in Segang's pacing.
"Patience, humans," chastises Melianthe good-naturedly.
"Only half-human here, so color me 50% less impatient." Seren attempts to jest with a humorless smile.
"Agreed, I don't hear any yelling or screaming so I don't think anyone is in danger yet. Give it some time."
If the woman with the two children is still there, she quietly hands her a few rations. "It is not high cuisine, goodwife," she whispers, "but it is hearty food that will serve the eater's needs for a day."
Rosa shrugs and walks out the door after Absinthe, putting a casual arm over the other woman's shoulder that seems to be at least a little posessive.
"Seren, I completely forgot! Well, I don't claim to understand daylight elves anyhow. We're a useful bunch, aren't we? We don't even have the Harrow Deck to play a hand."
"Yes, something to pass the time during these interminable waits would be fabulous ... oh, look ... here they come! They still look OK, hope they got something of value."
"What did you find out?" Demitri asks as they come back.
Rosa sighs, disengaging herself from Absinthe if the other hasn't done that already. "Sadly, not much. All we really picked up was a bit of motivation. The guards aren't in this for the charity work, they're expecting something out of this enterprise. It can't be money, directly. Charity work like this doesn't make enough."
"Well sadly I'm not surprised. But I'd hope there was a silver lining in this. You expect something sinister?"
Rosa thinks. "Something beyond the scope of guard duty. Smuggling, maybe? Using the crowd as cover to get something through?' She shakes her head. "No...maybe if things weren't so lively already...Missing something."