[Here's Nasira. Chillin' in the vampire girl's house. Drinking her tea. Asking about Cecilia's father, Louis. It's cozy! It's comfortable! Nasira's not out killing people! Shock!] [Start!] * Nasira is at the house, drinking tea, and not killing anyone, least of all young children. You, gentle reader, are as surprised as I. * Nasira is looking at Cecilia. "Do you want me to find him?" she asks, "And bring him back here?" (The "gentle reader" comment is a nice touch.) I don't know why he's gone, and I can't promise anything, but if I see him again, I'll tell him you miss him. * Cecilia looks around hesitant. She fiddles as she paces back towards the kitchen. "I don't...I don't know..." [Just then, the front door slams.] * Nasira turns to face the door from her seated position, hand on the hilt of her sheathed saif. [There's a sudden shout as someone comes running in from outside. "Cissy! You won't believe it! I've got my first delivery! Well, I tried to sell them the special package but they were sooooo stiff. I mean geez. But--" The girl has red-brown hair and can best be described as Marla because I don't want to describe her again ;P] * Nasira relaxes and looks to Cecilia. "That's your sister?" she asks with a grin. [Marla slowly glances at Cecilia, as Cecilia's action is not quite what she'd expected. "Cissy. You're so quiet...what.." Cecilia glances Nasira's way. "We have guests..."] Nah. * Nasira leans back and has another sip. "Just one guest." * Cecilia nods. Marla just...starts to look at you. Is it pleasant? You be the judge. * Nasira , for the record, looks like she usually does. That is, bandaged, dirty, cut, bruised, ripped clothes, and by all rights lying in a hospital bed if she's up to drinking tea at all. * Nasira doesn't care! She finishes drinking her tea until it's gone, then sets it to one side. * Nasira stands and gives Marla a half-bow. "And it's nice to meet you, too. You treat everyone who kills zombies for you and brings news of your father this way?" * Marla looks at Nasira oddly for a second, then to Cecilia. "Is this tru--wait, zombies?" Cecilia glances at her sister. "You were too busy with the birds again to notice, weren't you?" Yeah, zombies. They just took over your island. No big deal. * Nasira sits down again, automatically picks up her cup, then puts it back down. * Marla rubs her head nervously. "Oh...well...yeah, I was busy." Cecilia facefaults. "Sis...you're hopeless." * Nasira idly gets some dirt and gore out of her ponytail as she waits. * Cecilia looks at Marla excitedly. "She said she found father! Father, sis!" Marla looks at Cecilia for a second, then at Nasira. Her expression is...well, whatever it is, it's not happy. Shock maybe. * Marla leans down. "Cissy. Why don't you go up and make the sheets?" Cecilia looks confused. "But Sis..." Marla looks at her. "Don't argue..." Cecilia deflates and stomps up the stairs. * Nasira shakes her head once Cecilia's out of range. "Why'd you send her up, kid? She probably needs to hear it, too." * Marla glances at Nasira and takes on a more serious tone. "Okay. So what did she tell you?" She sits down across from Nasira. * Nasira sighs, leaning back. "Nothing much. I thought your dad was on the island, dead or not. Your sister gave the impression that he went out to fight the zombies." * Marla starts pouring herself a cup of tea as well. There's plenty for two. "He's not...is he?" * Nasira shakes her head and hands over the cup. "Mind getting me some, too? I've never had Maltan tea before today." * Marla sips, then sighs and shakes her head, setting down the cup. "Forgive me. Where are my manners? I'm Marla. And you've met my sister." She holds out her hand for the cup." * Nasira smiles, nodding. "Thanks," she says, taking it. "I'm Nasira Zehil. My parents are Kamil and Hala, of the same family name, and my teacher was Mirza Saleh." * Marla pours the tea casually. "Caladeem then." Yeah, though I haven't seen my homeland in a while. I actually met your father - Louis Farnhimmel, right? - in Port Rio about two, three days ago. * Marla sighs and hands back the cup. "Yes. But no one's supposed to know that." She looks seriously at Nasira. "I go by Bradley now." * Nasira blinks with her one good eye. "Why?" Pause. "And you'd better clue your little sister in." * Nasira grins. "Secret names do no good when the secret's out." * Marla shakes her head. "No. No they don't." She takes a deep breath and picks up her tea cup. "Everyone around here knew him as the town drunk. And... well, Cissy doesn't want to believe that he just up and left us...." * Nasira nods and lets Marla go on. She gulps some more tea. * Marla runs her fingers through her hair and takes a deep breath. "I really had a chance to show her the world... I blew it..." * Nasira lowers the tea. Wait, are you talking about the same thing? * Marla shakes her head. "No... we just have to get away from this place. No one has pity for two poor little orphan girls.." * Marla looks up at Nasira. "He didn't mention us at all...did he?" * Nasira shakes her head. "Afraid not, kid." She thinks for a moment. "Actually, he didn't talk about his family at all." And then she laughs. "Not like there was too much time for it in between accusing me of being a pirate and tracking." * Marla chuckles and looks up at Nasira. "Are you a pirate? You have the eye patch." * Nasira grins. "Kid, not *everyone* who has an eyepatch is a pirate. You don't see me pillaging, do ya?" 'Sides, I'd be a pretty awful pirate. All I can do on a ship is drop an anchor. Not yet. Maybe you're waiting until morning. Naaah, fire burns brighter at night. * Marla grins. "Although thankfully, I don't have to worry about the raping. At least...I hope not from you... * Nasira has another drink of tea. "Not from anybody," she says, a spark in her eye. "I'd kick their asses if they got anywhere close while I'm around." * Marla smiles. "Well that's a relief. More tea?" Not until I'm finished with this cup. It's good. What do you call it? Sea Mist blend * Nasira nods. "I'll try to pick some up." She eyes the tea. "Though Shan might object to drinking any. She'd probably decide it's an affront to Chu-Lin or something and have it banned. I wonder if it mixes with salt water." * Marla blinks. "Shan? As in Shan Dian Biao?" Uh... yeah. She's my boss. You heard of her? * Nasira looks around, then leans in and says, secretively, "I didn't think she *actually* ran the world." * Marla looks sheepish. "She... uh..gave me these..." She reaches into her pouch and produces a couple of folded letters. Runs the what now? * Nasira glances at them. "Why- oh, you're a delivery girl? That's what the birds are for?" * Marla puts them away and sighs. "Yes. Though I'd hoped that my other business would start booming." * Nasira blinks. "You've got two? You're quite the merchant, aren't you?" * Marla fiddles with her fingers. "Well...um....I guess so...." She looks very embarrassed. * Nasira laughs. "Oh, don't be shy!" * Marla fiddle fiddles. In my country, merchants are the most important people there are. Only the best become merchants. * Nasira grins. "That's why I didn't make it. But *you*, and at your age? That's fantastic." * Marla waves her hands. She looks bright red. "Oh no no no no. It's nothing like that!" * Nasira leans back. "Don't be so modest," she says, tsking. And she has some more tea. * Marla blushes and puts her hands in her lap. She wasn't expecting all these compliments. Both of my parents are merchants. * Nasira pauses, then frowns a little. "Maybe were." She finishes off her cup and sets it down. "I know how hard it is." * Marla tilts her head at Nasira. "What do you mean were? You too?" * Nasira sighs. I haven't seen them in years. We had a... falling out, and I left home. * Marla looks curious, then turns to the side, looking distant. "I can relate." * Nasira grins. "Yeah, but I don't blame them. I don't blame them at all." I just...I just want to know what he was looking for...that's all. And if he's in Port Rio you said... * Nasira nods. * Marla shakes her head. "But I can't just leave Cissy..." She looks up. "Did he say what he was doing?" * Nasira shakes her head. "I didn't ask. When I ran into him, he was drinking ahd shooting birds. Said he had nothing really important to do, so he helped me." * Marla looks downcast. "Nothing important...I see..." Well, he *did* help me when I needed it, free of charge. Your dad's an awfully good tracker, kid. * Marla shakes her head. "Cecilia doesn't think he left for good. That's why she calls herself Farnhimmel still...me..." She shakes her head. "I don't know..." She takes a sip. * Marla chuckles, still looking down. "Yeah..." She looks up. "Look...if you see him again..." She hesitates. Yeah? * Marla looks in her tea. "No. It's nothing. Nevermind." * Nasira folds her hands behind her head. "Look, kid. Maybe your dad's gone for good. Maybe he isn't. He didn't seem too hooked on hanging onto the past, but it's not like I spent ages talking to him." For all I know, he might be running from you guys, and he just needs a good kick in the rear to come back... or maybe he won't. What I want to know is what're you gonna do about it? * Marla just silently listens. When Nasira finishes... "I don't know....really..." Well, you think about it. We're gonna be leaving soon, though probably not tonight. * Marla nods, then looks up. "Nasira...was it?" * Nasira grins. "That's what everyone calls me when they're not cursing my name out of existence." * Marla nods, but doesn't crack a grin. She looks thoughtful. "Thanks for looking after my sister." Hey, it was fun. Don't worry about it. Thank you all the same. * Nasira laughs. "You're welcome." * Marla cleans up the tray. * Nasira stands and stretches. She picks up her weapons. So, what's your other business? * Marla almost drops the tray. "Um... I'm not at liberty to say..." Oh. Too bad. But it'll revolutionize the travel industry. I can get it there in half the time... Get what? * Marla frowns. "But no one wants to take me up on it. They don't believe I can do it." Oh. The messages. * Nasira nods. "How much does it cost?" * Marla frowns again. "About 40 Drach per day." And how much does it cost to send a message normally? Depends on how far...I have to feed the birds for one thing. And it takes a lot more time. And of course birds get shot down all the time..." But... well... yeah, less than that. * Nasira smiles a little. "That's the problem. Now." * Nasira paces. "I'm no merchant," she says, back to Marla, "just a mercenary. But I'm thinking that it'd be *really* handy if you could get people somewhere in half the time instead of letters." Marla blinks at Nasira. "People?" * Nasira turns to Marla. People! (I just cut things up!) * Marla shakes her head. "But it's too small! I don't know if I can build it..." She eeps a bit as she's starting to reveal her secrets. "Anyways, it won't ever work.." * Nasira looks back at Marla and grins. "You can always work to make it bigger with money from your other business, right?" And someday, maybe it will be. ... maybe.... * Marla snickers. "Mother was from Dunlor. Before she... well... you know..." * Nasira nods. I've never been there. I'll probably have to go the old, slow way. * Marla nods. "We'll see...you know...." She fidgets again with the tray. * Nasira smiles. "Well, I've got faith in ya." Pause. "You know a place I can get new clothes?" * Marla blinks. "In your size? Well..." She thinks for a moment. "There's a tailor just down the road. You'll probably have to try him in the morning. I wish we had something your size but I don't think they'll fit you." * Nasira nods. "I was thinking that I might have to go with men's clothing. We'll see." * Nasira looks down at herself, then grins back at Marla. "But as you can see, well... I go through clothes pretty fast." * Marla snickers again. "I noticed." * Nasira grins. "They're better off than those zombies." She glances at the door. "And I'd better get going." * Marla turns back towards the kitchen. "I've got to put this away. Then I guess..." She frowns a little. "I have to check on Cecilia. Make sure she's okay." She glances at Nasira. "Oh...um...." She hesitates again. Yeah? If you're ever, you know, in Forthswith again? You're, um, welcome to visit..." * Nasira laughs. "Assuming my visit won't get you killed or hurt, I will." She winks. "That happening would defeat the point." Uh, right. I'll drop by tomorrow morning so you've had time to think about things. Thanks for your hospitality. And thank your sister for me, too, okay? Of course. * Marla takes the tray into the kitchen. * Nasira helps herself out, shutting the door gently behind herself, then looks around. [As Nasira steps out, she notices a flash from the distance that lights up the sky. She also heard what sounded like cannon shot. And she's good enough to be able to approximate the shortest route towards it too. Go her!]