The Endowed

[Azrael]

"What's going on? Are... are you going to kill him? Why?" She leaned against the wall, pretending to feel faint. It didn't matter if he was killed, but it had to look like she heard this and cared.

"Oh you mean this thing right here?" asked Pasha Simon, dangling the bloodied kitchen knife in front of the woman's face. "No. I won't kill but doing what he did, I'm going to make sure that this man is tried by Sharia law and properly executed for this act of betrayal against me." Motioning the other guards who held the traitor down on the floor to send him to prison, he threw the knife on the floor and looked up at Griselda. She looked just as concerned as he was about this whole thing, Then again, who wouldn't?

"I don't know about you but I think I had enough excitement for one night." His plans to visit Italy would need to be pushed aside for more immediate matters such as the assassin and the reasons why he targeted him. Simon frowned and shook his head. "Anyways, I hope that the room that my servants had provided you are more than satisfactory for you? I need something else to dwell my mind on after tonight..."

[madammina]

"Anyways, I hope that the room that my servants had provided you are more than satisfactory for you?" Simon turned to look at her as he said this. He looked concerned.

"Yes, it is. I'm...I'm sorry that this happened." She hugged her robe around her tighter. Darn this person! Why couldn't he complete what she told him to do. "Do... do you know why he betrayed you?"

" I need something else to dwell my mind on after tonight..." Griselda gave a tiny smile.

"My mother, when I had a bad dream, told me to get a book and a mug of hot chocolate. This... is a living nightmare. But do you want to get some? And Can I accompany you?"

She couldn't kill him, not now. It was too soon. And if it was him and her when she poisoned him it would look quite suspicious. No... she just needed to build up his trust. She still had a few more days at court. And she was only needed at night.

"Come on... YOu can't really sleep now anyway..." She gestured to the soldiers who were combing his room. "It looks like it may take a few hours before they are done making sure no other assassins are hiding there."

Besides... there's one just next door. And all of my poison is well hidden.

[Azrael]

"Anyways, I hope that the room that my servants had provided you are more than satisfactory for you?" Simon turned to look at her as he said this. He looked concerned.

"Yes, it is. I'm...I'm sorry that this happened." She hugged her robe around her tighter. Darn this person! Why couldn't he complete what she told him to do. "Do... do you know why he betrayed you?"

"I wouldn't know but hopefully if he isn't already executed by dawn, I'll interrogate him until a justifiable motive can be presented and something can be done about it."

" I need something else to dwell my mind on after tonight..." Griselda gave a tiny smile.

"My mother, when I had a bad dream, told me to get a book and a mug of hot chocolate. This... is a living nightmare. But do you want to get some? And Can I accompany you?"

It was rather strange for Pasha Simon although it was a strange night. The same person that he was fighting with was now more than willing to comfort him, and even accompany him. Chocolate does sound nice and it would be a change from what has occurred. He nodded his head and smiled. "Of course. there's drinks left over from the meal you missed downstairs while I have some books in the library next door. Probably not the most exciting things to look at if you're not a fan of Greek mythology, but it does the job."

"Come on... YOu can't really sleep now anyway..." She gestured to the soldiers who were combing his room. "It looks like it may take a few hours before they are done making sure no other assassins are hiding there."

"Yeah." He then grabbed her hand and pulled her downstairs. "Let's go and keep ourselves busy."

[madammina]

"Yeah." He then grabbed her hand and pulled her downstairs. "Let's go and keep ourselves busy."

Was he hitting on her? Griselda couldn't tell as she followed him to the kitchen. she had had only a few scraps during the show and was hungry.

"I don't mind myths!" she called back out to Simon as he pulled her along rather forcefully. Finally they arrived in the kitchen and Griselda soon took a cup from a servant. They sat across from eachother and gave small smiles in new friendship.

"So, how did you get up here... you stick out like a sore thumb. And I mean detailed... what you said before doesn't cut it." Griselda smiled over her cup as she brought it up to drink.

----

"The Fox or The Assassin." The Fox heard whispered behind them. People were still debating. Who was to lead the rebellion against the mafia? They had taken too much of what was rightfully the Thieves who worked here. The Assassin had arrived under the name of Griselda Giacomo and several had set her up to be the savior of criminals. Others had been backing the Fox itself. The Fox didn't know why.

But every time it was mentioned The Fox grew anxious... this couldn't be a riot, and it needed to be cleared up quickly. Before the mafia attacked and destroyed everyone.

And where was Quicksilver? The Fox needed to be kept updated...

[Azrael]

"So, how did you get up here... you stick out like a sore thumb. And I mean detailed... what you said before doesn't cut it." Griselda smiled over her cup as she brought it up to drink.

"If you must insist on saying that just because I'm not a Turk, then I'll tell you. Just let me finish this." Simon took the mug that his servant Ibrahim poured with chocolate, an deliciously addictive drink imported from the Orient and chugged it all down. Nothing was left and the Pasha placed the mug on the table, signaling Ibrahim to pour him a re-fill of the addictive drink. "My father was once a nobleman who lived in France, specifically the area where that famous wine came from. He owned thousands of acres of farmland until civil war broke out in the country and to put a long story short, a rival faction took power and he lost everything. Land-less, he took what he had left to rent an Arab dhow and sneak away to the Ottoman Empire where he got on the previous Sultan's good side and managed to become a minor noble. While buying some nugget, he met my mom and they instantly clicked just like that. Next thing you know, they're married and have a kid, me."

"Now tell me a bit more about yourself."

[Zaphod Beeblebronx]

Quicksilver was finishing his last game with a young arrogant lord. The lord was little more than a boy but his attire screamed for respect. Quicksilver would fetch a mighty sum from this lad.

"Ainsi vous voulez jouer ce jeu ?" Quicksilver asked the lord.

"Excuse me?" The young lord asked with a hint of disgust in his tone. Quicksilver could tell from this that the lord was English, for the English don't quite mix well with the French, English-men wasn't Quicksilver's type.

"I said 'So you want to play this game?'"Quicksilver said. He smiled a humble smile. The young lord scowled at Quicksilver. " It will only cost...(Quicksilver looked the lord over) 5 quid."

The lord looked as if he was debating whether he should play or not. Quicksilver smiled to himself, this one was in the bag.

"If you wish my lord I'll put 10 quid on the line to your 5 quid." Quicksilver was a smart man you see, he had found in his younger days how to make a paper that resembled a pound, all he had to do was put them in a print and boom... You have a false pound note. He didn't make too many or spend them too much because someone might catch on, but they were useful in his scams to lull his victims into a false sense of being able to double thier money.

The lord nodded his head finally and put a 5 pound note on the table. Quicksilver put the three cups on the table and put a pebble on the table.

"The object of the game is to guess which cup the pebble is in two times. If you pick the wrong cup just once though you lose. Simple no?" Quicksilver put the pebble under a cup and started moving the cups around, switching their places and mixing them up. When he stopped he gestured at the cups and looked questioningly up at the Lord.

The lord pointed at the one in the middle. He was right of course, there was a pebble under all three of the cups now. This was to help lull the victims under a false sense of safety, they only have to win once more and they walk away with more money than they came with.

Quicksilver started again spinning the cups and mixing them up but this time instead of adding the rocks he took them all away. It was a simple trick, don't look at the cups, keep your attention on the victim while flicking your wrist and depositing the rocks in your long sleeves, just do it fast. People never see it, they are too busy trying to follow the cup they think has the rock in it.

Quicksilver stopped and gestured at the cups. The lord pointed at one and Quicksilver picked it up, of course now there was nothing under it. Quicksilver picked up the money and stood up.

"Sorry mate, there's always next time." He said apologetically. He turned to go and heard the sound of a sword being drawn. He smiled and turned around with a look of fear on his face.

"Give me the money!" The lord snarled. "You cheated me!"

Quicksilver shook his head, " No my lord. I did no such thing. I swear it."

He then flicked his wrist at the lord. The lord took a step back as pebbles hit him in the face. Quicksilver took this distraction to disappear in the night time crowd. He blended right in. He was just an innocent bystander and no one could prove otherwise.

Quicksilver entered "Selene" from the back entrance. He walked through the kitchens and out from behind the bar. He nodded to the bartender, pretty little thing, and winked. He then stepped onto the customers side of the bar and ordered some wine. He leaned against the bar and started flirting with the bartender.

__________________________________
(Septimus is speaking Russian)

Septimus Vain stood on his balcony glaring out into the night, his plans were coming along but soo slowly. He was sick of the incompetence of his task force to capture the talented Fox. He gripped the rail in anger and the wood splintered. He looked at the wood and then back out into the night and laughed. He was the single most Powerful man in the world. He could do what ever he wanted with out consequent. He had most of Europe under his cold grip. He need not fear this "fox".

He turned to walk back into his room when he heard a scuffling sound coming from his closet. He silently walked over to the door and flung it open. Inside he found a maid with her hand in one of his drawers. His face went from curiosity to pure anger. She started to stutter some nonsense and cry. He stood aside and pointed to the bed. She slowly walked out of the closet and to the bed, still talking nonsense.

Septimus put his finger to her lips and she instantly stopped talking, Fear flowing from her eyes. the fear made her beautiful, Septimus almost didn't want to hurt her. He was going to find out out what she was doing, And he was going to find out soon.

"Были вами делая внутри там? (What were you doing in there?)" He asked in a calm quiet voice. She said something he couldn't understand, it sounded like Spanish.

"Я могу увидеть он не сделает NIKAKое хорош поговорить к вам.(I can see it won't do any good to talk to you.)" He said and shook his head in sadness. Looks like he had to do things in his own special way. He stood up and took her hand and pulled her up. He looked into her eyes for a second and then whispered into her ear. "Я огорченн(I'm sorry)"

He then started to suck out her life, the smell of roses filled the air and she soon couldn't stand anymore. She fell to her knees and one broke on the impact. She slumped over, she was now resembled a mummy.
She started to turn to ash and drift away. Septimus was left holding a hand.

He crushed it in his hand and walked back to his balcony. Her memory's floating around in his head. She had been sent to spy on him by a masked man, That was clear, but who had sent him? He shook his head and stared back out into the night, it seems that he has a new enemy.

[madammina]

"Now tell me a bit more about yourself."

Nice story... probably true. It explained his drive to prove himself.

"I'm boring. Born in Italy to a German mom. The song I sang is pretty much my story actually. Just played up. I would like to settle down and I work by referral only. I also work alone. It's cheaper and I don't have to worry about an Endowed trying to steal my thunder by conjuring things or something... it's cheap." She sipped her drink daintily. "But, yeah... you know my life already. I go where the work is and enjoy bringing smiles to everyone. But as much as I WANT to settle down, i don't think I can. I would miss traveling too much." she smiled.
-----

The Fox heard Quicksilver flirting with the bartender. The Fox walked over to the counter. The Bartender saw The Fox and handed The Fox a pen and paper. The Fox wrote for Quicksilver.

"How are you." The Fox didn't talk. Everyone adjusted to the fact The Fox was a mute and no one minded.

[Azrael]

"I'm boring. Born in Italy to a German mom. The song I sang is pretty much my story actually. Just played up. I would like to settle down and I work by referral only. I also work alone. It's cheaper and I don't have to worry about an Endowed trying to steal my thunder by conjuring things or something... it's cheap." She sipped her drink daintily. "But, yeah... you know my life already. I go where the work is and enjoy bringing smiles to everyone. But as much as I WANT to settle down, i don't think I can. I would miss traveling too much." she smiled.

Pasha Simon laughed a bit, causing bubbles to form on his mug as he placed his lips near the liquid. "If I were you, I would choose to continue the single life." He then paused, drinking some chocolate and then gulped it down and placed the mug on the table. "But just for a few years. It must get lonely if you're planning to spend your entire life, working on your own but that's coming from the man who refuses to even consider the thought of having a wife. At least not until I find the ideal woman to marry and have children with." Simon knew that would never happen, at least with the Sultan constantly introducing him to women who he considered not compatible with him. When the right woman would come along and he himself would know this, then he would accept the sacrament of marriage under Sharia law, of course. "The day that I do get married, which I'll admit might be years from now, would be a nice day. I can imagine me and my bride, standing under a grove of orchard trees in the middle of pure, virgin Greek countryside and say my oaths with our families serving as witnesses."

[madammina]

"The day that I do get married, which I'll admit might be years from now, would be a nice day. I can imagine me and my bride, standing under a grove of orchard trees in the middle of pure, virgin Greek countryside and say my oaths with our families serving as witnesses." Griselda snorted.

"Greek's pretty, but being a traveler I'm rather attatched to my homeland. I'd rather be married in my local church, but I'll keep the families as witnesses. And maybe a duke or two. Though, the problem arises, who would I hire for the wedding feast?" She gave a smile. "I'm a JESTER. I'd either be critiquing, or trying to find someone to hire that's good..." That part was a pain. She didn't know who would show up though. Her family had cut her off after her repeated attempts at stealing (which were unsuccessful until she got her endowment under control)

"Anway, this bride... what do you want in one?" She picked up the first book before her, a tale of Zeus, and began to flip through it. "I'd imagine you'd have the pick of the litter here, so why haven't you picked one?" Wow... she sounded like she was flirting with him. But, she was curious. And maybe it could be useful later.

[Azrael]

"Greek's pretty, but being a traveler I'm rather attatched to my homeland. I'd rather be married in my local church, but I'll keep the families as witnesses. And maybe a duke or two. Though, the problem arises, who would I hire for the wedding feast?" She gave a smile. "I'm a JESTER. I'd either be critiquing, or trying to find someone to hire that's good..."

Pasha Simon grinned. "You could always hire yourself for the wedding. You'll be saving florins that best be used for go away to a secluded location and consecrate your vows there. I suggest Kabul. It may be far and the locals are hostile to any foreigners who come in hostile intentions but it's the most nicest place in the world."

"Anway, this bride... what do you want in one?" She picked up the first book before her, a tale of Zeus, and began to flip through it. "I'd imagine you'd have the pick of the litter here, so why haven't you picked one?" Wow... she sounded like she was flirting with him. But, she was curious. And maybe it could be useful later.

"For one, Sultan Mehmed's pick often involves women who are good in the sack for a week or two. Not exactly those of the opposite sex that I think about marrying with. Too boring for me." The daughters of Turkish admirals or generals, or even foreign emissaries were more often than not beautiful creatures carved by Merciful and Most Gracious Allah. Yet at the same time, the good lot of them were too boring for him, solely interested in activities that the young Pasha considered mundane and pointless. And for those who were the contrast ended up being married off and leave him for good. "I never had luck finding that perfect woman for me so I figure I'm in the same boat as you, Griselda."

[madammina]

"You could always hire yourself for the wedding. You'll be saving florins that best be used for go away to a secluded location and consecrate your vows there. I suggest Kabul. It may be far and the locals are hostile to any foreigners who come in hostile intentions but it's the most nicest place in the world."

"Sounds like an Oxymoron." Griselda snorted. "I'm a foreigner, so they wouldn't be nice to me. And I can't really do my own... it's really indecent for a bride to sing and juggle like that in her wedding dress. Besides, me and my husband are the focus of the day... people would be celebrating us. And it would just seem... selfish to do it myself."

"For one, Sultan Mehmed's pick often involves women who are good in the sack for a week or two. Not exactly those of the opposite sex that I think about marrying with. Too boring for me." Griselda shuddered.

"I know the type." She muttered. "Though, in reverse. I'm a single woman traveling all over the world so whenever I enter a court all these guys tend to swarm onto me. Which is why I spend most of my time in the room, which can make it worse..." Course, a few of those had managed to make their way to her room without her sending them away again. It had been nice but...

"Yeah, we are in the same boat. Some companionship would be LOVELY. But anyway, spill. Have you decided where you are going yet?"

[Zaphod Beeblebronx]

Quicksilver looked down as a piece of paper slid into position in front of him. He looked down and saw that it read "How are you?" He smiled and looked over to his ever silent friend The Fox.

"I'm doing wonderful! I had quite the profitable day. How about you? What has my cunning friend been up to?" He leaned in closer to try to see through the mask that always covered The Fox's face. As long as he knew The Fox he still hadn't seen the faintest glimpse of the hidden face. Quite the mystery.

[madammina]

The Fox took the paper back and scribbled on the back.

"PRetty well. Just a broach today, but I don't really mind. But you look scared. Something happen?" The fox looked back up, to see Quicksilver trying to peer into The Fox's scarf. She looked down to write. "And stop looking into my scarf!"

[Razputen]

Nero was walking silently across the rooftops when he heard a familiar voice.
Были вами делая внутри там? (What were you doing in there?)"
"Poor pitiful woman" he thought to himself
He heard the woman say something to the effect of "im ....im simply hanging you cl -cl clothes lord vain"
Nero could hear the anxiety in her voice she was lying.
Я могу увидеть он не сделает NIKAKое хорош поговорить к вам.(I can see it won't do any good to talk to you.)"
Nero swung down to the shadows of the balcony. he heard Septimus's footsteps grow closer as he heard him whisper almost silently.Nero gagged as the smell of roses filled the air as he gagged he heard an awful crack as her youth was being drained. As Septimus stepped back on the balconyand began to stare into the night he moved in a little and laid his hand on his shoulder. his mind began to speak perfect russian as he said " Do you trust me my friend"
Nero Smirked under the bandages as he said the words the very same words that septimus had said right before he became a member of the mafia.

[Azrael]

"I know the type." She muttered. "Though, in reverse. I'm a single woman traveling all over the world so whenever I enter a court all these guys tend to swarm onto me. Which is why I spend most of my time in the room, which can make it worse..."

"Sounds lovely." Simon said, sarcasm was hinted in his voice. "You must excellent in the sack."

"Yeah, we are in the same boat. Some companionship would be LOVELY. But anyway, spill. Have you decided where you are going yet?"

Fat chance I'm going now... Pasha Simon laughed at the statement and how ludicrous it sounded. "I wish I could go but now that I've been almost assassinated by own guards and my servants having gone to the royal palace, I won't be going anywhere at all. At least anywhere outside imperial control. His Majesty would make sure that his trusted official would sent to a secluded location in some distant, unknown province to prevent anything like this from repeating itself. Why you ask?"