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RESPITE FALLS - LATE EVENING
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Annika: Annika was walking home, a little tired, but not overly so as she makes her way towards her room in the Inn, she's current heading through the marketplace..carefully, it's a peaceful town sure..but not so peaceful that she's not gonna keep her eyes open.
Louma: A shadow passes over the face of the stalls next to Annika, barely perceptible in the dim light from a partially shrouded moon, and it vanishes nearly as soon as it arrives.
Annika flicks her eyes up momentarily, but doesn't see anything..still, she hurries her step. She was already a little nervous, and that just made her more so. It's a little awkward running, since she still has her broken arm.
Annika isn't running though, she walking a little faster.
Louma: The shadow returns, accompanied by a faint thwump of wingbeats in the air, though the unlit owner of it crosses behind a rooftop seconds after reappearing.
Annika pauses a moment, before sinking into a doorway, out of sight of the rooftops, and waiting. Ever since certain events recently, she's taken to carrying a small dagger on her person, which she now palms.
Louma appears once more, her wings spread wide as she descends into the street just over the market stalls, beating her wings a few feet off the ground as she almost gracefully thumps her long tail to the ground in landing, dust and downy white feathers drifting away from her wake.
Annika continues to hide in her little hidey hole, looking at the one that had been following/existing near her, and waits to see what she does next.
Louma shakes her wings out and turns, looking around her landing zone. "Blast these useless lamps, so many shadows everywhere." She turns her gaze across Annika's hiding spot, but can't see much in the poor light. Fortunately for her, the clouds begin pulling away from the moon, slowly bringing the ambient glow up.
Annika waits for Louma to be looking the other way, before she dashes out, aiming to get around a corner, as she does, she takes her knife, and throws it, aiming for it to clatter against a far wall, away from where she's going..just to buy herself enough time to get around the corner, and out of sight again.
Louma reels away from the sudden burst of noise, focusing on the sprinting fox rather than the common diversion tactic. "Whoa, hey! Get back here you sneaky creep!" She lowers herself, 'sprinting' by simultaneously beating her wings and rapidly slithering across the cobble. "In the name of the Guard I command you to halt!"
Annika isn't gonna stop just because she's shouted at! She does, however, pause again as she finds a barrel to hide around, and take a peek at Louma...is she even wearing a guard uniform? It could be a trick after all!
Louma rounds the corner, losing sight of Annika and slowing down to an upright slither, looking around cautiously. She folds her wings against her back to protect them as she makes her way up the street. "Alright you, what did you steal from that shop?" She turns toward the barrel, but doesn't notice anything. "Come out and you wont get in as much trouble." Turning away to look at the opposite side of the street; "Unless I have to hunt you down." She mutters.
Annika is now very freaked out! She isn't gonna get out of hiding. She's already been judged, juried, and she realllly doesn't want the third thing, so she just stays where she is, scooting even closer into the little space between barrel, and wall.
Louma pauses her movements, sure she heard a quiet scuffling noise from her right. She slowly pans her head that way, eyes sticking on each obstacle that one could hide behind. "I am captain Louma of the guard. Don't make me turn over every crate to find you, thief." Her tail wraps around a barrel up the wall from Annika, lifting it a couple feet off the ground with a strained creaking, before letting it drop back down to prove her point.
Annika is really quite spooked at this point, and trapped, and ...it's just too much, she sort of just..curls up behind the barrel, to await her end.
Louma frowns, slowly slithering along the cobble, about to start tapping crates and barrels with the thick of her tail until she spots a fluffy something around the edge of one barrel. She approaches cautiously as the moonlight returns in full to the street. "Well now, that's far more quivering than I was expecting." Her voice is low and soft, unused to this kind of reaction.
Annika scoots away from her, a tangle of limbs..one of which is broken. "..Why..Why won't people just leave me alone?!"
Louma notes the cast, putting an arm out one way and moving her tail in front of Annika's current path. "Whoa, easy there! Wait... Female fox with a broken arm... are you Annika?"
Annika: "..." She bites her lip "Th...there's no point denying it..is there?"
Annika: "..Shaw will get you...you know..if you..don't stop.."
Louma sighs at the threat, giving Annika a sad look. "You poor girl, what have you gotten yourself mixed up in?"
Annika: "..-Nothing-! I didn't do anything wrong, okay?" She starts rummaging in her belt, for a backup knife, in case Louma goes in for an attack, before adding quietly "I thought this had all been settled..."
Louma gives the fox a bit of a glare, moving her tail away. "Don't do something foolish. Not wearing the uniform doesn't suddenly mean you're not attacking a guard. Why don't we just get you back to the Minnow?"
Annika: "If you're in the guard, why are you stalking people out of uniform? Guards wear their uniform so that people know who they are" She..doesn't believe Louma "Anyone can -say- they are guard"
Louma laughs a single harsh sound, turning her head slightly. "Me? You were the one hiding in the shadows with a knife. All I wanted was a glass of wine. If any of my subordinates let a thief run off when they're off duty, that's up to them."
Annika: "-You- were the one stalking overhead! I was just trying to walk home safely! I'm allowed to defend myself."
Annika was getting annoyed now, overcoming her fear.
Louma: "I wasn't stalking anything, I was landing!"
Annika: "Well, then, why did you run after me if you weren't stalking!"
Louma: "Because I don't let thieves get away!" She thumps the end of her tail in frustration at the circular argument.
Annika: "I'm not a thief!"
Louma: "I know that, now!"
Annika: "So, anyone running at night is a thief?"
Louma: "You weren't running, you were fleeing. There's an obvious difference. Someone out for a jog doesn't hurl distractions or burst forth from shadowy doorways."
Annika: "They do if they're being chased by shadow figures!"
Louma takes a deep breath, her tail and wings twitching in threat of her anger. After a moment, she peers at Annika. "I didn't chase you until you made it look like you were a ne'er-do-well. Enough of this." She raises her palm to quell more protests.
Annika: "Well, now that you know I'm not, I'm free to go, yes?"
Louma tilts her head, then moves aside. "Yes. Straight back to the inn. Which is also where I'm free to go. Convenient, wouldn't you say?"
Annika: "Fine" She's not happy about this, but gets up, and starts walking towards the Inn, trying to keep striking distance away from Louma
Louma keeps her distance well outside of Annika's reach, keeping a sideways eye on her as they head toward the Minnow. Awkward silence grows.
Annika finally reaches the Minnow, where she orders herself a pot of stew to eat, and sits down. The silence isn't becoming any -less- awkward.
Louma finds a spot at the bar without a seat, thoroughly convinced she's not going to enjoy the glass of wine she orders. She casts unhappy glances in Annika's direction as she sips at her wine.
Annika doesn't feel she's got anything to apologize..and she's welll used to dirty looks while she tries to do her thing, so after she decides that that's just gonna be what Louma is doing that evening, slowly starts to tune her out.
Louma begins to relax, coiling her long tail under herself to lunge a bit as her second glass of wine arrives, though she only stares at it for a while.
Annika is making her way slowly through her Stew. She's learned to eat slowly, that way less food is more filling, a common tactic among the very poor. She's not taking any alchohol though, just water.
Louma uncoils, picking up her wine and moving over to settle in next to Annika, though she doesn't really look at the fox after setting her glass down.
Annika looks to Louma..but continues to just..not speak to her. Paying her attention back at her stew. She's really quite upset at the guard captain.
Louma lowers her head in a sad bow, looking at Annika. "I'm sorry. Truly. For frightening you, and for your situation."
Annika looks over to Louma...before giving a sad sigh "It's....okay..it's not really your fault"
Louma remains quiet a moment, her eyes falling on the cast. "Stairs, huh? That's what the report said."
Annika: "Yes" She replies "Stairs"
Louma nods slowly, resting her elbow on the table and her chin on that hand. "Those cursed stairs. Never had to deal with them myself, but I've seen a lot of people fall down them."
Annika looks to Louma and sighs "..Yes, and I fell down them, and broke my arm. Mr Shaw helped me to get medical help, and paid for them, because he's a good boss"
Louma watches Annika closely as she speaks, pausing for a moment after she finishes. "He's a good boss?"
Annika: "Yes. I work hard, but he pays me well, and treats me well" She's fairly firm about that "Why does everyone keep doubting that?"
Louma continues observing Annika, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What were you doing when your accident happened?"
Annika: "I've already answered Nesseth's questions. I've said its an accident. I'm asking you not to investigate further"
Louma shrugs. "Nesseth is terrible at writing reports. Besides, I'm not investigating anything." She tugs at the plain cotton shirt. "You said I shouldn't be acting like a guard if not dressed as one, hm?"
Annika: "You shouldn't be, but this isn't a friendly chit-chat" Her guard is slowly raising again "I just want to go about my day, do my job, go home, and eat dinner"
Annika: "...Why won't the guard just let me do that?"
Louma sighs, taking a drink from her glass."The guard is concerned with protecting innocent citizens like yourself from shady characters like Shaw and his cohorts." She levels her gaze at Annika. "I'm concerned about you because I know too well what that kind of 'family' can be capable of. Mine never let me trip down any stairs though."
Annika: "Mr Shaw isn't shady!"
Annika: "I don't need protecting from him!"
Louma shrugs. "That's fine, just hold on to the railing next time, then."
Annika: "Yes. I will"
Louma watches Annika for a moment, then smiles slightly. "Okay, we'll leave you to that, then. I'll have the guards relieved from your room as of tomorrow." She straightens up, finishing off her wine and setting the glass on the bar.
Annika: "Thank you" She nods, before sighing "Look...I know you're only trying to help okay?..but you can't help me with this..." She pauses again, trying to find the words to say enough, without saying too much "..sometimes..sometimes you just have to..leave things lie..instead of trying to dig it all up again"
Louma uncoils, stretching slightly. "That's no problem. But hey, if you need anything, find me and I'll do what I can." She pats her shirt. "In or out of uniform."
Annika: "..Right" She now feels even worse, because Louma -isn't- the pencil pusher she had in her mind..she was just someone trying to help. Annika puts her head on the table, and sighs sadly.
Louma shakes her head, setting a gentle hand on Annika's shoulder. "You'll be fine." She lets off and starts drifting towards the door with a slight sigh. "Have a good night, miss Annika."
Annika nods in return, before finally, glumly, eating her stew.