"Oh, you only care 'cause your noble friends asked you to."

[Corwin]

[23:30] * Henrietta decides to dress up for a change as she pays Lucie's home a visit. The flowing black and red dress always makes her feel like a rose when she wears it, and in this case it would also serve another purpose. Uncomfortable as Lucie sometimes seems with formal occasions, it would be nice to put her a bit off balance and see what happens as a result.
[23:33] * Lucie answers the door, book in hand, takes a moment to assess the elegant visitor. "What's the occasion? We have another party and no one invited me this time?"
[23:34] <Henrietta> "My, are you busy?" Henrietta asks, smiling apologetically at Lucie. "I merely decided to stop by and see how you were doing, so I must apologize for dropping in unannounced in such a manner."
[23:36] <Lucie> "Nothing I can't set aside for a little while." Lucie steps back from the door. "Little overdressed for a friendly pop-in, not that I mind."
[23:39] <Henrietta> "Well, we get so few chances at that, won't you say?" Henrietta muses, inclining her head at Lucie as she steps past the doorway. "It always seems to be that we travel somewhere underground, or we are at sea, and terrible monsters are often involved... even magic may have limits in repairing my clothing in such situations, even if it were in any way practical to dress like this while fighting or exploring."
[23:41] <Lucie> "Guess you're right. I've only got the one nice dress, though. Wouldn't want it to wear out its welcome." Lucie closes the door, returns to a living room with sofas and chair around a low table. "Want anything to eat or drink?"
[23:44] <Henrietta> "That would be delightful," Henrietta politely agrees, waiting for her hostess to claim a seat before settling down on a vacant sofa. "Speaking of your wardrobe, would you like to build it up? I feel confident, I must say, about finding the right sort of clothing for you now that I understand your, shall we say, style, better."
[23:47] <Lucie> Lucie sets her book down on an empty chair, disappears into an empty room, and comes back with a jug of wine and a couple glasses. "Something wrong with the clothes I have? Wasn't looking to spend all my money on my wardrobe."
[23:47] <Henrietta> "You can never have too much clothing," Henrietta states matter-of-factly.
[23:49] * Lucie shrugs. "I'll buy what I can afford, I guess, but it's not really a priority to show off. Except maybe on special occasions. And times when people'll think less of you if you don't."
[23:56] <Henrietta> "It never hurts to be prepared," Henrietta decides to point out. "If you have somewhat of a selection, then the next time an unexpected event comes up, you don't need to wear the same dress or rush a tailor to make you one in time. That is, well, I suppose it is your choice, however. I would just like you to keep in mind that this is an offer to help, if you ever need me to, just as I promised I would with your medical condition if you needed another opinion?"
[23:59] <Lucie> "It'd be a disaster if I wore the same gown twice, wouldn't it?" Lucie says, sounding tired as she fills the glasses. "And I don't know what you could help me with on that account, unless you have some kind of miracle cure in your repertoire. You needn't worry about it or for that matter say anything about it otherwise."
[00:01] <Henrietta> "It would indeed," Henrietta gravely affirms. "And of course I most certainly worry! If I had a strange medical condition I could not readily heal, would you not worry about me?"
[00:05] * Lucie sips from her glass, considers this for a moment. "I suppose I would," she allows. "But I mean it--unless you *know* of something you can do, I don't need to hear about it. I don't need to be asked how I'm getting along or fussed over or anything."
[00:10] <Henrietta> "Well...." Henrietta considers her next words as she finally tastes Lucie's wine. "I, myself, will be unlikely to have the right sort of magic. Yet if I knew the problem, I could attempt to study that field, just as I study plants of all kinds. And my mother might know more, while your secret would certainly be safe with her back in Jovar, would you not say? And there are the various priestesses right here in Salerno. Even if they lack the actual spells to cure your affliction, have you ever asked them for a line of inquiry you might pursue to find some answers?" She is unable to prevent a frown from appearing, quickly masking it by sipping the wine again. "Mind, I have little faith in any divinations they might try, but there might be actual, valuable insight beyond those in their repertoir."
[00:14] <Lucie> "Not had much chance to mingle with that sort before now. Be fixing that soon. Started picking up books too, now that I can afford them." She gives Henrietta a skeptical look. "What would your parents know about this sort of thing?"
[00:18] <Henrietta> "Mother keeps a library on magical subjects, quite naturally," Henrietta elaborates, "and Father has traveled a lot in his day. And should that fail to yield any results, they have like-minded acquaintences who could be asked for information without passing on any details to identify or track back to you in any way."
[00:23] <Lucie> "Alright," Lucie says after a moment. "I guess you could run it against their books for a start. What would they need to know? I saw a few healers when I was young--mostly quacks, whoever mother could afford, which wasn't much, but a couple local docs had plenty of experience, knew their stuff, couldn't place it at all. Magic didn't help any."
[00:25] <Henrietta> "With any effect, you need to start at the beginning, do you not?" Henrietta muses, drinking again. It is a simple matter to refill her glass once it has been drained, and she continues, "Was there a cause you can identify or otherwise point towards? Any events that happened around that same time? And when was this, unless you were born with that condition? In that case, it would be helpful to know which side of the family it came from, as well as any other such relevant information."
[00:31] <Lucie> "Started up 'round ten or so. Nothing happened I can remember might be the cause. Can't help you much with that last bit, either. Could ask mother about anyone in her family come down with something like it, but I figure if that was the case, she would've told me. Father, well. Some customer, probably. Mother'll spin wild romantic tales once in a while if you ask her in the right mood, but I
[00:31] <Lucie> bet it's just her mind wandering."
[00:37] <Henrietta> Customer? Henrietta doesn't understand, but it doesn't sound terribly relevant. "It is a start," she tells Lucie. "What about how it feels? How you feel, that is. It would be the more correct question to ask."
[00:43] <Lucie> "Feels like nothing, mostly." Lucie rests her cheek against an upturned palm, elbow leaning against the chair's arm. Slumped posture, looking like a smaller person without her usual confrontational air. "I mean, usually I don't feel anything there. Real distant seeming when I do. I can move the arm still, but it gets tougher every year. Slower. Can't lift as much with as the good one, hurts to
[00:43] <Lucie> try once in a while."
[00:44] <Lucie> "Pretty sure it's my on little curse," she adds. "Mother never picked it up or anything."
[00:45] <Henrietta> "And when I touched you?" Henrietta wonders, tracing a line on her own neck in recollection. "Did it feel in any way strange or different?" Another drink, and she asks, "Also, what about pain? Is it numbed like the rest?"
[00:48] <Lucie> "Wasn't any different," Lucie says, amending: "That is, I could tell it was happening, just faraway like. Something jabs me there, well, same idea, I barely notice."
[00:50] * Henrietta nods thoughtfully. "Ah, so it is just like when a limb falls asleep. It is terribly unpleasant." Henrietta stops herself before she says 'My sympathies'. She promised not to, after all. "Would you like me to introduce you to Melinda?" Henrietta asks in a change of subject. "She might be able to have an idea of some sort, being a priestess, and I have no reason to doubt her competence or zeal. Especially her zeal, I must really say."
[00:53] <Lucie> "Priestess of what? Or who, I guess I should say. I was going to take a walk down Cudgel way soon anyhow. Start with Hermes, I think--one of the ones focus on medicine, from what I know."
[00:54] <Henrietta> "Davey Jones," Henrietta mutters quietly, suddenly flustered at the unexpected question that she really should have predicted. But who cares about that sort of thing when there is no proof priestly magic is more than the power of faith alone?
[00:57] <Lucie> "Huh." Lucie grunts, throws back the remainder of her glass. "One's much the same as another, I guess. Couldn't hurt. Anyone starts a sermon and I'm likely to walk though, at least unless they show me something makes it clear they've got power's worth the bother."
[00:58] <Henrietta> "Her power is real," Henrietta asserts. "And, well, if you find out more just let me know at that time? I could hold off on my letter for a few days, I suppose, in order to send something much more complete."
[01:00] <Lucie> "May as well just write 'em," Lucie says with a sigh. "Why waste time waiting? Be surprised if I noticed something new the next couple days after being afflicted all this time."
[01:04] <Henrietta> "Very well. And with that matter behind us, might I inquire how this sort of life," she says, gesturing about the lavish room with her glass, "is treating you? I am quite curious, you must understand. Do you intend to live it up as Rudy, with parties and events? Would you shun maids as he has?"
[01:12] <Lucie> "Maids? Why wouldn't I want--I mean, I'm sure it's a convenience to have one around, might get one to pick up the place if I have a mind to. Where's one find such a creature? Never had to hire anyone before, you see." Lucie sets her glass on the table, sits back with her hands folded across her belly. "I like it here," she says. "Strange thing to think about--made more money in one day than
[01:12] <Lucie> mother did her whole life. Don't have to worry about where the next meal's coming from anymore. It's nice. Really only one thing to worry about now." Lucie looks vaguely embarassed about these various admissions and quickly moves on. "Not the type to run parties myself. Not regular, at least not anything grand. Two's all you really need for a good time, right? I'm alright with things quiet, usually."
[01:14] <Henrietta> "I can relate, in a sense," Henrietta muses, nodding at Lucie's words. "A change of pace is most refreshing! Everything feels ever so new and exciting! You get to discover so many things others might be taking for granted!"
[01:17] <Lucie> "Yeah. Makes me think, there's a lot of the city I've never seen. Have to fix that. Wander around some, visit neighborhoods the guard would've shooed me out of not long ago. Strut around and make them give me directions instead. So how about you--anything you want to do's new, or planning to do?"
[01:21] <Henrietta> "As matter of fact...." For the first time during their conversation, Henrietta drinks for a boost of confidence rather than out of politeness or for the taste. "I have plans, yes. I am planning to try and stop any nobles who blatantly break the law and harm people, although I would very much like to achieve that goal without endangering Lady Lavinia or her position. And, without the shadow of a doubt, I intend to pursue monsters who would torture children to be used as their weapons." There. She has said it, so now she must await the response.
[01:24] <Lucie> "Well," Lucie drawls out, "doing the right thing's been profitable enough of late. Could keep up with it for a spell. Who'd you have in mind? Found a couple names at the cave, sure, but not much good to us if we can't place 'em."
[01:28] <Henrietta> "I shall ask around for a start," Henrietta promises, "yet until I have any leads in that direction, how about the nobles right here in Salerno? Avner Meravanchi's name has been tied to all sorts of unsavory rumors of slavery, and you would need no introduction to Emil Draktus, no doubt."
[01:31] * Lucie waves dismissively. "Draktus is small-time. If we knock him down, another weed'll spring up to take his place. You won't fix that unless Shadowshore sinks into the bay. Probably just usual smuggling and thieving anyway. Mind, it'd make the Cobras happy." Lucie leans forward, fills herself another glass. "I go through so much more wine when there's guests," she mutters. "Avner's a greasy little thing, though, isn't he?"
[01:34] * Henrietta smiles, finishing her second glass. "Unconsciously, we treat it as a contest, I believe. And in our profession, we are hardly ones to turn away from a challenge, are we? As far as Emil Draktus goes, I hope to keep an eye on his movements, and be ready to step in if he abuses his power blatantly. Do you think we would be able to know of it as it happens?"
[01:37] <Lucie> "We'd know for sure if anything happened to the Cobras. They're competition for him, after all. Otherwise, well, hard to say we'd notice anything if we weren't keeping an eye on him regular. Which he wouldn't take well if he noticed. We're best quit of Shadowshore, Henri."
[01:39] <Henrietta> "You don't think the Cobras could let you know in time for us to be of any use?" Henrietta asks, mildly disturbed.
[01:40] <Lucie> "Weren't real happy about me moving out," Lucie says. "Take something real bad for Hermann to admit he needs my help now and come asking for it."
[01:42] <Henrietta> That's... actually troublesome. But Henrietta decides to refocus. "I see. Back to discussing one Avner Meravanchi, then? He has a dungeon of some sort at Sunset, I believe. Would you have any ideas of how we could find out the veracity of all those rumors surrounding him?" Please let it be a different suggestion from Rudy, please....
[01:46] <Lucie> "Could always go tromping through the sewers again," Lucie says with a note of distaste. "Have Rudy's goons poke around near Meravanchi's place for underground rooms? Sorta worked last time we tried it. Not going to suggest sending anybody in to sneak around--that didn't work out so great last time. Maybe if his household all checks out for some event we could break in and have a look around
[01:46] <Lucie> then."
[01:47] <Henrietta> "But breaking into a noble's home like this is really bad!"
[01:48] <Lucie> "So we'd have to make sure nobody knows. Or tells we were there. Or we just find something bad enough no one cares we broke in to find it."
[01:50] <Henrietta> "They really still will," Henrietta says, giving Lucie a dubious look. "Sending earth elementals will probably be a dangerous plan-- oh, but what if they are turned invisible, first? I wonder if there is magic that would let us see through their eyes...."
[01:52] <Lucie> "Well, suggest something else, then. Get somebody we know working on his staff? Couldn't be any of us since he's met us all."
[01:56] <Henrietta> "No... but what if we asked the staff?" Henrietta muses. She snaps her fingers, and a swirl of rose petals envelops her form, concealing her from sight. It only last a few moments, but then Lucie's double is sitting there across from her. Henrietta smiles at her, and then she reverts back to her true form. "While we could take their place, we might also find out all that we need without anyone being the wiser."
[01:58] * Lucie blinks at this display. "Picked up some new tricks, huh? That mean you're volunteering to go in there?"
[02:00] <Henrietta> "To learn as much as possible about the help he keeps, at least," Henrietta hedges. "And we only know the rumors at Sunset. Do you suppose you could tackle this from another direction? If he really were keeping, well, slaves in his, erm, dungeon, he could hardly abduct them off the street, could he? There cannot be many places in Salerno where that sort of thing would be made possible, can there be?"
[02:04] * Lucie sighs. "Well, Shadowshore's easy enough. Folks disappear all the time there, for plenty of reasons. I could ask Hermann to keep an ear to the ground about anyone going missing. I'd get a mouthful in the asking about 'Oh, you only care 'cause your noble friends asked you to,' I'm sure."
[02:06] <Henrietta> "I suppose it could happen."
[02:09] <Lucie> "As I said, it's not unusual for people to vanish off the streets. Why the ones who don't stick with their gang, right? So just because someone's disappeared doesn't mean they got nabbed for Avner. But I might as well ask him to watch for it. Long as it's a way of looking after his own, Hermann should cooperate. And if it's not that, well, maybe slaves get smuggled in somehow. Or could be the
[02:09] <Lucie> nastier brothels sell girls to him."
[02:13] <Henrietta> "Perhaps, if there is anything to it, I could learn of any physical descriptions or other ways to identify and what did you just say? Nastier brothels?"
[02:14] * Henrietta finds herself thoroughly derailed.
[02:14] * Lucie shrugs. "I'm sure there's some out there willing enough to accomodate a wealthy, noble customer that they'd take that extra step down to slavetrading to make him happy."
[02:16] <Henrietta> "But that is wrong! If-- if they exist, we will have to stop them!"
[02:17] * Lucie rubs her forehead. "Whoa, Henri, slow down there. I'm just guessing. Besides, you think you can stop every ugly thing happening in the city here?"
[02:20] <Henrietta> "Well, not crime, I suppose," Henrietta admits. "But! Bit by bit, something could be done about the unforgivable things. Don't you agree?"
[02:21] <Lucie> "If we have to," Lucie says eventually.
[02:22] <Henrietta> "Excellent!" Henrietta claps her hands. "I look forward to making a real change to Salerno together."
[02:24] * Lucie manages a smile. Encouragement or amusement at Henriett's attitude? It's hard to say.