PMS 39

	<[BNS]Amile>	[Flashback: The day after the bath incident, outside the Inn...]
	* [Rut]Allison	stretches her arms out overhead, holding one elbow lazily.
	* [BNS]Amile	perches high above the streets, peering at Allison from the rooftops, where he's been following her since leaving the Inn
	<[Rut]Allison>	Ahhhh... That Ellisa. How'd she slip off with some man without me noticing? Hah...
	* [BNS]Amile	grabs a coin from his pocket and throws it into the alleyway nearby, making sure it makes a nice 'cling' sound against the wall.
	* [Rut]Allison	paces down the alleyway. She turns on her heels towards the source of the noise when it comes.
	<[Rut]Allison>	Hm?
	* [Rut]Allison	peeks down it, her arms still held over her head in a relaxed position.
	* [Rut]Allison	lowers her arms slowly. She fingers the hem of her sleeve a little...
	* [Rut]Allison	shrugs and waltzes in.
	* [BNS]Amile	prepares to drop down...
	<[Rut]Allison>	Helloooo~ someone there?
	* [BNS]Amile	drops down onto Allison's shoulders, forcing her to the ground where he straddles her as she is caught under him, face-up
	<[BNS]Amile> 	Nope
	<[Rut]Allison>	Uwah! So rough~ You should handle a lady with more care, you know. 'You get more with honey than with vinegar'...
	* [BNS]Amile	quickly draws a knife from his belt and holds it against Allison's throat.
	<[BNS]Amile>	Shut up. Don't move. Don't even /breathe/.
	* [Rut]Allison	doesn't. She just grins up at the young girl (sort of) straddling her.
	<[Rut]Allison>	~?
	<[BNS]Amile>	You know something that you never should have known. I can't let that information become public.
	<[BNS]Amile>	So, you have to die. I'll leave you dumped in one of these barrels over here and no one will find you until I'm on a ship headed back south, where my gang is waiting for me.
	<[BNS]Amile>	You know... I was originally going to have to kill Halifax so we could actually make some headway in the underground, but now that it seems she's getting ready to give up the life anyway, maybe I won't have to after all.
	<[Rut]Allison>	Do I~? My, you act like you've done this before... And yet despite your intent, you thought to kindly stop and tell me what you plan to do first~?
	<[Rut]Allison>	You -want- something.
	<[BNS]Amile>	Maybe.
	<[BNS]Amile>	The truth is, it won't be easy getting all the way back home. And it'll be even harder to find who I need to find.
	* [BNS]Amile	ponders the situation...
	<[Rut]Allison>	Find who you need to find?
	<[BNS]Amile>	My... brother.
	* [Rut]Allison	cocks an eyebrow.
	<[BNS]Amile>	By now, my gang has probably heard of the kraken and the shipwreck and probably thinks I'm dead.
	<[BNS]Amile>	If that's the case, my brother's probably taken up my old job.
	<[Rut]Allison>	And I take it they won't be especially eager to have you back after the new pecking order is established?
	<[BNS]Amile>	If I can find him, that's my ticket back in.
	<[BNS]Amile>	Hmph.
	<[BNS]Amile>	I'm a fool for even considering this... but...
	* [Rut]Allison	knew that already~
	<[Rut]Allison>	But...?
	<[BNS]Amile>	If you agree to help me, I can offer you something in return. After Halifax disbands the crew, you're going to need a job. I can provide that. And it pays well. Extremely well.
	<[BNS]Amile>	But, the only reason I'm giving you this opportunity is so I don't have to kill you. If you break your word, your life is mine.
	* [BNS]Amile	presses the knife against Allison's throat as emphasis
	<[BNS]Amile>	So choose. Will you help? Or not?
	<[Rut]Allison>	Ahaha... eager to ask a stranger, aren't you? But I will certainly consider it, you have my word~
	<[BNS]Amile>	No considerations. Choose now.
	* [Rut]Allison	eyes Amile curiously.
	* [BNS]Amile	stares into Allison's eyes without a note of jest in them
	<[Rut]Allison>	Hrm... you are a most difficult to read little lady, Amile. You came to me about this, rather than someone you share a more... amicable relationship with? Oh, but of course, there are none~
	* [Rut]Allison	becomes a little more serious.
	<[Rut]Allison>	I see... so you -are- serious...
	<[BNS]Amile>	Of course I'm serious. Unlike /you/, I'm a professional.
	<[Rut]Allison>	... Say, did I ever tell you about the time I staged a propaganda campaign against the French navy? You meet all sorts of people, truly.
	<[BNS]Amile>	Tell me later, if you live that long. Choose!
	<[Rut]Allison>	An English gentleman (whom I will not name) was one of the people I worked with. I helped him with his career quite a bit... put in a word or two with the Duke of York, you see. I hear he operates a printing press, now.
	* [Rut]Allison	keeps going.
	* [BNS]Amile	pulls the blade away from Allison's throat, as if preparing for a stab...
	<[Rut]Allison>	--Ah, patience, dear! You will like this next part. Among the things that come off his press, you see... are wanted posters.
	<[Rut]Allison>	They're very detailed. Much better than the old "best guess" stuff they used to distribute. All sorts of information on age, appearance, habits, locale... and gender.
	* [BNS]Amile	twitches, then drives the blade towards Allison's chest... and cuts her blouse open down the middle.
	<[BNS]Amile>	SHUT UP!
	* [BNS]Amile	grabs her by the throat and raises the knife again...
	* [Rut]Allison	smiles in the face of danger! Her chest pounds, her throat is rasp... but she's almost there.
	<[Rut]Allison>	Ah, but that's not the best part! I update his information every so often through correspondence. And among what I send him is a certain "blacklist". Information not to be released... unless he -doesn't- hear from me, you follow?
	<[BNS]Amile>	Bullshit! You've been in the Inn since yesterday and I've followed you since you left! It's impossible for you to have sent him my information already! Try another story!
	<[Rut]Allison>	Did you? Did you follow me the whole time? Did you see when I spoke to the waitress? The barkeep? How about when I stopped at that fruit stand? Or said hello to the town guard by the west gate?
	<[Rut]Allison>	How much are you willing to gamble, I wonder?
	* [BNS]Amile	scowls
	* [Rut]Allison	is finally dead serious.
	<[Rut]Allison>	This is not a threat. I am simply telling you how things are. However, your -request- has not gone unheard.
	<[BNS]Amile>	No, it's not a threat. It's outright blackmail. And you're just as foolish as I am.
	<[Rut]Allison>	As I said, I'll consider it.
	<[Rut]Allison>	Now, would you kindly... get the fuck off of me, please? I will need to replace this shirt.
	<[BNS]Amile>	...
	* [BNS]Amile	stares at Allison with unbridled hatred
	* [BNS]Amile	reluctantly stands up and stands off to the side...
	* [Rut]Allison	rises and dusts herself off. No more taunts or mockery. Not for now, at least. The atmosphere has changed considerably...
	* [BNS]Amile	stares at Allison as she stands up
	<[Rut]Allison>	... You will have my decision after we formally conclude the job I have taken part in. Not before.
	* [Rut]Allison	starts out of the alleyway, carrying herself at a brisk, no-nonsense pace.
	* [BNS]Amile	takes the knife in his hand and throws it at Allison, but in his rage, completely misses his mark, sending the knife bouncing off a wall and landing at Allison's feet
	* [Rut]Allison	doesn't even slow down. She turns the corner, out of sight.
	<[BNS]Amile>	...
	* [BNS]Amile	slumps to his knees as Allison disappears, a single tear in the corner of his eye as he stares downward, his fists clenched in frustration...
	<[BNS]Amile>	[End]