Never Too Late

[Lucy Serrano]

Lucy had never been openly good with riddles. Though she was clever, that didn't necessarily mean she could piece together something complex in the short amount of time given. In this instance, her ego didn't match her skill level. Thankfully, she was lucky. Without a name to go off, Lucy pondered nothing more than the idle clues an assassin had given her. It wasn't until she found herself drinking at the place she called her home that it all pieced together. The label on the bottle gave her everything. It was all luck.

An entire day and night had passed since she'd seen the no named assassin, and she wasn't even sure if her guess for location was correct. The only thing she could do was the only thing she did; she walked into the Meadery and hoped for the best.

There were no familiar faces in her immediate line of sight. If nothing else, she could easily catch the caliber of people who came to a place like this. In any instance, the thief wouldn't really fit in. Perhaps that could only benefit her when she wanted to be noticed. Still, she immediately wondered if her assumption had been incorrect. Now there was the pressing idea that she should leave before she lingered too long.

But she was here now. What was the point in stepping away with nothing to show for it?

Lucy stole a vacant seat at the bar, and she raised a hand to call for attention. If nothing else, she was definitely going to have a drink.

[Talia Bracken]

Another day, same routine. Smile and serve, keep her ears open. She'd practically mastered her day to day tasks in the meadery. Memorized the faces that came in here. What they wanted and when they arrived. Who actually had useful information and who didn't. It was all too easy. Yet she never complain. It was her whole purpose after all.

Still, she couldn't help but watch the door with anticipation. She hadn't forgotten the thief. Nor their little challenge. Yet the day before she hadn't shown up. Talia took both satisfaction and slight disappointment in that. It meant her riddle hadn't been too easy to solve. But at the same time she had almost hoped for the woman to walk into the meadery. It would've certainly added more to her day. But she hadn't, so Talia moved onto the next day.

Fortunately it wasn't at a time that was particularly rowdy. Which was when she spotted her. A smirk slowly grew on her face before she finished her current task at hand. She wasn't sure whether the thief had spotted her yet or not. But soon enough she walked over and leaned on the bar in front of her casually. "Yes?" It came out smoothly, the smirk still present on her face.

[Lucy Serrano]

Hope was something easily shattered. Lucy learned a long time ago not to put any weight in it, and while she trusted her own abilities she found herself growing doubtful with every passing second. She realised then that the entire thing could have been a lie. Of course, because people like her were built to lie effortlessly.

Lucy almost got the chance to glance around the entire room before she was dragged back. A single word idly flagged her attention and she turned back to face the front. There she was.

Lucky.

Eyebrows rose with the single thought, and in tandem they worked a genuine smile to her face. Of course, a little part of her had to be proud of herself. "Have we met?" She asked instinctively, tilting her head to the side a fraction with a broader grin. This was almost funny; "You look a bit familiar."

[Talia Bracken]

Talia was greeted with a genuine smile. Faint surprise seemed to be in her eyes. But most of it was pride in winning their little challenge. Have they met? The question came with a tilt of her head and a broader grin. Talia's own eyes narrowed very slightly, but her smirk grew. She looked a bit familiar. "No, I don't think so." The reply came easily. She'd happily play this little game for as long as she wanted to keep it up. "I'm very certain I'd remember a face like yours."

Oddly enough, Talia felt genuinely satisfied. Even if her challenge had been met, some part had wanted it. Maybe it was the strangeness of their meeting. That or the fact the thief had actually lived up to her expectations. At least this time. Talia tilted her head to the side slightly. The smirk slid into an easy smile. "What can I get you then, miss?"

[Lucy Serrano]

Lucy immediately wondered if anyone else in this room or this business had any idea who she was. She had little way of knowing how an assassin's operation went; how it was built and more importantly, how it was run. There was some great feeling about having information over other people, as if her ego needed any more help as it was.

She dropped her head at first, determined to keep the way she laughed to herself or at the very least at a minimum. She was well adept at keeping a secret, and she could play with the best of them.

"That depends on what you've got on offer." She replied finally, daring to glance up again. With confidence restored, she was sure she could retort to her suddenly usual stint of banter.

[Talia Bracken]

Her head dropped and hid her face, but Talia didn't need to see it. She'd gotten too good at reading people not to notice the signs of subdued mirth. Talia rolled her eyes lightly and left out a soft huff of amusement. It was good she hadn't burst into laughter outright. Talia hadn't said anything particularly funny, so it would've likely drawn attention. More so to the thief than herself, but still.

It depended on what she had to offer. Eyes glanced back up with the response, and Talia felt her smile widen. There was the confidence she'd seen that night. It was refreshing. "A lot, really. Depends on what you're looking for." There admittedly were many options. "But honestly, most people come for the mead." She pointed towards some of the other patrons. Then shrugged. "So what are you here for, miss?" The question came with another smile, but this one a bit teasing.

[Lucy Serrano]

The easy flip of the question Lucy posed hsd her pusring her lips with a seemingly idle nod. She supposed that was easy enough, and when it came to interactions like these, she could never help the way her overconfidence clouded just about everything in the vicinity.

"It's not what I'm here for, but I'll take some." She pointed out, eyes briefly glancing to the skilled set of hands that'd make light work of such a request, she was sure. "Call it a bit of a celebration. I coulda died the other night, y'know."

[Talia Bracken]

It wasn't what she was there for, but she'd take some. Talia's smile turned back into smirk. Especially when she noticed eyes dropping to her hands, even if briefly. Said set of hands thrummed against the bar top almost idly. Another tease to show she'd seen. Talia turned and went to get the mead. But she still listened. It was for a bit of a celebration, especially since she could've died the other night.

"Oh my." It was laced with concern. But Talia's eyes gave it away. Another game. "That definitely does call for a celebration." The tankard was set right in front of her. Then Talia leaned on the bar and rested her chin in her hand. Her stance one of rapt attention and a look of complete fascination on her face. And complete mischief in her gaze. "Please, tell me about it. Sounds awfully daring."

[Lucy Serrano]

Lucy was always one to stare when interested. And it was always easier when she wasn't being looked at. A careless glance shifted down the length of the blonde's form; she was far easier to see in the light.

When the tankard was so carefully placed in front of her, Lucy was fast enough to reach for it and drag her eyes up. She might not have been able to make a physical connection with the proverbial assassin under cover, but at least she tried. And she was more than willing to tell her story.

"Well, I just happened to stumble across a girl getting herself into a mix of trouble. Wrong place wrong time sorta deal." Which was entirely true. When the colourful notions were stripped down, their meeting could sound entirely general.

"She had every chance and probably every right to take a shot at me, but she didn't." She added then, shrugging her shoulders, "That little shred of humanity in a pisshole like Goldcrest might make her a little different, to me."

[Talia Bracken]

Once again she was being observed. Talia could practically feel the eyes that went over her form. She'd gotten used to it. Especially in the meadery. Only this time she had an idea of whose gaze it was. So when eyes snapped back up to her, Talia couldn't help but smile. She was certainly far more entertained by the thief than most people she met. And it was rare to grab her attention.

She stumbled upon a girl getting into trouble. Wrong place, wrong time. The description made another smirk grow. This time small. The girl had every chance and every right to take a shot at her but she hadn't. A little action in a pisshole like Goldcrest that might make her a little different. Or at least to her. A brow quirked up in curiosity. Talia didn't even have to fake it. "A little different huh? What do you mean by that?" The question came with a tilt of her head.

[Lucy Serrano]

The difference was something Lucy knew she could speak of easily. She shrugged her shoulders and took her time with a drink. Like a pause for added effect.

"Don't you think just about everyone in this city is out for themselves?" She asked honesty, and the thought had her leaning in a fraction, "Everyone'd sooner take a life than spare it if it could remotely get them in a better position."

"I dunno if you get that vibe much here, but you wait on the wealthy on a daily basis. They're as crooked as they come." And Lucy had her own personal experience in the matter. She spoke from a place of discreetly learned information. She knew the Senate better than most in her standing for good reason. "I'm still standing. Maybe I shouldn't be. That's the difference."

[Talia Bracken]

There was a shrug before Talia had to wait. It was most certainly on purpose, but she was patient. Didn't she ever think how everyone in this city was out for themselves? It was said with a surprising amount of honesty. Talia blinked, but listened. Everyone would sooner take a life than spare it if it could get them in a better position. It was the truth plain and simple. One Talia had both seen and acted out. She was the instrument those sorts of people used after all.

Maybe she didn't get that vibe much, but she waited on the wealthy and they were certainly as crooked as they came. The remark sounded like it came from personal experience too. She was still standing, and maybe she shouldn't be. That was the difference. After it all, Talia stayed silent. Mulled over the words. Her gaze went back to the thief's and she shrugged.

"I've seen my fair share of crooked men and women." She'd dealt with and killed her fair share of them too. "It's a crooked world. Or at least from what I've seen. Though there are those who are genuinely kind." Then she smiled a little bit. "But how do you know this girl you met isn't crooked herself? By the sounds of it you only met her once. There might be more to it."

[Lucy Serrano]

Admittedly, talk of politics was the last thing Lucy should have stretched for when in company like this. It was a vulnersblr topic; easily something that could separate the best of connections, let alone those so new and fragile.

It came back to the girl instead. She supposed it always would when curiosity was in play.

"I'm not sure, but I'm willing to find out." Lucy admitted. It was a weighted response, but she did her best to sound casual about it. "Maybe it takes me over a day to solve a riddle, but this one's a little more complex. I can't figure out why I'd be saved; I can't have much value to her." And she highly doubted someone so prone for perfection in her line of work couldn't be bothered tying a loose end.

[Talia Bracken]

She wasn't too sure, but she was willing to find out. The statement was slightly shocking. And intriguing. A weighted response that Talia did not miss. Yet her interest was piqued. Maybe it takes her over a day to solve a riddle, but this one was a little more complex. Why has she been saved ? Surely she had little value to her. Again, Talia was surprised she was bringing it up. Although she supposed it came down to raw curiosity. Why hadn't she killed her yet?

Blue eyes studied her face. She took her time, thinking all the while. "Maybe she was curious." Came the response finally. "After all, it doesn't sound like you had a normal encounter. And you don't strike me as a normal person." The corners of her lips quirked upwards. "So maybe she was just wondering what you might do."

[Lucy Serrano]

Lucy gave a knowing grin to the notion of curiosity. And it only broadened when she spoke of a less than normal encounter. It wasn't often that she met anyone she didn't know in a strangers home. Another thief from time to time, but even that was stark.

"Do you think she thought I'd actually try to find her?" Lucy asked, raising her eyebrows once with the newfound curiosity. Now things were getting just a little more personal than she'd originally intended to take it. But following a feeling was always a worthy risk.