Random 52

"Greed twists the mortal mind in small and large things, sometimes," Sebastian-Kai said as he opened the letter, knowing quite well he wasn't any different. Having said this, he quickly scanned the letter.

It didn't take much.

"Your services will only be required for another two to three days. The rest of your payment unfortunately will have to be delayed until the weather clears."

Sylvie read along over his shoulder and remarked, "No signature, not even a custom watermark with the family crest on the paper. How inconsiderate."

Sebastian turned his head to face her and smiled faintly. "How rude of them indeed. Even the handwriting isn't familiar. I should almost take my hat off for these... gentlemen."

After a sigh, Sylvie asked, back to serious again, "As a gesture of respect, or preparation to beat some answers out of them?"

"The latter," he said with a hint of dark cheer, folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. "Do you mind if I do the dishes?" he asked after a length of silence that was unusual to him.

"Thanks, go ahead. I'll get a towel," she answered automatically, adding after a short break, "I don't think I can help you with that other business."

He nodded, put the envelope down and away from the dragon and moved toward the dishes. "That's fine, Sylvie. I can politely do it out of sight," the resident rogue said just as seriously.

Doing the dishes gave his hands something to do while he thought about the situation.

By contrast, Sylvie hoped drying them and putting them away would stop her from thinking. She felt all around awful.

This didn't go unnoticed. At some stage Sebastian nudged her when she wasn't handling anything. "Are you all right?" His voice was quiet and warm. The half-elf was genuinely worried, but outwardly put on a calmer look than what he really felt like.

She gave a short laugh, because it was either laughing or crying. Not looking at him, she answered quickly, "I feel so dishonest knowing, not doing anything against it, but wanting to keep out of it. I-" She broke off and shook her head. There was more. Fear she might enjoy seeing Ludovic hurt fed into it. An echo of remembered terror when she'd thought she had inadvertently killed a man with her own hands. Of course, fear of what would happen if things went wrong. And, just right now, feeling like a burden. "Sorry. It's stupid. It'll pass." Finally she met Sebastian's eyes. "Thanks for asking, though."

He didn't look entirely convinced that was the entire truth, and so he put the plate he had been working on back into the water so that he may drum his fingers against the level. "Dear something," Sebastian said with a shake of his head. "It's not stupid. I'll return your apology though: I'm sorry, and thank you. This isn't very easy. It never is."

The half-elf moved a strand of hair behind his ear and frowned. "I can finish these on my own if you think you need rest."

"It's not that much left, anyway. Let's get it over with." She was tired, particularly of talking about dishes, but not that tired.

He nodded and rubbed his palms before resuming work. The scars were even more visible now that his hands were a hint reddish. "Why do I feel like apologising copious time?" Kai then said.

The suggestion made Sylvie twitch a little. "Maybe because you don't realise that would make me feel even more of a nuisance right now. Or because you aren't used to cooperation."

"You're not a nuisance. You are not. But the latter... maybe something like that," he said and examined a plate.

"Sounds like we both should stop apologising, then." She liked that thought. "Is there anything else that could be done in addition to going to Ludovic?"

"Let's do that then," Sebastian-Kai said with a hint of a smile. "Investigating Langoll's last movements around town. I don't think that's about to lead us to much anything, though. I would rather not go to the Sabas even so."

After a thoughtful pause, Sylvie asked, "Would they know you took that letter?"

"If the messenger puts two and two together and saw my eyes, they might guess it was me," he answered. "I tried to be careful. At least he didn't notice I... uh... picked his pockets."

At this point, this theft did not bother her. "Don't forget watching your back, then. Ludovic struck me as a rather sore loser, and he might think you killed Langoll."