[true to her word, she's in the atrium with her notebook, writing. or at least attempting to write. she's just sort of written the word werecougar in the corner of a page and left it - still puzzling that one out, but it's no less strange than other things she's encountered here.
no, the real thing she's doing is listening for certain footsteps, her guard all the way up for the time being. she won't know which one is Siffleur, so she has to be cautious of all.]
[It will be even more difficult to pick him out, as Siffleur moves quietly even when in human form. His footsteps are soft and he moves carefully, never stepping on anything that might crunch or squeak or otherwise give him away. This is all done unconsciously and automatically, just as his breathing is always kept quiet, just as he always checks his surroundings when he enters somewhere new.
Helena is easy to see. She sits about twenty feet away, notebook in her hand, cane nearby. She is small for a woman, and she is even smaller compared to Siffleur. Those cloudy eyes of hers say it all, and he feels the hunger in him longing to hunt her. Visible weaknesses always brings out the worst in him.
He raises his voice, letting her know that he's here before he comes closer.] Hello Helena. It's Siffleur.
[Warning given, he begins to move towards her, coming to a stop near the bench she's on. He takes a seat on the other side, leaving some space between them as he settles down, getting a good look at her (and a good smell as well).]
[even listening as she does, she only notices him once he's in range - when something feels amiss. he's quiet enough that his movements are lost in the murmur of the ship, and when she's not keyed up, waiting for a hunter's attacks, it's more possible to miss things. she doesn't love it, but she makes herself be calm about the suddenness. it's okay. something's been agreed on.]
Thank you for contacting me. I wasn't aware of Erin's negotiations.
[human, through and through. it's probably obvious why Erin decided to bargain for someone else, when she's the fighter and Helena is decidedly...not. nothing in her bearing speaks to combat readiness, and the cane by her side is pure functionality, not hiding a weapon. closing her notebook, she tucks it away into her bag - for now, she has to be attentive.]
May I ask what she promised you in return for this favor? If it's nothing too private.
[Ah, so Erin hasn't mentioned it yet. Perhaps this woman will be angry to hear what was bartered. But Siffleur is not in the business of lying about this kind of thing. After all, the truth is always revealed in time, and the longer the time takes, the deeper the hurt. Best to have it out now.]
It isn't private at all. I have begun hosting a sort of game in the Tommy Bahamas. People are asked to hide for an hour. If I cannot find them, they can pet me while I am a cougar. If I find them, I kill and eat them. Erin entered and asked to play a modified version of that game - that we hunt one another instead. If she killed me, then you were not to be harmed in any way. She fought admirably and brilliantly, and bested me in the end.
[a strange and brutal game, and not one she understands. it seems a small prize for such a cost, but she's not one who is going to play it, so perhaps she doesn't need to know. instead her finger taps against the wood of her cane, rolling the idea around her head and finding a place for it to reside.]
I see why she didn't tell me of her plans...she'd know I'd worry about her potential loss.
[not that she doesn't believe in Erin. but she doesn't know her combat skills against this man as a man or as a cougar. there would have been fretting, worrying. she almost wants to ask him if it's about his own survival, but that would be prying.]
It's good that you both enjoyed the experience, though.
[she's assuming? because he's speaking well of her? and this was a consensual hunt?]
An understandable thing to withhold, but I hope she won't feel that way going forward. Losing may be embarrassing, but mild humiliation is worth it when presented with a worthy opponent. Especially when death is no longer something to fear in this place.
[He brings a knee up to his chest to lean on as they talk. Siffleur can see why Erin felt the need to barter protection for Helena. She has an air to her of vulnerability, but also of quiet dignity, the kind that a friend would not want to see violated.]
I hope to face her again in the future when her desire to hunt spikes. My own is constant and the lack of usual prey is frustrating, but thankfully this game provides me with just enough prey to keep from growing dangerously bored. I suspect once others hear I was willing to trade the safety of others for amusement, I may have a few others attempt the same challenge. Though hopefully not too many others.
[This last bit is delivered with a smile, but not as a joke. He does still need prey after all.]
I will keep my eye for you, but if you remember, I would appreciate a text when you go shopping so I can be aware that you're around.
That I can do, without a problem. I may be accompanied by someone else at those times, but I'll let you know who they are as well.
[sometimes, a second set of eyes needs to approve colors. or patterns, if she is to be so bold. independence doesn't mean she wants to be an utter fool. while she doesn't exactly relax with his explanation and further talk, the guard evens out to a more moderate level than the stress of a pure stranger. with the peculiar setup understood a little more, it rings a little closer to the hunters she remembers, and how to navigate them outside of the games. courtesy, for them all - some were so terribly touchy on bad days. it kept all the bloodshed within limits.]
...If it would aid you, in return, I can keep the circumstances of this arrangement as something I don't bring up without good cause. In the name of keeping your boredom at bay.
[a more concrete form of thanks, instead of simply relying on Erin as a shield. it won't be hard to keep that promise, since it will remain their own business, and all three would benefit.]
Thank you for the offer, but you can speak freely about it. If ever I grow tired of it, or feel that people are abusing the offer, I will simply stop accepting this kind of arrangement. It is my game, and I may change the rules as I see fit. I hope I do not need to, but I will do what I must to keep myself satisfied.
If I am truly lucky, I will be able to find a few kindred souls who do not mind losing to me from time to time, and we can entertain and feed one another.
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no, the real thing she's doing is listening for certain footsteps, her guard all the way up for the time being. she won't know which one is Siffleur, so she has to be cautious of all.]
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Helena is easy to see. She sits about twenty feet away, notebook in her hand, cane nearby. She is small for a woman, and she is even smaller compared to Siffleur. Those cloudy eyes of hers say it all, and he feels the hunger in him longing to hunt her. Visible weaknesses always brings out the worst in him.
He raises his voice, letting her know that he's here before he comes closer.] Hello Helena. It's Siffleur.
[Warning given, he begins to move towards her, coming to a stop near the bench she's on. He takes a seat on the other side, leaving some space between them as he settles down, getting a good look at her (and a good smell as well).]
Thank you for meeting me.
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Thank you for contacting me. I wasn't aware of Erin's negotiations.
[human, through and through. it's probably obvious why Erin decided to bargain for someone else, when she's the fighter and Helena is decidedly...not. nothing in her bearing speaks to combat readiness, and the cane by her side is pure functionality, not hiding a weapon. closing her notebook, she tucks it away into her bag - for now, she has to be attentive.]
May I ask what she promised you in return for this favor? If it's nothing too private.
no subject
It isn't private at all. I have begun hosting a sort of game in the Tommy Bahamas. People are asked to hide for an hour. If I cannot find them, they can pet me while I am a cougar. If I find them, I kill and eat them. Erin entered and asked to play a modified version of that game - that we hunt one another instead. If she killed me, then you were not to be harmed in any way. She fought admirably and brilliantly, and bested me in the end.
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I see why she didn't tell me of her plans...she'd know I'd worry about her potential loss.
[not that she doesn't believe in Erin. but she doesn't know her combat skills against this man as a man or as a cougar. there would have been fretting, worrying. she almost wants to ask him if it's about his own survival, but that would be prying.]
It's good that you both enjoyed the experience, though.
[she's assuming? because he's speaking well of her? and this was a consensual hunt?]
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[He brings a knee up to his chest to lean on as they talk. Siffleur can see why Erin felt the need to barter protection for Helena. She has an air to her of vulnerability, but also of quiet dignity, the kind that a friend would not want to see violated.]
I hope to face her again in the future when her desire to hunt spikes. My own is constant and the lack of usual prey is frustrating, but thankfully this game provides me with just enough prey to keep from growing dangerously bored. I suspect once others hear I was willing to trade the safety of others for amusement, I may have a few others attempt the same challenge. Though hopefully not too many others.
[This last bit is delivered with a smile, but not as a joke. He does still need prey after all.]
I will keep my eye for you, but if you remember, I would appreciate a text when you go shopping so I can be aware that you're around.
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[sometimes, a second set of eyes needs to approve colors. or patterns, if she is to be so bold. independence doesn't mean she wants to be an utter fool. while she doesn't exactly relax with his explanation and further talk, the guard evens out to a more moderate level than the stress of a pure stranger. with the peculiar setup understood a little more, it rings a little closer to the hunters she remembers, and how to navigate them outside of the games. courtesy, for them all - some were so terribly touchy on bad days. it kept all the bloodshed within limits.]
...If it would aid you, in return, I can keep the circumstances of this arrangement as something I don't bring up without good cause. In the name of keeping your boredom at bay.
[a more concrete form of thanks, instead of simply relying on Erin as a shield. it won't be hard to keep that promise, since it will remain their own business, and all three would benefit.]
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Thank you for the offer, but you can speak freely about it. If ever I grow tired of it, or feel that people are abusing the offer, I will simply stop accepting this kind of arrangement. It is my game, and I may change the rules as I see fit. I hope I do not need to, but I will do what I must to keep myself satisfied.
If I am truly lucky, I will be able to find a few kindred souls who do not mind losing to me from time to time, and we can entertain and feed one another.