[PRabel]

Mercy Merchant:

Cinnamon smiles.  "I am pretty certain that it might stand out to people who know what they are looking for, but you have a license to carry a pistol.  Stella gave it to you yesterday.  So it should be no trouble.  I will wait for you in the lobby.  I figure we have about ninety mikes before we need to meet the car back here to leave for the arena."  When you return to the lobby, you see Cinn talking to the Concierge who is pointing out the door as if giving directions.  She thanks him as you come up and slips her arm inside yours as you leave.  “The Concierge was kind enough to give me directions to what is supposed to be the best seafood restaurant in Seattle.  I had heard it was near and now I even know where it is.  Maybe we can eat a lunch there some day.”
The walk to the park is nice.  You are in one of the more exclusive parts of the Downtown area and your hotel is located within an easy walk to the ocean and the park Cinnamon is looking for.  The streets are busy with vehicular and pedestrian traffic and most of the people do not bother you.  One pair of young men prove to be obstacles, however.  They come up to you and start taunting you for not being human.  Cinn just ignores them and tugs on your sleeve to just walk on, even after they start casting slurs about the whorish Keeb sleeping with the hairy Trog and betting with each other about how much she is charging.  A uniformed KE officer comes by and apologizes for their behaviour and threatens to take them in if they do not just move along.  He tips his hat to Cinnamon as he walks on.
Once at the park, Cinn stops for some ice cream, well, it is probably soycream, but it tastes good.  She sits down at a table with a large umbrella stuck through the middle and licks her cone while looking out at the water rolling in to the rocky beach not a hundred feet away.  There is a far away look in her eyes for a moment but then it is gone and she smiles at you.  She lays a small coin on the table and says, “How about a nuyen for your thoughts?”

[PRabel]

"I thought it applies only to the hotel. Anyway I'll be right back." He goes up to the room and takes his armored jacket and hides his Predator in the holster underneath it.
"That would be great. I want to enjoy my stay here as much as I can. Trying out the things I never had the chance."

As they're walking to the park and the two boys are taunting them, he feels a strong urge the teach them a lesson, but seeing that Cinn doesn't bothers herself about the insalts, he tries to let them slip by, especially when the officer shows up.

"You were right about letting them get away, they didn't worth the trouble. But they were really asking for a punch in the face. In the end I whould have been the one to blame. Just because I have tusks."

He takes an ice cream too and sit down with Cinn at the table. He wonders, what she was thinking about, but decides to ask about it later. As she lays the coin on the table, he asks:
"My thoughts? Very well. What would you like to know?"

[PRabel]

Mercy Merchant:

Cinn takes a lick of her soycream and laughs.  “No, that is what you are supposed to do.  Tell me what you are thinking about.  I really doubt you have nothing up there except the soycream in your hand and your impressions of the sex we had earlier.  But OK, I will ask.  It appeared to me that you liked the sex, but did you really?  Was it good enough for you or do I need to switch something up?  Too hard, maybe, or too soft?  Are you disappointed that I would invite you to my bed after just meeting you?  Do you still respect me as a person or is that all down the toilet now?  So tell me the answers to those questions and then I will ask some more.”

[PRabel]

"Oh, I see. I misunderstood it, sorry about that.
I'm not disappointed, that you did it, just surprised. I don't quite understand why you picked me. Of course, we are in the same shift, so we are off-duty together. But other than that, I don't see the reason. You are way out of my league. Your looks, your experiance, everything. Do you really find me good enough? And why should I not respect you after it? You suggested from the beginning, that you want something more from me, than simply working together. I had time to thing about it. A lot of people would kill for an hour with you and here I am getting invited by you. I am feeling grateful about it. I may not understand it, but I'm grateful. And I enjoyed it...a lot. It was the best sex in my life so far. I like to plan a lot of things in my life, but the sex isn't one of them. I think it is better to go with the flow. Go ahead and experiment with me, I'll tell you if it's too weird. I do respect you for taking the risk and for getting what you want, wathever it may be.
Is there anything els you wish to know?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Cinnamon just shakes her head.  "Nope.  You answered those questions well enough."  She looks back over the ocean and sighs.  "Hey, G, have you ever just looked out at the distance from wherever you are and wondered if there was not a better place out there?  No need for killing.  Just relaxing in the sun on a warm beach.  Or maybe a place in the mountains surrounded by unbroken forest that stretches for miles in every direction.  Something like that?  Aww, who am I kidding?  Only death will take me to a place like that."  She shakes her head again, as if to clear it.  "Sorry about that.  Did not mean to go all weird on you like that.  I will try not to do it too often.  Ready to head back?"

[PRabel]

He thinks for a moment, and answers: "So that's what you were wondering about a minute ago?There are such places. The problem is, they are heavily guarded by whoever owns them. You could get in there...there is practicly nothing on your record that could prevent that. Me, I'm not so sure they would let me anywhere near them.
You are tired of the fighting, of the killing. I can understand that, you're probably doing it a lot longer, than me. But fighting is the only thing I'm good at, wich means, it is the only way I can earn my creds for the next month. But there are some lines I do not cross. I don't kill civilians and people who are not able to defend themselves.
 
How long are you doing this drek? I know it's not considered polite to ask a women about that, but...how old are you?

By the way, don't have to apologise for it. You can't be the super-hot ass-kickin' amazon all the time.
Yes, we can go back, if you like.

[PRabel]

Mercy Merchant:

The woman next to you finishes her soycream cone before saying anything.  She is still looking outward when she replies and her voice sounds a bit tired.  “Yes, I suppose there are places like that still out there somewhere and perhaps even some that no one owns yet.  It might be nice to go find one of those, some day.  Some day.  And, yes, I am tired of the killing and the fighting.”  He voice takes on a slightly bitter tone as she continues.  “But I am good at that and not much else, so that is my lot…………..my contribution, if you will.”
 
Her eyes flick to you and then return to the horizon, but you can see something there; a sadness, perhaps.  “I am old, G, very old and very tired.  For a long time I have watched the full panoply of human and metahuman nature play out, but it has only been since the UGE legitimized my existence that I have actually been a part of it.  I do wonder sometimes if I have been as helpful as I wanted to be when I started all of this.”  She sighs and looks back to you with that room filling smile this time.  “But enough of sadness and regret and longing.  If we hurry back, we can still get a bit of a run in before meeting the car.  Still interested?”

[PRabel]

"You were born before the UGE? How is that even possible? I thought that was the first time elves appeared. You don't have to answer, I see it is not your favourite topic. I do my homework and look into this myself.

*Damn, how old can she really be? The Unexplained Genetic Expression happened over 60 years ago. Even before that, she already lived and observed the things.*

He looks at her and wonders how she copes with the things she lived through.

"If I can help in any way, let me know. Although I doubt it, I can do anithing significant. Anyway, let's go back to the hotel. Why should I be not interested?"

As thay are walking toward the hotel, he adds: "Have you ever considered teaching? I bet you know a lot of useful things beside fighting."

[PRabel]

Mercy Merchant:

Cinnamon takes your hand as you walk back to the hotel, and you can feel the calluses that develop through work and familiarity with a knife.  She stays quiet for most of the way back then stops and turns to you.  “No, we have just not been seen so openly as now, but some of us have been around a long time.  There are hints of sightings of fey creatures in many of your works of fiction and non-fiction; some going back far into your history.  Most are simply made up and drivel, but there is a nugget of truth behind them.  We have watched and served and…………….contributed.  Then the dragons woke up, magic became more common, and the UGE allowed us to enter the metahuman society.  Certainly, almost all of us living today have been born within the past sixty-four years and know almost nothing of our homeland.  There are some of the older ones that look on these as not really being Elven, but something else.  A few of us predate the UGE, but there are fewer and fewer all the time.  It is complicated, G, and I am not explaining it well.  I would certainly understand if you were to think me crazy.”
Once back at the hotel she goes to her room to change into running shorts and a sports bra, which does its best to make her look less sexy.  It fails completely.  She leads you to the basement gym and you can spend an hour working out.  She points to some of the other services available, such as a small pool, hot tub, and sauna.  She says with a sad smile that there is no real time today, but a good sauna might be on the book for tomorrow.  Once back upstairs, she calls your name as you head off to your room to shower and change.  “Hey.  Want to scrub my back?  Maybe my front?”

[PRabel]

He freezes in place, when Cinn says how old she actually is and just stares at her. "Does this mean, that you are thousands of years old? Wow...OK...give me a minute. This is something I didn't expected. I hope you understand, that this is a lot to take in. Does Roger and the others know about it?

We live in a world, where dragons are a real thing, so I shouldn't be surprised abou something like this, but still. Let's drop the topic for now...i need time to let this sink in. Let's go up and change into something more comfortable for training.

He changes into his training clothes and goes to the gym with Cinn. He briefly looks at her while they train and thinks: *She looks very good, no matter what she is wearing. Especially if we look at her age. Wow.* "Good idea, we should try them out sometime."

"Hell yeah I want. I wouldn't miss ou an opportunity like that."

[Mercy Merchant]

Cinn first nods her head then shakes it.  "Yes, that is what it means, and no, Roger and the others do not know.  I am not supposed to tell others, but well..................I wanted to."

Things get a bit slippery in the shower and some unresisted groping leads to another bout of great sex, this time under the running water.  Finally stepping out, you each dry the other off in the soft towels provided.  You both realize that the desire is there to simply go back to the bed, but decide to put that off due to the need to be dressed and ready for your shift.  Cinnamon shoos you out of her room, reminding you that it is casual wear for tonight.

[PRabel]

"I see. In this case, I thank you for trusting me with your secret. I kinda feel honored about it. I still don't understand why did you choose me, but I thank you."

When they are finished with everything under the shower and they are already dry, he goes to his room and dresses for the occasion from his new collection. He checks his gun and loads it with shock-rounds and takes an extra clip from it, as well as a clip of regular ammo. *I don't think I need armor piercing rounds tonight. Hopefully I don't need any kind of ammo, but it's better to be ready.

Ready for the night, he goes out to the living room and waits for Cinn to be ready.

[Mercy Merchant]

Cinn emerges from her room dressed pretty much as you are.  She admires the effect of your clothes and leads you downstairs.  As you walk across the lobby she says, "OK, the 411 is that we are going to the concert arena to watch over Nova as she rehearses live.  We are also there to look over the security arrangements for tomorrow night's show.  The boys have already made their sweep and have their own impressions.  We are going to do the same thing without talking to them and compare notes in the morning.  Tomorrow we have a full brief after breakfast, then get some rest, then off back to the arena at about 1600.  This will be all four of us on duty until the end of the show.  If things go like last time, the other two will be in the crowd and we are on the stage sides.  We will make final decisions on all of that tomorrow.  Your input will be valuable, especially since your eyes are new to this and you might have a different and better approach.  Keep your eyes and ears open tonight and try to think like an assassin might."

[PRabel]

"You look godd tonight...as always." He compliments Cinn as she enters the living room.
He listens to the briefing she gives and adds: "Ok, I keep a lookout for anything, that might be dangerous to Nova or give an edge to an assassin. But like you said, I'm new to this, so if you have any insight, I appreciate it.
Other than the four of us, who privides the security for the event? Knight Errant or some other private security company?"

*Ok, the next few days will be pretty important, so I better not scew this up. On the one hand, Nova is a nice little girl and I'd hate to see her being harmed. On the other hand, I'd like to keep my guts in their place.*

[Mercy Merchant]

Marco is waiting at the curb and Cinn makes the introductions before sliding into the oversized limo.  She reaches over and opens the small refrigerator, pulling a Soypepper out and looking to see if you want anything.  Sitting back in the plush leather seat, she nods as she opens the soda.  "Most of the private security is on hire and paid for by the arena.  Each performer will have his or her own private security.  Not sure who is going to still be there when Nova is rehearsing but I would like to work on the premise that we need to do this solo.  We can coordinate with the sec guys later, but each team is supposed to be concerned about their primary, not the other primaries."