[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia stays on her side and admires your curves.  "Hmmm.  Just about 1300.  And no, it does not matter to me today.  I have a couple of things going just now, but others are doing the legwork for me while I reap the benefits of their labors.  Tomorrow may be different, depending on the information that comes in today, but I do not expect to be terribly busy until Monday or Tuesday.  After that, I may need to take a trip if a prospective client can meet my price..

[VegasRigged]

"That's what I like to hear, plenty of time to spend lounging around. I have an appointment this evening with a potential asset, but no business details before breakfast." I toss on a robe and receive our food when it arrives, setting up genuine waffles, made from scratch, on the bed between us.

Returning to my proper state of nudity I sit cross legged and let a little formality drift into the conversation "Now that we are sexed and soon to be fed, I think it would be best if we level with each other, you contacted my partner in crime the other night to ensure my safety; thank you, but next time run it by me. More importantly, who are you and how on earth do you know Ni Ni?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday 9 June 2075  1320  Sylvia's Suite


Sylvia stretches and sits up as she reaches for a waffle.  "So, honesty time, yes?  Alright, but I expect a bit of honesty back.  Ni Ni Xiaolu is a client of mine, as are most of the crime syndicates and AAAs in Seattle.  And elsewhere.  I am an assassin, Marissa.  A very good one.  I have been doing it a very long time.  I have a team of highly skilled professionals that helps me gather data and provides me support.  I did make a call to the Triad boss and told him that I was interested in your welfare.  I have done business with them in the past and I am sure that they want to leave the door open to hire me again.  That is all I did, but I imagine he contacted Ni Ni."  She takes a bite from her waffle and eyes you, trying to gauge your reaction.

[VegasRigged]

I blink. To the  average observer that's all it might seem, but she will certainly detect shock, and the intervening moment of silence is tense.

"I see." How do i respond to this? Telling her who I really am seems unwise, I don't really think she'll turn me in, but she just told me she kills people for money and now I have to respond in kind. OK, what do I do for a living? Right "I actually am an interior decorator, I use my access to people homes set up the theft of antiques. I'm also a talented mage,-" I smile slyly "As I think I've demonstrated. I mostly make use of spirits and manipulate laylines, you?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia looks at you and finishes the piece of waffle in her hands.  As she reaches for another, she says, "I see.  And is Ni Ni being in the antique business a happy coincidence or a connection?  And, yes, you have indicated some magic talent.  As for me, I know very little about magic, but I do employ a very good one to watch over the astral for me.  No, don't worry, she is not watching us now.  I have found through many years of doing this that sometimes it is necessary to take a chance and I took one with you.  Now, your name is not new to this building, but I think that you are.  Do you feel trusting enough to tell me about that.?  And do you know where the real Marisa Coulter is?"

[VegasRigged]

"The real Marisa is spread out over a few ghoul nests in the underbelly of Hong Kong, the victim of her gambling debts and poor coping abilities. Ni Ni braught me in on her business when I, Marisa, met her fate. The two had been running this racket for quit a while before my former self met her unhappy end. I was conveniently situated as a replacement, the details of which I will share with you once I know more about your work, dor example, how do you kill, are their people you won't kill, and do you have preferred clients among the triple A corps?"

Please don't say Wuxong, I really don't want to have to Leas away this wonderful morning from your mind.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia claps her hands and laughs as you describe what happened.  "How wonderfully macabre.  And how convenient that you just happened to be available to assume the role.  You must be good at it.  And me?  I suppose you could say that I can kill in almost any way possible.  If you can think of it, I have probably done it.  I stay away from killing children and those whom I feel are innocents.  My niche is gangers, murderers and the like.  Crooked politicians are also on the list.  I do not play favorites among my clients as that just leads to bad blood.  I think I have worked for every AAA and a lot of AAs, as well as every major criminal syndicate."

[VegasRigged]

Again I smile slyly, my tone suggestive "You really get around then, perhaps we should have used protection?" We both laugh a little and the tension eases just a little more before I continue "I was very convenient in fact, practically served with a bow. I was about to be executed for aiding the enemies of Wuxong, a scapegoat nobody would miss. Now of course I wish I'd done it, putting the men behind my fall from grace in their place will be most satisfying some day. Assuming you don't tell them where I am of course, that would put a damper on my new life to be sure."

I'm pleased to hear she doesn't target innocents, but I'm still going to have to tell her my objections to violence and death. Hopefully this will not emerge as the too much of a problem. In spite of my better judgement I want this to work out. Probably just the endorphin's talking.

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1350  Sylvia's Suite


Sylvia smiles and shakes her head.  "I never talk about specific cases and will never ask you too, and I would never turn you over to the Wuxing goon squads.  Hmmmmm.  Fall from grace.....Hong Kong........laylines................and Wuxing.  I imagine something to do with that tower that got shellacked?  Were you the fall guy for that fiasco?  I will leave this line of questions alone if you ask me to."

[VegasRigged]

"Indeed, and with reason, I-" I catch myself. I want to tell her who I am, who I was, but aside from a lucky save and pleasures of the flesh I barely know her. But Marisa was a gambler, and it seems some of that has transferred over.

Doubling down again "I was one of the head researchers, the Wuxong tower, or Spire as I knew it, was my first masterpiece in layline conjunction. Now it seems unlikely I'll ever make another." I catch myself sighing and reminiscing and return to the moment, reminding myself that the women on the other side of the waffles is a trained killer. "So it's been a bit of an adjustment, as you can imagine. I'm truly fortunate that my face and abilities matching Ni Ni's needs or I'd have been executed night before last. God, it's only been a few days, It seems like years."

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1355  Sylvia's Suite


"Yes, fortunate indeed.  I am sorry for your loss.  The Spire must have meant a great deal to you.  OK, more truth time.  My line of work does not normally allow me the latitude to form any sort of relationships, yet I find that I very much want to pursue one with you.  Do you particularly mind that I find it terribly difficult to keep my eyes and hands off you when we are together and that I think about you often when we are apart?"

[VegasRigged]

"As you might expect a great many things are new to me, new city, new job, new face to a certain extent. I find it intensely comforting to know that someone here just wants to be near me. So with my full support, let us move forward with this fun sexy thing we're doing." At least until you realize I'm playing every angle I can find in my quest to rebuild what I've lost.

"My only reservation is that you kill people; killing taints the mana in an area, and requires time and effort to clean, though an assassin is cleaner then an army in more ways then one, so perhaps I can get past it. I may even have need to use such deadly force soon, as I intend to be an active player in the Triad conflicts and suspect a few deaths will result no matter how hard I work to avoid it."

[Mercy Merchant]

Saturday  9 June 2075  1400  Sylvia's Suite


She laughs.  "Yes, I kill people.  But it is a matter of pride that I limit any incidental deaths.  I really try for zero collateral damage.  And it is not like I stay in one place too long.  There is always another client in another place that will pay my somewhat outrageous fees.  And if any part of your plan incudes places like the Chinatown Barrens or the Redmond Barrens, you need to expect a lot of deaths that you will need to clean up.  So, does my killing leave some sort of mark that you can see?  I have not been told that before, but perhaps my operative senses things in a different way than you do?"

[VegasRigged]

"It more like violence, fear, misery and, yes, death. Enough defeat ice emotions can creat a background count. Lots of nasty events scar the mana of an area, leave impressions of the emotions experienced there. It's been said that was is hell, and I've heard mages who go through it, or work in the prison system, tend to develop personality problems faster then their peers."

[Mercy Merchant]

"Well, I do hope that you can live with me like this, at least for a while.  Do you need any help doing what it is you are trying to do?  I might be contaminated, but I do have assets that I could perhaps turn your way.  And just so you know, I have some quite wicked intents where your body is concerned.  I might even be strong enough to continue where we left off once I finish our waffles."