[Mercy Merchant]

Sian laughs.  "Perhaps Glinda has been telling you to much.  Oh well, yes, they are older than that and there is no canine-master relationship here.  I rescued them from.................something a long time ago and they have rewarded that with friendship, companionship, and loyalty ever since.  They are very special.  You are quite perceptive to pick up on the scent.  It means they like you, which is unsurprising since you bring them bribes, but it does go deeper than just the bacon flavoring.  They have accepted you, which is a good thing if we are going to be working together.  Ah, the coffee."

She stands and gets the pot, pouring coffee into three shipped mugs and setting them on the table.  "Sugar or cream?"

[Ennui]

Perhaps master is too strong of a word.  They clearly recognize you as the Alpha.  I don't want to get Glinda into trouble.  I believe showing each other trust is a two way street and the foundation of relationships as a whole.  I trust you and Glinda as you have trusted me and Darius and Vilna trust me as i have shown trust in them.  I shrug as if this is obvious to anyone.

That depends, if it's plain old soy-caf I'll take it with sugar but if you are talking real coffee, well no need to cover up that flavor.

Speaking of trust, I have wrung a number of answers from Glinda here, is there anything you would like to know about me?  I don't mind sharing...and frankly I'm wondering how much homework they did before approaching me.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sian chuckles.  "Yes, they see me as their alpha.  And do not worry over Glinda.  She is my strong hand and I have never been disappointed in her.  And I would never offer soycaf to a guest in my own home, so black it is."

Sian sips from the mug and sighs in contentment.  "That is good, if I say so myself.  I think the only thing I really need to know about you just now is how fast you are intending to move.  I think that Glinda got a bit ahead of herself and should slow down after tonight.  I have no real desire to get the attention of the major players until I am ready for that and I hope that is your goal as well."

[Ennui]

I've limited my expansion to the two groups I had been scouting out already.  I would have approached them soon if not today whether you had come to me or not.  I will monitor their activities for a bit, ingratiate myself into their ranks see what talent I can pull from it and reassess at that point.  I have been considering offering to train any awakened that might have the Talent, though I'm not much of an instructor, nor am I sure I have the patience for such a task.  It is tempting for other reasons, however.  Basically I'm focusing on solidifying my position where I am.  Even if these new gangs run afoul of a feeder gang for one of the big boys that I haven't heard about there is very little that will blow back on me and could even serve to tie them to me further in the long run.

I'm rather impressed with Glinda,  She may have over done it but she beat my slinging record by nearly 200%.  For her first day I really didn't expect her to break 3k even with her "uncanny  persuasiveness".

[Mercy Merchant]

Both Glinda and Sian laugh.  Sian nods and says, "Yes, she can be quite persuasive when she tries.  But I have already warned her about going too fast and I think that will not happen again." 

Glinda looks down at the table then back up.  "No, I will be more careful.  I got carried away.  Mistake."

[Ennui]

Well I guess I know your darker secrets so I feel honor bound to reveal one of mine own.  You know I go by Lizzie, Lizzie Borden to be precise.  Do you know who that is? There's an old nursery rhyme about her.  Lizzie Borden took an axe/ and gave her mother 40 whacks/When she saw what she had done/ she gave her father 41.  Gruesome isn't it.  You'd be surprised how many are actually.  A few months after I turned 13 our neighborhood was overrun with ghouls.  They were monsters.  Those of us they didn't turn, they hunted for sport and food, or who knows what else.  There was some organlegging stories as well.  One day I was able to sneak into my old home, now my parents had always been worthless, they were these big Humanis supporters, neo-catholics...You know superstitious and hateful of anything different.

I found them...eating my little sister, she was a toddler, barely crawling,  I thought I was going to vomit.  I left, not even thinking of where I was going.  I went to the shed in the back grabbed an axe and went back inside, I buried it in my fathers skull.  They say that when you chop at someone like that blades get stuck,  Not this kind of axe I guess, it's thick wedge shape let me draw it right back up with almost no trouble at all then I buried the axe in my mothers chest.  I continued hacking at them for a while.  I wasn't sure if they would get back up.  My friends found me.  There were a lot more than Shelly and Corbin back then, our numbers dwindled as some were caught by the ghouls.  I miss them, but not my parents, not a bit.  Is that weird?

[Mercy Merchant]

Both of the other woman are quiet and the thought passes through your mind that it is sometimes difficult to remember that Sian is not 15 and that Glinda is not 22.  Sian breaks the silence first.  "I am so sorry for your loss.  I do not remember my parents, anymore." 

Glinda nods and adds.  "I remember mine, but not fondly. I did not have a happy childhood.  But now I have Sian and life has been so much better."

Glinda goes quiet as she remembers and Sian asks, "So, Lizzie.  Do you know what the origin of your real name is, by any chance?  Old family name or whim of a parent or something else?"

[Ennui]

My parents weren't the loss I suffered.  I know Isla is Scottish but that's about it.  Isla Sixx, never really thought about it that much.  Why?

[Mercy Merchant]

Sian gives you an odd look and shakes her head.  "Not sure.  I have heard the name before.  Not sure where.  It is somewhat different, isn't it?  Scottish, you say?"

[Ennui]

I think I had a great grandmother with the name or something.  I'm the only person I know with the name but It's not all that uncommon I don't think.  There's a river in Scotland called Isla.  Queen Elizabeth had a daughter named Isla.  That's about all I can think of.  Did you know someone with that name maybe?

[Mercy Merchant]

Both women nod but only Sian says anything.  "Yes.  We did, once.  It was a very long time ago.  She was.................important.............to us, but she chose a different path and left.  You even look a bit like her.  It is an interesting coincidence.  So, on a different note, are you staying long?  I can fix up the spare bedroom if you are."

[Ennui]

Oh, no.  it's still early for me.  I have some things to do at my lab.  Business is booming after all.  I'm going to have to get a stockpile going so I won't have to cook everyday.  I just wanted to visit a bit and spoil the puppies.  I have more T-R-E-A-T-S for them when I leave too.

I'm rather glad you two sought me out.  I feel a certain level of rapport with the two of you.  Perhaps it comes from being able to understand each others existence.  I've lived my entire adult life with a small inner circle of friends and the rest being afraid of me.  Here you two are, an old hat at the experience.  It can color ones outlook on life.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda nods and Sian gives a sort of soft, enigmatic smile.  "Yes, that is so, I suppose.  We have been hiding and running for a long time and from many people and places.  So, do you prefer Isla or Lizzie?"

[Ennui]

To you two, I can be Isla.  It is a name to be used with friends though, everyone else except Corbin and Shelly, I'm Lizzie.  Like I've said the name has grown on me, I suppose all real handles are like that.  Let's go with Lizzie in general, I'd like to keep Isla for special occasions.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sian nods.  "So Lizzie it is.  More coffee?"