There is no defense line, but defense territory.

[noonlight]

Who: Illumination & You.
What: Various goings on at the abandoned building that Lu has moved into.
When: Throughout the second and third week of the story.
Where: A former wine merchant (possible smuggler's) abandoned house in the 'neutral' territory.
Content warnings: None, yet.

Comments

[not_scrap]

Is she a natural actress? No. But has she run into this situation (sorta) before? Yes.

"Listen," aggrieved sigh. "I just work for the guy. Just let me deliver the flowers or I don't get paid." You wouldn't want a tiny little waif to go HUNGRY, you monster?

Or else she's gonna have to drop the act in a sec.

[noonlight]

"Tragic, I'm sure." Maybe it's true, but Illumination isn't opening the door.

"Give them to some other stranger and call it done. Good-bye." They don't suspect that it's angry locals or anything like that, but a thief? Looking to ransack or scout out a building that's being reclaimed? That makes a good deal of sense.

[not_scrap]

Wow, someone's gonna spit in this person's burger, for sure. That's not how you treat the working stiff!

"Listen." Time to drop the act. Though, admit it: totally fooled, weren't you? "I tracked him here."

[noonlight]

It's fair to argue for working class solidarity, and Illumination will be first on the line for labour, but that's not what this really is.

"Oh, I see."

There's a pause. The practical thing to do would be to invite this stranger in before they decided to get stroppy and then Deal With the Situation. That's probably an over-reaction, but it would be the easiest way to do it.

"And you want to deliver flowers to him?"

[not_scrap]

"Yeah." See, you see, she sees, everyone's just seeing. It's awkward.

Don't mind the splutter, because it's too hilarious. Hey Murderteeth, I got you some flowers!

He'd think she was either insane or flirting with him, or...probably both. Which meant, of course... "Actually, yes I would." If nothing else, she'd been doing some snooping and she might know some things he doesn't.

[noonlight]

"We had a disagreement and he moved on, and knowing him as well as you do, I'm sure you can understand why I'm a little extra cautious right now." There's a pause and the soft sounds of someone moving on the other side of the door. Maybe they're getting ready to open it? Maybe not.

"If he comes by again, I can give him a message?"

[not_scrap]

"Huh. You sound awfully, you know, LIVING for someone who's gotten in an argument with Night Murderteeth Haunter." He seemed to have two modes: menacing and murdering. But the alliterated so that was fine.

She's only seen the first one, but she more than suspects he's been doing a bit of the latter around here. It's strangely safe to walk around at night as a shrimpy and generally unarmed looking female type person.

"Tell him that uh, the dogs are getting a bit restless. And that I got a ticket to this big fancy party if he wants in." Hot date ideas? Sure, if you hate the whole concept of being alive, probably.

[noonlight]

"You know, if you're delivering flowers or 'delivering flowers', it really helps when you start with the name." There's a scrape of metal as Illumination moves the lock and opens the door. They step back just far enough to allow her to enter and shut the door behind her, but no further.