#anywhere

She waits for the first plausible pause in conversation, then says, "I'm so sorry, my body's suddenly telling me just how long it's been since I hit the ladies room. I can come right back, though."

"Oh as you like, class is over but nature never is" Symathetic

"So true!" she says with a smile, and heads off in pursuit of the sluagh. The comment about coming back was as much for any other onlookers as it was for her, making sure they know the troll doesn't intend to be far out of range.

Sluagh are masters of stealth, but trolls are keen of senses too and she thinks she is gaining... but then a split. She can't be sure if the figure went left, or right, at the end of this hall.

She can just pick one and hope she is correct

A frown...and she goes left.

Left turns out to be right..err corect, and long legs means she closes on the sluagh in front of her

"The more I have to chase you, the crankier I'll get," she mutters, knowing she doesn't have to speak loudly for the sluagh to hear her.

(Cha or manipulation plus intimidation or best guess)

/roll 7

The sluagh stops, and turns...

Kerri stops, putting her hands out to indicate she's not trying to cause harm...but then she notices the sluagh seems to be floating. That's...disturbing. "Who are you?"

She seems not to float for long, just lifting in surprise then settling, then lifting again...

"Some call me Ariadne. And why should my business be any of yours, concordian?"

"It shouldn't, unless our interests intersect. I suspect they might. If that's the case, and if we share similar opinions, then perhaps we could be of assistance to each other."

"Perhaps I'd know if they inter sected if I knew who sent you?"

A grin and she shakes her head. "I won this trip by winning a baking competition. If somebody sent me, I wasn't told."

Of course she suspects this wasn't an accident at all, but technically, everything she just said is true.

THAT raises a brow, and gets a reaction she didn't expect "That's... that is hard to believe, given how you have positioned yourself , given the timing"

The slaugh seems more stunned at the odds than anything

"Nobody sent me. But since getting here, I've heard things. Things I don't like."

"I'm trying to keep one person from getting harmed. If I can do that, perhaps my actions can help others as well."

Ariadne shakes her head "Trolls and their crusades. I take it you do not deal with many sluagh? "

"Some. Enough that I always keep appropriate food in the pantry. Listen...I wish to know more about what's going on...but on the chance that you're a decoy to lure me away from Chef Liessele while others do her harm, I'm heading back. If you are willing to confer more about this, you may join me. If you want to get in my way...I would advise against it." She turns and starts back.

"Noted," A whisper then a pause "I have no desire to get into your way, but I fear one does not always have... choices. Sometimes the need of a one, out weighs the needs of the many, though spock would have a fit to hear it"

Kerri pauses and looks back to her. "Sometimes the needs of the one can benefit with the help of an ally."

A long pause then, "No. I do not like you or your husband's odds. The forces arrayed against you are too great if your goal is what i suspect. The auction will proceed and there is naught we can do to stop it. I wish it were not so... perhaps if our one was the same, but no. I will be wary of you, and I thank you for the warning. My warning? You are overmatched as am I. Bargaining is all you can do if you really hope to save the chef."

She shakes her head. "You are misunderstanding. I'm not asking for your help. You're clearly being manipulated. Somebody is holding something over your head. I'm suggesting that, if their power over you could be disrupted, you would have greater power to act in the way you truly wish. Either one of us is overmatched...but the power of two collaborating is more than the sum."

A curious lift then she says "Clearly, you aleady know the Auction is being held at lobby four and a half at... " And she names the time "Don't count on me to be there with you." And she turns to go

Lobby four and a half?

"Of course I know that. Locating it is not so easy."

A nod and she is gone

(PErcption plus Empathy)

/roll 7

She thinks that was gratitude for how it was handled. Or perhaps for playing along? It's clear to Kerri that information was given... for free? Unlike her kith, so the lady must hope it will pay off for her, or for that one she spoke of

Well, I know more than I did, and without having to go to the key players to get it. Now...back to Chef Liessele. She retraces her steps quickly.

She finds the chef where she left her..fortunately, if someone else was hoping to catch her alone, they missed that window of opportunity

Kerri's relieved, but also a little preoccupied as she helps with the last bits of clean up. If it's like Platform 9 3/4, then I need to look for glamoured walls, hidden doors.

Its a plan at least!