#earthrunes

"You would try to sell me the promise of another? What is that worth?"

"I dunno, look, I'm stoopid. Okay? I'm a tard... but I got one good thing in this world and that.. that's my sister! " he says with frustration "You're smart, figure out a way for me to pay you for finding her and I'll pay it. Okay? I can't go to tha sidhe, dont trust em. But I need someone smart. someone said you is smart. YOu want me to swear an oath?"

"I understand not wanting to seek the sidhe. Their debt shall be far more harsh than mine."

"Tell me of your sister, tell me what you know, and we shall discuss the price of my aid."

He looks relieved at her assurance of understanding his not wanting to tell the sidhe "SHe got secrets. Ones I can't tell... her name's Dinah. I'm Dash. She's got red hair, like me...kiinda, but she doesn't shave it short. Uhm.. brown eyes. She's about five foot four?"

"She carries a knife so I don't worry too much, but it's a special knife ...anny the may?"

"Anny the may?"

"ANnie the may knife" A nod "its religious"

"So, she had a knife for protection. Is your sister kinain?"

"I guess.. she lights up sometimes" Dash despite his name seems slow

Wait, anythemay then Annithemae? A knife? Oh good lord, he's sluring it badly, he means an athame! A ritual knife, often associated with witches

"Your sister is a witch?"

His eyes widen "Who tole you? Not me, she said not to mention that... oh she's gonna kill me after I rescue her now"

"Mm. Remember, I am smart."

"So. You have lost your sister - for how long? How did you notice her absence?"

"I was supposta meet her at the park, she didn't show.. uh.. yesterday. I went to her place, and her cat was HUNGRY.. she always feeds her cat"

"Aye. Which park?"

"The one I meet my sister at" Dash blinks, then "Oh! Riverside one, Ellis.. poorter?"

"And before yesterday, when was the last time you had spoken with your sister?"

"Uhm.." He pulls out his fingers and starts couting them, "Four days"

"Did she mention anything unusual then?"

"Sometimes she talks but I don't know much."

"Where is 'her place,' Mister Dash?"

"Uh... " He reaches in his pants and pulls a piece of paper ot of his pocket and offers it to her.

A pale hand reaches to take it, for all of a sudden THERE she is - white hair, black eyes.

"oh there you are! " he says but puts it in her hand "That's so I don't forget" Dash says

The paper disappears into a pocket.

"hope I don't forget" he sighs as it is gone then "Can you help find her with what I said ?"

She holds out her hand. "Fifty dollars."

"Thought you didn't need money?" He glowers but he reaches into his pocket again. He is intimidating, a stupid monster is still a monster, but she thinks he knows he needs help. He seems very aware he is not the investigative type.

And he pulls out two twenties and a ten and hands it over "there"

"I don't need money. But this is what you have to pay, and I do not work for free."

"Consider this a retainer."

"Like for your mouth?"

"Not quite."

Dash shrugs "whatever, please, find my sister. When I know where she is, I can hurt whoever got her lost"

It is the first time he's said please and came out of him as everything does, without much thought

Gently. "Sisters are important."

"Mine is" He nods "She don't make fun, she understands I'm always hungry. "

"Such is your nature, aye. I shall find you when I have more information."

"Kay. um" He stops "you need MY phone number?"

Zara nods. "That would be helpful, yes."

He pulls out a phone and shows her the number "I can never remember it"

Zara notes it down, under the sister's address.

"OKay. I'm gonna leave now. too many elves here"

"Aye. If you take the left at the corner, you may go out the staff's way. Fewer sidhe."

"Kay. " he starts to lumber that way, then turns "Oh uh.. thanks?"

"You're welcome. Go, ere an elf sees you."

And he heads that way... STOMP STOMP STOMP