#scarsdale

"Sister, how is thy striped friend?"

"I speak off the offensor, not his blond target and.." Now it's Vashti's turn to blush as subject twists, "in truth? I enjoy, but i know not where this spiral leads. thou worry he shall shatter my heart, but in truth? I fear my claws may scratch him more before it is done"

Earl frowns, "OKay, just how often did this guy hit on you when you told him no means no?" At the lannister talk

"I think he knows not how to not hit on women..."

"His whole being revolves around... well..."

"Uh huh," Earl says " Wow. I am a good boyfriend. I'm not hunting him down and kicking his ass." A beat "Yet."

"I think, mayhaps, he knows not what treasure is marked in his skin, and has not bothered to think on it. I believe that tattoo is Paler's working."

"You can... I know of a treasure where you can literally control another as a puppet."

Vashti says "He spoke of Feathers and serpents and inklings"

Earl raises a brow, "Possibly mroe than one. Which one in particular?"

"Tijuana was Balor-held, before Jessica."

Vashti nods, "All pooka know of the Freedom Flame's great purging of the mad serpent queen"

"So perhaps he does know what he is. Either way, I do not wish him returning here."

"that's settled then " earl says

"I have the means to spy upon him..."

"I know you do, but I still get nervous" earl says "Besides, I think the right to deal with him might be mine"

"That seems an old-fashioned notion... not that that means I object, but..." A sigh, and she reaches up to touch the scarred part of his horn.

"well, yes, but... how much is a troll supposed to take from guys hitting on his girlfriend?" He says blushing

"Well... I would not stray, sirrah."

"Certainly not for that!"

"I know that" He kisses her hand "Not normally, but magic? treasures? You know better than I the power that can hold over will"

A soft hiss, and she nods.

"Twould be rape, then. It would not be by my will."

"Exactly" he says "I know you would not stray, but I don't like what I'm hearing bout... this treasure, whever it is."

Vashti blushes, "Adam's Serpent, sir."

"Adam's..." earl blinks, "he had a tattoo done on his.. OUch"

"That is the name? Aye, I shall research further. So - it.. what.. steals glamour, in the act?"

Vashti bites her bottom lip, "Adam's serpent is HIS location, sister, not the shop." She diseretly glances to her own crotch region as she steps back in the shadow a bit

"I'm sorry... I....mis-followed."

"I know it is a treasure, aye. I thought.... I thought that a proper name, for I have not heard often of magic bound in skin and ink... this is far more than the moving pictures I have seen."

"As for the other.. since my kith is the clearest, " Vashti waves off apology for misfollowing "I suspect the man's actions are like a lotus eater's delight. the more he has you, the more you crave, until you are shackled by desire. A slave to his passions. It may also fuel his own ardor, akin to a blow torch on a match stick"

"All the better he stays far away."

"Geez, what he might have done to Hannah" Earl frowns

"Precisely. I think he was sent to break up Mama and Papa..."

"Do you think he KNEW the mission?"

"I am uncertain. But... he had no other clients. Just here."

"He flirted with others, but did not take them home..."

Vashti paces wings a flutter , now that she's full grown

earl nods, "Did he try to find out where they were?"

"He asked, but I only said they were out."

"Asked a thousand times did he," Vashti claims

"So he might be after her even after? Lovely" Earl frowns

"Aye. I wish I had the power to bar him from the county..."

"mm" earl ponders "Nothing comes to mind that's Escheat approved"

"Short of sovereign, aye. And I loathe that art."

Earl frowns at something but says naught

"What?"

"I have thought about learning the art" He admits

"And I do have that treausre that lets me dictum"

She frowns a little. "Aye..."