Curiosities

[forsaken_bard]

A light, trilling melody danced in the air in Asmodean's chambers. Sitting on the edge of his bed, his fingers danced with the music on the flute. Lanfear would be here soon enough, and with that his playing would end for a time

Comments

[nights_daughter]

Today, she has apparently chosen a more formal method of arrival, preceded into the room by a servant who curtsies deeply before leaving them.

"Good evening, Asmodean."

[forsaken_bard]

With a small sigh, he lowered the flute from his lips, setting it gently on the bed. His head held high as he studied the stunning woman in white. No such luck to avoid her disturbing his playing.

"To you as well, Lanfear."

[nights_daughter]

Unhurriedly, she walks further into the room, watching his face. Her long hair is loose down her back tonight, almost brushing the silver-worked belt around her waist.

"I recieved a rather interesting message today," she says, after a pause.

[forsaken_bard]

Tilting his head, he inquired of her curiously. Now, what could have been so very interesting that she felt the need to share it with him?

"Oh?"

[nights_daughter]

She continues to approach slowly, soft white skirts swishing faintly over the stone floor.

"I had an appointment for a meeting with Ishamael, two days from now. He had specifically requested one, and I wished to speak with him too. But earlier today..."

A slender hand removes a small recording device from a pocket of her thin outer robe. The Chosen activates it, and a clipped female voice fills the room.

"Lord Ishamael regrets that the arranged meeting must be postponed. He will not be available for a few days while he takes a brief holiday. You will of course be contacted later on to arrange a repla-"

Lanfear clicks it off mid-sentence, raising an eyebrow at Asmodean.

[forsaken_bard]

Crossing his arms across his chest, Asmodean thought for a moment, unconsciously chewing his lower lip. Ishamael on a holiday? What an odd thing, indeed, and to postpone a meeting with Lanfear for it as well. As much as he was loathe to admit it, Lanfear was right. That was interesting.

"How very curious."

[nights_daughter]

"And not at all like him, despite his eccentricities. A holiday? No. And not a message from him directly, either. Vashti, the woman called herself. A valued member of his staff, perhaps, but not at all characteristic. It implies that he had already left, without even seeing to his affairs himself."

Very unusual. So unusual that even the slight to her takes second place to the oddity of his actions.

[forsaken_bard]

A twitch of his lips as he glanced down the edge of the blanket on his bed. How utterly bizarre. Now, was it worth it to tip his hand about what he knew of Ishamael's affairs? He had worked very carefully to get someone in Ishamael's household. In this case, it was. She probably believed that he did anyway as long as he was careful to avoid saying who it was.

"Yes, it is very unusual. Now, my sources tell me that Ishamael has not been seen in the house today. This is not particularly unusual, but what is unusual is the lack of presence of another individual."

[nights_daughter]

Lanfear tilts her head invitingly. Information from Asmodean was always rare, cautious as he was. Evidently this had sparked his interest.

"Oh?"

[forsaken_bard]

A small, keen smile. His caution got him where he was today, and kept him that way. This was not information that she could not have obtained any other way.

"Do you happen to know of Ishamael's paramour?"

[nights_daughter]

The other Chosen says nothing, but her dark eyes seem to gleam as she leans ever so slightly forward.

A paramour. Interesting choice of word -- no matter how plain his liason with Mesaana's girl, it would never have been applied to Astoreth, not seriously.

A slight twitch of her fingers indicate for Asmodean to continue.

[forsaken_bard]

Asmodean continued with a small smile. He could see the way Lanfear's thoughts were running. While he was not exactly sure where it would lead, he was fine to let Lanfear absorb the risk. She was always easy to manipulate.

"Very little is known about her, aside from the fact that he keeps her very sheltered. From what I have been able to gather, she is an ordinary little human girl, quite temperamental. Ishamael apparently dotes on her as evidenced by the kitten and fine gowns he has bestowed on her."

His servant, normally a laundry worker, had once been asked about that kitten when it had gotten itself lost.

[nights_daughter]

"Ordinary, you say," she says softly, eyes slightly distant as a small smile plays on her lips.

"That would explain- but it is so very unlike him. What more do you know about her?"

Ishamael had taken a sudden holiday and taken this child with him, by all evidence, which leads to the assumption that it was her that had caused the decision. And that amount of persuasion over the most powerful of the Chosen makes her a new player.

[forsaken_bard]

Asmodean chuckled and shrugged as he idly smoothed the blanket on his bed idly with a hand.

"Very little, though I believe the difficulty of obtaining information speaks volumes."

A momentary pause and a small, razor-edged smile.

"I believe that our friend Ishamael decided to take a small romantic holiday. So odd that he would set your appointment aside..."

[nights_daughter]

Lanfear shoots him a cool look.

"How very sweet of Ishamael to postpone his duty to the Great Lord to indulge a pretty girl's whim. He is mad, that is obvious, but never before has he been a fool. He must truly be smitten."

She knows what love is like. Oh, she knows. And so, then, she can tell the patterns of his actions where this young woman is concerned. This information is valuable indeed.

[forsaken_bard]

Asmodean was not so sure. Too often had he seen Ishamael's seemingly random actions materialize into a net all too late. However, if Lanfear wanted to believe that, then what harm could it do him?

"Now that we have unraveled the mystery behind this particular idiosyncrasy, the question remains."

Asmodean slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the counter to pour himself a goblet of wine. He smiled at Lanfear as he commented.

"How are we to use this?"