keeping up old acquaintance.

[maraanni]

Mara Androzzi is no stranger to invitations to dinner--as some women simply never are--but it's rare that she accepts one. Of course, she has some doubt that Mr Wilder extended it for a purpose she'd find (shall we say) unseemly. So, the lady of the house passes her plans along into the hands of Johann and Mr Tuscai to make the appropriate

Comments

[thimblerig]

A gentleman never keeps a lady waiting, although Felix is about five minutes late -- draw your own conclusions from that -- but he'll try to offset his faux pas with a smile. :D? See?

"Mara, it's good to see you again."

[thimblerig]

"And I'll have the salmon." Felix has never had a perfectly straight face in his life and if he did it would be a filthy, dodgy lie.

Once the waiter is gone, he's able to get back to their conversation, "I'm glad to see that you're well, even after the latest round of Gotham induced madness."

[maraanni]

"You know I try to stay out of things that don't concern me," she says, blandly innocent in a way that, at this point in her life, she really shouldn't be able to still pull off so well.

(Her late husband had not appreciated the trait.)

[thimblerig]

"I'm glad and not just because your just about the only woman other than my long suffering secretary that will put up with me." Heh. Yes, that's it.

"Which reminds me, she's got something for you. I came across a bit of odd information that might do you some good, or not."

[maraanni]

Mara leans forward slightly, folding her hands on the table. "How are we defining odd?" You've caught her attention, Felix.

[thimblerig]

"Odd as in curious. Something strange came up during a relatively routine insurance check, and, well...I don't know what to do about it, but someone ought to look in."

[maraanni]

Apparently not defining 'curious oddities in insurance checks' as 'things that don't concern me', Mara raises her eyebrow. "Well, I'm intrigued."

[thimblerig]

"So'm I. What do you know about art? Didn't we go to that gallery opening?" You know, the one where he ate lots of nibblies on sticks and was blissfully quiet all evening. (Just between us, Fix really does like good art.)

[maraanni]

"I know a little," she inclines her head to acknowledge the gallery opening. She likes beautiful things--has particular interest in Christian art, which is alternately a surprise and a foregone conclusion depending on who it is finding out about that. "I'm not an expert by any means." But she could probably find half a dozen if she had Andrew Case pick up his cellphone.

[thimblerig]

"I know what I like, but not enough about the actual business side of it all. If you can find an expert, then maybe the little oddity I came across could do you some good." There's a pause while he looks down and almost blushes, "I can promise you it's not a jet statue of a bird."

[maraanni]

Mara almost, almost laughs. "God forbid. I'm sure I could find someone well-versed on the subject, make a few inquiries..." Not quite committing to anything, but she's curious, which goes a distance.

[thimblerig]

"Good, very good." Why does he keep sending her this likely illegal gifts of information? It is a mystery.

[maraanni]

A very mysterious question indeed, and Mara often debates the wisdom of accepting it. Some people would simply ask why, but such straightforwardness! It's just not her way. "It should prove interesting, I'm sure."