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<blockquote data-quote="PhoenixAsh" data-source="post: 2099567" data-attributes="member: 18230">Update #17: A Secret AdmirerBursting inside the crew quarters, Elisa finds a middle-aged, balding man hiding behind her footlocker, his eyes wide as dinner plates.&nbsp; The trunk has a piece of paper wedged in its seam, which he quickly snatches free and clutches tightly in one hand.&nbsp; Elisa stares down Jasper Pauncefort, slowly dropping her greatsword so the point of the weapon is directed between Jasper's eyes.&quot;What are you doing here?&quot;&quot;I was just... um... passing through... I was looking for the, uh... you see I got lost...&quot;&quot;What's that?&quot;&nbsp; Elisa's eyes swivel sharply to the paper.Jasper's features lose what little color they have remaining.&nbsp; &quot;N…nothing!&quot;&quot;Give it to me!&quot;Shakily, Jasper hands the paper up to the guardswoman as she withdraws her weapon, holding it loosely and at the ready in one hand.&nbsp; She scans it quickly, seeing nothing but gibberish. *&quot;C…can I have it back now, please?&quot;&nbsp; Jasper's shaky voice draws a glare from the barbarian.&quot;No.&nbsp; I'm keeping this.&nbsp; For now.”&nbsp; As Jasper opens his mouth to protest, she silences him sharply.&nbsp; “I may have to show it to the captain.&quot;&nbsp; Elisa's tone brokers no argument, and Jasper's pale brow breaks into a cold sweat.&quot;You're not really going to show it to the captain are you?&quot;&nbsp; Jasper's voice is a high squeak.&quot;I'm not sure, yet.&quot;&nbsp; Elisa gestures sharply with her chin towards the door.&nbsp; &quot;You shouldn't be here, get back to your quarters.&quot;Jasper scrambles to his feet and warily circles the guardswoman until he reaches the doorframe.&nbsp; He clutches it as he looks timidly back at her, &quot;When can I have it back?&quot;&quot;An hour or so.&nbsp; If I don't find anything suspicious.&quot;&nbsp; Jasper looks confused momentarily, but shuffles out the door under Elisa’s withering glare.Elisa looks at the note again, musing to herself.&nbsp; &quot;Why would he want to put this in my locker?&nbsp; I wonder if it’s dangerous...&quot; Moving in the opposite direction of Jasper, she climbs up a narrow stair to find Audric walking towards the kitchen.Quickly she moves up to him, shoving the note in his hands.&nbsp; &quot;Audric, what does this say?&quot;The monk raises an eyebrow, but un-crumples the note and scans it slowly.&nbsp; &quot;Its... poetry.&nbsp; Love poetry.&nbsp; It’s signed by Jasper, that’s the innkeeper isn’t it, the one looking for a new cook?”Elisa's eyes bulge.&nbsp; &quot;Gods, but, but he's… old!&quot;Audric cants his head.&nbsp; &quot;Are you certain it’s for you?&nbsp; It does not quite... describe you.&nbsp; It seems to be for someone more, delicate.&quot;&quot;But he was putting it in my locker!&quot;&quot;Perhaps he made a mistake.&quot;&nbsp; Audric searches for a moment for a proper way to phrase his response.&nbsp; &quot;It seems very likely.&quot;Elisa seems oblivious to any implied slight to her feminine charms.&nbsp; &quot;Can you talk to him?&nbsp; Ask him who it's for?&quot;Audric shakes his head.&nbsp; &quot;The passengers are not to know that I am working with you.&nbsp; You'll have to find someone else.&quot;Elisa grunts and strides off down the hall.***Ruel leans back in his chair, intensely concentrating on the arcane equations in the leather-bound tome cradled in his lap.&nbsp; Errol’s interruption is all but forgotten as he engrosses himself in the heavy tome.&nbsp; Fredrick croaks.&nbsp; “Hmm, what was tha… agh!”A sudden heavy hand on his shoulder draws a started yelp from the wizard.&nbsp; He looks up to see Elisa slapping a note down on the table in front of him.&quot;Jasper Pauncefort wrote this.&nbsp; I need you to take it back to him and find out who it’s for, now.&quot;Hastily the wizard packs up his supplies for the second time this night and silently curses the continued interruptions to his studies, all the while under the impatient and watchful eyes of the barbarian guardswoman.***Ruel smirks as he reads the poetry; just about the poorest attempt at romantic verse he’s ever seen.&nbsp; He does not find Jasper in his quarters, but it is not long before the entertainer finds the writer pacing in the Liralen’s expedition room and quickly folds the note back up in one hand.&nbsp; The innkeeper looks nervous, as anyone encountering Elisa's greatsword has a right to be.&nbsp; Ruel affects a friendly smile and approaches him slowly, clearing his throat to draw the man’s attention.&quot;Elisa asked me to return this to you, with her apologies.&nbsp; She is just a touch over-zealous when it comes to protecting the ship, you understand.&quot;Jasper smiles hopefully and hastily retrieves the note.&nbsp; &quot;So... she did not give it to the captain?&quot;&quot;No, of course not.&nbsp; And it will remain a private matter between the three of us, I assure you.&nbsp; But tell me, what do you see in her?&nbsp; I mean, just between you and me, she's rather intimidating and…. rough around the edges, if you take my meaning.&quot;Jasper laughs loudly, overcome with relief.&nbsp; &quot;Oh no, no, I agree, she is very… frightening.&nbsp; It wasn't meant for her.&quot;Ruel nods sagely.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, yes I thought I recognized you as a man of sense.&nbsp; And just who are you trying to woo my friend?&quot;Jasper smiles shyly.&nbsp; &quot;Kashandi.&quot;****Of course, being a barbarian and illiterate, Elisa couldn't actually read the love note.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="PhoenixAsh, post: 2099567, member: 18230"] [b]Update #17: A Secret Admirer[/b] Bursting inside the crew quarters, Elisa finds a middle-aged, balding man hiding behind her footlocker, his eyes wide as dinner plates. The trunk has a piece of paper wedged in its seam, which he quickly snatches free and clutches tightly in one hand. Elisa stares down Jasper Pauncefort, slowly dropping her greatsword so the point of the weapon is directed between Jasper's eyes. "What are you doing here?" "I was just... um... passing through... I was looking for the, uh... you see I got lost..." "What's that?" Elisa's eyes swivel sharply to the paper. Jasper's features lose what little color they have remaining. "N…nothing!" "Give it to me!" Shakily, Jasper hands the paper up to the guardswoman as she withdraws her weapon, holding it loosely and at the ready in one hand. She scans it quickly, seeing nothing but gibberish. * "C…can I have it back now, please?" Jasper's shaky voice draws a glare from the barbarian. "No. I'm keeping this. For now.” As Jasper opens his mouth to protest, she silences him sharply. “I may have to show it to the captain." Elisa's tone brokers no argument, and Jasper's pale brow breaks into a cold sweat. "You're not really going to show it to the captain are you?" Jasper's voice is a high squeak. "I'm not sure, yet." Elisa gestures sharply with her chin towards the door. "You shouldn't be here, get back to your quarters." Jasper scrambles to his feet and warily circles the guardswoman until he reaches the doorframe. He clutches it as he looks timidly back at her, "When can I have it back?" "An hour or so. If I don't find anything suspicious." Jasper looks confused momentarily, but shuffles out the door under Elisa’s withering glare. Elisa looks at the note again, musing to herself. "Why would he want to put this in my locker? I wonder if it’s dangerous..." Moving in the opposite direction of Jasper, she climbs up a narrow stair to find Audric walking towards the kitchen. Quickly she moves up to him, shoving the note in his hands. "Audric, what does this say?" The monk raises an eyebrow, but un-crumples the note and scans it slowly. "Its... poetry. Love poetry. It’s signed by Jasper, that’s the innkeeper isn’t it, the one looking for a new cook?” Elisa's eyes bulge. "Gods, but, but he's… old!" Audric cants his head. "Are you certain it’s for you? It does not quite... describe you. It seems to be for someone more, delicate." "But he was putting it in my locker!" "Perhaps he made a mistake." Audric searches for a moment for a proper way to phrase his response. "It seems very likely." Elisa seems oblivious to any implied slight to her feminine charms. "Can you talk to him? Ask him who it's for?" Audric shakes his head. "The passengers are not to know that I am working with you. You'll have to find someone else." Elisa grunts and strides off down the hall. *** Ruel leans back in his chair, intensely concentrating on the arcane equations in the leather-bound tome cradled in his lap. Errol’s interruption is all but forgotten as he engrosses himself in the heavy tome. Fredrick croaks. “Hmm, what was tha… agh!” A sudden heavy hand on his shoulder draws a started yelp from the wizard. He looks up to see Elisa slapping a note down on the table in front of him. "Jasper Pauncefort wrote this. I need you to take it back to him and find out who it’s for, now." Hastily the wizard packs up his supplies for the second time this night and silently curses the continued interruptions to his studies, all the while under the impatient and watchful eyes of the barbarian guardswoman. *** Ruel smirks as he reads the poetry; just about the poorest attempt at romantic verse he’s ever seen. He does not find Jasper in his quarters, but it is not long before the entertainer finds the writer pacing in the [I]Liralen’s [/I] expedition room and quickly folds the note back up in one hand. The innkeeper looks nervous, as anyone encountering Elisa's greatsword has a right to be. Ruel affects a friendly smile and approaches him slowly, clearing his throat to draw the man’s attention. "Elisa asked me to return this to you, with her apologies. She is just a touch over-zealous when it comes to protecting the ship, you understand." Jasper smiles hopefully and hastily retrieves the note. "So... she did not give it to the captain?" "No, of course not. And it will remain a private matter between the three of us, I assure you. But tell me, what do you see in her? I mean, just between you and me, she's rather intimidating and…. rough around the edges, if you take my meaning." Jasper laughs loudly, overcome with relief. "Oh no, no, I agree, she is very… frightening. It wasn't meant for her." Ruel nods sagely. "Ah, yes I thought I recognized you as a man of sense. And just who are you trying to woo my friend?" Jasper smiles shyly. "Kashandi." *** *Of course, being a barbarian and illiterate, Elisa couldn't actually read the love note. [/QUOTE]

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