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Message: <blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 985911" data-attributes="member: 96">Turtledove Street is in one corner of the Market Ward. It is one longstring of bathhouses and spas, generally catering to those that arewell-to-do enough to afford things like that. It is also a hotbed ofsemi-circumspect carnal activity, which tends to happen in districtsthat survive on getting its patrons naked. No prostitutes linger on thecorners of streets (no sense in offending well-heeled sensibilities) butit is there to be had for the observant sort.On the street, no one seems to pay undue attention to one more person.Deynann keeps his eyes on the windows, looking about as he's walkingdown the street. His smile is ready enough, though also lacking enoughto imply a certain degree of inhumanity. He's not a gaper -- he'ssomeone with a mission.Some of the bath houses seem to cater to men, some to women, some toboth. Most of the people on Turtledove Street come here with a mission,though theirs is usually more to receive a massage, soak in the steaminghot waters, to find a playmate for hire. On a street where carnaldesires reign, no one pays too much attention to someone else's questfor pleasure.A very handsome man, no, elf, steps past Deynann, towards one of theco-ed bath houses. He stops, blinking in surprised. "Haven't seen you ina few weeks," he comments with a smile. "I was beginning to think thatyou didn't like me anymore." He lowers his lashes, peering at thesorcerer through them, probably intending to be seductive.Deynann blinks furiously, but catches himself from saying anything, atleast reflexively. "Sometimes, our past catches up to us, wouldn't youagree," Dey says, and the enigma in his voice is wholly sincere, thoughDey twists it to his own purpose.The elven man smiles. "Oh, aye, I'll soundly agree to that one," he sayswith great feeling. "I'll never forget what you did for me, you know...dealing with my past like that. So, are you coming in to soak?" Helowers his lashes again. "Or would you like to go up to your apartment?"Deynann ponders for a moment, tracing his tongue along the back of hisupper teeth thoughtfully. "If you are free, then I'd choose the latterwell before the former." His voice is tinged with just a hint ofprovocation. "And you can thank me more appropriately."The elf's eyes light up, and he nods. "Very well, then," he says,stepping through the door into the bathhouse, oddly enough. He looksover his shoulder to see if the sorcerer is going to follow him inside."I still have the key that you gave me."Once inside building, you find yourself in a tiled foyer, looking into alarge, steaming room through a rounded archway. There is a stack oftowels on a chair, with a janni, of all things, acting as doorguard.When he sees Deynann and the elf, he smiles broadly. "Ah, we werebeginning to wonder where you were, sir. Will you be bathing, or justgoing up to your room?" He holds out a towel, but steps away from adoorway that seems to lead somewhere other than the steaming room.Deynann follows the elf into the bathhouse, doing his best to retain aneven demeanor. Seeing the janni, Deynann inclines his head. "My room,thank you," he murmurs, gesturing that the elf might lead the way. "Havethere been any messages or inquiries?" he asks the janni in passing.The elf beams, seeming to be grateful at such trust. He starts to moveto the unmarked door, pausing before opening it to let the janni speak."No, sir," the janni says, giving Deynann a wink behind the elf's back.He drops his voice to a whisper, "Jessica still comes and goes from yourroom, of course."Nodding acknowledgement to the janni, Deynann travels after the elf,onward and upward, all the while ruminating on the details he's beengiven.You go up two flights of stairs. At the top, the elf moves through adoorway, and into a hall. There are three doors, two on one side, one onthe other. He walks up to the singular door, and opens it with the key.Stepping inside, he holds the door open with a smile. "I was afraid thatsomething had happened to you," he confides. "Though I know that you'recapable of defending yourself."Deynann whispers, "Of course," doing his best to throw in somehoity-toity noblisse oblige-type overconfidence to his tone. Enteringthe room before the elf, as expected, though not necessarily to hisbetter judgment, he has a spell ready upon his lips, in case he walksinto a trap.The room that you step into isn't opulent, by any means, but compared toyour Hive dive, it's damned near palatial. Thick white carpets hug thefloors, and the whitewashed walls are draped in woolen tapestries. It'sone room, which has a white recliner and couch set, and a table. Agardarobe adjoins to the room, as is an open sliding door, which seemsto lead into a room just large enough to fit the double bed into.Deynann keeps his jaw relaxed but not open, sighing ever-so-faintly. "Atleast he has good taste," he murmurs to himself. Moving into the centerof the room, Dey turns about, waiting for the elf to join him.The elf does so, shutting the door behind him, and locking it. "No sensein inviting a disturbance," he murmurs, following Deynann across theroom. "I won't ask where you've been, because I know that you are a manof many secrets. But you aren't... in any trouble, are you?"Deynann lifts his shoulders a fraction of an inch, then settles themagain. "It would be hard to describe," says Deynann, ambiguous in hisinflection. "Very hard, indeed... but perhaps I can trust you. Can I...trust you?" Deynann's eyes are cold and hard for a moment, scrutinizingthe elf.The elf looks startled. "Of-of course, my love," he says. "You have myeternal gratitude for helping me out with my little problem. I would bewilling to die for you, if it came to that."Deynann frowns. "Promise that you'll hear the whole story. Promise thatyou'll repeat it to no one." He speaks with passion, and yet, withimploring.The elf's eyes widen, and he sits down on the couch. "Of course. Ipromise, on both counts," he says.Deynann nods in agreement. "I have found that... my identity has beenassumed, by another. This other has been performing horrible deeds in myname." He looks toward a plain, white section of wall, eyes focusedthere as if he could burn his way out through. "Murders. And worse."The elf frowns, and then bites his lower lip. "That's... terrible. Wewill have to find a way to stop that, of course," he says. "I've gottenmy spellbooks back, thanks to you. If you'd like, I can study some ofthe more combat oriented ones. But," he hesitates. "We'd have to gotogether, so that I'd know that I wasn't killing the real you."Deynann nods a little, biting his lip. "Here's the catch -- I'm not theone you're familiar with." His arms relax to his sides, but now, hewatches the elf with sharp interest, hoping that his eloquence andhonesty will serve in lieu of magic.The elf scowls, his effeminate creatures looking, very briefly, fierceand protective. They smooth out again, though, and he studies Deynann."I thought that you had behaved differently," he said. "You're beingnicer than you usually are to me." He looks torn, and then finallysighs, sinking deeper into the couch. "I knew some of the stuff thatyou...he was doing. I did not want to betray you, but I knew that whatyou did was morally wrong." Looking up, searching your face, he says,anxiously, hopefully, "You don't believe in that sort of violence?"Dey sighs, then looks earnestly at the elf. "It must hurt to knowthis... and for that I'm sorry. I do not enjoy deceiving, which is why Ifeel that you must know the truth. The problem also lies in that Ihaven't -been- in Sigil for... a very long time. So what this imposterhas done in my name is only now reaching my ears. Please," Dey sayssoftly, gently. "I will not ask you to hurt the one you... have thesefeelings for. I do want you to recognize that whatever it is, it is amurderous, soul-devouring, magic-stealing abomination. Perhaps there'smore than one, I don't know. I do know that I need to stop it, so thatmy name and my history become my own. I will repay you, if I can." Deybows his head, vulnerable and even somewhat sorrowful.The elf sighs, and closes his eyes. "I begin to think that I was in lovewith an illusion," he says, his voice pained. He opens his eyes again."I know that you, he... it, whatever in hell it was, is hunting a womannamed Merilee. She's a sorceress that got away. He wants to track herdown and destroy her as soon as possible. I can describe her to you, ifyou'd like... I feel like I'm betraying ... him, but I have not beenresting well, knowing that the woman was going to be murdered, just forbeing what she was. Maybe I can put my conscience to rest, finally.Deynann breathes deeply, as if drinking in the knowledge. "It soundslike Alter-Me was not a very nice person. I encountered a man, once asorcerer, who had come to kill me for stealing his knowledge of magicfrom him. It took quite some talking to get this man to understand thatI was not the one he sought. This other has had quite the amount ofshady dealings in my absence. What else can you tell me about him...it?"The elf sighs. "Shady dealings... yes. Yes. He kills sorcerers. I don'tknow how exactly he does it, but he pulls magical energy out of them.He... we met when he killed the sorcerer that was keeping me hostage."The elf sighed, and then spoke again, his voice bitter. "I suppose thathe thought that I was a cute enough pet, and decided to keep me around."He went on, "Most of the sorcs that he drains die, because they havenothing to defend themselves with. A few, that aren't pure sorcerer,seem to be able to carry on and not be killed by those out on thestreets. It sounds like you met one of those. Merilee was able to escapeas well, but that was because she was able to flee...to a public area.She still lives, and ...it... wants her dead."Deynann listens to the elf with total attention. "I understand. Do youknow what his true form appears like? You spoke of how he is able to'handle himself'... is he a spellcaster?"The elf shakes his head. "I have only seen him looking like you.Though... he has some dresses and makeup in there," he says, gesturingtowards the bedroom. "I try to pretend like I don't notice." He adds,"And yes, I believe that he's a sorcerer as well. At least, I've neverseen him studying a spellbook. His magic has a strange taste to it,though. I can't quite put my finger on it."Deynann glances to the closet, blinking. "He's probably a naturalshapeshifter of some sort, then. This is likely one of his abodes, andhe's likely in another form, which would explain his prolonged absence.It would be too much to hope that something had already written him inthe book." Tip of his tongue caught between his lips while hecontemplates, Dey asks further, "The janni has mentioned a Jessica.Could you tell me about her? Also, tell me about Marilee."The elf blinks. "You don't know my name, I suppose. It's Mikael. And...Jessica is one of his alter-egos. The doorman thinks that she is hislover." He blushes, and looks away. "As for Merilee... she is asorcereress, of decent ability. I don't know much about her, other thanshe was able to escape. And that she isn't purely human, but iscelestial in some form or another. He mentioned long, purple hair aswell."Deynann shuts his eyes. "I'm sorry... I'm very intent on learning aboutthis creature. Truly, I meant nothing by not asking your name, Mikael. Iwant you to know that your assistance is far beyond what I could haveachieved on my own, and I hope that your conscience will soon be atrest. I will do what I can to keep you safe from this thing... for yoursafety, it's best that you give me the key to this apartment."Mikael sighs. "Yes, perhaps that should be for the best," he says. Herises to his feet, and brings the key over to you. "Be... very careful,"says Mikael. "I do not want for there to be another life on myconscience. If you have need of me, I will be down at the Green Mill. Ithink that I will be safer there, than here.""When it is all over, I will let you know. You will know me by this,"Dey opens his satchel, producing an elegantly crafted signet ring. Heoffers it to the elf for study, then holds out his palm to accept itback. "That is not something that is so easily duplicated as a face.Once all is done, I will endeavor to give you some payment... for thelife that he's stolen from you, from us."Mikael studies the signet ring, and then nods. His eyes are sad, butcalm, and he regards the sorcerer, as if memorizing every detail of hisface. "May luck travel with you," he says, in the fluid, beautiful elvenlanguage."And you," Deynann replies, not needing his agal to assist him in theremembered elven tongue. "You have done a tremendous good, and I willmake the best use of it. Farewell, Mikael."</blockquote>

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