[centre][h2][u]Lady Buxton and Zacharias[/u][/h2][/centre]

Even with the rickety wooden shutters squeezed shut, moonlight somehow crept into barren room. It was just what Zacharias imagined a Vasili inn would look like: Dingy, dirty, absolutely dismal. [i]Still,[/i] he thought, [i]at least I'm warm.[/i] That he was, though it came at the cost of a bit of dignity, as he was wrapped up in several layers of blankets. His arms, however, were free, and he made certain that they were stylishly spread apart. Zacharias slightly wiggled his toes, wondering how many he'd still have by the time his journeys in that frozen wasteland up north had come to an end. 

At least he had a clear view of the door. Zacharias was absolutely convinced that he must make a good impression when the inspector entered, and that meant looking entirely relaxed. Looking confident was half the battle. If you can make a person believe something, it may as well exist. Assumptions are tricky things, like that. He hadn't made any attempt to disguise his Dawnish accent. His origin was, ultimately, something that would eventually come out, and he'd rather it be known from the get-go than be surrounded by some very irate people in a frigid wasteland. 

Suddenly, Zacharias was snapped out of his reverie. The sounds of hushed conversation... And the opening of a door? He hastily threw a couple blankets off of him, and stretched his legs out, resting them on a chest he had dragged out in front of the chair he was lounging on. If whoever found him was going to get an impression of him, he was damn convinced that it'd be one of readiness.

Though still in a mood after her encounter with Orwen, Lady Buxton was feeling much better about things since interviewing Gawain. The man was… [i]interesting[/i], to say the least, but he had also turned out to be very nearly the exact opposite of the Consano’s ill-received benefactor in most ways, and that was precisely what she’d needed in order to calm herself down. Her interview with the agnostic priest was concluded though, and there were still plenty more potential recruits for her to interview before the night was done.

Unlike Sir Chester had done only moments before, Lady Buxton did not choose her next candidate entirely at random. Instead she simply moved to the next door down. Like her second in command, however, she really had no idea who would be on the other side of that door.

[b][i]KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK[/i][/b]

Zacharias' head jerked up once again. [i]Not a particularly quiet knock. Good thing I had to sense to stay awake for this.[/i] Mental patting on the back done, Zacharias got to thinking. He wasn't entirely sure if the knock was meant to be a friendly warning, or an actual query as to whether or not the knocker could come in. Well, it didn't matter, did it? Zacharias lazily called out to whoever was on the other side of the door.

[b]"Yes, yes, feel free to come in. I'm decent, you won't have to control yourself.[/b]

Just to be safe, Zacharias tossed another blanket off, and as the door creaked open, he made sure to be stretching as luxuriously as possible.

On the other side of the door, Katrina’s head jerked back slightly at Zacharias’ response to her knocking. [i]I’m decent, you won’t have to control yourself?[/i] Control herself from [i]what[/i]?

She thought she recognized the voice of the blonde sunshine that the assassin woman had surprised at the inn’s front door earlier that evening; either the man had a very dry sense of humor or a very large ego. Remembering what she’d seen of the man’s personality from earlier, the Lady Buxton certainly knew which side of that bet [i]her[/i] money lay on. She mentally shrugged and suppressed a wry smile as she cautiously pushed open the door to Zacharias’ room and stuck her head in.

[b]“Hello…”[/b], she began as her eyes adjusted to the room’s dim interior. After a moment, she was able to make out the man sitting in the tiny room’s only chair, stretching himself as if he hadn’t a care in the world. A finely-shaped eyebrow arched itself bemusedly upon Katrina’s brow as she took in the sight of the blonde man before her, draped in his blankets – with still more of them bunched up on the floor around him – as he stretched and yawned like someone entirely indifferent to her presence. (Had the man raided [i]every[/i] other room in the inn for its blankets, she wondered? He certainly had enough of them.)

[b]“…I’m not disturbing you, am I?”[/b] Lady Buxton asked Zacharias, her tone somewhere between humor and annoyanc


[b]"Hello..."[/b] The Lady began. Zacharias returned her greeting with an amicable two-fingered wave. No need to be rude, even if she had slighted him earlier. He knew that sometimes he could come across as a tad prideful, but there were some people that you couldn't dismiss for their actions. That is, until you worked your way up to be their equal. Gently shaking his head, Zacharias stopped thinking about the abstract, and focused on the particulars. Lady Buxton's particulars, in fact. His eyes, usually narrowed in laughter or suspicion, openly scrutinized her expression as the lady grew used to the gloom. He shifted slightly in his chair, comfortable due to his own small frame, and rested his chin upon his fist. At least he seemed to be generating [i]some[/i] kind of response from the good lady.

[b]"...I'm not disturbing you, am I?"[/b] She seemed unsure if she was to be irritated by his presence or amused. Might as well convince her while she's still confused.

[b]"Disturb? Perish the thought! I was just relaxing for a spell. Doesn't hurt to sleep with one eye open, eh?"[/b] Zacharias tapped his temple, as if this was some sort of ancient wisdom that he was parting with. Really, most nights Zacharias slept like a log, but you know what they say about first impressions. Playing the wise, yet devastatingly attractive, soldier wouldn't hurt.

[b]“Consider the thought duly slain and laid to rest, then”[/b], Lady Buxton replied dryly, stifling another wry smile in response to the blonde man’s over-the-top mannerisms. Thus far, everything about Zacharias’ manner had spoken of an attitude that was… well she wasn’t sure [i]what[/i] it was, honestly, but it did not seem to be an attitude that the man knew how to [i]turn off[/i].

Zacharias, for his part, merely grinned a shit-eating grin and said, [b]“How can I help you, m’lady?”[/b]

Katrina was beginning to wonder how productive this was going to be. She was going to need honest, straightforward answers from all of the potential recruits and she was none too sure that this strange Dawnish man would be able to provide her any. Still, he [i]had[/i] shown up in the first place, which was more than she could say for the hundreds of other perfectly able-bodied men who’d passed the Consano’s recruitment sign by without a second glance, and he’d also put up with a certain amount of personal abuse when he'd first arrived without giving up or leaving, so Lady Buxton figured she at least owed him a chance to prove himself worthy of their expedition.

So she squared her shoulders, stepped decisively into the room, and favored Zazharias with a polite – but not [i]too[/i] polite – smile. [b]“I’m here to speak with you about your possible recruitment into the Consano”[/b], Katrina answered him, and said, [b]“Tell me, if you would, why do you wish to join our mission?”[/b]

Zacharias sucked in a breath. This was it. The make-it-or-break-it moment. The precipice between lies and truth, his last chance to give someone an honest version of his life's sto-

[b]"I was a pirate, you know."[/b]
Or he could [i]run his stupid mouth and lie right away.[/i] Inwardly, Zacharias sighed, but kept up the facade of sober truth.
[b]"Only for a few years, but I made enough mistakes to last... A lifetime."[/b]
He ran a hand through his hair, resisting the urge to clench his fists. Deep, natural breaths.
[b]"I'm certain you've noticed the accent. Charming, I know, but ultimately detrimental to my time here. The fact is, I want to prove that I am not going to disguise my origins, to anybody."[/b]
[i]Smooth.[/i] Zacharias finally met Lady Buxton's gaze, and leaned forward.
[b]"What I want to get out of the Consano is redemption."[/b]

[i]Great[/i], Buxton thought, [i]Dawnish [b]and[/b] a former pirate[/i]. Just what she was looking for! Unlike many she cared little about nationality, with most of her father's side of the family scattered across the known world. A pirate though? From all she knew a pirate was just a bandit of the sea... and she didn't like bandits. 

[b]“Well, that is…”[/b], she began, trying to sound genuine, [b]“…an admirable goal. Your forthrightness is appreciated as well.”[/b]

She eyed him, trying to think, and said [b]“The name you gave downstairs was ‘Zacharias Hellacious’, wasn’t it?”[/b]

The former pirate seated before her simply nodded in affirmation, and Katrina nodded back, thinking.

Prior to the outbreak Lady Buxton would have scoffed at the idea of recruiting a pirate into her ranks, yet now that they were only a short night’s sleep away from departure and the official beginning of their mission she was finding herself willing to take what she could get. So the Lady put away her biases and determined to continue with the interview. She did wonder, however, how useful a pirate would be in their endeavor. [i]'Surely another fighter if nothing else'[/i] she thought. 

[b]“What skills does a pirate have to offer us, I wonder? We aren’t like to spend much time on any boats, you know?”[/b] Though her question was challenging, Buxton’s relaxed tone made it clear she was just looking for information from the man.

Zacharias allowed himself a small smile, and clutched at his chest. His flair for the dramatic never disappeared for long.

[b]"What skills can I offer? Please! What [i]don't[/i] I have to offer?"[/b]
Zacharias began to list off skills, counting on his fingers as he went.

[b]"I'm [i]excellent[/i] in a scrap, have the utmost knowledge of how to work in crowded and miserable conditions, can speak in three languages and swear in seven, I have a great talent for rigging and knots, know several ways to talk down a person in a desperate situation, and perhaps best of all, I can cook a mean bass."[/b]

Most of it was bluffing. Not the bass, that was a family recipe, and the only thing that he could happily associate with home.

Evidently done, Zacharias straightened a bit more in his chair, once again meeting the Lady in the eyes. He had to dominate the conversation, now, to drive his point home.

[b]"Listen, I realize that I may not be the 'ideal' member of the Consano, but really, who is? Surely defending our homes and loved ones from gibbering monstrosities is a banner that people from all walks of life can unite under? If it makes you feel better, I did give up the criminal life even before I had the inkling to join up with your lot."[/b]

[i]"Defending our homes and loved ones"[/i] - those were the words that struck a cord with Katrina. Before her was a man whose home was across the sea, in a country that was at war with hers, but this plague would soon threaten Dawn as much as it currently threatened Vasili. This really was a enemy to all, and the Consano would be foolish to turn away anyone. [b]"I certainly hope so."[/b] she remarked, [b]"Tell me then, what do you know about this plague? Have you seen it first hand or heard anything that might prove useful?" [/b]

As Zacharias seemed to ponder over his answer, Katrina let her eyes scan around the room. She took in every little detail, from the heap of foisty smelling blankets beside him, to the dwindling candles on the bedside table, to the buckler and rapier beside his bed. He seemed to be travelling light, as were most, which meant there were few inferences that she could make. She would have to judge him on words and actions alone (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing). 

Zacharias paused, tilting his head to one side as he wracked his brains for information.

[b]“I'll admit, I don't know much. Only that the infected are incredibly difficult to kill.”[/b]
A wry smile scrawled its way across his face.

[b]“On the bright side, at least I haven't been scared off yet.”[/b]
He leaned forward, voice dropping to a faux conspiratorial whisper.

[b]“To be honest, I might not have thought this entirely through.”[/b]
The smile became a grin, and Zacharias let slip a self-conscious chuckle.

[b]“What do [i]you[/i] know, then, m'lady?”[/b]

Katrina looked to the floor and gave a small smirk, although not a particularly offensive or rude one, in response to his question. She took a few small steps back on the creeky old floorboards and opened the door, spinning lightly on heels as she did so. [b]"Not enough..."[/b] she finally replied before leaving, closing the door behind her. 

[hider=CREDITS]
Centimane, RIengo and (not so much) Fat Boy Kyle[/hider]