[center]Isyph Al-Delad stifled a hearty chuckle as Dodger and the formerly-bored blue-haired woman disappeared; a surprisingly small amount of paperwork in front of her. The shutter closed and the Uquii allowed herself to smile softly, it was all falling into place almost too easily. Dodger was strange, but he had certainly made his tendencies somewhat clear to Isyph during their brief time as companions; the gods themselves seem to have had a hand in the arrangement of this meeting...of the formation of what she was determined to label the [i]Starless Partners[/i]. Automatically, she set about her part of the work; filling in information with alacrity, her penmanship flowing and legible but bearing small missteps born from her excitement. Largely, she felt they would be nothing...but something in her kept nagging about the small imperfections. Daln's voice, again.

 [i][color=FFDAB9]Damnit all, old man,[/color][/i] she said to her father's not-specter, [i][color=FFDAB9]I can handle this without you distracting me. Now get back to-[/color][/i]-

 What in all the hells was she thinking? This was no time to argue with someone who wasn't there. Brushing away the odd humor that had settled over her, Isyph let her thoughts still and focused, again, on the paperwork. It wasn't long before the shutter slid open and Dodger appeared, leaving behind what she could only assume was a bag of golden discs and a few words for his momentary lover; then a few words for Isyph, herself.

 [color=82ca9d]"Things been goin' well on yer end?"[/color]

 She nodded enthusiastically and flipped the paper to show him. Everything was near completion, save for a spot next to her signature at the bottom. The [i]Starless Partners[/i] was a concept nearing its fruition. 

 [color=FFDAB9]"I can see that you have a grand way of dealing with things, Dodger. I'm sure that many-a lady of Delad will, or have, come to know you well. Thank you for covering the fee...I would hug you, but I'm not sure that I want to right now,"[/color] she offered a smile that easily matched the enthused nature of her earlier nod, instead, and offered the papers forward...starting to blush, a little, though she couldn't, or wouldn't, say why. 

 [color=FFDAB9]"It's only right...that..."[/color] Isyph Al-Delad sought for the words she wanted, [color=FFDAB9]"you and I run the Starless Partners together. You covered the fee, it was you who gave me the idea; in a roundabout kind of way. I wouldn't be here, right now, if it weren't for you."[/color] 

 She took a deep breath, but her smile didn't waver.

 [color=FFDAB9]"So, Dodger, I guess what I'm asking is...will you be my partner?"[/color]

 [color=7CFC00]- - - - - -[/color]

 K stood there, smirking at her. Wraith's skin itched at the sight of it; his silent mockery of her position. She wished there were a basket of serpents nearby, with which to adorn his face. Their bite would not penetrate his E.P.E.S, but it would bring her some small peace to surprise him in such a manner. Distantly, she made a mental note to acquire herself a bucket of snakes for her companion. Lucia offered none of that, though, practiced as Wraith was at controlling both herself and the reflection of it found in her persona. Lucia smiled warmly and closed the distance between them, though not coming so close as to touch him.

 [color=FF1493]"Hello, K,"[/color] she offered in her nasal way, letting some legitimate warmth creep into her words, [color=FF1493]"I'm g-glad you've come! We have a lead, thou-though it came from a strange source; I think we had best do our best to follow it up! Sorry if this distracted you from the other cases,"[/color] She lightly took his hand and gave it a small tug, [color=FF1493]"but I get the feeling that this may be urgent!"[/color] With that said, she began walking, putting distance between herself and the crowd; down the street, towards a junction that would eventually lead them to the Serene Pools. 

 Sometimes an errant Scratch was nothing of great import, but the hulk-without-eyebrows had given her a very strong feeling about the nature of this particular instance. Wraith had long ago come to trust her immediate instincts, though she tempered gut feelings with a filter of uncanny logic, whether it be in a combative scenario or simple interactions. Once they had cleared the group, she decided to take a risk, slipping into an unfiltered whisper; albeit remaining within the Aedrasilian common tongue.

 [color=BC8F8F]"And wipe that smug look off your face, before I do it for you."[/color] She wasn't serious, but it gave her a reason to hear her own voice again. It was a grand feeling, to let Lucia's trappings fall away and allow herself to be the woman she was at heart. Lucia's smile accompanied Wraith's words, though this was not feigned. She enjoyed teasing K, from time to time, truly, but most of her mild venom was born from her feeling of connection to the other deserter. They had, after all, been through quite a lot together. If she could not be herself around the others, she would certainly take that opportunity to do so when she and K were alone. With others she felt it to be far too large a risk. [color=BC8F8F]"There's no telling where the bastard got off to, while I was waiting on you. We've got nothing solid on information; aside from the gender of the Scratch and that he has a propensity for ranting. Quickness is key, I think, this Scratch could be a danger...so I want you ready."[/color]

 She smiled, slightly, dropping both her whisper and herself into Lucia once more. 

 [color=FF1493]"It's good to see you, again, by the way, K. I f-feel like we don't talk enough."[/color][/center]