Aleksandra looked over at the woman who had recently entered the room, inclined to speak but even more so disinclined to do so with a mouth nearly overflowing with egg and bread. Downing the mass of food in her mouth with a gulp of coffee and then some water to clear her mouth, she brushed the crumbs from her lips and spoke in English, hoping she would understand it. “Good to know I’ll have assistance.” She reached over to another plate for an egg, having cleared the one near her already, “You say you know the dark side of the city well, where would you recommend starting? I have my own sense of the street, but little experience in Prague’s own. Were this Novgorod absolutely, but as it is I’ve not been here long.”

Lucie glanced down at the other woman, face unreadable for a few moments. She seemed to study her, assessing her. She moved to the other side of her, taking a seat as she silently looked over the different selections of food, taking a generous helping of waffles topped with maple syrup. “I believe,” she started, replying slowly in English, “that we should eat first. I haven’t eaten yet, and would prefer to work only after.” She turned to look at Aleksandra, giving her what—for just a second—looked like a chiding look. “I will tell you what I know afterwards. Agreeable?” 

“I haven’t eaten for four days.” Aleksandra shrugged, “Or slept for three, for that matter. Before we begin working in earnest I might need to catch up on that, for a bit, just a smidgen.” She inhaled another three eggs and a mouthful of fish before continuing, “You can do whatever you like, but after this and some discussion I’ll be departing from the realm of wakefulness for several hours.” She blinked several times, fighting the urge to simply sleep then and there, her eyes had very prominent bags under them, almost permanent at this point. 

Lucie nodded at the words, plucking a bite of waffle from the fork, chewing thoughtfully. Her amber eyes were glided across the room, taking in the number of people, placement of doors, and possible obstacles. All as a reflex, like a muscle trained to perform a single movement for years. 

“I would rather you be awake for any proper discussion of tactics and maneuvers. Chances are you will have forgotten what I have said once you wake up, in indeed your state of mind is as you insinuate.” She took another bite, swallowed, and glanced at Aleksandra with a raised eyebrow. “I do not doubt your abilities. But I would rather not make mistakes. Furthermore, our given task would be most easily accomplished in the later hours, so you resting will not get in the way.” A faint smile curved her lips upwards. “If anything, it’s far better than you being too eager to begin.”

“The phenomena of psychic manifestation is one that has baffled the minds of natural philosophers for centuries. Many have attempted to decode the mysteries of these phenomena that apparently defy rational law, but almost none have met with definitive success. This volume concerns itself with the mechanism of action for such anomalies, as well as physiological indicators and morphology of the brains and sympathetic nervous systems of individuals manifesting such traits.” Aleksandra repeated the words in a dull monotone, watching Lucie as she did so. “I read that three days ago, I rarely forget things.” 

She downed a cup of coffee, looking back up, “However I would indeed be more lucid and in control of my faculties after resting, as well as being generally more alert in the twilight hours regardless, so I have no objections to starting out in the evening.” She yawned, “And give the benefit of the doubt, I’ve got my fair share of experience on the street as well.” 

“Not in these streets,” Lucie replied bluntly. “I know not what it was like in your previous home, but I assure you that the underbelly of this city is like no other, for better or worse.” She took another bite, silencing herself for several long moments. Finally, she said, “Regardless of your memory, I don’t take risks.” She paused, her expression turned pensive for a brief second. “I do not doubt your abilities, Aleksandra, but I went to great lengths to join this house. If there’s even the slightest chance that something might go wrong, I will want it… what’s the word? Eradicated.” 

“I highly doubt that the streets of Prague can be particularly worse than those of Moscow or Novgorod.” Aleksandra raised an eyebrow, “I did say I had little to no experience on Prague’s streets in particular. I just said that you ought to give me the benefit of the doubt, it’s not as if I’ve never gone out my front door after all, I know simply throwing yourself out there is a good way to get yourself killed.” She continued devouring the food arrayed on the table for a minute or so, before looking back up, “And I did agree I would be more lucid after sleeping.” 

“That you did.” Lucie took the last bite of her waffles, picking a few pieces of fruit and started slicing them. “That you did.” She devoured the first of six pieces of apple, savouring the juicy flavour. “So when you are finished eating, you will go sleep, correct? In the meantime, I’ll make a few preparations. I have a few things that needs to be done before we can go. Should be able to do it all before you wake.” 

“Yes, I will.” Aleksandra appraised the woman, making a mental note to learn more about her, time permitting. “If it is just a few preparations as you say, it should be trivial to finish them before I wake - I have three days of no sleep to account for.”