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Vauclause...How did Nicoline find herself in Vauclause? A place known for cut purses and throats as well as women and children vanishing. Well...to be honest...almost everywhere held that same reputation. But Nicoline was not one to venture far from her home, er, well her 'home'. Home-less sounds more accurate, but at least she was more familiar with the streets there. But now she was in Vauclause, confused and worried, wrapped in cloaks and hoods to try and make herself an intimidating figure in the dimming light. The young woman didn't want attention called to herself, either from unlawful or lawful people. She was searching for her friend. 

Yep, Tristan had been the deciding factor in traveling to Vauclause.

Living on the streets Nicoline was able to hear rumors, passed around with no concern for whatever vagrants might be listening. [i]Did you hear? Tristan Baske was seen in Vauclause! The Bastard son of Seth and Laila I thought he was forced out of his home. I wonder if he carries much coin on him. I hear her attracts trouble, poor lad.[/i] After hearing these conversations pass through the lips of the locals Nicoline began to worry. She had not seen her friend in some time, and the thought of him falling into trouble was enough to make the fretted woman nearly hysterical. She would travel to Vauclause, and she would find him before some undesirable could. 

And so, she went to Vauclause. 

The streets here were...nice. Dangerous as any other street, but the feral cats were a nice change of pace. She had spent her first night on the streets of Vauclause sharing a blanket with two furry bundles of joy, she only hoped they did not pass any itchy vermin onto her. She had spent the majority of the day traveling the streets, not asking about Tristan but hoping to hear something about the man. And she was getting closer as the sun began to set, wrapping herself in cloaks to preserve precious body heat. 

Nicoline walked silently through the streets, keeping her eyes cast downward towards the cobbled roads. No need to make eye contact with the dwindling passerby's. She watched as a little gray cat skittered by her feet, hurrying towards the outstretched hand of of a young man. It seemed the man was feeding the stray. For a moment her empty stomach ached, and she wished for a moment she was a cat. No fear of kidnappers, only chin scritches and free meat. Nicoline tore her eyes away, continuing her quest for her friend. 

Eventually she spotted Tristan, who's face was twisted with seriousness and staring at...a leaf...

Nicoline began to approach her friend, the slightest hints of a smile at the edges of her lips. But the young mage noticed not only the bumps along his exposed arms, indicating cold, but also the scent of alcohol in the air. Nicoline sighed, he was likely too drunk to know he was cold. The girl walked over quietly, pulling a woolen scarf off of her neck and draping it around Tristan's shoulders. 

[color=#FFB6C1]"Mister Tristan, what are you doing outside so late? You'll catch your death of cold"[/color]

She wouldn't have time for a response from her inebriated friend, as the woman noticed someone approaching them. Panic rushed through her mind, thinking of every possible bad thing that could be happening. Kidnappers, thieves, mage hunters. Nicoline, in a moment of deeply imbedded fear, turned away from Tristan and hurried off the road, ducking behind a building. Once she felt sufficiently hidden she peeked out from behind the wall, hoping to not observe her friend being robbed. Instead she saw someone, the same man as before, the one who was feeding the cat. And he seemed to be...talking...not robbing her friend.