[center] [img]https://78.media.tumblr.com/a3b148938837c8380c1eb6e43f0d31fc/tumblr_pcvta2YxeN1w6599so1_1280.png[/img] The Docks [/center] It was quiet for a time. Not even the sea breeze made a sound while the two fished. Grisaia could only hear the sound of their breathing. Then she sighed again, and he could feel her weight shift around in the boat. Vertti had decided to sit down beside him. This was a lot of weight to have on one side of the boat, but she had moved everything to the other side to prevent them from capsizing.[color=lavender]"I didn’t want to worry you, but in hindsight I should have told you sooner."[/color] Mistress Vertti looked at Grisaia.[color=lavender]"I’m sorry."[/color] She looked back out towards the water. [color=lavender]"It may seem like there’s a lot that separates us, from race to status. But I’ve always considered you more like a brother or a close friend than a house servant."[/color] She folded her hands in her lap. [color=lavender]"I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this, but I am only a Vertti in name alone."[/color] Vertti tucked her knees against her chest and wrapped her arms around them. [color=lavender]"I was an orphan too. My parents took pity on me and raised me as their own. The war took all my brothers, and my sisters had since married and moved on. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve always felt so close to you."[/color] She looked at Grisaia again. [color=lavender]"I thank you for being patient with me. For being there for me, and looking out for my well being."[/color] [hr] [center] Gris's courtyard [/center] Flame would find little to no trace of Chiyo, nor would he find the noble oni. Instead he would be confronted by one of his maids. [b]”Thank you, master Flame.”[/b] She reached into the cart of food and picked up a vegetable for examination. [b]”Master Gris is not present at the moment. He left without much notice. Something about tailing a killer.”[/b] She bowed. [b]”He did want me to tell you that you had the rest of the day off. My suggestion would be to go to the magic show being hosted at the docs. I believe he said he was going to try and catch it once he was done.”[/b] [hr] [center] Golden quarter [/center] Shortly after Mirt arived, another individual in a cloak showed up. He too could be considered a rock moving between people. But the word rock hardly did this man justice. He was a boulder, if not a mountain. It was impossible for the man to walk around without getting people to look at him. But it didn’t take long for people to go about their business again like he had never even came through. He walked around to the back of Mie’s cart, so that none of the pedestrians could see him. He was standing in front of the door, where only Mie and the few people gathered around could get a look at him. That was when the giant threw off his cloak, [url=https://i.imgur.com/tz8BwgZ.png]revealing his strange appearance. [/url] His clothes were unfamiliar to everyone, and his jet black skin didn’t help his alien appearance. [color=baddab]”As a matter of fact, I’m looking for Mie too!”[/color] Mie would remember this man as the informant who gave her the job to kill Vertti. [color=baddab]”Tell her I’m waiting in here when she shows up.”[/color] He threw open the door and stepped inside, despite how impossibly large he was. [color=baddab]”I wonder if there’s any food in here? I’m getting a bit peckish.”[/color]