Étoile swallows loudly. She's picturing it even though she can't afford to: the inside of the Inquisitor's chambers, the threat of 'rehabilitation', and the end of everything she knows. That's what's at stake here, and nothing less. That's why she's got exactly four seconds to get her face on right and do her job properly before she takes a dart to the neck and all of her decisions get made for her for the rest of forever. Come on, is she Lady's [I]lamassie[/I] or isn't she? That's right, there's a good girl.

She very gently dips down to let her Lady rest on the ground. She has just enough time to sneak in an affectionate bit of nuzzling before she has to turn around, and this only because it helps sell the image of the ridiculous little pet. She's a bit far away at this distance for Jezcha to be counted on to catch the bright sparkle in her eyes, so Étoile is extra careful to giggle and clap her hands with delight. The pistol clatters to the ground, apparently forgotten. 

"Amazing, amazing! Oh wowies," she trills, "Lady Jezcha plays such wonderful games! [I]lamassie[/I] was completely fooled! Ahaha!"

She trots forward with mincing little steps that seem as heedless to the danger in front of her as they are to Tamytha's desperate warnings behind her. How could Mistress's beloved sister wish her adorable pet any harm? She trips on a rock and falls backwards onto her butt with an 'oof' of protest which seems to miss the sound of a rifle firing and the dart that zips through the space her head had been a second ago. Her eyes are adoring. Her neck seems suddenly very stiff, but that's just... because she fell, yes! Silly [I]lamassie![/I]

"...Was I good? Did I do a good job playing? Is Lady Jezcha pleased, can [I]lamassie[/I] have a treat? Oh! Oh! I wanna get tied up this time! Lady Jezcha is so generous and kind, she's given up all her hunting time to play with Mistress! But she's sooooooo skilled, I bet she'll get a dozen trophies anyway! Can [I]lamassie[/I] help? Oh please please please, let her play 'bait' too! She's so so good at wiggling and squeaking, she'll draw all those naughty humans right here with her pretty shiny hair! Pretty pretty please, can she go on the pole now?"

Étoile lifts her hands up to her chest and does her best soulful begging impression. Inside her stomach there's a dark flame burning a hole through her, but her mask is up to the challenge. Her win condition just shifted, that's all. Whatever it takes to let Lady rest in the shade and go home with her this evening, that's what will serve the Cause. That's the same thing as defeating Jezcha, the exact same thing. She wiggles her hips just to be extra shameless and enticing. It's the cute ones you need to watch out for, in the end. [I]n'est-ce pas?[/I]

[Mild Mannered: [b]7[/b]]