tushanshu | 006 video;

Entry tags:

006 video;

[50% encryption to Nilin]

We should talk. Think I may have actually found something useful for once.

[50% encryption to Skulduggery]

Maker I hate this thing. Skul, Akito and I came across something of interest. Did you go into that library?

[End encryptions]

Let's keep this simple so I don't have to play with this thing much longer. Who here visited the library on the island?

[He pauses for a moment.]

And someone tell Evandau to clear his schedule. I need to talk to him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It might not be cheerful but it's something that's been on his mind lately. He doesn't want to lose her as much as he doesn't want to leave her. Nilin is as close to him as his dearest friends.

He smiles, trying to bring some levity back to the conversation.]

Trust me, I've got no intention to do so. And I'm counting on you to rescue me if something happens.

[His eyes stay on her and he nods his head, though his smile lessens by a fraction. He can tell that she's shaken.]

Right. Be careful who you talk to in this place. It seems our spooky friend has been in the city a lot longer than we have, and been making friends the entire time.

Also, I'm not sure what this means, but it seems that Evandau is ignoring Asti.

[That's probably important for some reason but for now he can't make out why.]

[As he speaks, Nilin holds to his every word, but it's only with the last of what he says that she looks back to him, frown on her face.]

No, he's not ignoring Asti. Hold on. I should of shown you this forever ago.

[She moves to her feet and starts across the room to her her dresser, shoving clothes and items aside within the third drawer before popping out a loose board. From beneath the board she pulls a small logbook. Nilin opens it to a certain page and passes it to Hawke.]

Here.

[The book itself belong to Evandau and the notes inside date back for years. The page she shows him is fairly recent and handwritten, just the same as the rest of the notes.

It says: 'Still unable to communicate with Asti. Four months since Eshai’s death. Concerning. Wonder if Eshai and Asti connected somehow. Must discover how to resolve situation... ']

Edited 2014-08-16 03:11 (UTC)

[Hawke watches her from where he sits. When she pulls out the loose bird he finds himself smirking fondly.]

Aren't you a sneaky one.

[It's reasons like this that makes him trust her so.

Hawke takes the offered book and reads the page with interest. This definitely puts a different light on what Asti told him during the festival.]

So that's what he was trying to tell me.

[Hawke looks from the book to Nilin.]

Where did you get this?

A few months ago. Do you remember when I asked you not to look for me?

[Nilin sets the panel back in place and moves to sit beside him.]

I and a few others went to the palace. We got in, under disguise, and this is one of the things I found.

[Which brings to mind another question.]

What exactly did you hear and who from?

So that's what you were doing.

[He figured that it was important but he had no idea just how important. Just the thought of her that deeply inside the enemy's lines worries him.]

And I couldn't even stage a daring rescue if anything happened.

[Hawke says it like a joke but it's a real worry to him. While he knows she can take care of herself he doesn't like the being unable to help his friends.]

Oh that? It was from Asti himself. I might have embellished what he told me just a tad.

[Nilin understands his concern. It's how she feels when he does things of a dangerous nature when she isn't around. They might be loners in a sense, but they're a team in their own way.]

I knew the danger when I took the job.

[She shoots him a small smile, an attempt at reassuring him that she's alright.]

Asti himself? How?

We all know the danger.

[He smiles back at her and for a moment sets his hand over hers.]

But that doesn't mean we can't rely on each other now and again.

[Hawke squeezes her hand before letting it go. Right, they were talking about important things. Not the time to get sentimental.]

During the festival, he spoke to me when I was asleep. He just wanted to thank me for watching the baby turtles but he let it slip that he was worried about the lack of communication between himself and Evandau.

[Were it anyone else, she might of reacted differently. His hand on hers is surprisingly welcome. Nilin squeezes it in return before letting him go.]

So he doesn't know the reason... That's worrying. Is there any way to speak to him again?

I don't even know how it happened the first time.

[Hawke smirks at her.]

We could always try standing in the street and just shouting his name.

[That gets a chuckle.]

You never know, it might work.

[There's another thing he should probably see. Nilin gets to her feet and, crouching at the side of her bed to remove yet another panel and pull out another book. She passes the book to Hawke.]

You should probably see this as well. I don't speak Kedanese well enough to understand it, but it looks to be a ledger of some form.

[She shrugs lightly and moves to sit by him again.]

Who knows? It could be important. Given where I found it, I'd bet my allowance to say as much.

[The chuckle makes his smirk grow wider. When she rises again Hawke perks up a little more.]

More goodies? You're just full of surprises.

[Hawke takes the book and begins to flip through it. The words mean nothing to him. There's not even pictures for him to look at. After examining it a bit longer he turns his gaze back to Nilin.]

Looks like we've found ourselves another project to work on. At least we'll be busy for a while.

[Already he's willing to help her the best that he can.]

At best guess I'd say they're names. Why they're listed though? I have no idea.

[Nilin sighs and reaches to take the book back.]

We have too many questions and not enough answers.

Maybe we track them down and find out?

[Hawke hands over the book as he wonders what they're next move should be.]

You know there are days I really wish it was the other way around.

[Most of them actually.]

There's an idea. But where to start? Asking about these names might draw more fire than we need.

[That and they're not even sure they're names. Nilin sighs and rubs her temple lightly.]

Is there anything else you've found out?

Maybe we start by asking our own? Could be one of the foreigners here heard the names at some point.

[Honestly Hawke is just grasping at straws right now.]

Right, I think that Mally has a lot more influence here than we first thought. As long as there have been people in the city it's been here and its position here has only grown since the last emperor died.

I think it's got its claws in some very important people in this city.

Anyone in particular?

[Because shit. That does not sound good at all.]

Seems like there's corruption no matter where I go.

My first thought is Evandau or his pets, someone who can influence him.

[Hawke offers her a small grin.]

You too? Seems like we're both good at falling into a mess.

At least we're in good company.

[Nilin nudges him playfully with her elbow.]

So basically, we can't trust anyone from up top. I wish I could say I'm surprised.

[His grin widens as she nudges him.]

I know. Wonderfully cliche isn't it?

[Nilin chuckles lightly and rests her head on his shoulder.]

Is there anyone else that you trust with this information?

[Who else can they call an ally in this mess?]

[The sudden closeness of her head on his shoulder surprises him for a moment, but he doesn't at all dislike it. In fact, after a moment Hawke tilts his head to rest against hers.]

River and Mike along with Akito and Skulduggery.

[He knows those four can be counted on at the very least.]

To be honest though, I plan on telling as many people as possible. We all need to stand together on this one.

[It might burn them, but they need all they can get for this.]

Mike I know. He's a good man. And River was part of the team when we restored communications.

[Skul, she's never met. And Akito was a brief encounter.]

I know a few who are loyal to the cause. Annabeth, Bucky and Sharon were with me on the mission I found my information on. I can talk to them, if you'd like.

[For now though she's just going to keep leaning on him and not be distracted by how nice it all is.]

She's never quite all there but I've never met anyone more insightful than her. She has this terrible habit of being right all the time.

[As they talk, Hawke relaxes more. It feels good to be this close to someone again.]

Go ahead. I trust you.

She's a genius, from all I've seen and heard.

[Definitely someone good to have on their side.]

Right is something we need to be at the moment anyway.

I'm not sure if genius even begins to describe it. She's just a kid though.

[Which worries him. Sometimes it feels like he's dragging her toward disaster.]

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;