Fion managed to limp her way to the Book and Bell, slightly singed but hopefully not smoking anymore. She pulled herself up onto a stool at the bar and let her head thunk down on the bench.

"A Green Madhouse, please." She asked vaguely.

Fion lifted her head laboriously, looking around to see if anyone capable of doing a job was around. There were a few people who owed her favours, hopefully she'd see one and be able to make her own little statement about fire fighting.

She looked like chrove crap but that was perfectly reasonable given how her night had turned out.

"Fiii!" Scarlet called, stretching the first part of Fion's name, as fallowed after her. Tilley was barely hanging on as her master ran. Scarlet walked in, trying to catch her breath, "Fion, are you okay? You seemed so spun out after the bakery. I was worried you'd faint." Her voice was soft when she was inside the building beside Fion.

She didn't want people coming up to them and asking about a fire, though it showed on their faces and clothes. Both of them were singed, covered in ash, and were stressed. The only difference was Fion looked angry. Scarlet also still had the blanket from earlier, only now it was folded and under her arm and her Spokes Almanac had been singed on the corner, easily seen hanging from her belt.

She then suddenly realized where she was and figured a drink sounded good, "I'll have whatever the special drink is!" A little alcohol might cheer her up.

"Hesta." Fion said raising a hand in greeting, still glancing around the bar, "I'm fine. I'm just in a bad mood. How are you holding up?"



Fion patted her shoulder.

"Don't have the special. The special is designed to part money from slightly mung tourists." Fion looked over the edge of the bar, judging its contents, "Get a Blushing Hingle, they're pretty good."

"I'm still alive. That's gotta count fer somethin', right?" she laughed. "As you may of guessed I wasn't able to get out of town. The whole city if fallen to pieces."



"I didn't know hingles could blush under all that fur!" Scarlet joked. She then looked back over the bar, "Okay, I'm gonna trust her and get a Blushing Hingle." It sounded like it would be a sweet and fruity drink.

"Oooooo, oooooh, oooo..." A sweet voice rolled through the room, starting soft, but high and then ending so low it sounded like a moan. In the man's hand was a guitar from which he plucked chords so sweet and crisp that it seemed the hearer could snatch one from the air and take a bite.

"I'm lying in my bed, the blanket is warm
This body will never be safe from harm
Still feel your hair, black ribbons of coal
Touch my skin to keep me whole...*"

Tito's voice was strong and true, hitting each note with practiced precision. A quaver entered his voice to complement the sad, minor chords of the song, which when combined emphasized a distinct feeling of loss--what the song was meant to portray.

(( * First stanza, Mojo Pin - Jeff Buckley ))

"Comin' up," said Ginny, appearing from behind the bar. She had Fion's Green Madhouse in hand, and she flashed a smile at Scarlet as she recognized her. "Evenin', ladies."

She sniffed the air. "What's cookin'?."

Leaning in, she gestured for Fion and Scarlet to lean in as well. "I heard about the bakery. Me kovs from recon said it went up like Clock's Eve. I'm guessin' you two were there. What's the scoop?"

Solid Stu passed by Tito, grinning at him. Though he had been wary of the wick at first, he had grown quite fond of the crowds he brought in nightly to the Book and Bell. Made for good cover. Besides, extra money was never a bad thing.

"Oh, Tito," he said, "remind me after we close up. It's payday."

Spotting Fion, he lost his train of thought for a moment, his jaw hanging slightly askew.

Scarlet pulled her almanac off of her belt, "Apparently the section on snatching chickens was slightly cooked." She then slid the book back into her sash. "Fi can tell ya more about it than I can. I only arrived as it was endin' and dented a perfectly good dagger in the process." She had already gotten in trouble once for a big mouth here, so she wasn't sure if she should mention her theory about the galdori.



"I knew I recognized that voice!" Scarlet laughed. "How long has that toft been workin' here?" she asked, using 'toft' in a good way.

Fion had been enjoying Tito's music but it wasn't soothing her as much as she was hoping it would. She was just too angry. She decided she'd have to come back another day to listen, hopefully Tito would be in on the 10th.



Fion nodded at Scarlet, then downed her drink in one shot. She banged the glass back down on the table, eyebrows furrowing, back arched and her head tipping back as she felt the awful beverage slip down her throat.

"Thank you Ginny, dear, I needed that." Fion pulled her scarf out of her hair, rubbing at the clean line of scalp it exposed just below her hairline, "Hello Stu, how are you keeping?"

Fion lent closer to the bar, wanting to have a few words with Stu and Ginny without impressionable ears hearing them.

Vik scrunched up his nose as he entered the Book and Bell. Was something burning? He'd heard about the fire as he had wandered the Dives looking for a place to bunk for the night. After concluding his business with Sarinah he had nothing more to do that night. He'd heard a rumble that the B&B was resistance friendly and he was still itching to contribute.

He discovered the source of the smell was two young ladies sitting at the bar. They were covered in soot and had a strong, smokey aroma about them. One caught his attention immediately, she downed what looked to be a fairly powerful shot and slammed the glass down. He smirked, "My kind of girl" he said to himself.

"Say there barkeep, you have any room for an honest smithy in your fine establishment?" He called.

Fion gave Victor the once over, he had to be a country boy. Cities tended to leach that kind of earnestness out of you and it certainly didn't breed such healthy young men. Fion was probably going to need some muscle but she wasn't sure he was a resistance member.

"Hey Ace," She said, testing the waters, raising her glass in a friendly way. "No rooms for the honest here, you have to exaggerate a little first."

Well, if that didn't strike his interest she didn't know what would. Hopefully he wouldn't think she was an easy lift.

Vik couldn't help but grin, this girl was direct, he loved it. "Oh, I've been known to exaggerate. Vik "The Exaggerater" Mirko, as I'm known in some circles. What exactly is it that I can do for you pretty lady?" He asked.

This smokey lady might even match him for witty banter which was always a treat. Yeah, this was going to be fun.

Fion couldn't help but laugh. Viktor was cute as a button but not smooth enough to get past her rearguard. Demkaih, however, well... She was fairly sure she had it bad.

"You wouldn't happen to be a tallyboy, would you?" She asked. "Could I please have my usual, Gin?"

Fion turned to face Viktor.

"A man walked away from a house fire tonight because the people inside were wicks." Fion said voice low, "Doesn't that make you mad? It makes me mad."

Vik was rather confused by the question. "I'm no common criminal if that's what you mean. I don't steal or murder folk for fun or nothing else of sinister nature."



"Aaaah, so a little payback is in order then. Now I can smell what you're cooking. This fellow a gollie by an kernel of chance? Not that it matters too much, fellow does something like he deserves whatever comes his way."

Fion rolled her eyes.

"Speak a little louder, I don't think the people at the back heard you." Fion patted the empty seat beside her, the one Scarlet wasn't on. "Siddown, sweets. Let's talk business. I never meant to imply you were a criminal, I was just... wondering if you and I worked for the same people."

Fion drew a circle with the condensation from her glass.

"He was human, as a matter of fact. A friend of mine, a golly and as good a girl as you'll ever meet, stopped the blaze." Fion pointed at Scarlet, "She helped get people out."

"This isn't payback," She whispered, "This is a message. I'm not going to hurt more than the man's ego. He called the bakers poxy wicks and watched them burn in front of everyone. I don't think he should be seen to get away with that."

Fion smirked, nose wrinkling.

<Lemme catch up!>



"Correction, Fion. It was worse than that. It was a bakery fire!" Scarlet smirked at her, but kept her voice where it was at Fion's level. "Whoever did this is someone who must eat puppies fer lunch!" She started thinking of some of the cakes she'd never see again.



"Does it matter?" She finally looked up at him. "You really know how to hit on the ladies, don't ya?" The wick couldn't help but find his forwardness from earlier to be humorous and now he was discussing revenge already on the man who caused the fire.

"Somethin' tells me there are already some folks huntin' him down, but I've got no hope fer them if he's a golly," one of those folks was going to be her if she played her cards right, galdori or not.



Scarlet burst a quick laugh at Fion's first comment, "Why couldn't you of said that to me when we first met? Nooo! You had to tell me to stay in the back." This was the first time Scarlet had known Fion to be witty and sarcastic. She was always convinced that Fion was too scared to do anything about the real world. However Scarlet was not as convinced as some others that Fion was really that brave.

She then went quiet again, but maintained a smirk as she drank. She then let out a sigh, "No. He shouldn't. Natts like him are the kind who call me a dirty thief. I steal food, ging and other material objects that get me where I wanna go. People like him steal lives."

She then took another sip, only to realize her glass was empty, I didn't drink all that, did I? She then slid the glass away and adjusted herself in her chair and tilted her head at him, "So, what's yer name big guy?"

Ginny had nodded briefly at Viktor's question, and ducked behind the counter. Reemerging a moment later, she handed him a room key, trying not to interrupt the conversation, but interested despite herself. "Room eighteen, three lofts up, love. Fion, you got it in for somebody? Can I help?" She grinned evilly, her round impish face filled with mischief.

Stu turned red as holly berries as Fion spoke to him, but his expression, as usual, did not change. "Evenin'," he said gruffly. He noticed the burning smell and the smoke still rising from their clothes, and cocked an eyebrow. "You know, you shouldn't smoke next to all that alcohol."

"Sorry, that's kind of hard to do when we're a couple smokin' hot chips!" she always made her lame jokes loud. In some ways she figured it made them sound better. If anyone groaned it was still a reaction.

Scarlet then gave a sly smile to Fion. She still had a feeling that big, burly Stu liked her... a lot. She then looked over the counter, holding up her drink, "One more, ye chen?"

Fion turned to look at Scarlet, brow furrowing. Fion didn't like thieves, she had to work her ass off for everything she had. Fion eased out of her seat.

"You two talk for a sec, I'll buy a round." Fion slipped a piece of paper into Vik's trouser pocket surreptitiously as she passed him. It told him to meet her at Crosstown court in an hour, alone.



Fion walked closer to Ginny, leaning in conspiratorially but glancing at Vik as she did so, so it would look like idle gossip.

"If you want to, you can." Fion took her hand like an old friend, which they were, slipping her a note as well, "I hope you don't mind if Khymarah helps out. She was there, she put the fire out."

Fion neglected to mention that Khymarah almost suffocated everyone. Sometimes you just need to do something a little destructive to get the job done. Fion appreciated that.



Fion smile was electric, as was her laugh.

"Oh, Stu, you always make me giggle. You know what I have to do now don't you?" Fion nodded slowly.

Then she bear hugged him, pieces of ash coming off on his jacket. She whipped her hair cloth around his neck and tied it so the knot hung loosely at his throat.

"Aaaaand you! Have to wear that for the rest of the night," She said grinning, tapping his nose with her index finger.

She pulled back a little, slightly less silly now.

"Have you been getting too much sun, Stu? I worry about you, you know?"

It had taken Jaqueline a while to find the others from the fire. She wanted to know more, and that human woman seemed like the kind who'd have a name or two to connect some dots.

Finally, she'd managed to track her to a pub. 'The Book and Bell', the sign said. Sounds pleasant, she thought. A drip bucket outside provided adequate washing of her face and hands, but did little for her hair. She shrugged and pulled her head scarf up over it. Better'n nothin, I suppose.

Jaq opened the door and walked in. It was warm in there, and the interesting smells instantly reminded her she hadn't fully eaten those dumpster leftovers. Blasted fire, spoiled my dinner. There was a guy with purple hair singing over a guitar, and an old man behind the counter was turning the same color as a ripe tomato. At the bar sat the woman, and that wick girl, and a very large man with a hammer. Nodding her head resolutely, she went up and joined the group.

"Did I hear someone say something about injustice? I hate injustisce. What are we doing about it?"

"If only you'd come back to me
If you laid at my side
Wouldn't need no mojo pin
To keep me satisfied..."

Without missing a beat, Tito winked at Stu and continued his mournful song. His slim fingers danced across the strings, caressing them as they moaned out sullen chords. If anyone noticed, silver(ish) jewelry with amethyst stones sparkled from the ring fingers on each of his hands, and chains of a similar metal coiled around his arms. A deep purple sleeveless shirt covered his torso with his usual black breeches to complement them.

"Don't wanna weep for you, don't wanna know
I'm blind and tortured, the white horses flow
The memories fire, the rhythms fall slow
Black beauty I love you so..."

Silver and black enamel inlay streaked across the face of his guitar and flickered in the shifting light of the B&B. He was completely comfortable singing and paid no heed to who was or wasn't listening to him. A gray bander wolf curled around his chair and gave a low woof whenever Tito's voice fell to a low moan. His snout lay in between his paws, and his eyelids were drooped as if he were absorbing the disparaging melody.

Scarlet cared little about Fion's opinions. It was true, not all wicks were thieves and the stereotype gave her kind a bad name. Never the less, the redhead wasn't about to change her ways. No one she ever had taken from needed it anyway.



Scarlet raised an eyebrow. Yup, they belong together. It looked odd to see a skinny woman, who looked like someone's personal maid most of the time, hug and sweet talk a tough man twice her size.

Coming to think of it, Scarlet realized Fion knew a lot of men. There was Stu, obviously. Then there was the man from the bakery a few days ago and that Seventen from the same day -- however she doubted Fion and the guard had anything in common. Not to mention there was that man from after the fire. Not only that, but this other guy (Viktor) had just come in and was hitting on her!

"Fi, yer a lucky chip," Scarlet almost hadn't realized she said that.

Fion was...more affectionate than usual tonight. Stu gulped and chanced a smile, while Ginny rolled her eyes behind them. "Er...I'm stayin' well in the shade. You know me. Pasty as an oyster."

Probably not the best choice of words to describe himself. The oyster was not the manliest of shellfish. Back at the bar, Ginny dissolved into silent giggles. Stu cleared his throat.

"You're staying out of trouble, I hope? I see you've brought your protege..." He glanced over at Scarlet, trying not to stare at Fion's face, or anywhere south of there.

---

Ginny grinned at Jacqueline as she brought Scarlet's drink up from under the bar. "Ah, you smell like this lot! You must have been toasting marshmallows at the bonfire too, eh?" She winked. "Bloody good time it must've been! Sorry I missed it. How are they, by the way?"

The witch's tone of voice was practiced to arouse as little interest as possible from the rest of the patrons. No one looked up or even seemed to wonder why half the people in the bar smelled like a church full of snuffed candles.

"Oooh," she said, as Tito came to the bridge of his song. She cupped her hands to her mouth and whooped, acting as his delighted one-girl fan club. "I love this song! Isn't Tito the greatest?"

She glanced over at Viktor. "Hey kov, want anything to drink?"

((omg, so many peoples))

Fion sighed.

"She's not my protege," She said, voice tipped low so only they could hear. "She's a nice girl and she did a lot of good tonight but she's reckless in ways even I wouldn't consider."

Fion saw the girl from the fire enter the bar.

"Scarlet antagonised Dom Leon the other day, she was sorry after but I still think she has some growing up to do before she gets in deep with the underground. I'll take my chances with muscley countryboys that don't know me from the first man." Fion rubbed at some soot in her sleeve, wondering why Stu had suddenly become slightly wooden, "Your new singer is very good."

Fion turned.

"I'm so glad I'm still here, you know? Things like this remind you to appreciate what you have." Fion tried to run a hand through her hair. "I should go talk to that girl."

Fion walked over to Jaq, still leaving a small amount of soot behind her as she walked.

"Hello, I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself at the fire. I'm Fion." Fion extended her hand, "You did a very brave thing back there, thank you."

Stu nodded as Fion mentioned her concerns. "Her heart's in the right place, though. She came in here the other day...Ginny set her up to talk to Ox. She's not a sneaker, that red-head. She's a doer. Not great for right now, but when the time comes..." He gestured emptily. The future of the resistance was never very clear; there was always talk about an upcoming battle, a war between galdori and man, but somehow it never seemed as though it would happen. It seemed utterly impossible.

As she walked away, he touched the blue bandanna around his neck, wistfully.

"That's very true. Her heart's right where it should be..." Fion said smiling, "When the time comes."