Black Pearl

**Date Started:** October 6th, 2021
 **Date Completed**: TBA
**Previous Role-Play** None
**Next Role-Play:** TBA
**Users Involved:** User:Blackdagger01 & User:HoloArc
**Setting:** Lubbock
**Characters Involved:** Alistair Vroman, Carwen Nox.

"Following nightfall, my mist will sweep across the Freightfall District. I think it is time for another trip down memory lane. Most of you will have nothing to fear, of course. My crew will find themselves have plenty of fun, however. You know the usual; Don't stay out at night. Don't do anything I would do. And don't trust anyone to help you. Because they won't. Black Pearl wishes you a good night. See you Nine o'clock..." Came the voice over the radio, and following that, there had been those who already tried to get away from that block before the message had even finished. Despite tiring efforts, the law force had yet to be able to track the source of the hacked radio site, nor where it moves. Worse yet, when this woman, this 'Black Pearl' takes to the field, there is almost never anyone caught. The force leaders were gathered to discuss the plans of protection and guard patrols. It had devolved into such strategies mostly after so many times of failed captures of the woman.

Alistair sat at the table while the others around him argued and spat at one another over how they would handle the situation. His eyes were drawn to the clock on the all which read four in the afternoon, leaving them less than four hours to decide how they would handle things and get into position to do so. A headache was already started for form as the memories of his last encounter with the pearl slipped in and out of the forefront of his mind. He'd never gotten a good look at the woman in the dark mist that swept over wherever she appeared beyond that of her piercing red eyes.

Were he to be honest, if lives were not at stake with every appearance of the woman and her gang he might even have called this little 'game' she played fun. More exciting than training rookies, patroling the streets, and certainly better than paperwork. But it would have to come to an end one way or another and he hoped tonight would be the night. Standing up from his seat he cleared his throat loudly, barely catching a few eyes before he did so again and then spoke up.

"All this meaningless jabbering won't get us anyway, we have a time and place as the pearl so generously gave to us. We just need to devise a plan to catch her in the act." He said as the arguing began to simmer down though not out of respect for his words but rather annoyance with him chimming in.

"If it's really that easy why haven't you caught her yet then, Vroman? You're the only person in this room that's gotten close enough to see her, only person we know of that's still alive that is. Why couldn't you just 'catch her' then?" Another knight captain spoke in a condescending tone toward the red-haired gentleman.

Alistair scratched the back of his head with a bit of embarrassment. "Look, trust me, I know it's a lot easier said than done. Like you said, I've had her nearly in my hands and she still got away. But that doesn't mean that I was left empty-handed, remember?" He said as he picked up a bag on the table containing a piece of cloth within it. "With whatever that mist is she can make finding her during her appearance is damn near impossible with sight alone but the way I see it we don't need that if we've got a nose that can sniff her out for miles."

"You're wanting us to use the dogs to run her down? It's not a bad idea but what do we do when we find her? We'd still be fighting blind and its not like we can expect the dogs to take down a catalyst user." Another Knight spoke up with crossed arms, skeptical about the idea.

"We don't know if she uses a catalyst for sure, we've got no confirmed sightings of her using one." A younger knight spoke up, clearly not one of the more senior officers.

"Well, she's making that mist somehow. I think it's safe to assume she has one and getting it away from her is priority one. Once her catalyst is gone she won't be able to hide in that mist anymore." Alistair explained, having noted an odd object he'd seen on her belt the last time he'd run into the Pearl. An object he'd grabbed for and missed, taking a piece of clothing instead.

An older officer leaned back in his chair, the metal making a creaking noise as he did. "Can't go for it if we don't know what it is... Unless you're saying you do have an idea?" The man asked with a stone-face, unamused by the goings on around him.

"I do, just leave it to me. We won't bother with patrols, just give me a handful of knights and a K-9 unit. We'll have her before the sun rises."

In a different area entirely, deep beneath the earth, stood a woman and a host of around fifteen different men and women gathered around her. The woman whom had spoken into the radio stood of a short stature, clad in a white suit and suit pants, a fuzzy hat on top of her head, glaring red eyes and long, almost shimmering, obsidian hair that reached to her waist. "Ma'am, what are our targets this time?" Asked one of the women whom the white clad girl knew only as "Kay-2", a twin to a man who was known under the alias of "Kay-1". The Black Pearl shrugged. "Nothing. You are to stay behind. The mission is mine and mine alone tonight and I don't want any of you to ruin my hunt."

"The Sires won't like that, Madam." Spoke another man of a name she did not recognize.

"Let them be pissed. They have already made their picks of jewelry and coins from the high society pricks. I am taking my pick now, and I don't want it sabotaged because you got a bit too close to my spot." She said, causing them all to fall silent. Most of them were all taller than her, and yet they were the ones who were made to feel small. Waving with her hand to make them part from her path, she proceeded to walk away. "This time... This time for sure." She growled as she began walking up to the surface. No one alive knew what she really looked like, so she was not concerned with traversing the streets, and she didn't look basic enough to be associated with the Black Syndicate. Walking up to a local bar, she walked in to a host of people just trying to drink their despair away while they still could. Ordering some 'Black Stuff', she drank in comfort as she just enjoyed being surrounded by so much fear.

As the clock struck eight, everyone either ran or was ushered out. came close, she walked out calmly and around a corner, pulling out her sizable lantern of a catalyst out of her robe. Causing a tower of water to carry her up, she walked off to the roof, holding her pocketwatch in hand, keep a track of the time for when it would happen. She had never been a liar or deceptive with her work before. And she was not about to start now. She could hear how the knights began to position themselves in the outskirts to prepare for her deeds, and what they likely assumed would be her comrades. She did say that she would be here. She never specified that they would be here however.

As the clock struck nine, the big clock tower matching perfectly, she immediately exploded with her black mist, the swath of thick, seemingly oily mist spread throughout the block, a truly massive field of area, she proceeded to get to work. The building she stood on was not far away from her designated location and began moving there. But you know, what is a night without some good music to boot? As if on cue, music began to play over the local announcement radios. But music wasn't enough. No. What else was needed? Why song of course!

"What is this feeling of power and drive? I've never known. I feel alive. Where does this feeling of power derive? Making me know, why I'm alive. Like the night it is a secret. Sinister dark and unknown. I do now know what I seek. And I'll seek it aloooooooone!" She shouted out loud in a most harmonious tone before running off to where she was supposed to be. "What a feeling to feel so alive. Filled with evil and truly alive. It is a truth that can't be denied!"

On the outskirts of the district the knights stood, many checking their watches every couple of minutes as sweat began to form on their brow. But not Alistair, no, he stood looking up at the buildings knowing that he needed no watch to know when the clock would strike nine. Something made evident when the black mist began to spread itself over the buildings, creeping down toward the streets like sludge dripping from their rooftops.

It was only at this moment that Alistair gripped his pocketwatch as only now was the clock truly ticking. Once the mist had spread far enough that he was sure she would be on the move did he turn to the knights standing near the cages. "They've had enough time to catch the scent, let the out to hunt." He commanded, the knights quickly following his order and raising the gates.

Like lightning, the dogs bolted with snarls and barks past Alistair who stood in his pristine blue and white long coat followed closely behind by the knights seeking to follow behind and catch the pearl. A slight smile crept across the red-haired man's face as he watched them run off and disappear into the dark mist. He would not follow, he had different plans.

"Alright, Pearl. Time to see if all these rounds of chase we've played together have amounted to anything on my part. If so, I'll be seeing you soon enough." He spoke to no one as he began to walk toward the dark mist, going the opposite direction of the loudly barking dogs.

Carwen jumped down from the buildings, getting back down to ground level. Standing before the house door of the target, she enveloped herself with such an amount of mist that she appeared more like a banshee than an actual person. She burst in the door, hearing the screams of the man and his family from within. She had no real care for them, but she could feel a bit of sympathy to the wives and partners. As she did this she heard the howls and barks of dogs in the distance. At first she chalked it up to some family dogs barking in panic. Then just as she was about to step inside did she realize that the sounds were coming closer. Looking to the source, she parted it enough to be able to view the canines making haste at bullet speed towards her, only bolstered by the sight of her. Covering it up again, she began to run away. "Well, they had to use thier brains sooner or later." She muttered, thinking back to the broken top that had suffered some damage one night not too long ago. She had assumed it was just a natural tear. But with this it was clear of what happened.

Running at a speed that was comparable and slightly faster than the dogs themselves, she soon realized that they were not just rabid hounds. They were trained and smart. She was constantly getting flanked and ambushed, forcing her to take different paths than intended. Just about to crash down through a sewer grating, she was caught by the feet by a flanking Dalmatian. Kicking it off, she instead kept running. She didn't have the time to consider different paths to take. She needed to get away and quick, whichever path that meant. A big blood hound came up from behind and made a jumping attack at her to which she responded by doing one of her own towards while adding extra speed to the jump. She needed to get away to one of their safestores. It was her only chance.

Alistair walked through the winding streets and back alleys of the town, the black mist the limited his visibility gave the normally mundane place an air of creepiness to it. Though, the nerves he felt could easily be sourced back to what lied within the mist. Though he didn't have to worry about being stripped of his rank or post, he knew that not catching the Pearl tonight would be a wound to his pride. He could hear the dogs going off in the distance, sure that they'd at least caught sight of her. He had to admit that he hoped in his heart of hearts that it wouldn't be the dogs that would take her down even if he knew such an outcome would be just as well. In a way, he felt he had a score to settle with the lass, whoever she might be, she'd escaped his grasp at every encounter. Always just out of reach. He had no catalyst, no chi to rely on. Only his wits and she was putting those to the test.

Reaching a row of abandoned buildings he could hear the dogs coming this way, was he right to think she would flee this way? They'd always lost her somewhere near the abandoned buildings. He'd noticed that pattern recently though where she went when she got there was a mystery to him. That meant only one thing, he had one chance to catch her here and now. If she were to slip past they would lose her completely. Drawing his sword he stood and waited ready to strike when the time came, though she was wanted dead or alive his target was not to harm her, merely to render her incapable of casting her magic.\

When the sound of pattering footsteps against the concrete could be heard just ahead of the dogs he knew it could only be one person, the only person that mattered. The others could go free so long as they nabbed the pearl for all he cared. And in a flash he saw her, like a banshee in the night with raven her flowing behind her she flew past in a nigh freeze-frame as his eyes fell on her lantern. His sword arm extended outward in a thrust aiming to break the chain that held it to her body. "This is it!" He shouted in hopes of catching the woman off guard.

The blade caught in the chain before being broken, causing it to halt her jump midair before coming off. The chain was cut, letting the lantern fall to the ground with a heavy clank. She tumbled and rolled away after that, trying to keep running instictively away from the dogs. It was only when the mist suddenly dissipated that she realized her error. She had moved too far away from her catalyst. Turning around, the dog caught her booted ankle, pulling her to the ground and holding her down. She tried kicking it to let go, but it didn't take more for more canines to approach, growling and barking at her, surrounding her. She looked to the approaching man. She knew him well. Though he had never gotten a good look at her, he had always stuck out ot her. Trying to put on a brave face, she chuckled. "So... The cat caught the mouse, huh?"

He held his breath as he tired to keep a stoic face to hide the worry and desperation he'd felt only moments ago, raising his sword up so that the tip was pointed at the downed woman a small smile appeared on his face. "What can I say? It was fun while it lasted but you can only expect a man to chase so long playing hard to get like that." He spoke with his heart beating at a mile a minute as he picked up his radio.

"This is red herring here, suspect is aprehended and I'm requesting additional officers as well as transportation for the Pearl. We got her."

**...**
As the door opened the sounds of cheering could be heard beyond it as Alistair stepped into the long hallway lined with cells on both sides of the wall. Most were empty aside from a few drunks sleeping it off in the tank. But he wasn't here to see them, no, he had bigger fish to fry. Walking down the row of cells he stopped when he reached the one containing a short, raven haired woman in handcuffs sitting on a metal bench. Sliding a large key into the keyhole of the cell it made a loud metallic sound as it unlocked and he stepped inside, closing it behind him. A metal mug was in one hand, steam flowing off from the top, he walked over to the woman and sat it down beside her before he took a seat across from her on the equally uncomfortable metal slab meant to be her bed.

"Hot chocolate... hope you don't mind. Not much of a coffee drinker myself, doesn't agree with me." He spoke with the warm but weary smile of a kind man who hadn't been sleeping very well as of late. "Gotta say, not gonna enjoy spending the rest of the night booking you. Lotta paperwork to go over given everything you've done. But its a better alternative than another sleepless night haunted by the one who got away." He said with a playful wink before letting out a yawn.

"Think you could tell me your name? Been calling you Pearl for months now I think catching you deserves at least that much as a reward."

The dank prison keep, the stench of drunken men whom had been unable to hold themselves, proved a most inhospitable nature to her. She wouldn't call herself a prude, but it was still quite heartbreaking and disgusting to be here. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the creaking sound of metal against metal as her warden unlocked the cell door, stepping inside. Looking up at him with her radiant ruby eyes, she looked at him with nothing short of glee, surprisingly enough. She smiled and had a bright look in her eye. When he sat the cup down beside her she slowly picked it up and began to drink. Rather than answering his question however, she simply asked: "What will happen now, sweet cheeks?"

He noted she avoided the question but ignored it, knowing it was better to go ahead and play along, let her say what she wants and she'll give up more than she means to. "Well, you're in jail, obviously. Unfortunately for you, it means you're being charged with a crime. Or well... several in your case. Theft, kidnapping, murder, just a handful just so you know. You'll probably spend a bit in here, we'll get you someone who'll do their best to defend you and then you'll go to court. From there the judge will hear the case and you'll likely be convicted."

"Now, I know that sounds bad. All things considered how could you not be convicted? But I'm here to offer you a deal. Give up the names and location of your buddies and I'll be able to work with the judge to reduce your charges down and you'll get less time. Trust me, with murder in the charges you definitely want that dropped down to something less serious. As you know, Lubbock isn't exactly much for life in prison in the worst sorta way."

Pearl tilted her cup back and forth, causing the hot chocolate to swirl around. Looking down in it, still smiling, she then looked back up at the man, a bit of a snide look in her eye. "Well, I suppose I could. I just wonder what good that will do." She said leaning back against the wall. "Each of us leaders use code names so that we will never know each others. None of them know my name, and I don't know theirs. So you see... It is quite the thing to ask of me. My name that is. It is a defense mechanism. So we can't be sold out. Same with our hide outs. I can give you mine, but my men are sure to have run off to the others now. I can give you their hide outs too, but they will likely have moved away too now to one of their reserves which, again, I wouldn't know of. So I am kind of shit out of luck to help you on that front." She said with another sip.

"As for telling you my name... Well, maybe there is no harm in telling you now that the game is over..." She said with a giggle. "I am Carwen. Nice to meet you proper, sir." She nodded with another sip. "And for the record, I never murdered anyone."

"Well, someone did and it'd be a shame for you to get pinned for it if you didn't do anything." He responded, a bit disappointed to hear how little she could give them. It wasn't good, not just for him but for her. Without anything to bargin with... "It's nice to finally meet you properly as well, Carwen. No need for any of that sir stuff, I'm Alistair. And anything you can give us will be valuable, even if they'd packed up and left who knows what we might be able to find?" He explained, holding out hope they might have left some clues behind. Things certainly seemed a bit bigger than he'd originally thought for them to have so many failsafes.

"I gotta ask, what's all this about? Pretty young girl like yourself, how do you get wrapped up in whatever is going on with all this? This is the land of opportunity, why turn to crime?" He asked, genuninely curious as to her reasoning. She was pretty and to top it off she had a catalyst. There was any number of things she could have done instead.

"No no, some of them died because of me. Don't take my credit away from me. I just didn't murder them. Murder is so cruel and vile and unjustified. Those things don't apply to my *kills*." She said with a bit of a snarky grin. "And I also feel the need to correct you; It is the land of opportunity," She said before leaning forward, holding herself up by putting her elbows to her knees. "For those with means. I never wanted to be a criminal, believe it or not. But people took advantage of me. My beautiful face wasn't a help in that regard. They used me until I had served my purpose or was not satsifactory to them anymore. I was thrown to the gutter more times than I can bother to count." She said as she lifted her shirt until she only sat in her bra. And she began to point to some faint scars and marks she had on her. Most of them had healed very well thanks to her catalyst. She pointed to what was a burn. "Steam engine. Got too close to a machine that I was ordered to fix. 'Real' workers wouldn't do it." She said snarkily. She pointed to a faint stitched line. "Kidney. Sold it to doctors and scientists just to get by. Ran a fever for a week when they didn't warn my that dirty environments might give me a bad reaction after." She turned around and swept her hair over her shoulder, revealing some streaking marks on her back. "Whips. I wasn't always an obedient little girl." And lastly she pointed to one spot on her neck. It looked like a human bite mark. "An 'intimate' touch that turned a bit too hectic." She pulled her shirt down again and looked back at him.

"Sure. Several of them got apprehended for their deeds. But they often paid their way out or got lenient punishments. They are still out on the streets. Or at least, they were." She said with a grim chuckle. "Thieving, stealing, breaking, *killing*, it was all a necessity. And a bit of vengeance. Sure, they were punished," She said leaning forward again. "But where was the help?" She said, still smiling, though this one couldn't hide the sadness. Straightening her back, she chugged down the last of her cocoa. "I can give you their locations and names. You'll have to work with the rest... Can I have some more, cutiepie?" She asked sweetly, holding up her cup to Alistair.

He held a sympathetic look in his eye toward the girl, but he knew it was wrong, she still did bad things. No sad story could erase that, but that didn't mean he didn't understand or at least wanted to understand. "I-I'd appreciate that, give us what you can and I'll work talk with the judge and more importantly, I'll start looking into your case as well. I might not be too high ranking but I've got some sway, can't try them for the same crime twice but it's rare for terrible people to indulge in that sort of thing once and be done with it." He said as he stood up and took the cup from her hand.

"Sure, I can get you another. Any certain way you like it? Anything to eat with it? Unfortunately your options are donuts or vending machine food until tomorrow."

"Surprise me, and I know you have bags of fizzy pop candies. Might as well enjoy something fizzy and sour while I am in here. And one of your best donuts if you would so kindly." She requested, leaning back against the wall behind her. "You know, I always knew you would be my greatest threat. You were always the closest to get to me." She giggled. "I never managed to kill you before. I probably should have. Probably my biggest mistake. But I could never bring myself to get around to it. Want to know why I never could?" She asked with a sweet yet mischievous smile.

He raised an eyebrow at her question, "Oh yeah? Is it because I'm just that good? Or maybe you just liked the thrill of almost getting caught?" He jested, knowing he had no need to worry now that she was in cuffs and without her catalyst.

She merely shook her head. She got up on her feet and leaned up to him, getting up on her toes and getting as close as she could. "I was never able to resist a pretty face."

He leaned back a little as the woman got up close to him, turning his head abit to the side to avoid looking her in the eyes. "Yeah? Well, you know orders were to take you in dead or alive. Lucky for you... I got the same weakness," He said before motioning her to move away, checking the keys on his belt just to be sure. He didn't know what it was he was doing, flirting? With a crazy chick? Seemed like something he'd do. With a sigh, he unlocked the cell and slid out. "I'll get you what you asked for. If any of the other knights go harrassing you, let me know. They're not bad people, just assholes." He said as he closed the cell door behind him.

**...**
The courtroom was tense, a table stood before the judge's podium where several men and women wearing military uniforms sat. Stars and badges littered their breasts to prove their rank and merit within the system. Quiet muffled whispers could be heard from the table of officals as they all occasionally glaced over to the raven haired woman in a jumpsuit and heavy chains to prevent her from fleeing even if she wanted to. Alistair stood up high atop a balconey, looking down at the proceedings as deliberation occured. He kept his arms crossed to keep himself from fidgeting, deep, slow breaths in and out as he watched the brass whisper and speak amongst themselves with little idea of what they might be saying. His brow rising when they collected their papers and handed them to the judge, one of them glaring at him as they did so. He didn't know if that was a good sign or a bad one but he knew he'd find out in a few moments regardless of what he might guess.

The judge looked over the papers, reading through them carefully with a nod after reading each sheet. Once he'd read them all he placed them down neatly in front of him and looked to address Carwen. "Young lady, the crimes you have been accused of are rather severe. Several of which alone could warrant death by firing squad... however, thanks to your cooperation throughout the investigation of the group in which you were associated with the knights were able to gather a great deal of evidence that might prove useful as their search for the others continue. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough to see your charges reduced. Those charges would still see you spending the great majority of your life in a cell." The judge explained, letting out a loud sigh before adjusting his glasses.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself before I read off your sentencing, Miss Carwen?"

Carwen stood up from her chair as to garner the attenion from everyone in the court room. To her, she was already screwed. There was no coming back. So why not go out with a bang? "For myself? Not really. I just want to say that I don't regret jack and shit. Not even selling out my own. Now I just wait for the comedy to begin." She said with a sneer as she sat herself down again, awaiting the ruling, awaiting the potential uproar that might ensue.

The men and women at the table began to speak amongst themselves until the gavel came down to quiet them. "Very well, very well, Miss Carwen. The court has heard you." The judge said as he pulled off his glasses to clean them a bit before placing them back onto his face.

"On the charges of murder, all accounts, the court finds you not guilty." He started, making many in the balconey gasp and begin to speak to one another though the judge ignored them and continued on. "On the counts of kidnapping, all counts, the court finds you not guilty." He spoke out only causing more uproar to which he demanded order once again.

"On charges of extortion, theft, and property damage, all accounts, the court finds you guilty. As such, due to the circumstances, you are to be released into the care of the Vroman family in the form of indetured servitude which you will serve out for no less than three years after which the Vroman family may choose to release you. Now, young lady, I do not know what deity you have watching over you but it is with great fervor that I suggest you thank them for their mercy on this day. This court is adjourned."

Carwen's head reeled back in shock. She had not expected such a ruling in a million years. She also frankly didn't know what to think of this. On the one hand, it was preferable to getting put in prison for who knows how many decades. But on the other, it just sounded like another chain around her neck. The kind of chain she had experienced a couple of times too many. As she was taken by the guards and escorted away, she was put in a room to the side where she would wait for who she assumed would be her new wardens.

After some odd minutes of waiting, the red-haired knight she'd spoken to before entered the room, closing the door behind him he let out a sigh of relief before turning to face Carwen. A soft smile with the weariness he'd had in his eyes before still present in them. "Well, well, well. Look who's avoiding prison time, told you'd I'd do what I could." He spoke with coat thrown over his shoulder as he walked over to the red-eyed girl and took a seat across from her.

"So what do you have to say? Think I can get a thank you?"

"You made me a slave. What should I be grateful for? Should I be grateful for yet another gilded chain?" She spat. She looked to the floor, taking a deep breath through her nose and exhaling from the mouth, she then looked up to him with a slight smile. "But at least you kept me from decades of living in a stinking fucking jail cell surrounded by the freaks of the city. Always something I guess." She said as she got back up on her feet. Looking at him she made an attempt at curtsy and spoke up, trying to calm herself by making a joke of the ordeal. "What should I call you? Master? Lord? Dominus?" She joked but her face was stone cold serious.

"I'm not so petty as to have you treated like that. Though given the nights I spent running after you I doubt anyone would blame me for a little vengence. But alas, I'm not that sort of man. Just call me Alistair, no sir or anything like that, just Alistair." He responded, unfazed by her cold expression.

Letting out a quiet sigh he looked back toward the woman, "Look, I know its not greatest situation but don't think of yourself as a slave... legally, you're technically not. You basically got off on community service. But I do get why you're not happy, I promise it won't be bad. A warm bed, a room to call your own, hot meals every day, and certainly no chains. "I'm here to help you get back on your feet, you said you didn't want to be a criminal, that you didn't have a choice. Well, now you do. My family will provide you with everything you need to get back on track, to become the person you want to be. Isn't there anything you ever wanted to be growing up?" He asked curiously with a raised brow.

Carwen gave him a sceptical look. She tried to gauge his honesty yet she found nothing to go off of. Maybe she just didn't have it in her to be analytical right now. Looking down at the floor, she shook her head and whispered something barely audible. She then straightened her back, looking ahead of her and sighing. "Composer... Writer... I've always wanted to make musical theatre."

He hadn't expected that in all honesty but he nodded his head nonetheless, "Good, that sounds like a fun career path. It's something we can work on, got three years to do it after all and I'll tell you what-" He got up from his seat, walking around the metal table, he extended his hand out toward the woman. "Stay out of trouble during our time together and I'll personally sponsor your first production. What do you say? Deal?"

She looked down at his hand, almost as if this was meant to be some kind of trick. Looking back up at the man, she sighed. "Well, what do I have to lose. I could think of worse fates. I get a bed, a potential sponsor," She spoke as she got up from her seat and looking straight into the man's eyes, her eyes not so much intimidating now as they had been for everyone whom had seen it through her mist. They seemed soft and radiant in this light. She reached up a finger and booped his nose. "And I get to live together with this cutie." She said teasingly before reaching down and shook his hand.

"As well as my parents, twin sister, and younger brother." He corrected her with an amused smirk on his face as he returned her shake. Letting go he turned away, "Now I've just gotta fill out some paperwork and then we can go home." Alistair told her before leaving the room again with the promise to return.

**...**
The gates closed behind them with a loud meachanical whirring noise as they entered the estate, a paved semicircle resting in front of the three story manor, a circular tower-like structure coming up from the side of the building like that of a castle. Exiting the automobile, Alistair moved around to the other side, opening the door for the raven-haired woman who would be working there from now on. Though she was no longer in cuffs, a black band was wrapped around her ankle. A tracking device that would set off an alarm were she to tamper with it too much.

"Welcome home. Now, I know it isn't much but we make do." He joked with a smile as he awaited her exit from the automobile. "We'll get you set up in your room and then I'll introduce you to everyone. The Vroman family is rather large but only a few of us actually live here."

"I am quite sure they are not gonna like me. They may even question your judgement all things considered." She teased as she was led forward, stepping out of the vehicle. She was quite amazed by the sight of the mansion. Astounded even. "I had always dreamed of buying a home like this... I just dreamed that it would be of my own efforts... But the efforts that led me here might count a bit I suppose." She joked rather grimly. "But why a room? Don't you have servants chambers or some shit?"

He rubbed the back of his neck at that question, clearly wishing she hadn't asked it. "Well... you see... You're pretty famous and all. Or, rather, infamous. The other staff didn't much care for the idea of sharing quarters with you. Don't let that discourage you, they just don't know anything about you beyond what the papers have said and of course they didn't have anything nice to say. I'm sure they'll warm up once they get to know you." He tried his best to sound optimistic despite what he'd just said.

"Either way, you might even call it a good thing. Getting a room all to yourself in the mansion rather than an apartment in the staff quarters, right?" He asked with an awkward chuckle, trying not to crush the girl's spirits before the first day had even started.

"And you do?" She teased. "Nah, I get that. Might annoy them to know that the criminal is getting special treatment. Not that I complain. Their beef ain't mine. You probably won't pay me enough to care." She joked. They kept walking up the steps towards the mansion and she surprisingly got herself a sinking feeling in her gut which she couldn't quite shake. "What can I expect as my duties? Cleaning? Folding your underwear? Stimulating you and yours?" She asked, words laced with venom that she tried to pass of as jokes, something which was painful when reminding herself about the memory of what she had been forced to go through in the past.

"You must think very little of me to say things like that, even as jokes." He spoke with a genuine sigh, a bit hurt by her words, as he opened up the door and letting her inside. "I was going to wait until you've settled in before we talked about what you might be doing around here. However, since you brought it up do you have any preferences? There are plenty of things to be done after all? Maid? Librarian? Landscaper? Gardener? I'd say kitchen work as well but the others might be wary if we started you off with that right off the bat, ya know?" He suggested as they began their walk across the foyer, a large room of black and white tile with a brillantly colored red carpet that extended down from the stairs all the way to the door, the Vroman family crest hung on flags from the ceiling high above their heads.

"You can give them all a try if you'd like? Test the waters to see if anything sticks or peaks your interest unless you've already got one in mind?"

"Sorry if I was hurtful." She barely managed to get out. "And might as well. Never really got around to being able to cook anything special. Well, since that are the things on the table, maybe maid then? Gardener doesn't sound too appealing to me. I have green thumbs, but mostly just for small things. Landscaper I am not too sure of, and Librarian makes me feel like I want to shoot myself. Maid it will be... Will I be wearing those silly, though admitedly cute outfits?"

"Maid, huh? Didn't really expect that. They do have uniforms but don't worry, they aren't anything that should be too embarassing and they're mostly black, so it should suit you well." He explained as they walked down halls one could easily find themsleves lost in were they not careful until they came to a door at the end of a long dead end hallway.

"And here it is-" He opened the door for the girl with a large metal key that clicked as the door unlocked. Inside was a spacious enough room measuring in at about fifteen by fifteen, a dark oak wood door leading to a closet and a similar one leading to an adjacent bathroom. In the center back of the room was a queen sized bed with maroon colored pillows and blankets with gold colored trimmings and a similar colored rug dead center of the wooden floor placed just far away from the fireplace. "not a lot in terms of furnishings but so long as nothing is damaged you're free to decorate or rearrange the room however you see fit. I need to head into the city tomorrow so you'll accompany me there, you need more clothes after all. An orange jumpsuit and a white suit aren't exactly... well, certainly not much variety in it anyhow."

"Oh? Are you going on a shoping spree for little old me now too?" She said with a sweet and teasing tone. She spun around in place, causing her coat to flap around in the air, showing off her beautiful if not a bit dirty from their last scuffle. "Is this not satisfactory? I would have hoped it would be. I spent a lot of coin and effort to get this thing y'know... But very well, if you want to shop, let's shop. I've always wanted some more cute clothes. Never managed to get around to it though because... Well, they might have been my men, but they were still criminals. So I couldn't really afford the luxury and risk of looking cute, if you catch my meaning."

"I think I do... But it won't be much of a spree. Just a few different outfits to tide you over. Once you get your first paycheck you can spend it on whatever fabulous or expensive clothes you'd like... or well, anything you'd like. You'll have earned it after all. I'll also be needing your opinion on what to get my sister for her birthday. It's a few months away but I always find myself panicking when I wait till the last minute, are you okay with that?"

"Oh, speaking of. When is your birthday, Carwen?"

"5th of November. And I am not quite sure what good I'll do in finding a gift for your sister, but I am ready to give it a try at least... So then, when will I get started? Effective immediately? Or will I see your family first? I can't promise a good first meeting. I am a criminal after all with a lot of baggage. And some extra nicer baggage too, which might sell me over with the men of the household." She said leaning on her hip and patting it. Indeed, while not much to mention upstairs, she did possess some true child bearing hips. "Or what do you think? Master..." She asked, laying in thick on the sultry tone and fluttering eyelashes.

He looked away from her the moment he'd caught himself starting to stare, finding something familiar about that date. The birthday of a family member? A Holiday of some sort? He couldn't figure it out, not with blood refusing to stay in his brain thanks to the teasing of the crazy woman he'd invited into his home.

"You look fine, Carwen." He spoke with a hint of embarassment in his voice before clearing his throat and looking back to the woman. "Maybe it would be better for you to use your words to get them to like you. This is the start of a whole new life after all, your chance to be whoever you want to be." He said, before motioning for her to come along, handing her the key to the room. "And you'll start by meeting the family, then the staff. I'll turn you over to them so you can get fitted into a uniform but you won't start for real until tomorrow. It wouldn't be right to make you work after spending most of the day in court."

Carwen nodded. She was quite content with his reactions, and with him all but staring at her, she felt quite satisfied with herself. When he handed her the key to the room, it was first then that she finally had it all sink in. This was real. This was actually happening, she was getting her own room in this grand manor... It hadn't really clicked with her until now. She pocketed the key and nodded as she followed him

He led her down the hallways again, pointing out different paintings and landmarks throughout the halls to help her navigate a bit easy when she was left to do so on her own. Eventually they found themselves on the bottom floor again, walking through a large living room just as extravagant as the rest of the house before making their way into the dining hall where a large table sat atop a tile floor. At the table sat an older couple. A slightly overweight man with a medium length faded red beard with hair to match, and a skinny woman with dark chesnut brown hair which looked much more colored than that of her male partner despite their age seeming quiet similar.

Looking up from their meals as they heard the two enter the room the couple's eyes brightened at the sight of Alistair but seemed a bit wary, though they tried to hide it, at the sight of Carwen following close behind him.

"Mother, Father, This is Carwen. She'll be our guest for some time." He introduced them to the raven-haired woman at his side, the couple giving her a look over before the woman clapped her hands together and put on a smile.

"Yes, it's good to finally meet the woman Alistair has been telling us about. From what I hear you caused him a great deal of trouble at work but given the lengths he went through to make sure you ended up here he must not have minded it too much." She chuckled, catching her husband off guard by the looks of it. "Oh, where are my manners?" She asked herself, standing up slowly and extending her hand out toward the woman. "I'm Irena, Alistair's mother, it's a pleasure to meet you. Tell me, did you just arrive? How're you enjoying the manor?"

Carwen wanted to make a snide remark as soon as she stepped inside. She didn't expect much curtesy from them. So when the woman who called herself Irena actually made a humble and kind introduction of herself, Carwen didn't quite know how to respond. Looking to Alistair for some kind of explanation, she soon enough looked back to the woman, put on a smile and shook her hand. "W-We just arrived, yes. And thank you, it... It is a nice home you have. Quite lovely. And yes, I suppose I have been a bit of a pain for him to deal with, and vice versa. But what can I say, I like playing hard to get for the cute ones."

She cleared her throat at that, not quite sure how to take the remark about her son but nonetheless her smile persisted. "I know this must all be quiet a shock to you but I do hope that you enjoy your time with us for the foreseeable future. I will admit, when he brought up the idea of you joining our staff I was taken aback by it all. Reading the papers and what not I'm sure you can understand why I might have felt this way and though I'm a still wary, I don't believe Alistair would put this much effort into someone he didn't think had some good in them. Isn't that right, dear?" She asked her husband only to be met with silence for a moment before a swift movement of her foot and a bellow of pain from her husband brought him to his feet.

"R-right, of course. Everyone willing to do better deserves a second chance. Alistair knows that very well, if he has faith in ya then I weclome you into our home. But I'll be keeping an eye on you all the same. I do have a family to protect after all." The bearded man said in a gruff voice only to be waved away by Irena.

"Pay no mind to that last part, deary. He's just trying to sound tough in his old age. You know how men can be, right?"

Carwen waved a dismissing hand. "I do, and it is nothing to worry about, ma'am. I am not quite sure what Alistair sees in my either, but if he can see something... Maybe there is hope for me then." She then turned her head to look at the man, nodding her head. "None of you have anything to apologize for. A stranger with a less than clean history just entered your home. Caution is understandable. So keep an eye on me all you want, you won't hear me complain... I may not be able to do anything, but I have a bit of a mouth on me, as you may have noticed a bit of. He can attest to more of that." She said with a gesture towards Alistair. "If I say anything displeasing, just tell me off. No need to play nice with me yet. I haven't deserved it. Not that it isn't appreciated, of course."

Alistair crossed his arms, "She's right. The girl's quite the cobra, wish you could have heard some of the things she's said just today. She'll be able to take whatever you dish out at her." He spoke in a playful way, frankly glad that things were going better than he'd expected. Though, it wasn't his parents that had him worried, he knew they could be courteous at the least. However, Alice was a different story and unfortunately, with there being a little more time until Osmund came home from school she would be their next stop.

"A-anyway..." He said aloud, shaking away his worry, "Are you hungry, Carwen? I doubt this morning's breakfast was all that appetizing. If so, we can stop by the kitchen before we head over to the library?" He asked before turning to his mother, "Alice is still in there?" he asked to which she simply responded with a nod.

Carwen half smiled, nodding at him. "A simple sandwich will suffice for the moment. Not quite that hungry just yet. If you got some ham and cheese I'll be content." She turned back to the two parents and bowed her head slightly. "It was nice meeting you two. I'll try to ensure that we can get along alright... So then, shall we take off, unless there is more to be said s... Alistair?" she corrected herself as she was about to call him sir.

Looking back to his parents he gave a slight bow of his head, "I'll see you both again soon, take care." He spoke to them before turning his attention back to Carwen. Having noticed the hesitation in her words for a moment but thought little of it. Making their way to the kitchen he made the sandwich himself, not wanting the staff to start resenting Carwen by being asked to serve her in any way. The clink of ceramic against the countertop as he slid the food toward her, letting her get a few bites into it before he spoke up.

"Before we go to meet my sister I feel like I should warn you not to expect a greeting like my parents gave you. Alice, she isn't a bad person, not at all. She's just..." He started before hesitating to continue.

"She's just a little hard to get along with. So I have to ask you to be a little more patient with her than I'd ask you to be with anyone else in the home, alright?"

She took a bite out of the little meal she had just received. She barely recognized what he had to say. Not because she wasn't listening, but because she figured she would get such a reception from everyone, so to face someone who would align to he expectations didn't seem like a big deal to her. "Well then, better work extra hard to make me seem better than reality then. Don't expect me to work miracles though. I am no saint. Not even an evil one." She said with a playful sigh before looking up at him from an angle upward from the corner of her eye. "Let's be on our way. Unless you think I should know something else?"

"No, no. Most of your interaction with her will speak for itself. I just wanted to warn you is all." He said with a shake of his head before taking her plate and placing it into the sink. "All I ask is you don't let first impressions be final ones." He said before they left the kitchen and continued down the hall out of a glass door that led out to a courtyard, staying on the roofed path they walked across it to reach the large tower that could be seen from the front of the manor. Opening the door the smell of ink and parchment seemed to be stained into every inch of the place. From top to bottom the tower was filled with bookshelves, able to see all the way up to the top, the several stories that looked to house even more books, ladders leaned against the shelves to access higher sections too tall to grab by hand. In the center of the bottom floor was a desk all but buried until several stacks of, you guessed it, books and at that table sat a red haired woman in red frammed glasses, a large pointed black hat atop her head. She was focused, beyond focused, nearly in a trance as she wrote only occasionally glancing at an open book to her side. She didn't even notice they had entered.

Alistair seemed nervous, clearing his throat several times and adjusting the tie around his neck for some time before stepping forward into the massive library. "Alice, I've brought a guest here to see you. Perhaps the two of you should introduce yourselves?" He asked, as though asking permission in a way.

There was a bit of silence after Alistair's question, the woman not looking up at all from what she was doing, not even when her mouth did eventually open to speak. "I didn't think you were serious. Honestly, Alistair, I don't know what you're thinking." She spoke up, her voice echoing amongst the shelves. Her voice was soft but her tone was cold and sharp.

"I'm busy, I haven't the time for introductions to the help... or the charity case in this instance."

Alistair scratched the back of his head, "But Alice I -"

"Alice Vroman, heir to the title of head of the main branch of the Vroman family. It wasn't a difficult decision for our parents to make." She said again with a voice like ice and daggers.

Carwen was about on point with her assumption of what this would be like. She didn't quite expect the jabs at Alistair, however. She nodded her head at the woman before saying: "That is quite the set of words for an introduction. I am Carwen... And nothing else." after which she turned around to look at Alistair. "An easy decision eh? Don't tell me I am the second rebellious woman you've brought into your house?" She teased.

Alistair's eyes fell to the floor, a sadness passing over his eyes for but a moment before he hid it all behind a smile. "You think I'd subject myself to this twice?" He said with a half-hearted chuckle. "No worries, you're the first lunatic I've brought home to ma and pa." He continued with a slighly more genuine warmth to his laugh.

"It's odd... to not have a last name that is. Even among the least fortunate, I'd imagine you're hiding it for one reason or another but I've no time nor willingness to pry into my brother's affairs." Alice spoke again without looking up, reaching over to turn a page in her book and apply more ink to her quill. "If introductions were all that is needed of me then I believe I've fulfilled that requirement, please leave me be until dinner." She continued on before the scratching of quill against parchment began again.

Alistair turned to Carwen and gave her a nod, turning to leave when Alice's voice rang out once agian. "Be sure to behave yourself, Alistair, and not just around the girl. Oh, and congratulations on finally catching the Pearl." She spoke, Alistair turning to look in her direction again only to quickly turn away when he caught her eye staring up at them away from her work.

As they left the library, she shrugged. "NOthing out of the ordinary. She was my general expectation, actually." She said before looking up at him with a mischievous smile. "And don't pretend that you didn't like your cat and mouse chase. You know you like the crazy ones. What else could thrill you like I have?" She said quite content all the same. "Also, don't think I missed her little remark for *you* to 'behave yourself'. Are you a naughty boy, Alistair? Have some plans for me?" She joked with a flirty look.

"No, nothing like that. I'd rather not talk about it right now either, sorry." He said with a sigh as he checked his watch, trying to ignore her remarks and flirtatious glare. "Only plans I have for you today are to meet my younger brother and then the head maid so you can get a uniform." He said as he motioned for her to follow as they entered the house, making their way back up to the foyer. Checking his watch again, he turned to the girl, "Osmund is a good kid. Frankly, In terms of who should be next in line to head the family I think it should be him." Alistair commented before the door to the manor creeked open and inside stepped a young man sporting the same red hair as the other two siblings. A backpack thrown over his shoulder and a clear uniform on his body, he closed the door behind him before turning to a start as he saw the two standing there as if waiting for him.

He was a head taller than Carwen but still a few inches shorter than Alistair himself, clearly only a handful of years younger, a nervous look on his face as he looked between the two. "Oh, uh, I'm not in trouble or anything am I? It's odd to have you waiting for me like this... with someone I don't know to boot." The man said, clearly seeming unaware of what was going on.

"No, nothing of the sort. I was just meaning to introduce you to our newest guest and Maid." Alistair responded to his brother as he motioned for Carwen to introduce herself.

Bowing her head slightly, she began to speak; "Carwen. You don't need to call me anything else... Oh, and nice to meet you, sir Osmund. I... I will be your maid as said. Hoping I won't cause any trouble. Well, for you people at least. Caused this man more than enough already." She said with a nod in his direction, crossing her arms and maintaining a smile. "What of you, Osmund? If this new maid may be so bold, what can I know about you?"

Alistair raised an eyebrow at the woman and the way she was talking, not sure what game she was trying to play but remained silent. In fact, part of him liked it when she didn't always have something teasing to say.

Osmund shrugged his shoulders to keep his backpack from sliding down. "Oh? That was today, huh? Alistair told me you might be coming. He asked me not to ask too much about the stuff you did so I won't, it's good to meet you. As for me? I'm not really sure of anything I could say that wouldn't be boring..." He started off, looking into the upper corner of his eyes as he thought. "I like playing sports, go to school, normal stuff kids do, ya know?"

"Why don't you tell her about what sports, Osmund?" Alistair chimed in, knowing the boy would likely try to find an escape if he gave him the chance.

Osmund nodded, "Fencing and swimming mostly. I'm in the same boat as Alistair when it comes to not having a catalyst so I gotta work on swordplay and stamina if I'm going to join the military."

"Another military man then? Sounds about right." Carwen said with a chuckle when an idea struck her. "You know, if both of you are able or willing, I could always teach you a few tips and tricks with your Chi? Get you going a bit tougher. Because lets be honest there, Ali-boy, you wouldn't have been able to catch me if your noggin wasn't on right." Carwen suggested with a flick to his temple, intent on testing the waters and see what she could do and how much she could get away with.

Alistair lightly swiped her hand away with a shake of his head toward the woman in disapproval, "I'm sure I would ha-"

"You know how to use Chi?!" Osmund interupted his older brother with an excited tone before a look of realization came over the young man's face. "I mean, that's cool and all. But I'm not sure..." He continued awkwardly, having momentarily forgotten that he wasn't exactly talking to one of Alistair's friends or a family guest.

With a sigh he crossed his arms, letting out a sigh. "What's the matter, OZ? She's barely tall enough to ride amusement park rides, don't tell me you're scared of her?" He responded to his Osmund clearly feeling awkward about asking their resident criminal for anything.

"No, it's not that..." The boy responded, raising his shoulders as though uncomfortable to bring up what he was thinking.

Alistair shook his head toward his brother this time, a similar look of disapproval that he'd given Carwen only a moment ago. "Well, she did offer, and beyond her work her time is her own."

Turning his attention to Carwen he spoke, "If the boy makes up his mind and asks at a later date think you'll still be interested in teaching him?"

Carwen ignored Alistair for the moment, focusing on Osmund. "It's because I am a criminal, isn't it? Maybe it feels disgraceful to take help from one? Either way, the offer will stand until you either feel up for it or just tell me no. I'm just trying to be helpful. That is why I am here, isn't it?" She said with a shake of her shackled ankle. Just... Hit me up with your decision later." She said with a soft smile, but if it was geniuine was for anyone to guess considering her history. With that she then turned to Alistair with a frown and elbowed him in the side. "'Barely tall enough for amusement park rides'? Rude much?"

"Thank you, I appreciate the offer. I'll just need to think on it." He responded with a light nod of his head, not answering her question about wether or not it had to do with her crimainal past. Excusing himself immediately after, the young man retreated into the manor before the situation could become more awkward.

Alistair watched the boy leave, turning back to Carwen after he was out of sight. "I don't want to hear anything like that from you. After all, I'm not the one going around touching people without their permission." He responded before glancing back in the direction that Osmund has gone.

"He's a good kid by the way, just needs some time to get to know you. I do think your past might have something to do with his hesitance but I can't say for sure one way or the other. I hope you'll be patient with him, at least at first."'

Carwen shrugged. "It's all the same to me, really. I'm sure he is a good one. He was raised in this goodie two-shoes home after all. What's more, at least I haven't touched anyone inapporpriately... kind of." She said with a grim grin that wasn't aimed at him. Softening her smile, she then looked up to the man with an interested glint in her eye. "So, what's next? The work schedule and such? Maybe there is more to be seen? Bedrooms? Armory's? Maybe places I should know not to go to?"

"No, I don't think there are too many places you can't go to. All of which you won't have a key to anyway so no point in really showing you. I'd avoid anywhere Alice finds herself if I'm perfectly honest with you. Meaning that I would avoid the library unless you're planning to try and win her over. As for what's next, I'll take you to meet the headmaid. She'll basically be your supervisor during your work here, fair warning though... actually, on second thought, better that you just meet her yourself first." He said with a crooked smile before motioning for her to follow.

Only making it a few feet before he stopped, he turned back to the woman and gave her a nod. "I'm sorry if you feel uncomfortable in this place. I know I don't know the details but from what little you've told me I know that you haven't had it easy and people like me are to blame for it. Call me stupid if you want, plenty have for going through all this trouble for you, but I'd like to think I'm doing the right thing. I don't think you're a bad person, I don't see it in your eyes. But what do I know, huh?" He spoke in a solmen and serious tone, continuing on toward the staff quarters before she could bother responding.

Carwen wanted to come with a snide remark, but couldn't find it in herself to do so. She didn't quite know why. She didn't tend to like being snide against those who were genuinely kind and benevolent, thus she tended to just outright avoid them. She wanted to be such to him, but now she hesitated. To her, it is clear why: SHe wasn't sure. Did he have ulterior motives or did he truly do this out of the kindness of his heart? She couldn't tell. So instead of any kind of snark or real conversation piece, she simply finished their current conversation with; "I guess only time will tell."

Having exited the manor and walking across the yard down a small wooded path that led down to the staff quarters, a moderate sized log building standing a story taller than the Vroman mansion. The bottom floor was lined with doors, each with a nameplate beside it. Walking up to a door with the name "Langley" attached to it, he knocked gently three times before waiting a moment. The door opening inward to reveal a woman with short pink hair in a maid's uniform.

"Lord Alistair, you're later than I was expecting. Do know I have other duties to attend to besides our guest today." The woman spoke, removing a pocket watch from her apron pocket to check the time. Replacing it into her pocket before giving Carwen a once over, "Do come in."

"I apologize, Frida. Introductions to the family took a bit more time that expected." He responded to the woman before motioning for Carwen to follow her. "I'll be leaving you in Frida's care for now, Carwen. Is there anything else you need before I go?"

Carwen felt not just a little uneasy about this. The woman seemed quite a bit more of a nuiscance than the rest of the mansion had been. And If her gut feeling was right, she'd have her work in places she'd otherwise wouldn't be in. Despite this, she turned to Alistair with a disgruntled look as she followed Frida forward. "No. No I think I'll manage from here." She said simply.

"Wonderful, I hope the both of you are able to get along. I'll be at the station for the rest of the day, if you need anything Frida knows the number to reach me from." He responded with a warm smile and a wave before heading back down the path away from the staff quarters.

Frida stepped aside and allowed Carwen to enter the apartment, the door leading into the living room where a teenaged silver haired woman in a similar uniform sat listening to some event on the Radio. Seeing both Carwen and Frida enter she reached forward and turned down the volume before standing and dusting off her lap. "Sister, is she the new one?" She asked, seeming to quickly realize what a stupid question that was. "Sorry..."

"Yes, Rosa. This is Carwen, the Pearl that Lord Alistair has spoken a great deal about in the past months. It seems he's seen fit to take her under his wing, or rather, place her under ours it would seem." Turning back to Carwen the woman pulled out a small rolled up white object, holding onto one end and letting the other drop as it was revealed to be a measuring device. "Tell me, Pearl, do you already know your size or must I measure you? Any allergies in regards to what fabrics you can and can't wear?" She asked, holding up the object to Carwen and revealing a cuff on her left wrist from which hung three links of a chain. It was a catalyst clear as could be and what resonated from it was the element of Earth.

"Um... I've... Never really measured myself? Always been a bit anxious about certain aspects of my physiq- Wait... The fucking hell am I telling you this for?" She hissed under her breath. Coughing to clear her voice, she spoke up yet again. "No, I don't know my measurements, and by loving grace do I hope you won't need to strip me to take them. And to my knowledge I am not allergic to anything... Save for synthetic fur."

"By those comments alone I can tell you're being honest about never being measured..." Frida spoke while Rosa quietly giggled in the background. "This will only take a moment, I just need to stand as I say." She continued as she started taking her measurments. Namely the three main ones, bust, waist, and hip. After only a few moments she had gotten all she needed and stood back for a second stroking her chin. "Hm... I might have something that will fit. The bust a male, the height of a child, and the hips of a rocktusk..." She spoke quietly as if trying to talk to herself alone but clearly not caring who heard one way or the other.

"Wait here, I'll return shortly." She said before heading down a hallway deeper into the apartment.

With her sister gone, Rosa approached, looking to be somewhere between fifteen and seventeen, the young woman looked over Carwen with a curious eye for a moment before finally speaking up. "It's good to meet you, I'm Rosaline Langley but most people just call me Rosa. I hear you're going to be staying in the manor instead of here in the staff quarters. I've never heard of that happening before, is it some kinda deal you made with Lady Alice? Is that rude to ask? Sorry if it is." She spoke with the tone and swiftness of someone whose mouth moved too fast for the mind to keep up with completely.

Carwen was stunned with a look of complete idignation. "Chil-... Rock... I DO NOT HAVE THE CHEST OF A DUDE!" She shouted out in rage, cheeks puffed up and beet red. She couldn't remember the last time she felt like this. Certainly not since her allying with the Blacks. With a hiss she whispered: "That bitch is gonna-" She catched herself before she said something she may regret, especially in front of this new girl. She was certainly a young one as far as she could tell, which only made her more self conscious about her height after the woman's less than flattering remarks. No need to look up to this ones eyes by and bigger degree, she coughed and presented herself. "It- It's fine. No, Alice had nothing to do with it... I am Carwen, and I am here on behest of 'lord' Alistair. Me staying in the mansion is by his will too."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed that. Not if you're really the Pearl. I mean, from my understanding you caused him a lot of grief." She said with a sustanined look of curiosity on her face. "Maybe I'll never understand men... but either way, it's always good to have an extra hand to help out around here. I wouldn't give too much worry to what Frida said, she's just in a foul mood. I mean, if you're short then wouldn't that mean I'm short? I don't think I'm short anyway."

"Can't live with them, can't live without them, as the saying goes. Don't bother trying to understand them. I don't really know what his thoughts are either. Maybe he genuinely wants to help. Maybe he has a hard time letting people go. Maybe he just want to get in my pants. What do I know?" She said with a shrug. "Men only really want one thing and they'll go quite the extent to get it... Either way, I guess I am getting my maid outfit soon... Bloody bitch calling me a child... Will I get one of those cute skirts or do you use other things? As for short? Of course not, you-... Wait, how old are you exactly?"

Rosa was left with red cheeks as Carwen went on about the desires of men and the lengths they'd go to get it. "Sixteen a-and yes, you'll get an outfit likes ours soon enough." She said, pulling up on her skirt that rested just below the knee. "Unless of course you'd prefer a butler's outfit? I've never seen a maid with one but I'd assume there wouldn't be a problem with it. But then again, I'm not exactly an authority figure around here."

"Si-Sixteen?" Carwen squeeked as she curled together in standing foster position on the floor. "Why do I have to be such a runt?" She bemoaned her size as she rested her forehead against her knees, raising her hands up, hovering over her more than humble chest, imagining how disappointing a sight they must be for most people. She often dressed in more manly clothing as it would not draw much attention to that particular spot. "Fucking hell."

"I-Is something the matter, Carwen?" Rosa asked, kneeling down to the woman on the ground.

However, before she got the chance to answer one way or the other Frida returned, "I certainly hope not, no excuse for being sick on the first day." She said, carrying an outfit wrapped in plastic over her shoulder and a pair of black slip on shoes. Sitting them down over the back of the couch she stood over Carwen with crossed arms. "All the things you've done... Don't tell me you're getting cold feet at the thought of working for a living, huh?"

"No matter where you go the motto is the same: Those who don't work don't eat, those who don't eat, Starve. What are you going to do, Pearl?"

Carwen glared absolute murder at the woman. Getting back up on her feet, she stared her straight in the eye as she began to undress. She was a bit ashamed of her body, granted, but not to the point where she would back down from a challenge. Bare upper body and stripping down to her one piece of undergarment, she put on the maid dress in equal speed. The skirt really put her hips in the center of attention. Once fully dressed she spat: "I've been working for my living all my life. It just wasn't in a mean that you prisses would find appealing."

"Good, so you've got a bit of fight in you." Frida responded with a little smirk, resting her hands on her hips. "You'll be working laundry today with Rosa. That should keep you busy. Rosa, you take her there and don't let her slack off, show her how us prisses work." The woman commanded, motioning for her sister to get going.

Rosa's face was left beet red at everything that had just occuried, having expected to show Carwen the restroom where she could change. She'd barely heard her sister's words but understood them all the same. "Yes, my shift starts soon anyway, I'll take her." She said with over exaggerated nods before motioning for the formerly half naked woman to follow her.

**...**
The moon was high in the sky when Alistair had returned home, the clock in the foryer reading nearly nine at night. Most of the lights in the home were off but for the lamps along the walls to light the way. Curious how Carwen's first day had gone he headed up to her room, standing outside her door with a bit of hesitation on his face. He was unsure if he wanted to knock or not, trying to justify the hesitation by thinking that he worried about her being asleep. But the light that poured out from the bottom of the door told him otherwise. Letting out a sigh, he knocked on the door three times.

There would be no answer. His knocks were without reply. He knocked again just to see if it was a matter of her being asleep or if she just were trying to ignore him. Before he had a chance to knock again, he would hear from behind: "What brings my lord to knock on my door this late at night?" At his back stood Carwen, her maid outfit a bit ruffled from the work of the day. She herself didn't look much worse for wear though. If not a bit of a bored expression. She then looked like she was thinking of something before brightening up with a playful grin. "Could it be that he desired my body tonight after all? My goodness, such a naughty lord indeed. I'd imagine these clothes don't make it any less appealing either." She said with a flick of her hip as she walked up to her door and unlocked it, steping inside. Leaning against the doorframe, she looked up at the significantly taller man. "So? Can I help you, sir?" She said with a little smile.

His cheeks became a bit flustered at her teasing, starting to wonder why it was he'd bothered to come. Did he really need to worry about her? She seemed capable enough, right? "No, while I admit it's cute that isn't why I'm here. I just wanted to check in on you and see how your first day went... and it's Alistair. Not lord or sir, I know I can't stop you... but it's a personal request, so please." He said as he was trying to better regain his composure.

"So, how was it?" He asked, looking her in the eyes as otherwise he knew they'd wander and last thing he wanted was to give her more ammo or worst of all, prove her right in some regard.

"Dreadful. Did you really have to leave me in the charge of that bitch? I got called man, child and rocktusk in the span of five seconds. Last one was the most hurtful of all honestly. I don't look fat, do I?" She asked as she dragged her hands down her frame and hips, spinning in place, causing the skirt to flow a bit. She then raised a finger and held it up to him. "On second thought, don't answer that one. Well, suffice to say, the work wasn't that bad as much as the boss was awful. I'll make do though. Had worse in my time." She said with a groan at the memories. "Hopefully you guys will be better overtime. Maybe I will be too, who really knows?"

He let out a sigh, using it as an excuse to look away after she'd ran her hands down her frame. The less composed part of him wanted to point out her best traits, her hips and ass to be sure, to tell her- *"No, no, Alistair..."* He thought to himself as he cleared his throat.

"I apologize if Frida insulted you, I'll have a talk with her before you start your shift tomorrow. Don't take her words for fact either, none of what she said is the least bit true, she was surely only being nasty to you to get back at me. We aren't exactly on the best of terms, her and I." He explained, looking over Carwen once before looking away agian. "If you're just returning from your shift I don't suppose you've had dinner yet?" He asked, holding up a bag of small brown boxes labled with the name of a restaurant.

"Now what is this?" Carwen spoke up with a teasing tone. "Food for us? My... With the new duties of mine though, wouldn't it be more fitting for me to cook us our dinner? You'd might come to regret it however, so your were probably in the right of it." She joked. "The kitchen? Or perhaps..." She stood to the side, back against the doorframe. "My personal chambers?" She said with a look that was hard to discern.

He looked into her room and then down the dark hall as if worried someone might see them like this. "The kitchen is probably the better idea, I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea if they see me leaving here later tonight, you understand? People tend to assume rather than ask after all." He explained, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "And I don't think you'd poison me, I don't think so little of you to believe you'd do that. I just grabbed something on the way home, knew I was coming to check on you and didn't want to be rude is all." He continued trying to explain the entire situation as though he worried she had other ideas of his reasonings.

"Tell you what, you get cleaned up and I'll head down to the dining room and wait for you there. Sound like a plan?"

Carwen nodded with a smile. "Sure thing. I'll be just a moment." She said before heading inside, grabbing her change of clothes and immediately left the room to go take a short bath. Just enough to get clean and not necessarily for comfort. Getting out of the bath, she looked at her stripped body in front of the full size mirror, looking over some of her less than flattering features. Her bust and length left much to be desired. She had at times contemplated 'cheating' her way to better features, but always decided against it. She leaned forward against it and looked up and down her naked body. "What are you playing at, mr Vroman? What is your game?" She whispered to herself while looking into her eyes.

Some minutes later she came down the steps and headed for the room she had been directed towards. Getting there she found him sitting by the table and making the last preparations. Opening the boxes with her arrival, she was greeted by the welcomed sight of steak, potatoes and pasta. It looked quite delicious frankly. "Looks lovely. Thank you for going through the effort." She said before sitting herself down, dressed in her traditional white tux and coat and her long black hair tied back in a braid. She took a bite of the steak and her mouth watered at the taste. It was awesome. Not that she'd tell him that. "QUite good. Where was this from?"

Alistair smiled at her response however little it showed, "I'm glad you like it. There's a place called the Cauldron not far from the station, lotta the Knights hang out there since we get a discount. Maybe we could go there proper when we head into the city tomorrow afternoon? Unless you'd feel uncomfortable surrounded by Knights like myself. If that's the case there are plenty of other places for a good bite. There's a place a few blocks away from the Cauldron with nice ribs, took Osmund there a few months ago."

"I don't much care for how I feel as much as that my presence would likely cause your knight friends some discomfort. Might be a bit of a fun sight to have." She joked. "But the ribs sound pretty nice. We can go there if you'd like. Must be better than anything I can cook either way." She said, one particular question still circling in her head. She couldn't ask it though, as that would only put him on guard. No, she had to sell herself in deeper first. Any means necessary. Even if she has to live by the word of that fucking whore, Frida. Taking another bite, she began small talking. "So... How was your day?" She asked, feeling a bit awkward doing so.

He smiled warmly at her question, it wasn't one that he was often asked and it stirred something in him. An amused huff of air escaped his nose before he spoke up, "Thankfully, with you off the streets things have calmed down a bit for now until your pals make their next move. Unfortunately, that means I got stuck with deskwork today. Dealing with complaints, filling out paperwork, things of that nature." He explained, raising an eyebrow before he continued, "Hell, if not for the killings I might even go so far as to say I could have found myself missing chasing you around in the dark of night." He joked, letting off a hearty chuckle.

"Admit it, you enjoyed following my fine ass around either way." She said with a wink. Getting back to her meal she ate the last of the steak and a good extent of the potatoes. So she proceeded with the pasta part, adding some barbeque sauce to it for extra flavor. Actually, rather than adding it was almost like drowning it. Looking back up at Alistair, she felt the need to explain herself right away. "What? It is delicious." She said. So much for explaining. Eating in quite the proper manner, unlike what would be expected of someone on the streets, she still appeared to have quite the appetite. Once the pasta was gone from her plate, she took it and moved over to the dish bench and began to clean it off.

"Fine as it is I think I rather perfer things as they are now. That is to say, I don't think the criminal life suits you." He responded, cleaning off the rest of his plate and walking over to join her, playfully bumping against her shoulder with his arm before turning on the second faucet and washint he dish. "You want to be a playwright after all, that seems more fitting as far as I can tell. I'll get you what you need to start on that soon enough, maybe if you could get the staff interested you could all do one with the family as a test audience. Sounds fun, right?"

"Fun. And mortifying... Also, don't think I failed to mention that you like my butt. Have you been looking perhaps?" She asked with a hip bump. Keeping up the smile, she proceeded about the play. "I've had one in the works for some time. Sadly I think it was or will be lost with your raids. Means I have to start from scratch. Luckily I have the baseline all in my head. " She muttered somewhat annoyed as she kept up with the dish. While doing so, she could be heard humming a tune. "Master, they think a locked door prevents you..." was the only bit of sentence that could be heard escape her lips.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you hear what you like to hear." He responded to her question of his wandering eyes in a tone of mock offense that she'd suggest such a thing. "And if you'd like I can look through the evidence room, they're likely to be there if they haven't been shredded yet. Might get lucky, maybe they could have thought it to be some sort of coded message? If that's the case I'll make some copies and give them to you so long as it stays between us of course." He continued, catching note of the tune she seemed to be humming while she worked.

"Don't tell me idol is another dream of yours is it?" He teased.

"I don't have the chest for that." She said in a dead pan tone. "No, I am just trying to see if a song fits the melody intended. 'Master's Song' is basically the song to hype up the villain. Get across the creepiness and interest in the Homonculus antagonist. 'I always know what he's thinking. I always know when he's drinking, and from who.' I am trying to show that he is a dangerous and scary guy." She replied as she put the dishes away on the stand for the water to fall off. "Pulling some ideas from the myths and legends of the Homonculi rather than facts about them. There are some really scary things in those myths. Well... They're scary overall."

He opened his mouth, about to tell her not to count herself out on that singing career just yet. But after already being caught in his earlier remark he thought better of it. "Oh yeah? So that's what your play was about? So you're a horror sort of Gal?" He asked, thinking back to her black mist and the entire way she seemed to present herself. "Yeah, that actually makes a lotta sense now that I think about it." He continued as he began to dry his hands.

"I'd like to hear more about this story of yours you'd thought up sometime..." He trailed off for a moment before continuing, "Maybe over dinner again?" He asked in an almost firtatious tone without really thinking about it, causing him to look away from her as though not looking at her made the it all disappear, an almost child-like response.

She did take note of the flirtatious tone and it actually made her very concerned. Was his facade about to crack? Would the real monster beneath soon be revealed...? No, she couldn't think like that. It could be that he was just trying to jokingly respond in kind from all her own teasing... Though it too came with a caviat of a purpose. This got very tricky. She jabbed him in the side with her elbow and chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. Helps keep me from burning down your kitchen in my attempt to cook my food. And yeah, I'd say I am pretty horror oriented. I seem to have the most talent in that field range. I am trying to create a more romantic one sometime in the future. It is... A tricky endeavour. Haven't really been romantically inclined towards anyone before, so... I am improvising a whole lot." She said somewhat solmenly as she started to throw her stuff in the trash. "'Those who've only known contempt and hate will mistake that for love'. An idiom I heard some time ago. Sometimes when I read back on my writing, it almost feels like it applies quite well."

She'd made enough comments about her horrendus cooking skills that he was starting to believe she might a true and genuine danger should he let her try her hand at cooking something. Nevertheless, it was what else she had to say peaked his interest, words of lack of romance and mistaking terrible things for love. In a way he identified with that though he was sure their experiences in such a regard differed greatly. "A tortured artist and a hopeless romantic... You're an interesting person, Carwen. No doubt you've lived a difficult life... But perhaps your new enviornment will be a breath of fresh air for you? A chance to dabble in the things you didn't have the luxury to before." He treaded carefully, not wanting to overstep his bounds in regards to talking as if he knew her well enough to speak of her past.

"Though courts refer to it by a different name I am your guardian during your stay here with us. As such, don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable. I don't mind helping you indulge in your hobbies if it means you'll stay out of trouble. Besides, I'd like for us to one day be able to call one another Friend despite the situation in which we met."

She threw everything away, straightened herself, back still turned to her warden, trying to contemplate what he just said. She was still trying to figure him out, and this... This only made it more complicated. She turned her head slightly so that she could see him from her peripheral. When she was yet free and indulging in criminal activities, she had indeed possessed the luxury to do what she wished, for no one knew who she was. With a finished product, maybe she could have presented it to someone and gotten it into official circles. There was so much she might have been able to do. Now that her deeds were out in the open, along with her face, it was now that she felt that her luxuries no longer existed. The only things that seemed to apply would be teh remarks of becoming friends and a breath of fresh air. She felt a sting in her heart as she contemplated it. She might have been a rat on the streets, but she was a free rat. A rat who did and could do what she wanted. It was only now that she felt her future had been ripped away from her. And he tried to mask it as a blessing.

"Maybe." was all she had to say in terms of what he had spoken of. Straightening her back and neck, she looked forward and began to walk back towards her room. With a wave of her hand while her back was turned, she took a farewell for the evening by just saying: "Good night, Alistair."

It was in her mannerisms that he realized he'd said or done something wrong though he didn't know what that might have been nor where to start in figuring it out. However, the night was growing long and they were both tired from their duties, he would need to figure it out another day. "Good night, Carwen..." He responded as she left, leaving him the empty kitchen by his lonesome.