Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

Dustin's eyes seemed to look straight through Avril, peering into her very soul, and for a moment she could see the danger and drive that was once so deeply within this man. After only a few seconds, however, his gaze glossed over as he looked around the room, his foremost thought only his next hit. He absently scratched incessantly at his hand, beginning to draw blood.

"Sounds like a plan." The ex-soldier stood, his matted black hair swinging and covering his face. He smiled a slightly broken smile as he took the proffered hand with a bone-crushing grip. "Tomorrow evening." He confirmed.
Karin
Avril Maddox
Avril's Residence

That look was one that lingered with Avril for the rest of the night, permeating her dreams and her waking moments. A moment of clarity in which she caught, for just a few seconds, a glimpse of who Dustin once was. Perhaps it haunted her so because it tugged at her conscience-what remained of it-and reminded her of the fact that the products she sold were not exactly harmless. Her entire client-base was built upon addiction... She tried to push such thoughts away by reminding herself that humans were prone to all kinds of vices. If it wasn't what she sold, then it would be something else, and at least by doing this, she kept herself off of the street and saved herself from a life of whoredom. This way, she was fucking over other people, instead of getting fucked.

The next day passed with her spending time preparing the delivery and purifying more product. By the time Dustin arrived, the delivery was sitting by the door in a wooden trunk, latched with an iron lock and with iron serving as both decoration and as support. The client had the key, and upon unlocking it, they would verify the delivery and Avril would know whether she had found a dependable, if not entirely trustworthy, runner. The product was well-hidden, tucked beneath a false bottom, while the main compartment of the trunk was filled with women's clothing, particularly undergarments. The former was to deter any man of honorable intentions-namely any guard that might seek to snoop about-while the latter was intended to prevent those who were less than honorable. 

The sky was an inky black, save for the few starts that prickled forth like spines on a thistle. Without the moon, the shadows cast by the smattering of lamps along the dark, filth-laden streets of Feyshore's less savory district loomed long and ominously. Avril was on edge as she awaited Dustin's arrival, and she nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of a knock on her door. Quickly, she made her way to it and peered through a crack in the door. As soon as she saw that it was indeed Dustin, she quickly opened it and beckoned him inside, shutting the door behind him hurriedly.
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

"The delivery went well." He said shortly, stepping inside casually. His hand was resting on the pommel of his sword... He was on edge as she was, but mostly from a couple inspections by guards. Though the package had passed, Dustin almost hadn't, and it took all of his acting to convince the guards that, no, he was not a criminal. He certainly looked like one.

As Dustin stepped in, he saw a fading memory overlaid of the house. *The walls were replaced with tent walls, and the elf standing in front of him was a human general, looking at Dustin sternly.* The memory quickly faded, but he was standing crisply at attention out of habit.
Karin
Avril Maddox
Avril's Residence

She nodded, trying to look composed and severe, which she was not at all good at. Her inexperience showed in every twitchy, fluttering movement, like a moth flitting about a flame, closer and closer to doom and yet confused by it all the same. She would either improve, with time, or she would be caught or killed, whichever came first. 
When she noticed how tense he was, however, she quickly said in an almost gentle voice, "Relax. I've already received word that the delivery was a success, and I have more work lined up for you." She looked him over for a few moments, then added, "Though before you take this work, I think you need to be cleaned up some. You're fine here in this quarter, but if you make this next delivery, it will be less conspicuous if you're... Cleaned up a bit."
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

Dustin raised his eyebrows, looking at Avril curiously. Who exactly was he delivering to? He shrugged mentally and then looked to Avril a little wryly. "Sorry, it's hard to keep clean out there." He hadn't 'cleaned up' in quite some time, just once recently to try and get a job as a janitor for the marketplace, but he was turned down anyway.

He took his hand off the sword pommel slowly, and you noticed his hand was twitching erratically. He folded his hands behind his back, and rather than asking where or how he could clean up, he smiled slightly, a nervous but eager glint entering his vibrant blue eyes, the one part of him that hadn't been dulled by the drug. "Payment?"
Karin
Avril Maddox
Avril's Residence

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if he'd just take the payment and run. She realized, however, that if he did such a thing, then he wouldn't be dependable enough to act as her runner anyway. She needed people that were loyal to her, or at least to the product she sold. She found herself hoping that Dustin was one that would be, eventually, loyal to both, perhaps.

She reached into the pocket of her dress and brought forth a small cloth filled with product, enough to be more than fair payment and, if used properly, would probably last him a few weeks. "Don't use any just yet," She said, taking note of the twitching of his hand and the clear symptoms of withdrawal. He was getting there, but he'd be alright if he had to wait a bit longer. "If you still want the job, we'll get you cleaned up first, then you can use and I'll give you instructions in the morning."
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

His hand had grabbed the cloth, and was halfway to taking it when he froze slightly. He slowly nodded and pocketed the drug. He had just now realized that he was still holding the box. He handed Avril the box, having already taken a look at how much the client had paid. He had considered stealing it, but he decided that a continuing job was better than a one-off, with peculiar wisdom from someone mainly focused on the short-term.

"Alright." He said, clasping his hands behind his back, his knuckles white from squeezing them, a vain attempt to stop the trembling. "Where can I get cleaned up?"

Really, he was a mess. His hair looked matted painfully with dirt clumped in to the hanging ends. His face was smeared with dirt, and his clothes had holes in them. Not to mention, the hand he had been digging at last night looked infected.
Karin
Avril Maddox
Avril's Residence

She wasn't entirely sure that she was comfortable with him being in her house, but she also knew that if she didn't get him cleaned up and keep him here overnight, he'd likely just end up in the filth again and she'd lose her runner and have to find someone else at the last minute. With that thought in mind, she gestured for him to follow her and brought him to a small room in the dilapidated shack that had a washtub in it just large enough for a person to fit in.

"The water comes from the well up the street," She said as she handed him a bucket. "Get some and I'll lay out a towel and some soap for you, then I'll see if I can find some clothes for you."
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

Dustin, not yet sunk into a drugged trance, realized what the elf was doing for him, and he smiled crookedly. He'd have to thank her later. It truly was kind of her. Later...

He nodded as he grabbed the bucket and looked around at the washroom. He doubted it would be good enough to properly get him clean, but a semblance, definitely. He strode out, hands still twitching behind his back, in a stiff-legged military march. 

He reached the well and began to fill the bucket slowly, leaning over the edge of the well, looking down. It was easy to get lost in thoughts of self-pity here, but Dustin wasn't that sort. Instead what he almost got lost in were the cravings... He toyed with the strings of the bag. It would be so easy to have some now. Avril wouldn't know... 

Yes she definitely would, he thought. Any drug dealer knows who's high and who's not. He sighed and reluctantly put the bag back in his pocket, fingers shaking more violently as he openly rejected the drug for the moment. He picked up the bucket and headed back to the shack.
Karin
Avril Maddox
Avril's Residence

While Dustin set out to get water for his bath, Avril quickly got to work getting a towel and soap for him. The towel was rough and tattered, and the soap was unscented and rough, made by Avril's own hand from lard she had purchased. The tub in which he would wash was a little leaky, but it was all Avril had to give right now, and it would be enough to clean him up.

Once everything was set, she stepped outside and saw that he was returning with the bucket. At that, she smiled brightly. Admittedly, she hadn't really thought that he'd return and had assumed that he'd ignore her orders and use and then dip out, but so far, he hadn't. This gave her some hope. He was passing her tests!

"Go ahead and start washing up," She said, the smile still quite present and lighting up her delicate features. "I'll be back in a few minutes with some clothes." Without really waiting for him to respond, she scurried down the darkened street like the vermin that populated the area. To the people that lived in the better districts, there was little doubt that Avril's section of the city was populated with nothing but vermin, both human and rodent alike. 

Several minutes later, she returned with some clothing for him. It was a bit plain, but for where he was going, it was passable in that it wouldn't draw undo attention to him either in gaudiness or raggedness. Being inconspicuous was the name of this game.

When she returned, she stood outside the washroom and slid the clothing under the curtain that served to offer some privacy, while saying, "I brought you some clothes and I have a comb for you to use. Though it may be easier to cut your hair than to comb it all out... But that's up to you. Let me know if you need anything... Oh! And make sure you scrub under your fingernails!" Despite how far she had sunk, Avril had lived among the finer things in life at times, and it showed now in how she fussed over getting him clean and looking presentable.
Kathy
**Lord Louis IV of Orleáns,
The Orleán Palace, Aquarin.**

*Louis was on his balcony contemplating the mild sea. The waves hit the sandbank slowly and smoothly, covering the near-black sand in a warm liquid blanket. He had a highly detailed goblet of wine, covered in intricate patterns of dolphins and sharks, all made in pure gold. The goblet itself was made of silver, the inside lined with a thin iron covering. It was heavy in his hand, and his mind was drifting away, focused on the sea and the regular movements of the waves. For half an hour he had a moment of peace and quiet, even though it only felt as a few minutes to him. Louis' trance was suddenly interrupted by a servant, which awoke him.

The servant rushed in, his wooden shoes banging against the stone floor. He approached Louis, did a quick curtsey and talked to his liege* "Mi'lord" *He said bowing, and after being told to rise by Louis, he continued* "Her Majesty, Anyanka Durkhan has sent a letter directed to you. I did not read it, but here it is." *Louis gently took the letter from the servant's rough hand, using a letter opener to slit it open, and took out a letter, which read:* 

***Good Morning Louis,

I am sorry for not writing earlier, as I was on a state visit to Terresol when your father died, and have been very busy since then. I am writing this letter to send my congratulations for your new position as Lord of Landow and to send my grieving for the death of your father. He was a good ruler, and it is because of him that you have your title. 

Best Regards and Good Luck,
The Grand Duchess Anyanka Durkhan***

*Louis let out a deep sigh and carefully put the letter back into the envelope. He gave the letter to the servant and he went away to store it. Louis went into his study to write a response.*
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

"Thanks for—" 
His cut off reply chased the already moving Avril and he sighed slightly. Something about her manner was off... More than just a drug dealer getting a disguise ready. He couldn't quite mark it...

He shrugged and stripped, beginning to wash off in the bathtub. The water was cold, so he was quick, perhaps too quick. He did manage to get the dirt stains off of his face, and the mud out of his hair, along with generally getting the odor of manure and nastiness out. Honestly, his clothes would be better off burnt than cleaned but he didn't know that, just changed into the new clothes as well. Hearing her belated call, he sighed and disregarded the request. His fingernails had become considerably less black, but they were by no means clean. And by no means did he feel like cleaning them.

He picked up the comb hesitantly and began to try and comb out his hair before yelping slightly with pain and letting out a stream of curses. He didn't sign up for this. Nevertheless, he did his best, and tore through the tangles with a considerable amount of pain. He took a small portion of the drug and inhaled, letting the pleasure flow through him and numbing the pain quickly. While he couldn't feel, he swiped the comb through his hair, actually tearing off a clump of strands quite forcefully, and ripping off some of the skin on his head. Of course, he didn't feel it. He sank back against the wall, letting the spice finish its course.
Kathy
**Lord Louis IV of Orleáns,
The Orleán Palace, Aquarin.**

*When he entered his study, in front of him stood a large, highly ornate sandalwood table, carved with the coat of arms of House Orleáns, House Durkhan and Landow. On top of the table there was a parchment of fine, snow white paper and a long swan quill with a full gold-rimmed glass ink bottle. He sat down on his large, feather-filled wooden chair and started writing the letter. It went like this:*

*** Good Afternoon, Your Majesty,

Thank you for the letter. I completely understand the reason you were not here for my Father's funeral, and thank you for the kind words you said about him. I hope that our relations will only improve, and I would like to talk to you in person. I think that my skills as a diplomat and merchant are better suited in another King's court than here in my own, and would like to ask permission to try and improve diplomatic relations between South Feyshore and the country in Question. When would be a good time for me to visit you in Astoria?

Your Humble Vassal,
Lord Louis IV of Orleáns.***

*He carefully put the letter inside of an envelope, called a servant and gave it to him, with orders to send it to Her Majesty the Queen.*

**Lord Louis IV of Orleáns,
The Orleán Palace, Aquarin**

*After a good night's sleep, Louis had woken up to a weird noise. It looked like there was a crowd of people at his court, wanting, no* ***Demanding*** *To be attended by the Lord himself. It was still around 10:00 a.M., so he did not know the reason for these demands. He let out a small grunt and sat up on his feather-filled bed. It was very comfortable, being covered in fine silk sheets and various pillows. He used his hand as an aid and stood up, and went to the bathroom. He then washed his face and dipped himself into the hot water that was present in his tub. He put his head under water, and after he rose, used some boar-fat soap to clean his hair and body. After drying himself and putting on his tunic, he called for his servants, which dressed him in his formal clothes, a gold-thread overall over an also gold-thread jacket. Underneath the gold, he had a smooth white silk shirt alongside a white silk scarf. Below the waist he had a crocodile-skin belt over some tight silk trousers. He also used some leather shoes, engraved with a few rubies. 

Ready for court, he entered his great hall, to find a wild assortment of people, from Nobles to Merchants to Fishermen. He called a representative in to tell the story while he sat on his Silver throne. The men sent in, presumably a noble, was dressed in fine garments, including a silk shirt and a fur jacket. He did a quick curtsey and told his story.* "Mi'lord, the docks have been attacked by Pirates!". T*He message was simple and straightforward, but worrying. Who would have called the pirates? Was it simple scags, doing their own business, or were they funded by Araedia? Maybe they were sent by the Pirate King himself? These and many others ran through Louis' head, but he only had one question.*

"Did LMS (Landow Navy Ship) Invincible stop them?" *The envoy stuttered. He ended up answering in a very low tone "Y-y-yes Mi'lord, but some died. Including your wife." *By the time he said the last word, he was shaking uncontrollably, cold sweat all over him. Hearing the news, Louis blinked once, and once he realized that it was true, he jumped out of his chair and blasted out of the room. He would need to calm down before taking any decisions. So, the first thing he did was call the massager, and lay down on the cold, hard stone table. The massager soon arrived, a strong man, almost 7' tall and very muscular. Knowing of the incident, he planned this massage to be extra-long, around 3 hours, but when the time came, Louis insisted on another hour, as he had not yet recovered from the incident. By the time the massage had come to an end, it was already time for supper. He ate modestly, not much, but didn't starve either. Still thinking about the incident, he undressed and fell into his bed, sleep arriving soon after his head hit the soft pillow. He would have nightmares, but it is nothing that he isn't accustomed to.*
Alex
```*Lord Louis IV, 

That is certainly an option we can consider. Feel free to make your way to Zahrada within the next week. An audience will be granted upon your arrival should things remain calm as they have been over the last few days. 

Do not move to put yourself in another man's court without my approval. My seal on your announcement will serve you better than your own alone. 

Hope all is well, 
Queen Durkhan* ```
Karin
Avril Maddox 
Avril's Residence

Avril waited in the living room for him, though at the sound of a thump against the wall, she stood up and hovered outside the door. "Dustin?" She asked, listening for a response. "Are you okay?" She waited for a long time, listening carefully, but heard nothing whatsoever. "Dustin?" She asked again, a little more nervous now. Finally, she tugged the curtain to the side and peered inside, half afraid that she'd see a naked man. Thankfully, he had already clothed himself, but he had clearly used and harmed himself somehow in the process.

"Dammit," She grumbled, quickly pushing the curtain the rest of the way aside and stepping inside. He was quite out of it, at this point, so she wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tried to tug him upright; however, he was quite a bit heavier and larger than she, so she was unable to lift him. She grumbled more at that, wishing that Craig were here to help her with this, though he'd probably just have snide comments for her. 

She ducked out of the room for a few moments and returned a bit later. Although she had turned to selling product, she was, from her roots, a healer. Although the majority of her cellar was now filled with various drugs, she had various herbs and roots for healing. First, she bandaged his wounded hand and the spot in his skull, taking note of the still-matted hair and deciding that it would likely have to go, though she'd wait until he was awake. She also noted the dirty fingernails and sighed again, but in all actuality, she really couldn't do anything about it. She certainly wouldn't scrub him down herself! 

After he was bandaged up, she brought forth a small vial of an earthen-colored substance and passed it under his nose a few times, letting him inhale deeply of the revitalizing salts. "Wake up," She said quietly, yet firmly. "I can't carry you, so you're going to have to get up on your own."
Paul
**Dustin Olsah**
**Avril's Residence**

Dustin jolted to reality with a sudden spasm and his wide eyes locked on Avril's. He must have been out of it longer than he expected. He rolled his head from side to side and tentatively felt the bandage on his head. 

"What the hell.." He muttered blearily. He slowly stood up shakily, tempted to grab the bag from his pocket again.

"Sorry." Dustin said, belatedly realizing he wasn't supposed to have some of the product just yet.
Kathy
**Lord Louis IV of Orleáns, 
The Orleán Palace, Aquarin**

*Louis was not surprised by the response, after all, he was not representing himself, but house Durkhan. He was actually pleased with the response, which showed that even the Queen had acknowledged his skills as a diplomat.

Her took a long bath while servants packed his belongings. He would travel by land, and would take his own personal carriage. It was state of the art, the outside covered in sculptures in pure gold, some of them even encrusted with diamonds. It was pulled by 6 large white thoroughbreds, and even the driver had a feather filled seat. Inside was a bed, with a cushioned back, if he wanted to sit down. If he wanted to write there was a table close to the decorated ceiling, which he could pull down. There would be some parchment, a swan quill with an ink bottle and a long gold letter opener, with an emerald handle.

He spent most his day asleep, and when he was up he would have a servant, many times young ladies, entertain him. It was boring, but the trip only took two days, with resting at night so the horses could sleep. He finally arrived at Zahrada, and slept in his carriage.*