<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/miOIgK5.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/EaWSPvP.jpg)</div><br/>Velma nodded in agreement.  She pulled a bundled package from her belt pouch that looked to be too big to even fit through the opening of the pouch, let alone be contained in it's tiny space.  She set it down next to the door and the warforged reached through and passed a rather sizable pouch to the bespectacled alchemist.<strong> "Anything new then Chunk that I should know about?"</strong>She asked.  The warforged shook it's mighty head and she nodded,<strong> "Ok then, see you next week."</strong><br/><br/>The warforged, through the little window said in it's deep bassy voice,<strong>"Thank you for visiting Madam Kirin's Cat house, please feel free to call on us again.  Kirin's Cat House opens for business at sixth bell in the evening, and stays open until sixth bell in the morning. "</strong><br/><br/>Velma waved her hand dismissively as she pushed Miyuki back towards the exit,<strong> "I know, I know, I know."</strong>Once they were outside Miyuki would note that the day was starting to warm up in earnest.  Not quite tenth bell in the morning yet and already it was getting fairly warm.  Velma began leading the way again saying to Miyuki,<strong>"You know Milky, Chunk's not a bad forged.  He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's very protective of the men and women that live and work in the cat house, and he's a fantastic bouncer.  But he's no deep thinker like Vii is."</strong><br/><br/>They began winding their way down through crowded streets and busy avenues, taking roads that switched back and seemed to be laid out in a chaotic fashion.  Indeed now that she knew what she was looking for she could almost tell when they transitioned from one 'district' or area of the city to another.  The buildings took on a different feel, were often older, more weathered as they worked their way down the hill and to the east.  Velma explained,<strong>"So you've been to a few places now, Ylene's, me Da's tavern, D'nai's Rest, the cat house, the academy, been to the Seven Hells twice.  When you start walking these streets alone, it's very important that as you walk, you keep the destination of where you want to end up in your mind.  I don't mean just casually either.  Ye gotta focus on it, make sure it's the only destination you're thinking of.  You know about the curse right?"</strong><br/><br/>Miyuki nodded,  Velma continued,<strong>"There's some not so great parts of our city, the cheapside in the northern and north eastern part of town aren't any place someone like you wants to be wandering around alone.  The Laelith defenders patrol it of course, but they can't be everywhere all the time.  Plus it's too close to the outer gate, for my tastes.  Those people who live outside the walls, near the lighthouse, they're crazy if you ask me." </strong>Velma looked up at the sky and swore softly,<strong>"Lets hurry, I don't like the look of the clouds on the horizon." </strong>Sure enough the sky to the east, out over the ocean was dark and promised a rain storm.<strong> "Rain's going to hit early today, before the eleventh bell tolls if I guess correctly."</strong><br/><br/>Miyuki and Velma hurried along the streets, wending lower and eastward as the general tone of people likewise seemed to speed up from it's laconic pace to one of determination.  Some people seemed utterly unconcerned, others, such as merchants who had carts or shops with perishables displayed were covering their wares with oil-soaked tarps.  They made it to the tower near the docks that Velma explained was the apartment building Jax lived in just as the first rumble of thunder sounded out over the ocean and the sky had grown dark with heavy black clouds.  They ascended several flights of stairs, each floor in that specific building appearing to be a seperate apartment.  When they reached the fourth floor Velma knocked loudly on the door.  A knock that was echoed a moment later by a loud crash of thunder from outside the building.  They waited for a few moments before she knocked again, only to be answered by a mumbled shout from behind the door.<br/><br/>Jax opened it just as the first sounds of rain drops hitting the building outside became clear.  The rain started with a few soft patters but in only seconds Miyuki could hear the sound of a torrental downpour outside of the walls of the building.  Jax, his leg unbound and unsplinted smiled when he saw who was knocking on his door.  Clad only in a soft linen robe he smiled and waved for the two women to come in.  His apartment was somewhat sparse but very comfortable with leather furniture and several living green plants.  It wasn't exactly what Miyuki might have thought of as 'halfling' decor, but it did speak of comfort, which his kind were notorious for enjoying.<strong>"Velma, long time no see my pretty dwarven gal!"</strong>he said with a chuckle.<br/><br/>Which Velma playfully answered with a swat at his shoulder and an admonishing,<strong>"Why isn't your leg splinted?"</strong><br/><br/>He shrugged,<strong> "I take them off at night when I sleep.  Or in the case of last night, cry softly to myself in my lonely empty bed, dreaming of exotic and beautiful women." </strong>He looked up at Miyuki and made a face of pure sadness.  His eyes wide and wet, and obviously a somewhat obvious attempt at pity.  After only a moment however his face changed and he said,<strong> "Well it sounds like it's coming down out there, can I get either of you something to eat?  I was just nursing a bit of a hangover and thinking breakfast would go a long way to curing that." </strong>He stopped and waggled his eyebrows at the both of them saying,<strong>"Not as far as a threesome would though!"</strong><br/><br/>Velma sighed and looked at Miyuki saying in a long suffering voice,<strong> "You sleep with a halfling one time and he's convinced that you're bisexual and always eager to bed him again.  Such is my lot in life I suppose."</strong><br/><br/>