<div class="floatright">(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6089/003blondeingray.jpg)</div><br/>As Michelle listened and responded, the porcelain demeanor hiding her frightened, childish sorrow broke through, revealing the pain that Michelle had gone through so recently.  "I can deal with the vampire that tried to kill me, but the werewolves killed my mother.  I'd rather not..."<br/><br/>Michelle then started laughing, throwing herself into the next bit.  Despite talking, she was still also paying perfect attention to the television, and now Br'er Bear was hanging from the trap while Br'er Fox was trying to get him out.  Br'er Bear kept on insisting that he was going to earn a dollar a minute.<br/><br/>Keeping that conviction alive and pushing away the trauma, she kept her smile going.  "That's pretty cool," she said.  "I'm not great at fighting yet, but I'm learning.  Plus, I have quite a few tricks and gimmicks from my dad, so that should definitely help with things.  I expect that I'll be the resident trickster, so that we can talk our way into things and all.  Also, since you probably won't be able to do your job anymore, let me know if you run down on cash.  I've got quite a nest."<br/><br/>She didn't really grift people for the money anymore; she had lots of money.  Part of it was that she wanted to polish her skills, but another part was that it was the only part of life that ever really felt real to her, the only way things made any sense.