"I'm telling you it was Gabriel. There's no doubt about it. Her description fits him to a T. Brown curly hair, freckles, different colour eyes."
Nikiro thought for a moment. "I suppose you're right. I'm sure there's plenty of people who fit the bill for a man with brown curly hair and freckles but it'd probably be less of a coincidence for them to have the same exact eyes. We're missing Avarice though. Where did you say he was staying again?"
Sin sighed. "His letter didn't specify where. According to him though, he had originally encountered Gabriel in the Nightless City."
"Maybe we should start there then."
"Sounds like a plan, but before that..." Sin tugged on Nikiro's collar. "We're going to need to change into something less conspicuous."
"What? Why?" Asked Nikiro.
"Let's stop at the Sun's Kiss Dollhouse first. They're bound to have some information about this. Even if they don't, it wouldn't hurt to check."
Nikiro thought back to the brothel he and Sin had visited before. "Ah, Right."
With that said, Sin grabbed Nikiro's hand and began leading him to his chambers to find some clothes.
|Evening|94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz16bemZFVO
July•14•xxxx
Dez walked down the stairs through the courtyard. She had been making her way back to her room when the flippant sound of gossip graced her ears. A small group of maids had been gathered at the bottom of the stairs for their daily dose of idle gossip. Dez rolled her eyes, prepared to ignore them and carry on, but when she heard her name pass their lips she stopped and peered over the railing to catch what they were saying.
"Did you hear? That woman was seen running out of Prince Zur-Sin's room a little while ago."
"The Pirate Lord that the Empress let stay here?"
"Yes, that's the one! It was pretty obvious what had happened for her to be running out so frantically."
"But don't you think that they look rather nice together?"
The maids hummed and chattered, earning another eye roll from Dez. The last thing she wanted was a lasting rumour going around about her supposed relationship with the Prince. She walked down the stairs, clearing her throat to make her presence known. The maids looked back at her in shock. They silenced themselves with haste, bowing in apology as she walked by.
"Apologies Lady Desdemona. We didn't know you were there."
Dez wasn't particularly angry with them. She knew how that whole situation looked and it wasn't like they were wrong in their assumption of what happened. She was more irritated that what followed the assumption, was the idea that she was actually in a relationship with him.
"I'm not a lady. You don't need to be so worried."
The maids looked at each other hesitantly. "B-But....you're a guest here...and aren't you and the Prince..."
"No. We're not."
"O-oh! We're very sorry. We just assumed-"
"No worries."
Dez thought for a moment. It was then that an idea took route in her head in order to rid herself of such ridiculous rumours. After all, the quickest way to dispel a rumour, is with another rumour and who carries rumours better than nosy maids.
"I was just thinking of taking a stroll down to the docs. I've been feeling a little homesick nowadays. Being by the ocean seems to help. Why don't you accompany me there? If you're not busy that is."
"Yes! It would be an honour to accompany you lady-ah...."
"Just Dez is fine."
"Right...it would be an honour to accompany you Miss Dez."
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
The sound of waves crashing against the shore and workers bustling about filled the air. Dez and the maids wandered onto the docs, strolling past the workers and enjoying the cool evening breeze. Dez let her eyes wander. She idly scanned the workers and ships. Her eyes settled on a patterned bandana that seemed rather familiar. She shrugged, thinking that it must be a common design. She was about to look away when a worker called out to the stranger in the bandana, making her realize why she thought it seemed so familiar.
"Kai! Bring those over here!"
"Coming!"
Dez turned to the sound of the voice. Their eyes lock and she freezes, her pulse quickening. "Kai? Is that you?"
The man looked over at Dez. "Captain!" He carefully put down the crates he was carrying and headed over to Dez excitedly. "It's so good to see you again!"
"What are you doing here?"
Kai beamed, his boyish smile dazzling even the maids behind Dez. "When we disbanded Empress Illya gave us enough money and necessities to find work or home elsewhere. I've been working for a trading company over in Sindaria. We're just dropping off some goods today.
Loud chatter from a little further down the doc drew her attention and she turned to see two figures, one clad in a simple black uniform masked by the long black veil on their bamboo hat and the other in white. If it weren't for the way the breeze parting the veil ever so slightly, she wouldn't have caught the glimpse of red peering back at her. It was Sin making his way down the docks with Nikiro. She turned back around to face Kai, ignoring when the maids moved to greet him.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
Sin's voice came out harsher than he intended but Dez could tell he was very much in work mode and didn't mean anything by it.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I was just taking a walk."
Sin quirked a brow when he spotted Kai. "Who's this?"
"He was my first mate. Back before the crew disbanded."
Kai bowed his head. "Nice to meet you your Highness."
Dez grabbed Kai's arm and stuck herself to him. Disregarding his confusion, she continued to speak. "We were just catching up. I missed him quite a bit you see."
Nikiro could feel Sin tense up at the sight of their proximity. He looked at him as if to say "don't cause any trouble." Whispers from the maids and workers barely made it to his ears.
"Huh? I thought she was with the Prince?"
"Was it just a rumour?"
"Looks like. She seems close with that worker over there. I've never seen him before. She must have come to visit him."
Sin smiled. "Dez can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Can it wait? I want a few more minutes with Kai."
"It can't. I'm leaving in a moment to go arrest the man behind the Scarlet Night," he stated simply, conveniently leaving the bit about the brothel out.
Dez' face dropped and she let Sin take her aside without further protest. "You know who did it?" She whispered.
"It was Gabriel," he said with a frown.
"...you know where to find him?"
"We're going off of Avarice's reports. We don't know for sure, but we've got a pretty good idea."
"I see...be careful..."
Sin chuckled, nudging her shoulder playfully. "Don't forget about me while I'm gone."
She scoffed. "Oh please. I don't think I'd be able to forget even if I wanted to."
A brief memory of their drunken night together resurfaced in her head and against her will, she felt her face heat up. Sin seemed to notice the slight traces of red that graced her cheeks and could immediately tell what she was thinking of.
He smiled and leaned in. "Good." He placed a kiss on her forehead and watched as her face grew even redder.
"WHAT THE FU—"
"Au revoir my lady!"
He burst out laughing, ducking around Dez and running back down the docks to where Nikiro was getting on their ship. Kai and the maids watched on with mild concern for Dez's uncharacteristically flushed face. When she glanced over at them, she could tell that any plans she had of dispelling the rumours of her and Sin had just been foiled and so she turned to return to the palace instead, turning back just long enough to see Sin waving at her as he too got on the ship.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxiUA8TUVx
