Worship.

[MissusHow]

Ara smiled greatfully, glaring at the crowd, and then examined the boots critically. They were well made things, and quite beautiful to the eye. She frowned, pretending to count on her fingers...should she say they were worth less...? It might give her away, she knew that Varian probably knew how much they were worth, as he had probably gotten them made for him. Finally, sighing that her lovely joke had been ruined, she straightened, "In my fathers shop they\'d probably sell for double that, if we could manage to trick some rich nobleman who wasn\'t from here, but I\'d say you got a pretty fair price for them! The leather is quite nice, and the buckle... is that real gold?" she asked, feigning awe, and looking at her own, plain, leather shoes. "They\'re fine things, I must say, and fit you well, I can see. Did you get them made for you, or just buy them off in a shoe store? If you got them made I\'d like to know hwere...father can never find any shoes that fit him. He has such big feet!" Ara sighed, grinning slightly at the jest. Harold did have large feet, though he had no trouble finding shoes... Ah well, not everything could be ammended truthfully.

Behind her she could hear an unusual silence, the Thief Lord half glanced,and saw the reason. Most people had hushed, the Chief Overseer was near, and talking to Lord Dagger, who had disappointment writen all over his face, though he wore a polite smile. The effect, Ara thought, was rather comic.

[Shinola]

Rin lifted a thin hand to push a bit of wandering hair back away from his eyes, tucking it behind an ear as his eyes wandered across the crowd once more. Those things never appeared to stay still -- his eyes, that is. They were always looking at something. Maybe searching for something. Hard to tell which. He turned his gaze back to Dagger, a pleasant and unrevealing look on his face. It was a practised thing, that expression. Something that not everyone could master in their lifetime. Rin, however, had discovered it at an early age. It had gotten him out of much trouble...

"How have you been this season, Dagger?" he questioned, tilting his head slightly to look a little upwards at the taller man. He dropped the lordly title, now that a greeting had been established. And if Dagger would speak as a peer, so would Rin. He clasped his hands together between the folds of his robes. "Our good Lord Talon has been very active during this unusual cold..." he commented in an idle, conversational tone.

He looked towards the young Thief, catching her eye for a brief moment, then his eyes continued onward as if he had never seen her. Her face, though, appeared familiar. As did the face of the Tutor. He knew that one almost as well as Dagger\'s. Varian Whittaker, if his memory served him right. A tutor of Etiquette, Monarchy and... Religious studies. Something along those lines. The other, though, he was unsure of.

He brought his eyes back to Dagger. It was polite to retain eye-contact at least some of the time, when in a conversation.

[Trillian]

"I\'ve fared well," came the easy reply, along with a brief nod to agree with his own words.  "The bitter cold hasn\'t reached my heart, as yet."

Words that could be interpreted in many ways.  Dagger\'s typically provocative speech came to the fore, out of habit if nothing else.  Usually such words were dealt merely to delve into the other\'s manner of interpretation, and sometimes highly entertaining results ensued.  He would not taunt the Ordained, however, he was too cautious for that.

Some of the curiousity in his eyes was replaced with a hawk-like observation, brightening now that he\'d begun to settle into this conversation.  It was an interesting turn of events after all.

[Chem]

Varian had also noticed the sudden hush for which he was unspeakably grateful, and felt the Ordained\'s lingering gaze, though he did not endeavour to catch it. It would have entailed an obligation for conversation, dalliance, postponing his leave further... And of course, more time in Dagger\'s company. Varian gave a half-smile at the lord\'s plight; for all his appearances, he did have a certain fondness for the older man, and acted the part of exasperated sibling accordingly.

At Ella\'s conclusion, he tilted his head in acknowledgement.

"I acquired them from my father\'s cobbler. He didn\'t like to part with them, mind." A light chuckle as he recalled that particular incident. "A man in love with his masterpieces, or so they say. These happened to fit perfectly. I don\'t think he would have sold them otherwise. Stunning workmanship, as always." A pause. "He owns a store in York Street, though I\'m afraid I can\'t promise that he\'ll sell you anything. A peculiar man, that one."

[MissusHow]

The thief glanced at the Overseer carefully...was that a flicker of recognition in his face?

The sound of Varians voice brought Ara back to the present, and she turned, listening. Ara frowned thoughtfully, Yorkshire street? She\'d have to send one of her thieves down there to investigate, a few of the little ones needed shoes, and she could always use an extra pair. A good shoe was sometimes key to success in some of her...\'missions\'. And they were in desperate need for a good shoe maker. Though the ones she was wearing now were fine, she had gotten them long ago, and the man close to their den...was no where near suited to make them shoes.

"I don\'t believe I know the place, maybe I\'ll go there myself to see what\'s happening. Father might scare him," she said, grinning ruefully, her smile faded, however, and she added, "Umm...How strange IS this man? Would he...Is he dangerouse? I\'d just like to know in case I do go and find him."

[Shinola]

Rin smiled softly, nodding his head a small bit at Dagger\'s answer. As he stepped out into the cold with the lord, he turned slightly towards him, stopping and looking up to his eyes. He held the other man\'s gaze for a brief time, face never changing.

"You could never understand how pleased I am to hear that," he stated. It could have meant anything. He did not seem to be about to explain. Giving Dagger a slight inclination of his head, he turned back. "I do have other things to attend to," he said, as if suddenly remembering such a fact. "As do you, I imagine..." He laughed softly, putting both hands out to either side in a small shrug. "I hope we can find time to talk a little more extensively, Dagger."

With that, he headed back inside the temple through the crowd that had become more of a tiny gathering. Most had already gotten out. To go about waiting for onesday, and normal schedules.

[Haha. He\'s just a temporary inconvenience to Dagger. =D]

[Trillian]

Dagger returned the Ordained\'s stare with a thoughtful look, interpreting the other\'s words in a way he did not think likely, but couldn\'t think of another manner in which to understand them.  Had they been caring?  Hmn.
 
"That would be a pleasure," he replied automatically as the other excused himself from Dagger\'s presence.  He gave a polite nod and watched the back of the priest before turning now and finding Miss Ella Green.  She wasn\'t too far away, still stuck with Varian.
 
As he stepped closer, he heard Varian talking of the cobbler in York Street, and the young lady\'s query about how dangerous the fellow might be.  Dagger knew him, for anyone with coin to spare went to buy his boots there.  The fellow was extremely meek and pious, gentle in nature.  However, Dagger thought it best not to impart with this information, and imply the opposite instead.
 
"Miss Green, I would be delighted to escort you to York Street on any business day," he interrupted the conversation with a grin and dropped a wink to Varian.  "You never know with these cobblers and their little hammers and sharp tacks."

[Chem]

Varian had opened his mouth with every intention of answering Ella’s question when he was rudely cut short – and by Dagger, no less. He pursed his lips at the lord’s smooth wink, which was followed by an utterly fictitious reply, but did not deign to correct it. ‘Let the man have his lady,’ he thought with an angry sniff, ‘There’s sure to be a new one by the morrow.’

Aloud, he said, “Indeed. Dangerous men, cobblers. Perhaps you ought to take up Lord Dagger’s offer, Miss Green.” A sugary, secretive smile.

“If you have no other use of my services…” Here, he shot Dagger a dark look, it being his fault that Varian had been bundled with his charge in the first place, “I beg to take my leave. I have several matters to attend to.” He had no such thing, of course, but had never liked to be the third wheel and liked even less to be cast aside like a sack of potatoes.

Unfortunately, Dagger had precisely this very habit.

[MissusHow]

Ara caught the wink, and giggled slightly, "Oh, Don\'t be silly Varian! I\'m sure you can come along. I enjoy your company!" she exclaimed, ignoring Dagger absolutely...baiting him... he wouldn\'t get her easily, most probably wouldn\'t get her at all. And if she did end up \'spending the night\' with Dagger he would pay pricily for his foolishness. He should recognize a dangerouse fish when he caught one. And Ara...or...\'Ella Green\' was dangerouse indeed.

As she waited for Varians answer, inside her head she screamed, if she had to stand around here for much longer... then again watching her new thieves doing their work wasn\'t much better, which is what she would have to do today... she just had to make this a game... A cat and mouse game, and if Varian came with her...there might be two plump dead mice by the end of the day. Her eyes twinkled merrily now, thinking of the maps she could have of the castle if she went there herself, of the riches she could gain.

Though Ara was better than most thieves (and none were good, so neither was she), her greedy streak always seemed to shine when opportunity came around... a thief, is a thief, after all.

[Trillian]

Thwarted, once again.  It appeared the day was ripe for such things.  He hoped that he was getting all rebuttals out of the way, for his daughter was just as likely to shun him as well.
 
His daughter.  He had to arrange the carriage to bring her, a busy day today, regardless of every shop being closed and very few people working.  Days of worship were often the busiest of all, just look at his morning so far!
 
"The lady has wisely chosen her escort," Dagger replied, bowing out politely for two reasons - the first was the fact he should\'ve gone about his business in the first place and had much to do, and the second was the fact that Varian appeared not to want to be promised his time.  "And I know you don\'t hold tutoring on a Day of Worship, Varian, so no need to be so polite."  He grinned fiercely at Ella Green, wanting her more now because he\'d been refused (the way it usually is with a creature such as Dagger).
 
"If you\'ll excuse me fair lady, I shall leave you in the company of a better gent."
 
Hopefully that would titillate Varian and force him to remain as Dagger made his exit.  Like the whirlwind that interrupted them, he left in as grand an exit, stepping away before a protest could be sounded other than to his back - and surely no lady or gentleman would address his back.

[Chem]

Damn Dagger and his manipulative ways. Varian harrumphed as the man swept away in a dramatic flourish, having recognised the attempt to humour him for what it was. Thanks to the lord, he was now to be saddled with Ella for more hours still, and he just knew that Dagger had done so deliberately. Why else would he give up his prize, and so easily, if not to irritate him?

It always turned out this way. Varian simply refused to be Dagger\'s scapegoat any longer. Any woman foolish enough to dismiss the tutor\'s expert advice was not deserving of his sympathy, and the constant tearful, running faces of Dagger\'s latest conquests were, to be frank, off-putting. His handkerchiefs were expensive, damnit!

To Ella, though, he gave a pretty smile, burying his discontent in the ever-growing cemetery of his psyche. "Shall we, Miss Green?"

[MissusHow]

Ara bated her eyelashes, waving at Lord Dagger, who turned a corner and was gone, she would have him followed later... if she could ever slip away, however her character did not permit that, her being the polite person she was supposed to be... that was most probably the one thing that Ara hated about being different people, character limitations.

She smiled brilliantly at Varian, she would not want him as an enemy, as it was obviouse that he had made himself an enemy to Lord Dagger (to all but Dagger himself), and it did not seem like a pleasant situation, "I say, that Dagger is quite a womanizer, I shall take care to follow your advice and stay away from him as much as possible." she murmured, intending to do no such thing. At his offer she smiled yet again, "Of course, to the mad cobblers shop, then." she said, placing her hand on him as they got out of the temple easily.

[Chem]

“Forgive me, Miss Green, but on this occasion I doubt that staying away will do you much good.” Varian smiled again, shaking his head. “Lord Dagger seems quite intent on you.”

They ambled down the street, the noble and his lady friend, picturesque companions on a cold winter’s day. “Perhaps you ought to acquire a handsome merchant friend to keep he and other shameless suitors at bay,” the tutor teased, “After all, the man is of loose principles, but principles all the same.”

He turned to study Ella’s features and decided he had at least some understanding of Dagger’s interest. She did not have noble beauty, high cheekbones dusted with pastel powders and full lips coated with rouge. She was a little plain, even, but the eyes… Exquisite.

Having watched her a little longer than was appropriate, he disguised his slip-up with an innocent question, “What type of shoe did you have in mind?”

[MissusHow]

"Well, I\'ll do my best to keep a rolling pin with me at all times," Ara laughed, waving her hand, "I have no need for suiters right now! I think I\'ll remain eligible and keep Dagger chasing me. Quite fun to watch that, I assure you." she said, grinning broadly. Inside Ara worried, she couldn\'t be chased, that she knew. From now on she would be worshiping privately... and come up with a few disguises... She couldn\'t have Dagger on her tail, no matter what purpose.

Nobody would be laying on HER coattails. As they walked Ara hummed, feeling Varians eyes travel, and stop at her eyes. She had often been told her eyes were her most attractive feature, though she rather loved the mole besides her eyes better. Though perhaps that just enhanced her beauty, when Varian finally stopped, to Ara\'s slight relief, and asked his question Ara answered quickly, "Some that make no noise, and have no print on the bottom...no shape...something light-" she stopped, and then continued on ruthlessly, "I hate people that lumber around, stomping here and there, leaving bootmarks. I\'d rather be nimble on my feet. Never know who might jump on you..." she paused, tugging on her hair for a moment, "At least where I\'m from. Is the problem the same here, Varian?" she asked, her eyes wide and innocent, and her posture apprehencive.

[Chem]

Varian gave a surprised blink. There weren\'t many who supposed themselves close enough to his heart to address him by his given name, and certainly not without his explicit permission. Yet here was this woman, an acquaintance at best, who\'d assumed the privilege as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
 
It was outlandishly improper, and Varian was sure to have made a scene if they had been in company, esteemed or otherwise, but they were alone, and the change was... Strangely refreshing. "How bold," he murmured to himself, a little disturbed. Then, aware that the silence had stretched between them, he turned to her with a smile, more genuine than the last.
 
"I\'m sure Thomson will have just the thing, Ella."