Tracks in the Snow

[Nnerka]

N N E R K A

23 Frost 120
It was cold.

She drew her cape around her tighter, shivered. It was cold and she shouldn't be outside, but there was an itch that had to be scratched regardless of the weather. It was only fortunate that the clouds had moved on (for a time; they would be back) when she'd decided to unravel herself from her web and shudder her way down the recently cleared streets. Her breath misted in the air, eyes blinking in sync.

She turned over the parchment in her hand, careful to keep from ripping it. It was, supposedly, not hard to find what she was looking. Where, was a more accurate term. A patron of the Cabaret had suggested it to her. She wasn't sure what had tipped them off to the restlessness she felt, but she appreciated the gesture. Maybe she would need to do better with hiding her concerns. Eyes narrowing, she scanned the street, looking for the landmark that had been given to her.

It was a simple thing to hunt. It was another thing to hunt in the cold and snow, and she preferred to do that with company. It made it easier to think of something other than how terribly cold it was. She curled one hand into her cape, hunched her shoulders to get the fur lining closer to her ears. The tips of them might be going numb.

Nnerka had her doubts. It would be...interesting to see if the man that ran this particular business would be able to keep up with her. The difference of legs might be a bit of a problem. She lifted one of her own, shook snow that had brushed onto the hairs off before continuing on her way. Those that had taken to the street moved around her with some hesitation; either they were too busy staring or they were too busy glaring. She didn't really care which. She glanced up in time to see what it was that she was looking for. The establishment known as Valentine's Solutions. She didn't expect much, but she pushed open the door regardless. The least she could get out of this was a moment's reprieve from the cold.

[Hershey Valentine]

V a l e n t i n e

Aw, well, I'm definitely not ever gonna get used to that.

Y'know, folks, ain't everyone fitted to deal with insects, sure, but Hershey Valentine perpetuates himself as the sort of professional that could reasonably deal with just about anything in stride, of course. This includes challenges if the peculiar or even the... Arachnid variety. Ain't like Hershey never seen a faefolk before, either! Presuming, of course, that a faefolk is what this nice young lady owes her lineage to. Rather, of course she was! Them funky lil folks with the leaves all up'n and on 'em and such and whatall! Funky green sumbitches with'em all those vines n' antennae n' wings n' suchall! It's charming! Sometimes they have multiple limbs!

Hershey took a moment to let his eyes wash over his acquaintance's head to toe, toe, toe, toe, toe, and toe. Which took a moment. Given her... Height.

Yes, he thought. Sometimes, faefolk have multiple limbs.

You ever make eye contact with someone with a lazy eye and you're not sure which eye to look at and you feel supremely disrespectful for even wondering that silently though you know you meant it only in the most polite way? Well, sir, let me introduce you to Nnerka Vesti, Black Widow Queen of the Velvet Cabaret!

And as she stood there on the street, right in front of Hershey's humble roadside business stand, the boot which rested on his desk fell flat, and hit the ground, and even Jedidiah, his equine companion behind him, could not, apparently, remove his eyes from her.

Hershey, catching his jaw from the floor, realized his sudden lack of manners. Ain't like Mama Valentine never taught him the value of a first impression, of course, and it was important to make a nice one! Particularly when his given company had been so polite! And... Memorable.

He stood up suddenly, saving his falling foot from looking like sort of accident, though barely.

"Hooty!"

He looked astonished, for a moment, and feigned a cough.

"Hardy! I mean howdy!"

He stuck out his hand to be shook.

"My name is Hershey Valentine, very nice to meet you ma'am!"

It was then Hershey realized he had said all this with the most horrible, expressionless visage. How very unbecoming. He spread his lips into a wide, flat, nervous grin and waited for the stranger to shake his hand from the other side of his stand.

"What can I help you with on this fine day!"

[Nnerka]

N N E R K A

Reactions such as Hershey's were not rare. Far from unusual, really. She merely blinked, waited for him to get himself collected so that he could at least hear her out without losing his marbles. She snickered as he corrected himself thrice in his greet, hand stuck out toward her. She extended one of her own hands. One of the lower ones; they were closer and it meant she wouldn't have to bend to shake it properly. Two fingers curled carefully around his hand in a shake. Her smile was small, the slits on the side of her face only marginally strained.

The other's expression had been...less than welcoming. Maybe the fear had weighed more heavily on his thoughts that he assumed, because he smiled soon after. A nice smile on a small man. She let go of his hand, fingers trailing before her arm curled back into the warmth of her cloak.

"Are you afraid, Mr. Valentine?" She was never good at hiding her amusement, and watching the fear play out on someone's face had always been so funny. "I promise I'm not here to ask for a pound of flesh." Maybe all of her eyes sparkled at once. Maybe her laughter at her own joke was a little harder than it should have been, deeper and more foreboding. "Although, my request does get a little bloody, if we're lucky."

She crouched a little lower, glanced at the horse with two eyes. She hadn't had horse in a long while, but that wasn't what she was after. Not the kind of taste she wanted. And besides, this particular horse looked too...tough. "Forgive me." She placed a hand over her chest, lips falling apart in a gasp. "I've haven't introduced myself, have I? Nnerka Vesti. If you should be so kind as to hear my request, it is but a simple one. I wish to go hunting, but hunting alone this time of year isn't much fun. So - I would like it if you would accompany me on a hunting trip."