(D6, MA-LA, Renown, Open) Free Play

[Mysti]

Mysti would have then settled into the old couch, making herself right at home as though she lived there.

"Awww!" Mysti exclaimed when Hush wandered into the room. "Yeah - like what Whisper said. I am your friend, hmm?"

She held her hand out for Hush to sniff -- should he be inclined to do so.

"How did you ever find a place like this? Because ... it makes me wonder just how many places around the city exist -- like this one. Long since blocked off and forgotten about." She continued watching Hush the entire time she spoke. "Like those stories you hear about all the time -- some inconvenient heir to the throne shows up, so the existing king lures this pesky new heir to some out-of-the-way place. Like this. And suddenly the new heir is knocked unconscious and when he wakes up ... he's forever entombed and dies of starvation. Only for his dusty old bones to be discovered hundreds of years later ... well, you get the idea."

She chuckled, saying, "Sorry ... I guess I waxed a bit macabre there for a moment."

[Whisper]

The hound studied her from a distance, at first, then slowly approached. Every movement was silent, including his sniffing at her. Hush sat back on his haunches and stared up at her for a long quiet moment. Finally, he made up his mind and moved forward to nuzzle into her hand.

"The Free League helped me find it." Whisper answered. "Very little happens in the bazaar that they aren't aware of. I'm sure there are other places like this. A city the size of Sigil must have countless hidden rooms and passages, both intentional and accidental. The macabre doesn't really bother me, considering the nature of some of my jobs."

[Mysti]

Mysti spent a little bit of time stroking Hush's fur, scratching behind his ears, and the usual things people do when babying a dog. She had to admit that she felt relieved. Mysti wasn't at all certain how Hush would react to her -- well -- undead side. Some animals, including dogs, didn't always react well give how unnatural it was.

"Should I come back to Sigil -- who knows, perhaps -- I do have a long life ahead of me. Providing I survive it. But if I do come back, I'm going to have to find a place like this. Some hidden hidey hole. What kind of jobs have you done, then, so that the macabre doesn't bother you?"

[Whisper]

If Hush had any further reservations about her, they were not evident. He seemed content with the attention she gave him.

"There are a wide varieties of components to spells, rituals and potions." Whisper said. "Most of my jobs are acquiring that sort of thing. Plants and fungi aren't vey gruesome to gather. But, harvesting hearts, eyeballs and other body parts isn't work for the squeamish."

[Mysti]

"What ... seriously?" Mysti looked up from Hush for a moment, her fingers still buried in his fur but no longer actively petting him. "You actually had to go around harvesting eyeballs and hearts and whatnot? I'm not particularly squeamish ... but that is rather disgusting, you have to admit."

She looked back down at Hush and began petting him again. "Right, Hush? Did you know Whisper was doing those nasty things? Do you have blood on your paws?"

"Fortunately I was allowed to bring back those I hunted -- more or less -- intact. Although, admittedly, there were a few that put up an exceptional fight and -- yeah. Like I said. I'm not squeamish. But if I can avoid as much of the ick factor that I can, the better. Uh, just out of curiosity -- did you have to kill sentient creatures?"

[Whisper]

"Hush doesn't come on jobs." he shook his head. "Only hunts. Just for us. As for the body parts. Harvesting them is a lot easier after the critter their in tries to kill you."

[Mysti]

Mysti nodded in understanding, looking slightly relieved. "So uh ... yeah ... well, at least you aren't hunting down people -- which was my first thought. I'm not sure why. I suppose it's because that's what I'm used to seeing."

She again stroked Hush's fur but continued, "Too much ... violence. Which, coming from me is almost hypocritical. But, yeah, would be nice to do something that didn't involve dealing with murderers and torturers and whatnot. When more times than not I have to kill the people I interact with."

"Not that I could stand it if life became too peaceful. If you know what I mean."

[Whisper]

"I generally draw the line at anything intelligent." he nodded. "I won't pretend my hands are clean. I've done things that needed to be done, whether I was paid or not. Sometimes, instead of being paid. Not every client has been honest about what they were sending me to do."

[Mysti]

Mysti nodded her seeming agreement, still idly petting Hush's fur.

"Never made too many friends in Sigil which is one reason why I have no qualms about leaving it. Chasing bounties is a lonely job, and, like I said, almost everyone I interacted with, I either had to kill or drag back to the Harmonium."

She looked up from Hush, her eyes apparently scanning Whisper. "You, uh ... do you belong to any of the city's various factions?"

[Whisper]

"Well, the Free League isn't a faction in the same sense that the others are." He answered after a moment of thought. "The idea is that we are individuals who do not want to be affiliated with a faction, but work together to avoid the disadvantages of being factionless. That allows us access to portals and gives us allies we can call on, but we aren't obligated to follow directives or restricted by dogma."