An average week...or so they think|Haven, Ilyamen

[Kender Bard]

"Well, yes," Lancet replied with a smile. "I mean, no different than usual really. I do like the guild though; lets me feel like I'm really doing something with my skills instead of letting them go to rust. What about you, sweet lady? How has the tide been turning for you?"

[Deleted]

" Things are getting better. Like they say time heals all wounds. I was worried about Father for a while after Mother passed away but things are better. I think though now more than ever he worries about my choice of work. I'm an only child so without me there's no one to take the forge when he's gone." She shrugged. " But like you, I like what I do. I feel like I'm making a difference." She said and smiled softly.

[Kender Bard]

Lancet reached for her hand to hold as he solemnly replied, "We each must do as our heart dictates. Love knows and she will guide you."

Liar, the voice whispered in Larissa's ear.

"Though I admit that at times I worry for you as well, I'd rather see you happy, dear lady."

Seducer.

[Deleted]

Larissa blinked. "Are you trying to seduce me?" She asked suddenly going with the last things whispered in her ear. When she heard the words come out of her mouth she froze a little wide eyed. Why did I think that, then say it?!

[Kender Bard]

Lancet's expression was momentarily stunned, showing a brief flash of hurt, before he mastered his face, wrenching it into a cool, polite, but indifferent mask. A courtier's face. "No, my lady," he murmured, his hand falling to his side. "I was simply making a statement. My apologies, if I've offended."

[Deleted]

"No." Larissa suddenly burst out. "No not offended. I don't know why I said that..." She said flushing bright red with embarrassment. Does that though bother me? Does the thought of Lancet taking interest in me bother me? No, no it doesn't. She decided, but still didn't understand her sudden outburst.

Shaking her head some she decided to press on. " I don't know what would make me happy. I like what I do, but I can't let father's forge go to someone outside the family either." She shrugged.

[Kender Bard]

"Well, why not a family friend?" Lancet asked, moving forward. His tone was a trifle more clipped. Evidently he could move on, but his feelings were still bruised.

Unfair. Unkind. The voices whispered.

[Deleted]

Once again a strange through escaped her before she could stop it. "Don't you think that's a little unfair and unkind to think that I can't run the forge on my own?"

[Kender Bard]

Lancet frowned at her. "I wasn't implying anything of the sort," he replied curtly. "I was merely proposing alternatives, since you seem to be under the impression that you are limited only to running a forge or being a mercenary."

[Deleted]

"Well that's all I've known. I suppose that makes me less of a lady, Not really the marrying sort I suppose." Larissa sighed. "I guess Mom failed at making a lady."

[Kender Bard]

Failed at manners at least, Lancet thought irritably. "Let me clarify. I meant to say, you made it sound like if you had to run your forge, you would have to give up your mercenary career."

[Deleted]

Larissa shrugged. "I don't know that I can do both. What if I take a job that takes me a way for days at a time and there are orders that need to be filled. What if something happens to me who will run it then? There will no one to contact other family to take it over and it will go to some greasy jerk so will just tear it apart." She sighed feeling a bit hopeless.

[Kender Bard]

"If you can't have both, then I suppose the next question to ask yourself is if you want to keep it strictly within the family or not. If you just don't want to see your family's business fall into the wrong hands, then it may be easier to find someone you trust--which will require some looking and asking around, of course--and arranging for them to take over things," Lancet suggested.

[Deleted]

"I know and you're right I just don't know what I want to do." Larissa said suddenly fussing with her jacket. The subject was a bit of a touchy one for her. She didn't like her father working the forge all alone, but she wasn't sure she wanted to give up being a mercenary, yet even still below that there was some part of her that was starting to crave a more normal life.

" I want so many things right now, and for myself later I guess I just don't where to start or what to work on first. It's not like I can talk to Demon about this sort of thing either... Father just tells to do what makes me happy, so I have no one to really confide in."

[Kender Bard]

"Why can't you talk to Demon?" Lancet asked, a brow raised in surprised. "I was under the impression the two of you were quite... Chummy."