The Forgotten Zodiac

"Xander?" Before Alexander had time to protest the sudden nickname, for this was the first time he'd heard it, Virellis was off to adore the scarf. Instead, he dropped the subject and headed toward the busier part of the market for he had been serious when he said he came to the market to people-watch. For the most part, it was just amusing. Occasionally, he found it depressing. There was disgusting amount of pickpockets in the city.
Dagan spun immediately and followed Vi, waving a goodbye to Morgan and Alexander. "I better go watch her. The best intentions corrupted and all that." He immediately joined the Siren, appearing just behind her shoulder. "Really, green? Don't you already have a green scarf?"

"I have a teal scarf. Teal. There's a vast difference." Vi pointed out, grinning. "It's on sale, too! Only two silver and five copper. Come on, there's no denying that's a good price!" She giggled, then hurried inside. Or rather, tried to. There was a sign on the front that proclaimed, 'closed until further notice'. "Oh. Hey, I was just here yesterday!" She pouted. "That can't be right...oh well," She shrugged, getting ready to smash the window in with her crutch. "If I can't buy it, may as well just take it and leave the money, right?"

Dagan caught Vi's crutch just before it reached the window and set it firmly back on the ground. "No, Vi! Windows are made of glass. Glass is expensive. If they wanted you to have the scarf, they would have left the shop open." Rather than leave Virellis' scarf dreams in the dirt, he immediately made a different suggestion. If only to keep her from coming back later that night. "We'll come down in the morning, when they're open. Let's go over there; those shops are actually open."

"Okay. That sounds good." Vi relaxed her grip, smiling a bit. "Sorry. I just...really want that scarf." It was easy to tell. Her destructive habits hadn't gone unnoticed; a few people stared as they passed by, but it didn't matter. Soon enough, they caught up with Alexander and Morgan. Morgan was eying a gold-lined cape that would match his horrific shoes (which he thankfully wasn't wearing today), while Alexander was internally begging him not to purchase it.

"Oh, there you two are." Morgan caught sight of Dagan and Vi in the shop window's reflection. "All's well? You don't have any new purchases on you. Store closed?"

"Yes," Vi sneered.

Morgan chortled, then lowered his voice. "That accessory store is a front. It's a protestant workshop. Unfortunately, they're careful. There's no proof of anything fishy, so storming the place is out of the question. We'd have to get the Grand Court's permission, and those requests take years."

"Considering the mess we made the other day, I'm not surprised they're closed," Vi muttered.

((Bring in Cassandra whenever you want.))

Dagan, arm still hovering over Vi's arm to defend the merchandise of other people, was quick to respond to Morgan. "You really do know how to ruin a trip to the market, don't you? Doesn't the constant paranoia bother you?" He deliberately, and obviously, stood in front of the window containing the gold-lined cape. Hopefully, if Morgan was looking at him, he wouldn't be looking at the cape.
Alexander flinched at the sight of the cape and pointedly looked at Morgan, desperately ignoring the eyesore in the window. "If I had to guess, I would just say Morgan is insane and will never stop being this crazy. It wouldn't do to make him question his existence. Then he might realize how miserable he should be and feel confused as to why he isn't."

((I suppose that means now. xD))

Morgan just smiled. "Paranoia is my entire life, Dagan. If I wasn't paranoid, I may not be here today." He brushed off their obvious insults, but his smile vanished when someone approached them.

"Good evening, Morgan," It was a woman with a curious accent, who Dagan recognized as the woman who had greeted Morgan at the door the other day. "Fine day today, no?"

"Er...yes," Morgan nodded, giving a sideways glance at Dagan.

"Is this your employer? Such a cute boy," She looked down at Alexander, smiling. "He looks underfed, for a Noble."

((Well, it really was your choice. That was just what I wanted.))

Alexander held out his hand to introduce himself, incredibly confused by her sudden appearance. "Alexander Finnigan. Junior. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss..." He drifted off to wait for her to, hopefully, fill in the gap where her name was clearly supposed to be. "The day is rather lovely, isn't it?"
Dagan's facial expression froze when he saw the woman. When the muscles in his face unfroze, he stepped back toward Vi and introduced himself. "Dagan Lowell. This is Virellis, my..." He glanced at her, unsure which story they were going with this time. Depending on the situation, she was his partner, his sister, his wife, or any number of other things.

((I had nothing else to do, so. xDD))

"Fiance," Vi interjected, bowing her head a bit. "You can call me Vi."

"Clarissa. Clarissa Gry." She smiled warmly, giving a slight curtsy. "It is good to meet Morgan's friends. He's spoken highly of you."

"You have us at a disadvantage, then. How do you know Morgan, exactly?" Vi asked casually. Of course, she didn't recognize the woman.

"I was hired by Morgan to attend to his estate. If there's ever a time he needs to stay in his house, it will be ready for him. Goodness knows we wouldn't want thieves or dust to settle inside." She smiled. "I reside at his estate while I take care of it. It's a well paying job with very few downsides."

"I'd say! I didn't know you had a house in town, Morgan," Vi grinned. "Too bad you're stuck staying at the castle for now, huh?"

"Yes, it's quite a shame." Morgan chuckled. He didn't seem too flustered, which was a good thing. Internally, he was pleading with Clarissa to turn around and walk off. But here she stayed, smiling away.

((Oh, good. I like scenes like this.))

"Wow, Morgan. You spend your money on things other than gold-abused clothing." Alexander smiled at Clarissa, quite interested by her many revelations. "I am really glad to know that. I was worried that, for the rest of the time I employed you, you would be spending your entire paycheck on morally questionable clothing."
Dagan chuckled to himself and wrapped an arm around Virellis' shoulders. "This is the girl's caretaker," he murmured, carefully making sure that no one else could hear his comment. "Morgan, you didn't tell me you had a house. Is it awesome?"

Morgan rolled his eyes. "Of course I do. I've gotta take care of myself, after all. And if I were to get married or anything like that, I have a place for her to stay that isn't the castle. That place is a security risk, honestly."

"Oh?" Vi smiled at Dagan. "Yes, do tell us about the house."

"It's in town," Morgan chuckled. "Around. You'll know it when you see it; I have gold flecked curtains." He grinned. "It's small, but well suited for anything I could need. Clarissa is an excellent caretaker."

Dagan smiled right back at Vi, playing the part of adoring fiance surprisingly well. "Vi loves listening to people talk about their houses." He nodded encouragingly at Morgan, being perfectly honest. Other than the lie about his relationship status. "Please tell me you don't have gold flecked furniture."

"Nah, just curtains. But it's mostly normal looking stuff." Morgan shrugged. "The couch is mostly leather, but the back is cowhide. Very comfortable. The icebox is wood and metal; very insultated. Keeps milk nice and cold for days! It has three bedrooms and two whole water closets, too. Indoor plumbing, very important. Not to mention the wood panel flooring. White walls, and ceiling lighting. Magically operated, of course. No need for candles."

"That sounds wonderful," Vi smiled. "Can we go see it?"

Alexander listened to all this in some surprise. Morgan, while he did seem occasionally extravagent, did not seem like the kind of person to pay for a house he wasn't living it. "White walls? Won't those just get marked all over? They sound very problematic."
Dagan glanced nervously from Morgan to Vi, partially expecting Morgan to snap and kill Vi over the course of the conversation. "They'll be fine, with no one living in the house. Or, just get people who don't lean like you and I do."

"Hey, so I'll have to paint it when it gets really dirty. But that'll take five years, minimum. It's not like there are toddlers running around the house with pens and ink." Morgan chortled, and Clarissa's smile seemed...taut, for a short moment.

But she shook it off and nodded. "Taking care of the house is easy. The white walls are far from problematic. But I'm afraid you shouldn't visit today, I...am quite busy."

"That's okay, I'm sure Morgan would have a key," Vi giggled. "You can go about your business, and Morgan can take us."

"Er...I'd rather not." Morgan shook his head.

Dagan froze, torn between wishing to support Virellis and her wishes, though he knew she would never win, and knowing that Morgan would likely kill them if they seemed to be forcing the issue. His hesitation lasted only a second, hardly long enough for anyone to notice, and he bravely took Morgan's side. "Vi, don't you remember? We have to get everyone to bed early tonight, so we can run them through baths tomorrow. Actually," he looked around and skeptically stared at the sky to estimate the time, "we should probably get going. It was nice meeting you, Clarissa."
Alexander glanced at Dagan curiously; he'd heard nothing about bathing the animals and Dagan usually talked about everything he was planning with his creatures. The noble shrugged and brushed it off, assuming it had simply slipped his mind. "Well, in that case, I suppose we should take our leave. Clarrisa, it was my pleasure. You should come up to the castle some time. I don't get enough visitors who aren't just begging me for something."

"Very well then." Clarissa smiled and waved. "Farewell then, Alexander. I might take you up on that offer someday."

"Off home we go, then," Morgan turned with a smile. Before they got too far away, though, Vi rounded on Morgan.

"I want to see it. Can we go tomorrow?" She pleaded, smiling away. "Pleeeaase?"

"Probably not." Morgan shook his head.

"Aw, why not?"

"I don't feel like it."

"You'll never feel like it!" Vi smacked him lightly on the arm. The good arm, she made sure of that. But she still paused after hitting him, then reached up and felt his face. "Dear gods above, Morgan, you're burning up! You have a fever, and this isn't a light one, either. You took out the horn slivers, didn't you?!"

"They were poking my scapula!" Morgan retorted. "I'm fine, it's nothing--"

"It's not nothing. We're going straight back to the castle and getting you medicine before an infection sets in. Honestly, Morgan..." Vi sighed.

"But I thought you wanted to see the house," Morgan basically pouted.

"No. Home. Now." She ordered.

"Morgan, do I have to order you to take proper medical treatment?" Alexander demanded, slightly annoyed that Morgan had so deliberately screwed up the speed of his recovery. "Don't think I wouldn't. I would, in a second." He stopped and evaluated that sentence again carefully. "I'll admit, I have no idea if you would listen."

"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how painful it is to have something poking your bare bone," Morgan muttered, shaking his head. Then he shook it again, blinking rapidly. "Ah...I'm dizzy. Probably just dehydration...due to the fever. How could I not notice?"

"Because you're a stubborn mule who doesn't listen to anyone, even your own brain," Virellis sneered. But when Morgan wobbled and nearly fell, she forced one of her crutches into his hands. "Here. Use that. I'll use Dagan's shoulder," She smiled a bit and wrapped her arm around Dagan, using him as a second crutch. Morgan used it like a cane, and while he did make it up the steps to the castle, it was far from easy.

Alexander positioned himself close to Morgan, ready to catch him in case he tripped or lost consciousness. When they reached the castle, he tapped a passing servant on the shoulder and sent him to bring water, in fairly large amounts, to Morgan's room. "Dagan, can you re-bandage his shoulder? And possible avoid poking his bones this time, but I won't require it."
Dagan, who had willingly submitted to being a crutch, pulled his attention from finding smooth places for Vi to step and responed to Alexander. "Yeah, of course. That is my job." He grinned at Morgan as another attempt at friendliness before turning to Vi. "Do you want to come, or shall I drop you off? I can bring you your crutch after getting Morgan fixed up. Again."

"You can drop me off. I don't mind." Vi smiled. "Just make sure he gets enough to drink. And put a water cloth on his forehead, it'll help break the fever."

As she and Dagan turned to go to their room, Morgan said with a small sigh. "There's...something I should probably tell you...it's not really a secret I want to take to my grave, s-so..." He winced as he sat down on his bed, rubbing his shoulder again.