Playing for the Highest Stakes (Me and Quinn)

[Quinn]

He rode his horse in a neat circle around her, speaking airily, almost as if he was addressing the trees or the ether.

"Leez, an interesting name, a name unfamiliar to this one. A name matched to a woman of curious disposition, of both mild and violent temperament, able to slay a man yet refuse what she might earn from his demise, restrained in some things, a little storm cloud in others. An interesting character for this play I seem to have fallen in, most interesting. Little storm cloud, whither shall the winds send you then?"

[Yare]

Leez gripped the reins. 'Remind me, please - why are you following me?'

[Quinn]

His answer came swiftly.

"Boredom, mostly. A dash of curiosity. A hint of lechery. A twist of ego. Mix and stir well, place on a horse, and watch it trickle and trot along. "

[Yare]

It was the part about lechery that stuck in Leez's mind, as these things are wont to do. 'So, would you have followed me if I was a young man?'

[Quinn]

He stopped talking briefly, wonder of wonders, and seemed to ponder while his horse kept pace.

"The temperament of the little storm cloud would have made the difference very little, beyond the physical appearance. I might have absconded with your wallet after the day was marred with the oil of clockwork soldiers, as is usually my wont, or perhaps I would have chosen to walk instead of ride. Or perhaps I would have carried instead of followed you. Madness lies in considering what ifs, little storm cloud."

[Yare]

Leez sighed. 'Well, you'll be sorry to know I don't have money on me,' she said.

[Quinn]

He shrugged yet again, motioning to his bag.

"A trifle, clockwork soldiers require greased gold to run their gears. And considering the little storm cloud's haste, more will come soon enough, attempting to seize what floats beyond their reach. Thrice I ask, however, and twice have I been rebuffed. Whither goeth thou, little storm cloud?"

[Yare]

'Did a book of Shakespeare teach you how to speak?' Leez said in return.

[Quinn]

He actually looked briefly irritated, then laughed and rolled with the retort, half at himself, half at the comment.

"The little storm cloud rumbles, oh my. The Bard's words do find a home in my mind, but my manner of speech began long before I read any of his works."

[Yare]

'Good to know,' Leez muttered. 'I wouldn't expect a thief to speak the way you do.'

[Quinn]

At her comment of "thief", he actually looked slightly offended.

"Thief? Madame, you wound me. I am a highwayman, a mountebank, an entertainer and musician, yes. And mayhap I do second-story work on occasion, 'tis true, but a common thief? A grievous slander indeed, if a gentleman of the roads can only be called a thief."

[Yare]

'Yeah. A highwayman. In other words, a thief,' Leez said shortly.

[Quinn]

At this, he spoke rather shortly, and his tone was not as airy as it had been before. In fact, he seemed a bit nettled at her conclusion.

"A thief can be a thug, a robber, a murderer. A highwayman is a proper gentleman, following rules of conduct, and eschews the crudeness of the common criminal. Yet that is also only part of my repertoire, although one I use frequently when the nobility of whatever place I pass through offends mine own sensibilities. Which is quite common, nowadays...perhaps his majesty, may his reign last forevermore, should exercise a tighter rein on his subjects?"

[Yare]

'The king can't get into people's heads,' Leez snapped, out of the blue to someone who didn't know who she was.

[Quinn]

Quinn blinked...then a cryptic smile creased his features.

"Well well...more rumbles from the little storm cloud. Yet this one accompanies a flash of lightning. Most curious indeed."

And at that, he settled in his seat, pulling his hat-brim down over his eyes. He seemed to doze as he sat there...though Leez could still swear he was watching, somehow...