A small gloomy cell in the Bree Guard's station

[Scarlet(#30305)]
The door to the Breeguard headquarters swings open in a rather violent, melodramatic way. Of course, only Scarlet Greythorn could be standing on the other side, unimpressed scowl on her face as she steps forward. Behind her- outside, the road shimmers in the heat. A constable whispers a few words quickly and quietly, and she sets to moving toward the Chief's office. Something stays her a moment- her eyes fall on the cell containing Pierce. One eyebrow raises slightly- the look of anger quickly vanishes, and dissolves into something of cruel intrest.
"Well, well.... Mr. Rushlight, is it? I must say, I didn't expect to find you in here..." Something suggests that the words 'so soon', have been dropped from this sentence. She looks in thoughtfully, that smirk still remaining. "Interesting, indeed..."

[Pierce(#32225)]
Inside the confining cell, the blacksmith has not moved from the position he had originally taken when the door was first secured. The floor directly below his hand held head is stained with his tears. He raises his head and looks out through the little window. He squints his swollen and bloodshot eyes, trying to get a better view of the person who just addressed him. His words are prefixed with a muted sigh as he asks, "Who're you?"

[Scarlet(#30305)]
Ah, pain and suffering. How she so enjoyed to watch. An expression of contrived sympathy settles nearly upon her features, and she leans upon the bars. "Now, now, friend. No need to sigh as such. I'm no friend of theirs let me assure you." And she moves to find a chair, and bring it over. "However, I have spoken with the Chief, and this is a very grave situation you have found yourself in. Aleswyn is a dear... friend of mine. You might say she's family, and you know that Breefolk don't look kindly on this sort of behaviour. But before I get into all that, I suppose I should tell you that I am Scarlet Greythorn. Whether that means anything to you or not shall determine where I take this conversation from here."

[Pierce(#32225)]
The back of Pierce's hand slides across his face, removing the last vestiges of tears, at least for the moment. He blinks a few times. The sympathetic gesture and gentle words make a profound impact, and Pierce turns to look fully out the little window. "Scarlet..." the word falls off his tongue, as he visibly searches his memory for some recollection. "No miss, I don't know ya, nor can I recall hearing your name before." He shifts slightly turning himself to more easily see the door.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
At these words, she almost appears disappointed, though this is quickly replaced by that fake sympathy again. Niceness isn't something that comes easily when talking to strangers. "Ah, very well then." She thinks for a moment, then continues, "As I said, the actions taken after such behaviours are rather.. harsh, and in my opinion, somewhat unnessecary. You may or may not be aware that such behaviours can result in banishment from the Breelands... life in a cell, not unlike this, or death, depending on the resulting injuries to Ms. Aleswyn..." She leaves this to sink in for a moment or two.

[Pierce(#32225)]
A frown is forthcoming as Scarlet gives her assessment of the prisoner's current state. He pauses and looks out the little window at Scarlet, his dark eyes still slightly foggy. His first response is almost a grunt, but realizing a translation is necessary, he speaks softly, "What I get is what I deserve." He says flatly. "Though it ain't for tryin'." His left had, slightly raw from the earlier events idly rubs the discoloured skin on his neck.

[Aleswyn(#21413)]
The door to the Chief's office opens, and though not much of the conversation could be heard, anyone standing near the door would've heard the final words: ". . . allowed myself to love again." Tears flow heavily from the woman's eyes, and they are not the tears one sheds when faced with a jail sentence. They are the inconsolable tears one sheds only when facing the death of love.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
"Now, now. Not at all. As I said, I believe these penalties to be far too extreme. Certainly you have your reasons, and that doesn't concern me at the present time. However, I may have an idea that could help you, and would certainly be more pleasant than any of the options I meantioned earlier. And, I ask you to trust me, there are only a privledged few who would be offered an opportunity like this... it is hard to explain if you do not know of me..."
"I..." Something catches her attention. Scarlet frowns and turns her head. A curse is caught under her breath. She turns about in her seat, and coughs quietly. "Aleswyn... what is the matter?" The question is awkward. The woman's whole body language speaks of awkwardness. This obviously isn't a position she's used to being in.

[Pierce(#32225)]
Pierce looks at the window quizzically, especially when the woman suddenly turns away. He does not, however, make an attempt to see what is of such interest as to capture her attention.

[Aleswyn(#21413)]
Through the tears which stream down her face, Aleswyn is unable to see much of anything. She does, however, hear the voice calling to her and moves towards it. The fact that Scarlet sits talking to Pierce doesn't seem to register at this time. She cares only about being consoled. In fact, she doesn't even stop to think about the awkward state of their relationship as she reaches to embrace Scarlet, crying out, "First your father, Leighwyn, and now Daniel!"

[Scarlet(#30305)]
"Excuse me just a moment, sit and have a think there about freedom, and about friendships, etcetera." Scarlet says this hurridely to Pierce as she stands, bewildered by the show of emotion from the woman. She is embraced, though hardly returns it- patting Aleswyn on the back in a 'there, there' motion... Something doesn't quite connect properly in her head. "He's dead? Perhaps this isn't the best place to be talking about things right now...."

[Pierce(#32225)]
The small window affords Pierce very little visiblity, but the odd exchange outside was indeed enough to stir him from his lethargy. He rises to his feet and moves towards the little window to look out. He sees Aleswyn and immediately turns away from the window, pressing his back against the wall. His face flushes and all his scars turn deep red. He says something, but from the exterior of the cell, it comes across merely as a jumble of deep, unhappy, sounds.

[Aleswyn(#21413)]
"Nay!" she protests, her voice rough and raspy. "He isn't dead! But he might as well be. Or I might as well be. Aye, I might as well be," she muses almost to herself. Still, she doesn't notice Pierce, for surely if she had she would've wondered why Leighwyn was speaking to him. Darting a glance at the Chief's door then back to her daughter, Aleswyn says, "Nay. He's still in there. And I," she sighs deeply, exhales just as deeply, then says, "I am out here." With a wave of her hand, she motions to the cell. Still, for some reason, not quite realizing that Pierce is the one on the other side. "Return to your friend, Leighwyn. I . . . will be returning home."

[Scarlet(#30305)]
The eyes glance quickly to the cell, then back again. Confusion is scrawled all across those features even as she listens. "Well I shall find you later, and we shall talk then. I don't entirely understand any of this so you should have to explain it to me... Perhaps we should go to the bonfire tonight." It's a hopeful suggestion, after all, the words spoken by the other woman were quite confusing and she's grasping at straws. Scarlet moves as though to return to her conversation with Pierce inside the cell.

[Pierce(#32225)]
The man in the cell puckers his face: his brows tighten and his lips purse, a sure sign of deep concentration. He slowly shakes his head, the odd conversation that occurs outside his cell doesn't register a visual connection in the pensive face. He looks out the window again when he hears the promise of Aleswyn's departure. He snorts, though the sound is muffled by the door. He says nothing.

[Aleswyn(#21413)]
"Aye, the . . . the bonfire," is all that Aleswyn manages to toss out before turning to run out of the constabulary, tears streaming down her face.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
With a frown Scarlet watches the other woman leaves, then knocks on the cell door to get the man inside's attention. "Where was I? Ah yes. Well, I am certain that, if it were your wish to avoid banishment, or death, or other such punishments that are being suggested at this present time, then there would be some arrangement we could come to. I am always seeking new friends, and my friends are looked upon in the highest regard, as long as they respect me..." And of course, by friends, she is speaking of her band of cronies. "And, if you would be interested in joining my circle of friends... as a sort of.. employment, then I am certain this whole messy business could be sorted out. Of course there would be terms, and conditions, but nothing extreme or that you wouldn't agree with..."

[Pierce(#32225)]
Pierce listens thoughtfully, or at least as thoughtfully as a man can who has experienced the days events. He says nothing for a long while, but instead walks over to the other end of the cell, away from the door and rests his head against his arm on the heavy walls. His shoulders slump and he shakes his head. "I don't know what I'm hearin', but it don't sound good to me." He says at last. He tips his head, half pointing towards the window, his only reference point in the room, as he ponders aloud: "She an' the Constable, an' you an' your dead dad, and ..." He stops talking for a moment, his eyes slowly bouncing back and forth; and then the revelation: "You're related." He turns and looks fully at Scarlet, the confusion is ammended with fear and anger. "This don't make sense." The words come with an edge.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
One eyebrow raises, and there appears that cruel smirk again. "It sounds better than banishment to me, friend." These words are quietly spoken, as if only a simple suggestion. "And whomever my father happens to be, has no relevence to this discussion. I'd thank you to leave my personals out of this. And we certainly aren't related. I barely know the woman aside from she was hysteric right now, and you tried to strangle her this morning, and people outside are calling for your blood. Let us stick to the issue at hand, here. As I said, I am offering you an easy ticket out of here... friendship, employment and respect."

[Pierce(#32225)]
The full weight of the words come to bear on Pierce and he sits back down on the bench, his head coming to rest again in his hands. His voice, normally deep and rich, is edges with a slight tremor. His words are soft and low, "Anna, forgive me." He rises to his feet, slowly, as if a sentence had already been passed against him. "What choice do I have?" He says, resigned. "Ms. Greythorn, or whoever you are, please: I'm an honest man. My temper gets the best of me, but . . ." His earnest plea fails him, and the thought goes silent. "What must I do?" is his final reply.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
The head tilts. Anna, he says? This little piece is quickly stored in the memory banks. She motions over a Breeguard, and, with a nod toward the lock, the door opens, and Scarlet slips in. It is closed behind her, though left unlocked. Scarlet Greythorn sits herself down, crosses one leg over the other, and looks toward the man with cold, arrogant, fearless eyes.
"There, now. Of course you have a choice. Why, if there were no choice, what sort of society would we be living in?" She stretches her hands in front of her, then cracks her knuckles. "Now, there are quite a few allegations against you these days, which I'm not complaining about, nor am I prying into. It's not really my place to pry. I should as well leave that to the Breeguards.. "It's quite simple, really, though I shall make no guarentees that I should be able to free you from here, and it shall certainly cost me an amount to do so, so you must realise the responsibility you are undertaking... But as I said, it is quite simple. I have a circle of friends," (Between the lines: cronies), "And I would like you to be a part of them. This means that if I wish for you to help me with a task, or with a job of some description, you do so. Otherwise, you continue about your usual job, but unless I say so, you are not to do anything that would cause inquiries by Breeguards, do you understand? That is to say, you control your temper unless I tell you otherwise, you do not steal, nor stab, nor strangle anyone, or anything, unless I have granted you permission... Quesions?"

[Pierce(#32225)]
Objections that would have otherwise been raised are quelled but the situation. He shakes his head, "No. No questions." His eyes look to the floor, and not to his new benifactor. "I understand." He sighs again and turns fully away from Scarlet.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
She raises an eyebrow again, then leans against the wall. "Well, Mr. Rushlight. I wouldn't be so downheartened if I were you. You are more than welcome to stay here, or whatever it is they decide for you. Honestly now, I would not think that friendship is such a heavy matter. If it is so much of a task for you, I should go and find someone more appreciative of my services." And this said, she stands as if about to make to leave.

[Pierce(#32225)]
Pierce's downcast eyes rise suddenly. "Oh, no. I'm sorry, Ms. Greythorn. It's. . . I. . ." He fumbles his words which he quickly tries to collect. "Thank you. I do not mean to seem cold or callous. It's just . . ." fumble again. "Today has not been a good day. I thank you for what you're doin' for me." He makes a feeble attempt to be polite, something that has been sorely lacking in his demeanor for a long time. He looks at Scarlet hopefully.

[Scarlet(#30305)]
Scarlet frowns, then seems to consider. "Very well. I just hope that next time we meet you should be more appreciative of these efforts I am making for you. It shall be no easy task." She opens the door. "I shall return some time this week. Until then, enjoy the hospitality of the Breeguards.. If you have any concerns, do ask one of them to fetch me. Goodbye, Mr. Rushlight." And with that, she steps out, closing the door behind her. A moment later, and a click signals that it has bee locked again.

[Pierce(#32225)]
The man stands along, again, in the cell. The click of the lock rings in his ears, and the tears start to flow again. "Anna, forgive me. . . "