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[reshapes]

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[reshapes]

[Instead of answering, the boy with his artfully tousled hair simply dives forward between and around the various elbows and sailors' shoulders populating the docks. Keep up, Jones.]

[rathercommon]

[ Oh, for -

She looks round to see him disappearing, and has to trot to catch up to him. An elbow knocks into her upper arm; she nearly drops her parcel, but recovers it. By the time she actually draws level with him, she's looking a little mussed herself. ]

Slow down a bit, please -

[reshapes]

Slow down, Bartimaeus. Deliver letters with me, Bartimaeus. Be a different person, Bartimaeus.

[He has slowed though, and the nasal falsetto impression of her is hardly his best.]

Go on then. How would you prefer I look?

[rathercommon]

I don't know.

[ Her jaw tightens. She can't help but feel miserable at the sudden - but expected - lashing out.

More accurately: ]

It doesn't matter. You just shouldn't look like yourself.

[reshapes]

[He laughs. No, guffaws is a better word for it.]

You think this is me looking like myself. Why shouldn't I?

[rathercommon]

[ She lets out a noise of frustration. ]

Because I don't want someone seeing you with me and you getting in trouble for it.

[reshapes]

[It's not easy to squint and lead a person up a series of stairs at the same time, but what do you know - he manages to do it just fine.]

Has someone been off getting into trouble?

[rathercommon]

[ Nor is it easy to stare balefully at your feet while ascending that selfsame staircase, but here she is. ]

Yes. But it doesn't matter. It just oughtn't spill back onto you, that's all.

[reshapes]

[Doesn't matter? Doesn't matter! The boy puts a hand to his heart, and all but oozes up the steps ahead of her carried forward solely by his own delight.]

I think you'll find it most certainly does? Imagine, little Miss rabble rouser Kitty Jones in the kind of trouble she doesn't want to talk about. It strains the imagination. How about this - you tell me what you did, and I'll clean up my face?

[rathercommon]

[ Why does he seem so happy? She shakes her head - ]

Why? What does it matter what it was about? Why d'you want to know?

[reshapes]

Because. Now either you give me the details or you're stuck with me as I am, and who knows what might happen if I were to be tangled up in whatever it is you're so worried about.

[rathercommon]

[ It's not a secret. It's not a secret, so there's no problem in telling him. Not at all.

But she doesn't want to. He's going to be so - So - ]

There's a secret I'm keeping from the department heads, and they know I'm keeping it. It's going to be trouble for me. I don't want them getting convinced that you know it, too, because that'll make it trouble for you.

[reshapes]

What secret?

[And if she didn't expect that to be the follow up question, then he has a nice bridge to sell her on the way to the courier.]

[rathercommon]

[ She utters a disgruntled noise. ]

Didn't you hear the part where I just said that you shouldn't appear to know it?

[reshapes]

[Music to his ears.]

Appear to know it? Sure. But that doesn't exactly keep me from actually knowing, now does it.

[rathercommon]

[ A pause, and then a sigh. ]

It's the identity - and the contact information - for certain...for some people involved in a resistance movement against the Tevinter government. I don't want them exploited by Riftwatch. So I'm not handing their information over.

[ A shrug. ]

That's all.

[reshapes]

And the powers that be know this but aren't telling them? Ooh, someone is in hot water. I'm surprised that sullen one hasn't stuck bamboo under your fingernails, or that other one hasn't made doe eyes and played at being your best friend yet. Have you picked out your cell in the dungeon?

[rathercommon]

[ Her lips thin, and her shoulders hunch. ]

I already said that I'm in trouble. I clearly already know it. I don't need you rubbing it in.

[reshapes]

And yet here we are. [The stairs level here; he cuts into a side alley.] So what's your plan?

[rathercommon]

[ She looks over at him. ]

My plan for what?

[reshapes]

To keep that pretty little head on that surprisingly thick neck of yours.

[rathercommon]

[ What - ]

You - My neck's not thick!

[ It's not! But - she can't stop herself from reaching up to check. Ugh. Is it thick...? ]

It's - There is no plan.

[reshapes]

[He's not appalled, exactly. He's just a little surprised is all.]

Well that seems short sighted.

[rathercommon]

[ That sends her back into a glum mood. ]

Yeah, 'cause it's obviously 'cause I haven't given it thought. What is there to do? I can't run away - This stupid thing will send me running back before too long. [ She waves her hand with its anchor-shard. ] And I'm not going to turn over the information. So.

[reshapes]

So? So what! [A scoff. Come on girl, where's you creativity?] Take it from me, a lifelong prisoner beholden to the whims of masters who want something specific - you always have options, and they never have you right where they want you unless you think they do.