Howl Waits

[Howl]

Howl waits. He doesn't let himself know why he's following the directions on the letter, but he is, and he knows why. Aksum had gotten so dull, the beauty of the place was now lost on him. The letter was a way to escape, and he took the escape almost without a second thought.

The letter had told Howl to gather his potion-making supplies and go to Elseth. He assumed that it was a job, but he also suspected that it may be Firestarter trickery, after all the trouble he's given them, he suspects that he's on the hit list by now.

He sat inside his hotel room, on a lavishly decorated chair. He was facing the window, because he didn't expect the person who sent the letter to enter through the door, and if they did they wouldn't think twice about it. Howl fiddled with his latest experiments, examining a few and stirring some others. One of them made a popping sound, and Howl quickly added a bit of a crushed herb to settle it down.

He continued waiting.

((Someone pretend they sent Howl a letter to meet in Elseth in a hotel or "I'll find you" or something and be interesting!

P.S. This is in the past, because Howl is alive, or... maybe it isn't O___o))

[Athena]

It is bloody freezing in Elseth.

It is dark outside when he reaches the hotel window. His fingers are numb as he fiddles with the lock on the window. It takes him something like seven tries, but he does succeed (and isn't that what matters?) in the end, opening the window, hoping he hasn't hit the alchemist.

As there is no surprised and indignant cry, he either hasn't, or he accidentally killed Howl by opening a window. He enters the lighted room.

He is wearing all black. It protects his identity, mostly. There is a black mask around his face covering all but his eyes, and he leaps --like a ninja! -- into the room. "Hello, Howl," he says, hoping to at least sound menacing, but it rather comes out hoarse.

[Howl]

Howl glances up from a potion. "Welcome, would you care for some Hot Cocoa?" He motions to plate of mugs on the edge of the table, there are three. He finishes with his work and grabs a mug for himself "Watch the plate, it's hot." Howl lounges in his chair, looking from his potions, to his guest, and to a chair across the table from him.

[Athena]

He sits on the edge of the chair across from Howl, and takes a mug of hot chocolate (although really he likes tea better.) He takes a few sips, burns his tongue, and lets the mug rest against his chin for a moment, before he places the mug onto the table.

"You are expecting someone else?" he asks, attempting to mask his accent, which is so different from Howl's own. He doesn't have much success.

[Howl]

"I may be." Howl replied, trying to conceal a smirk. He blew on his own cocoa and sipped it. "so tell me, why am I here?"

[Athena]

"I come on behalf of my faction," he says slowly, trying not to reveal anything. He doesn't want to give anything away until he knows for sure that he has Howl's loyalty. "Would you be willing to make potions to benefit a faction other than your own?" He is not quite sure if his vocabulary is correct. He is so unfamiliar with this language.

[Howl]

"That depends on the cause, the morals, and the people...." Howl examined a vial that was bubbling and removed it's heat source. "Do you care to tell me more?" Howl talked slower than he normally would, slow enough for a foreign speaker to understand, but not so slow as to insult.

[Athena]

"To save people." He paused for a moment, considering how much he wanted to give away, and what 'morals' were. "My people. We have heard that you were one of the best alchemists in Isaara, and they sent me to ask you for help."

[Howl]

Howl wanted to jump at the chance for an adventure, and to save people, but he had to ask "What's in it for me? Rare materials? Money?" He flinched at the thought, but he knew that if he really cared he could go around healing the sick.

[Athena]

He shrugged. "Name your price. If you can heal my people, it will be worth more than anything else in the world to me." He sipped his hot chocolate again. It was cool enough that he didn't burn his tongue.

[Howl]

Howl sat staring towards his potions, past them, the table, and the floor. Perhaps he thought that if he looked hard enough he'd find an answer. "I'll name my price after I know the work." He started to pack up his equipment, "When do I start?"

[Athena]

He stands as well. "As soon as possible," he says, his accent bleeding into the vowel sounds. "As soon as you can make it."

[Howl]

Howl puts his potions off to cool down, then turns to the cocoa plate, "Soon... Well, I can start quite soon, we can leave in a few hours..."