Joss' Manse in the City

[The Smith]

"I imagine fat. With overly large teeth." Joss replied, and then added, "Warts... lots of warts."

[The Stranger]

Finn snorted with mirth in spite of himself. "Indeed." he said, "Where is your friend? Is running late part of being a Faceless Man as well?"

[The Smith]

"No doubt he is burrowing in through the earth with a drill." Joss said, and grimaced. "These criminal types are rather foolish. I would never show off. It is better to be under estimated, don't you agree?"

[The Stranger]

Finn nodded in agreement, "Although if you can't manage that, being irrationally feared is a good second option."

[The Smith]

"You ever try that?" Joss said, "Seems like a lot of work, and then people want to challenge you because you are on top. Look at my father, how many Lords want to Hamstring him."

[The Stranger]

"Yes indeed," Finn replied, "I told them as much, but they don't listen." he cleared his throat, "But I said irrationally feared. All of your lord father's fear is based on a rational examination of his strengths and capabilities, not because they think he can appear in a sealed room, or change his face with magic." He gestured at the ludicrously empty room before them. "Anything that can rationally be analyzed, can be beaten eventually. Hence your father's problems. But that which can not even be understood? How do you beat it?"

[The Smith]

A voice from the shadows behind Finn said clearly, "You don't."

Joss looked up with a bored face, and said, "Poof."

[The Stranger]

Finn purposefully did not react although his hand had tightened beneath his cloak around the hilt of his dagger involuntarily, "Thank you for joining us," he said in as steady a voice as he could manage.

[The Smith]

A lean male form wearing a hood sat down next to Finn. He was wearing leather pants, and his fingers were adorned with rings. "Who do you wish dead?"

[The Stranger]

Finn struggled to avoid rolling his eyes. "I'm not here for that," he replied instead, "I need information about the assassins who fired upon the King at his parade earlier this week."

[The Smith]

The man stood easily, "My business is death not gossip."

[The Stranger]

"Information is a weapon more deadly than any blade, and surer than any poison," Finn replied, deciding to try and play to the man's theatricality, "Providing the information I'm seeking will end the lives of dozens of men, as if you slit their throats yourself. So...?" Finn continued, "sit down, have some wine. Let's discuss."

[The Smith]

"Dozens... will cost you a pretty penny." The cowl turned so Finn could stare into its dark depths, "You have that?"

[The Stranger]

"Why don't we start with one name, and if your information is good, I'll buy the rest too," Finn replied.

[The Smith]

"That is not how it works." The man said, "You say the name."