08-02-2014, 02:05 PM
"And I lacked the motivation."
The words were both dry and dismissive. In fact she'd had every incentive to the contrary, including testing the boundaries of Claire's abilities. The fact they had lost did not dent her pride, nor the loss of cash - though of course neither of them had paid. Talk of hope twinged something Ori was inclined to stamp on - it wasn't likely to stand Claire in good stead, that brief glimpse of vulnerability. Who comes to Moscow without a job to go to anyway? And an American no less. A calculating eye took in the woman beside her, but she did not ask any of those questions. She was not overly interested in Claire's business, just in how it framed an advantage.
Claire's suspicion cast the tease of a smile over Ori's lips. Her skin glowed terribly pale in the snowy moonlight, marred by the faded bruise beneath her eye. A chaotic gleam lit her inside out, playful but ruthless in nature; she reeled in the curiosity like ribbon twisted through fingers, ever closer, grinning fiendishly. Feeding on the wariness, though in this case she meant no harm. Unfortunately she didn't carry business cards. Kallisti was a peripheral part of Oriena's life, the sharp end of a point made long ago. It still had its uses of course, but the day to day running was left almost exclusively to Carmen. Aside from the hiring; in that she still took a passing interest.
A sly grin accented the words. "The opportunity to earn your keep in Moscow."
The why hung unspoken, though Ori made no attempt at smothering the offer in false altruism. "If you're interested, you should find a place called Kallisti."
The words were both dry and dismissive. In fact she'd had every incentive to the contrary, including testing the boundaries of Claire's abilities. The fact they had lost did not dent her pride, nor the loss of cash - though of course neither of them had paid. Talk of hope twinged something Ori was inclined to stamp on - it wasn't likely to stand Claire in good stead, that brief glimpse of vulnerability. Who comes to Moscow without a job to go to anyway? And an American no less. A calculating eye took in the woman beside her, but she did not ask any of those questions. She was not overly interested in Claire's business, just in how it framed an advantage.
Claire's suspicion cast the tease of a smile over Ori's lips. Her skin glowed terribly pale in the snowy moonlight, marred by the faded bruise beneath her eye. A chaotic gleam lit her inside out, playful but ruthless in nature; she reeled in the curiosity like ribbon twisted through fingers, ever closer, grinning fiendishly. Feeding on the wariness, though in this case she meant no harm. Unfortunately she didn't carry business cards. Kallisti was a peripheral part of Oriena's life, the sharp end of a point made long ago. It still had its uses of course, but the day to day running was left almost exclusively to Carmen. Aside from the hiring; in that she still took a passing interest.
A sly grin accented the words. "The opportunity to earn your keep in Moscow."
The why hung unspoken, though Ori made no attempt at smothering the offer in false altruism. "If you're interested, you should find a place called Kallisti."
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