Vodka For The Pretty Lady (Private: Arc and Beyril)

"Nobody says that. Not without some irony or sarcasm at least." Jay said, as he put some money on the counter. He was done stealing, for the most part. "Lets go find a clear spot for take-off, then."

Natalie shrugged, "Eet vas vorth a shot." she grinned, following him out the door.

"Top of the academy stairs should do nicely." Jay said, looking up at the building towering over the city. "D'you think they'll mind a warlock suddenly releasing his soul protect right in front of the school?"

Natalie laughed, "Eef my uncle comes to get you, I bet I can talk him out of eet."

"I can just leave if I have to. Nobody can stop a wind boosted eagle." Jay said.

Natalie shrugged, "Eef you say so."

"What I really don't want to tackle is the stairs. D'you know how many there are? Has anyone counted?" Jay asked.

Natalie laughed, "Many, I know. Can you not fly, bord boy?"

"Only when I transform, and for that, I need to release soul protect. I don't want every meister who can perceive souls and their mother to know I'm around until I'm at the top of the stairs." Jay said, sighing. "I guess there's no helping it."

Natalie shrugged, "I understand. Come, I valk vith you."

"Alright. You're the one who's going to be flying, so you gotta get there either way." Jay said, finally getting to walking from the surplus towards the academy.

Natalie grinned, stepping alongside him, "Usually zees trips are races." she mused, "In Russia, competition is how ve passed time. Races, jumping, climbing..." she mused, "Ees too cold for much else."

"I don't think I'd survive doing anything like that right now." Jay said. "I think the only reason I'm not dead or passed out on the floor is that I'm a warlock."

Natalie shrugged, "Meisters have slightly enhanced metabolisms." she chuckled, "And I also am Russian. Ees enough of an excuse."

"So you have the ultimate vodka conquering body," Jay joked. "Unless your uncle is even better at keeping the stuff down."

Natalie laughed, "He can drink me under ze table." she smirked over at the warlock, "His meister ees leeteraly a bear."

Jay gave Natalie a questioning glance, and then assumed that she used the world literally instead of figuratively, as many people do. "How big is the meister, if he's like a bear?"

"No," she corrected, "Raynor ees a bear. Beeg, fluffy, sharp teeths?"

Jay laughed at the notion, and then, finally getting that Natalie was perfectly serious, mumbled under his breath: "Crazy Russians..."

Natalie shrugged, "Ees not zat bad. He keeps warm in ze winters, and only mauls ze sheep."

"Only the sheep. That's much better." Jay's sarcasm was something else. "Makes me think perhaps letting my cover down in the middle of the city is not such a good idea, if your uncle and his meister are representative of the people that might come and attack me."

Natalie shook her hand, "He go away eef I tell him too."

Sighing, Jay shook his head. "Other people might not. Oh well, I can get away easily enough. Have plenty of practice running away."

"Couldn't you just fly again once they know you're here?" Natalie asked curiously.

"That's what I mean." Jay said, stopping. The staircase was staring them right in the face, now. "Looks much bigger from up close."