Time: late morning
Location: AmKelosh
Note: Bella is Lark using a disguise designed by Nick's mother so that Nick can't see through it.

Nick Corwin is sitting on a small sofa in one of the many sitting areas in the main palace. There is never a shortage of places to lounge around. That is of course becuase of the Amazons and the children that live here. Nick often feels as if he's treated like a child and he never likes it. He's over 300, you'd think he'd be allowed to step out of the palace without being supervised. He knows Kayos is only keeping him here out of spite. Nick knows he's not that important, he can be replaced very easily. And he knows the Amazons assigned to him are there more to make sure he doesn't run off than to protect him. If anything they'd just get in his way in a fight.

Bella peered aroun dthe cornor of a pillar as she thought to check in this end of the grounds for nick. she had fought against it. but still under what charges to get along with nick, she doned the muse of bella one more time. her hand rose to brush back the light brownish blond locks. her green eyes looking toward the form taht lingered upon the couch...."Nick...." Her tone was indeed different and she made mental note sto keep in in check when with him. She smiled and came out frombehind the pillar looking at him. "here you are...."

Nick Corwinlooks up quickly, so quickly one might think he was startled at the sound of his own name. Others would say it's just his relexes snapping to the possiblity of danger. Nick knows he's getting soft being locked up in the palace though. He can almost feel his skills fading. On one hand, that's not all that bad, he doesn't want to be an assassin anymore, but on the other hand. He liked knowing it was hard to defeat him in battle. He is alone at this time, no Amazons, and no dog. He wears black slacks and black dragon hide boots with a white button down shirt which has a few of the top buttons undone for comfort. His hair has grown a lot since he was flayed and is almost back to the length it was before Kayos had all his skin removed. He offers a soft smile to Bella and a nod in greeting.

Bella "here all alone, i see. Kayos is slacking up his watchers on you. " she smirked as she came into the light. More into the sunlight as she crossed the stone walkway toward Nick. Her hand rose to tuck her hair behind her ear. Her gaze flickered with light as she looked at him. She knew he woul hate her to her death if he knew the truth. so the point to this game was actually no point. he would never trust her or speak to her again if he knew it was lark, that tricke dhim as bella. She sighed and sat down at his feet. "what do you have on today?" she she meant as what he was doing, not clothing.

Nick Corwin watches Bella as she comes closer. His brow wrinkles slightly at the mention of his watchers. He doesn't like being watched. He doesn't really like to be noticed at all most the time. He's starting to get used to people being around him all the time now and he can even sleep when there's someone else in the room. It took him many restless nights to get over that one. He glances down at his chest and then his legs, his eyes seem to be searching something. He doesn't think he's dressed all that strange, how odd of her to ask. But then he's neither dressed causal or in true Keloshian desert fashion. He'd blend right in with the people in Kayosia. He decides to skip her last question and backtrack to her first statement. "I'm sure they're closer than your realize."

Bella "you up to do anything this day?" she turne dand looked around them. "Not much going on here." She smirked knowing he would love to get away from here. But her gowing concern was that he was so comfortable with not going anywhere. She stood and stepped away from him. the wind picking up about them. she tanged now with her hair as she waite dfor his reply.

Nick Corwin looks up, into her eyes, his own almost showing a ray of hope, then it's gone. Reality sets in. He looks down, a bit sad. She's caught him in one of those rare moments when he's relaxed enough to show emotion. For many years people didn't think Nick could feel any emotion other than anger. He has always been very good at hidding. Sometimes in life things change quickly though, and you have to change with them, or be consumed. He gives a little shrug and a sigh. "I can't go anywhere. The Emperor has declared that I'm not allowed out of AmKelosh. If I try to leave, the guards manning the walls will try to take me down." That Kayos might have him killed for trying to leave isn't that strange to Nick. He knows he could easliy get passed the wall and slip out of AmKelosh, but it'd be messy.

Bella "this old story, Nick....really..." she was growing tried of this. how were things to get better, when nick was getting worst. He was getting to laid back. She had thought as lark he would be angry and cross with her, show some life. She smirked at the thought of revealing herself to him. But that would piss kayos off. there was a reason fo rthis. But the part she was playing. she did not understand. "then we sit here and stare at one another all day. i mean your cute, but really i get my fill of you in a hour." she chuckled leaning against the pillar opposite where he sat.

Nick Corwin smiles bit and then looks at her with a playfully hurt expression. "Aw, just an hour? The Amazons have been lieing to me then." He doesn't even allow himself to think about what the Amazons say or do. Sometimes hands try to wander toward areas they shouldn't. Amazons love to touch too much, and Nick doesn't really like being touched much at all. It's an assassin thing, if you get that close, then you have the ability to kill him before he can react. So he doesn't let anyone get that close. He suddenly seems to pause and looks at Bella in question. "I don't think you ever told me where you were from?"

Bella strolled toward him, hands clasped behindher back, her form took on an innocent look, hair abou her face, her gaz elooking up at him, in a playfull manner. "I have heard storys of such men the like of you. though not like you to be for certain. But .... you let no one in don't you..." sh eknew this was a place nick hated. she strolled toward him, sitting now right beside him, directly in front of him now. She smirked as she thought of the next step....without thought her hand move dto caress what he would think was his face, but at the last second.....she touched a strand of his hair...."where do you get this shapoo, your hair is amazingly soft."

Nick Corwin seems to grow a little unsure and a little tense as she comes closer. He studies that playful look on her face for a few seconds, then his eyes seem to move all around the rest of her as if searching for something. His expression is one of slight confusion or maybe puzzlement. He seems to almost respond to what she's saying before she's done saying it, but then closes his mouth again, his lips pressing together in mild annoyance, unsure what she's trying to get at. He leans back an inch or two as she reaches out for him, but stops himself from leaning back any further, most wouldn't even notice that inch or two. He relaxes visibly when she asks about his shampoo and laughs. His laugh is a lot warmer than most would assume a trained killer would have.

Bella looked at him, her fingers moved through the strands of his black locks. Her gaze drifted from a moment. Her thoughts reflecting as she drifted off, in memories perhaps. She di dnot really focus upon anything at the moment then his hair. The way it curled about her fingers, dropping one strand at a tim. Soft, the scent of sweetness upon it. ~wow....the feelings stirred by hair~ she snappe dher eyes closed and blinked. Clearing her throat as she was sure he foudn her to be staring at him.

Nick Corwin stops laughing as she just keeps on touching his hair. Which is strange, since he kind of enjoys it when people play with his hair. . that is when he allows himself to enjoy it. His laughter fades and his expression keeps growing more puzzled. He has no idea what she's thinking or why she is doing what she is doing. But women often seem to be confusing creatures, always lurking in shadows and hidding everything, then getting made when others don't see what is hidden. He reaches up his from the opposite side then she's playing with his hair on to grap her wrist on the inside. His grip there won't be firm, he's just going to genlty guide that hand elsewhere. It's too close. Nick doesn't like anything too close, sometimes not even Cerebus.

Bella shaking her head, she furrowed her brow and drew her hand back, as he took it she felt a sharp spark strike her nerves. She did not like that at all. She withdrew the distances, tugging her wrist free from Nick's hand. "So.....What has kayos told you thus far. Are you to remain here all your life?" she thought quickly to change the topic.

Nick Corwin does not resist her moving back and withdrawing her hand in any way. It's one of the rare times his grip is light and gentle, and if he finds out Bella is Lark, it'll be the last time she feels him touch her in such a way. He thinks Lark is trouble and only wishes him harm. The change in subject doesn't seem to sit any better with Nick. He slouches back into the couch more and lets out a low grunt. His expression changes to be a mix of anger, saddness, and defience. "I'm immortal. That'd be a really long time" Has no intention of remaining locked up the rest of his life. He doesn't know what Kayos wants or what his intentions are. But it is not Nick's intention to remain here the rest of his life.

Bella "I know to remain far from kayos, and on his good side, if there is such a thing with him." she turned nd looked about the room. her hands curled behind her back as she took a few steps away from him. Her gaze narrowed as she placed a han baclk to the edge of her top. She felt strange, it was warm in here. She shook her head and chuckled. "So i guess i shall leave you to what ever you ever doing then." she looked at him and causally turned to leave him to himself, seeing as he is rarely alone.