Several Days Ago, A Potion and a Prayer Star and Rue entered a Potion and a Prayer and immediately saw Marcus sitting at a table with some Black Hooks. Both were visibly surprised to see him there, as neither had been informed he was coming to Neverwinter. The pair glanced around to make sure everything was okay. It seemed like it was business as usual, with Shane giving them a wave. The duo walked towards Marcus.
"Was I not paying attention when you said he was visiting us?" Rue asked softly in Elvish.
"I didn't know he'd be here, stay sharp," Star said gently. She put on a big smile for her part-time lover and sat down with Rue across from him. "Marcus... You well know this isn't my birthday. What are you doing here, handsome?" Marcus smiled and tipped his top hat back, and held his arms out, "What kind of Command would I be if I couldn't surprise my 2nd in command from time to time." He took a big sip of ale and waved off the other Black Hooks so he could talk with Star. As Rue got up, he shot a look at her, "No, I'd like you to stay." Rue froze for a second, smiled, and sat back down. "I'm not here to surprise you, Star, and I'm here to talk business." "Of course, my friend," Star said with a disarming smile. "And this business is about Colt," Marcus said in a lower voice. Rue could instantly see Star tense up. Although her hands were on the table, her elbows shifted so she could quickly draw a weapon if she needed to. Rue had seen Star prep an attack many times. She casually put her hand on her light crossbow. Star took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay."
"Was I not paying attention when you said he was visiting us?" Rue asked softly in Elvish.
"I didn't know he'd be here, stay sharp," Star said gently. She put on a big smile for her part-time lover and sat down with Rue across from him. "Marcus... You well know this isn't my birthday. What are you doing here, handsome?" Marcus smiled and tipped his top hat back, and held his arms out, "What kind of Command would I be if I couldn't surprise my 2nd in command from time to time." He took a big sip of ale and waved off the other Black Hooks so he could talk with Star. As Rue got up, he shot a look at her, "No, I'd like you to stay." Rue froze for a second, smiled, and sat back down. "I'm not here to surprise you, Star, and I'm here to talk business." "Of course, my friend," Star said with a disarming smile. "And this business is about Colt," Marcus said in a lower voice. Rue could instantly see Star tense up. Although her hands were on the table, her elbows shifted so she could quickly draw a weapon if she needed to. Rue had seen Star prep an attack many times. She casually put her hand on her light crossbow. Star took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay."
Marcus was no fool. He had known Colt and Star for quite a while and had, at one time, had been both their lovers. Colt had drifted away, but he considered himself still close to Star. With that in mind, he knew how protective Star was of Colt. Marcus was also aware of how loyal Rue was to Star. He was careful not to have any misunderstandings. "We both know that Colt is not always on the same page of the Black Hooks, compared to you and me." Star sighed gently and nodded, "He can be difficult, but he has always come through for us, and he has never betrayed us." "I know," Marcus said, nodding. "But like any other Black Hook, he needs to report to us." "He does," Star said with a shrug. Marcus pulled out a piece of paper and laid it on the table. "This is his latest report." It was a single piece of paper that said, "I'm fine." Star growled a little frustrated in Colt and looked at Marcus. "He is very busy with The Longshots." "Which is fine," Marcus said, holding his hands up. "But we need to know what he is up to." "Velhalla is with him," Star said, tapping the table. "Listen, Marcus. We both know that Colt Sebastian Taylor, when left alone, can be difficult. He is most effective when he is with me. He had direction. He has a purpose. He listens to me. We all know that. I will admit, when I went to Balder's Gate and he went to Candlekeep, he was..... hard to manage. But he met Velhalla... and Vel was recruited, and she submits reports." .
"Yes, she does," Marcus said with a smile. He pulled out a different piece of paper that had, "We are fine" written on it and then a crude sketch of Colt and Vel on it. "This is a problem." Star sat there and took a deep breath. "I need someone keeping tabs on him." "I'll do it," she said quickly. "No, you are needed to manage Neverwinter." Rue would notice that Marcus seemed to be unaware that Star was also working for Rayna and putting together a crew for her or seemingly didn't care. Marcus looked at Rue and pointed to her, "I want you to keep tabs on Colt." "Me?" She asked a bit flustered. "I like Vel, but Vel and Colt are... " Marcus laughed softly, "Are like you two," he said, looking at Star. "Only less focused. I need someone who I can depend on." Marcus looked at Rue, "You've proven yourself a valuable asset to the Black Hooks and you've been very helpful to Star. If Star tells Colt to bring you along and make reports, he will accept it." "Will he?" Star asked with a laugh. "He better," Marcus replied without a laugh. There was a moment of silence as they both stared at each other. "He will, correct?" "Of course," Star said with a big smile. "He has never let us down." "Others in our organization may have a different opinion of that, but I agree, he is a valuable member," Marcus said. He stood up, "Take care of this." Star stood up, "I will." She motioned for Rue to stand up also, which she did. Marcus left with his bodyguards, and Star sat back down, rubbing her face. "Are you alright?" Rue asked gently. "Yeah," Star said. "Colt is.... " "A handful," Rue said, quoting Star. "He is," she said with a smile. "But.. he's.... Colt," Rue said putting some emphasis on his name. "He is," she said softer. .
Rue put her hand on Star's hand, "I'll make sure Marcus is happy with my reports," she said. "I'll let him know what Colt is up to." Star put her hand on top of Rue's hand. Her eyes connected with her. Rue remembered when Colt vanished with the Longshots for two months. The other Black Hooks saw a confident Star knowing he'd come back, but Rue saw the tremendous worry that she had that was eating at her. They had gotten drunk a few times, and Star had asked Rue "What if I lost him? What if he's gone?" a few times. Rue had also seen tremendous relief when Colt reappeared. Star said softly, "Tell Marcus what Colt is up to, but, check in with me if....." "If I need my reports to be..... proofread?" Rue asked with a smile.
Star sighed softly, a bit relieved. She patted Rue's hand, "There is no one else I'd trust to do this...then you." "I won't let you down, Star," Rue said with a proud look on her face. "I know you won't."
Star sighed softly, a bit relieved. She patted Rue's hand, "There is no one else I'd trust to do this...then you." "I won't let you down, Star," Rue said with a proud look on her face. "I know you won't."
