[Kransha]

The old and shrewd hobbit made his way back into the dank corners. Soothing firelight cast eerie shadows onto furnished wood that stood on the walls beside Toby. He walked briskly through the shade behind several tables and toward the corner of the room. He saw a small table with two shady figures at it. He smiled as warmly as it was possible for a cold and calculating hobbit as himself could and walked over to it.

He looked for an instant at the hooded figure, who now sat beside another dark silhouette that could be barely seen in the dim but warm light coming from behind him. He came nearer and spoke, hoping to strike up a little conversation before gaining a few more trinkets. Newcomers were always easiest, never wary enough of their valuables or purses. That was the simplest way to go about his kleptomaniac pursuits, since foreigners never suspected or had the courage to make accusations. No one ever pointed fingers at a wealthy and dignified gentlehobbit such as himself, fearing prosecution or even social ostricism.

“Excuse me, madam,” he said pleasantly, though his eyes glinted a little too much to be pleasant, “Would you mind terribly if I sat down here? I fear my weary legs need rest and I would very much desire some friendly conversation." He blinked warmly, projecting the familiar mask of friendliness he had assumed with everyone else he met. He knew that most people saw through this mask, but that didn't matter to him. Of course, he didn’t wait for the woman to answer before pulling up a chair and making himself comfortable. He didn’t expect a stranger to mind his rudeness. He could see very little of the woman but a pair of glowing blue embers beneath her hood. He suspected that those were eyes, though he couldn’t tell.

“So,” he continued, “I haven’t seen you around. What’s your name?”

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:50 PM February 01, 2004: Message edited by: Kransha ]