Alright, they were officially out of time. "I'm really, really sorry, please trust me," she said in a rush, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and snapping her wings open with a sharp crack. She winced as they tore through the fabric of her dress. She'd never done that before.

She looked Jack in the eyes, hoping he could just go with this, praying it would actually work, and somewhere in the back of her mind wondering how it had gotten to this point.

Sorry- what?!

Her cheeks flushed slightly and she silently cursed the blush. She had a great body, damnit, and she knew it; normally she wasn't even remotely self-conscious, but this was going a bit too far.

She met his gaze with a glare, gritting her teeth. C'mon, girl, you can do this. Don't let him beat you, don't let him beat you. "May I ask why? You can clearly see that I'm unarmed. I have nothing else on me."

"Shit!" Fiona cursed, whirling to see the armored men thundering toward them. A sudden burst of terrified strength helped her shove the window wide open. She grabbed for Jack's shoulders, pulling him with her up onto the sill.

"Me or them," she said quickly, flexing muscles in her shoulders she'd never really used before, muscles she prayed wouldn't let her down. "Make a choice, and make it fast."

Not many things could truly throw Jynx for a loop; this smirking thief officially made the list. He was trying to embarrass her, but she was not going to let him win.

"I can manage myself, thanks," she snipped, hands moving to work at the laces on the front of her corset. In a few deft, practiced movements she shucked it to the side, leaving her upper half clad only in a breastband, then moved to shimmy out of her tailored breeches. Hands on her hips, she faced him wearing only her undergarments and raised her eyebrows in a challenge.

Your move, pal.

Jynx's jaw dropped. Can I eat him now? the voice asked, smug.

"I'm thinking about it," she growled softly in response. To the Hawk she quipped, "I'm flattered, really- but over my dead body."

Fiona twisted to look at him, frowning slightly. "Look, we don't have a lot of time here, and it's officially your fault I'm in this mess, and I'd rather not be killed for some stranger at the moment. So unless you've got a better idea, help me get this window open and then help me undo the back of my dress, alright?"

Her completely mad plan relied on this man trusting her, at least for the next thirty seconds or so, and hopefully not sharing her secret after that.

Jynx gave a tsk of her own, mumbling expletives as she yanked the knives from her boots and back, then carefully withdrew the smaller one from her cleavage.

The rasping voice in her head chuckled. Silly human, it whispered. He smells delicious...

"I said no," Jynx hissed firmly. Feeling very naked without her blades, she crossed her arms and quirked an eyebrow. "So, mister very-good-business-owner, now what?"

River had to admit, albiet silently and reluctantly, that she was impressed. More than once her masked companion had stopped without prompting from her, sensing a patrol almost as quickly as she did. Of course she could- and did- blame some of her sensory dullness on the pain throbbing from her shoulder and collar.

"Alright." They were halfway across town now, darting in and out of allies like rats avoiding the piper. "Which way now?"

"I guess you'll just have to trust me," Fiona threw over her shoulder. They came out into another hall, one with a large, ornate window taking up most of the outer wall. Perfect. She raced over and fumbled with the latch, then tried to heave the heavy pane of glass open.

"A little help?" she grunted.

Jynx's smile turned into a snarl. "It's almost like you don't trust me or something," she grumbled. But- fortunately or unfortunately, she wasn't quite sure yet- she hadn't actually managed to nab what she'd come here for, so there was nothing too incriminating in her pockets.

Well, other than the assortment of knives, including the two strapped to the small of her back and the tiny one tucked down the front of her corset (not an easy place to store a blade, but handy in a pinch). She decided he didn't need to know about those.

"There," She said, showing him the handful of coins and the three more visible knives she kept stashed on her person. The ones in her boots were staying put too. "Happy?"

River shrugged. "Fair enough, bu I'll hold you to it." She crept toward the mouth of the alley, eyes and nose searching the gloomy street. Her senses would be stronger as a wolf, but that damn cut kept her from changing. Still, she got enough to know the coast was clear. She glanced back at the doctor and jerked her head in a "follow me" gesture, then slipped across the street and into the narrow gap between two buildings.

Across town. This was not going to be easy, creeping through back allies and whatnot; on her own and with her abilities accessible it wouldn't have been too much of a challenge, but like this... Still, her word was binding. She'd get him there.

Jynx bared her teeth. She so did not need this right now. Come on, think, there had to be a way out, there was always a way out.

Suddenly the scar across her face twinged and a deep, rasping voice hissed through her mind: I could take care of him for you...

"No," she murmured, hoping the man wouldn't hear. Raising her voice, she said, "As tempting as that offer is, I'm sure we don't need to go that far." A mock pout graced her lips. "Come now, it's not like I've done any real harm, is it?" She batted her eyes. Despite the scar, she could be quite charming when she put her mind to it.

"I-I don't know," Fiona stammered, partially in shock from what had just happened. "Just run!" She turned on her heel and tore back the way they'd come. Stairs. If she could find a set of stairs, get them to higher ground...

A plan started to form in her mind. A completely mad plan, but a plan nonetheless. She looked back to her companion, judging his size. Maybe this would work. "Up here," she she called, taking the first stairway they came to and hoping it led to somewhere with a window.

"Fiona," she replied distractedly. He sure did talk a lot... Yes! There was the door, they were almost out. After this, she decided, she would go home to her mother and her shop and never complain about her boring life again. Without thinking she threw the door open-

And was met with a blade at her throat. "Going somewhere?"

Fuuuuuuck... Jynx scowled at the bars, planting her fists on her hips. The she fixed a smile to her face, as charming as she could make it, and spun on her heel to face the desk. "Why, you know, I was just thinking I might stay awhile." She popped a hip and leaned against the wall, smoothly hiding one hand behind her back and white knuckling the hilt of her knife.

"Yes," she mused, thinking back to the sudden summer blizzard. They were at the servants' entrance now. She slipped through the door, glancing down the hall and listening for approaching footsteps. Clear. Alright, just take the first left and they should be home free.

In theory.

She put that thought from her mind and padded down the hall, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the stranger was following her. "What're you called, by the way?"

Jynx sighed, clenching her fist and whispering, "Return through the Veil." Tiameth disappeared with a small pop, the sheaf of papers and the remains of some metal trinket she had knocked off the Hawk's desk the only evidence of her presence. Cursing quite colorfully in her head, Jynx moved toward the window, hoping maybe she could still get out of this.

Don't get up, don't get up, don't get up, she chanted silently, moving one foot at a time with careful precision. Damnit all, one shot at this and the stupid demon blew it.

Fiona eyed him warily. A traitor then? No, she shouldn't jump to conclusions. So far the only thing he was guilty of- as far as she could see- was making it snow in summer. Strange, but then, she was no stranger to strange things.

"What exactly did you do?" she asked, clutching her delivery tight to her chest as she crept up and peered around the corner of the wall before nodding an all-clear. "Must've been pretty bad to get you tossed out a window."

She stared at the stranger, her brain trying to catch up with the situation fast enough to actually react. "Um, the servants' entrance," she whispered, thinking fast. It was how she'd gotten in, most nobles didn't want mousy little delivery girls coming in through the front gate, and it not nearly as heavily guarded as the main gate.

She jerked her head toward the back entrance and began moving slowly in that direction. "How about," she offered quietly, a smile twitching at her lips, "You can buy me that drink and explain just what the hell is going on here?" Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward the pile of now melting snow and she quirked an eyebrow. Normally she wouldn't have been so bold, but something about the adrenaline of the situation helped push the words out of her mouth.

Jynx swore mentally at the creaking, rattling racket the dumbwaiter caused. She froze in place, but no one in the room seemed to notice. Letting out a soft breath, she crept out of the small box, wincing as her spine finally uncurled after so long. She looked around, eyes training onto the man asleep at the desk. So this was the infamous Hawk, huh? Jynx smirked. He didn't look like much- sure he was handsome enough, but what self-respecting thief left himself that open? She shook her head and rolled her eyes, then quickly snapped back into sneak mode.

Wow. There were certainly plenty of baubles and trinkets- some more valuable than others- that she could have grabbed and been on her way. But she needed something specific, and according to her source it was here. And it had better be; she hadn't come all the way from Zantaric for a dead end.

Raising her right hand, she drew one of her knives from the sheath strapped to her thigh and pricked her finger, letting the trickle of blood run into her palm before she clenched her hand into a fist, murmuring, "Tiameth, come to me."

There was a tugging sensation in her gut and the air in front of her shimmered, then warped as a small demon fluttered onto her plane. She most closely resembled a tiny fox, but with bat wings instead of front legs and a mix of black and deep crimson fur. Tiameth flapped over to her, perching on her head and chirping softly.

"Shh," Jynx hissed, glancing nervously at the sleeping man. She grabbed the demon by the scruff of her neck and pulled her off her head to look into her pointed little face. Semi-intelligent, bright green eyes blinked at her. "You know what to do," she told her, voice barely above a breath, and let her go.

Tiameth glided around the room, whiskered nose twitching. Jynx began to relax, just a bit. She was the best tracker demon she had, and small enough that she was perfect for stealth missions.

CRASH!

Usually. Jynx closed her eyes. "Oh, fu-"