Owner	Pose
Carrie Kelley	It was late, but not so late that everyone had retired back to their homes for the evening in preparation for the new day. Several students were still at the coffee shop cramming, while others were just relaxing before the holiday vacations that were upcoming. Carrie sits toward the back of the cafe with her back to the wall as she nurses a cup of coffee, and a plate with a half-eaten bagel on it. Though there was a book on the table in front of her it hadn't had a page turned in over a half hour. No, her mind was elsewhere, as her gaze stares off at the wall absently.
Brooke Harris	Brooke is just suddenly... There. You're sure she must have walked across the room to you, but... Well... she tends to escape your notice when she feels like it. She looks over the page a bit, thoughtful. "You know. If you want to actually study this? You're probably going to need to spend a little bit more time actually turning pages." She pulls up a chair, slipping into the seat. After a couple of seconds of studying your face, she notes, "You're thinking about something. Maybe I can help. Is it something that I could ask about?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley tenses a little at the sudden arrival of Brooke. It does earn a smile, though she takes a deep breath to calm that little frission of tension that surged through her in immediate response. "Hey. Yeah, I am," she agrees as she looks down to the pages of her book. Without remarking on the contents her gaze lifts to glance across at Brooke a long moment. "I've had a lot of offers for training lately from some unexpected sources," she explains, considering how best to go about this. "It's very tempting. Not that I'm not thankful for all I've learned from you... and I know I'm no where near a master at what I can learn from you," she adds with a small shrug. "Just... A very grumpy fellow we've both run into has offered. That seems hugely important."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods. She lets the silence linger a little bit. "A flying rodent? He knows things I don't. I assume things you want to know." She considers. "But you used a plural, there. You have other offers?" She has a cup of something you didn't see her order; she sips from it conversationally, watching you and letting you spool out your thoughts.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley reaches out for her own cup unconciously mimicing Brooke's motions as it's drawn up for a sip. Her response is a simple, quiet 'mmhmm' that could be mistaken for her simply indulging in the drink. "Ran cross some birds that were very colorful. They offered before he did to be honest, but I... learned some things I shouldn't have. About a lot of people. I can see why he'd want to keep me close by at this point." It's here she pauses, nose scrunching with a frown. "I'd just rather it be serious and not as a precaution. I don't plan on chatting about anything I know."
Brooke Harris	Brooke tilts her head in thought. "Two masters. You are a threat to both. They want you close. What do they think of each other?" She taps her chin a moment. "If you are a threat, there are other ways to keep you quiet. But you can talk to him, I suppose." She puts her hands lightly on the table. "And what about the birds? How are you connected to those, now?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley shakes her head a little bit at the mention of two masters. "No, just about those in his," there's a little raise of her hand as she gestures in a circle. "Dojo." There, that would do. "The other is more of a girls club. Helping each other out. I think I could do both honestly. One trains, the other is a means of networking when necessary to help each other out. It seems reasonable at least." There's another sip of her coffee as she looks across at Brooke. "Though that means I wouldn't have as much time to visit and train with you at your dojo. Especially with college, too."
Brooke Harris	Brooke gives a one handed shrug with her fingers. "You'd be learning some good things. I'm sure you wouldn't be gone forever." Another bit of consideration. "But you really do need to keep an eye on your connections, here. Just because the club feels informal doesn't mean it really is. You need to talk to them first. Some masters are informal, but that doesn't mean you don't have a duty to them." She looks off to the side thoughtfully. "I've learned a lot from masters who detest formality, but they are still masters, and I am still going to remember that and give them the respect they earned."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley considers that quietly as she hadn't really thought of it before. A small frown plays over her lips as she slips her gaze out of focus once more. "True. I know I'm new to this. And yeah, networking is important. I don't think I'd take the offer lightly either way. It's not a free or easy ride by any means. Just one with more flexibility than the constraints the other would require." Lowering her head she rakes her hand through her ginger hair, letting it push back out of her face in the process. "I know my answer already, I just didn't want to jump into anything without careful consideration." Looking up again she smiles at Brooke. "So I guess I'll be really busy from now on."
Brooke Harris	Brooke tilts her head in a nod. "It happens. You have this." She takes another slow sip, contemplating. "I was in town checking on someone. That's.. been interesting." She quirks a small smile. "You might hear about it at some point. No diet food." She considers. "And let me know what you are up to. Do you have a title yet? A grandmaster was curious, but I don't want to just give your name out."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley tips her head thoughtfully as well at that, a single eyebrow raising. "A grandmaster? Now I'm curious," she has to admit with a wry grin as she lifts her cup for another sip. It's a long one though as it was getting colder, and her enthusiasm in eating had grown a bit. "I never ate diet food even when I wasn't working out so much. Just tastes fake and awful." A momentary skirting of her eyes around the room comes, and she shifts in her seat only slightly. "Kestrel. It's a nice bird and red feathered so I thought it sounded fine."
Brooke Harris	Brooke mouths the word 'Kestrel' slowly, enunciating, then lightly licks her lip in thought. "I like it. It fits you." She nods once, turning the cup back and forth in her hand a bit. "What do you know about top level martial artists? The top ten, say. I don't care to talk about some of them with anybody who doesn't already know. One of them likes to erase themselves from the world. Bloodily."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley shakes her head slowly at that, eyes shutting a moment. Good information to know. Indeed. When she opens her eyes again she considers Brooke a long moment. "That's a part of my education that's been very lacking. I'm learning style, and substance, but having very little in the way of information. That's something else this group offers."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods. "You want to know the major players." She sips her drink politely. "I offer tea. Even to assassins. Respect will take you a long way. So will listening. One of the top martial artists in the world will spare your life if you are polite. Others will humor you with garbage if you aren't respectful. Respect varies from one to the next. What are you going to be studying first?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley takes a deep breath only to shake her head. "The basics. Whatever they may be for this new opportunity. I know I'm starting from scratch, and I know that he has his own style and methods. So I'll be starting with how he wants to handle things I suppose. I still have to accept to find out for certain, but that would be my bet. I might be wrong. I'd rather have a solid foundation for the rest first though." She does consider the suggestion slowly nodding in agreement. "I'll keep that in mind. I know I do tend to lose my temper at times, though I'm finding that after our training it has gotten better."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods. "I know there are things I can't teach you. You seem like you need to learn them, though.. Maybe we are going to end up studying together at some point." She shrugs a little. "Stranger things have happened. He has a good system going, and you should learn it. We can trade notes later." She pauses and considers. "Have you been getting into anything I should be watching out for? People I should be careful around, secrets to stay clear of?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley smiles a bit at mention of potentially training together. "That would be interesting," she agrees before the next question throws her off guard. There's a pause as she considers it. Slowly she shakes her head. "No. It was mostly a series of chance that were too coincidental not to be connected in my case. I don't see the same issues arising for you."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods and sips. "I might be in the area a bit. I need to see if the mansion crew needs help. Boss's orders. You filmed there." She considers. "If you know anything useful for that."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley reaches up to scratch at her nose a moment thoughtfully. "Yeah I heard that was back. I ought to go check on that myself if only as a courtesy. Mr. Stark was rather generous to let me do that, and I do have the final product to deliver still. I wasn't able to before due to... well. It not being there." She flashes a faint smile at that. "Well it was good to catch up. If you need any help with anything while nearby just give me a call." There's a pause though, and she considers. "So... Who IS the top master? Unless it's that one that doesn't want people to know in which case, I'm okay not knowing."
Brooke Harris	Brooke smiles and considers for a bit, holding a hand open in thought. "Exact comparisons are difficult at best." She hmms. "They try not to challenge each other when the stakes are too high. Predators avoid hard fights. Even the winners have to heal, and if they fight to live, it's a great expense."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley considers this a long hard moment before nodding in apparent understanding. "I see. That makes sense. It was worth asking at least," she reasons with a shrug before considering Brooke again. "So who was the one asking about... you know, nevermind. I'll probably find out eventually."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods. She thinks a bit. "Richard Dragon." She rises in a smooth movement, stretching faintly. "Who I'm sure you will encounter eventually. I have some others to hunt down now, though... You know how to find me, as always."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley dips her head in agreement at that. "I do. Take care, Brooke."
Brooke Harris	Brooke bows a bit, then slips away quietly, to go onward to her next task.