Cadoc had finally convinced him that he needed to return to the city, however nothing his faithful valet could say could make him return to that other life. It had been too long and he could not face it, hell’s teeth he did not even think of himself as that woman anymore.
Earlier that evening he had been sitting at the desk in his study trying to write yet another letter asking for an extension of his… her sabbatical, drinking coffee and smoking cigars one after the other when he slammed the pen down and exclaimed.
“Clocking damn this, I need a drink!”
He slammed the coffee cup down and it sloshed rich dark liquid over the half written letter and he did not even care. He stalked over to the drinks cabinet and found it empty. Neither he or Cadoc had restocked since they arrived that afternoon.
With a string of colourful oaths he stalked from the apartment, pausing only to pull on a grey rain cloak and wide brimmed hat in the same colour, over his green velvet high collared waistcoat over a white shirt, a pair of chestnut brown trousers and highly polished tan brogues.
So here he was looking for a tavern in the wet evening, his cloak and hat made almost black by the rain as he stalked through the streets. A cigar smouldering between his teeth, and a slight scowl on his gaunt face.
As he walked he paused, a figure across the street from him caught his attention, there was something familiar about how they moved. Jean squinted through the rain, yes, it was her, he was sure of it.
"Niccolette Ibutatu!"
Jean shouted as he put up a hand to hold his hat in place as he checked the street and ran across, the other hand up in a wave of greeting, his tired drawn face brightening into a smile. However as he got to a sudden blow to his back followed swiftly by a burning agony brought him up short, his face took on a look of surprise and he tried to look over his shoulder before he slowly fell forward to land on the rain slick cobbles.
A black feather crossbow bolt sticking from a spreading darker stain on the back of his rain darkened cloak.