"Oh, you know, he's very open-minded. Only wants me to be happy and all." Ama waited a moment to see the look on Van's face before letting loose her laughter.
"No, I'm just messing with ya. I haven't had the time for boyfriends and romance and flowers and chocolates. Especially recently. My good friend, the Prince of Broodenberg, entrusted me with a letter which I was to deliver to a woman here in Wistvale. You see, he came to this town a while back but left suddenly, without saying goodbye to his friend. The letter merely explains his reasons for leaving and why he is unable to presently return. He asked me to convey his apologies and that I was to be of use to her in any way I can."
Sigh.
"I haven't found her yet, but I'm confident we'll meet soon. Just as we did."
Ramir laughed as well, rather loudly at first. It took him a time to compose himself, but he was sure to compose himself so that his words didn't offend Ama, for that was not his intent.
"Wow, flowers and chocolates. You're either the most romantic person I've encountered in a long time, or you've truly high hopes."
Ramir turned to back-pedal as he walked for a moment, shooting Ama a sly grin.
"... and I think that's fantastic. Too many guys are looking to lose a few coin and plow a public field, if you know what I mean. I tell you what..."
Ah, now Ramir was finding ground with his reliable, somewhat 'suave' self. If you called a vagabond, rough around the ages sort of appeal suave in any way. Still, it worked. Most the time. Just not lately.
"... I'll be sure to keep the dogs at bay. You're a proper lady after all. Maybe you'll consider me your escort, hm?"
Yes or no, Ramir was quite sure he would be seeing Ama on the regular, so to speak. And really, be damned if some slobbering, sneaky city-sort was going to so much as lay a finger on her. Not unless she said so.
Ama was grateful for Van's overprotectiveness, even if she thought she could handle herself. It was just nice to know someone had your back.
"If you have no pressing matters to deal with after all this then I'd be thankful for your company. But if you're going to keep the dogs at bay then I see it as my duty to protect you from all the lusting cats out there."
She shot him a wink and a smile.
"You are a gentleman, after all, and it wouldn't be right to let just any woman have her way with you."
Ramir looked at her a short while, he quite fancied that smile. Ama was a 'feels good to be around' kind of person thus far and he didn't know so many of those. Really, he considered himself quite lucky that they seemed to be falling in together.
Business was at hand though, as he pointed out with a thumb as he came to a halt.
"Well, it looks like we're here. I guess we should just knock... or is this probably going to be more than we bargained for? What do you think?"
Ama didn't want to overthink this one. They'd simply knock on the door, deliver the package and return to Shen's Adventuring Emporium. Job done. Mission complete. No stopping for small talk, or tea and biscuits. Just in, out, Bob's your uncle.
All the young demoness wanted was to kick back and relax, not to be running around town.
"I think we should hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
Ama moved up to the door and gave it a hearty knock. Hopefully they didn't need a code word.
Ramir fell in, by her left shoulder. He gave her a warm, but subtle smile and looked to the door. His hands were tucked in the small of his back, just in case something went terribly wrong.
Which it didn't. There was some scuffling and some mumbling and finally, the door opened to reveal a rather non threatening looking person. In fact, they looked a little bewildered, but recovered after a moment and plastered a crooked smile on their face.
"Ah, a delivery is it? Well come in, come in. Let's sort out the payment....."
The strange didn't say much else, as they'd left the door opened and retreated inside the house.
Ramir looked to Ama with a shrug.
"Hm, he didn't mention payment. I imagine that's only normal though."
Ama shrugged back, before warily entering the house. The young woman casually placed a hand upon the dagger tucked within her belt. She didn't want to appear threatening so she kept her face amiable. But that didn't mean she trusted the stranger. They were stepping into unknown territory and thought it best to remain vigilant.
"I just hope this goes smoothly." She whispered to Van.
Ramir and Ama entered the cramped building, the entry way and room they walked onto quite filled with what could presumably be cargo - which was hardly unusual, really. The man who had invited them in had made it unto the next room, but was scuffling about and still visible through that doorway.
"So, is this your one delivery today? I don't want to keep you... you know, from your work."
He shot both Ramir and Ama a sideways look and it seemed quite obvious that he was getting at something. If Ramir knew what that something was, his face didn't indicate as much. He looked at Ama with a curious grin, then looked about the room, shrugging.
(Forgive me if I seem to be rather passive in proceedings. It's rather like the 'pick you adventure' method of what shall you do next?)
The cargo bore no markings, which was unusual. It was piled high and arranged haphazardly, which too was odd.
Meanwhile, the man they'd presumably come to see returned to the room with a bag of what should be coin. He held it in plain view and then held his other hand open, expectedly. He was smiling, in an odd way that was plastered on his face and just seemed.... off.
"Alright, here's your coin. I'll just be taking the passage and you're free to go..."
Ramir reached into his jacket to retrieve the package.
Something wasn't right here. Ama just didn't trust the look on the man's face. Were they about to be double-crossed? She could see, from the corner of her eye, Van reaching into his jacket for the package, but what was in the bag the man was holding? If it were coin, why would he be smiling so peculiarly?
Acting on instinct, and possibly a whole load of madness, Ama released her grip on the dagger at her hip and quickly reached for the nearest - and most conveniently placed - stack of cargo. With all the strength she could muster, the blue-haired demoness attempted to topple the haphazardly-arranged pile onto the man...
... which might have worked quite well, if she hadn't come around the cargo and crashed into the chest of a rather large and presumably armoured man (hence the resounding 'clang'.) She staggered, he staggered and immediately, a cry rang out, the odd man bolted from the room, weapons were drawn as others entered the center of the room and left their hiding places and both Ramir and Ama were left quite surprised. There were seconds to react.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
A quick glance revealed the odds were as stacked against them as the cargo (terrible, I know), as there were some six well armed and rather clandestine looking fellows to their two. Their options were limited. The only exits were the way they'd come and the way the other man had gone and the former was not going to be an option in a moment.
"ALRIGHT!"
Ramir's immediate response was somewhere between anger and excitement, but his blades had whipped into his hands and that half-unhinged, quite murderous look was immediately in his eyes.
"Son of a..." Ama muttered under her breath as she watched the old man disappear.
She quickly looked around to count how many her and Van would have to face and she didn't like the odds. They were armed and armored, and the room was somewhat crammed with cargo for a full-on battle, unless...unless they used that to their advantage. The way they'd come in would be blocked off soon, so taking to the streets was still an option.
Use the cargo to limit the amount of men could attack her but risk being cornered, or take the fight outside where there was more space to maneuver but the high chance of them both having to take on all six at once?
Ama wished she had time to hear what Van thought.
But she didn't.
The young demoness sprang into action; getting a foot up on the bottom crate of the stack she had just wanted to push over and pouncing at the recently-hidden man she'd bumped into, aiming a mean right hook at his face...
Battle can unfold quickly and as Ama sprang into action, so did Ramir. The Hasisheth maiden sprang from the crate and landed her blow with sufficient force to stun the man who was still drawing his blade.
In the moment she hit the ground, a hand clasped about her wrist and tugged her in a circle - it was Ramir, who was taking advantage of her rocking the cargo to tug at it and spill it onto the floor.
The result was their opponents springing back and both Ama and Ramir lunging for the door. It seems he'd opted for at least not being surrounded in the crowded space and certainly, he wasn't planning on laying his arms down and complying.
"Let's run!"
Ramir had her back now and the door onto the street was in view. Ramir backed up as Ama decided what to do....
For a second, Ama thought she'd been grabbed by one of the other men and was ready to break some fingers for having laid hands upon her, but when she saw that it was Vandal she was relieved and all thoughts of bone-crushing were gone.
"Wise decision."
Her friend's choice to retreat was smart, she couldn't deny, so she did exactly as he suggested and made a dash for the exit...