She lifts an eyebrow at that. She was not so stupid as to believe there wasn't anything more to this man than she could see, but now she wondered what about him could possibly cause people to reach for such weapons, if what he said was true of course.
I can only imagine... But getting to know people is dangerous. You let them in. You trust them. Then you are left broken when they betray you.
A few guardsmen entered, chatting amongst themselves. Most of them sat at a table, talking to themselves. A few words drifted over, "The Captain," the "ruffians outside the gates." One of them, the leader, noticed Gray and tipped his hat, but said nothing.
Last Edit: Jun 7, 2012 20:36:40 GMT -5 by Margrett
Marlena parted her lips to speak some reply to what Grayell had said. No, she wasn't a jaded romantic, she'd never been in love or had her heart broken. She'd always been the one to do the breaking. She even made little boys cry as a child when they came to her with daisies. But on a friendly term, people will sell you out for the right amount of coin. She didn't get to voice this out loud though. Her attention was drawn to the sound of of booted footsteps and male voices from the door way. Watching them closely, the uniforms put her on edge. She noticed the nod to Grayell and her eyes went back to the white haired man before her, the tip of her right middle finger running around the rim of her drink.
Maybe it's for the better. Feelings only get in the way when there is a job to be done.
Kiko was still watching Ursine. But, she had not missed the Wolf's entrance or the girl; all coltish legs, long dark hair, and quick eyes. She focused her senses for a split second on the girl and that was a second too long. She gave her gaze free rein on the width of Grayell's shoulders too, while his back was turned.
So, Ursine. Tell me what makes this table, and you in particular crazy.
She was thinking crazy thoughts herself, or rather the wolf lurking inside was lingering in them. She was trying to regain a bit of coherency, trying to stuff the angry growl back down in her throat. But, it was not working. The wolf wanted to rush across the bar and pin the dark haired girl to the floor.
The door opened with a clutter of voices and steel. Oh. Wonderful. Guards. Yes. Kiko might have been a bit crazy, as well. But, her instincts were dead on.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
Ursine shrugs, slapping the hand rubbing at her clothing with the other and folding them, in a half-remember gesture that, while not exactly within etiquette, somehow manages to seem prim. "The table's not crazy, really. The table just gets a bad name from me, is all. Guilty by association, you know." She splays her hands, in a sort of 'what can you do?' gesture. "As for myself, well, I was witness to the fall of Karlshamn seven years ago. Nobody believes me, of course, because everyone knows that nobody made it out of Karlshamn alive."
((For posterity, I didn't know the Vanguard was a secret thing, so that post I made was a fluke and not to be indicative of future behavior. Carry on.))
Nodded in response to the guardsman, as if caught off guard by such a gesture. He smiled courteously and then let his eyes take in the tavern again as he turned to face Marlena once more. He waved for the tavern girl one more time.
That, is an unfortunate truth; but very wise nonetheless. I might be interested in your preferred line of work Marlena, only in that I know a few people about town who might be able to help you settle in.
If you intend to stick around of course. Many people do. The town kind of... gets its claws in you could say. Happened to me. But it's a damn good place to be, no matter who you are and what you do.
The tavern maid arrived once more and Grayell smiled, excusing himself for one moment from the conversation. He pointed to Kiko with a smile.
I would like to order your finest wine for the lady sitting there.
The maid looked a little confused.
"But Sir, isn't that...."
Yes. Yes it is. You just let her know the white haired stranger sitting over here insisted. Tell her, she is the most beautiful creature I have laid eyes upon and would be honoured to know her name.
The maid smiled then, getting the gist of his request and promptly left to see to it.
Grayell turned to Marlena once again and smiled.
So where were we? Ah, yes. You need work. I might be able to help.
Marlena watches him and follows the line of his finger to the woman in the corner, the one she'd seen him look to earlier, a small laugh falling from her lips at the maid's reaction.
I see romance isn't entirely gone from this world.
She looks back to him as he begins to speak to her again, an eyebrow arching at his words, but she thinks for a moment.
You can only speculate what it is I do. But I'm guessing you are close. So tell me, how can you help me, Grayell?
Grayell thinks for a moment, finishes his drink and then leans upon the table again. He levels his gaze, serious but not threatening; and lowers his voice just enough.
You look informed. Tell me something. Without looking. By the fireplace is a man in a green tunic. In his left ear, is a bauble. Tell me what stone it is. How much is it worth?
Grayell chuckled then, she had a better eye than he did. He'd had a hunch. She was smart - the right kind of smart, but that didn't mean she was the right kind of person for much work in town.
He wasn't on a recruiting drive. No, he just knew someone different when he saw them. Perhaps she was a cutpurse, but he didn't measure as much worse than that. She could get into a lot of trouble very quickly in this town...
Hm. I am going to do you a favour Marlena. Consider it intel. Not everyone in Wistvale tolerates people such as you or I. It's understandable, same as anywhere. But unlike anywhere, they can't be bribed or paid off here. You need to tread carefully.
But there's honest work. Good work. No, I'm not about to tell you I work for some secret underground clan of thieves who run the town. But I think you and I might just get along well enough. If you're interested in some work... work in which I think your potential skills might be of great use, you let me know.
I always need a sharp pair of eyes and some keen ears. Not that I'm left wanting for such. I just can't be everywhere at once.
This conversation had taken a turn in a direction she hadn't expected. The man was offering her work she could do an do well, unexpected from someone that seemed like a 'good guy'. He was willing to help her and that raised her defenses slightly. She would have to trust him in some way to not hand her over to the Sentinel. But if he was right, she wouldn't last long here doing what she had intended. Her gaze turned to the group of Sentinels that had appeared earlier, a deep breath filling her lungs. It took only a few seconds for her to make up her mind, her voice barely above a whisper.
You want information, a spy of sorts? Sure... As long as it pays.
Smiling again, that genuine smile that appears so very rarely around most people, she nods and her body relaxes slightly into the chair. Maybe the evening wasn't a total waste after all.