Sara returns with the shots. Sweet gives the young barmaid a playful slap on her backside and places a gold coin on her serving tray as a tip. She holds up her shot and toasts To the knives She lifts up the shot towards the group and then downs it.
She turns her attention back to Iovanna, So you got canned?
It looks like someone has got something to hide. I like it.
She looks back at the two new gentlemen. Are one of you fellows going to dance with my gorgeous friend or do you prefer sitting next to each other discussing fruit?
Declining the offer of fruit with a wave of her hand, Iovanna takes her shot from the barmaid and raises as Sweet makes her toast. Downing it one gulp, she then takes another drink of her ale.
"Canned? Well, that's not exactly how I would put it. Maybe better to just say that my former employer didn't like a couple side jobs I took."
Iovanna gives the men at the table a smirk at Sweet's question. "Maybe they're just too intimidated to dance with her. Most men just can't seem to handle a woman that is their equal or better."
Phi looks between the two women with confusion obvious on his face. "When a skilled artist performs for you, it is a gift. This woman is obviously both skilled and talented, and I find her performance quite pleasing. Were I to interfere with her performance I would not only lose the perspective that allows me to recognize her artistry, but I would interfere with the opportunity of the others in the room to enjoy her performance. I respect the effort and she has put into achieving her artistry too much to interfere.
"At home in Tian, in gratitude for her gift of performance, others would perform for her amusement, based on their skills not on hers. In your lands I have noticed that people tend to either gift money or food and drink in gratitude. Things do not have the same value as the ephemeral."
Mogir looked up at the remark about fruit and not dancing, a piece of the fruity flesh still visible between his teeth. He swallowed, "I'm not familiar with the local dances and I'm not sure the proprietor would be happy with me performing one of my people's dances. I don't think his establishment would survive." He puts the remaining fruit away as no one seemed to be interested. "Besides, they don't look like much without the painted fur."
In the mean time the Irrisen Ice Wine Mogir ordered for lady Natalia is finally brought to the table.
Natalia drinks from her ice cold glass of Irrisen wine and surveys everyone as they banter, she raises her glass to Mogir for the drink. Having no tastes for the pleasantries, she gets up and as she does so, her raven familiar, Chaos flies up from his spot on the table and perches on her shoulder.
She stands at the bar and turns around to watch, making sure to keep her eyes on everyone.
Sweet responds to Phi Where is all the fun in that?
She turns to Iovanna Side jobs? Do tell.
While waiting for the answer, she addresses the large furry man. Care to arm wrestle a wee little girl big guy?
If Mogir decides to arm wrestle:
Sweet puts her arm on the table and speaks in Varisian. She closes her eyes. As the large man places his furry hand against hers, a sly grin crossed her face. Their hands lock. The barmaid, Sara, walks over and says, "go!" Sweet opens her eyes and stares into Mogir's eyes and attempts to push his hand down.
With a dismissive wave of her free hand, Iovanna replies to Sweet: "Oh, just a little information selling is all."
Watching as Sweet prepares to arm wrestle the furry guy, Iovanna moves her mug and shot glass off to the side of the table and stares over at Ragar. "Well, that looks more my style than dancing. Wanna hold my hand big guy? I win you buy me another shot, you can name your own win condition."
Iovanna's elbow is resting on the table with her hand open in the air, waiting to see if her challenge is taken.
well, I had hoped for a better roll than that...
Sweet cuts her eyes at Iovanna. With a wink she playfully responds to the female fighter's challenge to arm wrestle her companion, Rip her arm off ole Two-Fisted!
As their hands interlock, something which takes some coordination with Mogir's relatively long arms, something in his eyes starts to glow as a fire is lit somewhere deep inside. "छोटी लड़की पर आओ." He speaks in a low grumble as if calling her out.
"Come on little girl."
Sweet takes a quick lead in the contest until Mogir grits his teeth and growls. The growl appears to shake Sweet for a minute, but she gets her emotions under control. They fight back and forth for a minute until Sweet gains the advantage.
Wow. He is incredibly strong.
Sweet pushes with all of her strength and the huge hand is eventually pushed down to the table. A huge smile crosses Sweet's face. Sara, not at all surprised by the outcome, cheers for Sweet.
Sara, get the big fella a drink. He has earned it!
He is not so bad after all. Sweet leans forward and pats the big man's hairy arm. I got lucky. I wouldn't want to try that again. I would like a little of that fruit now though.
Mogir grinned as the the fire in his eyes dimmed. "Sure thing. It may have been luck, but you did beat me." He reached into his pack again, the weird elongated arms making it very easy to reach.
When he gets some of some the fruits out his also grabs his switchblade and makes a single cut all around the fruit. "Here, this way you don't have to mess about getting it open."
Lady Natalia examines Iovanna for a long moment, once she catches her eye she speaks to her, her unchanging face not betraying any of her emotions. "Your name sounds like it is from Irrisen, and you have the height of an Ulfen, but you have no northern accident, in fact i detect traces of Kelish in your voice. Your quite an interesting specimen. So where are you from?"
During the arm wrestling match, Iovanna takes a break from watching it to respond to Natalia's question. "Well, you might need pen and paper for this answer. My father was of Chelaxian descent and is where I get my coloring from. He spent a good number of years in the employ of a family of Kelish merchants who did a lot of traveling. During one trade mission that took them up into Irrisen he happened to fall in love with a woman of Ulfen descent and took her for his bride. I grew up alongside the merchant family's kids and speak fluent Kelish."
Turning her attention back to the now finished match-up: "Nice win Sweet, now let's see I can get lucky too."
Sweet takes the fruit. Thank you. She puts it in her mouth and closes her eyes.Mmmm...delicious.
Sweet observes Lady Natalia's reaction to Iovanna's answers looking for a clue about Natalia's emotions and motives.
Perception:
Sense Motive:
I wonder what she is up to. She doesn't normally engage strangers. There must be something about this one?
You have your hands full there Iovanna. I have never beaten Ragar
Iovanna lets out a loud laugh. "Quite a pep talk Sweet. Good thing I like a challenge."
Natalia shields her smile behind her cup, she looks at all three candidates. A test of strength is one thing, but let us see how strong their willpower is!
Her gaze falls upon each of them, her left eye briefly turns red.
Suddenly the look in Mogir's eyes changes. Something was off, he felt naked. He looked down to see he was still wearing the same thing as before. Suddenly his eyes changed again to something similar to the fire seen during the arm wrestling as he starts looking around for the source of his discomfort.
Ragar's eyes glisten as he grabs the proferred hand and begins to arm wrestle Iovanna.
Let's do this! I look forward to choosing my winnings.
STR:
Well, that was fun! I will take a couple of stout ales for my troubles.
As Ragar began to arm wrestle her, Iovanna suddenly felt a bit odd, as if she was the sole focus of everyone's attention. As she tried to ignore that strange feeling of being exposed, Iovanna felt her hand being slammed to the table.
That was a rather odd feeling. I may have to challenge him again later to see if he has that same effect on me again or if it was just something I drank.
Waving over to the barmaid, Iovanna hollers at her: "Two stout ales for the winner and another shot me." Iovanna then turns back around to face Ragar. "Well, I can see why Sweet's never beaten you. Quite the strong one aren't you?"
Phi cocks his head slightly, looks at the others at the table, and then starts looking around the bar. His eyebrows pressing together as he scans the room, he locks gaze with anyone he catches looking at him. His mind races while he scans the room. I do not understand this feeling. I thought I had gotten used to the fact everyone is judging me and considers what I do, how I dress, how I speak to be wrong. Which of you found an opening? How did you use it? How do I protect that spot in the future? I am still weaker than I had hoped, obviously . . ..
Phi politely claps as each arm wrestling competition ends, though he mistimes the Iovanna/Ragar conclusion, not responding until Iovanna requests the winner's prize. His attention is still focused on the larger room.
You are no wilting flower yourself, Iovanna.
Iovanna gives a good-natured laugh at Ragar's compliment. "Quite the sweet talker aren't you? You can expect me wanting a rematch at some point."
Iovanna pays the barmaid for the ales and shot and passes both mugs over to Ragar. "Would ya'll care to give any info about the kinds of jobs you're planning on needing more muscle for?"
Oh, just a little information selling. That is all. Sweet gives Iovanna a wink.
Iovanna's question snaps Phi's attention back to the table. "The young lady introduces a fair point for conversation. Hiring tends to be a two-way conversation. What do you think of your employer? Do you recommend that we 'tie our wagon to theirs?'" Phi scans the ones who seem to already know each other, looking for some reaction.
Iovanna adds: "Also important is the question: How good is the money involved?"
Sweet looks at Phi Only if you are interested in a life of crime. Sweet puts the tip of her index finger on her lips while thinking to herself outloud. You don't seem like the criminal type. You sure you would be willing to destroy someone's family for political advantage?
She turns to Iovanna You mean people pay for this type of work? I thought we all did this for the fun of it.
Looking at Mogir. You are not looking so good over there big guy. The eerie feeling got you having second thoughts?
Phi locks his gaze with Sweet. "You seem to not understand Tian loyalty. Once one's word is given to serve, any failure can result in the death of the servant."
It took a few seconds before Sweet's comment reached Mogir, "Hmm, what? No, nothing of that kind. I'm simply looking who here just messed with my mind so I can turn his into a mess." At that he flexed his fingers.
Fair enough Phi. You loyalty then is to an organization and not to a perfection of some ideal?
"My loyalty is where I give it. My goal is perfection. The two can not be in contradiction. At the worst, my loyalty is given in error, and becomes part of what I must purify in order to reach perfection. Everyone has a different path. My path will find me."
Sweet tries to hide her smile at Mogir's comment by biting her lip ring. I would like to see what kind of a mess he could make.
It is such a shame that the perpetrator remains hidden then.
Sweet looks at Phi And what if after you have made the oath decide the Knives' ways are in contradiction to your journey of perfection?
"Yes, the work of a coward. So I guess the filth isn't even worth my time." He raised his voice just a bit so he could easily be overheard around where he was seated. He longed to crack the bastard's skull between his hands like a raw egg.
Phi smiles back at Sweet. "And what if you find out that your superior is preparing to end you as a matter of personal convenience? Do not try to pretend that you will not turn on your employer given the right motivation. Self-righteous does not suit you."
Iovanna responds to Sweet: "There are a number of things I do for fun. Work is not among them. And unlike our friend here, I'm not after perfection, just wealth. Maybe a little fun on the side too..." The last is said with a sidewise glance at Ragar.
Sweet laughs out loud at Phi's comment. If the Knives chose to end me, there is little I could do about it. You don't realize who you are dealing with here.
Sweet with her hand resting on Ragar's shoulder responds to Iovanna, There is nothing at all wrong with a little fun now and then. She adds matter-of-factly, If you are as good as you appear, you will have more wealth than you can imagine.
Natalia sniffs at Sweets and Iovanna's comment, "Wealth and fun are one thing, but power is the true goal. I will make sure you have all the fun and wealth that you want as long as you don't prevent my ascension to power."
Iovanna looks over to Natalia and gives a little shrug. "Sure, I won't prevent your "ascension" and I get plenty of wealth and fun. Sounds like an ok deal to me."
Iovanna then turns back to the table. I wonder if Sweet and Ragar are an item?
The power is all yours Natalia! Give me the influence! It is all about lovesick puppets doing my bidding! The ability to play with emotions and evoke a response...that is what I am talking about! For instance, our angry monk. Sweet points across the table.
Mocking his Tian accent Self-righteous does not suite you. She busts out laughing again. A little protective of your quest for perfection? I would engage you in a philosophical debate about how your quest for perfection is really just a desire to like the true you, but that would bore me and you probably wouldn't understand it anyway. It is a shame you are not more like Mogir. He has already reached perfection. He knows what he likes: killing and eating fruit. He knows nothing of the turmoil you face daily and your feelings of inadequacy
I wonder how angry I can get him before he does something and my dear friend Ragar puts a dent in his head.
"Killing isn't something I enjoy. It's something I have to do at times, but I take no pleasure in it." He nods solemnly, "You are correct about the fruit though. I'd love to introduce you to a favorite of mine but I don't think the owner will like it if I scare away his clientèle."