The young, beautiful woman guides Daeron into one of the rooms on the second floor, and then begins to undress as soon as she closes the door.
"Wait just a moment, love," Daeron says. "Let's chat for a moment before we get things started. What's your name? Have you worked here long?"
"As you wish my lord", the young strawberry-blonde woman says.
"I've worked here for almost a year now. I started near the end of last winter. Before that I was starving on the streets."
Trying to look welcoming and inviting, Daeron continues his questioning:
"So you're grateful for the work? You like it here?"
The guard studies Kalam closely and after determining that the elf was telling the truth, considers his question.
"Events of the past month? Nothing big's happened beyond the ordinary - the usual blokes that can't handle their liquor or think they own their favorite girls. It happens more often than normal with them Sczarni goons."
When Halsanna appears and identifies herself as being with Kalam, he offers her a sharp nod. "Fare's best in the district, maybe the city", he says confidently. "I say that from experience, even if the old lady doesn't like it."
"Sorry miss, I'm on post for a few hours still. Enjoy yourself."
At the mention of food, Halsanna is escorted to the bar. A few moments later, a tray is brought out by a voluptuous dwarven woman bearing a sizable bowl of savory venison stew with candied onions and slivered carrots. It's paired with crusty buttered rolls and a short beer.
"Let me know if you're lookin' for more than a bite to eat Lass", she says with suggestive wink.
"I've told you everything I'm going to. If you want to tell the Aspis that I'm a fool that can't run a business, be my guest. If you want to figure out where my money is going, talk to my whores."
The thin varisian stands and gestures to the door.
"You know the way out."
"If you are unwilling to be honest, then you will yield your books to us. You certainly aren't inspiring anyone with your lies and poor management. Recommending your termination or even terminating you ourselves is not outside our mandate, since you appear to be so nwilling to throw yourself on the mercy of the Aspis. It is your only hope. You live only by their forbearance."
Yolanda tries to discern whether the guard is telling the truth.
The guard appears to be completely honest. There was a bit of a communications gap between him and the late-coming Halsanna. She was asking about food. He was not.
The guard studies Kalam closely and after determining that the elf was telling the truth, considers his question.
"Events of the past month? Nothing big's happened beyond the ordinary - the usual blokes that can't handle their liquor or think they own their favorite girls. It happens more often than normal with them Sczarni goons."
When Halsanna appears and identifies herself as being with Kalam, he offers her a sharp nod. "Fare's best in the district, maybe the city", he says confidently. "I say that from experience, even if the old lady doesn't like it."
Kalam winks at Yolanda before replying, "Men are often made fools in the presence of beautiful women. Tell me, has the Kitten seen a lot of business from the Sczarni of late?"
The guard shuffles a bit uncomfortably, knowing such talk could get a man's knees broken in some parts. "Yes. They've been by pretty frequently in the past few weeks. They didn't used to come by the Kitten. The prices here aren't usually to their liking."
Trying to look welcoming and inviting, Daeron continues his questioning:
"So you're grateful for the work? You like it here?"
"It's much better than living on the streets. They keep us safe and see to our health. I couldn't ask for much more", the girl says.
Realizing this wasn't one of her usual jobs, she relaxes a bit.
Kalam smiles reassuringly, "They do tend to be a fickle lot. No need for concern, just trying to get a feel for the usual clientele."
He bows slightly to the man, "I believe we have taken up enough of your time, provided my companion has no other questions, I'll leave you to your post."
If Yolanda is finished with the man, Kalam will head back into the Kitten and attempt to track down the hostess Annabelle.
Abramov can be found at the bar, enjoying a non-alcohol drink while keeping an eye out for his companions. Perhaps they were having more luck finding the pieces to this puzzle.
"It's much better than living on the streets. They keep us safe and see to our health. I couldn't ask for much more", the girl says.
"That's excellent. I'm pleased to hear you're treated well. And things have been running smoothly the whole time you've been here? Nothing out of the ordinary recently?"
Bored! Bored! Insufferably bored! After questioning the guard -- of all the plebeian things! -- Yolanda breaks away from Kalam. She waves down an attendant and orders absinthe and some herbal "stimulants." Why should I run after some mystery? It should run after me!
Kalam barely contains a chuckle as Yolanda strides away with a determined purpose that likely has nothing to do with the matter at hand. I did offer her the chance to find something more stimulating...
Now on his own, Kalam sets out to find Annabelle. Catching up with her he smiles, "Lady Annabelle, I was hoping I might take a moment of your time? Preferably somewhere a little more private?"
After a few minutes of this, the girl frowns. ”Do I not please you my lord?”
"That is not it at all, love. I am simply a man of many needs and desires, some of them more intellectual than physical. You have graced me with your charm and your wit, and I have no doubt that you will continue to do so with your beauty. I am sorry to have offended you."
Daeron approaches, and sets about to the normal business of a brothel.
"I'll tell your mistress you were fantastic.", he told her before leaving the room.
Quick to answer the pouting Yolanda, a tall lean young man with a swimmer’s physique appears bearing her ordered absinthe and a bundle of dyed flayleaf along with the expected accessories necessary for imbibing the drug. ”Alchemically treated flayleaf – a new offering here at the Kitten but overwhelmingly popular. He smiles rakishly and awaits her approval.
The Kitten's regal hostess pales a bit when Yolanda passes by again but smiles at Kalam. "I'm afraid I'm needed up front for now. Is it important?"
After the lambasting she got earlier, the woman seems guarded.
Kalam retains a friendly demeanor but loses the smile, "Fairly important yes, as a hostess you see more of the Kitten's day to day workings than anyone. It seems to me you would be the idea person to help me gain a proper understanding of things. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes of your time."
The smile returns as he gazes in the direction Yolanda had headed, "Just the two of us of course, I believe my companion is likely to be preoccupied for some time."
Yolanda smiles at the young man. "Sweet surcease! Come. One should never party alone."
Not being unfamiliar with the ways of harlotry, Lady Yll proceeds to get her boy pleasantly drunk and extremely high. Between puffs she will begin to tease his cock, building him up but denying him release.
Annabelle frowns and gestures for a girl to take her place for a time. She gestures for Kalam to follow her inside one of the Kitten's 'private rooms'.
"What is it? Lamm is already cross with me because of the interruption earlier. I can't lose this job."
Yolanda handles herself like a professional but is surprised to find that this flayleaf is a great deal more potent than expected. It's unusual to have such a powerful product outside of a specialized drug den.
Kalam looks calm but serious, "Depending on how candid you are with me, Cedrick Lamm's opinions might soon be irrelevent. I assume by now that you are aware that my companion and I represent Mr.Lamm's business partners, that is to say his original business partners, the Aspis Consortium. I regret to inform you that the more recent arrangements with the Sczarni have not gone unnoticed..."
Kalam pauses to guage her reaction to his statements :
Curious and Curiouser
Yolanda straddles the young man continues and continues to tease the man but not with her hand. She lets him feel the possibility of penetration but denies him its reality.
"Tell me where you got such a heavenly blend. It is too fine for such a place. Tell me, darling, and I will give you release."
Annabelle swallows hard and looks away. "I... I didn't know. Lamm never explained who the money behind the Kitten was. He made some sort of arrangement with the Szcarni a month ago. He's moving their product here and in exchange their men get free reign with the girls (and boys)."
She suddenly looks nervous and pale. "Please tell your masters that I knew nothing about Cedric's deals. I'm just an entertainer. I didn't sign up for this."
Yolanda's partner/victim is a trained professional. Even intoxicated, he does a valiant job of maintaining his composure under her torturous touch.
"I don't know", he says through a drunken smirk. "We started stocking it a month ago. Varisian men come drop it off once a week. If you'd like I could get some more..."
After he's finished, Daeron will leave out the back way, hoping his partners are having a more successful time than he did.
Sloppy...Lamm should be making more than enough from his deal to shore up the take. Could have kept this up indefinitely...bloody fool.
Kalam gives the woman a reassuring smile, "Don't worry my lady, as far as anyone is concerned the fault lies with the one who brokered the deal. I can't promise what will become of Mr.Lamm but I can assure you that the Kitten and her staff will be left out of it if they do not try to interfere. I would not fear a Sczarni reprisal either, my employers have more than enough influence to protect their holdings. I do however require a little more information from you. How often do the Sczarni deliver their product and when is the next shipment due? How many men usually accompany the shipments? Can I expect trouble from anyone in the Kitten's employ besides Lamm?"
The dwarven woman smiles and looks around. ”I’ll see what I can do lass.”
A few minutes later, Halsanna has a full table. Two of them are the House’s scantily clad employees but the third is a patron, thoroughly drunk, but having a plenty good time.
Annabelle nods weakly. "Yes. Thank you.
"Who knows, after the assistance you have provided, you might just find yourself moving up in the world when all is said and done."
Kalam bow to the lady, "I'll be stepping out for a moment but you have my word I will return shortly to set things right around here. In the meantime carry on as you would any other day."
Leaving Annabelle to compose herself, Kalam steps out of the small room and makes his way for the exit in a relaxed fashion. Passing the bar he notes Halsanna settled into her card game and spares a shake of his head for Yolanda's apparent indulgences.
Hitting the fresh air, he nods to the guard and makes his way to the arranged meeting spot to collect Daeron .
He grins at his friend, "How did you make out...information wise? My imagination will more than suffice for the additional details..."
Yolanda doesn't even appear flushed.
"Darlings, I have the most wondrous news, the Varisians have the best drugs. Though I guess that does mean that the Aspis will be having to remove Lamm. I doubt they like their minions being buttered on both sides, but doesn't that sound scrumptious? I could really go for a bite."
"I was utterly, unbelievably, entirely...unsuccessful. The girl had no knowledge of anything...pertinent."
Daeron looks displeased, but not excessively so.
Kalam laughs, "And what of the legendary Cuthollal charm? Also we shall have to keep such moments out of the histories, lest your legacy suffer."
Kalam grins at Yolanda, "I'm sure there will be time for all manner of further indulgence in the near future. I am glad to hear that Lamm was at least able to barter for the Sczarni's quality stock...perhaps he's not completely inept."
He turns to the group at large, "So what do we think needs to be done about Cedrick's unfortunant treachery? I'm willing to bet that some of you would favor removing the man...in one fashion or another. But I put to you that his greatest crime is being so transparent about his drifting loyalies. Whatever his deal with the Sczarni, I'm willing to bet he has made for more than is owed to the Aspis. I suggest we simply improve upon his business practices. In exchange for remaining in business, and quite possibly among the living, Lamm would use his profits to shore up the Aspis' take and the lion's share of what remained would pass to us. A gift in honor of our benevolence?"
"The girls seem to be in tip top shape for what that's worth. Well, the one I got to give a physical was in great shape. I suppose we have a couple of options now: wait for the drug boys to come by and get rid of them OR find out where they're holed up and give them a visit."
The doctor seems quite relaxed.
"I assure you, friend, that my charm left nothing to be desired. If she had known anything—anything at all—she would have been more than willing to share it. She shared plenty with me as it was," Daeron says, grinning and glad to be back in the company of people with which he can hold witty conversation.
"But as you say, I think we have an opportunity here. Why waste his negotiations, when we can simply...reel in his loyalties. Perhaps Master Lamm will be an asset after all."