The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[King Coin]

Aravi stepped inside, glancing at the array of weaponry spread throughout the room. She closed the door quickly behind her. Vera’s demeanor completely changed. I suppose it’s good business practice, she thought to herself.

She took the offered chair and crossed her legs comfortably. Vera sat on the bed, and her attention was totally on Aravi.

“I need to fill some soul gems,” Aravi began. “I’m going to Skyrim to do this. There is a large network of caves that should be home to many dangerous creatures with powerful souls. I’m bringing two others with me, but I feel we need another. You. We will go in quietly. Creatures will be soul trapped before they are brought down. If we run into outlaws, they can just be killed or avoided.”

Aravi paused for a moment. “A mage is coming with us, and he will do the soul trapping. Kayla is also coming with us. If you agree to come along, I will pay you half before we leave and the other half when we return.”

[Uleni Athram]

Ylenno purred greatly and narrowed his eyes at Kayla.

"Is that an invitation," he said, in his huskiest voice. "With that bug-musk on you, I could always say I've bewitched and thus entirely not responsible for what I'd do. I could even say you've been out to seduce little old moi! There's some private booths around here, I'm sure, and I've been dying to try out some of the ... things I've seen in a pillowbook. Wanna see how sharp the Cavefish Shanker became?"

He stared at her for a moment. He then exploded in his trademark laughter as he broke from the embrace and playfully low-kicked her in the knees. Kayla was a warrior and a daughter of Skyrim, she had her scars and the rending gales of northern winter may have roughened her up somewhat, but she was still an Altmer, and had their arcane beauty about her. Safe to say he found her undeniably charming.

"It's been a while, really! So how about you? What have you been up to, aside from raising sticks and corrupting innocence"

He looked around the table, and found that a handful of them had excused themselves, including Aravi.

"So yeah, what've you been up to? Quite the colorful friends you have, by the way."

[Darkness Eternal]

Skyrim, Vera said thoughtfully. That's some distance.

She ran her hand over her chin while her eyes remained focus intently on Aravi. Not only was Aravi looking to pay for her services, she would also be present on the trip. So in a way it was a manner of an escort service. They needed a person who was capable of fighting, and Vera was just the one. Whatever issue she had with their last time together seemed completely irrelevant. Aravi must have liked what she had seen.

It wasn't her most favorite of tasks within a job, for she found that working alone was much more efficient than working with other hard-headed individuals. Aravi had a different approach to combat, and Vera had no problems with it. Her companions on the other hand might get in the way. Too many minds on a single task led things to different unwanted directions. It was far better to work in one singular plan than many different ones. She hoped that things would go smoothly. Things didn't seem to go entirely too well with Kayla involved.

But Skyrim . . .

She was familiar with the Old Kingdom. After her occupation in Cyrodiil she headed to the Fatherland for more work and a new home. Things never changed. Just the landscape and the native creatures, but work was the same. It wasn't a job beyond her abilities. She does things that she's good at, and for which she gets paid to be the best.

Tracking someone down, pursuing him or her in the width of the province, capturing, transporting, killing anyone who had to be killed in order to get the job done; all cold-pleasures, to be savored as tests and confirmations of her own talents.

If Aravi paid well enough, she would go without as much as a fuss. Those who hired her hand, hired her whole self. She just hoped there wouldn't be any arguments or verbal brawling. The khajiit was calm and collected, and this was good enough for her.

Only Vera knew how bad it was to negotiate with an idiot.

Dealing with any of the clients, whether a matter of direct negotiation or a third-party negotiation with a middle person was more dreadful than satisfying. It always turned out to be the same damn thing, every damn time. They never want to pay up right away. Even members of the Fighter's Guild would accept a fraction of an original contract, sometimes as low as ten percent. That was one of the reasons Vera disliked working with them. She had never taken a single septim than the agreed-upon sum, and had no intention of ever doing it.

Aravi spoke her mind to pay half before the departure, half later. This was acceptable. What mattered was the right price, and Vera could take on any job . . . for the right price.

She wouldn't raise any questions on why Aravi wanted the creature's souls. She didn't particularly care. It wasn't any of her buisiness and if the reasons became clear, then so be it. If not, then so be it.

"Outlaws shouldn't be much of an issue with us as a small group. They don't always work in large numbers; draws too much attention. If they do, then they're a few meat-pieces short of a brain."

She took in some air. "I'll accompany you if the price is right. My rate is triple that of ordinary pay from either the Companions or the Fighter's Guild," Vera explained to Aravi casually. "The total is a thousand-six hundred gold pieces. I'll do whatever the job requires me to do to the letter and I'll do it to the best of my ability."

If Aravi did not like the price, it was her problem. Her clients pay her the kind of payment they do because of one thing: she gets the job done. Once she's caught her prey, nothing impedes from returning them in or taking them out. Nothing. If she take on an individual contract, she completes it. And everyone who's heard or worked with her before knows that. She was good at what she does, and the quality of her work demanded the quantity of her pay.

She looked upon Aravi with neither contempt nor any joy. It was more of a neutral look, placid. The only information she needed was the agreement and the exact location in Skyrim for proper planning. It was in Aravi's hands now.

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Sep 6 2013, 03:06 AM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

For a moment, Kayla thought Ylenno was going to kiss her by the way he was looking at her and the closeness of their faces. Then he laughed and broke the embrace and expectantly low-kicked her. She was waiting, and caught herself in time, her knees bending, but she didn't collapse. She grinned at him and laughed.

"Cavefish shanker? You're still calling it that?!" She laughed.

Raising sticks? Raising...OH!

"Don't knock the bug musk. Not many men find me attractive and-" She clenched her jaw as she received yet another randy pinch on the rear by an intoxicated...she looked back and saw a pretty blonde woman giving her a sly and flirty look. A blush creeped up her neck as she turned towards Ylenno and pointed a finger in his face.

"Not a word!"

[Uleni Athram]

Ylenno donned a mock-haughty look and raised his nose in the air, his voice mock-disdainful.

"Well what do you want to call it then? Mehrunes' Razor? I'm not exactly an imaginative person, y'know; took me ten days to come up with the name."

He then stared at her with an incredulous look. She thinks herself unattractive. Like icing to a cake.

"With that kind of opinion of yourself, its no wonder we men find you seriousl-,"

He paused in mid-sentence as a foxy little blonde cutie passed them by, and judging by the sudden jolt Kayla gave and the 'come-hither' look by the other woman, it was clear Kayla was .. pinched.

Telvanni bug-musk, alright.

Ylenno would've barked a laughter were it not for the sudden finger in his face.

"Not a word," she said, more redder than a Skingrad tomato.

Oh yeah? How about a number?

With that same smirk on his face, he pointed at himself, Kayla and the other woman and then gestured the number 'three.' Ylenno waited for the other elf's reaction.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

The blonde's face nearly split in a grin as she nodded. Kayla's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously.

"Augh! No! I can't- I mean I wouldn't know what-YLENNO!"

She shook her head at the blonde, her face reddening even more. The blonde looked mildly disappointed, then scanned the ground before disappearing between the shoulders of two large Nords. Kayla reeled on Ylenno, her lips pursed tightly, her eyes wide and her brows arched nearly to her hairline.

"You! You're going to get me in trouble!" Laughter threatened to escape, and she clenched her teeth, pointing at him again. She pulled her hand away, crossing her arms.

"Men find me what? Bad looking? That's not news. You even said yourself I'm ugly." She gave him a half grin to let him know there weren't any hard feelings.

"Besides," She let a small laugh escape. "Only a very special type of man gets to see my very special hidden tattoo." She raised her eyebrows twice, then laughed. She knew he'd piece it together. She waited for him to take the bait.

[King Coin]

"Outlaws shouldn't be much of an issue with us as a small group. They don't always work in large numbers; draws too much attention. If they do, then they're a few meat-pieces short of a brain."

They generally are… Aravi felt no need to say that aloud though. She listened until Vera was done speaking, and then considered silently for a few moments.

“Your price is higher than I expected. I do not normally hire mercenaries, nor am I one, so I do not know how this usually goes. I do not feel like haggling with you like a merchant either. Sixteen hundred Septims it is, eight hundred up front and eight hundred when we return.”

She gave a few more details of the trip. “We are aiming for a cave network called Lost Knife Hideout. If you can’t find it on a map, I can show you its general location. We are planning on leaving in a couple of days.”

She stood up and offered Vera her hand. “Is this acceptable?”

[Uleni Athram]

Ylenno put on a grand display of being disappointed. He waved dramatically at the blonde woman, a look of dark despair in his eyes as he wrung his hands, his heart broken at his ideas being rejected. He looked downcast at the ground, shuffling his feet like a maiden.

"Alas, but the realities of the world be omnipresent! Poor Ylenno accepts, for it is all he can do, but mine heart breaks and shatters at such a insistent denial!"

He smiled at Kayla.

"On the contrary, men find you seriously charming, and that's not the bug-musk talking, hey."

Then Kayla laid the trap. It was tantalizing trap, one he would love to get ensnared in and never get out, but even with his skillset he doubted he'd last long with the wounds he'd suffered earlier.

"Ooooh. A very special hidden tattoo, eh? So you've been in prison and been .... marked, I see. I have one myself, right in the middle of my buttocks! It says 'please don't'."

He then laughed.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Seriously charming? This man is blind!

He didn't quite react the way she'd hoped, but that was the thing she loved about Ylenno. Instead of taking the opportunity to try to seduce her, he made her laugh. It was a shocked laugh, that was more of a startled bark than a laugh, but it quickly turned into genuine, loud laughter. She slapped her knees and leaned on him, careful to not touch any obvious injuries.

"I missed you, Ylenno! You have no idea!"

[Darkness Eternal]

Someone had tried to poison Abiene. But why?

Irvana maintained her eerie calmness. She listened and concentrated on Abiene's words and movements. She was visibly fearful and refused to even continue the subject of the poisoning. She had obviously experienced something traumatic, a memory she was unwilling to revisit even though sometimes it may return to her.

Irvana could not recall with detail the last person that died in front of her. Too many had lost their lives before and it was something she learned to cope with. It was almost as easy as . . . breathing.

She wasn't sure what to do or how to approach this situation. Interrogating others was too bold, far too risky for exposure. It would yield more problems than positive results. The time was not yet ripe for such an audacious approach.

She looked at Abiene and saw the emotional young woman . . . what enemies could she make? Was it possible that the person reading her mind wanted to discover something born out of suspicion they initially had of someone or something.

No. It can't be . . .

Her eyes stayed on Abiene as her thoughts procecced through her vast intricate mind.

Or can it . . .

This was dangerous. Too dangerous. She didn't come this far to be a walking target.

Patience, Irvana told herself calmly. There are methods in rectyfing this problem.

Many scenarios played in her mind, and many outcomes. It was then that one possibility was a sacrifice—a strategic sacrifice, as one offers up a piece in chess: to draw the adversary into a fatal blunder. She could use Abiene as bait to lure the person into making use of her abilities.

She knows mages are at times not easily taken by surprise. Honed for such things, they are difficult to ensnare compared to the average individual. But they weren't fallible. Even the most gifted of mages can make one single mistake based on unwise decisions.

Irvana wouldn't spend her focus on such a trivial matter if it was something insignificant. But the mage, in attempting to read her mind and finding absolutely nothing may have the desire to try and probe again. This, too, was another trap she could possibly set and when the identity of this individual is discovered . . .

A smile spread through the woman's features like a serpent. "What if," she started to say. "What if one of us is used as bait to lure the culprit into trying to gain access once more? We can take precautions and find a manner to discover the fiend." She stopped, and then added. "If they do not attempt it again they are either gone, or they have suspected of our plan and hold no desire to continue."

[Darkness Eternal]

Lost Knife Hideout. Didn't sound familiar. She would have to adjust to the location. She shook her head at the mention of the map. She can find the place on the map on her own.

Her prayers were answered. It looks like she was going to get paid this week afterall. She had two days to have her equipment ready and all the sleep she could try to get. She had to be rested, somewhat focused than her mind tended to distract her from being.

I can manage that, too.

Vera stood up from the edge of the bed and walked over to Aravi. She extended her hand, and held Aravi's furry palm in a firm, unyielding grip. A sign that buisness has reached a high point.

"Pleasure doing buisness with you." Vera said right before releasing her hand. Just there, she finally did offer Aravi a smile, though it was more of a forced grin. Just for the sake of being respectful.

[King Coin]

Aravi gripped the other woman’s hand. They had an agreement.

"Pleasure doing buisness with you," Vera said, and then she gave Aravi something of a forced smile.

Aravi smiled with mirth. She’s trying, she admitted to herself. “You don’t have to pretend to like me!” she laughed. “Now if you will excuse me, I will go back down and leave you be. I will give you your first payment before we leave. See you in a couple of days if not sooner.”

She slipped out of Vera’s room, closing the door behind her.

[Uleni Athram]

The two elves both shared a good and hearty laugh, adding to merriment of the tavern all around them. Ylenno held Kayla, glad that he finally met a familiar face. That brooding depression he had felt earlier was completely gone; in fact, it was erased to the point that it seemed it wasn't even there.

"I missed you too, Kayla," he said, and that was genuine. "In fact, I miss all of our guys. I miss Tarrick, I miss Elaninde, I miss Westley, your esteemed boy-toy, I miss Lycus and Monk-Boy, hard to believe I know but I do, and I miss lady dame Buffy."

He then sighed.

"The question still stands, though. What are you doing here?"

[Colonel Mustard]

Aravi made her excuses, saying she had business she needed to deal with upstairs, but promising to return once she was finished.

"Of course," Salyan said. "I'll see you soon."

She made her way over to the bar, ordering a ginger beer and slipping a magicka restoration potion from her back. She mixed the two together, the ginger overpowering the unpleasant taste of the potion (one that always faintly reminded her of spoiled meat) and scanned the crowd. She spotted Irvana, and considered heading over to her to apologise for her hasty brushing off of her earlier, but the imperial seemed to be busy with a conversation with Abiene, one they were both quite engrossed in, and Salyan decided that she would leave them be for the moment.

She took a sip of her drink, scanning the crowd and letting her magicka reserves and energy creep back with the potion's aid. A few minutes of rest left her feeling considerably improved, and at the end of those, she saw Aravi returning to the Wobbly Goblet's downstairs area.

"Over here!" she called to the khajiit, waving her hand to attract Aravi's notice.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

"I visited Buffy in Anvil." She said, sitting at a table that had just vacated. She absently wiped the crumbs of pastries off with one hand while keeping eye contact with Ylenno.

"She had a party for her birthday, and I was invited. I made a special trip down to see her. I didn't see you anywhere, though. I guess you left after...well." She knew he'd know about the circumstances the expedition left them in.

"I've been wandering. Slaying vampires here and there, grunging up extra coin for equipment repairs and food. There was actually a nest nearby, and, would you believe it, Lycus' wife went with us! They're made for each other." She left it at that. She didn't feel like discussing her ill temperment with the blonde Imperial. Instead, she reached across the table and squeezed his hands gently and gave him a brief smile.

"I don't want to intrude, but I can give you very, very strong healing potions. I've been run through with a sword,and they've saved my life. I can always make more. You look rough. They're in my room. Come up?" There was a hidden question in there. She'd only offer once, and never again.

"Or I could bring them down for you." She said quickly. Ylenno was a friend. If he wanted to share anything with her, it wouldn't be a bed. They weren't each others type. But still, her question lingered in the air, and try as she might, she couldn't take it back for posterity's sake. he'd either decline or ignore it. Those were the only two choices she saw. Then he'd crack a joke, and she'd be embarrassed, and she'd never live it down.

She realized she was staring at him, her expression soft and concerned. She gave him an embarrassed smile, pulling her hand back slightly.

Laegon is probably still in your bed. What's wrong with you?!

As if on cue, the Altmer walked downstairs with a spring in his step. His eyes scanned the room and flitted to her face momentarily before sauntering off, never acknowledging her presence.

And that's the end of that. She thought dryly.

Perhaps she was skewing her desires. She longed for companionship, and once she left Anvil, she and Westley parted ways, him heading back to the Imperial City and her to explore the lands south of her home. Both agreed to remain friends, to keep in touch, but neither complied. He had his own life while she had hers. As far as she was concerned, their friendship never died. Just like hers and Ylenno's didn't.

And she was about to ruin it. One of the most cheerful men she'd ever encountered, with the most wit she'd ever experienced, and a decent amount of loyalty.

Shame on you.

She looked away and pulled her hands back completely, hiding them under the table.

"I can just bring them down." She repeated, looking at the table. She wouldn't. She couldn't. Not Ylenno. She wouldn't ruin their friendship over some mead and heightened hormones. She bit her lower lip, inwardly admonishing herself.

[Grits]

Abiene

“What if one of us is used as bait to lure the culprit into trying to gain access once more?”

“Out of the question,” said Darnand. He frowned at Abiene. “You should leave immediately and return to Chorrol. I shall escort you.”

Abiene walked over to Irvana. “What a good idea,” she said, ignoring Darnand. “You two should go downstairs first. I’ll follow in a moment.”

She opened the door for Irvana and returned to Darnand’s side. He looked unhappy.

“My friend,” she said. His arms were still crossed over his chest. She took one of his hands in hers anyway. “What’s the worst that can happen tonight? Another bloody nose? You weren’t even affected. In your pursuits you pass through many dangers but find little time for joy. Let us take it while we may.”

Darnand lightly squeezed her fingers, though his expression didn’t change. “I shall return to the tavern, then. To good company, decent wine, and questionable food. Do not make me wait.”

“Don’t forget the excellent music,” Abiene said, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. He didn’t return her smile but she could tell he had relented.

Darnand stepped through the door. “My reputation will only be improved if folk assume we have had a tryst, so I will leave the timing of your return up to your discretion,” he said to Irvana.

It won’t be improved too much, Abiene thought, smiling to herself. We’ve only been up here for about five minutes.

[King Coin]

Aravi went back downstairs, intent on finding the musician again. Salyan made it easy by waving and calling her over.

The bar was still crowded and it took some time for her to weave her way over to the other woman. Over at the original table she sat at, Sethyas and his wife remained. I should introduce myself better to her, Aravi thought as she remembered the quick introduction they exchanged outside. Kayla was there yet, talking to the very tall Bosmer. I need to let her know Vera is coming along as well. They all had trouble working with Vera when they cleared the vampires out of a cave. Aravi hoped that this one would go more smoothly.

Aravi sat at the bar and hopped up on a barstool. She curled her tail around one of the legs so that she wouldn’t be stepped on again. Her feet didn’t quite reach the ground.

“Hello Salyan, I’m glad you saved me a spot,” she said with a small smile.

[Uleni Athram]

Ylenno sat at the same time Kayla did and helped clean aside the mess of the earlier occupants. Their forearms brushed slightly, but very much unintenional. Ylenno pursed his lips in amusement. Then his ears perked up at the mention of Buffy. Just the mere mention of her name sent a mixture of anceint sorrow through the Bosmer's core. His fellow Bravillian and he didn't even went to her birthday. That's the problem with me, I suppose. Always running. He was staring at nothing when Kayla reached across the table, squeezed his hand, and mentioned Lycus's...

"Champ has a wife?! What in kinky Aetherius?! I didn't peg him for a tied-up guy!"

He was amazed. The hulking Imperial was... many things, evidenced by the events that transpired below Sutch, but never in all his wildest imagination did Ylenno saw Lycus with a ring on his finger. Just goes to show the wonders of the world still to be discovered.

He then caught Kayla staring at him, looking over his war-scars with concern, raking over his countenance.... but even a mindless beast could detect the wild urgency of the moment between them, and the clouds of longing fogging up behind her eyes. Ylenno held that stare, his eyes melting with the golden orbs of Kayla, and he was lost there, seeking through the lust for .... something. They were at the height of debauchery now, and Ylenno, veteran of falling from there, wondered if Kayla was prepared for the dive. With him, of all people. He was used to rapid trysts of no consequence, where there would be no .. complications later on. His partners were usually random people who took a fancy to him, or he to they.

But Kayla was a friend. They went through fire and butchery below the light of the sun, and faced the ancient darkness that gathered beneath the Fort Sutch. When they emerged unscathed and intact, but still really shaken of the momentous events, something was forged between all of them. It went beyond companionship, went beyond the scope of love, went beyond simple lusts. It was something divine, unexplainable by mere words, and Ylenno was hesitant to possibly ruin it.

"That's quite fine," he said, after a moment of glittering thoughts. "Let's just sit here and enjoy each other's company."

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla nodded. "Yeah, let's just enjoy the moment while it lasts. Before I get my rear pinched again." She gave him a grin to let him know the moment had passed. At least on the surface. She felt a bit closer to him as they gazed at each other, but not much. There was a wall there, and before she could give herself, it would have to be broken. She'd never known a woman to break that wall, and she was slowly realizing that maybe none ever would.

She slid her chair next to him and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other and putting one arm behind his shoulders, resting it atop his chair. She gave him a wink and a grin. "I wouldnt complain if you did, though." She patted his cheek and leaned her head back in laughter. She took a long drink of her mead and immediately wished for a stronger drink. She motioned Stefania over and ordered a strong red wine and offered to pay for Ylenno's drink.

"My treat. I owe you from the expedition anyways."

[Darkness Eternal]

“You don’t have to pretend to like me!” Aravi said with a laugh before she departed.

Vera closed the door behind her, wondering what that was all about. She harbored no ill-will toward Aravi. Though she had been called an idiot by the khajiit, she didn't allow petty things like that to bother her. Hell, even if someone wanted to kill her for coin she wouldn't have a personal issue with them.

Aravi was a client, she had coin. Simple. Emotions and feelings should've even exist in an equation like that. She felt absolutely neutral about Aravi. She didn't hate or dislike her, nor did she adore her.

She turned back to the bed.

Time to make a few adjustments.