( Roleplayed by Silver and Rin. )
"So she's here, then?" The street was barren, flanked by the weathered walls of old shop fronts and deserted housing, windows either covered in grime or planked over like a haphazard bandage on a mortal wound. Two men walked the lonely road, each differing in both size and shape. The shorter of the two had spoken, his voice soft, yet strong - silk braced over a naked blade. "Your contacts say as much," grunted the taller figure, broad of shoulder and hulking stature. While only a few inches above six foot, the man was hardly average. His posture was stooped, his brow sloping a bit forward and a tusk grew out from the left corner of his mouth. The half-orc's heritage could not be in question, nor his lethality. A thick cudgel resided on one hip, while his back bore the weight of a grim looking maul. "...doubt they'd lie to me. They know I'm your man." While his words and manner were as blunt as his personality, cunning lingered in the half-orc's beady eyes. "Good," murmured the smaller man. He was a few inches shy of his companion's respectable height, built for speed rather than strength, though it seemed he lacked for neither as he strode confidently down the lane, his blue cloak billowing out behind him like a restless piece of the night given complaint about the stillness. A light smile adorned his lips, complimenting a strong chin and a rugged cast to a fine profile. Stubble shadowed his features, which added to the casual air of danger that swirled about him like a thick cologne, that faint, figurative scent purely....rogue. "Well then, Myoc, we'll have to offer our greetings while still in port....we cannot let an opportunity to say hello to an old friend pass up by, can we" Lead the way..." Rolling his eyes, the half-orc, Myoc, grunted and took point as they cut left through an alleyway and into a broader street - this one alive with taverns and beer halls, noise filtering out to liven the night with the lively banter of drunken sailors. Silver rubbed the tiredness out of her eyes as she closed the door to her office behind her, twisting the knob to make sure it was locked. The night had fallen quicker than she had hoped, and she found herself again exiting into the darkness at an hour when most were already drunk and a few were stumbling home or passing out in the streets. The hour, however, would not stop her from finding a drink herself after a long day of work. Her boots turned down the street, leading away from the office toward the alleys that wound into the port city. At this hour there was only one place she'd frequent, the Broken Harpoon. A hand roughly pushed open the door, the stench of ale, stale stew and sweat permeating the salty air as she stepped into the dimly lit tavern, carefully winding her way through those that were snoring with their heads on the table tops and those that were imbibing in card games and raunchy songs. The tender gave a greeting in the form of a grunt and a smile as the tall, lithe form of the Captain settled into her usual stool at the counter. He slapped a mug of ale in front of her before stomping off. Silver's eyes quickly rose to scan the room before, contentedly, she settled into enjoying her drink. "Here," Myoc's voice sounded more akin to churning gravel than anything resembling normal speech, but his captain had a half a decade to learn how to translate sentient thought from all the growls and rumbling his first mate uttered. They stood in front of the Broken Harpoon, and it hardly looked like a watering hole worthy of his rival....but then she had always proven a fickle thing, doing many things one would not expect. "Blend..." came the order as he they passed through the front doors and into the common room. Myoc paused on the threshold long enough to give his captain an incredulous look at the man's bidding. "Fine," he muttered, holding a hand aloft so the half-orc wouldn't favor him with one of his sarcastic anecdotes. "...try....just watch my back, all right?" A curt nod, and Myoc sifted out through the sea of tables, chairs and people - all of which seemed to give him a wide berth, even the furniture shying away as the half-orc lumbered by like a giant amongst children. Closing his eyes for a moment and counting quietly back from ten, the captain of the Howling Harlot tried his best to remind himself exactly why he kept Myoc at his side. Loyalty came to mind, perhaps even a friendship. And intelligent, hulking half-orcs were truly a rare breed. Myoc was surely a diamond amongst the rough. Shaking his head slowly, the captain parted through the crowd like an errand breeze, gentle and yet his presence was felt, whispers following him like a rippling wave across the patronage of the Harpoon. Rin Laeyr wasn't a forgettable face, his bold, emerald green eyes often leaving a lasting impression - if it wasn't the last thing they ever saw. And so without preamble the infamous pirate ambled up to the bar, expecting a wait for his long time rival, but the wide grin which touched his handsome features was given one cause. "Ahhh, the lovely Silver Starblade, fancy I meet you in a place like this - fate, as ever, proves to be a fickle mistress....much like yourself." Silver sensed the uneasiness before the sound of moving chairs and scuffling feet reached her ears. It was what she was attuned to and a habit so long ingrained in her it had nearly become reflexive. A boot, hooked into the rung of the stool, pushed slightly and caused the seat to spin toward the room. From over the rim of her mug she spotted the half orc. A single eyebrow rose in curiosity as the glass parted from her lips and was slowly set down on the bartop. Where there was one.....usually followed the other. And there he was, moving with the ease of a thief through the darkened streets of the city. So much for a relaxing drink before heading back to her ship. The brow lowered, smoothing the skin of her tanned face before she returned her eyes to the scanning the selection of bottles lining the shelves across from her. The smug tone of his voice invaded her attempt at ignoring him; especially since he directed his words at the Captain who was so pointedly trying to distract herself from his presence. Silver's hardened gaze slid from the shelves to the man next to her. She wanted to smash that stupid smile off his face with the mug her fingers were currently curled around. "Fickle is hardly a word one would use to describe me..though it suits the likes of yourself perfeclty, Laeyr. You're always switching sides to what suits your needs at the moment." "Ah, perhaps you're right....I hear rumor you might've gone straight - again." A dramatic roll of his eyes as Laeyr draped himself into an open stool, one recently vacated by its previous occupant, next to the woman pitted with the pirate's attention. "You're Minister of Trade or what not, I hear....I guess that makes sense - they deal with the problem disrupting their lucrative shipping lanes by....making it the solution." A crook of a finger summoned the tender, and a flash of gold had him pouring out a mug of mead. Taking the handle by two fingers, he took a cultured sip before speaking in a low whisper that hardly disguised his humor. "Getting soft on me, girl?" "Oh please, don't attempt to understand my motives or what moves my moral compass. You could never figure that out....probably because they don't match up to your pathetic excuse for morality." Those silver laced blues stared at him for a moment before she lifted her own drink for a long sip. She was tempted to ask the tender for a bottle of rum; she was going to need something stronger to deal with Rin, but she instead settled for what was already in front of her. Silver could almost see that smug smile around the edge of Rin's raised mug, but when he set down his drink, the pirate had smoothed his features to a perfectly neutral expression. "Ah yes, that vaunted sense of morality to keep banging on about....but are you truly trying to convince me of your social superiority, or yourself" Because last time I checked....you're a pirate." Silver lowered the mug, both arms falling to cross loosely on the counter as she took a slight lean forward. She gave a single nod in the direction of Myoc. "I see you still aren't old enough to go anywhere without your bodyguard." Her lips curled into a lopsided grin. "I'd ask what the hell brought you sniffing around these ports, but truthfully, I don't give a damn." Rin cast a baleful look about the room, he locked eyes on Myoc for a moment, who was currently glaring down a pair of seedy looking sailors which had made the unfortunate mistake of watching the half-orc's master a touch too long. Good, keep it up, old friend...."You might guide yourself by a morale compass, Silver, but it has led you toward a road of corruption. One you travel so well....tell me, what keeps that tub of yours afloat - the sweet lies you tell yourself so you can sleep soundly at night - next to whatever poor sod you've dragged to share your bed....picked amongst your crew, no doubt, or have you taken to shelling out coin for your companions nowadays" Nothin' to be ashamed of - some of my best fortunes have been spent on saucy wenches with low necklines and tight rears." And at that, those emerald greens fell to half-lids, dipping down along her figure like a physical touch until coming to rest quite openly on the woman's backside. The jab she wanted to aim so badly at his face was nearly thrown toward that smug expression at the mention of any of her crew sharing her bed. That was a subject not even the boldest of pirates broached with Silver. "I'm surprised, with your gift at flattery Rin, that there aren't more women hanging themselves all over you. After all, the ones in here are just your type..drunk enough to not put up a fight and have most of their teeth. Though word on the street last I heard was the last woman you brought back to your cabin left a lasting.....impression. One that might ward off any other women, even those looking for money." She reached forward to finish off the ale that was left in her mug before she placed it once more on the bartop, giving it a shove. She watched it for a moment as it slid down the bar and was deftly caught by the tender. "It's still touching after all these years how you beat around the bush. Unfortunately, my bed will always be closed to you." She flashed a wide smile at Rin as she slid off the barstool to stand. "The only lasting impression women have of my bed is absolute bliss, Silver....something you'd do well to remember." The implication was there, but he said no more on the subject, but merely sipped his mead in a bored sort of way, now turning to offer her a sidelong look. To a man like Rin Laeyr, this was foreplay. And contrary to popular belief, that while the pirate captain liked his women beautiful, he also reveled in a bit of challenge, too. Silver was the perfect combination. "...leaving so soon' I would've thought we'd have all night to reminisce about old times!" "Right." Her lips pursed for a moment before she shrugged a single shoulder. "Sorry I can't stay and reminisce. I actually have a real ship to look after..not some toy boat I ripped of an unsuspecting old man." The lopsided grin reappeared, dimpling a single cheek before she started toward the door. Her steps paused and she glanced back over her shoulder toward the man at the bar. "I'd make sure all my paperwork was in order, Captain Laeyr and file all necessary documents with the harbor master. Don't want you getting into any trouble..."
"So she's here, then?" The street was barren, flanked by the weathered walls of old shop fronts and deserted housing, windows either covered in grime or planked over like a haphazard bandage on a mortal wound. Two men walked the lonely road, each differing in both size and shape. The shorter of the two had spoken, his voice soft, yet strong - silk braced over a naked blade. "Your contacts say as much," grunted the taller figure, broad of shoulder and hulking stature. While only a few inches above six foot, the man was hardly average. His posture was stooped, his brow sloping a bit forward and a tusk grew out from the left corner of his mouth. The half-orc's heritage could not be in question, nor his lethality. A thick cudgel resided on one hip, while his back bore the weight of a grim looking maul. "...doubt they'd lie to me. They know I'm your man." While his words and manner were as blunt as his personality, cunning lingered in the half-orc's beady eyes. "Good," murmured the smaller man. He was a few inches shy of his companion's respectable height, built for speed rather than strength, though it seemed he lacked for neither as he strode confidently down the lane, his blue cloak billowing out behind him like a restless piece of the night given complaint about the stillness. A light smile adorned his lips, complimenting a strong chin and a rugged cast to a fine profile. Stubble shadowed his features, which added to the casual air of danger that swirled about him like a thick cologne, that faint, figurative scent purely....rogue. "Well then, Myoc, we'll have to offer our greetings while still in port....we cannot let an opportunity to say hello to an old friend pass up by, can we" Lead the way..." Rolling his eyes, the half-orc, Myoc, grunted and took point as they cut left through an alleyway and into a broader street - this one alive with taverns and beer halls, noise filtering out to liven the night with the lively banter of drunken sailors. Silver rubbed the tiredness out of her eyes as she closed the door to her office behind her, twisting the knob to make sure it was locked. The night had fallen quicker than she had hoped, and she found herself again exiting into the darkness at an hour when most were already drunk and a few were stumbling home or passing out in the streets. The hour, however, would not stop her from finding a drink herself after a long day of work. Her boots turned down the street, leading away from the office toward the alleys that wound into the port city. At this hour there was only one place she'd frequent, the Broken Harpoon. A hand roughly pushed open the door, the stench of ale, stale stew and sweat permeating the salty air as she stepped into the dimly lit tavern, carefully winding her way through those that were snoring with their heads on the table tops and those that were imbibing in card games and raunchy songs. The tender gave a greeting in the form of a grunt and a smile as the tall, lithe form of the Captain settled into her usual stool at the counter. He slapped a mug of ale in front of her before stomping off. Silver's eyes quickly rose to scan the room before, contentedly, she settled into enjoying her drink. "Here," Myoc's voice sounded more akin to churning gravel than anything resembling normal speech, but his captain had a half a decade to learn how to translate sentient thought from all the growls and rumbling his first mate uttered. They stood in front of the Broken Harpoon, and it hardly looked like a watering hole worthy of his rival....but then she had always proven a fickle thing, doing many things one would not expect. "Blend..." came the order as he they passed through the front doors and into the common room. Myoc paused on the threshold long enough to give his captain an incredulous look at the man's bidding. "Fine," he muttered, holding a hand aloft so the half-orc wouldn't favor him with one of his sarcastic anecdotes. "...try....just watch my back, all right?" A curt nod, and Myoc sifted out through the sea of tables, chairs and people - all of which seemed to give him a wide berth, even the furniture shying away as the half-orc lumbered by like a giant amongst children. Closing his eyes for a moment and counting quietly back from ten, the captain of the Howling Harlot tried his best to remind himself exactly why he kept Myoc at his side. Loyalty came to mind, perhaps even a friendship. And intelligent, hulking half-orcs were truly a rare breed. Myoc was surely a diamond amongst the rough. Shaking his head slowly, the captain parted through the crowd like an errand breeze, gentle and yet his presence was felt, whispers following him like a rippling wave across the patronage of the Harpoon. Rin Laeyr wasn't a forgettable face, his bold, emerald green eyes often leaving a lasting impression - if it wasn't the last thing they ever saw. And so without preamble the infamous pirate ambled up to the bar, expecting a wait for his long time rival, but the wide grin which touched his handsome features was given one cause. "Ahhh, the lovely Silver Starblade, fancy I meet you in a place like this - fate, as ever, proves to be a fickle mistress....much like yourself." Silver sensed the uneasiness before the sound of moving chairs and scuffling feet reached her ears. It was what she was attuned to and a habit so long ingrained in her it had nearly become reflexive. A boot, hooked into the rung of the stool, pushed slightly and caused the seat to spin toward the room. From over the rim of her mug she spotted the half orc. A single eyebrow rose in curiosity as the glass parted from her lips and was slowly set down on the bartop. Where there was one.....usually followed the other. And there he was, moving with the ease of a thief through the darkened streets of the city. So much for a relaxing drink before heading back to her ship. The brow lowered, smoothing the skin of her tanned face before she returned her eyes to the scanning the selection of bottles lining the shelves across from her. The smug tone of his voice invaded her attempt at ignoring him; especially since he directed his words at the Captain who was so pointedly trying to distract herself from his presence. Silver's hardened gaze slid from the shelves to the man next to her. She wanted to smash that stupid smile off his face with the mug her fingers were currently curled around. "Fickle is hardly a word one would use to describe me..though it suits the likes of yourself perfeclty, Laeyr. You're always switching sides to what suits your needs at the moment." "Ah, perhaps you're right....I hear rumor you might've gone straight - again." A dramatic roll of his eyes as Laeyr draped himself into an open stool, one recently vacated by its previous occupant, next to the woman pitted with the pirate's attention. "You're Minister of Trade or what not, I hear....I guess that makes sense - they deal with the problem disrupting their lucrative shipping lanes by....making it the solution." A crook of a finger summoned the tender, and a flash of gold had him pouring out a mug of mead. Taking the handle by two fingers, he took a cultured sip before speaking in a low whisper that hardly disguised his humor. "Getting soft on me, girl?" "Oh please, don't attempt to understand my motives or what moves my moral compass. You could never figure that out....probably because they don't match up to your pathetic excuse for morality." Those silver laced blues stared at him for a moment before she lifted her own drink for a long sip. She was tempted to ask the tender for a bottle of rum; she was going to need something stronger to deal with Rin, but she instead settled for what was already in front of her. Silver could almost see that smug smile around the edge of Rin's raised mug, but when he set down his drink, the pirate had smoothed his features to a perfectly neutral expression. "Ah yes, that vaunted sense of morality to keep banging on about....but are you truly trying to convince me of your social superiority, or yourself" Because last time I checked....you're a pirate." Silver lowered the mug, both arms falling to cross loosely on the counter as she took a slight lean forward. She gave a single nod in the direction of Myoc. "I see you still aren't old enough to go anywhere without your bodyguard." Her lips curled into a lopsided grin. "I'd ask what the hell brought you sniffing around these ports, but truthfully, I don't give a damn." Rin cast a baleful look about the room, he locked eyes on Myoc for a moment, who was currently glaring down a pair of seedy looking sailors which had made the unfortunate mistake of watching the half-orc's master a touch too long. Good, keep it up, old friend...."You might guide yourself by a morale compass, Silver, but it has led you toward a road of corruption. One you travel so well....tell me, what keeps that tub of yours afloat - the sweet lies you tell yourself so you can sleep soundly at night - next to whatever poor sod you've dragged to share your bed....picked amongst your crew, no doubt, or have you taken to shelling out coin for your companions nowadays" Nothin' to be ashamed of - some of my best fortunes have been spent on saucy wenches with low necklines and tight rears." And at that, those emerald greens fell to half-lids, dipping down along her figure like a physical touch until coming to rest quite openly on the woman's backside. The jab she wanted to aim so badly at his face was nearly thrown toward that smug expression at the mention of any of her crew sharing her bed. That was a subject not even the boldest of pirates broached with Silver. "I'm surprised, with your gift at flattery Rin, that there aren't more women hanging themselves all over you. After all, the ones in here are just your type..drunk enough to not put up a fight and have most of their teeth. Though word on the street last I heard was the last woman you brought back to your cabin left a lasting.....impression. One that might ward off any other women, even those looking for money." She reached forward to finish off the ale that was left in her mug before she placed it once more on the bartop, giving it a shove. She watched it for a moment as it slid down the bar and was deftly caught by the tender. "It's still touching after all these years how you beat around the bush. Unfortunately, my bed will always be closed to you." She flashed a wide smile at Rin as she slid off the barstool to stand. "The only lasting impression women have of my bed is absolute bliss, Silver....something you'd do well to remember." The implication was there, but he said no more on the subject, but merely sipped his mead in a bored sort of way, now turning to offer her a sidelong look. To a man like Rin Laeyr, this was foreplay. And contrary to popular belief, that while the pirate captain liked his women beautiful, he also reveled in a bit of challenge, too. Silver was the perfect combination. "...leaving so soon' I would've thought we'd have all night to reminisce about old times!" "Right." Her lips pursed for a moment before she shrugged a single shoulder. "Sorry I can't stay and reminisce. I actually have a real ship to look after..not some toy boat I ripped of an unsuspecting old man." The lopsided grin reappeared, dimpling a single cheek before she started toward the door. Her steps paused and she glanced back over her shoulder toward the man at the bar. "I'd make sure all my paperwork was in order, Captain Laeyr and file all necessary documents with the harbor master. Don't want you getting into any trouble..."