So a lady walks out of a bar (Aratar, Open)

[Izanami]

Darkening, 49th of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era XV Post Fractum

Soft chuckles followed Iris as stepped out of the tavern, her lips still carried a smile, but her body felt too hot to stay in doors, although from the short dress and lower front by regular standards, she was not at all ready to be out in the snow.. Her skin burned with inner heat, and her laughter was often so genuine it turned heads, but as the sounds of the tavern dimmed with the shutting of its door, the woman walked idly away, playfully crushing snow beneath her booted feet.

The woman smiled as she stepped into the chilled air, Life at the tavern was an experience, from being an innocent piece of wrapped porcine, to being one of the boys, one of the crew, to being, almost sinfully feminine. But it did leave a girl wanting. Being a tavern girl did not have the luring call as the ships and their waves. Or stir her mind as haggling prices for goods and wares, or even the thrill and sense of pride as plying out information from a client.

But for the moment, it was an experience that she adored, every bit of it. Still as her skin cooled in the evening air, and brown colored eyes looked to the sky above, she sighed. Almost as soon as the thought came that gave the woman pause it was gone again, and with almost dancing steps the woman moved, walking a bit crushing snow underfoot, as she hummed the bars of the last song sung that night.

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

If Iris was usually the type to turn heads, then there was one head that she would most definitely turn. Were it a warm sunny brightening she would still have snagged his attention, but given the fact that it was cold winter and she was wearing so very little while happily crunching snow, it made her exceptionally noticeable. Thus, the mongrel elf nearly suffered whiplash as from underneath his thick cloak as he caught the color of fleshtones out of the corner of his eye.

As he focused on her, he only grew more interested: She certainly had a good figure. Shapely and energetic, it was difficult not to notice. Her curves drew his eye at first, but her movement and humming only drew him in more. If only he weren't poor, he'd offer to take her out to a drink. Since he couldn't...

As he exhaled small puffs steam in the cold weather, he moved towards her. He was dressed in all back and wore longknives on his hips, and though he moved in a manner that said he had some practice at handling himself, his violet eyes dazzled with amusement and his mouth turned upwards in a curious grin he moved towards the luscious woman.

Aratar might have been a mercenary for the military, but he was hardly the serious, overly aggressive, angry type that so many cast mercenaries as. Then again, he also wasn't a grizzled, scarred veteran who'd walked away from dozens of battles. He was new to the line of work. He might have had a poor life and currently a poor purse, but that didn't mean he had to have poor humor.

As he approached her, his grin grew into a full smile.

"Alright, now I know you have to be cold. So long as I can go with to make sure I can get it back, I'll let you wear my cloak to wherever you're headed...while it's the chivalrous thing to do, I also get the added benefit of getting to spend time with you."

It might seem to be the case, and if she asked he'd have no problems alleviating the curiosity: Yes, he was hitting on her.

[Izanami]

"Alright, now I know you have to be cold.”

Iris looked up, her eyes were curious, she had never meant to be caught outside in that outfit, but then again she didn’t want to go back inside, she was defiantly taking a break first.

“So long as I can go with to make sure I can get it back, I'll let you wear my cloak to wherever you're headed...while it's the chivalrous thing to do, I also get the added benefit of getting to spend time with you."

Her lips curved with a coy smile before dancing back a step but did hold out her hand for the cloak, “Thank you, kindly.” Now the lass had the chance she looked the elf over with curiosity, not suggestive heat, even as her smile did widen just a might, occupational hazard and such. Her words were a gentle purr, and in truth it could hardly be helped. There only so many tones a lady, this lady could speak. a yell, flat, prim, and there was the ever present purr.

“I’m taking my break, but if you want company you can have a seat in the tavern and I will return your cloak straight away on my return. Or, my chivalrous gent, you could extend me a bit of company for a might of food and drink? Strictly companionable mind you.”

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

As she smiled back, matching his charm with her own, his smile only broadened. He undid the clasp on his cloak and flicked it over his shoulders, draping it over her outstretched arm. At her thanks he half-bowed to her, his smile never once flickering nor departing, and his violet orbs remained locked onto her own brown ones.

"Of course, My Lady." As he heard her purr he couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. He was male, sue him, but her tone made him all the more intrigued. She seemed quite...friendly, and he was not opposed to that idea.

"I would love your company, My Lady, but alas in my haste to purchase protection from certain death I'm left with but a pittance...so I fear the only thing I can offer is my company." He gave her a knowing, playful smile as he tacked on at the end, "Strictly companionable company, of course."

Ar was curious to know more about this woman. He was hitting on her, but she seemed to be flirting back quite nicely. He was chivalrous--well, not really, but he was pretending to be--but he was no moron. She was being accepting enough of his advances. Might be an ulterior motive or excuse...but he'd take that chance, if it opened the door to ingratiate himself with her...she definitely had spiked his interest...all the more so with her positive response to his flirtations.

[Izanami]

“Ah, is that not always the case?” With the shake of her head and the still present smile, Iris shrugged one of her bare shoulders giving a wink before clasping the borrowed cloak around her neck and covering herself. Under the cloak, she did look a tab more respectable, although her boots and some flashes of flesh were bear at her legs, but the Baijani woman gave that no mind.

Her face was still made up and her long brown hair still artfully curled and piled up. “Every one at the Rum and Lace calls me Roxanna, you can call me that if you wish, or Izanami, if your tongue can handle it?” Her voice still purred but now it teased, she even chuckled softly before turning her head slightly waiting to see if her escort would give his name, or take the lead, or both.

“If you say it nice, I might even sponsor your first ale.”

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

He chuckled softly as she winked at him, sighing quietly as she covered her flesh. Somewhat disappointing, but he accepted that in exchange for her good favor. Besides, he still got flashes of her flesh even through the cloak.

"Don't worry, I have elven blood even if I don't act like it. My people are used to long, tongue-entangling names..." He grinned and winked back at her, thinking for a long moment on the names she offered. It was curious on if either one was even real, but he preferred the one that other people didn't call her. Maybe it would help make him stand out...at the very least it made him feel special.

"Izanami," he said slowly and lowly, elongating the vowels to emphasize them as he spoke her name for the first time, "delighted to meet you. I am Aratar; thusfar unpaid mercenary, and you may call me what you like, though the shortened version most use is Ar." He held out his arm to offer her a proper escort, and smiled genuinely. "And sponsor or not, I'd still like to go with you, I admit to being intrigued...though I don't know Taralon well, so you'll have to lead the way." He wondered where they would go from here...and not just physical location-wise.

[Izanami]

Iza smiled as Aratar spoke her name, her eyes did light as the man called himself a mercenary. That wasn’t a line heard often. A pirate here or there, a captain, a sailor, a merchant, but a mercenary? She hadn’t heard that one yet.

She laughed softly slipping her hand in to rest upon the offered arm. "And sponsor or not, I'd still like to go with you, I admit to being intrigued...though I don't know Taralon well, so you'll have to lead the way."

“I suppose I shall have to find us somewhere respectable then, shall I, Aratar?” She said the name slowly in her purring way that made the name sound like something, thick, heavy, and sweet.

“Since I have such fine company, I suppose we should leave the wharf, nothing here too fanciful, and a lady does have a gentleman to impress. Come, we’ll go to the Fireside.” She smiled giving a slight tug and leading her way.

They strolled, and since it would be some time, a few minutes or so until they reached their destination, Iza looked at her companion from the corner of her eyes before turning her face slightly towards him so to speak, “Tell me Ara, how does one go about becoming a mercenary?”

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

As she came with him he heard her speak, the corner of his mouth quirking up higher still. Oh, but he did like the way she said his name. The emphasis, the way it rolled off her tongue in such a sensuous manner...he was quite sure she was flirting back. Again, though there was the possibility that she had other reasons for wishing his presence, it clearly wasn't gold-digging; he'd already explained to her that he was broke. So, why then?

"Come now, I'm a mercenary, which obviously makes me a trouble-seeker. Respectable is hardly a necessity in my line of work. But if it is m'lady's wish, than I have no objection, Iz." He felt her tug and followed the direction she tugged him, his movements keeping time with hers as his breath came out in small, thin clouds of steam. As they moved languorously, she asked her question, and he blew out a breath to buy time on how to explain it.

"Easier than you might expect, actually. I've only just started. Originally I went to the Bounty Hunting office in Aelyria Prime, but I saw a flyer for the military requesting aid. I went to the military office, inquired, and they wrote me a letter of marque and sent me on my way here. They even offered to pay for my training and give me free room and board in the barracks...thus far I've got some unarmed training and some training with my longknives...I'm hoping to suck a little more training from them before I head to the front of the war here in Sheria. Once there I not only get paid for the work I do, but I also get to keep anything I find and decide I want to take." he shrugged, looking out at the horizon. Based on how she acted and responded, such blunt truthfulness seemed like it would go along better than trying to sugarcoat things. Besides, aside from flirtations, he wasn't a fan of sugarcoating. In fact, it might even intrigue her more...and he liked the idea of intriguing her.

"Why," he joked, "thinking of coming into my line of work?"

[Izanami]

“Well it would certainly beat playing the pirate miss, or call girl all my life.” Her words were flippant, but there was thought in them, and in those brown eyes before she tilted her head, they were roughly the same height, and if one ignored the obviousness of their sex, they were roughly the same build. Izanamis’ forehead was smooth, and her lips still gently smiling, but there was something to her face that hid its thoughts, but expressed many thoughts being thought.

“I love the sea, lived on and off her for eras, but when my crew decided they had enough, wanted to go home and pick up their lives where they left them, I came here. I haven’t decided what I want to do, but I know the Rum and Lace, they take care of me there. But I’ve toyed with the thought. I would make a good bounty hunter, probably better than a pirate. But one must admit, mercenary, has some very, unique, appeal.” Her lashes lowered as her lips curved and voice was just a, tad suggestive. Truly it was silly to ponder if the lady was flirting, but wonder, why?

There was a sway in her step, and while she did not bump, Aratar, there was the rhythmic presence of her hip near his, gone, and returning again, she even adjusted her hold, a little more firmer now as she stepped across a small pile of slush.

“You would let me catch you, wouldn’t you?”

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

"The sea," he spoke thoughtfully, "I wish I'd seen much of it. I grew up in Nexus Prime, and saw the mountains. The first time I saw the sea was in Alleria Prime when I was told I could take the military frigate here." She hid her thoughts behind her mask, but he did not. He saw little point in hiding the truth, for now, though he found it interesting that she was a call girl. Perhaps not the best to get involved in...but she was so damned intriguing...oh yeah, then there was the whole 'she's flirting with him and he's male' thing.

"Mercenary life has its pluses, and is probably slightly less dangerous than bounty hunting. Bounty Hunters usually go after dangerous folks, where mercenaries mostly just fight grunt soldiers. I'd rather fight a trained man than a crazy man any brightening." He felt her hip near his and relished the closeness of her flesh.

Oh, she's good... Teasing without touching, encouraging the playful mystery of her sensuality...seduction without even touching him aside from the very innocent act of holding his arm as her escort.

"I'd be stupid not to let you catch me...though admittedly I'd probably try to escape again if only because the thought of being chased by you is so much fun..." He chuckled softly as the strolled, the quiet crunch of snow beneath their feet a pleasing sound to accompany the conversation. He did wonder why she was flirting, but again, he let it slide in lieu of the fact that he had her attention.

"And what about you, Iz? Why would you seek such a life unless you enjoyed thrills? Perhaps you seek something to keep the blood pumping?" His own words, spoken slowly, were just as meaningful and suggestive as hers, his smile twisting ito a roguish grin.

"Because that I can guarantee."

[Izanami]

Iza was a very good listener and gave Aratar nearly all of her attention saves for the walking, the leading, and thinking. She smiled, chuckled and lowered her lashed at the most opportune time.

More over is seemed the woman really did give the words spoken thought and consideration before she looked up with a confident, knowing smile.

“Now Ara, are you guaranteeing that, perhaps, you can keep my blood pumping?”

She chuckled, arching a single brow at her companion, her voice teased and her form pressed, ever so closer and lightly against Aratars’ form as she did a dainty step over an imaginary puddle, before returning back to the previous, respectable distance.

“Or was that your testament to the, vigorous, lifestyle of that of a mercenary?” Mirth danced in her brown eyes as she wondered to which her straight forward escort would claim, and the conversation to have following that.

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

As she made her teasing remarks, Aratar, who'd been expecting such a question--perhaps even hoping she'd say that--let his roguish grin spread a bit, a glimmer of playful suggestions unspoken dancing behind his mysterious violet eyes, even as he felt the shiver run down his spine again as she pressed herself against him if just for a moment.

"Can't it be both?" He was mostly straightforward, yes, but that didn't mean he couldn't play the subterfuge game as well as some. "Mercenary life and bounty hunting work guarantees few dull moments with the exception of the inevitably boring period of waiting right before hand--which is the period I'm in now, hence why I'm trying to fill my time with speaking to wonderful people I meet by chance that pique my interest...yourself being one such, obviously." He tilted his head to the side and shrugged.

"And with me, I can lay pretty decent odds that there'd likely be few dull moments, one way or another." The words, as would be expected, were thick with playful, teasing suggestiveness as much as vague wording that could easily have a multitude of meanings...though the most likely meaning seemed quite obvious.

As he moved with her, he shifted his weight for just an instant as though to avoid stepping on something unpleasant, and brushed his arm against her shoulder ever so barely. As to if there actually was something to avoid...well, he'd never tell...

[Izanami]

Ah there were so many ways to take those words, so many ways to respond. Izanami smiled at Aratar twice, at his comments of speaking to wonderful people who piqued his interest, and again at his barest touch of her shoulder, her head had tilt to look at her escort and a slow, deliberate smile crossed her heart shaped lips.

But the woman did not respond, in fact they had arrived at the illustrious Fireside Inn and Tavern. It really was a lovely place, Iza led the Aratar as if she knew the place, though in fact she really did not, but it was easy to see where the inn and the tavern parted, the music and tables a helpful hint.

The tavern itself glistened with polished wood and hummed with the soft music of a minstrel, playing from a small raised stage at the back. Round tables and sturdy chairs surrounded a warm stone hearth in the center of the room, which cast a golden glow on the colorful tapestries on the walls.

While fairies and pixies could simply fly down to sit at the little tables at the center of the big tables, gnomes had to use the pulley lifts to lower themselves down to the tables and to the sleek bar. Little folk and big folk alike sat at their sections of the tables and at the bar, facing a wall full of ornate and colorful bottles.

The barman -- a smiling, silvery-haired human -- took pleasure in filling drinks and listening to and telling stories. These were grand stories, epic stories, stories of flying children and beautiful girls in towers. Some of these, he left to the minstrel to sing in the form of ballads, which many of the patrons knew by heart.

There was an open table by the fire and seats at the bar, so she would allow gentleman’s’ choice, once they were settled and placed their orders, a honeyed mead, with grilled chicken and rice, and a bit of prodding with the side of her foot, Aratars’ order as well the woman leaved forward cupping her cheek with her hands, and her elbows upon the tabletop surface, arms and flesh wonderfully framed generous décolleté before finally she returned to their unfinished conversation.

“At least your honest, I suppose. Do you think you would have dull moments with me?”

[Aratar Mori'ithil]

As they finally arrived at the Fireside and she left the option of where to sit to him, he reached out and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her across the room towards the table near the fire. Once they'd reached the table he pulled the chair for her, slipping it beneath her once she was properly seated, and moved around to take his own opposite her. Here in the firelight as he sat down he had a chance to confirm what he'd already deduced outside; this woman was an entrancing and exotic beauty.

Most elves were stuck up and snooty, finding beauty only in their own race and looking down on all the others. Aratar was hardly the the stereotypical elf, however, as was evident by his more open and friendly demeanor and more honest face. As she leaned forward, her posture accentuating her body splendidly, it was quite difficult not to stare as he leaned back languorously, taking her in fully as she gave her order. So entranced by her was he that he didn't even think to place his order until he felt her nudging foot.

"Right," he replied suddenly and a bit loudly, "Your cheapest ale for me..." He looked at her, requesting nothing further, so as not to impinge on the lady's goodwill. As she spoke again, enticing a reply, he felt the corner of his mouth yank upwards in a half-smirk.

"Iz, call me crazy, but I'm not sure I could ever forsee a dull moment with you...something tells me that even if a moment might be otherwise dull, you'd find a way to make it otherwise...after all, you do have that flare about you. Perchance it comes with your beauty." He shrugged gently, deciding finally that if she was going to continue to be so bold, so was he.

He took a moment and this time looked her up and down properly, now doing so quite blatantly in front of her, making sure his eyes lingered on her displayed skin a while before finally raising back to meet her gaze. "But if there's anything I've learned, it's that a woman's allure is found not in her look, but her manner. The way she carries herself; the things she says; the manner in which she says them...all things that make a woman attractive aside from her physical appearance...and you, m'lady, have them all in spades. I have no doubt you could have any man you wish as your escort tonight, but you accepted me for the role...so I suppose the real question, Iz, would be would you have dull moments with me?"

Even were she to completely shut him down right then and there, ridiculing him, he wouldn't care. He'd faced ridicule all his life, and he'd also learned that he'd rather be laughed at for taking risks and asking daring questions than to never live life and instead hide away in a corner, too shy and afraid to go for what he wanted. She had been the aggressor for enough of their conversation; perhaps it was time he pushed back a bit.

[Izanami]

Ah there had been a long time since she had someone treat her like thus. It made her smile, inside at the simple gesture, a hand at her back, and a chair pulled out for her, that could make a girl think of home.

Izanami actually did bubble lightly inside, indeed she enjoyed her work because she was adored and called to be attractive and allowed to be as outrageously flirtatious as her heart contented, and when she said no, it actually meant no, and was enforced. Life was so very much different now, than it had been some eras ago. She confronted her fears near nightly, and had done so with the flirting elf had came upon her as she took a break to slow her heart and cool her skin. But it was nice, incredible so to have someone think her exciting, even if it was mindless flattery.

She had been Roxanna when they met, and still was in a way, she had invited Aratars’ gaze to take her in, and did not squirm or find it vulgar, in fact she gave a short laugh arching her back slightly before relaxing as Aratars’ gaze rose to her own and allowed part of the cloak to fall close again as he rested her face upon only one arm.

“Would I find you dull? It would be foolish to make a snap judgment on such a decision, but we are mortal, nothing lasts, and if it does, I suppose that would make us complete rakes. So, flirtatious, so flippant. I am curious, in your lifestyle. And indeed, a bit curious of you for you to choose your lifestyle.

As for choosing you for an escort, you were not drunk, nor had followed me from the tavern, and if I did not want your company and you insisted, you would be quiet bloody and on your way long ago. When given the choice, who chooses to dine alone compared to grand company?"