• Mature • The Master, The Mouse, and The Muscle

[Faith Augustin]

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It was almost like they made it happen by talking about it, Faith considered. Shame they hadn't talked about people just being nice to each other and not hurting each other over nonsense. But then, that was far less likely to happen, she knew, so she might as well save her breath.

By the time that the bodyguard (who was, very obviously, needed) had gone to sort things out, Faith was looking around in concern for Tristan. She was worried that he might be involved in this altercation and, if he was, that he might get hurt. She did not like that idea, not at all, because he bruised very easily (it was his delicate Venora skin) and he did not exactly have the sort of skills which meant that he was a fighter. So, she looked and she caught sight of him there, right by the place where the altercation happened. There was blood and there were two men and the bouncer. Faith felt her heart in her throat but she saw that the bouncer man was there. She hesitated only for a trill before moving over to where the fight was. At the end of the trial she would much rather that she over stepped her boundaries and protected him than she remained proper and correct and he got hurt.

So, she made her way towards him and when one of the over-exuberant clients grabbed her she gave him a swift elbow to the ribs which knocked the wind from him but nothing else. That meant that she could get to her goal and so there was a soft hand placed on Tristan's arm. She would have spoken, but she did not wish to speak over Madame Alessa and so she touched his arm, glanced at him and met his gaze and then stayed where she was. Gray, the bodyguard spoke to Master, but she did not say any more, waiting to see what her owner and the free man spoke of and not saying any more unless spoken to. But looking at the clothes that the bodyguard security man was wearing, she considered that they were going to be ruined unless he got them off and washed them quickly, preferably in salt or, strangely, milk.

[Tristan Venora]

"Who do you think will win?" Tristan asked the woman in yellow as the two men started to hit each other. In a way he found the brawl in front of him just as interesting as the auction. The muscular guy, he thought, might just as well have been a fighter in the arena, judging by his skill. "I think the redhead will win, despite the broken nose. I always support the weak looking ones because they probably have a few aces up the sleeve. There was this scrawny guy in the arena – when was it? Saun? – that won a fight against Torloth, one of the most famous fighters of Rynmere. I was so impressed!"

The woman in yellow looked at him in a way that suggested that she doubted his sanity before she posed a single question, "Where are the bouncers?" Tristan looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t much care that she thought him insane – in fact he liked it, and he also didn’t know where the bouncers were. Maybe they were busy getting drunk, just like everybody else?

Apparently not, he realized, as Gray made his way over to the men and overwhelmed the muscular man seemingly effortlessly. "He wins", Tristan remarked nonchalantly to the woman next to him who of course didn’t answer, but just tried to move a bit further away from the fight as if she were afraid that somebody would accidentally bleed on her expensive dress.

Once the two men had been dealt with, Tristan clapped his hands. He thought Gray and his colleague deserved a little applause for how fast and effectively they had dealt with the disturbance.

Soon it was quiet again in the House of Roses, and Tristan leaned back in his chair to watch the rest of the show. He was happy to see that Alicia went to the older gentleman. He wasn’t particularly fond of his seatmate and didn’t want to think about what she would have done with the girl. She seemed to have somewhat eccentric tastes.

"I’m impressed", he remarked as Gray made his way over to them. "Where did you learn to fight like that?" His eyes shimmered brightly as he asked that. The young noble was quite fascinated.

He wanted to say more when he felt somebody touch his arm.

For a moment he was wondering whether somebody had come to beat him up after all, but then he turned around and looked at Faith’s worried face. He smiled at her, signaling her that he was alright, before he gestured for her to take a seat. Since the two troublemakers were gone, there were two empty chairs right in front of him now from where one had a perfect view of the stage.

"Next we have Lucille!" Madame Alessa announced and walked over to the redhead. "She was once a feisty barmaid, but then she served the wrong man drinks, and when he asked her to meet him in private, claiming that he wanted to get to know her better, she did. The morning after she found herself in a carriage bound for Rynmere where he sold her at the local slave market. Since she didn’t speak Common, she couldn’t defend herself. In the end she discovered that there were a few perks to being a slave and started to enjoy her new life. Do I hear 10 golden nels?"

"Those little made up stories are great, aren’t they?" Tristan asked Faith. "I think I’ll bid on her. We are friends. Did you know that?" With that he raised his hand and announced, "10 golden nels!" As she heard that, Lucille turned her head and smiled at him.

[Vincent D'Ordyn]

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" The finely dressed, dark haired young man asked.

Gray thought about his answer for but a trill before speaking. "From the Iron Hand" Gray responded, his tone leaving questions as to what side of the law he may have been on. "But that was awhile ago. Though its not too hard to when a fight, when both men are drunk and you have the drop on them." he continue.

At that moment, the young woman he had been speaking to before the incident had begun appeared at the man's elbow. Gray looked to her, and then realization set in. A small amount of surprise flashed across his face. "So this is your master?" Gray asked, taking a better look at the man. Just then the man raised his hand and bid on the most current girl, "and that answers that question." Gray said dryly, but sharing a small smile with Faith over the small joke.

With a small bow to the man, and a wave to Faith, Gray made his leave of the two. He had a job to do after all and couldn't expect to be paid to just stand there and chat. Though as he walked away he spoke over his shoulder at the two. "Behave yourselves, I'd hate to have to throw you two out." With that Gray returned to his post and his job.

By that time the price on Lucille had already hit 24 gold nels. Madam Alessa piratically beamed as people continued to bid, and the woman twisted and turned in a way that left nothing to the imagination of what she would do for you should you win her that night.

[Tristan Venora]

“Oh“, Tristan made as Gray informed him that he had learned to fight from the Iron Hand. He was about to ask him what a member of the Iron Hand was doing in a brothel, but then he realized that one could have asked what a noble was doing in a brothel just as well, so he didn’t say anything on that matter. “I’ve been beaten up by plenty of drunken people”, he felt the need to remark though as Gray claimed that winning a fight against drunken men and women was not too hard. In his opinion it was very hard sometimes. “Beat up a few as well though”, he added, realizing that he would look like a weakling and a coward otherwise, even though the truth of that claim was up for debate.

While Gray and Faith had a little chat, Tristan continued to bid on Lucille. He really wanted her! Soon the price had reached 24 golden nels which was a little crazy in his opinion. It occurred to him that had this been any other trial he could have gotten her for a handful of nels, but then it was for a good cause, wasn’t it? With all the money from the auction Madame Alessa would be able to renovate the brothel, buy new furniture, new clothes for the girls and boys – and possibly hire a few new prostitutes. More prostitutes meant more happy clients, and happy people were something that Idalos really needed in those trying times. So as the price reached 30 nels, he raised his hand again and bid 35 nels.

“Shall we misbehave a little?” he asked Faith and nudged her as he heard Gray’s warning before he turned to Madame Alessa again. He waited with bated breath whether any other bids would come. The trills passed – incredibly slowly – and finally Alessa announced, “Lucille goes to Lord Venora. Congratulations, Tristan!” Having said that, she walked over to Lucille and untied her. The redhead rubbed her arms because the ropes had been a little tight, before she smiled, jumped off the stage and walked towards Tristan and Faith.

“I’m glad that you won me”, she told him. “I was worried that I was going to end up with some sort of pervert. Although this here is a little unusual as well. I’ve never done it with two people at once.” She eyed Tristan’s slave. “Shall we go upstairs together?” Tristan thought about it – for all of a trill before he decided that he had already seen enough of the auction, but not of Lucille, stood up and gestured for Faith to follow him and join them in whatever it was that they would be doing behind closed doors.

[Rumour]

Name: Vincent D'Ordyn

Knowledge:
Location: The House of Roses
Location: Rynmere – Lowtown
Saun 716 Event: Brothel “Slave” Auction
House of Roses: The women are anything but shy
Madame Alessa: Owns the House of Roses
Alicia: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Lucille: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Faith: Slave
Faith: Skilled seamstress
Faith: Naïve
Tristan Venora: Faith’s master
Intimidation: The power of a well-placed glare
Intimidation: How to use force to make a point
Intimidation: Threats don’t always have to be true
Unarmed Combat: How to sweep an opponent’s legs out from under them
Unarmed Combat: How to pin an opponent’s arm behind their back
Detection: Observing a person’s appearance can give clues to their background
Tactics: The importance of being in a good position to observe your surroundings
Rhetoric: How to use metaphor to make a point
Persuasion: How to use threats to persuade
Strength: Sobriety affects one’s strength
Etiquette: The importance of a well-timed apology

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Fame: +4 for victory in single combat

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

- - -

Name: Faith

Knowledge:
Location: The House of Roses
Saun 716 Event: Brothel “Slave” Auction
Alicia: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Lucille: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Tristan Venora: Bruises easily
Gray: Bouncer
Gray: Skilled in unarmed combat
Sewing: How to thread a needle
Sewing: Benefits of the satin stitch
Sewing: How to sew a satin stitch
Sewing: First, take the model’s measurements
Business Management: Bidding wars can artificially increase prices
Seduction: The balance between revealing too much and too little skin
Unarmed Combat: The power of a well-placed elbow

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Fame: +1 for your bravery in the face of chaos

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

- - -

Name: Tristan Venora

Knowledge:
Location: The House of Roses
Location: Rynmere – Lowtown
Saun 716 Event: Brothel “Slave” Auction
Madame Alessa: Owns the House of Roses
Lily: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Alicia: Prostitute at the House of Roses
Gray: Skilled in unarmed combat
Gray: Learned to fight from the Iron Hand
Rhetoric: How to give a back-handed compliment
Rhetoric: How to support a point using an example
Persuasion: How to appeal to another’s self-interest
Storytelling: A little exaggeration goes a long way
Cosmetology: Not all colours look good on everyone
Psychology: Appearances can be deceiving
Business Management: More or better goods equate to happier clients

Loot: Please deduct 35gn from your ledger for the purchase of Lucille’s services.
Injuries: N/A
Fame: +2 for giving the gift of your nel to Madame Alessa, despite knowing you were more than overpaying

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

- - -

Comments: This was such a fun thread (and a great thread title)! I really enjoyed the interactions between all three characters. I thought you did a wonderful job of bringing them all together in the end, despite starting out in separate locations within the brothel. It was great to see their three distinct viewpoints, too, as they all come from very different backgrounds. Well done, all of you!

A few tiny notes. Vincent, there were a few minor spelling and grammar errors in some posts, which a quick edit should help spot in future. Also, Tristan: just a quick reminder to post dialogue from different characters in separate paragraphs. There was one post in particular where this stood out (here), though that should be an easy fix in future.

Overall, excellent thread. I really hope to see the three of you write together again soon!

If you feel I've missed anything or if you have questions about your review, please don't hesitate to send me a quick PM. Thanks!