Roleplay discussion

Konrad takes comfort in one of Snicker's exhaled breaths as a sigh. You have impeccable timing. NOW will you talk to me?

Talk away, my dear pirate.

Can you tell me why you choose the times that you do?

Sure I can. You were antagonizing everyone, and Sonlake was thinking about removing you from the adjunct, so I figured I would give you a hand.

What are you talking about? Everyone's antagonizing ME, rather pointlessly I might add.

Rule of the majority, my dear friend. Don't mind them and their petty concerns.

I need their approval, their goodwill, their trust. I need them to cooperate with me. Kind of like someone else I know... By the way, I never thanked you though. For Kira.

It was my pleasure. As for their goodwill, right now, it seems you only have Breeze's. She's so cute with those little wings.

Yes, her naivety is endearing. Tell her to move, please. Tell her I said it.

In Sonlake's office:

Quote :

"That's okay," says Snicker. "Just go stand behind Red."

The fairy hesitates for a few more moments before she does as "it" suggested. The possessed red mage then listens attentively to Mihai.

"You misunderstand me," replies Snicker with a jovial tone. "I saw how bad the situation was getting here, and how very likely that Konrad would be either sent back to jail, or transferred to another adjunct. We can't have that, can we? So! I figured that since this contract is the core reason for this argument, that I should come collect my two hours immediately, and be on my way."


"You are not going anywhere without my say-so," states Sonlake.

"Put chains on me if you want. I only came here to collect my two hours."

Kolson wrote:

"He still might, for the choices he made on the last mission. This changes very little Snicker."

Says the child who avoided jail time by going further into debt. Tell him I said hi.

Oh, you really don't want me to tell them you said hi. It might cause even more problems for you. I'm sorry to tell you Konrad, but you fucked up. It was the first time Konrad had heard him use vulgarity. Sonlake was ready to let Breeze watch you while you were away on missions, but you kept insisting. Your handler? He didn't speak immediately because he wanted to see how you reacted.

The rook was insisting I be locked up because I hurt his lady friend's precious feelings. Why wouldn't Sonlake be on my side? If anything, he was the one acting out of control and messing things up for ME.

Konrad can "hear" Snicker laugh. Dear friend, you are the Coins' slave. You aren't entitled to anything.

If only Konrad could clench his jaw. Steve was unnecessarily complicating my position and casting doubt, as though he had seniority. I can do without people mucking up matters they know nothing about that concern my personal freedom.

Snicker laughs again. Konrad, you have NO freedom. You are a slave, but you're not acting like one. The Coins do not care about your feelings, your well being, or your freedom; only the results. When Sonlake is in the room, you should be submissive. Have you forgotten? That's what you used to do.

I've lost sight of that. Why I've been working towards escape. I've allowed myself to become comfortable.

Yes! Now you see! Never forget that. And don't let someone like Naomi cloud your mind. Love is overrated anyway.

There's some doubt as to what he said. A part of him still hopes he can find the right person. Was that person Naomi? But what did he see in her, really? How much of a match were they, really? Being bound while unable to fully commit to the relationship for one reason or another is a poor outcome of two or three dalliances with the same person. Just look at what happened to Kira, he thought.

He can feel the arrow nocked on Fedler's bow out of the corner of his eye. All this talk of dead people not mattering in the presence of these bleeding hearts causes a bead of sweat to form on his head. It's still you inside my head. Would you kindly remind them? Please be careful. Or lie.

Oh, don't worry, she won't kill you. Also, you really should stop entertaining this idea of a serious relationship. Soon enough, you'll be back on the sea, pillaging and killing. You won't find a woman who is okay with that, not unless she's a pirate herself, and we saw what happened with Kira.

No, you're right. I need to get over this, whatever it is. So what now? Are we still 'interesting' to you?

Oh, very much so. We're gonna have so much fun!

Right... I'm curious: Mihai said you agreed to take your price whenever he was ready, but you ignored him when he was and tried to get him to give it up later. Why?

Oh, I didn't try to do that. I only rendered the contract null and void, so he wouldn't think too much about it. Also, it was only fifteen minutes. And we're gonna have fun later anyway.

We'll get to that. So that he wouldn't think too much about what?

He wanted me to take over as soon as possible. After the battle at the monastery.

Because he was angry. He wanted out of the deal as soon as possible, and he wasn't interested in making another. Is that right?

Correct. I didn't want to spoil the fun for later.

Perhaps the general wasn't so whiny after all.

I think you humans make it your specialty to whine. It's very entertaining.

Well, it's A specialty. This is all very new to you, I understand. The fairies also find us strange at times.

They do? Breeze doesn't appear to think so.

I suppose it's too early to tell. There's much she hasn't seen. I'd have thought knowing how we feel and knowing what we think would give you some insight beyond the physical.

In the physical world, Mihai continues to rant against the thing inhabiting Konrad's head.

It's funny that he says you're wrong, but he doesn't know what it means, even as he's still trying to moralize you.

That is incorrect. He just dislikes the fact that I introduced the concept of moralizing, since he believes I am incapable of understanding it.

Apropos.

Quote :

"Nah. I've got something special planned for all of you, but that will require some more time. We're gonna have so much fun."

You've been planning? Can you elaborate?

What happened at the monastery was so much fun. I've just been thinking of how to make it better next time. I'm sure you'll appreciate it.

I'm not sure I want that. Dead people getting back up to fight? Nobody wants that. I swear, Mihai's only focus in life is to coat the landscape in gloom and vitriol wherever he walks. Nobody asks the important questions. If a boulder came down on him, I'd stand there and watch if not for my obligation to him as a fellow comrade.

Oh really? That is interesting. I'll keep this in mind for what I plan. It might even allow you to escape servitude under the Coins. Don't worry, I'll make sure that they find a corpse they think is yours.

I'm entirely bored by him, honestly...wait.

Konrad halts their conversation for but a mere moment or two before deciding how he feels about that. While I would appreciate that, it can't be traced back to me. I know survivors, I AM one, and that young man there is a survivor. I won't be making the same mistake as Kira.

You underestimate me. I can easily get rid of him and the rest of your team, if I try. Don't worry, you'll go scot-free.

As the other party members go on parroting each other's hatred of Snicker, he earnestly wishes to roll his eyes. If they're going to stick me in a cell, they better just get on with it, so that we can talk about our plan in peace.

Konrad suddenly finds himself back on the deck of his previous captain's ship. This is the same scenery as when he talked to Kira. "Is that better?"

Konrad starts strolling on deck. "Perfect. Tell me this plan of yours."
"Well, I'll need to refine the details, but here's the gist of it; I cause a lot of chaos, we kill the rest of your team, and after we've faked your death, you escape."

Konrad hesitates. Potential loss springs forth in his mind at this proposal. "Everyone?"

"Yes, of course. The Coins will be less likely to investigate if they believe everyone died. It's also common sense to tie up loose ends."

"I don't know."

"Is this about Breeze? Don't mind her. If you really want another fairy, you can just grab one at the village you just left."

"It's not about that."

3 There's a short moment of silence. Konrad can feel confusion coming from Snicker. "You just said you would let Mihai be rolled over by a boulder if it wasn't for your obligation as a member of the adjunct. Why the hesitation?"

"This is different."

"No it's not. I put the boulder in place, and you let it roll over the others. Then, you go find another team to care about."

Konrad thinks for a moment. Breeze lives, they can work around that. It's not how he hoped to leave them, but it is an opportunity. Steve...he's just as naive and stupid as his fairy friend, but he lives too. How he lives and dies later is up to him. He let himself get too attached to Fedler, Mihai, and the Free Feathers special ops squad if they hang around. He doesn't care what happens to them.

"I don't just let people I get attached to die if I can help it. Breeze's life and Steve's life are not negotiable."

Snicker doesn't say anything for a long moment. "...Why? I admit they're entertaining, but it would be so much more interesting to kill them instead."

"Do you want to make a deal or not?"

"Oh, I see, you can't just bring yourself to commit to the idea of being responsible for their deaths. Don't worry, I'll do it myself. Nothing to feel guilty about, or even regret."

The red mage pauses. "If you want to kill them, you'll try anyway, but it will not be part of our plan."

"Try? It implies I might fail, which I won't. The only thing left to plan is how to make their deaths entertaining. Maybe I should pluck her wings while Steve watches? I doubt I could make him do it himself, since he refuses to make a contract with me."

This obviously isn't working. "What will it take for you to let them live?"

"You are insisting that they live," remarks Snicker. "And you are ready to make a deal for their lives."

Thoughts-within-thoughts confirm what Snicker understood about the question.

"I misjudged you, but I'm glad I did. Their deaths will be that much more entertaining if you're there to watch, unable to stop it. Especially the fairy. I wonder if I should quarter her, or crush her body."

He shakes his head. "You don't have that much power."

"I summoned a kraken, brought you safely to the island, made your enemies stronger, and animated the dead." It snickers. "Working together might have been fun, but now I want to see the expression you'll make when you watch me play with your friends."

Konrad purses his lips. This isn't what he wanted. "No." Providence seems to be teetering on the edge, dipping in his favor and falling back out. Nothing works out the way he wants. "Would you listen to me if I begged you not to?"

He has said pretty words, bowed and 'cried' false tears. But this, to debase himself by groveling like a dog, this he did not know the meaning of.

"Beg? You don't beg, not even for your friends."

"Would you like to see that?"

"The prideful Konrad, begging for their lives of his friends? It would be quite a sight."

This causes him to flush, and he scratches his ear. Finally, "Please. I beg you, let them go." It sounds unnatural to hear him say it.

"No."

He gets down on his knees. In this mental space where he has control of some sort of brain avatar to do this, the alien feeling in what he's doing amplifies. "Please, don't kill them."

"Hmm. No."

What does it want him to do? After some hesitation, he places his forehead agains the wooden planks of the deck, hands joined in some kind of Stoic meditative gesture. "I'm begging you, let it be someone else. Anyone else."

Snicker's voice suddenly changes, becoming deep, gravelly. "I will feed their minds with images of friendship and joy, before I remind them of where they are; with me. I will break their bones so I can heal them again, over and over, and violate their bodies until they're nothing but sacks of meat. And you will watch. Every second of it. Because you're my toys."

The change is startling, frightening the pirate. But reduced as he may be to prostrate himself before a demon, he loses no ounce of self, no clarity of vision. This didn't work, either. He'd underestimated the creature he wished to befriend. Standing up, he discards the weak image of himself begging, a pointless tactic from the outset.

"Scant few are as wretched as to desire what you've expressed, and you are beneath even they. Were our positions  reversed, I would do the same to you and more."

He tries to break free. No one touches his things. No one touches his people. And no one with the mental capacity for these horrid thoughts touches his mind, or his body. But it is no use. For two hours, Konrad will be trapped - with it.

"We made a contract, and for two hours, you are mine. I will-" the demon is interrupted by something, and afer a second of silence, the vision disappears, and Konrad regains the use of his senses.[/i]

Shortly before Mihai goes back on duty, after new year's end, he gives Amber her Orb.

"Here." - Mihai takes his Orb out, shows it to her, then puts it back in - "Join us in the Orb, Amber..." - he jokes in an addlebrained zombie voice

Amber is legitimately creeped out.

"Good, that means you respect it. Now listen, all joking aside: that Orb is for you alone. As of right now, very few people in the world even know something like that exists. I don't expect you'll be actually needing it like we do, but i just feel safer knowing you have one. Just, don't show it to anyone. It's not safe to give it to someone else after you've had it for a while. We tried once, and it gave Steve one hell of a migraine, to put it mildly."

She observes the orb very carefully, and in a very mellow tone, she asks, "...Who else knows about it?"

"Outside of our team, our bosses, and a few people in the military and high up in the government."

"But..." Amber licks her lips, anticipating the answer. Still with a mellow tone, she then asks, "how could they have learned about this?"

Her demeanor definitely strikes Mihai as odd, but he doesn't know what to make of it.

"What do you mean?"

"I just... I wanna know how they learned about these orbs. Do they all know about Breeze?"

"Well, Fairies are popping up more and..." - he can't shake the feeling something is wrong - "Is something wrong? Have you seen something like that before?"

"No," she replies. "I didn't. Never even heard of those things. But all fairies are making orbs now?"

The unusual focus of all these questions puts Mihai past creeped out and well into apprehensive - "Honestly, i don't know. Hey, you feel a little off right now. Are you ok?"

"What? No, I'm fine. But the others who know about the orbs. How did they learn about it?"

Mihai blinks a few times - "We... do a dangerous job. It used to be just us, but eventually the secret got out. It wasn't all at the same time." - Mihai's worry worsens - "Amber... why are you so focused on this?"

She blinks a few times herself-  "I'm worried, obviously. But if all the orbs are coming from Breeze... well, I can trust her."

"Amber... is Sunny saying something? You're worrying me a little."

"Sunny? No, she can't talk to me when she's not out. You know that." - she seems confused my Mihai's question.

"You just feel... different all of a sudden."

"You just showed me an orb and told me I should put it in my head," - she retorts.

Mihai senses no deception (26), but she definitely doesn't feel right.

Mihai sighs - "Look, i'm sorry. Maybe this was a bad idea. I still have no idea if this will have any other effect on someone with your power. No reason to assume it will, but..." - he hesitates - "Could you call Sunny? Maybe she'll be able to tell something we can't."

Amber raises her eyebrows in surprise. "You want me to call her?"

"You mind? I never worried about giving one of these to anyone else before, but... i don't want to do anything that might not be good for you."

"...Sure, I don't mind." - After closing the curtains, Amber summons her Aspect of Light. The silhouette stares at Mihai.

"Hi, Sunny. Been a while."

The Aspect nods - "Mihai."

He shows her the Orb in his hand - "Does this thing mean anything to you?"

"No, of course not," - she replies - "I knew nothing about it until today."

Mihai sighs, then lowers his hand - "Would you rather i hold on to it for now? This was probably a lot to take in, all of a sudden."

"Yes." they both reply at the same time. They exchange a curious glance.

Mihai puts it away - "Sorry i came off weird. It's just... I once paid pretty nasty for lack of having one."

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Amber tells him.

The way Amber crosses her arms is different than usual. Mihai still senses (22) both of them are being completely genuine, but they don't act like it.





Breeze is later hurt to learn Amber doesn't want the Orb. She slowly flies away.

"Breeze...?" - Mihai goes after her - "I'm sorry. This was my fault. I should have gone better about it. She doesn't lead the kind of life we do. Hasn't seen the same things. I guess it's strange for her to just put a Globule in her head so suddenly."

"But... but!" - A few tears are rolling down her cheeks - "She didn't even keep it."

Mihai can't hug her, but he can give her his hand to sit on - "She just didn't know it means so much to you. I should have told her, i'm sorry. Look, i'm sure she'll keep it if she knows you're the one asking, ok?"

"Sniff! She will?"

"Yeah. Want to go see her?"

She looks down at her feet, and then nods.

"Ok, c'mon..."





Amber is doing her homework on the couch. She faces Mihai and Breeze as they enter the living room. The fairy still sits in Mihai's hand.
"Breeze?" - Amber looks at the sad fairy, and then at Mihai - "What happened?"

"I made a mess." - he explains - "I didn't handle things right with the Orb, so i made Breeze cry and now i'm about to put you on the spot. I explained to her that you're uneasy about the Or... Globule, but i guess i didn't explain how Breeze put a lot of love into it. As in, literally. Right, Breeze?"

The blue-haired girl finally raises her head with hopeful eyes. "Yeah," she confirms. "I like you a lot Amber, and if you won't put the love globule in your head, will you at least... uh, you know, keep it close?"

Amber blinks a few times before getting up from the couch. "Of course I'll put the globule in my head, you silly. Why wouldn't I?" - She then extends her hand towards Mihai, waiting for him to give her the orb - her concern the previous day seemingly completely gone. Breeze beams with happiness.

Mihai's hand reaches for his pocket. Slowly - "Not to be the party pooper, but are you sure? You seemed kinda wary yesterday."

"Uh? No I wasn't. You were just being weird. More than usual." - Breeze chuckles at that.

"Uh... well, ok. Sorry about that." - Mihai hands her the Orb

Amber immediately places it against her forehead. It smoothly goes in. "There you go. See?" - "Yay!" Breeze flies off and gives Amber's neck a big hug.

Breeze then helps Amber with her homework.

"Feel alright?"

"Yup," Amber says. "Breeze, you sure that's the right formula?" - They keep working.


"Ok, just a few pointers, then i'll get out of your hair. That thing protects you against a lot of things you'll probably never encounter, but would otherwise be defenseless against. It seems to have stopped Snicker from reading my mind, for one. You can take it off whenever you want, but it's gonna become more and more attuned to you as you wear it, to the point that i'll be dangerous for anyone else to, so don't give it or show it to anybody. Imagine you're holding a priceless artifact no one else can know about, because you kinda are."


(Punctuated by freaked out player peppering GM with questions.)

Aemilia leads the way for Konrad to her villa in the hightown district, where residents are very well-off. She talks about her villa in detail: there are five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a small office, a kitchen, a few other rooms, and a smaller wing where her two servants live. When he first enters, he breathes contentedly, taking in the luxury around him. The servants, who are older than their owner, greet her as "ma'am" whens he enters. Apart from his scar, they don't seem surprised by his presence.

He comments on her lovely home, and playfully asks for a tour. With a smile and a nod, Aemilia dismisses her servants. She points out the bathrooms, but takes time showing off the living room and the garden. She takes even more time showing off her office space, which contains two bookshelves filled with reading material; some novels among mostly work-related material. She talks about a few significant effects, such as a snowglobe she bought from Emerald. The tour ends in the master bedroom, of course, and although he tries to impress her, she proves to be a woman with experience greater than any other he's taken to bed, and teaches him a thing or two about the art of love.

Konrad wraps himself around Aemilia in the afterglow of their boudoir exercises and gives her a kiss on the cheek. He rests there for the night, and the next morning, he asks if she would answer his questions about her company.

"My company?" she echoes playfully. "I'd forgotten all about your questions. It wasn't exactly on my mind last night."

The Myrzen flashes her a reciprocative grin. "As did I, but now we have some downtime, no?"

Aemilia smiles at that. "I left my family's business a decade ago, and used the wages I'd earned to start my own. It's been flourishing ever since, and I've been doing well. We offer various goods, and make coin on the side in shipping a myriad of products and resources. I also bought a sizeable share of the Red Blades mercenary group to diversify my portfolio."

"That's great! I'm happy for you. Does your family know?"

"Oh, they know, and they despise me for it. In Emerald, it is customary that you put the interests of your family ahead of your own," She shrugs. "I didn't care for it, so I left."

There's a slight dip in Konrad's ruse, a twitch at the corner of his mouth. The smile completes, signifying newfound admiration, while the mask covers up once again. He senses that she catches this, but she lets it go without comment. "I've heard of that custom. But if they know, then..."

"Then what?" she follows up skillfully.

"Why do you say you still work for them?"

"Oh, that? I bought the Free Feathers branch of their company from under them. They didn't know I was the buyer until it was too late. I don't care much for them, but they're still family, so I keep up appearances and pretend we work together."

Konrad sighs with mock disappointment. as Aemilia slips out from under the sheets. "And here I thought I was priviledged to know something secret. I understand that, in my own way. My folks don't think much of my profession, but we haven't exactly severed ties."

"Hmm, I assume you're a mercenary? You have the look for it, and since you lack the uniform a soldier would wear, I doubt you're working for the army." She sits on her bed, and starts dressing, slipping on an undershirt.

"Ah yes. Sorry, it slipped my mind." Konrad does the same, pulling up his boxers. "That job I mentioned? The contract for it was made with the Coins."

"Oh really? I should have guessed that of all the men I could have invited into my home, this one has to be working for my competitors." The news surprised her, but she continues on nonchalantly. She turns around to face the red mage, smiles, and says, "Let's just not talk about what we have going here to anyone, okay? Your employers wouldn't like it, just as my fellow shareholders."

Konrad smiles again and reaches over to place a hand on hers. "I'm willing to keep it a secret for as long as you are."

He leans in for a kiss from across the bed, but she places a finger on his lips. "Don't overdo the charming act." She gets up, and with a mischievous tone, says, "I have to take a bath, then get ready for work. You can stay here for the next few days, at least until your employers send you out of the city. Have a very nice day."

She doesn't wait for him to answer and leaves the room.

Once Konrad knocks the door to Aemilia's villa, he is greeted by one of her servants. "Yes?" asks the young woman. "How can I help you?"

"Yes, is the master of the house present?"

"Who is asking?"

"Konrad. She'll remember the name."

"Oh, Konrad Granger? Oh yes, I remember you now. Please excuse me. We've been warned of your arrival. Please, enter." She moves so he can enter the lobby. "You can find the madam in her office. Do you need me to guide you there?"

"That's quite all right, I can find it on my own."

She gives a slight bow, and closes the door behind him.

"Is she working?" he asks.

"Yes. However, she has been expecting you."

Because he said he didn't need assistance, the maid returns to her duties. Konrad's eyes wander over her once she has turned away, and his feet wander toward Aemilia's office. Perhaps she could use a necklace, too. However, a more sophisticated member of the opposite sex demands his attention. Once he arrives at her office, he finds the doors closed. He knocks. "Hello, Aemilia? It's Konrad."

"Konrad? Come in, the door is unlocked."

Konrad enters to find Aemilia walking around her desk, having just got up from her chair. Many files and sheets of paper clutter her desk, but she approaches Konrad now, putting the work aside. "Your letter surprised me."

"I only just learned about it myself." With his hand still on the handle, he closes the door. "I didn't want to spring the invitation on you without giving you time to clear up your schedule. Come here."

He takes his hand off the door to give her a full-body hug. Aemilia is a little taken aback, but she hugs him back, their cheeks almost touching as they embrace. He pulls away, noticing the suit she has on, albeit one more casual than the kind she normally wears. "Want to see what I got you?"

"I did read you would have a surprise for me."

He gets the gift box out and hands it to her. "Open."

She appears genuinely surprised when she sees the box. After taking a moment to examine it, she says, "It's a jewelry box... You bought it for me?"

"I said I'd return the favor, but it wouldn't be much of a gift if I didn't go above and beyond reciprocating the gesture."

The woman who usually seems so confident is now astonished. She puts her hand around the edges of the box and when she opens it, she is left at a loss for words.

"I hope you have a dress that will match it," adds Konrad. "Now that we come to it, have you decided?"

"It's an emerald..." she whispers. "And that chain... There's nothing remotely fake about it. That must have cost you an arm."

He smiles. "Do you like it? We earned a lot on our last job, so I figured I could spare the coin for something really nice. I wouldn't expect this every time I come and visit though. I have financial goals of my own."

She stays silent for a moment, staring at the necklace. Without taking her eyes off of it, she says, "Thank you. It's more than I deserve, really." She closes the box, and a slight smile makes it way on her face, the kind Konrad has never seen on her before. "I'll make sure to wear it for the ball. I already know which dress to put on."

"You make it seem like you've never worn something this expensive," he chuckles nervously. More than you deserve? What does that mean?

"Well, it's the first time a man has given me this kind of gift." She turns around, and walks towards the desk from which she opens a drawer to put the box in. But she stops herself. "Are you sure? We've known each other for a short time. I can give it back to you once the ball is over."

"Really? Then this is an odd occurrence for both of us. I mean, look at you. Have none of the men in your life ever felt motivated to show their affection with precious jewelry?"


"I don't allow most men to show me that kind of affection." She looks at the box again, and decides to leave it in the drawer. She walks back towards Konrad, and remarks in a teasing manner, "I suppose you've earned the right to stay in my house for the next few days..."

"Allow", huh?

He places his hands on her hips. "I must be doing something right." He leans in for a kiss, but stops. "I'm meeting the person who invited my team later for lunch at 1 PM, at a restaurant called The Loyal Shark. It would be my pleasure to introduce you to them."

"The Loyal Shark? Is that the restaurant by the beach?"

He grins mischievously. "I hope you have swimwear. Because I do..."

"Oh? We're also going for a swim then?"

"Can we? It's a hot day, and so far I've spent it walking up a hill and back down again."

"Then I'll definitely need a swimsuit." She puts her arms around Konrad's shoulders. "Do you want to help me choose?"

Kissing her slowly, Konrad turns the lock on the door. "Later."

Once Aemilia enters her carriage, she decides to sit across Konrad, and she lets her eyes wander outside the window.

"What did you talk about?" asks Konrad.

"Huh?" She refocuses her attention on him. "Talk with who?"

"The fairy. Peewee."

She stares at Konrad for a short moment, then looks out the window again. "We hadn't talked much. After Zelk left him in my care, I tried to calm him down." She pauses. "It's difficult to believe this man could manipulate our thoughts this way..."

"Impossible things are happening. But don't worry about him. He's been taken care of. He won't get to do it again."

The elegant, and now tired woman appears to relax a little. "I just want to get home, back in my bed. Maybe it'll start making sense tomorrow."

"That's smart. The party was going well. I'm just sorry it was punctuated by such a turn of events."

"Yes. Me too." She lets the silence drag on for a while, before she adds with a sad smile, "I must have looked like quite the fool."

"Heh, yeah. 'Use your contacts'? How, and why?"

"Hmm? Oh, that." She sighs. "I just thought Songbird might be convinced to take Fedler under his wing if I added an incentive or two. That would have-" She stops herself and slowly shakes her head with irritation. "Let's not talk about him."

Yes, Konrad saw what was going back there, what the little creep confessed he was doing when he was caught. Yes, under his spell, you were hoping he would notice you. Too bad the little date raper already had. "Let's focus on getting home."

"Yeah," she mutters under her breath.

When they get back at her villa, Konrad changes out of the suit and goes to bed. He then comments on the necklace, though. "I'm glad you wore my gift tonight."

A little of Aemilia's usual self re-emerges when she hears this comment, She takes the necklace in her hand, briefly admires it, and replies, "How could I not? It's a shame I cannot wear it everyday; it would be too conspicuous."

She takes the jewelry off her neck, and puts it on her nightstand.

"You could start a collection," he suggests. "Every gem under the sun in the palm of your hand, to wear around your neck."

"That sounds nice," she admits with a small smile. She then joins Konrad under the covers of her bed. "But there things much more important than jewelry," she adds. "Something you can't just buy."

He caresses the side of her face and runs his hand through her hair, letting the silence speak for him. I know.

"...There's something I've wanted to ask for some time now."

He's just relaxing in bed, ready to fall asleep with her. "What do you want to know?"

"This thing we have between us; it's still just a fling, right?" She doesn't appear anxious, but simply curious, and very attentive to his answer.

"This is more than just a fling, Aemy. This is you and me." He pauses. "Are you happy?"

A few seconds pass during which she considers her answer carefully. "I enjoy these moments between us. But that necklace... It made me think. Are you looking for something more serious?"

"Aren't you? I don't do that for everybody I like. Are you saying I'm just a friend to you?"

"...I don't know," she reveals. "I thought that's all we were; friends with benefits. I don't mind if you want to keep it that way, but if you're looking for something more..." She briefly hesitates. "I'll have to think about it."

For a moment Konrad is silent. Why was he trying to do this to her? He had her in the sack, that's all he really wanted. He thought she would be high maintenance, that's why he really bought the gem. But, if what she wants is attention and sex, same as him, then what's the point of this exercise? He shouldn't be trying to string her along. If he really wants Naomi the way he acts toward this cougar, he ought to ditch the gifts and pillow talk. Hell, she's probably too smart for that. But, recalling how he admired Songbird's spell earlier, one thing does pluck away at the lowest string of his conscience: how was this different from what Songbird did at the party? He loathed to compare himself to that cretin, but he could see that an uncomfortable parallel could be drawn between them.

He sighs. "What are friends for, right? I was worried that I should give you the full package. Everything I am, otherwise there'd be no reason to stick around us." It was a half-truth, but it would do. It would hide his grappling, and therefore hide his attitude toward their coupling. No point in telling her about intentions he was abandoning.

"Ah, good." Her body relaxes. "I just wanted to make sure where we stand."

"So... still friends?"

She smiles. "Yes."

"Well...good. Don't worry, you keep the necklace."

Given what transpired within the last hour, Konrad knows better than to make advances tonight. They fall asleep in a chaste embrace.

While traveling with the wagon caravan, Konrad notices a group of traveling bards. They hop in on the ride and in exchange provide musical entertainment around the fire in the evening. He and Breeze join them for conversation, and he asks if they've heard of a bard by the name of Jacques Brel. They answer that of course they have, being that he's a very popular performer in Lofell and in the bard community around the islands at large.

They then introduce themselves: Jesse, a drop-dead gorgeous blond in her early thirties. She has long hair, blue eyes, a svelte figure, and her beauty is rivaled only by her talent for singing. Konrad is immediately drawn to her, and the hunt is on.

Traveling with her is River, her former apprentice. Not even twenty years old,  River is a lean, small-chested redhead with shoulder-length auburn hair and beautiful brown eyes. She wears clothing that hugs her curves. Konrad's impression of her is of an airheaded teen with a head full of fluff - a nice girl, perhaps not downright dumb, but not impressive in wit or retention.

There is also Peter, Jesse’s current apprentice. Peter strikes Konrad as an unassuming, thin adolescent boy at the genial age of 16. He's eager to please his mentor and studies hard to do so. it's obvious he'd like to get River's attention, but doesn't quite know how to do so. Konrad almost feels sorry for him...almost.

And finally, there’s Frey, a Myrzen firecracker in her twenties who only joined the group recently. She’s a short brunette of Myrzen origins whose soft facial features would make her an excellent model for painting in spite of her scrawny figure. She has shoulder-length hair, green-blue eyes… and a contagious smile. Again…the game is afoot.

Frey explains she’ll be with the caravan for only a few days since when multiple bards travel together, tips tend to spread out, meaning less money for each performer.

Konrad sets Breeze loose among the ladies, and sits with Peter for a while, asking him what inspired him to be a professional and how long he's been taking lessons, secretly trying to find out who not to bother with flirtatious advances to avoid snuffing the candle the boy may hold for one of his traveling companions. Peter tells Konrad that he grew up around many places where bards performed, and came to admire them. He was mostly self-taught, until last year when Jesse took him under his wing. Konrad has the impression that the boy chose this career to achieve social recognition from his peers.

Playfully, Konrad comments, "I'll bet you found a little extra motivation after your fellow pupils introduced themselves!"

Diplomacy 17 (take 10)

Peter blushes and says he's the only pupil here, and that although River is new to this, she at least has some experience; he wears his heart on his sleeve whenever he talks about her.

"Oh, anyway, that's far too long for me,” Konrad says “If I tried, I would probably remain strong for a month at best in such personal proximity, before I caved and started seeking electives on the side of the main course."

Peter looks worried, for just a moment, and then agrees with a laugh. As the caravan travels, Konrad observes that they all stick together, except when they stop between towns, moments during which they’ll sometimes wander alone or sing for other groups of travelers or merchants. When in town, they more often than not stay together, except for maybe Peter who stays close to his teacher. The red mage joins them at the first opportunity the next morning when they're doing vocal warm-ups to prep his singing voice, and they always welcome Breeze and her friend; Konrad couldn't ask for a better wingman!

When they're splitting off, he offers to tag along with River as she sings for some travelers, to sing with her. She agrees to let him come, but as a bodyguard and hat-keeper, and only if Breeze comes too. The fairy is happy to oblige.

"So tell me," Konrad starts, to break the ice, "what sort of demeaning tasks do I get to look forward to as your own personal manslave for an entire day?"

She gives him a small black hat, smiles, and explains that with Breeze's help, he will attract an audience and receive the tips on her behalf, his employer.

"Oof, the bitter sting of rejection. I'll never fully recover from this one," he jokes. "Anyway, how long have you known the other ladies in your group?"

River smirks, knowing exactly what's up: Mr. Wildfire wants the juicy details on the older girls. She explains that she's known Frey for only a few days, but she's been very friendly. The other bard had been her mentor for many years, until River decided to strike out on her own. It's the first time they are both traveling together for a tour across the Feathers.

"Any crazy exes I should worry about? Or non-exes, as the case may be? Or are they happily married to the music?"

She doesn't really know about her mentor's love life; it always felt weird to bring that up with her, and she's also been hush-hush about it. The Myrzen woman however seems to be free as a bird.

Konrad nods and nods again. "How about you? You got any special guy waiting for you, or are you still flying solo?"

The question is just that: an innocent question in the clinical sense, without any funny business or suggestive tones, but there's a very slight pause before she casually answers that no, there's no soul mate waiting for her back home.

And now, Konrad drops the pretense. "It must be so obvious, huh?" he asks, with a hint of sympathy.

Confused, she asks what he means is so obvious.

"Wow, it's worse than I thought. Don't you know who I mean?"

Thinking they were talking about her, she says she doesn't understand what's so obvious about herself.

Konrad suppresses a sigh. "Not you, him. Peter. He was red in the face when he said your name the other day."

Dumbfounded, she continues, "Yeah? What about him?"

"Ugh, listen. I'm telling you that he's got the hots for you."

River blinks a few times, and finally understands what Konrad is getting at. "I have noticed... It's pretty cute. Hey, just don't make fun of him for that, okay? I don't think he'll take it well."

Konrad holds up a hand to placate. "Oh, I won't. It's only that it's been a year and he hasn't made a move at all. Sure would be a welcome change, wouldn't it?"

She explains that they've known each other only for six months.

"Huh? Oh, my bad..."

She also finds the idea of him making a move on her uncomfortable, since it couldn't possibly work between them. It's cute, but he's way too young.

Konrad raises an eyebrow. "Too--" He contains himself to just looking plain incredulous, disbelieving. "'Too young'? Pardon me, but are you sure? I've dated women a decade in either direction, it's not uncommon. I'm 32, you can consider me an authority on this matter."

River opens her mouth to say something to counter this, but refrains, as if her response wouldn't make sense. She tries multiple times to explain herself, until she finally just says that it would just be weird. Besides, he hasn't even made a move on her. She seems ready to change the subject. Well, he thinks that pretty much seals it, almost, though he will try again in a few days. Unfortunately, she's probably too flustered to go on about her teacher if he kept talking.

"Ah well, who knows. The optimist in me thinks maybe there's hope for him yet. Anyhow, speaking of moves, I'm ready to 'move' another crowd if you are."

From this point on, Konrad has his hands full gathering an audience and gathering tips. River gives them a few pointers on how to do it well, which prove quite useful. "Too young", he thinks, Why, when I was...

During the next few days with the caravan, at some point, Frey starts staring at Konrad, smiles, and maintains contact until she's made it clear that she's interested. Then, once she knows that he knows, just as Konrad is starting to smile from the combined realization and humor that innately breaks the tension between people who lock eyes, and once she knows that he knows, she breaks the contact and casually walks off to go take care of some errand.

As she goes, Konrad laughs quietly to himself. Now, that's the kind of look he hadn't gotten in over a decade. He breaks into a soft chuckle and shakes his head. "Heh, the language of my people." He was never one to take the easy way; he loves a challenge, a little difficulty at least. He's not one to pass up a lay when it's served on a platter, and it looks like he's getting in someone's pants at least; free consolation prize. But first, he has to win a contest...

For now, he looks for Jesse, Peter's teacher, just for some gossip, and while asking her about her students, he asks if all bards teach.

Oh, not all of them. She herself was taught alongside a few other aspiring bards, and she decided to take the young boy under her wing to continue the tradition of her own teacher.

"So, you're saying he might be your only student? After a few months, what are your thoughts toward continuing to continue the tradition?"

She isn't against the idea of gaining more pupils one day, but she just isn't planning that far ahead right now.

"I see. How far ahead are you looking? Where's your horizon?"

Next month is the farthest she is thinking of. Once she starts getting tired of this life, she thinks of just settling down and giving singing and music classes.

Konrad nods. "Makes sense. You're coming from that age. Get all the fun out of the way, I get it. A bit like your friend from the southeast corner. How long have you known her?"

Jesse says she's only known Frey a few days. She specifies that Frey is only a few years younger than herself, and when pressed, Jesse reveals her own age, that she is only 30 years old. She quips about Konrad being the one who should be thinking of settling down really. Apparently River tattled on him...

"Heh, maybe one of these days. It's not out of the cards. How far have you traveled? Have you met many people from Myr, or maybe in Myr?"

She has traveled everywhere in the Archipelago. Lorinth was the only place where she had a hard time, since she didn't speak the local language, but she made do. That tells Konrad that she at least knows MishMash, Lofellian, and Chromium, in addition to Imperial. Hot.

"Interesting, interesting. So, you know how to 'do as they do' when in Myr, then. Now that you have, what do you think of it?"

She finds the Myrzen to be more dismissive than the norm, and a little too laid back, but she doesn't think that they're different from other people; there are always exceptions. Myrzen have a strong sense of patriotism, but so do the Lorinthians.

"As patriotic as one can be," he says, careful to avoid sounding severe. "To tell the truth, I thought you might be describing our interpersonal mannerisms. Such as staring alluringly from across the room."

Not quite getting that, she simply responds that Myrzen can be pretty passionate.

"Such as when Frey made sure I noticed her staring me down earlier."

She comments that Konrad probably caught Frey's interest, then. She didn't even seem unsettled by his scar.

He smiles again. "Oh, do you not like the scar?" he asks casually, licking the side of his mouth where the scar tissue almost touches. "Would you like to know how I got it?"

"Eh, not sure I want to, no. Unless it's a cooking accident. Then maybe I'll sing about it."

"Aha, well, you never know, you might find yourself or one of your apprentices singing about it one day. It's quite a story." He tilts his head to the side, making the scar smaller. "What about you? Scars-wise. You think I could do without mine, if I got rid of it? Or would you give me a fair shot?"

"I'm sorry, but that'll never happen." She smiles. "We're on the same team."

It doesn't take much for him to recover. He'd met two or three on this team, and it was a damn good team. "Maybe you and her then? I could help you out, hook you up if she's into it. Only if you let me watch, though!" He elbows her, genuinely having a laugh.

"I rarely need help," she says, amused. "Besides, she prefers men, as you have noticed."

"Oh, I wouldn't expect a fox like you to need help from the likes of me," he says, trying to flatter her. "But, if you'll excuse me, we can continue this another time. There's someone I have been overlooking."

She gives a small, near-comical wave to Konrad.

Later, just after dinner, at a camp in the forest near the main road, Frey leans in on Jesse. They exchange a few whispers, and the young Myrzen glances at Konrad. After saying one last thing to Jesse, she gets up and leaves to take a walk in the general direction of a small clearing the group found when they arrived here. The merchants, other travelers and bards are quite busy, and almost no one notices Frey slipping away.

Sense Motive 11

She doesn’t seem to be luring Konrad into the woods for anything dangerous, so he waits five minutes before heading out into the woods. It takes some time to find Frey's trail, and she seems to have gone deeper in the forest, quite far away from the caravan's camping site. There can't be more than half an hour of daylight left, so the red mage sparks a flame inside his bullseye lantern and dims it. He spends a few more minutes walking, until he hears the sound of water. There's a river nearby. He walks in the direction of the sound of running water, and sees the silhouette of Frey standing in the water. He notices her clothes laying on the river bank, just a few meters away from her. He let the lantern burn a little brighter and shines it on the surfaces of the river. The young woman notices this immediately and turns to face Konrad. She recognizes him, but doesn't appear affected by his sudden appearance. Without a hint of concern or embarrassment, she continues to wash herself, making no effort to cover up.

The male Myrzen sets the lantern to the ground and starts to disrobe as he approaches the water. "Bathing? At this hour? A little early for that, don't you think?"

"Early? I thought it was the perfect time; the water will get cold once the sun sets in." Konrad's boldness doesn't phase her. She decides to lower herself into the water, watching as he undresses, no doubt until he removes his knickers and socks. "What about you?"

"A bath would be nice... but I came for a different kind of warmth."

"Are you sure you're up for it? You might get burned."

He keeps walking forward, stepping into the river, until he's inches away. "We all get burned or bitten at some point. I was never shy."

"Yeah, I can see that," she says, eyeing his scar. A small smirk slowly makes its way on her face.

"So you like it. I can give you a closer look, but I'm afraid I'll have to charge." He advances confidently to her and embraces to give her a kiss, which she deepens upon contact, putting her arms around Konrad's shoulders as he proceeds to take his "fee".

Their session proves to be one of the longest Konrad has ever had, though he admirably undertakes the challenge. Of everyone he's been with, Frey takes home the trophy for "most yearning", and in a double sense, having enjoying their time to the point that from then on she urges him for some alone time at least twice a day until they part. However, Konrad notices around day three that he isn't the only man she's fooling around with.

Admittedly, there could be nothing more to Frey than what Konrad sees on the surface, and as a fellow Myrzen, he can appreciate how she lives her life. Still, he approaches her with some curiosity about her proclivities. She's frank about her hedonistic tendencies, and admits that she enjoys Konrad's company, but she isn't looking for anything serious or getting to know each other. So they can either have fun, or he can go speak to someone else.

"That's alright, I'm not looking for anything like that. I can appreciate you living however you choose to live. Thing is, I'm a very jealous fellow. While I'm with a woman for any length of proximity, I have one rule: me, just me, until we say farewell. What do you think of that?"

"What? You're monogamous?" She chuckles. "Well, good for you, but I'm not going to chain myself to anyone."

"I'm not saying you have to, once this trip is over, I expect I'll be moving on. Besides, how much more enjoyment could you possibly be getting out of the other random people you meet? You should already know, I'm worth it."

Diplomacy
I'm aware I'm probably just talking myself up, but that's why it's called Diplomacy.

"Don't flatter yourself too much," she says, amused. "Our time together was enjoyable, but it's not worth not doing whatever I want, when I want to."

Deception

Konrad senses no doubt in her, so he backs off. "Very well. It was fun, though, and you've made me aware of something I need to work on. Still, I hope you find someone who can keep up with you."

She smirks. "I'll keep looking."

Over the past few days, Konrad has been observing River and Peter's interactions: both are friendly, while Peter avoids making any advance. He decides to ask Jesse off-the-cuff how long she intends to train the boy, to which she answers two more years; he has talent, but he needs a lot more training if he wants to be successful one day. When he asks about River, Jesse explains that she's already independent, but it's her first tour across the Feathers. They're traveling along the coast, and since they started in Littlepen, so they are almost halfway done. By his mathematics, they have around a month left.

Once he has what he needs, Konrad finds Peter. "You know, you have one month until this tour is over, and then she moves on while you continue to follow your teacher."

The teenage boy is confused at first. "You mean River?"

"Peter...who else could I be talking about? Unless I'm misreading your interest in Frey."

Peter stammers a bit. "Oh, no, not her." He avoids Konrad's gaze for a moment, and adds, "I know River is going to leave soon, but it's clear she isn't interested. I don't want to annoy her."

In front of him, Konrad sees a thin young man who feels intimidated by him, and very briefly, Konrad considers taking River for himself, crushing this young man's heart and teaching him a lesson. Hell, the lad would probably lie down and throw a pity party, but Konrad reminds himself to behave.

"'Clear' how? She thinks it's kind of cute. I think she thinks she knows what her type is, and I think she's off the money. If you had a little more backbone and some confidence, you could probably make her see that," he says, purposefully omitting River's preference and focusing on the positive.

He blinks a few times. "So I just do...what, start acting confident?"

"You need a learned perspective," Konrad explains more gently. "Stop agonizing over it, for one. If you feel like you're going to get rejected, then go out there and get rejected. According to you, you've got nothing to lose. And let me guess, and this might be a little too inward-thinking, but how concerned are you with...underperforming?"

"Underperforming? I...don't know. I've never been taught how to flirt. I'd probably look pretty stupid if I tried it with River." He shakes his head.

He’s not cottoning on to what's being alluded to; Konrad resists the urge to wince in frustration. This genial young man can't read well between the lines. What is the world coming to? "C'mon, I've seen you two together, and you're sort of doing it already. There's no science behind it. Maybe you just need a little pick-me-up of one flavor or another to get your motor running."

He's silent for a moment. So far, Konrad's never seen him pick up a drink. "You mean booze?"

"Yes, I do. Some call it 'liquid courage' because it helps you speak whatever's on your mind. For a lightweight like you, a couple beers will do. Or a small swig of something strong.”

"Will that really help though?" He doesn't seem convinced of the effect that alcohol can have on a person.

"It'll loosen you up, trust me. Speaking of which, I had another idea. It would involve a fourth party, but I think I could find someone who'd be willing to help you with your problem."

He raises an eyebrow. "Someone else? Nothing too crazy, right?"

"Really nothing elaborate, mind. Look, you're at that age. I get it." Konrad tries to convince him as he explains. "There's a urge in your loins that you want do something about. It was all I thought about for a solid decade. You feel sweaty and awkward, but you'll feel much less so after you've dealt with it. Do you understand what I mean?"

Diplomacy

"...I think I do." He's still unsure about all this, most likely wondering whether Konrad is serious or not.

"Listen, it only seems like a big deal. It's not. You just need some space and privacy, and no one else need concern themselves."

"I...I don't know," he confesses. "This isn't a bad idea, but I don't want my first to be with a girl who was paid to do it."

"Of course not," he soothes. "You want someone sympathetic to your situation. Someone who wants to help you out willingly because they enjoy it, and because they want you to learn. If I found someone like that, then you'd be willing, right?"

"Well...in that case, maybe." His cheeks are red with embarrassment. "You really think you can make that happen?"

Konrad winks. "I was born to make it happen. I will do my absolute best, but even without, a stiff drink and believing you'll be rejected does in fact work for most people," he chuckles.

Again, he is skeptical about this statement, but has decided to trust Konrad.

Later that evening after dinner, while their caravan group is having fun by the campfire, Konrad catches Frey just as she is leaving her tent with a bottle of rum. "Hey, Frey. Anyone in there?"

She turns to face him. "In the tent you mean? Nah. My date for tonight got cold feet." She lets out an audible "tsk", and asks, "Wanna hook up?"

"Let's go in to discuss this further," he answers frankly.

She smiles, lift up one side of the tent, and says, "Make yourself at home."

He enters, and when they are both in, he takes one final look outside to make sure there's no one around to listen in.

She notices his behavior. "What's up?"

"I have a proposition for you. I want to hook you up."

"Oh?" This catches her attention. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

He smiles. "They're new to this, and they're kinda...on edge. I'm offering a way to take the edge off, and that's where you come in."

"They?" she repeats. "As in, plural?"

"Oh, nonono. 'He', excuse me. Unless...nah, he probably wouldn't want that."

"Wait..." She sits down on her cot, puts the bottle down. "Who is ‘he’ exactly?"

Konrad mirrors her and sits down. to avoid standing over her. "Oh, he's a good kid. Thin, athletic, sensitive. Been traveling with him for..." He gives the amount of days he's been traveling with the bards.

"Peter?" She eyes Konrad suspiciously. "And why am I being drafted for this?" she asks, wondering why they're having this talk.

"As I said, he's new to the game. He's got some pent up stress he needs to release. What's wrong, you don't like him?"

She opens her bottle of rum, and gulps down one swallow of it. "That's not the question. I just don't see why I'm needed. He can just jerk it off if need be, or find a nice girl at the next town we hit."

"Yes, but that's the thing. He has found someone, but he's got issues. At that age, you know?"

"Oh, this is about River?"

"Yes. She ever talk to you about him?"

"No, we haven't really talked about boyfriends." She seems to be considering the proposition. "You spoke to Peter about this?"

"Yeah. I just can't stand a man too shy to take rejection or use the balls he was born with. But he knows his problem. Said if I could help him out on the DL, he'd like to try. You could 'help' him for a whole night, if you want, but that's up to you two."

"And I was naturally at the top of his list then?"

"He's just intimidated by you. Who wouldn't be?"

In truth, Konrad had noticed the way Peter minds his business around the older, talented Myrzen singer. She ponders for a bit, takes another swallow, and finally says, "This would be his first time, right?"

"Yeah, he wants it to be special."

He reads that she isn't surprised to hear what Peter thinks of her, but the idea that Peter wants his first time to be special seems to convince her, so she puts the bottle away and finally tells Konrad her decision. "Fine, I'll do it. Give me fifteen minutes to get ready, and bring him here, but don't tell him why. I'll take care of it."

"You're the best, Frey."

"'Course I am." She smiles. "Now, give me some privacy. I've got a few things to take care of first."

Konrad leaves the tent, and the 15-minute countdown to get the message to Peter begins. Konrad sits down with a hunk of dried meat he bought in town. Most of the caravaneers are still awake. Some are telling stories, others are playing with new trinkets they bought, and River has just started playing with her lute while singing a funny song along other travelers and merchants. Jesse has gone to another campfire for a more serious performance. Konrad munches on his meat for five minutes, and starts stretching about ten minutes after he left Frey's tent (by his reckoning). When a quarter of an hour has passed, he whispers to Peter that Fey would like to talk to him.

"Huh? What about?"

He shrugs, "Whatever it is, I wouldn't delay. It sounded serious."

Deception 18 (Take 10)

A little worried, Peter gets up, and as he goes to Frey's tent, when his back is turned, Konrad starts messing with the fire to get people's attention. Everyone is impressed by how easily he can move the flames, while he is a little surprised at how dangerous it could be if he wasn't as proficient as he is. One false move, and one wave of flame could set fire to someone's clothes.

"Full disclosure: I am wearing an enchantment that makes me better at this. I wouldn't dare to do it without it, if I were you."

He doesn't see Peter, or Frey, until morning of the next day.

The next morning, Konrad goes to see Frey.

"Hey, how did it go?" he asks.

The young bard is sitting by herself near her tent, eating an apple. "Oh, hi." A yawn escapes her mouth. "It went well; we slept near a pond, so my back hurts a little right now, but it'll pass."

Konrad grins to himself, wondering if it was upriver, or downriver... "Glad it went well."

She gives Konrad a smile, and he leaves her to find Peter in his tent, laying on his cot.

"Heya. How you feeling?"

Startled, he sits up immediately, but calms down once he recognizes Konrad. "Damn, sorry. I didn't know it was you."

"It's alright. So Frey told me she had a good time last night."

"Oh, right." He starts to scratch the back of his head, but he seems less nervous than before. "She was… very gentle. Uh, thanks."

Gentle, huh? "No problem. You all loosened up now?"

"Yeah...yeah, I think so." He smiles a little.

"Happy for you. Let me know if you need that drink." For today and the next day, Konrad observes Peter's interactions with others, particularly around Frey and his crush.

Peter's interactions with the others don't seem to change much. He's a little more friendly with Frey than before, but is clearly not trying to flirt with her or anything. As for his interactions with River, they don't seem to have changed, except that he's the one to initiate the conversations now. What's more interesting is that after a short conversation with Frey, River appears shocked by something, and the older bard simply walks away casually.

Clearly, Frey did not choose to remain quiet, as Konrad suggested. He joins River and comments about the weather, before asking, "You look white as a sheet.”

"Huh? Oh, nothing," she answers with some difficulty. "Just got my head in the clouds, that's all."

"It happens. How's business?'

The change of subject puts her more at ease now. "Breeze has been a great help; having a fairy on your side can attract huge crowds." She thinks for a moment. "Do you know if she has any other commitments right now? I don't know how long you two have been traveling together, but if she wants to stay with me, I promise I would take good care of her."

Diplomacy 20 (opposed)

He believes that River would indeed take very good care of Breeze. Adorable, she's grown rather fond of Konrad's little friend, and he finds it humorous that she asks to take him off his hands, like a cheeky chaperone asking to steal a parent's child for a few chores. "Ha! Delightful creature, isn't she? Blue certainly helps to draw a crowd. You're very kind to offer, but she's currently employed by the Coins, I'm afraid."

"Oh." She is clearly disappointed. "It would have been very fun to have her travel with us. At least, we'll get to be together for a while still."

"Oh, I’m sure we may bump into each other again down the road. I admit I would be sad to part from her, and I promised I'd never leave her. She had gotten lost on my account once, you see."

"She did? Well, make sure not to let her out of your sight again. It feels like..." She searches for the right words. "It feels like the world would become a sad place if she wasn't here. I'm probably speaking nonsense."

"No, no you're not," he chimes. "The fairies seem to counteract the darkness in the world by their very presence. Whenever Breeze is around… she glows, and the world seems to shine brighter. I'd love for Fairies to be a common sight on the islands. You could write a song about it, if you're feeling inspired."

Diplomacy

He tries, in vain, to make the topic contrast too much with what was bothering her for her to keep quiet about it. Instead, his suggestion resonates with River, and she smiles. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll try to come up with something; it's too good to pass up."

She already begins to think some more about it.

"You'd be a crazy not to. Every idea is an opportunity. When you're inspired, and a good idea comes along, you owe it to yourself to seize upon it."

She nods, and go on some errands in town while Konrad searches for Frey...

The Myrzen bard has just finished setting up her tent outside of town, and is now placing her cot on the ground.

"Hey," he greets - suspicious, and concerned. "You realize we're not in Myr anymore, right? People are different out here."

"Huh? What has that got to do with anything?"

"Come on, now. You told River about your night with Peter."

"Oh, that. Yeah, what about it?" She places the covers on her cot.

"The whole reason we helped him out was to get him to man up with her. You don't think telling her about it was going to affect his chances?"

"Of course it will; it's going to be easier for him now."

He scoffs lightly. "Well, here's hoping. These Free Feathers types don't always take an interest in someone who wants them after said someone gets horizontal with another who, in the same position, I'd perceive as a rival."

Frey giggles. "She didn't imagine herself with Peter until now. And now, she knows that if a woman of my age can hook up with him for one night, she can too. It'll be fine."

Konrad blinks. "Huh..." Strange to see it from her perspective, but perhaps she had the right idea after all. Women...

"Now, help me flatten my covers."

Konrad chuckles. "You think I came in here to help you do your own chores?"

She smirks. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning; we could have fun one last time, if you're up for it."

"I gave you my ultimatum already, sweetheart, and you backed out. This is going to end with a handshake, not a corkscrew."

"Ugh, fine. I'll just find myself a date somewhere else in town."

He flips her a silver coin. "Have a drink on me." He slows it in the air with his cantrip to help her catch it

"Thanks! Now get out. I still have to place my stuff, and you just said you wouldn't help me." She amicably shoos him away.

Konrad practices weaving and studies material on the subject as days go by, and he observes the fruits of his (and Frey's) labor, in Peter and River. Just as she said she would, Frey leaves the next day after saying goodbye to her bard companions, Konrad, and Breeze. For a few days, nothing happens between Peter and River, until Konrad spots them together, drinking some ale. They get a little frisky, but it doesn't evolve into anything concrete until two days later. One night, the red mage notices them slipping away together, probably in search of a quiet place, and look over at Jesse with a wink and a knowing smirk.

Then, he scribbles on a piece of note paper and wafts it toward her: "youre looking pretty lonely over there, sure you dont wanna go switch hitter?"

She looks at Konrad, who is flicking his tongue out playfully, giggles, and takes out a pen and writes on the piece of paper before handing it back to him. "I don't need to switch when I have toys."

He writes back: "toys dont measure up to the raw package, try it once and youll never have to wonder"

Amused, she writes another response. "How about you switch too then, and I watch?"

Back to her: "if i do toys, then i get your butt, fairs fair"

She laughs quietly, and picks up the pen again. "I don't want you to do toys. I want you to do the raw package too."

Back to her again: "sorry, cant reciprocate that, i lack the parts"

She laughs out loud now. "You're only missing one hole out of three,” she says.

"One very important hole!" he laughs. Then, he leans forward. "Are you serious?" he asks, for clarity.

She giggles. "I don't know. Are you?"

The smile on his face begins to crumble, but it remains. Konrad says, "Let's say I am. Are you?"

She contemplates the possibility, and finally says, "Well... it wouldn't be the first time I spent a night with a man..."