“What use do we have for hearts?” Quinn’s smile had a touch of challenge in it – and some bitterness besides. Beth was gone again, as quickly as she had reappeared. No whispered threat nor amount of coin could bring him any news of her destination or fate. Unusual that there had been no trail to follow. She’d never had a deft hand for subterfuge before.
He had decided to stop looking. In fact, this would be a wonderful time to indulge just ever so slightly past his usual one glass limit. Quinn poured himself a little more wine and offered to refill Vrai’s glass as well. There, the bottle would not be wasted.
Vrai. The name was utterly unfamiliar though it wouldn’t stay that way for long. A new guest would set the staff to gossiping if nothing else. Quinn’s curiosity was certainly piqued. Disgrace followed by his crimes. Whatever the family misfortune, clearly the lordling before him felt responsible to some degree.
Unfortunately, digging into old trauma would be entirely at cross-purposes with his current agenda, whether it was done verbally or magically.
“That might be a hard sell. We will need to think carefully.” Quinn brushed his thumb along his chin, finding his eye drawn back to the coin skimming Lord Vrai’s knuckles. Was the coin special, or just like any other aurum? He looked back to Vrai’s face, meeting his dark gaze.
“Is she clever? A powerful mage? Rich– Or as pretty as her brother?” He shrugged off the suggestion that he could leave. Obviously, he could. But it was a quiet night, and though Vrai perhaps had no interest in the Blind Eye’s typical offerings …
The lordling was not without weaknesses to exploit. A lot repressed and a little lonely, Quinn would wager. Lucky for Vrai, curiosity drove him more than malice.
“My office is very quiet, if you’d like to come up.” Quinn made to stand, abandoning his half-empty glass on the table.
He had decided to stop looking. In fact, this would be a wonderful time to indulge just ever so slightly past his usual one glass limit. Quinn poured himself a little more wine and offered to refill Vrai’s glass as well. There, the bottle would not be wasted.
Vrai. The name was utterly unfamiliar though it wouldn’t stay that way for long. A new guest would set the staff to gossiping if nothing else. Quinn’s curiosity was certainly piqued. Disgrace followed by his crimes. Whatever the family misfortune, clearly the lordling before him felt responsible to some degree.
Unfortunately, digging into old trauma would be entirely at cross-purposes with his current agenda, whether it was done verbally or magically.
“That might be a hard sell. We will need to think carefully.” Quinn brushed his thumb along his chin, finding his eye drawn back to the coin skimming Lord Vrai’s knuckles. Was the coin special, or just like any other aurum? He looked back to Vrai’s face, meeting his dark gaze.
“Is she clever? A powerful mage? Rich– Or as pretty as her brother?” He shrugged off the suggestion that he could leave. Obviously, he could. But it was a quiet night, and though Vrai perhaps had no interest in the Blind Eye’s typical offerings …
The lordling was not without weaknesses to exploit. A lot repressed and a little lonely, Quinn would wager. Lucky for Vrai, curiosity drove him more than malice.
“My office is very quiet, if you’d like to come up.” Quinn made to stand, abandoning his half-empty glass on the table.
08-11-2024, 05:37 PM
