[Exalted] Protectors of the River Province

[LadyTevar]

Teamhair had been sitting across the table from Orduin, and even now the fingers of one hand were still entwined with his. Kolth's sudden reappearance caused a slight flash of annoyance in her golden eyes as the upbeat Solar plopped down in the seat beside her. Yvela's more restrained request made her look up at him ...

A gilded man at the helm of a ship, the wind blowing his hair as he grinned wickedly. "We'll catch them, my friend, never fear. Nothing can outrun my ship!"

... and her grip tightened on Orduin's hand as the vision fades away with a shake of her head. "This ... has become quite the interesting trip," the dancer said quietly, irony thick in her tone. "Please sit, old friend ... unless you have your ship to rejoin?"

Now, all she had to do was get their names. Orduin Balkinor, "Kolth", and the sailor was yet unknown.

[SirNitram]

Orduin leaned back, hand still held by the dancer. "Sit." He encouraged the two. "Don't mind the audience. No dancing for now, although I'm curious as to another hanger-on we seem to have garnered...."

[rhoenix]

At Orduin's unsubtle hint, Kolth took his feet, and formally introduced Yvela. This would come as a shock to those who thought him ignorant of such social niceties, as he normally appeared to ignore them outright. "Orduin, Teamhair, I have the honor of introducing Yvela, a gifted sailor from a far-away land, visiting this humble villa of Lookshy," at this he couldn't quite keep a straight face, but he kept going regardless, "I happened to remember him from quite a while ago, and decided that one good addition to a party is no bad thing."

Almost on cue, the barkeeper walked out, holding an impressive plate of delicious-smelling food, and a tall tankard of ale, setting both before Kolth. Before walking away, she smiled somewhat wickedly. "In case all of you are wondering, Kolth isn't allowed in this section of the city after a vote was held among all the soldiers due to his actions that night. Evidently one of the soldiers, who was loud and drunk as soldiers get, told Kolth very loudly that he thought rabbits were better for men than women were. Orduin tried to talk Kolth out of it using rather blunt language, from what I understand, but Kolth set almost a ton of live rabbits loose in the barracks that night in that soldier's section," she said with a smile.

After pausing a few moment as she chuckled, remembering that story, she continued. "Kolth evidently didn't see the consequences of this, which were that a few of the soldiers fell ill from the rabbit droppings, and fights broke out over who would get the pelts. To make a longer story short, Kolth isn't allowed in this section of the city anymore - except when he is. So basically, if a soldier feels like making an issue out of him being here, the soldier can - but most don't."

One of the soldiers yelled out in a very inebriated voice. "Ah remember that shit, I couldn't get rabbit shit out of my uniform for a week after that. Hey barkeep, what did you say about Kolth that night?"

At this, the barkeeper chuckled as she turned back to the table where Kolth and the others were sitting. "Yes, you know that old spiteful insult 'May you live in interesting times?' Kolth is a living interesting time for everyone around him. His heart is in the right place, and he's got more honor in him than some soldiers do - but his propensity for causing trouble is simply breathtaking."

With that, she walked away as Kolth grumbled, looking uncomfortable. "It was half a ton, not a full ton. And there were chickens there too - I didn't hear any complaints about those."

[Marcao]

His attention naturally shifted towards the woman when she spoke, blue eyes settling on her own for a moment before he responded.
"Unfortunately, the last ship that I could have called my own is somewhere between Lap and Chiaroscuro by now." His eyes glanced towards Orduin for a moment and when he too gave his leave he sat. When Orduin stated that he was not going to be dancing, relief flooded his features and he visibly relaxed. It was clear that if anyone was to be dancing, he would have other preferences as to whom in the gathered company should be doing the dancing in question.

His surprise at the protocol involved that Kolth had chosen to utilize was visible, although he snorted when he spoke of Lookshy as a villa. He said nothing however, letting Kolth continue unil they were interrupted by the barkeeper as she walked out. It was then that she went about the process of retelling a story and he quickly understood what had happened last time. His eyes settled on Kolth as he grumbled, his comments in his defense met with a stare and then laughter which faded to a snicker a handful of breaths later.

"Uh huh. I have a feeling that I will be well served in keeping my eyes on you Kolth. You seem to have a tendency to complicate the lives of those around you, complications without ill intent of course but complications nonetheless." He said before his eyes slid away from the familiar figure and towards the other two.

"As Kolth has stated my name is Yvela Sharas, I come from the West and I am here in Lookshy in part to satisfy my own curiousity about this place, and partly looking to adequately utilize my time and talents. I have a meeting in a little over two hours that is looking to be promising." It was small talk, perhaps more than he should have revealed but there was something about the pair that allowed him to speak thus. Kolth...well, Kolth was Kolth.

[LadyTevar]

"Is everyone meeting with someone, today?" Teamhair asked wryly. "If you three are all meeting the same person, then Fate is laughing at us all." Her free hand reached over and snagged some of Kolth's food, the other still entwined with Orduin's. It was clear her Fate was equally entwined with the Gunzosha soldier's path.

[SirNitram]

"Well, Kolth, you know how we get on long deployments." Orduin smirked as he considered. "It's possible. The curse is living in interesting times, and the Gunzosha always have. We'll see if we're destined to run into one another.. Knowing my luck they've uncovered something that needs the extra skills."

[rhoenix]

Though he was about to say something flippant to Yvela (those gathered could simply tell it was about to be spoken by the look on his face - the half-smirk gave it away), he quickly threw a look of scandalized shock at Teamhair for stealing some of his food. Doing his best to look offended, he moved his plate away from her with an air of long-suffering and wounded nobility, though the image was spoiled somewhat by an ungentlemanly gulp of his ale.

Once this was done, he replied to Orduin, and Teamhair's earlier question. "Well," he said before another sip of his ale, "I've a meeting myself in a little over two hours now, which seems amusingly appropriate now. It also makes me curious, particularly the timing."

At this last, he looked deeply thoughtful - something for which those who knew him were temporarily grateful. While he was deep in thought, he usually wouldn't be the direct or indirect cause of a catastrophe.

Finally he shrugged as he took a heaping bite of his food, clearly taking his time and enjoying it. After a few bites though, he spoke up again, sounding as thoughtful as before. "Today certainly has been filled with interesting coincidences, hasn't it? Too bad I don't believe in coincidence."

[Marcao]

“That would be highly amusing and somewhat suspect I agree.â€

[LadyTevar]

Teamhair's eyes widened, and she leaned forward towards Kolth as she spoke. "I'm sorry ... I should have asked first," she apologized, her free hand reaching out to touch his arm. "I couldn't help myself, it smelled so delicious, and the caravan decamped long before dawn...." Large pleading eyes, the soft touch of her hand, the way her pose just happened to lead his eyes to how her qwazee was gaping open just enough to emphasize her cleavage (and hint at more); all seemingly innocent as she both asked forgiveness and asked for more at the same time.

Courtesians were taught from a young age all the skills not just to please a man, but to attract, hold, and manipulate them as needed. Teamhair had only improved with Luna's blessing.

[SirNitram]

"The curse goes 'May you live in interesting times.'" Orduin pointed out with a smirk. "That's certainly us, Kolth." The sight of Teamhair filching food and turning on the charm simply got an amused smile, knowing that trick well enough.

"Let's take bets. Last time I got called it, it was the Mask of Winter's testing one of the more far-flung redoubts."

[rhoenix]

As Teamhair leaned over to gently touch Kolth's arm, she spoke so entreatingly, and so captivatingly that most men would have destroyed nations to see just how much more was possible.

Kolth simply stared into her cleavage until a moment or two after she had finished speaking with honeyed words, and looked up into her eyes. "I'm sorry, what? I wasn't listening."

[Marcao]

He watched the exchange between the woman and Kolth and could not help but actually smile. Ah, but Orduin was going to have his hands full with that one! His attention turned towards Kolth as he sought to ascertain how exactly the man would handle himself and found him staring openly into the woman’s cleavage. When he looked up into her eyes and offered his words, he snorted and then laughed outright. “Hmm hmm. I am sure you were preoccupied friend Kolth.â€

[LadyTevar]

Before Teamhair could get annoyed by Kolth's irreverence, one of the soldiers who'd been behind him stood up, bringing his plate over. "Here ma'am, don't mind Kolth. He's got no manners," he said, giving Kolth a smack to the back of his head. "Since you've been so hungry, please share my meal," the soldier added, offering his plate humbly.

Caught on her own manipulation, Teamhair played it out. "Thank you, you're so very kind!" she gushed, meeting the poor soldier's eyes with her own, radiating gratitude as she accepted the plate.

[SirNitram]

Orduin quietly rolled his eyes as the soldier all but melted on the spot. Once the poor man had retreated, he spoke up. "Ashigaru Special Operations. The only ones who can keep up with the Gunzosha Commandos. Don't have our short lifetime, though, that guy's been in as long as me. Terror in combat, just terrified around women. Doesn't hold him back, though.."

[rhoenix]

Nodding as his eyes never left the soldier, Kolth smiled slightly. "I remember him. He's usually the one who tried to keep everyone calm, right? Huh, the irony," he said, watching the soldier take his seat on mostly-steady legs.

"Well," Kolth said thoughtfully, "I'll give him that one for free, since he could have sold me up the river during that whole rabbit incident. I know he saw me walk out of the barracks that night, too." Even with that said, it would be obvious that though Kolth had forgiven the soldier, he hadn't forgotten the incident.

"At any rate," he suddenly said more brightly as he addressed the others at his table, "just out of curiosity, where was your meeting supposed to be at, everyone? I have a suspicion on that one, too."

[Marcao]

He rolled his eyes when he saw the reaction that the nearby soldier although he could hardly hide the smile that surfaced on his lips when Kolth received such tender treatment. He had that coming, Kolth had gotten away with something at one point or another.

"Could you tone down that glow for a moment my dear?" He commented as Teamhair all but glowed at the man that had offered to share his meal. The man retreated and his attention moved to Orduin as he spoke. Ashigaru...The name tugged at his memory but nothing bubbled to the surface.

He did not hesitate as Kolth made his inquiry. There was something about them all that set him at ease. Still, there was something odd about that and a part of him was still guarded. Yes, it felt like they were all old friends in the table around him and yet were their motivations his own? Orduin was a gunzosha. That was all that needed to be said on that topic. The others...

"My meeting will take place in a little under two hours. The meeting was to take place...in the operations directorate? I think they are interested in offering me a temporary position. I am more than willing to hear what Lookshy's representatives have to say."

[LadyTevar]

Teamhair toned down the glow, as she delicately started eating the man's food. Never turn down free lunch, you never know when you'll get more. "The merchant leading the caravan was going to meet with the Store Directive ... but I think finding me missing will delay that a bit..."

[SirNitram]

"My meeting is a straight up military briefing. That I've been called up suggests it'll be big." Orduin rumbled. "All of us in town in time for this, and guided together? Big, very important. Perhaps we should arrange our transit. Some of us can't miss them."

[rhoenix]

Looking thoughtful and slightly suspicious, Kolth spoke up again. "The operations directorate? Me too. Well Orduin, you and that intuition of yours appear to be right again - this seems to nearly be fate," he said, resting his head on his hand. He suddenly smirked. "I don't believe in fate either - someone apparently knows about the four of us to some degree, and might even know about how we know one another."

Looking lost in thought for all of two seconds, he suddenly got up out of his chair and walked quickly (though without a sound, even over the rough tile) into the back kitchen. After a minute, somewhat sweet-smelling smoke began to waft from the back rooms of the bar, along with the sounds of irregular coughing. Soon after, Kolth came back walking much more relaxedly than before, and took his seat gracefully, though his eyes were a little red.

Before anyone had time to ask a question, the barkeeper came out, setting down delicious-smelling plates of food in front of Teamhair, Orduin, and Yvela. The observant would note that her eyes were a little red as well.

[LadyTevar]

One sniff was all it took for Teamhair to know what it was. She started to say something, but waited until after the cook walked away. "No wonder you didn't hear me speak, if you trance out often."

[rhoenix]

"I prefer to think of it as 'clearing my head,' especially since it usually keeps me calm, and gives me a chance to second-guess my own ideas," Kolth said loftily. "Besides, it helps me sleep better."

Returning with hot tea and teacups, the barkeep chuckled at hearing this. "Trust me, ma'am - he's much less trouble to the surrounding area like this. If I'd known this would calm him down then, I'd have made sure he smoked one that fateful night, and the whole rabbit thing could've been avoided."

"Yeah," one soldier at a nearby table spoke up after overhearing," but then he tries to hotbox the barracks through the chimney vent in the middle of the night sometimes."

Shaking his head, Kolth just looked at the soldier who had spoken up with a tolerant look. "So open a window, you whiner. I didn't hear anyone else complaining," he said before looking skyward. "Damn, everyone's a critic today."

[Marcao]

"I have every intention of being there for my meeting, it would be rude for me not to." Besides, he thought that making the best impression that he could now would save him some aggravation later. "But if you think that we can coordinate our visits and make it on time for our respective meetings, I am all for it. I would enjoy the company."

Kolth spoke then and he looked in his direction. "If someone figured out that we four were connected somehow before we did, I would be concerned." He had less than a week in the area, less than a day in Lookshy proper. He had no idea at all that any of them had existed until a handful of hours prior. His attention flickered away from Kolth then and back towards Orduin. A dozen heartbeats later he glanced towards Kolth again only to find him missing. How the hell?

"...?" He looked around for Kolth but the man could not be found.

[Old Realm] Night Caste...[/Old Realm] He managed to mutter before he sighed softly. When Kolth returned his eyes were noticed but he said nothing before the woman interjected along similar lines. He hid a smile and casually worked on his food. He was not truly hungry but not touching the meal would be simply rude.

[SirNitram]

"We live in interesting times, that's all." Orduin smirked. "Trust me, it's probably nothing. We're not exactly advertising, are we?"

[LadyTevar]

"I knew upon first sight I needed to speak with you," Teamhair admitted, sampling the new plate of food. "However, I supposed I must return to my caravan and miss your meetings," she added airily.

[rhoenix]

The look Kolth gave her was a tolerant smile, and clearly said "I don't believe you even for a moment," though he did not say this out loud.

Instead, he was considerably more subtle, which was almost said with a straight face as he was cutting the roasted chicken on his plate into bite-sized pieces. "We shall all miss your presence at this meeting, though I'm sure you'll be there - if only in spirit."