@Lion (You should check out the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3gXZ2tkWHk) I named the thread after, thought it was amusing :3)
It wasn't really that she couldn't
afford the drink, she just didn't see the point in spending good coin when she could sing for her supper, as it were.
Which was how Aria found herself strumming her lute and singing at the top of her voice, standing on one of the tables in the center of the inn's tap room as people gathered around to clap and laugh, a few even dancing- or, well, she supposed that could be called dancing.
She smiled as she sang, spinning in a circle that made her skirts flare and earned a few appreciative whistles from the crowd. True, music was how she made her living, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the hell out of performing.
With a flourish she hit the last note and swung her lute over her back, secured by the strap over her shoulder, and dipped into a theatrical curtsy. "Alright, alright, that's all for now," she laughed, waving off a small spattering of applause as she hopped down from the table.
Gods she needed a drink. She wove her way through the people milling about toward the bar and bounced onto a stool. "Water, and a glass of wine if you have it," she called to the girl who seemed to b serving.
The young woman raised an eyebrow. "You got the coin for it?" Aria rolled her eyes and flashed a bit of copper between her fingers and the girl nodded, bustling off to get her drink.
With a long exhale, Aria turned around in her seat to lean back against the bar and observe her surroundings with a sharp eye, still a little flushed from the exertion of her performance.
After her performance, it would seem most, if not all, eyes were on her. It would seem that way. Not all of them were, and in fact some of them were a little drunk already. Some of them were passed out. And others were just focused on other tasks, like trying to drive that racket out of their heads.
One such of the latter was Vance. And he nursed his whiskey in one hand and rolled his eyes when the bard found her seat beside the bar. Gods, it had to be where he was sitting right?
He sighed loudly. "Thank gods you stopped that racket. Now i can finally get some peace in this joint," he said none too quietly either.
Her eyes snapped to the man and she arched an eyebrow. "You know, if you didn't like it you could have left," she said easily as she turned around in her seat again, apparently unbothered by his surliness. "There's plenty of taverns where you can drink yourself into a stupor."
Her drink arrived and she tossed the coin across the bar before she took a swig of water. Gods she was parched.
"The room you asked for should be ready," the serving girl told quickly before she moved away. Aria nodded. She'd made enough coin from her performance to afford a place for the night by now.
He laughed. "I would, but I was here first n all," he said. "Never the less, I like this place. I didn't know a bard was coming or I would have made other arrangements. But seeing as you're already here, and your song is over, I could extend a small token of forgiveness."
He sniffed and slid a small silver coin across the counter toward her.
"Ah... Thanks?" Well, she hadn't exactly been expecting that.
Aria tilted her head at him and sipped her drink thoughtfully. "Y'know, I've got you pegged as the sort that likes his peace and quiet. Why spend your time in a place like this?"
"It was quiet. And who's to say I don't enjoy being here either," he said.
He shrugged. And actually looked at her this time. "How much money could you seriously make with that singing stuff anyway?"
"That depends." She smirked and took another sip of her drink. "You planning on robbing me, or just curious?"
His brow quirked, one raised, one lowered, and he gave her a brooding look. "Would I seriously ask you, and then let you know I was robbing you, and then actually carry out the deed? Do you honestly believe that?" He chuckled. "Gods you need a drink."
"Hey, you can't be too careful," Aria replied with a drug, completely unabashed. She took another sip of her drink and added, "And to answer your question, between fifteen and forty-ish sovereigns a night, depending."
"That's not too bad," he said. "And you're a regular here I take it?"
"On occasion. I'm not much of a regular anywhere, to be honest," she replied with a shrug.
"I suppose even the lack of steady work makes you give it your all every night, doesn't it?" he asked with a quirk of his brow. "What's your name by the way?"
"Aria." She offered a small smile. At least the guy was being friendlier now. "Aria Rose, actually. And you?"
The serving girl paused, glancing over at them with a raised eyebrow, and she added, "Another for him, on me."
"Vance," he said and raised his glass to her. He wasn't going to argue with a free drink. So he grinned at her and leaned casually against the counter, extending his hand to her. "Pleasure to meet you," he said.
Aria took his hand with a smile. To someone who knew what they were looking for, the callouses on her palms and fingertips may be surprising- some were clearly from her instruments, but others were...not. The distinct marks of one who fought with small blades.
Often.
"Likewise." She toasted him. "So, Vance, are you a regular here then? I've been in town a few days and haven't seen ya before."
"Not a regular here. But a regular in town, sure," he said with a nod. "Cerenis is a pretty nice seaside settlement. I never thought I'd appreciate water so much, but the docks are pretty nice at night."
"I like it here," she agreed. "I was actually born not too far outside of town."
She took another swig of her drink, then caught an expectant look from the innkeeper. She gave Vance a winning smile. "Well, sorry if you don't like it, but I am singing for my supper here. A bard draws a crowd, good for business."
Of course, it was getting later, so she could probably get away with more a story-telling song, something softer.
"I'm a little drunker, but I can't promise I won't still be ornery," he said and saluted her with his glass. He wondered how much more free stuff he could get out of her.
Aria rolled her eyes and slipped off the stool, moving to perch on the edge of the hearth toward the center of the room.
She pulled out a simple flute, well worn with use, and trilled a scale to warm up. Then she set about playing in earnest, a soft melody occasionally interjected with her own voice as she wove an old tale through the air, one version of the history of Serendipity and Connlaoth, full of heartache and nostalgia.
This time Vance took the time to actually watch her perform. To be completely honest, bards were not his favorite people in the world but he could make an exception when the moment set in him. Vance leaned back against the bar, drink in hand as he watched her sing, and tilted his head. He wasn't sure if it was the drink or if he was actually impressed, but some small part of him knew he enjoyed himself.
And when it was over he actually clapped. He hoped he might get another drink out of that.
The applause were much more subdued this time around- less people, and they were all tired now- but Aria smiled and nodded gratefully for them, tucking her flute away as she slipped back toward the bar.
"I suppose that's worth the night," the serving girl sniffed.
Aria rolled her eyes and grumbled into the glass of water that was placed in front of her. She glanced sidelong at Vance. "Not as terrible as you imagined, huh?"
"Maybe the free drink helped," he shrugged. He eyed her flute. A decent weapon of choice, and much better than the fucking lute she was playing earlier. Or was it a mandolin, or was it something entirely different. He didn't know and he didn't care, but he wondered if she ever got tired of it.
"But still, pretty good, I guess. I'm no bard, so i can't say I know much of anything about it. Still, it was an interesting tune. Got a name for it?"
She arched an eyebrow. "The Fall? You've never heard it- or at least some version?" She shrugged. "I've never been much for history, but it's one of the better known stories."
"I've heard of it, but I didn't know people cared enough to make a song about it. I say it's ancient history, let it stay there," he said. He winked at her. "There are more interesting things happening in the here and now. What more could someone want?"
"Oh, but people always want to hear their history," Aria protested with a laugh. "Not the true version, mind you, the romanticized one. Makes them feel all nostalgic."
She snorted and downed the rest of her drink. "So. What great workings of the here and now have you so captivated, hm?"
Presently, it was the somewhat half decent company in front of him. "To be honest? You," he said, being completely sincere. "Other than the barding, your company isn't completely intolerable."
She gave a startled laugh and arched an eyebrow at him. "Really? Because the barding is a lot of...well, my company."
She chuckled again and tilted her head at him. "Is that you trying to charm a girl?"
"Me trying? Oh, no. You haven't seen me try yet. Whose to say I'm trying to charm anyone?" he said with a chuckle and a smirk. "I'm just having a casual conversation with you. Two fellow patrons in a bar, two people sharing a drink, two people climbing on each other later on in the night."
That almost made her choke on her water. She sputtered, then laughed, eyes twinkling. "Well, someone's quite sure of himself," she chuckled.
Leaning back in her seat, she tossed him a wink and added, "Y'know, if you're trying to get under a girl's skirts you may consider not insulting her profession."
"Insult you? Such a gorgeous creature? Never," Vance said with a small grin. "Bartender? A drink if you wouldn't mind. On me." He was given the same thing he had been drinking and turned the glass over to her.
"The least I could do is return the favor. After your display of generosity."
She laughed. "Well hey, I'm not gonna say no. Cheers." The man was certainly much more pleasant after a free drink.
Though he'd just bought her one... So maybe it was just the alcohol in general.
She sipped her drink and tilted her head at him, birdlike. "So whatcha in town for? Stayin' long?"
Vance moved to sit closer to her, scooting in and leaning on the counter. He didn't want to sound like a creep but...she smelled really good. Like cigars and meat. If that smell was bottled, he'd buy the hell out of it and he would just spray on everyone he met.
He grinned just a little, the corner of his mouth crooking just a bit. "Business probably. I haven't figured it out much, but I tend to find myself busy with a business sort of activity at some point. So I don't think it'll be difficult for me to find work. And before you ask, odd jobs. The odder the better."
Aria laughed. Maybe it was the drink, or the atmosphere, or just him, but he made it easy to laugh. She leaned a little closer to him in turn, propping her chin in her palm. "Alright, how odd? I do some other work myself- bet you another round I've done odder jobs than you," she challenged with a grin.
His eyes widened with interest.
"I might just take that bet," he said with a chuckle. Oh this ought to be good. "You first, since this was your proposal."
"Hmm." She tapped a finger to her lips, brow furrowed in thought. "The oddest job- oh! Got one." She smirked, cleared her throat, then widened her eyes at him and said in quietly dramatic disbelief, "Once, I had a man pay me thirty sovereigns a night for a fortnight just to sing his pet to sleep."
She took a sip of water, then added, "His pet was "invisible", by the way. Man was completely barmy. But he was rich, and a little handsy, so I didn't mind practicaly robbing him." She frowned, then said consideringly, "Although...maybe he really did have some invisible pet. Ya never know, right?"
Winking and dropping out of story-teller mode, she prompted, "Right the, your turn."
"Oh, how exciting. Well, did you actually rob him? I mean, take a little extra than what he offered to pay you? I'll admit, that's pretty odd. But you'll never believe me when I tell you it doesn't pay to rob a fish cart. Really, it's probably the worse thing I can think of in the world at this moment," he said with a laugh.
"So I clung to the side of a passing wagon, figure I could make a quick score. So when I was ready, and told the old man to give me everything he had on him, the first thing he grabs is a dead fish which apparently he'd been saving for his lunch, and BAM! Smacked me hard across the face with the head. He continued the assault and wrestling a slippery fish away from a firm grip - even an old one - is damn near impossible! Finally I gave up, trying to clamor over the store in the back, and managing to escape with nothing to show for it.
"My clothes, well, I had to burn them. And I smelled like fish for the next two months. It was terrible. And yes I realized I admitted to robbing an old man. Well, attempting to. And failing, miserably."
Aria tossed her head back and laughed, loud and chiming, evidently not giving a single damn if she drew attention.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," she chortled as she looked at him again. "A dead fish? You got your ass handed to you by an old man with a-" She desolved into giggles. "Alright, alright, you definitely win. Hey! Another round, on me." She gestured to the bartender and then between herself and Vance.
Settling back, she quirked an eyebrow at her companion. "So you're a theif then. I mean, professionally, not in the "I'll overcharge for my services" kinda way."
"I don't know if I'd say even professionally. I've had my stints with the law, I'll admit. But I don't think a professional would let themselves get chickened by an old man with a fish. Let me tell you though, it's more dangerous than I would have thought. But if you're asking...yeah, I've thieved. But it depends on what someone needs. I get by."
He grinned and looked down at his drink, raising it back to her and toasting. "To odd jobs. And then some."
"To odd jobs," she chuckled, clanking her glass against his. "And and the luck we have to encounter strange companions met in bars."
She took a gulp of her drink, then set it down and covered a yawn with her hand. "Gods above! Sorry, long day."
"Looks like you might need to throw in and hit the sack soon. Or a sack," he said with a wink of his eye. He drank a little more before setting his glass down and he tilted his head at her.
"So from where do you hail, my interesting lady in the night? Or do you just manifest out of nowhere and exist but for the duration of evening?"
Aria chuckled and smirked at him. "Oohhh, I like that version. Yeah, the second one, let's go with that," she laughed, conveniently avoiding a real answer. She took another sip of her drink and asked over the rim of the cup, "What about you then?"
"Same. A handsome devil like me only comes by once maybe twice in a lifetime. Truly. Despite my morose behavior from our first meeting, I'm much more pleasant if given time to simmer," he said and he tilted his head. "Any attachments? Lover? Fiancee? A regular favorite at the local brothel?"
Another chuckle and she rolled her eyes at him. "Not as such. People tie you down, y'know? I prefer to roam free."
She folded her arms on the bar and let her head rest on them as she looked up at him. "And yourself? Anyone let you simmer long enough to want to keep you around?"
"Ain't nobody to tie me down just yet. Although I'm not adverse to a little rope. Just a bit," he chuckled.
Aria rolled her eyes and laughed quietly, "Kinky. It really is always the quiet ones I guess, huh?" Still resting her head on her arms, she asked curiously, "So what kinda business you in town for?"
Maybe he'd had enough drink to loosen up a bit.
"Nothing specific just seeing what potential prospects come my way," he said,. "I'm a freelancer, I guess would be the best way to go about it. Why, are you hiring?"
"I dunno." She chuckled and leaned back in her seat, arching her back and reaching her arms up above her head in a long stretch. "Depends on what kinda skills you're working with, I suppose," she replied with a lopsided grin.
"I'm a jack of many trades. I can be as quiet as a mouse or just storm into places. Be polite, or... Well, you get the picture." His eyes admired her form. A smile curled his lip just at the corner. "Are you looking for someone to fill a specific task?"
"Hmm." Aria eyed him sidelong. "Maybe...backup, for a specific task. Not sure if the job would be to your tastes though."
Smirking, she added, "Did I get something on my clothes, or do ya just see something you like?"
"Just admiring your pit stains," he chuckled and nudged her almost clean off her seat. His hand caught her wrist just in time however, and he pulled her in close. "So is this the interview process? How'd I do?"
"Hey-" She opened her mouth to retort but suddenly found herself wobbling on her seat, then pulled in so close she was forced to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.
A little startled, she tried to hide it with a smirk and a flippant, "Not bad. I'd say passable." She didn't make a move to pull away from him, actually leaning in a bit more. "Anxious to do well?"
"Of course. A gorgeous creature such as yourself, could make anyone shake in their boots. Can you blame me?" He said with a wry grin.
"So what's the verdict, am I hired?"
Aria crinkled her nose, considering it. She'd been hired to complete the job alone, but...
Well, a little backup never hurt anyone. He could be a lookout- wouldn't have to know exactly what she was doing. "Yes." She nodded once and smiled. "Yes, I believe you are."
With a small shrug she warned, "If you're up for it- this job's a bit on the risky side."
"More risk with equitable reward? Let's talk business then. You have my interest, now what's your offer," he asked with a nod, leaning on the counter. "Or should we talk somewhere more privately?"
She bit her lip consideringly and glanced around. The tavern wasn't crowded, exactly, but still too many people for her tastes. "Perhaps somewhere more private. I do have a room after all."
She smiled and got to her feet, offering her hand. "Come on then."
Vance took that offered hand, but only to stand. He stood and pushed his chair in. He wasn't a barbarian. And followed her to the rear of tbs tavern where the rooms were. He was still wary, one never could know exactly what they were walking into.
Aria led them to the room she'd been playing to rent for the night, opening the door a bit to peer in before deciding it was safe enough and slipping in.
She glanced around the small room before decide to perch on the bed. She waved a hand to Vance. "Go on and make yourself comfortable then."
Vance could appreciate her caution, and followed suit, even after she checked it.
He took a seat on the edge of the bed. "Nice lodgings. I knew I stumbled into the right place."
"Did you now?" She chuckled and drew her feet up onto the bed, kicking her shoes off, so she could lean back against the pillows. "Alright then. So what do you wanna know first? Job details or compensation?"
"Job details. What is it that you need?" he asked, reaching into his coat to pull out a flask, taking a swig of it. "Would you like some?"
"Simplified? I need backup." She smiled for the offer but shook her head. "No thanks. I've had enough tonight, I think."
Sitting up a bit, she folded her legs and let her hands rest on her knees. "Your part of the job would be simple. You come with me to my target and play lookout."
"Just see if the coast is clear? Sounds easy enough. How much we talking here?"
She shrugged. "Well, my employer wants things done discrete-like, so he only hired me. What do you say to a third of my pay? Decent backup is worth every coin, far as I'm concerned." She smiled and leaned back against the pillow again. "That'd come to about eighteen sovereigns for a night of work."
Vance tilted his head, capping the flask and setting it back into his coat pocket as he did so. "Sounds fair. I suppose because you're taking all the risk. So, what's the job itself? You ought've known I'd ask that."
Well, she had rather hoped he may forget that detail. She pursed her lips and sighed, "How badly do you really need to know? It's probably...safer for you, if you don't."
"If it makes you feel better, I never did put much stock in safety. It's a handy word to control people. But I can handle myself," he said, standing to move closer to her. He sat down on rhe bed, rolling up his sleeves to reveal scars and other such marks. "I'm no stranger to danger."
Aria huffed as her eyes flickered over his scars. Without really thinking about it, she ran her fingertips over a few of them, head tilted to the side.
"If you insist." She shrugged and sat back. Her hand slid under her skirt, lifting the fabric up almost to her hip so she could get at the sheath strapped to her thigh. She drew the knife and twirled it through her fingers.
"The job is this." She offered him the hilt. "Bards make good assassins. No one to tie us down, and we're never in town for more than a few days at a time. Invisible in plain sight."
"Makes sense," he said, watching her fingertips, then eyes flicking to the dagger that she offered him. He doubled glances back and forth until he firmly grasped it with his free hand. "No one thinks twice about you being in the room. You belong there all the same as anyone else. If you're beautiful and are invited to play for someone privately, no one would ever suspect. Maybe bards are more useful after all."
He smirked a little and inspected the dagger she offered. "What an interesting blade? You apart of some secret sisterhood of bard assassins or something? I don't think I've seen anything of it's like before."
She laughed and shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "Not exactly. That was my father's." She took the blade back with a fond little smile. "I sorta...followed in the family business, you might say."
Conveniently ignoring the fact that the family business was what had gotten her parents killed.
"So." Her head tilted and she eyed him calculatingly. "You still in?"
"Sure. You can count on me. Insofar as I get paid adequately. Sounds easy enough," he said with a nod.
A grin overtook his expression. "So anything else I need to know? Like where to meet you, or...should I just follow you around like a lost dog?" He chuckled, and watched her for a second, eying her neck, wondering at the pulse that beat there.
Aria chuckled again, watching his expression carefully. "Well, we could figure out a place to meet up tomorrow," she mused aloud. "Or you could stay here. Room's paid for, and there's space enough for two."
She shrugged and settled back a little more comfortably on the bed. "Whichever you prefer, really." Cocking an eyebrow, she added, "But be warned- that's not the only knife I've got on me, and I know how to use them."
"Same here," he murmured. And opened up his coat to see a series of blades that were close to his body. "I hope we can agree to be professional about this." He winked at her and moved a little closer to her, fixing the sleeves he'd rolled up.
"So how long you staying in town? A day longer?"
She eyes his blades with a sharp nod of respect. "Fair enough." Moving over to give him a bit more room, she nodded again. "Yeah, just until this job's done, then I'm out of here."
A small glint entered her eyes as she tried to shift to give him even more space and realized she'd run out of bed. "Look, not for nothing, but I don't share my bed unless I'm- sharing my bed, get me? Just a quirky little personal rule. So either strip or grab a blanket and hit the floor."
She turned onto her side, expecting him to take the latter option, or possibly opt for a room of his own.
Would they? Could they? Could he?
Of course he could. He had enough to drink and she had been more than generous with her company. Vance was sure he'd made his own interests clear. He didn't have much if any money on him. The worse she could do to him was probably kill him. Men have died for worse things.
So he stripped, taking his jacket off and throwing it onto the chair and pulling his shirt up from his belt and over his head. "So is this a one strip party, or are you just going to sit there and enjoy the show?" he asked with a quirk of his brow, his hands working deftly on his belt.
Aria sat up, a bit surprised. "Huh." Her eyes flickered over him appreciatively and she smirked. "Adventurous, aren't ya?" she chuckled- he'd seen that she was armed, and she knew the same was true of him.
Well, she supposed it was only polite of her to return the favor. And he was rather attractive. With another little chuckle she undid the lacing of her corset- a half garment that really only wrapped around her waist and wasn't nearly as tight as a proper one- and tossed it onto the chair with his jacket.
Freed of that, the loose fabric of her dress was easy to pull off over her head, leaving her in her smallclothes. And what looked like bandaging, wrapped loosely around her body from just under her arms almost to her hips. It was meant to keep her wings pressed to her back, hidden.
Vance admitted he watched her a little bit more eagerly than he was in undressing himself. Even with her in her smallclothes, he was chewing on his lower lip, curious, and he liked what he saw. Damn if she wasn't...firm.
He carefully dropped his trousers from around his ankles, watching her again, saying nothing, curious as to why her breasts were still covered, but keeping that to himself. It wasn't a requirement. He was in his own smallclothes, as he crawled over on the bed.
"Are you the love 'em and leave 'em type?"
"That depends." She smirked, fiddling with the edge of the wrappings that covered her torso. "Are you?" She'd had one or two flings that lasted more than a week or so, but she didn't really expect anything from her romantic encounters.
"Here." Aria took a small breath and handed him the wrapping she'd been fiddling with. "Hold that." Might as well get this over with- if he didn't like her wings he could always change his mind and leave, and she was so sick of having them pinned to her back. Felt like it had been days since she'd unbound them.
She shifted off the bed and made an almost absent, graceful little turn, the wrappings unwinding in a blur until they fell to the floor. With a sigh of relief she let her wings relax, spreading open slightly and primaries shivering as she shrugged her shoulders.
Well it certainly was a surprise, but not because she was particularly abhorrent. The wings made him curious, and he leaned forward to gently caress the top of one of them.
"Wow. How'd you manage to keep these tucked away? You're...one of them Yer-ecky type foll aren't ya? Never met one before in my life."
Aria laughed quietly, forcing herself to hold still as he touched her wings. "Yoreiqi," she corrected with a chuckle. "Half, anyway. My mother was a native."
Carefully, she sat on the edge of the bed and said with a rueful sort of smile, "It's not easy keeping 'em hidden, and they get sore, but it's better than drawing too much attention." Without the wrap to cover her, she was left in a thin breastband and loincloth, and she shivered slightly.
Vance crawled over to her, laying on his side and folding his arms underneath him as he looked up at her. "I dunno. I think they're kinda sexy. I don't want to break them or anything. I'm sure they're strong though, right?" he said, reaching up to lightly touch her arm.
"They are," she confirmed with a smile and a small nod. She let her wings spread a little wider so he could reach her feathers more easily. "They won't break. But I...tend to be more comfortable on top."
Her smile turned into a smirk and she leaned into him to press a quick, teasing kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"Well, I'm not picky either which way," he murmured, breath hitching just a little bit as he leaned in and turned his head sharply, kissing her with a soft growling hunger.
Chuckling against his lips, Aria growled a playful, "Good," and braced her hands on his shoulders so she could push him back onto the bed. Her kisses moved to his neck and jaw and her hands trailed down to his hips, tugging at the fabric of his trousers.
Vance helped her along, unbuckling them and wiggling out of them when he was freed at last from their confines. He turned himself to allow her atop, and he nibbled and bit onto her lips.
She gave a soft moan of satisfaction as he turned them so she was crouched over him and her tongue flicked out to trace his lips.
With a quiet chuckle she wriggled out of the last of her own clothes, tossing her undergarments to the floor somewhere before she ducked back down to kiss him hungrily, hands roaming over his torso.
Vance hadn't been with someone so handsy for a long time. It was refreshing and a bit much at the same time. Maybe this girl had come back from a dry spell. It was just fine, actually, and he was eager to catch up with her. Vance bit her lower lip, wrapping arms around her and feeling along her back. His right hand turned in to grip at her breast, squeezing it eagerly, kicking off the remainder of his pants.
Aria sucked in a sharp breath and her wings arched up over her head slightly as his touch wandered. "Here." She guided his hand on her back to her shoulder blades, where feathers blended into skin.
Her own hands moved down over his torso to his hips and she paused, glancing up at him questioningly, silently asking permission.
"Don't mind me," Vance smirked, wanting to kiss her, but resisting the urge long enough to let her explore.
She smirked a bit at that and let her hands wander over the dips of his hips and further, teasing, then moved them back to hold his waist gently so she could lean in and kiss him.
Vance growled hungrily, kissing her and letting his hands drift up and down her back, curiously touching the feathers there.
Aria shivered, the ripple running through to the very tips of her primaries. Her wings were rather sensitive, and no one ever really touched them.
"Go on," she murmured against his lips. "Touch me, Vance. More."
It really had been a long time- longer than she was used to, at any rate. It was nice to give in to the comfort of touch.
"Feels good I gather?" he asked, smirking against her lips. He continued to do as she bid him, hands exploring parts both skin and feathers, brushing over a breast here, nails taking up her back there, gently wrapping arms around her body to press her to him.
"Mhm." She smiled slightly and trailed her lips down to his jaw, then his neck. "Really good." Playfully, she bucked her hips forward to grind against him gently, a shivering sigh escaping her as she did.
"How do you get your wings all bundled in like that, seems really compact?" He said after a few deep pants, his caresses curious with intent. She'd feel his hardness beneath her, eliciting gasps of anticipation.
"Very carefully," Aria answered with a quiet laugh. "It's not exactly comfortable, but it beats unwanted attention."
She shifted her hips again and gave a pleased hum in the back of her throat as she felt him pressing against her core. Eyes glinting, she leaned in to kiss him again and sunk her hips down onto his with a quiet groan.
[We might need an M for this]
Vance chuckled amidst a soft moan, rolling his hips upward against her. "I'd hate to do anything harsh about these darlings, they're quite nice," he murmured, moving hIs hands down to press her hips deeper against his.
Aria chuckled again, then gave an appreciative sigh as he pulled her hips deeper. "Well thank you," she murmured with a playful glint in her eyes. She gave a tentative rock of her hips, bracing one hand beside his head and letting the other rest lightly on his chest as she looked down at him. Her wings shivered and arched up over her head slightly.
It was time for dawdling no longer and Vance turned his hips to slip inside her. One sure movement and he felt her heat. He rolled his head backwards and hips upward, keeping the motion fluid.
A soft gasp slipped passed her lips and she closed her eyes, taking a moment to really feel the connection before she started moving gently.
Her hands slid down to grip his and pull them up her thighs to the curve of her hips as she sat back and rocked her hips into his in a fluid, rolling motion, lips parted slightly as her breath hitched.
Vance pulled her head down for a kiss, a hungry one as he let her ride him, each move making his heart speed up, thumping loudly in his chest.
"Gods," he panted, chewing lightly on her bottom lip. "You feel so good. Must've been one hell of a dry spell..."
"Mmm..." Aria nuzzled into the curve of his neck and pressed a soft kiss just under his jaw. "Maybe. A bit. Just shut up," she laughed lightly as she moved back to his lips with a pleased little rumbling sound in her chest.
"Gods that's good," she muttered into the kiss, loving the light feel of his teeth despite herself.
"Don't tell me to shut up," he chuckled, rolling his hips up along with hers. He jerked up, rocking her along him, paying attention to the changes in her voice, in her breath.
"Oh? What are you going to do about it- ohh!"
She sucked in a sharp breath and her wings arched up involuntarily. Aria closed her eyes for a moment, grinding her hips against his in an effort to repeat the angle he'd just found. With a quiet groan she dipped to kiss him again, carding her fingers absently through his hair.
Her kiss was met with fire. And he continued to roll beneath hers, stoking her fire, stroking her from within. He would feel her body and work with her, rather than against her, arms gripping her hips firmly and perhaps even a little possessively in that moment.
Through bites of teeth and nails, he was soon shivering, panting hard as they continued their furious motions.
The fire was a slow burn at first, then suddenly roared into life as an inferno in her chest, demanding more and more. She moaned into Vance's mouth and nipped at his bottom lip.
Then suddenly she pulled back, sitting up straight and looking down at him as soft pants worked past her lips. "Hold onto me," she murmured and covered his hands on her hips with her own, making sure his grip was secure.
And she started to use her wings, gently at first, slow scoops forward that rocked her up along his length, then folding them quickly to her back so her hips came crashing into his.
It was about to get real, even while much of it was starting to feel a bit too surreal.
Vacne held his breath a moment, his heart pounding heavily inside his head and he stayed still as she lifted herself with her wings and pierced herself down upon him. He jerked his whole body upon her landing, gasping for breath, feeling his lungs ache with need for air.
"Damn!" he breathed, looking up at her with half-lidded eyes. "I never would have...gah, thought they'd be useful for sex. But why now?"
Aria laughed, low and rough. "Told you I...liked to be on top," she murmured.
Why now? "Because I can," she murmured after a moment, folding her wings in so she could lean down to kiss him. "And...mmm, because you seemed to like them."
She sat back and scooped her wings forward again before letting herself fall into him with a low groan.
"That's fucking good...Gods!" Vance rolling his head back, just letting himself feel every part of her. It felt damned good, and far be it from him to tell her to stop, not when they were just getting started after all.
"O-oh!" She let her head fall back and rocked her hips against his more powerfully. "Gods, that's so good," she hissed as her eyes fluttered closed. Her hands gripped his waist firmly and a moan shivered through her body, starting in her chest and traveling to the tips of her toes.
He responded to her reaction, no longer allowing himself to just lay there. He sat up now, bringing their chests together as he rocked their hips together, eager to work that angle that made her twitch and shiver so. Sometimes one just couldn't wait to have wings.
Aria gave a little cry of surprise and delight as he started to work that angle, letting her wings fold gently to her back and smoothing her hands over his shoulders and back.
She was getting close, she could feel the edge creeping toward her. With a few heavy breaths, she groaned and ducked her head into the curve of his neck and shoulder, rocking her hips into his with a new ferocity.
The closer she got, the more eager he became to make her eyes see her brain. He rolled his hips in a steady motion, hand curling around to the lower part of her back, pressing her in against him. He slowed down, and sped up, thrusting deep until his own body began to tremble, shivering heavily.
"Ah- haa!" Aria's spine bowed in slightly and she slammed her eyes closed as she went tumbling over the edge, shivering gently against him as the waves of pleasure rippled through her. Her hands clutched his shoulders so tight she might have drawn blood, she wasn't sure.
If she drew blood, Vance didn't notice. Already he was cold and hot and wet at the same time, as he settled from the height of his own orgasm. He clutched to her tightly, holding her firm as if he whole body would merely dissolve into gel. He panted heavily, turning his head to her only when he was sure it would roll off his neck.
Humming contentedly in the back of her throat, she let her head rest against his as she slowly started to get her breath back.
"That was...mmm, a wonderful start to a partnership, don't you think?" she teased lightly, still a little breathless.
"I would agree, but we might need to test each other's strength and willingness to...'erm compromise from time to time. Just to be sure," he said with a laugh. Vance leaned his head in to kiss her, lips lingering just long enough to feel her breath splay against him. He shivered. "I think you may have ripped my back open. A little. It don't hurt."
"Oh." Aria blinked, coming out of her daze a bit as she leaned into the kiss. Gods but he was good at that. Or maybe she'd just gone too long without proper kisses.
"I'm sorry." She arched up over him a bit so she could see the scratches she'd left on his back and winced. Her head dipped down so she could kiss and lick at the marks gently. "Anything else you want me to kiss better?"
"Maybe," he chuckled. I can think of three things. And I'd be obliged to give first taste," he murmured, nipping curiously at her lips. It's a long night after all, we've only just gotten started."
She hummed quietly and nuzzled her nose to his at the nip. "Have we now?" she purred with a small smirk, shifting on his laps slightly so her hips ground into his gently. "If that's the case, tell me how you'd like to continue." She leaned in to kiss the underside of his jaw softly.
"I could show you," he purred instead, one that slowly turned into a growl, sighing breathlessly when she kissed at his neck.
He leaned her back a bit to remove himself from her sex, not quite on her back but enough to balance her. He moved onto all fours, crawling before her, a hand curiously teasing the soft skin above her sex. He grinned up at her like a cat, turning his face to kiss the inside of her thigh, draw teeth against tender flesh.
Aria arched an eyebrow as he maneuvered her, then her eyes widened slightly as she realized what he was planning. A little shiver ran through her body at the gentle scrape of his teeth and she sighed quietly, bracing her palms behind her and leaning back.
"Mm, I like your ideas for continuing," she murmured quietly, sliding a hand up to card her fingers through his hair.
He turned his head in and continued to kiss inward toward her sex. He could smell her heat, still sweet. He didn't need to say anything more, instead speaking through action and he let his curiosity lead the way. Vance tasted her slowly, carefully and flicking his tongue on her clit. He looked up at her, watching her expression just as he moved deeper against her body.
Already sensitive, Aria gasped slightly as his tongue flicked across her and she closed her eyes for a moment, taking in a shuddering breath. Her fingers clenched in his hair in a light, encouraging tug.
"You've done this before," she tried to quip teasingly, but her voice was just a little too breathless. She shifted her hips underneath him a bit, silently urging him to continue.
"I know my way around a few," he said with a chuckle. He continued his ministrations, leaning into her until his whole mouth was on her. He retreated every now and then teased her, making sure he kept her body wanting all the more.
Aria have a soft, keening moan and wriggled underneath his attentions a bit. unable to help herself.. "O-oh...a little more, please," she murmured through a few pants, clenching her eyes shut.
She didn't have to tell him but once and he was ready and eager to please. He tasted her with vigor and curiosity, motions that were meant to please and make her quiver.
It didn't take much more to send her over the edge again, eyes going wide and fingers clenching in his hair with a series of mewling gasps.
Shivering pleasantly, she relaxed back a bit and let her head loll onto her shoulder, smiling at him at bit.
Vance fed into her intensity until she relaxed. He slowly kissed up her leg and stomach, relaxing his head against her and just loving the feel of skin against him.
"Hmmm, good? Or do we need a re-evaluation?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Pretty good." Aria smirked and pulled him up for a kiss, shivering slightly. "But I wouldn't mind further proof of your skills."
With that, she pushed on his shoulders to urge him onto his back, crawling over him to press kisses to his collar and chest before slowly working her way down his body.
He didn't have a chance to protest when she turned the tides and he was soon on his back. He gave a yelp, laughing and rolling over to better position her over him. Chills coursed down his body at her kisses, arching his back into her touch. He hummed, pleased, letting his eyes watch her as she wandered down his body.
"Should I consider this a challenge?" he murmured.
"Maybe." Her smirk widened and she kissed the span of skin just below his navel. "I won't deny I have an ulterior motive though." Her lips trailed down to tease against the tip of him.
His breath hitched. Vance's gaze fell half-lidded and he held his breath, watching her as she teased him. Her touch couldn't have been more insanity-inducing. yet her remained there, still. Only his hands reached forward and he pushed her hair back, hands faintly gripping it.
Aria practically purred against him and gave up her teasing in favor of using her lips and tongue on him in earnest. Her hands gripped his hips gently as she lapped and suckled, occasionally giving a soft hum around him.
It didn't take much to make him gasp, and Vance soon has his head thrown back against the bed. He tried to hold back a moan, but trying to do that only made his head pound.
"Geeze," he murmured. "I guess I'm gonna lose."
She chuckled and bobbed her head down to nearly swallow him whole, them pulled up again. "Mm, not so fast," she teased, crawling back up his body and pressing tortuously soft kisses as she went. Finally she reached his mouth and sealed her lips to his.
"I could show what I can really do with these," she teased with a flutter of her wings, rocking her hips against his once before she groaned quietly and bucked forward to take him inside again.
"E-easy," he whimpered, catching his breath only she ceased her bobbing. As good as it felt, he was going to go red in the face if she didn't give him a break. Even if he didn't want to her to stop.
Thankfully he could catch his breath now. "Fuck..." he gasped. "Maybe going easy is asking...too much." And his eyes rolled back in his head again.
Aria gave a low, throaty laugh as she started to fall into a rhythm. "Well, if you insist," she panted softly, letting her hips move languidly against his, though the slower speed was certainly balanced out with the sheer precision of her movements.
Vance laughed, she was actually taking his advice.
He just let himself enjoy it, slowly rolling up his hips to meet hers when she rolled down with him.
Aria let her hands drift to his shoulders as she swayed over him, her eyes falling half closed and a pleased humming sound starting up in her chest.
"C'mere," she murmured suddenly, tugging him up so she could kiss him as she continued to rock her hips into his.
He lifted himself up to sit up beneath her, arms wrapping around her waist. The motion broke in the bed if it wasn't broken in before.
And he kissed her with fire, moaning deeply. Each motion made him writhe beneath her.
Feeling him respond so powerfully almost had her tumbling over the edge again and she whimpered quietly as she kept her peak at bay. Panting, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely.
"Oh g-gods! Vance, tell me you're close- oh!"
"W-why? Afraid of a little competition?" he asked with a chuckle. He continued to work at her even amidst his own body's shudders for release. He was close, but he wasn't going to tell her that.
"Oh, f-fuck you," Aria laughed, then suddenly her throat seized around a groan and she slammed her hips into his, clutching him as close as she could. Her wings swept forward to wrap around him, enclosing them both in a feathery cocoon.
Vance couldn't take it much more. He was going to blow, but still he didn't want Aria to know that. Instead he just kept rolling up his hips until he could feel her body tremble.
He hitched suddenly, clutching onto her when she wrapped arms around him and he soon thrust deep upward, bursting with a cry and a shudder.
Aria's head fell back and her cry joined his. Shuddering delicately, she collapsed against him. Her feathers shivered slightly with every breath, primaries absently stroking against his arms and back.
"Not- not bad," she panted breathlessly, smiling against his neck.
"Not bad? It's okay. You can compliment yourself. You hung in there," Vance murmured, leaning back on his elbows and giving her a wink.
She chuckled tiredly and fanned her wings to the sides to give him a bit more room. "Cad," she murmured teasingly, leaning over his chest for another kiss before she rolled off him to lean against his side.
"Alright. Fun as that was, we do have a job tomorrow. Get some rest," she murmured, yawning and slowly allowing herself to sink into the bed.
"I'm just curious about something," Vance sighed, settling into the covers, rolling onto his belly.
"How do you sleep with your wings spread out like that?"
Aria laughed quietly. "I'm normally not a big back sleeper," she replied, rolling into her side so she could tuck her wings loosely against her spine. "If I have to I can sleep with them bound, though I prefer not to."
"Well, good to know. In case I accidentally turn and roll over your wings. I'd like to know where they are ahead of time," he murmured, feeling his eyelids growing heavy.
"Just shut up and go to sleep," Aria chuckled through a yawn. She rolled onto her belly and shuffled over until her side pressed against him, groping blindly for his wrist to pull his arm over her before finally settling with a contented huff.
He made spewing noises with his lips and sharpness of breath. "Your wings are covering my mouth," he said with a sniff, turning his head to shake the feathers away.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," she laughed, though she twisted onto her side to get her wings out of the way and cuddled a little closer.
Vance was not accustomed to the cuddling. Despite his discomfort, he tried to get some sleep, keeping his eyes closed and turning onto his back so he could be more comfortable. It didn't take long before his muscles relaxed and he fell into a deep sleep.
At some point in the night, Aria shifted on the bed to roll onto her belly again, wings spreading out to the sides just slightly. Due to the small space, one feathery appendage draped itself over Vance's chest and she grumbled a bit at the odd feeling, then settled again.
Vance awoke early, not used to having a body next to him, but suffering it for her sake, so as not to wake her. He carefully shifted out from her side until he was halfway on the floor and stood up to grab his clothes. He pulled them on and secured them on his person, looking over her things to see what kind of arsenal she was carrying.
What he'd find was a lot of knives, significantly more well hidden strategically among her clothes than the rather worn bow propped against the corner of two walls. Aria shifted in her sleep as she heard him moving around and rolled onto her side, wings fluttering delicately behind her as she murmured quietly.
Vance sat on the chair beside the bed and took out a particularly large knife with a bone handle and he admired the working of it.
"Good morning sunshine. You ready to work?"
"Mmph." She sat up and yawned, stretching her wings and arms. "I'm ready if you are." Another yawn and she swung her legs out of bed to stand.
Vance put her blade back when she stood. "You might want to get dressed first, I think."
"Yes, yes." She rolled her eyes and set about gathering up her clothes. Folding her wings to her back with a small sigh, she started the rather tedious process of wrapping the binding to keep them in place around her body before she could dress.
"Need some help with that?" Vance asked. His curiosity was eased along with the need to get things moving. But also he really did want to know how such things worked. How could the human body have a need for wings at all? Most people did just fine without them. Then again, he figured the question really was pretty moot.
Aria blinked and glanced over at him. "Uh- sure, if you want. Really you just have to make sure it's wrapped tight enough," she said, slightly bemused.
Vance gave a grunt and tied the wrap around her waist making sure it was as snug as possible.
Once it was secure he gave her side a squeeze and helped her with the rest of her things.
Aria squeaked quietly and gave his hand a quick, playful smack for the squeeze before setting about stashing her knives on various places on her person.
"Alright." She smiled and offered, " What do you say to breakfast being part of your payment?"
"I'd say you were crazy. Money talks, sister," he said with a wink. "But it's on me this time. I don't like going to work on an empty stomach."
She laughed and caught at his arm. "No no, I meant it'd be additional payment. On me, I don't mind."
"Additional payment. Sure-sure, that's what you meant," he muttered. Vance gave her wink before leading them both back out into the tavern proper. "So what'll you have?"
"Whatever fresh fruit they've got, and it smells like someone's baking bread," she answered promptly as she found a place for them to sit.
Vance could do with something meaty, but he wouldn't argue with fresh bread. The tavern didn't have much, but bread, cheese, and berries were made available to the pair. "And some ham if you got it," he found himself saying.
A serving girl brought a small serving of ham to their table and Aria crinkled her nose slightly. She's never much been able to stand the stuff, but hey, to each her own.
"Well, dig in. I wanna get this job over with quickly."
"Hey, don't rush good food. We need to keep our strength up. Now eat," he said. He dug in as instructed, but he took his time eating.
Aria rolled her eyes as she tucked into her own meal. "I take it you don't get good food often then?"
He didn't want to nod, but the answer to that question was yes.
"I just enjoy decent meals when I get them," Vance said with a shrug. "Being hungry isn't exactly a pleasant state."
"You're not kidding." Aria offered a lopsided smile as she picked at her food. "Well, consider this insurance- you manage to get us through this job alive and dinner's on me too, deal?"
"Fine fine," he said, relenting on the matter. He wasn't going to argue with her generosity, not if it was going to lead to free food! He just knew he had to be careful, he didn't want to eat too much and be unable to move should she stiff him.
The bard chuckled again and continued picking at her food. She always found she wasn't really all that hungry before a job. Nerves perhaps, though she didn't necessarily feel nervous.
Vance finished and he pushed his plate to the side. The food was paid for and he moved to the door, looking out the door. "So you lead the way then?" he asked.
"I suppose I do." Aria brushed passed him, takin his arm as she did so she could tow him along while still appearing rather like an average couple touring the city.
Vance was okay with holding up an act. He was used to it, playing harmless until he got drunk and pissed off. For now, he let her lead, acting as natural as can be. With hunger and flesh sated, it was a lot easier. He kept his fingers tightly fisted as to keep them from twitching.
"How far again?" he asked quietly. "A few blocks?"
She nodded. "See that turn up ahead? Just at the end of that street, smallish house on the corner."
"I see it. So you want me to just wait outside? Just like that?" Vance asked softly.
"Mostly? Yes." She gave him a rather merciless half smile. "Once I'm done, I'm probably gonna need you for an alibi."
Hrm, the work involved seemed too little for even what small cut he'd get by the end of it. Vance didn't know if by the end of it, she wasn't just going to throw him under the wagon.
"All right, just tell me what you need. I'm all yours," he said, feeling weird he was volunteering himself.
Aria smirked. "I'll try not to read too much into that," she teased lightly.
"Read what you must. I'm ready when you are," Vance nudged her side and kept on quietly approaching the house. It was much larger than he expected a hit like this to be. But he supposed he didn't really know what to expect. And when she told him that all he had to do was keep watch...hell, he was staring to think: What was the catch?
Aria chuckled again, then paused about a house down from her target. "Alright. I'm gonna go around the back, you stay here and signal if someone's going into the house." She raised a hand. "Before you ask- by signal, I mean use this."
She dug into her pack and handed him her flute. "I don't care what it sounds like, just play a note. Maybe tell some passersby a few stories so you look more like a bard, alright?"
Aw shit. She wanted him to be a bard!? That was the catch wasn't it?
Vance visibly rolled his eyes, but he took the flute. It wasn't like he knew how to play, but he could pretend he did. If he could fake an orgasm, he could fake being a bard, and a damn good one at that. He'd be one of those eclectic artists that was living just pennies away from poverty.
Which wasn't entirely untrue.
"You got it, cap'm," he said and winked at her. He looked around before slipping a hand around her waist and squeezing her ass. Just a pinch of course.
Aria smiled, then squeaked in surprise when he grabbed her rear. She mock scowled at him and slipped away. "Hey now, none of that. Least not until we're in the clear."
She tossed him a wink and a flirty, "Good luck," then slipped away between two houses, coming around to her mark from behind. The house looked empty, which was a good sign, but you could never be too careful, so she took her time before picking the lock on the back door and slipping inside.
Vance waited a while, lingering out by the fence of the house behind him. People walked by, some didn't bother with him while others began to give him suspicious looks. He knew the kind. Nobody hung around such posh places with good intentions in mind. Nobody looking like him anyhow.
Damn, if only he had a hat. Except he hated hats and this was going to get annoying real fast. Vance shrugged out of his jacket, watching the street and setting the jacket into a pile on the ground. And he started to dance. Just a little here and there.
One person passed by a dropped a small coin into the small scoop of his coat.
Gods, he hated bards. Even pretending to be one.
Aria didn't seem to be in the house long, then suddenly she reappeared out on the street, leaning against a far wall and watching Vance with a smirk on her face.
Her knife was tucked back into her boot, not even a hint of a drop of blood staining blade or clothes.
Vance stopped dancing the moment she walked out of the manor, and he was sweating from all the movement. He plucked up his jacket, which had garnered a small decent pile of gold during his performance. Geez, all he had to do was shake his ass and he got paid for it? It wasn't a bad thought.... He wasn't even a very good dancer.
He eyed Aria and bundled his jacket over his arm. 'What that's it? Was he even home?"
"Of course he was." She smiled and waved to the small crowd he'd pulled in that was beginning to disperse. Huh. Not bad.
"He's in his bed, sleeping like the dead." She winked, though there was no humor in her expression. "C'mon, let's get out of here before somebody finds him and raises an alarm."
And just as they were walking away, from the corner of his eye, looking back, he saw a woman casually moving toward the front door from where Aria had come out of. Damn!
"Okay, it might be sooner than you think," Vance hissed and walked speedily along with her.
"Fuck." Aria grabbed his arm and towed him down the street, leaning into his side. "Make eyes at me or something, we're just an average couple out on a stroll."
Even as Vance shuffled onward to walk faster, he jumbled a few coins out of his grip and they clanged to the street. But there was no time to grab it when a scream rang out from the house behind them. The walls were only strong enough to contain some of it.
Aria tightened her grip on Vance. "Don't run," she murmured. "Here, just pick up the coins, pretend we're as surprised as everyone else."
She let go of him to gasp, whirling around as though searching for the origin of the scream.
Right, act natural. But fuck if he wasn't spooked. And Vance silently cursed at himself, picking up the coins and looking back up at the manor. A woman rushed to the window, throwing the shutters open and looking over to the street, calling out for help, for guards, for anyone.
"Aria," Vance said, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. "Let's get the fuck out of here.'
"Shh. Subtle, Vance, subtle." Eyes wide, Aria looked around as though searching for help. A crowd was gathering now and she steered them into it, then started backing them down an alley as carefully as she could.
"What do you think? Stay together or split up?"
"Split up? You're crazy if you think I'm letting you go," he said with a slight snarl. He kept with her and turned around, keeping on their set path.
"Just keep going."
"Alright, alright, calm down." She stuck next to him as she tugged him down the alley.
He calmed down enough although he was sure he could feel eyes behind him. He played it cool, bundling the jacket tighter around his arm. He sighed and curled a free arm around her waist.
"So when do you get paid? And how do you know your employer didn't decide to sell you out?" he asked.
"He's never sold me out before." She shrugged. "I'll get paid once he's sure the job's done- which probably means before sundown, I just have to make sure I'm in the right place."
"That's comforting to know," Vance sighed as they moved along. The commotion behind them was gradually getting louder. When they turned a corner and emerged on the other side of the street, Vance fixed the coat over his shoulders, pocketing the coins he'd earned while dancing ridiculously in the street.
Damn.
He flipped one of the gold ones and tossed it to her. "Hard to believe I've been to Cerenis so many times and never walked along that posh street. People sure know how to tip."
Aria giggled as she caught the coin. "See? Not so bad being a bard really, is it?" she teased with a little bump of her shoulder against his.
"You're doing much to sway my opinion, but I can make an exception to the norm. You're a bard that's largely tolerable," he said and poked her right back.
She gave a dramatic sigh and an eye roll. "I'll wear you down one day, just you watch," she grumbled playfully. Her eyes flickered around warily despite her air of levity, prepared to fight or flee at a moment's notice.
"Wear me down? Like an old wagon wheel, eh," he mumbled and could feel her tension. He held firmly onto her. "You feel a tail coming on us? We being followed?"
Aria shook her head subtly. "Not that I can tell, but it pays to be cautious," she replied quietly.
They weren't immediately being followed, but it was a given that some eyes trailed them after they vanished from the street. A small urchin, a child of no more than 9 or 10 years had eyed the couple and saw them go into the alley, and slowly loped along behind them.
Vance suspected nothing, but kept himself on alert as they walked back to Aria's contact. "Is he expecting you alone?" he asked.
"Probably." She shrugged, glanced over her shoulder, and frowned. "Shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'm left to my own devices often enough."
Without warning, she whirled and grabbed the child's shoulder, pulling him out from an alcove. "Hello, lad. Need something?"
The child faltered when grabbed. He yelped and struggled against her grip. "Let go o' me, witch," until his shirt was sufficiently wrinkled from doing so. He panted and kicked her shin.
Vance snatched his arm firmly. "Got a death wish boy? What's your name?" he hissed.
"Will! Now release, alley dogs!" And lunged another leg against Vance's gut.
"Whoa, hey!" Aria grabbed the boy's shoulders and turned him to face her, bending to his level. "Look, lad, no one's gonna hurt ya. I just wanna know why you were following us, alright?"
"I wasn't following you, I was following your smell. I wanted something to eat... Ya'll smell like fish and seaweed," he griped and continued to fight against Vance's hold on his arm. He successfully did so but not without a swipe to the back of his head.
Vance wasn't having it and scowled at the boy. "Cretin."
"Fuck you, swine herder!"
Aria sighed, fished around in her pocket, and tossed a pair of copper coins at the boy. "There. Go buy yourself a meal, and forget you saw us, alright?"
Will snatched the coin with a scrawny grip and he just glared at the pair of them. He didn't say anything and just watched as Vance shoved him off.
"He saw something and he ain't telling. We shiv him and nobody has to know," he said with an indignant sniff.
"Vance!" Her eyes turned flinty. "We are not killing a child," she said firmly, ice and steel warring for dominance in her tone.
"He's a rat," Vance said unwaveringly. He shrugged, careless and washing his hands of the matter. Maybe it would have been realistic to have more sympathy for the urchin. Since he was after all in the same situation at one point in his life.
But he was here now, and the job was done, so what more was there to go on. "Where's the meeting place?" he said matter of factly.
Aria decided not to pursue the matter. "Edge of town. He should be there in an hour," she muttered as she kept walking.
They kept on in silence and Vance forced his irritation away. Once they cleared the area and were now in the town's outskirts, they stopped beside a wayward inn, one a little worse for wear than the one they had met in. But Vance felt his hackles raising.
"Fuck," he murmured and turned around, only to see a head peeking in a window suddenly drop down. "It's the kid. The kid you paid to go away. He's back."
"Fuck," Aria repeated, frowning. She made sure to catch her their little tail's eye and made a "get over here" gesture.
But the boy just vanished from their sight again, not interested in obeying.
Vance sighed with annoyance. "Shall I deal with the pest?" he asked, tilting his head with an 'I told you so' look to his eyes.
"We're not gonna kill a child," Aria protested, exasperated. "C'mon, let's just track him down and nicely figure out what he knows."
"I didn't say that," Vance added quickly and grabbed her arm. "Just wait here. I'll snatch him up for you."
After ten minutes, Vance did return with the annoying rat on his arm, and yanked him inside. "There."
Aria sighed, then shook her head at the boy. "Look. Why exactly do you feel the need to keep getting yourself into trouble?" she asked, arching an eyebrow and cocking a hip to the side.
Will squirmed until he soon realized doing that was pretty pointless. They weren't going to let him go any time soon.
"I ain't done nothing!" he hissed. "And you two are awful nosy."
"Then why do you keep following us, kid?" Vance muttered and shoved him toward Aria.
She caught the boy by his shoulders. "An excellent question." Another raised eyebrow. "Why do ya keep tailing us, kid?"
"Hrm!" Will griped. Clearly he didn't want to answer, but he was tired of getting caught as well. "Cuz you came outta that house. Where the lady screamed, and tried to make it like nobody noticed. But I noticed. Now, why'd you do it!? Are you a murderer?"
Aria sighed, then knelt and gave him a small smile. "Yes," she answered honestly. "But not without a reason. That man was...bad. The world's better off without him. Do you understand?"
At that Will laughed, spewing bad breath toward although not on purpose.
"Life ain't no fucking fairy tale, Miss. One goods and bads here are 'n how you're willing to pay and be paid," Will hissed.
"You got a sour mouth on ya kid." Vance chuckled. Maybe this kid wasn't so bad after all.
"So what ya do? Slice his throat? Stick it in his back?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Does it matter? He's dead."
"Matters to me," he said and looked to Vance. "Get us some drinks er sumpin. I'm parched."
"Just tell us what your following us for?" Vance said, smacking the back of his head. "Quickly, because our patience is running thin."
"Hey! I'd just wondering if you two had any more of that gold. Or if 'n ya need someone to keep an eye out for things. You already know ya can't shake me."
"No, Will." Aria shook her head. "I'm leaving town soon anyway. It'd be better if you just forgot you saw us."
"No can do, sister. Yer stuck with me now," the kid shrugged.
Vance was losing his patience with the kid. "We don't want you. We don't need you, now scram!"
Will scowled at the pair. "Then maybe I did see something... Maybe something one 'o them knights wanna know ."
Gods she hated doing this.
In less than a moment a knife was in her hand, pressed against the boy's throat. Her eyes were ice, expression blank.
"You might want to rethink that, m'lad," she murmured. Of course she wasn't actually going to kill him, but nothing in her manner suggested that.
Will just scowled at her. "Aww c'mon! I won't be in the way. And I ain't got anywhere else to go!" he whined. Vance just watched the pair, silent. Not that he condoned the killing of a child, but he wasn't going to interfere with Aria's business. He still needed to get paid after all.
Aria pressed the knife to his skin a little more firmly, then drew it back. "You keep your mouth shut, and if you get in the way I'll leave you out in the woods with a raw steak to attract wolves," she informed him, then turned and started walking again.
"Hrmm, seems a little harsh," Vance murmured. "A little honey and an ant hill might do the trick."
Aria smirked. "Fair enough. You want to be in charge of him?"
"All right! I get it! You want me to scram! Geezers," Will mumbled and shifted away from Aria. "Thinking you know a big score. You two don't know jack shit. That ol bum was small time."
"Mhm." Aria didn't seem impressed. "So, are you coming along or not? I'd rather keep an eye on you, so make the choice carefully."
Oh what the devil!
Will turned around right quick. "Just put that dagger away and I'll even clean the mud off your boots," he laughed and was immediately by her side.
Fuck! "Well, I guess we needed a lackey at some point," Vance griped. Maybe he wasn't satisfied, but it wasn't all in the gutter just yet.
Aria beamed and tousled the child's hair. "Good choice, lad." She slipped the dagger back into the sheath on her thigh and looked at Vance.
"Come on then. We did the job, let's get paid."
How the fuck did the brat just weasel his way into her good graces!? Just like that! Fuck, well better hold up to his end of the bargain when it came to that info of another score, or Vance would personally beat his ass.
Seeming entirely unconcerned with this turn of events, Aria led them down a few more side streets to the edge of town.
"Alright." She leaned back against a wall, pulling her flute from seemubgnt no where to begin polishing it. "He should be here soon. Act casual."
"You've got a real obsession with Casual, y'know that?" Vance remarked and grabbed Will by the head. "Listen kid when the guy comes along, keep your mouth shut. One peep and I'll make you regret it."
"I don't like to make a scene- unless I'm playing," she replied easily. She looked up when Vance grabbed Will but decided not to interfere.
The kid didn't protest and just leaned back against Vance as if he were an older brother, or even his pa. Vance disliked children, but he could tolerate them long enough if he had to.
Soon footsteps of someone approaching could be heard.
Aria's eye flicked up and she made a gesture at the two males, telling them to stay in place. She walked forward to meet the figure that came around the corner, hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders relaxed.
"Fareth."
"Rosie."
They nodded at each other and he tilted his head. "Commotion in town says you got the job done."
She arched an eyebrow. "You expect different?"
The man chuckled and in two quick motions a coin purse changed hands. Fareth's eyes flicked to Vance and Will but he didn't comment.
Vance kept himself in check while the pair conversed, keeping a firm hand on Will's head. The boy didn't squirm, in fact he just stared at the stranger as if he had a cat on his head. Or maybe he was scared of him. Will hitched in a breath that made Vance look at him funny.
Aria slid subtly sideways, partially blocking Vance and Will from the man's sight. "Alright. You know where to find me if you need me."
Fareth nodded and tipped his hat to her, then turned and strolled away. Aria let out a soft breath and turned back to her companions.
"Okay." She held up the purse for Vance to see. "What do I owe you?"
"A drink first, and one for the lad. He earned it," Vance murmured. "We'll talk split in private."
Will, wasn't paying attention however. He stepped away from Vance watching Fareth leave, and when he glanced back to Aria he was white as a sheet. "You...you were doing business with him?" he asked softly, features distraught.
The bard tilted her head and frowned. "Aye." She bent to bring herself closer to the boy's level. "What's the matter, lad?" Her eyes flicked up to Vance and she mouthed, Maybe two drinks.
Vance squinted his eyes at the boy, wondering at his disturbance.
"That...that man is a real fuckin' demon," Will said abruptly. "You didn't tells me yer were working for him. Why!? WHY!?"
"Whoa!" Vance hissed, stepping inbetween Will and Aria as the kid lunged for her angrily. He gripped his shoulder. "What the fuckin' fuck is wrong?"
"That fuck! is a bastard who shouldn't be walking this earth. He's a monster... And I've seen all kindsa monsters... He..."
"Look, let's get out of here before people start looking at us weird okay?"
Aria's eyes widened slightly and she nodded, eyeing the boy a little warily. "Where do you suggest we go? We'll draw too much attention back at the inn."
"I know a hang out that could be useful," Vance said. "They won't give a shit who comes and who goes as long as we pay well. So kid, how old're you?"
"Twelve, bub," Will managed to stifle out. His face was red and he fought back the angry tears that threatened surface. "What d'ya care for?"
"Because you clearly have lived a full life for being so young. You're having a beer, kid. You need to wind down. Don't worry, we'll watch ya. Ya bastard."
"Fuck. You." But he wiped his eyes, and seemed calmer now.
Aria hung back a bit, watching warily. Obviously the child didn't really want to be around her right now. She indicated that she would follow Vance with a quick jerk of her head.
Vance still didn't like the little bastard. But if it would keep him quiet and less prone to antics he figured why not. So they found their way to a dive bar, one that seemed less inclined to care if a child was in their care.
"Alright young Will. What'll ya have?" Vance asked as he took a seat at a table in the back.
Aria kept close behind them, and she drew out a chair when Vance chose a table. She angled the chair slightly so she could surreptitiously keep an eye on the door while still maintaining a presence with Vance and Will.
The boy shrugged, unsure of what he could choose. He gave a grunt and gestured to Will. "You pick."
"Fine, then a beer each. I'm sure our benefactor here wouldn't mind treating a round of drinks for her compatriots."
She rolled her eyes and gave Vance a droll look. "Of course not." Her eyes flicked to Will, unsure if she should speak to him directly given how angry he'd been. She might set him off again, and the last thing they needed was to cause a scene.
Vance hadn't really been paying attention before at the redness surrounding Will's eyes. The skin around it was all blotchy and blood-stricken. The boy just kept his head down as the beer was delivered to the table and Vance looked to Aria.
"He'll be fine. Now, kid, you know you're gonna have to tell us what's up."
"I know," Will said. He stared at his small mug of beer, although he didn't drink it right away. At first he took an experimental sniff, then downed a small dose of it. And immediately scowled at it's flavor.
And Vance laughed. "Taste that gross huh? Even this watered down stuff? You'll get used to it."
Aria rolled her eyes again. "Well don't force it on the kid," she muttered. Tilting her head, she flagged down another server and ordered two ciders and a stew- she really didn't feel like drinking, and it would probably be better for Will to have something in his stomach other than alcohol.
"Alright. Now what's crawled up your breeches?" she asked, twisting slightly to face Will.
"That man is a real rat bastard. He is the reason I'm out on the streets.... He had my family killed. My da and my mother, they were tortured and killed. By people like you, people that didn't care about where the money came from so long as they got paid," Will muttered bitterly. "I never saw my sister after that day. She was only four when my parents died. I don't know what happened to her."
Aria's heart clenched guiltily, but she tried not to let her expression change.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "But I can't change your past. And you've got one thing wrong."
She glanced around the inn, a habit to make sure they weren't overheard. "I do care. I care if my targets got family, if they deserve to die. And If I judge them to be innocent, I won't take the job." Her lip curled. "And I certainly don't torture people."
She was under no illusions- she was no saint, she wasn't even really a good person. But she killed quick, and as painlessly as she could. At least she could claim that.
Finally, she clanged back at Will. "The truth is kid, if I don't take the job someone else will. There's plenty of people willing to use their blade for coin, no questions asked." She shrugged.
"What's his name?" Will asked abruptly, looking up at her. "I never did know his name... But I remembered what he looked like."
"My employer? Fareth," she said with a shrug.
"Fareth..." Will committed it to memory and looked forlornly at his beer. "I think this stuff tastes like piss."
"You get used to it."
"Here." Aria pushed her own drink toward the boy. "Try this instead."
Will sniffed her drink and made a face. "And this is any better?"
"You're really picky for an urchin," Vance commented.
"I can't help if I got standards. Unlike you, ruffian."
She rolled her eyes. "It's cider. It's just made from apples, try it."
"It's....okay I guess," Will sulked and looked up to Aria. "So what are you gonna do now? You got your money. Whatcha gonna spend it on?"
Aria rolled her eyes. "Food, probably. Maybe some traveling supplies." She quirked an eyebrow. "What, did you think I was gonna retire to some fabulous mansion in the capitol and spend my gold on bits of entertainment? I do this for a loving kid, and a poor one at that."
"I didn't think the two of you were such bums," Will admitted, and he actually smirked at the thought.
Vance was actually grinning himself at the comment and he chuckled. "You've got a smart mouth, kid. I like you. i mean, I don't but I do for now. I'm drunk. Probably."
"Speaking of traveling. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Aria. And you, Will, I'm sure you'll find whatever hole you came out of and crawl back in it."
Aria cuffed the boy gently on the back of the head and muttered, "Watch yourself, lad."
She flicked her gaze to Vance and quirked an eyebrow. "You're leaving?" What the hell was she supposed to do with the kid? She couldn't very well just leave him in the tavern!
"Well, yeah," Vance said bluntly. "I did my part and got paid. That's what you had me around for wasn't it?" His brows raised a little and he shifted away from the table.
Will too stood. "Where are you going? I wanna go too."
"No. You stay and enjoy your drink, and your food. And then...I dunno, do whatever you want. But I go my own way kid."
Aria watched him stand, and couldn't deny she was a little sad to see him go, all things considered.
But he'd certainly done his share, and she offered a small smile. "Thanks for your help, Vance."