"Well," he said, leaning back within his chair. "So she's got some spunk in her." He gave a laugh, which carried easily with the drawl of his voice. Shaking his head, he leaned to one side, keeping his legs crossed, an ankle resting just across his lap as he eyed her over. "So you've caught a girl with a fiery spirit." He rubbed his chin some more in thought. "I take it, by your horrid manners, you have no family." He cocked his head the other way, his lips going impish as his eyes sparkled darkly.
"Well, I suppose this is your lucky day. I don't normally take kindly to trespassers, or those harassing my animals, but I think I might have some use for you as part of my show." He eyed her up again, his smile growing until it reached his eyes as he struck a match and lit up a pipe. The glow lit up his features, the smoke curdling around his face.
"What do you know about show business? Do you know how to entertain, girl? Or are you just going to stare at me like one of my animals? Hrm? Well speak up now. My patience tends to wear out when the tobacco loses it's flavor inside my pipe." He laughed at that, smoke puffing out between his cheeks.
"Yes, I do think I could have some use for this wild woman. Ravin has been rather lonely lately.." He laughed again, smoke coming out from his nostrils. "It might be interesting to enter a female into his portion of the show." He leaned his head back, inhaling a long drag from his pipe again before pursing his lips towards the ceiling and exhaling. He tapped the end of it in thought.
"Girl, let me ask you but one thing. You seem to be the brave type. But how would you act if your life was in danger, and you had to be forced to confront a beast in front of a large crowd? Would you just simper away and cry like most girls, or would you stand up and face your fate?"
He pressed the end of the pipe back to his lips, biting at the end as he studied her. Yes..
quite the curious little thing, wasn't she?
"If I had to guess, I'd think a wild little girl such as yourself might be pleased to be part of such an act. Or, at least, perhaps you'd find yourself within your own element?" He wrinkled his nose at how dirty she was, the way her hair hung, the feathers, the mud... "You see, I need a girl that won't cry, but will be able to stand there and face a beast so hideous, so repulsive while the crowd will awe and cheer. I've tried this act before, you see.." and here he laughed, more puffs of smoke coming out between his teeth.
"And it's been hrmm.. let's just say not so successful. I suppose I didn't know what to expect, and the poor girl was torn limb from limb. But you go, you've got a pair of legs standing up to me right now. Normally only men have balls." He laughed. "Or you're just a fool. Either way, I could use someone that, let's just say, if the plan goes awry, your family won't cry after your bones and if it works out, well, we could have you featured as part of one of our show stopping acts. Naturally, we'll pay you in meals if you do well enough, but in the same breath, we'll treat you the same as the animals you'll be paired off with. Ravin didn't scare you, right?" he chuckled again. "Oh, but of course he didn't. He just looks like a normal boy now doesn't he?" he laughed again, sucking in more smoke from his pipe before tapping it casually aside, some of the ash falling towards Ariel's feet as he took her in. Perhaps, beneath that dirt... there could be something pretty, if not a little stringy. Wild and innocent... it could prove to be an interesting combination indeed.
"Doesn't he.." he repeated, drawing the pipe once again to his lips.