Opportunity

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Adrain went through the third district with a loose cowl covering his entire form, a hood pulled down. The weather this day was a heavy rain that would pummel relentlessly, encouraging most to stay inside to avoid sickness or unpleasantness. The mage's goal this day was if anything made easier by this fact. Ever since his formal recognition as a Duke of the realm, the mage gave careful consideration to the implications that meant. Before he cared little for personal safety, his own power usually being more than enough of a deterrent to keep any would be attackers at bay. But the threats of the court were those of the shadows and spies, and at this point he decided that he could use a capable set of eyes and hands to help keep things as is.

He enters the Gallow's Inn tavern unceremoniously taking a look around the room trying to find a certain woman. After their encounter which was pleasant in more ways than one, she would be tricky to track down since he didn't think to ask where she lived, but as a Fated maybe she had none and the mage felt a tinge of guilt at not offering her an accommodation sooner. The Gallow's Inn seemed like a likely place for a vagabond satyr to spend their time, perhaps he would be lucky this time.

@irismaedeha

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Oddly enough, Iris had chosen to rest at the Gallows Inn, finding it more accommodating than Kail's couch. Plus it had better food, and some very interesting people. Her initial plan for the day was to explore the city further, but the rain tempted her to stay inside instead. Having gotten bored of her stuffy small room, Iris trotted down to the tavern below, ordering a pint to drink. If she couldn't go outside she may as well have fun inside.

Sporting her usual attire (a small gold top barely covering her midsection, and leather bracelets on her wrists) she sat at the bar, feeling the chill of the wind every now and then as the door was opened and new people joined them within. Iris leaned back in her seat, resting on the bar with her elbows, her drink in her hand. She was facing the door, as she found people watching quite interesting. An eyebrow rose as the door opened one more time, and a familiar scent reached her nose. She tilted her head, attempted to see under the hood, although she already knew who it was. She stayed put, not knowing for sure if it was her he had come to see, or if her was simply here to drink.

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The mage noticed the Satyress fairly quickly since her gaze was already fixed upon the door. He makes his way over to her, taking calm strides again not trying to draw extra attention to himself. Taking a seat, he gets a pint of ale from the barkeep before looking at her with a small smile, keeping his hood up.

"Hello Iris, I was hoping I'd find you here. How have you been?" he inquires, taking a sip of the ale once presented and sliding a few coins on the counter, indicating if Iris wanted more ale he'd pay for it. After listening to the response from the satyress, he would speak once more after answering any questions.

"So, I came to find you today to see if you might be interested in a job of a more consistent basis. We could speak elsewhere if you want, but I think it'd be a great opportunity."

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Iris watched as he sat down a small smile on his face. Oh I'm doing alright. Finally out of that shit hole- what was it? Bane? It was kind of gross there. she laughed lightly happy to be in a more populated place. People still looked at her funny but it wasn't as bad.

She took a large gulp of her drink cocking an eyebrow curiously as he spoke of a job offer. She glanced around at the room and the people within it. They were a bit rowdy for this type for conversation but she wouldn't move unless he requested it. My interest is peeked. We can move to the room I'm renting if you like, but it doesn't matter to me if we remain here. You look like you're hiding from someone though. she raised a hand and flicked the edge of his hood to make her point, not hitting him.

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"Bane? I can't say I have heard of that place." Adrain says, curious as to what she meant by that. Did she mean a campsite, or something else? Bane usually meant the 'adversary of something'. An interesting choice of a name, for whatever that may be. When the subject moved to the offer of moving to her room, as Adrain silently agreed that those here were a bit on the rowdy side, he nodded.

"That would be best, and you'll understand why I am being subtle when we get there." Adrain says, getting up and following Iris to the room she was renting. When they were inside, Adrain would touch a wall, soundproofing them with a spell before speaking once more, sitting in a chair and leaning back, dropping his cowl.

"In the time since our last encounter, I have been named a Duke, one part for blowing up Helena's fog during the siege and another for having a very large land holding that I intend to develop for various purposes in the coming year. As such, I have to be more alert to subtlety and things such as backstabbing nobles and whatnot before. Further, it isn't the sort of thing I can really rely on blowing it up with a fire spell since the King is usually magic adverse. I know you are a capable person and I trust you more than most people who might be capable of doing what I have in mind." he says, then leaning a little more, shifting his weight before speaking again.

"I would like to hire you as a bodyguard, well I suppose not so much that I feel like I need protection, but more to watch for agents from rival nobles or to rough up anyone who tries to pull anything fishy. I would compensate you well along with providing a free quarters at the Arch. Though I have considered purchasing a manor in the first district for the occasion I may be in the city at night and not up to going back to the Arch for some reason, which you would be granted basically free reign over if you do sign on and I make that purchase. I would also provide you with a magical armor of choosing, custom made for your specifications. Well, mundane armor is an option if you are paranoid of magic but...there it is. I had to be a little more subtle because I'd hate some drunk person thinking they could hold me up or something if they knew I was a duke as much as I have tried to keep it quiet."

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I don’t know much about it to be honest; thats just where I arrived when I was.. well.. pulled here? She shrugged, not thinking much about it at all. When he agreed to move their conversation upstairs, she nodded and stood as well, turning to the barkeep. Can I get a bottle of whatever it was I ordered before? Thanks. she smiled as he handed it to her, and she nodded to Adrain as they walked to her room. Once they arrived, she opened the door for him, allowing him to walk in first. She closed the door behind her, not noticing the spell he placed on the walls. While he sat in the chair, she perched on the edge of the bed, placing the bottle on the ground while she still drank from the cup she had.

While he spoke she nodded along, her eyes widening as he said Duke. She’d had Kail explain the hierarchy to her before she’d left, just in case. When he was done speaking, she let out a low whistle. Duke. Wow. Congrats man. She nodded her head appreciatively. Who’d have thought I would sleep with nobility. She laughed shaking her head this time.

She thought over his proposal, and had to admit it wouldn’t be a bad gig. You know… I’d never seen myself as a body guard, but I would love to kick ass in your honour. She stood, mock bowing in his “honour”, a large grin on her face. Yeah, sure, I’ll take the job. Sounds like it could be fun; and yeah, not living here would be cool. She laughed again, sitting back down and taking a swig. The idea of new armour was enticing, but it was the last thing on her mind. She actually had a friend who wanted her help. It was certainly an odd feeling.

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"I'll have to look into it later, that's definitely a new one. I suppose if there is some sort of special place Fated get brought to then it's a bit safer since some in this world don't always readily accepts them" the mage says, then following Iris up to the room.

When she congratulated him and then commented about 'sleeping with nobility' he chuckled a little "Yeah I guess you could say that, huh. Though I'll never be a 'stick your pinky out when drinking tea sort.'. I will use the position to try to help people as well as improve the status of magic in society. Probably overly idealistic but that is sorta just who I am." he says, then laughing a little when Iris went through her mock bow and corny line about honor.

"Well, good then. It's probably going to be mostly a formality thing versus having a lot of skulls to crack. But I guess you would want the opposite to not get bored huh?" he says, then looking at the door when she mentioned not living here.

"But wouldn't you miss the cheap beer and bar fights? Can't promise those at the Arch" he says coyly, knowing Iris tended to be more hands on compared to some of the other women he knew.

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Oh god, if you become some prissy little shit, I will drop this job like a rock. Iris scoffed, shaking her head. Just the thought of it made her want to roll her eyes. But once again, it seems like you’re doing a good thing. So congrats again. She shrugged.

She was pleased her joke had made him laugh; it would have been awkward if he hadn’t. Crackin’ skulls is always fun, I’m not gonna lie. She laughed, not denying any part of his sentence.

She continued to laugh as he made his joke, and she took a swig of her drink from before, placing the empty glass down on the floor. I can find cheap beer and bar fights anywhere, don’t underestimate me. Besides; the arch is filled with idiot students who leave sexy potions lying around for strangers to find; I doubt I’ll have trouble finding something fun to do there. She arched an eyebrow at him, feigning excitement.

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"Yeah...I'd expect you to probably stab me with the sword I made if I did that." he says, rolling his eyes at Iris when she rolled hers. A fate both knew would probably never actually manifest. When Iris would go on to laugh a little about the joke and then promising that she would always find something worthwhile to do in the Arch, he nodded knowing the satyress was most likely confident enough to make certain that was true.

"Yeah...I'll take your word for it. Just don't take too much advantage of the young and dumb. In any case, what equipment do you feel you will need for this job? I can get the armor made, or if you're shy I can work on it myself since I know your...specifications. But then again you might just wanna bang the guy who's banging your metal elsewhere so whatever." he says, knowing Iris' friskiness and making light of it.

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Iris nodded, And beat you over the head with my shield. She confirmed, a serious look on her face, but she was obviously joking. She laughed as he warned her, asking her to be nice to the youngin’s to which she laughed again. Yea yea, I know. The young and dumb are off limits. She stuck her tongue out, still kind of laughing.

Moving on to her equipment, Iris was laughing even harder by the end of his speaking. Oh honey, I would want you to work on it because I’m shy. She winked, playing further on his joke of “specifications”, but rolling her eyes again about her “banging” the other guy. I do have some self control you know. You caught me on an off day. She chuckled, shaking her head.

She had to think about it. What would she need? Her sword was perfect, her shield was still pretty banged up from how she found it during their quest, so maybe that. Well, the only armour i’ve ever really worn is a chest plate, and helmet. And trust me, a helmet is rare for me. But there’s never been anything that secures my legs because of my species. So i guess, the chest plate and helmet if possible? Oh, and could we get my shield fixed? She stood up from the bed and walked to a chest, opening it and pulling the shield out, showing it to him.