RP:An Eye for Bargains

Part of the Rest in Pieces: Vailkrin! Arc

Summary: Talene strikes a deal with Langley, exchanging her eye for secrecy, illusion, and the coveted position of Lady of House Nasar.

The Blood Fountain

Near the blood fountain, Talene leaned against a statue, to the north side of the square. She made it a point to rarely make waves in any location, her face completely free of makeup, and her clothing giving little away about the figure underneath. Scarlet cloak was light enough to conceal a standard rapier at her hip; again, nothing ornate or fancy about it. Blending in would be much harder if a masterwork weapon were donned. One chestnut lock of hair always managed to escape from under her slouchy cloth cap, to her irritation. Despite her knack for blending in, she seemed to have potentially draw the ire of one notable person in this borough, if the dress and demeanor were anything to go by. If the woman with dual toned eyes really wanted to know who she was, she could use a little edge in keeping her true name away from her ears. Rogues worked best with an element of surprise and mystery in their repetoire. Emerald green eyes surveyed the fountain and surrounding square coolly. Memorizing, noting...waiting.

There, across the way, ravens and crows gathered in a mixed flock of black beaks and black wings. More and more arrived in a steady stream, the murder's size continuously swelling until it threatened to take over the city street entirely; the air filling with the sounds of sqwaking and guttural clicks. It was as if every black bird in the entire land had decided to take up roost here and their eyes, those little beady orbs in their heads, seemed to focus upon a woman who clearly did not want to be focused on. They all stared, their heads canting this way and that, observing and admiring. "Fascinating creatures, aren't they?" Langley commented as he sat himself down upon the edge of the fountain, unfolding the day's newspaper. "They see so much and most people don't even give them a passing glance." He continued in a smooth drawl, his word accented with a bit of twang. "Oh, if only one could see through their eyes... what wonderful secrets we might glean."

Gem colored sights set themselves on the source of the inquiry, still leaning against the statue. A dimple scores her cheek, half smirking at the man she'd seen the other night, "They're noisy, and they shit on everything. But, I do love their color." Remaining where she is, she continued, "Obtaining, keeping and trading secrets could be quite profitable, but keeping one's name and identity from the ears of those who'd be a nuisance to them is even more so." Brows furrow at their inner corners, a bared hand waving in his direction after pulling that irritating random lock of chestnut hair behind her ear, "I'm assuming there's a reason you haven't introduced yourself?"

Langley let out a small laugh, chuckling lightly as he slowly shook his head. He knew a thing or two about wanting to keep secrets. He had a number of his own that he was particularly interested in keeping hidden for the foreseeable future. He folded that paper that he had previously seemed so interested in reading, setting it down beside him so that he could put his eyes to much better use; regarding the girl from behind those red-tinted lenses. Langley was all smiles. "Gerald Lawrence Langley, but Langley will suffice, sweetheart." He replied but did not offer his hand as was often a tradition in introductions. His handshakes were reserved for the conclusion of business. "And I might be able to help with that too. I am, to toot my own horn, quite talented with procuring a person's desires."

She nodded her understanding, rolling a hip to push herself away from her post, sauntering a few steps towards him. "At what cost?" A few steps closer, green eyes taking on a hard glint similar to their gem namesake. "I'm not interested in being a pawn in another's games. I am, however, open to a mutual understanding and cooperation." Like a stilleto, straight to the heart of the matter. A dance of words, much like a round of fencing, was amusing enough to the rogue, but if she and her well-being were involved, no such niceties were paid. "I do believe I can procure some thing, or some things, for you in return."

The seriousness of business washed over Langley in an instant, his smile fading and the jovial lilt to his tone giving way to grim darkness. Right to the heart of the matter. If only others were as to the point as her, his dealings might be all the easier. "We are at the cusp of a grand new era for our lady Vailkrin, one that will need reliable people to take charge where there currently stands only stagnation." Langley explained before holding up two fingers. "To that end, I am prepared to offer you two things. The first, the ensurance that your secrets will remain yours... it will require that I put myself at odds with a very ambitious woman who does not much like being told no. I will do so gladly and all I ask in return is your eye. Doesn't matter which one."

The furrow of her brows deepens, jaw muscle working. While the rogue was, for the most part, scarecely like her kin she did have a touch of vanity. Missing one eye would also mess up her depth perception in a fight. But, before she declined him outright, she'd wave a hand. "What's the second offer?" Glass eyes weren't terribly hard to procure underground, especially frighteningly realistic ones. But, if she were to sacrifice some combat prowess, the second offer had better be damned appealing. "Furthermore, why would I risk giving my eye to anyone with potential magickal inclinations? Who knows what you'd do with it?"

Langley flashed another of his characteristic smiles, unable to hide the amusement that he felt when she asked him about that second offer. Negotiations always held a certain pleasure for him, a specific thrill that only came with haggling. "I am so very glad you asked, sweetheart." Langley chuckled, his hands folding in his lap. "In exchange for your loyalty to this city, I offer you a house... provided that you are willing to help take it when the time comes. Our Vailkrin stagnates under its current leadership. It has need of reform." He paused a moment to look her up and down, his eyes drinking in as many details of her from behind his red lenses as he could manage. "And it is not often that I also offer a third deal but you have caught me in a rare mood so for you... I might also be inclined to create a mask of illusions for your pretty little face. Of course, I would also expect that you bring the juicest secrets to me first."

The offer of a house gives her pause, green hues trained more intensely on Langley. A full on smile curls her petal pink lips, at last revealing straight pearly teeth. " On the subject of giving me a house, I'd like to propose an amendment." She didn't give him blame or pity for not knowing she was already daughter of a Vailkrin house. And a strong one at that. " And I trust you'll keep this little tidbit to yourself. Since your three offers are very tempting indeed, I do feel it fair for you to know one thing. I am already daughter of a House." Boot heels clacked softly on the cobblestone as she neared him, crooking one finger in a come-hither gesture, so as to utter the name of her House for his ears only.

It did not much matter to Langley that Talene was already a child of those houses. She could be the daughter of the most important vampire in the city and his offers would still stand. Even the daughter of a queen is possessed of ambition; perhaps even moreso due the the covetous nature of such positions. Still, he leaned forward a bit so that he might hear what she had to say. His prices were reasonable regardless, as far as he was concerned. "I am nothing if not honest, dove. You have my word."

Leaning in even closer, lips move to softly utter one word. "Nasar." If Langley was familiar with its head, Colette, he may or may not then catch on to Talene being her daughter. "Make me head of House Nasar, and you'll have a deal."

"Fascinating." It was a word spoken with an air of awe though perhaps not in the way that Talene might speak. It was not that he was awestruck by her pedigree as much as he was by his own luck. It was like everything that he sought to achieve was falling right into place before his very eyes. "You will have your house. I assure you of that. Sooner rather than later too. You need only to," He paused a moment and extended his hand towards Talene, the extremity now smoldering with green fire. "Shake my hand."

She regarded his hand with some degree of wariness, but since they seem to be cut from similar cloth, if he kept his word, then the mark of her deal with him would be concealed, as well as her secrets. And the supplantation of herself in place of her mother as Head of House Nasar would be underway at last. With a huff of breath, out of habit than necessity, she'd reach out her own bare hand to take his hand, her grip firm as any would expect for one of vampiric strength. She wasn't quite sure what sensations awaited her, but so long as the man was true to his bargain, then they'd pale in comparison to her victories.

The touching of their hands allowed Langley's magic to spread, the dark vile energies that he commanded crawling it's way up Talene's arm. The fire held no heat but rather felt much akin to a serpent writhing its way across her flesh. That lovely green eye of hers would bubble and blister, though completely without pain, as the orb began to melt and dissolve within her socket. when Langley withdrew his hand, the fingers unfurled; the stolen eye hovering above his palm awash in those sickly green flames. He admired it as one might admire a rare gem, his face clad in a mix of greed and adoration. How exquisite a prize. "We will be in touch, sweetheart. I shall begin crafting you your mask and making the preparations to provide you your throne."

Out of reflex when his hand withdrew from hers, she clapped a hand over her gaping left socket. The removal of her eye being painless left her wondering if there would be a residual pain after the nerve endings caught up with the fact. Unsure of how else to react, she simply nodded and quickly turned to the east; a patch would have to do until the mask was hers, or she was able to procure a glass eye for the time being from one of her..."contacts". When Langley spoke, she'd stop long enough to call back over one shoulder, " I am counting on it." Unsettled as she was, there was enough presence of mind to keep a straight face, the rogue fervently hoping she just hadn't made the biggest mistake of her un-life. This had better be worth it, she sulked, with a scowl.