RP:Rogues & Bards
Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc
This is a Bard's Guild RP.
This is a Rogue's Guild RP.
Summary: An alliance between the Bard's Guild and the Rogue's Guild is taking shape. Unsure on how it will play out as it seems the leaders sort of push each other's buttons.
The Office
The Office is on the classier end of seedy cabaret/exotic dancing establishments. Which is to say that it boasts an actual chef, as in a person who studied to make food, and has enough bouncer presence on the floor to offer at least some low alcohol content beverages. Similar to other establishments of this nature, it's got your well lit stage, poles, a diverse cast of dancing women, and surrounding them a population of tables, velvet wing-back chairs, couches, and people who've got nothing better to do (most of them men).
Hudson | It's daytime at The Office which means that business is slow and Hudson is here putzing around. He'd woken up late, it's his new MO now that he doesn't live with children and sleeps on a couch in a strip club. The day's trauma: he needs to do laundry... This used to be Alvina's jurisdiction. Right now, every single last pair of dad jeans, pastel-colored polo shirts, and track pants needs a wash. The dancers had intervened - they sort of function as a bloc platonic wife right now - and had packed up Hudson's dirty clothes and taken a pilgrimage to the nearest laundromat. This leaves the place mostly deserted, with Hudson shuffling about drinking a milkshake in his plaid pajama pants and an oversized bathrobe.
Leoxander was up with the sun despite a late night in that very building, meeting with the new potential for their Rynvale plans. After a morning routine and a scout of the broken city near Sage, he made his way back to Cenril to Hudson's 'residence', shifting the bow off his back as he shouldered open the door. A glance was spared for the robed man, brow furrowed for his appearance but scruffed jaw raising a notch in greeting. Leaving his weapon just outside the door of the office within the strip club, he made his way to that mini cold box to help himself to one of the beer bottles stocked inside, even if the owner had mentioned once before that they were stored there for special occasion. Another day he managed to stay alive was reason enough to celebrate. "You look like hell, man." Leo offered that mutter of words as he twisted the lid off or out of the bottle to take a drink of his own breakfast - not a protein milkshake. "Rough day?" He already guessed the answer, assuming to know what had gone down the day before, and the glint in his blue eyes said as much as he took a lean against the doorframe. Willing to move if Hudson meandered into his office room.
Brennia swooped down gracefully from the skies and landed with a soft thud from her heeled leather boots. She spotted the bow by the door but thought nothing of it and she shifted an item, a large leather bound book, to the other side while bending her velvety wings around her like a cloak, covering most of her now. She opted to pull her silky raven hair up in a high pony tail when she needs to fly long distances and it seemed to exaggerate her already long pointed and pierced ears; those large blue eyes seemingly larger. All of which makes her seem more bird like for her kind. Once she enters those with keen senses can pick up on their most favorite scent emitting from the Avian as this is a common trait and her six foot two (and then some because of boots) presence would make her known almost instantly. She sees Hudson in his condition with a sort of disapproving scowl, "Get it together, The Sir." Her sultry alto tone nearly swims in the empty air of The Office while she sauntered her way on over to where Hudson was , giving the stranger a smirk from those plump lips in acknowledgment. She decides to say no more until this stranger is made known and proved to not be a threat.
Hudson grunts at Leoxander, mid-sip from his milkshake. He does indeed look like hell. "Last night was a bit intense," he remarks, leaving it at that. "And I have to go to some engagement party for some people Alvina and I know later. She'll probably be there too. The worst." His complaining about this forced socializing with his ex is cut short by the sound of someone else arriving. No, it's not Crystal and Tiffany with his clothes. It's Brennia. His sleepy-eyed gaze registers recognition. He wings up an eyebrow as she teases him for the current state of his person. Yeah, everyone picking up on that. It's not great. He tightens the sash on his bathrobe, small improvement. "I'm hungover from life," he tells her, gesturing between the avian and Leoxander to make the introduction: "Leoxander, this is Miss Brennia Smyth, I made that stuff for her." Meaning the hallucinogen. "Miss Smyth, this is Leo, we work together, he's involved in my operation. Handles a bit of distribution, knows people, makes me seem more menacing through association." Hudson tempers a halfway grin and runs a hand through the back of his hair before realizing that he's being rude. He gestures at their drinks. "Can I get you something, Miss Smyth? Beer, wine, shake, water......? You here about that stuff, I actually have it but you have to wait here for me to get it because I don't want you to see what my office looks like right now. Hold on." He holds up a finger in the universal sign for 'one second' and disappears into the manager's office to go fetch the dropper he'd promised. If Brennia had asked for a beverage, he'll get that too.
Leoxander | The pirate's sun spotted nose twitched a bit at one side for the wave of avian scent that washed in with the folding of ebony wings. And if that wasn't a tall drink of water wandering in with her wind swept ponytail and sharp features... not that Leo really associated with water very often. He wondered for a moment if she wasn't a new sister for the stage, but something about the way she addressed Hudson said not, and he gave 'The Sir' a sidelong glance with a similar quirk of brow beneath unkempt blond hair for the title. At the introduction, something he doesn't often bother with on his own, he returned his attention toward the tattooed woman recognizing that if Hudson was passing along his full name, she must be trusted. The description made him tempted to roll his eyes at the fellow wolf, but he just lifted his jaw in the same silent sort of greeting before he took another drink from his beer. A step forward taken out of his doorframe lean allows Hudson access to that office, and brings Leo just a little closer to Brennia's space, his look over her appearance fairly blatant. Not exactly disrespectful, but the rogue was clearly checking her out from head to heels. His attire was a slight improvement from Hudson's robe, but the blood stained, torn wife beater and dirt dusted leather didn't exactly scream 'put together', either. "Nice ink." A few short words for just enough small talk, but the rogue was the quiet type.
Brennia opened her wings now, she expected more people in here like last time, but she guesses it's safe to let them out a little. They give a half stretch, seemingly shrinking the room they are in, before they are folded closely to her curvaceous form. Doing this revealed the book in her arm, the pattern on the book matches her ink pattern on her supple caramel skin. Also revealed what she was wearing for the contradictory in the way she carries herself and the way she peaks paints her as royalty, but her kind smile and simple attire argued with it. She is introduced to the tawny man, offered a drink as well and she offers that kind smile to Leoxander, "Merry Meet, Leoxander. Nice of you, but no thanks, Sir." Her sultry alto timbre and bardic tongue twists the man's name in taboo, but usually makes one eager to hear it again. She doesn't actually care what either of them are wearing and also doesn't mind being 'checked out' as she gets it often. A short dark chuckle was given to Leo's attempts for small talk, "Oh this old thing… Was my thirteenth year birthday peasant." She offered a wink from one of those large oceanic blue eyes with her dry joke for it was true, but she likes the lighter side of the truth. Once Hudson emerged from the office she met him half way while her free hand reaches behind her back and in between her wings for something. "You will find what we have agreed upon in there." She placed a hearty coin purse in Hudson's hand. Her tone became a little hushed, "I actually wanted to get your expertise on a more… Sensitive matter?" Might have to do with the large book in her arm which reads on the side 'Smyth VIII Addition'
Hudson | And so Hudson leaves Leoxander for a very short period at the mercy of the infamous Miss Smyth. Hudson digs through his things in the manager's office to find the dropper bottle he'd made for her, and then doubles back to join them, handing it over to her in short order in exchange for the money. "Thank you," he quips, dropping the coin purse into his bathrobe's pocket. Leoxander seems to be getting an eyeful over there, Hudson has been there and anticipates a sidebar later amongst men about Brennia's charming disposition, shall we say. Or perhaps the assets that she brings to this conversation? Anyway. Hudson looks with interest at the book she's holding. Looks like something only rich people have, books about their families. Hudson's mother is nouveau riche and so this does not apply to him but he did grow up among wealthy people and so is aware of the phenomenon. "Yeah, what's up?" he asks, gesturing that she be seated in one of the nearby couches. He doesn't excuse Leo. "Excuse me, I'm not exactly dressed today, laundry day," says Hudson, parking himself on the couch opposite the one chosen by the avian. "You don't mind if Leo chills here?" says Huds, gesturing at the other wolf. "We are both very sensitive to very sensitive matters. Is this about the mushroom deal I mentioned or....?"
Leoxander didn't seem to possess a smile, but there might have been a hint of a smirk in his own blond veiled gaze for her words. He was aware when business was at hand, in hand, but he didn't feel very intrusive as he played the part of a third wheel in the scene - not yet. At the very least he was going to finish his beer before he departed to give them some privacy, and picked up the weapon outside the office door in hand to carry it over to one of the cushioned seats a short distance away from whatever couch they choose. Wolf sharp senses allowed him to pick up on even quietly spoken words, but he doesn't really seem to be paying attention as he gazes toward the stage, almost as though some invisible dancer were occupying it to some music only he could hear. Strange, the way his mind had briefly wandered while listening to the way Miss Smyth had spoken his name, but he wouldn't dwell on it. Looking more like a lazy bouncer than a partner in those 'sensitive matters', he tilted that bottle back a third or fourth time to finish it off.
Brennia sat on the offered couch, "That is fine." A smirk would be given, "I can fetch more ingredients for a cut, sure." She clears her throat softly, "I need assistance with something else." Did her ink seem to… Flicker? Must be the dim on the lights. "As you can assume… That night has not been the only time where The Raven has shown herself in such a way." She spoke cryptically for she doesn't mind anyone hearing of her troubles, but she didn't go bragging about them. "In this book are directions and ingredients, but they are out of order." A sort of apologetic smirk came over, "Unfortunately The Raven won't let me read through it to white it all out." She sets the book on the couch next to her in a pause to choose her next words carefully, "I need to find how, and what made The Raven the way she is so I can better counter her." Her meaningful gaze given to him would beg to clue him in that any info in this book he finds he keeps to himself. "Is this achievable for you?"
Hudson | "Yeah, maybe a lot of ingredients," muses Hudson, though it becomes apparent they're not here to discuss the drug rather quickly. The conversation has moved away, and Leo has ditched, perhaps fearing that some woman subject is about to be discussed. With that book she has, for real, how bad can it be? Hudson makes a mental note to give the guy some grief later, surely the peril of Possible Woman Subject wasn't that great. ...Actually it takes Hudson a second and then he has a very specific and short-lived spasm of terror that perhaps he really had blacked out while doing drugs with Brennia and that they'd had sex and she's about to tell him she's pregnant. This better not be that. Please let it not be that. It cannot be that he's off the leash for five seconds and impregnates some random woman and remembers literally nothing about it, that's a cruel joke if it's what occurred. He almost sighs when relief when Brennia begins talking about the book, yes, the book, how could he ever have doubted... Hudson looks attentively at Brennia, casting aside his momentary panic, and pulling through the skein of his memories to recall The Raven. Ah yes, her, the Raven... He nods slowly, catching up with the ask she's about here. "I see, OK. And this is alchemy stuff, and you're asking me because I'm an alchemist," he says it all out loud just to see her nod to confirm. His gaze flicks to the book. "Sure, yeah, I can look into it." He rubs his beard. "Go figure, I guess I'm the only sketchy alchemist you know." He extends his hand for the book. "May I?"
Leoxander sat there a few moments longer, holding that empty bottle. A beer just wasn't enough to start his day with, but he wouldn't continue to mooch off the liquor that made a little extra profit in the late night. The conversation didn't make a lot of sense to him, anyhow. It wasn't really enough to hold his interest for long, particularly since those names and that book were kept between the pair. So it was inevitable that eventually the rogue was moving to his booted feet, taking a moment to shrug the heavy compound bow over his shoulder and moving to any bin to toss the glass in, one last look offered to the avian and the werewolf. "I'll prolly take off, mate. Maybe after yer party we can find some trouble of our own." Though he might have given Brennia a pointed look at those words.
Brennia nods to Hudson about her request because he in an alchemist for he is correct. She stands back up to hand him the book leaving him to it if he wanted so she may hone in a little closer to Leoxander and his mysterious offer of trouble. Giving an impish grin she starts, "Off so soon?" A tilt of her head and a quirk of a brow, "Trouble, huh?" She sighs gently, "Between one of my bard's and her new friend, Zero I think I've got my hands full of trouble." Again… Did her ink just flicker atop her caramel skin, again!? There was something troublesome underlying in this Avain, but weather she decides to share with others she is picky. A shrug would be given, "I mean, I am not one to judge, but sneaking around and keeping secrets no matter what you are doing wont last long in my guild." She turns back to Hudson, "I wonder… Have you ever tried making a truth serum or something the like? Now, -that- could be useful." The smirk she gave along with the glint in her eye should worry some for her honeyed words hold the ability to lead stronger men to their demise… Now weather she decides to use such tactics to that extent is not known…
Hudson receives the book and politely refrains from flipping through it, although he's a touch curious now as to how Brennia's evil twin messed with it. "Thanks," he says, looking up as Leo has swung by to announce his departure. Hudson doesn't miss the way Brennia leaps up to talk to the other wolf - everyone has a type, evidently he's not hers, hah! Observing in a sort of interested and amused fashion, as you might casually observe a nature documentary ("Behold... the wild Brennia approaches the wary Leoxander...."), Hudson takes up his milkshake and drinks from the straw until it rattles with emptiness. He's surprised when Brennia engages him in conversation, he'd started to become invested in watching this one play out for a touch longer. "Truth serum? Nah, that's more a witch thing if anything, I don't do much more than complex chemistry and matter naming," he replies. He tries again from his milkshake but it's donezo. There's a glint of something in her eye, he catches it. "Just because you can know the truth about something doesn't mean you should, in my book," offers Huds, rising from the sofa, book under his arm, and turning his attention back to Leo. "You're reminding me, I should probably get myself together." He nods at Brennia, flashing her an easy grin that's in part also meant for Leo. Sometimes you leave a buddy alone with a woman/the peril. "Thanks for thinking of me. I'll take a look at this and write you," he assures the avian. "Nice seeing you." And with that, he excuses himself to go to the manager's office.
Leoxander | He thought it could have been a trick of lighting the first time, but the second time, Leo was certain he saw something curious about the intricate ink that ran along her limbs. Not that he would be so forward as to question it, but beyond that, Brennia's words had his pupils dilating smaller like a wolf who caught a glimpse of prey in the distance. He wasn't headed toward the door, yet, but would have stopped in his tracks at the sound of that name. A lackey, not yet through with his training or trial to earn a title of crow, but he glanced at Hudson in case 'Sir'... or 'The Sir recognized 'Zero' to be a potential in their crew. But the fellow werewolf had a ball to get ready for and two stripper fairy godmothers to make certain he made it on time. 'Guild' was a strong name, gang was probably more appropriate, but there was definitely a crowd of rogue's forming under one banner and like it or not, Leo seemed to be the one in charge of keeping them in line. It wasn't the first time he'd taken a task like that onto his shoulders, having dealt with 'pups' and ferals in a wolf pack once long ago. But he didn't much appreciate it when he had to go out of his way to correct someone who just didn't get what few rules were established. "Some of us are made for keepin' secrets. But what exactly are these two 'friends' up to?" He was bold enough to direct that question her way, and she might be hard pressed to refuse him an answer with that blade sharp stare and a note of tension in his jaw.
Brennia dared a step closer to the stranger since he's more talkative now and if he was done tracing all the places her ink pattern travels he would find her focus on him just as interested. She rested a hand in the curve of her waist while she swung her hip out against it, exaggerating her dangerous curves and if this was done on purpose, who knows. "Well you see. From an onlooker's account he saw one of my bard's start to perform and sing a small group of travelers asleep… Then her new friend rifles through their things and they make off with precious belongings." She took one more half step closer as if trying not to startle prey. "To be honest, I don't mind it. Go use your talents how you see fit, but it's done so carelessly. In my opinion there is no good or evil there is just action." She crosses her arms under her perky bust, "May I ask why you want to know what my Kate is up to?" Again, her brow quirked causing the remaining ink pattern around her temple there to shift (naturally this time.)
Leoxander wasn't exactly pissed off by the alliance to bards. Or a bard, in this case. But Zero was forfeiting his trial, keeping the profit a secret, and cheating by clever means, but still cheating on his test. The kid was a rookie, and likely to open his mouth if he got caught this soon without a mentor or leader to show him the ropes. The pirate didn't want that coming back to bite them in the ass when maintaining their place in the shadows was a priority, yet. He might have looked at Hudson again were he still in the room, but without that glance to rely on, Leo took a moment to look away. It would seem that Brennia was trusted, enough to partake in the market for substance, which was really their main point of business for decent funds. Teeth remained clenched for a moment more before his blue eyes lifted back through his hair toward the avian. "Because that's not what he's supposed to be bloody workin' on, sonuvabich..." A hand flexed, and tattooed knuckles cracked faintly as he maintained his composure enough but was clearly unhappy about the situation. "What 'yer Kate' does is yer own business. I just can't risk this blaggard unfurlin' the sails this early in the game, savy?"
Brennia's brow now furrowed in concern while her melodic tone took on a more calming one, subtly sending out calming pulses with her bardic powers, "Now. I don't want to go getting anyone into trouble. So, you know this, Zero, gentlemen then..." She is now before him with one last step. "Excuse me for asking, but what game?" Her large blue eyes now take their turn measuring him out in the same shameless way he did to her earlier. Being so close now the pirate may understand her power of persuasion, her grin poking a dimple in her caramel cheek, the favorite scent and those massive onyx wings hypnotic in nature with each velvety feather reflecting hues of navy blues and forest greens. Depending on how her height makes her taller than most men she was either looking the man dead on or slightly down, either way the Avian bard was a dangerous combination. "What was this Zero fellow supposed to be working on for you mister Leoxander." Again the twist of the name on her sultry tongue, maybe too much, but who knows.
Leoxander | Why was he so compelled to spill every word to her? There was few brief seconds where he locked onto those larger blue eyes, mouth ever so slightly open, then he forced himself to snap his mind out of an unexpected daze and glanced over her coaxing expression, lips brow and gaze. Ever so slightly, his large nose flared at her scent, which he had noticed the moment she walked in but couldn't ignore it, now. Get a grip, Leo. No dame would be uncoiling the skilled knots woven into his social defense. The rogue stood only a couple inches above an average six feet, maybe an extra for the thick tread of his combat styled boots, but given those massive wings he probably felt a little smaller than he wanted to, in her presence. "Don' call me 'mister'..." That was what he started with. 'Sir' may fly for Hudson but he didn't have the patience for it. Captain had been the only title he had truly accepted in the past, even though some of the female folk tended to refer to him as 'dog'. "He ain't one'a mine, yet, an' I got no problem lettin' him go if he wants to fu-... mess around." Not that he was trying to be a gentleman, but for some reason he was feeling a little calmer to catch himself of some of the more foul words in his vocabulary. "You think you could get yer Kate to bring him to us? He doesn't have the rune I need to find him, yet."
Brennia shrinks back a little with her hands gesturing apologetically, letting the captain win one. A nod, "Leoxander, it is, apologies." Her arms opened now, body language everything and she let her tattooed arms rest at her curvy sides. "I am sure mate could bring them to... Who." It wasn't a question there was something he was withholding and she was close to unlocking it. Maybe she could help him in his guild and vice versa, but as of right now she has no idea what he means by 'us'. The 'who' wasn't meant as a question, but may come across as more of a demand. She was feeling like she was back home with all the political alliances and how it was like playing a game of chess. "Hm? A rube? What would someone get a rune for?" She was asking all of the right questions, but it's yet to be seen if she garners the answers she's seeking.
Leoxander knew at that point that he needed another drink. It was like a caffeine addicted person starting their day without coffee, only he needed the sugar and spice and everything nice that was rum. Or whiskey, if that was all that he could get. So, despite his efforts of not taking from the nightly profit, Leo made his way to the stock - not the stock in the office but whatever bar or shelf might exist outside of it, because he definitely didn't want to walk in on Hudson without his robe and pajama pants. The beard suggested enough. "You know... if I explain this, you'll be about the only one who knows. So if word gets out, I know who to look for." It was a mild threat. Nothing too intimidating, but a reminder that he wasn't so lenient if it compromised his new 'franchise'. "Okay so... I know you all got yer thing. Sabrina has these healers. I assume by your words you... got the singers and players and.... that's probably what explains my head in a g'damn fuzz..." He was intelligent enough to figure that out. "I ain't a killer. Not anymore. But... I guess I got somethin' of a 'soiree' happenin' now and then. A few here an' there. Some jobs that need done." Fine. He'd just say it. "Rogues." At least, that was what most would call them. He would prefer 'businessmen'.
Brennia let a long moment of silence pass between them, those large eyes. Not moving from the man's face while he spoke with a sort of smug look on her face from her mini achievement. She runs her hand down the long length of her pony tailed hair while her grin grew once more. The name 'Rogues' was met with smirking silence as the wheeled in her mind turned with ideas and he may pick up on the glint in her eye from her internal thought process. She stalks close to him once more while speaking, "I'm not sure you can put all your bets on it just being the fact I'm a bard." The answer to his 'mind fog' was nothing more than herself, mostly. "I know how to keep a secret... Or two." She would refer him to ask Hudson, but that would be telling, no? "I guess that is one thing we have in common then." A remark to his mention of not being a killer, anymore. It all boils down to, yes Brennia is a beautiful Avian with the power of playing a pretty song, but she is not just that. "I think... Our little scammers are onto something," a slight tilt of her head, "No? Just think, if we were able to work together... Out guilds could be a powerful pair." She extends a hand after suggestion, "I am looking forward to working with you. Let's ally our forces." She would shine that stone-heart-melting smile back at him poking dimples in both cheeks now.
Leoxander was definitely thrown off by the smirk. It gave him the sense that he had been played. So he took a step forward as well, meeting her as a wolf trapped in a human body, barely resisting a hand around her throat. Perhaps that might wipe that smile off her face, perhaps not. "I d'know what you are, Miss Smyth. But I promise you if you (expletive) with me, you'll regret it." The rogue's words were low, and laced with a growl. "I think it might be more... efficient... to us both, if we were to cooperate." He wasn't certain, yet, whether to entrust the security of his new foundation to an enchantress of sorts, but it seemed he didn't have much of a choice, because of Zero and Kate. "You do the first favor, a trial... and I'll bring you into our circle. Deal?" He stood just an arm's reach from her, where she might smell his sweat and wolf and man musk as easily as he could smell his favorite scent, which was fresh dirt, peanut butter, or lemon. Perhaps all combined.
Brennia did not step back, she's fought before and she will not hesitate to do it again as she didn't even flinch on his actions, might be unnerving to some; does this woman have a death wish? Her grin didn't falter in the least while her oceanic blue eyes looked through him. She's dealt with his kind before and the only movements she made was the craning of her head to offer her neck more, just a subtle movement to prove she wasn't afraid, did she even lean into it, only slightly. If the man was observant enough in being so close now he could see ghosts of scars littler the area where he was threatening and how they hide among the intricate tattoo pattern from afar. Vampire bites on her neck and one hidden on her chest right at the hem of her short, Lycan tears about her traps and claw marks on the biceps of her arms, even dragon tooth marks encompassing her right shoulder.... Either she was a champion fighter or a flawless lover... It will remain a question. "I have no intention to jar your plans... Oh, but of course we can't get anything without doing something first. I'll get Kate to do as you've asked, Leoxander," her calming and kind tone seemed to amplify at his close proximity. She watched him back down, still grinning she let her previously offered hand drop back to her wide hip, "We have a deal. I'll meet you in the tavern of Schezerade if you have any further questions." She would turn, in doing so pointed out her best asset yet and saunters her way to the office door, giving it a light rasp without opening it, "Merry party The Sir. Be seeing you." She would walk passed Leoxander tittering a wave of her fingers, "Merry part until we merry meet again."
Leoxander | The wolf in Leo recognized the actions, and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. She was offering some submission, in a beast language. Bird might be prey to wolf, but she was no typical bird. He did notice her scars, as she might notice his, some from silver wire, some from knives or arrows, ink broken in several places. That included the lycan bite through the scorpion on his right forearm. Sharpened blue eyes followed her to the door as she bid farewell to Hudson, whether he was aware or not. "Until we meet again, bird." It was a title bestowed to the avians he liked. Or the women who caught some interest. Perhaps she would acquire something better as the days passed and more business was done. Picking up a bottle from the owner's supply, Leo went back to the couch, to think things over and see his brother out to the ball. He might need a little advice or at least a shot, before he went to the event.