Completed [The Great Bazaar] Chain reaction

[Tatiam]

Well... It wasn't that far off from reality. Tatiam's amused expression flinched with a brief twitch of the eyebrow. Why is everything about him so irritating?! The man wouldn't take a hint when she meant it, he wouldn't laugh when she was joking, wouldn't back off nor fight when he was provoking her, and he kept acting like a wacky jester; Never serious when he should be, and then turning everything Tatiam said into a joke. ...And why is he so petching hard to read??! It felt as if Orion kept sending mixed signals and it threw her off. She wanted to keep her cool, think straight... But he would use anything she'd say against herself, so Tatiam didn't say a word. "Tell me, are you normally such a bad liar, or is it something special for me?" Hmpf. You're nothing special. "The truth or not, I'm quite charmed, Miss Tatiam. How could I not be?" Mocking me again... You tell me. Is there anything to be charmed about?! "If you can think back moments ago, it was you that brought our paths back together." ...My bad. But why the hell did you come back? Orion's following words were just too ridiculous, but it was once he talked about her that it became a serious matter. Tatiam surged out of the water to stand in front of the man, eyes flaring up. Fortunately, her long hair stuck to her tanned skin and covered what could have served as distraction, but in the moment, Tatiam didn't even waste a thought on it. "Careful what you say about me," she warned Orion with fierce eyes, her index pressing on the man's chest, precisely on his dark scar. She hoped it still hurt. "You depend on the Knights to keep you safe, and I won't hold back this time if you keep pushing, so maybe you should start praying that they're really going to come." Tatiam wouldn't let him turn her into laughing stuff any further.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion She just stood there, taking every thing he said in, returning nothing. Like a tea kettle on the flame, the pressure just built and built as Orion just went on an on, pushing her on everything that he could, joking, teasing, confusing, and generally enjoying himself. The woman didn't budge, didn't, smile, didn't frown, didn't anything. At least not until he talked about her kissing. Apparently there was the line he'd been searching for. An athletic frame ascended from the water, causing an involuntary grin to jump onto Orion's face. Blessings pour upon him. Long strands of hair prevented the full show from being performed, but Orion needed little help when his imagination went to work. And there she was, moving towards him. Threatening him, her finger pressed against his chest. She was trying to intimidate him or something, it appeared. So instead of backing down, he waited for her to finish speaking and then returned the favor, placing his index finger on the identical spot on his counterpart. "Ooops." He quickly retreated from her, kicking his legs in the water to distance himself with as much haste as possible. "But seriously," he began, after righting himself from his escape. "You really need to lighten up. You're outta control here, pretty lady. If you're gonna come at me, I can assure you that you won't want any knights or anyone around to witness it. You'll melt in my hands."

[Tatiam]

Arms crossed slowly against the woman's chest as she turned and glanced aside, considering Orion's words. Tatiam sighed softly and let herself sink into the pool up to her neck, a frown easily permeating her features. He was testing her, he did everything to ruin her good mood just then, so why tell her to 'lighten up'? Life was unbearable at times, and Tatiam was a living mess. Wasn't she trying to make it easier? More enjoyable? Perhaps Orion had something to teach her about that, after all, whether he was a loon, a jester, a playboy, or all of those at once... "You're right," she breathed, a hint of reluctance in her voice. It was going to be hard, to step back and admit to it fully. "Not about me melting in your hands," she added when a light smile graced her face. "That remains to be seen." Uh-oh, was that a challenge? Lighten up, lighten up... thought Tatiam, forcing the foreign idea into her mind. Nonchalant playfulness was easier to achieve, but it clearly wouldn't be enough. Still it was a start. The artist turned towards Orion, returning a comment his way: "So um... Mister kiss judge of Syliras, is it? Are you always such a bad liar, or is it.. something special with me?" She grinned and showed her tongue, watching closely for his reaction.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Wasn't that just rich? This woman was crazy, no doubt about it. The ups and downs were so extreme it was nearly comical. Worst of all, it just made Orion want to tug at those strings, drive her insane, push her, prod her until there was a real explosion. It would be simple enough, it appeared, as just by watching her reactions to everything he did, she was little more than an open book. So much anger, and so much uncertainty. He'd come across types like this before, but not to this extreme. No, not at all. "Of course I'm right," he replied. He was no perfect judge of a person, but he'd learned how to gauge them fairly well from his time having to deal with patients to ashamed or embarrassed to discuss what was wrong with them. "About both things. Have you ever felt so good you forgot where you were? Where you were? How to talk? How to think?" His tongue ran slowly, seductively, across his lips as he studied the woman before him before it retreated back into his mouth. "That'd just be the beginning." Yet when she tried to get with the small talk, he could only grin and shake his head. "So now you want to talk, hmm? Goodness you're a strange one. No, I think I've had enough for the day." He waded towards the edge of the pool, speaking as he went. "And besides, anticipation, thinking of me. It'll drive you wild contemplating what you've missed." His arrogance could know no bounds. Reaching the stone side, he pulled himself out of the water, stood, and turned, looking down at her, his body visible in all it's glory. Or horror, depending on one's preferences. "You're just special. Enjoy the rest of your bath, Miss Tatiam. Try not to lose your mind when you think about me tonight." With another lick of his lips, Orion turned from her, strutting all the way to where his towel was placed. A slight regret tugged at his emotions, as he was sure something could have happened. Yet, he'd run into this woman twice in one day. Syliras must not have been that big. Surely they'd meet again, and when that happened, he'd just have to see what his game had done. oocI'm having Orion try and make his exit here; however, if you want to have Tatiam do anything which would extend this thread, I'd be happy to continue it.

[Tatiam]

Golden eyes looked incredulous as they rested on the man's features while he talked. Who does he think he is? Some God?! Tatiam wanted to laugh in his face. No matter who he'd ever pleased before, and what they said about it, there was no reason to brag so. How vain... Perhaps as a self-proclaimed 'judge', he was giving out surveys at the end of his... sessions? Right, the glimpse of a smile appeared on Tatiam's lips. The silly thoughts she could come up with. But then the blue-eyed man turned her down with a simple "No" and in immediate reaction, she thought the exact same thing. Think I've had enough too. That wasn't going to lead anywhere anyway. Orion was just a weirdo. A bloated vain weirdo. He was trying to get in her head, suggest her how and what to think, and it was almost working. Tatiam was still, her eyes following him, but not even taking a second to admire his silhouette. Perfect denial. In another taunt he licked his lips, those she hadn't even really tasted yet. She'd never admit to the dueling temptation, but for just an instant her stare lingered on them before he went away. "I'm already wild, I've already lost my mind," she said loud enough for him to hear. "Careful, I think it's contagious!" She grinned as she watched him leave. Did she scare him? Would he wish to meet her again? Which one was it? Tatiam wanted to laugh, but then she turned around and looked upward at the vaporous sky for a long moment, the admission of her true feelings sinking in as she sighed to herself. It's not even funny... She let her feet float as her head dropped, eyes still watching the cloudy sky from under the water. When,... How did I become like this? The young woman stayed still, suspended in space until her body screamed for air. Head came up to the surface, gasping and breathing once more before she returned to where her soap and towel were left. Tatiam began braiding her hair, her mind lost in abstract thoughtfulness.

[Accolade]

Tatiam

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Seduction	+ 3 XP
Intimidation	+ 1 XP
Swimming	+ 2 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Orion-smexy stranger
•	The notion of personal space
•	Showing Self-control
•	A smexy bath for two - Orion

Orion Michaels

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Negotiation	+ 1 XP
Rhetoric	+ 2 XP
Swimming	+ 2 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP
Herbalism	+ 1 XP
Seduction	+ 3 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Bad luck Chuck
•	Tatiam-the wild card
•	Haggling for a better price
•	A smexy bath for two - Tatiam

Notes :

Nice thread guys, that was all kinds of wow. To bad Orion lost his purchase..but he still has to pay for them. That will be Mint herbs - 5 copper an ounce. Almond oil - 13 gold

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.