Closed [Aquillar Hot Springs] Working Up a Sweat (Pulren)

[Caela Dorin]

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It was a tense and anxious wait for her as she awaited his judgement once he'd had time to take in her explanation. She could only hope that he wouldn't catch her out on anything that she'd said. He said nothing at first but he did move her clothes back and poured a drink for her, which seemed hopeful signs in her eyes. There was no clear sign just yet that she had won but the dancer hoped that it would work out that way for her and that he would just allow this little hiccup on her part to pass from his thoughts.

He began to walk around the pool, an action that made her feel incredibly uncomfortable. The water would distort her body which lay beneath the surface but it was still painfully visible, a fact that the blonde knew and disliked. She followed his movements, turning herself as he moved but so that she had her back to him until he was straight across from her and she was facing him again. Her legs were folded up beneath her, one crossed over the other slightly. Her hair was pushed forward so that the ends floated around the top of her chest. It wasn't enough to cover anything but she allowed her left arm to lie casually over her breasts while her right arm propped her up against the side of the bath. Her form was almost fully submerged, only from the tops of her shoulders upwards still dry and she could hope that the man could see less of her form than he might like. It was a little too much for her liking all the same.

There was no comment made by her concerning his erection so if he wanted one he was to be sorely disappointed. He seemed to be clearing the air between them though, starting them on a clean slate where no misunderstandings had taken hold. A soft sigh escaped her. The young woman had indeed gotten what she'd wanted. He'd passed over her former actions, strange as they were, and she still had the opportunity to analyse him at her leisure.

"Caela. Caela Dorin. Nice to meet you, Palaren," she replied softly to his re-introduction of himself. It seemed a silly way of doing things but if that was his way so be it. This time she'd had to give some ground though, information as simple as her name that had been formerly withheld had to be given up. She still had the advantage though if what he'd told her about herself was true. If it wasn't then he hadn't succeeded in getting too much information out of her as yet but she'd stay on her guard. The dancer didn't want to be too hasty and give away more than she'd like him to know.

Her right arm stretched for her drink, a small sip taken to wet her dry mouth. The liquid was swilled over her tongue before she swallowed, wet tongue run slowly over her lips to wet them before she spoke again. "So Palaren, what brings you here on this fine morning?" A slight smile was given to encourage him to continue their fresh start. Let's see if he has anything to say that contradicts what he said before, she thought to herself. She'd have to cross examine him but make sure that she wasn't obvious about it. He was sharper than he'd first seemed.




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[Pulren Marsh]

Maybe she really was just a vacant, lovely girl. Pulren didn't really believe it, but he had to accept it at least as a possibility. Wizards who went too far were certainly prone to strange behaviors. The Doctors College in the University certainly had its fair share of them, mumbling to themselves or having delusions. Perhaps she was equally stricken and the Gods had gifted her so heavily in her physicality that there was little left in the mental department. While this was probably not the case, it brought a smirk to Pulren's face that he sincerely hoped she would mistake for lust.

Caela Dorin. A nice name. A nice girl? Still to be determined and even if not, so exquisite to look at that some things could be as overlooked as looked at. He wasn't sure that it was a curse at all, more blessing. All he could do was watch the show being presented, his shirt coming off to reveal his angry scar across his chest. Sliding into the steamy water at the furthest point opposite Caela, Pulren laid his arms back on the cool rocks and looked up at the ceiling, watching the clouds of steam wash around up there. Now she was asking him what he was doing this morning? She really had a mental problem or had some agenda so convoluted that Pulren thought he might just enjoy the mutual soak.

"Same thing I was doing outside. Woke up, walked around, saw you, enjoyed it, you know the rest." Since they were there and being friendly as it seemed, he took the opportunity to push his questions further, though he chose to continue to look up rather than at her. Perhaps not drawing in her beautiful face and body and simply listening to her would make things clearer. "So, you came all the way from town out here to exercise. It's a long haul, I have walked it several times. Did you walk it or run it?"

[Caela Dorin]

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Something brought a smirk to the man's face and Caela wondered idly what it was. She could imagine that his thoughts had taken some sexual route connected to this little bath time scene and so she tried not to look too far into it. Instead the dancer took a further sip of her juice before placing it at the side of the pool once more. Her gaze drifted back to him as he was slipping off his shirt and was artfully averted. Her head was tilted down slightly, the fingers of her right hand running through her hair slowly as she waited for the ripples to appear in the water.

As soon as she had her sign that Palaren was in the water, or at least entering it, she raised her eyes once more. Her right arm was returned to its place against the side of the bath at a leisurely pace. The blonde did nothing to hide her interest in the scar that marked his chest so obviously. He wasn't likely to notice seeing as he was too busy examining the ceiling. That was a serious scar and she wondered how he'd acquired it. Fishing accident? Maybe but she didn't know what could possibly have caused it. She allowed her eyes to run over it as he answered her question, pondering its origins. His answer suggested that he thought her question was stupid. The way he seemed to imply that the answer was obvious was what led her to that conclusion.

His question seemed pointless to her and she wondered what he was playing at. As far as idle chit chat went it was a little odd so she assumed that there was something behind it that she couldn't see. There was a moment's pause from the dancer before she chose to answer. "I walked obviously. I'm not stupid enough to run it," she remarked with a light laugh. Caela didn't want to cause him offence so she decided that it was best to elaborate. "First of all, do you think that I'm physically fit enough to run that distance? Second, this is Sunberth. If the wrong sort of people see you running they might just decide that it's interesting to go after you. The wrong sort of people are not people that I have any desire to tangle with."

The blonde reached for her drink once again so that she something to with her hands. She swilled the contents around the glass, watching as it sloshed against the sides. He wasn't the only one who was going to get his questions answered. "So you've asked me something so is it my turn again? Will we alternate? You ask something then I ask something? I'd say that it's a good way to get to know each other. I promise that I won't get offended by any questions you ask if you don't take offence at mine. Deal?" The young woman smirked, taking a sip of redberry juice as she allowed him to consider it. She had no idea if he'd be tempted by such an offer but she hoped that it'd give her a chance to find out some things of interest about him. First on her agenda was to find out about that scar.

"So, if you don't mind my asking, what caused a scar like that on your chest? Hard not to notice it I'm afraid. It's looks pretty nasty. I'd say it was a bad wound to cause something like that. Care to share?" the blonde asked.

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[Pulren Marsh]

Listening to the melodic trill of Caela's laugh, he really couldn't help himself but to lower his head and look at her again, though he remained stalwart in keeping his focus on her eyes and lips. Not that terrible a choice of targets, either. Shrugging slightly, he seemed to chew at his lip a little."I realize you aren't physically fit, but thought that is why you came all the way out here in the first place. I would think even a jog might be a good idea. Just my two coppers. As far as running from people, if you aren't fit to run and someone did want to chase you, you're petched anyway." Seemed logical enough. Surely there was more to it.

Next, a game of sorts was offered. Pulren actually could think of another he might prefer playing with, her red eyes burnt into his mind. For now, it would be the stunning blonde with her strange ways. "No, I have nothing to hide. I would actually be quite pleased if you offended me. I can't imagine how you would do so." Her own sip of redberry juice prompted one of his own as well, though he hoped that her quicker sipping might lead to her reaching a bit too far out of the water and give him a little peek. Just because he was a gentleman didn't make him blind.

The question asked caught him by surprise, though it shouldn't have. It was most likely because with all of his own looking at her, he had forgotten about his own body entirely. Having mentally castrated himself earlier, there was little reason to get too excited about Caela unless there was a proper reason. Could conversation and relaxation get him there? Sure it could. Would it? It remained to be seen. First of all, there was a question to answer and it was one that needed to be answered by a game fisherman, not a Wave Guard.

Fingering the scar slightly, Pulren recalled when he first watched the green Res creep its way out with Aoren. Not a Wizard. Not a Guard. A fisherman! Not a sword, but a fish. Had to cut him deep and did it get away? Yes, it would get away and leave him with a tale. Time to get spinnin. "Swordtail. Wickedly large fish, sort of like a shark. We have them in Zeltiva and I was doing my best to haul one in. Even had it half netted as it thrashed about. Their tail fin is deadly sharp, has cut men open wide, filling the sea with blood and attracting more predators. With one swipe, the fish lashed through net, line and chest, gone just like that." He looked off into the air above her head as he imagined what that creature would look like in the first place.

Looking back at her, he nodded and added, "Wish it was a more exciting story. Let's see, my turn. So, you have strong legs for your occupation but you didn't say you were an entertainer. Maybe now, with the small mote of trust that we might share, you could expand upon your occupation?" He had shown his, now he wanted her to show hers.

[Caela Dorin]

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This man's way of thinking worried her somewhat. Sure if she was being chased by someone and couldn't outrun them it'd be one thing but there was no point attracting the attention of a chase if she wasn't fit enough to get away. Pure stupidity that's what it was. As for his desire for her to offend him that was just plain weird. Why would anyone be pleased about getting offended. Maybe he was a little touched in the head. It was entirely possible. After all if he was on a little sightseeing trip of Mizahar, Sunberth was certainly an odd choice for someone with all of their faculties to make. If he wasn't easily offended though it was a thing in her favour.

He traced his fingers over the scar that she'd asked about, his expression becoming distant with some remembrance. His tale was put out before her, a mixture of blood and action with Palaren as the hero if he could be described thus. It sounded somewhat of a tall tale considering that he was supposed to have been a massive, dangerous fish singlehanded and lived to tell of his near death experience. There could certainly be some truth in it but it rang more of hyperbolic storytelling than of truth. She'd never heard of a swordtail before but then she wasn't well acquainted with the contents of the sea and he had said that they had them in Zeltiva. Just because her mother had never mentioned anything of the sort didn't mean that such a creature didn't exist. The woman had never been one to talk of such things, most of her experiences in her home city kept close to her chest where her daughter couldn't access them. The thought of her mother and Zeltiva made the dancer wanted to question him about the place. It might make him more likely to further loose his tongue but she was forgetting herself; it was his turn to ask questions.

An unattractive snort escaped her at his initial comments on his story and she took a sip of juice as if that would somehow remove the fact that that unfortunate sound had been made. She wasn't laughing when he asked his question though. She was quite glad that she wasn't drinking at the time or else she'd most likely have choked. Petch the bastard. Why does he have to ask something I don't want to answer? Caela thought, groaning internally. There was no avoiding that one and there as no believable answer that she could construct that wouldn't sound sordid or come back to bite her later. So the truth? Mentally cursing him, she licked her lips before putting forward a cautious answer that was more of an evasion.

"Well... I never said that I was an entertainer but you assumed that I was. I never said that you were wrong about it, just that I never told you it." The blonde flashed a smile, knowing full well that she wasn't going to get away with an answer like that; it wasn't an answer at all. If she wanted to keep him sweet then she was going to have to tell him the truth and as much of it as possible. "I do entertain... " A pause as she sought for a word that wouldn't associate her with a brothel. "...people. They don't appreciate me for what I can really do of course. Sunberth's too coarse in its tastes for my talents. I dance." As soon as the last word was out of her mouth, she took a sip of juice in an effort to hide her expression, her gaze wandering to some nondescript patch of water between them.

The drink was set down, her lip chewed before she returned her gaze to his. Might as well satisfy her curiosity on other subjects while she thought about what she wanted to know about him specifically. "Right, my turn. I want to know... what your favourite part of Zeltiva is? I don't know anything about it really and obviously I haven't been there..." She bit her lip, considering dropping the detail of her mother's city of origin. He might probe her concerning the woman but she didn't have to tell him much. If she told him that she was dead and he had any sense he'd avoid the subject. "My mother came from there but I've not heard an awful lot about it. So I have to admit it's something of a curiosity to me." She smiled self-consciously, her gaze dropping to the waters below her.
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[Pulren Marsh]

Pulren could only vaguely guess at the sound that Caela made when he had told his fish tale. It sounded like a snort, which might give the idea of disbelief, but it could have also been as easily redberry juice going down the wrong pipe. He imagined that would be an unpleasant sensation given its tartness. He cupped the warm water in his hands and let it run over his hair and down his back, the feeling giving him comfort and pleasure of the mundane variety. Since she was relaxing, he might as well, too. It wasn't as if there was any need for tension in such a relaxing environment.

When it came to her occupation, Pulren began with a grin. Her omission of truth rather than a lie was as cool as she was. Maybe she wasn't dumb after all, though that raised the question again of her reasoning and agenda in speaking with him. A girl like that didn't have to speak to anybody unless she wanted to. So it was safe to assume that she wanted to speak to him. She had stripped down and joined him in the spring, shared juices and details, so either she wanted something from him or there was indeed some kind of connection. Pulren would have to continue to wait and see, though his knowledge of her occupation made things lean more toward wanting something. Probably mizas.

He did know that he enjoyed watching all of the play she gave her lips. Be it light chewing, licking or nibbling, he felt rather envious of them, the luxurious flesh. He nodded and smiled, though it was lost on her as she looked into the water and became sort of distant after revealing that she was a dancer. He thought about her words, that the populace didn't know what she could really do, that her true talents were lost on Sunberth. Pulren could certainly sympathize, finding that the more he discovered of Sunberth and its occupants, the less he felt attached to the place.

The question of his home brought that tide of homesickness back to the front, where he had hoped it wouldn't return right away. Since he was going to be forced to wax nostalgia, he took a deep breath and looked up into the air, envisioning his favorite places. One came to mind first and most prominent. "The Temple to Laviku. It sits on a hill overlooking Mathews Bay. He is the Patron of Zeltiva and when one is there among His priests, above the waters of the sea, it is a very clear feeling of the salt in the blood and the salt of the earth. The University grounds are beautiful too, but personally, yes, I would choose the Temple." He found a warm surprise in that her mother hailed from Zeltiva and he smiled in a genuine manner to ward Caela.

"Is that so? Maybe you have more reason to visit, then. You would find a much more civil place to call home. Law would protect you from harm. Perhaps you should think about it." It was his turn for a question. He had one and it burned on his tongue. He didn't want to cause any kind of schism in their burgeoning acquaintance, but he felt the need to ask anyway. Might kill two birds, anyway. "My question...You had said that your talents were lost on Sunberthians. How much would it take for a demonstration of your true ability?Not here, of course, but perhaps after, once you are bathed and clothed." He thought to add a disclaimer and hoped she would believe it.

"If you don't feel comfortable doing so, it's perfectly fine. I don't want to ruin our conversation. But if you wanted to and desired coin, I'd be very pleased to see what you show a proper Zeltivan who can surely appreciate your talents."

[Caela Dorin]

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Her question seemed to make him truly thoughtful and she could almost see the images of places forming in his mind as his gaze became distance. He seemed definite in his answer, no hesitation in his voice as he named the Temple of Laviku. He was god of the sea she believed although that was the most that she knew about him. It made her wonder why he was of no importance in Sunberth considering their location on the coast. Then again it wasn't that much to wonder at. This was Sunberth after all. It was more than lawless, it was fairly godless too. There was some religion she supposed, not that she could recall seeing it anywhere. The Temple of the Unknown didn't count. It was the very emblem of the lack of religious belief in the city. They were blasphemous heathens here but Zeltiva clearly wasn't the same.

It made sense that Palaren would choose the temple though. A man who worked the sea for his living was sure to offer a prayer or two to the god that had the power to make him or break him. He'd passed over the University because he didn't have a personal connection to it. He was only a fisherman so he probably hadn't been educated in the place but Laviku's Temple obviously meant something to him. She wondered just how religious he was.

The mention of her mother had been a wise thing if his warmth was anything to go by. It was strange for her to think of it as somewhere that she could call home. Her mother clearly hadn't or she wouldn't have left in the first place. Sure she'd always talked about it fondly without going into too much detail about the sights but any mention of her reasons for leaving or a query into whether she desired to go back and it immediately became a closed subject, one that seemed to produce fear. If it was so much more civil than Sunberth and there were laws that ensured the safety of citizens then why had the Zeltivan woman run from it and been so eager to keep away from it until her deathbed? Without knowing those reasons, the dancer wasn't keen to visit the place. There was no way that she'd go there without having some inkling of what she was walking into.

The blonde merely shrugged one shoulder in response, her eyes fixed on him as she awaited his next question anxiously. There was a chance that he'd ask her something else that she didn't want to respond to again and if he did there was no worming her way out of it. Her shock would have been quite visible when he did ask it though, the young woman's eyes growing wide and mouth opening and shutting in a soundless and most unattractive way. She was shaking her head before she had even considered it.

It was not a pleasant thing for her to consider doing. She enjoyed dancing, yes but she'd never liked dancing for people despite the fact that that was her job. She'd desensitised herself a bit for when she worked, the drinkers becoming faceless, a mob without an individual among them. There were no real people in the tavern in her eyes but a private audience for one? The blonde's face began to redden at the mere thought of it. The offer of coin was both a lure and a shame. That she needed it was a given, especially considered the deal she'd made with Eleazar and coin that had been expended in order to get information thus far this season. She was more out of pocket than usual and so the money was tempting. The fact that she considered it made her feel little better than a whore. If she danced for him then her body would only be for him and that was a different matter entirely. There was no truer way of selling her body than to one person.

The blonde had stopped shaking her head, carefully weighing the advantages against the disadvantages. Her natural feeling was to say no but one part of her wanted to know just how much he'd be willing to pay. Her lower lip was truly tormented as she thought it over, her teeth dragging over and into it constantly until finally she offered a hesitant answer. "Well that'd depend on... what I got out of it. Aside from getting to show off my talents of course." She smiled but the expression was a nervous one, a laugh to match it following after a moment. "And that also makes it my question..." She grasped at the first thing that came to mind, dredging through his previous answer and her mother's limited comments on Zeltiva for inspiration.

"What's your opinion of magic?" Caela had blurted it out as soon as she thought on it, connecting the University with magical teaching in her head although she belatedly recalled that other things were taught there but she couldn't remember the details. "Magic's taught in the University, isn't it? I wouldn't ask if I didn't think that you'd have some thoughts on it. It's quite clearly in your midst so I thought that I'd ask." There was no need to explain herself and yet she had, the Zeltivan leaving her flustered from his previous question. The young woman took another sip of juice as she tried to regather her former composure, trying not to dwell to deeply on what she might well be doing in the future.
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[Pulren Marsh]

So now things were getting back to normal, or as normal as they were going to be in this abnormal set of circumstances. The pair seemed to be getting on in a more pleasant and social manner. Furthermore, it seemed that the less that Pulren spoke of Caela's previous fumbles and blunders, the more pliable she was in conversation. It certainly didn't mean he had to forget what he had observed and learned. However, it could easily take a backseat to more ephemeral chatter.

Pulren found it odd that his request of her skills and abilities would prompt such a fixed face of shock. Especially if she truly was an entertainer. Regardless of the kind of entertainer she was, he guessed she would be enough of a merchant to speak highly of the wares and performance. He certainly knew that the whores of Loveless had no problem dropping a dance at the sound of gold. Maybe this made her less of a whore and more of a legitimate entertainer. He only smiled and waited patiently to hear what she would say to such a request. It was clear that she was mulling it over, those obscene lips being chewed further. Finally, an answer came and though it sounded repetitive to him, Pulren was pleased that it seemed to be on the right track.

It was also interesting that she nonchalantly reverted back to questions after his own had clearly thrown her out of her element. First, he felt he had better sort it out properly. Throw a bid out to see how she reacted to it. He looked at her for a long moment, not in a manner that someone would a cow or a purchase, but instead his eyes remained fixed on her own for a long, hanging moment. "Twenty gold?" It was a lot for one woman, but considering the fact that he probably wouldn't have the opportunity again to see this body move the way he wanted it to, it would be worth it. It would also set a baseline as to his alias Palaren's worth, which could very easily tip the scales in negotiations with her in the first place. Finally, he wanted to see if money would change her attitude. He wouldn't be disappointed if it did, but it might clear up some of his internal questioning.

"As far as magic goes, there is indeed quite a bit of it in Zeltiva. The University has a College devoted to it. It's much more common than it is here, of course. I haven't heard anything about anyone in Sunberth or the surrounding areas using magic at all. It was strange, but every place is different and probably best to respect the cultures, right?" His mind thought of the long scar on his chest, though he kept his eyes fixed on hers. He did not want to provide visual cues that he was a Wizard, as reluctant as that was. If no one ever figured out that he was one, that would suit Pulren just fine.

"So, the dance?"

[Caela Dorin]

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It was obvious that he was considering what to offer her for her trouble. She didn't want to dance for him but if the price was right then she'd do it all right but if it wasn't... she'd push him upwards if she could. If she couldn't then there was nothing to stop her from saying no. His suggested price made her eyes widen, eyebrows shooting upwards at the price. That was more than three days wages and all she'd have to do was give a short, private dance. It was a fair amount to make for such a short bit of work. Didn't mean that she wouldn't take more if she could get it. She schooled her expression, hoping that he'd read her surprise as being caused by what she saw as a low price rather than a high one. If he didn't think that then Caela doubted that she could get him to go any higher. The woman would consider how to go about doing that for the time being.

Palaren's answer was focused on, the question of negotiation pushed to some back corner of her mind still searching for a method to get him to give up all of his money. A frown developed on her features as he talked about Zeltiva and magic but she didn't fail to notice that he never actually answered her question. His opinion of magic was never given. Was he being intentionally evasive or was he just too preoccupied to notice his omission? Her eyes narrowed at him as his interest switched to the subject of her dancing once more. He seemed very much enamoured with the idea of her dancing for him.

Is that surprising? He's a man who has showed obvious interest in you, is probably still horny and he can see the opportunity of seeing you move some more, she pointed out to herself. Well it seemed time to show him the price of such dancing.

"Well Palaren, I can't give you an answer about that dance. Not yet. I'll answer your question after you've answered my one." A sly smile was directed the Zeltivan's way. She felt as if she had the upper hand, all the control was on her end. "I asked you what you thought of magic and you told me about Zeltiva and magic. You trying to avoid answering me?" she laughed, watching him closely for any sign that he might have been. Her gaze skimmed over his features searching for any twitches that might give him away. It could just have been an honest mistake but if it wasn't she didn't want to miss the signs.

"As for that paltry sum you just offered me, do you think that I dance privately for just anything? I may live and work in this shyke hole but that doesn't mean that I don't have pride. I don't want to do it you know and it wouldn't be worth it. Not for that." More than three days worth of wages in one go and yet she was risking it, gambling with it. She hadn't got the money yet so it wasn't like she could actually lose it. If the blonde pushed it and he dropped the matter then it wouldn't be a real loss so there was no harm in trying to squeeze a few more coins out of him. He would be left guessing what amount that she wanted to, she hadn't offered an alternative price and so he was going to have to try another price and she'd have to see just how high he was willing to go.
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[Pulren Marsh]

Pulren was starting to wish that he had alcohol rather than redberry juice. While she was indeed enchanting and sexy, her games were becoming tiresome. Her reaction seemed to be of surprise again, almost as much of a surprise as he had seen at the mention of dancing at all, much less for a good fee. Twenty gold mizas was a good fee, especially if she intended to keep her clothes on and stay vertical. Maybe he could cut to the chase with his own bold move of honesty, or at least as much honesty as one could muster when they practiced lying everyday.

"I think magic serves a purpose. I think that people who use it exclusively are as weak as a warrior who only uses the sword. There are many routes to take in this life to get results. Mizas don't seem to be working so well with you, but as a gentleman, I don't really have any other options." That was all the answer she was going to get out of him concerning magic. Now, it seemed it was time to sweeten the pot. Of course, as any good 'entertainer' knew, services went with price increases.

"Twenty mizas insults you. Of course it does. You are an exquisite beauty and I am a wealthy man. It makes sense then that you would expect more. I'll double it to forty mizas, but it had better be unforgettable. Anything more and there will need to be some options available." She would know exactly what he meant. They all did. He would spring for options to investigate all of her talents. She did say she had pride. How much would that cost, if it came down to it?