[Pig's Foot] Ropes And Coils (Marone)

[Mirian Jade]

His face darkened at the mention of business, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

He committed himself to her company with a quip and a smile, and Mirian inclined her head in a mock-bow.

“Well, if I have you all to myself, I suppose I might have a few ideas for what to… do with you.”

Craning her neck to peer into Marone’s mug, the halfbreed couldn’t help a smirk.

“Of course, if your exquisite drink is leaving you a bit… dry, perhaps a stronger draught would be in order?”

She flashed him an innocent smile, fully aware that she was delaying what both of them knew was coming. She wasn’t going to fall into his arms just like that; he needed to stew, to know what the endgame was and be given just enough obstacles to feel challenged for it. Physicality was a motivator, but frustration was an even better one.

Mirian glanced at Marv, who was currently at the far end of the bar and getting drinks. He caught her glance and made to hurry through his current task.

“What do you say to a tankard of ale, Marone?”

[Marone]

Marone's smile widened at the mention of her having a few ideas for him. As the saying went, nothing ventured nothing gained and being adventurous has never steered him wrong so far. Unless he included the various attempts in maledicting an item blindly without knowing about his subject or even its source. Accompanying a delight was an entirely different subject and shouldn't even be a problem.

One thing is for sure. Marone is going to have to learn through his experience.

But until then he was going to indulge himself in his vices. He gave a faux laugh when she suggested a stronger drink obviously wanting her to keep her suggestions coming. Marone didn't mind the game at all. In fact he was playing it himself given he was still following the advice he recalled earlier. To not make things too easy for his female companion. Too bad he was doing a bad job at following it right now.

Repeating his promise "I'm all yours for the night milady. Its no longer about what I want but what you want."

It was his turn to offer her a mock bow. A sign he would accept anything. Probably. When Marv finally arrived Marone pushed his almost empty mug aside and made a show of looking around the bar. Racks full of the many exciting beverages the Pig's Foot had to offer. Of course, Marone already knew what he needed to order.

"A tankard of. No two tankards of ale" Marone said. The number of fingers from his hand accompanying the number of drinks he was requesting for.

"One for me and one for. For." he continued before cutting himself off.

As much as Marone enjoyed calling her milady, the moniker being accepted and possibly entertaining her he felt that he had his chance to learn something proper to call her. At least something that would make him feel like he made a connection but if the pause went on for too long he would just add the moniker at the end of his sentence before things became too awkward.

[Mirian Jade]

Marone laughed and repeated his intentions, giving a small bow of his own as Merv made his way over to them.

Mirian gave the bartender a quick nod of greeting; she’d never out-and-out introduced herself to the man, but she had ordered drinks from him and had drinks ordered for her often enough. She wondered if he knew her face by now. If he didn’t, he did a good job concealing it from her current companion. Merv had never cared what Mirian did with the people that bought drinks for her; as long as the mizas kept coming, he didn’t pry.

Marone stalled at the end of his order, and Mirian giggled when she realized she had yet to introduce herself. She opened her mouth to do so, but stopped when she realized that this could be another game for them to play. Smirking, Mirian nodded again to Merv, who already knew the order and bustled off with a gruff “Two ales, comin’.”

Returning her attention to Marone, Mirian put an elbow on the bar and rested her chin in her palm. She let the unasked question sit there for a moment, more than happy to let the mystery remain a mystery for now.

“I don’t know,” she ended up saying. “I can’t remember the last time someone called me ‘milady.’ I wouldn’t want to stop you now.”

Taking the time to pull forward a lock of hair and twirl it around her finger, the halfbreed bit her lip and tilted her head.

“I wonder, though, if you say you’re mine for the night, do I get to keep you for the whole night?”

[Marone]

Looking as if he had a question but not wanting to ask it outright Marone just sat and watched his companion getting on with the orders. He almost had it. it was so close too and then she had to stop short of it. His brows twitched when she put herself on the table. Really itching for the prize she refused to give him. Her reasons was quite possible but not entirely convincing.

The people likely to allow the word milady to leave their mouths would come from the Sun's Birth and if she was a member Marone would have seen her before. His eyes slowly moved towards places where the gang's brand may be but either it was nonexistant or she had it put somewhere he wouldn't see unless he made a through examination.

"Really.." he said in reply to express his disbelief.

As she took the time to toy around with him Marone leant back on the bar to allow himself to get a good look. Not quite satisfied with being denied he crossed his arms defensively. He was thinking of a way to push the subject matter further but he had to do it indirectly now that she already blocked off his attempt. Marone shouldn't make it seem like he was so interested in her that he would lose his own pace.

"Maybe I should stop then. Make it more special for us when I use it but that would make things hard. I wouldn't know what else to call you." He paused as if he needed to think about what to say next but he knew what he would suggest will be either really effective or annoying to her although he wanted the latter.

"I could keep using names which seem you until you tell me I got the right one. Helen?" he asked. The game for him has begun.

To answer her question Marone had to let himself rest on the bar as well. His arm putting himself on the same level as her so they both could get on the same program. The night. The whole night. Under normal circumstances Marone would prefer to reach the safety of home even before then but there was no helping him when he had to make exceptions for the lovely distractions offered to him.

"It really depends Anise. I know you have your ideas and I'd love to help you with them but I'm not entirely if this night is the night for them. What should Marone say to his lady Riel's wishes?" he asked as if stuck in some grand dilemma.

Not too easy sure but Marone hopes that this terrible play of his will be able to lead them both to the result they've obviously have been hinting at so far.

[Mirian Jade]

She was annoying him with her evasions. Good; it gave Mirian at least a small bargaining chip that she could use if she wanted. But his frustration was something to be handled carefully; Mirian gave a half-apologetic, half-mischievous smile, hoping to convey that this was all just part of the game.

After a pause of deliberation, he began his own game. Mirian arched an eyebrow as he started in with his guessing; a surprising tactic, one that she could see amusing her and irritating her in equal measure. Best to keep it short enough that she could remain within the former. They’d had their drinks. There was little left to do at the Pig’s Foot.

Hefting her tankard, Mirian tossed back the what remained of her ale and turned to face Marone fully.

“Tell you what,” she said with a grin. “I’ll tell you my name, but I want something in exchange.” Two fingers began to walk across the bartop, over to Marone’s hand and then onto his skin. “There’s very special game I like to play, if you’re up for a little… flavor.”

Her fingers continued their trek, up his forarm, and, if he didn’t stop her, up to his shoulder and on to his neck, up the side of his head until they came to toy with a lock of his hair.

“Of course, this game isn’t exactly… normal. I’ve always thought normal ‘games’ are so boring. If you’re not scared, how about I teach you? I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy it.”

[Marone]

Marone only raised his own tankard in return to hers and smiled coolly but inside he was grinning like an idiot with how things had progressed. He was finally getting somewhere with his plan eventhough he executed it in a rush. With how good it has been Marone should've been happy with his small step but he was enjoying things too much and was getting too confident that he would be able to get more out of this.

"I'm not sure about that Ida. I mean you already can have me do anything you want tonight don't you? That isn't much of a condition." Marone said coyly.

He wasn't just only saying that but evidently showing it as well. He just sat and watched her toying with him however she wished. Not even moving when touched him. Content with looking at the distraction to his rather disappointing day Marone waited until this game of hers was explained to him, not that he needed any convincing to bite with all the work she has put into him so far.

"Oh I'm not scared. Not scared at all." Marone said. "But in every game there should be a winner and a loser. So tell me, do I get something when I win?" Marone asked with his confidence boosted bravado.

Considering everything already hinted at Marone doubted there would be anything truly fitting as a prize but that didn't stop him from trying to throw off her game. He held on to the hand which was at his hair and slowly pulled it away to allow her to get a good look at him just as he wanted to have a good look at her.

If she looked at him closely she would find an illusion of calm except with a grin plastered on his face. His question was of no consequence to him but he obviously just wanted to see just how far his lady would go to come out on top of this. Marone set her hand down on the table with his on top with no intention on removing it unless she she decided to drop all her plans and leave him.

But Marone knew that they are already too far into it to stop now.

"So. About this game.."

[Mirian Jade]

He remained cheerful, calling her Ida this time and resiliently calm against her wandering hand. He was good. This game was one of the most amusing Mirian had been challenged with in a while.

He remained smiling––no, grinning––as he mulled over her challenge and made sure she knew that fear was not an obstacle. As for a prize?

“Of course you get something,” Mirian replied. “What would be the fun otherwise?”

She let that lay as it may, and Marone was soon reaching up to take her hand in his. He pulled her away from his hair, slowly and without any need to hurry, and placed it back on the table. He kept his hand on top of hers, firm without being forceful.

He was still grinning as he asked, “So. About this game…”

Mirian laughed. “Isn’t it obvious?” She leaned closer, abandoning her stool to bring her mouth just shy of his ear. “If you play, I’ll tell you my name.”

She was done with the witticisms. Her intentions had been clear from the very beginning, and he had received and accepted them. He knew where this night was going. Once their drinks were paid for, there was no need to drag it out any longer.

“What do you say, then, Marone?” she breathed, wrapping her free hand the wrist that held her down. “I think you and I both know this game is better played… elsewhere.”

[Marone]

Everything was good. Almost too good. The prospect of it as well as the advances towards him became too much to handle. When she got close and tempted him somemore it became too much and Marone nearly lost it. He was going to say something that might impress her more but he could only struggle through the words.

"IIIIII. I. IIIIII." In no particular order.

As quickly as he started fumbling on himself Marone grabbed for his tankard full of ale with his free hand. He was going to say some other name to see if she would just tell him her name but he just couldn't get to it. He took up the tankard and downed all its contents. Faster than he could've count. With a loud clatter on the bar Marone tried to get Merv's attention and pay for his drink.

And hers. It was only the right thing to do as a man which could do better than a man playing at an honorable man but then again there was no room for honorable men in Sunberth.

"I think you're right. We should go elsewhere. Do you have a place in mind or am I going to be the one that should suggest one for the nights.."

"Festivities." Marone said. What else could the situation be? There was already the fireworks between them. He already downed his ale and that would get back at him later. Likely the reason why he fell for the promise of great adventure which was promised to him with her special mystery game.

Though what he should be doing is be paying attention to the signs she was showing him. How easy it all has been. It might be something he wouldn't expect at all.

But he was already at the finish line. He put down the coins from his pouch on the counter and slid it to Merv before facing his companion.

"Where to?" he asked.

[Mirian Jade]

For a moment, Mirian as afraid he was going to resist the suggestion, to sit back down and continue with their drinks. Or worse, get suspicious of her attention and abandon it altogether, making the entire night a waste of time.

But no, she realized with relief as he gave her an answer. A rather monosyllabic answer, but an answer nonetheless.

It was a monosyllabic answer he recovered from, though.

Grabbing his tankard, Marone tossed back the rest of his drink at phenomenal speed and then slammed the thing back on the table. The noise was enough to get Merv’s attention, and the weathered old bartender gave the two of them a nod of recognition; their money would be his next task.

Marone acquiesced to Mirian’s suggestion and the halfbreed let her mind run over the possibilities. After a moment of consideration, she leaned back towards his ear.

“The docks. Drunken Fish.” It was closer than any other inns, and Mirian had been there before. It was warm. Crowded. Reliable. Cheap enough for a single night not to matter to the weight of one’s pocket.

It wasn’t like she was set on it, though. If Marone had a place he preferred, Mirian would follow him anywhere within reason. But in terms of sheer distance, the Fish was the closest and least dangerous she knew of, and it usually had nice music even at this time of night.

If she was allowed to lead the way, though, Mirian would leave her tankard and table behind, fisting her free hand in the material of Marone’s shirt and doing her best to draw him away from his seat.

The fire Marone had lit in her eyes was real; the night’s games had been stimulating, and for the first time in a long while Mirian found herself looking forward to where she knew it would lead.

They just had to get somewhere more appropriate first, and Merv was already coming to collect the coin.

[Marone]

Marone considered her suggestion for a while. He heard of the Drunken Fish although a name was all it was to him when the Sun's Birth provided him a far better place to frequent than it or any tavern in Sunberth. Nevertheless he was rather adventurous at the moment seeing as he already agreed to his companion's mysterious desires for the night to go with her not so secret ones.

And it wouldn't be too dangerous an adventure for him either. While being no regular at the Drunken Fish Marone still went to the Docks frequently for some discreet purchases. It made it less likely for the people back home to get suspicious of the nature of the activities done during his spare time. The Docks being relatively as safe as the Refuge only made the Drunken Fish a more acceptable place with no surprises to jump out at him.

If only he knew.

He nodded and held his hand forward to the door inviting her to lead him to the place she spoke of not expecting to be dragged there. At first there was a pause as he stayed in his seat while she tried to draw him out which might easily be mistaken as reluctance although Marone would say he was caught off guard if he was questioned.

Reluctant or surprised he would seem but as a matter of fact Marone was excited for it. The only thing was he wanted her to be excited about it too which was why he worked for it. Don't make it seem like you're too easy they say. Make her work for it they say. Marone couldn't or wouldn't really care about it at this point but he felt it was like stoking a real good fire to get the best grade weapon crafted.

A good smith always wants to make his best weapon so customers wouldn't die and keep coming back for more. There is nothing wrong it having that mentality apply to other things in his life.

Judging that he made his companion work enough although there was no way he could exactly tell her opinions on the time he took, Marone allowed himself to be led out of the seat towards the door. He didn't spare a glance at Merv who came to take his gold coin or spare a thought for any change he should rightfully get. There was just something else more worthwhile he had to pay attention to.