PM to join [Fountain Plaza] The Dance of Eyes

[Belinda]

50th, Spring, 516av
18th bell
Fountain Plaza, Kenash

Belinda had heard of the Fountain plaza as she arranged to have a talk with the owner and audition for a dance spot. She arrived carrying her pack with her costume. The raven haired beauty had the sense enough not to dress in costume during the day. After a brief talk with the proprietor, Belinda changed and spoke to the musicians of what she needed with the music. A couple of them understood Beshiran beats at least. The girl could dance to most beets but the Beshiran beat types of music gave her the most to work with. She wore cobalt blue dancing silks and skirt. There was a rather skimpy top, bottoms that stayed at the hip line and so did the skirt. The girl strapped on a dagger onto each thigh. The flash of metal would be a nice flare.

The stage was darkened but a light on her as the beat of the drum had her movements counted. The raven haired beauty relaxed as the isolated movements that marked her style of dance and fluid grace began. The raven haired beauty borrowed a tambourine and placed it on a stool nearby. She really needed to see if she can find some finger cymbals. She walked on stage as the lights half blinded her. It didn’t matter. The half beshiran turned her back to the ground and put her arms up and over her head with her knee cocked to the side. Her feet were bare.

Her head turned to the musician as there was a moment during her post that her arms went up into the air and did a very calculated but sharp clap. The music started. It started slow and rumbling with long notes from the pipe of a far away place. There was a stick that held up her hair as her back shoulder movements shifted from side to side as her arms smoothly undulated like snakes. The her hips wound circle around ever so smoothly with the long notes and then snapped twice. Her hips then and behind shifted right and left with precise isolated movements as the top half of her body didn’t move. The rhythm picked up.

Both elbows bent as they went into her form before her body spun around to the front and picked up the quicker rhythm. The smokey sultry eyes grew ever more molten and heated. The abdomen muscle control flowed as the drum beat seem to speak to a different part of her body with each beat. The hips shimmied rapidly on their own as she walked towards the front of the stage. The steps was then added as her legs went out straight and toe pointed and her arms stretched as she spun. Those legs went right together as her abdomen told another story. The torso jutted side to side as the muscles of her stomach rolled in sticatto with the pipe and the torso moved in the beat of the drum.

There was no shame as the undulation drew eyes towards her. It drew the eye up and up till they locked on the eyes as she twirled, locked and undulated her body in turn with the story the music was telling. It was at that point during one of the turns that she let the stick out of her hair and tossed it aside. The girl circled the stool as she picked up the tambourine. The musicians picked up a new set of rhythms as her body started moving faster. Those hips kept up with the beat as they double timed with it making dizzy figure eights as the tambourine was played in time with the pipe and her hips kept up with the rapid drumming. She could feel other eyes on her and she played up to those eyes.

[Konrad Venger]

"Can't believe y'wanted me to-"

"Gods, man, are you still griping about this?"

"Aye."

"Why?" Janus said as he wet his lips with another gulp of brandy. There wasn't even any heat in the words, as one would a grumbling employee. The Radacke stooge seemed more curious than anything else, tearing his eyes from the swirling limbs of the Plaza to regard Konrad lightly. "What do you think it will change? Hmm?"

Konrad chewed the inside of his cheek and wished he had some petching answer to that. But both men knew none would arrive. He'd told Konrad earlier at one of his numerous haunts in the Midnight Market that tonight, he needed a bodyguard, one with the look of danger and a known face of efficient but controlled violence. Civic-minded violence.

It wasn't until after Konrad had suggested Three Eyes and Janus hadn't stopped grinning - or staring - that he'd realized Janus wasn't positing a question; he was, in his oblique, playful fashion, giving orders.

And he could have made it petching less playful, he reminded himself.

That little mutiny dealt with, Janus turned his eyes back to the bevy of sensuous entertainment spread across the Syna-burning Plaza that night. Low in the sky, getting ready for her final dive into the horizon, the fiery god was casting likewise on the shallow water that filled the Plaza. Everywhere one turned, the shimmering surface was alight. Orange and yellow, red and shades of purple, it seemed, as the light was twisted by the eye and-

The feet. The dancers were abroad, and Janus was enjoying himself.

"Do this often, do ya?"

He smiled thinly as Konrad changed the subject with his usual lack of subtlety. But that wasn't why he'd hired the man, of course. He was a killer. His eyes, his bearing, and his actions had all proved it.

He'd butchered a slave girl just because he'd been ordered to. He'd disciplined a rebellious slave for all to see outside the Traveler's Complex, roaring with the words of the Magistrate that all others should pay heed. Janus was who he answered to, but the blood and terror he sowed served the Radacke Dynasty.

Tonight, it was that face he needed, and perhaps little else.

"Here? Pah. Not likely. See the tent over yonder?"

Konrad followed his finger and spied the aging but still regal Dynast woman on the opposite side of the Plaza. She had her own attendants and, he assumed, bodyguards around her; they were just sleeker and less blatantly violent than Konrad. Then again, he was learning that was the Radacke way: whenever possible, never hide your power, and what you'll do with it.

"See her? Sylvia Sitai. She's responsible for... all of this," the Radacke man said with a swing of his arms, taking in the whole Plaza. "The tables, the dancers, the drinks, the water, every inch. And she's a Sitai. Understand?"

Konrad did, but he knew the matter wasn't closed. The Radacke and Sitai were often at odds, simply by virtue of the fact that both were Kenash Dynasties and... well, that was all they needed to be rivals. Power wanted power, and in Kenash, if you were a Dynasty, that meant taking it from another.

More to the point, Sitai grow drugs and Lasher wants the whole market, he reminded himself. Not to mention the Radacke are big into slvery and who owns the Auction House? The Sitai.

He sighed through his nose and wiggled his ears under his black, wide-brimmed hat. None of which helped him that night, of course. He was still chafing in his black jacket, white shirt and black breeches, sweltering and glowering at all that passed too close to his contact. He understood the logic, of course. Bodyguards were chosen not just for efficiency, but the looks. The threat.

One look at Konrad's face, and that was the word which sprang to mind.

"But Lasher's dear brother is Magistrate now," Janus said, words just a little slurred as a slave girl refilled his glass. "And now others within the Radacke must be... patrons, of the public works within this fine city. The Plazas, the Beaches, the Squares, all these places of avarice and excitement and art and life. We must celebrate them, Konrad..."

Konrad looked beyond the man and took in the Dynasty type who occupied pride of place in their corner of the Plaza. He was already familiar with that term: "Dynasty type". It seemed frighteningly, almost impossibly ubiquitous. Smooth skin, soft hands, well-spoken and well-dressed. Far more than Freeborn money could buy, and accompanied with an air of bone-deep entitlement that could have given a Syliran nobleman a run for his money.

A cousin, if Konrad remembered correctly. Someone in the Radacke Dynasty that had been dispatched to just be seen, so that all would know and would not doubt that those Radacke, they appreciated the arts too.

Wait, shouldn't he still be speaking?

Konrad was sure there should have been more words following, but instead there was-

Ah. That's why.

He had to admit, Janus knew what was worth leaving something unfinished for. Whomever she was, even Konrad could tell she'd yet to master her dancing, but gods, she certainly had the goods to draw every lustful eye in her corner of the Plaza. She shimmied and swayed and undulated through the water at her feet, blue material and tanned, coppery flesh tantalizing every eye.

Konrad blinked above his usual, professional, stoic expression, but he liked what he saw. The woman had form and curves on her; flesh enough to make those tummy-waves really catch the eye. Full breasts and eyes that were like twin searchlights, not to mention those lips. What did they used to call those back home?

Cocksucking lips, now get back to work.

With a little clearing of his throat, Konrad did just that. Let the Dynast and his entourage enjoy the show: he and the other handful of bodyguards would do just that. Guard his body, and keep their heads on a swivel for anyone seeking to do otherwise. As if to make the point, his right hand rested on the hilt of his kopis and drummed out a beat. Nonsense at first, but as the chimes went by... he realized what it was.

The same one from the tambourine.

[Belinda]

If she wasn’t busking, the raven haired dancer was moving through the city some by day, some by night. You be surprised what people freely speak of. Her subtlty allowed her to sit and listen when they thought they were being clever. Who was she but a simple nobody. Belinda cultivated that for now as she dressed down for those occasions. The simple peasant garb from Mythrin Outpost did little to hide her curves but it spoke dirt poor. That was fine. Occasionally she would be questioned but one look at her brand and they would scoff and leave her alone. When the general rumor mill was exhausted, the girl took to more stealthy pursuits to garnish more information about her surroundings, the people who prowled, preyed and prey alike.

The Dynasties run the show here that was clear. The inner squabbles of one brat to another pompous brat had many stories. The work of sifting through the existential elaboration to the fact would take time. She did manage to figure out what house was what and who ran what house. It was more habit than want to know. It was simple. The Dynasties were all about power in both gaining it or losing it. In the end game who had the most power won. How they kept score she wasn’t sure yet. That urge to dig deeper drove her over active mind forward. Why? The crafty woman couldn’t say. Why was she here? She couldn’t answer that either.

At first it was the fact of seeing something different than Syliras. As the days moved on, she began to question that. Was she running? Running from those startling green eyes. “No, ‘Lina. Focus” The cobalt blue did a lot for the inherent coppery skin as the contrast in the colors show cased that flawless complexion. She was not above stealing or killing. Tonight he sought to steal hearts and minds if but for a few minutes to secure her place. She became aware of both the growing crowd and the Dynasty persons who usually came in as a group. The more the merrier.

Silvia narrowed her eyes at the girl that soon had a lot of eyes on that body of hers. She needed to polish her moves, but the way she drew a crowd and the eyes of men and some women was not something you could teach. She leaned over to speak to one of her dancers. “Think you can work with that?” The smile never leaning her lips as she herself was enjoying the show.

The male dancer blinked. “Yes, Sylvia I believe I can. The talent is definitely there.”

The silver haired woman nodded. There was no small satisfaction that the girl had the attention of the Radacke brat as well. With a practiced flip of her hand a fan was flicked as she waved it in her face. The girl definitely had the temperature rising. “Good. “

Belinda could mark a fairly high level Dynasty personage by their group. They either had the goon squad around them with a bunch of prattling peacocks or some waspish looking body guards that blended in better but the group of peacocks seemed to always be there accept Lasher Radacke. She heard of him from the Midnight Market. He was on the lips of many people. Mostly inflated words she thought. Reputation is gained and earned by how good a story a rumor is. Truth can be stranger than fiction. What was the truth and what was fiction though it was hard to say. That drove her mind to tear it down and figure that out more out of habit than out of any need to do so.

Radacke did not have a Goon squad or a duo of Wasps as she termed them. If its one thing that Belinda had an advantage of was she tended to be a bit unpredictable. The dancer moved step by step into the crowd. Those hips didn’t stop moving even as she stepped out. The raven haired woman would stop and let her body pop in rhythm with the drum beat before moving into the crowd. One young man looked about ready to release himself right there. Belinda lingered there for a moment and gave him a winning smile. Her body turned ever so slightly before shimmying that ass and lowering it slowly. It looked as if she was going to sit on his lap yet she hovered right there and leaned back the poor boy gulped and flushed. Belinda moved her body forward and snaked it into an upright position. The now loose raven hair seemed to have a life of its own as she twirled and it swished along he back in a dance of its own it seemed.

An older man who was holding a stern expression she moved towards. The trick was to bare ass to fluster the unflustered. Oddly the word embarrass kind of went along with that. The brazen woman hiked up a thigh on his table with the toe pointed as her upper body continued to pop and the tambourine flicked at her hips. The girl pressed into the man’s personal space. The old man did a good job of keep his face though Belinda could see the strain this close. She had his attention and that was all that was necessary. She kissed the tip of his crocked broken nose. Ching of the beat of the tambourine had her spinning around till she sat on the lap of one of the ladies there in the crowd. Her hand would trace The C of her face while looking her deeply in the eyes very slowly till she cupped her chin drawing her lips ever closer to hers. Then she elegantly and smoothly spun away lifting her leg high and over the chair to go behind her with good balance.

This landed her reasonably close to the Radacke entourage. The beat of the tambourine and those snapping ever moving hips came towards them as she spun and went into an artful back bend shaking the tambourine before snapping her body up right and beat the tambourine over her head. Those steel grey eyes went over Lasher Radacke like liquid hot silver. The three secions an abdomen had was readily evident as the concentrated movement slowed down to individual roll of each of those sections. Then bum bum the head ticked one side to the other without moving shoulders or other body part. The tambourine snapped against her hand. Her eyes didn’t miss the Man near him. He wasn’t goonish and he wasn’t waspish but his face and eyes said more than words could that he was a killer. He was ugly sure but that wasn’t the dangerous part. This was not her first dance either. The girl flirted with danger. She dared it. The slow shimmied walk a little away enticed it.

Belinda may not understand the full value of all her talents, but she sure did know how to attract attention. The value in knowing isolated pieces of information. The art of obtaining that which you desire she was beginning to understand and employed that art. To drop men and women down to their basal instincts where they couldn’t think, couldn’t plan, couldn’t even speak words was something you couldn’t teach anyone. Belinda toyed with the Radacke brat and the ugly body guard. She dangled that talent and value blatantly and enthralled a fair part of the crowd. She accomplished more or less what she wanted and that was to secure her a dance spot so she can continue to dance. The bigger prize, the larger value may have not come to her full awareness. The flash of those steel grey eyes towards the two men may give a hint of intelligence as she manipulated the crowd in a frenzy of lust and want.

[Konrad Venger]

Konrad had been too long at the game to assume for even a moment that someone who could move like that, could possibly be considered "innocent". Or ignorant. One flash of those morning mist eyes, accompanied with a lightning-fast quirk of her lips, just confirmed if for him.

Aye, bitch knows damn well what she's doing.

Not that he was complaining that much. The Cousin was making his appreciation known, leering and grinning and even whooping along with the other yokels in the Plaza at that moment. There were better dancers splashing throughout, of course, but few had the sheer, brazen sexuality of the creature in front of them now. Konrad had to admit, he was impressed that she'd bad a beeline straight for them. Many dancers would shirk from approaching a Dynast so boldly, but this one?

Must be new. Looking to make herself known.

That wasn't the only thought to come to mind, and as the second one arrive, Konrad dragged his eyes off the girl and forced them to take in his surroundings a second time. Then a third. Then again.

Someone like her, eyes follow her wherever she goes. She's old enough to have worked that out. And if she has, others have... and who was she talking with before?

Konrad could have slapped himself at his lack of recollection. Now he remembered the flash of blue and the ebon hair. The woman talking with Sitai chimes before, negotiating something. Most likely permission to dance in Dame Sitai's Plaza, but... one never knew.

"My-my-MY!" The Cousin said, last word almost a raven's crow of approval as he raised his glass. "I may have to steal this one away..."

Konrad ignored him, fingers still drumming on the hilt of his sword. Let the boss enjoy the show. He had work, but gods, she wasn't making it easy. Up close, she was enough to tighten a man's throat and make his mouth a desert. He'd seen countless dancers before, across Sunberth, and most of them had one goal in mind: get a man hard and fantasizing. She clearly had much the same goal, but...

But he couldn't quite finish that sentence. His eyes were drawn back to her again and again like a compass to the North, and he had to grit his teeth before he could get certain, sweating, flashing images out of his head and keep them out.

Syna winked at him as the big, laughing bitch finally vanished beyond the roofs and eaves of the Plaza, beckoning her lover to arise and leaving Konrad wishing this petching evening was over already.

[Belinda]

Belinda moved out a bit from the tables as she turned and flexed as the music was meeting its turbulent end. At the last of the beat she was in a backbend with her hand and arm artfully poised up into the air reaching for Leth’s shining face that was making his rise. There were claps whistles and such as she righted her position to standing and she curtsied with a natural grace. Sylvia Sitai sent one of her dancers to her as he whispered into her ear as the girl smiled and nodded. Belinda then moved to take a seat.

The chair she chose was a bit more back as she sat in the chair that had plenty of water behind it. Unless you are very skilled, it was hard being quiet in the water. She hadn’t figured out that knack yet. The next set had a male and female team start their dance. Her eyes raised as she saw their form. ‘yes there is a lot I can learn here.’

Her eyes were focused as she watched their form. It seemed like she ignored the Radacke group for several chimes as she started dabbing the sweat from her chest and neck. The form she watched carefully taking mental notes to try those in practice. Her table was in the middle between the Sitai entourage and the Radacke entourage. After watching the dancers for additional chimes she then turned her head towards the Radacke contingent and winked over towards them with a jaunty smile. The arch of her eyebrow and the turn of her head could mean she was open for negotiations if one of them understood the subtlety. If not, then it wouldn't be worth her time.

The woman put her bare foot up and leaned back a little as the split in the skirting revealed a good dagger strapped to her thigh facing the group. It was a casual move. It provided a silent message that she wasn't easy and she was not free for the taking. The other side of the skirt had a similar style dagger strapped to the other thigh for the same signal for that side of the room. Yes, didn’t mean an open invitation and the woman was not to be trifled with lightly. This also made her thirsty.

The woman obtained a chilled ale. They had some interesting concoctions there but she needed to stay clear minded. The woman took a drink of it and continued watching the techniques of the dancers. How they danced in the water was interesting. That was something she was going to need to work on. The methods of using the water in an artistic way would enhance her performance. She did feel eyes on her still. She turned her head towards it where the ugly guy and the Radacke individual was still regarding her. The girl lifted her glass up to them with an incline of her head. The woman took another drink from the tankard. It was full bodied darker ale and robust. It was a good decent ale. Her eyebrow raised as she looked over Sylvia’s way. If the whisky wasn’t as high as it was, she would have gotten that. Maybe one day.

[Konrad Venger]

Well... quite a pair.

Konrad had always had a thing for women who knew how to defend themselves, and didn't petch around when it came to letting you know it. The girl slid in those flashes of the blades strapped to her thighs without being obvious, without even interrupting her routine, but he nearly felt the difference wash through the Radacke party.

A few gasped. Some gaped. Others stopped smiling or muttered. A precious handful smiled even broader... including the Cousin.

"Mmmm, such fire," he heard the young man say, practically drooling over his words as he tipped back yet another cup of grape. "A woman, wearing not just one, but two daggers? And so close to her pride, no less..."

Konrad bowed his head a touch so none could see him roll his eyes.

"Janus? Ask her over for me."

"My lord, I'm not sure that is wise, with the risk of-"

The sentence didn't end, and Cousin Radacke didn't even need to voice his will to express it. Konrad saw him turn a glare bright as Syna and twice as hot on the Freeborn, enough to wordlessly remind Janus that was exactly what he was, what he would remain, and that he should remember it. Janus' face twisted and contorted but Konrad knew there was only one way he could go, so he-

"Venger? Ask the lady over, that she may sit with the Dynast."

Konrad didn't often gape. A real blue-Leth kind of situation, was that. In fact, he didn't gape then, either. But all the other symptoms of a full-blown, disbelieving, are-you-petching-joking?! gaping were expressed perfectly well on his face. Janus just tightened his jaw and gestured at the woman still dabbing her shining skill with a towel.

"... you wanna send me?"

"Yes, I do."

"To talk to a woman?"

"Yes!"

"... pretty sure y'don't wanna do that."

"Venger?!" Janus almost growled, and Konrad could have kicked himself for not seeing it sooner. He got a kick in the arse (non-verbally), so he had to claw back some scrap of self-respect by doing the same to one lower than him. Right now, that was Konrad. "I gave you an order."

And you know it's petching stupid.

He left that part unsaid and walked away from the Radacke contingent with a shrug of his shoulders. The Cousin had heard them, of course, even though his eyes were latched like limpets onto the strumpet running damp cloth over sweaty skin. If Janus wanted to get bollocked for sending a gargoyle after the hot little thing in the no-man's land between them and the Sitai, so be it.

He waited until the woman looked up at him before he spoke. Then a few ticks after that, for the usual shock to wear off. He found that most people, especially women, needed a couple of seconds just to confirm that, yes, he did exist, and did look like that.

The girl would look up and see a man in black and white - the latter his shirt, the former everything else - topped by a black fedora and underneath it... well, that's where the style kind of died a quick death. Gnarled, puckered scar tissue had corroded one cheek like rust, a barely-healed scar from the corner of his chin to the side of his eye.

Green eyes, like rotting moss of emeralds covered in dust, stared down at her. His hand still drummed on the hilt of his sword, more out of habit that attempted intimidation. Once she'd gotten over "it", she would hear him speak in a low, lilting accent that still seemed to growl and snap on certain letters. Sunberthian was hardly a gentle dialect.

"Man under the tent," he said, with a quick jerk of his head towards the little pavilion the Radacke were reclining under. "Wants t'see you. Wonders if you'd like a drink with 'im." He leaned a little closer and popped his eyebrows, just once. "He's a Radacke. Got money, an' an eye for ya. Might be somethin' in it for ya, girl."

Konrad knew the last part wasn't quite what he'd been told, but he also knew that returning with the girl would look better for him than her telling him to bugger off. Amusing as it would be to see Janus take the aforementioned bollocking.

[Belinda]

‘There is no way, not even the gods, can there be enough liquor to drink that cute.’

Yeah it took the raven haired beauty a tick, 2, 3… maybe 4 to get a grip. She thought he was ugly at a distance but up close it was palpable and striking. Once her eyes had adjusted she offered a polite up turn of one lip and an incline of her head before he spoke. While he was giving her the offer, her eyes trailed up and down slowly. Idly wondered if downstairs worked or was just as scarred. That would have to go begging as she looked over to the Radacke Pavilion as she got the polite nod from the man that Ugly was there on his behalf.

His common was something that ticked at the back of her mind but couldn’t place. That didn’t really as she absorbed what he had to say including the little additional at the end. Her eyebrows also went towards the hairline at the last part. Belinda didn’t say anything as yet as she regarded the Ugly man. His hand tapping on his sword in as much as her fingers was tapping on a dagger. The woman looked into his eyes boldly as those molten steel grey eyes had the hardness to them of someone who could kill when necessary. Those who did kill often acquire that type of hardness as there is no ignorance to life and death.

So they did understand subtlety. She looked at the dancers for another half a chime before she turned towards Ugly and nodded. “Let’s see what The Radacke have to say. Besides my tankard is empty.” Her voice was velvety as it was husky. It would have you bend down to hear more. That came with a mischievous grin as she stood up smoothly. The girl walked to the Radacke entourage with the Ugly man with a proud carriage. Her walk was slow and purposeful as it held with it a figure eight as she walked. When they stopped in front of Julian Radacke, she didn’t curtsy and she didn’t bow. The woman put her hand out towards the man.

“Good evening, Mr. Radacke. “ In a smooth svelte tone and voice. “Thank you for the invitation. “ The raven haired seductress sat down in the chair that was right by Julian Radacke. Some gasped and some looked around worried. Belinda wasn’t as the man invited her there. She put the empty tankard on the table. The testosterone in the air was also thick. Those eyes of hers were all business as she watched his expression, his moves and what order they came in. Those grey eyes would flicker to the others of his entourage. Some of them was just that, flunkies and hanger-on’s that probably used as gophers. There were minor gang activity sometimes but usually squashed by the knights, at least they like to think so. The organizations of the underground she heard tidbits here and there from the men in the tavern her mother worked might have been stories but she suspected that they were not fabrications.

During her snooping through the midnight market she had heard about this family name or that of the Radackes. By description he looked to be Julian but to play it safe she kept it to Mr. Radacke. This was a whole different level of organizations with the Dynasts. Those eyes made their way back to Julian who was regarding her, correction he was evaluating her. “if you want to know, just ask Mr. Radacke. I am Belinda Lucavis, Dancer.” She left at that with a bit of a wicked little smile that may leave hint that there is probably more to that but that would be telling.“ The woman said bluntly.

[Konrad Venger]

Konrad realized belatedly that he didn't even know the name of the Dynast he was protecting... or he'd forgotten it. Anyway. He did know that his job was to protect him, and now there was a woman with a dagger strapped to each thigh practically spilling herself all over him.

One corner of his lip quirked when he heard her sultry, rolling cooing. Gods, the girl knew how to play to her strengths. Everything about her suggested a good time just around the corner, if only you knew the right words... or the right price. As far as Konrad had seen of her ilk, it was pretty much the same thing.

"My dear, a treasure you are - yes, gods, more wine! - I do apologize, my slaves a a tad languid this afternoon. Please, are you fresh in our city?" Konrad's eyes flickered to the Dynast's manicured hand as it just happened to rest on the girl's knee, his charming smile souring into lechery as he felt her skin. "You do... ah, yes, the scent of Kenash has not... how do we say, permeated you, quite yet. Give it a season, though, and you will be accustomed to it..."

He leaned forwards and Konrad's gaze was back on the girl. Her legs. Her hands. Her eyes-

No! Her hands, idiot!

"Janus?" He murmured, and the Radacke middleman looked up at the scarred, reluctant bodyguard. "Make sure the other lads're on their toes."

"Suspect something, do you?"

"Always," Konrad ground out, not so loud that the girl or her enamored new acuqintance could hear, not taking his eyes off her. "'specially when there's someone here that everyone's lookin' at. Lookin' at her, an' not on what could be comin'."

Janus nodded as the street cunning of that and shuffled off, probably to make sure the additional bodyguards that Julian - bugger, knew I'd remember eventually - had around him were keeping their eyes on the job, and not on her assets. Konrad himself settled for leaning against one of the poles of the pavilion above them all, hand tapping languidly against his sword, watching, listening, waiting...

[Belinda]

Oh the Ugly man was right. He was into the girl rather hard. Belinda glanced at each person there sizing them up with those molten steel grey eyes. It was not hard to tell that there was a couple who didn’t like something but she didn’t care as those lips melted into a charming smile to the Man in charge. She had to be careful as this one had depth in those eyes. Not the philosophical kind of depth that people create poetry over. The kind that held experience and the knowledge to be dangerous. The sort of danger that she looked to hone and train. One look and he had a throng of people towing the line. Was the rest of the Radacke’s like this?

His dress and hands were better cared for than most a she looked down at her knee. The smile ticked further up in a charmed way. Belinda tilted her ehead slightly and flicked her hair to the side just enough to expose the neck a little bit more. her hand went to rest on top of the Dynast briefly as the skirting was opened along the many parts clean up to her hip. She crossed her legs ever so smoothly as what was revealed was very well formed legs with a little bit of definition. Those grey eyes looked into Julians as she let that settle in.

“Why yes. Mr Radacke. I have fairly recently arrived in Kenash. I have been diligent in filling my calendar up with venues to dance in.” The woman supplied as her tankard was taken away and wine replaced it as the Man’s wine was refilled.

Her eyebrow slowly rose and arched at his next words. “I have no doubt that Kenash leaves its impression, but so do I, Mr. Radacke. “ He hadn’t given is proper name as yet, but she patiently waited. If it didn’t come, then she would find out on the streets in due time.

The act of crossing one’s legs for most ladies usually was to do the lady thing as to show yourself as a virtuous woman or unavailable or some other item of demure behavior. This was not so for Belinda. The act of crossing the legs did a few things. It showed off her leg which was smooth, coppery, and flawless in complexion if also well-formed dancing legs. It did seal the way from her pride as if to say that im not quite that easy. It enticed he enamored further. As he was pulled slightly nearer with that act her fingers very lightly traced the back of his hand in a subtle movement. It was so light, so ghost like as to raise the feeling in the back of his hand. He took a drink of the cup.

“Mr. Radacke, if I may inquire, how does one obtain an audition to dance in the Midnight Market. I heard that busking is sometimes allowed. “ There was a slight emphasis on the word ‘heard’. Though she wanted access to busk in the market squares, this allowance would give her a bit more opportunity. If not she would haunt their roof tops to snoop. It was for no other reason than want to know. Her fingers returned to trace their absent and non-sensical design upon the back of his hand. The girl liked the Midnight Market. It was a lot like her. It was pretty on the outside and unpredictable on the inside.

Something was off though as the others grew tense. Mr. Ugly was looking around and there were a handful of others showing signs of being tense. Those eyes looked to Mr. Ugly with a raised eyebrow. “Perhaps my question is ill timed?” The girl asked in a very low voice with a curious furrow of her pretty brow looking between Julian and Mr. Ugly. She found herself wondering if her hand shouldn’t be closer to her daggers and wishing she had her rapier.

[Konrad Venger]

Konrad was familiar enough with his function as a blade-catcher that his hands and his eyes were what were being sold that night, not his voice or opinions. So when the girl's question seemed to hang between him, Julian and Janus, he just kept his mouth shut and waited for one of his "betters" to answer it.

"I'm quite sure of it, my dear," Julian said, all suave charm and oily smile. "Oh, where are my manners! I forgot to introduce myself." His hand shifted and he gripped hers lightly, lifting it as he spoke. "I am Julian, of the Radacke Dynasty, second cousin to Magistrate Mica Radacke-" Konrad resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he emphasized the title "-and I am most honored to meet you..."

He capped the introduction with a kiss on the back of her hand, eyes never leaving hers for a second. Konrad wondered how many women had become pliable putty with that little gesture. Or was it the money and status he wore like silk and sable that really sealed the deal? Probably a combination of both, he decided. Plenty of young and wealthy Dynast types in Kenash to chose from. Just need to find a way into their air.

His lip twitched at the idea that, maybe, him selling his sword and a girl selling her cunny were not so different. At least he didn't need to do any petching to leave with a fulsome purse.

"Ah, the Midnight Market. Enticing locale, is it not? Another of my cousins, Lasher, has... several interests there, I believe. Quite influential. He would be the man to talk to."

Julian went on and reached out to rub the girl's shoulder with his other hands, as if unwilling to physically cease contact, even if he was verbally pointing her elsewhere. Konrad was more impressed the foppish prick had the sense not to crow too loudly about the fact his dear cousin had a hand in all the drugs, whores and assorted rackets that thrived in the Midnight Market like maggots on a corpse.

"However, if you would like to audition privately, I am sure something could be arranged, hmm? Tonight, perhaps?" Julian leaned forwards, close enough Konrad had to strain to hear him. "I warn you... I can give exacting critique, but when I am pleased, I am most frank and generous with my praise."

Praise, Konrad thought with a chuckle behind his stoic mask. So that's what he's calling a good rogering, eh? Bloody Dynasts...

"There's a location he uses for such... diversions," Janus murmured to him without being asked, and Konrad wondered if the Radacke stooge could read minds. "The Heir Apartments, on the East Bank."

Konrad frowned and dredged his memory as he watched Julian pour more honeyed shite into the girl's ear. "Big place with the lights burnin' alla' time.? Four floors?"

"That sounds like the place, yes. If he decides to take her there, you will of course accompany him."

Konrad sighed and permitted himself to close his eyes for a brief moment. Of course. Because what night as a bodyguard would be complete without slouching in some gilded hallway and listening to his moneyed client grunt to an orgasm on the other side of the door?

"Petching wonderful."

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