37, Winter, 518
Although Maria had heard about Tall Johnny's Casino and Cage Fights, she'd not stopped by to visit, at least until today. She was in the mood to be violent, but decided to limit it to a possible cage fight for once. It was still early in morning, so there weren't a lot of people around when she walked in through the double doors on the left. Even though it was her first visit, Maria knew which side was which, from hearing people in town talking about it. Inside she stopped to look around at the large amphitheater style seating around the pit in the floor. Checking everything over carefully, she smirked a little, thinking this would be fun.
She saw Johnny some distance off in a small office style room. He was counting money at a small desk, and flanked by two very large, very heavily armed mercs. Still glancing around at the large and well lit room, Maria could just imagine what it would be like to fight with a large crowd cheering her on. That idea brought a smile to her face, then it faded as she reached the door. Knocking gently to get his attention, Johnny had a handful of gold miza that were being counted. He held up a finger, finished counting what was in his hand, dropped it into a pouch, wrote on the ledger in front of him, then looked up at her.
“Something I can do for young lady?” As he had been every time Maria had seen him, Johnny was dressed in fine clothing, his short hair was combed, and had a very neatly waxed mustache. For an older gentlemen he was quite handsome to Maria, wealth aside. However that was neither here nor there. She'd come to fight in the Pit and spill some blood. She also noticed that he had a fairly interesting accent, though she couldn't place where it might have come from.
“I'm here to fight in the pit.” Johnny maintained a fairly blank expression, but pursed his lips a little.
“You do realize the pit isn't for the faint of heart, Miss...” Maria was used to people underestimating her due to only being 5'4” and of slender build, so she didn't blow up.
“Maria Talwa. Put me in the pit, I'll show you just how 'faint' my heart is.” With her arms now folded across her chest, Maria gave the man a determined look, letting him know just how serious she was. Johnny sat there quietly, and seemed to be mulling the idea over in his mind.
A moment later he snapped his fingers, and one of the large bodyguards leaned down. Johnny said something she didn't catch, to which the man gave a small nod and walked out. That made Maria curious as to what was going on, but if he'd wanted to be overhead, what was said would have been done so louder. She kept quiet, and waited for him to say something else to her.
“Before I put you in front of a crowd, I'll need to see you in action for myself Ms. Talwa. Mern, show the young lady to the pit.” The other bodyguard nodded, then walked out, and Maria quickly followed after him. Taken down a set of stairs to the first floor, where the employee and servant quarters were located, they walked down a few halls before Mern opened a door leading into the pit. By the time she stepped onto the floor, Johnny was already sitting in one of the seats above. As before his expression was neutral, but both elbows were on the armrests of the seat, handing meeting at the top to make a little triangle.
WC: 619
She saw Johnny some distance off in a small office style room. He was counting money at a small desk, and flanked by two very large, very heavily armed mercs. Still glancing around at the large and well lit room, Maria could just imagine what it would be like to fight with a large crowd cheering her on. That idea brought a smile to her face, then it faded as she reached the door. Knocking gently to get his attention, Johnny had a handful of gold miza that were being counted. He held up a finger, finished counting what was in his hand, dropped it into a pouch, wrote on the ledger in front of him, then looked up at her.
“Something I can do for young lady?” As he had been every time Maria had seen him, Johnny was dressed in fine clothing, his short hair was combed, and had a very neatly waxed mustache. For an older gentlemen he was quite handsome to Maria, wealth aside. However that was neither here nor there. She'd come to fight in the Pit and spill some blood. She also noticed that he had a fairly interesting accent, though she couldn't place where it might have come from.
“I'm here to fight in the pit.” Johnny maintained a fairly blank expression, but pursed his lips a little.
“You do realize the pit isn't for the faint of heart, Miss...” Maria was used to people underestimating her due to only being 5'4” and of slender build, so she didn't blow up.
“Maria Talwa. Put me in the pit, I'll show you just how 'faint' my heart is.” With her arms now folded across her chest, Maria gave the man a determined look, letting him know just how serious she was. Johnny sat there quietly, and seemed to be mulling the idea over in his mind.
A moment later he snapped his fingers, and one of the large bodyguards leaned down. Johnny said something she didn't catch, to which the man gave a small nod and walked out. That made Maria curious as to what was going on, but if he'd wanted to be overhead, what was said would have been done so louder. She kept quiet, and waited for him to say something else to her.
“Before I put you in front of a crowd, I'll need to see you in action for myself Ms. Talwa. Mern, show the young lady to the pit.” The other bodyguard nodded, then walked out, and Maria quickly followed after him. Taken down a set of stairs to the first floor, where the employee and servant quarters were located, they walked down a few halls before Mern opened a door leading into the pit. By the time she stepped onto the floor, Johnny was already sitting in one of the seats above. As before his expression was neutral, but both elbows were on the armrests of the seat, handing meeting at the top to make a little triangle.
WC: 619
