Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jun 19, 2014 17:03:34 GMT -6
Hello? I'm looking for a private consultant.
Rogus walked into a small "club" where some of the merchants in the city liked to spend their free time. He knew Myscha hung around here from time to time and used her self-given title to lure her out. It was an odd place filled with vapors of smoke and idle chatter. There were several lounging chairs and a few veiled door-ways but their was no sign of his newest partner in crime. A handful of the small amount of merchants in the place gave him an odd look; he didn't dress like a merchant, and they didn't know him. Rogus gave the lookers a cocky smile which made them shake their heads and return to whatever business they had been doing before he interrupted them. Seeing no response Rogus found the nearest lounging chair and made himself at home.
She was bound to show up eventually. Besides, Rogus enjoyed watching people try to give him subtle glances, it was too much fun to see their reaction when the thief made a funny face at them. He rested his head in his right hand and tapped the left side of the chair's arm rest impatiently. After a few minutes he began to feel bored, but knew if he left now he might miss her. In the mean time he occupied himself by sizing up each merchant in the room according to the expensiveness of the clothes they wore or the jewelery they so brazenly displayed on their person.
Geez... what a dull place.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 19, 2014 19:23:41 GMT -6
Charlotte was thrilled when she finally found a moment to slip away from the group. While she had readily signed her name on the scroll, the young woman needed time to go over everything that had gone down in the past few hours and – oh, who was she kidding? She’d had a meeting planned before she got caught up in the midst of a thieves’ guild, and she was likely going to miss the supplier she scheduled a meeting with at the small merchant “parlor,” as some called it. Most just called it the Velvet Monkey.
Now out of her blue dress and in a high-low emerald green number with sheer sleeves, Charlotte kept a quick yet relaxed pace. It was never worth the sweat and quickened breath when you finally did reach your destination; it makes you look weak, like you adhere to the other person’s schedule rather than your own. And Charlotte only worked on her own schedule, her own times, which she herself chose. She liked being her own boss.
She entered the Velvet Monkey, and she was familiar with most of the faces in the small merchant club, though she could sense something was off. While everyone was in their usual corners, there was something – rather, someone – they kept their eye on, as if there was competition in the bar. These men and women knew not to mess with one another, so who wouldn’t? Charlotte waved back to a few nods that were thrown her way, though her narrowed eyes were focused towards finding the person offsetting the balance.
And in an instant, her eyes landed on none other than Rogus, sitting “pretty” in one of the dark purple arm chairs. She assumed he was here to speak with her, but what could he possibly need? She gave one final look around, and not seeing the man she was actually supposed to meet, she walked over to a chair across from the thief, sitting on the very edge and leaning one of her arms on the armrest.
“I assume you have a good reason for coming to one of my places of business looking like... well, like that.” the woman’s nose scrunched up, though she was mostly teasing. She had a good enough reputation here that even if she associated with a few colorful characters, it was generally forgiven. Most of the people in here relied on her connections for one thing or another, so the most they would do is shoot a stray glance their way before going back to their business.
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jun 19, 2014 22:03:27 GMT -6
What can I say? I couldn't bear another moment without hearing your soothing voice, love. Rogus brushed aside her jab at his clothes, after all its why he was in the Velvet Monkey in the first place. He smiled with a quiet chuckle, and leaned forward with a visible wince. His wound was wrapped but despite his best efforts the blood was still stained on his shirt. He used his cloak to cover it, but since he was sitting the torn cloak had shifted enough to reveal the dried brown blood stain. Now it looked like a simple business meeting, Rogus was leaned forward as if the conversation was being led by Myscha, and to anyone else he'd look like yet another customer of hers. Rogus knew this could raise some questions about her but did an impecable job blending in despite the circumstances.
We can't all be as well dressed as you lass. His light-hearted expression changed quickly to a serious one.
I'd like to take a look at some of your...He paused with a nearly invisible grin. Wares. The word rolled off his tongue a bit more seductively than he intended. Can we talk business here, or is that frowned upon? Obviously he was speaking in code, anyone who overheard would think no more of it than just another business dealing. Hopefully Myscha would know he meant to speak about the guild or some other illegal activity that was best discussed in a room with less curious ears.
In truth, he was still unsure of Charlotte's depth of loyalty. Sure, she took the oath as the others had, signed the contract in her own blood... But if he knew two things he knew that all women are the most cunning snakes slithering the continent, and that Charlotte was a very talented manipulator. She'd shown her talents for such things early on, frequently making passes at him to get close. If he'd been any lesser of an ambitious man, he had no doubt he'd have fallen prey on her first attempt. He hated to think about how many men the woman had made puppets out of, yet was all the more intrigued by it. If she were truly waiting for the opportunity to make her own play, she'd have ratted them out to the lawmen for conspiracy to commit theft and organized crime. True thieves don't rat others out, however, so if she were a true thief why was it that he had a bad feeling about her? It was really quite perplexing, she's a seductress, obviously a good con, yet unlike any con Rogus had ever met she hadn't turned tail and run after getting what she wanted.
Thieves didn't last long working alone as Rogus had without following a few certain principles. Never trust anyone, Never rely on anyone, and never become dependent on others. The only person Rogus had ever trusted in nearly ten years was Ryuzaki, and even then it was to take care of a promise he'd made to a potential contact, the Sacaen hadn't even known Rogus's real name until the night prior to the meeting. Truth be told, Charlotte wasn't the sole target of his uncertainty, but she was the only one he had a concrete reason for distrusting. Hopefully his doubts would be gone by sun down, but as for now they hung over his head. He only thought of two reasons she'd even stayed this long in the first place:
One, she was waiting for the right opportunity to stab the others in the back, which honestly couldn't be held against her in a personal sense, after all they were thieves. And two, she was like Rogus, got bored and thought that this plan could be a welcome break from the dull day to day of petty theft or minor schemes. He had larger motives than to create a cure for boredom, but it was the reason he had started thinking of it in the first place.
By the way, you're cute when you're disgusted. He joked while still keeping the conversation look like business.
What? Just because he didn't trust her didn't mean he couldn't have some fun.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 20, 2014 11:54:18 GMT -6
An airy chuckle escaped the sultry blonde, giving a small shake of her head at the empty compliment. Well, to be honest she didn’t know if it was or not, but she always assumed so with characters like Rogus. She’d get an accurate read on the fellow eventually, but it always took her a bit more time with other... entrepreneurs like herself. The easiest thing for her to assume of Rogus was that he was guarding something about himself (who wasn’t?), but what it was he hid would be the more interesting piece of information. Maybe with enough time in the guild she’d become privy to such information.
“Well, true,” Charlotte agreed with his comment on her wardrobe. “It’s a challenge doing business looking otherwise, so why place myself at a disadvantage when I can easily be a step ahead of my competition?” She smiled, lightly motioning towards a few rotund men sitting around a table near where they were sitting. While not all of the merchants she worked with were as unfortunate looking as them, Charlotte’s looks and careful planning of her appearance only helped her already natural selling ability by making people trust her.
Charlotte had the feeling that Rogus didn’t trust her yet, and who could blame him? She wasn’t ready to be fully open about the extent of her mercantile and smuggling connections, and she hadn’t even shared her real name (well, save for signing the contract, but her signature was illegible). The woman had always been guarded, wanting to go it alone instead of relying on others. She also sometimes worried what other might think of her if they knew she had been a street rat of the Western Isles; she certainly knew that a handful of her buyers would take their business elsewhere knowing that fact alone. But she had been careful to erase any links to her childhood there, and swore she would never go back to that god forsaken town.
Her face having mellowed to her usual professional guise, Charlotte gave a quick nod when Rogus inquired about her wares, standing from her seat. “For most, no, but I prefer my clients receive the discretion they deserve. Follow me.” She was expectant that he would follow her, so she walked towards a door that was labeled “PRIVATE” that was near the end of the bar. One rather large ruffian stood near, who gave Charlotte a nod as she opened the door, ushering Rogus in after her. The door opened to a narrow staircase which led to a second story of small rooms, some of which were bedrooms and others which only had a few chairs and a round table in the middle.
Charlotte chose a door labeled with the number 3, which was her usual choice when she made deals here. She opened the door, instantly entering and taking a seat at the small table, propping up one arm over the back of the chair and giving a flash of thig as she crossed her legs – she would swear it was just out of habit now. She left her body rather open as she motioned for Rogus to sit across from here. “No eavesdroppers here, Rogus, just so long as you close the door behind you.”
As long as the man took a seat across from her, Charlotte would lean forward over the table, her arms crossed over one another as she did. “I don’t tend to carry my wares with me unless I have a committed buyer, but I’ve got my entire inventory” – Charlotte lifted one of her spindly fingers and tapped her temple gently – “right here.”
“So what are you looking for today, handsome?”
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jun 24, 2014 9:55:21 GMT -6
I bet you say that to every man who walks through that door. Rogus grinned, He didn't take a seat but he did close the door behind them. He slowly took a few steps forward, watching every detail of the room and the woman with a calculating eye. To her, he'd appear to be checking her out-- which wasn't entirely false-- but in truth he was only acknoweledging her presence. He was still bothered by the show she put on. Sure, some women just did it, but Rogus didn't want un-needed distractions from his partners.
Cozy. Rogus chuckled as he finally took a seat, placing his boots up on the table comfortably. Charlotte was correct to assume he hid something, and while he was very particular about the secret, there was one subtle clue that required an eye for quality to find. His boots. While sunbaked, and stained with who knows what, they weren't boots any ordinary traveler would have. The stitching was exquisite, the leather even had intricate detailing that would be impossible to see if the boots weren't out in the open. The boots were simply too high-quality for any ordinary thief, or even a successful one to own. True enough, the boots would last years longer than ordinary pieces, but no thief would pay an exorbitant fee for new boots. Sure, he could have stolen them, but they would have fetched a pretty penny in good condition; even in used condition they'd still be worth a nice chunk of gold. So why had he kept them? That was for her to figure out.
I'm not looking for anything in your inventory. I'm looking for something... Or rather someone. He stoppped rather abruptly. This was something of a test, both for her ability, and her connections. He refused to trust her with every detail, thats why he was here. The guild could not begin operations while Rogus didn't trust one of its members. Someone, and something really. I know that may be confusing, but the two do share an important connection, though they may not seem to.
I'll be blunt. The someone is you. The something is an assortment of items I may need someone's help to find. He crossed his arms and let her speak.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 24, 2014 12:02:30 GMT -6
“Force of habit,” Charlotte shrugged, a small chuckle bubbling from her lips. Part of Charlotte couldn’t help the front she put up, especially with men, as it truly had become habit over the past few years. One of her most valuable assets was her looks, and she felt no shame in using them to exploit men who had a weakness for the opposite sex. It wasn’t her fault when men were that vapid and shallow. Rogus wasn’t that type, though, so she made a mental note to try and tone it down around him. After all, if they were going to be doing business together nothing but a professional air would suffice, especially whenever they officially began working on guild business.
Charlotte listened carefully as the man spoke, though he spoke in the same generalizations that Burgid had used in their conversation earlier. One of these days she’d get used to it she supposed, but for now she would remain attentive yet silent, her eyes examining the new information that had been placed on the table in front of her. Charlotte was no expert in men’s clothing (she would claim herself one in women’s clothing, however), she knew how to spot a quality piece. Everything else Rogus wore was typical of a vagabond, but there was one thing that stood out:
His boots. They were made of a quality leather – may have even been shell corodovan all things considered – and looked to have been very carefully stitched and detailed. There was a definite patina under the grime as well, as if at one point they had been properly cleaned and polished with their wear. Charlotte had to wonder how the thief had come across a pair of such fine quality boots. She also had to wonder why in the world he didn’t sell them? Sentimentalist? Rogus didn’t seem the type to have attachments to something like a pair of boots. Then again, the most guarded tended to have one or two sentimental items in their possession; maybe Charlotte had just been shown one of his.
Charlotte finally tuned back into the conversation as Rogus got a bit more specific about what he was looking for. She already knew he wasn’t looking to buy, but she was curious what the items he might be looking for would be. No, considering the contract she had signed with the three thieves, she had a vested business interest in those items.
“Well, it must be your lucky day then,” Charlotte finally spoke, leaning back slightly but still keeping her arms crossed over the table. “This someone has a particular talent for finding somethings, and she’s willing to waive her finder’s fee as a show of good faith for her newest business partner.” In all honesty, that was something she never did, considering that was how she made money on a “fetch quest,” as she tended to refer to those deals. But she could tell Rogus was still wary of her, which would not work if their business was to be open. Granted, she’d be taking baby steps when sharing her network with the other three, but at least she was willing to take those steps.
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jun 30, 2014 16:06:02 GMT -6
You're not quite found yet my dear... Rogus finally said in a tone just above a whisper. He had been silent for what seemed like ages, he liked the way she had fixed her posture and became more professional and took a few moments to savor the surprising bliss of authority. To put it bluntly, I don't trust you. No offence, but I'm sure you share the sentiment toward me as well. Before I tell you what I'm looking for, or even begin working with you I must be sure I can trust you... And as much as I hate to say it, I have an idea for how we can develop a trusting partnership. He grinned and grabbed his dagger from his belt if it hadn't been taken by the bouncer on his way in. He placed the simple weapon on the table as a show of respect, an age old tradition of lycians, mainly the nobility, to show they were honest and sincere in any intentions. After all, a man who hid his blade had something else to hide as well.
We both tell the other one of our secrets. Something that can be used against us. He put his hands on the table and clasped his fingers together and leaned forward. Rogus smiled with a surprisingly friendly undertone. He may not trust her, but if he knew something about the enigmatic woman that could be used aginst her, he could trust she wouldn't try and cross him.
No lying of course. Believe me, I'll find out one way or another. despite his friendly smile she'd be able to hear the underlying message; Don't cross me.
When you're ready, please share. If you're against the idea, you can decline.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 1, 2014 16:38:40 GMT -6
Charlotte wasn’t surprised when Rogus plainly stated his distrust of her. She’d be disappointed if he did trust her right off the bat, to be honest, considering the secrecy that the rest of the group maintained around their lives and their work. “None taken,” she replied as he looked to ensure she did not take offense. How could she, anyways? She wouldn’t trust the lot of them yet, not until she was sure she could be fully vested in the guild.
As soon as the dagger clattered on the table, Charlotte raised an eyebrow in wonder. Well, if she didn’t know the man was Lycian by then, placing his knife out in the open confirmed that fact almost immediately. Charlotte, more often than not, claimed Lycian as her nationality, not feeling the need to reveal her roots in the Western Isles, so she had taken it on herself to really understand the small quirks and customs of the land. And while some still abided by the old ways, what Rogus had just done wasn’t a very common one to keep outside of formal noble meetings, especially considering the times.
A thought came to Charlotte: could the man be of noble roots? It’d be a pretty amazing guess, considering Rogus’ chosen profession, but a claim like that would require a lot more proof than simply following an old tradition. Charlotte made a note in the back of her head, but for now she simply followed suit, taking her two daggers – one from the small of her back and the other from a holster high on her thigh – and laying them out on the table as well.
Well, wasn’t Rogus acting mighty friendly for someone who had just asked a thief he barely knew to bare one of her secrets to him? Still, Charlotte smiled in return, only a twinge of discomfort apparent behind it. She’d obviously be choosy with what she chose to share, but she didn’t intend to lie. Considering the two of them were alone in this room, and after seeing what he’d done to that bandit back in the woods, Charlotte didn’t feel like taking the risk of pissing the guy off.
“No reason to be against the idea if we’re both sharing, right?” She paused for a moment, thinking of what she might reveal to the man across from her. Anything having to do with her profession would likely not be enough for him, as it seemed he was looking for information Charlotte would be hiding from her personal life. And like that, Charlotte knew what she’d tell Rogus.
“I was a Western Isles Urchin… from a small town in Caledonia, if you were wondering. Raised in an orphanage, no formal schooling, the whole nine yards… You’re a smart man, I’m sure you can imagine the implications of that.” While the information may not have seemed like much, if her clients found out about her true “upbringing,” it could absolutely destroy the rapport she had with them. Charlotte had put a lot of time and money into falsifying documents about her parents, citizenship, schooling, and certifications, all in an attempt to appear to be a legitimate consultant and merchant when asked for verification from some of her more upstanding clients. Charlotte wasn’t too worried about providing that information to Rogus though. While it could bring down her entire network of clients, she was offering that same network of clients to the guild, so she felt protected still.
“And yourself?” She asked in a low purr, her lips curled in a smile as she leaned forward, curious as to what Rogus would share of himself. “I’m sure you have just as many secrets as I do, so one shouldn’t be too hard to divulge, no?”
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jul 5, 2014 8:48:49 GMT -6
Rogus's smile slowly faded. If this woman had not already been the spitting image of the girl he'd left behind in the forest, her origins certainly made her even closer in terms of similarity. She'd be able to notice his obvious surprise and his look of an odd kind of sadness; Like something had just come back to haunt him. It was strange, Rogus thought, he felt the sudden urge to hold her in an embrace; though he knew they were not the same women, Myska was identical in almost every way. On the outside, he stared at her with one of the warmest glances he could manage, though in his mind he was nearly crying.
Well... I, uh, Rogus suddenly fumbled around for an answer (certainly not a common event for him). Rogus always knew how to reply or retort, but for some reason his tongue was tied. From the woman's experience, she'd most likely be surprised, or disapointed at how obvious this strange behavior was. His slip up lasted no longer than a few seconds however, and he quickly recovered.
How strange. I pictured you as a merchant's rebelious daughter. He finally replied with a sort of arrogance in his voice. He hated being tripped up on emotional matters. A man of his past standing should never have let a woman of low birth, especially one from the western isles, have him for a loss of words. That could seriously ruin your reputation... He teased her, all evidence of his slip disapearing. I'm afraid my story may trump yours, however, my dear Myska.
In fact... I'd prefer if you didn't share this information with any of the others... Ever. I certainly plan on never revealing it. Rogus paused and leaned in close, very close. He reach to his bandages and began ripping them off, tearing the scabs that had formed and opening the wound up. He made no noise, nor motion to indicate pain, but anyone would know that it should have felt excruciatingly painful. Finally he revealed his shoulder. Though the blood began to trickle just about everywhere, a brand was visible, the brand of the lycian league.
If you're the pauper... You could say I /was/ the prince.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 6, 2014 16:51:21 GMT -6
The sudden shift in demeanor did not go unnoticed by Charlotte, her brow furrowing slightly as she wondered what could be going through the man’s head. She certainly hoped it wasn’t pity; Charlotte had gotten over those feelings when she was a teenager. Pity is only useful for letting you wallow in the same miserable situation. People who pitied themselves when life didn’t go their way instead of picking themselves up ended up on the street, and Charlotte would not allow herself any sort of failure.
But no, this was something different. The usually smooth-tongued criminal now found himself stumbling over his words for a moment. What could have so deeply affected him? He had only known her for a few hours, so it had to be something else that had just crept to the surface. Maybe he had been reminded of something or someone, and he’d been overcome by the feelings for a few moments. He recovered quickly enough, though, his comments arrogant and assuming. But Charlotte had seen the slip, and now she would make it her personal duty to figure out why it had happened.
“I play the part of a spoiled merchant’s daughter quite well, do I not?” Charlotte allowed herself a cheeky grin, taking a bit of pride in the fact that she was doing her job in masking her past. It was no simple task; in fact, it was still challenging, as she spent much of her traveling time studying books on her own and trying to ensure she was educated as possible on her own. She had impressive street smarts, but that couldn’t sate everyone who looked to buy from her.
“As long as you keep my past close to your chest, I have no intention of sharing whatever you reveal.” Charlotte was serious, as she had no intentions of betraying whatever secret Rogus decided to share unless he decided to betray hers. She grimaced as she watched him peel back his bandage, opening his wound from earlier and displaying the brand she knew quite well to be that of the Lycian League.
“Not just a noble, but a banished one at that...” Charlotte finally leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her smile twisting the corners of her mouth up again. Her intuition was right again. “I had a feeling. That’s quite a bit of information to reveal to someone you’ve just met. Are you so sure you can trust me with something of that caliber?” Charlotte had actually done business with a handful of Lycian nobles – all under the table, of course – and she wondered if anyone she had worked with might know the man.
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jul 6, 2014 18:12:00 GMT -6
Rogus didn't have much to say. Which was good since he began finding it difficult to speak without tripping over his own tongue. She was a pretty, blonde, street-urchin turned thief, just like Aetha. The girl he left in the woods alone. The one he'd given away everything for. There was a difference however, and one difference was all it took to break him from his trance. Myska, from Rogus's perspective, didn't have soft eyes, her's were piercing and sharp. Aetha's were welcoming and kind. He stopped agonizing over every detail between the two then, and figured it was his turn to say what little he'd thought of.
I hold all the cards my dear. Yes, that information is dear to me, and likely could cause me harm if it was known by certain folks i associate with... But that would take a lot of time and effort to bring me down. All I have to do is mention your little history to the nearest merchant, and you're through. He refused to smile, he didn't particularly like explaining this. Don't assume I allowed you too much knowledge, for instance, i never said which city I hail from. In fact, be glad i told you anything at all. Thats why I trust you now. You gave me all the control. He finally allowed himself a grin. Hopefully that would dispell her fears that he told her too much. He knew how to deal with people like her, after all they were very much alike.
I don't plan on using it. Much. Rogus stood, taking his dagger into his belts. Just to find some drinks before we continue this conversation... seriously would it kill you to get a wine rack in here?
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 7, 2014 11:25:50 GMT -6
A fire flared up behind Charlotte’s eyes as Rogus tried to make it seem like he could walk up to any old someone and reveal her secret. Furthermore, she was infuriated that he would think that, from that bit of backstory he had been afforded, Charlotte could be utterly and totally destroyed. Part of that was true, but it would take a lot more than a stranger walking up to a random merchant on the street to undo her. The right people would have to hear and actually believe Rogus, which was why she had no qualms sharing. Like him, she shared no city, family names, nothing of note besides being raised in an orphanage – of which there were countless throughout the Western Isles. He didn’t even have the name she used with her clients.
But that he would try to use his supposed bargaining chip to get her to fetch him a drink? Maybe the two had established a base trust, but certainly any respect Charlotte might have for the man already had gone out the window with that. Charlotte never allowed herself to be ordered around; she didn’t entertain any sort of power plays, especially when someone wanted to work with her.
So if Rogus decided her noncompliance would push him to try and share her secret, then so be it. One thing all of these thieves would learn about Charlotte was that she was an self-destructive person. She would go to hell and high water to make sure that men like the one that sat across from her right now didn’t get their way. Maybe her career as a “legitimate” merchant would be done, but she wouldn’t be scorned by the criminal underground or the black market, and Rogus’ freshly made guild would lose what she considered an invaluable asset.
But an ex-noble’s career might be over with the underground if word of that got out..
So Charlotte simply motioned to the door. “There’s one out in the hall, my lord. You’re free to grab a drink yourself.” Her answer was curt, and she intended it to be. She wasn’t going to hide her distaste with him just to save face.
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jul 7, 2014 16:09:04 GMT -6
Rogus frowned and became very interested in his boots. He realized what he said sounded arrogant, rude and outright foolish. He hadn't meant it to be that way, in fact he hadn't intended to provoke the woman in any way. He was acting like a brat. The thief struggled for a few moments to think of why he had suddenly acted like his father, or any other self-righteous pompous arse in the lycian league, and how he'd be able to make amends for his words. He knew when he was wrong, and wasn't above admitting it, but how could he explain why he suddenly decided to treat her as a tool rather than a partner? It was how similar she was to Aetha, admittedly the only person Rogus ever truly loved, and his old instincts to act as a proper noble; he hated to admit it but part of his rather pompous outburst was due to the fact that a low-born woman like herself questioned his reasoning. An overwhelming sense of failure washed over him. He had tried so hard to leave that part of himself in the past, to become like any other peasant born man and work for his achievements. And he'd just acted as if he still had any claim to his nobility. I am such a fool... He whispered softly. He had entered the meeting in hopes of befriending the woman to a degree, after all as hard as he might try to push it away she reminded him that he'd made mistakes; leaving Aetha being the foremost. Rogus certainly hadn't planned on looking weak, but here he was, drowning in self pity. It was time to finally take responsibility for one of his mistakes. This time there would be no running away, he swore this to himself. The thief raised his head, the expression he had held akin to that of an embarrassed child disapeared, and the expression of a proud man surfaced. Rogus had never been proud of who he was, but the way Charlotte looked at him, and snapped back had put many things into perspective. With the way he behaved his whole life before he walked into the room, there was no doubt he'd fail at leading the guild. But now he had a better idea of what was required to succeed. He made it his mission right then to fix this one mistake. Taking two long strides, Rogus positioned himself a respectable distance away from the woman, and knelt on one knee. Even if he were no longer considered a part of his noble house, he still was of noble blood, and anyone below that social class would never have expected to see a noble kneeling in front of them. I am sorry. I spoke out of turn. Rogus's voice reflected his surprisingly honorable intentions. Unlike most apologetic fools, Rogus looked Charlotte dead in the eye, his grey eyes seeming a little less hollow. I treated you as a commoner when I should have treated you as an equal. I'm no longer a noble, and even if I was I'd have no excuse for my words. Rogus paused and smiled faintly as the picture of Aetha's familiar face entered his mind. I've made many a mistake in my life time, and I've ran from them all. I won't run from this one. Rogus bowed his head, bracing for the inevitable smack to the cheek or kick to the groin that no doubt awaited him. He refused to try and explain why he had acted like an arrogant beaurocrat, there was no excuse; so he made none and waited for one of many responses he thought would come his way. Honestly, if anyone had spoken like that to him he'd have stabbed them, hopefully she was a better person than he. ((OOC: For pronunciation's sake Nerethi is pronounced Naer-eth-eye. Also, I'm sorry for how I didn't explain his actions in the previous post, I'm trying to quit smoking and become a bit hasty after not having my nicotine ))
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 7, 2014 20:41:52 GMT -6
(OOC: No worries, man, it’s nothing personal =P I was just responding how Charlotte would)
Arms still crossed, Charlotte simply watched Rogus as he seemed to shrink ever so slightly. She wouldn’t back down from her steely demeanor now, but she could see there was something about what she had said that affected him. She noticed him whispering something to himself, but a creak of her shifting in her chair had covered whatever it was the man had said. That was all that was said for at least another minute, Rogus clearly mulling something over to himself while Charlotte refused to speak on principle.
Finally, the first words out of Rogus’ mouth were... an apology? Well, that wasn’t what she was expecting, but Charlotte wouldn’t refuse a perfectly good apology. While it would take time for Charlotte to build respect for him, the fact that Rogus was willing to backpedal so quickly, especially considering how pompous he’d been with her, did shift Charlotte’s degraded opinion of him slightly. She’d have thought he was being insincere if it wasn’t for his sudden shift in tone, paired with his hung head and slouching shoulders.
“I appreciate that,” Charlotte voiced, though her voice showed no signs of playfulness as it usually did. She was still somewhat upset, but most of the ferocity faded away to the woman’s acumen. Charlotte knew full well she wouldn’t be able to use this time alone with Rogus to learn anything of value if she remained angry over his misstep. She didn’t need to brood to know that she had worked herself to death to get where she was, in spite of not being afforded an education or an easy childhood.
So Charlotte left it at that, deciding it was time for her to pose a question. “So an ex-noble... what’d you do that was so bad they branded you?” She didn’t feel like trying to change the subject completely. Besides, she was curious, and the young woman hoped that in his moment of vulnerability, he might be willing to share.
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Rogus
Thief
Arrogance is a virtue.
Posts: 178
Profession: Stealing yo' gold
Guild: SS
Affinity: Fire
OoC Alias: Gus
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Post by Rogus on Jul 7, 2014 21:59:17 GMT -6
The thief almost flinched as Charlotte spoke. Luckily for him she did none of the things he thought she'd do, which would be nice if he didn't know her forgiveness didn't come from the bottom of her heart. At least he'd tried to be sincere, he really did feel like an arrogant brat. Her answer sounded more like a grudging "fine you can stay." to him. He couldn't really blame her, but he'd have respected her a hell of a lot more if she had kicked him out.
They brand nobles deemed to be unworthy of their place and position. Rogus dodged the question. He had apologized, and she hadn't asked for something in return for his transgression, so he wasn't forced to give her special treatment... But after realizing he'd had to justify doing so in his own head he couldn't let himself get away with a weaselly move like that.
How about a secret for a secret? Its one thing we've agreed upon at least. Rogus offered. Of course, i don't expect a return on this one, its on the house. He stood up and walked to open the door. He might as well start drinking early today. Before he left to find the wine she spoke of, he gave her a motion to wait a moment. He had never told anyone of his past, let a man have a drink first. He returned moments later with two bottles. There were no glasses so he figured they'd share. He placed the one in his left hand on the table and slid it over to the woman, and gazed at the name of the one in his right. Finallly, he sat back down.
Want the long version? He stalled to open the wine bottle before he started, his throat was rather dry after swallowing all his pride back there. He deftly dug most of the cork out with his knife before pulling the whole thing out with his teeth. Too be honest I'm not keen on giving every detail, but I owe you one so its up to you.
While he took his first long gulp of the wine, he used his thumb nail to draw another tally on his dagger's hilt. Another debt he'd repay it seemed. To an outside viewer, they would probably look like kill tallies, but Rogus wasn't one to keep trophies to brag about how many men he'd slain. No, he made the tallies so he'd never forget his debts. There was honor among thieves, as most swore to always repay their debts; Thieves are normally romanticized like that anyway, few actually put that oath to practice. Rogus however was one such thief who enjoyed the stereotype and considered debts extra challenges for him to overcome. It was doubtful she'd notice, but if she did Rogus didn't care, although it would probably look strange he'd never cared much about what others thought of him.
The debt wasn't because he'd offended her. It was because she'd unknowingly helped him correct a fault in his character. Well, correct entirely would be incorrect to say, but it was a step, and a step was all he needed.
Good wine, I don't suppose its free here? He smiled, realizing he was still stalling. At least he didn't have to share his story until she answered.
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