Perona quietly closed the door behind her and turned the lock with a soft click. Aralynn crossed the room, latched the shutters, then unbuckled her rapier and set it aside. Her cloak slipped from her shoulders in one smooth motion. Stepping forward, she lit the lantern, casting a warm glow across the room.
She gestured to the chair. "Please, have a seat."
Perona nodded and settled in, placing her lute carefully beside her. Aralynn sat down on the edge of the bed.
"So," she asked, "what did you want to talk about, Ms. Perona?"
The half-elf raised a hand. "Just a moment." Her eyes shimmered faintly, a soft pink glow flickering behind them for a heartbeat.
Aralynn stiffened slightly, her fingers instinctively brushing the grip of her revolver. "What was that?"
"Relax," Perona said, offering a calming smile. "Just making sure we're not being listened to."
Aralynn raised an eyebrow. "It's that serious?"
Perona's lips curved into a half-smile, and she gave her a playful wink. "You can never be too careful."
Aralynn blinked and narrowed her eyes slightly. What does she mean by that?Comprehension.
[Comprehension Lv. 4 has been activated!]
[...]
[Comprehension has failed.]
Aralynn blinked. Skills can fail? Or does it mean that my 'level' isn't high enough?
Perona made an alien melodic sound that cut off Aralynn's thoughts. It took a while to realize that Perona was laughing; a clear, lilting, laugh that filled the room. Aralynn blinked again.
"I see that you're a cautious person yourself." Perona leaned forwards slightly. "Trust me, I'm not going to hurt you."
[Comprehension has determined that Perona, The Minstrel of Magniloquence is telling the truth.]
"How can I help you then, Ms. Perona?" Aralynn asked.
"Please, just Perona is fine," Perona responded. "I just wanted to know, in short… What are your thoughts on the Brass Hand?" Perona rested her hands on her lap and stared Aralynn unflinchingly in the eyes.
Aralynn, uncomfortable with the attention, looked at the wooden boarded floor. "They seem like a good lot. I trust Irene, and I'm out of a job. They align with my values, and I'll be joining them tomorrow, if that's what you're asking."
Perona crossed one slender leg over the other and daintily placed one fist under her chin. She gently made circles in the air with her foot before stopping. "I won't press you for details on your skills, but do you have good reason to believe so? You seem like someone who wouldn't be tricked easily." Perona eyed Aralynn's bloodied cloak.
"You know about skills?" Aralynn blurted out.
Perona tilted her head. "Of course I do. Were you registered to the system recently?"
"System? The glowing windows that show up? Yes." Aralynn gestured in the air.
"I see. Well, those who have been registered to the system are called players, as you might know. You can tell if someone's a player if they have a character summary. I pulled up yours, but much of it was blurred out. I assumed you had some skill that allowed you more insight on Irene, not to mention what you did back there with the revolver." Perona explained.
"Oh," Aralynn said. Well, I might be working with her soon… would there be harm in telling her? I'd better exercise caution first… but she did give me useful information. "Yes, I do."
"Very well." Perona stood and stretched, giving a heavenly sigh. "I trust you. I'll join you tomorrow, then. We'll see how many people from our group join the Brass Hand. Either way, goodnight, Aralynn, and I look forward to being friends, okay?" Perona slung her lute around her shoulder, smiled, winked, and left.
Are half-elves always this flirtatious? Aralynn sighed as well and locked the door before she fell onto her bed, sideways so as to not damage or hurt her wings. Reaching over with one hand, she snuffed out her lantern. She breathed in and out as the fatigue of the day's activities caught up to her and soon she fell to a deep slumber.
- - -
Aralynn blinked awake. She always rose early out of force of habit from the imperial army. Yawning, she stood in front of the mirror, belted on her rapier, and donned her cloak, ruffling her feathers and doing what she could to neaten the fluffy parts of her bed hair.
Flinging open the shutters, Aralynn caught the city yawning awake as well, shops beginning to open doors and shutters opening in the still chilly light of the sunrise. Muted and muffled conversations through the walls could be heard around her as the other patrons of the inn started to wake up as well, and below her on the streets people were already throwing on clothes and exiting their homes, intending on beating the early morning rush to the market or shops.
Aralynn breathed in, the wintry and sharp air entering her lungs, contrasting with the omnipresent warm orange glow as she basked in the sunlight. She stayed there next to the window for a moment.
When was the last time I could enjoy a sunrise? That fact was that she… couldn't remember. For the past years of her life, Aralynn had only been fighting, sneaking out before the sunrise to get information or get a drop on her enemies. Even if she did catch a sunrise, it was choked by the gunmetal sky and plumes of smoke, the ever-present threat of death hanging over her on the battlefield.
Eventually, Aralynn tore her eyes away from the welcoming sun and headed downstairs, locking her room behind her. The tavern's bar and restaurant was already awake, with sleepy patrons of all races shuffling about, and light conversations starting up, ordering a cold beer or hearty breakfast to start the day.
Aralynn scanned the room for Irene, and found her near the bar as usual.
"You're up already?" Perona startled Aralynn as she came down the stairs behind her.
"Good morning, Perona," Aralynn responded.
"Good morning~" This morning, Perona had done up her hair in a ponytail, with middle-parted bangs trailing down her elegant forehead.
The two approached Irene by the bar counter. "We're in," Aralynn said.
Irene's eyes lit up. "Good morning, Ms. Aralynn, Ms. Perona. I was hoping that you'd say that. But before you make the decision, please consider it carefully. Nobles and certain people don't take to us kindly, as you might imagine. You more than likely would get hurt if you so choose to join us." Irene turned a lever that conjured a splash of water over a used beer mug, and took a washcloth, quickly scrubbing it clean, turning it around, making sure that it was absolutely clean before setting it down, satisfied.
Aralynn turned to Perona, who nodded. "We've made our decision, and we'll stick to it. We're in."
"There it is." Irene offered two signet rings, embellished in brass with a green outline of an open palm inlaid with oxidized copper. Irene smiled. "Welcome to the Brass Hand."