Legend of Ransera

“Ten gold aven.” The purr paused for a moment, but started up again. “Ten, and the potential of increased clientele, not just with my visit, but by association with them. They’re quite popular at the cabaret, and their service can be requested outside of the establishment.” He lifted a brow, smile still on his face. The gleam of his teeth in the light brighter as he spoke. “An arrangement that could be extended to you, again, if deemed beneficial by the Ladies. And if you don’t take this, it’s really more your loss than ours.” He chuckled, low and not as sweet as one might expect the sound to be. “How do you think Candy has fare thus far in their illustrious career?”

There was nothing particularly dangerous about haggling with someone, but it did give him the slightest of buzzes. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he was practically swindling the Avialae. His mind had already worked out the details of the first payment. No specifications — Mino could give him anything and it would count for the desired 250. But the other had not been careful with his words, not the way he should be when dealing with Mino or making any sort of deals. Maybe he would explain it when all was said and done.

The other had the right amount of caution, though. A skeptic view of the details already given to him. Good, but misplaced. Mino wondered if he’d be more careful with these sorts of things when he walked out of this room.

“I’ve already told you everything that I am able to tell you.” He shrugged, glanced toward the window. “Yes, some of the security team was reliable enough that we thought it best to hire them once more. There’s nothing wrong with bringing back people who do good work, is there?” He did find it the slightest bit odd that he thought the cotillion would have some sort of ulterior motive. No one smart would do something to a bunch of nobles at once in such a large gathering. It did leave houses open and provide opportunities, but it also made the Lekivians a target as the hosts. They were putting themselves as much at risk as anyone else that would be in attendance.

“You can trust that I have not told you a single lie about what will be taking place. If anything changes between now and the cotillion, you will be informed. I can promise you that much, and to uphold my end of this deal.” The purr had settled back into his words, a hand pushing his bangs out of his face so he could look the other in the eyes properly. “I’m nothing if not someone who keeps my word.”

“See? Now.” He tapped the wood of his desk. “Now, we’re doing business.”

Business — swindling. He was swindling the avialae, if he was being honest. Roping him into work he probably wouldn’t be paid more for later on. But that part was not up to him. That part was up to the Ladies of the house. Mino prayed, silently, that this one wouldn’t have to meet the likes of the Lady Red, lest she take a special liking to him. At least, not personally.

As the other talked about being careful, he could almost laugh at the irony of that. Almost. And it was in stifling his own laughter that he caught the other doing much the same. “You doubt the veracity of my words.” A simple enough observation, and he couldn’t blame the other man for his thinking. “Shall I prove it?”

Being truthful was risky business, but he had always walked the line of risk and reward well enough. The grin on his lips faded just the slightest. He could probably predict what the man would want to ask, even with his threats present. But something even more peculiar — “You didn’t know who you were trying to get a job from when you walked in?”

He blinked, huffed out a chuckle as he crossed his arms over his chest. Huffed out another that turned into a fit of giggles that didn’t quite fit the mood that had settled over the room. What with the other having just threatening him and all that. He pressed his knuckles to his lips to crush the laughter behind them. Kalsazi had a knack for attracting interesting crowds, this man included. Especially if he had not known whose gates he’d marched through to seek coin from them.

He’d walked into a den of wolves.

Some literal, some figurative.

Running a hand through his hair, he gave a short bow. Nothing deep and almost mocking. “You speak to Lord Mino of House Lekivian He knew it would likely be infuriating, but that would be the point of the gesture. Lifting his hands up to mimic paws, fingers curling as he tipped his head to the side. “Beloved kitty of the House of Many Colors, nyam.”

He waited a beat, let the silence settle in before he was laughing again at his own antics. “You can ask me two questions, and I will answer them truthfully. But just two, and no more. So, think wisely on what you would like to ask, nyam.” Another tilt of his head, but he couldn’t keep a straight face for as long as he had before.

Hyoga made a lot of threats for someone that knew so little of what he was dealing with. At the very least, he didn’t waste his opportunity to ask for the truth. A matter of whether it was the most direct route to the truth was a different story, and not when Mino had promised. Every working relationship needed to have some level of trust, or there would be no cooperation. Mutual benefit came from some degree of credibility, even if someone were to fabricate it. But it was plenty difficult to fabricate the nobility that Mino had been bestowed with.

Mino’s applause of Hyoga’s questions was only partly mocking. “What interesting questions. Are you sure they’re the ones you want to ask? Should I answer them in order, or was that just how you wanted to present them?” He blinked, not quite owlishly, but with eyes that were meant to be wide and innocent. As if he could do no wrong.

“To answer the first, yes and no. I’ve...quite the proclivity for taking things that shine, or don’t quite fit in my mouth.” That — he let his grin show how intentional that word choice had been. Nothing wrong with a little flirting, now that the true business had been done. “Mostly, I just like the challenge of trying for those things.”

The second question was easy enough. “I haven’t lied. Not a single minute in this room has a lie passed my lips. I can promise all nine of my lives on that, if you would like me to swear it.”

The path to the truth was not always so straightforward. Sometimes, it wound around itself like a tangled serpent. Sometimes, you had to jump from one point to the next before you landed anywhere near it. Mino knew that well enough. Wasn’t that the point of mystery novels? The ones that had been read out to him in his youth had taught him as much. That, and the charm of gruff detective with an obsession for justice and knack for doing anything that was required of him to reach said justice.

“That concludes our question and answer, and if you somehow have a lie detector upon you better than my own.” He tapped his nose, smiled. “Then, certainly you will have been worth the time that has gone into this meeting.” He twisted the signet ring on his finger, mulled over something. But he thought better of it. Asking after Fawn was not his place, especially not where it concerned her work. “Anything else before we get to drawing up the contract and I send you on your merry way to Daffodil?”

Mino grinned. This was how business worked. Every deal might as well be a deal with a devil of one kind or another. That much had been made clear to him under the tutelage of the Lady Blue. Of course, in this instance, Mino had a bit of an upperhand over the avialae. Not that he cared much to inform the other that he ought to be careful. He would learn on his own.

“Really, you’re gonna need to work on how you talk to people of higher status.” He clicked his tongue, brows lifting in time with his shoulders. “Or at least the people who are paying you and treating you with some measure of respect.” He wasn’t so much phased by it, but if Hyoga was to work for them and attend the cotillion — there were plenty of people who would not be so pleased with the way he spoke. And there would be time to make good on those issues. But above all — it would reflect back on the house. They couldn’t have word going around that they hired someone who didn’t know how to act in polite society, or basic manners.

He tipped his head to the side, sighed. His problem, but not fully his problem. They’d find a way to remedy it. “You will be contacted several days before the festivities begin. Should you need to mark your calendar, do so.” His amusement was dwindling the further on they got. He truly considered the other a moment. He could be a problem in the future, but Mino wasn’t so sure if it would be for them or someone else. He would prefer if it were someone else. He had enough on his plate.

“Daffodil will see you at the gate. Try not to run your mouth with her. If you might have noticed, she could surely bend you over her knee and give you a good spanking to teach you a lesson.” His smile was congenial, not quite matching his words. Thereafter, his attention seemed to move to drawing up the contract they had mentioned.

Mino

Lores: ( 14 Eligible, 14 Requested
Acting: Pretending you've met someone for the first time
Business: Every deal is a deal with the devil
Business: Discussing contracts
Deception: There are different paths to the truth
Deception: Using their words against them.
Etiquette: Schooling someone on how to talk to their superior
Finances: Appropriate pay
Negotiation: Watch how you word things
Negotiation: Have the other party set the price and work them down
Negotiation: State reasons for your counteroffer
Negotiation: Sometimes it is no more than haggling
Negotiation: Offering something to placate the other party
Seduction: Phrasing matters
Seduction: Threats can be turned into something else if you respond right

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Points: 8, may not be used for magic

Comments: The vitriolic flirtation is a fun thing to see. Interesting to see Mino wielding that power and influence with such poise, well done.

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Hyoga

Lores: (13 Eligible, 11 Requested)
Negotiation: Making Deals
Negotiation: Asking a for a favor
Negotiation: Making a counteroffer
Negotiation: Terms of employment
Persuasion: Being convinced of the Truth
Persuasion: Being a man of your word
Persuasion: Holding to a contract
Persuasion: Being convinced of more job opportunities in the future
Intimidation: Making it clear lying is not in their best interest
Intimidation: Using your size to intimidate
Intimidation: Threats, threats, and more threats

Mino: Has a silver tongue
Mino: Is a weird cat man
Mino: Is a lord of a noble house
Mino: says Nyam a lot

Loot: 250 silver aven for Hyo for the event bc he never specified level of currency and who would Mino be if he didn't take advantage of that? :}
Injuries: N/A

Points: 8, may not be used for magic

Comments: And then there's Hyoga, not taking any shit, knowing his value, moving to get what he wanted. Well done, both of you.