Legend of Ransera

"No," he said slowly as he considered what Arvalyn said — as if it was for him to dictate Arvalyn's choices. "You can leave the 'life' behind as you have been. In fact, if you want to leave it behind entirely to focus on music, then I will support you financially in the meantime. "I mean, there are performers at the Peacock who moonlight as courtesans, but they host their salons and soirées and are much more selective about those with whom they share their beds. In any case, you will probably hear more as an up-and-coming star than you would in the rooms rented by the hour."

He spoke bluntly about such things, but he looked to Arvalyn for his honest response. Aurin wasn't trying to make his boys sacrifice more; he was trying to pull the trick that meant they could sacrifice less and claim their dream lives.

"And you," he said, turning to Torin, "should focus on what your master still has to teach you. I'm thinking in terms of the long game. Within a season or so, you should be starting your new business and perhaps by then I can pay you properly for such experiments. But perhaps you ought to bring me all your old notes and schematics and walk me through the things that have inspired you. There might be some I would ask you to look into further for future use. If I can turn my little holding company into a proper keiretsu, my work at the Theater will feed into it, and the money will go whither it needs to go so that all the concerned people and businesses can benefit.

"As for working at the Peacock... yes, I would take it seriously. As managing director, I would be a legitimate businessman. My partners would be the artistic director and the noble patron, keeping me connected to the artists of Kalzasi and bringing me into contact with the nobility. The keiretsu would be the means by which I spread that economic interest. And my penchant for secrets would be how we make deals that benefit our various interconnected interests. I could manage the Cabaret myself if Lunaria croaked tonight. I can manage the Peacock. But it would be a vertical career move for me within my life as Aurin Kavafis here in Kalzasi."

"It would be a vertical move to go from a manager at the Cabaret to the managing director of the Theater, yes," he said, then popped a morsel into his mouth. He was definitely going to have to make a point of eating more when a main course arrived. When he was excited by a prospect such as this, he was far more likely to keep talking and keep drinking, but that could end poorly.

"And, well, the wages wouldn't be enough to live on, at least not at first, but what's mine is yours — as my fortunes grow, so will yours. But I can pay enough to be helpful."

The waiter returned and took their order, and that was one more thing taken care of while he tried to field other questions and concerns.

"Of course," he said to Torin. "I would enjoy seeing what you are working on. I don't anticipate putting either of you in any sort of danger, but quick communication can be quite helpful, especially if the movement of information is helpful for business deals. If a contact in the Low-City needs to communicate to someone in Cloudhaven, that could be done with more circumspection if they didn't have to costume change just to get into the neighborhood without comment."

Smirking at Arvalyn, he added, "I'll let you persuade the artistic director that you should be painted gold and posed for posters." Having seen Arvalyn naked, he was certain that would attract at least some of Kalzasi's citizens to the theater, though it would be a thin line before it seemed something more appropriate for the Velvet Cabaret.

Later, it occurred to him to add to Torin. "I wonder about having something for an emergency, though. Perhaps something that could be activated when things get bad enough to panic. An alarum, perhaps. I'm thinking more of my contact in the Low-City. She's relatively good at evading dangerous situations, but you never know... Ah, supper." He smiled beatifically at the server returning with help to present them their meal.

"They have rooms and dormitories," he supplied, "and closets, I'm certain."

There had been an actress who rather enjoyed bringing him over and making the top bunk a stage for their performances, but it hadn't lasted. He hadn't wanted it to, as the Theater was still too close to the Cabaret for comfort. Mixing business and pleasure could lead to impossible combustions and, while they could be dramatic, they weren't what a man keeping a low profile wanted. He had just wanted sex.

It seemed likely that Arvalyn would have some climbing to do at the Theater, as well. It had its own pecking order and even if Aurin was able to step in as managing director, exerting too much influence on his behalf would ruffle feathers and could make it an impossible work situation for the elf. It would also reflect poorly upon him as a new leader. It had taken time to earn the trust of those at the Velvet Cabaret and while he would have some capital as one of Lunaria's longest-running managers, he would have some climbing to do himself, even if the Peacock was only part of his wider plan.

He caught Torin's eye after Arvalyn finally engaged him, his eyebrow rising, but saying nothing. At least things were civil. It was a start.

Knowing Torin would take his lead, he had ordered something he knew would be to both their liking. There were many little ways he tried to make the lives of these two men easier, most in ways he hoped they never recognized. It was easier than saying words that admitted his vulnerability. In any case, the food distracted Arvalyn and Torin both. He ordered another round of drinks but changed his and Torin's into something the apprentice would enjoy and Aurin would as well. He could appreciate fine things, but many of them were only fine in small doses.

As they tucked in, he said, "I need to educate myself on your craft to better communicate the things that could be useful. And, of course, because I am interested." He thought he might also have to talk to him about his own rules for himself. In a perfect world, he wouldn't break any laws, though, upon his death, they might have new laws to make to prevent people from gaming the system as he intended to do. Aurin wasn't a sadistic man and had no desire to ruin lives, but he might do things for expediency's sake that others would balk at. Time would tell.

He smiled around a bite of food to hear Torin's compliment. Perhaps he and Arvalyn would get along after all, especially if the elf realized that Torin was all but incapable of being anything but sincere. Aurin proposed a toast to their futures and then did his best to do what he did at the Velvet Cabaret: keep everybody happy, ply them with drinks, and things to please their palates. To see those smiles of Arvalyn's that weren't a performance at the same table as Torin's shier versions made him about as happy as he could be just then.

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