An Auspicious Meeting
It had been some time since Declan had enjoyed the finer things in life. In point of fact, lately it seemed that he had done everything within his power to get as far from luxury as possible, just to spite his father. However, now that he was in a clean, warm sitting room, bereft of the typical lice and smell of cheap beer and urine that one would expect in a tavern or bordello, he had to admit part of him missed the benefits of being noble born.
But such thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of their host. As far as he had fled from his family, proper etiquette and protocol had not left him. He came to his feet instantly, and stood at attention, as was only right for a woman of such stature. She was clearly a person of means, as her wardrobe and pale skin indicated, not to mention the finery of the townhouse. He raised one of the offered wine glasses, but waited until she bade them drink before he did so. He sat down as he drank, savoring the vintage for a long while with a practiced pallet. This too was nostalgic for him, and most certainly either a show of wealth or generosity to offer such to simple mercenaries.
"My Lady, I could spin tales of my prowess in battle, my discretion, my dependability, and try to dazzle you with words alone. However, I fine such boasting to be filled with exaggeration and, frankly, often baseless self-aggrandizement. I could give you my word as a gentleman that I will complete any task that you feel fit to give, but that assurance depends on you trusting the honor of a sellsword. Ultimately, this decision will be up to you, as it is your coin we are vying for. I could tell you of my need for gold, but it is not my needs that are important here. Unless we are but the first of a series of interviews, you have invited us into this lovely home, so there must be something about us that first drew your interest. Freely admitting my bias, I encourage you to listen to that inclination. And if I may be even more frank about my biases, it is my understanding that I am...intimately acquainted with a member of the missing party. I am very motivated to see this to completion," Declan said evenly, giving her a deep bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:44, Mon 22 Feb 2021.