"Leona," Fae throws back, not sparing a moment for her surprise. "I'm lookin' for Cynthia."
Leona raises one arm against the doorframe, looking past Faerin to the slightly taller man trailing behind him. "Cynthia ain't gonna be pleased 'bout you comin' in th'back way."
"Last I heard, the back way's fair game if you can pay enough to come in."
She snorts, a grin cutting between her red lips before she waves her hand in a yeah, yeah manner and tells them to wait.
Fae exhales, keenly aware now of the way his knee and his hand are pulsing for attention. He's not sure where they can go if this doesn't work, but now isn't the time to think like that. He'll make it work.
Less than minutes later, another woman is blocking the doorway. Just like Leona, she looks a sneeze away from popping out of her dress, but with her grey-streaked hair piled neatly atop her head and all the jewelry hanging from her ears and wrapped around her throat, she gives off an air of higher authority. "Well, well," her blood-red lips stretch into an amused smile, "look who's stopped by for a visit after two years. None of your friends around to frighten off my patrons this time?" She cast a dubious glance to Keelan, and Fae is quick to step in front of him.
"Nice to see you too, Cynthia. You're looking much more haggish than usual. New wrinkles?" He smirks, eyes sliding off the side. "I'm surprised you could fit more in there."
"Charming as ever." Not bothered by his rudeness, Cynthia again allows her gaze to fall to Keelan, though this time they unabashedly rake him over. "And who's this?"
"He's off limits," Fae snaps, not appreciating the calculating look in her eyes. He didn't free Keelan just to have an old hag think she could put him under her thumb next. "We need a room."
"My rooms aren't for hiding."
"'Course not," Fae reaches down to his pants and rips out the jeweled pins he'd pierced through them earlier, "they're for fucking the gold right out of men's pockets, yeah?" He holds them out to her, golden eyes scrunched a bit over his grin. "Let us in and skip a step."
"Hm..." Cynthia's own eyes narrow, her arms folding over her chest as she seems to consider his proposal, but then suddenly snatches the pins out of his palm. "It'll do for now - friendly discount. But I'll be looking for more if you're planning to stay longer." She steps aside, opening the door further to allow them through. "You and off-limits can get yourselves washed upstairs."
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Leona raises one arm against the doorframe, looking past Faerin to the slightly taller man trailing behind him. "Cynthia ain't gonna be pleased 'bout you comin' in th'back way."
"Last I heard, the back way's fair game if you can pay enough to come in."
She snorts, a grin cutting between her red lips before she waves her hand in a yeah, yeah manner and tells them to wait.
Fae exhales, keenly aware now of the way his knee and his hand are pulsing for attention. He's not sure where they can go if this doesn't work, but now isn't the time to think like that. He'll make it work.
Less than minutes later, another woman is blocking the doorway. Just like Leona, she looks a sneeze away from popping out of her dress, but with her grey-streaked hair piled neatly atop her head and all the jewelry hanging from her ears and wrapped around her throat, she gives off an air of higher authority. "Well, well," her blood-red lips stretch into an amused smile, "look who's stopped by for a visit after two years. None of your friends around to frighten off my patrons this time?" She cast a dubious glance to Keelan, and Fae is quick to step in front of him.
"Nice to see you too, Cynthia. You're looking much more haggish than usual. New wrinkles?" He smirks, eyes sliding off the side. "I'm surprised you could fit more in there."
"Charming as ever." Not bothered by his rudeness, Cynthia again allows her gaze to fall to Keelan, though this time they unabashedly rake him over. "And who's this?"
"He's off limits," Fae snaps, not appreciating the calculating look in her eyes. He didn't free Keelan just to have an old hag think she could put him under her thumb next. "We need a room."
"My rooms aren't for hiding."
"'Course not," Fae reaches down to his pants and rips out the jeweled pins he'd pierced through them earlier, "they're for fucking the gold right out of men's pockets, yeah?" He holds them out to her, golden eyes scrunched a bit over his grin. "Let us in and skip a step."
"Hm..." Cynthia's own eyes narrow, her arms folding over her chest as she seems to consider his proposal, but then suddenly snatches the pins out of his palm. "It'll do for now - friendly discount. But I'll be looking for more if you're planning to stay longer." She steps aside, opening the door further to allow them through. "You and off-limits can get yourselves washed upstairs."