PM to join [Goldfinger's and Beyond] No Debt Unpaid (Saidra)

[Kaie]

22nd of Winter, 514 AV


"Take a seat, Miss Kaie," Lulled the voice of a stranger sitting comfortably before a fine wooden desk. A thick hand gestured toward one of the pair of seats situated before him. The Myrian standing within the unfamiliar office hesitated for a moment before she did as she was bid. The stranger let out a sigh and snapped his fingers, to which a young lad came darting in. The boy busily went to lighting a few candles about the room, whose light revealed her odd host. He was certainly not a thin man. That detail alone was odd considering the nature of the city he resided in. His fingers locked with one another and rested upon his large stomach as he eyed the woman in his company. Despite his weight, his face was surprisingly handsome. His gaze, however, was absolutely sinister. The bronze skinned woman couldn't help but furrow her brow at the man.

"How do you know my name?" Kaie questioned a bit uneasily, mind racing though she was almost sure she had never laid eyes on the man before. He merely laughed heartily at the question and gave a grand gesture toward the window.
"I have friends in very high places, especially in this neighborhood. You work for Ruby, do you not?" His toothy grin was one that hinted toward omniscience that he could plainly see almost baffled his guest. Kaie merely granted him a nod. She'd heard of the Dragoons that practically ran the area Ruby's Scarlet Sanctum established itself. Could these have been the friends he had been referring to? This man might be more dangerous than he looks, The Myrian thought to herself, deciding to proceed with a bit more caution. "I suppose you'd like to know my name wouldn't you? They call me Goldfinger. This is my loan agency. Do you know what that means?"

Kaie had to suppress a growl at that. She was used to the patronizing most barbarians subjected her to. It was as if they had believed her intelligence rested no higher than that of a common beast. Her right hand turned to a fist but she did not dare rest up upon the pommel of her sword. The two guards glaring intently at her near the door were enough to deter a rash reaction to the man's ignorance.
"Well I'd assume you're some kind of lender and debt collector then. A powerful man in Sunberth, as I've come to understand it, needs to posses at least one of two skills to hold his position: either he's a butcher or he shykes gold. And I think you're very good at earning and keeping that gold aren't you, Goldfinger?"

Her host grinned broadly at her assessment, clapping his hands together once and offering up a mirthful chuckle. He leaned forward and placed his hands upon his desk. The rings upon his fat fingers shined even in the dim glow of the candles.
"Very good, Miss Kaie! I'll ask you another question then. Why do you think you're here?" Goldfinger looked at her expectantly, the amused expression still plain upon his face. Though there was something in his eyes that made the Myrian want to squirm or at least feel the comfort of steel in her hand. She shrugged her shoulders at him. "I have a job I'd like you to do. One that's not so different from the one you've been doing for Ruby, but you won't be doing it alone." The Myrian cocked a brow at him, but her focus was broken with the shoving open of the decorative doors at her back. She spun like a top in her chair, mind going to her gladius out of habit but she waited before being so bold as to reach for it. What the petch have I gotten myself into? Goldfinger smile broadened and he extended his fat hand toward whoever it was being escorted into their meeting, beckoning them toward the other chair. "Right on time! How punctual of you. Please, join us."

[Saidra]

.
Gods how Saidra hated smug people, the miserable worms of the world who believed themselves above others simply by existing. Worse was when it was somewhat warranted. Goldfinder was by no means her first choice of employer, but he paid decently enough and never left her wanting for the more physical jobs that satisfied her crueler urges. Still, it meant actually having to deal with the man on far more occasions than she would have liked and put her firmly at the mercy of his whims. When she had been hired she had assured him she could work alone, preferred it even. Apparently he had seen fit to test her patience, or her loyalty. Fair enough, at least it was better than remaining cooped up thanks to some thrice damned blizzard and Goldfinger's office was far warmer than most other places she had visited within the city.

Saidra eyed the woman who was already seated with a scrutinizing gaze before her attention shifted back towards the well dressed man behind the desk. If she was honest with herself she knew about as much of the lender as the stranger she was apparently going to be working with. A wave of his hand directed her to the other empty seat across from his desk and the half-Inartan uncomfortably complied with the silent request.

"Right, now that you're both here, let's get to business shall we?" The sneer lacking from his face was plain in his voice and briefly Saidra contemplated if an impact of his face with the rather solid looking desk would remove it entirely. A flash of a frown flickered across Goldfinger's features as his judgmental gaze passed over her, perhaps not as oblivious to the darkness within the small woman as she would have preferred.

"I'll get straight to the point. There's a small group of, shall we say 'unaligned brigands' that are trying my patience and haven't seemed to manage to keep up with what was promised to me. I need their leader to remember that I always collect on debts owed so that he might see the error in his ways. You two lovely ladies don't need to bring a single miza back, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed if my dear friend decided he wanted to reimburse me at this time."

As Goldfinger spoke, Saidra's eyes wandered along the wall behind him, glanced out the frost covered window against one wall, anything to try and keep the roll of her eyes that begged to be completed from finishing its course. It was always like this. Despite saying he was getting to the point the loan shark had a way of using far more words than necessary to simply state Beat the shyke out of this person until they pay me back.

Her gaze lazily drifted back towards him as Goldfinger continued. "Now normally this would be a one person operation, but unfortunately due to the rather severe weather it seems he's holed himself up with a rather decent amount of associates at Bega's," he paused to let the implicates that were entirely lost to Saidra settle. "I'd rather not cause any issues for her and her other clientele. I trust that won't be a problem?"

Goldfinger gave them both an uncompromising stare to which Saidra could only nod her head to. Wonderful, make as little fuss as possible when the piece of shyke was probably surrounded by goons. Oh well, no one had ever said that earning your Mizas in Sunberth would be easy.

"Common" † "Nari" † "Frativa"

[Kaie]

Within ticks the mysterious, lithe silhouette sauntered into the glow of nearby candlelight to reveal itself. When she did the Myrian's brow rose for but a small moment before her expression reverted quickly toward neutrality. A woman mercenary, she decided within the confines of her own head with curiosity piqued. There had been few she'd met throughout her travels of the barbarian world, her partners and associates when it came to the violent trade almost exclusively male. It took her quite some time to understand the trend was due to the nature of the societies she'd plunged herself into. It was a male dominated world outside her jungle home, and though female inferiority was an idea her own race's traditions forced her to deny accepting, surprise had become her first reaction whenever an outlier appeared. It seemed Sunberth's perils had a way of encouraging more of them, much to the savage woman's delight.

Amber eyes gazed steadily toward the newcomer's bright blues. There was that competitive edge emerging between them, two able-bodied warriors sizing the other up with an air of distrust. Being a Myrian might've left her more inclined to cooperate with other comrades, but it also made her incredibly wary of those that weren't of her own heritage. Given the stories connected to the savages of Falyndar, it would be no shock if the other woman's suspicions were much the same. Once the two were seated, Kaie let her gaze drift rather pragmatically back toward their heavy employer. Before long he was rattling away about the job. He was a talker, the sort that found too much enjoyment in discussing his business details than Kaie would've liked. Cryptic, even. Yet by the end of instruction the assignment was clear: intimidate the man until he feared so much for his life that he scraped up the funds to clear up is debt. Subtly had never been her strong suit. The last time she'd visited Brega's she'd left a bit of a bloody mess behind, but to her knowledge, no one had seen her face. Nonetheless, Goldfinger's expectant expression reminded her the game needed to be played.

"It won't as long as your information is right. Have a name for us?" Kaie fished with a lean forward in her chair. Goldfinger flashed his teeth at them and drummed his ringed fingers upon the desk. One of the guards behind them shifted on his feet.
"My information is always right, Ms. Kaie, as you'll soon come to know...but I do have a name for the both of you. Roy, but his rather brutal associates call him The Knife. Look for him in Brega's private rooms. I'd put my Mizas on finding him there," the hefty businessman returned before lifting a hand to gesture at his door guards. There was a grunt as the two went about unlocking and tugging back the large doors, natural light leaping through the new space to illuminate the room more brightly. "I trust that's all you two need to get the job done, yes?" Kaie rose from her chair on cue and nodded stiffly toward the man. He smiled at that, and the Myrian turned on her heel to exit. However, on their way out the loan shark's voice rose once more. "I expect to hear about your results before dawn, Ms. Kaie and Ms. Saidra." To that she offered no response other than her departure past his guards and into the darkening streets.

Once outside the tense meeting room of one of Sunberth's most dangerous men, the Myrian found her attention turned back to her assigned comrade. Finding it best to get to their destination before Syna fully disappeared beneath the horizon, her bladed boots made their advance as she addressed her.
"Saidra then?" It was some place to start at the very least. A bronzed hand rested upon the hilt of the gladius strapped to her hip. Mind drifted toward her previous troubles at Ruby's competitor's whore house. "You look like you can handle yourself well enough. I figure we should expect issues with this guy once we make our way into his room. No one has to be in this shyke hole of a city too long to understand gang members don't like feeling disrespected, especially when there's a threat attached. Whoever his friends are, they'll be the first to come at us."

[Saidra]

.
Delightful. So they were going after someone calling themselves the Knife. Saidra doubted it was the individual she had heard rumors of who shared the same moniker, some part of her refused to believe that someone steeped in so much mystery and inrigue would end up being so stupid as to end up on the wrong side of the loan shark. Or have such a boring name as "Roy".

Stepping back out into the frigged winter air was like suddenly breaking in ice after the almost stuffy atmosphere of Goldfinger's office. It threatened to cramp up her lungs, or maybe that was just an early onset of a rather uncomfortable and typical side effect of her condition. No matter, it sounded like the day's events would see to that soon enough, especially once the Myrian woman addressed her.

Saidra tried to keep her expression neutral as she was spoken to, tried not to find little bits and pieces of similarity between this woman and the last warrior of her gender and race that the thief had known. She had only barely gotten along with that one, enough to get jobs done at least, perhaps it was best to try and form a similar allegiance rather than her usual oh-so charming self. A nod of her head followed Kaie's sentiment regarding their target's friends.

"I would normally suggest we attempt to play to the man's ego to gain entry, but considering his locale..." She felt her voice trail off and a small scowl tug at her brow. "Well, let's just say I don't believe either one of us is dressed to fit the part. I don't suppose you've had any experience with this establishment before?"

Brega's wasn't somewhere that Saidra had managed to find herself just yet. In truth she had only heard about it in passing, just enough to know what the business was, not quite in how it handled itself. There were all sorts of assumptions that could be made based upon the simple fact it was in Sunberth, but the half-Inartan knew better than to rely on that line of thinking.

"Don't suppose you know of a way inside that's less conspicuous than the front door? No doubt no matter how calmly we enter, our exit won't be quite as graceful, probably best if they can't immediately peg us as the responsible parties," She paused and let out a clouded breath as she tugged her cloak tighter around herself. Petching cold, thought I'd left you behind. "Though something tells me our darling employer won't exactly mind if we earn ourselves some new enemies so long as it doesn't effect him getting his mizas."

"Common" † "Nari" † "Frativa"

[Kaie]

Their steps were deliberate. Competitive even. Neither strode before the other whether it was out of subconscious respect or an unwillingness to fall into a submissive role. Something told the savage it was probably the latter. A right bronze hand gripped the hilt of her gladius fiercely, fingers drumming inaudibly along its grip now and then as she stepped. Amber eyes flickered cautiously about. No inconspicuous figure escaped the methodical sweep, from decrepit homeless to common street thug. Even the occasional filth-ridden child darting from one alley to the next was looked over with nothing short of suspicion. Still her stroll was one of comfort, as if though she didn't trust the city she commanded a fearlessness when its danger breathed down her neck.

"Not the type of experience you'd be expecting," Kaie murmured thoughtfully as her mind drifted back toward Ruby's. Surely there were other guards to ensure the safety of her employer's precious whores, but nonetheless she felt almost guilty not explaining her absence. As if the woman would notice with Joan's lips teasing her shamelessly all night. Kaie shook her head. She certainly preferred dealing with the dainty, classy structure of Ruby's over Brega's. Whether it was the hateful magic she'd discovered there or the blood she'd spilled to carve a way out for Matthew and Fallon, she'd been distrustful of the place since.

"We'll keep a low key approach. Enter through the front like everyone else. Separately of course. As for our escape...let me handle that." A breath into the winter air blew as a white vapor, swirling upward until it meshed with the falling flakes. "I had a...friend who showed me the employee's back door for a quick exit a couple seasons ago. We'll have to move quick. Use the crowds to our advantage." Finally she saw their destination ahead, already drawing in lustful bodies waiting to empty their light pockets for a few bells of ecstasy. It's like every one of those scum think Brega'll waste her time with them, she thought bitterly. "You head in first. I'll wait a few ticks and then wander through. It's never guaranteed for a Myrian to get in quite so easily. We'll rendezvous near the stairs before we heading toward the second floor."

Another sigh and a plume of mist before she paused several yards from the doors. Eyes shifted a few times around before she offered Saidra a shrug of her shoulders. Well...here we go. She forced her hand away from her gladius and tugged at the collar of her cloak.
"Unless you have any objections, I'm ready when you are."

[Saidra]

She tried to not make any assumptions about what the Myrian may or may not have meant regarding whatever type of experience it was she had at the establishment, but with talk of quick exits and back doors used in the past, she couldn't help but wonder. Maybe it would make for a good story over a celebratory drink after this was over - if they were successful - if Kaie was even the sort to partake in such things. It was hard to get a read on people for the Kalean woman, and their inconsistencies among each other made it all the more difficult.

Saidra didn't quite like the fact she wasn't entirely clear on exactly how their exit would go. It required depending entirely too much on someone else, and while the Myrian seemed more than formidable enough to ensure they would make it out, things sometimes happened. It wasn't just her companion she was forced to put her trust into, though. It was the fact she had to trust in the Loan Shark's opinion that the job would only take the two of them as well. No, she didn't like this one bit. A few allies on the outside or lurking on the lower level would have been preferred. No use lamenting what you had no control over. If it was going to be just the two of them, then they would make it work.

The sight of so called House of Happy Endings didn't phase her so much as the overly perfumed air that wafted from its innards every time the door opened. Overall it caused a sneer and a twist of disgust. The fact they were in the petching Daggerhand's playgrounds didn't exactly help matters. Krysus, what was Goldfinger's little pain in the ass debtor doing here? The answer was probably obvious and Saidra tried not to linger on it too long.

Kaie's suggested approach sounded reasonable enough, though Saidra did have to wonder what the reaction would be to a tiny seemingly-Inarta woman entering the establishment. No matter, she'd soon find out.

"No time like the present," she offered with an amused smirk and a quick shrug of the shoulder before taking the quickened steps to separate her from her new associate and head to the entrance.

Showtime, then. Saidra cast the thug standing at the door a demure smile that he didn't seem entirely convinced of but opened the door for her regardless. The hint of the scent she had caught outside did absolutely nothing to prepare her for the sudden rush of heat and odour that could only be attributed to an establishment such as this. The only comforting thing was the overall red tone the inside of the brothel that covered the walls and furnature. Red, a color that signified passion and lust to some; the far more agreeable color of gore to the small woman, though.

Pretending to look interested rather than interesting wasn't the easiest to pull off. Women lounged about in lascivious poses meant to entice, well groomed men did similar. Overall it should have been difficult to keep a clear head, or at least find oneself a bit distracted from their purpose. But to Saidra, it only reminded her of the Markets of her youth - endless possibilities that all came with a price she didn't see the point in paying. It was one of those quirks she never could understand the appeal of. Maybe it was because not a one of them even remotely reminded her of the single individual she had ever found capable of causing such urges in her. That thought, unlike the employees, actually did threaten to distract and had to be smothered and banished to the recesses of her mind rather quickly.

For all it's displays of flesh, Brega's did seem to have an equal number of those willing to guard their wares and it was those individuals that Saidra turned her attention on as she made her way towards the spiral staircase that Kaie had spoken they would meet near. The weapons the men carried were crude, but obviously displayed. Maybe she could have some fun here after all.

──────────────
"Common" † "Nari" † "Fratava"

[Kaie]

There had to be internal scrutiny, the savage understood. Her stories had been vague, how she knew things mysterious in their factuality. Had Kaie been one for reading and books, she might've compared the curiosity she probably incited to that of a suspenseful chapter. Much like such an author, the Myrian's lips would remain sealed on the topic for the moment. They had business to tend to. The technicalities and specifics were little of her interest in explaining. Besides, her knowledge would continue to make her valuable regardless of the circumstances. In theory, it would be far harder to Saidra to make a solo escape safely and quickly if she allowed her partner to be compromised. The Loan Shark wasn't the only one who was keen on the necessity of certain insurances.

Amber eyes look out toward the brothel entrance. There was one single man there at the bell they had arrived. Perhaps it was too early for the larger masses to make their way, or maybe Brega had chosen to be perceived as low-key that night. Either way, it was a nice surprise. One mind was easier to coerce than two. From her experience, brutes for hire were never too bright to begin with. Maybe getting in will be easier than I expected, she thought with a relief that made her always skeptical of reality. To Saidra's eagerness, she gave a passive shrug.

"I couldn't agree more," was all the savage managed before the woman had darted forward with bold confidence toward the entrance. The corners of Kaie's lips twitched toward that of an amused smile. We might just survive yet. From that point onward it was a waiting game. Her partner had made it through the curtain into the depths of Brega's house of pleasures, and now she needed only to wait a chime or so before she would follow suit. Better get to it. Bladed boots clicked a sure rhythm upon the cobbles of the street. A once eager sword hand floated away from the hilt of the gladius strapped to her hip. The winter cloak billowed out behind her, and the bouncer was sure to take note of the newcomer long before she'd reached him.

"You lost, Myrian?" He questioned skeptically when the savage had paused before him, a dark hand smoothing back across the bald plane of his head. Black eyes noted the unconcealed weapon. That same passive hand was quick to gradually slip down to make a show of grasping his own. "Not at all," She quipped without irritation in her voice, mind already formulating the anticipated response necessary for such an inquiry. "It's been a profitable week. I'd like to spend it on Brega's best." The bouncer let out a low, hearty chuckle. Still those dark fingers grasped the handle of his longsword. "Is that right? The Myrian did her best not to make even the slightest gesture of annoyance, not a curl to her fingers, or a twitch of her wrist toward her blade. Still cautious of me. Racial profiling bastard. Kaie cocked a brow at him. "Why? You wanna come watch?"

Now you've done it.

There was a pause. A solid tick of deliberation. The dark-skinned bouncer let out a sigh, eyed her for moment as if assessing her challenge. Then those coal-black eyes dashed away and he reluctantly pulled the curtains aside. Rather than stay to shoot him a glance of surprise, the Myrian capitalized on her success and make a hasty entry. The damned red room. It was virtually the same as when she had last left it, though certainly she'd added a few more red spots and slashes along the floors and walls as if to accent the theme. It was more lively since then though, mostly because the whores had cleared at the first sound of violence upstairs. Tonight, however, they were on display for the convenience of their future clients' pleasure. Clothing was incredibly revealing, some women neglecting to wear a top at all. A man or two passed with a silk robe opened at the breast. They did not command the attention of the jungle-born. Wild, amber eyes scorched across the scene as she maneuvered toward the familiar staircase in search of Saidra.

Before long she'd weaved through the growing crowd to approach the other woman. A nod was given, then her sights flashed upward. Better get to it...but how? Standing by the spiral staircase in public while they conspired was not a clever plan. They would need to move and quickly. "Like you said, no time like the present." She gestured forward and began the spinning ascent to the second floor. Moving down the hall, her pace was dramatically slowed. Whores giggled as they darted in and out of rooms, some flushed with coins grasped in their fingers. You're in no hurry as far as they can see. Just another client. Just another purse to reap. The bouncer at the very end of the hall was stoic. Arms crossed before him, and twin daggers were cleverly displayed on a belt at his hips, and a line of smaller throwing daggers lined the harness straps of his thick shoulders.

"So what's your style? We want to bust down the door, swords ablaze with threats? Neither of us are dressed for the part of a common whore, and that big bastard doesn't seem to be going anywhere," she whispered with lips barely moving, head turning down as if examining the carpet they walked across for all the bouncer knew. Three doors ahead she could hear the boisterous cackling of drunken men. The others, if occupied, were far more civil in their volume. Perhaps if it was The Knife's, it was a testament to their professionalism. Or hopefully their idiocy. Then again, what intelligent person found themselves in debt with the Loan Shark anyways? People desperate for money.

"Unless...wait here," Kaie turned suddenly, the whore passing her swiveling at the suddenness of the movement beside her. Bright red lips parted, big eyes widening but reaction of surprise was silenced when she spotted the shine of the procured coin. "You're a pretty one aren't you?" Acting was never her strong suit, but she hoped she managed to make the statement at least convincing enough to pass as a norm for the guard. "So I'm told," the whore blinked, all eyes on the golden Miza. Kaie leaned in toward her ear.

"The Knife." Came her commanding whisper, and the whore needed only to look once more at the offered Miza and at the corresponding VIP door. The one I suspected. Good. She turned her back to the guard, remaining close enough to the prostitute so that it might've continued to pass as a casual discussion with a potential customer. Another Miza was pulled from the coin purse hidden beneath her cloak. "Your big friend with the many knives. I swear I heard Brega demanding another guard at the door. One simply can't be enough, right?" The woman batted her eyes innocently, lips pouting a bit like an ignorant child. "I didn't hear anything." Blue eyes flashed to the offered Mizas, then back to the coin purse. The savage pursed her lips. Five Mizas appeared within a tick, and the harlot couldn't help but grin broadly. "On second thought...I'm sure I do remember hearing that."

Painted nails snatched the coins and she made a move as if to dart after her, but was stopped with a stern, backward glance from the harlot. Bitch! Amber eyes looked toward Saidra, then toward the VIP room the whore had gestured toward earlier. The savage made as if to nonchalantly head back downstairs after the woman. Then...
"Brutus! Oh, Brutus, darling!" came her voice again in a sing-song voice as those bouncing curls returned a chime or so later. Kaie's arms immediately went to the staircase railing, to which she leaned over to absently scan below. "Brega wants you to help Gerard man the entrance! Something about 'damned street thugs' and...Oh, you know how she worries!" The bouncer uncrossed his arms and harrumphed. "Who will man the second floor then?" He inquired with a shockingly raspy voice as if someone had wounded his vocal cords long ago. The whore beamed in her temporary moment of confusion, but she spewed her lines convincingly. "Oh, honey, don't worry about that! Leon will be here any chime now for that." And just like that the two of them were gone. A window.

Kaie spun back around and followed after Saidra. Her eyes were colder, the pragmatism giving way to an unearthed fury that came with budding confrontation. "Show time," She growled and tore free her gladius as she neared the room. Then with the heel of her boot, she struck beside the door handle with all her body weight behind the front kick, and busted down the door.