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<blockquote data-quote="Drusilia Nailo" data-source="post: 486873" data-attributes="member: 2062">Okay, DrN asked for it, so here it is...<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru strode down one of the halls in the prestigious Gilt Club, following the doorman.&nbsp; Behind her strolled her father, Tensin Naïlo, notorious crimelord, successful businessman, and recently, dutiful father.&nbsp; The doorman opened a door and gestured for them to go in.&nbsp; &nbsp; The room was brightly lit, with sunlight streaming in through the southernmost windows.&nbsp; It was filled with elaborate furnishings, and comfortable furniture.&nbsp; Sitting in one of the more comfortable chairs was Torsten Roth, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Freeport, and the current head of the Merchant’s Guild.&nbsp; His eyes skimmed over Dru, but moved on, locking on her father behind her.&nbsp; He inclined his head stiffly.&nbsp; &quot;Tensin,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &nbsp; Papa nodded to him.&nbsp; &quot;Torsten.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru cleared her throat.&nbsp; &quot;Roth, you’re here to business with&nbsp; me, not my father.&quot;&nbsp; She sat down in the chair directly in front of him, shifting her weight so that Soderheim’s rapier was in plain sight.&nbsp; &nbsp; Roth’s gaze was drawn downward to the elaborately decorated, and easily recognizable scabbard.&nbsp; He looked back up to Dru, frowning.&nbsp; The expression did nothing to hide the fact that he was aging at the rate typical of his race. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;It suits me, don’t you think?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Torsten glanced over her shoulder at Papa, who was seating himself quietly into a chair. When he saw that the crimelord was ignoring him, he sighed, and turned his attention back to Dru.&nbsp; &quot;What do you want?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru raised both of her brows.&nbsp; &quot;Roth,&nbsp; be polite.&nbsp; It never pays to be rude to be rude to one of the people who put the new Sea Lord in place.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; She smiled at him ferally.&nbsp; &nbsp; He looked at her, not able to disguise the fear, and yes, the anger, in his eyes.&nbsp; He forced his tone to be more polite, and placating.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Miss Naïlo, if you find my manners to be lacking, I do sincerely apologize.&nbsp; I have been under quite a bit of stress as of late, and I’m afraid that it is starting to wear.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Mmm,&quot; Dru nodded,&nbsp; &quot;I know the feeling.&quot;&nbsp; Her tone became more harsh then, with the words,&nbsp; &quot;There for awhile, there were several people in the city that were plotting my father’s downfall.&nbsp; It has left my nerves stretched nearly to the breaking point.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Roth started to look more frightened, his eyes widening, and his skin paling.&nbsp; &quot;A lamentable situation to be in.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Sometimes,&nbsp; I sit there at night, unable to settle myself, because I’m too busy thinking of ways to get revenge.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Roth swallowed. &quot;One almost pities those that you have these feelings about.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Almost,&quot; agreed Dru.&nbsp; &quot;Although considering everything, I’m sure that you can’t blame me for not being able to quite...reach that point.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; With a sigh, Roth leaned his head into his hands, massaging his temples.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I’ve made what amends that I can to your father,&quot; he said wearily, &quot;As he has probably told you.&nbsp; I will most likely be making amends for the rest of my life.&nbsp; Assuming that you are not here to kill me, what is it that you want?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru frowned.&nbsp; &quot;Roth, look at me.&quot;&nbsp; When the man looked up at her, she leaned forward, staring him down with her ice colored eyes, so disturbingly like her father’s.&nbsp; &quot;I didn’t kill you, but I probably should have.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Roth stared at her, and then tore his gaze away, looking back at Tensin, who was peacefully studying the folds of the velvet drapes.&nbsp; He asked heavily, &quot;What do you want from me?&quot;&nbsp; His voice raised an octave at the end of the sentence, a sure sign that he was near panic.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I want for you to undo your treachery.&nbsp; Destroy the Dragon’s Claw, utterly, while you’re at it.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Roth frowned.&nbsp; &quot;I think,&quot; he said stiffly, &quot;That you know that’s impossible.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yes.&nbsp; I suppose it is, isn’t it?&nbsp; Well, Papa has taught me that asking the impossible is bad business, and I wouldn’t want to do that.&nbsp; I’m sure that you, of all people, can understand that, Roth.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;What do you want?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Verlaine’s house.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Roth turned red.&nbsp; &quot;What?!?&nbsp; Why?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru narrowed her eyes at him.&nbsp; &quot;Because you plotted the death of my father.&nbsp; Isn’t that enough?&quot;&nbsp; She continued,&nbsp; &quot;Since no heirs were located, the city is going to put the house on the market in two days.&nbsp; You are going to buy it, and then transfer the title to me.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;You want a loan, then?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; With lightning speed, Dru reached across the foot of space between them, and grabbed the merchant’s jacket collar, pulling him forward so that his face was directly in front of hers.&nbsp; &quot;You are going to buy the house, and then you are going to give the title to me.&nbsp; A gift.&nbsp; My one hundred and eleventh birthday is coming up soon, so it can be an early birthday present.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; She let go of his jacket then, letting him fall back into his chair.&nbsp; &nbsp; He stared at her, lips thinning into white lines.&nbsp; &quot;If that is what you wish,&quot; he said, forcing the words out, &quot;Then how can I refuse?&nbsp; I will buy the house in two days, and will have the title ready for you to pick up at the guild by that afternoon.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded at him.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Good, I’m glad that you see things my way,&quot; she said pleasantly.&nbsp; &quot;I’ll see you in two days.&quot;&nbsp; She stood to her feet.&nbsp; &quot;Oh, and just so that we are perfectly understood...this purchase does&nbsp; nothing to put you out of my debt.&nbsp; I’ll be seeing a lot of you over the next few years, Roth.&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; Papa cleared his throat.&nbsp; &quot;And Roth...I do trust that the interior of the house will be very nicely redecorated before my daughter takes possession.&nbsp; As I recall, she left it a little bloodstained last time she was there.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Roth nodded stiffly.&nbsp; &quot;It will be done.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I like neutral colors,&quot; she informed him.&nbsp; &quot;None of the gaudy crap that is in your house.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; She rose, turning to look at her father.&nbsp; &quot;Papa, I am ready to go when you are.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He stood, saying, &quot;Of course,&quot; and gallantly offered her his arm.&nbsp; &nbsp; She smiled at him then, much more warmly than she had Roth.&nbsp; &quot;Come, then.&quot;&nbsp; She took his arm, and father and daughter strolled from the room.&nbsp; Before the door shut behind them, Dru turned to look into the room.&nbsp; Roth continued to stare after them, the hatred and fear still evident in his eyes.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Drusilia Nailo, post: 486873, member: 2062"] Okay, DrN asked for it, so here it is...:) Dru strode down one of the halls in the prestigious Gilt Club, following the doorman. Behind her strolled her father, Tensin Naïlo, notorious crimelord, successful businessman, and recently, dutiful father. The doorman opened a door and gestured for them to go in. The room was brightly lit, with sunlight streaming in through the southernmost windows. It was filled with elaborate furnishings, and comfortable furniture. Sitting in one of the more comfortable chairs was Torsten Roth, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Freeport, and the current head of the Merchant’s Guild. His eyes skimmed over Dru, but moved on, locking on her father behind her. He inclined his head stiffly. "Tensin," he said. Papa nodded to him. "Torsten." Dru cleared her throat. "Roth, you’re here to business with me, not my father." She sat down in the chair directly in front of him, shifting her weight so that Soderheim’s rapier was in plain sight. Roth’s gaze was drawn downward to the elaborately decorated, and easily recognizable scabbard. He looked back up to Dru, frowning. The expression did nothing to hide the fact that he was aging at the rate typical of his race. "It suits me, don’t you think?" Torsten glanced over her shoulder at Papa, who was seating himself quietly into a chair. When he saw that the crimelord was ignoring him, he sighed, and turned his attention back to Dru. "What do you want?" Dru raised both of her brows. "Roth, be polite. It never pays to be rude to be rude to one of the people who put the new Sea Lord in place." She smiled at him ferally. He looked at her, not able to disguise the fear, and yes, the anger, in his eyes. He forced his tone to be more polite, and placating. "Miss Naïlo, if you find my manners to be lacking, I do sincerely apologize. I have been under quite a bit of stress as of late, and I’m afraid that it is starting to wear." "Mmm," Dru nodded, "I know the feeling." Her tone became more harsh then, with the words, "There for awhile, there were several people in the city that were plotting my father’s downfall. It has left my nerves stretched nearly to the breaking point." Roth started to look more frightened, his eyes widening, and his skin paling. "A lamentable situation to be in." Dru nodded. "Sometimes, I sit there at night, unable to settle myself, because I’m too busy thinking of ways to get revenge." Roth swallowed. "One almost pities those that you have these feelings about." "Almost," agreed Dru. "Although considering everything, I’m sure that you can’t blame me for not being able to quite...reach that point." With a sigh, Roth leaned his head into his hands, massaging his temples. "I’ve made what amends that I can to your father," he said wearily, "As he has probably told you. I will most likely be making amends for the rest of my life. Assuming that you are not here to kill me, what is it that you want?" Dru frowned. "Roth, look at me." When the man looked up at her, she leaned forward, staring him down with her ice colored eyes, so disturbingly like her father’s. "I didn’t kill you, but I probably should have." Roth stared at her, and then tore his gaze away, looking back at Tensin, who was peacefully studying the folds of the velvet drapes. He asked heavily, "What do you want from me?" His voice raised an octave at the end of the sentence, a sure sign that he was near panic. "I want for you to undo your treachery. Destroy the Dragon’s Claw, utterly, while you’re at it." Roth frowned. "I think," he said stiffly, "That you know that’s impossible." "Yes. I suppose it is, isn’t it? Well, Papa has taught me that asking the impossible is bad business, and I wouldn’t want to do that. I’m sure that you, of all people, can understand that, Roth." "What do you want?" "Verlaine’s house." Roth turned red. "What?!? Why?" Dru narrowed her eyes at him. "Because you plotted the death of my father. Isn’t that enough?" She continued, "Since no heirs were located, the city is going to put the house on the market in two days. You are going to buy it, and then transfer the title to me." "You want a loan, then?" With lightning speed, Dru reached across the foot of space between them, and grabbed the merchant’s jacket collar, pulling him forward so that his face was directly in front of hers. "You are going to buy the house, and then you are going to give the title to me. A gift. My one hundred and eleventh birthday is coming up soon, so it can be an early birthday present." She let go of his jacket then, letting him fall back into his chair. He stared at her, lips thinning into white lines. "If that is what you wish," he said, forcing the words out, "Then how can I refuse? I will buy the house in two days, and will have the title ready for you to pick up at the guild by that afternoon." Dru nodded at him. "Good, I’m glad that you see things my way," she said pleasantly. "I’ll see you in two days." She stood to her feet. "Oh, and just so that we are perfectly understood...this purchase does nothing to put you out of my debt. I’ll be seeing a lot of you over the next few years, Roth." Papa cleared his throat. "And Roth...I do trust that the interior of the house will be very nicely redecorated before my daughter takes possession. As I recall, she left it a little bloodstained last time she was there." Roth nodded stiffly. "It will be done." "I like neutral colors," she informed him. "None of the gaudy crap that is in your house." She rose, turning to look at her father. "Papa, I am ready to go when you are." He stood, saying, "Of course," and gallantly offered her his arm. She smiled at him then, much more warmly than she had Roth. "Come, then." She took his arm, and father and daughter strolled from the room. Before the door shut behind them, Dru turned to look into the room. Roth continued to stare after them, the hatred and fear still evident in his eyes. [/QUOTE]

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