Calling on The Lillies - MT Chyril 23rd

[Darjan Cain]

Darjan made his way to the Marchlands, the area in which The Lillies were located, according to Tristam. He had decided to come in the morning for several reasons. Firstly he didn't like to leave things when they could be done straight away, secondly he imagined that they would not be quite so busy at this time of the day and thirdly he wanted to begin acting before Hart's people, and whoever else was involved, could do anything further. If what Tristam had said was true, there was no power base firmly established in the Marchlands yet. That meant that the area could be one of potential, but also one of danger - if there was no-one to keep the local criminals in check then the robbery or killing of an unknown Achadhiel would not seem so desperate a thing. Accordingly he was wearing his full armoury of weapons. His sword was at his side and angled backwards, hidden from obvious view by his cloak. A knife was fixed in the sheath attached to his bracers and a stiletto in his belt. The hooded cloak that he wore, hood down, concealed a fine set of clothes. He did not want to immediately give away exactly what he was.

The woman that he was looking for was Rasine Sabatini, the Guildmistress of The Lillies. In truth, Darjan was confronted with mixed emotions. This order was an order of, effectively prostitutes. Even if it was dressed up in eloquent terms, and even if they were dressed up in equally elegant dresses. They were most likely human as well - encapsulating all the decadence and immorality that he took for granted in the race. Yet he was intrigued to see what these high-class courtesans were like. His experiences with women were not particularly extensive. He was not an ugly man, but there was a strangeness about him that did not make him plain or attractive. What he lacked in physical attraction he did not make up for with his personality. But he knew that at some point in his life he would have to marry - no doubt an adhiel - for that was what respectable people did. The concept of love was an alien one to him, and he could not equate it with marriage. In him existed a mixture of curiosity and revulsion for this order, but as with so many other feelings, he repressed them both as he approached the building that housed them and surveyed it.

He turned and looked about the area, taking in the layout of it, the other buildings around - did they look commercial, or residential? He looked for his favourite location, dark side-alleys. If he was to do away with potential rivals those would come in handy. But before he carried out an extensive investigation of the area he needed to speak with this Rasine and find out exactly what the situation was. Thus he approached the building and made to enter it.

[Guest]

Seeing a new guest Eli smiles and walks over to meet the gentleman and notices he is of elven blood but not likely a full elf, well dressed for trouble, and likes his bearing to bad he is ,well, a he. For her part the young Lily is comely but not overly so and dressed well save no corset but her figure is rather nice. One could say approachable attractive and she has a merry air about her as she strolls up erect and elegantly. As far as possible.

After a curtsy,"Greetings my Lord I'm Elizabette Fracessetti I'm a student here at the moment but if I may be of assistance please ask." She clearly doesn't care about the gentlemans race that is for less educated persons and those not Companions, for her race should never cloud ones etiquette. Rather let ones actions and reputation if known be ones guide. So clearly is being cordial in the utmost as she was taught. So as an unknown she is being respectful.

[Darjan Cain]

Darjan had only a moment or so within the door before a woman approached him. As he had predicted, she was a human, though she carried herself with a degree more bearing than most of her race. Still, she was a human. But Darjan was not here to alienate the order, he was here to help try and solve one of their problems, and that would most likely be achieved more easily with good-will from the occupants. So despite what he was feeling and his usual demeanour, he smiled pleasantly and offered a slight bow to Elizabette.

"Good morningtide to you Elizabette Fracessetti." He began. "I am looking for your guildmistress, Rasine Sabatini." He said, he thought about offering further explanation, but decided against it. He was secretive by nature, and saw no need to extend the circle that knew why he was here any further than was necessary. In a cathouse like this, the walls very often had ears - and tongues too.

[Guest]

"Well I just arrived myself and was getting the tour from another student when everyone started showing up at once odd how that happens.," she says with a soft and gentle demeanor.

"Lets go over to the main house and see where the mistress usually is this time of day, I wish I could be of more help but after only an hour here its all new to me as well.," she takes his arm in a ladylike fashion and heads to the main house and main door, he is a guest. And gestures for Allegra to join them if she wishes with a delicate gesture and if she comes up makes suitable introductions.

"You have never been around Proper Companions before my Lord, well this is not a brothel, yes a Companion may provide such services but a trained Lily knows academics, conversation, music, crafts and often is a friend and confidant.," she says softly. Adding also,"I myself am hoping to attach to one fine person of rank and means and be at their side, and I'm still a maiden and I hope to keep that also for the person that takes me on permanently, I hope to attract a client for my skills not pertaining to laying down." As they walk,"And I hope to master more fighting arts one duty I take highly is to protect the one I'm with with my life if need be if they bypass other trained guards, my aunt too a rapier thrust for her main client, and lived." She adding a hint of respect to her aunt for that last point. Looking at him,"Anyway we cater to the wealthy and most likely older people who marriage again or have other reasons to prefer a Companion, surely a person of status should have some amusements and a friend, doesn't the One teach to have good things is a blessing from Him?" As they reach the door,"Perhaps a Companion is a gift from the One for only a worthy and wealthy person can take one on, and as they are leaders to the people, if they are happy and content is that not good for everyone they rule and who work for them?"

Looking at him for a moment,"Your a bit tense how about you do your business and contract me to give you a massage, you must deal with the senior Lilies for my time as I'm a student, surely a massage is no sin, and you can relax a bit?" Adding as an amusing bit,"And since I'm new I have no idea what to charge that would be fair so you would not want me to be underpaid, so we should let the Lilies with experience handle that, just a massage now and maybe a bath afterwards, I'm a respectable Companion."

Once at the door she will see he sees Rasine noting its important and a private matter, dealing with an older servant of the house and leave him to tend to important matters.

[Darjan Cain]

Darjan acquiesced as the girl took his arm, managing to repress the urge to shudder at the presumption. He wondered what he would have done had that foul creature from the Punt Den tried to touch him. The urge to cut her hand off would have been strong. Elizabette was, at least, better than her, though this was scant consolation.

She proceeded to direct him towards the main house, a rather picturesque thing, which he approached silently, listening to the woman as she spoke of her profession. He smiled pleasantly and nodded as she gave her opinion of Companions - from what he could gather they were whores that talked. That struck him as funny - he had always thought the benefit of purchasing sex was that you didn't have to indulge in the tedious parts of interaction. His mind did register that they were different from common harlots, and he certainly saw the benefits of owning a group of confidants as this Rasine seemed to do. He could well understand Tristam's interest in the group, other than the fringe benefits. How short-sighted Hart must be to simply want money - the information that the Lilies might gather from their high-class customers might be invaluable, or at the very least profitable. Or at least as long as it was used carefully - their most useful asset would be if they seemed to receive the information in the strictest of confidences.

"I am sure you shall find a person of rank with very little difficulty." He said encouragingly, suspecting that was the right thing to say.
He supposed that a lecherous old patrician would turn hand-stands at the prospect of enjoying a young maiden. "As for fighting, I would imagine that there are far better ways to serve your client than throwing yourself onto a sword." He observed dryly. If an assassin could get past a host of guards then he could not imagine a painted lady being much of a threat to him. He wondered idly what had happened after Elizabette's aunt had been stabbed. If the assassin had been Darjan he would have simply finished off the job and chastised himself on allowing someone to get between him and his target.

"As for the one, he does seem to have quite the sense of humour, so I would really not put anything past him, though I would be careful to whom you voiced the opinion that... Companions were a gift from the One. I've heard that some of His followers can get rather uppity about such things." He suggested merely for something to say.

He paused as she suggested massaging him, he couldn't imagine that he would enjoy her pawing him, especially if she was a student. He almost cast a glance at her hands to see if they were washed - she was a human after all - but he supposed that they would scrub the girls down once they had arrived.

"Well, perhaps I shall have time after speaking with the guildmistress." He said non-commitedly, offering himself an easy escape. As she continued he wondered whether she thought that he was going to purchase the services of one of those experienced Lillies. How thoroughly distasteful. He considered contradicting her, and rebuking her but stopped. It would be a useful cover story. If people thought he was coming here to sate his manly needs they would not think he was doing anything else.

"I am sure I couldn't afford you." He said politely. "We shall see what Rasine has to say about the rest."

As they reached the door, Elizabette departed.

"Thank you for the escort." He added to the retreating girl, before waiting to be shown to see Rasine.

[Guest]

"Good day then Lord, I do hope your business goes well?,' she says softly and rejoins Legra to finish the tour and meet this "Old Man" she and the others mentioned.

[Sevti]

As Darjan entered the coolness of the house, it was obvious that he was not alone in seeking the attentions of the ladies of the Order this warm morning. Also in the hall stood a familiar figure - Master Tristam Tormson. An older woman, dark hair lightening to gray, was approaching him with plump hands held forward. "Master Tormson, what a pleasure," she greeted Tristam graciously. "May I guess that you are here to speak with our Lady and her guest?" For the moment, she did not seem to notice Darjan's arrival as well.

Now would be a good time to join into Tristam's thread. The Lillies are certainly very popular people this morning!

[Morg]

(OOC: Fin here, it seems! Locked for skilling.)

[Morg]

Skilled