Jameson Taeros strides into the Quicksand, the feather on his hat bobbing with each step as he approaches a certain scowling Sultansworn. "Ser Mcbeef." He tips the edge of his hat in greeting and gives her a smile. "I understand we need to talk."
"Oh great," Natalie sighs. "Let's get this over with."
Jameson gives her a charming smile. "Somewhere private would be best."
"The airship bar?" She begins to lead him out of the tavern. "My friends prevailed upon me to resist the urge to break your jaw."
"That would be rather unfortunate, I am quite fond of my jaw."
Natalie turns and regards his dress for a moment. "I think you're quite fond of all of you."
They ride the elevator to the airship dock in silence, and walk towards the cozy bar set off to the side.
Jameson gestures to a seat before he takes one himself. He smiles and folds his hands on the tabletop. "Ser Mcbeef. I understand that there is an opportunity for you to work under a different... leadership?"
Natalie sighs and rubs her forhead. "Let's not play these games Jameson, just call me Natalie," she rises. "Do you drink?"
"I do. Rum."
She nods and heads to the bar, returning with a bottle and two glasses, which she fills.
Jameson watches the woman with his hazel eyes, an unreadable expression on his face.
She takes one of the glasses and returns to her seat. "I won't pretend that I'm not at a disadvantage here. That is evidently clear to me."
"Natalie." He takes up the glass, but swirls the liquid in it for awhile. "What my employers are offering you is... an opportunity. To make amends. To prove your ... integrity. To form new alliances," he smiles at her. "Even to forge new loyalties, perhaps."
She cups her own glass in her hands, and leans back, "And I'm supposed to believe it's all simple as that?" she sips the drink. "That I do this for you, and this all will blow over?"
He rests his elbow on the table, the glass hanging from his fingers in a dainty hold. He swirls it still. "When my employer is satisfied, perhaps."
She studies him for a moment, "How about we make a deal? I'll do as you wish, but you cease charges against Kage and Roen, they acted under my orders."
Jameson arches a brow, the motion of the glass and the liquid in it stops. He curls a broader grin at Natalie. "Ah, but Natalie. My employer has gone through great lengths to obtain your services. Including, hiding some very incriminating evidence against one of your apprentices." He shakes his head, a look of sympathy bending his brows. "Not everything we discovered was given to dear Captain Jenlyns, you see. Else, I fear you and I would be speaking with bars between us."
Natalie shakes her head. "The thing with the core can be explained, Kage was told it was the same as the one that was lost..." she pauses and furrows her brow. "Whatever do you mean sir?"
He sets the glass down and leans forward, lacing his gloved fingers. "The second witness that came forward, fingers your apprentice and now Sultansworn, Roen Deneith as a Garlean spy. You and Ser Kiryuu knew of it, and covered it up."
She sips her drink with an outward appearance of calm, though slight ripples appear in the liquid from her trembling hand. "That's an interesting accusation."
"Those would be charges enough for treason. Certainly the noose or beheading for the Garlean, and perhaps the same, for those who hid the spy." He shakes his head slowly. "But you see, my employer knows of... your valiant service to the city-state. And would think it a terrible waste for lives to be lost so senselessly. Would you not agree?"
Natalie downs the drink, and places the glass onto the table. She exhales and steeples her fingers for a moment before reaching for the bottle. "I have conditions."
Jameson watches her, still that smile in place. He arches one dark brow at her in question. "Oh?"
She uncorks the bottle, "I want an official document giving Roen refugee status, which will be effective upon the end of all this." She refills her glass and eyes his reaction.
"Hm." He cups his chin with a hand, hazel eyes narrowing slightly. "I think that can be arranged. If... my employer is satisfied with your service."
"Without that," she recorks the bottle, "I have no guarantee you won't simply go back on your word."
"Indeed so." He smiles to Natalie, his white teeth gleaming. "I will have the document drawn up. But ... my employer will have to be satisfied with your service first. Though we do not seek to execute the girl, else it would have been done so already. This way... we both get something we want."
"Fair enough..." she exhales, and swirls the drink. "So, you've collared me. What do you want this trained dog to do?" She smirks. "Though I still haven't told you my second condition."
Jameson smiles broadly. "Oh, you will be thrown into quite a few tasks, but let us start small first. Once you get oriented and uniformed properly, I am certain you will be given more tasks..." he pauses as he is about to continue. He arches another brow. "Second condition? You are a firecracker, this I've heard." He looks amused as he waves a hand into the air, as if for her to continue.
Natalie takes a sip, "I want a promotion."
"A promotion?"
She smirks again. "Nothing fancy... a Lieutenant is fine. The blades don't pay as well as the Sworn you see. And I have expenses."
"Understood." He narrows his eyes. "I will speak to a few Blades and see what I can arrange. I will get back to you on that. You do know, the Blades income... does not actually come from the city-state? Perhaps we need someone to acquaint you with their ways of obtaining extra funds." He smiles. "They are quite creative, the Brass Blades. Entrepreneurs as matter of fact."
She smiles back at him. "I'm sure you can smooth things over. If you just wanted another sword, you wouldn't go through so much trouble to get me." She steeples her fingers and looks at him. "Make me a Lieutenant, and allow me to choose my own people," she leans back. "And I'll have no issues proving my loyalty..." she pauses, "And Roen's," she says heavily. "As for funds, Lolorito pays their salaries, though I know most acquire more than that. I'd not like to go down that route though."
Jameson leans back on his chair, then he nods slowly. "It will be done. With more under your wing... perhaps we can see greater things from you, Natalie."
She shrugs. "You'll see as much as you need to see," she grins. "As long as you hold up your side of the deal."
He leans forward. "You have your conditions, and they will be met. But ... do remember the collar. There is no 'I do not like to'... You will be told of your tasks, and you will do them." He smiles at her.
"Aye.. aye... though if you've gone through all this to have me shake down merchant caravans..." she chuckles. "It seems a rather poor use of resources."
"Indeed! That would be rather a wasteful thing, considering your talents." Jameson shakes his head. "Do get comfortable with the Brass Blades and their ways, Natalie. Make others know for certain, that you are a Blade and not a Sworn. When that is convincing enough, we will give you more tasks, that puts you closer to proving your worth to my employer."
She sighs and nods, "I get it Jameson, I'm not stranger to a leash. Though I suppose I better let Roen and Kage know. Let's keep our arrangement a secret from them though."
He cocks his head to the side. "You will explain to them then, why they are Blades? I can certainly give the orders to you and you only. As long as you carry them out."
Natalie nods, "I'll explain it, but I'll just say it's for the investigation. I'd rather not have the treason charges hanging over their heads."
"Of course." He waves his gloved hands into the air. "As you will. Do make certain they fall in line withe Blades way of doing things. We would not want them to stick out like sore thumbs amongst the ranks."
She chuckles, "I'll do my best" she holds out her glass to him, "Shall we drink to it?"
James grins, looking pleased. He lifts his own glass to her. "To profitable alliances and new loyalties."
She raises her own drink. "To doing what we have to," she grins and swallows the remainder of her drink before continuing, "And making the best of it."
"Indeed." Jameson brings the drink to his mouth, eyeing her over the rim of the glass, then he sets the glass down with nary a sip. He stands. "Now, do look to the Brass Blades Captain, and he will get you settled with uniforms and such. I will send over the proper papers of your promotion in the morn. Kiryuu and Deneith though will have the rank as grunts, they were just freshly sworn in after all."
She rises as well, nodding, "Fair enough, though perhaps something can be arranged for them as well in time."
"Perhaps, if they prove themselves." He smiles at her, "To the right people."
She laughs bitterly, "Why do I hate the sound of that."
"We do what we have to. He glances to her over the shoulder. "You will hear from me soon, Natalie. Do not let my employers down."
"I won't..." she smiles at him, with a hint of warmth. "Despite the fact you're simply using us, the fact remains that you're protecting Roen," she laughs. "So despite my best instincts, I can't hate you."
Jameson narrows his eyes, there is an odd expression in response. He watches her for a moment before he breaks his gaze and picks up the glass of the remaining rum, taking a full swallow of it this time around and emptying it. "Do not mistake my intent, Natalie. You are going to be used as Blades. And sharp ones at that."
"To live in Ul'dah is to be used, Jameson." She offers a weak smile. "One can only hope they're being used for the right reasons." She gives half wave and walks off, heading back towards the lift. "See you around, Jameson."
"Oh great," Natalie sighs. "Let's get this over with."
Jameson gives her a charming smile. "Somewhere private would be best."
"The airship bar?" She begins to lead him out of the tavern. "My friends prevailed upon me to resist the urge to break your jaw."
"That would be rather unfortunate, I am quite fond of my jaw."
Natalie turns and regards his dress for a moment. "I think you're quite fond of all of you."
They ride the elevator to the airship dock in silence, and walk towards the cozy bar set off to the side.
Jameson gestures to a seat before he takes one himself. He smiles and folds his hands on the tabletop. "Ser Mcbeef. I understand that there is an opportunity for you to work under a different... leadership?"
Natalie sighs and rubs her forhead. "Let's not play these games Jameson, just call me Natalie," she rises. "Do you drink?"
"I do. Rum."
She nods and heads to the bar, returning with a bottle and two glasses, which she fills.
Jameson watches the woman with his hazel eyes, an unreadable expression on his face.
She takes one of the glasses and returns to her seat. "I won't pretend that I'm not at a disadvantage here. That is evidently clear to me."
"Natalie." He takes up the glass, but swirls the liquid in it for awhile. "What my employers are offering you is... an opportunity. To make amends. To prove your ... integrity. To form new alliances," he smiles at her. "Even to forge new loyalties, perhaps."
She cups her own glass in her hands, and leans back, "And I'm supposed to believe it's all simple as that?" she sips the drink. "That I do this for you, and this all will blow over?"
He rests his elbow on the table, the glass hanging from his fingers in a dainty hold. He swirls it still. "When my employer is satisfied, perhaps."
She studies him for a moment, "How about we make a deal? I'll do as you wish, but you cease charges against Kage and Roen, they acted under my orders."
Jameson arches a brow, the motion of the glass and the liquid in it stops. He curls a broader grin at Natalie. "Ah, but Natalie. My employer has gone through great lengths to obtain your services. Including, hiding some very incriminating evidence against one of your apprentices." He shakes his head, a look of sympathy bending his brows. "Not everything we discovered was given to dear Captain Jenlyns, you see. Else, I fear you and I would be speaking with bars between us."
Natalie shakes her head. "The thing with the core can be explained, Kage was told it was the same as the one that was lost..." she pauses and furrows her brow. "Whatever do you mean sir?"
He sets the glass down and leans forward, lacing his gloved fingers. "The second witness that came forward, fingers your apprentice and now Sultansworn, Roen Deneith as a Garlean spy. You and Ser Kiryuu knew of it, and covered it up."
She sips her drink with an outward appearance of calm, though slight ripples appear in the liquid from her trembling hand. "That's an interesting accusation."
"Those would be charges enough for treason. Certainly the noose or beheading for the Garlean, and perhaps the same, for those who hid the spy." He shakes his head slowly. "But you see, my employer knows of... your valiant service to the city-state. And would think it a terrible waste for lives to be lost so senselessly. Would you not agree?"
Natalie downs the drink, and places the glass onto the table. She exhales and steeples her fingers for a moment before reaching for the bottle. "I have conditions."
Jameson watches her, still that smile in place. He arches one dark brow at her in question. "Oh?"
She uncorks the bottle, "I want an official document giving Roen refugee status, which will be effective upon the end of all this." She refills her glass and eyes his reaction.
"Hm." He cups his chin with a hand, hazel eyes narrowing slightly. "I think that can be arranged. If... my employer is satisfied with your service."
"Without that," she recorks the bottle, "I have no guarantee you won't simply go back on your word."
"Indeed so." He smiles to Natalie, his white teeth gleaming. "I will have the document drawn up. But ... my employer will have to be satisfied with your service first. Though we do not seek to execute the girl, else it would have been done so already. This way... we both get something we want."
"Fair enough..." she exhales, and swirls the drink. "So, you've collared me. What do you want this trained dog to do?" She smirks. "Though I still haven't told you my second condition."
Jameson smiles broadly. "Oh, you will be thrown into quite a few tasks, but let us start small first. Once you get oriented and uniformed properly, I am certain you will be given more tasks..." he pauses as he is about to continue. He arches another brow. "Second condition? You are a firecracker, this I've heard." He looks amused as he waves a hand into the air, as if for her to continue.
Natalie takes a sip, "I want a promotion."
"A promotion?"
She smirks again. "Nothing fancy... a Lieutenant is fine. The blades don't pay as well as the Sworn you see. And I have expenses."
"Understood." He narrows his eyes. "I will speak to a few Blades and see what I can arrange. I will get back to you on that. You do know, the Blades income... does not actually come from the city-state? Perhaps we need someone to acquaint you with their ways of obtaining extra funds." He smiles. "They are quite creative, the Brass Blades. Entrepreneurs as matter of fact."
She smiles back at him. "I'm sure you can smooth things over. If you just wanted another sword, you wouldn't go through so much trouble to get me." She steeples her fingers and looks at him. "Make me a Lieutenant, and allow me to choose my own people," she leans back. "And I'll have no issues proving my loyalty..." she pauses, "And Roen's," she says heavily. "As for funds, Lolorito pays their salaries, though I know most acquire more than that. I'd not like to go down that route though."
Jameson leans back on his chair, then he nods slowly. "It will be done. With more under your wing... perhaps we can see greater things from you, Natalie."
She shrugs. "You'll see as much as you need to see," she grins. "As long as you hold up your side of the deal."
He leans forward. "You have your conditions, and they will be met. But ... do remember the collar. There is no 'I do not like to'... You will be told of your tasks, and you will do them." He smiles at her.
"Aye.. aye... though if you've gone through all this to have me shake down merchant caravans..." she chuckles. "It seems a rather poor use of resources."
"Indeed! That would be rather a wasteful thing, considering your talents." Jameson shakes his head. "Do get comfortable with the Brass Blades and their ways, Natalie. Make others know for certain, that you are a Blade and not a Sworn. When that is convincing enough, we will give you more tasks, that puts you closer to proving your worth to my employer."
She sighs and nods, "I get it Jameson, I'm not stranger to a leash. Though I suppose I better let Roen and Kage know. Let's keep our arrangement a secret from them though."
He cocks his head to the side. "You will explain to them then, why they are Blades? I can certainly give the orders to you and you only. As long as you carry them out."
Natalie nods, "I'll explain it, but I'll just say it's for the investigation. I'd rather not have the treason charges hanging over their heads."
"Of course." He waves his gloved hands into the air. "As you will. Do make certain they fall in line withe Blades way of doing things. We would not want them to stick out like sore thumbs amongst the ranks."
She chuckles, "I'll do my best" she holds out her glass to him, "Shall we drink to it?"
James grins, looking pleased. He lifts his own glass to her. "To profitable alliances and new loyalties."
She raises her own drink. "To doing what we have to," she grins and swallows the remainder of her drink before continuing, "And making the best of it."
"Indeed." Jameson brings the drink to his mouth, eyeing her over the rim of the glass, then he sets the glass down with nary a sip. He stands. "Now, do look to the Brass Blades Captain, and he will get you settled with uniforms and such. I will send over the proper papers of your promotion in the morn. Kiryuu and Deneith though will have the rank as grunts, they were just freshly sworn in after all."
She rises as well, nodding, "Fair enough, though perhaps something can be arranged for them as well in time."
"Perhaps, if they prove themselves." He smiles at her, "To the right people."
She laughs bitterly, "Why do I hate the sound of that."
"We do what we have to. He glances to her over the shoulder. "You will hear from me soon, Natalie. Do not let my employers down."
"I won't..." she smiles at him, with a hint of warmth. "Despite the fact you're simply using us, the fact remains that you're protecting Roen," she laughs. "So despite my best instincts, I can't hate you."
Jameson narrows his eyes, there is an odd expression in response. He watches her for a moment before he breaks his gaze and picks up the glass of the remaining rum, taking a full swallow of it this time around and emptying it. "Do not mistake my intent, Natalie. You are going to be used as Blades. And sharp ones at that."
"To live in Ul'dah is to be used, Jameson." She offers a weak smile. "One can only hope they're being used for the right reasons." She gives half wave and walks off, heading back towards the lift. "See you around, Jameson."