[Suspicions and Disappointment - The Scales Part Nine]
The route to C'kayah's office apartment, his casino as he so fondly referred to it, was not a long one. Aya used the short time to try to focus her mind, to push away the lingering frustration of the evening shift and remember what she had observed earlier in the day at Milvaneth Sanctum. She had laid her own eyes upon the mysterious No-Eyed Man, and had seen, she thought, the truth behind façade. She knew C'kayah had already begun to pull the levers, loosing wheels into motion across his city-spanning network. Leaving him in the dark would serve no one's purpose.
Besides, given the trouble at the Quick Sand, his company seemed most welcome. Momodi had given her leave, perhaps she would stay late...
She tried the front door; it was unlocked, a good sign. "C'kayah!" she called as the door swung open. There he was, standing in the entryway looking as debonair as ever. Long hair brushed back, slightly loose with the perfect amount of carefree mess. Loose richly embroidered tunic showing just enough of the taut form beneath. She smiled—he was pouring wine from a bottle into two empty glasses sitting on the small table in the foyer. "Now, you were saying something about having information fo... Aya?" his voice raised slightly in surprise; his eyes offered a confused blink as the Hyur dashed breathlessly into his room, interrupting he and his guest.
A lovely Miqo'te woman had quickly side-stepped away from the door. Aya never could place Keeper and Seeker, and in the moment she really didn't care: plan B was off the table, and she was disappointed. She turned her gaze back to C'kayah, blonde eyebrows raised in an expression of obviousness: just why wouldn't Aya be barging into his office at this hour?
"Busy?" a grin pulled playfully at her pursed lips as she glanced between the two.
C'kayah let out an amused laugh, despite the light blush rising in his cheeks: he was never one to be caught off guard for long. With a quick flourish he produced a third wine glass, filling it from the bottle as he made introductions. "Aya, this is an ally of mine, Vi of the Vipers. And this is my very good friend Aya Foxheart. Its sort of fortuitous that you came by, Aya, I was just talking to Vi about the artifacts. And Vi, you can say almost anything in front of Aya, I trust her."
Aya gladly accepted the wine glass from his hand, raising it to her grinning lips for an anxious sip. "Mmmm, oh that's just perfect~" she purred in her own pleased tone reflected in the smile that flashed across red lips, "I can only have a sip, though. I'll have to go back on shift soon..." One could never say Aya was incapable of making her own quick escapes, and providing her own useful fictions.
The look of Vi's expression had changed entirely since that first surprised instant of Aya's entry. Her eyes were wide and bright, and she stared agape at Aya, watching as the blonde pulled her cap from her head, and shook her head to allow her ponytail fall free. With an exhale of satisfaction Aya turned her gaze to Vi, her voice carrying in its pleasant, light, Ishgardian accented tones, "Its a pleasure to meet you Vi!"
C'kayah was distracted, a perturbed look on his face as he held his finger to his ear: link pearl, they'd both seen it before. Vi took advantage of the break, "Sorry... sorry, did you say Aya, Aya Foxheart?"
Aya nodded in reply, with a soft laugh. "They do call me Foxheart! Aya it is!"
Vi's smile grew brighter yet, "I've been looking for you! Its rather a wonderful coincidence that you turn up here." She chuckled excitedly to accompany the bright, delighted note of her voice.Â
Aya smiled sheepishly, there was a time when people had been excited to meet her, but that was long ago (or so it seemed to a woman of her youth) in a life that she barely recognized. "Oh? Should I be worried?"
The Miqo'te waved her hand dismissively, "Pish posh, don't be so ridiculous!" she took a sip of her wine, before seeming to interrupt herself in order to continue, "Not unless you are a pile of turmeric or a bit of coumerin!" She stepped forward, offering her hand. "Its quite a pleasure to meet you though, you oft work in the Sands, no?"
Aya looked thoughtful for a moment, "Mmmmm... no... I don't think I am either of those!" She winked while grinning, "but I do work at the Quick Sand! I'm on break right now, Madame will expect me back before too long though."
"That is, if the ruffians don't chase me out... you should see the grief I am getting, C'kayah!"
C'kayah's distraction ended rather suddenly, "Grief? You?
Vi's anxious expression brightened once more, "Yes, yes, I knew I knew you!" A brief giggle passed her lips, "You are Ser Crofte's friend, if memory serves. Oh... she is such a dear, dear woman. That is... I seem to recall her mentioning you." She covered her mouth, shaking her head as if frustrated, "Oh, but sometimes my poor little brain gets so scrambled!"
Aya nodded with a warm smile, "Oh yes, of course! Ser Crofte and I are good friends!"
C'kayah listened, but seemed less interested in Ser Crofte. He cast a curious glance to Vi before addressing Aya, "Anyway, what brings you here tonight? Business or pleasure?"
Aya let out an exasperated breath as she nodded back toward C'kayah. "That 'Lady' Primrose," she said through clinched teeth, "You may know her as Evangeline. She's gone and riled the whole city against Ishgardians. I'm surprised you haven't seen it yourself."
Perhaps C'kayah had seen it, or at least heard of it, but he just rolled his eyes in shared exasperation, "That woman would ask for oil to put out a fire," he scowled. "But I don't expect much more from one of Vann's girls," the tone was as askance as the annoyed look he offered.
"That's exactly what she did! And that's why I'm here!" she waved her wineglass around a bit, showing signs of agitation before taking another, calming sip.Â
Vi smiled silently, but began fidgeting almost immediately. A terrible storm of fidgits, hopping from one foot to the other rather anxiously as if she had more to say, but not wanting to interrupt. She went so far as to bite her lower lip, looking from Aya to C'kayah in agony.
Aya seemed to regain focus upon her original train of thought: "At the same event I witnessed your man. He was addressing an entire crowd about the dangers of Dravanian influence."Â
"You mean the man with half an eye?" asked C'kayah with a look of serious curiosity.
"That's the one." Aya added with a nod.
"If he did it once," C'kayah purred, the plot already spinning in his mind, "He'll likely do it again..."Â He glanced to Vi, "That might be a good lead to approach him about my stash of artifacts, no?"
Aya glanced to Vi as well. So that was her role, though she seemed intent upon obscuring it in Aya's presence. Aya was of similar mind: their plan relied upon secrecy and discretion. If Vi were helping sell the word of C'kayahs artifacts she could not realize their counterfeit origin, or who C'kayah's patroness was in the scheme. It was an easy matter to turn things around—it was a role she was used to playing.  It would be another useful fiction. "I'm sure he will again." she added, somewhat dryly with a nod and a smile, ready to play the information broker—sometimes it seemed that her entire life were a useful fiction.
"It didn't take long for Evangeline to decide to rile up the crowd. It didn't go very well. Honestly, I'm just glad that I made it out of there."
C'kayah quirked an eyebrow, "Did she make it out?"
Both, however, turned their sudden attention to Vi who was very nearly hurting herself with the forcefulness of her lip-bite. She was squirming with an anxious excitement: her hands clasping and unclasping as she appeared as antsy and restless as a little school girl.
Aya blinked slowly, her eyes-widening. "Is everything alright, Vi?"
The Miqo'te leaped at the opportunity, blurting out, "No! I mean... er..." she seemed embarrassed at her own outburst; a blush spreading anxiously over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. She played with the hem of her tunic and looked up at Aya with an apologetic air, "I mean... it's just... I... I've heard so many rumors lately, and I...." she seemed more sheepish than ever. "Well, I haven't been able to visit Crofte myself... you see.. I uh..." she dropped her voice as though she were ashamed to add any more.
"I heard she might have married her Beau and... and I wanted to wish her a congratulations but... Gods help me, I can't remember his bloody name, and if I send... send... send a gift with card... I mean, I'll look the fool if I don't know who to send it to! What's his name again?" She scratched her head, the question finally escaping.
Aya tilted her head, eyes-still wide as she blinked with some astonishment. "Ser Crofte? Taeros?" she blinked some more.
"Yes! Jameson! Thank you!" Vi smiled brightly and looked to C'kayah, "I am sorry for the interruption."
Aya shook her head with a quiet mutter, "I sure hope she didn't..."
Vi's sharp ears still took notice, "Oh? Well, that's a talk for another time! And we will have to talk, I rather like you."
Aya grinned back to Vi, her body seeming to relax for a moment. "It would be my pleasure!" came the pleasant and cheerful reply. She took another sip of the deep red wine.
C'kayah looked back and forth between them, slowly coming to realize that he was presented with a rare opportunity: normally one did not get to see two masters playing senet with one another.
Vi smiled warmly as she took a seat in one of the waiting chairs, "O no, miss. The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." She retreated into the confines of the ghastly red velvet, "I'll leave you two to it..." she said with a quiet smile.
C'kayah turned back to Aya, his eyebrows raised and an amused grin still apparent on his features. "You spoke to the man?" he asked.
Aya gave her head a quick shake, "No, no. I was just in the crowd while he was speaking. But, well... I know you were interested in knowing more about him, so I took the opportunity to watch."
He replied with a nod, "I am. Thank you. I have something for you, by the way..." He grasped gently at her arm, and walked her toward a hallway that lead deeper into the apartment. He turned his most polite and graceful smile back toward Vi apologetically, "Please excuse us, this will take just a moment."Â
Vi nodded, her smile still pleasant and soft, "No trouble."
C'kayah and Aya vanished down the hallway, the sound of her heels echoed through it as they entered one of the back chambers. He lead her to a bookshelf, grasping something upon it with the rustle of paper. Drawing it down he presented the parcel to her with a smile. "I found this in Limsa last week. I immediately thought you'd fine it interesting."
She lifted the parcel, grinning brightly as she turned it around in her hand. "Should I open it now..?"
C'kayah merely nodded, beaming with a Cheshire-like grin.
Aya opened the parcel, careful not to rip or tear at the packaging. Pulling back the edge of wrapping paper she laid eyes upon a necklace of exquisite sapphire: a hue that seemed to reflect the very blue of her eyes. She gasped softly. It was not the earrings she so dearly desired, but something so far out of her own reach she could not help but hold her breath.
As the Miqo'te watched, Aya's eyes lit up like a flash. In that moment the sparkle of the gemstone was nothing compared to the bright blue of her eyes. But, when lifting the necklace to look at it closer she revealed that it was there as a distraction - a rich gift though it was - to obscure an even more expensive bauble behind it. A miniature aetheryte crystal letting off a low glow. Affixed to it was a small note in C'kayah's handwriting, "In case of danger."
"Oh... my..." the sight seemed to have stolen her voice. "I...
C'kayah, you shouldn't have!"Â She grinned back toward him, her eyes narrowing mischievously, "Or maybe you should have... Oh, but I can't keep you, you have company!"
He grinned with satisfaction, drawing his hands up to her shoulders. "And you have to get back to work." Useful fiction at work once more.
"Don't worry, I'll come bring you dinner sometime soon. You and I have a lot to catch up about."
She smiled softly, letting out a happy breath, not quite a sigh, "That sounds just exquisite."Â She let the pleasant note hang in the air for a moment, before she shifted her weight on her feet, and the tone of the conversation back toward the business that had brought her here.
"So... I remember you were trying to determine what his angle could be. But.. I noticed something that may open up more possibilities."
He raised his eyebrows.
"I believe he is an actor," she said with a cool certainty that seemed to dispel doubt. "An actor from Ishgard, specifically."
C'kayah pursed his lips, turning the thought of it over in his head. "Now that is interesting." he said. "I imagine he must be a very successful one..."
Aya shook her head, "Talented, perhaps, I am not so sure about successful. That assumes that no one is backing him financially, which seems unlikely." She leaned close, her voice soft, almost a whisper, "I can't place him, but there's something about his manner of speech that is so familiar. It sounds like he belongs on the stage. Besides that, everything just adds up: Everyone who has dealt closely with him think she is acting the part of an adventurer, but something always seems off about it. Consider his style: he made a flamboyant, flash powder entry. His costume is like that of the stage: distinct, covered in buckles, all black leather. There's nothing practical about it. The way he draws up the crowd, speaking to drive them toward a desired end. Its like a scene from a script. His hair, his eyes. All of it. He's crafted a character to play on the grandest stage. He speaks as someone trained in Ishgardian oratory, that much I know for sure. I am almost certain he is an actor, almost." She nearly bit the final words off, she was far more certain than that. To her, there was no doubt.
C'kayah mused, "Curious." He wasn't sure what that would mean for their scheme, but he had rarely seen Aya so adamant about anything. "That raises more questions than it answers, but I never thought this sort of foreign theater would be easy to grasp..."
She nodded along with him, "It could mean many things. His tone was serious, he has the crowd convinced that he is trying to stop the Dravanian threat. He has turned them against the authorities. As far as I can tell there are three possibilities:"
"One: he is sincere, and backed by his own wealth and that of allies."
"Two: He is acting to seek some personal advantage, perhaps by sewing chaos in the city."
"Three: He is a Heretic seeking to empower his masters."
She drew herself up a bit, "sadly, I don't think we can draw any firm conclusions yet about who is behind him. But I suspect he is the front for something deeper."
She let out a breath, "But, I suppose that is for you to figure out, isn't it..."
C'kayah nodded in agreement, "We don't know yet at least. It gives me a lot to go off of, though. Thank you, Aya."
She nodded, her warm smile returning. "Thank you so much again. I'll see you soon, maybe later tonight?" she asked with a hopeful innocence.
"I hope so!" he purred with a smile. "If not tonight, then in the next few days. Its good picnic weather if the sun picks up a bit."
She beamed, "Perfect! I can show myself out!" She turned, tucking the parcel under her arm as she walked back out the way they had come, followed close behind by C'kayah. "Any time, of course. I can't wait to see how that necklace looks with those eyes of yours... Until next time, Menphina guide your steps."
Aya greeted Vi as she re-entered the foyer, "A pleasure meeting you Vi! Take care of him tonight!" She grinned, adding a playful wink before lifting her wine glass from the table to drain it with one more drink.
Vi looked slightly confused, "I doubt he needs any taking care of... be well, Aya!"Â
Aya grinned as she set down the wine glass. "Of course you don't..." she laughed to herself, while slipping her hair back into her cap before stepping into the night's chill.Â
Any thought of escaping the Quick Sand for the evening stood dashed, but that was C'kayah. He left her with a lovely, thoughtful, and luxurious gift-and the ephemeral promise of a picnic that would never happen. As the door closed behind her she let out a quiet sigh, and walked back into the torch-lit darkness.
[A thank you to C'kayah and Vi! (L'vi Lyrre) for this RP, and allowing me to post it as a story ]