The Cap'n's ebony-hued brow rose in earnest at that one.
"Aye, I knew he had thrown in his lot with your troupe, but I didn't know the two of you shared any sort of... history betwixt yourselves," the Dunesfolk murmured as he deftly speared the pouch with the now-meatless bone and slid it and its contents towards him. He poked and prodded the sack with the bone, eying the coin with a practiced eye in search of any frauds or other surprises hidden within the leather-bound depths. "Nor that you'd be willing to go so far as to purchase the Eighth Ace in his stead."
The Lalafell hooked the mouth of the sack with the bulbous end of his improvised tool, lifting it up and letting the albeit meager lighting of the Korner pierce the gloom within. His silver eyes flicked over the contents in earnest now, still wary of any dangers even as he counted up the number of coin. His attentions were still on the contents of the bag as he continued.
"While I certainly find what sort of alignment of interested you share with an Extra such as him, I do believe that now is not the time to discuss such matters at length. Of course, that does not needs must mean we still can't work out something about his 'lost love' that should meet to your satisfaction."
Once he was satisfied with his search, the pirate captain flicked the dodo bone into the air with a jerk of the wrist. In the time it took to twirl about before noisily clanging neatly into his empty tankard, he had scooped up both bag and the wayward coin that had sought to escape their imprisonment from within it. Cinching it tight, the dark-haired Lalafell held it up loosely in his upturned hand, as if showing it to the Hyur woman and her entourage.
"And... perhaps... even his."
Cap'n Distractin' idly tossed it up and down a couple times, glancing up and over his shoulder at seemingly nothing with a small grin. Listening to a Linkshell conversation, perhaps? Whatever the reason for his momentary distraction, it was naught but short-lived as his attentions were soon turned back onto the lovely ladies before him. Smile still plastered upon his cherub-like Lalafellan features, of course.
"By the time you have finished your drink, the Ace will be moored to the docks outside for your perusal. You have purchased it in the Miqo'te's stead, thus by all rights it is yours to do as you see fit - though whether you decide to return it to its 'rightful' owner or hold off on doing so in return for favors, it matters not," he crooned with a cant of his head, spinning the gil pouch about in his hand as if it were little more than a conversation piece. "As for your companion's other interest, though..."
The Dunesfolk waved his other hand in front of the bag with a flourish as it twirled, and it was gone. Silver orbs widened and looked at the suddenly-empty palm in mock alarm, and then up at Cliodhna before being accompanied by a wide grin and a shrug of the shoulders. Distractin' clasped his hands neatly in front of him again before continuing.
"... Should he wish to join my troupe, I should hope he is better at performing than trying to cheat at cards. And he needs must learn to have better hold over his drink besides." That ever-present smile faded briefly into a look of cold seriousness, which stood in stark contrast to the Cap'n's all-smiles demeanor thus far. "Otherwise I'm afraid he'll find no gainful employment here. I will not have my or my crew's reputation sullied by the antics of an ale-drenched alley cat."
He cracked into a smile once more, but it still held no mirth in it. In fact, one might go so far as to suggest that it was icier than that brief moment of seriousness that it had just come from. The only way to make it more dangerous would possibly be to replace the Dunesfolk's pearly whites with a couerl's fangs.
"Furthermore, should he somehow manage to worm his way into my ranks... and he turns out to be little more than a hook covertly placed to forcibly remove us from the stage? Well, I don't believe I will have to explain what that would mean, do I? Both for him, and for you and yours."
His smile widened a bit, somehow looking even more sinister despite his diminutive physique.
"Because, as you said: family comes in many forms... and woe be upon those who seek to harm mine."
"Aye, I knew he had thrown in his lot with your troupe, but I didn't know the two of you shared any sort of... history betwixt yourselves," the Dunesfolk murmured as he deftly speared the pouch with the now-meatless bone and slid it and its contents towards him. He poked and prodded the sack with the bone, eying the coin with a practiced eye in search of any frauds or other surprises hidden within the leather-bound depths. "Nor that you'd be willing to go so far as to purchase the Eighth Ace in his stead."
The Lalafell hooked the mouth of the sack with the bulbous end of his improvised tool, lifting it up and letting the albeit meager lighting of the Korner pierce the gloom within. His silver eyes flicked over the contents in earnest now, still wary of any dangers even as he counted up the number of coin. His attentions were still on the contents of the bag as he continued.
"While I certainly find what sort of alignment of interested you share with an Extra such as him, I do believe that now is not the time to discuss such matters at length. Of course, that does not needs must mean we still can't work out something about his 'lost love' that should meet to your satisfaction."
Once he was satisfied with his search, the pirate captain flicked the dodo bone into the air with a jerk of the wrist. In the time it took to twirl about before noisily clanging neatly into his empty tankard, he had scooped up both bag and the wayward coin that had sought to escape their imprisonment from within it. Cinching it tight, the dark-haired Lalafell held it up loosely in his upturned hand, as if showing it to the Hyur woman and her entourage.
"And... perhaps... even his."
Cap'n Distractin' idly tossed it up and down a couple times, glancing up and over his shoulder at seemingly nothing with a small grin. Listening to a Linkshell conversation, perhaps? Whatever the reason for his momentary distraction, it was naught but short-lived as his attentions were soon turned back onto the lovely ladies before him. Smile still plastered upon his cherub-like Lalafellan features, of course.
"By the time you have finished your drink, the Ace will be moored to the docks outside for your perusal. You have purchased it in the Miqo'te's stead, thus by all rights it is yours to do as you see fit - though whether you decide to return it to its 'rightful' owner or hold off on doing so in return for favors, it matters not," he crooned with a cant of his head, spinning the gil pouch about in his hand as if it were little more than a conversation piece. "As for your companion's other interest, though..."
The Dunesfolk waved his other hand in front of the bag with a flourish as it twirled, and it was gone. Silver orbs widened and looked at the suddenly-empty palm in mock alarm, and then up at Cliodhna before being accompanied by a wide grin and a shrug of the shoulders. Distractin' clasped his hands neatly in front of him again before continuing.
"... Should he wish to join my troupe, I should hope he is better at performing than trying to cheat at cards. And he needs must learn to have better hold over his drink besides." That ever-present smile faded briefly into a look of cold seriousness, which stood in stark contrast to the Cap'n's all-smiles demeanor thus far. "Otherwise I'm afraid he'll find no gainful employment here. I will not have my or my crew's reputation sullied by the antics of an ale-drenched alley cat."
He cracked into a smile once more, but it still held no mirth in it. In fact, one might go so far as to suggest that it was icier than that brief moment of seriousness that it had just come from. The only way to make it more dangerous would possibly be to replace the Dunesfolk's pearly whites with a couerl's fangs.
"Furthermore, should he somehow manage to worm his way into my ranks... and he turns out to be little more than a hook covertly placed to forcibly remove us from the stage? Well, I don't believe I will have to explain what that would mean, do I? Both for him, and for you and yours."
His smile widened a bit, somehow looking even more sinister despite his diminutive physique.
"Because, as you said: family comes in many forms... and woe be upon those who seek to harm mine."
~