((Not too long later...))
Lamandu was a frequent patron of the Quicksand's lovely bar area, it served as an excellent option to kickback and spend his hard earned money at the end of the day. A short walk down the street from the Pearl Street Blades office brought him straight into its warm, welcoming arms. It was early in the evening yet, so it wasn't terribly crowded yet. He hopped up onto a bar stool, leaning over to order his usual drink.
That Antimony found herself once more amongst the din of the Quicksand was a direct result of her being unable to deny any requests from the one person she had left to care for above all else: K'airos was hungry, and so she was bound to fix that. She approached the bar with weary determination and was halfway through her order when her nose and her eyes spotted the lalafell only a short distance away. She froze, causing the bartender to give her an impatient look, and then distractedly picked back up her order. She trailed off at the end of it and tried to look anywhere but towards the captain of the Pearl Lane contingent of the Brass Blades.
The dulcet tones of a blackmailer reached Lamandu's ear's. As much of that hard earned money had been threatened by such, he did not so easily forget what one sounded like. His head turned, a hand stroking the small soul patch that grew from his chin.
The Black and Gold that he'd ordered slide in next to him, scrapping over the wooden surface, "Why, if it Miss Antimony. I'd thought your business around these parts had been done."
Pressing her lips together, Antimony tries to take a calming breath, running her hands down the front of her clothes to compulsively smooth the fabric. She glances towards the lalafell carefully, trying to mask her exhaustion as best she could manage. "... Ah, Captain, I didn't... Well, I am only wrapping things up."
Bandages were still wrapped around his chest from the tribal showdown he'd been dragged into. Mostly healed thanks to the Sultansworn's conjurer that had seen to him. But it never hurt to be safe, rather than sorry. Plus, it made for an excellent story in the case that he were to need to lose his shirt. Practically made him hero material, or so he thought. ... Once he conveniently brushed past true motives. No one needed to hear about those! "What else was there to wrap up? D'themia still won't face trial for some time."
"Oh... things," Antimony murmured a bit lamely, watching for the bartender who would bring her K'airos's food... no such luck yet. Then quieter, "And I should hope it will be a quick trial.."
He shrugs, having come out of the whole debacle a lot better than he'd thought possible. "Probably not. I mean. I'm sure all the evidence you gathered and submitted on him is excellent but... That can mean but a grain of sand here. We'll see. He's out of power with the Dodos at least. Thats what really matters."
She struggled to care about that as much as she probably should, but most of her thoughts were on K'airos, on her hungry daughter, and a little bit on the hapless Tia who was supposed to have brought her things by now. Dropping to sit in one of the stools, resigning herself to waiting on the food, Antimony set her hands in her lap. "I am sorry it came to what it did." She was saying that an awful lot about things. "Ah, but... perhaps you will take this as a fresh start."
Sharp brows raised at that, "And what do you mean by that?" His figure may have risen in the public eye, but those of his men remained as they had always been. Minus Lou, who had yet to check back in concerning the status of her suspension.
Her hands worried in her lap. Perhaps she was stepping on too many toes... "To cut ties with other, ah, problematic connections."
A red haired girl with tanned skin appeared a the hallway leading to the rooms of the Quicksand. She remained there for a moment, her cheeks inflated as she catched her own reflection on a piece of plattery. Then she crossed her arms and looked around. After seeing Antimony, she started walking towards her with the head ducked, as if she was trying to be invisible to everyone else. The reason would become clear after a few steps: those clothes weren't hers and, while they fit comfortably well, her tastes on fashion were likely troubled.
Antimony caught her daughter's scent before she'd taken even her first step from the hallway, and she lifted her head immediately to look her way. Her brow knit worriedly as she hastily stood from her stool. "Airos, what are you... are you alright, dear?"
The girl dressed in bulky clothes shrugged, her ears briefly falling backwards. "I didn't want to be alone."
The lalafell grasped his drink in hand. Sipping it, he turned to look at where Antimony's attention had been redirected so effectively. No one he'd seen before, certainly.
"Oh, Airos..." She set her hands on her daughter's arms once she was within reach, and pulled her close to guide her to a seat. "I didn't mean for this to take so long. I'm sorry."
Eyebrows raised even higher, "And who might this be Miss Antimony? Obviously someone important."
"It wasn't long. I just...felt lonely." she said, making circles in the air with her hands. She sat down and stopped waving her arms to look at the nearby lalafell. "I'm her daughter. My name is K'airos." she replied, her tone a bit confused. "Hi." she added with a wave right after, in a much more firm tone.
Keeping one hand lightly on K'airos's back, Antimony watched the young woman for several seconds before flicking green eyes towards the lalafell. "... Ah, yes. This is... well."
He rested an elbow on the bar, the drink drawn close, "Lamandu Tyremandu, Captain of the Pearl Street Blades at your service, Miss K'airos." The man bent over slightly, mocking a polite bow, "Your mother and I did business together not long past."
K'airos, for whatever reason, looked incredibly distressed about Lamandu's presentation. Her ears fell back again and stayed there for a long moment. She shifted on her sit and then calmed herself. "Oh. I'm sorry if I interrupted you. I didn't mean to."
Grey ears lifting slightly, Antimony was quick to shake her head, petting K'airos's back. "Oh, no, don't worry about a thing, dear. You weren't interrupting at all. Ah, I'm... I am glad you came out. It is good for you to get some fresh air..."
Lamandu looks between them, curious as to why the girl hadn't ever been mentioned if even in passing if they were so close as they seemed. "Is she quite alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry." the girl replied, facing the bad. She tapped her fingers against the top of the counter. "I just...lost my clothes."
"It has been a trying time," Antimony sighed her answer to Llamandu, her eyes on K'airos. "And don't worry, dear. D'hein is taking care of it." Or he better be.
"Taking care of? Taken care of!" D'hein appeared happily, still dirty and tired in personal appearance, but with his arms full of expensive looking silks. In order to affect his appearance at the correct angle, he had surreptitiously hopped behind the bar, so that he stood in front of everyone, and the bartender looked about read to punch him in the head.
Lamandu quickly recovered himself from the start caused by the sudden and over enthusiastic voice that popped into being from the void. "Ahhh...! If it isn't the great Dodo himself."
K'airos was startled on her seat, bringing both hands to cover the surprised noise that came out of her mouth.
"Ah, what--Tia!" Antimony did a double-take at D'hein's sudden appearance, and then frowned. "Get out of there. You are going to get us all in trouble."
Chuckling, D'heing chose to direct his response towards Antimony. "Tia? I'm not sure that's entirely accurate anymore, are you?" He set his items on the bar in front of K'airos. "Here you are, lovely. You'll find your old things plus some of the Dodos' best silks." He went to hop over the counter, but failed fell off the other side, ending up on the floor on his back. He bounced up pretty quickly, though.
K'airos hands were curled down into fists, which she was holding right under her jaw. She wasn't angry, though. More amused and incredibly confused. "But...you didn't have to. I had plenty of clothes..." she said, being startled again by D'hein's failed hop.
Antimony watched the man tiredly for a moment longer before turning to inspect the items he'd brought K'airos. She didn't quite trust him to have not snuck in a few... less than appropriate items.
The Captain sipped at his drink as he watched the Newly minted Nunh get back up to his feet, "I'm surprised to see you not out of the compound so soon."
D'hein popped up to his feet. "Ah, don't be confused. D'edy Nunh's the one with the /real/ power in the Dodos now. I wouldn't want it. I just want enough to be able to give good gifts to good people every once in awhile.
The young Miqo'te said nothing. She was lost inspecting the fancy clothes and piling them up. "I should bring these to the room." she said, her tone edging on the joyful side.
Antimony's ears lifted slightly at the change in tone of K'airos's voice, turning to watch her daughter. "Would you like help, Airos..?"
"Yes! Grab those and.... wait..." her enthusiasm waned, her ears pointing to the side. But then she got out of it by looking at D'hein and almost ordering him: "Mom asked for some food. You should wait for the order here and tell us when its ready!"
Lamandu turns back to his drink, sipping from it, obviously on the outside of the close unit; interesting though it was.
D'hein adjusted his clothes. "You want me to be your delivery boy, then?" He said this with a smirk, as if the job were an honor.
Her expression lightning to the most minute degrees, Antimony looks between K'airos, D'hein, and Lamandu. The latter she offers an apologetic dip of her head.
She smiled at D'hein sideways, while she moved away back to the rooms. "Thank you!"
The Captain returned the brief nod that was given to him, "Keep well, the both of you!"
Antimony lingered just a moment but found herself drawn away as though by an invisible thread after K'airos's departure. Hoping she could trust the Tia with the food, and that the captain was not harboring any ill feelings over the events at the compound, she trailed after K'airos eagerly.
D'hein waved happily to K'airos and Antimony, "I'll be right along with your hot food!"
"Well. That food'll be along quick. Usually is," Lamandu commented, trying to make small talk.
D'hein looked down at Lamandu, and his smile sharpened at the edges of his mouth. "You know those girls that poked you up are still hanging around the commune. Dodos like to finish what they start. It's usually a good business practice. I think, in this case, however, it's frustrating them."
Lamandu gave his full attention over, "And why do you say that? They're lucky that they aren't facing trial alongside D'Themia."
"You're lucky you aren't facing trial alongside D'themia. I know what was in that paperwork you squirreled away." D'hein took a seat at the bar. "I know every word and number."
"And this is not the place for such talk," answered Lamandu with a lowered voice. "Let the situation settle back into dust. Thats best for everyone right now."
"You sound like you're afraid of someone overhearing." D'hein chuckled.
"There are always ears. And Blades and Dodo business are none of theirs." The smooth, heavy liquid of his drink slid down his throat with ease.
"Yes, it's interesting. There are some in this city, like D'themia, like the upper Syndicate, who do not need to worry about who overhears them. They do not have to pretend. The rest do need to pretend, and so do what they must to change the subject." The bartender brought over plates of hot food and appeared lost, but D'hein waved him over. The bartender just set the food down and left, not caring who the food went to anyway.
"A different world isn't it? When you're not made of money." He gestures to the steaming food. "You should take that up right quick, now. The ladies of the house might go hungry otherwise."
"Yes," D'hein smiled. "It is a different world, and I'm happy to become a part of it. You watch what you talk about in public, Lamandu. That's good, because you're small. But don't pretend to advise me concerning those things." He stood with the food in hand to walk back to Antimony's room. "Good evening, Lamandu."
Lamandu grunted in acknowledgement of D'hein's words, not liking how he was being talked down to. The not unfamiliar feeling of resentment rose up, burning in his belly; only to be squashed just as quickly as it rose.
Lamandu was a frequent patron of the Quicksand's lovely bar area, it served as an excellent option to kickback and spend his hard earned money at the end of the day. A short walk down the street from the Pearl Street Blades office brought him straight into its warm, welcoming arms. It was early in the evening yet, so it wasn't terribly crowded yet. He hopped up onto a bar stool, leaning over to order his usual drink.
That Antimony found herself once more amongst the din of the Quicksand was a direct result of her being unable to deny any requests from the one person she had left to care for above all else: K'airos was hungry, and so she was bound to fix that. She approached the bar with weary determination and was halfway through her order when her nose and her eyes spotted the lalafell only a short distance away. She froze, causing the bartender to give her an impatient look, and then distractedly picked back up her order. She trailed off at the end of it and tried to look anywhere but towards the captain of the Pearl Lane contingent of the Brass Blades.
The dulcet tones of a blackmailer reached Lamandu's ear's. As much of that hard earned money had been threatened by such, he did not so easily forget what one sounded like. His head turned, a hand stroking the small soul patch that grew from his chin.
The Black and Gold that he'd ordered slide in next to him, scrapping over the wooden surface, "Why, if it Miss Antimony. I'd thought your business around these parts had been done."
Pressing her lips together, Antimony tries to take a calming breath, running her hands down the front of her clothes to compulsively smooth the fabric. She glances towards the lalafell carefully, trying to mask her exhaustion as best she could manage. "... Ah, Captain, I didn't... Well, I am only wrapping things up."
Bandages were still wrapped around his chest from the tribal showdown he'd been dragged into. Mostly healed thanks to the Sultansworn's conjurer that had seen to him. But it never hurt to be safe, rather than sorry. Plus, it made for an excellent story in the case that he were to need to lose his shirt. Practically made him hero material, or so he thought. ... Once he conveniently brushed past true motives. No one needed to hear about those! "What else was there to wrap up? D'themia still won't face trial for some time."
"Oh... things," Antimony murmured a bit lamely, watching for the bartender who would bring her K'airos's food... no such luck yet. Then quieter, "And I should hope it will be a quick trial.."
He shrugs, having come out of the whole debacle a lot better than he'd thought possible. "Probably not. I mean. I'm sure all the evidence you gathered and submitted on him is excellent but... That can mean but a grain of sand here. We'll see. He's out of power with the Dodos at least. Thats what really matters."
She struggled to care about that as much as she probably should, but most of her thoughts were on K'airos, on her hungry daughter, and a little bit on the hapless Tia who was supposed to have brought her things by now. Dropping to sit in one of the stools, resigning herself to waiting on the food, Antimony set her hands in her lap. "I am sorry it came to what it did." She was saying that an awful lot about things. "Ah, but... perhaps you will take this as a fresh start."
Sharp brows raised at that, "And what do you mean by that?" His figure may have risen in the public eye, but those of his men remained as they had always been. Minus Lou, who had yet to check back in concerning the status of her suspension.
Her hands worried in her lap. Perhaps she was stepping on too many toes... "To cut ties with other, ah, problematic connections."
A red haired girl with tanned skin appeared a the hallway leading to the rooms of the Quicksand. She remained there for a moment, her cheeks inflated as she catched her own reflection on a piece of plattery. Then she crossed her arms and looked around. After seeing Antimony, she started walking towards her with the head ducked, as if she was trying to be invisible to everyone else. The reason would become clear after a few steps: those clothes weren't hers and, while they fit comfortably well, her tastes on fashion were likely troubled.
Antimony caught her daughter's scent before she'd taken even her first step from the hallway, and she lifted her head immediately to look her way. Her brow knit worriedly as she hastily stood from her stool. "Airos, what are you... are you alright, dear?"
The girl dressed in bulky clothes shrugged, her ears briefly falling backwards. "I didn't want to be alone."
The lalafell grasped his drink in hand. Sipping it, he turned to look at where Antimony's attention had been redirected so effectively. No one he'd seen before, certainly.
"Oh, Airos..." She set her hands on her daughter's arms once she was within reach, and pulled her close to guide her to a seat. "I didn't mean for this to take so long. I'm sorry."
Eyebrows raised even higher, "And who might this be Miss Antimony? Obviously someone important."
"It wasn't long. I just...felt lonely." she said, making circles in the air with her hands. She sat down and stopped waving her arms to look at the nearby lalafell. "I'm her daughter. My name is K'airos." she replied, her tone a bit confused. "Hi." she added with a wave right after, in a much more firm tone.
Keeping one hand lightly on K'airos's back, Antimony watched the young woman for several seconds before flicking green eyes towards the lalafell. "... Ah, yes. This is... well."
He rested an elbow on the bar, the drink drawn close, "Lamandu Tyremandu, Captain of the Pearl Street Blades at your service, Miss K'airos." The man bent over slightly, mocking a polite bow, "Your mother and I did business together not long past."
K'airos, for whatever reason, looked incredibly distressed about Lamandu's presentation. Her ears fell back again and stayed there for a long moment. She shifted on her sit and then calmed herself. "Oh. I'm sorry if I interrupted you. I didn't mean to."
Grey ears lifting slightly, Antimony was quick to shake her head, petting K'airos's back. "Oh, no, don't worry about a thing, dear. You weren't interrupting at all. Ah, I'm... I am glad you came out. It is good for you to get some fresh air..."
Lamandu looks between them, curious as to why the girl hadn't ever been mentioned if even in passing if they were so close as they seemed. "Is she quite alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry." the girl replied, facing the bad. She tapped her fingers against the top of the counter. "I just...lost my clothes."
"It has been a trying time," Antimony sighed her answer to Llamandu, her eyes on K'airos. "And don't worry, dear. D'hein is taking care of it." Or he better be.
"Taking care of? Taken care of!" D'hein appeared happily, still dirty and tired in personal appearance, but with his arms full of expensive looking silks. In order to affect his appearance at the correct angle, he had surreptitiously hopped behind the bar, so that he stood in front of everyone, and the bartender looked about read to punch him in the head.
Lamandu quickly recovered himself from the start caused by the sudden and over enthusiastic voice that popped into being from the void. "Ahhh...! If it isn't the great Dodo himself."
K'airos was startled on her seat, bringing both hands to cover the surprised noise that came out of her mouth.
"Ah, what--Tia!" Antimony did a double-take at D'hein's sudden appearance, and then frowned. "Get out of there. You are going to get us all in trouble."
Chuckling, D'heing chose to direct his response towards Antimony. "Tia? I'm not sure that's entirely accurate anymore, are you?" He set his items on the bar in front of K'airos. "Here you are, lovely. You'll find your old things plus some of the Dodos' best silks." He went to hop over the counter, but failed fell off the other side, ending up on the floor on his back. He bounced up pretty quickly, though.
K'airos hands were curled down into fists, which she was holding right under her jaw. She wasn't angry, though. More amused and incredibly confused. "But...you didn't have to. I had plenty of clothes..." she said, being startled again by D'hein's failed hop.
Antimony watched the man tiredly for a moment longer before turning to inspect the items he'd brought K'airos. She didn't quite trust him to have not snuck in a few... less than appropriate items.
The Captain sipped at his drink as he watched the Newly minted Nunh get back up to his feet, "I'm surprised to see you not out of the compound so soon."
D'hein popped up to his feet. "Ah, don't be confused. D'edy Nunh's the one with the /real/ power in the Dodos now. I wouldn't want it. I just want enough to be able to give good gifts to good people every once in awhile.
The young Miqo'te said nothing. She was lost inspecting the fancy clothes and piling them up. "I should bring these to the room." she said, her tone edging on the joyful side.
Antimony's ears lifted slightly at the change in tone of K'airos's voice, turning to watch her daughter. "Would you like help, Airos..?"
"Yes! Grab those and.... wait..." her enthusiasm waned, her ears pointing to the side. But then she got out of it by looking at D'hein and almost ordering him: "Mom asked for some food. You should wait for the order here and tell us when its ready!"
Lamandu turns back to his drink, sipping from it, obviously on the outside of the close unit; interesting though it was.
D'hein adjusted his clothes. "You want me to be your delivery boy, then?" He said this with a smirk, as if the job were an honor.
Her expression lightning to the most minute degrees, Antimony looks between K'airos, D'hein, and Lamandu. The latter she offers an apologetic dip of her head.
She smiled at D'hein sideways, while she moved away back to the rooms. "Thank you!"
The Captain returned the brief nod that was given to him, "Keep well, the both of you!"
Antimony lingered just a moment but found herself drawn away as though by an invisible thread after K'airos's departure. Hoping she could trust the Tia with the food, and that the captain was not harboring any ill feelings over the events at the compound, she trailed after K'airos eagerly.
D'hein waved happily to K'airos and Antimony, "I'll be right along with your hot food!"
"Well. That food'll be along quick. Usually is," Lamandu commented, trying to make small talk.
D'hein looked down at Lamandu, and his smile sharpened at the edges of his mouth. "You know those girls that poked you up are still hanging around the commune. Dodos like to finish what they start. It's usually a good business practice. I think, in this case, however, it's frustrating them."
Lamandu gave his full attention over, "And why do you say that? They're lucky that they aren't facing trial alongside D'Themia."
"You're lucky you aren't facing trial alongside D'themia. I know what was in that paperwork you squirreled away." D'hein took a seat at the bar. "I know every word and number."
"And this is not the place for such talk," answered Lamandu with a lowered voice. "Let the situation settle back into dust. Thats best for everyone right now."
"You sound like you're afraid of someone overhearing." D'hein chuckled.
"There are always ears. And Blades and Dodo business are none of theirs." The smooth, heavy liquid of his drink slid down his throat with ease.
"Yes, it's interesting. There are some in this city, like D'themia, like the upper Syndicate, who do not need to worry about who overhears them. They do not have to pretend. The rest do need to pretend, and so do what they must to change the subject." The bartender brought over plates of hot food and appeared lost, but D'hein waved him over. The bartender just set the food down and left, not caring who the food went to anyway.
"A different world isn't it? When you're not made of money." He gestures to the steaming food. "You should take that up right quick, now. The ladies of the house might go hungry otherwise."
"Yes," D'hein smiled. "It is a different world, and I'm happy to become a part of it. You watch what you talk about in public, Lamandu. That's good, because you're small. But don't pretend to advise me concerning those things." He stood with the food in hand to walk back to Antimony's room. "Good evening, Lamandu."
Lamandu grunted in acknowledgement of D'hein's words, not liking how he was being talked down to. The not unfamiliar feeling of resentment rose up, burning in his belly; only to be squashed just as quickly as it rose.
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