Lovely 003d

Pharolvir, 9:14 PM Pharolvir will go to Ulisse's room.

Zubaidah, 9:15 PM Easily done. Knock, or try to just walk in?

Pharolvir, 9:15 PM Pharolvir will knock

Pharolvir, 9:16 PM "Ulisse?  ...are you in?"

Zubaidah, 9:17 PM He opens the door. "They're not here yet, but if you want to come in, feel free."

Pharolvir, 9:17 PM "Sorry.  I guess my appointment with Shihan wasn't quite as long as I expected."

Zubaidah, 9:18 PM Ulisse: Possibly not. I hope he was helpful?

Pharolvir, 9:18 PM "Hard to say.  I think that'll be up to Chance."

Pharolvir, 9:18 PM "...do you just...stay in here all day?"

Zubaidah, 9:19 PM Ulisse: Only when I'm waiting for a coterie of tailors and dressmakers.

Pharolvir, 9:19 PM "Right.  Thank you very much for arranging this.  It was a lot more than I was expecting."

Pharolvir, 9:20 PM "May I ask, do you know much about jewelry?"

Zubaidah, 9:20 PM Ulisse: Not a great deal. I've bought it before, but never worn it. I suppose I cheat a bit with the cufflinks.

Pharolvir, 9:21 PM Pharolvir will look at the cufflinks.

Zubaidah, 9:22 PM They're enameled silver, with a red cup and a black dagger with a drop of blood on it.

Zubaidah, 9:22 PM Ulisse: Why do you ask?

Pharolvir, 9:23 PM ((The same symbol as on the rings?))

Zubaidah, 9:23 PM ((Yep.))

Pharolvir, 9:23 PM "...do you know of any assassins in your family?"

Zubaidah, 9:24 PM Ulisse gives him a very odd look. "This was not where I thought this conversation was going. Yes, why?"

Pharolvir, 9:25 PM "I'm not looking to assassinate anyone!  Sorry, probably should've made that clear!"

Zubaidah, 9:25 PM Ulisse: I didn't think you were.

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM "Chance, Ann and I were hired to handle the lake in the back.  After we first approached it, we were payed with a bag of ten platinum.  And these."

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM Pharolvir holds up one of the rings.

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM "Recognize that insignia?"

Zubaidah, 9:26 PM Ulisse: My family's crest, of course.

Pharolvir, 9:27 PM "Moments later, you arrive."

Pharolvir, 9:27 PM "Many of the brothers don't seem to know this man, but you, I'm told, take an interest in helping those close to you."

Zubaidah, 9:28 PM Ulisse: Most people do.

Pharolvir, 9:29 PM "Not outside of family.  Not where I'm from."

Pharolvir, 9:29 PM "But you can see the connections."

Zubaidah, 9:30 PM Ulisse: Yes.

Pharolvir, 9:30 PM "...you still claim you don't know a Vittorio?"

Zubaidah, 9:31 PM Ulisse: I don't.

Pharolvir, 9:31 PM "Elven man with long dark hair?"

Zubaidah, 9:32 PM Ulisse: I have a very large family.

Pharolvir, 9:32 PM "...how big a family?"

Zubaidah, 9:33 PM Ulisse: I could draw you a chart if you like, but we'd have to adjourn to another room, the wall might not be large enough here.

Zubaidah, 9:33 PM Ulisse: And very nearly all of us attend the Academy.

Pharolvir, 9:33 PM "...I see...well, that puts me exactly nowhere."

Pharolvir, 9:34 PM "Everyone in your family this mysterious?"

Zubaidah, 9:35 PM He smiles. "Ah, but I am an open book. My life is very well-detailed by every tabloid from here to the border."

Pharolvir, 9:36 PM "That's because, from the sounds of it, you're a party boy with low standards."

Pharolvir, 9:36 PM "Which is the polite way of putting it.  My mother would say some decidedly less kind things."

Pharolvir, 9:37 PM Pharolvir smiles.

Pharolvir, 9:37 PM "When'd you pick up Spider Chase?"

Zubaidah, 9:38 PM Ulisse: I have been accused of not having standards before. Usually by my family.

Zubaidah, 9:38 PM Ulisse: Oh, at school, of course.

Pharolvir, 9:38 PM "...really?"

Zubaidah, 9:39 PM Ulisse folds his arms. "Is it hard to believe that I went to school, or that I learned a Drow game there?"

Pharolvir, 9:40 PM "The former would've shocked me yesterday, but I'm learning that men here are valued differently than back home.  But I am surprised that people up here could learn it well enough for it to be taught in schools.  It's not a simple game."

Zubaidah, 9:41 PM Ulisse: Not in ordinary schools, no.

Pharolvir, 9:41 PM "But this assassin academy is a very special school."

Pharolvir, 9:42 PM "...are you good?"

Zubaidah, 9:42 PM There's a long pause.

Zubaidah, 9:43 PM Ulisse: … at assassination, Spider Chase, or...?

Pharolvir, 9:43 PM "Spider Chase!  Sorry, Spider Chase."

Pharolvir, 9:44 PM "I played Lola and she's quite good, but I can get better by having more partners."

Zubaidah, 9:45 PM Ulisse: Would you like a game?

Pharolvir, 9:45 PM "If we have time and a board."

Pharolvir, 9:46 PM "...Shihan said you knew the family for some time.  Were you there when they started this place?"

Zubaidah, 9:47 PM Ulisse nods, and drags an old wooden Spider Chase set out of his pocket. It's clearly a portable hole or similar spell.

Zubaidah, 9:47 PM Ulisse: They just opened this week, I think. Ylyndar's been talking about it for quite some time, though.

Pharolvir, 9:48 PM "Are you staying here for Ylyndar?"

Pharolvir, 9:48 PM "...also, your pockets are amazing.  Can I get a coat with those?  Or something?  I've never had pockets."

Zubaidah, 9:49 PM Ulisse: … I don't know why I'm staying here. And of course you can. They don't have pockets in the Underdark?

Pharolvir, 9:50 PM "It is assumed men wouldn't want or need pockets.  We have bags we can carry things in, which is convenient for large carries, but bad for organization, and means I can't always have what I need on me."

Pharolvir, 9:51 PM "Also, pockets would create lumps in our clothing and ruin the shape, which doesn't look as nice or sexy, I am told."

Pharolvir, 9:52 PM "Do you prefer predator or prey?"

Zubaidah, 9:53 PM Ulisse smiles. "You choose."

Pharolvir, 9:53 PM "...I think I'll take predator.  I don't get to choose often, I should take advantage while I can."

Zubaidah, 9:54 PM Ulisse: Why not?

Pharolvir, 9:55 PM "The people who I had to play with back home were my sisters or suitors.  In either case, it's just more polite to let them choose."

Zubaidah, 9:55 PM Ulisse: Are you polite to everyone?

Zubaidah, 9:56 PM He sets up the board.

Pharolvir, 9:56 PM "I attempt to be.  I am told I'm not very good at it."

Pharolvir, 9:57 PM "You're from a wealthy family.  I am sure there's still an expectation that you should behave yourself."

Zubaidah, 9:57 PM Ulisse: In that regard I have always been a thorough disappointment.

Zubaidah, 9:57 PM ((Three straight int checks!))

Zubaidah, 9:58 PM ((Wait.))

Zubaidah, 9:59 PM ((Not quite yet.))

Zubaidah, 9:59 PM Ulisse: Name your stakes.

Pharolvir, 9:59 PM "My what?"

Zubaidah, 9:59 PM Ulisse: The stakes. What would you like if you win?

Pharolvir, 10:00 PM "...I don't really know.  What do you usually bet?"

Zubaidah, 10:01 PM Ulisse: Me? Usually people want to play for money, which is never very interesting.

Pharolvir, 10:01 PM "I don't think that'd mean much to me either, no."

Pharolvir, 10:01 PM "You're already providing a wardrobe and I believe you've told me all you know about this mysterious Vittorio."

Pharolvir, 10:01 PM "I haven't thought much past that."

Zubaidah, 10:02 PM Ulisse: There must be something you wish for.

Pharolvir, 10:03 PM ((Can I roll insight to see if he's a fae or devil?))

Zubaidah, 10:03 PM ((Sure!))

Pharolvir, 10:03 PM ((10))

Zubaidah, 10:03 PM ((You're not sure!))

Zubaidah, 10:04 PM ((But he seems elvish. No obvious tells.))

Pharolvir, 10:04 PM "...what do you get out of all this?"

Zubaidah, 10:05 PM Ulisse: If I lose? Nothing, of course, but the pleasure of your company. If I win... what would you suggest I ask for?

Pharolvir, 10:06 PM "Not from this bet.  From all the giving away.  Shihan told me you give everything you have to anyone who crosses your path, why?"

Zubaidah, 10:07 PM Ulisse: Shihan talks too much.

Zubaidah, 10:09 PM Ulisse: … we're nothing but vampires, my family and I. Parasites. All we ever do is take and take. Why shouldn't I give it away? I shouldn't have had it in the first place.

Pharolvir, 10:10 PM "...I think I see."

Pharolvir, 10:11 PM "...how about this for stakes?  Winner gets three free favors from the loser, to be cashed in at any time."

Pharolvir, 10:11 PM "That way, we don't have to worry about it now."

Zubaidah, 10:11 PM Ulisse: That is potentially a very dangerous agreement. I like it, done.

Pharolvir, 10:12 PM Pharolvir shakes on it.

Pharolvir, 10:13 PM "...one stipulation, nothing beyond reason.  Favor's can't be like "have sex with me" or "I want you to cut out your eyes" or something like that."

Zubaidah, 10:13 PM Ulisse: Why would I cut someone's eyes out?

Pharolvir, 10:14 PM "Someone might need your eyes for something."

Pharolvir, 10:14 PM "Or they just want to hold power over you."

Zubaidah, 10:15 PM Ulisse: I don't even have power over myself.

Pharolvir, 10:15 PM "That's when most people want to find power over others."

Pharolvir, 10:16 PM "I've never met someone who's handled it like you have."

Zubaidah, 10:17 PM Ulisse: Mmm. You do know what I am, don't you?

Pharolvir, 10:18 PM "...are we playing Spider Chase or not?"

Zubaidah, 10:18 PM Ulisse: Of course, of course.

Zubaidah, 10:18 PM ((Okay, NOW 3 Int rolls.))

Pharolvir, 10:18 PM ((Can I use my previous rolls or do I need to roll again?))

Zubaidah, 10:18 PM ((Either is fine.))

Pharolvir, 10:18 PM ((6, 21, 22))

Pharolvir, 10:21 PM ((A bad start, but I hope the next two numbers let me pull it out.))

Zubaidah, 10:21 PM He's pretty quiet while you play.

Zubaidah, 10:25 PM He makes a pretty strong start, and Pharol loses a few pieces to the mindflayer rather quickly. But thanks to a rather aggressive playstyle, Pharol pulls ahead in the middle of the game and overtakes him, only to be maneuvered into a fiendishly clever trap at the very last second, as Pharol's last spider is killed by, of all things, a lowly darkmantle.

Pharolvir, 10:26 PM ((He beat a 22?!? ...shit.))

Zubaidah, 10:26 PM ((Yep!))

Zubaidah, 10:27 PM It was very slick and required quite a bit of subtlety and planning.

Pharolvir, 10:28 PM "...............ok....well...that's a new move to me."

Pharolvir, 10:28 PM "And nobody usually brings their mindflayer out that early.  That should've been suicide."

Zubaidah, 10:29 PM Ulisse: Sometimes aggression in the early stages of the game pays dividends later.

Pharolvir, 10:29 PM "So I see...shame, I was hoping to cash in those favors."

Zubaidah, 10:29 PM Ulisse: What would you have asked for, do you think?

Pharolvir, 10:30 PM "Honesty."

Zubaidah, 10:30 PM Ulisse leans back in his chair and watches Pharolvir's face. "Ask away."

Pharolvir, 10:31 PM "........this may sound stupid, but are you really an elf?"

Zubaidah, 10:31 PM Roll Insight.

Pharolvir, 10:32 PM ((Holy shit, natural 20!))

Zubaidah, 10:33 PM He's shocked and dismayed by the question, and trying very hard to cover it up. And if you hadn't spent the last bit of time playing Spider Chase, he probably would have, too.

Zubaidah, 10:34 PM Ulisse: I'm as much an elf as anything else. Why, does it matter?

Pharolvir, 10:34 PM "Cause I know owe you three favors and I wanna know how bad I just messed up.  ...if it helps, I won't say anything to anyone about it."

Zubaidah, 10:35 PM Ulisse: I would strongly encourage you not to do so. My family would not react well and … I'm not sure I could stop them in time.

Pharolvir, 10:36 PM ((Holy fuck, he is a fae!))

Pharolvir, 10:37 PM "...I've read some books on fae, is this...a that type of situation?"

Zubaidah, 10:37 PM Ulisse: I haven't, what type of situation?

Pharolvir, 10:39 PM "...sorry, I've never been super good at the whole double-talk, speaking in code thing, so I'm just gonna be straight.  When you do favors to people do they get like...bound to you, or lose a bit of soul or have some sort of debt to be repaid?"

Zubaidah, 10:39 PM Roll insight again.

Pharolvir, 10:39 PM ((2!))

Pharolvir, 10:39 PM ((Pharol said he's never been good with this.))

Zubaidah, 10:40 PM Ulisse: What?! Gods no, why would I want that?

Zubaidah, 10:41 PM He's not really even trying to hide the shock this time.

Pharolvir, 10:42 PM "Sorry.  I'm starting to feel like I might be way off base here."

Pharolvir, 10:44 PM "...I'm prying too far, I apologize.  You say it doesn't matter, so it doesn't matter."

Zubaidah, 10:44 PM Ulisse: I'm a bastard, of course it matters. But I'm not... that kind of monster. Gods, why would you sit here and play games with me if you thought that ?

Pharolvir, 10:45 PM ".............I dunno.  ...honestly I didn't think that far ahead."

Pharolvir, 10:46 PM "...I'm very sorry.  Thank you very much for the game."

Pharolvir, 10:48 PM "...well, when you want those favors, just let me know.  If you want me to leave, I will do that too."

Zubaidah, 10:48 PM Ulisse: Don't. You don't have to do that.

Pharolvir, 10:49 PM "...so...you're only half elf, then.  ...do you know what the other half is?"

Zubaidah, 10:50 PM Ulisse: Of course. Does it matter to you?

Pharolvir, 10:50 PM "That depends.  ...is it fae?"

Zubaidah, 10:51 PM Ulisse: Nothing like so harmless. Why?

Pharolvir, 10:51 PM "Cause if it's like...human, that's boring.  I was hoping it's something exciting."

Zubaidah, 10:52 PM Ulisse: …

Pharolvir, 10:53 PM "Is it demon?  Are you part demon?"

Zubaidah, 10:53 PM Ulisse: … I suppose it doesn't matter at this point. Yes.

Zubaidah, 10:53 PM Ulisse: Half.

Pharolvir, 10:53 PM "I knew it!"

Pharolvir, 10:54 PM "That's so cool.  Are you magic?  Can you transform?  Do you have horns or something under your hair?  Is that what the angel costume was about?"

Zubaidah, 10:55 PM Ulisse: … I feel like you should assess your priorities and consider living a less risky lifestyle, and please do consider who is telling you this right now.

Zubaidah, 10:55 PM Ulisse: Yes, yes, not at the moment and yes, I thought it funny.

Pharolvir, 10:56 PM "........this is what the fight with Ylyndar was about, wasn't it?  Or...at least...it has something to do with it."

Zubaidah, 10:58 PM Ulisse: No, it wasn't. He doesn't know. And I doubt he'd care if he did, he has an incubus brother.

Pharolvir, 10:58 PM "ONE OF THE BROTHERS IS AN INCUBUS?!?"

Zubaidah, 10:59 PM Ulisse tilts his head on one side. "... you didn't notice the horns and the tail? Wings? Fangs?"

Pharolvir, 10:59 PM "...wait...VARGAS IS AN INCUBUS?!?"

Pharolvir, 10:59 PM )

Zubaidah, 10:59 PM Ulisse uses two fingers to rub his forehead.

Zubaidah, 11:00 PM Ulisse: Not Vargas. Taggett, the musician.

Pharolvir, 11:00 PM "Ohhhhhhh...I haven't met him yet."

Zubaidah, 11:00 PM Ulisse: Ah. I was curious as to what else you thought he could possibly be.

Pharolvir, 11:02 PM "...aw man.  Do you know how many romance books I've read about a curious young man who owe a debt to a powerful demon lady?  And now it happens, and you're a boy.  That's hilarious."

Pharolvir, 11:03 PM "...admittedly, a boy who gives off a strong female energy, but still."

Zubaidah, 11:03 PM Ulisse: I don't want you to be in my debt, why would that be good?

Pharolvir, 11:06 PM "It's a sort of smokescreen.  At least, in the books.  The main character gets to do all the...fun stuff the reader wants to do but now we don't have to feel ashamed, cause circumstances meant they didn't have a choice.  It's like you get to have the boy do all the...stuff but you have an out.  Then you don't have to feel bad about liking the idea of it."

Pharolvir, 11:07 PM "...not that I read that stuff anymore.  It's all trashy stuff for teens."

Zubaidah, 11:07 PM Ulisse: … that's one of the saddest things I've ever heard and I went to an assassin school.

Pharolvir, 11:08 PM "Of course you don't understand.  You fuck everyone and don't have to worry who cares.  If I did that, I'd...well, it wouldn't've been good."

Zubaidah, 11:10 PM Ulisse: … maybe you're not doing it right.

Zubaidah, 11:11 PM Judging by the raised eyebrow and the crossed arms, that's probably a joke.

Pharolvir, 11:13 PM Pharolvir snrks. "Yeah, maybe.  Well, good game.  When you want to claim a favor let me know, and I promise not to tell anyone."

Zubaidah, 11:13 PM Ulisse: Yes, can we go back to that very important point?

Zubaidah, 11:15 PM Ulisse: If anyone finds out you know, my family will kill you, and there are a lot of them and only one of me. I can probably manage Andrea and my father, but my sister enjoys exotic poisons and my... Elusine would wear me down.

Pharolvir, 11:16 PM "I already said I'll keep it a secret."

Pharolvir, 11:18 PM "But good to know your sister studies poisons."

Zubaidah, 11:19 PM Ulisse: I don't want you to be killed over something I did. Or didn't do. Or just... wasn't.

Pharolvir, 11:20 PM "I can defend myself.  I'm not just some...childish, defenseless dudesel."

Zubaidah, 11:21 PM Ulisse: I never thought you were.

Pharolvir, 11:22 PM "Good."

Zubaidah, 11:22 PM There's a knock at the door.

Pharolvir, 11:23 PM "I'm assuming those are the tailors and such."

Zubaidah, 11:23 PM Ulisse: … probably.

Zubaidah, 11:24 PM He calls for them to come in!

Zubaidah, 11:24 PM And it is.

Zubaidah, 11:25 PM There are a lot of people in the room all of a sudden, carrying dressmaker's dummies, clothes, accessories, and a ton of paraphernalia, and it turns out it's actually only 3 different stores, but they all seem to have brought everything they had. They explain that all of it is made to his approximate measurements and will fit, but if it doesn't it can be improved later.

Pharolvir, 11:26 PM "...how did you get my approximate sizes so closely?"

Zubaidah, 11:26 PM Ulisse: I looked.

Pharolvir, 11:27 PM "I don't think the red's a good look for me.  Makes my skin tone seem harsher and brings out my eyes in a...not good way, I think."

Zubaidah, 11:28 PM Ulisse mostly just observes.

Zubaidah, 11:29 PM Ulisse: I can't say that I agree, but they are your clothes.

Pharolvir, 11:30 PM Pharolvir will pick out some things he likes, occasionally looking at Ulisse for approval or guidance. He is drawn to mostly the flowier stuff with pockets and layers (cause warmth), but does take some interest in shirts that might show off his chest a bit.

Pharolvir, 11:30 PM "...I am curious, why don't men wear skirts up here?  I noticed it before, only women do.  Does that not seem...kinda weird?"

Zubaidah, 11:31 PM Ulisse: Some of them wear kilts.

Pharolvir, 11:31 PM "LIke...from a biological perspective?"

Zubaidah, 11:31 PM Ulisse: And almost everyone wears pants here in the winter.

Pharolvir, 11:32 PM "Hmmm, I suppose I can see that.  It's very cold up here."

Pharolvir, 11:32 PM "...why do all the pants have these openings at the front?  When would...wait...wait...do...do you...standing up?"