Thwarted Ambition

[Arusa]

Changers' wrath, these fools are just so ...

There weren't any more plausible excuses left, past admitting she didn't want to see Chezak, and from the way the little gnelf man was acting, he'd be thrilled by that idea. Gnomes were such foolish creatures. How any elf could be attracted to one, Arusa couldn't fathom. Perhaps she'd be lucky and the matter of her failure to do what she'd planned wouldn't be brought up in conversation. At least she might get the chance to change into something less mud-stained, if she even owned anything that was still clean.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt, though I assure you it's unnecessary," she replied, struggling to maintain a pleasant tone. "Her, uh, father isn't very fond of strangers, and he won't be pleased to know she was causing trouble. I'd really rather save you the effort."

[Amm]

"Why di'n'tcha leave 'er with him, then?" Fulbert asked, still walking backwards. Something wasn't right. And given the snooty elven woman's obvious discomfort, he really couldn't wait to find out what. Even Nic looked slightly entertained, and given he'd been attacked by a pint sized elf, that was something worth remarking on!

[Arusa]

"Because I'm the only one who cares about making a good impression. That man is ridiculous, allowing a child of her age to roll about naked in the mud, like a sow." Not that a filthy gnelf would understand. Why am I even wasting my breath? "We've traveled all the way from Guang Wan, avoiding civilization for reasons only the gods and Chezak could understand, and I just thought it would be nice to make ourselves presentable for once, now that we finally have the chance."

As Arusa's pent up frustration broke through her composure, tears welled up in her eyes. She was tired, cold, dirty, and sick of being treated like just another worthless nobody. The dancer glared at Amm as she went on, "I've been nothing but patient and encouraging throughout our entire journey; I deserve a break, and to be treated with some respect, and this is all I get?"

[Amm]

Fulbert and Nic exchanged a long look. It sounded right like some domestic dispute, and Fulbert was loathe to get between some man and his obviously highborn lady. Nic, however, looked to be softening like some wilting flower towards the elf woman. Fulbert shrugged, and rolled his eyes. What a bint to get so upset over nothing, and knowing women she'd like as not said nothin' to the poor sod who she was tied to. The man was probably confused and right madder'n a rattled hen.

But before Fulbert could do the verbal somewhat polite version of 'none of my business', Nic had to go and open his dumbass mouth.

"I know a place. It's a, well, it's a farmhouse, but the lady wife sometimes puts up travellers so long as they help with some chores or pay a few bishani."

[Arusa]

Arusa's frustrated expression instantly melted into delightful gratitude at the news of a place to stay. Her voice was coated in honey as she thanked the man, for both this tidbit and heroically stepping in earlier to assist her with Amm. She wasn't normally one to stoop to flattery for the sake of getting what she wanted, but these uncultured dregs wouldn't know her from a crow.

"Could you show me how to get there?" she grinned, unaware of the way it distorted her awkward facial features. "I'm happy to pay you for the trouble. You can let the girl go whenever you like; she won't make anymore trouble now that she doesn't have to worry about cleanliness. Some things just aren't worth fighting about, it seems."

As if to dismiss the issue, the dancer reached down, pulled a comb from her skirt pocket, and went about fixing her hair.

[Amm]

Fulbert's eyebrows tried to lift into his hairline as Nic's expression changed into something that almost could've been called aghast. This time it was Fulbert who caught his expression and his tongue first. He grinned, slowly, and said, "Ain't she yer kid?"

Amm had stopped struggling, going stone still as she watched and listened to the turn of the conversation. Her eyes were upon Arusa, hard as gemstones.

[Arusa]

The dancer pouted and paused mid-braid to look at the child. She had already called the girl her own throughout the time they'd been traveling, but Arusa knew she couldn't keep up the parenting act entirely.

"We're not related, if that's what you mean," she admitted, as her hands began to move methodically once more. "We've been kind enough to take the poor girl in, despite her... problems. Unfortunately, my partner lacks the virility to father a child of his own."

How she managed to keep a straight face during this last comment, Arusa had no idea, but she decided she liked this story much better than the other.

[Amm]

"Problems?" Nic's face was making the expression Fulbert was all too familiar with. He opened his mouth to tell his partner-in-crime where he could stick his interfering nonsense, but Nic was already speaking.

"If she got problems, she oughta come with us, don't y'think?"

Both Nic and Amm were staring hard at Arusa, while Fulbert had turned away with the expression of a man doomed to be executed.

[Arusa]

Arusa shrugged and offered a smile, with an expression that said 'suit yourself'. "If you want to hold onto her, you're welcome to. I'm just trying to make it easier on you," she replied, with the intent of ending all pointless conversation of the demon child. "Now, which way to this lodging you spoke of, if you don't mind? I will honestly die if I don't get a chance to change out of these rags. Speaking of which, is there much commerce in this small town? Somewhere where I might purchase a new outfit, or anything of the like?"

[Amm]

Fulbert was plum ready to ditch the bitch and the kid and get back to more important matters, like the things they was runnin' before they'd gone in to see the tavern all full of chaos, but Nic had spread his legs slightly and pushed back his shoulders like some sort of stubborn chit. Changers, here we go...

"Are y'sure this's yore child. . .ma'am?"

Fulbert knew that tone of voice. He knew it all too well. It was spelled 'trouble' and meant for things Fulbert wasn't likely to agree with but would be forced along with no different.

Amm had gone still, sensing a rippling line of tension in Nic's firm hold that hadn't been there. Not even when she had insulted him. Not even when she had tried her very completely best to injure him. It breathed of danger, and instinct was always the right thing. She waited, as all predators must when the hunt turns away from the proper course, and readied herself for anything.

[Arusa]

Arusa was growing impatient. Her brow creasing in a frown, she faced the two men directly and planted her hands firmly on her hips. She was beginning to sense that these men wanted something more from her, but she couldn't quite understand what the problem was. All she wanted to do was relax for once. "I already said she wasn't, didn't I? She was homeless before we met her."

The Tera girl has gone curiously still, Arusa noticed. Irritated, and visibly tense, the dancer crossed her arms across her chest. She silently cursed the girl for her sudden compliance when it mattered least of all. I've already come this far, but is all this trouble really worth it? What am I going to get out of this? But as these doubts crossed her mind, another thought struck her, and she gasped.

Her hand flew to her lips as she took a step back, her voice betraying her surprise. She turned to the gnelf as she spoke, "Are you kidnappers? Slave traders!? What are you doing to do with her?" She took another step back.

[Amm]

Fulbert was, quite suddenly, tired of women. "I ain't done nothin' wi'th'brat, lady!" He gestured at Nic, but the other man was speaking.

"See, I was wondrin' th'same thing about you," Nic said, his voice slow and going rumbling deep. "Obvious enough t'any man with eyes y'got no care for this little girl, an' I'm wondrin' if there weren't some deal you was plannin' up this-a-way an' now y'got reason t'rid yerself o' yer loot." He took a step forward, shifting Amm in his grip so he held her under one arm. Playing quiescent, she went limp in his grip while her bright eyes took in everything, judging and waiting. "I don't take kindly t'bad sorts on my turf."

[Arusa]

Arusa gasped loudly at the accusation, mouth gaping open and eyes wide. Bad sorts? Who was this fool calling "bad"? She clenched her fists as she stepped forward again. "How dare you! I've suffered months to care for Amm! If all I wanted was money, why on almighty Pal Tahrenor would I bother dragging her all the way out here? I'm a respectable entertainer, and most people know who I am -- it would do no good for me to associate with criminals of any kind."

She was furious now, gritting her teeth as a red hue gently spread across her cheeks. "Put the girl down! I'm taking her to Marn!"

[Amm]

"Naked?" Nic asked. He didn't budge an inch.

Amm placed her hands deliberately against the restraining arm that held her in place. Soon, yes, soon there would be reason and happening and she could show what happened to foolish stupid strangers and gawping guppies, too.

[Arusa]

Arusa threw her hands up in desperation. "Well it's hardly my fault the girl has no sense of common decency, is it! What do you expect me to do? Hogtie her so she won't remove her skirts as soon as they're on? Honestly!"

She was almost pacing as she complained. Her world had been turned upside down by this alien creature Amm, and now this brute thought to stand in her way as well? Why had she even bothered coming out here? If things had not gone so far by this point, Arusa knew she would have turned her back on the situation right then and there. She should, really! But no, she could not give up after trudging through the woods on foot for so long, and putting up with this. This little monster, the Tera girl, perhaps the most insolent little brat Arusa had come across in her life.

"At least I could take her to a city, find a decent bath, and make sure she stays clean for once in her life. Or do you mean to say that Marn is full of lecherous drunkards with a taste for young flesh? I wouldn't be surprised, really, out here in the middle of nowhere." At least they'd have places for me to dance, she admitted as she realized she was quite missing the art.

Amm had either given up the fight or was planning a getaway, and both ideas frustrated Arusa to no end. She seethed and glared and wondered whether Shim had any form of local authority she could call upon.