Chance is the only game I play with, baby

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura, Korrin Ataash, Anders, Fenris, Schrödinger's Teren
WHAT: The wooing of Capitán Gloriana Valdez by the Inquisition
WHEN: While everyone's adrift
WHERE: Llomerryn
NOTES: ooc post + full plot details

Gathering everyone together is the first bit of the easiest step of the plan. Settling them all at a table marginally more difficult considering who the company are (a Warden, two mages, a warrior, a rogue, not everyone best suited to liking one another but needs must) with less friendly, more curious eyes than Kirkwall on them as Araceli makes sure to keep herself between Korrin and Anders at the table when she comes back with drinks.

"Each captain is master - or aims to be - of their own destiny and of their ship but like everything it's about who you influence; is it your ship, is it a few ships, a small fleet, or is your word law?" Araceli leans close over her rum (watered, insultingly watered because she's a stranger and she hasn't earned the rights to the good stuff no matter how like them she looks without the hand or what she knows of a ship) with a smile as if she's telling a great story. That's what friends do in taverns. The people at the next table go back to their cards and Llomerryn Red. "I know the woman: Capitán Gloriana Valdez. A woman of reputation, three ships to her name, ties to the Felicissima Armada.

"Now," she pauses to take a drink, "what I'm proposing is that we go to her local - the Maker's Mark, what a name for a tavern, here of all places, "we need to woo her. So drink up, if you don't know the way we can all go, we look suitably roguish or fearsome or interesting to get in the door, some of us have faces befitting of reputation, no?" As plans go, it's a nice simple plan. Locate captain, woo captain, rewards. But she expects questions because you know, fearsome pirate captain, how does one woo a pirate captain, has anyone else heard tale of this dreaded woman and so on but it's a start at least.

(If anyone says what can go wrong she might try to sell you for kraken bait.)

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

It's an interesting group. He's amused by its makeup and trusts Araceli to be in control of it, which means he's mostly relaxed as he carefully sips his heavily watered down drink. The water he's thankful for; he can't outdrink most average people on the street.

"While I've wooed a pirate captain before, that day is effectively behind me." Anders smiles; he knows what she means and he's in a good enough mood to tease. "I'd like to go with the group. My reputation could be enough to get me in the door, but appearing to have backup is always the safest way to go when entering into someone else's territory."

It would help them not be underestimated and could bring respect. Possibly. Everything depends on what this particular captain is like.

[lyriumcarved]

At least he's had quite a bit to drink. Not enough to make him drunk, of course, since he wants to keep his wits about him... but just enough so he can tolerate Anders being involved. He hadn't counted on that when he'd come along to hear what Araceli really wanted, but, well... sometimes you can't choose. He'll deal.

He gives Korrin a friendly nod, then considers what has to be done. Is it wooing in the traditional sense? Or might there be other ways to handle that?

"I'm sure I could manage something. Even if it's simply getting her to sit down for a round or so of cards." Gambling is always a pretty good option when it comes to pirates, after all, and he's shown Araceli his skills with that. As for reputation... there's no problem there.

skipping teren for now with cami's permission!

[foxsays]

Well she's absolutely assembled the right team for this it seems and she downs her own drink, eager enough to be off and get things going though they might as well clear up as much as they can on the go.

"If someone can try to keep an eye on someone else while we're there? We're the strangers here and this is very much her place, leaving someone alone with her isn't a great idea. If you're playing cards? At least one of us can be dealt in. If you're drinking, we can all join in for a round or two?" She offers the suggestion out as she rises to her feet, nodding to the door before she smiles at Anders. "Don't worry, your husband doesn't need to come after a pirate, I wouldn't ask someone to do anything like that."

Flirting? Yes, that's usually part of the job but that can be passed off if it ever gets uncomfortable after all. "I think we need to actually see her, sit at the table - see what sort of lady it is before we start with the wooing, no?" At least it's not the longest walk to the Maker's Mark, just long enough for anyone who might've heard anything else to pass on more information otherwise they won't have trouble getting in and spotting the captain.

She's holding court after all, just get through the crowd and be ready to start making introductions.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods thoughtfully after she takes a swig. Her kadan has a fair point, or several. "Some surveillance can't hurt, to be sure. We can alter our approach as need be, with what we find out from that. And I completely agree, this isn't the place to wander off alone. That's a great way to cut down on our numbers, so let's not. Keep the crystals handy, and keep alert even if you have a partner. Can't be too careful, there."

[justice_is_blond]

He resists a stupid urge and nods along, slightly proud of himself for not teasing. Maybe it would be harmless, but there's a chance telling Korrin he's flattered she doesn't want their numbers cut down could backfire so he won't. Araceli deserves better than sidetracks like that.

The walk is nice and easy, and getting in to the tavern itself is also easy. He likes easy. He also likes the look of a card game right near the captain they're trying to get to, mostly because it has low stakes and he has a habit of losing. Anders jerks his head toward it, glancing at Fenris.

"We could play a hand there, catch her eye and be invited to join her game? Or you can do the latter. I'd like to walk away with pants to my name." He pulls out a handful of coppers, the apparent ante to join, and grabs one of the empty chairs, in clear sight and hearing of the pirate captain... who he winks at.

[lyriumcarved]

This pirate captain is enough of an unknown that it's all a pretty sound idea. They don't have any sort of advantage here that they would in more Inquisition-heavy territory, so they have to play it safe. Fenris is willing to go along with this idea, keeping an eye on the others... especially those who might be attempting to out-drink her, considering how that could end up. Though he trusts Korrin to have some sort of trick up her sleeve for that.

There are a few looks as they enter the tavern, but nothing that indicates any suspicion. If anyone recognizes any of them, they seem fine with keeping it to themselves. All the better.

"And I'd prefer they stay put as well," Fenris remarks dryly to Anders, because there are some sights that he's just not eager to ever see, involving him. Pants are never optional. "That looks like it could work, though. I'm willing to start testing my luck." He's just glad he got back into the practice of playing again lately... Inquisition members seem always willing for a game, after all, and it's even been... fun, in some way, teaching the rifters the games that the others had once taught him. For now, he heads over, settling in and setting down the coin to join in the round. Ah, good, looks like they're playing Diamondback... an old favorite. He examines his hand expressionlessly, upping the bet when the time comes to do so.

[foxsays]

Capitán Gloriana Valdez is an easy woman to spot. New arrivals into the Maker's Mark mean that someone informs her of them; a low whisper that travels about the room then drifts away as quickly as it came. Pirate taverns where business and pleasure sit at the same table quite comfortably since that's the only way to live after all, and her eyes settle upon them to weigh, to measure.

What an odd-looking company. A wave of her hand and people shift about her as the rest settle, one or two coming to join the card game to observe, to jostle, one ribbing the man next to Fenris for having so many aces up his sleeve you hear them blowing in the wind. Another isn't too far from Anders, seemingly determined to get everyone to laugh with the worst jokes anyone has ever heard all pointedly about the people present. Many of them are about belaying pins. And why is he waggling his eyebrows when he says spin a capstan while maintaining direct eye contact if you even glance in his direction.

No one is laughing. Well he's laughing? Honestly how no one has thrown him out is a wonder. Araceli mutters something about dad jokes under her breath but endeavours to try to ignore it as she keeps an eye out since someone should act like a lookout as a dwarven woman strides over to Korrin, sizing her up. She has to just about shout over the din but it's something about how it's been a while since they've had one of the grey folk in here to put up a challenge and if she's thirsty.

[gatheringstorm]

An odd-looking company, indeed, and Korrin's glad that it seems to work to their advantage. They wanted to be noticed and that has indeed been accomplished, with relatively little effort...so far. The real challenge is likely to come, and with that in mind though the Vashoth woman is sure to smile and nod and look social, she's never truly off her guard.

Diamondback looks entertaining, of course, but with Anders and Fenris having that covered, Korrin has little reason to join in herself. That holds doubly true when the dwarven woman makes her way over and, understanding the gist of what's said, she grins. Her own voice doesn't need much effort to carry, even given the ambient noise all about. "Hell yeah, I'm in. Bring on the good stuff, and let's do this."

Teren is both alive and dead, you heard it here first

[doneisdone]

Teren hadn't told them she was meeting them here, either because she's Teren and doesn't care, or because none of them knew. Either way, she looks not at all surprised to see them from her corner of the room, which seems to manifest a dark shadowy quality just by virtue of her being there. She doesn't find the shady corners: they follow her.
She's watching the company of pirates while sipping a glass of wine, an innocuously unattractive and unfriendly middle-aged woman in a tavern of similar faces. If things go south, she'll arrive out of nowhere with knives through throats. In the meantime, wine.

Schrodinger's Teren

[justice_is_blond]

He's losing. Horribly. It's no surprise to him, and it's likely no surprise to Fenris either. Anders just doesn't have a good game face and he lacks luck. Within just a couple of hands he's out of what he'd been fine with losing and he stands, shaking his head and making room for someone else to sit down.

Casually he winds up near Fenris, keeping in mind the partner comment from earlier. They're watching each others' backs here and the mission is far more important than history.

"Do you know what a pirate's favorite letter is?" he asks the listeners at large, a small smile on his face.

"...R?" asks one after a beat. "We've heard that before. We're not really running around saying arrrr all the time."

"The C, actually," Anders replies, glancing over to see if Araceli will comment about bad jokes again. Or was it dad jokes? He's pretty sure she said bad, and he enjoys his bad jokes.

[foxsays]

ooc; drinking contest is continued here
cards and puns is continued here
thief stoppage is here