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

[doneisdone]

They made a mistake grabbing for her wrist. Not that they didn't successfully do so, which they did, but grabbing Teren is always a risk, and she doesn't take well to it. Twisting her arm out of their grip, she uses the other one to shove it against their neck, hoping to pin them against the nearby wall with her forearm. The free hand has the knife at the ready, preparing to puncture the thief's belly if they should get sassier.

"Clear out of here," she hisses, "you've got one more chance."

[foxsays]

The shoving causes a commotion that brings that sends Araceli up the stairs as the thief starts to snap at Teren. But before they can get a word in they freeze, not just from Teren's hold of them but because of who they lock eyes with, the manic glint enough to have the captain striding over. Bodies part even though she's smiling as her hand comes to rest on the shoulder of the thief.

"I would listen to her, she looks a woman who could gut you well enough that you'd be able to clean up your mess before you were ready for the Maker's side if he'd have you," she says low enough for Teren and the thief to hear, the smile sliding off her face into a snarl as she speaks. "Why don't I have some friends escort you…"

Inclining her head, a stocky elven woman and a taller man push through the onlookers to take hold of the thief who struggles in their grasp but they're strong enough to lift them off the floor, legs kicking but accomplishing nothing.

She sighs, shaking her head. "The audacity, in this tavern of all places-- I thank you, for the intervention."

[doneisdone]

Teren steps back easily, allowing the captain to take over. Pensive, she watches the thief being dragged away, the gratitude seeming to flow right past her as she turns to address the captain. "What will become of them?"

[foxsays]

"A time in the coldest, wettest, darkest brig has a way of dredging the contrition up from the depths." Not that she, personally, would own a ship with a brig in such a condition but Gloriana Valdez can always find one, borrow it with a careful smile. "Planning to bargain for their life? I thought you were ready to paint the floor for me with them from the look you gave."

[doneisdone]

Teren's wince is almost imperceptible, the tiniest twitch of an eyebrow, her face otherwise unmoved. "No matter," she brusquely replies, looking unsmiling back at Gloriana, "I'll be off now, if you've no further need of me." She's not going to go after the thief, likely instead planning to find another dingy tavern and brood in it, this time without ulterior motives.