Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aaren found what she had been rumaging for and pulled out a metal ring, slightly smaller than her wrist, and used it as a holder for the rolled up parchment. She then placed the parchment atop the drawers and looked over at the mage, whom she now knew was named Maliarc. An interesting name, but not as interesting as his origins. She had always heard of fascinating beings coming from the West, though ahd never met any of them herself, until now. Her mind raced, suddenly thinking of questions she could ask, but placed them away for another time, if there would ever be a time when she could ask Maliarc her questions.

But maybe it was not her place. She was still trying to understand why he came—what motivates this man to just want to protect? Was he sent by someone, or is he in need of money and figured if he could protect Aaren, he'd leave with a hefty pay?

'Of my caliber,' she said in her mind, and laughed in her mind, too. The only thing she couldn't hold back was the small grin the crept onto her lips as she walked back to her chair and sat down with a quiet sigh. Even if she had caliber, it felt useless in her condition. But maybe not... clearly not, if Maliarc, a stranger to all factions, claimed her to be....

"The party? Ah," Aaren said, looking down at her hands that rested on her lap. "I almost forgot about it.... But I'm confident that with my fellow faction leaders, I'll not be the only one with security at the celebration. Where there is more than one male ego, speaking of Commander Vossler Stone and Mister Chance Godfrey, there is an opportunity for incidences," she looked up at the mage and grinned once more, but this time with a friendlier spirit. "But I doubt that's why they're hoping to protect themselves against, and perhaps I am being quick to judge my male counterparts.

"Would you like to sit?" She said, gesturing towards a chair a few feet from her own. "I can tell you're a private man, Mister Maliarc, so I won't bother you with questions you may not want to answer. But I am curious—what kind of compensation would you desire, if I were to accept your services? That is to say, I am considering at this point. My faction deals heavily with healing and kinetic magicks, but I am sensing that you offer more offensive magic?"

Layla watched quietly as Aiden and Moa spoke. She had never thought much about Vossler in terms of whom he liked, and never thought to think of it. He was too much of a brother to him, and at times was a fatherly substitute. But perhaps more of a brother than anything else. So the conversation was strange to the girl's ears, but it also seemed to make her irritated. What did it matter to them? Why did they care? Vossler was just trying to be nice anyway. He was too busy to think of liking anyone, right?

"Aiden, Vossler said no teasing," Layla said with a huff while stepping in front of Moa. "I'll be back with Vossler's card," she then left the two and walked back down the hal towards Vossler. There was a slight turn to her lip, perhaps a frown (which Layla rarely frowned), but she did her best to hide it. She wasn't even totally sure why what Aiden and Moa said put her off so suddenly. The young girl decided, then, to just have fun and not think about it.

"All right, we're ready," she said to Vossler with a small grin. "Do you want us to get you anything?"

Maliarc, both suprised and pleased, proceeded to take the seat that Lady Aaren had offered him. Compensation? That was something that had not crossed his mind. He never did what he did for any monetary value. Were he offered money, he would not be one to decline, but he would never ask for it.

"My Lady, I will not require any compensation. I am doing what I'm offering simply to keep you safe." After saying that, Maliarc immediately regretted it. It sounded bad, like he had ulterior motives. However, he knew he did not, and if he had confidence, he believed it would carry over to Lady Aaren.

Offensive magic? He had never heard his magic referred to as this. He honestly had never thought of it as offensive magic....only magic. The words brought disgust in his mouth, simply because it sounded like he only harmed people with it. Though that was in its uses, Maliarc preferred to use it only for good. However, as he thought about it, he would have to harm people were it to come to it during the festivities.

"Yes, Lady Aaren, I can offer more......offensive magicks, though I prefer to only use them if it is needed. A defensive role is much more to my liking."

Look at him, arguing with nobility! Not only had he waltzed in on her offering protection suddenly, he was no arguing with her! Berating himself for not being the man his father had raised, he silently made note of all the things he would have to remember for the next time they encountered each other.

[ Maliarc beats himself up in his own head so badly. xD Poor guy. ]

The lady raised her brows softly, and a small grin formed on her mouth. A mage from the West with a noble cause and no need of money? It was rare to discover a stranger like Maliarc now of days when most intelligent creatures sought out wealth and control over others. He was rare indeed, though a little rough around the edges. Aaren wondered if he spoke to people often at all, and in her silence observed his features.

She noted how during his pauses, there was something about his face that made her wonder what he was thinking so much on. He seemed overly concerned about something, but what, Aaren saw no real concern. He was an honest man with good intentions, which for her outweighed his... socially awkward tendencies. If he was true to his promises, the lady would defend his character against those who may not understand.

"Yes. Yes, of course," she said with a couple of small nods. "And I would desire that your skills be used purely for defense. I suppose I am used to all other magicks being cast in a light of offense compared to the kind of magicks and principles we have here in Lucidus Magus, is all. We don't have much knowledge about the magical practices in the West, so I suppose I have little room to assume," Aaren paused for a moment to cross her legs and fold her hands around her knee, "but it is good to know that there are noble beings that come from your land."

In the middle of the table was a neatly stack of stationery, along with a pen and envelopes. Aaren studied the mage in silence, as though trying to come to a conclusion. She then looked away from Maliarc and reached for a piece of parchment and the pen with a gentle, fluid movement and quietly began to write something down.

After a moment, she said, "Since you don't ask for any compensation, you will be given food and living arrangements here at the Herus Manor," her right hand and wrist drew out cursive words over the parchment, "on the third floor, there are guest rooms. You will stay in one of those for as long as you deem necessary to offer your services, along with access to this private floor." Aaren folded the letter and then held it out to Maliarc. "Give this to one of the paladin out in the hall, and they'll show you to your room.... Unless, of course, you're already staying elsewhere?"

"I think it's a fair trade—your protection, and in turn I give you a meal and shelter for your hard work," Aaren said, "it's the least I could offer."

She kept watch of Maliarc as he stood. His instructions for summoning him were interesting; she had not heard of a magic like it, and suddenly found herself curious as to how it worked. How useful would that be for her other guards? Then again, she imagined it might cause a sense of disorientation, especially for those who weren't used to it. She'd have to trust that Maliarc was more practiced, and she would hold him to his promise that he would hear her call.

The lady carefully pushed herself up as the mage was ready to leave. After a small nod, she watched him leave. She did not regret taking on his services, but she also knew that once her council knew of Maliarc's presence, they would not be pleased with her choice. They didn't like Aaren's habit of trusting others so easily, but Aaren was someone who didn't assume badly of a person lest that person proved otherwise by their actions. Luckily for those who were actively betraying her, she was too stubborn at times to discern between honesty and cunning, the latter being a trait a good number of her councilmen tended to adopt.

[ The party will be starting soon. Yay. ]

( Not sure what I'm doing really. Lol. Trying to build up to something but I'm struggling with what exactly. Sucks I can't use the chat. sad )

After a great deal of chatting people up and getting to know them for the night to come, he finally emerged into the cool, dim alley from whence he had entered. A quick glance skyward affirmed what his watch had previously told him about the slowly approaching night. The streets were getting more traffic from a more varied crowd now; and to be honest he was relieved to see the random miscrient intermingled with the proper looking crowd.

Wiggle of his left wrist sent the hidden smokeable into his waiting hand, a bit of flare added for personal amusement via a quick spin of the white cylinder. Lighting of it with that signature silver lighter was likewise swift as he turned his head down the long alley yet unexplored and strangely filled with people. Long drag was taken as he examined the crowd with a curious look spread over his visage. As if solving a puzzle, left hand withdrew to idly scratch at his brow with a small amount of pacing marking the moment.

By the looks of the crowd gathered outside the quaint little establishment, it was no place for the gentile or upper class - perfect. A slow stroll down the alley and a few more intakes of the acrid smoke found him the answer to the riddle of what the place was. Beyond the crowd was a set of crudely built stairs that lead down to what looked like the basement of the structure - a pub. He drew no small amount of looks from the crowd outside, but he was pleasant enough as he walked slowly down the stairs and opened the door to the upbeat music and ruckus of the interior. Broad grin spread over his features as he bellowed over the crowd in that booming tone he often mustered up. "Drinks are on me!" Which was met by first silence and then cheers as those outdoors began pouring in - assuring their cooperation and attention for Chance.

"Girl, it's whatever your heart desires. I dig black too -it's kind of my thing, but you know, maybe your dress tonight isn't.... black? I feel like tonight's your big night. It sounds like your first party. It's too bad we have to rush though. Too much longer and then we'll be more than late. Layla, got the card?"

Now at the elevator, Aiden pursed her lips awaiting and fighting to make sure not even the corner of her eye caught hint of Vossler.