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"Already has a cherished partner? Oh, Aqio, you really are too innocent, aren't you? Having a partner means very little to a lot of people in this world, you should know that. It's all about give and take, as well as a sense of power, nothing more.There are of course fools that will try to convince you it's about 'love' but that's just a poison that can't be trusted." He said it simply, giving a half shrug as though things were just the normal way of things. No reason to get emotionable about what had come to be normal in his mind after all. As for the man being in a 'father role' that meant nothing as well in the long run, not if interests were to shift from protection of Aqio to something else. A thought that Shesha brushed aside, it wasn't worth his time to think about since it didn't effect Shesha in any manner.

Still, it was interesting to see someone like this within Oba, someone so simple and sentimental. Not that he felt it was a good thing for Aqio. It just meant that his rider having a 'cherished partner' had merely blinded him to what things were really like was all. One would think after spending time with the 'Beast Lord' that he would know better. More the fool that it made Aqio, but he supposed that even that didn't really make Shesha hate the boy. If anything it just made Shesha want to pat the boy on the head as though he were a pet that had just performed some sort of trick for Shesha's amusement.

"Hm? My standing? That's simple, as well as something that proves my earlier point entirely. I am someone that serves my Lady Alhana, someone she uses to piss of her husband. He flaunts his mistresses in her face without regard to her feelings, she fights back by spending her time and their money on me, and they stay married despite rather despising one another because it's convenient. They fake it in public, of course, one needs to keep up appearances. It's why I am shopping today, because they are playing nice during a nice brunch with friends." Shesha gave a bit of a smile as he said, "Before you think to feel sorry for anyone, don't, it's just the way of things... and I benefit from it all in many ways."

Shesha glanced toward Aqio, then nodded, "There are a lot of people out there that are lured in by the rose tinted world that story books talk about." A lot of people talked about 'love' and their 'happily ever afters' but it was only the people who start out ahead of the game that could think in such a manner. Those who weren't born of the upper crust needed to toss aside childish ideals to attain what they want, something that Shesha learned and was only happy to sacrifice. He was happy with the road that he was on and wasn't about to let such weak, temporary emotions guide him.

"You have a sibling?" He murmured, for a split second thinking of his own, before he shoved such a thought aside. He had no interest in 'those people' anymore, they weren't the sort he wanted to associate himself with, nor did he want to waste even a moment thinking about them. There was a part of him that was a bit curious about whether or not the Beast Lord had gotten his hands on Aqio's brother but decided it wasn't any of his business. Not as though knowing such a thing would help him out in any way after all. Information that helped him get ahead in the world was what he cared about, not backstories of random people. Now information about the Beast Lord himself, that could be interesting... but he doubted that the little fish wanted to talk in depth about his former master, especially given it was possible that the man following them.

Shesha gave Aqio a glance, watching him as he stammered, before turning to glance at the pair before him. Ahhh, so this was Aqio's rider, as well as the 'cherished someone' that belonged to said rider. Interesting, he could see how the one called Orroi, a name he'd before, would be stiff competition given his looks and his posture. He wasn't one that would be so easy to stand up against, making Shesha glad that he had little interest in the rider save for wanting to meet him to sate his curiosity about who he was. As Orroi spoke he couldn't help but to give a bit of a chuckle. Lady Alhana's 'prized retainer', huh? Someone was doing his best to remain politically correct, wasn't he? Not wanting to offend Shesha and through him, Alhana.

For a moment Shesha's pink eyes flickered over to Laofay, giving the 'silent Janarim' a once over, before his eyes returned to Orroi, "It truly is a pleasure to meet you, Orroi, I've meet with your mother on a couple of occasions in the past, she is an amazing woman." The sort that he enjoy being in the company of during those few meetings that he'd had with her.

"Hmmm? Out of trouble? If by trouble you mean the 'Beast Lord' then yes, I gave kept him out of trouble." Or would it be more corrent to say he was keeping trouble out of Aqio? A thought that made him want to laugh, though he held the sound in, instead trying to remain in control of his amusement over such a base joke. Instead he said, "The man may still be skulking about, looking for a chance to pounce. Given the two of you are here I feel comfortable releasing the little fish over to your protection."

Glancing around between the three as they spoke he felt as though he might be intruding upon some sort of 'family moment', meaning that he aught to excuse himself. He didn't want to eavesdrop... mostly because the information gained wouldn't really be all too useful to him. Aqio was a little fish, not the sort that he would normally go after when it came to seeking information. The other two... they could be useful, but their ties to one another were likely tight, thus making it difficult. It was easier to get close to those like Lady Alhana who was in a more... twisted relationship, making it easier for him to get close to her. A shame, since Orroi might be the sort he'd want to get to know. Well, even if he couldn't get close to him there was always his mother who was likely more interesting, as well as powerful among the upper crust.

Giving a smile as he released Aqio he said, "Now that you have fulfilled my request, little fish, I should let you go back to your friends. Do try to avoid being eaten by Lord Parthlio before I see you again."