"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental...
... but diamonds are a girl's best friend!"
... but diamonds are a girl's best friend!"
Name: Layla Sorai
Alias: Violetta Heidel, Lady Cinnamon
Specie or race: Halfling human-elf
Social Class: Low, almost bottom of the scale <<.
Age: Asking a lady's age? Tsk tsk. (24 <<)
Powers: Sex. Appeal. (c) Puddles 8D
Talents: Street smarts, information gathering, pickpocketing and, of course, o bby <Specialization: Courtesan
Background: Born and bred in the Red Quarter, few know the name Layla Sorai, and even less remember it. On her time off, Violetta Heidel struts around the slums, knowing them like the back of her hand, fraternizing with inn keepers, cut-purses and assassins alike. When its time to act the part, Lady Cinnamon takes the stage, and this is the name that rings through the quarter, bringing dazed smiles to the face of the low class and even in other quarters. Even certain respectful nobles have enjoyed this spicy lady's company (in more than one way), and rumours, true or false remains to be seen, claim that dwellers from the King's Castle have sought this beautiful courtesan's skills.
Looking back, it's a wonder how the tomboy, troublesome Layla became the flamboyant and charismatic Cinnamon. Despite her mother's elven prim and proper (and somewhat out of place) disposition, as a child the halfling and the other children of the slums ran around free, prowling the Trade Quarter to steal apples and pockets or just play some pranks (and flee right back home), and stealth into the Upper Circle to... do more of the same. And pick on the prissy kids. The name Violetta stemmed from these times, both to tease the noble kids, pretending to be of the same crop, and so she wouldn't be traced back home by the guards. The alias stuck, and by the time the girl (precousciously) grew into a woman it had already replaced her true name.
In her teens, the girl began seeing the world in different colors. Her rare violet eyes and deep, rich auburn hair turned quite the number of heads. The rest was easily hypnotized by the sway of her curvy hips, not to mention her other well rounded attributes. If at first the brothel business disgusted her as a kid, as her friends were arrested, sent to the military or even worse, it began looking like the life of her mother, of a courtesan, was her life boat. And, between sink or swimming, Violetta'd much rather stay afloat.
After much learning about the ways of men and women, entertainment and other skills best left unmentioned, 'Lady' Cinnamon was ready to take on the world by the nuts and squeeze every last ounce of money out of it. Taking her mother's place in the Red Spice Brothel, where once the elf was adored for her gentleness and out of place ways, Violetta's fiery and forward spirit seized the crowd, and Lady Cinnamon's fame spread like wildfire through the circle and even beyond. Ascending to star status in the underworld of lust and passion, Cinnamon became a cherished citizen of the red roofs.
A new business much up Violetta's penchant for danger also flourished under the courtesan's controlling hands. Secrets do tend to be spilled in the throes of pleasure after all, or maybe the temptation of easing a heavy heart to a beautiful stranger is just too great. From collecting information in her bedroom to creating a network of spies, thieves and other shady characters and extend her reach was as natural as breathing to her. Information is power, money is power, and Violetta craves such power. It makes for a good life.
As of now, Violetta is enjoying her place in the underworld society, both as a lovemaking star and a webweaver. Even though the times are calm, she can sense the winds of change, and rumours of dark things lurking through the city increase by the day, bringing a clever smile to her delicately painted blood red lips. Dark times are good for business... Now it will be just a matter of who pays more.
Personality: Inside Violetta, three women stand. As Lady Cinnamon, she is boisterous, flamboyant and charismatic, capable of rising an entire mob to protect their benevolent icon. Attention is good for business, so the more, the better, and Cinnamon is certainly not shy of causing a scandal if need be to drive her point across. Violetta is a lot more demure and less prone to diva outburts, but her tongue has a snarky, sailor-esque taint that tends to evoque the ire of a few and the humour of many, mirroring the people of her birthplace. Lastly, Layla is the silent, brooding maiden that easily melds with the crowds, making herself as invisible and as common possible not to draw any attention. All three are the different roles of this woman that constantly steps out to the world as if it were a stage, life a play and her the main actress. Still, despite the three masks the core is the same, and at the center of it all lies a woman that has known the hardships of life upfront and is doing her best to survive. She's the only one she can count on, and everything else is just a step stone to her paradise.
Greedy? No, Violetta just feels that those that have plenty should share such riches with everyone. Herself first and foremost, granted, but benevolence towards the needy is also her policy. This is a woman that will never forget her roots and strive to protect the people of her home, and the whole of Red Quarter is her home. You do her or her cherished ones wrong, and her scorn will chase you out of the circle to never return, if the offense isn't too serious... and the halfling is known for holding grudges for a long time...
In the matters of the heart, Violetta may break many, but hers is a solid piece of ice that no one's been able to melt. It's part of the line of work, after all. Giving her heart to one in particular would just bring problems like jealousy and restrictions to the table. Very bad for business. There's a very big difference between passion and love, and that isn't a line Cinnamon is willing to cross.
