: Luck in the Shadows :

[unputdownable]

Some nameless Inn, some nameless town.

This is an origin story if ever there was one, for all great partnerships have a definite and decided beginning and this is one such.

Jhude had been on the trail of a nobleman who had been hellbent on marrying his daughter to a highly abusive peer; it was a coaching inn on the way to one of the three major metropolis; now he'd read reports that the man on the gifted end of the bride stick had been a widower thrice times over which.. to Jhude, was a bit suspicious.

It had taken quite a bit of researcher, and he wasn't a born researcher by any stretch-- but it did not take an idiot to put two and two together and he was not an idiot; it also meant that the ladies life was hanging on a knife's point. Not now, but perhaps later-- and Jhude was enough of a bleeding heart that he could not countenance this whatsoever.

No one deserved it.

So he was in the posting house, keeping to the shadows, watching the lady and her father in question. Oh, but she looked miserable, and he looked smug. Tonight was the perfect time to act, the posting house was crowded and if there was anything that he could do, it was to perhaps sneak her out, give her a bag of gold to settle comfortably, give her the name of someone within the church who could provide her aid if needed and she'd have freedom to live her life and perhaps marry someone of her choosing.

He was sitting at a table with his hood pulled over his head, nursing a tankard of ale as he watched and listened; ever so close to the table so that he could pick up their words, their routine. Any sort of information that would make this entire process easier.

Comments

[transfigured]

Aster was well aware that in the nobility and gentry tended to treat marriage as a business transaction rather than a matter of love and romance. There was some tragedy in that, of course, for the heart to be treated like another trade good. At the very least, it made for entirely shit love song material.

Anyway, business transactions were all well and good, but when an innocent young woman was being used as fodder for this industrialized matchmaking machine very much against her will. Call him a bleeding heart, perhaps, but he couldn't sit back and allow that to happen, not when the girl herself had reached out for help via her handmaid, and that plea had found its way to him.

This particular tavern, a stop on the poor bride-to-be's nuptial death march, was the perfect setting for this caper.

First though, he had to make an entrance.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A clear tenor voice cut through the rumbling thrum of conversation, everyone seeming to quiet almost immediately, as if something in those simple words or how they were spoken were enough to grab their attention.

"I find myself in a position where I must congratulate you all! You have, quite by a serendipitous twist of fate and luck, the privilege -- nay, the honor -- of hearing the world-renowned song of Cypress Ableford, Bard who has played in the royal courts and halls of the most powerful nobles from Baldur's Gate to Neverwinter and beyond! Raise your glasses and tap your feet, friends!"

And with that he strummed his lyre and launched into a song.

[unputdownable]

Who the hell was this now?

Jhude sat up straighter in his seat where he clocked the bard that had come in, making his way in with all fanfare and everything that went along with that; interesting. Both Father looked up, so too did the daughter, which meant he could look at them with a bit more impunity in those aquamarine eyes; he clocked the gold purse at the nobleman's belt, he saw the somewhat desperate air of the young lady who seemed to clap a bit too loudly.

It did not occur to him that this bard here was working to the same ends that he was.

Before the music had been mentioned, he heard that the husband to be would be meeting them at the inn at the last crossroads before the city, the Rising Cockeral, which yeah.. seemed a bit too phallic so of course it would pander to straight white nobles. That meant that time was of the essence.

Carefully he slipped up from the table, now that there was a suitable distraction. Making his way to the bar, his gait turned a little uncertain, a little wobbly and then he accidentally bumped against the table; it went off nearly flawlessly-- a mumbled, "Apologies, the ale is strong." a sleight of hand and suddenly the missive was placed in the girl's cloak along with a bag of heavy coins.

(enclosed map of the inn)

Horse will be waiting 3 candlemarks after midnight.
Await a low whistle and only then exit.
Nuns of Abernathy to the south will offer aid and succor.

[transfigured]

Aster -- Cyprus as he was currently calling himself, wearing the disguise of an elven man with platinum blond curls that fell in very carefully maintained ringlets, face sun-kissed, eyes an impossible violet -- sang a lively tune, and the energy in the room responded to the tune.

Before too long, toes were tapping, a few couples who were deeper in their cups than others up and dancing. And Aster eventually found his way up atop one of the tables, an impromptu stage. He was demonstrating a rather complicated reel when he caught sight of the hooded man.

He noticed the way that gait shifted, and oh now wasn't that interesting? Aster was watching and caught juuuust the slightest flick of what was a masterfully done bit of reverse-pick-pocketing. Oh-ho. And to his damsel in distress. Well, this would involve some investigating, to make certain that he wasn't dealing with some enemy agent -- perhaps the Fiance's doing? Then again, the fact that whatever changed hands changed hands between the hooded man and the girl and not her father was... intriguing. Very intriguing.

The song finished, and Aster leapt from the table with a flourish, wandering his way to snag a couple full goblets of wine from the bar, still moving like he was dancing despite the lull in the music, he made his way over to where the nobleman and his daughter sat. "Good sir, it seems you've the loveliest lady in this tavern with you. Might I borrow her for my next song? I promise to return her in one piece, no worse for the wear."

He set one of the wine goblets in front of the nobleman. "My treat. For depriving you of her company, even briefly."

Aster did not wait before he took the young lady by the hand and led her out onto the floor. "And next, a song of young, star crossed love! The ballad of Trystan and Isolde. This will be our Isolde, of course. Now who will be my Trystan?" His eyes scanned the room before focusing on the hooded man. "You there, young man. Do you dance?"

[unputdownable]

Wait.

What?

He had already fumbled his way to the bar and was downing a tankard, he was after all pretending to be a sloshed local, but here was himself being called out in a truly annoying fashion, and it took him temporarily off guard enough that he shot the bard a look that was anything but kind, those blue eyes far too eagle-eyed to be drunk, and then he tried to melt over the bar.

It would be clear to Cypress that this was completely an act. "Mm'not good at dancing." he spoke this a bit hesitantly and took another sip of his drink, it appeared like a larger gulp than it actually was because at the very least he didn't want to become really inebriated.

"You're wasting your time, bard."

[transfigured]

"Why friend, anyone can dance with a little effort. In fact, I dare your feet to remain unmoved by this ballad. And really, look at this lovely young woman..."

He slipped an arm around the girl's waist, angling her to the totally definitely drunk guy at the bar, in such a way that Jhude would be able to see Cyprus lifting the missive from where it had been deposited in her cloak, wiggling it at him before slipping it quite neatly up his sleeve -- leaving the purse where it had been placed, much more interested in finding out if this non-dancer was going to end up being foe or ally.

"You can't leave this beauty to dance alone. Look at the sadness in her eyes at the very thought of being deprived a partner." Actually the young woman looked entirely confused as to what the hell was going on.

Her father at least had stopped sputtering, realizing that he wasn't about to stop the pushy bard until he was satisfied. The nobleman had sat back and was scowling at the wine he'd been handed. Then he chanced a sip, and the scowl faded. Oh. Oh this was the good stuff. Well, fine then. What harm could a dance do? Perhaps it'd improve his daughter's mood for the last part of their journey.

[unputdownable]

The audacity of this bard, and then the chagrin that he had not been as stealthily as he had thought he was, but here was this bard who was going to find out his plan and with Jhude not knowing if this would go ass-up. But well, if he reacted he knew that he would be placed on notice and pretty suspicious.

"Well my lady.." his voice gruff, "If I step on your toes, I am much contrite." he tried to affect the apologies of a worn traveler. "Very well then." and then he placed his hand (very properly) on her waist, then the other hand was offered to her. "Might as well.." he shot a pointed look at the bard, that there would be answers later before he started the dance because well, he had to. And he was not as bad at dancing as one may think, but he managed to give the impression of being a lummox without actually being a lummox.

That was the finer point of being exceedingly dexterous.

[transfigured]

"There's the spirit, my boy."

The bard had his lyre in hand once more, and he plucked a few strings before he launched into the ballad. It was one of his favorite, and it did sing of romance and true love and adventure and heartbreak. Loss of love and partings of death. Tragic really, but it had rather enthralling rhythm to it, the sort that was impossible not to dance to despite the inevitably tragedy of the story.

But before that, of course, came the climax of the piece, an energetic movement where Aster would have the majority of the bar clapping their hands and urging their voluntold couple into the fastest part of the dance, the flight of Trystan and Isolde to escape her betrothed and run off together. This was the moment that Aster let the energy and commotion play cover as he glanced at the letter. Oh. OH. An ally for certain then. Someone else here to help the young lady. Brilliant.

By the time the dance ended a few things were true.

First, the damsel's father had finished the fine wine, and conveniently enough, the drugs that Aster had slipped into the goblet to help him have a nice, restful, deep sleep this tonight. Already the older man looked a bit bleary eyed.

Second, the mood in the tavern had turned bright and bordering on rowdy. But given the way drink orders were flying, the owner wouldn't mind too much. Bards ere gonna hard. As Aster finished the ballad, he bowed with a flourish before running to insinuate himself between Jhude and the young woman, taking one of each of their hands. "And a round of applause for our narrative-doomed couple. They were wonderful. Yes yes! Best I've ever had yet for audience volunteers. He dropped Jhude's hand and wrapped an around the young woman. "I hope he didn't step on your feet too badly, my lady. Ah and also, mind your cloak, my dear." When he said the latter, he slipped the letter back where it had been placed by Jhude's clever fingers earlier.

He escorted her back to her table, with her now significantly drowsier looking father, placing a kiss to the back of her hand before turning his attention back to the hooded man, focusing in like a wolf who'd sighted his quarry.

[unputdownable]

He danced as well as he was able to underneath the circumstances, or rather he performed well at being bad at it, a bow to the young lady as she wandered off, then as they stood there and saw the young lady off to where she was set to help her father up to his room, and hopefully she'd see the missive there.

Then his eyes cast up to elven man, and his brows furrowed together then he turned back to his own drink at the bar. He wanted to ask what the hell that was but he did not want to draw attention to himself, instead he pulled his hood a bit further down and then downed his ale, this time there was no mistaking that this time the drink was real.

There was after all a few hours before he would meet the girl out in the stables and depart the same time she did, best to confuse anyone who went looking for her if multiple people left at the same time, and in different directions. Hopefully the bard wouldn't mess that up.

[transfigured]

Aster played a few more songs, enough so that the greater part of the excitement he'd stirred up would have time to settle. He happily accepted the drink that was purchased for him, a warm conversation with a few strangers at the bar and oh so coincidentally and accidentally wound up bumping into Jhude's elbow as the other man was seeking the bottom of his cup.

"I returned the lady's letter. I expect she's seen and found it by now."

He leaned back against the bar to flash a bright, easy smile in the other man's direction. "I hadn't known she'd already had a guardian angel hovering over her shoulder. I could have saved myself the days on horseback that brought me here."

[unputdownable]

So this bard wasn't going to be interfering? The sigh of relief that Jhude expelled went right through every pore of his being, it was nearly audible in the way that he breathed it out, taking a sip of his own tankard and then setting it aside, then he turned to the Bard, giving him a very solemn look.

"So you do not plan on stopping this? Because I was thinking that if you had been, I'd be able to take you in a fight." this wasn't a boast, it felt almost resigned somehow as if it wasn't something he particularly cared to do. Avoiding a fight if needed, but if it came to it well then it came to it.

"I'm not a guardian angel, just someone who caught wind of the plans because I was eavesdropping, and decided that it wouldn't be right not to interfere, I guess more like a.." he attempted to think of the word, "A conduit..."

[transfigured]

"Out of the goodness of your heart? I don't know, that sounds quite angelic to me..." Aster shrugged, sending the absolutely ridiculous golden ringlets (that would be more at home on the porcelain doll of some spoiled rich child than on a full grown man) tumbling back from his shoulders.

"And don't be quite so certain about my performance in a fight. I'm tougher than I look, Master Angel."

He was many things different than he looked at this particular moment.

"But no, I do not intend to interfere with any rescuing of the young lady from her fate. He slipped a small folded bit of parchment beneath Jhude's hand where it rested on the bar. If he took a peak, he'd find a letter written in a feminine hand, pleading for help escaping her marital fate, the fear for her life, the knowledge of what sort of monster her fiance was. The letter opened with a plaintive 'To the Avenging Shadow, I pray this missive finds its way to you. I have no other options, and I fear my life is in danger.'

Jhude may have heard that title whispered about before, mostly because Aster had worked very hard to create that persona so that interesting jobs would funnel their way to him. People loved the idea of characters that belonged in plays and epics existing in real life.

[unputdownable]

Jhude spent a bit more time regarding the missive, flipping it open and scanning over the written lines and then abruptly back up at Cypress, then he tapped the missive with slender fingertips. "I thought that this was a myth?" or at least a cabal of people who functioned underneath the same goal and aegis. He'd heard of it, you couldn't be a spy in this city and not.

He took jobs, he was in essence a mercenary when it came to it. But he had scruples and he usually chose jobs that appealed to his own idea of right or wrong, and this was one of those that he'd picked up and did not expect to get paid for it-- a portion of the money from his last job had gone into funding this extra-curricular activity.

Though he did glance up at the curls and furrowed his brow. "You're not how I would imagine the Avenging Shadow to look like." more shadows definitely.

[transfigured]

"A myth, a legend, an excellent fireside story, yes. But a grain of truth in all of those things, yes? I suppose you could say I'm the grain."

It wasn't that he worked entirely alone. He had trusted contacts and favors he occasionally called in, but mostly he worked alone. Trust was difficult, in his line of work, and betrayal had left scars more than once in his life.

There was something very intriguing about this man, someone who would simply help someone because they'd discovered they might need it. It was especially noble given the reputation the woman's family -- and even worse, her fiance -- had. They were not kind to those who crossed them.

At the next observation, Aster did not bother to hide a laugh. "No I would think not. That's deliberate of course. It's harder to blend in when one looks all shadowy and avenging. This is a borrowed face anyway."

He leaned in closer. "Don't look now, friend, but there have been eyes on both of us since that little stunt I pulled earlier. Three gentlemen. They didn't arrive together, but they've been making extended eye contact and trading hand signals with one another all evening. One followed the lady and her father up to their room. The other two haven't looked away from us. I expect they're agents of the lady's betrothed. We may need to throw them off our scent, hmm?"

[unputdownable]

"Any ideas?" he said as he slumped against the bar, resting his head against the counter as if that was the last fucking straw though the bard could see that Jhude's eyes were anything but drunken, no he was fully alert, and it could be seen that maybe he was a little bit practiced in all of this.

Though he certainly was not as good of an actor, but generally he tended to use a well placed side of the hand to get out of trouble, applied to a pressure point and anyone who disagreed went down like a fly.

"Jealous fiance you think? It's probably not uncommon for.. well, people ensuring a transfer of ownnership, and from the research I did, the fiance treats all of the people under his care like pets that he intends to neglect.. once he gets what he wants." i.e a large dowery.

[transfigured]

"One, yes."

Aster usually had a plan. It wasn't always a good plan, but there was usually at least some spark of an idea in the chaotic maelstrom of his brain. He did notice that his too-deep-in-his-cups friend had indeed only barely dipped a toe into anything like inebriation. Making himself seem less of a threat while keeping his wits about him. It was smart. A lot of this man was smart. Aster found that quite intriguing.

"I fear that may be it exactly. So then, we make them feel entirely assured that there is nothing for the fiance to be jealous of. Play along, Master Angel."

That was all the warning that Jhude would receive before Aster's entire manner shifted, a delighted laugh spilling from his lips with as much musicality as his singing earlier. "Why my good sir Trystan, so soon after losing sight of your lady Isolde, and already letting your eyes wander. Though I do understand how a good love ballad gets into one's head..." He slipped his fingers into Jhude's hair then, making a show of biting at his own lower lip as he looked over the other man as if deciding if he fit whatever exacting standards it was that Cyprus Ableford had for bed partners.

Apparently Jhude checked the boxes well enough, so he'd find himself with Aster suddenly draped against him, an arm looped around his neck. "Now. Kiss me like you mean it," he murmured low enough so that only Jhude would hear. "Then we're heading up to my room with a bottle of wine."

[unputdownable]

Well then, that was the plan was it.

It was ridiculous, but there was sense in it too. Sometimes chaotic behavior could work in the favor though Jhude tended not to rely on it, his methods were far more direct, though direct at the last moment like a knife in the back when you least expected it. So he decided that it was worth it to play into this pantomine, for the good of the girl's fate.

He flicked a sideways glance at the two men watching, managed to flush a shade of red that would only contribute to the 'drunk farce' and then he leaned forward and kissed Cypress, it wasn't polished because he was drunk and also because he'd not kissed very many people in his life. His sensibilities would not allow and also he didn't like leading people on; but this was not serious.

Yup, definitely flushed as their lips met and made contact-- the Bard would find that the Spy tasted like a little bit of hops, but also the ginger gum that he also chewed (it was because so much tension in his jaw that he had to work out and chewing was the only way he could get it relaxed).

Together they draped together and built a perhaps convincing narrative that they were going to leave the girl aside and find better entertainment together.

[transfigured]

"Oh dear..." Aster breathed directly to Jhude's lips, trying to assure himself that the taste of the other man hadn't been that enthralling. It had been. And only in a quickly developed act.

Gods above save him. Maybe he'd gone too long without having someone in his bed as a pleasant distraction.

Still, Aster was a professional, so he would be a professional.

Mostly professional. There wasn't necessarily a strict need to kiss him again, but it wouldn't hurt the charade. So kiss him again he did, this time Aster initiated it, and made a point to let his tongue dip past those ginger flavored lips like he needed to properly savor the moment. He drew back only far enough to smile, looking at him for all the world like he'd abandoned common sense for lust. "If your mouth is this talented, no doubt I'll be singing songs about you before too long. Come with me, Angel?" And then to the bartender. "A bottle of your house red, good sir. My friend and I will be retiring up to my room."

[unputdownable]

Ah yes, the charade; very much a charade.

Already he could feel the interest drawing off the two men who were kissing of all things, so yeah-- it did work, that was a good thing and he assessed that it wouldn't be a bad trick to add to his repertoire, especially if he was feigning drunk. He'd have to play pretend at being drunk for it to be viable though-- but it did get a very drunk-like flush which also pretty valuable.

"Yeah.." he couldn't really say anything else about it, he wasn't one who talked a whole lot unless he had something to say, even his instructions written to the girl had been very much to the point. "We'll talk... upstairs.." be breathed in between kisses.

And they had a lot to talk about including this whole thing that they both had taken up on doing, and perhaps maybe they could assist each other to make it so that it came off without a hitch. Maybe that was a bit of optimism coming from Jhude where that was concerned.

"Would carry you, but don't want to drop you." he said almost apologetically, running a casual hand through his hair and of course further mussing it.

[transfigured]

"Mm... but I would enjoy being in those big strong arms..." He even reached out to set a hand against one bicep and finding himself on the verge of breaking character because wow those were big strong arms what the fuck what the fuck. "Shit, I think I actually really would enjoy that. Probably too much."

Okay no yes back to it. "We'll play it safe until we've made it to bed, hmm? The acrobatics can be saved for behind closed doors."

Snagging up the proffered bottle of wine, he reached out to take Jhude's hand in his own, tugging gently. "Come on, handsome. I secured the second nicest room at the inn." And they could go up there and actually discuss the situation at hand. Aster was thinking about working together as well, because it seemed more sensible than just trying to stay out each other's way. If they had the same goal, then it really was the better choice to join forces.

[unputdownable]

Seduction had never been in his repertoire so he was a fish out of his depth right here, but that was fine because it lead to highly convincing narrative that he was a bit too shit-faced to be smooth. Also, he knew he was not smooth-- so he followed up, not forgetting to trip a little bit on the steps on the way up.

Didn't want them thinking that he was anything close to what what he actually was.

Up the steps, pretending not to think too terribly hard over scaling them because he was too entranced with his companion, then past the girl and her father's separate rooms, finally to the door leading into Aster's room while he tried to prop up a wall.

Footsteps behind them, trailing them.

Just to be sure, Jhude stumbled against Aster and the other man was against the wall and with his mouth clumsy (probably not all that different) on Aster's while he let out a little huffed moan. A key in the lock, and then there was the hint of a door closed and then he murmured a very careful and very whispered. "Sorry, hopefully didn't bruise anything."

[transfigured]

Seduction was very very much in Aster's repertoire. Not that he liked toying with hearts. Perish the thought. Hearts were fragile, precious things that ought be treated carefully. Bodies on the other hand? Lovely enjoyable things. When sex was simply sex, it wasn't a threat. Sex that included feelings however? That was an entirely different animal, and one that Aster had a deep ingrained fear of for how vulnerable it could make him.

He gasped quietly, playing his part still, leaning up into that clumsy kiss, his fingers curling into the fabric of Jhude's tunic. "Oh darling, I like it a little rough," he teased before moving to carefully and with a remarkable amount of coordination, unlock the door behind his back and work the handle until it gave way and he could pull the other man into the room with him, another delighted laugh as he made a show of shutting the door tightly and audibly throwing the latch.

"Mm... now where were we..." That last was for the benefit of anyone listening, and Jhude would likely be able to tell as much by the fact that now they were in the room without prying eyes, and something in the bard's expression and posture had changed.

[unputdownable]

Once the door was shut and properly locked, he allowed his back to thud against the wall-- well versed in this whole scheming thing. It would sound like two people not being able to wait to get to a bed which fine, he did not have very much sex but he knew the general way that it worked and the more convincing they made it appear, the better it would be for them.

"Guess now we discuss how we are gonna work this." He said this carefully and low enough though he did not like using common for obvious reasons.

"And if we are gonna..." another lighter thud, "..get in each other's way." It would be a shame if they actually managed to hinder the goal on accounts of each of them having none compliant plans.

[transfigured]

Aster played his part, deliberately rocking his hip into the chest of drawers nearest the door, sending the furniture shifting, and breathing a laugh that rose in a combination of delight and desire. "My... you do get straight to business."

That was meant for both this conversation and anyone who may be listening from beyond the door. He understood the question, nodding and stepping back slowly. He shrugged out of the rather extravagant coat that he'd worn, all vivid colors and lavish adornment, meant to draw attention to him. It was the sort of fancy that Cyprus favored.

"I'd hate to think we'd be trouble for one another," murmured this time low enough only for Jhude's ears. "Above all, our mutual damsel in distress does not deserve to have her rescue ruined by too many cooks in the kitchen. Or ego plays." Though something about this man made Aster think that ego would not be an issues.

A pause and he tossed out there, just in case, 'Do you speak Elvish?' Spoken in Elvish, so really, something of a self answering question.

[unputdownable]

'Passable, but yes I do.' perhaps a bit surprising but he did have a few clients who were elvish nobility in nature, so he was not fluent but it would do in a pinch. He walked over to the bed and then he threw himself down onto it until it squeaked, then gave it a few very decisive up and downs; further squeaks and he let out a groan though he thought it sounded more like a croak than an actual groan.

'I am not in the business of getting in your way, my goal is to get her out safetly and as far as way as possible, and bait and switch them enough to get her a sizeable head start enough that she can disappear easily.'

[transfigured]

Aster set his bard coat aside and moved to join Jhude on the bed with a heavy thump and a throaty whine. "Darling... the wine. Mind the wine..." and then another cry of laughter. "Naughty thing..."

And then back to murmured Elvish. 'You know, it'd be easier for us to to just fuck at this rate.' He was probably kidding. Maybe. A little. In either case, he kicked off the leather boots and then began shimmying out of his equally lavish trousers. Left only in his smallclothes, he ran a hand through his hair, frowning briefly. This face had so much involved in it. But it was memorable and that was the purpose he needed Cyprus to serve.

'And I have no intention of getting in your way either. So perhaps we work together, mm? Bait and switch was part of my plan as well. Our young lady's father should sleep through anything short of the inn exploding with what I slipped into his drink. If we can separate her and sneak her out unseen, as it seems you have planned, I can handle making her father and her fiance's watchers think their quarry is still within their control.'