[center][h2]Pagras[/h2][/center]

[center][@PaulHaynek][/center]

Aun began chatting away, but what he said wasn't really so much questions as it was just unsolicited revelations about personal information. The dark mage gave the incubus knight an unamused look after his first batch of talking.

[color=lightblue]"[i]What[/i] she is or isn't doesn't concern me. If she wanted me to know, she would've told me. It's not very knightly to go divulging a lady's secrets."[/color] The raven-haired beauty chastised. [color=lightblue]"She's got feelings for you and contracted me to help her."[/color] She stated bluntly.

The more she listened and interacted with this man though, the less... Likeable... He became. At least, in her own eyes. But then agian, he wasn't her type. Like, at all. She was, however, curious as to why Iskah was so fond and dead-set on this particular fellow. Maybe he'd been different in the past? Maybe he had some hidden characteristic or personality quirk that made him endearing? It was impossible tot elll, and frankly Vanessa didn't care enough to bother trying to figure it out.

And then the man made the unfortunate mistake of offering his bargain. This... Had been a poor move on his part, and the dark mage made no effort this time to hide her discontent. A shadow fell over her eyes, her mouth turned into a frown, her eyes sparked with the embers of anger - not yet kindled, but not far from it.

[color=lightblue]"I thought you said you had [i]questions[/i], Sir Incubus Knight. Asking and then answering your own inquiry, then trying to barter isn't [i]asking questions[/i]."[/color] She punctuated this line very clearly, one hand on her hip and the other tapping her staff against the street below, more as a method of light stress-relief than anything else. [color=lightblue]"I'm [i]sure[/i] you meant no offense by it, but I can't hlep but feel a bit insulted that you pegged me as some sort of low-life, opportunistic parasite who'd jump at the promise of a shinier prize."[/color] Vanessa was very clearly not happy. Turning to face the knight fully, the dark mage met his gaze - head on, locking eyes with him and, in no uncertain, vague or unclear terms, spoke her next few words very deliberately. [color=lightblue]"My word is the most precious commodity I can trade. Tell me, [i]knight[/i], what value is there in someone who breaks their oaths, vows or promises when offered greater rewards?"[/color]

There was a brief pause, before she eventually added;

[color=lightblue]"So no, I won't be reconsidering my contract with Iskah."[/color]

In Vanessa's case though, this was more an issue or principle than loyalty. After all, she hadn't known the lizard-doppelganger for long. They had nothing really in common. They knew litteraly nothing about each other. But that wasn't why she was angry at this AUn-person. No, the dark mage was mad because he had entertained the thought that she'd so easily break her word. To switch sides and toss her previous arrangement to the curb like a dirty, used napkin. It was good luck, perhaps even divine provedence then, that these children were present. For Vanessa could not be cerain that she wouldn't have delivered some... Dsiciplinary and educational... Punishment onto the Incubus Knight for his words.

... But for now, she managed to keep a lid on things. She looked back at the doppel-lizardman, entertaining the children and trying to get them to scamper off so she could continue her quest. Her eyes softened a bit from the genuinely heart-warming scene.