"Hey, buddy," said Cair. She positively oozed charm as she lurched out of the shadows holding a crude wooden club. Despite the bulk of her coat, her essential thinness could not really be disguised, making this feel a bit like being menaced by a sassy child.[1]

[1] children are scary btw

"Buddy. Friendskip. Mate. You remember me? More importantly, you remember your [i]debt[/i]? One million goldmarks? Well it's time to start seeing some return on that. I've got a job for you."

[Spending a string] And you know, [i]don't[/i] you? Some part of this anxiety has been burning away in the back of your head for days and, regardless of your ability to defeat this greasy coatrack in hand to hand combat or the legality of a contract signed under unconscionable distress, you're not from here and you don't know how things work and - what if this goes on your permanent credit score? What if the next time you're in trouble nobody swoops in with a magical tiara to save the day?? You could be in trouble at any moment! You could be in trouble right now!![2]

[2] prrrr-obably not from Cair? She is trying very hard, and you know, she might be a wizard or something. But there's a basic vibe that's hard to move past that you could rest your hand on her forehead and she would be unable to punch you, and that makes it hard for her to be really intimidating.