[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5BohWG7.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/6sFpmTD.png[/img] [/center]
[code]The Waystone Inn[/code]
[right]Interactions: Ransom [@Atrophy], Kel [@NoriWasHere]
[code]Outfit: Irritated[/code]
[/right][hr]
Though it was horrible to admit, his not so humble brag rang true. He was attractive, pretty in a way that even Cali could find aesthetically pleasing if she couldn’t easily sense the scumbag underneath. It poisoned the pretty exterior that never would’ve won her over anyway. After all, she didn’t even go for the nicest of men (if any existed).

[color=D87093]“They were just.. so tasty the number of drinks just got away from me.”[/color]

The other tiefling must be even more drunk than Cali thought if she was calling Something Else’s [i]tasty[/i]. They were drunk for their strength not their taste, after all. Though its taste was more mediocre than awful to Cali, who’d drank far worse in her years. The extra spice added just about gave it a bit of a burn in her mouth. Must be the Tiefling thing. Though finding it [i]nice[/i] was extra odd.

[color=B21A4D]”I ain’t met many who find these tasty. Maybe you should get your tongue checked out?”[/color] Cali half laughed, as if she wasn’t knocking back her own horrendously strong concoction. A little bit of alcohol in her system would help her pretend she didn’t want to claw out the lecherous navy eyes Ransom was looking at her with. 

But she’d initiated it, and she’d see it through. Push through the simmering irritation and nausea until she lured him somewhere quiet. She’d let him think he could obtain something unobtainable to him before tearing it away. 

So she just smiled and nodded as he explained how the two knew each other, as if his voice was singing some beautiful melody rather than painfully grating. Her gaze shifted past him to watch Kael’zar for her reaction. Cali knew about the Outcasts, of course. Everyone did. But its members didn’t tend to like people just outing them. It was like an unspoken secret that everyone in town knew certain people were part of. This one was new, though. It made Cali look at Kel with an arched eyebrow and slightly appraising look.

Her gaze snapped right back to Ransom as his disgusting hand wrapped around her waist and tugged her even closer. It was through sheer willpower, and imagining cutting off that hand later, that she managed to keep her playful smile. It felt like insects were crawling across Cali’s skin. No, she’d much rather have insects crawling all over her. 

[color=plum]“Follow my lead, baby, and you won’t have to wear this cheap shit anymore. Just silk and satin, Calamity. Silk. And. Satin.”[/color]

[i]Calamity[/i]. Her eyes narrowed just a hint, easily played off as a flirtatious squint. He knew her name. Her full name, which she never introduced herself as for both safety and out of embarrassment. There were only two reasons someone would know her full name. First, she got drunk enough to talk about it. She’d never seen him before. Second, they’d seen her wanted poster. Sure, he could’ve seen it in passing… But people in these parts didn’t bother checking that shit, unless they wanted the money. Either he’d grabbed it and gotten lucky, or he was here specifically to cash in on wanted criminals. Or it was even more targeted- maybe he knew a victim. No matter what, it was a bad outcome.

There was a split second decision of whether to keep playing along, or immediately drop the act and stick in the knife.

But she wouldn’t win in a fair fight. She had more than enough life experience to know when to pick her fights. He came across as an obnoxious noble prick, but the worn armour told a different tale. People round these parts didn’t just wear weapons for show, because they’d soon be stripped of them and left dead in a gutter if they couldn’t use them. Unfortunately, even adequate with that sword of his was probably enough to stop the second blow and overpower her. It was why her kills were always done at a range, or by luring someone in and slitting their throat.

But there was someone who had no such worries.

There was a low growl. The tugging fingers stopped, but were still close as the fox around her neck stirred from her peaceful slumber. Without hesitation, the fox went for Ransom’s hand, sharp teeth clamping around whatever fingers she could [i]hard[/i]. It wasn’t just a warning nip, but a proper bite.

Cali let out a little mock gasp, reaching up to gently press between her fox companion’s ears.

[color=B21A4D]”Let go, Dev, he didn’t know you were real. Sorry, she’s a little feisty.”[/color] Cali said, Dev the fox letting go of Ransom’s fingers and withdrawing back to Cali’s shoulders again. She wasn’t sorry at all. She would’ve let the fox keep going if she didn’t think it would be more fun to keep dragging this play out. [color=B21A4D]”One thing we have in common.”[/color]

Smiling prettily, as if her faux scarf fox hadn’t just tried to bite his fingers off, she switched back to what [i]he[/i] was proposing as if she really was following his lead. 

[color=B21A4D]”And what kind of opportunity would that be? Don’t tell me you’re pretending a threesome is the opportunity of a lifetime? It ain’t, I can tell you that much.”[/color] She laughed, eyebrows raising. Her eyes openly roamed across him, as if checking him out when really she was pinpointing all the weak points in his armour she could get a knife through. Just in case. [color=B21A4D]”It’s gotta be something more exciting, right? You don’t seem like the boring type.”[/color] 

Her smile widened, and she tilted her head up and closer as if she was going to whisper in his ear too. Except the words came out just a bit quieter than before. Deceptively sultry, almost, and loud enough for Kel to hear.

[color=B21A4D]”I prefer Cali.”[/color] One hand subtly dropped to her thigh, close to the hunting knife strapped to it. The other crept up his arm, sharp nails tapping in tune to her next words. [color=B21A4D]”And where exactly do you know me from, [i]Ransom[/i]?”[/color]

She wanted to watch him squirm. She wanted to watch him try bullshit his way out of this.