[hr][center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjk2LmRkYTBkZC5VbUZ1YzI5dElFeGhZbVZzYkdVLC4y/golden-jewelry.regular.webp[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/HvlcxJd.pngp[/img][/center][right][code] The Waystone Inn
Interactions:  Kel [@NoriWasHere] Cali [@Fernstone]
Outfit: About to feature a pair of foxskin gloves[/code][/right][hr]

Ransom knew he was winning the second Calamity didn’t pull away. Now this was how things were always supposed to go. With his arm still around Calamity he stole a glance at Lila. There was no need for him to raise his voice or trade in his freewill to some unspeakable horror to gain access to telepathy to broadcast his message to the swamp bitch. The insufferably smug look on his face was loud enough, shouting down the rest of the bar as it said: [i]See what a great guy I am? You really screwed it up, didn’t you?[/i] It was in that briefest of distractions where Ransom was waiting for Lila to come crawling back to him, or at the very least turn her head in his direction and notice that he had already moved on and that her rejection meant nothing to him and he certainly wasn’t going to lose sleep about it, that his guard slipped.

Chomp!

It was only because his mouth was in a rare moment of being closed that Ransom managed to stifle his surprised scream as a fiery pain erupted from his fingers and shot up his arm. He untangled himself from Calamity with a violent twist as the fuzzy little bastard on her neck dropped its bite at her command. He could feel his glove become damp with blood as he clamped his hand over his wounded fingers. It was a good thing that Dev was so well-trained and had let go when it did, as Ransom was only left to fantasize gripping his hand around its jaw and slamming its head down against the counter until all that remained was a piece of tanned leather. 

He wasn’t just mad. He was boiling over. Hell, he was betrayed! He’d been lured in by that little saucy devil only to be humiliated again. Purring words and pretty smiles weren’t going to be enough to save Calamity. Ransom didn’t only need satisfaction; he needed to right how the world viewed him before the whole bar started pushing him around. He could hear the pesky little voice of his old governess, Mrs. Marmsdale, saying that a gentleman should never strike a lady. Well, thankfully this bitch here was no lady. Ransom tugged off his glove with the same menacing energy one would harness when drawing a dagger.

Then Calamity said something that made him pause, the murderous shine in his eyes becoming a different kind of twinkle as Ransom lost.

[color=B21A4D]”Blah blah opportunity blah blah threesome blah blah something more exciting.”[/color]

To buy himself a moment, Ransom popped his fingers into his mouth to lick his wounds. There was a faint glow behind his lips as his celestial healing sealed the bite. Meanwhile, the rake racked his brain for something that could possibly be more exciting than a threesome. 

A–holy shit–a foursome?

Her idea. Not his. Hers. Not his. She wanted it. She had implied it with her own mouth. She was into it. Momma must’ve been a succubus. Maybe she was a descendant of infernal royalty. He wouldn’t mind wintering in Avernus, because this devil lady right here? This was some wife material. Ransom thought a love like this only existed in the songs of bards. Forget the fox. Foxes will be foxes and dogs will be dogs. 

His healed hand fell out of his mouth as Calamity–sorry, sorry, she preferred Cali–beautifully closed the distance he had put between them and began running her finger up his arm. He flexed and gave her a little bloodstained smile. Yeah, he worked out. Damn armor, barely showed off his muscles. Should’ve left it in the room. 

[color=B21A4D]”And where exactly do you know me from, [i]Ransom[/i]?”[/color]

Aw, shit.

[color=plum]“Hm?””[/color] Son of a bitch, he had said her name. [color=plum]“Oh.[/color] Goddamnit she wasn’t an idiot. Guess the marriage was off. [color=plum]“Well.”[/color] Think, Ransom, think. If she was that smart, she wouldn’t be a wanted criminal. [color=plum]“You see.”[/color] His guard was back up. He saw where her hand was going while the other one played distraction. [color=plum]“Now that’s uncalled for.”[/color] He motioned with his eyes for Cali to look down to see that his hand had slipped beneath his cloak, likely already wrapped around a dagger. [color=plum]“Don’t ruin what is becoming a serendipitous evening. I’ll come clean.”[/color]

As clean as the boy’s latrine after copper beer and bangers night. 

[color=plum]“I’m your guardian angel. Earlier I had misspoke. This isn’t the opportunity of a lifetime, it’s an opportunity to save your life,”[/color] said Ransom with a cheap smile. It sounded like bullshit because not only was it bullshit, he meant for it to sound like bullshit. Holy bullshit. [color=plum]“And I would really love to [i]save[/i] you, Cali."

"[i]You too,[/i]"[/color] added Ransom, clearly including Kel as an afterthought. Surely there was some kind of magic that could maybe get rid of those scales?  Beauty marks were a misnomer. It was easier to pretend like he cared about someone when they were conventionally attractive.

[color=plum]"I’m afraid I didn’t give you my full title when I first introduced myself. A bit of deception on my part, I admit. I’ve found that it builds walls just as often as it opens doorways. I am [i]Father[/i] Ransom Labelle, a priest in the service of the Morninglord, Lathander. I run a small convent out at Good Shepherd’s Farm,  about a half day’s travel down the road. I’m sure you’ve passed by it a dozen times without knowing it’s even open. We’re remodeling. Have you seen the price of wood? It's ludicrous.”[/color]

As proof, Ransom quickly pulled something shiny out of his cloak. It wasn’t his dagger, but a holy symbol that radiated a bright light. He tucked it away quickly before it drew too much attention or, really, before either of the tieflings’ vision could adjust to the light and see that his “holy symbol” was just an empty coin purse that he’d illuminated with some Aasimar trickery. 

[color=plum]“The truth is that I did not come here to this depraved town because I wanted to. I came here because I had to. Lathander lit the way. He told me to find you. I don’t just know you, Cali. I was you. Lost. Wicked. Throwing myself at the first pretty face I saw, eager to take advantage of whomever I could. Now, there’s nothing in Lathander’s teachings that says we shouldn’t seek some excitement now and again. We’re progressives."[/color] No need to fully shut out the opportunity for a little action. [color=plum] "I have no issue with you wanting me. It’s completely understandable, who with eyes wouldn’t?”

“But this woman?”[/color] Ransom gestured to Kel before glancing at Dev with a look of disgust. [color=plum]“She’s obviously drunk. That's a clear trespass. And I am afraid to ask who would be your fourth. But I do not judge you. That is not my duty.”[/color]

Ransom pointed a finger to the sky. Or maybe god was creeping around on the ceiling, trying to look down some lowcut blouses. 

[color=plum]“I am offering you something beyond pleasure. I am offering you redemption, absolution, salvation…”[/color] Ransom was running out of holy buzzwords; it wasn’t his fault that he’d fallen asleep during service. [color=plum]“Forgiveness. Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t that be better than hiding up here? The church offers protections to converts. Think about it. A chance to start anew. An opportunity to wake up tomorrow and see a new dawn. A way to make every day a blessing, knowing that you have been saved by me–through me–by the light of Lathander.”

“Shall we pray?”[/color] asked Ransom, smiling like a wolf. He pointed with his thumb towards the door. [color=plum]"In private? Rosa doesn't like it when I hold confessional in here, and it would give us the chance to speak more freely."[/color]