Of Crowns and Coups [Private | Ares]

"I thought that someone was kidnapped here due to the sound of muffled shrieks, but it turns out that you guys were just having your "special time". Kids these days with their fetish."

Her eyes never left the barley left the silhouette of the door as the newcomer entered the room, and at the first moment when she began to saw his figure entering the light she considered the possibly that it was one of the man's allies though from the Intel she gathered this one left on bad terms. After the man spoke the it became more obvious that he was likely just someone who heard their special time. "Here I thought that our little special time would be between just us two, maybe he will have better luck remembering the safe word than you can." as she spoke she began to run the tip of her finger up and down the man's palm, clear just another way to toy with the mans far broken honor... if he had any left by this point. She seemed to be quite entertained by the newcomers statement as she had half expected there to be cries of anger or confusion and a call for assistance. Intriguing man.

"Safe word? You never said anything about a safe wo-ghaaa!"

The woman continued to put more pressure on the man's arm, and at this point it would be more likely that it would break soon before being bent back any further. "Ow do not blame me for not remembering it, if i recall you were the one who asked for a good time." she said as a slight chuckle could be heard from under her white mask, clearly entertained by the man's unfortunate predicament. Ironically she actually had given the man a safe word when they met earlier, well that was before he realized that the woman he was hitting on was wearing a white fox mask. "So are you here for a good time as well? or maybe you would like to have your own little special time with my friend here. I can oblige to both."

"Wait what! Hey you Blondie, get this cunt off of me and Ill give you some worthwhile information. My boss has the crown-gyaaa"

The gruff man tried to plead with the newcomer, hopping that he would find some pity on his situation though before he could say anything else the woman applied more pressure to his arm. She clearly could of done so the moment that he opened his mouth though clearly unlike him she could see that the newcomer was not just some average tavern hopper. "Lets not get ahead of ourselves now." she said as she continued to stroke the man's palm with her finger much to gruff man's distaste and confusion.

"Well, you two continue enjoying your time.... ... ... Try the word "Love". That's usually a safe word. Trust me, I'm an adventurer."

The newcomer just again and again proved himself to be a far more interesting man that this gruff little thing that she had pinned down. "You really should not give him any clues, he might just get it right then then our fun will be over." She started to wonder if the man had actually realized that she was toying with him to get the information out of him or that if this was just some BDSM thing. To be fair she was not completely against the idea. She once heard that traumatic events can often lead to new fetishes, so then it was possible that her little gruff friend might just end up liking it later on to remember her always.

She found herself slightly curious on the depths of Gruff's ignorance as for all he knew this newcomer could end up putting him in a far more... unfortunate situation that she had. Could be some sort of serial killer who enjoys slicing off ears and the middle toes as trophies.

"Lady, I'll take up your offer to have some fun with this man... ... ... Also, I'd like to know more about this crown."

She could not help but chuckle slightly at the mans slightly unexpected remark. "Seems that more people are interested in these sorts of things than I thought. Would you like to start from scratch or continue on with this piece?" The situation she was now in was rather unexpected and in her opinion it was slowly turning for the better. Plus at least this one was the gentlemen unlike her current one. Wonder what he will start with; the face, maybe a finger or two. This should be entertaining to watch.

She began to relieve some of the pressure off of Gruff's arm but before he could get more than a moments worth of relief the sound of wood and thick reams could be heard crashing and breaking around them. In a brief moment the situation seemed to have changed a little bit as now instead of two people with their play toy there now seemed to be quite a number of rough and battle hardened looking individuals around them. There was also the fact that now the upper floor of the tavern was now open roofed.

"Haha you see that! I told you that my boss would not forget about meeEEEE!

Seemingly their special time was not yet over for the Gruff man, or John now. Strangely she had never even bothered to ask him what his name was. As she returned the pressure to his arm she quickly glazed over her new surroundings and more importantly the one who decided to speak out of all of the men in the crowd; clearly the alpha of this group. "Faithful? Wonder what your boss will say after he hears about everything that you have told me." All of them seemed to be at least adequately armed and nearly every piece clearly resembled those that kingdom knights would wear but unlike the average ones these were far more weathered and worn down. The man from the group continued to speak "I don't know why the Fox has gotten herself involved with our affair, but whatever it is... its not going to end well for you."

Turning her attention to the newcomer from before, who had his play time shattered by the interruption. "How about it? It doesn't seem as though these men will be able to satisfy your curiosity." Whether she was referring to his introductory course to BDSM or towards the information on the crown was up for debate, or it was simply both. She wanted to see where the man's current interests were being held, either they were towards simply getting out of this strange situation, to figure out more about the crown, or maybe even join against here. She quickly went over the entertainment values of the scenarios while she waited for his decision.

"Well, I'm not much into group play, but I'll get these people working their ass off for destroying the place. After I'm done with them, I'd like some explanations from you, Gilded Fox.... ... Just stay where you are and let me handle everything."

In all honesty out of the two emotions that were in play within Fox's head, excitement towards the blond man and slight annoyance towards the thugs, the excitement was far proceeding the annoyance of her time with John being rudely halted. Though the excitement was not just because of him being there but rather the fact that it was not that often that she interacted with someone who played along with her playful mannerisms. The two of them seemed to be strangely similiar in their mannerism, except that he had a slightly more serious and honorable side to him.

Fox was debating on the subject though she figured that once these thugs were dealt with she had at least some intention on giving the blond man at least some explanation, at least enough to wet his tongue on. After all they did not get to have their own special time together yet. "My champion does always know how to treat his fair lady, I shall oblige." Fox placed her fingers on her lips, or at least where her lips would be under her mask, and blew the blonde man a kiss of good luck as though the two of them were simple Knight and noble Lady. The situation did somewhat resemble that especially when you add in his apparent gentlemanly side.

"Metal Bend, Release!"

In most situations there was always the general uncertainty of battle to deal with, chaotic elements that could not be controlled or predicted. Though as the blonde man had put it himself earlier 'They were the ground, and he was the sky'. It could be seen from a simple glance of the thugs to their apparent target, it would be something that was over before it even began.

It was quick and barley noticeable but the moment that the blonde man pulled out his weapon it was clearly obvious that what ever its true form was it was a at the start what appeared to be as a sword. But at the same time it was able to become a whip of sorts. Her eyes rarely left the movements of both the blonde man and his sword for the next few brief moments. The moment that the whip had hit the hands of the opponents revealed a trove of information about its possible nature, it being both a whip and still retain its sharpness of when it was a blade. Perhaps it was as the man had shouted out earlier and he was manipulating the metal though from their earlier conversation she nearly 100% doubted that it was something as simple as that, he was not the type of man who would simply reveal his card before the game even began. The simple bluff would probably have worked on the average knight though her eyes and mind were far more curious and skeptical than that.

But no matter what it was his fighting style was clearly well designed to be able to fight a large number of opponents at once, well except for the one. It was the one man who had spoken earlier and apparently was just slightly more adept in evasion than his quite unfortunate commercials. Since she was playing the role of the damsel in distress it would be fitting for her to let the situation unfold as it should would it not? Unlike the man who charging at her she was keeping a eye on her target, where his should of been the man who took down his comrades with ease. As if it were one cue the man seemed to do something interesting yet again, unlike his previous movements this was able to take his sword right from his hand before it was even able to get within a meter of her body. The now weaponless man was rightly confused by the whole situation, she considered that it was probably now that he was finally realizing the sheer level difference between himself and his opponent; better late than never.

"I did announce that I metal bend, no?"

What ever the man's ability was, it seemingly fit with what the man was revealing about it but as her previous thoughts went, he was clearly one who liked to play around with words; after all it is probably what she would do in the same situation. She would have done something herself though she was playing the part of the damsel in distress and it would be rather unfitting for a distressed lady to take down a knight. For future reference though the act was already getting quite dull as she preferred to be a little more active in the types of role's she was playing. What ever the man's abilities were, they clearly allowed him to control the shape and movements to some degree but at the same time she wondered if the ability he had just used was something separate from that he used with his sword; further testing and observation would be required.

"Will you want to join your comrades in the hospital or would you like to start with your repairing? ... ... You're alright, right? Well, you should be, as I gave you my word that I would take care of you."

With the fight clearly now over, the thug's spirit more than beaten down to a fine pulp, she figured that if she was going to play the role for a little while she might as well play it right. "Ow my dear knight, to believe that my heart wavered for you so during that terrible ordeal. As a token of our love I give you this handkerchief so that you may remember me always." she said in a far more elegant and feminine tone that any of her previous tones, the sound and mannerism of her voice almost made it sound as though she was a completely different person. At the notion off a token she used her free hand to rip off a piece of John's clothing and tossed it to the blonde man, it really all that was available at the time as she did not have a lady's handkerchief on hand. After she had thrown it was becoming more difficult to keep in the humerus nature of the situation. She let out a slight laugh as her voice changed back to what it was prier.

Though now that the fight was over it was painfully, quite literally for John's sake, obvious that there was little more information to be obtained from him. On the other hand, her attention turned to the man that had attempted to leap at her. If she did not have her mask on she would have quite a mischievous smile on her face as the special time might just have been transferred to someone new. For the first time in a good while Fox completely released John's arm, allowing him a slight moment of relief but before any more could be had he quickly found Fox's foot being impacted on his head and knocking him completely out. She casually walked over to her new target who was complaining and moaning about being stabbed in the back. She... gently... placed her food on the man's fresh stab wound just to make sure to remind him of his situation. "Now, how about we find out what your boss will do to you after you tell me all of your wonderful little thoughts." though before she went any further she turned her gaze back towards the blonde man "I assume that you want something a little more than a lady's token? After all I did say that I would oblige to my dear knights requests." she, from the almost unseen expression that he had shown earlier when the crown was mentioned, knew that he now had the seed of curiosity within him.

"Well, you do know what I want, don't you? Just three questions, and one request. First off, Are you really the Gilded Fox? ... ... ... And, my one and only request is, may I see what lies behind the mask?"

She had expected as much, well maybe not so many one after the other, but she had expected more than Ares just asking about the crown and who knows maybe he had a insatiable curiosity just as she did. No matter how she answered though it would be painfully obvious that he was now just as involved in this situation just as her, well maybe more so due to the simple fact that she was just having some fun time while he went off and almost severed off quite a number of knights hands; she doubted that their boss would see a difference. "Aren't we curious today, but I always know what a man wants; its usually one of two things. The Gilded Fox? Who knows, I may or may not be. I might just be some dominatrix that you fortunately stumbled upon. There often is cases of mistaken identities in these parts especially where brutes are concerned... But you can call me Fox for now Ares the Dragon slayer." Clearly she had heard of the man before, before he stated his name she had her suspicions but afterwords they were pretty much settled that this man was the legendary adventurer.

"Pride?" she said with a rather blunt tone to her voice as she turned her head back down to the man she was keeping pinned down, she applied a bit more pressure to his fresh wound as groans of agony could be heard "I don't see any." Playing a bit of a innocent in the situation she had partially created.

"The basics of the crown go like this... once upon a time." upon saying this she had quite a noticeable tone of humor in her voice as though there was some sort of epic tale of bravery and heroics involved perfect for a noble knight and his trusty steed. "The crown was simply just a prize within the Liones castle from a war that happened a long time ago, probably got it after the other king met his end at the post. Though as from what one of my friends have told me it might just be something a little more than that inside of that. The boss of these men, as well as them, used to be holy knights of Liones at least until they took the crown and ran off with it. More so he believes that it will be able to take over the throne with it or something along the lines off obtaining power. I just simply want to know what it is." She simply stated to Ares, it would be difficult to tell if she was telling him everything she knew about it or rather it would be best to assume that after all what is the fun in knowing everything from the start.

She turned her gaze back over towards Ares "I wonder what type of girl you think I am Ares, to ask one to take off her clothing only on the first date. I wonder just how bold you can be dear Ares... Are you enticed enough or do you want to have a go?" she simply asked the man, though she probably already knew his answer before asking as he was like her and could not resist the temptations of following such a situation.

"I would never do this to a lady, I'll wait. I'm afraid your looks as the Gilded Fox would "steal" my heart away... ... ... I would like to get to the bottom of this. And no, I do not expect a repayment from you for such a simple request."

Clearly, unlike most people that she had to deal with on a daily basis, Ares was someone who knew how to play along with the game with words. Most men tended to get thrown off or uncomfortable when she started to throw out those types of words into the air, seeming yet another thing that the two of them had in common. One may be surprised on just how often that simple words can completely throw someone off of their game, it was one of the first lessons she had ever learned. If she were to just hear the man's name as he was passing she probably would not of came to the complete conclusion that he was the dragon slayer though after seeing his movements in the fight earlier there could be little doubt on his true identity.

"Madness and ambition are often interchangeable, if he succeeds he is the latter and if he fails the former. I do not know about you Ares but I think that we might just be due for another Mad King as it might just make things a little more interesting around here.... It probably is not mere coincidence that they only did this right after the kings passing, who knows they may of just simply saw their opportunity when it came or maybe something a little more nefarious in giving a helping hand." Whether or not the entire situation was completely planned with every little detail was not entirely the important part of the who situation, rather it was simply a question of what they were going to do with it that was. In her own opinion the passing of a king was a rather uneventful time as in her own homeland she had seen over 5 take the mantle and leave it the same way that they took it. Politics tended to always flow in the same direction.

"Do not fret, I am sure that we can find some way to pay you for your troubles.... We have an accord then? Good, I think that our friend here was begging to feel left out in all of our idle chit-chat. How about it, why don't you join in. Lets start with where we left off with your friend. Location." As she stated the last word she pushed her foot onto the man's fresh wound, by this time he was about ready to pass out from his earlier ordeal but now he will be wide awake for a little while. It was doubtful that there would be anymore interruptions, at least anytime soon as clearly their boss held some sort of confidence that the sheer number of men he had sent would be enough to challenge her. She was clearly imposing on the man his poor situation and that he would not be leaving without giving up something.

"Gyaaa! Stop! Just stop already. You want to know where the boss is?! Fine, you can go shove off right to him so he and the captains can deal with your scrawny ass'... The Jagged hills Keep."

"Though, as an adventurer, I have no obligation to actually settle Liones' trouble. ... ... ... And also, I just can't simply leave a maiden like you to go off on her own, no? It'll be too dangerous for you."

"Your not going to get all sentimental on me now are you? Not right when the game begins." Fox had little to no interest in the King as by her standards he was quite a dull man who's only accomplishment in life was doing what was expected of someone in his position; no flare or style in any of it. After all her greatest source of entertainment in life at the moment was taking away the things that people like him cared about the most, or at least those things that no one else was able to lay eyes upon. If anything Fox was just true to one thing... herself in that she only cared to do things that somehow interested her and satisfying those said interests. The only time that she had ever became a so called ally of someone was when their interests happened to coincide.

The Jagged Hills, figures as much that a man attempting a coup would run off to a place like that. Coincidentally she had used the location as a temporary safe house herself after a rather large heist a few years prier and from what she could recall from the place the location was rather iconic due to the strange rock formations that surrounded the keep for miles in ever direction; hundreds of massive crevices and cracks that weaved in and out of the mountains that made the place quite a maze. It was also the same reason why the keep was abandoned in the first place as it was simply to far out of the way and a far too treacherous path to keep supplied. The terrain made it easy enough to lose pursuers as well as to be able to constantly rain down arrows on enemy positions no matter where they were.

While Ares was obtaining the rope intended to tie up their new friend she took her leave of the former knights back side, at least his wound would keep him from talking much during the trip there... or it might just make him bleed out; either scenario worked in her favor though the former might prove better in the long run. "I'm sure that someone will be happy for their pet being returned, would of made it easier if he had a collar." At the notion of Ares giving her leave she figured that if these guys went through all the hassle of breaking the entire attic that they might as well make use of it. There would be less silent glares from the tavern guests that way. With that in mind Fox took her leave of the attic by simply walking to the now nonexistent attic walls and gently jumping off of to the empty street down below.

Now having some sort of direction to head in she began to head north towards their destination.

[Exit]