They Can't Feel Like We Do (PsionicCuttlefish & Micbunny)

[PsionicCuttlefish]

It was a night like any other in the Firelight district of the Lower Menthis Plateau ward. Casinos, taverns, bordellos, and other attractions spilled noise and laughter out onto the streets of Sharn's only somewhat-reputable red light district. Aside from the various forms of illegal entertainment, petty crime was relatively suppressed here, in sharp contrast to Dragoneyes and Sharn's Welcome elsewhere in the City of Towers. A visitor here could tell that people were having a good time in fairly relaxed safety. Firelight was even home to the bordello Savia's, an opulent affair that boasted to receive clientele from all the way up to Upper Central Plateau and even the floating Skyway above the city, the highest of Sharn's high society.

The Crimson Lotus was no Savia's, but it was nonetheless still well-known as a classy establishment for sophisticated companionship. The escorts employed here were refined, educated, cultured, and very tight-knit. Unlike many of the other brothels in Firelight, the Crimson Lotus did not have a policy of racial discrimination, but the workers were well taken care of and took care of each other. Individually the employees were allowed to refuse a client for any reason, and with how much they treated each other like family, it incentivized would-be clients to be on their best behavior, lest they find that no escorts were "available".

Clients walked in, and either stayed the night or left with a partner, all routine. It was a night like any other.

Until Cavalier stepped through the doors. He was a fairly tall individual, and dressed in colorful, expensive clothes. The fabric of the leggings was puffy with red-and-purple checker patterns, accentuated by gold-colored trim. The shirt was loose and flowing, with wavy stripe patterns also of red and purple, with a decorative white-and-gold vest over top. Blue velvet gloves covered his hands. A well-crafted saber was belted to his hip. And lastly, a yellow-feather-plumed blue cavalier hat was perched on his head. All in all, he was dressed as fabulously as half of the Crimson Lotus' usual clients, nothing unusual or standing out in particular.

Except for the fact that underneath the clothing was not flesh, but wood, metal, and bundled cords of plant fiber.

The warforged turned heads from other clients and occupied escorts as he strode through the reception area of the Crimson Lotus. He walked up to an open countertop, with a portly gnome sitting at the desk behind it, who was giving Cavalier a rather confused look. "...Can I...help you, warforged? Do you need directions?" The gnome said slowly. In all the years the Crimson Lotus had been in operation, a warforged had never entered the building. A warforged wearing clothing was even more bizarre.

"Directions? Not at all, good fellow. I am Cavalier, and I wish to purchase the services of one of this house's companions for the evening, specifically of the female persuasion." The warforged said, throwing several more oddities out aside from the request itself; he spoke with a well-inflected, smoothly nuanced voice, unlike most warforged with usually-monotonous tones and clipped words, and his wooden jaw--fused with the rest of his wooden cranium--actually flexed and stretched, unlike the rigid metal jaws on hinges of most warforged. In fact, Cavalier was missing the usual stone, metal, and wood exterior plating of nearly all warforged, or any kind of plating in general, which was what was allowing him to wear fitting clothes in the first place; the fiber-bundles that made up his 'muscles', visible at his neck, were bare and held together with only thin bands of flexible metal.

"...Ah." The gnome receptionist uttered simply, rather at a loss for words. The receptionists at the other desks couldn't help but also glance in Cavalier's direction, slightly distracted from the clients they were handling. The gnome ruminated on the very weird situation before him, but eventually nodded. "...I see. If you will wait here, I shall...go check the availability of our escorts..."

"Certainly. I shall wait." Cavalier said with a small, respectful bow, as the receptionist slid out of his chair and walked his jolly weight further into the building, heading for the main lounge.

*****

Heads looked up as Sebbin stepped into the lounge. "Hey, girls? You're not gonna believe this, but, uh...there's a warforged out front who wants to hire one of you. Any volunteers?"

The gossiping menagerie of call-girls (and a few gigolos) working for the Crimson Lotus had been making their usual smalltalk, and continued to converse when Sebbin appeared, but now everything abruptly skidded to a halt. All eyes stared disbelievingly at Sebbin. "You...you're serious?" One of the human prostitutes--Maggie--eventually uttered out, earning a nod from Sebbin. "...What in Olladra's name?" She muttered.

"But...that doesn't...why?" Another woman, a changeling named Jee currently in the form of an elf, asked. "What is even the point? Warforged don't have the parts..." She pointed out, to which Sebbin only helplessly shrugged. "...Maybe it wants to have someone to talk to? Plenty of people come to us for that..."

"Hah! I doubt that." The halfling Kayla piped up. "I mean, have any of you ever really met a warforged? I have." Kayla made a sour face. "Worst. Conversationalists. Ever. They're not called war-forged for nothing, you know. And they don't even eat, right? I remember hearing that from somewhere. It can't want to be taking you out for a candle-lit dinner..." Kayla said with the most emphatic voice yet, and many of her coworkers were nodding along with her.

"I mean...I keep an open mind myself." Jezebel, another human, said. "You all know I've been taking that hobgoblin lately who's becoming a regular, Gushaak? You wouldn't expect a hobgoblin to be polite, but he is, and he's great in the bed. But...a warforged? Physically or emotionally, they can't even feel like we do!"

A few more voiced agreeing sentiments of the pointlessness of escorting a warforged, everyone looking and nodding at each other all the way. It looked like no one was going to stand up and take this client...

 

[Micbunny]

There are many thing that most people do not understand about working at a place like The Crimson Lotus. While it is fancy, the ladies and men get wonderful clothes, the food and wine is exquisite, the accommodations are bounteous, and the wages are pretty good, it suffers from a single major problem. You are always expected to be in 'character' in public and when your time is not purchased things can get quite boring. Your nights are devoted to working, and your days are often spent preparing for the next evening. And if no one pays for your time or attention, you merely sit around looking pretty or occasionally serving enticing treats to those enjoying the lounge.

It was just such a night for Mia. The fiery haired half elf was draped over a couch in the lounge, showing off her new outfit. A low cut, tight fitting full length dress, colored a vibrant red and gold. Her ample bust pushed up by the lace and leather bodice barely hidden underneath the sheer garment. A split that began right above her hip and ran all the way down showed her smooth, slender, pale leg as she relaxed with a sigh. A pair of stormy blue eyes, like twin lapis glanced up as Sebbin entered the room. 'Hmmm, perhaps this night might be interesting. A special client?' Mia was one of the more expensive girls at the Lotus, having worked there for quite some time and developed a moderate reputation as a witty, fiery, exotic, and quite skilled companion. It also helped that she spoke most languages in Khorvaire at least possibly. There was a rumor that she had once entertained King Kiaus on one of his few visits to Sharn. While these were in fact merely rumors, she had indeed been seen on the arm of many a diplomat, dignitary, or wealthy merchant. Always sporting the red neck ribbon that signified her place of employ.

As the other girls voiced there consternation and incredulity, Mia pondered, before finally speaking up. "Sebbin, dear, how much is he paying?"

At this, the other girls looked over at her, a mix of shock, surprise, and confusion. The momentary silence was finally broken by a deep bellied laugh from the only Dwarf on the Lotus' payroll, a stout woman by the name of Gertrude. "Ah, seems Mia's got an interest. What is it lass? Coming close on a payment on that fine dress a' yers?" She said, getting a tingling laugh from the other girls. "Well, I guess if it paid enough, I mean their money is as good as any? But still... talk about a boring job." Kayla piped in.

"Well, it's a slow night, and if I'm going to sit on my ass and be bored, I might as well get paid for it." Mia replied. With a practiced ease and elegance, she get off the couch and swayed over toward the portly gnome. "I'll go talk to him." Sebbin nodded, and led her from the lounge to the desk, and the waiting 'forged.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Cavalier stood in the reception area, waiting patiently as he occasionally glanced around. A number of people were still giving him odd looks, but that was entirely normal and expected to him--he wasn't exactly a typical warforged. Few people knew he and others like him even existed, fewer still knew what any of it really meant. A few minutes passed, and Cavalier noticed the gnome receptionist returning--followed by a stunning example of a humanoid female. She was wearing an exquisitely vivid dress that tastefully accentuated and showed off the flowing curves of the body beneath it, plus a sparkling red ribbon around her neck that Cavalier understood to be an indicator of her profession. The warforged also took note of her dazzling red mane, particularly as it was clearly very well-groomed with how it shimmered brightly in the light. The two little green lights set into the two pits in his head that indicated Cavalier's 'eyes' met the two gleaming blue jewels of the semi-pointed-eared woman. Cavalier was aware of and cared about aesthetics, unlike most warforged, and he found the woman approaching him to be very aesthetically pleasing.

Mia would see the warforged waiting in the reception area stand at attention with her approach, though he was almost difficult to pick out at first--his entire body save for his head and neck were covered by clothes, which was exceptionally bizarre as warforged generally didn't wear clothes besides utility belts, bandoliers, or sometimes "cargo" apparel for pockets, having no use for anything more. Yet, this warforged was fully dressed, flamboyantly so, in what were recognizably expensive custom-tailored threads that fit him in such a manner giving away that he was missing the usual external bulky plating of a warforged. What's more, Mia could actually sea the warforged's head tilt with him looking at her up and down, like he was actually appraising and appreciating her looks, also something very unusual for a warforged to do.

Sebbin stepped aside and gestured to Mia for introduction. "This is Mia. She is our only escort currently...available. She also, incidentally, has one of our higher rates. Will you still be hiring her tonight...?" The gnome asked, though he couldn't completely keep a skeptical quirk of his eyebrow from his face.

Cavalier had caught the moment's hesitation on the word "available" and knew then that the receptionist was telling a polite fiction, but while Cavalier caught it where most warforged wouldn't have, he also didn't mind. The receptionist was just playing a social role, as was Cavalier--even if it was unusual for Cavalier to be playing it. The warforged brought a fist up to his chest as he stood in a confident pose. "Absolutely, good sir! I think I should be quite fortunate for her to be available tonight. After all, quality is worth its price, is it not?" He spoke, still in a well-inflected and smooth voice, though still with a faint but noticeable metallic tint, and with a light tone for his implied compliment to Mia. And at that, he held one blue-gloved hand out towards Mia, drawing a little attention to the fact that he had one thumb and two large fingers for his custom glove to fit, rather than four small fingers. Normal warforged in that respect. But he was holding his hand out palm-up with a slight deferential bow, exactly how one would when requesting a lady's hand. When Mia decided to accept the gesture and place her hand over his, the warforged leaned in and lightly touched his 'lips' (not that he really had any to speak of) to her knuckle, then leaned back. "Call me Cavalier, Lady Mia." The warforged said, with a slight bob of his feathered hat. "It will be a magnificent pleasure to have you with me this evening."

 

[Micbunny]

The first thing Mia notices about Cavalier is well, his attire. Why it was unarguably in the realm of fashion, it was so eclectic that it could do little else than draw the eye. But shortly after she was looking at the metal, corded fiber, and wood that showed beneath. This was indeed a warforged. And while his dress fit in with some of the clients of the Crimson Lotus, the... man? Being underneath certainly did not. It was at that point that her gaze met the green glow of the warforged's eyes. And Mia did what she could to stifle a gasp. While most warforged had a strange... appreciative look in his eyes as they met. 'Well now, this is a surprise.' Mia considered as she approached the warforged.

After the introduction from Sebbin, Mia gave a faint curtsey, making sure to dip herself just enough to give her potential client for the evening a brief glimpse down her dress. Then, taking is hand gently, letting him 'kiss' (and my wasn't that an odd feeling) her hand, Mia smiled. "It is my pleasure to meet you, Sir Cavalier." Mia replied, looking over her client again, this time a bit more discerning. His clothes were so properly tailored, so perfectly placed and hung on his frame to not just cover, but intact accent the eschewment of the traditional plating and warlike nature of the 'forged. Mia could not help but appreciate it. "I must say though, it is a surprise to meet one such as yourself looking for companionship. I do hope I can manage to meet whatever expectations you have of such an evening." Her words were measured, careful, courteous, and to a 'script' she had ready, modified of course for the circumstances. Mia may have been surprised by this client, but she was nothing if not professional about it.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Cavalier remained observant as Lady Mia took him in and introduced herself. She was professional and guarded her expressions well, but Cavalier was astute enough to detect Mia's surprise at how unexpected he was to her, and then a little mild curiosity as she diligently stayed 'in-character'. Cavalier appreciated her efforts for what they were, and he knew already that he had gotten quite fortunate. He could tell that Mia was going to be treating him as she would any other client, and that was exactly what Cavalier was looking for.

At Mia's polite ending comments, Cavalier nodded slightly. "Well, I am simply a client like any other, seeking a social escort. Worry not about expectations! Your companionship is itself what I desire for my evening." Cavalier then turned his head back towards Sebbin. "And what will such a graceful accompaniment tonight cost me?"

The gnome adjusted a few items on his desk. "Right. Well, Mia's evening escort service rate is forty-five silver for the first three hours, paid now, and three silver for every hour after that if any, paid when you return with her." He said in a still slightly dubious tone, but otherwise seemed to be going along with the events.

"Very well!" Cavalier said, turning back to the reception desk. He reached for a pocket on the inside of his vest, then pulled out a small pouch. He opened it up, counted out five silver coins and four gold coins, then passed them over the counter to the gnome. Sebbin took a few moments to examine them for authenticity, then nodded and looked back up.

"The Crimson Lotus thanks you for your visit." Sebbin said as he began to fill out some paperwork.

"Indeed." Cavalier nodded, then turned to face towards the exit, then looked sideways at Mia as he held out his left elbow towards her in the same way any of her clients would offer to hold, with his right hand relaxing on the hilt of the saber belted to his hip. "Shall we, m'Lady?"

Once Mia entwined one of her arms with Cavalier's elbows, he started walking out of the Crimson Lotus with her. Despite being quite tall like most warforged, Cavalier measured his pace carefully, keeping a relaxed and comfortable stride for the shorter half-elf. Once out in the streets of Firelight, Cavalier looked around before speaking up. "Anyway, I have several destinations in mind for us to enjoy tonight, m'Lady. First, I have two tickets to a theater over in the Downstairs district. I realize that the venue may not be quite as, ah...luxurious as it ought to be for one of your elegance, but I find the plays by the theater's resident artist to be quite..." Cavalier paused slightly more conspicuously. "...meaningful." After another brief pause, Cavalier spoke up again. "But after that, I also have reservations for an establishment in Upper Menthis that should be much more befitting of your beauty." Cavalier said, turning his head to look down at Mia. While all warforged Mia had ever seen had hinged and rigid metal jaws incapable of forming expressions, Cavalier's novel fused, flexing wooden jaw had actually bent upwards into a recognizable smile.

For Mia, the mention of a theater in the Downstairs district was a dead giveaway. Downstairs was a Lower Menthis district, like Firelight, and moreover it was a tavern district--the actual Lower Menthis theater district was Torchfire. There was only one theater of any notability in Downstairs...and a lot of that was due to the main playwright.

 

[Micbunny]

"Well well Sir Cavalier, it appears we have quite the evening ahead of us. I do hope I can keep up." Mia spoke with a practice giggle. That little laugh that was meant to assure and assuage the concerns of a new client. Hiring an escort, and especially a well known and recognizable one, was not something most men did every day. And while it was not quite taboo, there would often be rumors and the potential for scandal. And given the circumstances well.... Mia figured the tabloids would be plastered with news of this night for at least the next fortnight.

But Mia was a professional, one of the best in her field. Still, there was some nagging in her mind. This theater. She should know it, there were only so many well known venues in town, yes even a 'town' as big as the City of Towers. But still, she could not quite place the name of this one. She had certainly spent far too long in the lower end of the upper crust recently. Still, to not appear unaware of such an important place, Mia put on a smile.

"I must admit I have not been following acting works of late. Far too many operas this season as I am sure you know. Might I ask what is the name of the play this evening? Perhaps it will jog my memory?" It was.... not quite a lie, but certainly not the truth. In actuality, Mia had been following what much of the arts in the city. She never knew when one of the actors might seek her attendance at some ball, and she had to at least know their name and role to properly flatter them about how gallant they looked, or how sinister their acting depending on the role, without prompting. But there had been a minor revival movement this year, and there had been a surplus of opera. Mia just merely never paid attention to much of the 'poorer' showings, as their stars and major players were unlikely to employ her services.

As the two continued to walk, Mia did notice the measured, even pace that Cavalier kept with her, and she was quite thankful for it. A touch short even for a half-elf, Cavalier seemed a giant next to her. Although perhaps that was appealing to him? Did Warforged have tastes like that? Well, perhaps Mia might find out.... eventually?

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Cavalier turned his head to give Mia another attentive look as they both walked their way down the winding street. "Lady Mia, though we have only just met moments ago, I must say I have a good feeling about you. I think that you shall have no trouble 'keeping up' tonight." Indeed, Cavalier was being completely honest. The mere fact that she was willing to consider escorting a warforged despite what had to be a very bizarre situation for her, let alone actually do so, was a good judgment on her character in his opinion. He was keenly aware, more than she might realize, how open-minded she had to be when he knew full well what the most likely reactions to him would be--and the most likely reactions to her for being with him. He wasn't missing the occasional weird stares and gossiping whispers that the two of them were receiving as they walked down the street, even though he pretended to ignore them as he looked forward again.

In truth, he actually hadn't expected 'success' at all tonight. The Crimson Lotus was not the first 'house of companionship' he had walked into this evening. He had tried several others, and got the anticipated--but still disappointing--reactions each time; swift and vehement directions back the way he came. He had been ready to call his little experiment a bust before it even began (an outcome he had known was likely) when he had walked through the doors of the Lotus...and received what he considered to be the amazing fortune of Mia.

At her question about they play they were to see, he thought it a little unlikely that she didn't know the deal with the only theater over in Downstairs district, but not impossible. "Ah yes, the operas have been quite in vogue. Well, the play we are to be experiencing goes by the name The Sword's Regret, by one Luca Syara." Luca Syara--that would most likely ring a bell to Mia. Despite 'only' being a Lower Menthis artist, Luca Syara was one of the most famous--or infamous, depending on who you asked, and there were many who'd answer such--playwrights trending in discussions in Sharn's entertainment circles, even in the upper wards of the city.

As the two partners kept walking, Cavalier spoke up again. "However, as we have a fair distance to go before we reach the first of our destinations tonight, I would just like to say..." The odd warforged turned his head to look down at Mia again as they strode on. "I think you have very good taste in dresses; yours looks fantastic on you. The way it shimmers endlessly in the light, on such deep and passionate colors, is more spectacular than any mage-lights...like gem-stones in a flame. It also reveals just the right amount of yourself to display your irresistibly enticing grace. And it, of course, matches your lovely ribbon perfectly." The warforged said, each compliment smoothly flowing from one to the next. And he wasn't done.

"Yet, I find none of it compares to the radiance that is your own dazzling mane. It creates a remarkably soft and smooth curtain down your back, and burns so brightly that it is as if you carry a passionate fire of your very own with you, as a crown...a blazing crown to match any royal's splendor." He made a momentary pause before continuing. "I can perceive rather particularly that you must take exceptional care of your sublime tresses. You must be reserving time every day to maintain such pristine grandeur." The warforged's jaw flexed into another smile. "I find such dedication to be admirable." Such aesthetic compliments were surely something Mia had heard many times before, but Cavalier still knew it must be so strange to hear such things from him...

 

[Micbunny]

"Ah, Syara's latest dragedy? I heard that this time they actually got her to speak a preface before the first performance. Such an odd one that write is. Most playwrights of her caliber would be chomping at the bit to strut their stuff on the stage. I must say her plays are rarely the type I am taken to on a date. It will be my first time seeing one in person. This will be a treat indeed." Mia spoke, prattling a bit about the play. Indeed the.... interesting subject matter and manner of plays written by the eccentric playwright were not usual for one to bring an escort to. But then, for a warforged claiming to want to experience things, that unique style may be just up his alley. This was growing curiouser and curiouser. But it was certainly not boring.

Indeed, Mia had received such compliments, and more, before. There was even a time where a certain bard wrote a particularly... embarrassing love ballad about her, describing much of the half-elves body in..... robust detail. But to hear such flowery language from a Warforged, even one as odd as her current companion took her off guard for a moment. "Oh I'm not that impressive really. Yah just expect somethin' like this from a 'lady of class'. And that's my role." And then Mia paused, gasping slightly and putting a hand to her mouth. A -glaringly- 'low class' accent had just slipped from her mouth. A bit of 'twang' from one born in the Cogs. It was tempered, likely by time away from those origins, but there it was. For, like many in her line of work, she was not at all what she appeared. The vision of exotic nobility and intrigue was once a street urchin from the deepest, darkest, dirtiest parts of Sharn. She played her role well, and she was indeed quite educated and quick of wit, but her origin, her seeming 'nobility' was a sham, and now it had slipped out.

Mia remained frozen for a moment, then lowered her hand, took in a breath and spoke again. "I do apologize for that slip of the tongue. I do not know what came over me. I hope I did not ruin the.... atmosphere. If you wish we can continue?" Mia was nervous. Her current client seemed quite taken with her appearance of beauty, of grace, of style. And she wondered just how detrimental such a slip would be. Silently, Mia was kicking herself in her head. She was professional, she was practiced, she should not have made such a -dumb- mistake. Mia was better than that and she knew it. But the way Cavalier just seemed so cheerful, so pleased with everything, so just... happy to be alive was so different from the manner of her other clients. Always showing off, strutting and crowing and preening. They were easy to please by just being what they wanted her to be. But this warforged, this... strange, metal.... man, yes he was indeed being quite a man, seemed just happy to have her company. And she actually sincerely hoped she had not just shattered his delight.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Cavalier nodded as Mia spoke her recognition of the controversial playwright. He thought it a little interesting that she had not seen one of Syara's works yet at all, and the artificial man wondered if Mia might find it as engaging as he does. He did notice that she seemed to be a little surprised by the compliments he praised her with. However, that certainly didn't compare to what came next, with Mia speaking in a very different accent for a moment in her brief flustered bout--which then transformed into horrified and somewhat obvious shame. Cavalier did slow his walking down to a stop and turn his head to look at her on his side where she held his arm as she apologized for her slip in the mood. It didn't take Cavalier's extensive study of 'fleshling' behaviors to know that she was very worried right then. His head simply tilted slightly askew as he regarded her...and then, that flexible wooden jaw of his bent into another smile. "...Well, m'Lady, you should know that you have just dangled a curiosity in front of me. And if there is one thing in my short life that I have never let go of..." Cavalier turned his head forward, with his left arm still out for Mia to hold, as he began to step onward again. "it is curiosity!" He said, still in his upbeat tone.

For indeed, he was not bothered in the slightest by Mia's 'slip'. It only made her even more fascinating to him! On the other hand... "However, despite my curiosity, I will not be so rudely crass as to ply the Lady with questions, I understand that would be highly ungentlemanly of me." Cavalier reassured Mia. "Still, I am all the more interested in your companionship tonight! As you yourself remarked on Luca Syara, she is rather unconventional, in more ways than one...and it is those qualities that I find value in. I already find value in a similar quality in yourself." He briefly turned his head to her again as he walked, giving her another smile. He did recognize her accent, it was rather hard not to notice the distinct twang of one born and raised in the very lowest parts of the city where the majority of Sharn's warforged population currently worked or resided. And yet, someone Cogs-born was now working in one of the top upscale houses of companionship in the city! Cavalier very much wanted to learn her story. But that would not be a thing for tonight, no. Tonight was a night of roles and masks, and indeed, he was quite sure that Mia would be very unhappy if he tried to pry into her past. He could tell she was bothered by her own story, however much he might be pleased to hear it. Maybe, if the night went well, and maybe, if he saw her in the future, that could be something she might open up to him of her own accord. After all, that she was 'unconventionally' open-minded enough to consider escorting him in the first place was one of the qualities in her he valued.

 

[Micbunny]

"Well then...... I thank you for your.... understanding." Mia replied, looking down at her feet and looking much like a child would when they had escaped punishment they felt they deserved. But as they continued she considered it. Maybe he was being honest, he truly did not mind. After all, what reason did this warforged have to lie to her now? After all, he was being quite the gentleman. So, after a bit more walking, Mia had once again slipped into her 'mask' of the perfect escort. And soon resumed chatting about the various goings on of the city. Cavalier proved quite the conversationalist, managing to keep pace with Mia, and even had a bit more of a hand on some of the events in the city that had not yet happened but were about to. And thus they continued, after that little stumble, until they reached the theater.

***********

Outside the theater the crowd was immense. Men, women, dwarves, elves, half-elves, gnomes, and even the occasional half-orc were milling about in a variety of outfits. From the poor-but-well-kempt to the high class clearly 'slumming', to anything in between. It was a sight entirely familiar to Mia, and she was used to some glances her way. After all, her purpose was to be seen. But this was a bit different. Being on the arm of this strange looking warforged.... no, correction. Being on the arm of a -Waforged- was drawing quite the attention. It seemed like every eye was on her. 'Maybe I should have worn a lower top?' Mia mused in her head 'If I'm going to be scandalous anyway, might at least put on a show.' Mia continued to smile though, before leaning her head slightly to address Cavalier "Quite the crowd it seems. I didn't know this play was so anticipated. Surprising given how.... same-y all of her plays can be." Mia looked around the crowd some more before noticing a particular looking half-elf, with a blue tattoo across his face. A Dragonmark. The man looked like a flamboyant ship captain, for he was, dressed in tight breeches and an overly ruffled shirt. But then the Dragonmarked half-elf noticed Mia and frowned, starting to walk through the crowd toward her. "Oh no.... I apologize for this but...." And then Mia spun to the front of Cavalier, wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting herself a bit to put her face even with the Warforged and then pressed her mouth to his!

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Once they had gotten walking again, Cavalier had a pleasant time of smalltalk with Mia, and indeed he was quite well-informed on the goings-on of the city. It was very rare that Cavalier had the opportunity for such discussions, being what he was and how most of the rest of his kind handled themselves, and he relished every minute of it! It was quite a refreshing change-of-pace for him, exactly what he was looking for. Already, this night was well worth it to him, and he was sure it would only get better from here!

By the time they reached the theater, Cavalier was in even better spirits than before. Though the crowd was very mixed and diverse, he still was keenly aware of the many, many stares directed towards himself and Mia. He expected exactly this of course, and he was certain Mia was sharp enough that she had to have known to expect this when she agreed to be his escort. Cavalier simply held his head high and kept his posture tall and confident, not hiding anything in the slightest. If people wanted to stare, then let them stare. At Mia's comment on the turnout, Cavalier replied promptly. "Hm, yes, it is true that Luca Syara's works do tend to fall under the same genre of dramatic-tragedy and have similar themes...but, what else can be said? They certainly do resonate with people from all walks of life. More than most other plays meant to entertain or impress...hers are relevant." He paused briefly. "This one, from the previews I have read, particularly so."

They would be standing outside for a few minutes while the theater filled up. Cavalier kept his tall, proud pose, almost daring any in the crowd to find trouble with him and Mia. And, as he scanned the crowed... Oh dear. It appears someone does want trouble! He thought as he noticed a Dragonmarked half-elf making his way directly for Cavalier and Mia with a frown on his face. No, not for Cavalier...the warforged quickly noticed how the man's eyes were focused sharply on only Mia. He clearly knows Mia. He is not happy to see her here. Perhaps... Cavalier quickly began thinking and predicting possible reasons and scenarios, and started planning out ways to resolve them, when Mia spoke to him again and stepped in front of him, between him and the approaching half-elf, to throw her arms around his neck...and lifted herself to press her lips to his mouth! Her lips met the split in his wooden face, and although his wooden jaw that was part of his magic-infused body had been modified to allow for some flexing, he did not actually have any real lips to speak of himself, nor could he move them in a way to actually meet Mia's back. It was like she was pressing her lips to a polished wooden doorknob.

...Still. Cavalier was nothing if not good at improvisation. He understood immediately what Mia was doing, both in the physical action and why she was doing it, and without missing a beat, he played along. He brought one of his gloved three-digited hands up to the back of Mia's head while he gently curled his other arm around her lower back, then twisted and leaned forward against her, sweeping Mia into a classic and dramatic 'kiss of romantic passion'! With his arms supporting her back and her head carefully, even though he had near-literally swept her off her feet he ensured she did not fall, just in the same way as any other enthusiastic men who had kissed Mia like this in her past. It was ostentatious, it was thrilling, and with him in his flamboyant outfit and Mia in her striking red dress it was straight out of a triumphant lover's reunion at the end of a play...and it was something that no ordinary warforged could have ever had any clue to actually think of, let alone attempt. With the way he had twisted, the two of them could see the approaching man out of the corners of their eyes (or in his case, the field of view of his optics)...but of course, although this was a show meant mostly for him, the half-elf was far from the only one to witness.

Gasps suddenly rose up in waves through the crowd as people noticed something unthinkable, a warforged and a woman kissing, let alone in such an over-the-top romantic way! People backed up just slightly to give the pair some room, and everyone a clear view of it. A partial silence fell for only a brief second after the gasps, before suddenly the whole crowd around Mia and Cavalier was quietly 'roaring' with hushed, hurried whispers and murmurs! With Mia so very close to Cavalier's face, she could clearly make out every detail of the two small faceted crystals stuck in the pits of his face that made up Cavalier's 'eyes', both softly glowing green...but, this close, Mia could see how they were unmistakably twinkling in a way that they hadn't been before...a way that almost seemed to suggest Cavalier's joy or amusement! A few whistles and catcalls went out, though there were also some distinctly disapproving noises. Still, no one actually moved to do anything, it was simply that all eyes and full gossiping attention was fully on the two of them!

Which was exactly what was needed. The half-elf Dragonmarked captain suddenly halted with his jaw dropping, before he looked around and saw that the entire crowd's attention was totally on his goal, and none of it on him...yet. But if he stepped forward now, there was no possible way he could avoid becoming part of the scene in the minds of everyone around, no way he could quietly confront Mia with what he wanted--anything he could say, the crowd would hear. His face turned red and his expression became one of flustered frustration, before he sharply turned on his heel and started stomping back away through the crowd, with no one else any the wiser. This 'intimately' close, Cavalier could feel whenever the tension began to lessen in Mia's body, and the instant it did, he slowly and smoothly stood back up with her and 'released' her from the kiss, for the two of them to then face the crowd...

 

[Micbunny]

Mia had not fully planned for what came next. How could she? This was a spur of the moment decision to avoid an unwanted, and frankly concerning confrontation. But what came next was… well it was beyond whatever Mia might have predicted. Sure, Cavalier had no lips, nor tongue, nor anything else to reciprocate her actions in such a way…. but he had a different grace to him, and then, Mia’s world was tumbling.

Cavalier ‘caught’ her, of course, as he swept her into the physical motions of a kiss straight out of a story book. It was thrilling, exciting, it was a kind of physical intimacy, a shared passion Mia had not had from many of her clients in a long time. Mia was used to feeling desired yes, wanted of course. But too often that desire and want meant her ‘passionate partners’ were often out for displays of -taking-, of -having- of -possessing-. Yet, and perhaps it was merely because Cavalier could only bring her to that intimate, supporting, lifting ‘carry’, taking all of her weight into his arms, and holding her in a blissful sense of free fall for a moment, and could not seek to dominate or overcome her kiss, but Mia felt obliged to revel in the moment. What had started as a quick, lightly passionate but over all ‘showy’ kiss soon, actually turned into the real deal.

Mia attempted to explore what could be found beyond that part in Cavalier’s wooden face. Tentatively, nervously at first. After all, a tongue is a soft thing, and the interior of a warforged could be notably hard and dangerous. But whatever modifications had been made to let the mechanical man’s mouth move seemed to have left the interior of his mouth….. surprisingly smooth! And soon, Mia had pulled herself in closer, was really pressing into Cavalier. Was exploring, gently ‘sharing’ and… was that a little soft moan? Such a scandal. But Mia cared not. This was the most -pure passion- she had felt in months… years! And the tender manner in which Cavalier conducted himself? For a longer moment than the experienced courtesan knew, she had truly lost herself in a fantasy, as the rescued princess being swept up in the arms of a valiant prince.

It was the angry cry of rage, and the releasing of herself from Cavalier’s embrace that finally brought her back. The Dragonmarked Half-elf was standing, just at the edge of the gathered crowd, practically seething. Yet he dared not approach the two. Then, she heard it. The whispering. “Who is that?” “Did you see her?” “…With a warforged my goodness.” “You know I’ve seen her….” “Was that-“ “Of course he is, she was with him last week!” “Guess we know how well he performs.” Mia’s face flushed a bit. This was a technique, a tactic she had used before. But not with this kind of a client. Well of course not with this kind of a client, she had never -had- a client like this……. still. Mia’s tongue ran along her lips, a faint taste of wood lingering on them. It was…. surprisingly sweet. “Is your jaw made of Cherry wood? Or just seasoned like that?” She finally asked Cavalier, breaking their silence as she took his arm again and, this time, attempted to lead Cavalier toward the auditorium, and their balcony seats, with the crowd parting before them.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

While less surprised than moments ago, Cavalier was still nonetheless a little bit additionally surprised as, after his dramatic action meant to assist in the purpose of warding away the unfriendly-looking man, Mia...actually seemed to get more into the moment, genuinely. While his tactile sense was a little better than most warforged, it was still a little 'dull' when it came to feeling out fine details, yet he did feel the even softer part of Mia than her lips, her tongue, brushing against his mouth. He allowed his jaw to part open, as she actually seemed interested in exploring him with her tongue! And indeed, the inside of his oral cavity had none of the edges and roughness of a normal warforged, being polished and smooth and...almost soft, with his plant-fiber musculature on the inside. It had taken Cavalier an unreasonable amount of research to find out what fleshings actually did when they kissed, but he had not expected that he would actually experience that, and on his first attempt at this type of 'socializing', no less! With his own blink-less field of view focused on Mia's face right up against his, he noticed how she actually relaxed even more than he had expected, her eyes in particularly just sliding into a relaxed state...he even heard a small sound from her!

What an absolute delight this was for the artificial man. Even if it had been done for ulterior reasons, if the night ended right here and now, Cavalier would be fully satisfied and pleased with what he had experienced. Once they finally both stood back up and faced the crowd, their goal seemed to be accomplished; the Dragonmarked half-elf had not interrupted them. There was of course the wild whispers and mutterings from the crowd all around the pair. Cavalier listened to it all, knowing he had to be ready to face things like this. Fortunately, the general sentiment seemed to be one of bewilderment, than any notable hostility. At Mia's question though, Cavalier shifted his attention from the crowd and back to her as he turned his head to look at her, with his flexing wooden jaw bending into a smile again. "Why, as a matter of fact, yes. I was rather fond of the reddish coloration of cherrywood, and so when I modified my jaw, I used cherrywood instead of the usual darkwood. Interestingly, the red of the cherrywood has somewhat 'bled' into the surrounding wood and plantmatter of my construction, and I am considering working more cherrywood into my core to spread the effect further...and that it is also pleasant to your sense of taste is a bonus!" He happily explained to her, while walking with her through the crowd into the theater auditorium, as the rest of the crowd also began filling in.

There was the usual waiting for the whole audience to be seated, and tonight the Diamond Theater was indeed fully packed. The plays of the rapidly-rose-to-fame playwright who had just started here within the last year always drew substantial crowds, but she was reclusive as she was controversial, making no public appearances and declining all requests for interview. But tonight, for whatever reason, she was going to give a preface to the new play for its debut. Everyone in the auditorium currently was going to be the lucky few to catch one of the infamous writer's rare public appearances.

Once the auditorium had been settled, the scheduled time on the itinerary arrived...and she entered the stage, alone. There were many hushed gasps; few people actually knew what she looked like, given her reclusiveness, and so the incredible snow-white paleness of her skin visible on her face, nearing an opalescent sheen, was startling. Her clothes were a sharp contrast, simple and all-black with no accessories but gloves, and thus everything about her was concealed but her head and her shining-gold smooth hair. She walked and carried herself with an almost unnatural grace, but her head was slightly down...even from a distance, it was easy to pick up that she seemed...lost, and sad. But here she was, the one and only Luca Syara. She stood at the center of the stage and faced outward, finally lifting her head to sweep over the audience. The entire auditorium went deathly silent, as if all were holding their breaths to not risk any sounds over her. The many journalists and reporters among the audience all had inkpens and booklets at the ready, to record every one of Luca Syara's rare publically-spoken words.

There was a long moment of silence, and then... "I do not write happy stories." Luca Syara's voice sounded clearly through the whole auditorium, even up to the balcony where Mia and Cavalier were seated. There was no force or fire in her tone, there was just...a statement of fact. Almost a tone of resignation. After a second's pause, she continued. "I do not write happy stories, and many have asked me...why? Why, do I not write happy stories? Why, do I not write things that would entertain and please people more? Why, do I not write things that people would enjoy? Why, do I persistently write unhappy stories?" She paused again, while her head slowly turned, casting her gaze around the auditorium. "And to them, I answer...I write unhappy stories, because we live in an unhappy world." Again, a brief pause. "The question I ask is...why? Why, is this world so unhappy? Why, do we hurt and hate each other? Why, do we kill and steal and wage war? Why, do we make this world so unhappy for ourselves?" She paused again, this time, longer than before. Despite her melancholy voice, there was a gravitas, like what she was about to say next was the key to it all. She finally opened her mouth again, and... "You will not find any answers in the stories I write. But maybe, just maybe...the stories I write will make you start asking the question, too."

Luca Syara then crossed one forearm over her middle and gave a small bow, while sweeping backwards with her other arm. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...The Sword's Regret." With smooth grace, the strange human woman stood up straight again, turned, and began walking to the stage side-exit. Almost belatedly, as if trying to do so before she got out of view, a polite applause swept through the auditorium. Up on the balcony with Mia, Cavalier had listened intently to every word as much as anyone else...and, at her final statement, he had visibly nodded slowly, his feather-capped cavalier-hat bobbing with his head. As the playwright walked out, he too brought his hands up to clap, and thankfully the gloves he wore padded his hands enough that they did not clack together obtrusively.

As Luca disappeared and stagehands began preparing the introductory act of the play, Cavalier turned his head to look at Mia. "I did not know what she was going to say, and while I will certainly admit that was a rather...gloomy note into our night together..." Cavalier turned his head to look back at the stage. "...I think that was important to hear."