08-17-2023, 10:27 PM
"It’ll take the edge off, I promise. You want me to behave, right?"
Behind the bar, Arisha’s expression was flat, despite or perhaps because of Oriena’s sinful smile. Bloodbitten lips were the only colour about her this evening. Lashings of soft black hair tumbled about pale shoulders, the dress form-fitted and simple as a hug of shadow.
“It’s supposed to be a discrete service, Oriena. Just take the packet,” the barwoman said with a sigh. But that tiny chink in her armour was the only encouragement Ori needed. She leaned closer, like a secret shared. Tapped her fingers over Arisha's hand where it currently hovered around the purchase of Zeke’s delicacies, and felt the other woman shiver. “So indulge me.”
Ori found the control so much sweeter when there were no ropes of power involved. Arisha’s eyes narrowed into daggers, but when she pulled her hand away from the sultry touch, it was to fumble open the packet as bid. Ori watched with a smile under darkened lashes. Though when Arisha offered one of the tabs, she only smirked and stuck out her tongue for the woman to place it there. Arisha’s breath caught, and she yanked her fingers back before Ori could tease any more.
She grinned as it melted. Drew an X across her chest in a promise she was unlikely to keep. Then she scooped up the rest of the packet and slipped it somewhere safe with a wink as she withdrew. She hadn’t been lying about the edge she was desperate to smoothe.
Nox wasn’t late, but Ori was not in the mood for patience, and for all she knew he was already down in one of the pits or arenas instead of meeting her topside like a gentleman. He came here more than she did these days, despite the fighter she kept on the rosters. The evidence was all around. Amidst the sedate glamour the bar’s screens still showed replays of the fight that’d gone viral. Nox himself might be ignorant, but big money passed over his name up here, where those with only tangential interest in the bloodsport below got their kicks. He could probably make a lot of revenue, if he was so inclined.
It was to new sport Ori went next, though, and not the stairs down into the underground. The last time she’d seen Mikhail, she’d been little more than a bloody smear on the pavement. The scars running the length of one leg attested the legacy, if little else. He was keeping better friends these days at least. Ori announced her presence by draping over Mik’s shoulder from behind, chin perched on the lay of her own hand. "You're not seriously going to watch from up here?” she asked. Meanwhile her gaze ran up and down his companion. The last time she’d seen him, Kallisti’s CCTV notwithstanding, was not a memory she was keen to replay. Though suffice to say he had left her very unsatisfied.
She smirked. “He's delicate, Mik, but he doesn't bruise so easy.”
When she straightened it wasn’t with an invitation for either man, though they’d be stupid not to follow. She helped herself to the nearest of their glasses, presuming it to be the good stuff. Nox wouldn't be surprised not to find her where they’d arranged to meet. He’d just have to find her in the arena.
Behind the bar, Arisha’s expression was flat, despite or perhaps because of Oriena’s sinful smile. Bloodbitten lips were the only colour about her this evening. Lashings of soft black hair tumbled about pale shoulders, the dress form-fitted and simple as a hug of shadow.
“It’s supposed to be a discrete service, Oriena. Just take the packet,” the barwoman said with a sigh. But that tiny chink in her armour was the only encouragement Ori needed. She leaned closer, like a secret shared. Tapped her fingers over Arisha's hand where it currently hovered around the purchase of Zeke’s delicacies, and felt the other woman shiver. “So indulge me.”
Ori found the control so much sweeter when there were no ropes of power involved. Arisha’s eyes narrowed into daggers, but when she pulled her hand away from the sultry touch, it was to fumble open the packet as bid. Ori watched with a smile under darkened lashes. Though when Arisha offered one of the tabs, she only smirked and stuck out her tongue for the woman to place it there. Arisha’s breath caught, and she yanked her fingers back before Ori could tease any more.
She grinned as it melted. Drew an X across her chest in a promise she was unlikely to keep. Then she scooped up the rest of the packet and slipped it somewhere safe with a wink as she withdrew. She hadn’t been lying about the edge she was desperate to smoothe.
Nox wasn’t late, but Ori was not in the mood for patience, and for all she knew he was already down in one of the pits or arenas instead of meeting her topside like a gentleman. He came here more than she did these days, despite the fighter she kept on the rosters. The evidence was all around. Amidst the sedate glamour the bar’s screens still showed replays of the fight that’d gone viral. Nox himself might be ignorant, but big money passed over his name up here, where those with only tangential interest in the bloodsport below got their kicks. He could probably make a lot of revenue, if he was so inclined.
It was to new sport Ori went next, though, and not the stairs down into the underground. The last time she’d seen Mikhail, she’d been little more than a bloody smear on the pavement. The scars running the length of one leg attested the legacy, if little else. He was keeping better friends these days at least. Ori announced her presence by draping over Mik’s shoulder from behind, chin perched on the lay of her own hand. "You're not seriously going to watch from up here?” she asked. Meanwhile her gaze ran up and down his companion. The last time she’d seen him, Kallisti’s CCTV notwithstanding, was not a memory she was keen to replay. Though suffice to say he had left her very unsatisfied.
She smirked. “He's delicate, Mik, but he doesn't bruise so easy.”
When she straightened it wasn’t with an invitation for either man, though they’d be stupid not to follow. She helped herself to the nearest of their glasses, presuming it to be the good stuff. Nox wouldn't be surprised not to find her where they’d arranged to meet. He’d just have to find her in the arena.
![[Image: orianderis.jpg]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/orianderis.jpg)