[ She smiles, brief and animal like. The flash of white teeth in the dark. ]
I could not imagine asking anyone else.
[ Because it's an even opportunity for mayhem, he could be as much menace in his bloodlust as he could be her best ally. Only time would tell. There was a sense of letting a great beast free among the streets that Devi would warn her about.
Knowing so much of the past didn't always make predicting the future any easier though - who could tell what would become of this. She had made her bed now, regardless and to that end she does not pull away when he leans forward and instead moves her hands. Deliberately up, to undo the scarf and discard it over the edge of his bed. ] No, they are not. Warmth and money they shall have.
[ She'd be a fool coming here expecting charity after all. Undoes the first clasp on her jacket and tugs it open. It reveals a gold chain, as bright as her other pieces. It is strung with jewels and pearls, and one stone large enough to turn half the Empires envy as its centerpiece. Ruby that had not been hers, but rather her husbands, from long ago, when such things had mattered. ] This country's Queen did not get all our treasures to adorn herself. [ Her fingers run underneath the heavy set of gold and brings it up over her head. Letting it swing from her fingers as if to draw him in closer to her. ] Will this be sufficient payment?
[ Knew that it was worth a small fortune when sold off. ]
[ There is something intense in his eyes as she watches her hands, watches the scarf slip from her neck and be discarded. Something else, this woman, deadly and dangerous, a tiger in glittering jewels and yet. His eyes glance the curve of her jaw, the lines of her neck, and he wonders to himself if her skin there is soft like silk. Wonders how it would feel beneath her fingers.
Ragnar exhales, fingers curling into light fists, her hands bringing forth the jewel. Surprised the viking shifts towards her, closer, putting aside the drink he had been nursing. ]
How generous. [ Desperate, perhaps, it speaks of how much she needs them. Needs him, his reputation. The mayhem he will cause for her, directed in just the right places. ] With this you will have them wholly, blades and guns, they will fight your beasts with songs upon their lips.
[ As for him? Well, the queen does not need to buy what she already possesses. ]
[ She extends her hand, letting it swing from her fingers. A pendulum of price, back and forth, back and forth. It glitters in the oil lamp light, as her gold does. Easily held her grasp. ]
And you, Ragnar Lothbrok? Is blood and gold enough to buy you?
[ His stories said it would be enough, said it wouldn't be enough, either. He asked for one thing, meant another, was known for his turns and twists. She could not sure until it was all done. ]
[ A brief moment he watches the jewel sway about in the air, like a piece of meat dangled in front of a hungry lion. He could snatch it from her then but his hands stay, mouth curved into a sharp grin. ]
This? [ He chuckles and leans back, looking at her from half lidded eyes. ] I suppose it can suffice, if there is nothing else you are willing to offer.
[ He is a greedy man after all, for gold, for knowledge. ]
[ It is pendulum weight in her hands, swinging back and forth in a steady measure of time. She watches him in turn, like she was doing the same. ]
No, not that comes to my mind. [ she lets the chain loose slowly between her fingers. Slipping down in a slithering noise until it falls free and lands heavy against the fur. There, settled, as far as his men are concerned. Her eyes upon him smile curling brief and flickering before she clears her throat, and her fingers come up to the buttons of her over jacket. The meaning is clear. She will vanish like smoke out from under him soon enough.
She is not here as the price. He has his payment. He will need to give her something back first. So she carries on all business like. Purposeful ignoring. There one second, and she will be gone the next. ] I should let you rest. You have your men to muster, and I have my own preparations to do. So if you can think of nothing else?
[ Clear enough. He laughs short, head tilting as her fingers button away her skin. Not so desperate to put herself forward, this proud queen, he prefers it this way. There would be no enjoyment in a victory won so easily. ]
Then it shall do. [ He takes the jewel from the furs, twisting the chain around his fingers, traces of warmth still clinging to the gold. ] A prize to keep any man warm at night.
[ He will sleep well with promise of chaos to warm him, if he sleeps at all. Perhaps he will prowl the streets when she vanishes from his sight, leaving nothing but wisps of smoke, inspect the battlefield before the battle. ]
I would not imagine keeping you. [ Even if he wanted too he is sure he couldn't. She is untouchable. ] You are free to leave, Your Majesty.
[ She nods, brief, before she steps away. Goes about wrapping her scarf around her neck again, holding the once rich, now threadbare thread in her fingers, ready to pull it up. The gold at its edges shining dimly. ]
Mortal men, perhaps. I wonder if gold soothes time?
[ And time is the only thing they have, after all, a crinkle to the corner of her eye. Yes, it would buy the men downstairs respite for a time. It would fill their lives because their lives were ending as they begun, it is about filling the space in the middle.
What was there for them that couldn't be sure if their end was tomorrow or hundreds of years from now? ]
I thank you, King Ragnar. [ The hood comes up, hiding away the rest of her, framing her face, blending her back into the depths and murk of Whitechapel. ] Ask for me in anywhere in Whitechapel, when you have made ready. I shall be there, soon enough, and there will be work to follow.
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no subject
I could not imagine asking anyone else.
[ Because it's an even opportunity for mayhem, he could be as much menace in his bloodlust as he could be her best ally. Only time would tell. There was a sense of letting a great beast free among the streets that Devi would warn her about.
Knowing so much of the past didn't always make predicting the future any easier though - who could tell what would become of this. She had made her bed now, regardless and to that end she does not pull away when he leans forward and instead moves her hands. Deliberately up, to undo the scarf and discard it over the edge of his bed. ] No, they are not. Warmth and money they shall have.
[ She'd be a fool coming here expecting charity after all. Undoes the first clasp on her jacket and tugs it open. It reveals a gold chain, as bright as her other pieces. It is strung with jewels and pearls, and one stone large enough to turn half the Empires envy as its centerpiece. Ruby that had not been hers, but rather her husbands, from long ago, when such things had mattered. ] This country's Queen did not get all our treasures to adorn herself. [ Her fingers run underneath the heavy set of gold and brings it up over her head. Letting it swing from her fingers as if to draw him in closer to her. ] Will this be sufficient payment?
[ Knew that it was worth a small fortune when sold off. ]
no subject
Ragnar exhales, fingers curling into light fists, her hands bringing forth the jewel. Surprised the viking shifts towards her, closer, putting aside the drink he had been nursing. ]
How generous. [ Desperate, perhaps, it speaks of how much she needs them. Needs him, his reputation. The mayhem he will cause for her, directed in just the right places. ] With this you will have them wholly, blades and guns, they will fight your beasts with songs upon their lips.
[ As for him? Well, the queen does not need to buy what she already possesses. ]
no subject
And you, Ragnar Lothbrok? Is blood and gold enough to buy you?
[ His stories said it would be enough, said it wouldn't be enough, either. He asked for one thing, meant another, was known for his turns and twists. She could not sure until it was all done. ]
no subject
This? [ He chuckles and leans back, looking at her from half lidded eyes. ] I suppose it can suffice, if there is nothing else you are willing to offer.
[ He is a greedy man after all, for gold, for knowledge. ]
no subject
No, not that comes to my mind. [ she lets the chain loose slowly between her fingers. Slipping down in a slithering noise until it falls free and lands heavy against the fur. There, settled, as far as his men are concerned. Her eyes upon him smile curling brief and flickering before she clears her throat, and her fingers come up to the buttons of her over jacket. The meaning is clear. She will vanish like smoke out from under him soon enough.
She is not here as the price. He has his payment. He will need to give her something back first. So she carries on all business like. Purposeful ignoring. There one second, and she will be gone the next. ] I should let you rest. You have your men to muster, and I have my own preparations to do. So if you can think of nothing else?
no subject
Then it shall do. [ He takes the jewel from the furs, twisting the chain around his fingers, traces of warmth still clinging to the gold. ] A prize to keep any man warm at night.
[ He will sleep well with promise of chaos to warm him, if he sleeps at all. Perhaps he will prowl the streets when she vanishes from his sight, leaving nothing but wisps of smoke, inspect the battlefield before the battle. ]
I would not imagine keeping you. [ Even if he wanted too he is sure he couldn't. She is untouchable. ] You are free to leave, Your Majesty.
no subject
Mortal men, perhaps. I wonder if gold soothes time?
[ And time is the only thing they have, after all, a crinkle to the corner of her eye. Yes, it would buy the men downstairs respite for a time. It would fill their lives because their lives were ending as they begun, it is about filling the space in the middle.
What was there for them that couldn't be sure if their end was tomorrow or hundreds of years from now? ]
I thank you, King Ragnar. [ The hood comes up, hiding away the rest of her, framing her face, blending her back into the depths and murk of Whitechapel. ] Ask for me in anywhere in Whitechapel, when you have made ready. I shall be there, soon enough, and there will be work to follow.