John
*It had been quite the uneventful day for Mikha'il, as his last contract was roughly a week and a half ago. This had not only affected his general mood, but also the weight of his coin purse, making it a bit harder for him to keep skirting by on paying for inns and tavern rooms. Not to mention the fact that it was becoming more and more difficult to pay for repairs to his gear. With all of that in consideration, it was quite the pleasant surprise that he had received an invitation to Lavirint Estate from one Avox Westley, requesting him for a contract of sorts.*

*The wording of the message had been quite vague, but he was willing to take a chance on a client that may not exactly know their way around speaking to someone in regards to business. As he approached the manner, Mikha'il hummed quietly to himself, looking up at the large structure before him.* "Aristocrats..." *He muttered to himself, before continuing on his way up to the estate. He wasn't particularly surprised by the size of the Lavirint Estate itself, seeing as he had worked with the landed gentry before, and figured that this would be no different.*

*Striding up to the door, he Ghoul raised his fist, firmly knocking on the front door thrice before stopping. He simply stood there, waiting to either be invited in or shooed away. He was rather accustomed to both, but something about this felt more like a toss-up. There was a certain... Energy to the area surrounding the manor that made him feel a little uneasy. Not many things could boast that sort of effect on the man, and he had been through a myriad of unsettling places. As he waited, he rested his hand on the pommel of Magebreaker, taking a breath to settle himself down as he prepared for the response to his request of entry.*
Leroy
Silence was the only worthwhile response for a fair moment, with the only other resonating commotion was the faintest of cicadasongs buzzing in the thickets surrounding the estate. The grounds of the property was established further from the surrounding complexes scattered across the villa, isolated and kept to itself - Either out of privacy concerns, or simply a building planned earlier across the years. Judging by the architecture style, in comparison to the others, it appeared far more dated and less to-date with the current style. The wood looked as if it was slowly rotting away, with the stone foundation being dappled in uneven cracks. Scattered across, creeping vines of hydrangeas and silver veins clustered in splotches across the outer walls like a growing infestation. It hadn't appeared as if much of anyone was keeping up with the outside of the building, as if it had been gradually falling into collateral disrepair. 

Though, the lonesome entrance would soon awaken, as the once-drab mahogany door burst alight with vibrant sigils manifesting across the woodframe in a sudden burst of liveliness. What was once a wavy burl etched into the door was now a yellowed, discolored eye staring blankly back at Mikha'il - Slowly looking him up and down with uncertain intent. *"I take it... You're the mercenary... One moment, please..."* Stated an incorporeal voice, passively reverbating through the wood. Lacking any real care or emotion in its voice, the door seemingly functioned like an automaton - Only functioning for work and nothing more. With light hums and buzzes resonating from it like a brief alarm, the eye reconcealed itself before the sound of metal clicking and unlocking. 

The entry door would softly swing open to reveal the lushly furnished, and yet oh-so dusty foyer. Faint candlelight barely illuminated the tables and walls of the room, as well as a rather large chandelier looming overhead in an amber light. Unsurprisinglyt wasn't enough to cascade the entire room

In its warm, embracing light. Thick shadows encased the upper section of the home, leaving the upstairs entirely shrouded in its inky depths. Outlines of taxidermied, horned beasts clung to the walls, alongside paintings that were too difficult to properly make out in the darkness. Counteracting the rather eerie display, a few plush chairs were settled in front of a burning fireplace, as an end table shrouded in dust separated the two seats from one another. While not one of the worse spots to meet, the presentation could be much more superb, especially for someone of aristocratic origins. 

Clattering footsteps passively began to echo from the upper halls, striding their way steadily closer and closer towards the direction of the stairs... Though, this was not the case. As swiftly as the footsteps had arrived, they almost instantly disappeared, with one of the adjacent doors across the foyer suddenly clicked open and a slightly shorter figure emerged. *"Deepest apologies for the lateness, dear. I was caught up in a bit of side business that came before this."* The woman lazily stated, before making her way over to one of the emptier sections of the wall carrying what looked to be a thin blade within her hands. Supinely mounting the freshly-forged rapier onto the empty plaque, Avox would turn her luminous gaze back towards Mikha'il. Her once-apathetic expression swiftly shifted into one of mild interest, her hand gesturing towards the empty seats. *"Tsk, don't be so hesitant, you're a guest here, after all. Please, feel free to take a seat and we can immediately begin discussing business."*
John
The burl on the door turning into an eye was a surprise to be sure, but the elf didn't show it, as he tilted his head slightly to the side with a rather bored expression. As he made his way inside, not once did Mikha'il's rather nonplussed expression falter, remaining stony-faced throughout the entire ordeal. It seemed that whoever own the manor was quite the eccentric, mounting animal heads across their walls and hanging chandeliers too small for the space.

None of that really mattered to the man, though. He wasn't here to critique the many interior design... *Choices* That his employer was making with her own home, as egregious as they may have been. As the woman seemingly broke the laws of logic, descending one moment and coming from a completely different entrance the next. One of Mikha'il's pointed ears twitched, signaling a certain annoyance with the obtuse nature of the home that he was in, not to mention the strange nature of its owner. He took in a sharp breath as she explained her lateness. He cared little for any excuses on that part. Sometimes one was simply late for work. 

As Avox gestured for him to take a seat, the Ghoul raised an eyebrow, before walking over and subtly running the sheath of Magebreaker across the arm of one of the chairs. It wouldn't be enough to detect or shut down any magic that may have been imbued into the chair, but that was not his intent. Running the sheath along the arm was simply meant to check for any sort of trap built into the furniture. "I take it that you're a collector, ma'am?" He suggested, still resting one of his palms against the ring-pommel of the blade at his hip. If Avox was knowledgeable about specific artifacts, she would most likely know of Magebreaker and how it came into Mikha'il's possession. He kept few secrets about the blade, and even less about how he obtained it. 

As he awaited his answer, he glanced over the chair, checking it for any traps that a cursory brush with the arm would have missed.
Leroy
*"Connoisseur, collector, hoarder - Bit of a mix, really. I'm one for items of personal interest, and while the interests may not be entirely vast by category, I can assure you what I do posses is plentiful in quantity."* Avox cohered, pausing to simply bring over a silver tray, carrying an assorted tea set carrying two separate teapots. Settling the tray onto the small table between the two with a brief *Clink,* Her gaze would return back towards the weapon with an arched brow. The weapon certainly wasn't much of a rival to her newest addition in terms of intricacy and aesthetic, but it absolutely seemed like a competitor in regards to combative capabilities. After all, flashier didn't always mean better by no regards. 

*"Now you've piqued my interest."* She began, interposing to simply begin pouring the contents of the first teapot into her own cup - Rich, ichor liquid spilling from it like an open wound. *"Normally I don't acquire folks too often with their own enhanced arsenal, much less one of such a bleak reputation. Last I had heard was that it got pried off from some old bastard with his foot already halfway in the ground. Only one shop ever mentioned spotting the thing though, so I just assumed it was either a myth or misrememberance."* Interjecting herself once more to simply take a short, well-deserved sip, she'd swiftly carry on. *"Regardless, it's nice to know I'm potentially working with someone who knows how to handle themselves for once, last person I hired was a lying dog."* 

Sights trailing back to meet him, a brief exhale would leave her spotting his mild hesitance towards the chair. *"You can settle your nerves, it only nips if I tell it to. Though, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have to pry the good behavior out of it."* Promptly after she said this, the once-average chair would begin to groan and scrape, the backboard wavering and rattling to life. The crevice between the plush seating and woodframe would split apart from one another, reveal

Ing another unsettling yellow eye to peer back up at the two. Wood splintered from underneath the frame, with an array of uneven, gnashing teeth to outstretch into a gaping yawn before resettling to how it was before. Meanwhile, Avox would simply settle into her own chair, with a slight shake racking through it in a similar fashion as its own eye would grit open along the headboard. *"Normally the larger they are the harder it is to get them to follow orders, so it wasn't as tedious as some of the others."*
John
Mikha'il let out a surprisingly full laugh at her comment about her less-than-inanimate furniture, the rough noise echoing through the room like the grind of metal on stone as he took a step forward, before sitting down on the chair. He tapped Magebreaker's pommel against the arm, almost as if he was... Petting it for not immediately attacking him, while also threatening it with what exactly the weapon could do should he need to use it on the poor chair. The Ghoul tilted his head to the side slightly, looking over at Avox as she made herself comfortable. 

"Well, if you need confirmation, you've got living proof right here. I detest bragging, but recognition where it is due... I'm fine with. I unfortunately know little of you, other than that you're a collector and you seem to have a vested interest in magical and otherwise obscure artifacts." He began, the deep gravel in his voice only serving to increase the tension in the air, even though he may not have meant for it to. The massive man furrowed his brow, resting his cheek against his fist as he propped his elbow up on the arm of the chair. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you're going to send me out to get something that you're either too busy or otherwise ill-equipped to obtain yourself?"

Mikha'il seemed rather sure of himself and his ability to discern Avox's motives and wants, and whether he was right or wrong, the fact that he was already making these kinds of assumptions belied a certain confidence. Although, this confidence was not one of pride, but one of predatory certainty. The knowledge that he was good at what he did, and what he did was not exactly seen as very nice. "Am I right, or did you call me here to surprise me, Collector?" He asked, his expression remaining almost perfectly flat throughout the duration of him speaking. And his eyes... Dark, almost black, like there was nothing beyond them. It was as if he felt... *Nothing* At all.
Leroy
Pressing her back into the back-cushioning of the chair, she would raise a blackened hand to her mouth, almost as if to stifle her own laugh in return. Returning her cup to the glass saucer it once resided on, Avox would settle her gaze to the flickering flames of the fireplace. *"Ill-equipped would be the furthest thing from the circumstances, although you're not entirely wrong. I'm no fan of taking any items I've acquired out of my home once I've found a spot for it. Hate to lose it and have to journey on another wild chase for it, one is enough for me."* A mild chuckle would slip from her, before her attention shifted and return to fall back onto The Ghoul. 

She had been over this song-and-dance a thousand times over, practically memorizing her words like a play script. Dozens had come to her before, of varying circumstances, backgrounds and lineages and none had ever fully been the same. While the nonchalant attitude of her tone continued, the passive gaze she possessed before had hardened into a firm stare. With her once-concealing hand now making light twirls in-rhythm with her words, Avox would carry on. *"Since you requested it, I'll give you a mild rundown of myself. I'm one for absolute reclusion from the outside world, not out of fear or entirely disdain, but moreso due to the fact that I tend to keep my collection and work far away from others. I loathe prying eyes and individuals too curious for their own good, but I'll happily unveil and discuss matters with my contractees."* Interrupting herself with another mild sip from her now half-empty cup, a mild hum of satisfaction would escape from her. 

*"Though, as for why I must acquire your services specifically, my most recent of moves has been a bit... Riskier than I anticipated. On top of that, I'd be lying if I said my assets have been running as thin as a split hair."* Clinking the emptied cup back onto the small dishware, Avox would claps her hands firmly together as if bracing herself for what would

Follow. *"As for the contract itself, I'll grant you housing, funds and equipment, should you need it. I can also see to it that you be treated with the respect you deserve while serving for me. Although, judging by the way you carry yourself, you may not fancy the drawbacks of the situation."*
John
Mikha'il had worked with many different employers over the years, but none had been quite like Avox, who had set herself so far apart from the many different individuals who required his services within only a few minutes of him meeting her. As he listened to her explain herself and describe what she wanted him to do, along with the rewards that he would be provided, the Ghoul's eyebrows slowly raised. Freely given housing and funds happened to be exactly what the elf needed, and as secondary as the offers of equipment and respect were in his mind, he couldn't help but be rather surprised. 

Not a single sentient that he had met had ever treated him with anything but a grudging respect or outright disdain, but this professionalism was not something that he had expected from a mere collector of artifacts and oddities. It seemed that Mikha'il needed to re-evaluate his biases, not only on the grounds of employment but on those of occupation. In just the span of this short interaction, his view of the woman across from him had shifted completely, and he saw her less as a potential employer and more as a peer. He had only a few concerns to bring up with her. 

"That all sounds nice, but if we're going to do this - and we are doing this - I'm not just going to be an underling of yours. I will be someone that you work *With*. I hope that this can be... Amenable to our contract." He stated, as simply as one would state that the sky was blue, or that the sea was vast. There truly was a certainty about him, especially when compared to others in his field. As he finished speaking, Mikha'il let out a sigh, before glancing up towards the chandelier, still perturbed by the choice in decor.
Leroy
Pressing both of her pointer-fingers to her lips, she pondered his choice of words for a fair moment, as if calculating the risk-reward factor. Normally, her conditions were met without a second thought and the contract would be sealed by her *Ironskein* But this certainly didn't appear to be the case. Working with an equal - Now *That* Was something she wasn't familiar with, say beside working with Eliza. In the past, she only ever viewed those circumstances occurring through life-debts and binding turmoil. Lips tugging back to simply suck the air between her teeth, she finally withdrew her hand. *"I'm willing to meet you down the middle on that regard, as I'm very adamant about how I seal my contracts."* 

Lifting from her seat, the woman would hover over towards the fireplace, momentarily keeping her gaze set on the dancing flames across the scorched wood before returning it back to Mikha'il. Her radiant gaze burned as bright as the fire itself, which only eased into a mild glower towards the elf. *"While I do wish to view and work with you on even-footing, I'm rather insistent on sealing it proper. Though, I wholeheartedly understand the potential hesitance for what that entails."* Gesturing towards *Magebreaker,* She would idly continue, *"The contract isn't sealed with wax nor parchment, but rather through the arcane."* Extending her hand, Avox would limply lift her pinkie finger out towards him. 

As childish as the gesture appeared, a swirl of red would trail from her shoulder in a slithering fashion. Curling up along her blackened arm, it would finally cease the motion once arriving along her finger. *"It's a simple seal of obligation towards one another. I give you the previously stated benefits, as well as my word of trust. There'll be no backstabbing nor unnecessary cruelty, as well as no obligations of additional work outside of what's expected - Simple fetch and retrievals, protection of any acquired artefacts or oddities and nothing more."* Much like

A patron to a warlock, it was clear it was a binder of sorts, a connective thread that bound the two by terms and agreements. *"These conditions may end once either the conditions have been broken by one of the pertaining parties, if the task has been fulfilled to the fullest extent, or if both sides have agreed to terminate the contract."* 

Once the terms had finally left her mouth, there was a faint glimmering spark in her eyes - Either she had spotted a worthwhile investment, or it was simply the cat watching the mouse. Despite her growing anticipation towards what he would have to say, the lingering concern of what that weapon was capable of dwelled in the back of her mind. If the rumors of the weapon were true, then the thread may not hold as well as she thought. Nevertheless, it didn't exactly hurt to make an attempt. *"Truly, it's up to you if you wish to go through with it. Though, I certainly like to view myself as one who keeps her word true."*
John
Indeed, The Ghoul let out a snort at the rather childish gesture that the woman made towards him, though his expression once more hardened as the scarlet tendril slithered down the woman's arm and to her finger. The elf stood, towering over her as he took a step forward, his heavy footfalls making the floor creak. It was as if the room had gotten darker, as he wordlessly held his hand out, his pinky finger jutting out to wrap wound hers. 

It was little concern to him whether this woman truly wanted to bind him to her service in such a manner, as he hypothesized that the Magebreaker could shred the metaphorical contract if he absolutely needed it to, though he doubted that he would. Her terms seemed agreeable to him, and he felt that the two of them would be on rather equal footing either way. Mikha'il's eyes locked with hers as they sealed their contract, the elf returning her predatory gaze. There was something in those black eyes of his, that abyss from which little light escaped, that was instinctually *Wrong*. 

"We have a deal. So long as you don't interfere with my work, or try to force me to your will, we'll both keep a good head on our shoulders." He almost growled those last words out, leaving it up to interpretation whether the possible threat in that uttered phrase was real or imagined. His expression gave little away, remaining completely still for the moments in which their fingers were clasped together.
Leroy
Despite the smile remaining outstretched and unwavering across her face, the glint of ambition stayed burning in her gaze as it momentarily remained fixated on the swirling thread of ichor making its way up her newfound ally's arm. Once it reached the pinnacle of his shoulder, it began to sink into both of their arms before fully fading from view entirely - The heaviness of the room parting along with it. The thread didn't seep into their flesh nor bones, but rather their very essence, less of a contract at this point and more of a pact binding them by oath and action. *" So be it then, besides, I'm positive we'll manage to work something out even if there is a minor scuffle."* The woman cooed out gently.

Withdrawing her curled digit and hand along with it, Avox passively gestured to the door she had initially entered from. *"Now that we're a bit more familiar with one another and that business is primarily settled and out of the way, I can direct you to your room if you'd like."* Pausing, Avox would make her way over to one of the cabinet drawers to pilfer through its contents. The sound of metal clanking resonated from the drawer with each minor movement, with scraping wood and oddly enough, squeaking chimed out. After a fair few moments, she would unveil what looked to be an intricate brass key that she firmly held between her pointer and thumb. *" This right here will be how you may navigate through my home. You get* **One** *And only one, so please try not to lose it, these things aren't simple to come by, and making them is even more of a hassle."* Striding back over to him, Avox would gently take hold of his hand before plopping the key into his grasp. The key itself was relatively larger than most, with the handle of it being shaped into the form of an eye, which wasn't too dissimilar from the one on the entry door or mimic-like furniture... Thankfully, however, this one didn't blink back. 

Smile fashioning itself into a hearty grin, her movements quickened

Over towards the door before gesturing him to follow. If there was anything she took pride in outside of her acquired oddities and knickknacks, it was her place of dwelling. *"Peculiar as it may seem, navigating the place isn't too difficult once you get a good grasp of it Just slip the key into any of the doors around the house that isn't the entrance and simply state what room you'd like to enter. Otherwise, without the key, you're going to be wandering for quite a while."* As a show of demonstration, she would open the door wide open without much issue, with it simply leading into what appeared to be a hallway before closing it. Repeating the motion once more, however, revealed another parlor room on the other side. In comparison to the one they were currently in, the secondary room seemed far less furnished and tended to. *"Some of the rooms are simply meant to throw off intruders - Hell, I've barely even explored some of the false rooms myself, much less tended to them like this one."*
John
While all of the information being presented to him seemed rather useful, Mikha'il could not deny that Avox's place of residence was incredibly strange. It would take quite a bit of getting used to, but he was sure that he could adapt. After all, he had adapted to most other situations that he had encountered throughout his life. As she led him to a door and showed him the way in which the keys worked, Mikha'il tilted his head, seeming quite intrigued by the enchantment. 

The man glanced over towards his new employer, thinking over the services that he was being provided in exchange for his own. He had already deemed this a fair exchange, but he knew he could push the envelope if he really needed to. Aristocratic types like this woman were all the same, and this one in specific would most likely do just about anything if it meant getting her hands on a particularly valuable artifact. Of course, none of these thoughts showed on his face, much like many of his other thoughts. Mikha'il was particularly apt at disguising his emotions, which made his job much easier.

"Well. You certainly have an... Interesting residence. How many people have gotten lost in here?" The mercenary asked, though his tone was unwaveringly calm for the subject matter. He shifted back to his resting position, his hand on the pommel of the Magebreaker. The elf hummed to himself as he waited for his answer, his eyes dancing around the room, as if he was looking for any potential threats in the obscurity of the room.
Leroy
A light hum gently reverberated from her for a moment, cycling through her memories in deep recollection. *"Let's see..."* Herself, along with her thoughts, simply trailed into the desolate room before making her way to one of the doors off to the left-handed section of the room. Unlike the previous parlor the two had been in, this one certainly lacked the objet d'art the other possessed, simply being decorated with the most minimal of furnishings. 

 Throughout the years, the Lavirint had been subjected to a fair number of attempted break-ins, from the most organized of groups to the most common of thugs. Getting into the place wasn't exactly the hard part, but rather trying to find the treasury itself... Not to mention trying to relocate the actual entrance door once more. Even when the circumstances did manifest, they were usually handled by straggling thralls or simply wasted away in one of the labyrinth-like rooms. Though, while as impeccable as the defense of the home appeared, only one curio was ever successfully stolen and deemed irrecoverable. That unfortunate error was wholeheartedly on herself, primarily due to the immense lack of thralls under her watch, on top of the ever-growing absence of her once-heavy dominance over the underbelly of the city. 

While she patted herself down for what could only be presumed to be another key, her words began to resume, having properly recalled worthwhile information. *"...The most I've had in a solid year was roughly twenty-ish or so, though that was only because the city wasn't doing as fantastic financially. Desperate times, and all that nonsense."* Having finally found her own set of housekeys, Avox would resume attempting to unlock the door. *"There was an incident, say fifty or so years back where I had the god-awful discovery of finding a straggling thief dead from being either lost or locked in one of the rooms. By the time that they were found, the body was practically mummified onto one of the chaises."* She pra

Ctically shuddered at the remembrance of it all, not because of finding a literal body decomposed, but rather having to toss the furniture out. However, she wasn't even the one to clean it herself, rather dumping the unsavory task onto another poor thrall of the past. 

*"Thankfully, there has yet to be another incident or break-in as of the past three years. The last one wasn't even remotely intriguing, honestly. Just a handful of peasants from the lower district attempting a quick bit of coin."* 

The door clicking open, the newly found room appeared to be another well-attended room, far more than the last one they resided in. A blue and gold antique rug clung to the floor, with rich mahogany dressers and cabinets sitting across from one another decorated the room. A plush, wine-tone bed sat against the wall directly across from them both, pressed against a finely carved bedpost. While there weren't any windows to let in any form of natural light, there were a handful of candles illuminating the room in a warm, welcoming light. Finally, sitting between both the bed and wardrobe closet, appeared to be a tall, cheval mirror reflecting the scenery directly back at them - Everything but herself.

Clasping her hands, Avox would eagerly spin on her heel to properly face him, her back to the bedroom. Either she was simply happy to have another guest for once in her home after such an extended time alone or was merely radiating in the fact she could finally have a new source of entertainment and acquisition of goods. *"This fine spot will be your room for the foreseeable future! As for any regards to the washroom, it should be the other room out in the secondary parlor. Which, if there's anything you might need or require that isn't already in here, I can have it sent down."*
John
As the man's employer explained the property's history of break-ins, Mikha'il made a mental note of the rooms that they were walking through, committing them to memory in anticipation of the likely scenario that he would need to make his way through the manor on his own. It also would serve as quite the effective and defensible position, seeing as without a key one could get lost in the building, along with the fact that those within the building who had keys on their person could mount assaults that could not be responded to. 

While coming to this conclusion, Mikha'il also came to a realization. He would have been one of those 'thralls' had he not further negotiated his deal. Freedom was an important thing to the man, and knowing that he had somehow negotiated an equal position with the woman was something he felt that he could count himself lucky for. He rapped his fingers against Magebreaker's pommel, humming softly to himself as the two of them entered what would be his residence in the manor from then on. 

"Not bad at all. It's better than most of the quarters I've had to stay in before." He remarked, silently noting the fact that the woman held no reflection. How curious. It seemed that either Avox did not want to conceal her supernatural nature in the slightest, or that she had been careless in her rush to get him settled into his new living situation and was simply hoping that he did not notice her utter lack of reflection. The absolutely massive elf walked over to the bed, running his finger along the frame to check if the object was another mimic. He couldn't afford *Not* To be paranoid in this manor, especially if he was wanting to make the most out of his employment.

"Is there anything else you wanted to show me, Avox?" He asked, turning his head back to face her once more as he spoke.
Leroy
*"That honestly depends really, if you feel inclined to do so you can get a feel of the manor for yourself. Shouldn't be much of a surprise to know though that some of the doors won't lead to certain sections, I'm sure you can understand that."* Taking a moment for some breathing space, her eyes would be trained on the layout of the bedroom itself. With a minor sigh slipping from her, she continued; *"You'll have time to get your things in order before any assignments are handed out - Moving equipment, settling in, and so on since I can imagine those things can take time."* Surprisingly, she didn't take much notice of the mirror, instead retaining her attention on one of the paintings strung up. 

It seemed rather dated, what with the paint beginning to crack and peel in certain sections, the pain long since losing its bright hue and reduced to diluted, drab colors in comparison to the furnishings surrounding them. The concept was simple and basic, presenting nothing more than a depiction of a large yet dilapidated castle looming deep amongst the mountains. Despite the desolation and condition of the piece, the craftsmanship of the representation was surprisingly impressive. 

Returning her proper attention to the conversation at hand, Avox would merely turn and pace towards the doorway, her head swiveling over her shoulder to give a final look back towards her newest ally and contractee. There was a faint, dim glimmer in her eye as she did so. It lacked the interest and spark as it did before, rather radiating a sense of deviousness. *"Try your best though to not lose that key, I don't just hand them out freely. Besides, I'd hate to stumble across you in the house without one... Especially after an extended period."* She softly murmured, before taking her leave and shutting the door behind her.
John
The man let out a soft laugh as Avox explained the importance of keeping his key safe, the second remotely joyous noise that he had made in the time that the two had been conversing. It seemed as though Mikha'il wasn't exactly the stony-faced hired killer that he was made out to be via his reputation. As he strode over to the painting, he ran his finger along the frame, humming to himself as he looked it over. It was quite the interesting image to him, that of a dilapidated castle hanging over a landscape. 

The mercenary shifted his gaze back to the woman, raising an eyebrow as he responded. "I wouldn't worry about me losing the key, if I were you. I'm *Very* Good at keeping precious items on my person once they've been given." He remarked, before taking a couple of steps back over towards his employer and tapping his palm against the pommel of Magebreaker. 

"As for getting my things in order-" He began, before dropping the large burlap bag that he had been carrying over his shoulder onto the floor. It made quite the loud *Thud*, evidently containing some rather heavy equipment. "-I don't believe that should be a problem for me, ma'am." He remarked, before taking a seat on the bed and running a hand through his hair. "Unless you have any questions for me, I'll be getting myself settled in."