Karen
It had sounded like easy coin, smuggling in and protecting barbarians from the East. And for the most part, it was. Countess Oskovsk had setup somewhat of an underground network that made the work a little easier. Adelaide had been impressed by the woman's ingenuity and connections. But even if trouble did present itself, her imposing figure and a few raised zombies were generally enough to deter the average citizen or guard that stumbled upon them. Some mercenaries might be afraid to take a job that would do besmirch their reputation if caught. But the Wilted Rose was already a disgraced knight, she didn't care.

Clad in a thick black woolen coat with a gray scarf wrapped around her neck, Adelaide strode through the town towards the Countess' keep. Her fiery red hair stood out against her dark clothing, finely made though plain. She had foregone armor, as this was just meant to be a report made, a check in. The job was rather off and on, dependent on if any barbarians were ready for the journey. Occasional check-ins were part of the deal.

As she was admitted through several series of gates and doors, blue-green eyes looked around curiously. She was always fascinated by how others fortified their homes, and she prided herself on how uninviting and impenetrable hers was. The strange looks the housestaff gave her were rather par for the course by now; if it wasn't her hair, it was the purple scar snaking out from her left eye that drew attention. Finally arriving in the appointed meeting room, she made a small bow, her tone calm and cool, **"My Lady, I've come to make a report, as requested."** A short pause, **"And also to collect this quarter's payment."**
Angela
It was upon a solid stone throne - impeccably embellished with ancient scriptures and tapestries carved intricately into its grey body - that the mercenary found Oskovsk settled prim atop a dark blue silken drape in the gloom of the dim candlelight's artificial crepuscule. The Velarian Countess seemed to very much enjoy the subdued flickering, often choosing to meet by the faint glow of flame than the full haze of sunlight beyond the heavy curtains and glazed panes about the room. It brought upon her a resolute calmness, and thereby rested upon the rest of the room that same calm. 

Oksovsk's eyes were upon Adelaide as soon as the fiery-haired woman had set foot in the chamber. Piercing, nearly silver eyes watched her from the veil of shadow upon the throne where glistened in the candlelight only glimpses of pallid skin. It was as though she hid there in the wavering shadows. 

"Yes, payment," She echoed in that collected, steady voice she owned. Though she spoke no louder than if she were stood directly before her audience, the relative desolation of the chamber itself projected her words beyond her own measure. "Do come."
It was with that short command that Oskovsk stood from her drape and smoothed down the skirts of her dress over her legs. She descended the barren triplet of small stairs onto the ground level and began to walk toward an ajar door to Adelaide's right - the connection between this room and a much smaller one lined with bookcases and illuminated by a much warmer and more comfortable golden hue.

"Tell me about your travels of late."
Karen
Adelaide supposed one of the many reasons she didn't mind working for the Countess was how terribly comfortable she found her home and person. The undead that comprised Addie's staff weren't huge fans of bright light, so her estate, too, was rather dim compared to most. Though even her abode wasn't quite *This* Dim. She also appreciated talking to someone who got to the point, wasn't terribly verbose, and had a similar air of cool nonchalance. Generally the redhead hated both talking and nobles, but with the Countess she found both either tolerable or even sometimes pleasant, depending on her own and the noblewoman's moods. 
** **
Following the woman with soft footsteps, she spoke in a tone somewhat friendlier than average but still a bit flat, **"I think you'll be pleased, my Lady. These last several months have been even more fruitful than usual. Maybe the thawing of some of the snow and ice has encouraged the barbarians while the Imperials are still not ready to brave the cold to protect their precious Empire."** Her tone shifted to somewhat biting near the end. She had no particular love for the Empire either. Being disgraced and disowned simply for bringing back the one she loved had severed any loyalty she previously felt. It was a tenuous loyalty anyway, as she had long ago learned to rely only on herself and that people could be, at times, worse than any monster.
** **

Entering the more lit room roused her from her thoughts, and she waited to be told to sit before doing so. Continuing the report, she gazed at the Countess with sharp blue green eyes, **"We had a few spots of trouble here and there, but as you might imagine, the Eastern border is rife with corpses. So I made quick work of those attempting to harm your barbarians... Excuse me, refugees."** She smirked at the change of word, not out of ill feeling, but more that she thought she was smiling when she did so. **"They made quite nice additional guards until we got close to the border. I thought you might enjoy knowing your enemies served your purpose, in death anyway."**
Angela
As they made their way into the study proper, Astarkana indicated with her right hand the seat nearest to the door - Adelaide's seat. She stepped around the desk to her left and would then place her left hand onto the desk. The extensive scarring across the entirety of her hand and forearm was easily visible in this light - webs of melted and reformed flesh stretched in sprawling expanses of reddened skin with an almost twinkling, scaly texture where once pallid, soft skin had been. 

When compared to the rest of her, the imperfection of her old wound was most striking - almost out of place.

As Astarkana sat herself down, she spoke once more in that hushed voice without any verbal acknowledgement of Adelaide's report.
"What was the agreed upon price?" She queried as she sifted nonchalantly through the drawer beneath the desk. It was unclear why she asked this - the answer was always the same. They operated on a set price, and it never wavered regardless of happenings. The Countess believed above all economic things in steady, sustainable pay. 

Perhaps she asked it as a challenge - to test whether the person before her would bestow upon her truth or lies.

Another interpersonal tactic to try and read a person.
Karen
Observant to nearly a fault, the scars on the Countess' left arm didn't escape Adelaide's notice. Blue green eyes saw but did not linger. She wouldn't ask about such an injury, just as she didn't expect the Countess to ask about her eye. It wasn't the sort of relationship they had. It served them both far better to remain cordial and business-like; what kind of friendship could they really have anyway? While the former knight had attended various noble functions in the past, she no longer dressed for it and never had the attitude for all the small talk and pandering. She felt there were far better uses for her time. Besides, if the Countess thought it important or wanted her to know, the Wilted Rose firmly believed she would tell her.

A thin red brow arched at the question. Adelaide gave the same old answer that she knew the Countess knew, in a steady, cool tone. Her voice was respectful but also had a small shade of challenge, as if to say *I see your game*. While she wasn't above lying and, at times, her greed did push her to squeeze every possible penny out of a person, this was not one of those times. She admired the cool, business-like demeanor and quiet strength of the other woman. The work was steady, usually pretty simple, and very reliable for an agreed upon price that never shifted; she very much enjoyed such transparency and ease. This was far too good a job and working relationship for her to lie or let her greed jeopardize it.

Not enjoying the subtle game and unafraid of being blunt, Adelaide asked in that same respectfully cool voice, the edge very slight in it, **"Have I given you reason to not trust me? If I have, I'd like to clear it up** ***Now*** **."** She regarded the Countess with a piercing, steady gaze. **"I like this job. I like you. And I don't plan on quitting the work until either you tell me to or it becomes unfeasible for me to continue."** Holding the Countess' gaze, she thought this outburst might have jeopardized the job already, but if the noble woman couldn't handle her abrasive demeanor, they wouldn't continue to work well together anyway; best to find out now.
Angela
Oskovsk paused for a short while, her icy gaze holding Adelaide's without wavering for a few long seconds. The air was tense as neither spoke following the mercenary's words..
However, that soon ebbed. A small smirk crept across the corner of Astarkana's lip as she turned away and sifted through a drawer. Adelaide likely noticed that it was full of little pouched of equal size and, judging by the sound of the movement as she picked one from within, equal weight. She held the moneybag in that scarred hand and raised it over toward Adelaide. The usual payment. 

"In my life I've trusted only two people," She said coolly. "Myself and the man who raised me. I've found many other people have a habit of disappointing me."
Astarkana, provided that Adelaide had taken her money, leaned back in her seat and brushed a strand of hair from her face. To a keen eye, it was easily distinguishable that she was disgusted by the imperfection of that loose hair upon herself - a reaction much different from that which she offered to others who were perhaps less fastidious than her. It too soon faded.
"You've yet to disappoint me. You've so far done nought but impress. Forgive my offence."

While her voice and face didn't seem to carry much intonation toward her words, there was a relaxed air about her wgucg suggested her the genuine quality of her words.
Karen
Adelaide rose with a small frown to gently take the money offered, tucking it away in a pocket of her coat. She stood near her chair by the door but did not take it again. **"I'm glad to see we can continue to work together. I think it suits us both quite well. Coin absolutely buys my silence, as I'm sure you've noticed."** There was only a small list of things Adelaide *Wouldn't* Do for money, much of it consisting of a level of social requirement or intimacy that the fiery redhead despised. She far preferred breaking the law or committing atrocities to things like social subterfuge. She'd had enough of it vying with her classmates at the Academy, playing the little games of the noble she served when she was a knight. She swore to never do those things again. A smirk graced her lips as well, her arms crossed over her chest as she spoke, **"I also quite enjoy any chance to undermine the Empire. It can all burn, for all I care."** She took no heed or pause in speaking of the very thing the Countess feared, in speaking of fire; it was not an act of aggression, but more willing and uncaring negligence. 
** **

Nodding in solemn understanding, the Wilted Rose voiced her agreement in her usual cool but cordial tones, **"I can't fault you for that. I find myself with a similarly short list, including myself."** Her best friend was the only person she trusted without any qualms. Her allies, amongst their band of disgraced knights, she trusted in varying degrees, but not completely. She was distracted by Astarkana's sudden and intense disgust at something so simple. If she cared enough, it would've made her a little self-conscious. Her clothing was well-made and suited its purpose, but she never tried to be fashionable, often opting to wear men's clothing if it was better-suited for her needs. Her hair, while clean and groomed, was an unstyled and mussed from travel mess of loose red waves. She found she got the results she wanted more out of others the less she cared for her appearance, so she rarely did. Giving the Countess a small smile, some warmth cracked the ice of her voice somewhat, **"It's no great offense. I would much rather win and prove my worth to you than be given approval immediately without showing my value."** Shaking her head a little, she added, the smile returning to a smirk, **"Giving approval so recklessly would make you a poor, unwise investor. And you are none of those things."**
** **

The former knight noted the air of approval from the noble woman, relaxing somewhat herself as she leaned against the doorframe. **"Well, my lady, is there aught else I might do for you?"** Unless Oskovsk had more need of her, she'd likely be on her way. Her eyes widened for the briefest moment, and she added, **"I might have a small favor to ask, a little... Additional payment, if it helps you to think of it that way–but only if it would be no trouble to you, of course."** The glint in her blue green eyes and the wicked grin she wore said she wasn't going to be asking for more money, nor any other form of usual payment nobles might consider giving; but it was one she thought, perhaps, the Countess might be open-minded enough to consent to. After all, she'd hired a necromancer to do her dirty work, which spoke of her lack of fear of it.