The bard’s eloquent, assertive declaration was the surprising anti-climatic end that the bar fight needed. Loretta studied the man as he preached humanity and just desserts, appealing to the remaining rationality of the brawlers. Something about the man didn’t make sense to her, though what exactly that was, she wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps it was the look in his eye, the one that he had cast upon his crowd: carefully and calculating. Or perhaps it was the asynchronous way he performed, where he didn’t need to fully emotionally commit to his performance because he was so technically skilled. It could have been one, both, or none of her suppositions; but frankly, that was the least of her concerns.<br/><br/>She took the hate-filled, entitled bastard’s threat in stride, giving him the same, steady stare that more likely than not would’ve inspired another assault — had the man not already been seeing doubles. The next time she ever came across him alone, she would take her time destroying him. He was weak, weak enough to need a pack of droll buffoons to support his desire for power. To her, that made him useless and his living inconsequential, but she’d let him go for now. It was easy to find rascals like him. She did appreciate the extra remark her ‘white knight’ tossed at them though.<br/><br/>As the tavern emptied, Loretta tried to help where she could with the tidying. Her actions carried her to the bard, to whom she nodded her head to in respect. “<b>Thank you, sir,</b>” she said to him. Her gaze couldn’t help but linger on his eyes, those windows to the soul. When the gambler approached though, she stepped aside to let him carry on his conversation, diverting her attention to the barkeep who had uttered words of appreciation to the three of them.<br/><br/>She had been ready to play the sorry card when the inn workers emerged from their hiding spot in the kitchen, and she indeed felt the need to utter to the barkeep, “<b>I’m so sorry for the trouble...</b>” She could’ve guessed that the aggressive group of men had committed wrongdoings before, but she didn’t think the inn’s hired help would be so grateful for their less civilized behavior. It was a good thing that she had some humanity left in her, because the honest surprise that crossed her features couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. “<b>You’re much too kind,</b>” she commended full of thankfulness, thinking a warm room and soft bed was too good to pass up.<br/><br/>When the ‘white knight’ approached her, she gave him a charming smile and lavished upon him words of appreciation: “<b>And thank you stepping in, I’m not sure if I could’ve handled them on my own.</b>” She chuckled in response to his comment on the dining chair before continuing,<b> “It’s a pleasure, Diego. Retta. Leaving probably would’ve been smarter...” </b>It was hard to deny. Why had she returned in time to help conclude the brawl? She could’ve left the single man alone against the party of four.<br/><br/>Like Diego, she did find herself distracted by the conversation of those who had decided to stay, the ones discussing a fellow named Rufus.<i>Rufus. Money. Mansion.</i>Loretta worked with the puzzle pieces, recalling the well-dressed man that had caught her attention when she held the balding red-head by the throat.<i>‘Not a bad guy... but...’</i>Interesting. Her lips cocked a grin when Diego turned back to her. “<b>Spell?</b>” she repeated, feigning confusion with her voice but giving him a knowing look. “<b>It sounds like you’re hunting for trouble.</b>” If she hadn’t made it obvious though, she didn’t mind that at all, and she conveyed that with a nod. This promised to be<i>interesting</i>.