<b>The Controller</b><br/><br/>The inn of the Underbelly had fallen unusually quiet when the dark lady entered.<br/><br/>She was a modest figure for a human woman: of average height, her dark robes long and flaring to conceal her ankles and hands, and though high-collared, they were tight enough through the torso and hips to betray a delightfully feminine figure.  Her deep brown skin, ebon hair and amber eyes hinted at desert ancestry, possibly of the Wastewander tribe of Tanaris, though if that were the case this elegant lady had surely come a long way from her roots.<br/><br/>Stepping into the common area of the inn, she moved smoothly to the side before pausing, away from the entrance, to let her eyes play thoughtfully across the room and its inhabitants.  Behind her, with a muted clip-clop of dainty hooves on wood, a succubus stepped demurely, keeping carefully in the woman's shadow.  The demon was not unusual for one of her kind, save that she was slightly better dressed than most, wearing a skirt that fell to her knees--though slitted to her waist on the side.<br/><br/>Vivanti emitted a small huff of irritation, dissatisfied with the currently calm demeanor of the common room.  "It figures.  I finally find time to tear myself from the library, and for once this den of filth has gone to sleep."  She stepped over to the nearest empty table and seated herself, amber eyes never ceasing to scan.<br/><br/>"It will pick up, Mistress," the demon murmured, following.  "It always picks up.  This is the Underbelly."<br/><br/>The warlock lounged in her chair.  "Mmh.  I am not in the mood for a chase tonight, Kitty, nor for a long wait.  If we don't find someone interesting here in the next half hour, I'll part with enough coin to have us 'ported to Booty Bay."<br/><br/>Giggling softly, the succubus stepped behind Vivanti's chair, letting her graceful fingers come to rest on her Mistress's shoulders and begin to rub soothingly.  "Now, now...what kind of people will we find there?  You were just complaining you were tired of using whores and thugs out of the gutter.  This is Dalaran, Mistress, underworld or not, and we haven't taken time to play since we got here.  I'm sure a little patience will reward us with someone...worthwhile."<br/><br/>A thin, predatory smile drifted across the woman's features.  "Hmm...let us say, an hour, then."  She leaned forward, away from the demon's hands.  Plucking a coin from her pouch, she tossed it over her shoulder.  "Go see if they've a decent vintage of Thalassian white for once.  And...keep an eye out.  If a potential new toy wanders in, I want to know."<br/><br/>"And so you shall, Mistress."  Rolling the coin between her fingers, the demoness sashayed over to the bar, tail waving languidly behind her, graceful little wings a-flutter.  Vivanti watched her go for a moment, then resumed her calculating survey of the room.<br/><br/>Yes, she was tired of the various sluts and pirates they scrounged from their normal hangouts.  The itch had been rising for some time, that irritating distraction she could only scratch by breaking in a brand new...acquisition.  Someone worth the effort.  Watching Kitty play with the dockside floozies could only stave it off for so long.<br/><br/>Perhaps a little patience would be rewarded.  This was, after all, the Underbelly.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>