<blockquote><div><cite>Yuki wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~According to the arena forms, you're a 'servant with invested authority.'~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~A servant? Soma, you don't mean to say you've declared yourself to be a... a <span style="font-weight: bold">slave?</span>~</span>Were it not for Soma's current residence, Alyssa would surely be staring incredulously at the other tiefling right now. Instead, she finds herself glancing uncertainly towards Mindy's bulging abdomen, her head reeling as she tries to decipher the logic that would lead to even attempting such a thing.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Soma wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~That just means I'm safer than you. Anyone who tries to eat me's getting slapped with a half-bar fine, plus restitution.~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">So it's a matter of pragmatism,</span>Alyssa thinks.<span style="font-style: italic">A means of ingress, with some measure of security.</span>It's a rather unorthodox solution, but then, Soma is hardly orthodox herself. And maintaining a slave act would explain at least some part of Soma's blasé attitude towards slavery.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Perhaps I could make use of her strategy...</span>she thinks. The idea doesn't last long however; after her week with Leska, even masquerading as a slave is too unpleasant to consider seriously. And far too risky, she decides as Yuki expresses her own concerns. While there's no doubt in her mind of her companions' prowess, she isn't prepared to wagering her life on their success, particularly against unknown odds. Nor does she intend to risk herself in this bloodsport if she can help it... which leaves only the managerial option.<br/><br/>"Lady Auralia? Sir Rihyan?" Alyssa begins. "With your permission - that is, if you intend to participate - I would like to serve as your manager for the arena. It would be an honor to assist you in bringing justice to this battlefield as you have others." The latter statement is accompanied by a (perhaps) unconscious glance toward Auralia's midsection, already hard at work in delivering that 'justice' to one of the town's plethora of Pact breakers.