Watching the situation unravel from its taught mess to something smooth and calm (at least for all the parts that were not Zara) was quite lovely. As highly strung as the whores were at the Teahouse,  there was always at least one squabble a day. Usually not caused by a client, and rarely continued before a single guest, let alone two... but the situation cooled quickly. Fiona was not the type to fight back, which was lucky for both her and Zara.<br/><br/>It was a struggle not to sigh or roll his eyes as the composer decided to give them all a speech, the point of it a mystery to Atticus. Master Ryan seemed equally unmoved, turning his attention to Anel and Mister Aldrich.<br/><br/>Zara passed a little more of her poison around, her refusal to take Fiona to her bed making a smile twitch on his lips. When she turned her attention to him, he lifted an eyebrow, wondering what snipe or half hidden dagger would be tossed at him. Her invitation was totally unexpected. After a dumbfounded moment, he bowed slightly to her and murmured quietly, “If I am given the time, it would be my pleasure, Miss Zara.”<br/><br/>What she wanted with him, he was unsure.<br/><br/>He missed some of the discussion between Anel, his businessman client and the Master, but didn’t miss Master Ryan advancing towards him, nor Zara’s punishment. Atticus glanced up the stairs, watching Mister Aldrich for a moment before focusing on Anel, not seeing any unease in his lithe form. Was that through naivety or actual confidence, Atticus wondered before deciding on the latter. All innocence was eroded away in the first few months of whoring, and Anel knew what some of the clients were capable of. No, he trusted his client, and the safety of the Teahouse.<br/><br/>Not all the clients were so reputable, but when a new patron came the matter was handled quietly, Atticus keeping close in case something untoward occurred. The only whore he felt that might not be able to fight off their client, however, was Fiona. Atticus’ gaze left Anel and fixed on the composer once more before going to the redhead herself.<br/>