<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/25/48/27/25482718e4d3e4ff323d2d930caf1db9--character-creation-character-art.jpg)</div>Ethirdir didn't have long to wait before he was approached by a young woman, though it was the last person he expected. Just as the serving girl brought a tall and lanky bottle of a deep red wine and placed it on the table with an empty wine glass, who should appear by his table but Meerika, a soldier whom he knew more by association with someone else that the Elf knew only slightly better?<br/><br/>The woman made no motion to sit down with him, suggesting she had a specific reason to stop by that wouldn't take long. Ethirdir smiled warmly at her just the same, pleased by the company. It didn't even cross his mind whether she might be his contact - from what little he did know of her, she didn't fit the type to him.<br/><br/>"Meerika," he said, speaking to her as if he had known her all his life - it was a good way of lowering the defenses of a new acquaintance, in his experience. "It is a pleasure to see you. I trust you are well? But pray tell, where is your beloved Knight-Captain of the Guard? Usually when I see you, he is right by your side."<br/><br/>"That is why I stopped by here, my Lord," Meerika said simply. "Knight-Captain Doryn is sitting at a booth right over there..." She pointed out where her superior was seated. "...and he wishes to request you sit with him. He has also offered to pay for your wine should you accept."<br/><br/>Straight and to the point, she was. Ethirdir admired that kind of dedication to one's job. He admitted that upon first laying eyes on Meerika, he had considered flirting with her, but the look in her eyes suggested she would sooner pull a knife on him than tolerate his flirtations, at least on duty. No, she didn't seem interested in playing the game of seduction, and that was fine - Ethirdir found it more enjoyable when ladies appreciated the flirts, as it made the end result more satisfying for both parties.<br/><br/>Of course, Meerika might not play the game, but her superior certainly did. The Knight-Captain was just as famous as the Elf in his flirtatious conquests throughout the city. Ethirdir had never met the man directly, but had crossed paths with him several times during social functions, as well as challenged one another for the affections of a lady a few times. He had never bothered to keep a running tally of wins and losses between them, but Ethirdir considered it fairly even. Amazingly, their competition had never blossomed into a heated rivalry, with Ethirdir watching Doryn's successes with amusement and getting the feeling the Knight-Captain felt the same way about the Elf's victories. At the very least Ethirdir had no hard feelings, enough to ask Doryn through his merchant business once or twice to recommend guards to project valuable shipments. There was no bad blood between them, and to receive an invitation from his romantic rival was intriguing.<br/><br/>"Does he now?" Ethirdir asked with a bemused smirk. "Then I cannot refuse such a generous offer." With a smile and a nod given towards Meerika as thanks, Ethirdir stood up from his table and grabbed the wine bottle and glass before making the short trip towards the booth she had pointed out.<br/><br/>He expected to find Doryn alone, but instead he found the Knight-Captain in the presence of one of the most beautiful young ladies he had ever seen, and considering he had slept with half of the so-called "Jewels of Crescent City," that was saying a lot. Her clothing didn't look expensive enough to mark her as part of the Nobility, but it did well to show off her well-defined figure. That wasn't even taking into account that beaming smile on her face and the way her hair seemed to flow like liquid fire. Ethirdir would've completely forgotten about Doryn altogether had he not noted the woman acting very familiar with the Knight-Captain, her hands massaging Doryn's shoulders. Did she mean something to Doryn, and vice-versa?<br/><br/>It didn't matter - he had already latched onto her.<br/><br/>"I expected to find you here all alone, my dear Knight-Captain," Ethirdir said with a grin to get the man's attention, "but Meerika didn't tell me you were in the company of such a beautiful young lady." His green eyes turned towards the woman, a friendly smile flashed her way. "It is an honor to meet you, my dear. I am Ethirdir Talion, Merchant Lord. It would honor me if I could know your name as well." He spoke with a very noticeable Elvish accent, which in Ethirdir's experience made him more enticing to noblewomen who considered it more regal than typical Nobility tones. Whether she went for it remained to be seen, but he could adapt as necessary.<br/><br/>"Perhaps you would like to join us?" he asked her as he sat down at the table next to the Knight-Captain. "Doryn here has graciously offered to buy this very expensive wine for me, and having you share a drink of it with us would make for some wonderful company, I'm sure."