<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/blWUome.jpg)</div>She held her staff extended, pointing it at each of the three men in order. Barefoot, half naked. She had to hold onto the wrappings on her left side where they threatened to slip and fully reveal her breast. She half listened as the man was talking about brothels and ravaging, her attention on Hodge and Mhurren. And then he called her a little flower. Nobody had called her that in a loong time. Was it over? It was? The staff trembled for a moment, and lowered from pointing to their heads, to pointing towards the men knees. Fatigue started creep back into her limbs now with adrenaline running out, after her dance and the struggle afterward.<br/><br/>"Dance?" - she repeated the word that meant the most to her. Thievery she could do, but what she really wanted to do was to dance. Eller made her promises, but he had also sent her here with but a fraction of the debt to pay. He sold her out. She couldn't trust Eller. This man... he implied he owned more then one brothel. That meant he had real money. There was no one else.<br/><br/>"Maybe..." - she glanced toward the door. She could just run out. Her third option was to run away onto the street and try this all again somewhere else. "I want my clothes back." - she stated. Demanded even, as forcefully as she could, her staff pointing at the man in the black hat.<br/><br/>"But of course" - right now, man's bright blue eyes seemed a familiar thing, a good thing.<br/><br/>"These two, they work for you, yes?" - Miriel had another demand. The slender staff was now going between Hodge and Mhurren - " I'll never be expected to lie with either of them. Ever!" The staff stopped, pointing at Mhurren. "Agreed?"<br/><br/>"Agreed. Isn't it right Mhurren?" - the half orc grumbled in response, but ended his deprecation with assent.<br/><br/>"If so... Maybe I could? I would... Dance. For you. And work..." - she was on the edge of her strength. Not enough energy to think twice about what was probably a really bad idea. A short moment passed, Miriel was still holding her somewhat defensive pose, but now lowering her staff, not pointing at anyone anymore. Her shoulders visibly loosened, though still not completely.<br/><br/>"And I keep the silver?" - implying the Eller's coin. Her tone was less demanding now. She needed that silver. She had no money to eat. No place to sleep. No prospects right now but the street. But she didn't want to reveal how desperate her situation really was.  She felt so tired. So dirty, so sweaty. And what she wanted the most right now was a hot bath.<br/><br/>"What's your name, little flower?" - the man in the black rimmed hat asked in a pleasant voice.<br/>"It's Miriel." - her staff hanging loose in her hand.