<div class="floatright">(http://puu.sh/o69Lc.jpg)</div>Ember eyes turned their attention from the pretty half-elf on her lap towards the sullen bard on the other end of the table, whose reply to the query at hand had been uncharacteristically curt. Empathy for her fellow<del>humans</del><del>mortals</del>men and women had never been Nuria's strongest point and Lorelei in particular was a continual mystery. Something about the light-haired woman, despite the fact that was pretty as a picture and pleasant to listen to, never sat right with the Godlike, something deep down she couldn't quite place.  For Lorelei, that occasional spark of mistrust and unease was perhaps all too easy to understand: she knew that they were of opposing elements and that the firebrand, who was very close with hers , might be able to sense that somehow. Nuria herself, however, remained blissfully ignorant of that fact.<br/><br/>So rather than inquire about her companion's state of mind, Nuria kept up her game of caressing the half-elf's taut stomach and idly drew a rune (the one for fire, of course, what did you think it would be?) across it before Ayca intercepted her playful advances.  "I'll hold you to that," she said with a grin as she tapped her finger one last time against the redhead's bellybutton and worked a little mischief: she sent a jolt of heat along the digit and right into the redhead. No flame, no pain, just warmth to spread and dazzle, ever so briefly. It had taken her a long time to master that trick and she could only do it in times of leisure like these when her emotions weren't running high, but sometimes it was worth it.<br/><br/>That the redhead had freed one of her nipples didn't really bother the pointy eared woman and whilst Ayca pulled away from her and the others started to adjust their clothing mindfully, the firewielder just leaned back and paid it no heed. "I'll take a plate of that," she announced instead and flexed her shoulders experimentally as she did; trying to see if there were any kinks to work out after her last training session out back. There were not, as it turned out, but she certainly had just given the entire tavern quite the eyeful -- unintentionally for once, but when she noticed a couple of eyes resting on her she briefly wet her lips and gave them a predatory grin.<br/><br/>Apparently one of them at least hadn't been intimidated, Nuria thought, as she heard the clacking sound of high heels approaching. A quick glance revealed it to be Yula, whom she didn't know too much of. Apparently the fox usually went out on her own, though why she then kept with an adventurer's company Nuria couldn't begin to guess at.<br/><br/>She did like the sound of her own voice, though, that much was apparent.<br/><br/>Nuria eyed the newcomer up and down with a lightly raised brow, then barked a brief chuckle when she brought up matters of nobility. She knew all too well Lorelei didn't like to be called any of the following: 'princess, high lady, her eminence, highness, ...' which is why she'd done it for awhile, too, in all the variations she could think of, but she had grown bored with it after awhile, as she tended to.<br/><br/>"Says the fox who talks like one," she grinned as she challenged the strangely clad duelist. Perhaps she didn't always get along perfectly with Lorelei, but she wouldn't just let her be mocked. By someone who wasn't herself, anyway. "Not exactly dressed like a commoner either."<br/><br/>The ironic thing about it all was that, technically, Nuria herself could be called a princess. Technically. Not in the sense of 'daughter of royalty', but in the more common usage for the heirs of important and wealthy households. She had been raised by the leader of a prominent sub-sect of the Cult of the Living Flame, after all. As the de-facto heir of that sect, she had been treated as a princess in childhood.<br/><br/>Luckily, she'd done pretty much everything in her power to get rid of any of those old habits and mannerisms. It had been easier than she would have thought, after her rebirth, but now no one would ever think to call her that.<br/><br/>But then, Yula had already turned her attention to Nuria herself. "We get along," she said in an off-handed manner and gave the fancy dresser a sharp-toothed grin. "An' we have an understanding that I don't do exclusive." For a moment her attention drifted towards the green drink on the table and she suddenly grabbed it, draining it all in one go. "Not like I could," she muttered in a much quieter voice, the comment intended for no one but herself. The few times she had tried had not ended happily.<br/><br/>From behind the glass, she proceeded to stare at Lorelei, trying to make sense of her words. The more she thought about them the less sense they made, so she opted to ask about the one that she actually didn't know, perhaps it would allow her to unlock whatever mysteries the bard was sharing. "Genuwhat now?" she deadpanned, then slammed her glass back on the table -- it clinkered dangerously, but luckily it remained whole.<br/><br/>Though Nuria's question was honest, it could just as easily be taken for a joke, for none present had ever seen her bend the knee to another -- it was a hard thing to imagine. Nuria, of all people, prostrating herself on the ground in deference? She'd fight tooth and nail first.<br/><br/>Her momentary confusion was dispelled when Phelypsis finally spoke up. The barbarian talked throughout most of their battles, but every time they entered a town she clammed up. It was a bit annoying, but hardly Nuria's problem. The girl was worried about silly things like her manners, but Nuria had told her before: with the way Phel looked, she shouldn't have to worry about these things! Most men would find her brutal honesty endearing! Most women, too, probably. As long as she didn't beat them up first.<br/><br/>She raised the empty glass, the little bits of ice making clinking noise within, in a toast towards the tiefling. "Good on you! I don't care about winning as long as it's fun, but we'll see if you can keep up."<br/>