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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 29, 2020 18:09:00 GMT
Amara was seated at Sahara's usual booth in the Green Jester. It was a wake of sorts- many of Sahara's clients and business partners had gathered here upon news of her death, to drink and swap stories and wonder about what came next for them all. And so Amara had stepped in. Clothed in a gorgeous black gown and veil, the dark-haired beauty looked every bit the weeping right hand of the kingpin of Alynthia. Her green eyes, however, betrayed no real sadness. Of course she had respected Sahara. The woman had practically raised her, and given her the luxuries she enjoyed now. But Amara knew that someone would have to take her place, and she was ready to assert herself in the vacancy. She had brought little gifts to ease the pain of those who mourned- drugs in the forms of powders and pills and plants from all over the realm, free of charge for one night only. If she was to succeed, she had to be seen as benevolent in these times, and as the one who still possessed the goods. As suppliers drank and talked with her, she renewed her relationships with them and sought to earn their continued business. The young woman drank mead from a large tankard, watching it all unfold in front of her with ambition gleaming in her eyes.
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Post by Elvander on Jan 29, 2020 18:28:12 GMT
Brogan had heard word from some of his bandits about the wake, and he felt compelled to go. He knew Amara would be there, and he knew he had to re-assert himself as an ally as well. He needed Amara to agree to a continued partnership if he hoped to continue to live the same sort of lifestyle he currently enjoyed. Raiding was often infrequent and an unstable market, but raiding for drugs always guaranteed a buyer and a cut of the proceeds for his trouble. The tall, dark man swaggered into the Green Jester, trying his best not to look as broken as he felt. He wore all black, with a wolf's pelt draped over his shoulders. He saw her almost immediately- seated in Sahara's booth. It sent a jolt of anger through him. How dare she? Brogan took a breath to try to sooth himself. Charm was in order if he was to get his way. He clapped several people on the back as he wove his way over to her table, picking up a tankard of ale on his way. He grabbed the shoulder of the supplier she was speaking to, hauling him out of his seat and taking his place smoothly. "You certainly wasted no time in taking over the business," Brogan remarked calmly, taking a sip of his ale.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 29, 2020 18:57:08 GMT
Amara had almost expected to see Brogan here. He was a deeply connected man, after all. And his little flirtation with Sahara had not gone unnoticed. She took a sip of her wine and smiled at him, licking her red lips. "Any moments wasted could mean the crumbling of Sahara's empire. You know this." Amara shrugged it off, knowing that Brogan was a man of business who understand the somewhat cold and callous things people had to do to keep things running, decorum be damned. "She groomed me for this. Have you come to challenge me about it, Brogan?" Amara arched a thin dark brown. She doubted it. Most likely, he was here to see to their partnership.
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Post by Elvander on Jan 29, 2020 19:17:44 GMT
"Not at all. I have enough on my plate on my end of things, without taking on her responsibilities as well. I can see you're doing well for yourself. I suppose I came to ensure that you were being well-received." Brogan studied the young woman. He'd never really paid her much mind before. Of course, he would never have expected Sahara's death to happen so soon, and under such terrible circumstances. "It seems like you're doing a fine job of that on your own. I'm sure you're grieving her loss as much as the rest of them, probably more. They didn't really know her or love her. Not like us. Not like Xander." He was worried for the boy, and he didn't know how to get through to him. Maybe a woman would. He scowled, taking a large gulp of ale to ease the pain.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 30, 2020 19:46:55 GMT
“Ah yes, little Xander. I imagine it’s been difficult for him. And for you.” She added softly. Men, for all of their posturing, were weak when it came to affairs of the heart. Amara had no such qualms. She felt pangs of guilt and grief every now and then when she thought of her deceased mentor. But she had been in the way. “I will speak with him, if you like. I imagine he’ll have some resentment towards me taking over for his mother.” Amara took a sip of her wine, “How did they know you were coming?” It was the uneasy question on everyone’s mind. Of course, Amara already knew. She just had to see if Brogan did.
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Post by Elvander on Feb 1, 2020 20:07:53 GMT
"We'll both be fine, woman. I don't need your pity, or your concern." Brogan grumbled as he drank his ale, taking his time to drink it so that he didn't have to speak when she asked him the question that had been driving him crazy the last several days. "There's only one way they could have known. Someone who knew what we were planning informed them. I don't know why- perhaps for a payout, perhaps it was targeted. Sahara was beloved but I have no illusions about the fact that she had her enemies too." He glared at Amara. "When I find who did this, I will turn them inside out. And I will stop at nothing until I come to the bottom of it. There's only a handful of people who knew. Including you, my lady. Do not doubt that I will have questions for you."
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 4, 2020 17:07:17 GMT
“Well I’m here, aren’t I? You can ask me now, I have nothing to hide,” Amara told him confidently, though her heart beat faster. Yes she had sold out Sahara, but she doubted that it would come back to her unless Brogan got his hands on the man who had paid her. Amara gestured to the barkeep for more drinks for both of them, watching Brogan carefully. “I’d like to help you find whoever is responsible, if I can.”
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Post by Elvander on Feb 5, 2020 20:09:43 GMT
Brogan held Amara’s gaze, trying to see into her. He wished now that he had paid more attention to the woman. It would make it easier to read her now. As more drinks were brought, he downed his ale and started on the new one. “I just want to know if you know who these people were. And what they’d have to gain by killing Sahara. They could have simply taken a different route that day if they had been alerted.” Brogan rubbed the back of his neck, feeling an ache in his chest. This was why it was imperative that he didn’t make emotional connections with anyone.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Feb 10, 2020 21:22:13 GMT
Amara did know. At least, she knew their names. “I’m sorry Brogan. I’m just as in the dark as you are. I’d suggest you start with the bandits you brought on your raid. Shake them down a bit, see what they know. I can try to get records of incoming suppliers into the city to find out who they were.” Amara offered. The network Sahara had built meant there were eyes and ears everywhere who could be paid for their intel. Not that Amara would be providing anything accurate. She finished her wine, “Are you staying for the rest of the wake?”
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Post by Elvander on Feb 11, 2020 1:45:38 GMT
"No," Brogan downed his drink, slamming his tankard on the table a little harder than he had to. His eyes were suddenly stinging. "I'll speak with you later," he said gruffly, and the man swept out of the bar, disappearing into the dark.
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