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A Little Test in Ala Mihgo Written by: TiranMaster Commissioned by: Legotron123 Taking a long draw from his pipe, Felix let out a plume of smoke, the hrothgar’s muzzle briefly hanging agape as he enjoyed the delightful sensation of the drug dancing on his tongue. “You keep making it look that good, sir, I’m gonna have to get some for myself.” Saza said, throwing herself up into a chair, leaning her staff up against the side of the chair as she made a gesture at the bartender for a drink. “Noticed ya disappeared on us yesterday, someone catch your eye?” The lalafell gave her leader a smirk, though he seemed a bit slow to react as he blew out the rest of his smoke. “You’ll need to find yourself your own supply,” he grunted, tipping out the ashes of his leaf before stretching out. “As fer where I’ve been, you know better than to ask a man his business when he’s back in the city of his dreams,” Felix chuckled, straightening up as he slowly ran his hands through his brushed back hair, the buzz of the magical plant still spiraling in his head. “Where’r the others?” “Off shopping likely,” Saza said, waving some of the smoke out of her face, “I gotta ask though, bossman, did’ja go blow your money on something?” She gestured to the sack of gil sitting on the counter, noticeably lighter than it had been the day prior. “Possibly wherever you snu-” Before Saza could finish her sentence though, Felix snatched up the bag, his green eyes turning to slits as he glared down at her. “Mind yer own business, thaumaturge, I’m not one to be answerin’ to you!” He stood up, brushing off some ash from his coat as he threw a couple of coins on the counter to pay for his drink. Without another word, he stormed off, his teammate looking a bit baffled at the response as her own drink was set on the counter. “Guess that ol’ cat routine isn’t so much for show,” she grunted, sipping down her own drink in awkward silence. Walking out into the blistering sunlight of Ala Mihgo, Felix briefly considered lighting himself up again, to take the edge off of his nerves. He normally didn’t blow up on his party like that, but he’d grown rather agitated when she’d started questioning him. After all, Felix didn’t pester them about their money nor their purchases, what was it to them if he had bills to pay. He let out a sigh, tucking his pipe into his jacket pocket, deciding against lighting up again, after all, he had to conserve his leaf until his next refill. He briefly noticed another hrothgar walking past, a pipe clutched in between his teeth, eyes seeming distant. There was a moment where Felix felt like he knew the other cat, a brief moment of resonance where he felt tempted to join in on the fun... “Look what the coeurl dragged in.” A familiar voice snapped Felix out of his vacant moment, blinking several times before his eyes landed on an equally familiar face. The blue fur, the intricate spirals on her fur, and the ostentatious bow strapped to her back. Felix remembered a few battles where she’d come in handy, a masterful archer, though one with a bit of a personality problem in his humble opinion. “Maev... been a while, don’t think I’ve seen you in Ala Mihgo before,” Felix grunted, approaching the huntress, reaching out one hand as he drew near. Though he found her personality a bit much, Felix also knew better than to blow off another hunter, especially a fellow hrothgar. As the pair shook hands, Felix couldn’t help but feel an itch, something scratch at the back of his head. “Don’t usually need to come out this far,” Maev said with a shrug, shooting the gunbreaker a snarky grin. Maev was a bit of a freefloater, rarely staying with any group for long, something to do with her heritage if Felix remembered correctly. “If you want, I can give you a tour around,” Felix said with a shrug, surprised at his own willingness, considering the last time he’d seen her, he was fairly certain it had ended with them drawing weapons on one another. “You going soft on me old man?” she laughed, tossing her hair back with one hand as she shook her head, though even her normally acerbic attitude waned somewhat. “Though... to be honest, coming out this way, I don’t really know any of the good haunts around here.” Maev scratched her chin, looking slightly pensive, “I’m going to be in the area for a week or so, due to the mission I took up. So it may not hurt to get a lay of the land, and I can think of worse people to spend time with.” “I’ll take that as a complement,” Felix growled, chuckling as he gestured for her to follow, starting to walk her around the normal bars he tended to frequent. Part of him still itched for a smoke, his fingers twitching, a hint of irritation creeping into his head. He knew better than to go through his entire stash in such a brief time, he hated having to refill too often... but for some reason he was feeling the desire far harder to resist than usual. “Mind me lightin’ up?” he growled, already plucking the pipe from his jacket without waiting for her answer. Maev eyed the pipe curiously, her eyes narrowing slightly at the well worn pipe. “Don’t I remember you getting after green horns for smoking fogweed?” “This ain’t fogweed, and I’m too old to be getting lip from a kitten like you.” Part of Felix’s response was spoken around the end of the pipe, his lips expertly holding it in place as he lit up some of his stash. Despite having taken a little earlier, his entire body heaved with relief as he took a long draw from the pipe, his muzzle opening to let another long plume of the smoke out. Despite trying to keep her distance, Maev’s nose twitched for a moment, her eyes dilating slightly as she caught a whiff. “Damn, smells... well, better than I thought at least.” The archer put on a front, trying to feign disinterest, clearly bothered by his own excitement at the scent. “Can you not smoke that around me?” Taking another draw, Felix plucked the pipe from his mouth, coughing slightly on a mouthful. “Can do, after this is gone, can’t be wasting it after I went to the trouble.” The gunbreaker smiled a toothy grin, gesturing with his pipe for her to continue following. Maev’s eyes lingered on the smoke lingering in the air, a brief impulse to sniff it running through her head before she bit down the compulsion and followed after at distance. “Been a while since I last saw ya, life been treatin’ ya well?” Felix asked, expertly weaving his way around a couple of adventurers coming from the other direction. “You know how it is,” Maev said, shrugging her shoulders while her eyes lazily followed the pipe in his hand, “one with a proper pedigree goes where the money is. I can’t have too many boys simping at my heels, if you know what I mean. Good thing an old cat like you isn’t interested in a young gal like me,” she chuckled, her backhanded words causing Felix to flash a warning glance over his shoulder. “I may be old, kitten, but I ain’t so feeble that I can’t knock a princess off her throne,” he growled, the pipe creaking slightly in his hand, but he was quick to ease off, lest he waste his current dose. “This here’s a good place for info,” he said, gesturing to a building as they were passing by. “Lot’s of drunks, but plenty of them are pretty loose-lipped, and a few of the richer people like to play pretend in there.” Maev nodded, tucking the information away, even as she felt the slight electric sensation as she breathed in more of his smoke. Normally her palette was so sensitive she would take her leave from anyone smoking any kind of drug, but for some reason, Felix’s smoke was practically intoxicating. It was a foreign scent, almost like an exotic perfume, despite her own protestations, she felt very tempted to give it a try. “Good to know, appreciate it,” she muttered, taking a mental grip of herself and giving a shake. “Maybe I should step in now and-” “Wait,” Felix said, stopping and giving her a glance, a note of concern in his gaze. “There’s a better place than this,” he said, feeling rather stupid as he almost tripped over his words. Maev gave him a cautious look, confusion in her expression as Felix coughed into his hand, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m sure an elegant woman like yourself has higher standards than the words of drunks and fools.” There was a brief pause as Maev rolled his words around in her head, she knew that the older hrothgar was playing to her vanity... but she couldn’t help but preen at them. “Fine,” she said, sniffing as she brushed her hair out once more, “lead me there, peasant.” She shot him a haughty smile, one that Felix rolled his eyes at, but didn’t protest any further as he led her deeper into the city. The city itself was thriving with activity, adventurers, mercenaries, merchants, every one of them flowing through the city’s streets. Near the entrance, there was a generally well kept atmosphere, one that Maev felt particularly safe in. Despite her expertise with the arrow, the archer was much more cautious than she portrayed, often stepping away from deals that would offer too much danger. The hrothgar woman rolled a necklace between her fingers, a nervous habit, one that she barely noticed as they continued deeper into the city. The faces were becoming rougher, the buildings a little more decrepit, worn from war and battle. “Is this really the kind of place you think I frequent, old man?” she asked, putting a note of humor into the words, but Maev couldn’t help but feel skittish as her eyes bounced from face to face. “It’s rough around the edges, sure, but the information here is solid,” Felix growled, taking one last draw from his pipe before he flicked the pipe over and discarded the ash on the ground. He let out a long breath of smoke, Maev walking right through it, her eyes fluttering as she swayed slightly. “Come further, your highness, if you want the real gil in the rough,” he chuckled, his voice raspy with smoke use. Maev’s hesitation seemed to float away as she nodded, following after him quietly, stunned by the powerful dose of the smoke. Several people looked at her keenly, noting her high quality equipment, and her heavy bag of gil that bounced on her hip. One bangaa looked at her keenly, preparing to run out to snatch it... and then he noticed who was leading her. The young man just smirked before vanishing into the crowd, sprinting ahead to meet with his mistress. “Truly an... eccentric place you’ve brought me to,” Maev said lazily, still feeling dazed as she glanced around, hardly processing what she was looking at. “Is this your idea of a date, old man?” she chuckled, though the words were a weak disguise of her lingering anxiety. Felix just chuckled deep in his chest, flicking his eyes back at her once more, a sly smile on his face. “Sorry, girly, but you’re not my type. Too prim and proper, and... feminine,” he snorted, gesturing to pull once more from his pipe, before he seemed to remember it was gone. “Damn, too much today,” he sighed, rubbing his forehead before something seemed to strike him. “Actually, before we go to the better informant, would you mind if we go somewhere quickly? I need to restock.” “You’re taking me to a drug dealer?” Maev asked, her expression extremely unimpressed, her arms folded as she gave him a look. “You’re always free to take your leave, princess,” Felix chuckled, turning away and walking down an alley, leaving Maev to make her decision. For a moment she looked ready to take him up on the offer, glancing around at the dirty surroundings... before she let out a brief sigh and followed him at speed. “I knew you couldn’t resist,” Felix chuckled, hearing her footsteps approaching. Maev gave a haughty laugh, glaring into the older man’s back as she prodded him with one finger. “This had better be worth my time, Felix, or else I’m going to make sure everyone knows that you’re nothing more than a hustler. Unlike you, my words carry weight in circles.” “Very well, princess,” Felix murmured, though his eyes were locked on the path before him, his expression growing increasingly relaxed as he drew nearer to his destination. He absently groped at his money pouch, feeling its light weight, feeling strangely guilty. He hoped that she would not be upset with him for coming once more with such a meager offering... They walked down several paths, the alleys growing narrower, the faces less common, and Maev’s temper growing hotter with every step. By the time she was ready to berate Felix, they stopped before a small stall, one that she would’ve walked right past if not for Felix’s massive frame. “Here,” he grunted, his voice strangely thick and deep, his hand reaching out to brush some scarves aside. “Follow.” “You’ve got to be kidding me, you want me to follow you in there?” Maev scoffed, but was stopped as Felix gave her an odd stare, one that made her uncomfortable. “Fine, you’ve gotten awfully bossy though...” she grumbled, ducking down and following in after Felix’s massive form. “Who comes into my abode?” an older voice called out, mature, a woman’s voice. The air was thick with smoke, the same scent as the stuff that Felix smoked. Maev immediately felt light headed, her eyes growing slightly dimmer as she followed in after Felix’s massive form. “A fool who smoked too much,” Felix grunted, ducking his way into a rather narrow space, straightening up ahead of Maev as she followed after. Once she reached the end, Maev stepped out from behind Felix to see who they were there to meet. A bangaa woman, swathed in luxurious looking cloths, her face covered by a vibrant scarf as she stared out at them impassively. “Well, Felix, it looks like you’ve come much sooner than I expected,” she purred, her hand lazily holding a gilen pipe. From him, her eyes drifted to Maev, widening ever so slightly as she took in Maev’s beautiful appearance. “With a guest, no less, you’ve really put me into a bind, my handsome hrothgar. Don’t you think it rude to come without an invitation?” “I’m very sorry, mistress Becile,” Felix grunted, falling to his knees, his expression completely blank as he ducked his head. “I brought you a gift, one in exchange for more leaf.” Maev knew something was wrong, she needed to leave... but her head was foggy, the heavy scent on the air making everything feel strange. The woman before her was beautiful, entrancing even, waving her gilen pipe around lazily. “Who... are you?” she asked, her words feeling faint, her body feeling heavy. Madame Becile sniffed, seeming slightly annoyed, though to anyone onlooking it was obviously a ruse, she almost seemed amused in fact. “I’m a busy lady, young miss, I’m a woman to whom debts are owed. You look like a woman who is fast and loose with her spending habits, if you don’t mind me saying,” she chuckled, gesturing towards Maev at her fancy clothing and expensive accessories. There was a strange guilt that rolled over Maev, suddenly feeling awkward as she brushed at her clothing, unsure of what to do. “I’m sorry to interrupt you... I was just...” “I know,” Madame Becile sighed, “just here to pay your debts, like all of my playthings.” Maev felt confused, unsure, she had... debts? “I think you’re mistaken, ma’am, I pay all of my debts in full. I’m not like some people,” she said, poking a finger into Felix’s shoulder, but the male barely reacted, staring at the floor with glazed eyes. Madame Becile let out a loud laugh, her body heaving under the cloth, her eyes focusing on Maev with sharp intention. “Oh no, my young miss, anyone who walks in through my entrance always owes me a debt. Even young and beautiful cats such as yourself, after all, why else would you be here?” There was silence, Maev knew the answer, she had followed Felix in, but for some reason the words wouldn’t come. She tried to muster her thoughts, but it was blown apart as the bangaa woman released a long stream of smoke right into her face. The hrothgar’s expression grew dazed, her muscles weakening, she slowly slid to her knees as she continued to look at Madame Becile. “I... I don’t know... miss?” “Silly girl,” Madame Becile crooned, shaking her head as she leaned forward, placing a gilen bowl upon the table before her. “It is because you have debts, my beautiful lioness, debts owed to me. But do not worry, I am a kind loaner, you may hand me your purse and I shall decide the amount.” Maev struggled, she knew things weren’t right, she needed to readjust her thoughts... but all she could smell was smoke, and it was a vibrant thing. Slowly she plucked her purse from her hip, feeling hesitant, unsure... and she placed it into Madame Becile’s hand. “Not too much...” she said softly, feeling like a child, unsure and stupid before an adult. Plucking the string, Madame Becile poured out the bag’s contents into the bowl, and Felix seemed to sit up straighter, eyes widening. “Ma’am?” he asked, reaching towards his own waist to pull his bag. “No, you need not pay any more, Felix, you’ve paid your debts for now,” Madame Becile said, her tone surprisingly gentle, the gil pouring loose until it finally stopped in a heap within the bowl. Maev stared at it, unsure, confused, but feeling strangely... happy. Madame Becile herself was impressed by the amount, she wasn’t certain if the young hrothgar was particularly good at saving her gil, or if she came from money. She’d been taking in so many hrothgar as of late, and this was the first time she’d had a female come into her midst. A thought plucked at her mind, she knew that the males fell into line easy enough, likely due to their own culture. As for the females though, she found herself pondering, were they nearly as affected as the males were? Letting the silence grow as she allowed some of the gil to fall through her fingers, she tilted her head, deciding on a proper test to see how potent her grasp of the females were. “Now my young lady, this will surely cover your debts... but don’t you think you owe me collateral? After all, you’ve had long standing in your debts, a miserly young woman who has spent money that is not hers.” Maev looked at the bangaa woman with confusion and surprise, she’d been spending money that wasn’t hers? “But... that is all of my money, ma’am,” she said meekly, gesturing to the pile of money, of which there was much. Madame Becile herself had to calm her hands, as the amount before her was truly not a pittance, it would cover many of her own vices for years to come. “Perhaps something of proper value then, something with... worth?” Madame Becile pretended for a moment to put some thought into it, but she’d already spotted what she might request, after all, it did appear to be quite the treasure. “What about... that?” she asked, pointing towards the necklace dangling from Maev’s neck. “No!” The reaction was so strong, so sudden, it caused Felix and Madame Becile to jump, both looking a bit stunned. Thankfully, even such a reaction wasn’t enough to break Felix from his trance, his gaze growing clouded once more as Maev looked frantic. The hrothgar’s dulled expression seemed to have cleared quite a bit, but even so, as she took rapid breathes, her eyes started to shade again with the effect of the smoke in the air. “Please... no, ma’am,” she said slower, her hand grasping the necklace even through her haze. It had been quite a long time since Madame Becile had received such a reaction, normally such were from other races, not the hrothgar. The cats were so pliable, so perhaps females had a bit more fortitude than the males... “What is its worth to you, dear?” she inquired, leaning back, taking another draw from her pipe as she looked long and hard at the cat. There was silence for a few moments, Maev struggling, her expression wrestling between a daze and the bevy of emotions assaulting her. “A present... it was... a present from my... mother,” she managed, unable to break her gaze from the bangaa, but her fingers continued to stroke it possessively. Taking another draw from her pipe, Madame Becile blew the smoke at Maev, the cat’s head recoiling ever so slightly, but she continued to breathe in, her agitation slowly fading. “But my dear, such an item would fetch a great price, and it would serve to significantly lower your debt. Would that not satisfy you? Your mother would not want you in debt, don’t you think?” Maev looked positively miserable, but she didn’t react as harshly as she had before, continuing to hold the pendant close to her chest, her eyes downcast. “She would not... but, such a gift...” “Would serve to show me your true intention to fully pay your debts, to make things right between us,” Madame Becile pushed. She knew that she would going far, risking the possibility of breaking the hrothgar from her stupor. This was a necessity in her opinion though, she needed to see how far she could bend the female, see how far her control extended. There was a long moment of struggle, Maev felt a flurry of emotions, sadness, anger, fear, and most of all regret. The necklace was precious, more precious than all of her gear and accessories combined. She would gladly throw away all of it, for the necklace, for one moment with her mother’s precious gift. “Ma’am, surely there’s something else...” “You’re willing to anger me, to make me doubt your ability to pay your debts?!” Madame Becile asked, her voice growing sharp, her hand tightening around her pipe. She knew this was the breaking point, now or never, would the cat give... or push back. The smoke hung heavy in the air, Maev breathing it in unconsciously, her muzzle tightening up in anguish before she reached up to pluck the necklace from her neck. When she looked up at Madame Becile, her eyes were just as glazed as Felix’s, fully in the bangaa’s thrall. “You’re right... I’m sorry, ma’am, debts are owed...” She started to press the necklace towards Madame Becile, expecting the bangaa to pluck it quickly from her hand. The necklace hung there, in arms reach, Madame Becile staring at it for a long moment... and then she let out a loud laugh, shaking her head as she brushed under her scarf, wiping away invisible tears. “Put it back on, my dear, that was merely a test. After all, I need to see if you are truly willing to pay your debts, after all, they are many.” Relief flooded through Maev, her entire body sagging, her hand tightening on the necklace as she withdrew it, holding it tight to her chest. “Thank you, ma’am,” she breathed, clutching the necklace tight as she looked to the bangaa woman with relief and gratitude. “Anything else, ma’am, take what you need.” Madame Becile chuckled, pouring a good amount of the gil within the bowl into a bag beneath the table. Both hrothgar were still as they waited, their expressions twins of each other, glazed and warm towards the woman who was robbing them. Soon Madame Becile returned the gil to the bag once more, much smaller than it had been before, but still rather flush with money. “You both may retrieve some herb from my stocks on your way out, after all, you must stay relaxed in this busy world, don’t you think?” she asked. “I don’t smoke, ma’am,” Maev said, feeling weirdly happy despite the entire exchange, still holding her necklace tight. “But my young miss, does this not bring you pleasure?” Madame Becile asked, gesturing to the smoke still lingering in the air, tickling Maev’s every sense. The young hrothgar’s struggle was much weaker this time, after all, she was completely entranced as much as her male counterpart. “You could have a brilliant pipe to smoke from, for I believe it certainly gives an air of regality,” she said, smirking as she lazily waved the pipe, “do you not think so?” Maev watched it weave around, her eyes following it, her mouth slowly opening at the thought of slipping it between her lips. “I... I suppose, Felix looks... happy with it.” “Oh he is, aren’t you, my pet?” Madame Becile asked, glancing over at the male. She chuckled as he nodded slowly, smiling dumbly, unmoving as he awaited some command from here. “Oh... just one more thing, my pet,” she said, looking towards Maev. “I think it might be best if you... let yourself not think too much of this place, after all, don’t you think it stressful to think about these debts too often?” The hrothgar woman did indeed look mortified, guilt entering her vacant gaze, her hands curling around one another. “Yes, ma’am,” she murmured, looking to the floor once more. “Then cast it from your head, darling, I know you’ll return, after all, debts are to be paid each and every time you come back into this city.” Madame Becile instructed, knowing that it would stick, after all, all the hrothgar sucked up her information like sponges. “As a present though, for indulging in my little test,” she said, she slid a pipe towards Maev. Not quite as exotic as her own, but certainly stunning, “please, take it.” Maev looked surprised, and pleased, taking the pipe in her hands with a gleeful look. “Thank you, Ma’am, you’re so giving.” Madame Becile gave a throaty chuckle as she leaned back, gesturing towards the exit. “Of course, my pet, now retrieve some leaves and you may be on your way. Please, do indulge, and let the thoughts slide from your little empty heads.” Both cats nodded, standing up, barely paying any mind to one another as they started to walk towards the exit. Madame Becile sat in silence until they both took their leave, each of them plucking a satchel of the leaves before walking out, her hand clutching her gold pipe tight as she watched their exit. “Marvelous...” she breathed to herself, setting the pipe down and pulling her cloths down to reveal an astonished expression. “Not only the males, but the females as well... this was a greater test than I could’ve ever expected... this is a miracle, one that I could certainly work with.” Plucking the gil from her bag, Madame Becile started to realize the true opportunity she had to work with. True, Maev had been more resistant than some of the males she’d worked with, but much like Felix, she fell like putty into the bangaa’s hand. She felt a wave of giddiness as she realized that if she could start pulling more males and females alike into her meager dwelling, she would be the richest woman in all of Ala Mihgo. As Maev and Felix walked away, expressions still dazed, they heard the joyous laughter of a bangaa woman following them down the alley. “It feels good to pay debts...” Maev murmured, feeling strangely proud as she touched her lighter money pouch. She found the memories slipping away, a new awareness of the debt to be paid, but unable to place a face with those debts. With each step, the smoke drifted out of her lungs, and with each she found herself forgetting more of what had happened. “Indeed, debts must be paid,” Felix grunted, happy to have helped his mistress, happier still to have a full sack of his herbs once more. Both hrothgar walked off, soon coming to awareness once more, though Maev had a new debt to pay. Not that she minded, after all, she’d been allowed to keep her most precious gift.