"ATTENTION! Cute Young Lady in need of Brave Adventurer Assistance and Escort, Initial Contract Clearing Out Ruined Castle with Potential Permanent Employment as Personal Entourage 
." At least, that's what you remembered the flyer saying. Heading to the address listed just outside the city all you could see was a somber looking man standing guard by the front of a modest villa, shooing the occasional enquirer away. It didn't look like many more people had been interested in the employment opportunity, and the gatekeeper seemed awfully picky anyway. The thought that you were just wasting your time may or may not have made its way into your head, but ultimately you decide to at least go check. Surprisingly he waves you in without a second glance almost immediately, into a room with a large table and several others already sitting down. You notice that one of the girls looks vaguely like the silly little winking caricature that you had seen earlier. Was she the one who had put out the request? Her appearance combined with her seat at the head of the table quickly makes that a confirmed "yes" and you take a seat with the others, deciding to wait and see.
It's not very long before she seems to get bored with waiting and stands up to speak, even though one of the chairs remains conspicuously empty. Were they expecting one more person?
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"Now that everyone looks ready, I suppose we should get underway. As you may already know, I am Anaiel Elizabeth Lavendia, and-ohhh, I see the looks on your faces already. My name? Silly, I know. Blame my father, the nutty old fool wanted a daughter like an angel so he named me after one, ha, and look at how it turned out. Still, it could have been far worse, and at the very least it's pretty. Feel free to call my 'Liz. But I forget myself, you aren't all here to hear me ramble on about ancient and irrelevant family history, I'm sure you're wanting to know about the offer I have extended to all of you."
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"Well, it's simple, really. I just need you to protect me and help me when necessary, and in return I offer you something akin to a new start on life, or a chance to rise above wherever your birth may have placed you. Such things do not matter to me, only your skills. If you end up changing your mind you'll be paid and sent on your way, so think of it as a mundane contract job with the potential for far more."
"Oh, not that I'l accept any evilness or unkindness. If you do something bad out of sheer malice you'll be kicked out or worse without a thought, then again you've all already been vetted thoroughly so it won't be a problem, isn't that right Sebastian?"The chipper lady's rather dour faced servant seems to respond somewhat reluctantly, although whether it's because he'd prefer to say nothing or because he was intently considering her question you aren't really sure.
"Yes, milady." "Sebastian is so very good at his job, so if he says it's so then that's good enough for me! Before working for father he used to answer directly to a queen, you know! He can do absolutely anything, it's amazing, sometimes I wonder if he's some sort of five thousand year old demon. One time there was a cat caught in an enormous tree and using nothing but a plank of wood and a small piece of string, he..."Her rambling stories go on for a decent amount of time, and by the butler's various reactions to the assorted claims of his brilliance you can't help but doubt their veracity. The thought enters your head that she really might just have no idea what to say and be somewhat nervous, overacting to conceal it. Of course, you aren't sure you're that perceptive, so it might just be a false impression. Eventually she catches herself, and brings things back towards the present. Unexpectedly, the butler lightly interrupts, mentioning that he will be returning to watch the entrance.
The silence after he departs is grim, and the young lady really doesn't seem to have the slightest clue what to say. Extra details on your venture would probably be a good choice of topic, but she seems reluctant to start on that quite yet - the empty seat springs once more to your mind. That was probably it.
"U-um... Why don't you all introduce yourselves? You certainly seem... look... Unique."Her eyes shift over the creepy white mask wearing guy and the robed girl with horns as she utters that last word. Still, it seems to be your invitation to start talking.
// Everyone but Tiruin is up.
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Topic: [FEF:] The Broken Circle [IC] (Chapter 0: Getting to Know One Another a Bit.) (Read 12853 times)