Lend Me Your Voice || Open

[lillebell]

What a morning -- with the sunrise came the fog and once the fog cleared came the wind. It was chilly for this time of year, but surprises jumped out from every available corner. The day had progressed quickly, despite the invasive and rather unpleasant weather. Now that the sun had set, earlier than usual for some reason, Julian stuffed his hands in his pockets and stepped over a crack in the cobblestone street.

Looking more refined than usual, Julian crossed the street and pointed himself in the direction of the Soggy Boot. The street was bustling with folks from every inch of Corus; some appeared to be nobles though the majority were commoners by far. Julian managed to squeeze into a convenient little class in between; he was a commoner, but he was a wealthier one. The business his father left had given the Evans family more than enough to get by and then some. They were genuinely blessed in the way of financials.

Although he could afford to eat at a fancier restaurant, Julian often called the Soggy Boot his home away from home. He knew most of the staff and most of them were on a first-name basis with the young merchant. Wrapping his fingers around the sturdy door handle, Julian pulled back the door and stepped into the darker, though bustling, environment.

"Julian!" Voices cried out from the back corner near the fireplace making the merchant turn to smile and raise a hand in greeting. A few regulars had even gotten to know the handsome fellow. On occasion, Julian would spend the evening in their company, telling tall tales and drinking until the sun was long gone and the moon dangled in its place.

Tonight was different, though. Julian was looking for company of a lighter sort. Only the evening prior had he returned from a brief trip down the coast; he and his crew had arrived back in Port Caynn sooner than expected and tonight was his eve of freedom. Julian missed the companionship of the woman he met along the southern coast, but he assumed there were plenty more up for grabs back at home. It wasn't uncommon for him to draw a woman's attention wherever he went; he wasn't sore on the eyes and his respectable, though occasionally contrary, nature attracted more flies to the honey than he dared count.

And that, though shallow, was the reason for the merchant's entrance into the Soggy Boot. It was the reason he walked with such grace and presence to the front of the room and it was the reason he sat down and ordered two matching drinks, despite the fact he sat alone at the moment. Julian was a class act and couldn't help but gleam internally while he baited his time.

[Bella Swift]

A day off was a thing of beauty and rarity in Bella's line of work, but technically this is what Bella had on her hands that very night. She'd worked the last two weeks straight and although it wasn't entirely joyless, it was still work when all was said and done. Bella's own wants and needs played very little part in anything she had done over those days, but tonight, tonight was all about her.

Bella sashayed down the street looking just about the right side of decent in a pretty red satin dress that flashed an awful lot of clevage but that covered far more of her than her 'work' clothing did. Her lips were painted a dark ruby red and her eyes were lined in kohl but again it was positively understated compared to the face she put on when she was touting for customers.

She drew whistles and cat calls from the sailors and naval types alike but rewarded them only with a modest flutter of her eyelashes or a coy smile. She didn't have to give everything away when she was playing this game, this was all about fun not business...unless the right kind of oportunity presented itself.

She strolled up to the door of the tavern and pushed it open, hit as she did by a mixture of smoke, perfumes and scents and the sour but strangely comforting smell of old alcohol mixed with the wood of the timbers and benches.

She took a slow walk to the bar, allowing herself to both be seen and to scan the room, revelling more than a little in the admiring glances she recieved. Some of the people in the room she knew, one or two on a business leve, others as aquaintances, but there were enough newcomers to make the prospects for the evening fun indeed.

"Alright my lovely?" she enquired of Amitola with a wink. She'd known the barmaid for a good few years now. "There are some pretty pretties in here today! Some sweet little navy lads ripe for the picking!" Amitola raised an eyebrow, "You watch yourself! You know how Brass feels about you plying your trade in here."

Bella held her hands up in a sign of submission and fixed an innocent look on her face. "Strictly my own pleasure tonight, I promise darlin' " She grinned and Amitola couldn't help but grin back. "The usual please." The barmaid fetched her a whiskey. "Behave!" she ordered, and moved on to another customer.

Bella snorted with laughter and picked up her drink, turning the glass slowly in her fingers she turned around, searching for a good seat.

[lillebell]

Ah, Bella. What a fine young lass with hair the colour of fire and eyes the deepest shade of emeralds. Julian knew not but her name, unfortunately. Well, and her occupation, to a degree. His fellow men had mentioned her once or twice in their tales of evenings filled to the brim with ale and pretty company. Of course, making assumptions of a woman with flavor was likely not the best course of action, particularly for a man like Julian. His reputation was important, particularly in Port Caynn. He'd rather be safe than sorry and discover whatever lie beneath on his own accord.

"I hate to be rash," Julian murmured, lifting a hand to get the attention of the young copper-haired beauty standing merely a few feet away. "But I believe there is a seat right here with your name etched on the back." His voice was coy and low, a small, almost indignant smile on his chapped lips.

Raising his eyebrow, Julian lowered his chin in a small, polite nod. "Though I could be wrong," he said, lifting his eyes to watch her through dark lashes that were almost too full for his own good. "I might not have your name right at all, Miss." Cheeky and handsome, that merchant; and he knew it, too. What better way to capture attention and make an acquaintance in the same breath.

[Bella Swift]

Bella's eyebrow raised slightly as the young man called out to her. She bit her bottom lip for a second, sizing up the gentleman who clearly had confidence by the bucketload. He was certainly easy on the eyes and from his dress and manner had a coin or two in his purse as well.

A slow smile spread across her carefully painted mouth and she sauntered over to where the man sat, hips swaying just enough to draw attention to the right places.

She circled around the empty chair, inspecting it closely a puzzled look on her face. "Why that's funny!" She declared. "I don't see my name here at all." She tapped a slender finger against her chin. "I think you might be a little confused in the head dear." She turned to Julian, her eyes sparkling with mirth and just a hint of wickedness. "I do see two drinks and a young man who might be good company though, so I suppose I could keep this seat warm for a while, name or no name."

She settled down in to the seat, brushing her skirts carefully out of the way, so as not to crumple them, and crossing her legs in just such a was as to expose a tantalising glimpse of her stockinged leg.

The young man looked like he could be trouble of just the right kind.