She's a Busking Beauty [Bethel & Erroll] - Complete

Erroll couldn't help but raise an eyebrow upon hearing the woman's response. Clothes over rubies? Over gold? She had to be as intoxicated with her own dance as the crowd was, to deny wealth in favor of fabrics. Clearly, she was some form of mad.

But she was also an opportunity.

Erroll made his way through the still buzzing throng to the center, sliding into the heart of the commotion with a smile tracing his lips. Stray gold coins clinked against his boots as he stepped towards the woman's mat. Erroll pretended not to notice.
"My good lady" he began, his grin wide and earnest, "surely cloth is not enough for a woman of your talents". He gestured with his hand to the people behind him, keeping his gaze straight. "Don't you see all the people you've charmed? I'm certain it would make them even happier to be able to communicate just how much you've touched them with your grace and skill, and you know what they say..." With a flourish he dipped down and picked up a small ruby, turning it slowly over his fingertips. "money is a universal language".

Erroll felt his ears twitch. He straightened his shoulders slightly, focusing on the details of Bethel's headpiece as opposed to her words. A tradesman or sorcerer he could see, but a flirt-no, a horrific flirt? That was a certainly a first. Amused and a tad impressed by the boldness of her response, Erroll gave a hearty laugh and took a step closer to the woman, allowing the ruby to fall from his fingers onto the sand at his feet.

"I'm afraid you misinterpret my advances" Erroll chuckled. He bowed, extending his hand towards Bethel with an almost enthusiastic twirl of his wrist. "I am Erroll Fettercairn, a humble investor and an appreciator of the fine arts. Where I am from is irrelevant, it is where business takes me that really matters." He rose, retracting his hand and using it instead to adjust his cloak.

"I can't say that I don't understand the allure," he continued, "after all the cloth makers here in Tusa are among the most refined in their craft. However, that doesn't mean I could so easily turn away such luxuries when they are so energetically thrust upon me, as you did. As for my attire," Erroll shifted his gaze briefly to his gloves before snapping back up to meet Bethal's stare, "I have an... acquaintance, we'll call him, who has a gift with the needle and thread. Every piece I wear are the spoils of a successful investment made. If monetary value is truly inferior than that of simple cloth to you, perhaps you and I could come to an... arrangement, of sorts?"

Seeing the evident disdain on Bethel's face, Erroll choked out a laugh and brushed the hair out of his face, keeping his eyes locked forward. "You're most certainly right about that" He coughed before going on. This was proving more difficult than originally anticipated.

"Now my lady I assure you, I didn't mean anything malicious with my choice of wording. My motives are true, and if you'll allow me, I'll repropose my intent with more comforting language." Without waiting for Bethel's response, Erroll cleared his throat and began again. 

"You are a woman of impeccable talent, blessed with a gift enticing enough to spurn incredible reaction from the people, specifically in the form of currency. However, save for certain exceptions, you feel no particular need for, as you put it, "monetary gain", and favour clothes in its place. In this, there is opportunity."
"You are a dancer, an artist of sorts, who wishes to please the people, and the people clearly wish to show their gratitude and awe in the way of gold and jewels. I am an investor, a man of business and efficiency. All I was trying to imply earlier was a possible partnership between our two distinct strengths; a melding of two dedicated passions."

Erroll paused again, allowing the sounds of market to fill the brief silence. He grinned wider still and placed a hand on his chest, as if in preparation to make a promise.
"All I offer is a business proposition; nothing to worry yourself about."

(hush now your response is a+ length doesn't matter haha)

Erroll allowed Bethel's words to sink in as he watched her movements. The contrast in speed between her hands and her feet, all without sacrificing the sense of ease and control in the routine, was genuinely impressive. His eyes widened slightly at the flames, but he did not flinch. As unique in it's use as it was, this wasn't his first encounter with this particular form of magic. The details of his offer to Bethel ran through his head, the word "ritual" causing discord in his proposition. He'd have to think of a way to work with that.
Caught in contemplation, it took Erroll a moment to register what Bethel asked him.

Was she asking him to join her for food?
Erroll lightly chuckled. This was an unexpected step in the conversation, but surprisingly not an unwelcome one.

"While I'll have to pass on the drink, I could most certainly go for a meal. However, I must ask that you consider what I've proposed, and in turn I'll take what you have said into account."
Erroll paused briefly before quickly adding, "Oh, and don't sell yourself short. Even those 'populated areas' would agree, magic is useless without even the most basic of skill and understanding. It is an accompaniment here, not the whole choir."

With an eyebrow raised, Erroll responded to Bethel's gesture and followed. He found his gaze shifting to the staff in her hand, which appeared rather impressive in make. "Huh" Erroll muttered under his breath. The thought of Bethel being capable of combat hadn't crossed his mind. Quite simply, he'd assumed the extent of her abilities began and ended with the flair and artistry of her dancing. Yet another wild card Erroll was being forced to play with.

After a short walk with no words exchanged, the two arrived at the restaurant. Upon stepping inside, the smells captured Erroll's attention first; most of which he could identify while a select few he had to search his palette to place. The establishment held a welcoming ambiance, as well as a degree of class, which Erroll found himself appreciative of. He could not recall the last time he had gone out casually (or was this situation better classified as semi-casual? He'd resigned on the specifics a while ago,) to such a place. Bethel's voice pulled him out of his inspection of the decor.
"All that... irrelevant monetary value... may come in handy now." It took a surprising amount of discipline for Erroll not to scowl at the remark, however he still failed to stop his ears from twitching; an unfortunate give away. He was unsure of whether or not to be amused or frustrated by Bethel's self-aware hypocrisy; was this implying that she was considering his offer? Or was this just an attempt at playing him?

"Maybe I shouldn't have passed on your offer for a drink" Erroll said, his voice on the border of being audible. The waiter arrived and directed the two towards a table near the window looking into the kitchen. The sounds of the chefs working with and around one another, accompanied with the scents of the dishes being prepared, could be heard and smelled clearly, but strangely weren't overpowering. Despite her earlier jabs at his nerves, Erroll maintained his gentlemanly composure and flashed a broad smile, pulling out a chair for Bethal to sit before the waiter had a chance to.

Following the direction of her finger, Erroll sat himself down on the other side of the table. He rested his chin on his knuckles as Bethel talked, grunting in acknowledgment once or twice, despite not fully knowing how "they all are up in Miras". He'd made a point of keeping anything involving the affairs of Miras at a distance.

Erroll's eyebrow raised at Bethel's latter remarks. For a moment it was silent, save for the commotion in the kitchen. Then, he let out a chuckle and smirked.
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but my reason for being here, in Tusa specifically, isn't all that special or interesting. The location just happened to be the most convenient for me business-wise. I can't say its the most ideal place in the empire, but it has plentiful opportunities and a couple decent bookstores, so I can't see myself leaving anytime soon."
Erroll adjusted the position of his chin. He could sense the motivations behind Bethel's question; the suspicion she carried regarding him and his occupation. Her feelings were understandable, but didn't pose too much of a concern to him. Grinning, Erroll decided to throw out a couple questions of his own.
"If I may direct the topic to one, that I believe, is of greater intrigue than my tired story, where did you acquire your knowledge of the flame ether? How did you come to the idea of incorporating its power into your dancing?"

Fairly tame questions, but such inquiries were key to the process of building trust.

"A sweetheart? Oh gods no." Erroll's gaze glazed over for a moment, contemplating the thought before snapping his attention back up to Bethel. "I haven't the time for such matters. The world of business is complicated enough without bringing the affairs of the heart on top of that."

Resting his arms on the table, Erroll nodded along as Bethel talked. He chuckled upon hearing her mother's method of business; a tried and true practice he'd seen done many times, even before arriving in Tusa. The mechanics of the ether weren't entirely unfamiliar to him, but the knowledge of how the types manifested were new. Before he could inquire further on the topic, the waiter arrived with their plates. Erroll nodded in unison to Bethel's "thank you" and removed his arms from the table. Staring down the small spread, Erroll realized he hadn't noticed how hungry he actually was until the food was physically in front of him. His attention, however, was drawn away upon hearing the question posed from across the table. Picking up his own glass, Erroll took a quick sip before answering, a slight shiver shooting through him thanks to the cold. It didn't matter how hot it was in Tusa, he would never grow accustomed to the necessity of the freezing water.

"I can, yes, although these days you'd be hard pressed to find someone who couldn't or wasn't in the process of learning how, given the increase in tensions. I swear, soon every citizen, in both the Empire and the Kingdom, is going to be equipped in some way to fight, be it with magic or a blade." He shook his head before moving on.
"To go more in depth with your original question, I do know how to fight, but I've found the sharp lashings of words to be so much more effective. Now, other than fighting, dancing and inviting strange dark elves out to eat, what do you do with your free time? You mentioned books earlier, or have you perhaps taken up your mothers interest in tarot cards?"