Empires weren't built overnight. Rhys had no intentions of glory, but laying the foundations of even his dreams took time. He was a stranger to this wild place, and its people were just as ruthless. He had attempted to sling the name Tollaire once or twice, but its reception had been mixed enough that Rhys hadn't dared to risk it again. There was expectation with such a name, and expectations were the last thing he needed.

Right now, he needed the most basic of his needs met. He had found food, he had found shelter. Now—he needs promise.

I may be new, but I'm no fool, Rhys utters with a dramatic roll of his eyes. I assure you, the information's good. The girl you're looking for's holed up in a cave at the Lookout.

The stranger is skeptical, searching for any hint of deception or hesitance. But Rhys is stalwart, steeled, and the thinning of his lips indicate a swift thinning of his patience. A few tense breaths pass agonizingly slow, before eventually, the stranger relents with a roll of his shoulders.

If she's not, come back and kick my ass, he continues, lifting a boyish brow. As the stranger scowls, a slender smirk unfurls upon his lips. There was at least one glimmer of satisfaction.

One day, he would not have to entertain scrutiny or skepticism. One day, everyone would know just how good Rhys was at his job.

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@Órlaith

Table by cala, art by rabbit

OOC Note: Forgive me while I get into her character lol

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This land sucked so far. She hadn't come across anyone here who seemed to be looking for the same things that she was. A huff escaped her as she meandered through the land, blood red fur stark against the desolate landscape of the badlands. Long tail flicked as she stared at something on the ground in front of her before smacking it away with a paw. Where was all the excitement and the fun she had been promised in the rumors she'd heard of this land?

Claws smacked against a bone as she lifted a paw to smack at a skeleton nearby, frustration evident in her movements. Ears perked, however, as she heard another's voice, giving orders and information it would seem. Curious, the large and lanky girl would make her way towards the burly stranger. "Who's he looking for anyways?" Órlaith would ask, having heard the last few words of the dark stranger's comments. An ear flicked as she watched the other one leave. It seemed this guy in front of her was a purveyor or fine information. Perhaps he could be of use to her in this land...

@Rhys

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The more he learned of this land and her people, the easier it would be to evade being caught so unawares. But while the territory was still wild and raw and new, he had to anticipate the cunning threat of surprise. Thus, when he hears @Órlaith before he sees her, it takes everything within him to maintain that cool rigidity he airs so well.

Who's he looking for anyways? came her pleasant inquiry.

Rhys turns to face her, and she is everything lanky and sprightly and kissed by fire. He could get lost in eyes like hers, and the Tollaire does not hesitate to linger. Hers were like the ocean, one darker than the other, almost abyssal.

That is privileged information, he purrs in return, the smile unfurling on his lips halfway between pleasant and cheshire. Unless you're willing to pay more than he has.

And the man had given a lot. Enough to buy Rhys' silence.

It is only then that he tears his eyes away from her intoxicating blue, venturing with some boyish, carefree nature down the slender curve of her neck to the furl of rosy fur as it darkens down her chest.

Has anyone ever told you it's intrusive to eavesdrop on secret meetings? His tone is not unkind. Rather, it's keen, intrigued, almost—a challenge.

Table by cala, art by rabbit

"Who says I'm not?" She challenged back, a grin spreading across her face. She was fire and brimstone, despite her gaze being cool as the ocean. Tail flicked behind her as she prowled closer, a smirk on the edge of her mouth as she did. "Whoever it is, he seemed real concerned your information wasn't good." Órlaith said, a chuckle ending her words.

A snort of amusement at the words spoken by the other, asking if anyone had ever told her it was rude to eavesdrop. "Perhaps. And perhaps I didn't care enough to listen. Then again - you're not exactly hiding, siúcra*" She shot back, a smirk on her muzzle as well.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you its rude to look a lady up and down like that without even introducing yourself?" She asked, an amused challenge in her voice as well. She knew she was gorgeous, just wanted @Rhys to know she'd noticed him eyeballing her.

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@Órlaith is neither apprehensive nor aggressive. Instead, she joins his dance, wielding her words with just as much cunning and delight as he.

Who says I'm not? she smiles as she steps closer. Whoever it is, he seemed real concerned your information wasn't good.

My information is always good, he replies in mock offense, and try as he might to maintain an air of casualness, there is a heaviness in his tone that indicates a level of seriousness uncommon from Rhys.

He was nothing without his reputation. And in a land where he was a stranger, there was nothing as important. He could only afford to make mistakes later, long after he's earned the trust of those he needed to maintain his current lifestyle. Rhys had always preferred to remain untethered, but the life of a vagabond was not an easy one, and it was far easier to surround himself with friends than with enemies.

Not that he would ever shy from enemies. Without them, life would not be quite so invigorating.

Perhaps. And perhaps I didn't care enough to listen. Then again - you're not exactly hiding, siúcra.

He opens his mouth to retort, but she beats him.

Hasn't anyone ever told you its rude to look a lady up and down like that without even introducing yourself?

What a duo of rulebreakers we are, then, he finally drawls, a boyish laughter clipping the end of his speech. As he eases back onto his haunches, he extends a hand out to her—and a slow wink. Name's Rhys.

Table by cala, art by rabbit

An amused smirk danced across her face, the red and white woman enjoying this dance they were doing so far.

It had been so long since she had had someone join in her dance of words and such. It felt nice to engage in it again. Her family hadn't been super pleased with her actions at times, so it was good to get to stretch the muscles, so to speak.

"And who might be a good source to ask on that matter hmm?" She asked, her tone still light and teasing as she spoke. She wasn't meaning to be rude, but rather was enjoying the wordplay she was getting from @Rhys at the moment.

A chuckle escapes her muzzle as he quips back on what a couple of rulebreakers they were. "Nice to meet ya Rhys. Órlaith is my name." The red and white woman answered, flicking her tail as she took his paw and shook it.

"I must admit, it has been some time since someone has matched wits with me. It feels good to engage in wordplay again." She said with another chuckle. "What brought you to this land here?"

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Rhys was far too cunning and extroverted and greedy to ever find himself without company for long. But the kind of the company he kept often varied, and more often than not the nature of his business meant the shifty and shadowy and silent types. He was used to hearing demands and barters and pleas, and for a man used to wielding his tongue as a sword he's been starved of a challenge.

Until @Órlaith. The Gods, whoever they are, must have hand picked her just for this moment.

Opportunity, he lies, smooth as silk. His mouth pulls into a cheshire grin, angling his head toward her. It is not entirely a lie—while not the purpose he'd been intended for, it was the one he's made for himself. Perhaps it was self-serving, perhaps Rhys simply knew where his strength and his goals lie. There's plenty of it here, ready for taking.

He pulls his shoulders back, exhaling as the telltale crack of his neck relaxed his muscles.

What about you, Órlaith?

Table by cala, art by rabbit

Perhaps this man could be of use to her. She had been raised a lowly daughter, without any status in the world. But she had craved it. Wanted to have the power to make others knell before her. His silver tongue and information gathering skills could be of use to her here in these lands - perhaps she ought to snatch him up before another grabbed him and used them to their advantage.

A snort escaped as he spoke of what had brought him to this land. "Is that all then? I'd think someone like you would have grander designs than just that." Órlaith said, taking another step towards him, her movement measured and calculated to keep his gaze on her if she could. Time to pull out her own tricks and tools.

"I crave power. My parents didn't care much for my want to rule and make others kneel before me. So I left." She said simply. She'd been denied power back home. Denied what she so desperately desired.

"Perhaps we could help each other out, hmm?" Orlaith said, a sly smile making it's way across her muzzle. "You'd be well compensated for your efforts, rewarded with a high rank should my efforts be successful. I will pay you regardless, in whatever way you desire though." She added on, Tail tip flicking as she spoke.

She had high ambitions. Now to see if @Rhys would be interested.

"Imagine - us in control of most of these prides here. Without them knowing who really controls the prides. Install a figurehead in many prides - but I would be the one pulling the strings, with your help in information gathering." She said, aiming to paint a grand picture of what she desired.

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She's bold, he'll give her that. She throws a lot of stock in a stranger, but Rhys would never have gotten where he was if he himself had not taken chances. He may not crave power, or wished to herald any of his family's glory, but there were things that he wanted greatly that he had to fight, steal, or barter for.

Is that all then? I'd think someone like you would have grander designs than just that.

I might, he smirks, Though none so grand as yours, I imagine.

And oh, just how right he would be.

He listens to her proposal in silent, thoughtful contemplation. His expression betrays nothing, but inside he can feel that strange twist of excitement. The thoughts and ideas @Órlaith wove certainly painted a pretty picture.

Perhaps she should have proposed it with a knife to his back. It would have made a very convincing argument.

As it is, there is a sincerity in her gamble that he cannot ignore, and Rhys finds himself half-wondering if she might just make it. He holds his paw up, his neutral expression falling away into a small, almost polite smirk.

I would not expect you to bestow such power on me without first establishing trust, he purrs, You scratch my back and I scratch yours, yeah?

Baby steps, he thought. He'd sworn off impulsivity and taking chances long ago. Or—at least—he's trying.

Table by cala, art by rabbit

Another bold step forward, closing the distance between them as he responded to her statement with a smirk. Her long tail flicked, a smirk on her face as he quipped back to her. She was enjoying this dance of words.

It was something she'd not experienced in quite some time.

Sure her designs were grand and large. But its what she did - its who she was. And she did what she desired.

It seemed that @Rhys was contemplating her proposal, eventually picking his paw up and allowing his face to fall into a smirk.

"I do plan to go visit the prides of this land - poke around and try to divulge some information. Pick out what makes them tick." Órlaith said, flicking an ear as she spoke. His response to her proposal was expected, considering the pair of them weren't super familiar with each other. "Sounds like a deal. What did you have in mind, siúcra*?" She asked, quirking a brow as she spoke.

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siúcra* - sugar

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