The conversation had been going quite well, in Safa's untrained opinion. She was not the best nor the worst conversationalist, and she never wasted her nights lamenting or reflecting on what she could have said. More often than not, Safa spoke truly from the heart already. She would keep secrets close to her chest, but as for giving someone a piece of her mind? Well, she had plenty to spare in that regard.

She ate her cracker and nearly choked on it at Morcar's question. Her? A mother? She covered her mouth with a hand, but it had the opposite effect of her looking prim and pristine. Mixed with the narrowing of her eyes and furrowing of her brows, she looked more upset than smothering her coughs, which she didn't even suppress. She had to drink water to keep herself from spitting out the cracker, forcing it down her throat with a loud gulp.

"Nothing is gonna happen to me, okay? I got people who rely on me, yeah, but that's what keeps me moving out of death's clutches." Safa grinned. "And that's exactly why you'll want to hire me again and again, because I'm a slippery bastard." She considered the phrase, and added, "Slippery bitch?"

@Morcar the Faceless
 
"Indeed."
He replied stifling a laugh at her response. It was confident, perhaps a bit of bravado in it but he knew better than to pry further. She had her reasons as all folk did and trust was also knowing when to let things be.

"I do expect I will, once you return with the ring. The window for this will be long, I understand the presentation shall take most of the morning. All eyes will be on the new candidate and that is your time to strike but regardless I do not expect the ring to be undefended."
From within the folds of his sleeve he produced a roll of parchment and on the small side table between them he placed it delicately and opened it, displaying an illustration of the ring and the floor plan of the palace.
"Here is the Eastern Balcony, where the presentation shall be made, folk will be gathering probably long before dawn. Here are the audience chambers within and over here..."
His delicate finger traced a line over to the southern end of the building.
"... is the main vault. Which is where I believe the ring will most likely be taken. Failing there, then the main bedrooms must be explored."
He tapped three more points on the map.
"My agent failed to get its exact location so I can only hope my best guess is correct. Given the nature of the ring and its purpose I do not expect it to be held as private property. Regardless you will have between 2 and 3 hours to search for it, not as much time as it sounds considering a building of this size."

Done with his preliminary explanation he looked up at Safa and smiled.
"What are your thoughts?"

@Safa
 
Safa leaned over, eyes roving over the drawing that Morcar had concealed within his cloak. Her dark gaze followed his finger, listening intently as he explained the layout. It seemed simple enough, and of course, why wouldn't a ring that held so much power not be secured in a vault? There was one thing, and one thing only, that nagged at the back of her head.

Safa looked up at Morcar.

"What happened to your agent?" Agents only failed for two reasons: Cowardice to go through with their snooping, or death.

@Morcar the Faceless
 
Leaning back again Morcar wore seriousness anew on his lean face.
"Rhun tried to get into the vault to confirm the ring's location. He never made it out."


His mouth opened as if to speak but he stopped himself. Something told him if he asked again about those Safa had in her care again she would take insult with the question, as if he doubted her. The truth was he trusted her completely but he also knew enough that every master, even the best in their field, are only that so long as they do not encounter someone better than them. A faster, more cunning or even luckier person could be the end of anyone, even him. It was part of the reason for his own many layers of secrecy.
"You are walking into the lions den I'm afraid and once there I cannot assist you further."

Taking his drink again he brought it to his lips and let the cool water flow down his throat. He hated losing people, especially those with such promise. He knew if Safa failed here it would be as Rhun all over again and he would have lost much in a short time. Gambling with lives was never something he enjoyed.

@Safa
 
Quiet settled between them. Morcar's admission was not an easy thing to digest. Someone had failed-- someone who most likely was there because of Morcar's wants and wishes. People knew better than to go into places they did not belong in. Safa, a street rat through and through, didn't belong with the wealthy. Both sides could sniff the other out, find the difference between their looks and dress.

"Morcar," Safa said suddenly. "There's a story from my childhood. A starving fox unable to feast because of a pride lions that took all the prey-- even the bones, back to their cave. But the fox was cunning, you see, even on the brink of death, it didn't give up." A subtle boldness overtook Safa, granting her the ability to eat once more. She took a cracker, she took the pate, smearing it all over, and even took a piece of cheese. "You really ought to serve olives with this," Safa told Morcar before admiring her creation. "Anyways, a lion had died and the fox decided that instead of eating it's remains, it would preserve its skin. It was careful in doing this, denying itself the taste of meat even while blood soothed its rough tongue. But the pelt was perserved and the fox wore it over itself. It entered the lions den... unbothered." She ate the cracker, chewing throroughly, like rich people did. They never scarfed down their food after three bites like the poor.

"And then it feasted like a king, the lions not realizing a fox had infiltrated their den." She grinned once she had swallowed. "Rhun was a man, yes? You must understand that women hold certain privileges in the empire. First off, we're allowed to be stupid. If I am in a place I am not allowed to be in, well... I just don't know any better. Second off, men struggle to resist a woman who is... wanting of companionship." There was a tremor in her lips. "That will cost you extra, if it happens, but more often than not, men love spilling secrets while their head rests on a pillow." Safa took a deep breath.

There was a part of her that didn't like admitting her body had a price, but there was another part of her, a much larger, stronger part of her, that knew men grew soft once their seed found fertile ground. This knowledge had her feel powerful. Safa had never given any secrets during pillowtalk, and if anything, she felt hyperaware of how to manipulate conversations to her advantage.

"Thirdly, I am the starving fox, who can resist temptation and wear the lion's pelt. As long as I have a great reward in the end, I can sacrifice everything." Her brown eyes were heavy on Morcar's. "Every... thing. Do you know why? Because of my purpose. It is a fire that will consume my mind, my body, my soul. But, because of it, I will not fail. Do you believe me, Morcar? Do you believe me when I say my purpose has the entire universe rotating around it?"

@Morcar the Faceless
 
He looked at her then and for the first time let his final mask drop as he leaned forward to stare at the fire in Safa's eyes.
She believed it but that was not enough, he needed to believe it as well. He needed to know beyond all uncertainty that she was ready to put it all on the line, that she would go to even such distasteful lengths as selling herself to get him what he needed, extra pay? he'd DOUBLE her fee if she pulled it off.
The air became heavy with the weight of the glare they shared before he finally smiled and sat back again, satisfied he slapped his knee to scold himself.
"Olives, you are so right in that, I knew something was missing. See?"
He waved a finger at her knowingly.
"You ARE the right one for this job and I shall do my part to ensure you succeed."

Standing up he began to pace a bit, something to keep his body moving. He felt he did his best thinking while standing.
"You'll need to look the part of course, something appropriate but not too eye catching."
With a pause he looked at her and noted that once she was cleaned up and presented, hair done and just a touch of soot about the eyes that Safa was a beauty that could rival the Ancient Empress Tutthfina herself before resuming his pacing, stopping again then looking at her clothes, trying to eyeball her measurements but he gave up on it almost instantly. This would need to be done properly and with that revelation he clapped his hands and smiled wide.
"Let us find a lions skin worthy of you!"

It was time to go shopping.

@Safa
 
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