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Kathryn Pyke Human, Fighter (Rune Knight), Level 05HP: 49 / 49 Armor Class: 19 Conditions: N/A Location: Vineyard tasting room Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A | ![]() |
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Kathryn caught bits and pieces of BB and Cecily's conversation about the weird locked door. Between all the other weird stuff going on in the vineyard, she worried if there was more. She worried what that more could be. She told herself she would follow it up, but not until it was safer to to do. For now, she would drink, she would verbally spar, she would hug her date close, drink again, and overall do her best for a pleasant evening. Looking over to Lizbeth she was glad to see the young bean adjusting so well to everything that had been happening. She was learning fast, and she was adjusting well. She wondered about moving to steel training weapons soon... It was a whole new league, but she was learning fast and winter would end eventually. There was no telling where the warm season would take Kathryn.
This was pretty close to the life Kathryn wanted from nobility. She had a cute woman wrapped in her arm, expensive drinks in her hands, positive yet surprisingly judgmental attention from people in power. Though she thought of Monsieur Laurent as kind of an ass, he was a traditionalist. One with resources and power, and seemed willing to part with some of it. Guessing by the rude remarks that Kathryn had to stop herself from chucking at she had an idea what. Reading the room wasn't her strong suit. She was someone who when she found a problem she dealt with it, but finding the problem was always a challenge for her. She didn't have great ability to read people, she knew she had the skills and strength to force her way through most problems, but the ones she couldn't required skills she was lacking. This, was her chance to change that. "My retainers?" Kathryn let a warm almost flattering smile pear through with a soft chuckle one might expect from a woman who found herself simply, amused. "I am afraid we are not that sort of adventuring party. I haven't gone through my roaming years with staff on payroll. I wanted the excitement, the challenge. I wanted to grow as a person, and learn to face my own problems." That wasn't far from the truth. Most of it was wishful thinking when she was left with little choice. "As for a husband, I am lacking there as well. I'm afraid things didn't work out with my original betrothal, and I was hoping to find a replacement in my roaming years. So far, I have this wonderful woman here." Kathryn said pulling Kosara close to herself, doing her best to make sure the smaller woman's horns didn't poke her. And doing her best to not be too rough with the smaller woman. She was tough, but Kathryn was leagues tougher. Last thing she wanted to do was hurt someone with that strength.
Kathryn figured she still had a chance to play her cards. She was young, though older than many noble woman got married, decently attractive with Victoria's help, and she hoped her height didn't detract too much from her goals. "If you happen to know any gentlemen of higher station still in need of a wife do let me know." She said sweetly. She almost said noblemen, but she wanted to leave just enough of a hook. She made it a point to not show interest in Monsieur Laurent, but wanted to leave room for doubt that someone like him or his sons could still win her over. If she showed how desperate she was, she could lose her first major lead in a long time. "As for my father, that would spoil the fun of being a Pyke." Kathryn said with the enthusiasm that only a young tipsy woman could share. "If you are unfamiliar with the concept, it is where noble youths of Arcanaple and her territories go on roaming years while trying to keep the bias of their family names at bay, and in some cases mitigate any shame they may bring due to their recklessness, while still retaining some of their noble privileges. It is a wonderful chance to make a name for one's self without competetors claiming that they are only where they are due to their name. I rather enjoy it, and so did my father. Being the man he was though, he spent nearly two years in Arcanaple's largest library. To each their own I guess." That offer he had though... She had to show interest without showing her cards. "However, what is the point of making a name for one's self if we don't wrap things up? Like Kosara said, if I am not suitable enough for your gratitude I will make sure to forward that to father when the time comes." She said in her most polite tone, though she wanted to add sarcasm to it. She wanted Monsieur Laurent to know if he insisted on waiting for her father, there would be a wait.
"Father knew better on these sort of things. What I do know is he would probably agree. Holding lands in the heart of Arcanaple, and in new frontier lands, and I am sure many other things that were a bit out of my wheel house." She paused a moment with the considerations. Taking a sip of some lovely wine, spending a moment enjoying the taste like Victoria showed her, she continued after much visible contemplation. "Establishing lands are expensive doings. Doing so again so soon after a recent land grab may be more than father is willing to do." taking another sip of wine, she continued doing her best to keep up being a proper noble lady. Though she was out of practice, and inexperienced, she had practice from years ago, and she had a refresher from Victoria. She was hoping the rest could be excused from alcohol. "I guess it depends what you would like in return for such an investment." She said as she pondered her drink some more, finishing it off and pouring another. "Much like the gratitudes, you're welcome to share them with me, or wait until the end of my roaming years to speak with father. Depending where the rest takes me." She tried her best to speak with a tipsy matter of fact.
As Kosara was getting ready to leave to try snacks and drinks Kathryn turned her around. "One second darling." Some of it was Kathryn's own boosted self confidence, some of it was the alcohol, some of it was just her overall good mood. But she pulled the tiefling woman in close hugging her close with both arms. "Mind grabbing me something to drink too? I want to sample a little more before the night carries on too far." Kathryn went to rest her head on the smaller woman's head, only to realize she had to really lean down to get her chin to tiefling woman's head, and still had to maneuver with the horns. SO far? Epic date. Letting the woman go she called out. "See you soon darling!" Kathryn tried to say as sweetly as she could. The confidence was rolling today! She felt she could take on the whole fucking world!
A gentleman soon came in introduced as the head winemaker of the property. He seemed pretty interesting as a whole, and Victoria already seemed to be working her bardic magic on the man. She hadn't seen Victoria flirt with anyone despite what she heard about bards, but maybe Victoria kept it in reserve as a final trump card to avoid tying herself down to a target? Or maybe there was a bigger game she was playing here? She would have to ask her at some point. When that wrapped up, BB had offered a new competition! As it seemed both Kathryn and BB had the ability to down the other if given the chance, something new was much appreciated. Except... "Bale tossing?" Kathryn said both confused and amused. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to win again, but..." Thankfully at this moment, Kosara had returned and Kathryn had an idea. "Thank you darling." Kathryn said taking the wine in one hand after setting her drink down, and while slowly taking a sip of the wine that... tasted like a really bad batch of wine, she scooped Kosara up with her other arm without looking away from her drink, and lifted the tiefling woman so she could sit comfortably on her shoulder while Kathryn finished off the drink in the glass. Then setting it down on the table. "I think we should find a competition that isn't a raw feat of strength." Kathryn said while supporting the tiefling woman on her flexing arm. In an ideal world she would have someone on her other arm, but alas she only had one date tonight. She wasn't sure if BB knew it either, but showing feats of strength in a dress was fucking hard. Especially ones with long sleeves.
When it came time for a toast to the big man himself, the one who had been running the vineyard until recently, who had indirectly set events in motion for some of the craziest months in Kathryn’s life, the man who Lizbeth almost died to transport, the man who seemed to have far bigger secrets than Kathryn herself, she gave a warm smile for the sake of the L’Rose family that had taken her in. Refilling her drink with something that didn't taste like slightly flavored water, she held the glass with her free hand while Kosara sat risen above all and answered the toast. “To Monsieur L’Rose!” she exclaimed. She had to stop letting her baseless fears and concerns rule her life.