Strictly Business?

[Ethan Black]

She only liked business in her store. it was something quite obvious. Something he knew about. yet that didn't stop him from paying a visit now and then. Not to buy. Mainly to chat. Was it wasting her time? Yes. Which was exactly the sort of thing he enjoyed. She did too. he was sure of it. Otherwise she would throw him out the moment he stepped foot inside. Which she hadn't. Yet.

Hence his abuse of her tolerance. "Raine!" He greeted, throwing his arms wide. It was dramatic, which was precisely the point. "Lovely to see you again! Say, have you done something with your hair?" He approached where she sat. A grin was upon his face. He always enjoyed their talks. Whether she did or not. It was hard to tell some days.

[Raine Proctor]

And her day had been so productive. She'd managed to sell all of her visible stock of clothes and fabric from Abrea. Say whatever you will about them, but they knew how to weave. Which in turn meant Raine got more coin for selling it. Fun all around. She was just marking down the sales for her log later when an all too familiar voice sounded. Slowly Raine raised her head to take in the man. She raised a brow at his antics. Ethan Black. A man that somehow managed to prick her skin and cool it all in an instant. To this day she couldn't tell why she tolerated him.

She put on a smile. It came far too easy to her now. Some people would even think it was genuine. "Well if it isn't Ethan. Here to actually buy something for once?" She replied, though she doubted. He loved to annoy her. She'd learned that quickly. He mentioned her doing something with her hair. She knew it was only a distraction. She looked back down to her writing. "No, I have not. It's still as flawless as it usually is." She responded. "Now, what brings you here?" Straight to business as usual.

[Ethan Black]

She slowly looked up at him. Raised a brow. His little display had not done much for her. Not that Ethan particularly cared. She smiled anyways. She was good at that. he could barely tell which her fake one was now. She acknowledged him, then asked if he was there to actually buy. His grin grew. "I might just to surprise you this time."

She looked back to her papers. Almost ignored him. Ethan could've pretended he was offended. But she answered his question. She'd done nothing to her hair. Ethan smirked. Until she asked her question. What brought him here? It was blunt. Straight to the necessities. "Come now, Raine. Can't we just have a friendly chat between friends?"

[Raine Proctor]

That grin of his only grew. He just might surprise her this time. Raine broke her controlled expression to roll her eyes. "Empty promises are only a waste of air, Ethan." She reminded him, going back to her writing. It was like she was dealing with a boy. A smart boy, but a boy nonetheless. Was he only like this around her simply to tease her? Raine strongly doubted that. Wherever Ethan's captain was, a shred of something that barely resembled sympathy went out to her. Raine might go mad with the boy around.

A friendly chat between friends? Raine broke her gaze from the paper long enough to give him a look. She threw in another smile. Only this time she made sure it seemed mockingly polite. "Oh sure. We'll have a lovely chat. Let me just go buy us some food while we're at it? Make it a date. I'm sure you'd love that." She cooed with a tone as sweet as honey. That was typically the signal for when she was her most sarcastic.

[Ethan Black]

She rolled her eyes. It was a break from the mask she normally wore. He always enjoyed that. When he could get her to react. Made her seem more human. Like there was a soul behind those eyes of hers. Though at times he doubted. Empty promises wasted air. Ethan tsked and smiled. "Ah, but I didn't make any sort of promise. Thus I didn't waste any air."

She looked up. Gave him a smile. One he knew was fake. She made it painfully obvious. It only amused him further. A lovely chat. She could even get them food and it would be a date. Clearly he'd enjoy that. Ethan outright laughed. "I couldn't say no to free food! Although I'm afraid you aren't exactly my type." She was well aware of the fact. Even if things were different, he doubted it would make a difference. Only one thing seemed to be on her mind.

His smile went down a little. He did come to bother her. Yet there were things he needed. Not for him. For the ship. The journey. He pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket. Placed it on the table. "Truth be told, I do need to get a few things."

[Raine Proctor]

He was getting far too much enjoyment out of this. Although truthfully so was she. It was a break from the usual things she had to do. While she did indeed like money, she could appreciate the banter. So long as no potential customers happened to be in her shop at the moment. Which was the case. So she could deal with Ethan for now. Although his comment made her scoff. "Every word out of your mouth is a waste of air, Ethan. Someone ought to start taxing you for it." She responded. She knew she would be willing to do the deed.

He played along with her fake offer. She would've been annoyed, if he hadn't mentioned his little issue with it being a date. She couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head. "The women of the world must weep over the fact." She replied drily. She finished her writing and shut the little book. Now she could give him her undivided attention. Although she enjoyed looking like she was brushing him off.

He suddenly looked slightly serious. It was an odd thing to see. Until he passed her the little scrap. She snatched it up between her fingers and listened. She couldn't hide the smirk that came to her face as she stood. "So you actually are buying something." She commented. Her tone and expression were very smug, and she had no regrets showing it.

[Ethan Black]

She scoffed. Every word out of his mouth was wasted air. She opted someone should tax him. Ethan made a face of disbelief. Almost as if he was offended. But there was a twinkle in his eyes that betrayed him. "What? Every word out of my mouth is witty and necessary, thank you very much. And who would take on this generous task? You?"

She chuckled. That was rare for her. The women of the world must weep. Was that a compliment? She said it drily. There was no way for him to tell. Yet he glowed with triumph. Stood up a little straighter. Smirked smugly. "Perhaps. But the men of the world rejoice over the fact they have someone as fine as me." It was definitely a brag. But he felt justified when their expressions switched.

She was smirking. Smug. As if she'd won something. He actually was buying something. She appeared very satisfied by the fact. Ethan rolled his eyes. "Yes yes. Don't you go looking too pleased by the fact you're actually getting my coin."

[Raine Proctor]

Every word out of his mouth was witty and necessary? She scoffed again. She didn't even deem the comment worth a response. The last bit, however, was worth one. "But of course. We need someone particularly diligent since you seem like you can't help yourself." She responded sweetly. She would gladly tax the boy. Not so much for being "generous" as it was to get a slight bit of revenge on Ethan.

There it was again. That pleased little look on his face she just wanted to wipe away. He was practically glowing with pride in himself. Raine rolled her eyes slightly. Then stared at Ethan. Bit of a brag, wasn't it? Someone as fine as him? Raine tittered. "Shame then that there doesn't seem to be a lot of men looking for your type." She responded smoothly. "Your market appears to be a small one. Pity." Not that she actually cared much. It was simply fun to point out.

She shouldn't look so pleased with herself? She laughed at him. "Oh my dear Ethan, I am going to milk this moment for all its worth." She purred. She called out to one of her helpers to mind the store. Meanwhile, Raine got everything Ethan's list requested. She wrote the prices down on the list as she went. He would have to pay a fine amount of gold for everything he needed. That only made her more pleased. Yet also curious. Once she came back, she handed the list to him. "I'll have everything you need sent to your ship. But I have to ask, what's the journey for this time?" She was no stranger to moving delicate cargo.

[Ethan Black]

She only scoffed. Made no comment on his statement. Instead she answered. He needed someone diligent to caught everything since he couldn't help himself. She said it so sweetly. He could see through the tone. He acted as if offended. "You wound me so, Raine. And here I thought we were closer than that."

He was getting on her nerves. He could tell. It was written across her face. Which only made him happier. Until she made mention to the lack of men looking for his type. His market was small. Ethan pretended to wince. Held a fist over his chest. "Ouch. Now that was really hurtful, Raine. Such cruelty." It was a jest. One she would see through.

She laughed. It surprised him. Yet it sounded taunting. She was going to milk this for what it was worth. Ethan frowned at her, but she was already gone. Ethan waited for a while. Eventually she came back. Everything would be sent to his ship. But she posed a question. What was the journey for? Ethan paused. He knew telling her was a dangerous game. He might call them friends, but he knew what was on her mind. Money. Revealing too much wouldn't be smart.

"We're making a shipment. Up to Therin. We've got a bit of cargo we need to deliver." It was vague enough. He shrugged. "Not much different from usual."

[Raine Proctor]

She'd wounded him? It was a joke, clearly. That didn't change her response. "Good. And as far as I can tell, we remain the same distance apart as when we started." Raine didn't get close to people. She could appear too, but to truthfully get closer to her was impossible. She'd built up too many walls for that. Only money got that close now. Not the people she took it from. It was a strict rule she made.

She'd hurt him again with the remark on his "market." Raine only smirked but let it be. She'd already won. What more did she need to say? Besides, she had to get all the listed items from the back room to be escorted to Ethan's ship. Once she came back, she noted the way Ethan paused to her question. It might have been brief, but Raine had gotten exceptionally good at reading others. He was keeping something from her. Even if he claimed it was just cargo up to Therin. "Really? What kind of cargo this time?" She asked innocently enough.

[Ethan Black]

Good. And they remained the same distance apart as they had when they started. Ethan could have acted offended. But he knew it was the truth. For all their banter, they weren't close. He knew next to nothing about her. All he knew were the rumors and what he could pick up in their chats.

She knew he was keeping something from him. She was quick. This was dangerous. What kind of cargo was it this time? She sounded innocent enough. Yet he knew that meant nothing with her. Coin was all that mattered. He couldn't risk something getting leaked out. "I can't really say. Captain's orders. But a certain Trevor Marin is involved." The name should distract her while Ethan pulled out the coin he'd need.

[Raine Proctor]

He claimed he couldn't talk. Captain's orders. Raine knew that was a lie. it was pretty obvious he was keeping something from her. But she would let him off for now. Besides, she could find out her own way. Ethan mentioned Trevor's name. Which truthfully had the opposite effect. now she was even more intrigued by what Ethan's ship had to be carrying. But then the coin came out and Raine's attention shifted.

That was the best way to distract her. With a swift hand, she started to count out the coin and place the different types into piles. It was always a slightly mesmerizing task for her. It was too bad she was swift with doing it too. In practically no time at all, she'd sorted everything and the payment was good. Raine looked up and flashed Ethan a sweet, pleased smile. "Looks like everything adds up, Ethan. Is that all?"

[Ethan Black]

Her eyes went straight to the coin. It was slightly fascinating. Ethan stared. Watched the swiftness of her hands. He had to take out a second coinpurse to add up to the expenses. She was likely pleased at the extra payment. Ethan had a distinct feeling he was watching a devil work.

Soon she finished. Looked up at him. Offered a sweet smile. He could see the pleasure in her eyes. Like the cat that caught the canary. A shiver went down his spine. He didn't know why. He didn't know how. Yet it was there. He suddenly felt cautious. Was that all? "Yes. Thank you. Now then, I should really get back to the ship." He was already on his way out. He offered a polite smile and a nod. "Good day to you then, Raine. Until next time."