Knowledge, and Metal.It's Where It All Begins

[Seira]

Ignis Reach, the new base of operations. Or it would be soon enough. Noah had traveled far and wide to get herself a knowledge base set up, get a couple of contacts throughout Avalon, and now she was back to where the magics she possessed could be harnessed. The metal side that was, she would keep her other little specialty a secret, work with it in the shadows to get what she wanted. But for now she had to find her real base of operation, where she would actually set herself up. Where she could be found on at least a three times weekly basis, but let's face it she needed somewhere she could be daily,  and where she could send those she would hire out in to the world to do the work she needed.

Noah strode right in through the doors to what seemed the more upper class yet very much lively tavern, taking a few steps in before stopping dead. Her hands rested on her hips, taking a look around the place, meeting eyes with a few, and getting a good idea of one or two people she could get in close with. She could work on getting her worker bees later, the most important part was making sure that she could get well and truly wasted if something needed celebrating. Like a good pay day. Or just finding a penny on the street.

[swiftyuki]

The head of this tavern was a Sphinx. Odd right? But her deals were fair and the meals were full of pep and zest that sang of summer and heat. She stopped cleaning a glass to see someone fairly new walk in and stop. How dramatic of them. Welcome stranger, take a seat and make yourself at home.”, she greeted. No riddles yet, it wasn’t quite happy hour. The Sphinx went back into cleaning her glass until it sparkled more than necessary and then placed it upside down on a rack with all the others. She leaned on the counter, watching the general activity of the tavern.

[Seira]

"Can't do that. Not got a home right now," Noah shot right back at the greeting, taking in much of the people who stopped caring more than those who still looked. But mostly, she was looking over the Sphinx. An interesting woman to tend a bar. "Name's Noah, new to the place, what can you recommend both to drink, and to do around here. Or do I need to play twenty questions first Miss Sphinx?"

[swiftyuki]

"Nah, not happy hour yet. We wait for about sundown for that." She leaned on the counter, paws overlapping each other. Occasionally her tail flicked up and slowly slid back down. A closer look revealed the woman had piercings on her ears, her hair worn in dreadlocks and bound with ornate bands of gold. On her forearms were simple golden bangles. "Here at Ignis Reach, we have a prized Phoenix Whiskey. The proper amount of alcohol to give that delicious burn of fire in your throat." She leaned towards Noah and said in a lower tone,"Fire mages absolutely love using the stuff to 'breathe fire like Lord Pyrion when he's a dragon'." She rolled her eyes at that and leaned back. "If you're not a fan of whiskeys, we have all sorts of other drinks. The finest of wines, don't tell Lord Sanguis or he'll raid us of it, grand craft beers and ales. Even if those can't suit your fancy, we can make you any mixed drink- Ah, that is if you have a recipe for one we don't know of." Which, to be fair, wasn't much. The sphinx had enough trade secrets to have a healthy selection of drinks and connections for those who wanted to get their good booze known.

[Seira]

"Oh please darling, if I stick around long enough, just my presence means it's happy hours," Noah wouldn't even hold back from the flirt, including a wink and even a finger gun at the sphinx lady. "Damn, Phoenix Whiskey sounds that the real hot shit," Another wink and breaking in to a short laughing fit, "Ok I'm done. For real though, gimme a single of that, and something dark and fruity. Just like I like my women. And now I'm done," She leaned in to the bar and offered her hand forwards, "Name's Noah. I'm looking to make a living as an information broker. Wondered if you could point me in a direction to get my start,"

[swiftyuki]

Was there something wrong with her face? Did she have something in her eye to make her wink at the sphinx? A smile cracked on the cat's face regardless, girl seemed to be in a good spirit. She reached out a paw, taking her hand with claws poking out a little for grip and shaking it.

"Dark and fruity hm?", she mused, fishing around for a couple glasses and placing them on the countertop. The first drink was in a rectangular bottle, branded with a gold and scarlet label marked with a phoenix on it. The liquid itself was a rich cinnamon colour, a brilliant gold shone through it if put through the light. "The most popular joke with this is that it turns you into a fire mage because of the kick it has to it."

She placed the drink to Noah before fishing out several liquors and some dark looking berries. "Name's Leisung. Lei for short." She placed a couple metal containers down, filling one with the liquors and ice to shake around. "An information broker, eh? Hmmm..." Lei poured the mix in and then some vodka to form a gradient into a deep purple.

"Lady Nyx is a collector of information out of eons of habit. Even has a library dedicated to it on everyone within the country no matter how major the title or minor the lifestyle. But that library lacks a need for help on gathering information." She placed a couple blackened berries in, topping it with whipped cream and another dark berry on top of its peak. "There's always some bounties seeking information on other groups, especially for locating name targets that have been on the run for a while." Lei put the bottles away and the metal cups in a sink to wash later.

She scratched her chin as she thought about it more. "There should be an investigations bureau somewhere, but for the love of information, I can't seem to remember where it is or who runs it. I know they're within the limits of Ignis Reach though, but gods what is their name?"

[Seira]

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you and these fine drinks Leisung." For a second Noah took on a slightly more hauty tone, even going so far as to give a little curtsy whilst the drink was being made for her. She was tempted to make a joke about the fire mage comment, but she wanted to keep a bit of a low profile to her own abilities. In the end it just made sense really to keep some secrets. She would have to if she was going to make it her job after all. "I'll keep that in mind though. A girl's gotta make a living somehow and I've gotta make my start as a broker some where." Even if she was being dissuaded from that directly, she was still not going to give up that easily.

She took up the drink, giving it a sniff at first, before dragging her finger through the whipped cream. She smirked first as Lei, before seeing if she could catch the gaze of another pretty young lady. Though if she couldn't, it would be Lei to get it. She made a show of licking her finger clean in a very salacious flirt. Giggling to herself after she took up the drink and drank a good half of it. "Woah! ... Yeah that's... that's real good."

[swiftyuki]

Leisung didn't seem to pay too much mind to Noah's gestures, likely used to some people trying to charm their way into free drinks. That may not have been Noah's intention though. She seemed slightly interested when she noticed Noah's taste test involved half of the beverage though. Woman drank hard, she guessed. Leisung reached under a table, grabbing a book with a list of contacts she's had gathered with her time around, pawtips sliding down the page as she read off the names. "Ah yes, here he is. Karris Reyn. Ignis Reach Investigation Bureau Head of Operations. I haven't visited with him recently, so I'm not sure if he has any openings. But I'm sure he'd like a pretty soul such as yourself as part of the team." The sphinx leaned onto the counter. "Any particular method you have of gaining information or is that top secret?", she asked, an amused look on her face.

[Seira]

Despite where Noah wanted to get in the town, she leaned back, drinking at the delicious concoction and making it clear she wasn't going to spy at the sphinx's book of names. "Karris Reyn, huh? Well, I'm sure I can prove plenty of my worth." She drummed her fingers against the body of the glass. "And my methods, well I'm very capable. Use my looks to my advantage," Her smirk was still wide, "Not in that way. But yeah, I've got some secret methods,"

[swiftyuki]

"The Bureau is always looking for those more than capable.", Leisung mused. "They seek the best of the best, so I certainly hope your skills qualify for their standards." Noah didn't share too much of her expertise and methods, but that was fair. Skill sharing was a double edged sword. Leisung grinned back at Noah,"Do let me know if you make it. I'll give you a meal and as many drinks as you please on the house to congratulate you."