An Unfortunate Summoning

Darkness. Cold. Swirling around within the abyss, nothing but aether. Or at least what little remained of it. Slaughtered again by some voidsent of a higher order than her for something that was minuscule. A punishment, they’d called it.Voidsent. Mina rolled her eyes, figuratively, of course. She didn’t have form currently, so there weren’t any eyes to roll. She definitely rolled them in her head, but then there wasn’t one of those either. She sighed internally. Mina’s aether coalesced a little, as it always did if you got away before you were eaten. Slowly, she would take form again. And then the struggle would continue again.Keeping to the shadows; wretched, forgotten.
Staying out of sight; quiet, hidden.If she was lucky, she could make it off the meager scraps of aether that she found from the creatures smaller than her. But then again, she hated how she felt after consuming another voidsent. The voices in her head weren’t the problem; it was their fears that would wrack her body and soul until they eventually quieted down. Such an unforgivable existence, Mina thought. Why couldn’t I have died before the fall…A tug.
Sharp, uncomfortable.
Gone.She looked around her as her body began to take form. She was still mostly incorporeal, so her environment couldn’t have done it.What WAS that?Again.
Harder, painful.
Gone?Mina felt it consistently now. A tug that came from the center of her being, a place that was neither external nor internal. And it hurt.AGAIN.Blindness, nothingness.
Mina screamed out.

Mina hit the ground, hard. She inhaled sharply, the warm air suffocatingly… full? She looked around. Blinding light surrounded her. She could see nothing, ears ringing.Ears? Lungs? Breathing?A voice, male. Laughter.
“Welcome, my child. You are to –”Lashed out, claws.
Claws?Warmth. Liquid. Aether…Still unable to see, Mina’s nose perked up. She could smell it. The aether abound was incredible. Intoxicating. Irresistible. The voice had fallen silent, but she could smell a coppery scent in the air and could feel a warm form on the ground in front of her. Thoughts were interrupted by a deep, painful need from within:FEED.She dug into the unmoving form with her new extremities, claws and teeth ripping and tearing. Flesh flew from bone as she consumed, and blood slaked her dry throat. She picked up a bone, snapped it, and sucked at the center. The marrow was exquisite. Mina’s eyes rolled back into her head as she enjoyed her absolutely delectable meal. She could feel her aether coalescing, densifying.Just then, a gasp from the door. Mina’s eyes snapped back, locking on but not seeing.MORE.“Come on, run! We have to get out of–”These forms, too, fell before her claws and teeth. Mina leapt to another close by and silenced a scream before it could fully form, replaced by guttural gargling as crimson delicacy burst forth into Mina’s mouth. Her tongue lapped at the scarlet warmth. Her breathing quickened as she adopted a predatory stance.

Her arms up to her elbows were drenched in red stain, tissue and gore clinging to her claws. Her face, hair, throat, and entire front were stained similarly, ripe with the lifeblood that sustained her. And the best part? No voices. No fears, no desires. She was still, utterly and wholly, Mina.With that thought, her vision came to immediately. Her heart, still pounding within her chest, slowed as she looked around. All around her was red. The floors, the walls, the ceilings. There was blood and gore everywhere. Bodies, numerous, populated the rooms and hallways. Faces gaunt, horrified, and none stirred. This was now a house that death called home. She chewed. Still consuming something, she looked down at an arm in her hands. As Mina breathed in, she could smell naught but blood.And she felt powerful.Slowly walking out of the house, she saw another body in the yard. Long, brown hair, matted with blood, fluttered in the gentle breeze. Blue eyes stared blankly into the night sky, dulled by death’s embrace. This one, she didn’t kill. Mina shrugged. It happens to the best of us, honey. Sorry. Better luck next time.The breeze brought with it something else. A presence.Mina felt an overwhelming desire to follow. So she did, leaving the house silent and stained for its next owner.

Her First Sacrifice

Mina nodded and repeated her prey as she lead the woman into the room. "Recipes, yes..."As she entered the room and waited for the Miqo'te to follow her in, she scanned the room for a vantage point. She noticed several options and turned to face her foe."Recipes? You're an aspiring culinarian, so you must have had some exotic food in your time. What's the most... taboo food you've eaten in your journey?"A'lysa hesitated. "Most exotic food I've eaten? Hmm..." She pondered about that thought for a moment. "...I'd say it would have to be gorilla meat. It was meat that was shipped from the Far East, and a friend of mine prepared the dish for me." She paused again. "Well... prepared the best that he can anyways. Not a lot of people eat those kinds of things you know? And as for the taste? Odd, to say the least..." She looked behind Mina at the pile of books.Mina Thorn nodded in confirmation. "Odd, yes..." She waved her hand to the pile of books behind her, letting her façade slip in eagerness. "I'm sure there's something over there in that pile of tomes that will suit your fancy. It's not like it'll matter much soon anyways."Mina straightened herself quickly, trying not to bring attention to her misstep. Her body tensed, on edge, readying for whatever may come next as A'lysa stood before Mina, facing away from her. The air hung between them.

A'lysa walked up to the pile of books while scratching her head. "I suppose I'll dig around and see what I can find." She knelt down and started to examine and sort the books. "You should really organize and sort these into a shelf or something. Would help save time looking for a particular book you need y'know?" Clueless to Mina's intentions, she continued to shuffle the books around.Mina Thorn shrugged. "Yeah, well I don't do much reading of my own. I don't do much of anything really, just whatever Mother wishes."As A'lysa sat, Mina took her cowl off, shedding the cumbersome garment as quietly as she can before taking a perch atop a bookcase."Say, do you know the fellow who came in with you? He was pretty handsome in that 'dark-and-mysterious-I'm-not-telling-you-the-whole-story' kind of way. Do you always implicitly trust complete strangers?"The question was loaded.A'lysa looked up. "I often do but not to check out their books." She gave Mina a wink. "He is handsome but I guess he is already spoken for it seems." She said, referring to the Elezen woman.She rose a brow at Mina. "I'm not a homewrecker if that is what you are thinking. I maybe had some intentions but I'm not going to ruining anything just so I can have a little fun, y'know?"A'lysa continued to sort the books and glanced up at Mina every now and then.Mina wondered if the weight of the tower of books would be enough to crush the mortal if it were to fall. She rocked back and forth a bit, testing the resolve of the structure. It held firm."The things mortals worry themselves with..." She looked down."Tell me, in your adventures, have you ever come across voidsent? Have you ever trusted one?" She smirked at the woman in front of her as her eyes betrayed confusion for a moment. "Well, go on, have you?"

A'lysa peeked out of the book she was reading to look at Mina. She cocked her head to the side with a confused look. "That's a rather odd question to ask. But no I have not and any sane person would know to stay clear of such things. They are an abomination. Or so I've been told..."Mina Thorn scoffed. "Abomination, that sounds about right. Mortals can be so narrow-minded. Hasn't anybody ever considered that w-they didn't ask to be what they are?"She tried to backpedal a little bit, "I uh... studied thaumaturgy in Ul'dah and... learned about voidsent from my lessons."She chuckled quickly before studying A'lysa very closely, fading into studious silence.A'lysa let out a giggle. "Well we 'mortals' can be narrowed-minded, yes. But we fear what we don't quite understand."She gave Mina a warm smile. "My tribe wishes for me to continue their old traditions. You know, the one where a Tia has a harem of Miqo'te." Pockets of laughter escaped her mouth."I'm sorry, the thought alone is funny. I suppose modern Eorzean living has spoiled me now." Clearing her throat, she got back on topic. "Ahem, but yes people get upset or fearful over things like that."A'lysa added, "Oh and to add, they look down upon me when I said I didn't want to continue such tradition. And that I swing both ways." She points two fingers in each opposite direction.Mina looked at A'lysa, confused. "A Tia? Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but aren't Tias supposed to be male? You're exceedingly not that, so how exactly are you supposed to uphold this tradition?"Tradition, what a silly notion. Time ends all tradition as history is doomed to repeat itself. What use is there for such meaningless drivel as tradition when a Calamity is always only a few years, or one madman with a lot of money and aether, away?"Frustrating herself, she shook her head bemusedly, forgetting for a moment where she was and what she was here to do.

A'lysa nodded. "Yes. A male Keeper of Sun who is tribeless is called a Tia. They become Nuhns when they establish a trive of their own, but never mind that. I wasn't going to just be of those Miqo'te in the tribe."She paused once again. "...I wanted to explore and learn new things."Mina shook her head again, scoffing at the mortal. "Your life is going to be so short. It can be taken from you at any moment." Her eyes flashed a little at the utterance, betraying ferality momentarily."Tell me, what is it you wish to learn in your short life? Recipes, to what end? When everything is taken from you, what stands at the end?"Mina raises to her haunches, arms between her legs, crouched before the woman.A'lysa was confused by what seemed to be hostility coming from her voice. "Why are you talking so strangely and what's with th-"A'lysa made the connection as she figured out Mina's true nature. She stood up with the book she was reading pressed against her chest. Her eyes widened and her voice started to tremble."...Please, don't," A whimper came out as she pleaded.Mina snarled."Please don't what, steal your life from you? All you are is aether, given form and for some reason, the ability to think. In the scope of time and the universe, it matters not. For eventually, even the brightest minds mess up a calculation and then the world is plunged into darkness. You know, I haven't had aether in years. Imagine an aching, throbbing, bottomless void in your gut.Imagine it stemming from the deepest reaches of your being and consuming everything that ever was, and ever will be within you. Do you know how it feels to be so tortured, so vilified purely for your nature, which again, you had no part in becoming? Tell me why I should spare your insignificant little plans. The world is finite. Recipes and experiences are finite. The void is ever-reaching, ever-expanding. Why not become a part of it if the inevitable end is all the same?"

A'lysa started to back away from Mina slowly until her back met the wall. She glanced over at the door, but now knowing Mina's intentions, it was most likely locked as soon as they walked in. Even if she did somehow made her way out of this room she would have to traverse through the manor to find the door to exit, which is also likely locked or sealed shut.She tried to refocus her attention back at Mina but couldn't maintain long periods of eye contact with her. The fear of the situation caused A'lysa to break away from her piercing gaze as she stuttered and tried to find think of a way to negotiate with the hungry voidsent."I can't possibly imagine what it would be like to feel such constant hunger." She held the recipe book tighter to her chest. "Please. Even if you did consume me, I don't think it would satisfy you, at least not for long."A single tear rolled down her cheek as the thought of her life ending this way entered her mind. No one could of expected this turn of events, especially her.Admitting defeat, she slumped to the ground and tucked her legs in to bury her face, beginning to cry.Mina looked down at the sobbing form in front of her, weak, pathetic. It would take nothing at all for her to simply snap the mortal's neck and consume her. A'lysa's aether was radiant. It intoxicated Mina, causing her to salivate. She hadn't eaten in so long. She slowly approached the Miqo'te, wary that she may lash out in a final bout of survival instinct.Most mortals were inclined to do so when their lives are hanging by the last threads.Mina followed as A'lysa's eyes darted to the door before smirking, wagging her index finger at her. "As soon as we entered, that was bolted. There's not a chance you get out of here."Mina squatted before A'lysa, lifting her chin with her right hand and stroking her cheek with her left. The hand holding A'lysa's chin snapped around her neck and sharp claws threatened to pierce the mortal's ripe flesh; Mina's eyes fixate on them.Leaning in to whisper in A'lysa's ear, Mina pouted. "Why do you not fight? For all the aspirations you have, why resign to this pitiful end?"She turned A'lysa's head side to side slowly, examining her.

A'lysa croaked. "I..."Struggling to speak, she gasped for what little bit of air she could take in to mutter something in response."...Mina, I can't possibly overcome someone like you... ah! Please, Mina. Mina..." Mina's claw dug deeper into her neck as she pleaded."I'll do anything you ask of me, so please!" She begged. Not knowing what kind of life she will have if Mina accepted her offer, she was looking for anything at all that would hopefully grant her a way out of this pitiful end.A'lysa grabs Mina's hand, the same hand that is clutching around her throat, hoping that her touch would rouse some sort of compassion from Mina. Or to let her know of A'lysa's submission to her. Her life rested securely in Mina's hands now as she stared at her captor with pitiful, begging eyes.As A’lysa touches Mina’s hand, Mina can feel the life emanating from her. Burning at her brightest, A’lysa was pleading for her life with her entire being.For a moment, a jolt struck Mina. She is taken back to a world collapsing in darkness, one where she was alone. Where everything was taken from her and nothing she could to could stop her fate.She blinked, back in this moment, A’lysa gasping and clutching at her hand. Mina gazed upon her prey, pitying her in the moment, strikingly similar to the way Mina became who she is today.There was, however, one difference.“At least you will have loved ones who remember your name. Take solace in that.”Her grip tightens.Hard.

A'lysa cried out, flashes of light in her eyes."N-no!"Mina's claws punctured her throat as she slowly gripped tighter.
It hurts. IT HURTS.Blood gushed out as she flails her limbs in pain. Her screams echoed in the estate for a while until she was no longer able to do so. Unable to breathe, her screams died out and were replaced with the sound of her gasping for pockets of air.Every second of her final moments was excruciating as she wished to have taken a path that didn't lead up to her upcoming death. She wished she didn't make that choice to be outside of the culinary guild today. She wished she didn't follow Silvaire back to this forsaken estate. And finally, she wished for Mina to have it all end quickly, to spare her of this pain.Her prayers were not heard as the last light in her faded and she suffocated, choking on her own blood. Her body laid limp and lifeless now. Her eyes bulged out and open. Blood soaked the floor as well as the book she once held on to.Mina cocked her head to the side and simply looked at A’lysa as she watched the life fade from her. Every so often she flexed her hand when the flow of blood slowed, fresh tearing inside A’lysa’s neck drawing forth more warm, delicious life.As she writhed, A’lysa looked wildly into Mina’s cold eyes, pupils darting back and forth looking for an answer that simply isn’t there. Mina settled her head down against A’lysa’s chest, feeling the familiar rattle that means death is imminent.Once all life left her form, Mina released A’lysa from her grasp and embrace and looked over the pitiful woman. She had dreams and aspirations, sure.But Mina’s hunger was endless.She set to work, claws working almost as blades, slicing cuts of meat from the Miqo’te. Sectioning off bits of this and parts of that, lightly tugging at her entrails and setting them to the side.Mina wasn’t interested in what the woman last ate. She set aside a few prime pieces for Pukiki, saving the tail and ears as well for some delicacy. Mina rolled her eyes but chuckled, impressed by how the woman cared so much for quality in such a grisly environment.Then, Mina helped herself.Consuming flesh raw was her preference, the warmer the better. As she ate, she felt the aether suffusing her. Filling her, making her feel so light...After a while, all that remained are the cuts for Pukiki and the woman’s skeletal remains. A femur lay snapped in two, the marrow a delightful dessert for Mina.She stood, collected the cuts, and headed off for the kitchen. The rest of her worldly remains she left for Sara to do as she does.

Found by the Fire

Mina walked throughout the courtyard, drawing just enough attention to herself. She spied a lonely Viera sitting by the firepit.Mina cleared her throat, "Good evening. What brings you to these parts this?" She looked down upon the seated man with a grin and sparkling eyes.An Yome turned around, meeting the eyes of the cloaked figure. His posture stiffened but he took a short drag from a cigarette then he answered. "Just finished work."Mina nodded her head as her companion spoke. "Just got off work and chose to hang around a random firepit in Ishgard I see?" She giggled. "Well, you picked the right neighborhood." She took a seat next to him and smiled up at him. "Are you from around here?"An scooted a hip away. "Awfully chummy aren'cha?" He eyed the figure slowly, taking note of the odd choice of attire. "And you are?"Mina Thorn chuckled at the man before her as he slid away. "I just know a lonely soul when I see one. My name's Mina. And you?" She extended her hand across the bench, leaving it hanging in the chilled air.An's ear flicked at being called a 'lonely soul'. He took a few seconds of pause before taking the hand to a shake. "An."Mina watched her hand bounce up and down and smiled yet again. "Charmed." She threw a thumb over her shoulder. "Have you heard about the place behind me before?"An looks around, confused. "Y'mean the house back there?"Mina scoffed. "Not just A house, THE house. You haven't heard of us before?" She nodded her head in the house's direction. "I sort of run a bar in that place. I'm a burgeoning alcohol distiller, and I use it as a staging ground for people to try my spirits and leave reviews. I'd like to turn it into a fruitful business someday, but since I'm brand new, our samples are free!" She closes her eyes, smiling."We welcome in any and all, from the battle-hardened adventurer to the everyday man!"Mina beamed with delight at An.

An sppoke, "If yer tryin' to make it a fruitful business someday then y'better advertise to bigger adventurer hubs like the port, ain' it kinda fruitless to advertise to one lone man at a time." He tilted his head with a shrug of the shoulders, following it with a playful chuckle."Should I be a customer then?"Mina nodded her head and giggled back at An. "Yeah, I've posted some fliers around, but I try to keep it local at the moment. I'm a single producer, so I don't have the stock yet to satisfy the masses."She sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck. "As for if you should be a customer, does a man need a drink to go with his cigarette after work?" She winked. "We'll take great care of you inside, and it's much warmer."An shrugged. "A drink does sound good -- but I gotta warn ya. I don't know my spirits well so y'gotta hold my hand on that."Mina leaned her head back and laughed. "Oh don't you worry, I'm certain we can find you something that'll get you right where you need to be." She stood and took a few slow steps toward the house before turning and extending her hand again. "Shall we?"An stood up with a sigh. "After ya."Approaching the house, Mina waves to Leon.Leon smiled. "Good evening, Mina!"Mina turned in introduction. "An, this is Leon. He's one of the servants here. Should you find anything not to your liking I hope you'll let myself know first, but if you can't, Leon here will set you on the right track!"An studied the maid. "Ain' yer cleaner cold?"
Leon looked at the stranger and smiled softly. "Hi, welcome. I'm the maid here."He laughed, hearing him. "I come from a place much colder than this." He assured.
Mina smiled at the two. "Leon's in his element here, trust me. Anyways, let's go!"
Leon bowed politely.
An took a few steps closer, inspecting the 'maid's' attire. "A-alright..."
Leon winked cheekily.Mina welcomed An inside the house.
An looked around, befuddled. "How... dark?" Unsure how to give a proper compliment. "This is a bar?"
Mina Thorn spread her arms wide. "Welcome! I hope you like the aesthetic of the place. We're trying something here that will make a statement, ya know?"

An walked over to take a closer look of the furniture. "Suppose these kinda things are popular in Ishgard."Mina enthusiastically nodded in agreement. "Yes! The bar proper is downstairs, if you'd like to join me there. We have restrooms around the corner and down the hall." She stopped for a moment before leading An down the stairs. "If a door is locked, it's on purpose." She winked.An shrugged the tip off. "Sure."Mina spread her arms again, welcoming An to the bar. "What can I get you to drink?" She asked with a beaming smile.An looked over the stock. "Er, anythin' ya think is good. Not exactly sure what's best to drink 'round here. I'm adventurous enough to get whatever yer givin'."Mina nodded. "Sure, take a seat! Make yourself comfortable and I'll see what I can whip up."She headed behind the bar and perused the multicolored bottles on the shelves behind it. She selected a red bottle from the top shelf and tipped it into a glass before walking it over to An. "Here, try this. It's a twice-mulled wine made from fruits native to Ishgard."She poured herself a glass as well and joined him across the bar.Morahkiev approached the bar, obviously in a slump.Mina waved to Morahkiev. "Good evening Morah! Need anything to drink?"Morahkiev Shadowgate leaned against the counter lazily, staring over at Mina and then at An with white eyes. "...Yes. Brandy, please."An slowly pulled the drink to himself while giving the Au Ra a weary glance. He swirled the glass gently, "How fruity."Mina nodded and poured Morah a hefty glass of top-shelf brandy before sliding it over to him.Morahkiev raised the glass. "Thank you... Ooo, you gave me the good stuff." He inhaled it and smiled at Mina.Morahkiev leaned over towards An. "What brings you here tonight, stranger?"Mina Thorn beamed at An, "Oh! I'm so glad you like it! It's one of the ones I worked the hardest on. Drink up! There's plenty more where that came from!"

An regarded the stranger next to him. "What brought me 'round this area's work but what brought me here's her." An pointed at Mina with his glass. "Y'work here?"Morahkiev mulled over his glass. "I see." He laughed. He stared long and hard at his glass, as if the amber liquid would grant him answers. "We all work here, in one way or another."Mina tipped more of the brandy into Morahkiev's glass and smiled. "We all get something out of this place, that's for sure."An noticed the matching robe. "Guess the cloak's the uniform then... 'cept for the maid. Ya sure y'can afford for the drinks to be free if I'm the only customer 'round here?"Morahkiev raised a wary eye to An. "Oh you will pay your dues," Mora said cryptically, and then nodded in thanks to Mina. "Keep that coming... I want enough of that to absolutely ruin my inhibitions."An pondered over Morahkiev.Mina frowned. "We've had busier nights for sure, I guess everyone is still reeling from the Heavensturn celebrations and sick of the drink at the moment."She looked down at herself, realizing she still had the robe on. She slipped it off and stows it behind the bar.An nodded, "Got it." He took another long sip of the drink. "It's good. Ain' that into the strong alcoholic taste, this one's nice."An pushed the empty glass to Mina.Mina dutifully refilled An's glass as well as her own, and then gave Morah more of the brandy. She leaned over to An, "Don't mind him. He's one of our newest employees and he's getting used to the new arrangements."An leaned over closer to whisper. "Er... Should I just ignore him then?"Morahkiev downed yet another glass. He flipped back his hood to reveal long, waist-length inky black hair. "....Used to? I'm getting along great!" He exclaims, with an emphatic hit of the counter. "I'm not bothered by half the shite anymore! I go along with it gladly!"Mina shook her head. "He's harmless, don't worry. We're all good friends here, aren't we, Morah?" She glared over at him.An cocked an eyebrow. "S'there somethin' that bad with the bar work 'round here..."Leon appeared at the bottom of the stairs and announced his presence. "Evening again, Mina... Sir Mora." He greeted both, giving the stranger a quiet bow before going on to focus on his work.Morahkiev raised his glass and shouted, "Leeeeoonnn! My favorite maid."

An gave the maid a slight bow of the head."Having a good evening I hope, Sir?" Leon gave a tilt of his head to the Au Ra.
Mina pinched the bridge of her nose and poured even more amber brandy into Morah's glass, practically to the top.She turned to An, "See? It gets pretty lively around here. We have entertainment for everyone!"Leon noticed the heavy amount of alcohol in Mora's glass and let out a quiet snort. "Rough day then. Right." He chuckled.Morahkiev continues, "Excellent evening. I am..." He raised the glass. "I've already have had two of these. I'm working on the third--"Morahkiev suddenly swigged down more.An chuckled. "Suppose y'can call this entertainment." He downed the glass and placed it on the counter for more.Leon made sure the space behind the bar was tidy and free of dust. He reordered the bottles to put them back in their designated spots before heading over to Mora and looking to Mina."Mina, is Sir Mora disturbing your guest? Mora would you like to go have a drink in our Quarters? You look like you need some nice relaxation." He nodded firmly.Mina obliged, filling her guest's glass for the third time. "Exactly. You never know what you're gonna get when you come and visit us here! Hopefully that means you'll be back?" She asked with a wink.Morahkiev butted in. "...You want entertainment?" Mora slurred, before tipping his glass slightly and letting some alcohol drop onto it. He then moved to flick his fingers and a little thaumaturgic flame is set off, burning the alcohol away with a puff before disappearing. He laughed... Until Leon approached him.Mina shrugged at Leon. "You might have to carry him back at this rate," She said, chuckling.Leon looked with discontent as Mora left the slightest burn on the countertop...Mina noticed it too and reassured Leon. "We'll be sure to garnish his wages for the mishap."Morahkiev answered Leon finally. "...Sure, we can..." He leaned forward with a grin, moving to stand triumphantly, before accidentally stumbling and kicking the barstool over. "WHAT wages? Hahahah-ahaha!"

An swiveled to the side to get a better view of the drunk.Leon Jones rolled his eyes at Mora's antics but couldn't help the smile on his face. "With all do respect, Sir, you're a dumbass. Coming from me that's an achievement. "Let's go. Come on," he said, almost like someone would beckon a dog.He held out his arm for Mora to take.Morahkiev grew angry. "I guess my life is one big fuckin' wage, isn't it? I get to keep it for being a little BITCH--"He took Leon's hand and his demeanor softened. "...You're so soft. You know that?""Guess y'do have entertainment." An snickered rather loudly.Leon snorted at Morahkiev's words. "We're all life's bitches. Let's go." He ignored his drunken comment for now and focused on escorting him up the stairs without Mora falling and breaking his face."GOOD LUCK NEW BUNNY BOY!" Morahkiev shouted to An as he was dragged up the stairs towards who-knows-where.An settled back in. "Ain' yer lil' servant really useful. Really doin' the heavy liftin' ain' he?"Mina shook her head in exasperation, exhaling loudly through pursed lips as she drooped her shoulders."Would you believe me if I told you I didn't rehearse that?" She laughed. "Anyways, would you like more of that wine or would you rather try something else?"Referring to Leon, she nodded. "Leon is most useful. He definitely has earned his place here among our little group."An tipped his glass to Mina. "I trust ya 'nough to give me somethin' good. Dealer's choice."At this, Mina smiled darkly. "That's a dangerous attitude to have here, Mister. Might get more than what you're looking for," she laughed before moving over to the taps along the back wall, pouring a nice sweet mead into a mug for An. She returned with it, sloshing it down in front of him. "This'll last you a good while. Rolanberry mead brewed in Aleport in Limsa Lominsa, imported by a good pirate friend of mine."

An slowly placed the glass by his lips for a slow drink. "Dangerous? Because it's Ishgard or because yer a suspicious fella?"Mina took a seat beside An and turned to him. "Oh, come on now. You really think I'm dangerous?"She leaned her wine glass to her lips and took a deep sip, emerald green eyes glinting at An over the rim of the glass. "Every guest we see in this place comes with some kind of adventure in mind... Sometimes they get their wishes, sometimes they get more... and sometimes they don't."She set her glass down with a wink, wiping a droplet of wine from her lip.An took note of the wink, just like the one he recieved from the servant, clicking his tongue at the awfully chummy bunch. "Lip service." He murmurs to himself."Not me. I just want my work done, get my gil, repeat."Mina swirled the wine around in the glass mindlessly. Waiting. "You said you just got off work, where do you work?"She heard the door open and close upstairs, as well as the familiar click of the lock being slid into place.An exhaled. "Y'really gonna make me talk 'bout work when I just got off it?" He made an inebriated giggle before taking another sip.Mina winced and ran her finger around the rim. "Sensitive subject I take it?"An shook his head. "Sensitive clients," he corrected.Mina cooed over the man before her. "Ooh, a man of mystery? 'Can't tell ya, sorry lass?' kinda job?" She laughed.An laughed, holding his stomach. "Pretty much. Don' wanna get myself in trouble, y'know -- let's say, I'm a crafter that sells their wares and keep it at that."Mina looked aimlessly among the bottles along the back bar and nodded after pondering his sentence for a moment."I'm fine with that. We all have our secrets, I suppose." She sighs. "I'm glad you came by tonight. I didn't expect the... reception you got, but I'm glad you seem to be enjoying yourself. Sometimes it feels like we're putting on an act here, a big show and tell. And then people like you come around, and it makes me realize we're on the right track." She smiled over at An, a genuine one."I think that's a bit much flattery for someone just gettin' free drinks." An looked down on his drink, away from the sight of Mina's smile. "Thanks I guess." He mumbled.Mina straightened her posture upon hearing the door to the private chambers open and close. She smiled at An once again, and went over to turn up the orchestrion across the room. "I love the music we chose here. Lends credence to the atmosphere of the place."She listened, perking her ears up at the commotion that seemed to be brewing upstairs.

There was the sound of desperation upstairs, and Mina hoped her guest was drunk enough to not pay it any mind. She looked back at him with a toothy grin and turned the Orchestrion up a little louder.There was the sound of someone... Smashing something against the door? Books and tables flipping, then stomping down the stairs.A woman in a red coat hurriedly reached the bottom of the stairs, the obvious perpetrator of the ruckus upstairs.Lady Kizu shook her head, "There's more of ya here?! Of course there would be... Playin' at bein' people, disgusting... I dunno if you're here by choice or not but if'n yer normal folk ya best get ta runnin', door's locked though."An cocked his head in the direction of the new presence. "Somethin' entertainment again? Yer coworkers?" He looks up.Mina blatantly ignored the problem presenting itself, hoping it would go away without needing her intervention. The woman huffed and retreated back up the stairs.An stood and stretched. "Where did y'say's the restroom again?"Mina perked up. "Huh? Oh, the bath house? It's in room 6. Down the hall on your right."An smiled. "I'll be back."-To be continued-