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While the others argued and discussed potential plans, you couldn't help but glance up at the one person that hadn’t given their input as of yet.
You carefully got up from your seat, so as to avoid drawing too much attention to yourself, and started walking towards the stairs. The eyes of Ben, Ana, Young and Deadhead were on you in an instant, but you signaled for them to stay where they were as you ascended the stairs.
Once you were at the top, you reached a hand out towards a beam perpendicular to the one Harpy was perched atop. Mercy understood what you were trying to do without even having to ask, sending a bolt of cloth to wrap around the beam, and pulling you towards it. At this point, just about everyone was staring up at you, but you ignored them and gave Harpy your full attention.
The big bird lady was just finishing what was left in the pot, her wings folded behind her back as she turned to meet your eyes.
<span class="mu-r">“Slayer.”</span> she said, greeting you with a nod.
You frowned a bit, but decided to let it slide.
<span class="mu-s">“Hey Harpy. Everyone's down there talking about ways to stop Varnae, and I couldn't help but notice that no one asked you what your thoughts were.”</span> you said, in your most diplomatic tone of voice.
<span class="mu-r">“Bandit Queens are notoriously untrustworthy. They tolerate me well enough. But not trust.”</span> she explained, not sounding the least bit bothered by the prospect.
<span class="mu-s">“Well we can’t exactly afford to be picky right now. But I <span class="mu-i">do</span> know a guy who can afford your services!”</span> you declared, waving Ben over.
He pointed at himself questioningly. You bobbed your head up and down. Ben muttered something that might have either been an apology or a quip, before zipping over to a parallel beam using a pair of weblines.
<span class="mu-r">“Hey, ladies. What're we talking about?”</span> he asked.
You gave Ben a wide, innocent smile.
<span class="mu-s">“I was just telling the Bandit Queen here that you'd like to hire her services for the upcoming battle.”</span> you explained, taking pride in the way that you made Ben's eyes widen in surprise.
<span class="mu-r">“I would?”</span>
Harpy looked just as confused as he did.
Just then, someone began shouting downstairs, and you saw your perfect opportunity to slip out before Ben could start asking too many questions.
<span class="mu-s">“Uh-oh. I should go check that out. You two should stay here and hash out a contract while I'm gone.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“But I-”</span>
Ben never got to finish his sentence, because you were already rappelling back down from a bolt of cloth that Mercy had kept wrapped around the beam.
—----
>Ben
You and Harpy watched her go, and then turned to stare at each other. Her eyes were dark as pitch, making her nearly impossible to read.
<span class="mu-r">“Uh…hey.”</span> you said awkwardly.
<span class="mu-r">“Hello.”</span> she replied, dipping her head slightly.
She really wasn't giving you too much to go on here.
(Cont.)
