She tightened her grip on the string of her wooden "Looking for Party" sign, shifting nervously as the crowd bustled around the Job Board. The sun beat down mercilessly, making her sweat in her simple linen top and short skirt--practically undergarments compared to the gleaming plate mail surrounding her. Her cheeks flushed as another heavily armored warrior shot her a disapproving look. *Okay, Cherry. Deep breath. You've got this. Just act confident.*
Her blue eyes darted across the crowd, scanning for anyone who might look her way. Adventurers with gleaming weapons and polished armor brushed past her without a second glance. *Right, because they've got their shit together. And here I am in my crappy clothes, covered in dirt, wearing a sign like some desperate street vendor.* She fought the urge to hide behind the Job Board entirely, forcing her legs to stay planted.
When her gaze landed on someone standing nearby, her heart skipped. *They're looking at me. They're actually looking at me!* Cherry straightened, forcing her face into her most confident and cheerful grin despite her swollen eye. "Hey!" she called, waving enthusiastically as her sign wobbled against her chest. "You look like someone who knows their way around a job board!"
The words tumbled out faster than she expected, but she powered through. "Name's Cherry! Level 1 rogue--and before you ask, yes, I am a serious adventurer!" Her cheeks flushed as she gestured at the battered pouches on her hips, doing her best to laugh off the awkwardness. "I don't have much gear left. It's, uh, a long story. My last group didn't exactly make it..." An almost imperceptible shadow flickered in the depths of her bright eyes for just a moment before she pushed on with renewed determination. "...and, well, here I am!"
She tugged at the string of her sign again, standing a little straighter as she continued. "But hey! That just means I'm even more prepared for my next adventure! What do you say? Wanna team up? I might not look like much, but I've got guts--and I'm great at thinking on my feet," she blurted with characteristic candor, her enthusiasm momentarily overwhelming her usual self-doubt, "...most of the time..."
Her grin wavered slightly as she finished. *Please say yes. I can do this. I just need someone to give me a chance.*
The sultry human's smile grew wider as she took in the earnestness of Cherry's words. She leaned against the velvet drapes that framed the arched window, her gold circlet catching the light and casting a warm glow across her face. "Cherry, you're absolutely adorable," she cooed, her voice as rich and smooth as the velvet beneath her fingers. "And I do enjoy a good underdog story." She stepped closer, her deep red dress whispering against the marble floor. "But why should I trust you?"
"Trust?" Cherry echoed, her cheeks burning brighter than the setting sun outside. She stumbled over her words, trying to recover her composure. "Well, I... I promise, I'm more reliable than I look!" She held out her chipped dagger in a gesture that was half-offer, half-defense. "Look, I'm not a thief. I've had enough of... misadventures to last a lifetime." She glanced down at her sign, then back up at Nina. "Please, I need this. I can feel it. This artifact... it's like a second chance for me. And if I can get it for you, maybe it'll prove to everyone that I'm not just a walking disaster!"
"Ah, ambition," Nina mused, her green eyes glinting with amusement as she approached the elf. "But you see, my dear, I don't need someone reliable. I need someone... unpredictable. Someone who can navigate the twists and turns of fate without getting... tied up," she added with a knowing smile. Her hand brushed against Cherry's, sending a shiver up the elf's arm. "But tell me, what's in it for you, hmm?"
Nina's eyes gleamed with interest as she stepped closer to Cherry, the scent of exotic spices and the faint musk of desire clinging to her. She studied the elf's tense stance, the way her grip tightened on the wooden sign, and the hopeful glint in her eyes. Her voice dropped to a seductive whisper, "Why should I trust that you can handle this... task?"
"Oh, I've had enough practice with 'unpredictable' to last a lifetime," Cherry quipped, her voice shaky with nerves and a hint of pride. She thought back to the countless times she'd improvised her way out of trouble, her overactive imagination often leading her to bizarrely successful solutions. "I've got a knack for turning bad luck into... well, not-so-bad luck." Her eyes searched Nina's, looking for understanding or, better yet, belief. "And what's in it for me?" she echoed. "Well, gold always helps." Her voice grew a little more hopeful. "But mostly, it's about clearing my name. Proving I'm not just a liability." She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling visibly under the thin fabric of her shirt. "I want to join a real party, and I can't do that if everyone thinks I'm jinxed."
Nina's gaze lingered on Cherry's chest, the fabric of her shirt stretching with each breath, before returning to meet her eyes. She nodded slowly, a knowing smile curling her lips. "I see. A chance to prove yourself, hmm?" Her hand slid up Cherry's arm, leaving a trail of warmth that made the elf's skin tingle. "And what if I told you there's something more than gold waiting for you?" Her voice was a siren's call, a promise wrapped in velvet.
Cherry's breath hitched as Nina's hand touched her skin, sending a jolt of something unfamiliar through her body. She swallowed hard, her eyes wide and hopeful. "More than gold?" she repeated, her voice a little too eager. She quickly composed herself, trying to ignore the heat that was spreading through her. "I'm listening."
Nina's smile grew more intense, her eyes darkening with promise. "Oh, much more, my dear," she murmured, her voice like honeyed whispers. "The artifact I seek is said to hold the key to... certain pleasures." Her hand slid up to Cherry's neck, her thumb caressing the pulse point. "If you bring it to me, not only will your debts be paid, but I will also introduce you to a world of sensual delights that you've never imagined." She leaned in, her breath hot against the elf's ear. "But remember, discretion is key. This is a quest that must be handled with the utmost... subtlety."
Cherry's eyes widened at the whispered promise, her heart racing. She felt a strange warmth spreading through her, and she wasn't sure if it was from the excitement of the quest or Nina's touch. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "I... I can do that," she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut briefly as Nina's thumb stoked her pulse. "I'll be discreet."
"Excellent," Nina purred, her hand moving to cup Cherry's cheek. Her thumb traced the line of the elf's jaw, and she leaned closer, her breath warm against the elf's flushed skin. "Then it's a deal," she whispered, her voice a seductive caress. "You retrieve the artifact, and all will be yours." She leaned in, her full, red lips brushing against Cherry's in a soft, teasing kiss.
The kiss took Cherry by surprise, sending a thrill through her that she didn't quite understand. She pulled back, her cheeks flaming as she stuttered, "T-thank you... I won't disappoint you." She gathered her sign and straightened her makeshift armor, her eyes flicking to the door. "I should... I should go," she murmured, her voice trembling.
Nina's smile turned predatory, her eyes gleaming as she watched Cherry's reaction to her kiss. "Go on, then," she said softly, her voice thick with unspoken promises. "Find the artifact, and come back to me." She stepped aside, her hand lingering on Cherry's shoulder briefly before letting her go. "And remember, my dear," she called out as the elf reached the door, "you're on my time now."
Stepping out of Nina's chambers, Cherry felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. The warmth of Nina's touch lingered, and she found herself touching her own cheek where the woman's lips had been. Shaking off the sensation, she focused on the task ahead. The dungeon was said to be a labyrinth of danger, but she had faced the unpredictable before. She took a deep breath and set off, her makeshift gear jingling with every step.