"I wish to negotiate"

Doing her best to ignore the panting redhead that's still lying on the bed, chest heaving, Alice curtsied, showing her respect for a man who definitely did not deserve it. Still, as a natural born aristocrat, lying and maintaining a façade was second nature to her, and she was confident that the smile she had painted on her face was genuine. An added benefit was that this posture allowed her to keep her eyes on the ground, so she couldn't have to stare as his ugly, naked form.

While Alice had originally decided to pretend to serve beneath Kurtis and sabotage Jamis, her mind has changed upon seeing the state of this pigsty. Did this man even have a plan for the succession? It hardly seemed like it. If that was the case, then what was the point? No, at this point, the only way to make sure this time and trip wasn't wasted if she managed to get her hands on those maps. Would he be willing? It was time to find out.

"I wish to negotiate," Alice said smoothly as Kurtis puts on some underclothes. She couldn't decide what he looked more like, a bloating pig awaiting slaughter or a bleached whale rotting beneath the sun. Maybe an unholy combination of the two? "I was informed by some soldiers that you had a collection of books written by The Wolf of Solomon, the legendary warrior from the east. I wish to take a look, and if you would allow for it, copy some notes from them."

She knew the books existed, as she had seen them downstairs, and she also knew that Kurtis didn't much about them at all. If he agreed, he certainly wouldn't supervise her during such a mundane task, allowing her time to examine the maps in greater detail and hopefully make some copies.

"Oh? Is that so?" The general drawled, seemingly only half listening as he puts on his coat. It was far too small for him, the buttons would never fit together properly, but he didn't seem to care very much. Reaching into a pocket, he pulls out a jingling pouch, no doubt filled with gold, and tossed it over to the prostitute, who giggles as she catches it. She dresses herself as well, though her clothes consists of nothing but a southern dancer's garb made up of transparent silks, providing absolutely no coverage. Blowing a kiss to Kurtis, she takes her leaves, not even bothering to clean up the cum stains on her thighs.

"Listen, princess, I don't think those books were written for girlies like you in mind," he continued condescendingly, finally turning to face Alice, meeting her gaze with his beady brown eyes. Aside from the puffy beard, he's got no other hair on his head. All in all, an ugly countenance that suited an ugly personality. "But I suppose it doesn't matter much what I think. You know what they say, scratch by back and I'll scratch yours."

Alice could already imagine all the ridiculous demands this fool of a man could make. {if Blake Met = true}Hell, it might even be worse than Blake's!{endif} Still, she figured there was no harm in listening at least. She could always tell him to fuck off later, if the demand is overly outrageous. "Let's hear it then. What do you want," she asks, folding her arms over her chest.

"Oh nothing crazy," he replied with a wave of his hand. "Jamis and I had been discussing the possibility of recruiting female soldiers for the army, and we commissioned a prototype armor. All I ask is that you try it on, and give me your honest opinion."

Without waiting for a reply, Kurtis pops open a closet, pulling out a mannequin with said "armor" draped over it. Except, it wasn't armor, not really. Made of hardened leather, it consisted of a generously cut leotard, some thigh length boots, and some gauntlets. The back of the leotard was practically a thong, while the front offered up plenty of cleavage to view. "Well?" He prompted, as though the sight of the armor would encourage her, rather than the other way around.