"Till Unfaithfulness do we Part"[QUEST]

Korra sat through the whole explanation largely quiet apart from the Lute in her hands that occasionally let off a gentle sound with every stroke from her slender fingers. Throughout the story and the woman's excitement about the Lady's ordeal, Korra spent her time lazily laying out across the ground, her magical companion propping her up into a seated position. Her Lute was firmly wedged between her smooth thighs to keep it up right as she tinkered and played with both hands lazily drifting in and out of the conversation as it went by. The creature supporting her was naturally a horse-like beast in appearance, though it bared some resemblances to Korra because of her clothing style. She was content on the floor, idly spending her time listening until they came to talk about certain 'inadequacies'.

A tired sigh crossed her lips as she finally spoke out in response. "Why look for guys at all then? When it comes to 'certain things' who would know better then someone with similar tastes?" She complained. Glossing her lips with a sweep of her tongue to moisten them at the thought of company, her gaze turned up towards the two while Eliah was trying to silence the client. "I'm sure even your husband would have agreed to that sort of request-- though I guess it's too late to turn back the clock for that sort of thing." She ended up heaving a heavy sigh, it was clear that she seemed to feel she missed out in some way. There was a measure of disapproval and irritability that flickered across her face before she mellowed once more and returned to idly plucking notes of her lute.

While they continued though, the more flustered Eliah seemed to become, Korra ended up licking her lips a second time from some sort of anticipation. As if she were a wolf eyeing a plump and oblivious rabbit, her gaze narrowed, but she remained relaxed and limber as she had been since she got here. Even if Eliah seemed to struggle with the moral dilemma of the woman, Korra seemed to view it as childish; If one can't please you, find someone who can. If one can't support you emotionally, find someone who can. If they can't agree to share, then find people who can! Weren't there plenty of people out there? Why be so jealous and fierce for one person? Korra might consent to such heated emotions if it were a collection of committed individuals, but a simple couple was nothing to get feathers ruffed over.

Hearing her request though, Korra's fingers stopped for a moment, sliding down the strings of her lute idly, the thought of protecting an adulterer seemed troublesome. A frown painted her face as she spoke with a furrowed brow. "We'll be protecting the boyfriend then, not the husband? I don't understand, why not just settle down with the one who survives?" She asked with a tilt of her head, the creature behind her turning it's head up briefly from the movement before resting down once more. Korra seemed to have a great deal of trouble following the logic of this mission, though that was just her own unique outlook on life no doubt. "Or just sit them both down and tell them there's no reason they can't share-- I mean, it's not like there's only one..." Korra started going into some expletives that could potentially even be unwelcome, but even so she took the time to describe the nature of such a relationship unless silenced or stopped in some way.

While Eliah seemed distressed over two days though, Korra was clearly unbothered. Her strength didn't grow from life or death experiences, only her wallet. Even then not by much considering her role as a career supporter, there was no big loss for her who specialized in support. Instead, if she did lose anything, it would perhaps be the time she wouldn't spend playing for lovely maidens at the bars, or at the fountain, or in the labyrinth. It was no big loss for her though, there would always be others to serenade and arbitrarily confess undying love for. This was the kind of life Korra lived one step at a time. "I've no problem waiting for a few days. Are you sure he's the one who's going to send assassins though? Why not the other one trying to get rid of your husband to keep you?" She asked with a perked brow, as if she would no doubt kill the husband herself if she were in his shoes, as if this were the natural line of thinking and logic one should follow.

Though hearing Eliah agree, and show a measure of concern for what she should do for two days, Korra stretched out a lithe and delicate arm, gesturing at her with a waving hand, her melodious voice calling out even as she beckoned to the girl with a mellow grin. "I can think of a few things to kill time. Nice things--"

 

Korra only flashed a faint sneer in response to the lady's efforts to spritz a letter with perfume. The gesture itself was something that Korra looked down on to a certain extent; in her gaze that was rapidly cooling, she saw a game being played, a drama. A great many people misjudged people for her reputation as someone who chased after girls, before all else her intentions were all unnaturally pure, the power of warm company was what she desired to her core. These games and lures though were something foul in the bard's eyes, such feelings should be open, blunted, expressed, but this felt far too suppressed, hidden and sneaky for her. She did love and adore women and girls naturally, but this was a feeling and desire she wore on her sleeves, nobody out there would not understand the type of girl they were getting into when they approached her, but this lady was different which earned a twinge of ire from Korra who found love and relations to be a lovely thing. She restrained her opinion though, her feelings as everyone began to get ready for the journey, Korra herself reached up to the creature at her back's mane to pull herself onto it's back.

Naturally she intended to ride Kirin along the way, Korra was someone with a weak stamina and lacked tenacity after all, she could be called lazy in some circles but she simply had a weak constitution. Though Korra caught Eliah's attempts at teasing, she'd get a toothy grin in return, Korra was no doubt someone who should never be allowed an inch if there wasn't interest. It was largely because once there was a whiff of hope, she simply wouldn't let go if she could sink her teeth into it. "Careful dear, I wouldn't recommend playing with fire~" She teased Eliah back, a playful provocation, clearly trying to call Eliah's bluff. Korra had a playful grin on her face, one that seemed to say 'I dare you, but you wouldn't dare' without words. This wasn't Korra's first time unraveling someone's preference to reach out for their heart within, but such a process was something that would no doubt happen slowly and over a long period of time. She was content with waiting and provoking Eliah stimulating her competitive side by calling her bluffs and teasing her for not daring to go further.

Though as they walk, Korra wasn't one for idle conversation, small talk simply wasn't for her, she was far too direct a person and didn't really understand casual pleasantries. Instead, she pulled the lute down from her back, fingers delicately plucking a few strings. Though the atmosphere about Korra was as warm as ever, her gaze was still somewhat frigid from the earlier discussion. As she plucked a few strings, she began murmuring a few lyrics for the lady and Eliah to hear. "There'll be girls across the nation who'll eat this up, babe I know that it's your soul, but you should bottle it up and get down to the heart of it; know it's your heart, you're running out of your luck don't make me tell you again my love-- love love love love~" The lyrics might perhaps be enigmatic, but her gaze listed slowly towards the woman, then back towards Eliah as if trying to gauge their reactions. Whether or not the subtext was picked up on or not, Korra wasn't particularly interested, but it was filled with red flags and cautions.

"I am aiming to be somebody that somebody trusts with their delicate soul. I don't claim to know much; It's as soon as you start to make room for the parts that aren't you, it gets harder to bloom in a garden of love-- love love love~" Her song continued, she idly stroked the strings, the song was mellow, calming, but the underlying message became somewhat clearer as she continued. Her frosty gaze remained sharp even as the Kirin carried her along. The creature itself already used to Korra's nature, it was unperturbed by her efforts of provoking Eliah and cautioning the lady. Though even as she did continue her cautionary tale through song, she playfully wondered just how worked up Eliah would be from her challenge. The thought made her moisten her lips once more with anticipation.

 

Korra only let out a chuckle, but it wasn't quite the mellow or melodious chuckle she'd used thus far. It was a bit more frigid, cold and harsh but rather then explain it, she simply continued, plucking a few more strings as she continued her song with a firmer tone of voice even if the tempo hadn't changed. "We can understand the sentiments you're saying to us-- Oh but sensible selves, could you kindly shut up and get started at keeping your part of the bargain, I'll please you-- Oh darling you're killing me with love-- love love love~" Her song continued without skipping a beat, though her message was a bit harsher through this verse. Whether or not it donned on Eliah, Korra couldn't change, but the reality was that the song wasn't exactly meant for the girl she was hitting on and teasing, instead, this song was more intended for the Lady who remained stoic from start to finish that stirred Korra's suspicions as she continued on idly plucking strings as they went. She wasn't sure if Eliah would catch the message in that sharp verse, but she tried to assert it without rousing the lady's suspicions too much as she reclined against the draconian horse's back picking up the tempo just a tad as it seemed they were approaching their destination.

"Started as a flicker meant to be a flame, skin has gotten thicker but it burns the same. Still a baby in a cradle-- got to take the first fall; Baby's getting next to nowhere with her back against the wall. Meant to make me happy make me sad, want to make it better-- better so bad. But save your resolutions for your never new year there is only one solution I can see here~" She spoke rolling a shoulder as she got comfy against the Kirin's fluffy scaled hide as she continued with the tail end of the song. "Love you're all I ever could need only one good thing worth trying to be and it's love-- love love love love~" Though the subtext got progressively less subtle, Korra seemed disappointed by the result, nestling into the Kirin, as if feeling lonely, for a moment she maintained her frigid scowl until the woman left her alone.

Seeing the woman peeling away in a hurry though, even seeming nervous and full of anxiety, Korra's brow knit watching her disappear up the street. In the end, the Kirin collapsed down, dropping down to it's knees to lay down lazily as it did back when they first had their meeting about the client list. All at once though, Korra exhaled her frigidity and frustration all at once before turning her back and falling into the Kirin's side where she could find warmth and comfort once more. In response to Eliah's question, Korra let out a soft chuckle. "We're being set up-- I wouldn't worry too much about the unknowns." She explained bluntly without any warning as if she'd seen through things quite well. Rolling her shoulders she relaxed lazily with no sense of urgency or lethargy as she continued trying to explain it to Eliah who seemed lost. "I just haven't decided on whether it's because the death will be pinned on us, or if she's buying time for this man to kill her husband-- Difficult~"

Despite the extreme words she was using her voice wasn't hurried, her tone wasn't rushed, she didn't seem to care one way or the other, instead, she simply continued to muse while strumming chords with slender fingers. "You've not experienced a lot of love have you? A strong feeling-- Painful feeling, but strong feeling. There are a lot of problems in both her story, and how we're being commissioned. Haaaaa... To think I'd experience a set up in my first job in such a long while." She complained clearly dissatisfied. "You should have some vague idea right dear? There's nothing we can do here on the first day though regardless, it's best to get a nap while you can." She offered, playing a few more chords. Korra would pass the time to idly with music, but when evening started to rise, she pulled out a large bag. Normally she used it as a supporter to carry loot from the dungeon and tying it to Kirin's body for easy transport. At night though, she used it as a sleeping bag, slipping her body in, she snuggled in leaning against the creature's fluffy mane like a pillow before glancing up at Eliah. "... What-- you want to join me in here where it's warm?" She asked, flashing a coy grin knowing the girl's response, but still trying to find an excuse to tease her after her misunderstanding about her song.

 

Curled up, Korra let out a mellow chuckle nestled into her sack as she spoke while poking her head out from the interior as if it were a sleeping bag. She spoke in a soft lazy tone, indicating she was planning to sleep almost immediately. "No... But it would give you some insight. A love song can only stimulate regret and unease in those who are unsure of what to do with their adulterous ways. For someone who is calm; it's usually because they know how the problem is going to be 'solved'. Also, she didn't stay and introduce us to the one we're protecting, so there's a chance he's already dead and we'll end up stumbling onto the body and be killed and labeled as the assailants. Alternatively, she might have done this so we kill her husband for them mistaking him as the assailant since it seems like the man himself hadn't had a chance to confront this issue either." She explained, opening an eye to glance to Eliah, sucking her teeth playfully she wagged a finger playfully. "A liar will always be a liar dear. People can change their ways but not their colors." She tried to offer before nestling back in.

While Korra slept, the horse she napped against maintained a vigilance that wasn't normal. As if not needing sleep, the Kirin glanced about lazily, occasionally laying it's head down, but other times watching Korra sleep. Korra slept deeply, not fearing god nor devil as she slept out in the open, it was clear, Korra slept like this usually. With no real home of her own, she simply looked for a good shady tree or a nice plush knoll. The reason she didn't have to worry about carriages or bandits was likewise that horse at her back. While Korra herself was a supporter, the draconian steed was her only real method of fighting in the dungeon, that horse that watched over her like she was a small child didn't sleep a wink as she simply passed time like that.

Naturally, in the event she was overthinking things, Kirin kept an eye on the house for anyone showing up. He'd naturally stand up to alert Korra by shaking her body that was above it if anyone appeared. It waited idly occasionally chewing at grass or tree roots without much of a care. It wasn't the first time he'd played body guard for Korra after all, in fact it was his role almost every night. Though the creature did occasionally glance towards Eliah, Kirin wasn't bothered by that other girl who seemed like they weren't a threat to anyone.

 

Korra would relax sleepily, lazily, her dreams were as one could imagine, a warm household, one with a variety of women all with figures and faces that couldn't be distinguished, unfortunately blurred. Korra's greatest dream, the one she saw most often was this very dream. A simple breakfast, eating, talking about work. The few girls who were adventurers getting ready for a hard day in the dungeon, the others who were home makers seeing them off with high hopes but worried hearts. Korra's promises to be home in time for everyone to reunite at dinner. This lovely and innocent dream was one that Korra idealized and worked tirelessly towards, but the chances of her bringing it to pass were far too few at this point in time.

It was only when Eliah noticed the people moving, that the horse suddenly jerked it's head to the side rising up to it's feet. This action brushed past Korra's body causing her eyes to dart open, veins reddening the whites of her eyes, her anger flared briefly from her dream being disturbed, but she settled quickly following the horse's line of sight. "Kirin!" She spoke gesturing with a hand and immediately the horse's hove cracked against the ground beneath it. It's stomp produced an electrical discharge as if lightning had struck for only a moment as the creature snorted with disdain. The fact that anything dared try outrunning it under heave and above the earth was an affront to it's noble character and a stain on it's pride. The creature reared back, clearly getting ready to charge towards the fleeing figure, Korra on the other hand though, stood up out of her bag and turned towards Eliah trying to give her a subtle push onto Kirin's side. "Hold on~" She tried to tease attempting to load Eliah onto the horse's back before it took off.

Naturally when it did, Kirin took off at a breakneck speed. The horse's thunderous steps shot towards the darkened figure, not intending to kill, but merely to cut off it's escape as it stared it's victim down looking at it from across the way trying to herd the person back to the house they were escaping from with threatening neighs and hooves. If Eliah happened to make it onto the creature's back, it would stop short of it's target trying to buck her off towards the person in question as if trying to throw her at the victim like a projectile. However unfortunate, this wasn't a tactic meant for Eliah, but one for Korra's adventurer that she supported who was a fighter.

 

Korra followed along, lazily compared to the heated racing of her mount. Pulling her Lute down, she exhaled a soft sigh as she closed the gap in a lazy jog while plucking a few key strokes. "Healing Hymn; Sing~" She spoke as she began playing a mellow song during her transition. "What the hell's going on; can someone tell me please why you're switching faster then a shivering trainee~ We're black then white-- No something isn't right; Our enemy's invisible I don't know how to fight~" As her song started, Eliah would be able to feel pain fading away and if she'd been scraped too hard enough by the ground to bleed, instead of blood, shimmering light would flow sealing the wound. Korra repeated the chorus once more for the person who'd been taken down by Eliah as a human projectile. Kirin would naturally watch them closely, hoof not far from their bodies, as if the threatening stamp was meant to keep them in place while Korra approached.

Looking down, Korra couldn't help heaving a mellow sigh seeing the woman who contracted them for this job, a sly smile came to her face, she even moistened her lips as she looked down first to Eliah then to the Lady in question. "You shouldn't be coming to a place that's under risk of being attacked by assassins dear. This just isn't common, specially since you seemed so worried about how it would be handled." She murmured, suspicion roused in her gaze as she cocked her head crouching down for a better look at the woman. "Great Job though dear, you managed to catch her~" Korra spoke with a playful giggle finding Eliah's help most timely even if it seemed that Kirin forced the decision on her, it did allow them to catch the woman who seemed started.

 

Korra mused on the woman's purpose to some extent, though suspicion was clear in her gaze as she watched her explain the 'calling' in her bosom. It wasn't as if Korra didn't understand that draw, she was drawn towards every woman in such a way after all, but she shook her head slowly and tried to consider it deeply. After all the best way to peg the assassination on someone else was to go in yourself and rediscover a corpse and blame it on someone who was meant to be a body guard. Korra was leery about it since the only means of stopping such a rumor was to silence the one spreading it; It was truly a difficult proposition to follow through with, particularly when Eliah turned the question on her. It was a difficult one to answer, pulling the strings of her lute plucking a few notes, in the end she gave a vague shrug, a sly grin touching her face as she glanced towards Eliah. "I suppose, though we shouldn't just let them meet just in case-- We have to protect him after all, doesn't that mean we should 'keep watch'?~" Korra explained, her sly grin widening a stretch.

Though she said that, Korra licked her lips slowly, turning her gaze to Eliah as she laughed sweetly. "It's not like I can't understand the call of one's loins to one they love, I feel a strong pull like that towards most girls after all." She tried to tease Eliah who was so awed by the woman's desperation, but in a softer tone, she turned her back trying to glance towards Eliah with a measure of seriousness. "We will have to go with her though, if there is trouble it will probably be happening now~" Korra mused relaxing as she reached out for Eliah's shoulder giving it a pat or rub that was perhaps a little too friendly before trying to slip past and approach the house in question. Trying to sneakily approach, Korra wanted to try and understand the condition of the house before the lady went inside. Inching forward, she kept her steps light, her posture was low and bent to keep her out of sight. She tried to peek faintly into the window wondering whether or not she truly was being set up.

Regardless though, there was no doubt this had already come too far at this point to slip out without springing the trap at this point. Rather then putting it off, Korra figured it was best to get it over with and simply kill who needed to die in this equation. "Alright then, let's go." She gestured for the lady to lead the way with a hand even as Kirin trotted forward to join her back at her side once more.

 

Korra couldn't help a sly smile at Eliah's response, seeing the girl following along with her so diligently, Korra nodded back in answer to her simple affirmation. "Yes yes, good girl." She spoke trying to reach up to the girl's ears and ruffle her hair and ears playfully before trying to walk off. Even if Eliah voiced her complaints Korra wouldn't really blame her, Korra didn't have the airs or atmosphere of a strategist, but she had the personality and temperament of someone who could see through others and stay five steps ahead of people. While this didn't apply to combat, it applied to politics and relationships, a practiced talent for the girl who spent her life pursuing the fairer sex. It was no doubt a useful skill particularly when her adventurer companions tended to be on the more naive or adorably oblivious side to people's potential schemes. Even Eliah who seemed so ready to work towards a pragmatic solution seemed to get lost in the nature of the job without suspicion in the beginning.

Seeing Eliah starting to grow skeptic too though was a welcome sight, it would have been irritating for her to persistently continue dropping hints and beating her over the head with realities as they stumbled around in the dark. It made it a lot easier if her partner or companion was able to follow her train of thought. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she gently ushered the woman in along with Eliah, but the lady's question about it having already been done made Korra lick her lips slowly. "Then our job is done, and we go home isn't that right? After all, if he's already dead, that would have mean you hired us too late."

She did fold her hands though seeing Eliah being so rough with the lady physically made her gaze narrow a bit further, her suspicions grew a bit stronger as she exhaled a heavy breath of frustration. Even when being handled so roughly by their employees this client wasn't lashing back or even the faintest bit disgruntled. There was certainly a problem here, one that made Korra frown deeply as she continued considering the possibilities. Listening to Eliah's suspicions grow though, Korra only crossed her arms over her chest and tried to rest her back against the wall with an idle and playful chuckle. The way she saw it, there was no point to even enter the building for them, the lady would be all they needed to confirm whether or not things were going well.

"Well, for now we can just wait, let her see what's inside, waiting out here would be best, but we need at least one eye on her." She spoke trying to open the door to keep an eye on the woman who would be having a meeting with her lover. Korra wasn't one to pry into heated and lewd matters that weren't her own, in fact she found the very thought unsavory but she still tried to follow the woman with her gaze as she went into the house. "People can be so much more sinister compared to the monsters." She said with a heavy sigh.

 

Following along with Eliah, watching the girl react to the pool of blood and the person's condition though, Korra couldn't help leaning her head to one side as she spoke. "No we couldn't have." Korra explained simply with a mellow chuckle knowing there was nothing they could really do at this point though. Sliding her hands through her hair with a flick, she nodded slowly in Kirin's direction as she continued on in a lower voice for Eliah to hear. "Kirin looks like a horse, but he has Draconian ancestry. There's no way something like a person would escape from his ears and eyes in the dark." She spoke gesturing to the creature's vibrant ruby red eyes. They shined like gems as wide as a horse's but the coloring was clearly not that of a mammal's. Even it's hide was covered with scales that gave it's identity away a little.

"Also, that blood would have dried if it was happened before we got here." She explained glancing in towards the Lady who was still crying out huddled over her lover as Korra had her secret conversation with Eliah in a low tone. If Eliah looked hard, she'd be able to see the red pool under his back slowly expanding making it clear that blood was still leaving his body even if he had already died. Strangely the other stains along the walls and damaged items that were red had already dried however and were already a darker crust that painted a few personal effects. Though Korra furrowed her brows, her gaze washing over the scene a few more times in confusion though as she leaned closer to Eliah, close enough for the girl to feel her breath on her ears as she mumbled her words. "My only question though, is why the blood on the walls and effects is already dry?... Why does it seem like he's only just started bleeding out that hard though. It doesn't add up." Korra spoke with a frown.

As if the man was already drugged on the floor and the struggle had happened at a different time, Korra's low voice continued, filled with suspicion as she explained the thing that caused her the most confusion. "If the struggle this badly happened, don't you think we would have at least heard a shout or cry? There wasn't a peep from this house despite this grizzly struggle, it all happened too silently for this kind of fight don't you think?" Korra spoke finally leaning away. Glancing back to Kirin, the horse slowly peeled away from them, trying to remove itself from the doorway and trott around to keep a good eye on the house. "First, we should get a good look at the wound. Can you take care of the Lady herself while I look him over? Keep an eye on her hands..." She spoke glancing back to see the Lady's hands well hidden against her stomach, Korra was largely worried about her concealing something since it seemed like there was something between her hands that she was trying not to bring attention to while she cried out.