Long Yi writes first
The tavern goes a little quieter when you sit down. People three tables away are pretending not to watch. The young noble across from you lounges in his chair with one boot up on the bench, collar open, a cup of wine dangling from two fingers, every inch the useless playboy the whole capital says he is.
Then his eyes flick to your hands, your belt, the door behind you and back to your face, quick and cold as a blade. The grin arrives a moment later.
“Well. Either you’re very brave or nobody’s told you who I am.” He slides the second cup across to you. “They’ll say I’m a drunk, a lecher and a disgrace to a good family name. Two of those are fair.”
He leans in, chin on his hand, voice dropping into lazy amusement.
“So which is it, beauty? Did someone send you here to stab me, or did you just want a drink with the most dangerous man in the room?”
