So.... Where's The Help? (OPEN)

[Valerian Blackburn]

Valerian slowly walks up past the front gates of Cabal, his arms full of suitcases and bags. Walking with his legs spread out to help hold the load, he squats his way up towards the front doors.

"....what is this? Where's the servants?"

This is horseshit.

[Allison Kazim]

With one of her classes done, Ali had no intention of staying inside on such a day. She stepped outside in time to see a man struggling to carry a series of suitcases like he would collapse if a breeze so much as ruffled his hair - which was about all she could see over the top of said luggage.

"Back home where you left them," she snapped, the sarcasm dripping from her words. Great, one of ]i]those[/i] people. She already wanted to turn around and let him fall on his face.

[Valerian Blackburn]

Almost as if he didn't understand her, Valerian just squat-turns towards her, continuing on.

"Finally! I was beginning to think this place didn't even have help. Here, take this stuff."

He starts pushing his luggage towards her, expecting her to catch it!

[Allison Kazim]

Alison's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed as the young man started calling her a servant and treating her like it. The same thing she was used to at the Academy back home when the right people weren't looking. Rage bubbled up in her veins like a sudden tidal wave as she took a step back, letting the luggage fall to the ground if the boy didnt' pick it up himself. He was, what, her own age? Maybe? He would survive.

"Do it yourself," she snapped. "Nobody here is your servant." She might have opened the door to be polite at first, but now she wanted to see him face plant into it.  Her hand itched with the desire to slap him for suggesting anything of the sort, though it stayed still.  He wasn't worth it.

[Valerian Blackburn]

With all his stuff tumbling to the ground, Valerian looks up at Alison with the biggest frown on his face.

Until he sees who it is, which causes him to swiftly give her a smile instead.

"Oh! My mistake. Had I seen who you were, I would've changed my tone much sooner. Clearly, no one who looks like you could ever be a servant."

[Allison Kazim]

She couldn't deny the satisfaction she felt as the luggage dropped to the ground in an unceremonious heap. It served him right for mumbling like a spoiled prince and acting like she would be whatever he needed to make his life easier.

"It's good of you to notice." The sarcasm was still present as she raised a brow at the young man. He would have changed his tone earlier. Go figure. The smile might have been charming before, but now it just felt like a trap.

"And just who might you be?"

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Who might I be?"

He looks at her like she's crazy, before giving a little bow.

"Why, I'm Valerian, of the Blackburn family."

This should tell her everything. Everything.

[Allison Kazim]

Not one of the territories aligning with Cabal, then. Those names came far more easily to her, allied as her own home was with this place. The family name rang something in the back of her mind, a fact learned in class that was brought up in passing, something she would never have to deal with personally given her current station. However vague the memory, his actions and attitude spoke far more of spoiled nobility, maybe a high-class merchant. The need to return the bow jerked her to attention as she returned hte gesture. She'd already made the mistake of lashing out at nobility here once before, after all.

"A pleasure, Lord Blackburn." Not really, but the words were there anyway. She had no idea who he was, but she could guess the gype.

"Sadly, again, there is no one here to carry your belongings but you yourself. You seem quite strong enough for it." Oh god she was complimenting him. She didn't want to, but she did take satisfaction in the fact that he would have to do so on his own. He'd learn soon enough.

[Valerian Blackburn]

"You think so?"

Oh ho ho. Valerian gives her another smile.

"Please. Call me Val. There's no need to be so formal with me, especially since you're the first decent-looking person I've seen today."

[Allison Kazim]

At one point, Ali had struggled with the notion she unleashed her fury like a savage. Now she was seeing how alike the lesser nobility in the world were - not so different than those she knew and had to kowtow to all her life.

"My name is Allison." She decided to forgo his musing, nodding at the formality than was set aside on his behalf.

"I'm sure that you'll find more than one exception to your liking.

[Valerian Blackburn]

"More than one?"

His eyebrows lift, and there's no doubt that he's perking up at that information.

"You have a beautiful name, Allison. Don't worry, even if you think there's others, you're the one who has my eye right now."

Valerian gives her a wink.

[Allison Kazim]

Ali's brow lifted even higher as she gave a small nod at the compliment.

"Thank you." The words "for now" didn't escape her. The well-built lordling would be better off finding someone else, and she would be better off finding a better way to spend her time here.

"How reassuring." Sarcasm dripped from her words like rain in a storm as she sidestepped the man

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Oh?"

Valerian's smile just widens, even at the treatment he's getting so far.

"You don't sound as if you believe me. Do you not get flirted with, much?"

[Allison Kazim]

No, but he doesn't need to know that.

"I believe you mean it. For now." Until someone better or more to his taste came along. Someone with money and manner, maybe boobs. Someone other than the first person he came across.

[Valerian Blackburn]

"Ohhhh. So you're afraid I won't commit."

He chuckles, shaking his head.

"I can understand that. But you don't need to be so self conscious."