Yesterday there was an Act I banter making the rounds about Isabela catching Carver at The Blooming Rose. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten about it until I saw the banter, and realized I’d been missing out out on quite the opportunity. I mean, who doesn’t love a good whorehouse scene? It’s almost a shame “Shadows” started after Act I wraps up, because wouldn’t it have been fun to see Carver and Faith in action? After all, you know 19-year-old Carver is the kind of idiot boy who’d go about earnestly romancing prostitutes he’s paying to sleep with.
Maker, I love that doof.
Previous: The Final Sacrifice
***
Like its namesake, the Blooming Rose smells lurid, intoxicating—it’s a scent undefinable, and one that begs to be followed. But what Carver hadn’t noticed the last time he was here was how stifling the air was too. The incense must be strong, of course, to cover up the spilled liquor and sweat and other, less savory aromas. But it is a smell that Carver now finds just the wrong side of pleasant.
The lobby is both bigger and smaller than he remembers. Draped across tables and chairs are brightly-colored whores in conversation with potential johns and, lacking that, each other; nobody pays one more out-of-dress Templar any mind. Quintus, the bartender, chats mildly with Madame Lusine, whose eyes flick briefly to him, while Viveka flits about the tables, her tray laden with beer.
Across the room, a tiny, beautiful creature breaks away from conversation with a few elves and bounds over to him. She has dark hair and pale skin, and large, liquid eyes the color of a forest floor.
“Carver!” She grins at him appreciatively. “Well, slap my ass and call me a horse. How are you, honey?”
“Faith,” he says, managing a smile. The years have been kind to her, although she doesn’t look quite as young and innocent as she once did. He supposes the same could be said about him. “You remember me.”
“Like I could forget a chin like that,” she says, beaming at him. Almost surreptitiously, she slides a hand along his naked bicep. “Where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in here for forever.”
