Author's note: Just my view through most of the NWN2 OC. It started out humorous, but it has taken a turn for the dramatic and dark, which is to be expected with the pairing in this story. It is still rated M for language and adult themes later. The first few chapters have been updated a bit, just because I wanted it to flow better. Also, I know Cari might not seem evil in the first few chapters, but there is reasoning behind it, reasons that I will delve into later on, but don't doubt, she's evil.

A notice to anyone who might start this story now: I'm in the process of updating my earlier chapters, because, as I went back and read them, I started cringing. XD So, I'm rewriting and fixing up some scenes, altering others, just making them flow more with the later chapters. I hope anyone who has already read it enjoys the changes, and newcomers enjoy the new version! Happy reading! I'm currently working on Chapters 1-8, with chapters 1, 3, 7 and 8 reworked to my liking, so anything other than that hasn't been changed yet! And please, do let me know if I made changes for the better or worse, I'd very much appreciate the feedback, whether it's a message, review, the Pony Express... anything, I just want to know if I'm getting better as an author, or I've just shoved my foot in my mouth, so... please, do let me know your thoughts as a reader! It would really mean a lot to me! XD

"If I wanted a wench," an amber-eyed man snapped, sneering at the black-haired woman who had just offered him conversation as she gestured to the chairs in front of the Flagon's fireplace, "I'd go to the local brothel. I mean, has it been that long since you've seen a real man? Leave me be. You tavern wenches are too much anyway."

Well, the dark-haired woman thought, narrowing her eyes, taken aback by his chilly reaction, Not the best way to inspire romance, you fool.

Since that didn't work, we'll do this the hard way then...

She eyed the man coldly, inwardly appreciating his handsome, muscular appearance before settling her face into a smirk. "Well now," she drawled, both vaguely insulted and mildly intrigued by his scathing response to her proposal of company, "That's a shame. Because a handsome man like you must be terrible in bed if you have to pay for women to lie with you. Either that, or..." Her eyes flitted below his belt for a brief moment, and her smirk widened. "You lack in other areas.

His upper lip tugged up into a snarl as he drew his sword from his scabbard. "Why you little-"

Nobody insults my bedroom talents and gets away with it. She's about to get very well acquainted with my sword. He laughed to himself. Hah, acquainted with my sword. I'm funny.

He swung carelessly at her, thinking her little more than a brazen tavern whore, and he only barely hid his surprise when she ducked and kicked him hard in the back of the leg, causing his knees to buckle. He was more than rattled to suddenly find himself lying on his back, and he grunted as she leapt up onto his stomach and leaned forward, her knees resting on his forearms as her swords crossed over his throat, her green eyes glittering in the firelight as her long, dark hair cascaded around them like a curtain.

Well, he thought, glaring up at her, realizing that he had been momentarily bested by a woman, damn. Didn't see that coming...

She's fast for one of them whores...

His grip on his longsword slackened and the blade clattered to the floor, drawing Duncan out from behind the bar.

"Bishop!" he shouted, throwing his dirty dishrag aside, "You get your hands off my niece this minute, you Gods-damned idiot!"

Bishop blinked, startled.

This is Duncan's niece? The one from West Harbor I always hear 'im talking to Sal about?

Huh. She's remarkably well-groomed for being a swamp girl.

And she certainly doesn't smell like one...

"She's blood?" he asked in reply, studying the young woman's face and rounded ears with some interest, "She doesn't look like you, unless she's some funny elf-breed."

Good thing for her, he chuckled to himself, finding the woman rather comely, now that he actually took the time to look at her, and good thing she's not a whore, either. I hate payin' 'em.

And she's Duncan's niece too. That makes things different...

"Duncan's not blood," the young woman whispered, shifting her swords upward slightly, "But he's still kin." A slight frown creased her thin eyebrows, and she cocked her head to one side. "And what exactly are you staring at? See something you like?" She snorted. "For a wench, that is."

"I'm merely studying my prey." He leered suggestively at her. "I like knowin' what I'm up against."

Oh, he's interested, she thought, smiling to herself, good.

Now that I've got your attention...

"Well, right now, your hips are up against mine," she murmured, gently shifting on top of him, "Do you like knowing that?" She rocked her hips forward, and he grunted again at the sensation of her rubbing his manhood through his trousers. A dark smile crossed her face. "Your body seems to-"

Her remaining words were cut short by Duncan's sharp, nasally voice. "Do I have to tell you again, ranger?" he said coldly, pulling a shortsword out from underneath the bar, "Lass, get off of him. Now."

"Aww, but I'm having fun," she said quietly, pouting as she eyed Bishop thoughtfully, "Besides, it's not like he's trying very hard to throw me off."

"Maybe I would," he growled, her blades perilously close to the artery in his neck, "If you weren't so close to severing my lifeline."

The tiefling standing nearby, watching the scene unfold, giggled. "What, this real man can't handle Cari?" she mused, delighting in the man's discomfort, "You wouldn't be the first, I assure you."

I can handle a woman, Bishop thought, scowling, I've yet to meet one that I can't. It's the women that can't handle me.

The woman named Cari grinned, a wild light shining in her eyes as she brought her lips in close to his, so close that he could feel her breaths as they passed over his mouth. "So it's Bishop, is it?" she whispered. The man nodded, his eyes wary, yet hungry. "Well, Bishop, I would watch where you point that sword of yours," she purred, suddenly squeezing his waist with her knees, "Or stick it, for that matter. You might miss out on a very... enjoyable time." She leaned forward even more, pressing her breasts against his chest as she grazed her lips across his unshaven cheek, figuring that he would enjoy a taste of what she had to offer him. A reluctant shiver coursed through him at the feel of her warm body so close to his.

Hells, he thought, groaning at the feeling of his body instinctively stirring beneath her, she's good.

Damn it all...

Her lips curled into a seductive smile, strikingly similar to the one he wore when on the prowl for some easy, drunken wench to satisfy his need. "By the way," she whispered softly, playfully brushing her lips against his ear in a way that sent a tremor down his spine, "It has been a while since I've seen a real man. If you know any, send them my way."

Her smile widened and she suddenly jumped off of him, sheathed her swords and smoothed back her elbow-length hair. She twisted it into a bun at the nape of her neck and tied it with a leather strap she plucked off her belt. "Duncan, don't wait up. I've got... business tonight."

Duncan's frown deepened, so that his thick, dark eyebrows formed a severe line above his eyes. "Lass, you know I don't like all this sneaking about you're doing-"

She walked over to him and pulled him into an embrace. "Duncan," she said softly, squeezing him tighter, no longer wrinkling her nose at the smell of alcohol that always seemed to linger around him, "I'll be fine. You'll have to forgive my secretive nature. It's... who I am."

"I know, lass," he whispered, sighing heavily, knowing any argument with her would just prove futile, "Just, be careful, aye?"

Cari rolled her eyes as a grin spread across her lips, slightly amused that someone cared enough about her to be concerned about her safety. "All right, all right, I'll be careful, I promise. Just promise to have that vegetable stew I love waiting for me when I return, and I'll be careful."

Duncan gave her a reluctant side-smile. She worried him, and if she had her eyes on Bishop... he didn't like it. "Alright, I'll have it waitin' for ya when you return. Be safe."

She waved her hand in acknowledgment as she approached the tiefling, who was waiting for her by at the door. "Ready, Neeshka?" The other woman nodded enthusiastically, excitedly swishing her sinewy tail. "As always. It's nice being home again."

Cari straightened the buckles on her leathers, more out of habit than anything else, and opened the door, glancing back at the man still lying on the table. Bishop had propped himself up on his elbows and was watching her closely, his keen eyes an enticing mix of suspicion and lust.

Perfect, she thought, unsure if whether she should be proud of herself for what she just did, just perfect...

Now, if I could only calm myself down...

She threw him one last smoldering look and swept out the door, her curiosity battling against her common sense over whether or not she should turn back briefly, if only to catch a glimpse of what Bishop was doing now.

I wonder if he's still watching me, she thought, her heart suddenly racing in her chest, I seemed to have interested him...

But what if he's not? Did I just make an ass out of myself in front of Duncan and everyone else for no reason?

Gods, I hope not...

"You do that with all the men you meet?" Neeshka teased, breaking Cari from her thoughts, "What kind of reputation do you have back in that West Harbor place, anyway?"

Cari pursed her lips, both irritated and grateful for the distraction. "Actually, no, I don't, but this one seemed worth the trouble," she replied smoothly, waving dismissively at the man peddling his wares, trying to sell her trinkets she didn't need, "And I don't care what kind of reputation I have in that place. Besides, I'm not sure we should be comparing reputations. Does the name Leldon ring a bell?"

Neeshka giggled. She was Cari's best friend in Neverwinter. While Khelgar and Elanee berated her and lectured her on how being part of the Shadow Thieves wasn't something to be proud of, on why stealing the money off a nobleman right in front of the City Watch was both reckless and dangerous, Neeshka was always there with a "So what?" or a "Yeah, and?" and the occasional, "Sure, whatever, yeah, just run!"

"So, how long are you gonna work this one?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in genuine question, "You realize that poor sailor you tried to bring back can't look you in the eye anymore, right? I think you permanently scarred him..."

"The sailor couldn't handle me, Neesh. And he was married. Not my fault." Cari went silent for a moment, and a devious smile crossed her face. "I'll work Bishop as long as I have to. I love pushing them to that breaking point, the passion is just so…" she closed her eyes and sighed, "Amazing. Besides, if the loud moans that have been coming from his room are any indication, he'll be well worth the wait. It's been far too long since I've been with a man who knows what he's doing."

"You sure he'll be that patient?" Neeshka inquired, deftly relieving a nobleman standing nearby of his coinpurse, "Damn, only a handful of coppers. Traveling light today." She sighed, pocketed the coins and tossed the empty purse under a nearby bush. "I'm sure you caught his interest - how could you not, you were sitting on him - but how can you be sure he'll actually try?"

"I'm pretty sure he will," Cari said softly, sidestepping two children sitting on the ground, playing cards, "As sure as I am that he'll be in the private bath within an hour working out some 'tension.' I'm pretty sure he wanted me to give it to him right there on the table, and the fact that I didn't, and I won't, will probably drive him insane. You heard him. He's used to getting it when he wants it."

"You may have met your match in this one, girl." As they passed a merchant chatting cheerfully with a customer, Neeshka effortlessly swiped a promising-looking necklace from the merchant's table. "I've seen you sweet-talk city guards, merchants and Sand of all people, but I'm thinking Bishop may be hard for you. And that's not what I meant!" she added hastily, cutting off any lewd comment Cari might have made.

Cari shrugged, shaking her head as Neeshka slipped the necklace into a pouch on her belt. "It'll be fun nonetheless. I think he's such the 'divide and conquer' type he'll drive himself crazy thinking about ways to get in my trousers."

Neeshka laughed, quickly moving out of the way of a young girl running after a black blur that must have been her cat. "Did you just say, 'divide and conquer?'" Cari nodded and grinned, kicking a stone towards a nearby tree, for no reason in particular. "You are seriously twisted. Is everything that comes out of your mouth dripping with innuendo?"

"Not everything," Cari said, chuckling as she stopped in front of a large, intricately-carved door on the northern side of the Docks district, "Sometimes what comes out of my mouth is dripping with something else." As Neeshka made a gagging noise, Cari sighed and reluctantly grasped the doorknob. "Let's see what the dear bitch Moire has in store for us today."

--

Meanwhile, back at the Flagon, Duncan was busy preparing dinner and Bishop was looking for solace and comfort in something very familiar and comforting to him: ale.

"Hey, Duncan," he growled, his hand wrapped tightly around an old pewter tankard, the metal cool against his fingertips, "What's the name of that niece of yours again?"

It's not like I was listening to the damn tiefling when she said it...

Too busy starin' at the swamp girl's tits...

Duncan scowled as he threw some more onions into the kettle heating in the fireplace. "Bishop, I know what you're thinking, and the answer is: no. Never. I'd like to think that my niece has standards, despite what she just did to you."

Bishop raised an eyebrow, the words more biting than he'd expected. "Ah, Duncan, you wound me. I am only interested in her name, maybe where she came from… what kind of men she tends to prefer…" he finished, his emphasis on the last few words painfully evident, more so than he had intended.

"Not," Duncan said harshly, chopping a tomato more vigorously than he meant to and nearly slicing the tip off his left forefinger as he did so, "You."

Stupid fuckin' barkeep, Bishop thought angrily, just tell me her damn name already!

He took another long drink from the tankard and slammed it down onto the bar, the noise echoing loudly around the nearly-empty common room. "Come on Duncan," he said softly, his voice cold, almost threatening, "Her name won't hurt, will it? And why are you so convinced I only want to do wrong? Perhaps I'd be doing her a favor."

She looks like she hasn't had a good fuck in a while. I can practically smell it.

Duncan stopped stirring the vegetables in the kettle. "Bishop, I've seen you bed more women in a week than most men do in a month. I know that your intentions are far from pure. And Cari's my niece. She's kin, my only kin, aside from Daeghun. If she wants to, and you're not here, then by all means, go for it. But while she's living under my roof, I'm going to do my damned best to protect her from you."

Bishop's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Fine, you smelly bastard, keep your pretty little niece's name a secret. It won't be for long, and once I find it out, I'll be sure to bellow it nice and loud while I'm pounding away at her."

"I have my reasons for not," Duncan said icily, pointing the knife in his hand at Bishop's face, "And that's one of them. Drop it."

But Bishop couldn't get her out of his head. Rarely had a woman been so forward with him. Some had played with him, others enticed him, but he couldn't remember any woman who'd showed such fire and passion. He kept thinking about the warmth of her body, the tempting, feather-light touch of her lips on his skin... he imagined them on his lips, on his body… on his manhood, now pressing insistently, unyieldingly against his pants.

Well, I'm guessing a trip to the bath is in order, he thought, more aroused and frustrated than he wanted to admit, if I get any harder, damn thing'll burst through my trews.

He drained the few remaining drops of ale from his tankard as Duncan's words ran through his mind, something that annoyed him greatly, since he hated hearing the bartender's nasally voice any more than he had to.

"I know that your intentions are far from pure. And Cari's my niece..."

Cari. Hmm, Cari… that's it, Cari.

Nice name.

Bishop shoved the tankard to the back of the counter as Duncan started chopping garlic, filling the common room with a delicious, spicy odor. "I'm off," he smirked, not bothering to hide his arousal as he strode off, drawing some odd stares from Duncan's few remaining patrons, "And tell Cari when she gets back that she's quite good at… err, handling a sword. I wonder if she'd have any trouble handling mine."

He snickered triumphantly to himself as he turned the corner and headed towards the Flagon's bath, with Duncan's curses echoing down the hall behind him.