.0.

"It's a fine day with you around."

Aiedo stopped mid-step, back tracked and turned on her heel. She switched on her best game face (with little effort on her part) and approached her favorite stall in the market.

Ysolda cursed her luck when she spotted the wave of seduction and arrogance heading her way. She was only being friendly!

"Think nothing of it, oh Thane of Bigheadedness," Ysolda said before the warrior could say anything. "You know I say that everyone."

Those words did nothing to stop Aiedo from leaning suggestively on Carlotta's stall. She rested her head on her knotted fingers and stared at Ysolda with those unnerving, lazy gold eyes of hers.

"Aye, but I am not Everyone; I am Aiedo Lothario, Dovahkiin, Thane of Whiterun, and Harbinger of the Companions." She has gotten used to the titles, and now flaunted them where she saw fit. "I'm also the person that helped you pursue your dreams by getting that mammoth tusk, which was no small feat, I might add."

Ysolda leaned forward and flicked the leering warrior on the nose. "And I thanked you by giving you bargaining lessons!"

"Is that what that was? I thought you was demonstrating the charming effect of that devilish tongue of yours."

"You're insatiable!"

"Maybe you would like to sate my appetite, then?" Feeling something brush against her, Aiedo glanced over her shoulder and saw the retreating, swaying form of Olfina Gray-Mane. Her eyes darkened a shade. "Well, at least for a moment."

Ysolda crinkled her nose as if smelling something repulsive, poorly masking her distaste for the warrior's lack of scrutiny. "You're a wretch," she pointed out with the utmost respect, "and I'm sorry to say, but I can't indulge you any longer. At least not now; you are scaring away potential customers."

With the closing of the Cauldron's doors breaking her trance, Aiedo caught the last of her rant and turned her head this way and that to inspect the area around them. The only people in the market were Ysolda, Jon, the other stallholders and her.

"Yeah, business sure is booming," Aiedo sid sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She turned to see Ysolda glaring at her. She merely shrugged "Just pointing out the obvious. Besides, Carlotta's stall isn't even open today; she is sick."

"My stall." Ysolda chastised her by flicking her nose again. "Carlotta is letting me use it until she recovers."

"Well, let's hope it isn't too soon, eh? Between you and her, I would much rather wake to see your beautiful face every morning."

Ysolda's frown falterd, and then it returned with less intensity. "I see my barging lessons have taken some effect," she pointed out with mild surprise voiced in her tone. She crossed her arms and arched a brow, as if sizing Aiedo up. After a moment, she looked to the side and murmured, "For better or worse..."

Aiedo leaned forward to catch the softly added bit.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing," Ysolda said quickly with a dismissive wave, causing Aiedo to laugh.

"At least let me buy something," Aiedo said, untying her coin purse. She reached in and pulled out four gold. She laid them down for Ysolda to take and reached for her exchange: a red apple. "For your troubles," she clarified when she caught Ysolda's incredulous look. She brought the fruit to her face and studied it with slight regard. Seemingly satisfied with her brief examination, Aiedo wiped the fruit off on her tunic, and while doing so, she looked up and said, "Forewarning: I come here twice a day. Unlike this lot," she said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to point out no one in particular, "once I get a taste of something good, I will always come back for more."

Ysolda surprised her by laughing soundly. "Oh, Aiedo," she cooed, as if complementing the cuteness of a small child, "you don't know the amount of hilarity that statement holds." She reached out and lightly touched the perplexed warrior's scar. "If only you knew what I really do behind closed doors."

Quickly recovering from her previous confusion, Aiedo tilted her head towards the warmth. She looked her right in her eyes and smiled devilishly, and the wolfish grin unsettled Ysolda.

Aiedo place an arm on the stall, leaned forward until her lips brushed Ysolda's ear and whisperd, "Can I have a sample from this private life of yours, then? I heard what you got is good."

Ysolda's eyes widened as she heard these words. Red in the cheeks, she narrowed her eyes and leaned back to get a closer look at the warrior's face to try to gauge a reason for her response, but Aiedo's grinning face and twinkling eyes revealed nothing but eternal lust and wickedness. For a person so obscenely blunt, she was so hard to read!

Ysolda quickly looked around before leaning forward to whisper, "What are you talking about?"

There was a slight quiver in her voice.

Aiedo stepped back. If possible, her shit-eating grin widens.

"What are you talking about," the warrior returned with an evil laugh that said that she knew things.

Without giving the other woman time to respond, Aiedo turned and stalked away. She was a couple of steps in when she heard the torrid of curses being thrown at her back. The warrior in turn threw a quick, dismissive wave over her shoulder, muttering, 'yeah, yeah,' as she walked away with an unhealthy swagger. She brought the fruit up to her face, grinned at the grinning reflection. She bit into the ripe apple, and didn't even bother wiping away the juice that ran down her chin.