Vincent gives Mirt a respectful bow once in his presence. “The invite was most appreciated, my lord. Thank you for having us.” 

Once they sat down to eat, Vincent would try every dish on the table, never having eaten this well before. The ex-soldier also had no issues with sharing a few stories of his own if asked about his past services, however if asked as to why he left, he wouldn’t delve much into it and quickly move on.

Cora would not speak unless spoken too, this was an atmosphere she was definitely not used to, and the thought of tripping and embarrassing herself while walking on her heels was on her mind every moment. Most importantly, she didn't want to embarrass anyone by talking, and definitely did not have any stories she wanted to share with anyone - especially all of the unspeakable things she had to do in the service of the fourth layer, or living longer than anyone could, or should. 

Besides, what would she say? Talk about the people and things she's killed? Talk about the how the world changed around her in such a long time that towns became cities and cities became office buildings with cars, streets, airplanes, guns, and..

No.

So, she kept quiet and ate as slowly and politely as she could. And she drank as slowly and politely as she could. She had enough common sense to know this was Heishe's thing, and didn't want to make her look the fool this night. And for a moment, she even grew sour at the thought of Rook at the door, and the two of them by themselves, romantically. She grew hot in the pit of her stomach thinking about how she'd rip his arms off if he hurt Heishe in anyway, but then why would Cora care? She didn't know Heishe very well..

She took a swig of ale to drown the thought away.

The food and drink was delicious, but she felt out of place. She was even wearing a dress. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to tear it off and get shit faced at Trollskull, but she couldn't. This was for Heishe. So, she came up with an idea, any idea, that would distract her from being a fish out of water.

She turned to Vincent. "Dance with me." she ordered him. "Now." she stood.

Vincent had been chewing on a piece of meat when Cora demanded to be danced with, the soldier cocking a brow at the sudden order. Her discomfort wouldn't go unnoticed under his eye, but he didn't want to overstep any boundaries with her by putting his nose in her business. She already had Lulu poking and prodding at her fortified walls, and he didn't want to be so forward in his attempt to get to know and understand her. He would keep himself open to her had she so needed him, and he had to assume this was one of those times.

He swallowed his food and stood up. "Very well," He would answer, then turn to the others. "If you'll excuse us then." He would bow respectfully towards the lord and offer Cora his arm soon after to properly excuse themselves from the table. 

He would bring the rogue to a quieter area, somewhere she could breathe and not have to worry about keeping up the prim and proper act. The mask didn't suit her. "Not sure if you actually wanted to dance, but you looked like you were in pain, lass." He would chuckle lightly then look to her had she still been on his arm. "Feelin' like a fish outta water?"

"Of course I don't WANT to." she said, as if it was a stupid notion. "I just wanted to get away from all that..stuffiness. It was..choking." She looked over his shoulder, glad to have some air and be away from all that..fanciness. "I don't feel like I belong here, and I didn't want to embarrass Heis- uh, anyone. You know. I didn't grow up this way, and I have even less idea on how to act. And I hate these shoes. And this dress is two sizes too tight."  She realized what she was doing, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed, forced the anxiousness to melt away.

Her vocal stumble wouldn’t be unnoticed, Vincent’s eyes flickering to hers once again. His expression remains unreadable as she continues, but, by the end, he has a small smile on his face. “That’s what it’s about then, eh?” He chuckles lowly, shaking his head. “Well, since we’re away from the party, feel free to kick off the heels for a few minutes. I ain’t gonna judge ya. Things look uncomfortable.”

He would give her a moment to do so had she wanted to before continuing on. “If it helps sets your mind at ease any, I think you’re doin’ pretty well, Cora. It ain’t easy playin’ a role you’re not comfortable in, and I’m sure Heishe appreciates the fact that you’re tryin’, even if you wanna tell yourself it ain’t for her sake.” He would give her a wink. “We’re gonna be here for a few hours I think, and I don’t want you drownin’. I’d be willin’ to help you blow this popsicle stand if you’d like, but of course that’s up to you. I’m sure the others would understand you wanting to go if ya had a little stomach ache and all that.”

"This isn't about Heishe!!" Cora said defensively, her brows furring. "I..just don't want to ruin her night because i'm an uncivilized piece of shit who doesn't dance!"

She took off her heels and massaged her feet, wincing. "*******..shoes.."

"Look." she sighed, putting them back on. "I don't..I don't wanna leave. I just wanna do what we gotta do and be civil, and fake like i'm having a good time because that's what's best for everyone. I just needed to..decompress for a moment. Come on. Lets go back and keep this going. I didn't mean to interrupt your meal."

As dinner is winding down, and Cora and Vincent return to the table, Mirt stands up. "I would like to propose a toast to you heroes. I would also like to offer you my services. I am in the money lending business. Not the shady type, but simply using my wealth to help others. Should you ever need coin, I am always willing to make a deal. I also have the ears of many of the other lords and ladies including the Open Lord. Should you ever need to speak with them, let me know. In return for this, I ask but a simple favor. Keep an eye out for strange foreigners. Recently there has been trouble from a number of different ones, however they do have a troubling pattern. I suspect they are not random foreigners or possibly they may even be the same person. Do we have a deal?'

"Mhmm, and you responding so defensively on the comment ain't helpin' your case here, lass," Vincent would chuckle, patting her on the shoulder, then a moment later, he would flick her on the forehead. "And none of that. You're not uncivilized nor are you a piece of shit, so get that outta your head, girl or I'll flick ya again!" He threatened, however there was jest heavy in his tone.

"You weren't interuptin' nothin', Cora. Believe it or not, I care about your wellbein', as I do all you girls. It makes me happy to know you felt you could rely on me to help you out there, no questions asked." A smile would be ever present on his lips. "If you think you're gonna be fine goin' back in there, then I ain't gonna stop ya, but, if you ever need another minute to breathe, just let me know and I'll engage them well enough for you to slip out and do so, 'kay?"

When she was ready, he would offer her his arm again to escort her back to the dining area.

Heishe raises her glass. "Indeed, we do have a deal. I would of course never impose and speak for my companions," she dips her head to the others at her table, "but on my part, I am perfectly willing to keep an eye out. I do look forward to engaging in business with you in the future." She gives him a smile, silver eyes glittering.

Cora would startle as Vincent flicked her on the forehead, almost activating a subroutine that would have involved her socking him in the face for such an act, but the fact that he saw right through and had something decent to say interrupted the gut reaction, so she didn't. She did take his arm and go back to the dinner, where, copying Heishe, raised her glass and agreed to whatever they were talking about.

Lu-lu goes absolutely HAM on the food and drink, her opals start to glow a dull, rosy pink. She will chat away happily all evening with everyone and everyone.

At Mirt’s request, Lu-lu gives a hearty “Yeah! The city is safe in our hands!” She’ll try and stay close to Heishe, quietly asking her guidance when she is unsure of etiquette.

Drusilla drinks her wine slowly, not trying to get drunk here. "I think that this is a fair deal. My companions and I are interested in the safety of the city, as well as obtaining some gold."

Lu-lu whispers into Heishe’s ear showing rare restraint, “Could mirt Liam is the money we need to fix up trollskull? Then we could pay him back from our earnings.” Lu-lu had been paying attention in her Waterdeep economics lecture.

"Not a bad idea," Heishe murmurs, setting her glass down. "Lord Mirt, there is, as a matter of fact, a money situation you could assist us in. We are in the process of renovating a tavern and turning it into a business. Could you be convinced to lend us the money needed to get the tavern up and running, with us repaying you out of our earnings?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Why of course. How much gold are talking? Although part of the price of the lending, I will want free drinks when I come by to see my friends," He says as he lets out a hearty laugh. 

"We're currently in need of 870 dragons. And I think free drinks can be arranged." Heishe laughs lightly.

Cora continued to eat and drink while the verbal agreement was made. She trusted, surprisingly, everyone to make a fair bargain. She tapped her glass as polite as she could at the nearest servant for a refill. 

"Very good! Very good. I only charge a small amount in interest on my loans, 25%. You would have twelve tendays to pay it back, 70GP per week. Hows that sound to you fine folk?"

"Twenty fi--!" Cora choked on her drink. She coughed as quietly as she could turning her head and fisting her chest. She waved indicating she was ok, and gave one last final cough as the ale exited her throat. She swallowed and wiped her eyes as elegantly as she could with her napkin.

Heishe laughs for a moment. "My lord, I'm afraid you said twenty before giving us the interest rate. Since we're friends and such, and we are already doing you two favors, between free drinks and looking for suspicious strangers...what about five percent on a fifteen tenday repayment? That would come out to fifty eight dragons a week." She raises an eyebrow, meeting Mirt's gaze calmly as she prepares for some haggling.