The hum of The Copper Flagon's common room seeped up through the floorboards, a constant low murmur of voices, mugs clinking, and the occasional burst of laughter. My room was quiet enough, but I wasn't here to hide from the noise — I was here to make use of it.
The system had been quiet since I'd come upstairs, but its earlier scan kept replaying in my mind.
[Minor influence established: serving girl, name unknown. Potential follow-up opportunity: high.]
A small foothold. That's all it was, but in a place like this, one foothold could lead to a ladder.
I left my pack behind and headed downstairs. The common room was busier than earlier, a swirl of travelers, locals, and a couple of merchants hunched over a map at one table. The fireplace crackled at the far end, throwing shadows across the room.
The redhead was still working — weaving between tables, balancing trays with practiced ease. She spotted me the moment I stepped off the stairs, her eyes flicking to mine for half a second before she moved toward the counter.
I didn't approach her right away. Instead, I took a seat where I had a clear view of both her and the rest of the room. The bearded innkeeper slid me a mug without asking, and I let the warmth of the ale settle in my hand.
When the redhead came back into view, she passed my table, close enough for her skirt to brush my knee.
"You didn't say if you'd be staying long," I said casually, tilting my head toward her.
"That depends," she said, setting a tray down at the next table. "You planning on causing trouble?"
Her tone had a teasing edge — not hostile, but testing.
Desire Tongue, just a touch: "Only the good kind."
She smiled at that, a quick flash of teeth, then moved on.
The system pinged.
[Influence level with target increased: 15%.]
I let the interaction rest, focusing on the room instead. Across the way, a pair of older townsmen were deep in conversation about road tolls and some dispute with the miller. At another table, a young man in worn leather armor was nursing a drink, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
The variety here was the point. In the village, I'd had one real target. Here, I had a dozen possible threads, and I could pull more than one at a time.
The redhead came by again with a fresh mug for my table.
"On the house," she said.
"That generous to all the guests?"
"Only the ones who don't stare at their drink all night," she said, quirking a brow.
I took the mug from her hand, letting my fingers brush hers just enough to register. "Then I guess I'll have to make sure I earn the next one too."
[Influence level with target increased: 28%.]
Not bad for under an hour.
The night wore on, the crowd thinning as locals drifted home and travelers found their rooms. By the time it was just a handful of people left, the redhead was stacking empty mugs at the counter. I finished my drink and set the mug down.
When she passed again, I stood.
"Heading upstairs?" she asked.
"Not just yet."
I kept my tone casual, but the system pulsed softly.
[Opportunity: private interaction possible. Estimated Desire Point yield: low-medium. Recommended action: proceed.]
She led me to a side door that opened into the narrow hall leading toward the kitchen. The sounds of the common room were muffled here, replaced by the faint creak of floorboards overhead and the distant sizzle of something on the stove. The air was warmer, thicker with the scents of roasted herbs and lingering ale, and the dim light from a single lantern hanging on the wall cast long shadows that danced across the rough wooden panels. She stopped just inside the doorway, turning to face me with a half-smile that didn't quite hide the spark of curiosity in her green eyes—eyes flecked with gold, I noticed up close, framed by those scattered freckles that trailed down her nose and across her cheeks like a constellation.
"You're bold for a newcomer," she said, her voice low to match the intimacy of the space, crossing her arms loosely over her chest in a way that accentuated the subtle curve of her breasts beneath her simple blouse. There was no real accusation in her tone—just a playful challenge, the kind that invited more rather than pushing away. She leaned back against the wall, her red hair catching the lantern's glow and turning it into a fiery halo.
"Bold gets results," I replied, stepping closer, close enough that the heat from her body mingled with mine, the faint floral scent of her soap cutting through the kitchen aromas. I let Desire Tongue weave into my words, subtle at first, making them land with a weight that drew her in without overwhelming. "And you don't strike me as someone who minds a little boldness."
Her laugh was soft, breathy, her arms uncrossing as she tilted her head, exposing the line of her neck—a vulnerable gesture that sent a thrill through me. "You've got me figured out already? We've barely spoken." But her eyes lingered on my lips, then flicked up to meet my gaze, holding it with a mix of defiance and intrigue. I reached out, my fingers lightly tracing the edge of her sleeve, brushing against the warm skin of her arm. Desire Touch activated with the contact, sending that gentle, insistent warmth pulsing from my fingertips into her, amplifying the simple touch into something electric. She shivered almost imperceptibly, her breath hitching as her pupils dilated, the freckles on her cheeks flushing a deeper pink.
"I pay attention," I murmured, my hand sliding up her arm to her shoulder, fingers lingering at the base of her neck where her pulse jumped under my thumb. "To the way you move through that room—like you own it, even when you're serving. The way you glance back when you think no one's watching." My other hand found her hip, pulling her just a fraction closer, our bodies now inches apart, the fabric of her skirt brushing against my legs. She didn't pull away; instead, she leaned into the touch, her hand coming up to rest on my chest, fingers splaying out to feel the steady rhythm of my heart beneath my shirt.
"You're trouble," she whispered, but there was no resistance in it—only a husky edge that betrayed her growing arousal. Her fingers curled slightly, bunching the fabric of my shirt as if testing whether to pull me in or push me back. I leaned down, my lips brushing her ear, the warmth of my breath making her shudder. "The best kind," I echoed her earlier words, letting Desire Tongue deepen the timbre, making it resonate low in her core. My hand at her neck tilted her head back gently, exposing more of her throat, and I trailed kisses along it—soft at first, then firmer, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin just below her jaw. She gasped, her body arching toward mine, one leg shifting to press against my thigh, the heat between us building like a slow-burning fire.
Her hands explored now, sliding up my chest to my shoulders, then around to my back, pulling me flush against her. I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breasts against me, the hardness of her nipples through the thin blouse, and it stirred a hunger that I kept reined in—for now. "What if someone comes looking?" she breathed, but her voice was laced with excitement rather than concern, her fingers digging into my back as my hand slipped lower, cupping the curve of her ass and squeezing just enough to elicit a soft moan. Desire Touch amplified the sensation, making her hips buck subtly against me, seeking more friction.
"They won't," I assured her, my lips finding hers in a kiss that started tentative but deepened quickly—tongues tangling, breaths mingling in hot, urgent exchanges. She tasted faintly of ale and something sweeter, more personal, her mouth yielding under mine as her hands roamed freely, one sliding down to my waist, fingers teasing the edge of my belt. The kiss broke only for air, her forehead resting against mine, eyes half-lidded with desire. "But even if they did... would you stop?" I asked, my hand trailing up her side, thumb brushing the underside of her breast through the fabric, circling slowly until she whimpered.
"No," she admitted, her voice trembling with need, her body pressing harder against me as if to prove it. We stayed like that for a long moment—bodies intertwined in the narrow hall, the muffled sounds of the inn a distant backdrop to our shared breaths and the occasional soft gasp. My fingers dipped lower again, hiking her skirt just enough to graze the smooth skin of her thigh, feeling the warmth radiating from her core, but I pulled back before going further, leaving her wanting, her eyes dark with unfulfilled promise.
"Tomorrow night," I whispered against her lips, sealing it with one last, lingering kiss that left her breathless. "We'll see how much trouble we can really cause."
She nodded, straightening her blouse with trembling hands, a flush still high on her cheeks as she slipped back toward the kitchen, casting one final, heated glance over her shoulder.
When we stepped back into the common room, the bearded innkeeper gave me a glance but said nothing. The redhead disappeared into the kitchen, and I returned to my seat.
[Desire Points earned: +4. Cumulative total: 38.]
[Influence level with target: 55%.]
It wasn't a full conquest, not yet — but it was enough to set the hook. And in a place like this, I didn't need to rush. The more I built her interest, the more points she'd give when the moment came.
I stayed downstairs a while longer, watching the last few patrons finish their drinks. The fire had died down to embers, casting a reddish glow over the empty tables, and the air had taken on that late-night stillness, broken only by the occasional creak of settling wood or the distant hoot of an owl outside. My mind wandered back to the hall—the way her body had responded so eagerly, the subtle shifts in her posture that signaled surrender without words. It was a taste, nothing more, but it confirmed what the system had hinted: this town was ripe with potential, each interaction a step toward greater power.
Eventually, I went upstairs, the system whispering in my mind.
[Local influence expanding. Secondary targets within proximity will register increased openness based on perceived social dominance.]
That was the real prize — one woman's attention made the others notice.
Tomorrow, I'd start looking at the merchant woman in the burgundy dress. She wouldn't be as easy, but she'd be worth far more. I'd need to observe her routine, find the right angle—perhaps a casual purchase at her stall, a comment on her wares that led to conversation. The system could scan for weaknesses, but the art of it was in the execution, turning pride into desire, resistance into yielding.
For tonight, I lay back on the bed, the faint scent of ale and woodsmoke drifting in from the floorboards, and let sleep come. The mattress was firmer than the one back at the village inn, but with Enhanced Body I, fatigue melted away quickly, leaving me refreshed even in thought. Dreams flickered at the edges of my mind—visions of the redhead's freckled skin, the merchant's confident stride, and beyond them, the promise of even greater conquests in larger cities, where the stakes would rise and the rewards multiply. This was just the beginning, a single thread in a web I was weaving, and with each pull, I'd draw the world closer to me.