"How long were you there? I've never been."

"In Cyrodiil? From about age four to fifteen, when the Empire cracked down on the guild. Everyone who survived got out of the province while we could, then. Cyrodiil's not that much different from Skyrim, for a thief. More villages and less homesteads, and I'd say the average person with their own home is richer, but," he shrugs. "I think I like Skyrim better, all things considered. The land is gorgeous, the cities more interesting. Nords have a reputation for racism, and sure, I've met a few who are pretty bad, but I haven't found that it bears out across the board. I spent a few years in Dominion territory - I've seen far worse. Even Cyrodiil was worse, on average." 

"I'm envious that you have all that.. insight. The ability to compare. I've never been outside Skyrim."

"No? Why not? If you want to travel..." 

"You might have noticed that our guild has been... having a bad time as of late."

"I... suppose so. Delvin and Brynjolf mentioned it, when i joined up. We've been doing better since we reconnected with the contacts in Whiterun and Windhelm, though." 

"Better, but not like we once were. I owe them too much to leave. Especially Brynjolf."

"Debts, huh. Well, what say we pull this guild out of the gutter it's fallen into, and once we're all living like kings again I could show you some of the sights I've seen?" 

"I'd like that. So long as we can fill our purses along the way. Once a thief always a thief."

"Of course! We have to get travel funds somewhere," he laughs. 

Solitude is nearly as far away from Riften as you can get and still be on mainland Skyrim. It takes them most of a week to get there, setting up camp at night and pausing here and there to complete a few contracts on the way. Eventually, though, they come up to the gates of the city, half-built into the mountain above the massive harbour there. The guards wave them through with a suspicious look and a warning not to break the laws of the High King. Gaemir promises very solemnly that they will be on their best behaviour, and then cracks a smirk when they're past the gates.  

"For a given definition of 'best'," he comments to Vex. He looks around, "Huh. This place looks more like Cyrodill than any other city in Skyrim I've seen so far."

"Imperials have a lot of influence. Guess they wanted a little piece of home here in the cold depths of Skyrim."

"Hmmm, it's a little nostalgic, I guess," he muses. "Anyway, time to sniff out that contact. Have you met him before? Gulum-Ei." 

She nods. "Yup. Cute Argonian. He's usually lurking out at the Winking Skeever when he's not at home or working."

He grins, "Cute, huh? Brynjolf seemed to think the only way to get him to cooperate would be to bribe him. Think he's vulnerable to more interesting bribes than gold?" 

"Anyone can offer gold. We're much more creative than that."

"Have you ever slept with an Argonian? They're a little... different, than Men and Mer are," he smirks. "Can be dangerous, too, if you don't come prepared - or rather, if he does." 

"I had a thing with this Shadowscale a few years ago. I woke up in Riverwood with some new tattoos and completely naked two days later."

He laughs, "Yep! That's a hazard! The first time I did it my partner left me tied to the bed the whole time, so at least I knew where I was when I woke up. There's an antidote, though, if you know where to go to get your hands on it." After a moment of looking, he fishes a vial out of one of his pouches. "Luckily I prepared for this sort of misadventure." 

Vex laughs. "You're much more prepared than me. I tend to leave it to the fates. Your way is probably better."

He coughs, "Yeah, that's me, prepared for anything." He definitely wasn't planning to seduce a certain other Argonian when he bought this, no sir, not this Mer.

He offers her the vial, "I've got one of my own," he adds. To the inn?

To the inn! She keeps close, taking his arm. They have to keep up appearances, after all. They're just a pair of lovers going to an inn. Not two master thieves, nope, never.

What, master thieves? Here, in Solitude? Certainly not. 

Inside! And is there an Argonian lurking in a corner somewhere? Perhaps more than one, even?

There is an Argonian! He's settled in an alcove, observing the room, bottle of mead in hand. He notes them when they come in, but his eyes slip past them, not seeing anything unusual, yet.

Vex does not laugh, and instead just squeezes Gaemir's arm and leads them both over there.

"Care for some company?" she asks the lone Argonian.