spider's web

nissa fletcher. courtesan. oscanan spy.

[nissafletcher]

There weren't often days like this, with nobody claiming her company and no obligation to do anything she didn't want to. So when she had them, she used them to explore and learn as much as she could about the people around here. Some might call it nosiness, she called it forward-thinking. Footsteps approaching and she immediately went on the defensive. 

“Nothing to see here.” Nissa fixed them with her stare, the same pleasant lilt to her voice she saved for her best customers. “I’d move on if I were you.”

[nissafletcher]

(alexandra dowling, 24, cis female) Is that (NISSA FLETCHER) walking through the castle halls? (SHE) hails from (OSCANA) and is known as a (COURTESAN). Word around the castle is that (SHE) is (INTELLIGENT & BRAVE) but can be (STUBBORN & DECEITFUL) if crossed. (ooc: becky, 25, gmt, she/her, no triggers)

TW: implied prostitution

+ Nissa was orphaned young, has no memories of her parents left, and very little awareness of exactly who she’d been before a travelling band of performers and artists took her in. She pulled her weight with her voice--sweet, innocent little songbird made a decent revenue in the towns and cities they haunted. 

+ At nineteen she had her introduction to court life through sheer chance. A girl in the Oscanan palace had caught her eye, so naturally she’d decided it was in her best interests to woo her. Cut to them being caught in the act by the girl’s fiance, met by an insurmountable rage from the young lordling that could’ve ended much worse had Madam Macre not stepped in. A handful of gold and some carefully chosen words. 

+ Nissa was saved from the punishment and inducted herself into Macre’s service out of admiration for the woman. Madam Macre’s position as a stewardess was a starting point for learning the ins and outs of the people around her. Nissa formed a bond with the woman that lasted past her time working under her. Even once she’d moved on and carved a spot as a successful courtesan, she continued to visit her for all manner of fickle reasons. Rather than admit to her attachment, Nissa claims its simply because she still feels indebted to her. 

+ She found she quite enjoyed life in the court. Learned quickly to use her looks and subtle actions to make her life easier, how to become a favourite to the right people and earn coin and gifts to see her status elevated. 

+ At 22 she was approached with the proposal to be a spy in Ryhule, took the job more for the chance to act than for the money. Nissa was sick of sitting back and hearing of the adventures of others without having the chance for her own. Whether it was bravery or stupidity that she disregarded the whispered tales of the things which happened to spies when caught is still up for debate. 

+ While she caters towards clients of all genders for her business, Nissa’s romantic inclinations have always been toward women. She daydreams at being married someday and living off her love of music and performance.