Varyx smiled, catching the twitch to Avis' lips before the other woman answered. Her tone was almost playful, and Varyx suspected this was about as light and teasing as Avis ever got, if her attitude otherwise was to be assumed normal.
So... Avis liked her enough to rib her about joining her own cabal, then? Interesting. And, frankly, quite complimentary - Varyx got the impression that Avis was a naturally suspicious person, so the fact that she was warming to Varyx so quickly, at least enough to make that kind of off-handed comment about becoming such close allies, struck her as a strange sort of compliment. Which wasn't to say that she expected Avis to drop all suspicion now - far from it. She could still sense the tension in the other woman, enough that she still felt like this strange sort of comfortable back-and-forth was fragile. But still, she got the sense that the fact that there was any sort of rapport at all meant something, when it came to a woman like Avis.
Varyx chuckled and winked at her before responding, "Perhaps. I intend to make full use of the information you've provided me today to find the right place for myself in this city, so I'll be contacting all of the cabal leaders, but suffice to say that I'll plan to give the Veiled Threats a fair chance to impress me. Somehow I feel that you're a difficult woman in impress. So am I. It may or may not give your people a bit of an unfair advantage."
Then, a wicked smile spread over her lips, and she found herself considering her next question. It was perfect - Avis would get a chance to sell her own cabal to Varyx without coming off as pushy or gossipy, and Varyx would get an idea of the politics between the current cabals from the perspective of someone who had been in the city a long time. "Would you mind giving me your opinion on the various cabals?" She was careful to keep her tone innocent, but her wicked little smile hadn't disappeared yet. She winked again. "I promise, whatever you have to say, if it's somewhat less than positive, it won't leave here. If you don't want it to, I mean."