Grayell smiles with a nod and orders up to two more drinks promptly. More of the same. He sees to his with an inspired thirst and seems rather relaxed, even in this throng of noise and rabble.
You're more than welcome Marlena. You have somewhere to stay?
Marlena is noticeably less hurried with her wine, drinking slowly, an amused smile on her features as she watches him. The goblet is returned to the table as she shakes her head, the hand lifting again to tuck strands of hair behind her right ear.
Not yet. I was going to look for an inn this evening.
Truth be told, she'd spent the night before in some empty, run down shack on the edge of town. Tonight, she had hoped for the bed of some fool, or at least the shelter his home provided if she couldn't sleep. It was rare she slept in their beds. It was rarer still if they made it to the bed without collapsing into a drunken and drugged sleep. She would rest in relative comfort before undressing them and dragging them to their beds, then she would take coins and other trinkets easily forgotten and easily sold before leaving by dawn. Occasionally she would find one that she could tolerate for more than an evening. Those were the ones that had their hearts broken. The ones she could make fall in love with her and would do anything to please her. But it wouldn't take long before she grew tired and moved on to somewhere new.
Grayell grunted as if it were no small thing, but he'd spent his share of nights in gutters and alleyways, abandoned buildings and whatever piles of refuse in his early days in Wistvale. Now, things were much different.
You have a room here then. I'll be sure to mention it to Jim. Stay as long as you like, it won't cost you a coin.
She was taken aback slightly at this gesture, first paying work and now a place to stay. He was generous, and that made her suspicious. Giving without taking was not a concept she was used to or understood very well, but she had taken the leap to trust him with his earlier offer. She couldn't help feeling she was setting herself up for some grand fall. Maybe not. But it was a warm room with a bed, or the freezing cold of the shack. Yet again, the choice wasn't really a hard one.
I feel like I should be the one paying for these drinks... Thank you. Again.
Grayell shrugged again, smiled in a quirky manner as he folded his arms behind his head and rocked back in the chair.
Nonsense. People come and go, they are guests. If you stick around, then you can think about paying. But it might cost you. I can hold my liquor. Besides, the room isn't grand, but it's better than the road.
This man was challenging all of Marlena's preconceptions and ideas about people. She'd spent life judging from a distance, interacting only when she had to. For the most part, people disgusted her with their attitudes and actions. Grayell had been friendly and more generous than she would have expected of anyone. Whether it was an act, or completely sincere, she wouldn't know until another time in the future. For now, she would just continue to thank him and do this work for him the best she could.
That is certainly true... And if it costs that much to get you drunk, you can continue to buy your own.
She laughed then, and it came easy to her, she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. And it felt really good.
Ursine's last few sentences yanked Kiko's thoughts out of the dark basement of her brain. She knew about Karlshamn, and she would wager only one other person besides herself and the girl speaking had ever been to the place, and certainly not recently. But, it had been one of her first attempts at a prologued rescue, instead of an extended battle to retake the city, that she normally participated in as a mercenary. She should correct Ursine, too. People had made it out alive. Kiko knew that personally.
The tavern maid spoke up then and she collected her wits.
Miss... Uhm...
The girl stammered a bit, and her hands were none to steady either.
Err... Uhm... The white haired fellow over there insisted on sending you a glass of wine. He told me to ask you if he could have the pleasure of your name and bade me say that you were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
Her amber eyes went back to the Wolf with a glare. The conversation between him and girl continued. Not that it stopped him from creating a spectacle. She should be used to it by now.
Her eyes were still glinting dangerously when she turned them on the tavern girl.
You can tell him that the name is Kiko. He should remember it. If he cannot I will be happy to write it on his chest... in blood. Oh, and you can tell him thank you for the wine, but that I am not thirsty. Yet.
Grayell laughed a little in response, seems she'd lightened up a little. And then the tavern girl approached, looking rather nervous.
"Ah... Grayell Sir?
She said thank you for the win. And...
Um...."
Grayell gave her a patient but somewhat perplexed look, waiting on the words.
Come on now, let's hear it. Surely it cannot be so bad.
The girl was flustered in the extreme and beet red, but promptly leaned down to whisper Kiko's message in his ear. She then hurried away, eager to do something other than play messenger between the pair.
Grayell on the other hand, started to grin at that never faltering devilish manner; then growled a little, sitting upright. He looked over his shoulder at his Chosen, then back to Marlena.
Yes. As I mentioned earlier. Romance isn't dead, not by a long shot.
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
Wiping at the table, more to keep her hands busy than to actually clean it, Ursine folds her hands once more, she nods to Grayell's back, giving a smaller smile, more of a turning at the corners of her mouth. "I take it he knows your name. And maybe quite a bit more, if I recognize that glare." She clears her throat and straightens in the chair, no longer slumping over the table and actually sitting in what might be called proper form.
Marlena shakes her head with a bemused smile. The two seemed as if they would be entertaining, if only to watch them torment the poor tavern maids. She didn't speak for a time, only nodding in agreement with his statement, sipping her wine slowly, taking the opportunity to glance around the room. The tavern was warm, friendly. Unlike any other she'd been to. She hadn't seen any sign of fighting or squabbles, just raucous laughter and loud chatter between folks. She didn't know how long she would remain in Wistvale, but surprisingly enough for her, she had no want to leave anytime soon.
Kiko's features were calm; serene even, until you looked at her eyes. Those bright amber orbs said something that the first men who learned to create fire and coax wild creatures toward it would know. That expression said: come no closer, unless you wanted her teeth buried in your throat.
It was gone quickly, so quickly that Ursine might even think she imagined it. Kiko, however, was no longer comfortable. Wistvale bothered her, and that had occurred long before the town populace had started to breed like rabbits. Her gaze went back to the clattering, loud voiced guards. What were they calling themselves these days? Sentinels? Weren't sentinels suppose to be quiet?
She was now completely out of sorts. She was not thinking about the Wolf, either. Not at all. Kiko swallowed the wine in her glass at once and tasted none of it.
The noise was just about to get louder. Chaz entered, ducking under the doorway to make room for the small Drow girl on his shoulders. She held onto his ears and babbled along, barely six or seven, with him nodding slightly every few moments. He didn't feel bad bringing her into a tavern; it was more a place for people to get together and eat and drink than an actual bar, in his mind. Sure, there could be a dark element here, but that was everywhere. The girl slid off his shoulders and sat at a table, bouncing in her seat happily as Chaz sat across from her.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic was not long behind the smith in entering the bar. He's as serenely jolly as ever, still with Prudence slung at his back. He moved with even more confidence than before, stick softly clacking on the floor, taking in all the hubbub and commotion, though his gait is still somewhat shuffling and loosefooted. He takes a seat by Chaz, grinning a little at the small girl who was barely out of swaddling clothes when he last saw her.
Unslinging his instrument, he begins to play quietly, just to give his fingers something to do. His staff leans next to him, and he's content as is, waiting to either be tossed out for making unwelcome noise or for someone to ask him what he'd like to drink. He's not going to try the bustle at the bar.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Chaz leaned back in the chair, content to let the music do the talking. After a while though, he waved his hand vaguely around the tavern.
Feels good to be back in here, huh? I haven't been in the rafters since you were here last. He ordered a drink for himself and Dominic, and a glass of milk for Nikole.
Of all the places I've worked on in town, this place had stayed the same.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Grayell finished one more drink and looked to Marlena with a slight smile, then slid some coin onto the table.
You'll have to excuse me. That should buy you a few more. Don't forget about the room and get yourself a decent night's rest. But.... I will definitely be seeing you soon.
And I look forward to it.
He smiled again, a sincere gesture and then got up from his chair with a grunt. He tipped a hat he didn't have in farewell and then wandered over to sneak up behind Kiko. Of course, she knew full well he was there; but that didn't prevent him being playful. He'd learned to be careful with her though, she didn't like such public places and any overtly over done sign of affection... or anything of much really, could upset her.
Mind you, the thought of a few more scars, some tooth and claw; didn't upset him. Heh.
He leaned down, slipping his hands onto her shoulder gently and murmured in her ear.
Excuse me miss, I seem to have lost something very dear to me and I have it on good authority, you might know something about it...