Rodan looked sternly at the sentinel then, not amused by his slight drunkenness,
"And what are the customs of Wistvale?" he asked.
Donna didn't pay much mind to what the sentinel had said, but shifted in her seat a little, perhaps anticipating something. The other two eagerly watched their superior with grins on their faces.
Richard leaned in on Glen and spoke quietly, "I guess the Commander doesn't tolerate shit-facery anywhere." "I think it's just those of us in uniform."
Chaz stared for a moment. He was a little more mature, yes, but still his naiveté still made him pause and process what he was saying. Then he laughed, an embarrassed blushing laugh that he tried to stifle with his drink.
I...I don't think...that would work. He gave Dominic a sidelong look.
But if I could, it wouldn't take a few days...aha. But, uh...I do appreciate that. We'll give her something to remember when she goes home.
The last word was hard to say, but it was true. She belonged with her people. It was safer there. Nikole in the meantime had made the rounds of the people she knew and made it around to the people she didn't. The first stop was Marlena, who looked friendly enough. She had inherited her father's poor judge of character. She stared up at the woman for a moment before waving.
Hi.
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]
The embarrassment was hilarious, and it had always amazed Dominic how someone as, well, nice as Chaz could still be such after everything that had happened to him. The singer had a good ear, and an even better sense of people. The pain in that last word was pronounced.
He'd heard tell of things that had transpired in relation to Chaz. After the incident when Nikole was a baby and Grayell had found the trembling blacksmith cradling his child across the room from what had probably been a Drow. They'd found the knife too, and traces of the knockout potion. That kind of thing was one of the reasons his search for knowledge had gone from storybuilding to intelligence gathering over the past few years.
He sipped his drink, listening to the girl greet everyone with that boundless friendly enthusiasm. He wasn't sure what would happen, a gifted blacksmith and a blind bard with a long stick walking into one of the most hostile nations in the world. Chaz had done it before though, but it had cost him dearly. Dom determined that his friend wasn't going to pay like that again. But when he spoke his tone was light and he kept the topic on happier things.
"I've never actually met Anri. I hope I'll get the chance to find out what gift from the gods has you so very...determined all the time." He grinnned. "There is definitely an epic love song in there somewhere. And you can't stop me writing it."
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Marlena smiled and set the wine down, turning slightly in her seat to face the child that greeted her. She returned the wave and then held out her hand for a rather formal hand shake.
Hello, there. What's your name sweet one? Mine is Marlena.
I...hope I'm not the hero of the story. Not the hero type.
It was a joke, but there was an edge of worry to it. He audibly hesitated, his stutter kicking in as he tried to choke out his next words.
D-dom, I do want to tell you about why I left my old town, where I grew up. Where most of the other Cathians of my clan are. You should know. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring off in Nikole's direction as his voice dropped to a whisper that he knew the sharp-eared bard could hear.
I...gods. This is hard to say. I did something I'm not proud of back there. I made a promise that I didn't keep...that I ran away from. If we go back there I'll have to face it. It's my problem, not yours, so I don't want you involved. He let out a breath, wiping his face with one hand. His voice was tired, but firm.
I'll tell you later. That's all you should know for now. I hope you understand. Nikole took Marlena's hand in a very grown-up fashion, giving her a wide smile.
I'm Nikole. Dad says not to talk to people I don't know, but you seem okay. Were you talking to the white-haired man? He's spooky. Dad says he's a wolf, but I don't think so because that would mean that he would chase Dad around and I haven't seen that. Want a cookie?
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.
Marlena laughed softly, shaking the little girl's hand before letting go. Her eyebrows rise slightly at the remark about Grayell being a wolf, but she says nothing of it. She stays leaned forward, closer to Nikole's level and smiles.
That's a pretty name, Nikole, but your dad is right, you have to be careful who you talk too, not everyone is so nice.
The white-haired man isn't so spooky. Just very big. But that just means you can run circles around him and he'll never catch you.
She looks up then to see where the girl's father is, spotting the Cathian before turning back.
I don't need a cookie, sweet one. Your dad would have meant them for you. I'm sure he's waiting for you to return now that you've said hello to people.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
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]
Dom sat and considered for a long moment. His face was thoughtful, serious, and the pause was a pregnant one. When he spoke it was in a calm, smooth tone, but one that brooked absolutely no argument.
"I am quite a seflish person by nature, Chaz. So if I choose to stick by my friend's side and make their problems my own, whatever the consequences may be, be assured I'm doing it for completely self-centred reasons. Also be assured there's nothing you can do to stop me."
He placed a hand on the little smith's shoulder again, shaking it a little "I've done alone. A lot. It doesn't have to be that way."
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
The Sentinel looked to Jim, and then to Orp, as if looking for answers. Normally, he was good at playing dumb, but when the idea crossed his mind it was obvious.
Newcomers buy a Sentinel a drink?
The tone was searching, plying, as if he weren't sure it would work.
There was another long pause as Chaz looked at the table, thinking.
Thanks....thanks, Dom. I think I'll need the help. He looked back up to Nikole, and saw her bugging a stranger. She didn't seem to be bothered, but he didn't like her talking to people he didn't know well.
One second, Nikole's getting into things. I'm going to go get her and take her home. Getting close to her bedtime. And, uh...I know you said you wanted to see if your room here is still available, but when I moved into the place outside town I made sure to leave something open....you know, if you came back. Bed and everything there. You're welcome to it anytime. If I don't see you, have a good night, Dom. He put his drink down and walked over to Nikole, suddenly lifting her over his shoulder, laughing.
Hey, kiddo. Sorry ma'am. She gets into things. I'm Charles, if you're new. I fix things. You need anything, just ask around for the engineer, they'll know where I'm at. You have a good night.
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.
Marlena laughed as the little girl was thrown over his shoulder. Sheshook her head as Chaz apologized, sitting back in her seat and reaching for her wine, looking up at him with a smile.
No need to apologize. She's lovely.
The name's Marlena and I'll keep that in mind, thank you. Enjoy your evening.
It was lovely to meet you Nikole.
Umm... Hello, yes, up here thank you.
Orp Boon [M:83:616:][D3v:http://www.rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=406&page=1#374]"Is that family heirloom for sale?"[0:Gone fishing.][1:The store is open!]
Orp takes the hint from the guard and takes his leave from the tavern. He runs off to found the Wistvale Customs Department. He whips out a notebook and pencil as he pushes through the door and begins to take notes on the extensive tariff brackets for imported items.
Rodan looked down at the sentinel with a straight face, stern look. His subordinates looked anxious at him, their mugs tipped into their lips.
Then, the Commander placed a hand over his sword causing Richard to nearly cough up his ale. Glen focused on his Commander's sword, looking unsure as to what was about to happen.
"Oh just buy the lot a drink," Donna spoke up, uncaring.
The intensity of the group didn't change, the atmosphere really stiff. Rodan didn't change his stare at the sentinel, but his hand lifted slightly off the hilt of his sword and glided not far away. The Commander removed a pouch that jingled with his touch and removed a handful of gold coins in one hand.
Keeping his stern expression, Rodan slammed the gold against the bar, "A round for all, bartender!" he suddenly proclaimed, loudly.
"I think I near pissed myself," Richard said quietly to Glen. "Fool," said Donna.
Last Edit: Jun 14, 2012 20:04:29 GMT -5 by Serenity
Post by Whizzlesprocket on Jun 15, 2012 21:31:34 GMT -5
"Oi!" The small figure kicked open the door, or tried to, louder than anything else in the tavern, her voice deceptively low for her size. "You blokes got anythin' ta say about me height, say it now b'fore I get a drink." She crossed the tavern like she owned it, stomping loudly on the (presumably) wooden floor. "Bloody litt'le miserable sot of a town, this. Bet you don' have decent scrumpy." Pulling herself onto a stool, she put one foot on the bar and folded her arms, nearly glarign at the bartender. "Gold for ya' if ya prove m'wrong, 'tender."
T'all ya fine dandies, so proud, so cocksure, prancin' abowt wi' yer head ful'a the pink stuff...come an' get me, says I! I'll be waitin', wiv' a whiff'a me ol' brimstone! I'm a grim, bloody fable, with an unhappy bloody end!
Kiga was, as anyone he knew him might have wagered; leaning in the corner beside the fire place, where the shadows from the mantle made him least obvious. He hadn't been back in Wistvale very long, but this spot, this unchanged spot; felt terribly familiar. Comfortable.
And so, he watched the going ons in the taverns much like he always had, mentally filing information and people of importance.
Of course, his concentration was completely shattered when the rather... loud little woman wandered in the tavern like she owned the place. Last time he checked, she didn't. He grinned though, she certainly wasn't taking anyone's lip and was damn sure to make it known. That wouldn't get her far in this town.
She was interesting though, so for the time being she had his attention.
Post by Whizzlesprocket on Jun 15, 2012 21:45:11 GMT -5
Abby looked down at the mug that was offered to her like it had offended her, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disgust. "Wha's this? What inna name of Pelor di' you just put here in fronna me face?" She put her hands on the bar, leaning over it and glaring. "Do I LOOK li' a lightweight, ya' gormless little blighter? Me grandmum drinks tha' much wif her breakfast! Givin' me a child's stein, ya moronic little--" She shut up as another one was put in front of her, clearly meant for an orc or something large. She smiled wide, and her voice dropped to a lower volume. "Thank ya' kindly, love. Take these...they're foreign, got 'em from some bloody elf 'cross the continent. Good gold, though."
T'all ya fine dandies, so proud, so cocksure, prancin' abowt wi' yer head ful'a the pink stuff...come an' get me, says I! I'll be waitin', wiv' a whiff'a me ol' brimstone! I'm a grim, bloody fable, with an unhappy bloody end!