2017-03-13: Most in the Bar

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========================<* Adlehyde - Starfall Saloon *>=========================

Located in the southwest quadrant of Adlehyde, the Starfall Saloon is situated next to the local Adventurer's Guild outpost and kitty-corner from an ARMs Meister; the mostly-happy not-at-all-coincidence has turned the Saloon into a popular gathering place for Drifters. The Saloon has been carefully constructed to recreate the feel of a frontier alehouse - it has stables and a livery out back, and the main floor is taken up almost entirely by the sort of dark, slightly dank wooden tables and chairs that appeals to its clientele. An old harpsichord even sits in the corner, although it does not seem to be heavily used. Or in tune, for that matter. 

The Saloon's proprietor and bartender is known as Honest Tom; this is a bit of an in-joke among the regulars, as the man rarely speaks more than a dozen words over the course of an evening. The Starfall Saloon is widely known among Drifters for offering warm beds, cold beer and decent grub for a fair price, and so it sees a great deal of out-of-town traffic. It is also known for the three rules hung over the bar: NO GUNS, NO FIGHTS, NO CREDIT.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MQRL7xws7w

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

The saloon is one of those places you tend to find people like Talise. The fact that she likes to drink is only part of the equation, however.

The sound of full-throated singing fills the tavern, along with clapping patrons and strumming lutestrings. Tal's perched up on a table, sitting with one leg over the other and her lute in her arms. A maid in a poofy dress twirls immodestly behind her as drunken patrons clap along to her singing - some kind of bawdy song about a blushing milkmaid and a strapping knight and all that.

She wraps it up soon enough, laughing heartily. There's a steady clink of coins spilling into the wooden cup next to her. With a grin, she gives the dancing-girl a brisk pat on the hip before boosting herself down from the table and heading for the bar to refill the empty tankard that she'd once had filled with mead but had emptied at some point during the musical process. Singing for a crowd's thirsty work, after all.

Refilled mead soon in hand, she drops into an empty chair gracelessly and leans heavily back, propping her booted heels up on the table.

"Y'know," she drawls, "I could get used to this place." 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Are you really sure that was a good deal, Riese?"

Riesenlied sighed and said, "No, but I honestly could not find anything of acceptable quality in the stores we perused," as she stepped into the tavern with Odjn in tow. There was a new, slim sword at the side of her waist this time, a replacement for the one she shattered during the battle with Parbody while fighting the Black Ties. "About half the swords I inspected were very obviously brittle, and would snap at the worst moment. Like the one previous."

"You're just too picky," Odjn bobbled up and down, before perking up. "Oh, hey! It's Talise! Heee~y!"

Riese smiled and bowed her head. "Oh, hello there. Good afternoon." 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

Slowly, the door to the sleeping area opens and a blue haired young man makes his way into the bar. As to not draw attention to himself, the door is slowly closed behind him. Thankfully for him, with a preformance already underway, most of the eyes are on the preformer, not the boy with the bandanna. His boots softly hitting the wood with a semi-practiced care, he walks over toward a stool so he can put in his order. His words are so soft that the bartender can barely hear him

Milk and Gruel. It's a Solid (and cheap) Combo for Success!

The money is slid across the bartop, Rudy only giving a glance here and there when he thinks no one will notice. As Riese makes her way in, Rudy smiles softly. Yep, lots of distractions and that means he's all but promised that he'll be a wallflower. Greatest Day Ever. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

"I still think you should just head into a ruin and find some kind of sword in one of those," says a DISTINCTLY GREEN HAIRED MAN entering just behind Riesen. "Everyone knows Ancient Ruin Swords are like, the third best kind." Until you find the old forgemaster who takes your PURE ESSENCE and forges it into a SWORD THAT SLAYS EVIL, and all that.

"Odjn, back me up here," Zed pats at the dragon, "You know what I'm talking about.

But then... People! "Talise! Long time..." One day. "No see. How're things!?" 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


In the corner of a bar sits the figure of a beastman. Hat pulled over his eyes low, feet stretched out at an angle. Back leaned against the bar and looking for all the world like he shouldn't have gotten up out of bed. He might still be asleep.

However onne long, tapering ear twitches slightly as people enter the room. One bright eye opens to lazily survey the surroundings. People. Dancing. Entertainment.

Its likely rude of him to appear asleep.

Ears twitch again as he reaches one hand up to tilt back the brim of his hat to see better and gives a touch of a yawn. "You know," The only person nearby is. Of course. Rudy. "You should at least try the panckes. Instead of the gruel." Morgan Newkirk comments towards Rudy as he gestures to the empty plate in front of him. "Much more filling."

Wallflower mode. FAILED. 

<Pose Tracker> Molly Mason has posed.

Thank goodness for livery stables - one of the main reasons Molly Mason chose this inn over another a little more suited to her tastes. Well, that and the promise of booze.

With Albert brushed down, watered, and stabled she's finally got time to clean up a bit in her room and come downstairs for dinner. And a drink. Definitely a drink.

The brown-haired woman opens the door not too long after Rudy oh-so-stealthily slips through it, heavy boots clomping on the wooden floor as she scans the saloon for a good place to sit and eat. Preferably somewhere that refills will come fast and often... The bar it is, then. Molly finds a seat at a stool a couple of seats down from some blue-haired kid and a couple more from... huh, a beastman. She hasn't seen one in awhile. More importantly, there's the bartender! Total MVP. "Hey there. Can I get whatever the special is, water, and a double of whiskey? Thanks much." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida sits at Talise's table, having ushered her plate of hoecakes somewhere away from the singer's feet. Perhaps it's significant that she hasn't told Talise to take her feet off the table, please, that's not proper manners. She still looks out of place--she doesn't have any trail dirt on her, and the dress she's got on is free from wear. She's sitting straight up, and using her fork and knife to take measured bites, dabbing her mouth to wipe off stray blobs of the buttery-syrupy sauce the cook put on them. She is reading a bit less like 'thin little slip of a noblewoman', but it's still there.

"These hoecakes are quite good," Ida says, agreeing with Talise's general sentiment. "I wonder if the chef would be willing to share the recipe, or if it's a secret." As if the person who made them answers to the title 'chef' instead of 'HEY, COOK'. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

So where, exactly, is Gwen Whitlock, super courier? She's at the bar, of course. Rubbing her face over a drink, as she looks over a piece of coded writing she's scribbled out in her rather nicely done handwriting, Gwen squints. Okay, so put this over here, and that over here, then maybe...

Another scrap of paper shows symbols, as well as equal signs, showing various letter combinations. This symbol=e? A. No, 5? Maybe it's a math problem. Little doodles mar the sides of the equation- something about frowny faced stickmen, boulders, a giant mouth, and a stick figure horse. Something like that. Not the best drawings, but she's not entirely devoted to drawing anything but stick figures right now.

"Augh..." Her head sinks face-first to the counter, curly hair sopping up moisture from the nearby glass. The bartender frowns at the frustrated patron, taking a cue from her waved hand to refill her drink. "Maybe it's a grocery list... Wouldn't that be my luck..."

Wait, is that voice... Ah, him. Raising her head to look at the GREEN-HAIRED DARK HERO Zed, Gwen manages a wave with a gloved hand. The left one. Wait. An idea raises in Gwen's mind right then, which sets her to scribbling. If Z equals F which equals scribble, then O may be 2 to the degree of U=5! Which means.... complete nonsense.

".... nnnnn....." Her face sinks back down. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

For all that she's here to sing and be merry, Talise does have a sword slung over her shoulder; the hilt of it sticks up fairly conspicuously. There's a big green gem on the pommel of it.

Leaning back in her chair, the half-beastwoman blinks as someone says her name. The incoming woman in the armoured skirt is recognized and greeted with a warm smile and a hoisting of her tankard, saluting the lady and her metal dragon companion. "Miss Riese! C'mon and have a seat! I was just playing a little."

Her eyes track after Rudy without really recognizing him, but she's soon smiling at Riese again, gesturing to one of the chairs beside her. And then -

"You just saw me yesterday, Zed," Talise points out with a slight lowering of her eyebrows.

She shrugs it off, giving her lute a pat with her free hand and smiling easily. She can't bring herself to punch his stupid face - not when there's beer and song to be had. "Things are good! I was just saying hi to your friend. C'mon and sit if you want. There's lots of chairs!"

Leaning back a bit more deeply, she throws Ida a cheery smile. "Think you could make 'em yourself if you got the recipe? They are really good." 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

"They cost more," Rudy states calmly in the Pancake vs. gruel debate, lifting his brown eyes to take in the beastman known as Morgan. "But I could see your point." With that, Rudy gives a light smile, polite and warm, and goes back to the food.

AND PEOPLE SAY HE ISN'T GOOD WITH PEOPLE.

And there is a brown haired woman sitting close by.

Rudy looks toward the corner, where there are two people making googly eyes at one another as people in the puppy love stage of courting do. That was his corner. Not that he's bitter about that.

Being a kind soul, Rudy does finally speak to Molly, giving a nod of the head. "Hey there," he offers in a soft meek voice. As he speaks to her, his brown eyes move a bit to take in Gwen. She seems to be working on something. He squints a little, but since it doesn't seem to be anything he's familiar with (and might seem nosy to mess with), he averts his attention back to his milk and gruel. WHICH IS JUST FINE FOR HIM. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Odjn sniggers and says, "Oh, see, Riese has this thing about expensive weapons."

There was a sidelong glance to Odjn as she folded her arms. "I know it isn't my technique, so it must simply be horrendous luck."

"First she got this shiny golden spear, and then she shoved it against a clay golem's eye and it just snapped in half. Then we found a weird blade with a spinny chain that you had to rev and it didn't wanna get pulled apart from the zombie we sawed it into. And then there's a pair of fire gauntlets that actually shot off like a rocket and were never seen again. She's amazing at losing weapons!"

"Perhaps I just do not want to form attachments," Riese responded in a tone that just seemed very minutely huffy. "They are simply tools in the end, to be used, cared for, and to see to the end of their intended lifespans."

"Twenty uses, in your case." Have you heard a dragon go 'bwahahaha'? Now you have.

Riese nodded at Talise, but then blinked and looked at the quiet, blue-haired young man. She held her finger up to Talise as a 'just a moment', then approached him.

"Oh... hello there," she greeted Rudy. "You were the one from a few days ago, when that child lost his way from his mother, weren't you?" She looked to Morgan, and nodded. "I do agree, there are more filling meals. How about I treat you?" 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

"Hmmm, I see. I understand completely!" Zed nods his head in that way that says he does totally and 100% understand, but the thing he's understanding might not in fact be what they're talking about. In this case, though. "I kept breaking swords all over the place until I found Doom Bringer! Since then, it's not so much as chipped! I guess it's been bringing me pretty good luck, huh?"

But! There are! SO MANY!

People.

"Uhhhh was it just yesterday?" Zed murmurs, rubbing at his chin. "...I dunno. We had that marathon, and the hours kind of... blended together." Yburn Sphere X will do that to one's sense of temporal rightness. "Ah well! Good to see you again, one way or another, and--!"

"GWEN!" Zed waves at the half-dead girl, face-deep in her math. Zed should not come anywhere close to math, less it stop making sense even more than it normally does. "Gwen," Zed gestures at Riese, "This is another friend of mine. Not the one I talked to you about, but STILL REALLY COOL. Riese, this is Gwen. I met her while I was chasing after a monster with a weird arm. You look like you're half-dead, though. That's no good! Bad for your heart. You should stop what you're doing and have a few drinks. Speaking of which--"

And that's all he'll say about that, because he's going up to the bar.

And plopping down... Right next to Rudy Roughknight.

Rampant Good Cheer meets Reserved Shyness. Hot meets cold. Cat meets dog. Green meets blue. Which is which? WHO KNOWS!? More importantly, WHO CARES!?

"Hombre," Zed says to the Bluenette. "I see you have..." Zed's eyes track to his Glass O' Milk, "Excellent taste in the drink that makes bones and bodies strong. Care for a drinking friend? We can talk shop."

"Milk shop."

"Or anything else, really. You were the one what found that mother, right? Good on you. Good mother-finders are worth quite a lot these days. Name's Zed by the way. Zed the Ultimate Macho Man, nice to meet you."

He looks to Morgan, "And you."

...Then Molly, "AND YOU! It's good to meet everyone! Nyahahahaha!"

He's... That kind of person. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Well as I live and breathe!" Don't worry Rudy, its about to get worse. Morgan seems to be a newly awakened and full of energy. "Is that a Molly I see there? What a concidence! What brings you to this neck of the woods?" His ears twitch again as he sits up to his full and...well...somewhat considerable height.

A glance back towards Rudy. "Oh? Huh? Short on cash then? Well....isn't that intresting..."

He seems to be about to say more but then. There is a sudden Zed.

"It is good to meet new people isn't it!" Morgan finally agrees with a wide grin showing off one just slightly-more-pointed than usual incisor of a tooth. His ears twitch forwards, focusing on his new companions. "But! There is one thing that must be done before we can truly be said to have met." A beatpause. "Introduce ourselves! I'm Morgan." 

<Pose Tracker> Molly Mason has posed.

As soon as the shot's in front of her Molly picks it up and drinks almost half of it (which gets her the side-eye from Honest Tom). Leaning forward, resting her elbows on the bar, she holds the shotglass by the rim, turning it back and forth a bit on the wooden bartop. Yeah, this is a pretty decent place, it seems-- and the locals are friendly, too. The beastman even sounds kind of familiar. "Evenin'," she nods to Rudy. Milk and... what IS that, anyway? Molly gives the bowl of gruel A Look, but doesn't say anything. It's none of her business what other people eat.

There's some kind of loud, cheerful party happening to the saloon proper, but as long as it stays over there and doesn't come any closer she'll be just fine. And then Zed, Ultimate Macho Man, sits down right between her and the nice, polite blue-haired kid. Now it's Molly's turn to give someone the hairy eyeball. ...Really? She suddenly has the urge to slug back the rest of her drink. "Mmrf."

Her food doesn't take too long to get, at least. It's chicken and dumplings. Molly would've eaten just about anything, but to find that it's something she likes... well, that's nice, is all.

And then something terrible happened.

Morgan recognizes her.

"What the--" Molly kicks back on her barstool, leaning back so far gravity threatens to pull her right out of it. "Are you following me or something?! Get out of here, you mangy fox!" 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida finishes her hoecakes. She isn't expecting table service, and it would be rude to just leave her plate there, so she gets up, and makes her way over to the bar. She's still using that cane (doctor's orders), and still visibly bandaged, but she is looking much better.

Unless the people looking at her don't know about the incident a few days back, in which case what happened to her?

In doing so, Ida notices something familiar on the table--something she only caught a glimpse of the other day, but that has taken on renewed importance since. Gwen is working on it. Does that mean that Gwen was at Sult, too, or...? Either way, asking here, with all these people, would be imprudent.

Molly yells. Ida takes a step forward, interposing herself between her and the gentleman she hasn't gotten a good look at yet. "Madam?" she says to Gwen. "Is everything--" She turns her head, looking at the man who apparently set her off. A Beastman!, Ida notes, immediately mentally classing him as 'perhaps not one of the good ones'.

"Is everything all right?" Ida says, managing a smile. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Oh yeah? Shiny weapons, huh," Talise remarks with a blink and a smile as Riese starts talking about her big shiny shaft. "I don't have fire guantlets, though...." She trails off as Riese shushes her, blinking, then following her eyes towards Rudy quizzically.

rHer eyes turn to Zed again, and she lets out a soft sigh. "Yes, Zed, it was yesterday. Remember, Molly scraped her knee, the blonde guys were measuring their... swords with you?" Raising her eyebrows, the half-Beastman opens her mouth to say something else, but Zed's already on to another introduction and another person. Tal stares for a helpless moment before shrugging her shoulders and picking up her mead for a long drag, figuring some people are just airheads.

Others make their introductions. With a blink an a smile, the tall woman flips a hand up to wave to Morgan, those fox ears and tail drawing her eyes with fascination. "Hi, Morgan. I'm Talise Gianfair, but you can ca-" Breaking off, she blinks at the sudden flare-up of Molly's temper.

Tal scratches the back of her neck with one hand. "Ohhhhhh-kay," she remarks before smiling lopsidedly back at Ida. "I think we must've walked into some kind of feud, Ida," she muses. "I dunno. All I know is...."

Cracking a grin, Talise hoists her lute and gives it a strum. "...there's no better cure for that than a good song! Let's all settle for a bit and just relax, huh?" 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Oh yeah? Shiny weapons, huh," Talise remarks with a blink and a smile as Riese starts talking about her big shiny shaft. "I don't have fire guantlets, though...." She trails off as Riese shushes her, blinking, then following her eyes towards Rudy quizzically.

Her eyes turn to Zed again, and she lets out a soft sigh. "Yes, Zed, it was yesterday. Remember, Molly scraped her knee, the blonde guys were measuring their... swords with you?" Raising her eyebrows, the half-Beastman opens her mouth to say something else, but Zed's already on to another introduction and another person. Tal stares for a helpless moment before shrugging her shoulders and picking up her mead for a long drag, figuring some people are just airheads.

Others make their introductions. With a blink an a smile, the tall woman flips a hand up to wave to Morgan, those fox ears and tail drawing her eyes with fascination. "Hi, Morgan. I'm Talise Gianfair, but you can ca-" Breaking off, she blinks at the sudden flare-up of Molly's temper.

Tal scratches the back of her neck with one hand. "Ohhhhhh-kay," she remarks before smiling lopsidedly back at Ida. "I think we must've walked into some kind of feud, Ida," she muses. "I dunno. All I know is...."

Cracking a grin, Talise hoists her lute and gives it a strum. "...there's no better cure for that than a good song! Let's all settle for a bit and just relax, huh?" 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As Riese moves over, Rudy blinks as he's recognized. "I am," he replies, his tone still soft, as if begging to be lost in the crowd of people seem to be swiftly forming. The offer for food is made and Roughnight begins to blush. He still speaks quietly, though his tone is friendly and warm. "That's very kind of you, Miss. Riese, but I don't want to impose or anything. 'Sides, meat always tastes better when you earn it."

And then Zed sits next to the ARMswielder, talking shop about milk and mothers. The blush grows a shade more. A hand goes to his back as everyone gathers around him, making sure his weapon is still appropriately covered. He doesn't want Surf Town to happen again. People seem so nice here.

Once he's reassured of the item's secured nature, Rudy extends a hand to Zed. "Rudy Roughnight," he explains with some uncertainty, not exactly sure what to make of the green haired hero. "It's good to meet you. Seems you like to help too. That's ...Good." The last word takes a bit to get out, clearly Rudy struggling for an adjective to use. Talking this much isn't something he's really used to, after all.

After Zed decides to release Rudy's gloved digits, another handshake is offered to Morgan. "Rudy," he repeats. Seeing as Talise is far off, he just gives her a nod in response. His bland brown eyes take in the bar.

There are a lot of people here. They are all around him. Talking.

Rudy gives a soft swallow as tries to play it cool by slightly leaning forward toward his food, though he takes in Gwen's name, filing it away. Just because he doesn't talk doesn't mean he isn't interested, after all.

However, there is a sign of conflict when Molly announces she knows Morgan. Like a gopher sensing danger, Rudy just lowers his head slightly to look even more interested in his meal. After all, he doesn't want to get involved AND the focus is off him. WIN-WIN. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Ah, is that so?" Riese nodded to Gwen as Zed introduced her. "It is nice to meet you, Miss Gwen," she easily sweeps her hand and bows her head gently. "You look a little perplexed about something, is it something I can help you with?"

She took the time to order at the bar, herself -- she seemed to be fond of a rather elegant flute of light, bubbly wine, more than anything else. Perhaps it's for the elegant image, perhaps it's just because she appreciated the taste, despite the fact that she quite literally can't get drunk. Liquid metal bodies have their downsides in that way.

Riese, at the very least, seems to know when someone needs their space, so she nods wordlessly to Rudy and turns her attention towards the possible altercation between Molly and Morgan, holding her hand up gently. "I agree with Miss Talise," she effortlessly smiles and consciously steps somewhat inbetween the two of them.

"Why don't I buy you two a drink, Miss Molly, Mister Morgan?" she gestures to the bar, then nods to Morgan. For someone who isn't actually very rich, she seems to know the potential power of a free, offered drink at a pub. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

An offered hand! Zed grins and gives Rudy a firm shake. "Hahaha, that's right! I'm the Dark Hero, you know. I walk in the dark so you don't have to!" There is... nothing about this guy that suggests that he knows anything about how 'subtlety' works. "Well Rudy Roughknight! Your name doesn't really suit you, you know? Because from what I've seen at the fair, you're neither Rude... Nor Rough."

"...Maybe Nice Smoothknight is better?"

"Ah, well, a name's a name, don't sweat the small stuff because your pores are already overworked sweating the normally sized stuff, right?" Beat. "Right."

Zed glances at Morgan, then at Molly, then back at Morgan, and then... slowly nods. "Ah, I see. You too are one with strange teeth." His smile widens slightly, those sure are fangy canines there. "Good too see a dental comrade here of all places! But... Alas, I do not have ears like yours. Hmn."

Maybe Alhaz-- wait no that's a stupid idea, Zed. Don't dilute your image.

"But you know, miss," Zed leans back, fingergunning vaguely in Molly's direction. "That's rude, you know. It's inconsiderate to speak of a man's skincare in public, however it is you might have found out about it. Perhaps instead of discussing that, we can... Drink and make merry instead!" 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Even as most of the attention turns towards him and Molly, Morgan doesn't seem the least bit worried. Instead the fox just laughs and shakes his head. His ears are still perked up, his smile and laugh seem both good natured and genuine. He doesn't seem the type to start trouble.

Not one bit.

"I think they think we hate each other, Molly!" Morgan drawls out, eyes crinkling up in a smile. "Don't worry about it my new friends. We know each other from way back. We're friends," A twitch of a smile. "Molly just is exciteable." A wide grin. "And come on now Molly, you can't still be mad about that! It was years ago! Besides, I have a room here, looking for people for a little expidition. I can't just pack up and leave can I?"

His eyes dance with mischief amd mirth as he glances around. "Everything is fine though, miss." This towards Ida, only now realising just how much damage she seems to be carrying round. Curiousity sparks in his eyes, but he moves on. "...and I won't say no to a drink. Of course I never say no to a drink. Or a bit of merrymaking. I'm pretty sure that is against Guild rules, somewhere."

Again a bright smile as he aims his words towards the room at large. "And to give a proper indtroduction of mine, my name would be Morgan Newkirk. Former arena champion, current member in good standing of the Adventurer's Guild." 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

Indeed, it's possible that Ida may recognize some details of the coded message Gwen is working on deciphering, if only because she was at the same dig around a similar point. And really, to be fair, the only reason the weird code on Gwen's paper looks even more complicated than it did originally is because Gwen is attempting to solve it. Gwen has a talent for many, many things, but figuring out coded messages is not one of them. The only reason she felt like she even had a chance was due to her Auntie Frea.

A=@3=Cat???=8, but then dog is actually 5&Gh, 5 2b9, 6 to the power of degree of the 8th, but then who was L? She'll draw a frowny cat face next to here so she remembers this, and maybe-

Zed's loud yelling of her first name brings Gwen somewhat back into reality, making the pencil crunch against the paper. "Ggh!" Oh right, she had... greeted him earlier. "O-oh?" Gwen rubs her face once more, and focuses on his horned, blonde friend. Wait. Horns. A helmet? Maybe one of those weird beastment? Well, Zed *is* a werewolf, after all. And then there's a... reptile bird there. "Oh, something I found on a dig not too long ago. Some coded message. I thought I'd try to crack the code, but then I remembered I suck at these."

Zed... has the right idea! Setting aside what may be the coded message to crack the mystery of a military coup on Aldehyde or something equally important, Gwen raises a finger of her gloved hand. "I'll have..." Something. Pick something. "Whatever the kid over there is having." A gesture of friendship and unity from a courier to a young man who looks a little too kind of eye to be walking around as a Drifter.

Wait, that doesn't look quite as delicious as what that Molly person is having at all! Also, what was the frowny cat face she drew supposed to mean? 

<Pose Tracker> Molly Mason has posed.

Fuming, Molly gives up on trying to lean back far enough to stare holes in Morgan's head with the power of her spite alone. She pulls herself back up to a sit at the bar and seriously debates the idea of getting up and going over there... but wait. Her brown eyes narrow. "Oh, I see how it is. Show up and get me mad so I'll get kicked out, is that your game?"

"Yeah, thanks, it's handled." She waves dismissively at Ida when the woman approaches. How unfair, Ida only wanted to help!

She continues her tirade at the beastman, though she does have the good grace to do it at a slightly lower volume. "Well that's what you think! I'm going to sit here and drink my drink and eat my dinner and not get eighty-six'd!" Ha! Take that, Big Ears! Feeling smug and self-satisfied, the brunette crosses her ankles and slugs back the rest of her whiskey in a single gulp. Please ignore the red flush starting to creep over her cheeks.

"I'm fine." Molly shakes her head at Riesenlied, glaring darkly past Rudy and Zed (who gets the weirdest look). DON'T MAKE HER SET YOU ON FIRE AGAIN, MORGAN, SHE'LL DO IT 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise punctuates Riese's attempt at peacemaking with a lazy strum of her lutestrings. She lowers her feet from the table, shifting in her chair to rest her instrument in a playing stance.

"I don't know, I think Rudy Roughnight's his name. There's nothing wrong with it in my book," she opines with a wave of a hand towards Zed before returning to her fingers to her lute, giving it another brisk strum. At Morgan's introduction, she cracks a broad grin, nodding once back to the fox-man. "Talise Gianfair, but you can call me Tal. C'mon over! Have a seat! Have a drink. There's plenty to go around. Besides, who am I to chase off a fellow Beastman?" The tall woman rests a hand over one of her cheeks, fingertips brushing the darker stripe racing across it. When her hand lowers again, she gestures to the open chairs around the table, urging others to settle in.

Molly gets a look from her; she sighs, but it's with a lopsided smile. "Hey," she calls over. "We're all friends here, okay? C'mon over and have a drink with us and we'll all just leave that bad stuff at the door for tonight." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida takes a step back, and nods, seeming to accept that explanation. She does give Molly something of a backwards glance as the tirade continues, unable to do much more than hope the both of them take up Riesenlied's generous offer. Isn't that nice of her, buying everyone a round? "A pleasure to meet you, Mister Morgan," Ida says, the very image of politeness, even as she turns to the bartender and obtains her whiskey on the rocks.

"I think this may be the usual for them," she asides to Talise, her voice a discreet whisper. She takes a sip. "But enough of that. Ida Everstead-Rey, of the Guild Galad Everstead-Reys, and the man with the green hair over there is Zed, in case he hasn't introduced himself a dozen times using different titles."

t 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riese kind of acquiesces with the woman's rather grumpy response, keeping her chuckle light and smooth as she walks over with a practiced gait to sit at the table that Talise gestured her to in the first place. She did notice Gwen's murmur about a coded message, glancing to Ida for a moment with a knowing look. It seemed that they weren't the only ones to pierce their way into the inner sanctum. That cryptographer had best work fast, or the value of the information could be lost.

She flicks a two-gella coin Morgan's way with a charming wink, nodding. "If the lady changes her mind," she adds.

Odjn goes to sit straight on the table, grabbing the nearest apple to gnaw on it. "Gosh, I'm so hungry! Y'know, I tried eatin' some daggers once, and it did crunch down, but it wasn't a good time in my tummy... nope, fruits are where it's at!"

"You would literally try to eat anything," Riese mused quietly, shaking her head. "Ida, I had it in mind for a moment -- could you tell me more of Guild Galad and how your family operates there?" 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As Talise speaks of his name and how it's fine, Rudy turns his head so she can see the side of his face. "Thank you, miss," he states simply. A glance back toward Zed is given. "The man who raised me called me Rudy." Short pause as Rudy gets the Trademark Mile Long Stare, but he breaks himself out with a small smile, growing fond with bittersweet memories of a simpler time. "I like the name."

Morgan gets one simple word as a question, but it considering Rudy's a man of few words, it's little surprise. "Guild?"

As Gwen talks about having what the kid is having, Rudy glances up and smile. A fellow gruel and milk eater, he can respect her desire to be thrifty!

Then it happens. Molly look really mean in his direction. In that brief moment, Rudy doesn't realize that it's toward Morgan. "I'm sorry," he offers submissively. "I didn't mean to cause trouble, I can just le-" There is an awkward pause as he realizes in midsentence that Mason was talking about Newkirk. "I'm sorry that I misunderstood your look, I didn't mean to," he says awkwardly, trying to pull his arms closer in attempt to curl up slightly, lowering his head so his blue bangs intentionally drift over to try and hide his embarrassed face.

If Rudy's a Drifter, definitely doesn't give off a strong impression in these larger gathering, clearly not giving off the usual firm determination of most of his kind. 

<Pose Tracker> Cassidy Cain has posed.

The doors to the saloon swing open, each long-legged stride punctuated by the tinny ring of tarnished silver spurs. Whoever the newcomer is, the wide-brimmed gray hat she wears obscures her features, and despite the worn leathers and the jacket, the moseying sway of gentle hips gives away her gender easily. Blonde hair falls from underneath her headgear in a wind-blown tousle.

The busy bartender, Harry Carlisle, has thus far maintained the professionalism that anyone would expect from a tavern-overseer in a major town; he has been pouring, mixing and distributing drinks all night, all behind the safety of the counter in which he holds dominion. But the sight of the newcomer has him pausing from the deliberate wipe of a rag over a large beer stein, staring incredulously at the woman moving closer and closer. Suspicion simmers over his sun-beaten features, followed by growing realization.

And when Cassidy Cain lifts a finger, pushes up the brim of her hat and gives him a winning smile, Harry balks visibly. "Oh no. No. No!" he cries, shoving a finger in her direction. "Get out of my saloon right this instant!"

"Ach, luv, that was years ago." Whatever the man is referencing, the blonde seems to know precisely what it is, her sing-song brogue carrying easily over wood. She reaches the bar, a hand propped on a hip. "And dinnae be so quick tae forget that you volunteered."

"You said Follow the Lady!"

"Ay, I did."

"You didn't tell me I was gonna be the Lady!"

"Well, that's nae my fault you dinnae cross your t's and dot your i's." Humor brims within green, gold-flecked eyes. "Besides, it worked, dinnae it? You got what you needed and all it took was an extra large set of pantaloons and two ripe watermelons."

"Which you attached to my ass and exploded on impact!"

"I s'pose the color made it all the more unfortunate."

"Why you--"

"Ach, man, easy." Cassidy lifts her fingers, palm forward. "And here I came all this way tae make amends." Dropping a worn envelope on the counter, she slowly slides it to the disgruntled barkeep. Her smile tugs up higher. "Happy birthday, luv."

Harry eyeballs the envelope, then the golden-haired woman, then back to what she offers again. With a grunt, he swipes it off the counter and peels back the flap, reading the contents of the slip of paper within. A slow tic manifests on the high end of his cheek, before he shoves it deep in the back pocket of his trousers.

"Fine." Whatever he had been given renders him mollified, but only slightly and reluctantly so. "But one mention of explosive hemmorhoids out of you and I'll throw you out myself. I mean it, Cass!"

"You wound me, luv. Would I do that tae you on your birthday? What kind of monster do you think I am?"

The bartender snorts at that, and stalks off to see other customers...but not before pouring her a drink, despite herself. It has her hand lifting, falling dramatically against her chest, her pale, expressive face twisting in a look of pure and utter bliss.

"I knew it. You missed me!"

"Oh, sod off!"

She laughs. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida returns that look. She seems to catch on to the meaning of it, despite having other things on her mind--she's less concerned about the value of the information and more concerned about other people stumbling across a potentially dangerous situation. She did in fact notice Gwen doodling cat faces on a coded document, but she is less worried than she would be, given there is a second copy out there. Probably. Wherever Catenna put it.

"We, ah, manufacture ARMs," Ida says. This is the first time someone's asked her about the family business in such a manner, and it catches her a little off-guard. "Guild Galad was settled next to the Boneyard, a deposit buried during the Metal Demon Wars. It's, ah, mostly Metal Dragon fossils--" And she's careful to enunciate the 'Metal' part, because Odjn is right there, and she can't possibly be a Metal Dragon, right? She looks like what Ruby wishes she were because of unrealistic dragon body standards.

"With some Metal Demon fossils mixed in. It's all extremely exciting to work with--many of them have novel metals in their surviving endoskeletal elements, as well as... well, what we think may be built-in ARMs, as outlandish as it may seem--"

The door swings open. Ida trails off, and...

Cassidy happens. Ida blinks. She's trying not to stare. Watermelons, really? 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

The whisper from Ida leaves Talise's eyebrows shooting up wth interest, and she draws her lips into a little 'o' as she roams Molly and Morgan with bright, interested eyes. "So they're like that, huh," she murmurs to Ida with a tiny grin that's just full of unspoken innuendo. Her hand moves to cover the expression but she can't quite hide the way her eyes shine, and it's clear enough that there are ideas piecing themselves together in her head.

As Riese seats herself, Tal lowers her hand to her mead again. "They've got some streak-O'-lean on today. And a pretty okay pork stew if that's what you're into," she offers Odjn and Riese both.

Then someone blonde and talkative strides in. Curious eyes tracking after Cassidy, Talise listens in edgewise to the woman's exchange with the tavern-keeper.

"Oh, I like her," she says effusively before standing up and waving broadly. "Hey!" she calls over. "C'mon and join us for a drink! On me!"

She's hard to miss because she's taller and more built than not only all of the women, but also most of the men currently in here. Also the cheekstripes and the elf ears and the big sword. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Zed...

Senses something amiss in the wilderness.

He looks left. He looks right. His gaze fixes... Upon Rudy Roughknight. "..." Zed... Pats at the young drifter's shoulder. "Hey. Hey hey hey. Don't worry about it, my milkdrinking friend! Everyone makes mistakes! Some of us make far more mistakes than others!" Like Zed. Zed makes so many mistakes. Mistakes every single day. "Sometimes, the mistakes we make... Make us better people in the end. They make us STRONG! Like a bone breaking over and over and over, and slowly growing stronger and stronger and stronger. And the key to all of that strength..."

Zed taps at his noggin, waggles a brow...

And then downs an entire glass full of milk.

"IS DELICIOUS, NUTRITIOUS, ENERGIZING MILK. You've got the right idea, Rudy Roughknight, the thing you are drinking... Is doing good for you." Beat. "Of course, mental resilience is also vital." 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"The Guild my friend," Morgan replies towards Rudy with his smile beaming. "The Adventurer's Guild. Collection of some of the best Diggers around, stick together. Help with missions. Recources. Information. I'm here on a bit of recruiting...finding a bit of help to look at holes in the ground...that sort of thing." His eyes flick towards Molly. "...not to follow any shopkeepers around." He's amused by Molly's look of course, and the effect it has on Rudy.

One hand flicks out and he catches those tossed coins before angling a wink towards Reiselied. "Thank you kindly," He adds in a drawl. "And I'm sure she'll remember it. Eventually." He adds with a grin. He does start to stand though. "And as a card carrying guild member, and..." A flash of a grin towards Zed. "...a member of the people with the best teath in the world. I don't think I can rightly refuse a drink with a lady. Espicially a pretty lady." This time the wink is angled towards Talise. "So I'd be happy to join you!"

He would say more. Then a whirlwind blows in.

He blinks once. Then blinks again. Then just starts to laugh. "Oh my god, Cass? Is that actually you? Come on in and join us for a drink! I havn't seen you since you were..." A pause. "...I never actually asked just why you were trying to walk off with an entire box of carved wooden ducks. But you know, I'm sure you had your reasons."

A shrug from the be-eared and silver gloved Guildsman. 


<Pose Tracker> Molly Mason has posed.

There are so many nice, reasonable people in the world... and then there are people like Molly, who is occasionally nice but only reasonable when she wants to be. "Nnnnngh," she grumbles, glancing over her shoulder at Talise. "...Maybe in a minute," Molly finally acquiesces. Hot chicken and dumplings doesn't just fall out of the sky.

She's got the spoon halfway to her mouth when Rudy... completely misunderstands. And then apologizes for misunderstanding.

Oh, no.

She puts the spoon down and looks away from the Rudy to pat the poor kid on the shoulder. Of course, she's not sitting next to Rudy so Molly just... kind of ends up patting Zed on the face. "Not your fault."

Thankfully for Molly's blood pressure, she doesn't hear Tal's COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS idea of her history with Morgan. ...Well it's probably erroneous. Talise wasn't very specific.

And while everybody else is preoccupied with some blonde's flashy, charismatic storytelling ways... Molly finally gets to start eating her dinner. Nomf. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"The Boneyard..." Riese mused, hearing through Ida's story. For a moment, the woman looked as if she'd drifted somewhere else, her gaze seemingly going a bit long. "I--"

And then Cassidy happens. Riese blinks a few times. She wasn't sure, but wasn't that the woman who was around the fight with that masked villain when Ida injured herself? Just a hunch -- she couldn't very clearly see her. She sipped gently from her wine and leaned back, smiling at Talise as she regaled them with the specials.

"Hmmm... can I, can I, Riese?" Odjn asks, in the exact tone of a child who really wants something from mom.

Riese smiles softly and pats the dragon on the head. "Just a bit, then," as she flagged for one order of the lean. How much pork does Adlehyde go through in a day, exactly?

"That is a rather refined skill your family conducts," Riese continued to Ida. "That weapon that you showed me in our Ruin run... the Devil's Due, was it? That certainly had the look and heft of a dragon fossil."

Odjn grins and says, "And before you get any ideas, my bones are soft and chewy, not good for ARMs at all! Nuh uh!" 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As there is talk of manufactured ARMs, there is a pause from Rudy. While he's still looking toward his food, someone that is able to peek at his face will see that he's listening extremely carefully. But soon, the one woman arrival of Cassidy ruins the focus as he turns with an arched brow. She is... loud.

Roughnight watches the woman speaks of melons with the horrible fascination of a train wreck, unable to peel his attention away until Zed puts his arms around him to break him out of the spell. "Makes sense," he offers simply, not sure what else he can do when confronted with Zed 'wisdom' but agree with it. After all, Rudy tends to be an agreeable sort. Then Zed gets patted in the face while he's still hugging Rudy. Rudy just slow nods as if to say 'This is my life now'. To Molly, he manages a simple, "Thank you." 

<Pose Tracker> Cassidy Cain has posed.

Vile slander, Rudy Roughnight. It was Harry who was doing the yelling.

And in the crowd, someone else identifies her by name.

The bartender thus accosted, drink in hand, the woman angles her virid-gold gaze over her shoulder towards Morgan and company, sweeping over Talise and her invitation, Ida's stare (who she remembers, vaguely, from the incident with the Black Ties), and a few others that she can't quite identify. There's curiosity there, with the way her head tilts, but eventually she does pluck the tumbler Harry had prepared for her, a few steps taking her over to where the group has decided to park itself.

Though mention of the wooden ducks does have her grinning faintly, brows lifting high enough to disappear underneath the brim of her hat. The devil's own mischief remains; oh, she recognizes Morgan. But then again, she doesn't know many with ears like those.

"You never know when a box full of wooden ducks may come in handy," she replies easily. "Especially on a lake, in the dead of night. But that's a story for another day." She tips her hat towards the rest, lips curling over the edge of her tumbler. "Evening, luvs. And while I'm nae one tae say no to a drink." The last to Talise. "I'm unfortunately only passing through." 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Hey, our teeth are pretty great," Talise fires back at Morgan, flashing just enough of a grin to reveal the little points of her incisors. Her own Beastman features are a touch different - she's not really an animal person, but the stripes, the elfin ears and the teeth betray that she's in some way not human. At the flirtation she laughs heartily and raises her mug to salute him, grin wider and more playful. "Hey, keep on saying those nice things and I might just have to see if you've got any more nice comments in you," she teases as she pulls a seat out for him - or rather, gives it a little kick to knock it back from the table enough that he can sit in it.

If nothing else, he's not wrong: Tal's a looker for someone who looks like she could bench-press a stagecoach.

The tall woman nods to Molly emphatically before gesturing for a server, scooping up a handful of her musical earnings and dishing them out liberally. "A round for everyone, on me," she declares magnanimously. "And something to eat for anyone who wants it! I could really, really go for the stew, myself."

Morgan gets another light grin from her. "So whereabouts do you come from?" she asks, before Cassidy speaks up.

The tall woman aws. Then she smiles broadly, pushing a hand through her hair. "Our loss, then. But hey! If you ever swing by again, you're always welcome." 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

Eating her gruel and milk, Gwen eyes the dragon. Apples. Pork. Talking.... dragon cats...

So... cute-

Gwen's hand jerks at the mentions of words like 'endoskeletal', 'built-in ARMS'. Milk spills onto the other side of her bowl as Gwen eyes the spoon. Fossils. Goddamnit, if Zed hadn't said what he had said earlier... she should have blown her nose into his scarf!

Though it's just as well, since Gwen seems to recover, as if some sort of radar went off, awakening from her general malaise. Finishing her gruel, Gwen straightens from her seat. "So what's all this about metal demon fossils? We're not talking about like actual bodies or anything, but like skeletons, since they're old, right? What do they look like?" Gwen rubs her chin. "And built-in ARMS? Like the ARMS are inside them instead of outside? My auntie looked into stuff like that from time to time, though she's retired now." Sorry, Frea, you're here to serve as an excuse. "... Also, are they made from cute dragon cats? Because that's just wrong." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Adventurer's Guild, hm? Ida's mother told her about them, and how they were probably the best source of honest work for Drifters in general. It's a nice thing to keep in mind, Ida thinks, in case I lose my mind and decide to do this for a living. Once the blockade lifts, she'll be back on the road, moving from dig site to dig site, until everything's done, and she's back home, and--

"It is," Ida says, to Riesenlied. "Though a friend of mine identified it as a Demon Fossil, and--well--he seemed very certain. Father didn't specify where the material came from, nor did he take notes on what it was interred with. The actual gun was something my mother found, and she brought it to him for heavy repairs, and it was how they first met." Gwen asks more questions. Ida positively perks up at the mention of one of her pet areas of study (the other major ones at present being zoology, botany and chemistry). "Usually just the skeletal elements, yes, since they're the sturdiest. We have found traces of... well, I hesitate to call it soft tissue, but it may be analagous to that element of our bodies. The flesh and organs and muscle, as opposed to the skeleton. But we're still not entirely sure what they looked like, though a great many people have attempted reconstructions." Including two competing academics, one of which is from Guild Galad, a fellow department member, and a right asshole. So is his rival, who is from Sylvaland. Ida hoped neither would've made it to the Exhibition, but somehow THEY FOUND A WAY.

"As for your second question, yes. We've deduced that the nature of their bodies allows them to integrate ARMs into themselves with little trouble. It's entirely possible that they can synchronize with them with much greater efficiency than your average human or human variant--the actual science behind the ridiculous 'devil-taint' myth." She pauses, and looks to Gwen to see if she's following. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

All this nerdery is happening.

Zed, incapable of controlling himself, is visible just at the very back of any given frame at any given time.

Making catfais. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Darlin," Morgan's drawl is filled with warm amusement as he puts a hand on the back of the chair and pulls it out for himself, assisted by Talise's kick. His words are angled towards her as he slides into the chair. "I am full of nice comments. It would take me all night to get though all of them! Which I'm perfectly happy to do, since I have nothing but time right now." Not a care in the world as he raises his drink, whiskey it looks like, to his lips to start working on.

His eyes slide towards Ida though as she starts on the traces of the metal demons. Instead of glazing over, they seem to follow along, almost filing that information away for late work. "Some parts of the world, people get just a touch jumpy at people that can use ARMs. Guess that would explain it. Not that it makes much sense, but..." A shrug. "...what can you do."

A pause again before he shifts his words back towards Talise. "And I'm from...well a bunch of places, but most recently Kislev." A twitch of a smile. "Fought my way up the arena, if you're wondering."

As he leans back he turns his attention back towards Cass. "...I guess it would." A twitch of a smile. "But thats a shame, and here I was about to see if you would be up for a bit of a job. I have something that needs doing that might be right up your alley. For a little party I'm plannin on getting together..." 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

And into the saloon skips Sephilia Lampbright, Chauncey dangling from her arms, as always. Is she just here looking for friends? Meat pies, perhaps? Or will she try and fail to get a drink again?

Chauncey's just along for the ride, really.

She spots Talise quickly, waving and beaming, and heading over--and then spies a fox-man, and her eyes widen in delight.

"Hi I'm Sephilia Lampbright this is Lord Chauncey of Foxington can we be friends?" she gushes, almost jumping up and down in excitement. 

<Pose Tracker> Cassidy Cain has posed.

Talise gets a smile that cuts like a knife; edged, brilliant and would have been incongrous on a face with such delicate features were it not for the expression in those glade-green irises. "Ay? You might change your mind later, luv. You only just met me, after all."

She'd say more but Ida launches into a dissertation of things of an academic nature that causes her to slowly turn her head and regard the naturalist with a half-lid stare. The look of her is so inscrutable that it's difficult to determine whether she understands all of what she has just overheard, or not; equal odds really, for a woman who has spent the last ten years roaming about Filgaia's dangerous thoroughfares and mostly on her own. Who knows what other things she has heard or seen, when she spends her days as a dedicated transient.

The proceedings of which earn the rest a half-smile, though Morgan's last has her regarding him from under the shadows of her hat. With Zed making catfaces in the background, she looks this way and that until she finds what she's looking for, then braces a foot against it, and slides it towards his direction.

It's a crate.

Cats dig that sort of thing, right?

"Ay, well, you know what the usual toll is for that, luv," she tells Morgan, eyes twinkling. "On top of having tae get on your knees and telling me you love me. Plenty of things are right up my alley but you know the rules, especially after the last time. But I'm always willing tae hear you out. I'll be in town for a few days yet, I'm sure you know how to get in touch with me."

Just follow the scandaled gasps and cries of dismay, most likely.

A hand drops, fingers dancing lightly over the tips of Morgan's ears before she pivots on her heel to head for the door.

"The evening calls, luvs. Dinnae do anything I wouldnae do."

That list is very short. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"There are only two things on that list, Cass!" 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Zed is now in the crate.

He's still catfaising, he's still in every frame, but now he's also in a box. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

There's some serious nerdage going on over there and Talise doesn't understand a word of it. She just smiles at Ida cluelessly, blushing and holding her hands out at her side in a big ol' shrug.

Morgan's easier for her to deal with than science; she's dealt with plenty of smooth guys in her day. Propping a heavily-booted heel up on the edge of her chair and draping her arm over the knee, she fixes the fox-man with a wry smile, her eyebrows arched ever so slightly. "I'll accept it if you want to dribble 'em out in dribs and drabs. Space 'em out a bit and drag out the suspense and all that." Lifting her mug of mead, she raises it in a mild salute to him. Her eyebrows arch as he reveals more.

"Huh, a gladiator. I might actually have to check that out sometime - at least if I'm ever in that neck of the woods. I'm more of a sailor, myself - grew up on a ship." A smirk tugs at her lips, eyes twinkling merrily. "Sailing may not be as glamorous as gladiator battles, but at least you get a hell of a tan."

She ain't kidding.

rHer eyes follow towards Cass, sizing her up for a moment. That smirk returns, eyebrow coming up. "Yeah, well. Anyone who gets into unspeakable antics with exploding watermelons is someone I want to have a drink with, just because."

She doesn't get to say much more before Sephy dashes in. With a laugh, Tal reaches up to pat her shoulder briskly. "Hey you." 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

There's some serious nerdage going on over there and Talise doesn't understand a word of it. She just smiles at Ida cluelessly, blushing and holding her hands out at her side in a big ol' shrug.

Morgan's easier for her to deal with than science; she's dealt with plenty of smooth guys in her day. Propping a heavily-booted heel up on the edge of her chair and draping her arm over the knee, she fixes the fox-man with a wry smile, her eyebrows arched ever so slightly. "I'll accept it if you want to dribble 'em out in dribs and drabs. Space 'em out a bit and drag out the suspense and all that." Lifting her mug of mead, she raises it in a mild salute to him. Her eyebrows arch as he reveals more.

"Huh, a gladiator. I might actually have to check that out sometime - at least if I'm ever in that neck of the woods. I'm more of a sailor, myself - grew up on a ship." A smirk tugs at her lips, eyes twinkling merrily. "Sailing may not be as glamorous as gladiator battles, but at least you get a hell of a tan."

She ain't kidding.

Her eyes follow towards Cass, sizing her up for a moment. That smirk returns, eyebrow coming up. "Yeah, well. Anyone who gets into unspeakable antics with exploding watermelons is someone I want to have a drink with, just because."

She doesn't get to say much more before Sephy dashes in. With a laugh, Tal reaches up to pat her shoulder briskly. "Hey you." 

<Pose Tracker> Cassidy Cain has posed.

"Only one thing now, luv. I'll let you guess which one stayed."

With a wink over her shoulder, the blonde hurricane slips through the doors and is gone. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

My, Riesenlied looks just like Riesenlied, Gwen, why would she look like anything else?

Riese listens to both Talise and Morgan as they lightly flirt, somewhat... curious about the way in which they tease and gesture at each other. She'd scrutinised the body language in many humans over the centuries, but she hadn't quite understood as to why they do it.

Ida starts speaking in volume about what the humans know about her own physiology, which, well, is perhaps a little bit flattering, if a little bit creepy in some ways as well. "Interesting," she muses very softly, "So the Demons were not made completely of metal, then? If this... 'soft tissue' you speak of was actually found, is it possible that they have a body more similar to that of humans?"

It's like trolling, but kind of not.

"I profess I do not know what it is like to synchronise with an ARM," she muses. "I have never had the ability myself."

"Ha, yeah, most ARMs we find in ruins, Riese touches and they just fizzle out or go 'quack'," Odjn's grin is still deeply amused. "Probably for the better, what if you break these priceless artifacts like you do your weapons?"

"You make me sound like some sort of dungeon hazard." Riese glances to the side again, casting her gaze off once more.

(How ironic is it that that humans that are capable of synchronising with our ARMs are brandished 'demon-tainted'... and yet, here I am, a tainted demon that cannot synchronise with an ARM...]

There is a wry smile from the woman's lips, and she seems kind of tired. She sucked a breath. "I might retire for the evening," she decided. "Odjn, do come up before long, and no busking tonight, yes?" The dragon 'awwed', but nodded. She waved, smiling at Sephilia on her way up the stairs. 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As the talk of ARMs continues, Rudy continues to eat, drink, and listen, taking in the information. He'll glances to the two, a hint of concern in his eyes, but he remains silent. After all, it's an A/B conversation, so he's Cing that he doesn't interfere with it. There is also the interaction between Morgan and Cassidy, who clearly seem to have some sort of history, but even the interest in this Guild doesn't cause him to speak out.

All these people, linked together by a common history. Rudy watches silently and takes it in, as if he would be happy to observe these interactions as if living through them somehow. The only thing that breaks him out is Lampbright coming in with her 'companion'. Arching a brow of worry, he finally gets up and moves toward her. "This is place a lot of Drifters hang out... Not sure this the sort of place you'd want to be. Maybe the Fairgrounds would be more fun?" It doesn't matter that their ages are rather close, but he's doing his part to keep a (seemingly) younger person safe. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Gladiator, yup. Fought under the name Laughing Fox." Morgan's eyes dance. "No idea why they gave me that one." He turns his attention back to the table as Cassidy slips out, shaking his head at the parting exchanged before suddenly he...seems...to have a fan.

There is a suprised look as he glanced down at Sephilia. Then a warm laugh as he tilts his hat back with his silver arm and reaches down to ruffle Sephilia's hair with the real one. "Of course we can, Sephilia Lampbright, Lord Chauncey. I'm Morgan Newkirk, and its always good to meet new friends."

His attention turns back to Talise. "A friend of yours two I take it?" He asks. "...and I'll do my best to keep you suprised. I mean I haven't even started on anything specific, like the eyes and how they sparkle. Might be hard though, I've heard sailors see the whole of the world. I haven't made it that far out of Kislev." A pause. "But I do agree, its a very fine tan."

Then Rudy comes strolling over, lured out by the adoreableness of one little Lampbright. "Well," He drawls. "She'll be safer if you want to join up at the table won't she, Rudy Roughnight?" He adds with his eyes dancing slightly. 


<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

It was wise of Ida to mention to Riesenlied first the story of how her parents met before driving her tugboat of information onto the waiting Gwen. The courier, even the sucker for a good 'how they met' story, momentarily abandons her original motives to instead focus on that bit of romance. "That's so sweet~ sorry, I had to say something." Unlike Rudy's earlier apology, this one seems to be in the realm of 'not actually sorry'.

Once Ida begins explaining in earnest, Gwen's sunny expression transforms into something far more somber. She even seems to... keep up with Ida, more or less, even if some words seem to ping off her head like hail off a tin roof. "So, kinda like our skin, but... not quite. So they're not really just, like, demons made of hard metal?" She's half tempted to just pull on the skin on her right arm (while it's still covered) as an example. 'Not like this, right?'

Alas, Gwen's not about to make a pleasant evening go sour by pushing the envelope. "I heard syncing's one of those weird processes. An ARM finds you, rather than the other way around." But what happens when that ARM comes with something else with it?

AT least Gwen's still going along with Ida. "... Ah." Looking over her shoulder as Sephilia comes in, she gives a wave, then looks back to Ida. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia grins at Talise, and then beams at Morgan, opening her mouth to ask a barrage of questions--but her grin turns to a scowl as the strange boy comes over and suggests she doesn't belong here. "I'll have you know that Chauncey and I can hold our own," she says flatly. "I'm not some kid, you know! I've explored all kinds of ruins and places and my dad is a famous explorer and he taught me everything I know! I'm just fine as a Drifter, so there."

As if to demonstrate a point, Sephy glances up to Talise, and sets her little jaw. "Tal, can I have some whiskey?" she asks. "And Chauncey wants some too."

Chauncey, for his part, stares blankly at Rudy, button eyes perhaps concealing some implicit threat to the young man's well-being. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Gee, I wonder," Talise answers Morgan with a low chuckle and a shake of her head, gesturing with her mug as if to indicate his ears. "Well, Laughing Fox, it's nice to meet you, and your friends for that matter. Seems like the Festival's attracting all kinds of fun people."

Her free hand continues to rest on Sephy's shoulder, delivering a pat and a squeeze. "Yep. Sephy and I came from the same neck of the woods. We kind of stick together," she explains. She's about to say something else, but Rudy bounces over instead, and Talise just scoffs and waves her hand, her smile easy enough. "Hey, relax, pal. Sephilia's a lot older at heart than she looks."

Winking, the half-Beastwoman crosses a leg over the other. "...Besides - I was drinking and hanging out in taverns when I was a lot younger than Sephy. Trust me. She's fine."

As she's speaking, she's offering up her tankard to Sephy. "Don't drink too much at once," she advises the girl. "It's not too strong but it can surprise you if you're not used to it."

With that, she's nodding back to Morgan, smile lingering, lips parted just enough to flash her teeth. Again she winks. "See, I like your taste in tans. And I'm new around these parts too, so you're in good company - I've always been more shipside than land-side, but I guess that's changed now. Though I do seem to be meeting plenty of fun people. Maybe I'll hang around for awhile." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida seems to have gone overboard. She blushes, demurely, before reaching out to place a hand on top of Gwen's. (They're colleagues, right? She can do that.) "I'm sorry, sometimes I can get carried away. And yes, I think it's very sweet, and I'm glad you think so, too." Riesenlied earns a nod. "They at least had bones made of it, and perhaps flesh, too." And then the Beastwoman decides to go and be enigmatic, in a way that Ida hasn't yet seen. "Good evening," Ida says, when Riesenlied and her familiar take their leave.

Ida then shrugs to Gwen. "Perhaps they were, perhaps they weren't. All we have to go by are their remains, and what few records survive--and the records can get distorted." There's a distinct pause, and Ida shakes her head. "I'm not sure I've experienced it yet, but a friend told me it was akin to it becoming... something that feels like it makes you whole." 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

A small frown begins to form as Morgan makes his suggestion, but it's clear it works because Rudy does make his way over toward the table. As Sephilia and Talise make their claim that the child is actually not a child, Rudy folds his arms, clearly not thrilled with the information, but for the time being letting it be with a simple "I see." While his look seems to suggest he's waiting from Talise to hear about these grand ruin explorations and this famed explorer, he doesn't say too much more, perhaps having used up most of his words tonight already. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"She's a little sparkplug isn't she?" Morgan asides towards Talise with a soft chuckle. "Its good to have a few companions around to share the road. Even if she can obviously take care of herself." Again that smile, one tall ear twitching just slightly as he hears something that catches his intrest.

The ears catch a lot so it could be just about anything.

The offer of the drink, that causes him to raise an eyebrow. If they have been together that long though, well its not quite his buisness to poke his face in it. There is a curious look though as he watches the girl and the sailor.

"Whats changed then? To make you a land-animal instead of a sea-creature?" A flash of a smile at that. "You seem the type that can do whatever she puts her mind to. Though either way I hope you hang around, you seem to liven things up..." A glance over. "...and you and your perfect pair of companions seem to have even lured Rudy over to the table." A beatpause. "Which I'm going to guess is a feat." 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia is not ready to give up on demonstrating that she's not a child, especially in front of the cool fox man who is her new friend. Especially since he doesn't argue, but seems like he's sulking. So, staring straight into his eyes, Sephy takes a swig of Talise's drink, and probably unfortunately, disregards Talise's excellent advice.

It's a big swig.

A very big swig.

It starts slowly. Sephy's brow furrows, and her eyes widen in surprise. Then, almost reluctantly, with difficulty, she swallows the rest of the mouthful of drink.

Then she starts to cough uncontrollably.

Way to look like an adult in front of everyone, Sephy! With this and the crying incident, now nobody is going to believe you're older!

Still, she almost glares at Rudy, silently daring him to say something. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Oh yes. Sephy's very enthusiastic," Talise concedes with a wry smile, surrendering her mead to the girl. "And you're right, it wouldn't be the same without a few friends to roll down the road with. At least it makes the nights go by easier...." She trails off as Sephilia drains most of her drink and starts coughing.

With a chuckle, Tal reaches down to give Sephy a couple of brisk pats on the back. "Hey now! Hang in there," she urges good-naturedly. "What'd I tell you about trying to do it all at once, huh? That's why you take it easy until you're used to it. Then you chug it! It's an acquired skill!"

Giving Sephilia one more thump on the back as if to encourage her to get it out of her system, she returns her gaze to Morgan, her free hand moving up through her hair. "Hey, I like to think I can lure in a man or two," she quips with a wink. "But if you must know, the ship I grew up on went on its own way. I figured that was a good time to wander, and it brought me to Ignas and introduced me to some new friends. Like Ida." She gestures towards the chatty nerd in question, but her smile for Morgan remains, broadening as she laughs richly. "Well, count your blessings - I'm not going anywhere any time soon.

"Though maybe to my bunk," she says. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

The hand Ida places hers on is Gwen's right, of course. It feels... hard. But not quite. Underneath the leather of her gloves, it could be dismissed. "Don't worry about it!" Gwen waves her left hand in eager dismissal. "If records can be distorted and all that, then I suppose we'll never know, right?" Something that makes you feel whole, huh? Well, then, maybe she was just being paranoid. She's human. "Oh, okay, haha. I probably was just paranoid, I guess? About them suddenly, like, coming out of nowhere." That was a terrible save, Gwen.

Moving her right hand away from Ida's at an agreeable length of time, Gwen suddenly realizes- wait, is her glove slightly off? She needs to fix that.

However, her attention is then drawn to the two younger Drifters present Looking over at Rudy as he passes, Gwen reaches over to give him a pat on his shoulder, if only to ensure her silent encouragement doesn't go unnoticed without drawing attention to him. If he turns and looks, he'll see her grin. "... That was mighty kind of you, Mr. Roughnight."

When Sephilia actually does down the drink as she does, Gwen moves from Rudy towards Sephilia. "Whoah! Hey, you okay, Sephilia? Hey, Mr. Roughnight, maybe you can ask for some water?" Talise is there, patting her on the back, at least. "You gotta be careful. Body size matters with strong drink. Can't enjoy anything if you get hungover in a heartbeat."

As she moves, a quick flash of metal can be seen, if more in Ida's direction, from the space between Gwen's glove and her sleeve. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

As Talise has no doubt found out, 'chatty drunk' is one of Ida's available drunk modes. This is more or less what's happening right now.

Ida giggles a little at the mention of her name, and gives the others a demure little wave. Still, though, there's no mistaking the distinct gleam of metal from under Gwen's sleeve, and it doesn't look like it's a bracelet, because bracelets don't have distinct wrist-joints. Curiosity overtakes her. She will no doubt be horrified by her actions later, but she is nothing but gentle and understanding (and kind of drunk) as she looks at Gwen.

"Miss Gwen," she says, "I'm sorry for being forward, but--is that your hand?" 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Morgan just watcher Sephilia as she takes that drink and powers it down. A slightly smile curves up his features as the inevitable happens and he just reaches into his long coat. A bit of rooting around before he comes back with...

A little handkerchief. Its got a tiny little monogramed pitures of a laughing fox in one corner.

He says nothing, just hands it quietly towards Sephilia with a smile towards her. No judgement in the least at the coughing.

"No need to rush, little darlin'. Keep that if you like." He drawls with a nod before glancing back towards Talise. Then a laugh as he hears Talise's explination. "Well I never say no to friends, its kept me alive this long." A pause, a smile. "She's a smart one it sounds like..." Glancing towards Ida a moment before looking back towards Talise. "Wanderlust is something I can entirely understand, after I was cooped up in Kislev for so long...thats half the reason I joined the Guild. An excuse to travel."

"Regadless though, my blessing shall be counted and appriciated. Though I will try to carry on, deprived of your company for the night. And here I had a few more suprises I hoped to entertain you with. Though if you're curious..."

A raised eyebrow that is just seen over the edge of his own mug as he takes a long pull of his drink.

Well. He's not shy at least.

He'll leave that to Rudy. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

As Ida may be observing, one of Talise's drunk modes is 'buzzed and amorous.'

Giving Sephilia another supporting pat, Talise rests her elbow on the table, casting an easy smile back towards Morgan. "Any excuse you can get, right," she says with a wistful smile. "That's always what I liked. The wind in my hair, nothing to stop me from seeing what's over the next horizon... it's part of what's exciting about being here in a new place, with new people."

Giving Sephilia a last squeeze, she smiles thoughtfully for a moment. Something glints behind her eyes; she's had a couple of drinks but she's still there, and that much is clear. Her gaze catches Morgan's.

"Sephy, stay with Ida for me, okay?" she urges the young girl, giving her a brief hug, then pushing her chair back and collecting her lute. Then she discreetly shoots Ida a look.

Back to Morgan, she nods, her smile lingering as she steps away from the table, collecting her lute and sword. "I'm pretty alright with surprises. C'mon, I'll show you a couple of things. It'll be great," she invites, beginning to turn away en route to the stairs.

She throws a look over her shoulder. That smile's still there. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy is grateful for the help, even as she's really aware of how embarrassing this all is. "That's good stuff," she lies, because it seems like the right thing to do to save face. "Oh no," she says to Gwen, eyes widening. "I could get hung over that fast?"

Then the cool fox guy gives her a cute handkerchief! She beams, still coughing a bit. "Thank you," she says, a little shyly.

Then Talise asks her to stay with Ida, and Sephy nods. "Okay," she says, then pauses as she returns Tal's hug. "Can I finish the drink?" she asks, still apparently set on proving her adultiness. She doesn't look at Rudy. 

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Morgan catches that look from the sailor woman and smirks just slightly. Slowly he inches his chair back and finishes off the last of the drink. "Nice meetin' ya Sephilia, and your little friend." he adds towards the Lord in her arms. "I'll see ya maybe in the morning."

With that he'll stand, and reach up to tip his hat towards Ida and her friend there with his metalic arm. "Ma'am." His voice a pleasent drawl before he turns and meets Talise's smile as he starts to amble towards that same set of stairs.

...this was not how he planned on spending his first night in town. However, he is entirely not complaining.

Not at all. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

'I'm sorry for being forward, but--is that your hand?'

Gwen freezes in her tracks. "-Ah." Well, damn.

Turning her head around with one of the most pleasant smiles she can plaster onto her face, Gwen presses the offending hand to her side, using her body to block any view of it from anyone at the table. "Could I, uh, take a raincheck on that question?" Gwen says carefully, readjusting her glove. "This is kiiind of a sensitive matter." Time to.... play it off. It's what she's done since discovering just how scary she could look.

It works. That, and 'getting away quickly'.

Once the glove is adjusted, Gwen places a finger of that mysterious(?) hand to her lips in a playful 'shush' gesture towards Ida. "A girl needs her secrets." Thus, abandoning poor Ida, Rudy, and Sephilia (who may now be afraid of getting a hangover), Gwen presses some money onto the bar for her tab, and rather quickly walks out with a wave.

Just act like nothing happened, and maybe, you'll get away with it.

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