Closed (Flashback) [Rearing Stallion] Gimme Some Sugar!! (Tourmal)

[Orion Michaels]

Orion, Day of Winter 20, 508 AV Things were different now. Orion was different. Everything had to change. The pained man was empty now, trying to pick things back up and move on with his life, but he'd found it nearly impossible. Lyla had passed away two short seasons ago, and this was really his first night out in public since then. His savings had dwindled considerably, which was one of the reasons he had to come out in the first place. He needed to find employment again. That, however, was not his reason for venturing forth tonight. He was going to heal his broken heart with booze, and if he were lucky, he'd feel a woman's touch for the first time in too long. Lyla would be forgotten in a night, no, a lifetime of drunken debauchary. It began now. The real issue was simple, though. Lyla had basically fallen into Orion's lap. His ability to talk to women other than her hadn't progressed much beyond the babbling and incomprehensible sounds of a baby last time he'd tried. While Orion now held the confidence of a man with nothing to lose, he didn't know how to approach them, and oh boy, was that learning curve going to be steep. Sitting at the bar in the Rearing Stallion, Orion nursed a mug of ale, watching and trying to wait patiently. There was no need to rush, he knew that much. But knowing and actually doing are two very different things. Anyone watching Orion over the evening would indeed be a witness to a glorious medley of failure. Failure #1 Drink Count: 1 She was plain enough, perfect for getting back on the ol' horse. I'll compliment her on her good looks, offer to buy her a drink. Then charm her with tales of my childhood, my witty banter, and flirtatious quips. She'll melt like chocolate in the sun, fall into my arms, and more importantly fall into my bed. All in all the perfect plan, at least in his head. Orion, however, wasn't actually capable of any of these things. As the woman approached, Orion downed his mug of ale he'd been trying so hard to drink slowly, and stood, walking awkwardly over to her. Brushing her chestnut hair from her face, she smiled and looked up at the blue eyed man. "Can I help you?" she had inquired, not at all unaware of what his intentions were. Orion flashed her a big smile and took a deep breath before speaking. Stick to the plan. Stick to the plan. Stick to the plan. "Hey baby, wanna petch?" The women quite literally wiped the grin off the fool's face as her hand met his cheek with surprising quickness. The normally sweet sound of a slap was nothing more than a badge of failure, as chuckles from the other patrons were the insult to injury. It was time to recover and go again. Failure #4 Drink Count: 5 Slap Count: 3 Okay. So this hasn't gone so well, but that's okay. Ale in the eyes, burns. Lesson learned. Next target. Orion had moved away from the bar, to a table at the side of the room. No sense in his skills being observed. If this was going to be a regular thing for him, it would be best he shouldn't share his secrets. After all, he was sure to master this eventually, right? Several mugs in now, Orion's decision to stick with plain looking women had flown out the door. "For crying out loud, I deserve the best! I had the best, so I might as well find the new best, right?!" The woman Orion was yelling at, nodded politely, her hazel eyes wide with a mix of surprise and fear, unsure of why this man was yelling at her. "But, if I'm going to have perfection a second time, I want to be perfectly ready for...hehehe...you know? Everyone needs practice" He gave the woman a once over. A pretty little thing, but the nose was a little big. He shrugged and made his move. "You'll do." Failure # 15 Drink Count: 8 Slap Count: 10 "Hey good looking, how about y-" "You already tried me." "Have a good evening." Failure #24 Drink Count: 15 Slap Count: 17 "I can't believe she's gone!" Orion exclaimed through his sobs. Back at the bar, Orion was being comforted by the most beautiful woman who had entered the bar that evening. Long blonde locks, full red lips, curves in all the right places. Of course, at this point, Orion would have hopped on anything that spoke to him, assuming he could still hop. A worried expression was worn by the beauty as she had her arm reassuringly around the wailing man. "Sh-sh-sh-she was perfect! Why is she gone!? Why!" He pounded the table to emphasize his last word. "There there big guy, it's gonna be okay." She rubbed his back, smiling sadly. "Time will help you move on. Just don't rush it, okay?" Her sweet voice rang in Orion's ears, as he lifted his head off bar, truly looking at the gorgeous woman before him. "..Mmmmm" So kind. So amazing. So perfect. I've found her already. Straightening up entirely and turning to face her, he managed a half smile and said the feelings weighing heavy on his heart. "I love you." He said, leaning in to try and lock lips with the woman he was surely meant to be with, but was surprised just how quickly his support disappeared. The last thing he saw was her back as he slipped from his chair and crashed to the ground. ------ Back up on his chair, Orion was rhythmically hitting his forehead against the bar, contemplating disappearing for another two seasons. Every woman in Syliras would hear about him now. Everything was lost. "At least I got them to touch me," he chuckled, referring to his extremely red cheeks. His left one was just a swollen, ruby colored mess. His right, however, had one distinct and full hand print. The tender skin was also streaked with tears, his eyes bloodshot and puffy. The world was spinning, and sure it would never stop, he closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter, 20, 508 AV Tourmal had just finished another day riding Aurus, and was enjoying the relaxing effects of Rearing Stallion's signature Sylirian ale, to help him forget the aches he had brought upon himself with riding his Strider for hours. Tourmal was tired of not knowing what to do with himself since he quit working at the jeweler a year and a few seasons ago. He knew he would eventually run out of his savings and would need a new job in a few seasons. As he polished off his first pint he gave the room a once over to see if there were any potential prospects that made their way in as he was recounting the days events. As Tourmal surveyed the scene a man around his age walked in with a determined look on his face. He had never seen this man in the Stallion before and looked to be a bit of competition. Hmm... He thought to himself, might need to be a bit more hasty than I planned. The man looked a bit on the lean side soft and of a lighter complexion than his own. Tourmal then set down the mug and nodded at the bar tender as he slid a few coppers towards him. Tourmal went back at his drink and drifted off in the revelry of the atmosphere soaking it all in. “Smack” Tourmal was jerked out of his daze by the sudden sound. It was unmistakable, one he had only been too familiar with. It was the sound of rejection. Tourmal looked over to see who the poor sap who brought the stinging reply unto himself. To his amazement it was the slender man he had seen before. No longer with a look of determination in his eyes, rather one of bitter defeat looking downward ashamedly as onlookers chuckled. Tourmal could not help but to release a few himself reflecting back on his own failures. Maybe he would not prove such a formidable opponent throughout the night after all. As the night went on the man had picked himself up and washed himself off too many times for Tourmal to count. Although the spectacle had given him an abundance of amusement, it had also driven off any chances that Tourmal had at leaving the tavern with company. The ever determined man had accosted nearly every woman with the slightest of redeemable traits about them. The man had steadily crossed the line from being a joke, to a nuisance, and on to an embarrassment to men everywhere. Likewise Tourmal's feelings towards him moved from amusement, to annoyance, eventually to pity. This guy at first, seemed to have something to prove, but after Tourmal had watched him down at least 10 pints. It occurred to him that he wasn't there to prove anything to anyone, rather to forget something painful. Tourmal had seen this all to often. Men who's women leave them coming out to drink their problems away, deceiving themselves that they can find a suitable mate to replace their previous one with one night at a tavern. It was a sad state to be in that was for sure and this man had taken the cake on most failures in a single night. Tourmal looked down the bar at the man now banging his head against the it as many others laughed at the mans misfortune. Well misfortune was not the term to use here rather a determination to do the impossible while continually increasing his handicap nearly chugging the ever flowing ale that was placed in front of him. Tourmal finished his sixth mug, stood up, stretched his back a little, because he was hunched over the bar for a few bells. And made his way over to the melancholy mess that sat at the other end. As he neared he could not tell if it was the amount of drinks the man drank, or the ones thrown in his face, that produced the stagnant odor on him. By the time Tourmal sat down next to him he had realized he would need another drink to help him overcome the stench of the mans failures. As he pulled his seat up to the bar he put his right hand on the mans shoulder half to get his attention the other to steady himself as he repositioned his stool, and said “So whats her name?”

[Orion Michaels]

oocLittle short, sorry. Hopefully we can get good interaction going on.

Orion, Day of Winter 20, 508 AV Orion couldn't focus on the man who joined him at the bar, but he just knew one thing. He was talking too loud. And asking too many questions. My head!!! Oh man. I'm gonna feel this in the morning.. Eyes squinted, the young man turned his head to the side to try and see just who was talking to him. If asked to describe him currently, Orion would have told you he was big and blurry, with brilliantly blurry eyes all accented by flowing blurry hair. The blue eyed man let out a moan turning his attention back to the bar. At least the wood was clear enough. Rather hard, though, he'd noted. "W..what are you talking about?" he managed, each word reminding him of the pain bestowed upon his cheeks. Bells spent trying to find a woman to bed and it's a man talking to me. Of all the luck.. He didn't know this man, so why was he talking to him? Orion didn't want pity, and his pride had been slapped too hard, buried underneath a pile of mugs. That meant laughing about the evening wasn't currently an option, either. "I know I had a poor go of things," he managed, gritting his teeth, "but I'm not interested in laying with you. You'll have to move along." He let out a quiet chuckled, but that was almost a mistake. His stomach churned with his movement, the young man nearly retching from the sensation. With another moan, Orion covered his head and face with his arms as best he could. This evening was a mistake. Thankfully, considering the amount of ale he had consumed, it was unlikely that he remember it.

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter 20, 508 AV Once settled in his seat Tourmal motioned to the bar keep to bring another drink for himself. When when the man brought the drink “Bring me a loaf of bread too” the Drykas requested. Though the bread was primarily for the man sitting next to him he was not about to share that with the bar hand or his new neighbor. While he was waiting for the bread to arrive the blue eyed man noted his level of intoxication with a confused reaction to Tourmals previous question. Tourmal has seen this before first hand, and knew if the man he thought to be a contender at the beginning of the night continued in his pursuits he would be thrown from the bar and possibly be charged for harassment. When the nearly incapacitated drunk opened his mouth next, Tourmal was amused to hear what came out. Despite his condition he still had some wit to him. He had underestimated the man. “Considering how bad ya are with women, figured ye preferred yer own kind.” Tourmal nudged the man. Realizing that the man could barely hold himself up and was falling over Tourmal grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pulled him back up on his bar stool. “I'm not interested in you boy, not interested in any boys, or men fer that matter.” One of the barmaids, Carmen had arrived with the bread. Tourmal reached into his coin purse and handed her six cm for the drink and the loaf. Before she left Tourmal spoke just loud enough for her to hear “When we finish this one bring another please. And two waters for now while you are at it, thanks” “It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, a man's entitled to his secrets.” the Dyrkas said. “I'm not leaving though either. You should eat some bread, It will help soak up some of the alcohol still in your stomach.” passing the loaf over to the man. “You need to remember tonight so you don't make the same mistakes next time you try your hand at women. Now eat some bread.” he directed. To be honest Tourmal was not as concerned about the man as he was himself and his next prospect. The man needed a bit of coaching, so that at the end of the night he would take home one girl rather than, propel every one of them out of the tavern before Tourmal could seal the deal. "You know If you want to land a lass you should not tell someone you first meet I love you.” oocOrion has blue hair now? Tourmal stunned to suddenly see the change of the mans hair going from brown to blue attributed it to magic. “That's quite the parlor trick, had you used it before I'm sure you would have had a partner to bed ages ago.”

[Orion Michaels]

Orion, Day of Winter 20, 508 AV Orion moved one of his arms to snatch the bread before retreating into the faux-cave he was trying to create to shield his eyes from the light. "I feel like men don't like sweet nothings whispered in their ears, so I doubt I'd have much more luck with them." The young man took a small bite of the bread, chewing the bland meal slowly. His world was still spinning, this being more than Orion had ever drank in his life. "This tastes like shyke, by the way," he said as he swallowed the baked good. His statement didn't prevent him from taking another bite, however. He squinted his eyes, peeking up at the Drykas through his arms. What does this guy want? Can't he just let me wallow? It was rather annoying. Orion didn't normally mind people talking to him, but now was an exception. At least the guy was being kind enough, he supposed. "I seriously don't know what you're talking about," he muttered. "I didn't catch her name, she left." Orion was clearly missing the meaning behind his conversational partner's question. "You know, you'd be surprised." He gave a wry grin, letting out a small sigh. "It's worked for me in the past. Maybe not the first time, but give it an awkward meeting, a beatdown, and a couple days, you are money." Closing his eyes, he felt all the emotion returning. That, coupled with the failure of the evening made him want to go hide, but if he moved too fast, he could only guess what would happen. "If you're gonna keep talking to me, then I'll at least introduce myself. I'm Orion Michaels." Another bite of bread and another heavy breath later, the blue eyed man sat back up, taking the water from the barmaid as she arrived. "So, what's in this for you? You were among those getting entertainment from my adventure. Why help me out here?" He downed the glass of water setting it loudly on the bar. For his complete inability to read what a woman was thinking, he was fairly aware of his surroundings, at least for the first couple mugs. So the man clearly had a motive of his own to be offering some bread and a water. Until he felt like he was safe to walk, he may as well figure it out, right?

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter, 20, 508 AV The man's animal like ferocity retrieving the bread surprised Tourmal as he drew back into his hiding place. He could only assume it was due to the pain he was going through. “True enough I suppose, though I don't know any men who enjoy the company of other men in that manner, so I haven't the slightest.” Tourmal was glad to see the man eating though. “The bread needn't taste good to do the job it's meant to.” He retorted “If ya don't like it, try an' deal with what feels like a hammer to yer head when you wake up tomorrow.” Tourmal knew that the man was tired and hurting from the mass of ale he had forced down his gullet earlier. He felt a little guilty for the pointed reply but maybe that was what it would take to get through to the drunk next to him. “Don't worry about her name” he said chuckling and shaking his head and took another drink of his ale in attempts to get over the mans stench. “Is that right? Then I guess I could make myself useful and give you a beating and that blonde will be in your arms in not time right?” he said raising his fist. “Well what do you say?” After his last remark he looked to his new acquaintance and saw his head down and a look of sorrow on his face. “I'm sorry if I said something I shouldn't 'ave.” “Orion huh, I'm Tourmal. Nice to meet you mister Michaels.” “What's in it fer me you ask?” Tourmal contemplated on weather to reveal his reasons for aiding Orion in his conquest and decided it was time. “I don't suppose you think you are the only man out tonight looking for a companion to keep him warm this cold night.” He looked at Orion and gave him a grin. “Though I was entertained at first, I hoped you would give up before you ran away every single lady in Syliras.” Tourmal took a hunk of bread and chewed on it for a few ticks then said “I guess I could have let you continue, and possibly end up with a few days in the mines. The knights take harassment seriously you know?” “That and I happen to know a few men here other than myself who come here to find their own companions. Judging by the looks on their faces they aren't too happy about you killing their chances. Take a look around” Tourmal took a few ticks to look around with Orion. “You don't want another beatdown do you?” his silence was a definite indicator that he did not. “So you willing to accept my help Orion?” Tourmal held up his mug of water to Orion in wait for a response from the blue eyed man.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion, Day of Winter 20, 508 AV Orion let out a quiet chuckle at the man's words. "Not your cup of tea, huh? I bet you're a real lady killer then, I bet," he said, swallowing another bite of bread. "It would be better if it tasted well," he whined softly. His head may as well be placed on an anvil at this point. The throbbing and blurred vision left him unable to imagine anything worse. "I actually didn't get any of their names," he stated, smiling wryly as he pulled the water in for a drink. That many women, some of them even attractive, but none of them bit on anything Orion said. Man, my face is sore. "Maybe a blow or two to the head will help me move on from this, though." He wanted nothing more than to do that, and he may as well have been punched. "Good to meet you, Tourmal. Wish it were under better circumstances." Orion looked up at Tourmal again, a slight laugh escaping. "I think it'd be more impressive if I did. One lonely night for a view of history in the making? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me." The blue eyed man let out a sigh. "Sure, sure. The mines sound horrible, and a beatdown is only useful if I'm already a foot in the door. So yeah. What do you have in mind?" There were certainly some who were irritated with Orion's failures, more than were amused it would seem. If Orion weren't many mugs in chances are he'd say a word or two to those men who disliked his presence there, but he still felt like he'd fall before he stood if he tried to move. "So what are you going to do? Train me?"

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter, 20, 508 AV OOCIf you need me to re-write the lengthy explanation of what Orion needed to do in order to win the girl, I can shorten it and make it much more vague. I know my character has no seduction currently. So I'm not adverse to having to re write it for skills sake. Tourmal grinned at the man's first remark and dismissed the second complaint about the bread. He knew that if he offended the man he would dismiss any of what he was about to say. As he sat there he knew that he would normally not be so talkative. The drykas attributed it to the ale as it did with women why would he not talk more to anyone. “Tha'd be amazing, most of your attempts lasted no longer than a few ticks. Save the last one of course.” The large man chuckled at his companions witty comment, insisting he needed a fist in the face. “Aye” he said in response to the blue eyed man's greetings raising his mug and took a long drink of water. “In some minds yes. Not all.” He knew this as true In his first attempts out he had received a few beatings of his own. Mainly due to his lack of situational awareness, not noticing that a few of the women he had tried to hit on were in fact already in the company of other men, or were committed to someone else in some sort of relationship or another. What did Tourmal have in mind indeed. He had not really thought this completely through yet himself. Tourmal raised his hand at the tender and ordered a few more loaves of bread asking for them to be staggered as they were finished. He then asked for some more water. “I suppose if training is what you want to call it.” he said. As he waited for the next loaf to arrive he recalled Orion's last attempt at wooing a woman. “You know you nearly had the blonde lass hooked. Even though I couldn't hear everything, I saw the look in her eyes deep with concern. Had you played your cards much more carefully and not dropped the L word you may have had an attractive bed warmer to go home with.” Tourmal said looking at his water as Carmen came up again and passed him another loaf. He passed her a Silver Miza and asked her to tell him when it's run out. “All you really needed to do at that point was to turn the focus to her slowly. Maybe saying something about how nice she was. Possibly ask her if she ever loved someone. While listening to her story if she had one you would need to take your mind off of the sorrow that made you cry, and focus on her and only her. What you would do to her when you took her home, if that doesn't cheer you up then maybe you should have a go at men.” Still looking at his water at this point he continued “ After that give her a good look and tell her how beautiful she was highlighting one of her attributes above the rest. You want it to be something she will remember. So highlighting her best asset will not do, it would need to be something about her that is plain at best, something she had never heard before. It can not be directly related to sex. No lips, bosom or ass comments. Save the lips till right before you seal the deal and the rest can wait till you are in bed.” He laughed to himself remembering some of his own blunders where he misplaced those comments ending with his face stinging as bad as Orions looked it did. Before Tourmal continued he took a bite of bread and chased it with water. “ Eyes are almost always a good choice. You have to say it looking into them searching her soul. Then after all that mention either how cold it will be tonight, or how lonely you have been. And wait for a few seconds to see if she replies with her wanting to join you. If not the suggest it saying, Would you be kind enough to ease the pain of a lonely soul? You might find it sappy but women love to comfort the pain of the stricken.” As he finished he thought to himself how this had worked for him a few too many times to count. It was easy making this work for any situation. He himself was alone in a city he didn't know and through a very long process of elimination of what worked and what didn't he had come up with this masterpiece. It worked nearly every time he was in a pinch. He only brought it out when nothing else was working not wanting the women of Syliras to realize that he had been using the same tale on all of them. That and he was not always the one hunting rather sometimes being the unsuspecting prey. This Tourmal particularly enjoyed not having to chase but rather being chased. Only he never ran. “You had half of the work done already. You just need a little work on your endgame is all. So what do you think? You willing to listen now?” the drykas said turning to look at his companion. Tourmal thought that he had done a good job exhibiting his skill however if the man was still too drunk to comprehend what he said, his story would have been for naught. Tourmal hoped he would be willing to listen, because he really did not want to go home alone due to Orion's failures more than this one time.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion, Day of Winter 20, 508 AV Orion watched, slightly annoyed, as Tourmal began to talk. And talk. And talk. And then continue to talk some more. His headache was making him miserable, and now the blond man had decided it was time to go off on some tirade about how wonderful he was at wooing women. At least that's what Orion was gathering. He must have thought himself hot stuff, the young man figured. And apparently with all the answers. Everyone always had all the answers, he had found. So they thought, at least. His father had his life planned for him. Everyone told him how to deal with his grief. Now this man was trying to tell him how to pick up women. He wanted to tell him just what he thought of that. His hazy thoughts were building ideas, most of them violent. His wit had left him, and if he were honest, the food and ale he had in his belly wished to do the same. "I'm sure you're a regular charmer," he said quietly, giving a quiet hiccup after he spoke. This isn't good.. Cold blue eyes fixed on Tourmal as he spoke. "I..understand you're annoyed or whatever, but I didn't ask for your advice." The former doctor began to stand, his legs barely holding up. "I've got some advice for you," he said, as he got to his feet. Turning away to walk, he never really had his chance to return his advice, his world turning upside down, and his stomach announcing its presence to all those around. Orion grabbed his stomach as a rank belch escaped his mouth. Wide eyed, he knew he'd lost whatever game he was playing. His lip quivered, his belly rumbled, and all was over. His eyes watered as a burning feeling overcame his throat, a putrid liquid spewing forth from his lips. Orion fell to his knees, unable to stand, the malodorous concoction of bread, ale, and who knows what only serving to create an encore performance. The young man had emptied the contents of his insides onto the floor of the Rearing Stallion, and the barkeep was none too happy, yelling instantly for him to get out. Orion would have complied, but his vision was basically a constant swirl, unable to focus on anything. It was probably good he didn't pull any of the women home if this was going to be what happened. He managed an intelligible sound, his attempt to move unsuccessful. What a mess. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his vision would finally cloud and then go to black, the young doctor passing out on the floor of the Rearing Stallion.

[Accolade]

Orion Michaels

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Rhetoric	+ 3 XP
Seduction	+ 2 XP
Interrogation	+ 1 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Failure to seduce a woman..any woman
•	The charming bread-man: How Orion remembers Tourmal
•	A night of drunken debauchery (not a good idea)

Tourmal Firemane

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Rhetoric	+ 3 XP
Interrogation	+ 2 XP
Teaching	+ 1 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	An unsuspecting entertainer
•	A night on the prowl: Looking for that special bed warmer
•	Helping a poor smelly sap: Orion Michaels

Notes :

Great thread you two! Very entertaining! Keep them coming!

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.