Closed [The Rearing Stallion] A Busy Bustle With Beer (Bakar)

[Millie]

21st Bell, 19th Fall, 515 AV, The Rearing Stallion

It was a busy night that night, and it had only just started. The Harvest Festival was in its finishing stages, but competitions still raged, and the drinks still ran as liquid as golden honey in the Rearing Stallion. Millie was still learning the ropes, and unfortunately she hadn't quite learnt by the time the Harvest Festival had started a few days ago, so she was rushed off her feet, making mistakes left, right and centre.

Fortunately, the crowd was already quite tipsy, to say the least, and forgave her for her misfortune. Which was lucky really, as she was feeling quite morose. She hadn't been able to place her finger directly on the problem, but it was something to do with crowds of people enjoying themselves, without her...

Either way, she had a job to do. The room was hot, and the woman's hair was tied back in a messy bun on the top of her head. Dressed in dark clothes, and covered in an apron, the woman was even more hot that the others in the room, so she felt rather flustered, as well as lonely, even in this crowd. Thankfully, the owner of the tavern, Kevith, had got her collecting empty glasses and pitchers from tables, and cleaning instead of any actual bar-tending yet.

Of course, that meant she had to negotiate her way through the throng. She'd been mostly ignored so far, and that had given her a chance to people-watch, something the woman loved to do. There were a few large groups of friends, all conversing merrily... "Ole Warick gave me a!..."
"... Ohh you old beggar!..."
"Aah Sall, gimme some ol' that!"...

As well, there were the regulars at the bar, nursing their ale and talking to the other workers in the Rearing Stallion. The whole pub gave off a feeling of a rowdy but friendly banter and talk, voices raised to be heard above the din.

Yes, it was busy that evening. Time wore on, and 22nd bell of the day, or rather evening chimed outside of her hearing. Millie was looking even more dishevelled, but she'd started to finally settle into her new job, the monotonous but familiar beat of feet against the cobbles and the clatter and clang of mugs against the sinks and the stickiness of beer on her hands.

She was kept busy by Kevith, but fortunately she was due to be finishing in just a couple of chimes, so she stepped out the back to hang up her apron and get a breath of fresh air.

Feeling a little fresher, Millie stepped out a small side door into the main body of the inn, immediately plunged back into the hustle-bustle of the inn. Ordinarily, the girl would head home, feeling exhausted. But she wanted to combat her loneliness, and tonight... tonight seemed the night to do it.

Unfortunately, as soon as she was out of her apron, the patrons paid her no heed. "Excuse me mister, you're... treading on my heel." The man in question guffawed with his friends, spilling ale on his gruff beard, and Millie wrenched her heel away. "Never mind then", she said, her voice soured, although it was to be expected really.

Settling down in the corner with a small mug of ale that Kevith had poured for her, she scratched her head and sighed as the tiredness swept over her. But with a small vow under her voice, she determined that she would be sociable tonight. So, with that in mind, she scanned the crowd, hoping for a friendly face to either join her or let her join them.

[Bakar]

The Harvest Festival was a big thing here, Bakar had learned last year. Everyone would be celebrating, even the Knights. Knowing this, she decided it would be a perfect time for some people watching. Standing up from her chair, she headed for the door, grabbing her cloak from the bed on the way. She paused for a moment, debating taking a look in her mirror, but decided against it. She didn't want to see herself at this moment.

The corridors were fairly empty, as most people were off enjoying something at this hour, and only a few, tipsy residents who were making their way back home occupied the halls. She ignored them, as they ignored her. She did, however, wonder how it would feel to be drunk. She hadn't had the chance to do so in her human years, and now in her dead years, she wasn't able. She shook her head. "No use worrying about that now." She spoke to herself quietly.

She arrived at The Rearing Stallion. Busier than usual this night, undoubtedly due to the festival. She went to make her way into the doors just as two men stumbling over each other laughed their way out. She stepped out of their way, and entered the tavern.

People were everywhere. Most already drunk, as it was getting quite late, some just starting. She started to make her way to the usual corner seat, but just as she was pulling up, a women swooped in and sat down. Stunned for a moment, her mind processing what to do now, she just stood there staring at the girl. She was looking around, until her eyes came upon Bakar, mid step to the table.

Not wanting to seem rude, she finished her step and sat down across from the girl. Back to the crowd, which was less than optimal for people watching. She stared at the table and whispered to the wooden surface. "Hello.. sorry to bother you.. I was just looking for somewhere to sit, away from the crowd.. My name is Bakar.." Unfortunately, this was one of the people who weren't that drunk.

[Millie]

It wasn't long after she'd sat down that a girl came into the inn, and by some bizarre chance, bee-lined her way to the very table that Millie was sitting at. The woman found herself staring, her brain not quite realising that there was someone in front of her, someone who was no pulling up a chair and mumbling something about 'bothering' and 'crowds' and 'Bakar'.

With a start, Millie snapped out of it, and the noise of the crowd spilled over her again, like surfacing from under the water. "Oh!" A bright smile split across her face as she offered her slightly sticky hand to this girl, who she presumed from what she'd heard, to be called Bakar. "Hello Bakar", the woman said, her voice suddenly cheerful.

A person to talk to! A person who isn't drunk, and isn't smelly, and seems friendly! Hooray! "I'm Millie," the woman started saying, before being interrupted by another drunkard. She raised her voice, and started again. "Hi, I'm Millie. Did I take your spot just now? I'm sorry, I don't normally stay on after work, I usually head home. Where do you live, are you from Syliras? It's been so busy lately hasn't it!"

Without even realising it, Millie was babbling. She wanted to make a good impression on this mysterious individual, who was keeping her head surprisingly low. She didn't entirely know what to do, so with another smile, the woman stood up, asking politely but loudly to combat the chatter, "Can I get you anything, a drink maybe? Some food?"

There was something about the girl sitting opposite her. She couldn't place her finger on it, but somehow, in some way, she felt familiar. She'd never seen her before, but... there was a nagging feeling nonetheless. And the woman wanted to know what it was, so she determined... By the end of the night, I will have a new friend, and I will know why she's familiar!

[Bakar]

Well, she seemed friendly enough at least. More so than others she's met here. Millie raised her voice after the noise of the tavern got too loud. Again. Bakar risked a glance up to the girl, who was smiling at her. Bakar nervously smiled back. Millie as bounding across topics like she does sometimes, which was comforting.

"I'm sure that seat is for whoever takes it." Bakar said jokingly, quickly moving to replying to the other questions. "You work here, do you? Are you new? I haven't seen you before. And most other servers.. generally avoid me. Which is okay, I never order anything anyways."

"I live in the keep. It's just a small apartment, but it's mine. Well, kind of. Technically it's still the city's but.. you know. Originally, no. But I've been living here for a while now, so it is my home. I was born in Sunberth, but it's been a long while since I've been back. Can't say I miss it, honestly.."

"It has been very busy lately." She said with a chuckle. "That's honestly the reason I came out. I like to.." She stopped for a moment, realizing that was she was about to say could be kinda.. creepy. "I like to, uh, watch people." She spoke the last words quietly, not really wanting to be heard.

Millie stood now, asking if she wanted some food or drink. Bakar shook her head gently, not wanting to seem overeager to reject the offer. "No.. no thank you. I'm... not hungry." She smiled back to her, trying to be as polite as she could. "What's it like working here? I've had only a single interaction with a drunk person and that was more than enough for me.. How do you do it? Was it hard starting at such a busy time?"

"And where are you from? Syliras? It's a big city, so it's understandable we've never met. There's so many faces in the city, it's hard to imagine that each and every one has a story and a life! That's why I come here.. it's a comforting hobby. At least to me.." Bakar shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't really sure how this girl would take her hobby of watching other people. Some people didn't like to be watched..

[Millie]

The woman seemed quiet, but Millie managed to catch most of her words, and as she said she wasn't hungry, Millie sat down again with a plonk. She rested her elbows on the table, and rested her chin on her hands, giving Bakar sudden undivided attention.

She asked some questions, which fortunately Millie found she could answer easily. "Yes, I work here, and I only started recently! I used to spend a lot of time in the inn, so I thought it'd be the best job for me... and I only moved out recently", she added on the end pensively. In fact, she was feeling pretty proud of herself, for her self control, and her mood recently. She hadn't once turned to drink, not for a long time now...

But with a slight, unnoticeable shake of her head, Millie dismissed that particular subject. When Bakar mentioned about watching people, Millie couldn't help but let an amused smile cross her face. "Personally, I think most people watch other people, but they just don't realise it... Social situations, everyone's watching everyone else to see what happens, I wouldn't feel bad about it if I were you."

"And as for working here... I have to watch people too, make sure people don't get in fights, see if people want another drink, or want their table clearing. It's sometimes hard work that I've found, but I think I'll enjoy it. Syliras is home, and I can't help but feel comfortable here."

After her long speech, Millie picked up her ale, and took a deep drink, feeling the rich burr of hops on her tongue. She'd stopped her direct gaze, and instead was watching the curious way the crowd seemed to ignore, or perhaps avoid Bakar. It was almost imperceptable, but Millie found that she felt a little bit of it too, almost an uneasiness.

But it was a familiar unease, one which confused her, because she had definitely never seen this girl before. "So, Bakar... What about you, what's your job?" The woman smiled and looked up at Bakar opposite. As the door opened and closed, a draught of air swept past Bakar and swirled around Millie, bringing with it a faint and as of yet unnoticed whiff of embalming fluid...

OOC :

Let me know if I'm being, or if Millie is being to presumptuous here!

[Bakar]

She smiled, not expecting reassurance on the subject. "Yeah, yeah. I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way. I'd always felt a little awkward watching everyone, but I was curious nonetheless." She smiled and relaxed with Millie.

"I hope you enjoy your work here. You're one of the few people who seem to want anything to do with me!" She laughed quietly, knowing the reason full well, but making light of it for this girl. Maybe she had felt it to, but she was doing a good job of hiding it if she was. It was polite of her.

She was looking past Bakar at this point, and Bakar followed her gaze. She was just watching over the tavern. Bakar noticed nothing different and turned back to the girl. "Hey, you're not working right now, take a break, yeah?" She joked nervously, smiling at her.

"Anyways.. Uh, my line of work.. isn't really fit for general conversation. It's, uh... up at Li Mauta." Whenever she spoke of where she worked, she noticed, she trailed the sentence on, and spoke quietly near the end. Probably hoping people wouldn't hear. It wasn't the most publicly accepted job. People didn't want to hear of dead, burning bodies while they ate or drank. But she had to tell, or else people would get more curious.

Someone walked in, and a chill swept up her back. She shivered and pulled her cloak tighter. "Bit chilly outside, no? I'm just glad it's warm in here." She smiled again, but Millie was looking at her again. Looking at her with something in her eye. A look of reminiscence and recognition. Confusion and thought. It made Bakar nervous.

"Uh, Millie, is everything okay? Wh-what is it?"

[Millie]

Taking a break seemed like a good idea, although to be honest the woman wasn't too concerned about the state of the place. As Bakar answered about where she worked, the place where they took care of the dead, and the un-placeable scent on the air, the connection clicked. Before she'd even realised what she was saying, before she'd even realised that the other woman sitting opposite might be uncomfortable, or that it might even be dangerous to her, Millie blurted out, "Are you a Nuit?!"

A wide smile split across her face, a little goofy in fact. Then, in horror she bit down on her lip, whispering a quick 'sorry!'. Explaining, the woman said, "I didn't mean to blurt that out, and... if I'm wrong, truly I'm sorry. Are... are you though?" She could hardly dare to hope she was. She might know about.. about the man who disappeared, those years ago.

Leaning forwards eagerly, she reached for Bakar's hand, taking it in her own suddenly. Even though Millie hardly knew a thing about Nuits, she felt such a connection. It was mostly in her mind. But Nuits were a race she deeply admired, even in a sense, she wanted to be one.

The woman opposite looked even more nervous than she already had, if possible. But it completely blew over Millie's head as she smiled and laughed, and patted Bakar's hand and then all of a sudden, clasping it tighter, asking so seriously, "Tell me. Do you know about a Nuit called... Well, it doesn't matter what he's called. But he had goooorgeous dark hair (she rolled her 'R's, as if savouring a delicious wine), stunning midnight eyes. Oh! And..." Here she withdrew the handkerchief from her pocket, and showed it to Bakar. "He used to have a stack of blue handkerchiefs with him!"

She smiled brightly, and let go of Bakar's nervous-looking hand, and sat back in her chair. The evening was turning out to be much more interesting than she would originally have thought!