Open Bad Booze, Good Company

[Nylah Shepherd]

8 Summer 519 AV

Pig's Foot Tavern - Late Afternoon

Nylah didn't drink much. She was more fond of her tobacco, having gotten used to the type of sweet burn it gave her throat. The calm feeling that followed was like an old friend she felt lost without. Ale, on the other hand, tasted like bitter shyke. Sure, after the first pint it didn't normally taste that bad, but she had to get passed the first pint in the first place. Of course, it entertaining for her mind to get hazy and see what nonsense she got herself into.

Tonight was one of the nights she decided the ale was worth it. Sometimes, life was like that. No matter how terrible the drink was, you just needed to wash the day away. That's how she found herself at the Pig's Foot Tavern. Whenever she did decide to drink, this is where Nylah would go. You weren't entirely safe, especially after dusk, but then again in this town there was no place you could be where you weren't in some sort of danger. When she first moved out on her own nearly a decade ago, she learned quickly to keep a dagger on her at all times. You never knew what could happen to you, inside or outside, walking or sitting.

She had worked earlier today. Working at the brothel, she had varying hours. Basically, whenever she was needed she would work, dressed in thick makeup and wearing minimal clothing to appeal to clients. Though she was dressed in her usual outfit now, more comfortable but a lot dirtier. She still had smears of stubborn makeup that didn't easily wash out. She dreaded someone coming up to her thinking she was on duty because of it, but at the same time if she could make a little coin outside the brothel, which she technically wouldn't owe to since this would be on her off time....

By this time, Nylah had already finished a pint and was halfway through her second. Its bitter taste had finally gone away, but she still had a ways to go before she would actually get drunk. It was too watered down for it to do any real good with just a mug. Luckily they were fairly cheap, and Nylah could afford a couple. Maybe, if she was lucky, some vagik would come over and buy her some drinks to speed things along. But for now, she was on her own.

Ledger Update: 2x Ale, Mug - 8 cm

[Kreig Messer]

Kreig let out a sigh of releif as he sat his rear down on the stool in front of the bar, his bones aching as he got off his own job, when he wasn’t fighting or doing something to please the crowds Tall Johnny tended to hve tasks for his employees to do, for Kreig today it took in the form of money collection…again. It always ate at Kreig’s conscience when he had to do things like that now and again, but Sunberth being what it was meant a lot of the peope tended to back themselves in such corners necessating someone like Tall Johnny to send out bruisers like Kreig to teach said vagiks a lesson… which in Tal Johnny’s case depended on the flip o fa coin. Gods did that man’s devotion to Ovek influence a lot of things in his life. Kreig could only wonder what Tall Johnny would do if he didn’t owe fealty to that particular deity “Back again, Kreig?” Spoke Merv… not amiably but not in a ‘oh its you’ fashion. Kreig’s known the old goat since his own mum worked for him and Kreig had to admit he often saw the man in a fatherly light. “Where else would I be” came the reply “Drunken Fish may be closer to Johnny’s but least risk less of a chance of being gutted…. An’ the drink is better” He grinned at the last part, placing some miz onto the table which the bartender dutifully scooped, wandered off eturn with a pint of ale in a mug for the Brawler. “See ya didn’ say nothin’ about the food” Came aging bartender’s observation and Kreig simply smiled again before lifting the mug and drinking his fill. Merv snorted and wandered off to serve another customer or check on food preparations, leaving Kreig to his thoughts. With a sigh of relief Kreig lowered his mug and wiped at his mouth, in truth Kreig did favor the drinks in the Pig’s Foot but there was no way in petchin’ Hai was going to tell Merv that the Drunken Fish had better food, bastards they may be but if you ever wanted something considered more than edible… He turned around on the stool, eyes scanning the tavern as he saw the usual sorts starting to pour in their various shapes and sizes, some he knew by fist….and he meant it that way because he exchanged fists with them enough that some parts of his face had phantom pains. Then his eyes t fell upon a woman quite nearby at the counter who was probably not that much younger than he in casual clothing that seemed to need a wash, kind of like his own but that’s why he bought in bulk….especially since his own line of work saw him losing shirts often. She had these odd smudges on her face, Kreig didn’t thjink they were bruisings, because Kreig was a master at those….his chest bruised him even now… in fact. Still it was noticeable enough something just possessed him to ask “Er, ey’ there miss, ya got these smudges on yer face….ya lose a fight with a jester or somethin’?”

[Nylah Shepherd]

8 Summer 519 AV

Pig's Foot Tavern - Late Afternoon

Nylah had seen the man come in; with nothing much else to do, she watched the other customers walk in, out and around the tavern. She didn't pay him much thought though, as he sat down and had playful banter with the bartender. She wasn't as social with Merv, since she didn't come by all too often.

She was taking another swig from the mug when the man spoke to her. Though she only saw him out of the corner of her eye, she knew he was talking to her specifically because she was the only one who had old smudges on her face strange enough to ask about. She lowered the mug, rubbing the side of her mouth where some ale was dripping, and turned to the man with a smirk.

"Oh, hun, I wish my life was that exciting." She had a habit of calling even complete strangers "hun", "sweetie" or the like. She did it so often at her work, it was sort of second nature to the point that she didn't notice when she did it outside of work. "But no, it's stubborn makeup from work. Sometimes I pack it on too thick and it takes a couple washes to get out. I was just too lazy to try this time."

She examined the man. She didn't recognize him, which meant he didn't come by the brothel while she was working. At least, not enough. Some people only came once or twice a season, so Nylah never got to remember their faces.

"No need to call me miss, though. Way too formal for my liking. Name's Nylah." She turned to him, holding her hand out to shake. "Want to join me? Drinking alone is such a bore."

[Kreig Messer]

“Huh….alright” Kreig accepted the handshake as he sat down, mug of ale in the other hand “Name’s Kreig Messer, jus’ call me Kreig” He returned the gesture before raising his mug for a quick sip. If he were honest it had been a while since he sat with anyone to just have some drinks, so he’d accept the offer without much thought. He examined the woman with a glance, showing that behind the gunk and dirty clothes that the woman was actually pretty looking, which made some instinct in him worry more for her. Part of him always did worry for people, and folks who had more in certain aspects doubly so since they made larger targets for exploitation…. Of course nothing said such people weren’t exploiters themselves. “So what kinda job needs ya packin’ that much gunk?” He asked, because it had him curious and while the answer would be quite obvious to many, so many, in fact almost all……. Kreig was lacking in certain social aspects that tended to remind people why Kreig never surrounded himself with certain luxuries and why it was sometimes thought he was not quite right in the head. He took another sip of his ale, mind trying to rack what sort of job other than entertainer of osme sorts that would require it. He gave up quickly though, since he’d already asked he may as well get his answer soon enough, better to be practical rather than waste energy. “Can’t reckon it’s a comfortable one if ya had to cover yer face in that” Another sip, then he waved down Merv, raising two fingers and pointing them down to basically ask for two more pints of ale; for him or for her it didn’t right matter, just that an extra mug was about to be drunk when needed.