[Kulkukan Tavern] The Perils of Boredom (Open)

[Scratch]

2 Winter, 511

The sun was setting, and Scratch was finally starting to feel more awake. She'd woken up only a couple hours ago, and this was still her first week working at the Tavern. She clacked her claws on the counter-top in boredom; it was a slow night. Not that there weren't any patrons - there were always plenty. But they hadn't gotten used to her appearance quite yet, so they were still hesitant to hail her for a drink.

Scratch could hear their whispers: Is that a Zith? It can't be, they'd never allow one in the city. But it looks just like one! No, look closer, no wings... It went on. Scratch sighed and thrust a rag into a dirty mug in an attempt to look busy. Chell, the lead bartender, was going around and chatting with various patrons. Scratch didn't know how she made it look so easy to pretend to care about the lives and business of fishermen and traders.

Scratch set the mug down. Now that the last rays of sunlight had stopped blinding her, she could finally see properly. She took another look among the patrons, trying to find someone who could catch her interest, before her boredom led her to do something...regrettable.

[Ghedan Windhowl]

Ghedan walked into the tavern and headed for the bar. For some reason no one was sitting there today, everyone was huddled in groups around the room. Ghedan didn't mind. He wasn't here to socialize. He was here to try and drown away his sorrows. He had thought that working at the sanctuary would help him forget home, forget Ysmia, through starting up a new life. It hadn't. The work was satisfying, but he still couldn't forget. He'd never thought of it before, but that was the real reason he left. It wasn't to find himself or soul search or anything like that. It was to forget. He sat down on a bar stool. Glint slunk in and curled himself beneath the stool. Ghedan wasn't sure if the bartender would approve, but he doubted he could convince Glint to wait outside. He hailed the bartender. People seemed to be avoiding her but Ghedan was too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice her appearance. He just needed a drink.

[Scratch]

Scratch looked up as the Drykas entered. At first she ignored him, thinking he would do the same, but he sat down at the bar practically in front of her. She glanced at Chell, who gave an impatient nod toward the new customer, indicating that Scratch should start doing her job already. Relieved at least to have something to do, Scratch put her claws on the counter in front of the man and said, "What can I get you?"

She noticed the small fox crawl under the chair and licked her lips. She had to forcibly reminder herself that partaking of snacks in Riverfall could get her into more trouble than she could afford, and she regretfully dragged her eyes away from the tasty-looking fox to the only slightly less tasty-looking human. When was the last time she'd eaten anything? Pushing the thought aside, she distracted herself from her hunger by becoming fascinated with the redness of his hair, while she waited for him to order something.

[Ghedan Windhowl]

"Oh, it doesn't really matter. Whatever's handy." Ghedan thought for a moment, "Make it something strong though." He grinned at the bartender. It wasn't much but he hoped it passed as friendly. He considered the woman that seemed to be putting a lot of effort into not looking directly at him. He'd heard about the Zith in stories as a child, but never seen one. This woman was lacking her wings though. Maybe a birth defect, maybe a half-blood. Either way he found it odd that she had been hired at the tavern. It didn't matter though, so long as she didn't try and take a bite out of him. He shifted in the chair and Glint offered up a sound of annoyance at the disruption. He looked briefly around the room realizing now that the huddled groups of patrons were most likely conversing about the new member of the staff. He could understand their discomfort, but at the same time it made him sick. Sure the Zith had garnered a reputation for themselves, but that gave these people no right to assume the worst of this particular person. He turned back to her and smiled again. "I'm assuming you're new around here?" he asked in an attempt to start a conversation.

[Scratch]

Scratch had no idea what kind of alcohol was the strongest; she tended to stay away from the stuff personally. She checked the price list that she had hidden behind the counter for her reference until she was more familiar with the job, and poured a mug of ale for the stranger. "That's four coppers," she said. A few seconds later, she remembered that she was supposed to be friendly to customers and gave him a half-hearted, insincere grin. She wasn't really in the mood to be friendly, since she was annoyed from being so bored, but the potential conversation from this man seemed like the only chance she was going to get to do something until her shift was over.

"I'm new to the tavern, yes," she replied in a disinterested tone, "but I've lived in Riverfall my whole life." She was examining her claws and paying very little attention to the man, but then she remembered that part of the job was supposed to be showing interest in the customers' lives. With a suppressed sigh, she leaned against the counter, resting her elbows with their longer dark-red fur on the counter-top. "So then, what brings you to the Kulk?"

[Sethos]

The tavern was a place that was never empty, in fact some days it seemed as it would burst with (mostly) good natured drunkards or people simply looking to relax and chat. Today though, obviously, was not the case and upon entrance there was a kind of tension, even when he smiled and greeted a few regulars their eyes never quite focused on his face. It was strange; though loud it was much quieter than normal or for any tavern really. And then the reason for their odd behavior caught his eye, a movement of blue, quick and surprising, the words of greeting fell from his lips and he blatantly stared. A Zith. A Zith was manning the bar. His first instinct was to tense, his body going into automatic defense and wondering why more people were not ready to fight but as his mind caught up with his bodies conditioned responses he felt a wave of sheepishness. If she meant harm, harm would have been done. It was obvious she was allowed, though not welcome. He hoped she had not noticed his folly and slowly approached the bar, there was only one other patron at it besides himself. “…but I've lived in Riverfall my whole life.” The end of the conversation caught his ears and he felt himself swallow thickly, now he truly felt a tad moronic. All of Eyris’s teachings suddenly seemed to flee from him and he’d reacted without know something, without gaining the truth first. Even if she had not seen him he felt the sudden need to apologize. Settling himself one seat away from the only other person at the, he once more felt the quick twinge of guilt. No one was bothering to keep their opinions hidden, that much was obvious, it was also obvious you could hear precisely what most of the conversations entailed. Still he could not bring himself to do anything to catch her attention, simply patiently waiting for her to finish her conversation. Going to apologise? Shut up. And here I was being nice. But look at you ever the chivalrous, apologizing for something not entirely you fault. His tone was mocking, as per usual but there was no threat behind it, just a wariness and pointed annoyance, Cashlin did not hold his liquor well and would not dare try to assert control if Sethos was even remotely tipsy. Smiling slightly he busied himself on getting out his coppers, ignoring the irritation burning through his brother. I hope she claws you.

[Scratch]

Scratch carefully avoided looking directly at the newcomer. She didn't want any trouble with an Akalak - not today anyway - though it was hard to avoid noticing his reaction. She repressed a sigh. It was nothing she hadn't dealt with her entire life; she was the daughter of a Zith and living in Riverfall. As such, she tended to be either misunderstood, or understood all too well...

She had to smirk when the Akalak mustered his courage and approached the bar. It was rare to meet an Akalak who did not greet her with either hatred, disgust, or pity. Already bored with the other man, she murmured some excuse like, "Excuse me, I must see to the other patrons."

She took a step or two to reach the Akalak, then leaned casually against the counter, showing her profile. He looked young, which might explain why he didn't automatically avoid her. She decided to see how much fun she could have with him, and allowed the amused smirk to stay on her face, trusting him not to be clever enough to decipher its true meaning. "Is there anything I can get you?" she asked, pitching her voice low.

[Sethos]

"Is there anything I can get you?" There was a small smirk on her lips, he could not quite tell if that was simply her way of smiling or if she had seen him when he entered but since she wasn’t ignoring him he took it to mean the former and slid the money across the counter quietly. “One mug.” She was actually quite pretty, in a unique way and pretty and him speaking did not mix well, all the same it was no excuse for him not to apologize for his earlier actions whether or not they were instinctual. Placing his hands over the coins to stop her from walking away he spoke rapidly, trying hard not to stare for many reasons. One being that she was indeed pretty. The second being he couldn’t help but be curious, she couldn’t be entirely Zith. He hoped the questions roling in his mind did not show too on his face too much but then again Hun always did tell him he was ridiculously easy to read. “I…I must apologize for my earlier behaviour, it was an automatic reaction but that’s not an excuse!” He corrected himself quickly, flushing a bit before continuing. “I reacted without thinking, it was careless and wrong.” A part of him wanted to add he’d leave a tip but he was unsure of whether or not that would be insulting, he himself thought he would find it rude so it only stood to reason she would as well. Flexing his hand in an agitated manner as he finally released the coins he offered her a rueful smile and hoped she accepted his apology and if not well…he couldn’t say he would not deserve the slap or punch.

[Scratch]

Scratch laughed aloud. A remorseful Akalak? Now she'd seen everything. It almost made her want to...but no, if she ate him she'd get into a lot of trouble, and she'd probably be forced to leave Riverfall and her mother. She turned away and busied herself with getting his drink while she tried to think of a way to respond that would be as entertaining as it would be unlikely to get her killed.

Finally, she returned with a mug of ale and said, "Instincts are useful. They can keep you alive." She grinned, showing her teeth, trying not to think about how tasty Akalak meat was. She wondered if she could lure him out into the wilderness somehow...but then the question became whether she could avoid suspicion when she got back...

In the end she just took his mizas and decided he wasn't worth the risk. She could see that he had questions about her appearance, but she wasn't in the habit of explaining herself, so instead she just watched him with a slightly raised eyebrow. She wondered how uncomfortable she could make him. In order to look aloof and slightly bored, she began fiddling with an amulet she wore around her neck as she tried to decide what she wanted to taunt him into doing.

[Sethos]

Her laughter surprised him but he took it as a good sign, relaxing a tad more in the chair as she handed him his mug. And when she spoke again she did not sound particularly offended, in fact he returned her smile with a quick grin of his own before he put the cup to his lips and drained it. "Instincts are useful. They can keep you alive." “True.” He assented with a small nod, “But they also can cause a world of problems in...areas with people less inclined to fight.” Conversation seemed to dwindle after and Sethos once more found himself watching the girl curiously but even his urge to pry out her history did not change the fact that his gaze roamed her form a few times before he shifted. He had no idea what to say. What you should do is break the mug and carve her up with the shards. A large sigh passed Sethos lips, his hand coming up to rub his face tiredly before he focused on the girl once more, he blatant disregard for him made him a little uneasy but he forced out his question all the same, smiling tightly while he spoke. “Your name? I don’t think I have seen you here on my other visits to the Kulk.” And not for much longer either. Be silent! Is that all you can say? Still the girl fiddled with her amulet and Sethos found he could not hold his stare and instead let his gaze drop to the table and wait for her to reply or walk away in boredom.