Flashback Barrels at Baultimes (Mealla)

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Summer 37, 510 AV The girls response indicated that she knew nothing of strong drink. “I may seem drunk, but I assure you that I will remember tonight.” That is one thing the man didn't do is drown his memories of a day like this. “There is a lesson to be had here somewhere. That however is for me to work on tomorrow.” The woman's distaste of ale didn't go unnoticed. Instead he decided to take the drink off her hands pledging himself that after these two he would be done for the night. “She still seemed a bit pompous to the man. However seeing her smile and laugh shed a new light on her he had not previously seen. “So you fancy yourself a seductress?” He asked rhetorically. “More often than not. But when my attempts pull through it is worth it.” he smiled. “My arse, only occasionally, like today when my target is with another man, sure.” took another drink of his ale. “Why is it that I am always the one getting questioned? How about you tell me something about yourself. Since you have never failed at seducing someone tell me about one of your successes.” After finishing his drink he took a swig of water. And decided that he would not drink hers since it was warm and he did not enjoy warm ale. “If you tell me a story I'll tell you a funny story about me when I was younger? Hopefully we can keep the smiles on for a bit longer. It suits you. A smile I mean.”

[Mealla Stormsong]

“What-?” Mealla replied, leaning forward, resting her elbows on the table and tilting her head slightly, gaze turning curious, though there was a slightly mocking edge to it. She was still trying to get some fun from this, though she was beginning to wonder again if it would not have been better to have just ignored him and pretended not to hear him. There were other Stormsongs about. “You’re not going to drown your sorrows? If I were you, I’d want to forget that I’d just been shunned and kicked on my arse. It’s not very good for the pride, is it? Especially not for a Drykas. Although maybe the lesson could be... hit on people when you’re sober.” She smiled again, sweetly, before her gaze flicked away to take in the rest of the tavern. People had stopped staring and had gone back to their drinks. It was surprising how quickly they grew bored and lost interest if nothing else happened. Apparently fighting drew people like a moth to a flame, but when that flame was quenched, they were released again. It was kind of sad, really, if fighting was all people had to entertain them. “And I said nothing about being a seductress,” she added, looking back at him and raising an eyebrow. “Why? D’you think I am one? D’you think I’m trying to seduce you?” She laughed, a true laugh. “I simply said I’ll pass on the whole failing at seducing people, and that it’s never happened to me... Because I’ve never tried. I’ve yet to find a man I like. You jump to conclusions much too easily. And I think it’s much more interesting to question you. I’m only a girl. Nothing interesting has happened yet. Plus,” and she drew the word out, “I don’t give stories away for free. You have to earn them. Pay for them. How will you do that, Tourmal Firemane?”

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Summer 37, 510 AV He listened to the woman and chuckled at her coment. “First of all I don't remember being kicked. If I drink too much I won't remember seeing you laugh and that is something to be remembered. And nope that is definitely not the lesson to be learned. Besides I said I would think about it tomorrow.” “If you were trying to seduce me you need some more work.” The girl laughed again he liked it he didn't care if she was mean or not. He knew that the two would never be together after their first encounter. “I guess that means that you don't like me oh well.” the man said making his face pout. He listened to her smiling. “I'm sorry for jumping to a conclusion when a girl looks at me smiling saying she has never failed at seducing a man. It just made the most sense to me.” finished with his eyebrows raised shoulders raised and head tilted to the side. “Is that right.” pay for them? With what? Money? “Not a clue, What do you have in mind Stormcloud.”

[Mealla Stormsong]

Mealla once again tilted her head and snorted, gave a half-laugh, before she looked away again, wondering if she could perhaps provoke a fight to get herself out of this conversation. She still had a sense that she was talking to someone much younger than her. It was strange how he made her feel. She was only sixteen – an adult, yes, but a young one – and he had to be far older, and yet she felt the opposite - like they'd swapped places. It wasn't just the drink. “D’you always take everything you hear literally?” she asked curiously, turning back to look at him. She ran a finger along the table, scratching at it with her nail as she pushed her hair back behind her ears with her free hand, needing something to occupy her hands with. She had never been good at sitting still when she was feeling awkward. “You may not have literally been kicked, but you still ended up on your arse. And I’m not trying to seduce you.” She lifted her head. “I’m sorry. Did you want me to? It’s not that I don’t like you,” although she didn’t, “but you’re just really not my type. I prefer men with dark hair. And, like I said, I never said that I had never failed at seducing men. I said that it had never happened to me. You know, the failure.” She smiled brightly. “Get it right. You really do need to learn how to listen, Tourmal Firemane. “And it’s Stormsong, not Stormcloud, and, please, don’t give me crap about how I’m moody and therefore a cloud rather than a song. I don’t want to hear it.” She paused, gaze earnest. “But what would you pay? Go on. Surprise me.”

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Summer 37, 510 AV “Not everything no, and you are right I was knocked on my backside by that little fella before. But I'm sure you have never taken a blow to the jaw like that one before either. So if you ever found yourself in a similar situation I figure you would find yourself back on the ground just as I was.” The man shook his head wondering why he was arguing over such petty circumstances. “Besides that sorry for the name change It's been a long night already and I just had a pretty serious blow to the head. So please don't take that to heart it was a mistake.” Just then he saw the blonde girl from before come through the flap looking around for a bit. Tourmal wondered if what he had said before had worked or not. Then the two's eyes met and she smiled much like before. She then sat at a table by herself on the other side of the tavern. “As for payment, how about I tell you a story.” He waited for a response. “See if you can figure out the lesson behind this one. When I was about twenty five years old I was here at the tavern and was embarrassed from something that happened earlier.” The man shrugged his shoulders indicating it was not a rare occurance. “When suddenly someone who had piqued my interest from some time before came in. We started talking the girl had a very serious demeanor” He smiled flirtatiously. “So I decided to change that. I stood up turned around and walked over to a beauty.” The man smiling due to her being most likely on to what he was saying. “When I told her.” “You see that girl over there?” he signaled which one by nodding toward her. “Then I whispered to her so only she could hear me. She doesn't think I can make her laugh. I said” His smiling growing a little. “Anyways I am not sure what it will take. But I would really appreciate it if you played along, make it believable.” He paused for effect “After thinking for a few seconds I said. So throw your drink in my face after my next proposition.” His smile still grinning greatly. He looked at her “Well I'm sure you know what happened next” The man stood, looking the woman directly in the eyes and winked at her. He walked away from Mealla towards the blonde. It was a gamble but it was one he had to take why else would she come back alone. “Hey” he leaned on the table a bit lowering him closer to her level. “Hey” she said smiling. “That foal that punched you” pausing slightly “He was my brother” While she spoke he wondered how it was going to play out. He let out his breath when she revealed the man from before was her sibling. “Would you like to get out of here?” he asked, “What about her?” she asked. “Just a friend” As the two walked out together.” The large drykas man turned around, pointed at Mealla “You owe me a story now Stormsong.” Just before they exited. “My name is Ceri by the way” He grabbed her hand smoothly raised it to his lips kissing it lightly. “Nice to meet you I'm Tourmal” She explained what had happened after she and her brother left the tavern as they walked away to an undisclosed location. "Things may not always be what the seem"

[Jackalope]

Tourmal

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Mistaken Attraction
Socialization	+3	Taking a Right Hook to the Face
Storytelling	+1	Setting Up A story

Mealla

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Socialization	+3	Being Sarcastic
Observation	+1	Mocking a Failure

Jackalope's Notes

Well, you two still have plenty awkward interactions don't you. Poor Tourmal tries so hard and Mealla shuts everyone down. What a duo. Haha. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.