PM to join A Night At The Stallion [Hisoka, Crypt, Yohan]

[Yohan]

"I would enjoy that very much." He said. He was about to say more, but then the story started. The rest of the tale was definitely not what he had expected. But he respected the cats prowess in tricking the wizard. Very cunning indeed. He clapped softly at the end.

As the two men aproached, Yohan became very nervous again. His muscles tensed, unsure of their intentions. He had been enjoying the company of the blue eyed girl and worried that they may take her away. When Crypt spoke however, his kind tone calmed him down. A small frown appeared on his face at the word 'Zith' however. As a young boy, he had heard this word spoken in whispers around Mura. As a young adult however, the people would yell it at him angrily. And then when he had asked his mother about it, she always seemed to find a way to change the subject. This lead him to believe the word 'Zith' was some form of terrible insult. All the same, he quickly regathered himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Crypt." He said. He waited a moment, for the bard to introduced himself. He then nodded his appreciation at the offered drink. He had never had Ale before. When the young man had finally said his name, the girls reaction to his bow had not escaped his view. He decided he would ask about it later.

When the bar maid returned with the drinks he took a sniff of the drink. However it was Hisoka who spoke his thoughts.

"I must say, this does smell rather odd. Never one to back out of a new experience, he rose his mug to his lips, tasting it gingerly. Instantly his face cringed and he pushed it away, not too gently. Gah! OH, Im sorry Mr. Vauler, I don't mean to be rude. I appreciate the gesture, but I think I'll stick to water for now.. He placed his hand back on the table. As he did he felt something small and cold there. Upon looking he saw the two silver Mizas he had set aside.

"That's right! These are for you." He passed one to each. First to Crypt, then to Rhylund. "I was going to give it to you, but then this lovely young girl came and I got distracted." He said gesturing to Hisoka. "I'm sorry there isn't more for you...you see I'm a little short on Mizas right now." His apology was genuine. The entertainment he had tonight was worth far more than a single silver Miza.

[Crypt]

OOC Note : Right. It's getting a little messy - the posting, that is - and so I'm suggesting this to make everything neater. We post in this order: Me, Rhylund, Hisoka and Yohan. Generally follow this order, but this is just a guideline. Just let everyone post once before you post again. Of course, if all of you post a question to someone, you'll have to wait for that person to post his reply. Savvy? The word 'Zith' seems to trouble him, judging from his tensed-up body. Curious. Does he not know the name of his race? Crypt struggled not to burst out in laughter as he viewed Yohan's rather absurd reaction to the taste of the ale. He took another sip himself, before speaking in an amused manner. “It seems that you do not like the taste. 'Tis an acquired taste, Yohan, Hisoka, and you'll have to drink it more often to appreciate its finer values. Thank you for your gift; mizas are always appreciated, even if they are of small value, although they are useless when one is in combat with many a foe.” Crypt smiled slightly, then turned to Hisoka, who he was sitting next to. “Thanks for the compliment, Hisoka. It's just something I do in most places I visit to earn some coin, though I do give performances to my friends if they ask me. If you want me to, I'll tell you one when we get back to our room if you're not tired out by then.”

[Rhylund Vauler]

The bard took a moment to indulge in the light refracting across the crisp-blue that embraced Hiskoa's iris as she announced her name and spoke a kind line of praise. A musician never knew from where his next bout of inspiration could be drawn─or how long until something came long worth drawing upon─and this opportunity was his first in the castle-city. The shy recoil of her hands had gone unnoticed, and he listened to her question Crypt's frequency of story with a small sense of unfamiliarity while his fingers taped lightly on the table's surface. He nodded to the barmaid with a smile, and a hint of color touched his cheeks once she delivered the ale and a wink. It was one thing to be so flirtatious with any woman that stopped to listen to him play: it was another when they teased with their graceful features of their own accord. His hand seized his mug, and in a wide arch from left to right─Crypt, Hisoka, then Yohan─a toast was raised to the entire table. His lashes drifted slowly shut as he enjoyed the feel of the beverage causing a small ball of warmth to grow in his stomach. His eyes opened as Hisoka voiced a very peculiar question to the Zith her left. Humans? The word filled his thoughts for only a moment before it was quickly evicted by Yohan's abrupt apology. "No problem, erm, lad." He said, with an encouraging smile. Crypt had mentioned something about the Zith being young: maybe that was why he had not taken to the pleasures of drink. "Order something a little less stout if it suits the two of you." His free hand gestured towards Yohan and Hisoka as he arranged his features to insist that he took no offense. Rhylund's eyes narrowed happily as the Zith produced a coin each for himself and Crypt: it wasn't the money that made him happy, just the notion of a show-well-done. "Thank you, Master Yohan!" He bowed from his chair and raised his mug before taking another sip. He listened to Crypt and nodded in silent agreement that ale had an acquired taste. The clarification on his tendencies to perform on occasion made Rhylund wonder if their relationship had not just been recently formed. Then a sly grin touched one corner of his mouth, reflecting his suspicion that they were a couple: who else receives a story in private bed chambers? "So, Hisoka." He set his mug down and tilted his chair back on it's hind legs so that his weight leaned at a relaxed angle. "Did you─," His arms shot out to the side to balance himself as the chair gave a small creek and shifted. His boyish grin melded with a small look of embarassment before he continued right along. "Did you and Crypt arrive from Cyphrus together? I imagine the man's good company." He gave a jesting smile to Crypt as he spoke to keep the mood light. He took another sip before tilting his head at an angle to look at Yohan, "I'd hear where you're from as well, friend. Not too many of your kind in the city. At least, not from what I've seen."

[Hisoka]

"That would be fun," she told Crypt, her eyes lighting up. She listened quietly as the others' conversed, telling herself that she would avoid the bitter, foul to her heightened sense, beverage, even though the two men assured them that they would enjoy it in time. She did not miss the man's sly grin, and then laughed inwardly at the Bard's balancing antics, fairly entertained. When he asked if she and Crypt had arrived together, she shook her head. "No, we met in the forest," she said. Completely missing the implication Rhylund had meant, she continued, " and yes, he has been very kind." She smiled at Crypt, then turned her attention to Yohan. "Have you come from far away?", she asked, her curiosity lit. Again, she looked at his wings. Like those little, noisy rodents on wings, she thought to herself. But his are so beautiful compared to theirs. As her gaze traveled a wing's folds, something glinted out of the corner of her eye.

[Yohan]

When the Bard had asked Yohan where he was from, initially his face fell a little, his long dark hair covering his face. From behind his crimson veil he remembered all the details of K'larins cottage. But before his thoughts could become too depressing, he realized exactly what Rhylund had said. My kind? He had not meant to ignore the Kelvic. But he was focused now.

His head snapped up quickly, only one of his blue eyes could be seen through his hair, and it burned into Rhylund. His wings unfurled in excitement as he leaned forward. The tips of his wings could almost touch the backs of Crypt and Hisoka, but he barely noticed.

My people you say?! There are more like me?!" His entire body was shaking now. Many of the taverns men stood at the Ziths sudden outburst. They were ready. Whether it be to fight or run, they were ready. But Yohans only concern now was Rhylund. "Where are they? What are they like? Please, tell me anything you know! His low voice was stern, yet, pleading in a way.

Kevith yelled from the bar "Hey! Calm down, now! I wont have any funny buisness here y'understand?!"

The barkeepers tone instantly snapped Yohan out of his excited, almost panicy state of mind. But he was still intently curious to hear the details of his people. He slowly drew his wings back in, once again wrapping them loosely around himself like a cloak

"I...I'm terribly sorry for the outburst..." Deciding to kill two birds with one stone he continued "But you must understand... I was raised in Mura, on Konti Isle. I've never known anyone who even resembles me.. As he spoke, his voice grew fainter and fainter, saddening again. He moved his hair from his face and looked pleadingly at what he considered to be his new friends. "Please forgive me."

[Crypt]

Yes, Rhylund definitely thinks that there's something between me and Hisoka. That was an unfortunate slip of the tongue, but oh well. Not as if something bad will happen. I'll play along with that. Crypt returned Hisoka's smile with another of his own, nodding in agreement. He tensed slightly as Yohan's wings expanded, and as the barkeeper shouted harshly at Yohan to calm down. Relaxing once the atmosphere of the tavern had lightened once again, Crypt drank the last of his ale and set the mug down on the table, listening to his new-found companions (Well, not so new for Hisoka) discuss trivial matters. "Mura..." Crypt mused. "No need for apologies, Yohan, I can understand what you're feeling right now. Curious, that a Zith should have lived on the island of the Konti for most of his life. Yes, Yohan, there are others of your kind; you are not alone. I have met them, one in Taldera, far northwest of this city, and another in Syliras, though I think he has departed. There are many more in the land of my birth, Cyphrus, south of Syliras, but they are less... civilised, if I may be so bold as to use such an uncouth word. You may meet some related to you, but they may not accept you as a... 'true' Zith. Still, show that you are worthy and they will accept you as one of their own."

[Rhylund Vauler]

Rhylund nodded towards Hisoka as she announced that they had met in the forest: the old standby of two wandering souls finding romance in their solitary journey, out amongst the wilds. He nearly fell out of his chair as the Zith shot a burst of dire energy and a barrage of questions in his direction. His hands clenched around the table's edge and both pieces of furniture groaned and shifted under the man’s weight. Green eyes moved from Yohan to the barkeep as he barked out commands to settle down. The bard was grateful for the intervention, but once Yohan explained himself, his apprehensive posture towards the Zith was quickly smoothed over with calm acceptance. He nodded along with Crypt as he spoke of there being many others just like him. What a strange thought, Rhylund mused silently. How do you not suspect there are others like you when you look so distinctly different from everyone else? He couldn’t help but wonder if this Zith saw himself as a physical anomaly, a hideous malformation of birth defects and cursed imagery. “That’s quite alright, Yohan.” He said politely before taking another sip of his ale. “But, Crypt is right. There are others. What an interesting tale: a lone outcast, separated from his kind, seeks to reunite with his people.” He leaned back again and studied the table as his right hand held his chin with its thumb and forefinger. His eyes suddenly sprang back to Yohan, “not to be taken offensively, of course.” Rhylund reached out again for his ale and rested it in his lap. “I wonder though... would you be the type of man to conform and model yourself to the meaning of a ‘true Zith?’ All things have their hidden blessings: perhaps yours is the freedom to shape yourself as you see fit.” Rhylund gestured to the other patrons with a turn of his head before looking back at Yohan. “Look at the way they receive you, friend. Fire is only approached with caution because it burns. Surely, you can imagine now why others look upon you with the same doubt and mistrust? There is a reason for it, and you might find yourself asking, ‘is that who I want to be?’”

[Hisoka]

Hearing a faint whisper of sound behind her, she saw that Yohan's wings had fully unfurled behind them. Even without see his expression, she new that he was very excited, from the trembling of his wings. "He does not know of his own kind?", she thought to herself. The tenseness of the other people around them, did not go unnoticed. Hisoka observed the other tavern occupants, anticipating any threatening movements. Wolf Kelvics did tend to have a protective streak, or so she had been told... and she was no exception. When Kevith had spoken harshly, Yohan seemed to withdraw into himself, wrapping his wings around himself. As he did, the patrons relaxed, only enough to take their seats again, though they kept sending quick glances in their direction. Having had an experience of unintentionally startling a badger (before she had been at her starving point), she knew that when something was frightened, it may be more dangers than when it seemed. So, she listened to the conversation with one ear, while keeping an eye on the room around them.

[Yohan]

Yohan listened intently to the two men before him. Zith. While only moments ago that word was an insult, it now began to take a new meaning to him. Zith, He spoke to himself, My people. Then something Crypt said caught his attention.

"You said uncivilized..as in my people are savages?" Yohans face revealed a mix of curiosity, excitement, and uncertainty. Rhylund picked up the conversation then. What an interesting tale: a lone outcast, separated from his kind, seeks to reunite with his people.

"I was not an 'outcast'...I was adopted..." His voice was low and quiet. As he spoke though, Rhylund continued. Would he change? To fit in with the others? He didn't honestly know. But what he did know, was that the comparison to how he is treated, and how people treat fire made all too much sense to him. He was beginning to piece it together. Savages...who hurt other people...Perhaps seeking others of my kind is not such a great idea. But his curiosity was too great. All he had known his whole life was Konti, and the occasional traveler. He had to know for sure! And who knows? Perhaps with some guidance from Leth, I could change them... But even he dismissed this as just wishfull thinking.

Yohan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and rubbed his temple. His eyes closed. I wasn't expecting this tonight.

[Crypt]

“Savages? Not quite, no,” Crypt shook his head, “They do what they must to survive, but I cannot help but notice that they enjoy acts that instill fear and terror in many. The Zith capture humans not only for food, but also for slavery.” Crypt stared at Yohan intently before replying. “I assume you were adopted by a Konti? Rather strange, but there are more unusual things in the world that I have seen. By all means seek your own kind, Yohan, that is my stand. Once you understand more of who you are, who you are expected to be and to do, perhaps even find some family members willing to accept you into their fold, and then you can decide who you wish to be - a proud and noble Zith, flying at the head of other Zith to do battle, or a peaceful Zith co-existing with every other race in this world, not fighting every battle there is in this world. The latter is hard, I will not deny. But it's your own choice, Yohan. We cannot force you to make one of our preferences.”