Closed Dinner at The Herald's Arm

[Kayle]

Winter 35th, 512AV

Listen. The sound of the wind brushing the trees is like a choir singing a beautiful harmonious song. The wind itself is a part of nature’s song; the passing air gave the song its character. As this majestic song played, so did Kayle. Kayle sat on a rock playing his flute to the sound of nature. He played soothing notes that matched the mood of the surrounding area, calm and peaceful. Closing his eyes Kayle rocked to the slow beat of the forest. He played until the sky began to darken.

Ren, his ferret, sat up upon his head. She enjoyed the slow rocking along with the music her master was playing. It was soothing to her, so soothing in fact she fell asleep on his head and began to faintly snore. Kayle continued playing, until he was suddenly interrupted. A familiar noise fell upon Kayle’s ears, and he instantly knew what it was. Slowly, Kayle placed his hand on his head, sliding it under Ren’s long body. Then gently, he lifted her up, trying to wake her up, and placed her on his lap. He began to stroke her pure white fur down in one direction, and also grooms her fur by removing small debris. A faint smile found its way on to his face as he watches Ren fast asleep.

“I think we had a good afternoon, Ren” He said quietly.
“I think it’s about time we head back to get some food before we turn in.”
Kayle looked up at the sky with vacant eyes. The sky was slowly darkening, and the stars were beginning to glow. He places the sleepy ferret back on his head and began to head off to 'The Herald’s Arm.'

Upon arriving at the Inn, he noticed how lively the place is. He places Ren, who is now awake from the noise, in his backpack before entering the building. When he entered, he could smell the food lingering in the air. Kayle walked around in search for a free chair, and after wandering a bit he found a whole corner vacant. He walked towards the tables and clamed one of them by sitting by it. He calls for the waitress.

“What can I get ya?” the waitress said, holding a few plates.
“I’d like some dinner, what do you have?” Asked Kayle
“We’ve got beef and veggies for five gold miza, this includes drinks and dessert”
“Oh really? Sure I’ll have that”
Kayle hands the waitress five gold miza along with a friendly smile. The waitress gave a slight expression of disgust on her face before she took the gold.
“Listen, hon. If you want ‘that’, then please go to the next floor. We only give food services on this floor.” The waitress said before she walked off.

Kayle was confused; he didn’t know what just happened. He wondered if she misunderstood something. Kayle just sat at the table thinking about at small incident.

[Xarl]

To say that this was an odd sight would have been something of an understatement. Xarl had seen many strange things in his time in Syliras, however a man standing outside of an inn with a slumbering ferret on his head seemed more like the beginning of a bad joke. With curious eyes Xarl watched as the man carefully placed the ferret in his backpack and strode into the inn.

Before this oddity had arrived, Xarl had feared that the night would be rather dull. His mistress had sent him to The Herald's Arm for an observation exercise, just one of the many she'd ordered him to go on.

"A master hypnotist must know everything about people, how they interact and how they go about there lives." Bah.

Xarl already knew how people interacted, he already knew how to get what he wanted from someone. This was just another pointless chore Mistress Helena had sent him on, at least that is what he had first thought.

The tall dark haired man locked his grey eyes upon the strange man as he crossed the room and sat himself down at a corner table. Xarl was sitting about two tables over, hands steepled out before him on the table.

If anything the night just became a lot more interesting.

[Kayle]

While Kayle was sitting down, Ren was moving around his backpack. Her head pops out and she stared at Kayle. She looked as if she was hungry and wanted to eat now. Kayle just stared back and her and said “Soon, Ren. The food is coming soon.”

The food took a while but it finally came. He could smell the cooked beef, it wasn’t the highest of quality but it still smelt great. He looked at the plate and the beef was in the centre of the plate surrounded by vegetables. He recognised carrots, mushrooms and green peas. Looking at the plate, he grabs his utensils and began cutting up the food into portions.

The beef and the vegetables are now cut up into small bits. He spears a portion of beef and removes it into his hand. He opened his backpack and handed the morsel to Ren, and she popped her head out of the backpack and grabbed the beef. Soon after she grabbed she when back in as fast as she came out.

Kayle continued to eat his food, handing Ren pieces every now and then. Suddenly, a shiver went down his spine, the feeling what like he was being watched by someone. He tries to continue eating but, the feeling was extremely uncomfortable. Kayle subtly looked around the area to see anyone who made direct contact with his eyes. However, he didn’t see anyone ahead of him who did. He continued to eat, looking up every now and then.

[Crypt]

OOC NoteDamn, Xarl, that's funny. It's too good not to use it, and so I beg your pardon for using it! So... This is the Herald's Arms. Built on the ruins of the Golden Dragon, a most excellent establishment to endulge in some... carnal pleasures, or so I've heard from a few of the regulars at the Stallion. Still, I must say, they've done an incredible job with the decor, and the perfume is carefully calculated to be just right - neither overpowering nor weak. Nodding to an employee that was approaching him, Crypt allowed himself to be led to a table close to a man and his ferret. As he waited for his meal to be served to him, having given the waiter five gold mizas for his dinner, his eyes wandered over the place, lingering on a few attractive individuals, finally alighting on the strange duo that was enjoying a delectable meal. And now... What is this mystery? What is this enigma that presents itself to me in such a strange form? Question him, my dear Crypt! Ask him, and discover something interesting. Turning towards the man carrying his meal, he gestured for him to place his meal on his table, then stood up from his chair and proceeded to take a seat at Kayle's table, directly opposite the young man. "A man and a ferret walk into an inn, and what do they do next? They eat dinner. A boring ending to such a joke, but why does it exist in the first place?"

[Xarl]

Xarl waved over a nearby waitress, giving her one of his most charming smiles and daring to place a little magic behind it. Nothing large, just an emotional resposonse, something very subtle that would warm her up to him without having to say a word.

The drain on his Djed was slight and not very taxing, eliciting no outward physical response. It was funny to the young Hypnotist, years ago when he had first started using magic that little trick would have had him gasping for breath.

The young woman walked over, flashing him a charming smile of her own.

"Hey there handsome, what can I get for you?" The woman asked.

"Some water would be most appreciated, my dear." Xarl responded.

"Oh sure, that will be two gold mizas"

That was a gross overpricing of the water and Xarl knew it. However he had no intention of bargining with the waitress, that would defeat the purpose of this little exercise.

Xarl pulled out four gold mizas from his coin purse and handed them to the woman.

"Something for the drink, and something for you, my dear." Xarl said, locking eyes with her as he handed over the money.

The young woman shivered, an almost imperceptable movement that would have gone unnoticed by the untrained. To Xarl it signified he had succeeded in this self made exercise.

The woman hurried off to get his beverage, grinning slightly as she did. Xarl in the meantime returned his focus back to the odd man sitting in the corner. His food had arrived and he was cutting it into little bites, handing some of the cut pieces to his little furry pet, which popped out of the backpack and quickly devoured what was given to it.

The man seemed to value his little friend a great deal, which could be useful knowledge if any interaction came down to manipulation. Often Xarl found that the key to successfully influence someone came from using their friends or loved ones.

Xarl was, for once, not interested in manipulating this strange man. He was simply curious, and after the man finished eating he intended to satify that curiousity.

The woman returned with the drink very quickly, moving briskly over to him. Xarl rewarded her with another charming smile. She returned it and then she was off.

Perhaps he would return here tomorrow, it would be interesting to see how much this girl would be willing to give him if he played nice.

Storing that line of thought away, Xarl returned his attention to the strange man, nearly spilling his water as he obseved an intruder at the man's table.

This was... unexpected and rather unwelcome, Xarl would have to act fast if he wanted to gain control of this situation.

Sighing, and quickly regaining his composure, Xarl stood and made his way over to the table slowly, carefully eyeing this intruder.

[Kayle]

Kayle continued to spear his food, feeding himself and Ren. However, this stopped as a stranger placed his plate on the table and took a seat opposite to Kayle. The man looked as if he was his twenties. He had tanned skin and long dark hair, but what caught Kayle’s attention was his left eye, the whites of that eye were… black. Kayle stared at the man with vacant eyes, until he spoke.

"A man and a ferret walk into an inn, and what do they do next? They eat dinner. A boring ending to such a joke, but why does it exist in the first place?" The man said

Kayle stared at the man with a face of confusion.

“Um… pardon? Joke… boring… place?” Kayle said.

Kayle was unable to find words to this situation that appeared out of nowhere. All he could do his look at the man. Kayle cleared his throat and spoke, hoping that his words over shadows his previous words.

“If you’re asking about my ferret it’s just a companion that I take care of. Um… if you don’t mind my asking, who are you?” Kayle said, placing down his utensil on the edge plate.

Just after Kayle finished speaking, yet another man sat down at the table. This man was tall with black, long, well-kept hair. Kayle just sat there, the two strangers at his table. “Do I know them?” he thought to himself. Kayle turned to the second man who sat at the table and asked.

“Um.. hello there, who might you be?”

[Crypt]

"Yes, a joke," Crypt smirked at the bemused expression on Kayle's face, "But you are no joke. Cheer up! That's a fine ferret you have there - her fur's well-kept, you must be a good owner." Raising his eyebrows slightly as another stranger sat at the table Kayle and Crypt were at, Crypt moved his focus towards the scrawny, albeit tall, male that had disturbed Kayle's dinner in very much the same way he had done. "I suppose introductions are in order then, to banish this damned awkwardness I feel in the air. My name is Crypt, and I am a resident of Syliras since Fall. You may have seen me before, for I play the part of a story-telling bard at the Rearing Stallion most nights this wintry Winter. A pleasure to make your acquaintances, gentlemen."

[Xarl]

Xarl smiled politely as the man, Crypt apparently being his name, introduced himself. As the man mentioned his work as a bard at the Stallion, a place the hypnotist had visited a couple of times, a flicker of recognition lit in Xarl's head. A friend of his had mentioned this Crypt to him a couple of times, a talented bard by most accounts though Xarl, never having heard him play, couldn't judge. Storing this bit of information away quickly he introduced himself.

"It is a pleasure to make your aqaintence Mr. Crypt, I have indeed heard of you though I have never actually had the good fortune to hear you play. My name is Xarl, a simple man of Syliras with simple desires, and I apologize if I am interrupting something here, such as your meal good sir." Xarl said, shifting his gaze from Crypt and onto the subject of his interest this night.

The man was looking at him in a rather confused fashion, not a bad first impression, but not exactly good either.

"I do hope you do not find my presence here disturbing, sir, if you do then I would not begrudge you to send me away." Xarl said, increasing the warmth of his smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible.

[Kayle]

Kayle listened to the two stranger exchange pleasantries. The man with the one black eye introduced himself as Crypt, and the tall scrawny looking one introduced himself as Xarl. Kayle then in turn gave his introduction.

“Nice to meet you both. I’m Kayle, and this is Ren” Kayle said as the ferret popped out of the bag with his queue.

“Like Xarl, I haven’t gotten the chance to chance to here you play. I’m a bit weak when it comes to drinking, but perhaps I’ll stop by just to listen. Also I’m fine, I’m not disturbed at all” Kayle added, reaching for his fork.

Kayle picked up his utensil once again and poked a portion of vegetable, trying to lift it off the plate. However, the vegetable was very soft and would slide off the fork. He continued trying to pick up the stubborn vegetable, but no matter what he did it wouldn’t lift. His brow furrows slightly and he moved on the portion of meat, he picked it up with ease. He held the fork around about chest height as he spoke to Crypt and Xarl.

“So how can I help you gentlemen?” He said.

Suddenly Ren pop out of the bag and stretched to reach the portion of meat. She grabbed it with her mouth and retracted back in the bag. The moment looked as if it came straight out of a comedy. Kayle looked at his bag, slightly annoyed about losing his food.

“I was going to eat that...” Kayle muttered.

[Xarl]

Xarl chuckled slightly at the rather comedic sight of the ferret stealing Kayle's food. The man's slightly annoyed reaction only increased Xarl's amusement.

"Quite an appitite your friend has there." Xarl remarked, shaking his head at the absurdity of the moment.

He took a sip of his water, glancing quickly between Crypt and Kayle as he did.

"I cannot speak for Mr. Crypt here, however I came over here to perhaps enjoy some good company tonight. You both seem a nice enough sort so I opted to join you. Again I apologize if my arrival was a bit abrupt." Xarl said, answering Kayle's eariler question with a polite smile to said man.

He decided against adding his earlier observation of the man, such trivial details would certainly raise suspicion. His statement was not a total lie either, he had intended on joining Kayle eventually simply at a time and well thought out manner of his chosing. However with this Crypt added to the equation Xarl would need to be more careful, he was still an unknown quantity. Then again, so was Kayle.