Open Meeting Friends (Crystiin)

[Shiress]

26th Day
Fall 513

Mid day was finally winding down. The lunch crowd had dispersed and the Rearing Stallion had quieted substantially. The tavern had seen it's fair share of drenched patron's these days, thanks to the relentless rain showers that had seen their way through the area. But for the moment, the clouds had parted, allowing Syna's rays to peek through, drawing some out to enjoy the brief warmth that came with the seldom sunlight.

Shiress was happy for the break, if a break was what it was. The dinner bell was approaching and the bartender had much preparation to do yet. At least Kevith did see fit to bug the employment office for more workers during these rainy days. Shiress wondered if her moaning and groaning had finally made the owner act, but frankly, she didn't care, as long as he had the tables tended and the kitchen manned by a cook, she was happy behind the bar.

Green eyes wandered over the rim of a cool glass of water to the taverns entrance. After much convincing, she had managed to talk her friend, Crystiin, into applying for a position to enable the two work along each other and today was to be her first day. Sadly, Kevith put her down for the evening rush on her first day, so Shiress decided to stay a bit longer to help settle her and her nerves in. Not to mention, keep an eye on Chuck, he was in a mood and Shiress didn't want her friend subject to the regular's wandering hands on her first day.

At last, the Tavern's door moaned and screeched on it's old hinges and crept open. The look on Shiress' face would indicate her accomplice had arrived. Placing the glass down on the worn counter, she smiled and shook her head, eyebrows arching above green eyes. "Crystiin. She called, leaning her arms against the bar. "Welcome to my nightmare, also known as, The Rearing Stallion."

[Crystiin Aithne]

Just before she walked into the Rearing Stallion, Crystiin took another glance down at herself. Using her hands, she attempted once again to flatten the wrinkles of her dress, wrinkles that weren't so much wrinkles as creases. Creases that were meant to be there. Crys just couldn't get over the feeling that she looked awful. She knew that wearing her cream-colored shift was going to be a bad idea, just imagine all the stuff that was going to get thrown and spilled onto it, but Crys thought that the blue one was so much prettier and she wanted to save it for a night that promised less of a mess. Over her dress, she wore a gray corset. Giving up on those impossible wrinkles, Crys pushed her way into the Stallion, nervous as petch but excited too. Leaning up against the bar was one of Crystiin's very best friends, Shiress. With her hair gleaming and a crooked smile on her face, Shiress always made Crys laugh. There was an aura of mystery behind Shiress's past, but it was never anything that Crys wanted to trouble her friend over. Instead, Crys tried to always be there for the other girl, a shoulder to lean on and a helping hand. Shiress had done quite a number here, helping Crys get a job alongside her here at the Rearing Stallion. Crys had no idea what to expect, but with the gods' grace, Shiress would help her along and get her to going in the right direction. "Welcome to my nightmare, also known as, The Rearing Stallion." Crys laughed and gave the girl an exaggerated wink. "Oh lairde, maybe I should get out while I still can." Looking around, she took in the murky room with its few patrons. "Where is everyone? I guess I expected more people in one of Syliras' better known taverns."

[Shiress]

Shiress stepped around the bar quickly to greet her friend with a hug. It would be a breath of fresh air to have a friendly face about the place.

"It's just before it, she said stepping back "you'll see the tavern four times as full in half a bell or so. Come, I'll show you where to stow your bag.

After Crystiin had stowed her things, Shiress walked her about the tavern showing her the things she thought a barmaid would need to know. The tables, the bar, and oh Gods bless, the kitchen where one Chef Vustakoff ruled with a chubby iron fist. "This, of course, is the kitchen and that there" she said pointing and dropping her voice to a whisper "is Chef Rondo Vustakoff. You'll do good to stay clear of him and his pot's as much as possible.

She pulled her friend away by the arm with a chuckle and stepped again behind the bar. "This is my post. I will be here to help as much as I can. If ever you need anything, a groping hand slapped or an ale or five, just come get me. Moving past the bar, she made her way to the hearth where a week fire licked around burnt and bridle logs. "Here is the most important duty, to me anyway as I'm always cold" she laughed "This time of season a good fire is a must! You work on getting this fire a bit stronger and I'll fetch a menu to go over the prices."

[Crystiin Aithne]

At the mention of the chef, Crystiin almost shivered with the fear that Shiress instilled in her. Surely he couldn't be that bad, but Crys wasn't about to find out. "I'll behave about him as best I can. I want no trouble, promise." "This is my post. I will be here to help as much as I can. If ever you need anything, a groping hand slapped or an ale or five, just come get me." Crys laughed. "Oh lord girl. If there be any men touching me here, they best beware. To have the fear of the gods taught to them by two lasses such as ourselves? They'll be in a world of hurt!" Just the mental image of her and Shiress kicking some poor man's arse was enough to make Crystiin double over the bar in laughter. Once it faded, Crys wiped a tear from her eye and smiled. "I'll do my best Shirie. No promises that I'll do it right the first time or that I won't make an utter fool of myself, but I'll try my best. What do I do now?" She already felt afool, but she was going to ignore that feeling and hope that everything turned out alright.

[Shiress]

Shiress smiled, remembering her first couple days at the tavern. "My friend, you can do no worse than I did my first day! I didn't even know what being a bartender entailed!" she shook her head "I still don't" she added with a laugh.

Shiress stepped up to her friends side and gave a nod toward the other end of the bar to a woman presently emptying her trey at a table. "That there is Carmen, she has been here for ages and taught me everything I know, which isn't a lot, I assure you." she grinned "Carmen has agreed to take on most the tables to give you a chance to catch onto things. You'll have these few tables here. she indicated with a wave of her arm "closest to the bar. That way I can help you when you need it." Shiress leaned close to her friend "You'll like Carmen, she's blunt, but is the most kind hearted lady you'll meet."

The girl stepped up to the bar and leaned her body across its worn counter, fumbled about a tick and straightened herself with a Menu*ALE*
Mug 1 sm
Gallon 2 sm
(Inquire for what is in stock)

*BEER*
Mug 2 sm
Gallon 4 sm
(House has both pale and dark beers)

*MEALS*
4 sm Breakfast
5 sm Lunch
6 sm Dinner
(Meals are House Specials. No choice, its just whatever the House has cooked for the day)

*WINE*
Glass 1 gm
Bottle 10 gm
(Inquire for what is in stock)
outstretched toward her friend. "Look over this, but there's no need to memorize it just get a good idea of the prices." And as she spoke a man and younger boy stepped through the entrance and headed right for one of Crystiin's tables.

The bartender gave her friend an encouraging wink and nudged her toward them. "You'll do fine, I promise! Wanna give it a try?"

[Crystiin Aithne]

Taking a deep breath, Crys directed her attention at the tables that Shiress had motioned at. Three ordinary tables hewn from thick wood. Each table had four wooden chairs situated around it. Marks and scratches pocked the wood, though spots had been worn down by years of use. The dark patches melded with light, and there were a couple of burn spots into the tops of the tables. But there was something about the fact that they were the tables that Crys was in charge of that made these three normal tables special. Crystiin's heart did a little flip-flop when she heard the grinding of chairs on the Stallion's floor as the men sat down. They settled in, obviously comfortable in the environment of ale and dim light. The man was older, gray beginning to taint his reddish-brown hair. He wore a coat against the growing cold of Fall, but he shed it as soon as he seated himself, draping it over the back of his chair. The boy shared the man's hair color, but Crys wasn't certain that they were related. Younger than Crys by a couple of years, he drummed his fingers on the tabletop either out of impatience or habit. The boy looked up, meeting Crystiin's gaze. She wasn't sure what his eyes were saying, but she took the initiative. Just be friendly, she thought to herself, propelling herself forward and into action. "Good afternoon gentleman. My name is Crystiin, what will y'all be having today?" Short, sweet. To the point. The older man answered first, grinning up at her through the stubble sprouting from his chin. "I'll have an ale and the lunch please." Crys nodded. "Alright. And you sir?" To her confusion, the boy was searching her face with his eyes, which were the color of toffee. It set her on edge a bit, and there was a moment of awkward silence. Then the man nudged the boy, earning a dirty look from the younger. Shaking his head and sighing, the boy said "Just give me the same..." Crystiin nodded. "They'll be right out. Give me a holler if you need anything else, okay?" She gave the boy one more glance before making her way back to the bar. Motioning Shiress over, she gave a sigh of relief and repeated the order. "Two ales and two lunches. Who did I give the orders to?"