"A Night for Forgetting"
Log Date:
12/3/99
Log Cast:
Sabrienna, Nox, Tara, Richard, Caioma, Raven (NPC emitted by Tara),
Melete, Tybio, Jenara, SunHawk
Log Intro:
House Nemea has come to Haven -- and brought with it the woman who,
fourteen years ago, was responsible for Richard's exile from his family, and
his ultimately fleeing to Haven to take up the life of a thief.
But Nemea has brought with them someone else, too. Much to Richard's
shock, he has discovered that there is a black-haired but white-winged girl
in the company of Dulcinea's family, one who bears a disturbing resemblance
to Richard himself. This half-darkling child has caught her "Uncle Julian"
spying upon her and her mother -- Dulcinea -- in the City Park. She's greeted
Richard with undisguised and unbounded joy, but her finding him's also led
to his reunion with Dulcinea...
And the discovery that young Moirae is his daughter.
Reeling from this revelation, Richard has fled the park, desperately
in need of a distraction, something, anything to shut down his mind for a
while so that he can postpone trying to absorb this latest shock to his
existence. And the best place he knows for such a thing is his old reliable
refuge, the Siren's Song...
----------
The Siren's Song - Haven
The dim recesses of the Siren's Song tavern have, on occasion, been
justifiably referred to as "a barbarous assault upon the senses." In the
stale air the earthy smells of alcohol and the subterranean fungi from which
Varati rot-gut is brewed compete with the scents of blood and vomit. The
walls, painted vividly with sea-scapes from an Atlantean fever-dream, slope
slightly inward as they arch to the sooty, star strewn ceiling, which itself
sags slightly, supported only by a massive central column. This column, the
feature the tavern is named for, is carved into the likeness of a siren, and
she beckons lustfully to patrons, leading them through the ring of garishly
painted tables to the cracked oaken bar.
There is a stone fireplace against one wall, to drive away the damp and
chill on wintery evenings. Opposite that is a set of stairs, rising to an
upper level where guests can spend the night--or just a couple of hours with
a willing partner.
Contents:
Sabrienna
Nox
Tara
Loreena
Obvious Exits:
Stairs <U> Out <O>
Sabrienna nods and face flushes with heat, but does not color. She sips at
the ale, just standing beside Nox for a time. She calls over Raven and after
a brief discussion with the bartender, she slips the Atlantean a coin. Her
hand briefly, very lightly, rests on Nox's arm. "It's on me," she tells him
softly.
Nox nods to Sabrienna, yet retracts his arm slowly from her touch. His glass
gets filled with the clear liquid another time, but the dark Empyrean takes
only a sip. "Thanks. 'ppreciate the offer, Sabi." Despite the slur, his
voice is still warm and friendly.
Tara turns so she can watch, then after a moment, slips off the table, moves
to Nox' other side, hand resting on his other arm.
Sabrienna takes up her mug and sips at the cool ale, looking askance at Nox.
She doesn't know what has caused him to drink so, and it's just itching at
her to find out. However, due to the rules and Tara's recent reprimand, she
stays kindly quiet.
During the raucous night, practically anyone can blow into the Siren's Song.
The door's opened and closed enough that one more person on his way in his
fairly negligible, but that's just fine -- Richard is not exactly of a mood
to care who sees him come in. He stalks into the place looking a trifle
odd: more disheveled than usual, perhaps, his movements a shade less
graceful, a shade less precise than seems to be his wont. But his gaze is no
less alert, and it doesn't take much to espy Nox and his companions at the
bar. For just a moment, he halts, struck by the sight... but then, his mouth
set in a grimly determined line, he resumes his stubborn course in that
direction. The bar means things to drink, a lot more potable than the swill
Gelthurn usually stocks.
Tara glances over her shoulder. Spies the new arrival, pushing hair out of her
eyes in a gesture evidently borrowed from Jen, and frees up a barstool on
the opposite side of her to Nox for him.
Caioma steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
Caioma has arrived.
Nox removes his second arm from Tara's touch, slipping both hands in his laps
and keeping the arms close to himself. His blank gaze returns back to the
half-empty glass of whisky. "Thanks for carin', both of ya'. Th'affection's
appreciated. Just...might be misunner...misunderstood." After the words, he
reaches again for his glass, to take another sip, not daring to look around
himself, as if he's afraid. Richard's entrance is, of course, totally missed
by the dark Empyrean.
Sabrienna sits on the far arm of Nox and leans forward to say something to
Tara, only to spot Richard, a bit , hm, determined. She ponders on what's
wrong with the men tonight, but instead of speaking it, sits back on her
stool and takes a few steadying gulps of the ale.
Probably earning a few wary looks from the various patrons enjoying an evening
at the 'Song, Caioma enters dressed in an easily identifiable Hound uniform.
Posture erect and stiff, the dark haired woman pauses at the entrance with
her helmet tucked under one arm. That she's noticed by anyone upon her
entrance goes unacknowledged as she just looks around. A faint, nearly
invisible smile forms. Some things never change. Especially not the Song.
Not in heart at least.
Even before he claims that stool Tara's opened up for him, Richard's pulling
forth coins from a pocket and plunking them vigorously down upon the stretch
of wooden counter before him. "Gimme summat older than I, mate, and I dinnae
care what," he bellows out in a ringing, lilting tenor to Raven, the first
words he utters. Only then does he plant himself on the stool, adding
gruffly to Tara, "Thankee, lass." Sabrienna gets a curt nod. And Nox...
well, Nox gets a narrow-eyed look of consideration, before Richard jerks a
thumb at the younger man and calls out again to Raven, "Summat older than
what he's havin'!"
Raven produces something evil looking and dangerous from the dusty bottles up
to, and pours Richard a shot. Tara, meanwhile, leans against him, idly
playing with the top button of his shirt.
Even though Nox' gaze is focused on the glass, somehow feels the attention of
the older man on him. As well as the slipping effect he has on Tara. His
head turns slowly to Richard, but his vision needs a few more seconds to
adjust. With wide eyes, he stares at the other man, before he finally
figures out who is sitting in front of him. "Ave Rich," is all he manages,
in a still vaguely comprehendible greeting. "Drink's good here." With that,
he lifts his glass and empties the rest of the clear liquid from it, then
slams it back down on the top of the bar counter, demanding, "One more."
Sabrienna has a good idea that she will have to put up more coins for Nox
during the length of the evening, since she offered to pay. Lucky her.
Leaning up on the bar again, she smiles at Richard. "Hello, Richard. Yer
lookin'... uhm, tasty t'night." There's a wink that follows. She spots the
Hound and with a small groan, returns again to her seat. Fortunately, she
thinks, Nox's wings will block her from any kind of clear view.
The one of the things that's notable about this particular Hound is that she's
alone. Neither of the two others that should be patrolling with her are
along. Eitherway, Sabrienna's probably not as lucky as she hopes because
Caioma smooths the smile away from her lips and turns to stride towards the
bar itself.
Evil-looking and dangerous is about what Richard has in mind for his
intoxicant of choice at the moment. As Raven sets that shot before him, a
grin sharp enough to splinter wood flashes out across the newly arrived
man's pale elegant features. The glass is deftly seized up, and, lifting it
in a toast, Richard glances sidelong at Nox. "Ave, and here's to yer flyin'
again, eh?" With or without wings. From the look of him, it's pretty
apparent Nox is halfway skyward already, courtesy of Raven's finest.
Apparently determined to join him, Richard steels himself and then belts
back the contents of the shot glass he holds. It blazes down him with enough
heat to make his eyes water, and he has to cough a little before he can rasp
out to Sabrienna, "I thought that was s'posed t' be _her_ line!" And he nods
at Tara, turning his head slightly to grin up at her.
Tara grins back at the mongrel, as Raven tops up both his and Nox's shots -
'you've had enough' is something rarely heard in the Siren, and most often
from one of the girls. Blonde hair brushes Richard's cheek, and the young
Cyprian nuzzles his cheek. "Wanna spend some o' that on me, mm?"
Melete steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
Melete has arrived.
Nox offers Richard a wry, unsteady grin, his eyes blinking a few times to make
the second Richard dissapear. "Be glad I didna' tell you," he offers with a
throaty chuckle. Then, with a bit more dampened voice, he mutters, "Yeah.
Flyin', flyin' 'part, if yer' askin' me." His wings flutter a few times
clumsily, sweeping by accident right into Sabrienna's back, only to get
retracted again hastily to his back. Nonetheless, he lifts his arm steadily,
to let the two shotglasses meet in mid-air with a quiet 'clink'. "Som'day,
we need'a talk. You'n I. But nae' t'day."
Sabrienna chuckles and calls down to Richard, "Ne'er were I one not t'say
m'mind. Can't help if I share views." She pushes away her own empty mug and
shrugs to Raven when he offers her another. Nearly pushed off her seat by
Nox's wing, she grins or grits, and reclaims her chair. "Take care, Noxie."
Melete smiles over towards Sabrienna
Reaching the bar, Caioma stands a bit away from the gathered folks, though her
dark eyes do glance down and take in each person, evaluating, categorizing,
judging. The Esper-Reeve remains quiet a moment longer then turns her
attention on the bartender. That invisible smile curls her lips again. She
remembers the Atlantean man, "Raven. Is Jenean about?" It's been four years,
but of everything /that/ must stay the same at least.
The big Atlantean pauses in his polishing of a mug. Grunts. "Upstairs. Might
be working." He nods at Tara. "Ask her."
Tybio wanders in and begins to make a comment in his normal fassion, but
chokes it back silently as he sees the Hound, and instead turns sharply to
one side and heads for the hearth.
"Talk later, drink now," Richard agrees, as his glass clinks against Nox's.
Tara, indicated by the bartender, still happens to be playing with Richard's
shirt -- and Tara gets another crooked grin that doesn't quite reach his
eyes. "Maybe later, luv," he demurs, "'less ye're askin' me to buy _you_ a
drink." Finding his glass refilled, he lifts it up again to drink. The fumes
of the stuff Raven's poured him make him blink a few times, but he gamely
starts in on drinking it down regardless.
Tara laughs, softly, and steals Richard's cup for a quick and cautious sip,
that makes her cough and giggle. He does, then, get a kiss stolen, before he
gets the glass back, "Sure y'll be able t' later?"
Tybio warms himself by the fire, keeping a wary ear on the conversation, if
not an eye.
Dark eyes shift from bartender to Cyprian. Caioma doesn't recognize Tara, but
that doesn't mean too much. Keeping her gaze on the blonde girl and Richard,
the Hound just waits. Doesn't really want to interupt business, but does
want her question answered.
Nox downs the next glass, taking again somewhat longer than his first few
shots. His teeth grit briefly, eyes flashing up in irritation as Sabrienna
remarks to him to take better care, but he still continues to chat with
Richard, "Glad yer' still wanna drink with me." His own grin broadens,
"...'n keep the girls happy." The empty glass is placed back on the bar
counter, with an expectant, wordless look for the keeper. Off the side, to
Sabrienna, he mutters, "Sure you wanna keep up payin'? Could be expensive
t'night, with and no much fun for you. I'll be careful nex' time."
The uniform of the Hound does not escape Richard's notice, but then, her
presence does not appear to cause him any concern. No one here but us
law-abiding citizens intent on putting our sheets to the wind, eh? "Why,
m'dear," he drawls to Tara, "are ye implyin' I cannae hold m' liquor?" By
way of demonstration, he holds his glass steady for the lass's inspection.
And he asides drolly to Nox, "I believe this lassie thinks I'm gonna be
drunk."
Tara grins. "Naw. Jus' not wantin' t' miss out." She glances back at the
Hound, the woman's presence registering. "Y'lookin' fer me, love?"
Expression not changing, Caioma gives a shake of her head, "Wondering if
Jenean's about?" Still standing straight, the dark haired woman tilts her
head just slightly as she asks the question.
Sabrienna mutters, "... how... drink... ye... down... I... but if'n... ...
yer in... still we..."
Caioma
Strength and fire mark the fluid lines of Caioma's form. A tall woman,
she is slender but with a warrior's muscles evident in movements as well as
her long limbed body. Angular lines mark a serious face, setting off eyes
that seem as dark as the ocean's depths or alternately like the coals of a
still burning fire. Bronzed skin is set with a darker dappling along the
back of her hands and along her neck, and while there is webbing evident
among her long fingers, it has been cut between thumb and forefinger on both
hands. Dark hair that is oddly shaded black seems to have a mind of its own
despite being pulled back into a severe knot - ebony tendrils slip free
mercilessly, sometimes hiding the gills evident in her neck.
Dressed in the uniform of a Hound, Caioma's legs are made to seem even
longer with the black leggings that disappear into the shined black of her
boots. Kept crisp as possible, her tunic with its purple edging is closed
tight beneath the leather curiass marked with the cerebus of the Hounds.
Though she's not an Empyrean, apparently she prefers the freedom of movement
leather provides over metal armor. A sword is sheathed on her back rather
than at her waist. The helmet typical to the Hound's uniform is with her as
well, but normally she carries it rather than wears it. For those that
understand such markings, the bars on her shoulder mark her as an
Esper-Reeve.
Tara runs her hand through her hair. "Uh." A frown, that creases her brow
prettily. "Upstairs. She went t'cool off an' change, I think."
Tybio shakes his head a bit and turns for the bar, making his way to the end
furthest from the stairs as he calls out to Raven for an ale.
Nox offers a deep, throaty chuckle to Richard, "Keep it up, and you will be!"
He takes another sip of his glass, then stops suddenly in shock, as he hears
Sabrienna's words. The whisky glass, nearly full, is hastily put back on the
wooden counter, as if the dark Empyrean just saw the devil in it. "Probably
wanna avoid that," he mutters in Sabrienna's direction. "But,
sure...splittin' sounds fine."
Sabrienna leans an elbow on the bar and looks at Nox, one brow going up as her
mouth turns upward in smirk. "Ye'll jus' 'owe' me." She teases with a broad
wink. Behind her Raven refills her mug with ale as he passes. Does the man
ever sleep?
Tybio settles onto a stoll and turns to the hound, after a long pull he asks,
"Lookin ta spend tha' coin ya like ta claim yer sort earn with 'er?"
Jenean. At the mention of her, Richard can't quite help a look up the stairs.
But then, his purpose of the moment doesn't involve recreational activity in
bed, even with the inimitable mistress of the Song. Nox's voice drags his
attention back, however, and once more he flashes that devilish crooked
grin. "Ach, ye havenae faith in me, either? Why, this is almost water."
This, of course, being the evil-looking stuff Raven's served him. It might
also be noted that Richard is taking his time drinking this alleged 'almost
water'. And although his speech and coordination seem unhampered, still,
there's come an ever so slight unfocusing to his twilight eyes, a slight
vagueness of gaze.
Tara looks between the Hound and Tybio, just shakes her head, and turns her
attention back to teasing Richard's shirt, draping one slim leg over his
lap, and showing a generous length of thigh doing it.
With a direct, sharp gaze, Caioma narrows her eyes on Tybio. Otherwise, her
expression stays the same. The young man gets a long, cold stare but
otherwise no response at all. When the Hound's gaze shifts back to Tara, she
tilts her chin slightly, "Let her know that Reeve Caioma was inquiring after
her." A nod is given, and then the tall woman turns to head back towards the
exit.
Nox lets out a mock sigh to Sabrienna, "Yah, know I'll owe you f'rever, lass.
Sowwy t'be tellin' you that I'll repay'n coin." Another glance is spared for
the glass of evil liquid, but the unsteady man has still enough self control
to not touch it. "'f you wanna have a drinkin' contest, Rich, forgedit! I
started earlier and'm done. Won't get any of the girls to carry me
upstairs." A crooked grin of amusement slides back on his lips, "Tho can
always bet on ya', boy." He raises his voice, so that the other people at
the bar can understand him better, even if he does slur badly. "On who will
drag off Richard upstairs first? Raven's liquor or Tara's art? Any bets?"
Sabrienna chuckles. "No' much of a bet, methinks it will be Tara."
Tybio grins as the Hound beats a hasty retreat, "Sure, we ain't no bleaden
hearlds though...be a cost ta give yer message Hound."
A giggle from the blonde Cyprian, though she does glance over at the Hound.
"I'll tell her fer ye. Fer nothin'."
Tybio shakes his head as he turns to the whore, "Well, ya do lots fer free.
Must not be any willin ta pay."
Tara smirks at him. "Not everyone's as cheap as ye, sweetheart."
Tybio leans back, "Yer implyin that I'd take it fer free from ya. Not worth me
time dear."
Shined booted feet stop in midstride. She heard that, Tybio. Slowly, Caioma
turns around and settles a cold gaze on the mongrel. Taking a few steps back
over, she simply regards him for a long moment and then states in her husky
voice, "I'll remember you." It doesn't sound like a good thing.
Tybio blinks and looks back ta the Hound, "Mighty underinformed if ya aint
allready heard of me Houndie"
Sabrienna rolls her eyes, "Ah, no, no' again from 'im..."
Nox gets a positively wicked expression from Richard as that bet is proposed,
though the man's attention has been coaxed away by that fetching expanse of
Tara's flesh bared to hm. A spark of something that may well be lust
glitters across his eyes for a moment, but that's _all_ the sign he gives
for the moment of how the young cyprian's affecting him. "I daresay it's
both of 'em I'll handle tonight," he tosses off airily to his winged
companion, whilst sipping at the vividly amber fluid in his glass. He
doesn't bother to look at Tybio, but the drawl in his voice as he addresses
Tara blandly suggests he's well aware of the youth's taunts, "Ye never did
strike me as th' sort who seeks out a boy to do a man's job, y'ken?"
Tara grins at Richard, and shifts till she's sat astride his lap. "S'why I'm
sittin' here, love." A smirk at Tybio. "I reckon he c'nkeep his hands full
amusin' himself..." Wickedly. "Mind ye, there's probably not much there
t'keep his hands occupied."
A single eyebrow arches up and there's a bit of a smirk on Caioma's face.
Tybio's face is committed to memory and then the boy is dismissed as
unworthy while she turns and once more heads towards the exit.
So at least somebody will remember something tonight. Nox isn't sure yet
wether or not he will. So maybe check back on who the one remembering is.
His eyes wander towards the Hound, looking blankly at her, trying to beat
her appearance into his drunk mind. Caioma was the mentioned name. Reeve
Caioma. The features should make her easy enough to recognize again.
Nox calls out in Richard's direction, "Don't let your girl run off. Or you'll
have nuttin' left but drink. Jus' like me." Besides all the obvious sarcasm,
taunting and challenging hint in his tone, there's a quiet, subtle edge of
hurt, hurt that reflects, for a brief moment, in his dark violet eyes.
Sabrienna frowns. Notinsomuch as she is insulted, which she is not, but that
Nox has some sort of forlorn love in his life. While one hand goes for her
drink, the other pats Nox's arms softly. "There, there luv. Thin's will look
better a morning or two for now, when ye wake up."
Caioma steps out of the Siren's Song and onto the docks outside.
Caioma has left.
Tybio chuckles softly, taking a sip from his ale.
Jenara steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
Jenara has arrived.
"Yer message'll get relayed, Reeve, dinnae fear," lilts Richard's tenor up
over Tara's delectable shoulders. He hasn't missed her request anymore than
he'd missed Tybio's taunt, though at least ostensibly his attention rests
upon the young woman who's insinuated herself into his lap. Leaning back
against the bar so as to give himself a bit of support as he holds her, he
chokes softly on a swallow of his drink at Tara's cutting jibe. "How patient
are ye, lass?" he purrs to her then, his voice dropping in volume, turning
to husky velvet. "I need t' be communin' for a time with this noble beverage
Raven's been good enough t' serve me" -- lofty words for something he's just
described as 'almost water'; hrmm! -- "and nae t' mention, I'd like t' keep
company with m' friend, here." His hand that holds his glass indicates Nox.
And for just a moment, Richard's blue gaze crosses Nox's violet one, in a
silent but keen acknowledgement. The darkling has his hurts, and the older
man, perhaps, has one or two of his own.
Tara draps arms round Richard's neck. "I c'n wait, hon."
Tybio comments dryly, "Waited this long...what's a little more ta snag yer
first."
Jenara smiles a she hefts her usual basket on her hip as she enters the Song
with another set of bread and pastries. She winks at some of the girless
patrons who know her face who also know she doesn't "work" here. mongrel
lass makes her way through the crowd and grins when she spies Richard.
Making her way over to him she ploops a small fresh loaf of bread infront of
him with a grin."there now..now ye can nae say I no ever did anything fer ye"
Nox's arm begins to tense up again under Sabrienna's touch, shaking nervously,
but this time, he doesn't draw back. As he looks back at her, a haunted look
enters his eyes, but is gone before it can be grasped. "Awww, sometimes it's
just great to have caring friends," he says in a deep rolling, unsteady
tongue. Richard's gaze is caught with a firm one of his own, before he
grasps his glass again in a determined gesture, lifting it high. "To company
with friends! To all of you!" he declares as a toast, then lets the whisky
sink back into his throat. With a quieter, rougher voice he adds, "And to
forgettin' sometimes, 'til the next morning. 'cause it's better than
drinkin' alone."
Richard begins to speak, perhaps to murmur some further flirtation to Tara,
perhaps to deliver another languorous insult to the cocky youth seated not
too far away -- but whatever he had in mind dies unspoken as Jenara enters
the Song and strides right up to him. At the redheaded Mongrel's approach,
color drains out of Richard's face. Recovery comes quickly, however.
Quickly, too, does his devilish grin return. "Grand timin', lass," he greets
the newcomer roughly. "A spot o' bread'll make the whiskey stretch farther."
And at Nox's toast, he carols, "Hear hear!" Down goes the rest of his
glass's contents, while he keeps an arm looped about Tara's trim little
waist.
Nox sinks back into himself, a bit unsteadily, stretching his wings out
partially. to lean against Sabrienna, trusting her enough to rely on her
support, while watching Jenara's entrance and Richard's reaction. "Uh-oh,"
he mutters over to her, quietly enough so that it might easily be drowned in
the noise of the bar. "Looks like family business to me."
Sabrienna leans forward to indeed become a support to Nox. Her eyes travel to
Jenara and smirks. "Yea, so it does."
Not that Tara cares, being cosily sat astride Richard's lap, arms round his
neck. he smirks at Tybio. "Still make me one ahead of you, wouldn' it."
Jenara is unaware of all the comments her presence has engendered. She grins
at Richard.."well ye did say ye wanted bread" she says teasingly..moving
around the small group to hand her basket over to Raven. She smiles at
Sabrienna , Nox and the pretty Cyprian in Richard's lap with a merry "Heyla"
in greeting.
Tybio grins from his seat at the end of the bar, not dignifying Tara's absurd
comment with a responce.
Sabrienna responds to Jenara with a quiet, "hey."
If he heard Nox's murmur to Sabrienna, Richard gives no sign of it. Instead,
his gaze lingers warily upon Jenara for a few seconds, and to her he drawls
with a blandness that doesn't match his stare, "Thankee for the thought."
Only as the newcomer steps away does he shift position, thunking his empty
glass upon the counter. "Raven! Top me off again, man, will ye?"
Nox throws back a friendly audible, "Heyla, lady!" at Jenara, watching her
moves, while remaining leaned back against Sabrienna. One bare, dark elbow
props up on the oaken counter, to support the Empyrean as he whispers to the
woman behind him, "Know her?"
Tara senses "Richard, close to you as he is, can be felt to shudder
fractionally against you. Something about that Jenara, maybe."
Sabrienna whispers something to Nox.
Raven obliges with another shot of the dangerous spirits Richard and Nox seem
to be drinking, and Tara, with a smirk, beats the Mongrel to the glass,
taking another eye-watering sip and giggling before handing it to him.
If Jenara notes the odd look Richard gives her she makes no comment upon it
instead looking at Raven to ask "That be enough to cover t'morrow to or will
ye need me t' bake another batch?"
SunHawk steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
SunHawk has arrived.
Sabrienna rolls her eyes and wonders outloud, but softly so it only carries to
the four other patrons at the bar nearest to her, "All the damn puppies,
t'night. Wonder who their lookin' fer."
"'Ere now," murmurs Richard mock-sternly to Tara as she swipes his drink,
"that'd be mine then, lass. How'm I s'posed t' prove t' ye that I can hold
m' liquor if ye hold it for me, eh?"
Tara giggles, sat in Richard's lap, and gives him a kiss flavoured with the
strong spirit. "S'nice. Bit strong."
Nox mutters, "... any ..."
He appears in the doorway in the most inobtrusive manner possible, his
demeanor quiet, his mood not the sort to draw attention. Further, his
attire, entirely indigo, meshes well with the shadows lingering near the
doorway. Were it not for the glimmer from his tidily trimmed pale hair and
his keen irises, SunHawk would well blend into the scenery.
Jenara chats idely with Raven for a moment before gathering up her basket and
her coin.
Nox has the near-blank look common at the stage of complete drunkness, fixated
on his empty glass. Not lifting his eyes, he addresses Raven, "Callin' it a
day, Raven. Wass' my share?"
SunHawk most assuredly fails to draw the attention of Richard. Although he as
of yet shows no blatant signs of inebriation, those two shots of aged
whiskey he's put down have kindled a small bonfire inside him. The warmth of
it is beginning to spread through his system, putting a faint but pleasant
haze between him and the world around him. That haze is rather helped along
as Tara molds herself against him and fuses her mouth to his; by the time
Richard comes up for air, he's looking ever so slightly dazed. "Strong," he
whispers then, sounding suspiciously entranced. "Like it that way, do ye?"
SunHawk is, of course, stone-cold sober. One would imagine a gentleman in the
guise of a Hound commander would be nothing but the picture of sobriety and
abstinence, and the upright carriage and noble cut of his uniform and
countenance are annoyingly immaculate. His business, at present, is only
looking around...and he has, one surmises, little intent to draw attention.
Sabrienna eases out from behind Nox and heads to the back of the bar to
relieve herself.
Tara licks her lips, arms draped round Richard's neck. "Mm." An impish smile.
"How 'bout you?"
Jenara starts to head back out but pauses at the sight of the Hound
commander..like any self respecting Mongrel she has a strong sense of
self-preseveration adn she sems to be doing a silent catalogue of her recent
activities to see if any of them could have drawn the attention of a Hound.
Handsomely maintained boots make quiet thudding sounds as SunHawk walks
patiently around the revellers toward the bar, his smile small below
watchful eyes. No words are necessary beyond those of greetings; he has no
threat about him.
Yet.
The current Hound in the bar, even if he did draw Richard's notice, would
cause him no more concern than the last Hound had done. Still no one here
but us law-abiding citzens, most definitely... or at any rate, law-abiding
citizens bent on getting drunk, getting bedded, or both. Jenara and her
bread by now have also slipped out of Richard's immediate ken, for Tara
grows more fascinating the longer she sits there in his lap with her sweet
young arms about his neck. "What d'ye say, dearlin'?" he murmurs, keeping
her close with one hand, sipping down his whiskey with the other. "Think
between ye and this brew, I c'n forget life for a night?"
Jenara hrmss softly..and tries to make herself as unseen as possible as she
tries to slip past the Hound.
SunHawk's glance focuses on Richard and the female perched on him - he was not
born yesterday, and he knows fully well the sort of place in which he
presently stands - though his expression changes not at all. Then he looks
toward Jenara, and one brow flickers upward. "Good evening," he murmurs in
her direction. "I trust you are staying out of trouble."
Jenara stops in her tracks and then turns a bright smile upon the Hound.."Me??
Oh aye.. I nae ever be lookin' fer trouble mind ye, good commander..." and
she can't help it she /winks/ at you.."but it forever be findin' me!"
Nox draws in a languid gesture a few silver coins out of his tunic and places
them on the wood. "'ss should cover my share. Ask Sabi f'r t'rest," he
mutters in the direction of his last emptied glass. Richard gets an awkward,
clumsy looking gesture of farewell, before the dark Empyrean lifts himself
off his stool with much struggle. The Hound Commander catches for a moment
longer his attention, but not long enough to make it through to his drunken
brain. With a staggering, greatly curving pace and drooped wings, Nox makes
his way for the exit.
"Well, lass," intones the Commander, in a gentle basso juxtaposed with his
warrior guise, "when it finds you, come see me. We'll see if we can chase
the trouble away for once and all. Hrm?" During this brief speech he takes
note of Nox and his state, frowning a trifle.
Tara smiles at Richard. "Bethcha I can do better than th' whisky."
Jenara laughs merrily and nods.."oh aye Commander..ye be the very first person
I be seekin' out when troulbe comes a callin!" she catches Nox's staggered
walk to the door and as she's about to leave herself she offers.."can I be
helpin' ye??"
Over Tara's shoulder, Richard blinks blue eyes turned languid, almost dreamy,
at Nox. "Vale, m'friend," he murmurs, before the cyprian captures his
attention again. To Tara, he grins... just a trifle blurrily. "I cannae have
both? Seems t' me a man ought t' have his cake and eat it too..."
Nox declares firmly to Jenara, "'m doin' fine." Yet his swaying movements seem
to betray any falsehood in his words. Despite it all, he manages to makes
his way out by grazing only one table. If Richard's wishes are still heard,
they evoke no reply.
"Perhaps I should escort you back to your rooms, sir," SunHawk suggests while
taking longer strides than earlier witnessed to catch up with Nox. "Come on,
now...shall we?"
Tara giggles. "I guess we could do both."
SunHawk steps out of the Siren's Song and onto the docks outside.
SunHawk has left.
Nox steps out of the Siren's Song and onto the docks outside.
Nox has left.
Jenara shakes her head at the drunk Nox and follows him and the HOund
out..although you can be sure she's gonna leave that solider's company real
soon.
Jenara steps out of the Siren's Song and onto the docks outside.
Jenara has left.
Those who make their departures seem barely noticed by Richard, now. With a
deliberately reckless abandon he swiftly drinks down the rest of his third
shot of whiskey; aye, this man is apparently hells-bent upon putting
_something_ out of his mind. Once he empties the glass he returns it to the
bar, wraps his free hand around Tara, and murmurs silkily, "Ye drive quite a
bargain, m'dear..."
Tara mms. "Wanna drive th' rest of it upstairs, mm?" She sniffs at the dregs
of the glass, oiuts.
"Consider me persuaded." Odd. Some men, with three shots of whiskey in them,
would be slurring their speech by now. Richard's accents, on the other hand,
appear to actually be growing crisper. He begins to shift the girl in his
lap, perhaps intending to sweep her up into his arms... but as he rises, for
just a moment, the warmth of the whiskey in his blood shoots up to his head
and blurs his vision, turning the edges of his world gray. Richard doesn't
stagger, but he does pause a moment, his gaze going absent and his eyes
blinking slowly shut and then open again. "Mmmm..."
Tara slides gracefully to her feet, and nods at Raven to refill another glass,
which she takes. "C'mon."
Tara climbs upstairs.
Tara has left.
[And in minutes...]
You push open the heavy door and enter Room III.
Room III - The Siren's Song - Haven(#861RADJ)
This room must be the largest on the floor, and--unusually--it contains a
window that isn't shuttered or boarded over. The walls are covered with a
blue-on-deep-blue brocade fabric, to block out the drafts as much as to hide
the rough boards underneath. The bed is little more than a large pallet on
the floor, but it is covered with layers of richly colored throws and
pillows and looks quite comfortable. There is a small table and two chairs
in one corner, a large wardrobe opposite the bed, and a washstand containing
a basin and a pitcher of water (brought up from the well in the courtyard)
next to a small trunk beneath the window. The light from a lamp hanging in
one corner has been muted somewhat with a red silk scarf, casting its warm
tone all over the room.
Contents:
Tara
Obvious Exits:
Hallway <O>
Tara pulls the door shut behind you, setting the glass down and draping arms
round the man's neck.
Down in the common room Richard had shaken off his momentary dizziness readily
enough, and he'd kept to his feet sufficiently to follow the fair-haired
cyprian up the stairs. But his movements have been a trifle slow, and now,
with a lazier than normal edition of his lopsided grin curling his mouth,
with the closed door allowing privacy, he pulls Tara up against him and
seeks out her lips in an ardent kiss. The whiskey is strong upon his breath,
but it hasn't seemed to dull his knack for this kind of thing -- indeed,
Richard knows _exactly_ what to do with that elegantly cut mouth of his.
"Help me forget, eh, amora?" he rasps out pleadingly, as the warmth of the
whiskey meets and merges with heat rising up in response to her attentions.
Tara's arms and mouth are warm. Softly, "S'my job, love." Blonde hair brushes
his cheek, body pressed close against his. "I guess yer goin' t'be my last
one t'night, mm?"
"Please," comes the almost plaintive response, "don't... don't ask me to think
past this moment, am--" This time, though, Richard catches himself on the
endearment, his voice growing huskier as he amends, "--lass. I don't... want
to think." The casual mask he'd worn down at the bar is beginning to slip,
his expression a melding of desire and some sort of inner turmoil. Rather
than softening it, if anything, the whiskey he's put down is exacerbating
that look of his. With an edgy kind of passion he seeks out his current
companion's lips again, wanting consciousness of nothing but her mouth
meeting his.
If that's what he wants... Tara's good at her job, and, much more, understands
what her job really is. No further talk.
[To be continued...]