[center][img]https://imgur.com/XShqxhB.png[/img]
[h1][u]Elys Adair[/u][/h1][/center]
[i][color=gray]Oratorio, //O3 - The Pallid Mermaid[/color][/i]
[@ERode]
[hr]

The scrape of two flat surfaces as she heard an object slide across the bar. A hand shot out to catch it, but her neutral face broke the moment she tasted it.

[i]Milk?[/i]

What was she, two? Her lips pressed in an irritated scowl. However, the atmosphere of this tavern wasn't… well, it wasn't welcoming, to say the least. So she swallowed her pride, set her staff against the counter, and downed the milk as the owner told her about his cellar rats, and then to ‘run along home’.

[i]Why am I seen as a child? I'm near thirty, damn it…[/i]

A light went off in her head, and her scowl deepened. 

[i]It's the eyes, isn't it?[/i]

Her heart rate picked up as she felt heat in her bones. Not from embarrassment. No, from wounded pride, and righteous anger.

The swaying shape coming up from behind, she [i]saw[/i] it coming a mile away. It prepped her for the slap on the counter, which she only half-flinched to.

From the tone of his voice, she could tell where this was going. Her hand subtly moved to her sword hilt, ready.

A way to vent her wounded pride was about to come up, she could feel it.

[b][i]“I’ll be happy to oblige, hehehe…”[/i][/b] A [i]hand[/i] on her shoulder.

[b]“You bastard.”[/b] She growled, baring her teeth.

In the next beat, one thumb flicked her sword a half-inch out from its sheath, while her other hand gripped the hilt. The pommel immediately found itself buried in the man's gut, aimed to knock the wind out of his wheezy little lungs.

In the next instant, her disgust did the talking for her as she swiped her blade upward. In one clean stroke, she had slit through the wrist of the hand the man dared to touch her with, severing the hand from the rest of the body. She side-stepped out of the way at the same time, keeping herself clear of the spray-zone she knew would shortly accompany.

If that didn't upset the relative peace of the tavern, she didn't know what would. With a resigned huff, she sheathed her sword, knowing she'd have to clean it later. Her staff found its way into her hands through muscle memory as she addressed the owner.

[b]“As much as I fancy a bit of coin, I feel I've overstayed my welcome.”[/b]

She pressed her last coin on the counter in way of apology for the mess.

[b]“As you were, gentlemen.”[/b] She said icily, adamant there would be no snickers thrown her way this time around. Did the men have tempers, though? Would they bar her leaving, now that she'd hurt their own?

Bastard deserved it anyway.

With a dissatisfied click of her tongue, turning down the offered work in an effort to avoid the aftermath of her little ‘outburst’, Elys turned and made her way towards the door.