[sup][h1][color=fdc68a]The Love Problems of Drunkards[/color][/h1]
[@Inertia][@Hero][/sup][hr]
The bolt Rei had tossed had struck the floor and rolled away. Thankfully, the damage done was negligible. If it wasn't, there would be no telling what Anton would have done in a fit of anger. After all, the bar was like his baby. While he didn't care for the furnishings, any damage to the building itself was like an insult to his mother. The two drunkards were stopped by the noise. They had instantly stopped what they were doing and watched as the bolt rolled. In fact, they watched for a bit [i]too[/i] long as the bolt rolled across the entire room.

[color=7bcdc8][b]"Oi! Wha the feck was that for?"[/b][/color] The stout, bearded drunk garbled in a renewed fit of rage.

[color=fff79a][b]"We couldda been injerd from that!"[/b][/color] The ugly patron exclaimed with the ferocity of a drunkard.

Now that Rei had focused on them, he could tell that the two patrons were both considerably larger than him. While he was average height at best, the uglier of the two had been gifted by his height, towering over Rei. His body wasn't the worst either, with some considerable muscle outside of a beer gut. The stout man was shorter, but he more than made up for it with his width. Both of them looked tough enough to pick Rei up and snap his ordinary body in twain.

Rather than continue to keep their anger at each other, they both had redirected it towards Rei. Almost instantly, the two gained a brotherly bond as they went to attack the young ranger. First to bat was the ugly man. Moving far faster than expected, he swung his fist directly at Rei's face. An unprepared and untrained man such as Rei could only close in eyes in a vain attempt at trying to make the situation go away. The fist was coming and it came fast.

Only, it didn't collide with Rei's face.

Echoing throughout the bar was a distinct sound. Bone and flesh striking metal. Instantly, the ugly man yelped out in pain as he withdrew his possibly broken hand. A shield had been thrust in front of Rei from a patron. This patron, even if Rei could only see his arm, looked considerably stronger than the two drunks. However, it was much less about physique. The stout patron certainly had more muscle on him and the tall patron was better built. The man had a certain air about him instead. While the two drunks were strong, the man exuded an invisible strength as if he were more lion than man.

He had came up behind and protected Rei from the drunken assailant.

[b][color=c4df9b]"Well, my drink tastes like shite now,"[/color][/b] he voiced in a distinctly Scottish accent, [b][color=c4df9b]"put it on my tab Anton. And boy—you brought this onto yerself. Yer on matchmakin' duty now."[/color][/b]

He had left without Rei or Étoile seeing his face. Even then, they knew that his presence would be unmistakable.

The two drunks had been defused. The ugly one was still clenching his hand and the stout one was confused trying to figure out a way to console him. Despite the pain, the two of them began to explain the troubles to the half-blood ranger and anyone else listening.

They had fallen in love with the same woman, they told him, and needed to figure out who would confess. They decided to do it over a few drinks. They'd stop drinking and confess to the woman as soon as they figured out who got the honor of going first. One thing led to another and they spent a very long time drinking. The two of them buckled down whatever pride they had and looked for Rei to an answer. Offhandedly, the stout man even said they didn't know [i]how[/i] to confess to a woman. With the promise of an actual notebook or coin as reward, the two waited for whatever decision and advice anyone had.

[hr]
[sup][h1][color=f49ac2]The Inevitable[/color][/h1]
[@Raijinslayer][@ShwiggityShwah][/sup][hr]
With Jacob's help, the zombie-like man's movement was halted. Even if it was just momentary, extra restraints allowed the small woman to focus at the task at hand. She had let go of the man, but Jacob didn't notice; her small frame did practically nothing to stop the man. Frantically pulling out items from every single pocket of her garbs, she placed them all out on a thick fabric mat. Two phials of liquid, a pouch full of thorn-like needles, and a clean looking cloth were all seen. She was focused too intently to notice Jacob trying to slap the man back to his senses.

However, a second man—Korrey—had gone to protect the zombie-like man. He stopped the attempt at a slap and had gone to heal the man instead. With words foreign to everyone who listened, he mouthed his prayer. The light flowed from the delinquent's hands and showered the man. However, it did little to change his actions. The severe friction around his wrist vanished as new flesh replaced old, but his thumb still remained dislocated. He still drooled like a lobotomite and was just as aware of his surroundings as one.

As Korrey had done so, the small woman continued her preparations. She poured the first liquid onto the cloth, then ran a thorn-like needle over the wet cloth several times. The needle shook in the air as she quickly dried it. She then dipped the needle into a second phial, holding it inside for a brief moment before pulling it out. Without much hesitation, she grabbed the wet cloth and quickly grabbed the man's right arm. The wet cloth was hastily put to use, cleaning away sweat from the man's elbow. Next, the small woman bit into the man's bicep. Not enough to rend flesh from bone, but enough to certainly feel it. The zombie-like man's bicep instantly tensed up, muscles instinctually contracting in a vain attempt at getting her to release. After a few brief seconds of biting, she let go and quickly inspected the man's arm. Finding a suitable spot, she jammed the needle deep inside his arm.

The zombie-like man stumbled briefly. He began to have troubles with balance, trying to stay upright but barely managing. Like a sack of bricks, he fell backwards and onto the ground as his eyes glazed over.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Help me carry him back!"[/b][/color] She demanded the two strangers. Before the duo had any chance to argue, they had found themselves carrying one side of the man each.

They had moved the man a short distance to a large building separate from any other building. It was isolated by at least one building's worth of space on each side. Inside was a sorrowful sight. Dozens of beds, most of them occupied by a body. However, they didn't seem sick or injured. Rather, they all seemed emaciated and catatonic. They were all bound by lengths of fabric, unable to move. Frantically, a woman with plentiful burn scars seemed to tend to their needs.

The two placed the man in an unoccupied bed and the small woman quickly began to bind his legs and arms to the bed. Sitting down at what could only be described as a mess of papers was a haggard looking man. He certainly had the air of a doctor, but he was considerably unkempt. Reckless stubble forming a gross beard, greasy curly black hair tied into a bun, and thick-rimmed round glasses that had been smudged beyond belief. In his mouth, a single cigarette that filled the room with the smell of tobacco. 

[color=01c4ba][b]"Don't worry. It's not contagious."[/b][/color] He assured as he got up to check on his returning guest.

[hr]
[sup][h1][color=f7976a]No Heroes[/color][/h1]
[@Inkarnate][@Sola][/sup][hr]
[color=8882be][b]"Threat?"[/b][/color] The large woman mused. In a moment of thought, she began to size up the woman before her. Weapons, armour, expression, everything about her. It was a moment that allowed Lexa to do the same. The woman was considerably tough looking. Despite her weight, a thick layer of muscle could be seen. The woman seemed to be considerably older than Lexa, as she seemed in her late 30's. The cloth tabard she wore was thick, but covered in scratches and patches where it had been damaged and mended. On her back was a spear, but it wasn't anything special. 

The large woman opened her gob to deliver a rather harsh message. [color=8882be][b]"You're new here, aren't you? There's old ruins filled with skeletons that collect trash. They don't leave the ruins unless it's night, and they aren't really a bother unless you get swarmed by them. Don't blame me if you get killed by them, though."[/b][/color]

As the woman turned to leave and continue her rounds, she was ganked by another person: Emilia. Emilia had unloaded a nervous disagreement to the large woman's actions.

[color=8882be][b]"Harsh, but we all have more than enough things to worry about. Why should I worry about someone who dies because he can't keep his dick in his pants?"[/b][/color]

The large woman had turned about face and walked away from the two, continuing her rounds and talking to  various shopkeepers around the market.

[hr]
[sup][h1][color=82ca9d]Heroes Wanted[/color][/h1]
[@SilverPaw][/sup][hr]
As Kat had caught up with the man, he seemed to get a bit giddy. Up close, the man was a lot more attractive than he seemed at first. He was tall, thin, and his long black hair was styled into a pony tail that suited his thin face. On his hip was a maul made from steel and it was apparent he wore simple chainmail under his ordinary clothing. Kat could easily tell that the man's slim physique was entirely muscle gained from combat rather than meaningless weights. Not a single ounce of fat remained on his body. Trying to hold back excitement, the man's eyes lit up as he began to explain. The charming grin didn't even matter. Someone actually being interested in the man was enough for his mood to do a complete 180.

[color=fdc68a][b]"Well I'm glad you asked,"[/b][/color] he yelled in an exaggerated manner, [color=fdc68a][b]"let me regale you with a tale from beyond any of our times!"[/b][/color]

The man began to explain an extraordinary tale of the undead prince. The prince had, according to the story, existed long before Rengoku. He desired to become king of a nation, so what other way than to create that nation himself? He began by creating a castle, enough to repel any invasion. With thick walls of stone, the prince was safe from any danger. For military campaigns, he would need a treasury. He had all of his knights go out and collect whatever treasure they could. Coin, weapons, food, anything. At first, it was innocuous. Hunting monsters, foraging, trading were all their primary methods. But the prince's greed continued. They began to pillage. They took everything around them. Of course, the farmers and settlers near were upset about it. They took up arms to oust the prince.

It didn't work, as the castle was too fortified and knights were too well armed. Despite this, the citizens had nothing left; they fought to their death. Corpses began to pile up at the castle, but the prince and his knights lived. But the prince wasn't immune to death. It was not sword but a sickness that had slain the prince. But the prince's greed couldn't be sated by something like death. He rose from the dead as a cruel shard of once he once was. Fueled only by greed, he resurrected his knights and forced them to share in his fleshless form. Then, they would collect treasure unto eternity. Even as the walls of the castle were destroyed by the ravages of time, the skeletons remain collected wealth unto eternity.

[color=fdc68a][b]"but that's just a story!"[/b][/color] He laughed, [color=fdc68a][b]"but the wealth bit is true! That place is filled with treasure! So, are you in?"[/b][/color]

[hr]
[sup][h1]An Old Man and His Guitar[/h1]
[@eRode][/sup][hr]
As Nano approached the man, he seemed to be a lot less intimidating than his physique would lead on. Despite his bulky body and scarred face, he had a certain kindness in his eyes. He felt more like a grandfather rather than a wanderer. For one reason or another, the youth had spoken to the old man.

[color=b7b7b7][b]"Not quite,"[/b][/color] the old man mused to Nano, [color=b7b7b7][b]"I may be getting a li'l up there in age, but I do believe my memory is still there."[/b][/color] He had paused only to look at his hand. It was large and muscular like the rest of him and his knuckles were covered in thick callouses. His fingers, however, seemed misaligned. Constantly broken, they all had slight bends in them. He took one glance at the guitar that was on the ground and gave out a sigh.

[color=b7b7b7][b]"My body just ain't what it used to be. Don't help that I ain't learn to play no guitars,"[/b][/color] he joked with a barely stifled chuckle. [color=b7b7b7][b]"I'm Clyde, by the by. So, why'd you decide to give this old man the time of your day?"[/b][/color]

[hr]