[center][h1][b][color=035096]Cassim[/color] and [color=red]Iago[/color][/b][/h1][/center]

Cassim and Iago followed the lovely Esmeralda to the tavern of which she had spoken, the Le Pomme D'Eve, trotting along not too far behind on the thief's horse. Well, not technically [i]his[/i] horse, but the animal wasn't well trained enough to recognize that fact when he took it from the Agrabah royal stables. So it was definitely his now! Regardless, Cassim detoured from following the gypsy woman inside in order to tether [i]his[/i] horse outside, ensuring that it was near a trough of water. The good boy deserved a drink as much as they did after all.

[color=red]"Hoo boy, a whole tavern full of drunken morons with more cents than sense!"[/color] Iago rubbed his wings together as a schemer would rub the palms of his hands. [color=red]"What'd'ya say Cassim? Ready to make out like a bandit tonight?"[/color]

Cassim smiled in a sly grin, giving the tether a final tug to ensure the knot was tight enough. [color=035096]"We shall see, my little friend. Let's not ruin the prospects of our new friendships [i]too[/i] quickly."[/color] Iago returned the grin. Cassim had his reservations, sure, but the crimson bird knew that with a little extra pushing the man would succumb to his peer pressure and they'd make off as richer men. Oh he was such a bad influence! How grand.

The two entered the tavern to a large amount of hustle, bustle, and singing as a rather burly man stole the center of attention. The peoples of Paris seemed enamored with this red-tunic wearing hunter boasting about how many eggs he could eat and his feats of strength. Cassim had to admit that these boasts were indeed quite impressive... If they were true. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't, but either way it was none of his business that this Gaston (for who couldn't have known his name by the second verse?) felt such a crippling need for validation that he'd turn an entire tavern into his personal cheerleader brigade. No, not even how they showered him with gifts and coin was enough to draw his attentio-wait, that was a good amount of money being tossed around! No, no, control yourself Cassim. You're here to meet with the people and get information on the whereabouts of this Sally from Halloween Town. Adventure, now [i]that[/i] was the real treasure!

Iago, annoyed at the racket, desperately tried to plug his ears but to no avail. Instead he opted to focus on something else, anything else, to ignore the sort of self-aggrandizing he couldn't stand unless he was doing it himself. He looked over at the tavern owner but her burly mannish figure was startling. He focused on Esmeralda, who had reunited with some golden boy soldier man and they were making kissy googoo eyes (blech!). He focused on all the coin getting tossed around, but it was all being used to pay for more drinks and food for that Gaston jerk! Oh no, it was back in his head! AAAAHHH!

[color=red]"No one needs to blow it out their ear like Gaston! For the love of Allah, shut! It!"[/color] Iago, in his very noticeable natural voice, cried out over the crowd. Cassim facepalmed as assuredly eyes would fall upon him. Immediately Iago recognized his mistake and took to acting as the dumb bird he was supposed to be. [color=red]"Shut it, rawwwk!"[/color] He added a standard parrot whistle.

[color=035096]"Why do I let you get me into these messes?"[/color] Cassim muttered behind his hand, just loudly enough for only Iago to hear.