[center][color=chocolate][h2]Ophelia Cayde[/h2][/color][/center]

Fingers grasped up and into the night air above her while she let an exasperated sigh. The heat from her lips billowing and battering the chill that hung heavy and damp. Just above the stars swirled, bright and cold, and her fingertips seemed to just barely miss them. A wistful thought that dragged a shutter from her core while she toed along the well-beaten road. [Color=chocolate][i]Finally,[/i][/color] her mind mused as a warm glow pierced through the starry sky in an inviting halo. It had been a long trek but finally, there was a sign of civilization and warmth. As she drew nearer the muted songs of drunken cheer seeped out and filled her drowsy body with renewed vigor. Ophelia dropped her hand and touched it against the worn satchel that bopped against her hip. She was lower in coin than she liked, but she still had more than enough to enable a few bad habits for the night. [Color=chocolate][i]And maybe liberate some from a couple of fools.[/i][/color] Her lips pulled in a devilish grin. 

Ophelia skirted past a few bodies hanging alongside of the tavern, flashing her bright eyes at them in pure excitement. Long gone was the feeling of lead that had poured through her limbs. Now she was ablaze, renewed, and eager as she pried open the tavern’s lavish doors just enough for her to squeeze her body through. The less attention she drew the better, at least for now. She was greeted with a revelry of mirth and delectable smells. Her stomach twisted and groaned in protest while her throat shrank and burned in thirst.  [Color=chocolate]”Hmm,”[/color] she wet her lips, letting the heat soak deep into her cold bones. [Color=chocolate]”Drinks first then.[/color] She spun on her heel and edged past a drunken duo squabbling in a shadowed corner. It was definitely busy. Music and conversations all swirled around her in a new array of life. 

Everywhere she looked, there was someone and something to do. Her heart fluttered beneath her ribs already feeling the intoxication of the rich décor and atmosphere. The air in here felt timeless. It was like the outside world all together had begun to bleed away from thought and memory. And all the better for it if you asked her. Ophelia finally bumped into what she assumed to be a waiter, shuffling around with several drinks perched upon a dark platter. [Color=chocolate]”Excuse me.”[/color] she tapped lightly upon their shoulde4, nearly startling the youth. [Color=chocolate]”The bar,”[/color] she asked with an arch of her brows. After settling the quivering drinks the man shot her a heavy-handed look of disgruntlement and defeat before pointing his chin off to the side. 

[B]”Back o’va there,”[/b] He said before turning to drop off drinks at a nearby table. 

Ophelia laid her palm gently on his shoulder, leaning slightly in with a warm smile plastered across her face. [Color=chocolate]”Thank you so much,”[/color] her words oozed with a faux warmth while her free hand dipped into the soft opening of the waiters apron pockets. [Color=chocolate][i]Nothing? Seriously?[/i][/color] Her fingertips were met with nothing but the fabrics scratchy material and left her feeling a little less buzzed with excitement. She pulled away and marched over toward the bar, a little more than ready to drown out the first failure of the night. The bar was as cozy as the rest of the place, rich woods and polished brass. With a tilt of her hand Ophelia summoned a nearby bar tender. [Color=chocolate]”Whatever you got that’s cheap and strong, please.”[/color] The bar tender nodded and dashed off before returning shortly with a rounded mug of some sort of amber colored ale. 

She dipped her head in thanks, pulling the mug up to her lips and drank it greedily. A mistake. Ophelia sputtered back into her drink, wincing as the liquor burned down her throat and lungs. [Color=chocolate][i]Fuck.[/i][/color] She was battling to keep her composure, shoulders twitching while holding back a series of coughs from her aching lungs. That’s what she gets for getting the cheap stuff. She sucked down some calming breathes before looking around misty eyed. Had anyone noticed? She prayed not. What an embarrassing way to introduce herself. 

She smoothed down some wrinkles in her dark brown pants, taking another sip from her mug. It still grated as it went down but at least it went down correctly this time. Ophelia’s eyes danced over the patrons, making note of both the guards and any particular nasty looking guests. She could hold her own in a few different ways. But it was much easier and less effort to just [i]avoid[/i] the drama in the first place. She went in for another drink. Maybe it would get better over time. An acquired taste. Her brows furrowed in disgust after sucking down another mouthful. [Color=chocolate][i]Nope, still ass.[/i][/color] She didn’t think she could take much more of it and turned to find the bar keep again. 

[Color=chocolate]”You, you, sir.”[/color] she waved at what she assumed to be another tender, a bottle of rum in his hand. [Color=chocolate]”Do you have something, I don’t know, less offensive in store?”[/color]

[@Dark Cloud]