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[center][sub]Interacting with: [@Dezuel][/sub][/center]

[color=lightgray]Mornings were always an oddity in these new times, where the world outside remained cloaked in a seemingly endless darkness and the stars hung low in a never-ending vigil. The tavern had begun its early bustle of gentle voices and weary eyes still awakening from their sleep. The hearth’s embers lit up the space in a warm and welcoming glow, and provided a safe haven from the bitter-cold of beyond.

At a gently worn corner table, slumped amid a few mugs and the remnants of a pastry, Aldrick dozed away. His long, normally well-kept black hair was splayed out around him, and one horn tapped in soft rhythm against the tabletop with each breath he took. His golden eyes were hidden behind closed lids and his expression was soft, as if enjoying a pleasant dream.

Despite the events of the day prior, the bard had still managed to entertain those stuck within the walls of The Eye with an almost never ending supply of songs and tales from long ago. Though the stories may have drawn on a heavy dose of exaggeration, there were few things that Aldrick did better than captivate an audience. The blight-born had traced the enthralled eyes of the tavern’s patrons around the fire, sharing hearty laughter between rounds of drinks and keeping spirits high when darkness tried its best to encroach.

His rest was not to last, however, as the heavy creak of boots across the floorboards cut through the murmur of the room. A moment later, the hearty voice of a young… pirate? It stirred the bard from his slumber, his golden eyes flickering open just as the stranger lifted his head by the horns and gave his cheek a few brisk slaps. The bard’s bleary eyes opened a bit wider at the intrusion and met the pirate’s gaze before letting out a low grumble, wincing slightly as the comparably bright light caused his head to pound.

If that wasn’t enough, after dropping his head back onto the table with a dizzying [i]thud[/i], this pirate [i]hopped up onto the table and started singing[/i].

Aldrick took in a deep, steadying breath as he blinked away the sleep, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a groan. The singing continued without end it seemed, bombarding his ears with a surprisingly on-pitch but jarringly loud sea-shanties. 

[color=6A0891]“You’ve ruined a perfectly good sleep now,”[/color] an unimpressed Aldrick spoke, looking up to Claret with as much of a glare as his golden eyes would provide, [color=6A0891]“Though I do have to ask ya, is it just the shanties you know of, or do y’know of any songs proper now?”[/color]

Aldrick paused a moment, his voice very much dry in the early stages of waking up. His gaze found its way to the remaining mouthful of ale that rested in one of the mugs before him, before his hands responded in due time and brought it to his lips.

[color=6A0891]“I’ve not yet a proper breakfast eaten, nor a drink drunken. We’ll do just what ye want if y’ fetch me some food and drink,”[/color] he proposed, looking up at Claret, [color=6A0891]“Shall we call it an accord, surely?”[/color] [/color]