[IC] Birds of a Feather (Ebonfort)

[Twhirtley]

Starting Date and Time: 28th day of Ceruleo, 300 DM, 11th Stretch

Starting Location: The Bearded Clam pub, Scream Watch

CS URLs: Temen & Leona "Leo" Hartford & Raffey Silafin

Raffey was laughing uproariously in the middle of the Bearded Clam. It may have been early, but the drinking and fun had already begun. There was a crowd circled around something, and there was cheering going on. In the center of them all was a pair of dwarflings, half dwarves. They were just over three feet tall, and were in a very awkward position. Their long beards were tied together and they were staring daggers at each other.

The barkeep shouted over the ruckus, "Alright, start placing your bets. You can bet on Rakton with the red beard, or Lendin with the black beard. You may also place bets on the number of take downs, as well as anything else you heathens can think of!"

Raffey had already made up his mind, handing five golds to the barkeep, "Five on da ginja beard, tree takedowns." The barkeep deposited the money in his lockbox, and after a bit, shouted, "Alright! Bets are placed! Dwarflings ready! Three, two, one, pull!"

The two dwarflings planted their feet hard into the floor, and began leaning away from the other, attempting to pull the other out of a drawn circle on the floor, by the beard, only using their beards. They were grunting, their faces in pain. The gingerbeard dwarfling managed to pull the blackbeard down to his knees twice, two takedowns. Raffey was chugging his ale and cheering loudly, as the blackbeard looked to be about pulled into yet another takedown. However, it was a feint, he leaned forward suddenly, to throw the other off balance, before yanking hard away. The red bearded dwarfling was caught by surprise, flopped on his stomach and was dragged out of the circle. The black bearded dwarfling was victorious and Raffey lost his bet. A dagger was produced and the red beard was cut, releasing them.

But Raffey wasn't in poor spirits, sitting down at a random table, ale slopping around. He looked around the table, noting a few strangers, though he was sure was about to get to know them. "Y'all win any moneh?"

[HylianRose]

Leo groaned with her head on the table, the smells of the men around her and the noises of the bar not exactly helping her hang over. She'd just woken up a bit ago from the bed of a rather strong willed male prostitute named Jinel. As the commotion continued, she lifted her head and glared daggers at the two dwarflings, her blue eyes piercing their way. Though, it didn't do much good as she was prompt ignored by pretty much everyone in the bar.

"Micky... Get me a freakin' drink to help with this hangover, would ya?" She asked, shoving the brown haired man next to her towards the bar. He chuckled at her and did as she asked.

Good, means I don't have to pay for it. She mused to herself. She stretched her arms up in the air and got a better look at what was going on in the middle of the bar and raised a brow. It certainly was an interesting sort of sport and certainly one that a bunch of drunken hooligans would come up with.

She clapped heartily as the winner was announced and the beard was cut. Though, she did feel poorly for the poor red beard. Hopefully it grew back quickly. "Eh, served him right though." She muttered to herself and chuckled, making a motion to jab at Micky but remembered he was gone and instead jabbed at the person next to her. But when she looked up, it wasn't who she expected.

Wait.... What had he said before this? Money? Did she have any money? Leo's eyes went wide for a moment before she calmed down and chuckled once again at herself. "Nah, mate. Not a lick of it." She explained, making random hand gestures and then regretting it.

"Here's your drink, Leo." Micky spoke from behind her, "Now, kindly pay up." He added, as if just to spite her.

"Now, now, Micky." she began, turning from the stranger next to her. "There's no need for that." She continued, picking up the drink from the table and gulping from it. The slop felt nasty going down her throat but she felt relieved.

"Seriously, Leo? You're going to pay me back for that, ya blondie." He returned, glaring at her.

"How about I pay you back by savin' yer ass from the punishment you get when you don't show up for roll call on time, ya glutton." She retorted, glaring back equally. Shaking her head at him, she returned to look at the stranger and grinned. "Hello there, friend. I'm not sure I've seen you much around here. I'm Leo." She greeted him, holding out her hand for a shake.

[Twhirtley]

Most of the table grumbled, indicating that the house seemed to have come out on top of this particular gamble. As usual. He felt someone jab at him in a friendly manner and turned, surprised to find yet another stranger. Though this one was quite easy on the eyes, blonde and firm. though she lacked that look in her eyes he loved in women. That hungry look. This woman had a man, or another woman, recently. Smiling, that just made it more challenging, to create that hunger again.

"Ah'm new here. So maneh oasis' in this lan'. Definiteleh somethin' I can ge' use' ta. Name is Raffey." He finished his drink, then summoned over a buxom lass. But he decided to try a method on this new woman, Leo, that had worked for him before. When she arrived, he gave her attention, sure to keep his eyes on her own and not stare at her ample charms, "Ah'll 'ave another flagon," using this time to glance over at Leo, smiling as soon as he caught her eye, before continuing, after handing her a couple of silvers, "Keep dat for yaself darlin'"

Once more his eyes slid over to Leo, a grin teasing his sunkissed face into a bright smile. "An' whus a fine desert rose like yaself do? Ah'm a monsta hunta, born and bre'" Apparently their conversation had been overheard by a nearby halfling, "Oy mate. Monster hunter did you say? I know of a job for you, for a fee, just a split for the finder." Raffey turned, his eyes downward toward the little man, immediately taking in as many details as he could. The man had ink smudges on his fingers, his soft, unscarred fingers. He sat heavily in his seat, as if it was something he did often, and probably did if his beer gut was anything to indicate. He even squinted a bit, his eyesight strained.

The woman arrived with his drink, as he kept his reading stare on the man, watching him squirm beneath his gaze. He drank a large draught, not breaking away. "An' wha' migh' a scribe offa me? Mice eatin' ya booken's again?" The man flushed crimson, "I write the jobs given to the knights, and one hasn't been completed for a while now, and the reward is still valid. I just want a piece of the monster is all."

The man didn't want payment unless the job was completed it seemed. No risk in accepting. "Fine, nah whus the job?"

"Harpies, a whole nest of them, somewhere west of Greenfall. They've been pestering the ranchers there, taking livestock a lot. The Silent Hunters don't bother as its not their territory, and well, as usual, the knights are useless. All I want are some of the quills."

Quills for a scribe. At least he was dedicated to his craft. Raffey considered the job. A whole nest would be rather difficult and time consuming by himself, even with Dibney helping. He'd have to do skirmishes, whittling down their numbers over many days until they clump up. Still, it would be better with help. He drained his drink once more, flashing a toothy grin at Leo, "Why no'? A few feathas for a featherweigh'. Consida ih done."

[HylianRose]

She blinked as the man who had introduced himself as Raffey handed her a few coins. For a moment she simply stared at it as he went on, honestly shocked by the existence of it. Who exactly was this man? A monster hunter? Her calm expression turned into a glare as the moments went on.

Seriously? Who the hell is this guy to give ME money? Do I look like a fucking charity case?"

Just as she was about to snatch the coins and throw them at his face when the barmaid took them. She blinked for a moment, and looked from the man to the barmaid, her cheeks blushing beet red. She let out a long sigh, a steady current of hair as she attempted to get over her embarrassment. She could also feel Raffey's eyes on her which she knew the look well. She, in turn, looked him over

She saw the halfling and heard what he was saying while contemplating how best to reply to Raffey. He writes jobs for the Knights? For a moment, she looked him over, looking for some indication that she knew him.

...Ralph... Seriously? Ralph? He never stopped whining, did he? She let out a long sigh before leaning back in her chair no longer interested. Though, she still heard the job description. Harpies? She hadn't seen those before. She began to wonder if the man next to her had. With a quick glance, she turned her eye to look at Raffey who was now looking straight at her, flashing a toothy grin at her.

She blinked, a bit stunned by the reaction.

"Why no'? A few feathas for a featherweigh'. Consida ih done."

A smile found it's way on her face, she blamed this man, and she shook her head, turning back to her drink. "I somehow doubt these harpies will be as easy as you make them out to be." She began, "Which is why, as a knight, I'll be going with you." She sent the man an equally toothy grin and continued, "'Name's Leo and I'm a Knight for Scream Watch."

While saying this, Leo leaned forward and sent a glare at the halfling. "Consider that job done, Ralph." She called out to him before leaning back to look at Raffey. "What say you we leave in an stretch or two?" She asked him, leaning on the table with her elbow, her head in her hand. She wasn't one for wasting time, wasted time didn't get her anywhere and she was itching for some action. She'd spent too long training and loafing around.

[Twhirtley]

Raffey was smiling as the woman invited herself along. He considered that a successful step in his seducing of her. Beautiful and combat ready, his kind of woman. Well. One of his kinds. Most women fit at least one of his favorite types. His grin turned to a confident smirk, as he summoned a barmaid over and ordered a pitcher. "Let's make it two."

After the two stretches passed, he stumbled backwards out of the pub, laughing heartily, "Killen, yous a lake in da ba'lan's! Crazeh foo!" He stumbled around the pub to the nearby stable, where he saw Dibney frolicking in the field, much to the chagrin of the stable boys. The giant Auric Beetle was a very playful critter, teasing the horses and chasing them. She wasn't hurting them, just gentle nudges and startling them. A couple of the younger boys were throwing rocks at her to get her to stop, but they bounced harmlessly off her chitin.

Raffey whistled shrilly, getting the attention of the entire stable yard. "Dibneh!" The Auric Beetle chittered loudly and began rushing to her master, hopping over the fence a lot more easily than one might expect. She crashed into him, nuzzling him with her oversized maw. He patted her down, laughing loudly, "Readeh ta go on a advencha? Go' a pretteh ladeh joinin' us." The beetle clicked happily, slipping her mouth between Raffey's legs and practically tossing him onto her back. He flopped into his saddle, laughing in pain from the landing, before scrambling to get situated. He led Dibney to the northern exit of the village, figuring his companion would have enough sense to know to come here.