[OPEN] Sing for your supper - Printable Version +- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com) +-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26) +--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27) +---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38) +---- Thread: [OPEN] Sing for your supper (/showthread.php?tid=277) |
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[OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-14-2018 {{A request for any who wish to join this thread: I often have trouble loading/reading posting tables, so I would appreciate if people don’t use them here. Thank you!}} He came through the Temple entrance, a thoughtful look on his sharp features. White hair gave him an air of age, but his skin was smooth and unlined. The blue gaze that swept the room – nearly empty this early in the day, in that quiet time between lunch and dinner – was deceptively lazy. Of course he’d seen the Temple from afar as soon as he’d begun sniffing out the ruins of civilization around the Spire, and heard about the bar in its basement soon after. It had just taken him a little while to approach, given how little he knew of this new world and how much he had to explore before he felt safe revealing himself. ‘Safe’ being, perhaps, not quite the right word since he’d lost his divinely granted spells, but so far he hadn’t run into anything that claws or good steel couldn’t deter, and he was no druid, happy living off the land in his animal shape forever. No, he desired a hot meal, a stiff drink, and perhaps an appreciative audience, though he wasn’t entirely certain of the last. A way to earn some local currency, though, was definitely on the list, and a tavern was a good place to start. Everyone needed a little company sometimes, even – or maybe especially – in a land as blasted as this. And along with company, a little entertainment to lift the grey drudgery of existence from time to time. That he could provide, and so as he approached the bar and the woman behind it he offered a charming smile to ease his introduction. ”Hello, barkeep. What’s the price of a drink here, if I may ask? And what drinks do you have?” RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-14-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-15-2018 A bright and lovely young woman with a wild mane of dark hair was his host of the moment, and Jigano had almost started to relax at her musical voice when her words took on a rougher edge. His smile didn’t change as the curses fell from her lips, but he found himself reevaluating his approach. Charm might not impress this one, nor base compliments. A different tack, then… ”’Price’ doesn’t have to mean money,” he retorted easily, smile sharpening just a touch. ”Barter, trade, services, or goods all serve where coin falls short. But if you’re saying the drinks are on the house, well, I won’t argue with that. A shot of whiskey, please.” No wine or cider, he noticed with more than a little disappointment, though he kept it from his face. Ales held no charm for him, and liquor was for those times when one needed to drink with a purpose. The whiskey made for a tolerable interim drink, but if he was going to be stuck here perhaps he could try and recall what he remembered of the making of his preferred beverages. It was only book knowledge, but if he could put his head together with someone with experience in brewing, perhaps something could be done to improve the situation. ”And who, may I ask, are Remi and Devrum?” RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-15-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-16-2018 So, he’d guessed right. Jigano let some of the tension in his shoulders ease a little at the fey young woman’s grin, glad to see her amused rather than pouting or annoyed at his retort. One silver brow arched at the following display of lithe grace, mentally noting her balance and trim, lovely figure. A born dancer, even if she wasn’t trained, he’d wager. They’d make a stunning pair, darkness and light swirling around each other in one of the highland duets. But of course, no one here would know the steps unless he taught them, and he wasn’t at all sure the young firecracker had any interest in being taught anything. He’d been that young once, and not so long ago, after all. Pride and snark often went hand in hand, and some equines just refused to drink, no matter how sweet the water. He snorted softly in amusement at her blithe disclaimer, watching her pour both glasses with a quirked grin. ”Hmph. Been awhile since I had to worry about that, but it’s appreciated.” Another piece of magic he had lost in the transition, and one he hadn’t really thought about until she reminded him. Damn, that could get awkward. He’d gotten out of the habit of watching his drinks years ago, and it wasn’t a skill he was relishing re-learning. At least he didn’t have to start today though. And his erstwhile ‘drinking partner’ had a lovely voice to wash down the whiskey with, something a man in Jigano’s line of work could well admire. He toasted his hostess and tipped back the glass a little more slowly, savoring the burn of the alcohol down the back of his tongue and following it down his throat with an almost grim satisfaction. It wasn’t the sort of vintage one lingered over for the taste, but after a week of spring water the fire was welcome. Familiar, too, after the last few years of plying his trade at inns, taverns, and public houses along the road, most of which catered primarily to working and middle class merchants and travelers. He’d had far worse, and swallowed it with a smile. Another name was forthcoming, and an important piece of information: the person he would need to speak to if he wanted to secure a regular tab at the only functional tavern he’d been able to find so far. Convenient that they had married a brewer, or simply good business sense. The other though, the alchemist, had him arching a brow. ”I suppose if it secures your meals and drinks, a little moonshine in the side is only wise,” he murmured, lips quirking wryly. ”Leaving aside the purely personal reasons for securing your own source of liquid inspiration.” He toasted his companion with his empty glass and drummed elegant fingers on the countertop in a subdued flourish, grin widening. ” I’m Jigano, by the way. And aside from dispensing drinks and information, may I ask what else you do in this ‘fucking bubble,’ as you so aptly put it?” RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-17-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-17-2018 The cat had initially escaped Jigano’s scan of the room, but the bartender brought it to his attention and the bard found himself blinking in surprise at the rakish eyepatch the beast sported. Whether or not the legend was true, he gave the well-named beast a respectful nod, receiving a slow blink in return. It never hurt to grant the guardians of a place their due, and in this new world he had yet to learn which legends bore more than a mere grain of truth at their heart. “An honor, Chunk,” he murmured gravely before returning his full focus to the woman with the whiskey at her disposal. No witty comeback to his comments on the alchemist and his moonshine, but she made up for her silence with a refill Jigano hadn’t been entirely sure he’d be getting and he nodded gratefully. Such gracious hospitality deserved fair turnabout, and he offered his name in trade. “Edy” felt more like a nickname, but already her speech made her seem the sort to prefer short and sharp and functional over flowery ceremony. Swearing wasn’t usually his first choice, but it certainly had its place in his vocabulary and he tossed his hostess’ vulgarity back at her with a sly grin that she answered by upping the ante – or rather, dredging the gutter. He chuckled, offering her a toast of his glass at her plucking of the low-hanging fruit as she paused, then tossing the drink back as she continued. ”Guardian monsters and gods popping up, I’m familiar with. Attack-gourds are a new one on me, though. Er… just how does that work, exactly? Are these pugilistic pumpkins rooted in one spot, or do savage squashes more sort of, oh, roll after you and try to trip you up with extreme prejudice?” She had finally caught him at a loss, the white-haired man utterly bemused as he tried to work out the logistics of an angry vegetable on the rampage. RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-18-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-19-2018 Keeping a bartender happy – especially one as intriguing as Edy – was always high in Jigano’s priorities, and he was glad to see her smiling. He grinned back and sketched a little half-bow from his stool, managing the move with practiced grace. ”My stock in trade, after all,” he replied, pleased at her compliment. ”So kind of you to notice!” He would have offered a wink as well, but didn’t want to push his luck too far just yet. Impertinence mixed liberally with courtesy seemed the tightrope to balance on with her, and too much of one or the other might lose her good opinion of him, but it was a challenge he relished. He had already begun to formulate a witty response to Edy’s own stab at wordplay when the fire kindled in her palm and Jigano found himself blinking in surprise. ”Well, well…” he murmured, appreciative and curious though not particularly frightened once his initial startlement passed. ”You’re just full of useful tricks, aren’t you?” He gave a little shake of his head to find his rhythm again, grin turning rueful. ”Bitey, you say? That’s an, ah, unusual hobby for a gourd. Hopefully your fearsome fruit tastes better for the fight in bringing it down?” Or perhaps it was better not to try and eat something that had been magicked – or cursed – by an unknown power. Who knew what other alterations might have been made to them? It might be awkward to start sprouting vines and leaves at inopportune times! ”And gods are… very much present though not, ah, personally invested in individual mortals. Usually, at least,” he added with a momentary tightening of his expression. It was smoothed away almost immediately however, his charm returning with a lopsided smile. ”Where I’m from, some magic-users are born with a connection to the arcane and others are… blessed with a connection to divine power if a specific god takes an interest in their prayers.” From his tone that ‘blessing’ wasn’t always a good one, or without cost. ”Most healing magic comes from the gods, while most destructive magic comes from ourselves. I’m sure there’s a moral in there somewhere, but we’ve as many gods of evil and chaos as of law and order – and no few that fall somewhere in between.” Slender shoulders lifted in a liquid shrug as he toyed with his empty glass absently. ”I take it you don’t usually have the dubious pleasure of such an active religion in these parts? Or are you not from around here?” RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-19-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-19-2018 Jigano grinned, appreciating an appreciative audience as Edy encouraged him to continue. ”A scholar and a bard,” he confirmed, rolling the whiskey glass between his fingers with deft control. ”Or rather, a lorekeeper by preference, and a bard by inclination and a desire to keep myself in enough coin to finance the former. Though with the broken library open to all and large enough for a lifetime’s study, and my coinage apparently useless, well…” he lifted one shoulder in an eloquent shrug, a small frown marring his sharp features. ”I’ll be rethinking my immediate future. Any suggestions you may have would be most welcome.” Spitfire she might be – and in more ways than one, as she called flames to her hand without apparent effort or foci – but she had the advantage of experience on him in this world, and he wasn’t so proud as to turn away advice from someone younger than him. Especially someone with a clever tongue and a ready smile – or at least, ready smirk. Her sense of humor had him laughing along with her, and he admired the rich timbre of her voice, and the fact that she didn’t try to hide or hold back her enjoyment of her own joke. ”Oh, I’ve read a few pages here and there,” he agreed lightly, blue eyes sparkling. ”Shy, retiring fruits usually, not given to much noise or exercise. Not like tomatoes, at least!” He followed her gaze down to their cups as she refilled them, inspiration sparking as something she’d said earlier rose to the surface of his thoughts. ”Ah yes, it’s been just terrible the way I’ve been taking advantage of you,” he agreed absently, gaze sharpening on the whiskey as he swirled it contemplatively. ”But… you did say the alchemist’s liquor had a floral tone? We might be able to do something with that and a bit of pumpkin flavoring, perhaps a paste we can dilute and strain before adding to the drink?” He blinked, shaking himself out of his internal perusal of comments and snippets of books he’d read on the subject. Not one of his specialties, but it was amazing when little nuggets of seemingly random information would come in useful in his travels! Switching subjects he tried to offer Edy the simplest summary of religion in a nutshell – she didn’t seem the type to enjoy long, drawn out pontifications on the finer points of different theologies from a world she’d likely never see. Samuel would be far more interested, for one thing, and Jigano hoped he was reading his current audience right. Her prompt dismissal of what he described brought a rueful grin back to his lips, though her relation of the local deific shenanigans quickly smoothed it away, one brow arching again in surprise. ”Well that sounds downright petty, actually. Not, apparently, one of the better class of gods.” He sniffed stuffily, putting on a mockery of a noble air, the hint of a sly smile quirking the edge of his mouth as he sipped more sedately at his glass – raising his pinky as if at tea. It was just as interesting to hear of Edy’s origin as of the new divine meddlers in his life, and Jigano listened quietly, encouragingly intent. ”Some other mischief cooked up by the local gods?” he asked quietly, running a thoughtful finger around the rim of his mostly-full glass and drawing a soft, pure tone from it. RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Edrei - 12-24-2018
RE: [OPEN] Sing for your supper - Jigano - 12-24-2018 ”I’ll let you know if it ever happens,” Jigano shot back cheerfully, a wicked glint in his eyes. ”Luckily for me there are plenty of people who can’t be bothered with silly things like reading musty old tomes in stuffy old rooms – or even bothering to read at all – and who are more than happy to just have someone tell them the answers to their questions, rather than looking anything up themselves. Sad but true.” He spread his hands in a dramatically tragic shrug before returning one to his refilled whiskey glass, the hint of a smirk on his own lips. ”A ghost,” he repeated dryly. ”Hmph. You wouldn’t be the first to suggest it… alas, I’m in no greater hurry to accommodate you than them. They were rather more adamant about it than you, though. And weren’t particular about where I spent my afterlife. Bedrooms, indeed.” He snorted, grinning in spite of himself at Edy’s antics and raising his glass in silent toast to her wink, sidestepping her innuendo and deftly shifting the conversation back to the unusually active gourds that seemed to do be doing a little haunting of their own. She really did have a pretty pout. Full lips and good cheekbones helped immensely, but she’d managed to distract him with thoughts of paying his bar tab with a new concoction and for a little while he was lost in his own musings of what might work, given the limited ingredients and expertise between the two of them. ”Ah well, it was just a thought,” he murmured, letting the mental checklist of supplies and processing steps go when his companion showed no interest in pursuing it further. The gods proved a subject no less interesting, and perhaps more pertinent to his current situation, and he pursued it with an interest he tried to hide behind humor and teasing. Keeping the teenager on track was, clearly, a losing battle as she turned even his idle fidgeting into a raunchy joke. He gave a rueful shake of his head, surrendering gracefully with a grin and another sip of whiskey. Thank the gods the first few shots had already numbed most of his taste buds! ”I did mention that my skills as a bard were what paid my way,” he murmured, feigning modesty, but no sooner had he responded than she was off again, this time bouncing back to a previous point in the conversation with a speed that left him blinking. ”Ah… alchemist…? You mean those possessed pumpkins you mentioned? You want to go hunting them now?” He blinked, looking down at the remains of his drink with more than a little concern that there was something in it addling his brain and preventing him from keeping up with the wicked girl. Still, it was a chance to learn something new about the world, and there was no denying he was curious to see the Odd vegetables in action… ”I suppose I can clear my calendar for the afternoon. Where to, Edy?” Once she’d started heading for the door, Jigano would slide the remains of his drink over to Chunk before he followed – just in case. |