ghost towns

She had gone back to the Tavern for no real describable reason. It was the first place she had stepped foot in when she arrived here, and there was something about it and the atmosphere that felt welcoming. Of course, the drinks didn’t hurt too. She had managed to spend some time working on her appearance – not longer coming off as a runaway captive, finding her way here; but instead, a charming woman whose brunette hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders and her sapphire gaze was clearer than it had been in the recent weeks. Her clothes had now looked clean, and she had managed to find a decent fitting shirt (a blouse of sorts) that fit better than that loose t-shirt she had been wearing previously. She looked rather put together for someone who still had no idea what this place was and who she would be within it. Still, she made her way into the tavern, stepping up to the bar and ordering a strong drink – prepared to spend the rest of the evening here, watching, waiting, to see if anyone could help give her information on the topic of this world and what it was about. The drink was mostly to try and numb the strangest of things to have happened to her here – the encounter with Frey that continued to leave her mind reeling. She felt better about it, less like she would go and yell at the shrine, and instead more of a numb kind of anger. It still spiked in her blood, but she remained wary and cautious of any kind of strange happenings, deciding that perhaps her time here was best not to tempt fate. Kaladin time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

Necessity is what had brought Kaladin into the collection of dilapidated buildings his former countrymen now called home. The young man typically made shelter somewhere in the outskirts. He preferred his self imposed exile to the chaos that was establishing order in a new place. Companionship was a luxury he wasn't allowed to partake in anymore, it seemed to cause too much destruction for the other party involved. No, alone and separated from the rest of society was best, for him, and for everyone else.

Still, piss poor wine made from wild grapes he found growing in the forest was something a man could tolerate for only so long. After he had drained his last skin of the vile stuff he had spent a good deal of time in a mental argument with himself about whether or not to actually go into the settlement. For supplies, and for hopefully something more palatable to drink. The door swinging open quietly was the answer as to which part of him won the argument.

Black tricorn hat hid a mess of black hair, not unclean but certainly unkept. His sturdy frame was covered in worn leather and heavy cloak, several dagger hilts visible on his person, while several were not. Attached to his belt was a long stretch of chain with a spiked ball at the end. He had discovered the weapon in Northhaven, before he had been whisked away to this strange new world. Back then it hadn't had a name, Kaladin was a soldier to be sure but he had never been some hero of legend. Still after the ordeal he had gone through in his life and his newfound hatred for an entity that dubbed itself divine he had found the name Godeater to be fitting for the exotic weapon at his waist. He wore only one glove on his left hand, the metal hand of his right didn't exactly need to be kept out of the chill. He also rather enjoyed how the strange magical prosthetic seemed to make others uncomfortable.

Eyes scanned the disheveled room that they called a tavern and the patrons that had looked up at his arrival all quickly looked away. If the steel arm didn't freak people out then the strangeness of looking at two different colored eyes did. One ,the icy blue of his house. The other, brilliant emerald green. As a child often times he had heard servants whisper that the strange deformity was a curse of some sort. His father had quickly silenced those men and women, not out of any type of love for his third son, but because he wouldn't allow foolish superstition sully the Rickshire name.

He wandered over to the long wooden counter that served as a bar top and ordered a bottle of something strong, and hopefully not as vile as his homemade wine and then wondered over to an empty table in the back, eyes only momentarily lingering on the pretty brunette who also chose to drink alone tonight.

Rexanna still considered herself new in this world, regardless of how much she explored. Her ineptitude to finding out anything about this strange new world was frustrating for her – and the one chance she had at learning anything blew up in her face. So she was frustrated, yet still intrigued by the world around her as she continued to drink, downing most of the drink before asking for another. She sat there for a bit longer before the door opened again, and she found her sapphire gaze lingering on the doorway as a man walked in. He was very intriguing for her. The metal arm piqued her interest, and she found herself catching a glimpse of the weapons he bore. Had it been a week ago, she might have been more concerned that he was from where she was, and would have done anything to hide her face. But it hadn’t happened yet, and even if it did there was nowhere to go. So she watched quietly out of her peripheral vision as the man stepped up to the counter and ordered a bottle before finding a seat in the back. She kept her head forward, looking at her glass for the most part before taking a few minutes to look around the area – seeing a myriad of other people around with friends. Only the tall stranger and herself were the lonely ones here, and if Rex could put her money on it, he might know a thing or two about this world. So with a deep drink of the glass, she stood and collected the glass before finding her way to the stranger’s table in the back. She stood by the chair and offered him a cheerful grin, raising her glass slightly in greeting. “Is this seat taken?” She questioned, yet before he could answer she sat. If he wanted, he could certainly leave and Rexanna wouldn’t stop him. She didn’t have anything to stop him with anyway, it just would have been another opportunity wasted. She set her glass on the table and looked to the stranger, her smile remaining on her face as her sapphire gaze tried to glean any information from his face if he’d show it. “I’m Rexanna, by the way. I’m new to this place.” She offered as a way of sparking a conversation if he was willing. Kaladin time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

As he sat, Kaladin noted that most of the patrons in the bar seated themselves in groups. He recognized some as from Northhaven while others were strangers to him. Either way they all kept their distance from Kaladin, well most of them did anyway. The strange, multicolored eyes flicked over to the brunette he had seen earlier as she took a long swig of whatever swirled in her glass and then rose. She had been alone in the bar as well and Kaladin had been about to look away from her, assuming that she was preparing to leave. Then she did the most peculiar of things and turned around and made her way to him.

He watched her as she walked up to the empty seat across from him, bright smile as she asked if she was allowed to sit, then seated herself anyway. He always seemed to attract the crazies it would seem, Probably because he was half mad himself. At least she seemed to have the proper manners when she introduced herself. Edy had followed him around for half the day before she had offered up her name.

"Clearly not." Kaladin said acknowledging how the rest of the patrons were trying their hardest to ignore Kaladin as he pulled hard straight from the bottle. He grunted as the bitter taste tickled down his throat, this shit wasn't much better then the piss poor wine he made himself. "Had you been from where I'm from you'd realize that I prefer to do my drinking and skulking alone." His tone was rough but not necessarily mean or threatening. Part of him was impressed that she had the nerve to get up and make small talk with a complete stranger, the other part wished she would just bow her head and leave. Kaladin wasn't much for entertaining people these days.

His eyes were locked onto her, whether it from precaution or something else, Rexanna wasn’t sure. Regardless, she seated herself, laughing lightly at his response to her question for the seat. She watched as he drank straight from the bottle and answered her introduction, creating a smirk to glean on the corner of her lips. Her eyes slipped away from him to the room beyond, arm slung back slightly on the back of the chair as she glanced around before turning her attention back to him, her fingers tapping idly against the glass her drink was in. “Where, exactly, is that?” She questioned, eyebrow raised slightly in curiosity. She hadn’t heard of any names thus far in her time here, and perhaps trying to gather some of the information of the others that seemed to have ties elsewhere might make it easier for her to figure out where this place was. Of course, that was all speculation, and Rexanna had been absolutely terrible at gleaning information from anything – yet she still tried. Even if Kaladin preferred to be alone, Rexanna made no movements to leave – instead, she settled down a bit in the seat and let her eyes dip to the glass for a few moments while she gathered what to say, allowing him time to respond about the place he was from if he chose to. Then, she removed her arm from the back of the chair and leaned forward, her arms crossed on the table as she leaned over the table slightly. “Do you happen to know anything about this world, by chance?” She asked again with yet another tilt of her head – her brunette hair falling lightly over her shoulder as she looked to him. “And what should I call you now that you know my name?” She teased lightly, grinning to him again with that bright smile. Kaladin time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

The brunette beamed and giggled as if Kaladin's words were nothing more then a joke told to her by some potential suitor. An eyebrow raised as, rather then get up and shuffle off, she sat down into the seat further, arm wrapping around the back in a lazy manner. Rex either had more guts then brains or she was trying to put up a front. How is it that he always seemed to attract the crazies since coming here? He trilled his fingers lightly against the table, listening to her question with only the slightest hint of interest. "Would it really make much a difference if you knew the name? Not like we're there now."

He took a swig from the bottle, the harsh amber liquid burning his throat as it went down and his lips smacked contently as warmth began to grow in his belly. Her next question however managed to spark more then a little bit of interest. Why was she asking if he knew about this land? She wasn't a Northwinder, at least he didn't think so. That mean't that she had to be a native in this world right? "I would imagine that you would know about this world then I would." he said testing to see if his theory was right. Kaladin had assumed that only people from Northhaven had been sucked up into the strange new world they were in, if there were people from other worlds however....

Then she leaned forward, hair brushing against the rough wood of the table. One of Kal's hands drifted towards his boot, where he kept a dagger hidden, his instincts kicking in as adrenaline began to pump through his system. But then the girl gave him a bright smile and in her cheery voice asked for his name. Was Rex....flirting with him? He was so taken aback by it the thought that he didn't even answer sarcastically. "Kaladin" he said, hand drifting away from the hidden weapon. "Kaladin Rickshire."

He didn’t seem too interested in telling her the name of the place he was from, but the answer given caused Rexanna to shrug her shoulders lightly with another charming smile. “Not particularly. Just trying to figure out where everyone fits in here is all.” Her voice was soft but loud enough to hear over the chatter of the others in the Tavern with them. She lifted her glass again and took a deep sip of it before setting it back on the table as his next sentence caused her to pause a bit – her eyebrows lifting in quiet inquiry. She shook her head to him, her dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders with the movement. “Gods no.” She said with another grin sent his way. “I fell in about a month ago. No idea what this place is, who these people are. I’m from a place called Halyven, though it seems much to my pleasure nobody here has ever heard of it either.” She winked to him, pretty certain that he’d never heard of her homeland just as she was certain she’d never heard of his. She paused, leaning back into her seat briefly to glance around the room once again. “Spent most of that month figuring out what the hell’s happening here.” She added before her sapphire gaze landed on Kaladin again. As she questioned him about his name, she did notice how he seemed to go for something hidden, as if she was a threat. Her smile turned sweet, sickly sweet almost before he announced his name and she leaned again on the table to look at him a bit closer. “Hmm. Doesn’t ring a bell. Pleased to meet you, Kaladin.” She spoke as she lifted her glass a bit in a toast before taking another sip, internally wincing against the burn in her throat. “How long have you been here? I get the sense that strange things happen here that nobody can explain.” It wasn’t so much of a sense as it was from experience – but still, she wondered what he might have seen or heard, and if he was a new transport as well. As she spoke, her gaze consistently lingered on him. If he wanted to think she was flirting, let him. Truth was, Rexanna could be more convincing if needed despite a few shared smiles and a bubbly laugh. She didn’t seem to think it was necessary just yet. time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

The brunette seemed fairly open about her life it Kaladin thought as he listened to her prattle on. He leaned back in his chair, his appearance giving off an at ease vibe while internally all his focus was on his surroundings. Most people avoided him so while Rex seemed harmless one could never be too sure.

"I'd say that no one particularly fits in here. After all we all did get magically dropped into a strange new world" drumming his fingers lightly against the base of the bottle. The bottle was only half empty yet he signaled to the balding man behind the counter for another bottle. If Kaladin was expected to entertain another bright eyed youth then he planned on being drunk for it.

"Strange that you are comfortable walking up to a stranger that others clearly would avoid yet you're happy to have no fellow countrymen here to rally with." He noted as she expressed relief that she was the only person to come through from her where. Kal imagined he would have preferred the company of familiar faces had he not imposed his self exile. "Might make some people wonder who you're trying to avoid. "

Those strange, multicolored eyes watched her as she continued the conversation. Commenting on his name and how she noticed strange occurrences happening in their new world. Perceptive one aren't we? He thought sarcastically. "I'd imagine not as we've never met. As for strange occurrences, well honey you've been plucked out of whatever fantasy land you lived in before and dropped into this fresh new hell. So ya....I'd say that some strange shit is happening here." The bartender had finally made his way to the table the two of them sat at, practically dropping the bottle before hurrying away. Kal snorted before returning his gaze to the woman, waiting to see how she would respond.

She nodded to him as he spoke, her body still leaning slightly over the table as she let her eyes drift from him back to her glass. “Fair enough.” She said with a small chime of a laugh before leaning back in her seat yet again. Though Kaladin’s voice returned to her, as if prodding her for information about her homeland. She flashed him a smirk, clearing her voice before speaking. “I find it’s easier to talk to those that nobody will. And as for that, well, let’s just say I’m a top target.” She offered with a slight shrug. Let him take it how he wanted to. “Fantasy land, gods no.” She brightly laughed again before focusing on him yet again. “Just trying to get an idea of what this place is, is all. Why everyone seems to stay in the same place.” She added, smiling quietly at the thought as she trailed off. The bartender came to the table, dropping the bottle and disappearing about as fast as possible. She, too, smirked at that, but as Kaladin’s multicolored gaze landed on her, she found her own sapphire gaze watching him too. “I’ve been on the run for quite some time, so I’m sure you can imagine my pleasure at the fact nobody here has seen my face before.” She finally said, leaning forward again in her seat as she took another sip from her drink. “What did you do before coming here?” She paused, squinting at him in the dim light of the tavern. “You strike me somewhat as a man that can never be to careful. A guard perhaps? A bounty hunter?” She tilted her head, her brunette hair falling over her shoulder, the opposite one of the brand. “Should I be worried?” She smirked to him. time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

"Do you ever wonder why people avoid those people?" he countered with a raised eyebrow. Going up to people and places that others avoided was a good way for the girl to get herself killed, or worse. Being pretty wouldn't help her in those regards. Her mention of a top target did mildly perk Kaladin's interest however, the alcohol helped. " Are you another half assed assassin? Seems to be plenty of those around here. Or perhaps its more mundane then that. Spurned a nobleman's advances?" In all honesty Rex could have fallen in either category. She was certainly pretty enough to have had noblemen chase after her, and his few brief meetings with Ashe had taught him not to underestimate someone of small stature.

Her light cheery laughter did cause him to wrinkle his nose a bit though. She laughed a lot, only time he had ever seen someone laugh quite as much as her was when the person was trying to make the situation less awkward for them. They succeeded only in doing the later. "People like to stick together, especially when in unfamiliar situations." he answered her question shrugging. " Also doesn't help that there is some giant bubble keeping all of us locked up here."

He picked up his half empty bottle of alcohol and tipped it into his lips again, the burning sensation being deadened a bit by the alcohol. Someone had gotten up and went over to the corner of the tavern, a beat up old fiddle in their hands. A couple of yips and cheers went out as the older gentleman sat on a stool, tuned his instrument briefly and went into a lively little jig. After the first few notes Kaladin knew that the man must have hailed from Northwind as the song had been a favorite of his as a boy. It was about a pompous knight who had insulted a hedge witch on his travels and had been turned into a frog as a result. The song then detailed some of the crazy adventures that Barnebus the frog knight had while traversing the animal kingdom which had an eerily similar society as the NorthWinders had. It was mean't to be humorous but it was also suppose to pass the idea to always be kind to strangers on the road as you never knew who you might meet. His fingers tapped along to the tune automatically for a few moments, only half listening to what she was saying. "Ya....suppose I was a guard at one point. A soldier before that." his fingers stopped as he focused back in on those sapphire eyes of hers, it was strange that she wasn't off put at his own gaze. Most people didn't like the look of his eyes, some even said that he was cursed because of his heterochromia. Yet she had no problem returning his stare. "Damn good soldier, apparently not so great guard. As for being worried, well depends on if you piss me off or note."

His attempt to reason with her as to why she chose to spend her time with him despite everyone else avoiding him made her smirk at him. “Where’s the fun in that?” She questioned with a tilted head. Though as he asked her if she was a half assed assassin she shook her head, her brown hair tumbling over her shoulders. “Nope.” She paused, regarding her drink before taking another sip from the glass. “I was married to a prince once – he simply wanted his wife back, I didn’t want to go back.” She said with a small shrug, raising her hand to her collarbone and pulling the shirt to the side slightly so he could see the brand. “Escaped property is quite the offense.” Her words came out as a joke, but there was a flatness behind them as she shrugged her shoulders and turned her attention back to him.  As he spoke of a bubble, her brows knitted together. “Interesting…” She responded, curious at the notion that there was actually a force behind it to keep everyone in one spot. She hadn’t seen the perimeter yet, but she also hadn’t really explored for one either. So she put that information into a box for a later date. Soon enough, music began to play in the tavern, an interesting tune that Rexanna had never heard of before. She leaned back into the chair and listened, watching quietly while Kaladin seemed to know the tune as he tapped his fingers along with the music. But then, as if he realized she was still there, his fingers stopped their tapping and he spoke to her again. His dual toned eyes meeting her sapphire ones – but it wasn’t strange for her to have seen people with different colored eyes. Her own ex-husband had wings of all things. To her, he wasn’t any different than she was. She nodded to him quietly, though a small smile played on her features. “Hopefully I don’t, but you never know. Thought you seemed a bit lonely and wouldn’t mind the company.” She offered as an explanation, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass as she looked down to it. “Haven’t met too many people here yet, figured I should start somewhere.” She added. time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope

Kaladin chuckled Darkly his mood improving slightly thanks to the music and the alcohol. "The fun would be in keeping your head, most loner types wouldn't have been nearly as hospitable as I've been. Especially to a pretty lass such as yourself. " he chewed on his tongue for a moment. "Unless of course you consider being drugged and raped a hospitality" he added as an afterthought. "As I've said, there's a reason people avoid men like me."

Whether the story she told him was the truth or some concocted lie on her part mattered very little to Kaladin at the moment. It really didn't matter much to him where she came from despite his interest in her escape. She was here now and that's what mattered. "Ah if only I had known I was in the presence of a princess!" He made a fist over his heart and gave a small half bow that was meant more to be mocking then respectful. "I knew a princess once, kinda like you actually." He said taking another swig from his bottle but not elaborating any further.

"How do you know that you truly are the only one from your world then princess? After all you didn't know i existed before what? An hour ago? Your spurned husband could very well have sent some bounty hunter or their like to come fetch you and bring you back. Hell, the good old prince may even be here himself" Kaladin imagined the population within their little bubble wouldn't have been very big, perhaps a hundred or two but still. If Rexanna had shown up here then who's to say that someone else hadn't?

He watched her trace one delicate finger across the glass rim of her drink. " I do better being alone, less people get hurt that way."

As Kaladin spoke, her head tilted as she looked upon him. It was a warning then, but she had made it this far without too many issues; she was certain she’d make it alright here on her own as well. “I know how to handle myself, you don’t need to worry about that.” She offered with a sweet smile and a wink. Her drink had always been in front of her, always able to keep an eye on it. But the conversation shifted as she somewhat explained her situation, and he offered up a bit more information. Her sweet smile broke into a grin, then, and she looked around the room. “I don’t see any men with wings here, do you?” She questioned, using her free hand to gesture to the room of people behind her. “I’m sure it’d be an odd thing to see for people like this.” She said with a chuckle, returning her arm to the table and looking back to her drink for a moment. “Well, in that regard, thank you for the information and perhaps we’ll cross paths again?” She lifted her glass in a cheerful way before finishing the rest of it and standing up to place the glass back on the bar, though she paused just in case he’d capture her attention again. If not, she didn’t need to linger more. She had gathered some interesting information from  him whether he knew it or not, and she intended to follow up with it. time stops still and lends you hope that hazy due, so black so blue wash away that fear, a cloud of smoke whatever lets you cope