Just Passing Through

[Jaspenellar]

(Alcippe, I posted in my plot discussion thread about the non-existent posting order for this thread. Probably had another busy week, so I'm going to post for Theuse, feel free to jump right back in.)

The box of arrow heads Lo'en was carrying was not so large that she could not see over the top, even after the bundle of shafts had been set on top, but she was looking over her shoulder to ensure the horse woman would follow with the voluminous bag of feathers as she stepped into the street. The bowyer's shop door opened inward, which permitted the half-elf to unwittingly step just into the oblivious man's path.

She did not drop her box as she bumped into him, but the bundled shafts laying across the top went flying. Poorly tied together to begin with, the thin string promptly snapped on impact, sending arrow shafts skittering along the sidewalk. As quick with her tongue as she was to stoop down to begin collecting, Lo'en let out an angry hiss. "Y'big lummox! Look t'where your stepping!"

The half elf leaned her bow against the side of the store, placing the box against it to prevent it from falling to the ground and madly began to scramble after the slim, light wooden shafts which were in danger of being trodden on by the uncaring passer-bys.

[Alcippe]

(Yeah, I did have a busy week, sorry! Breeding season/upcoming finals are making my life hell at the moment. *shakes fist*)

In an attempt to make herself invisible as Lo'en spoke with the shop owner, Alcippe stepped back a little and simply listened, something she was very good at doing. She enjoyed gleaning important information from conversations, and this one held one key piece of information that she would have never found out simply from observation: Lo'en was only a half-elf. Alcippe wondered what characteristics identified a half elf. Having never encountered one, she could hardly call herself knowledgeable on the matter.

Alcippe couldn't help but be impressed by Lo'en's bartering with the shop owner. She clearly had experience getting jobs like this, and had a knack at striking a deal. That could certainly be a useful trait in the city. What surprised her was Lo'en's confidence in simply handing her the bag and then eying the arrow shafts. There was something about this sudden confidence and ease with which she carried herself that made Alcippe change her opinion about Lo'en. An elf who first seemed shy was now in her element, and confident in her competence. It was a somewhat impressive sight.

Tuning back into conversation, Alcippe listened to the fletcher and Lo'en wrap things up, and then followed Lo'en to the door. In a sudden explosion of arrow shafts, Lo'en collided with someone outside the door that Alcippe could not yet see.

"Y'big lummox! Look t'where your stepping!"

Dropping her bag of feathers next to the box, Alcippe knelt and helped gather the strewn arrow shafts. A slight glance out of the corner of her eye revealed the man Lo'en had collided with. It seemed that the man was about her own age, with short dark blond hair and a scar running from his right eye to his chin. She was sure there was an interesting story behind that scar.

Once the arrow shafts had been gathered, she stood and handed her handful to Lo'en before picking up her bag of feathers and moving towards Grane. As interesting as the man seemed, this was not her battle, it was Lo'en's. In a move without any forethought, she tied the feathers to the back of her saddle and turned back to the man only a few feet away from her. She was sure he was about to get a tongue lashing for his carelessness. Lo'en didn't seem to be the kind of elf - well, half-elf - to let someone get away with something like that.

She had been wrong before, though.

[Theuse]

((Breeding season... why the hell did I just get an image of the pod people?))

Theuse realized what was going to happen a split second before the collusion, a shame his body could not react in the speed of his mind. He bumped into the woman leaving the shop and practically impaled himself on the corner of a box. The sharp pain seemed to do the trick and he back peddled quickly into the crowded street, grasping his chest and grimacing as he hissed in pain. The bundle of wood on top of the box was airborne, there was no way to save the package as the woman was between him and it; Theuse was too busy trying to catch up with what happened anyway. The shafts were held by a thin cord, which promptly snapped, and Theuse blinked several times to clear his shock as they scattered. He immediately wanted to apologize, to step forward and help, but people moving around the mess, or even just through it, kept him off balance.

In the few seconds he needed to push forward to the door and hold fast in the tide of people, the woman he had bumped into—she appeared to be an elf, though her short ears made Theuse wonder if she was not of pure blood—and another, her companion perhaps, had collected those arrow shafts that survived the fall and subsequent trampling. Theuse sighed, realizing that he had made a rather large mistake; he opened his mouth to apologize and was just in time to catch the rough side of the small woman's tongue. He hadn't expected to get yelled at, but to his credit Theuse did not recoil. He also held his temper, which flared briefly at he was insulted by the woman. Instead he waited a moment, calming himself and taking the verbal punishment, before nodding his apology.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you like that.” he stared, trying to smile harmlessly. “It was an accident, really!”

[Jaspenellar]

Lo'en accepted Alcippe's help gathering the wayward shafts; in the end, only one got snapped by a non-observant fellow who seemed to be too much in a hurry to notice the women underfoot. As quick to calm as she was to anger, the half-elf looked over the blond man as she stood with her box and re-bundled arrow shafts, giving him a quick appraisal with her grey eyes. He hadn't taken the opportunity to flee and only one potential arrow was lost to the clumsiness that was as much her fault as his.

"A hand t'help with the clean-up would'a been nice offer by way of 'pologizing," Lo'en said, though her voice had lost the quick snap. The fellow didn't seem bad over all, and perhaps as much a stranger in the bustling city as she and the horse rider.

"I was-" Years of mostly solitary travel, discounting the talking beast by her side, had pushed out the proper pronoun from her vocabulary, but the half-elf caught herself and started again with a side glance at Alcippe. "We were just on our a way to find a room, somewhere, and perhaps get out of th'damnable busy street. Perhaps y'could repay th'lost shaft with a cold drink."

The thought of an ale in the now late afternoon was particularly appealing at the moment, and she offered a sardonic smirk as a kind of truce.

[Theuse]

Theuse grimaced and considered protesting, trying to explain that he wanted to help but had been unable to with the crowd pressing in and the shock of getting stabbed by the box. It wasn't exactly fair to him, but the argument that would ensue was hardly worth the effort. Indeed, it would probably do more to soothe the elf if he accepted the blame without comment. Instead Theuse sighed and tried his best to smile in a friendly manner. He was in search of a place to stay any way and he had a vague idea of direction in this city and could probably find the inn he wanted. But if it was a drink that would help soothe things over...

Theuse didn't bother thinking about how fast the elf had turned around, emotionally speaking. He had met such people in the past and it was not quite so shocking; just a different sort of personality. Among elves it sometimes seemed more so, like quicksilver. But that was also something had had grown accustomed to. Besides, she seemed nice enough and Theuse wouldn't mind sharing a drink with the two ladies.

Bowing, a little stiffly from the pain in his chest, his smile became more genuine as he met the woman's gaze. “If it would pardon my absentmindedness then I would gladly pay for your drinks. I am Theuse Del'Sir, recently to Marn, may I ask your names?”

[Alcippe]

We were just on our way to find a room? Alcippe couldn't help but be slightly surprised at Lo'en so easily incorporating her into the plans for the evening. Although, really, it only made sense. They both needed a room, and it was certainly not unheard of for strangers to share a room for the night in order to afford the high costs of staying at an inn. Smiling, Alcippe turned back to Grane and fiddled with his girth slightly before grabbing a fistful of mane and swinging herself back onto his back. She felt much more comfortable up on his back, and she settled in before tuning in to the rest of the conversation between the man and Lo'en.

Perhaps y'could repay th'lost shaft with a cold drink.

The thought of a cool Ale made Alcippe swallow in anticipation, and she was happy to have a companion socially nimble enough to work them into a free drink. If the same had happened to her, she probably would've muttered a curse and kept going, ignoring the stranger's desire to make amends. Lo'en, on the other hand, seemed more than happy to use the situation to their benefit.

Alcippe noted the man's stiff bow, and immediately cataloged this weakness in her mind. There was still a part of her that was overly wary, particularly of men. This man certainly seemed strong enough to overtake both her and Lo'en if they were both simple women, and while she knew that would never happen, her instincts were still on high alert. He introduced himself as Theuse Del'Sir, and Alcippe glowered slightly when he asked for their names. She was not very eager to volunteer much information beyond her name, and hoped the man didn't ask.

"My name is Alcippe," she said, trying not to come off as too rude. Unfortunately, she was afraid she already had. Instead of admitting it, she just averted her eyes from Theuse to Lo'en, offering a hand for the boxes she was carrying.

[Jaspenellar]

Lo'en offered a curt nod at the man who introduced himself as Theuse Del'Sir. As woodsy as she might have appeared, and uncomfortable in large city crowds of unknown people, the half-elf would never have been labelled a hermit on her worst days and she was warming to the prospect of a few others for company. As such, she dismissed his quick relent to her demand in her mind and decided to take his amity at face value. Realising she had been staring at the blond haired man through her appraisal, Lo'en moved her ever expressive grey eyes back to Alcippe, offering her the bundle of arrow shafts but keeping a hold of her box. Something about the woman mounting her horse to go just a little ways down the street seemed stand-offish to Lo'en- probably it was the fact of being looked down upon- but at this point, it made little difference to her.

"Some place should be close'nough f'this," lazily gestured with the large box of arrowheads, hearing them clink against each other inside, "not t'become too heavy. I'm not really going t'be all tha' particular 'bout th'place, so long as th'beds are clean."

The half elf glanced at Theuse again. "I'm Lo'en Jaspenellar, also recently t'here but having never been here, would allow you to lead. I promise t'not run into yer back so long as you give fair warning of a halt." She offered her wry grin again, for the first time in two days since she got to Marn, assuming her usual happy-go-lucky personality.

[Theuse]

Theuse waited as introductions were made, trying not to squirm as he sat under appraising looks, and did his best to keep up a friendly smile, all the while the wheels in his mind were spinning. The woman with the horse, Alcippe, gave him a clipped reply and, though he knew he probably should, Theuse did not take much offense. She seemed out of place in the city, both in the way she held herself and how she said as little as possible—or maybe she was just uncomfortable with Theuse himself! As for the elf, Lo'en, he was not quite sure what to think. She was open in a sense, friendly enough and in good humor, but Theuse couldn't tell how genuine the expression was.

The traveler had learned early that it was good to take the measure of those you meet, so as to gauge their value as friends and as traveling companions, and he prided himself in learning those lessons quickly and well. But being unable to read the elf was frustrating; he had never been able to read too much into Sindri either. This frustration quickly gave way to mirth, as he realized how childish his reaction was. He was not so good as to be able to read everybody and anybody, that would take years of practice, and he should be happy to use that talent as well as he could.

“I know a place nearby, only a short walk, and I should be able to get us there without putting you into such a situation.” Theuse chuckled. “Though, truth be told, I have only been to Marn once myself. I believe there is a stable for your horse by the way, Lady Alcippe.” Moving passed Lo'en and Alcippe, he begun to make his way down the street. He didn't bother to look behind him, assuming that the other two would follow him. “Again I apologize for running into you like that, if you need me to I can replace some of those sticks.”

Striding boldly, Theuse made his way throw the crowds which left gaps that allowed for Lo'en to follow on foot. Alcippe's horse would, no doubt, allow her to make similar speed through the streets themselves. As he walked, Theuse realized something: The two ladies were the same ones that had narrowly avoided injury at the hands of the cart as he had entered the district. Chuckling for not realizing it sooner, he looked back. “I hope you are both all right, I saw what happened earlier when the carriage came through.” He hoped the pleasant conversation would ease any lasting tensions.

A battered sign appeared as Theuse rounded a corner, about half way down the street it bore a weather-beaten image of a white tower. The Rook, as the place was called, was the only inn that Theuse really knew about in the city and, from what little he remembered, it was a homely place that was known for good food and drink at what could be considered reasonable prices. Indeed, Theuse had hoped to try out the fabled beverages that were served here for some time and was glad to have the opportunity to do so with some company. Drinking alone was always a sad affair. “There it is, just up the street.” he motioned, looking back at his new-found companions with a broad grin. “Shall we get those drinks?” Laughing, Theuse led the way toward The Rook, mouth watering as the smell of good food grew with each step. This was going to be good.

[Jaspenellar]

“I hope you are both all right, I saw what happened earlier when the carriage came through.” He hoped the pleasant conversation would ease any lasting tensions.

"Ah, well, I really would've been able to jump out of th'way," Lo'en held fast, not even glancing over to Alcippe. She managed not to sound defensive or offended and let the topic drop at that, not feeling inclined to insist or persist on what-would-have-beens. A subconscious part of her also wanted him to believe she as not so inept at self preservation.

The half-elf followed obediently, glad for a direction. Having a purpose did wonders to all but erase her earlier confused, aimless meandering. The half-elf peeked around her guide as they came around the corner to their destination. The tavern-inn looked to her both non-descript and comfortable. The best kind.

"Looks as good as any," Lo'en acceded amiably, somewhat anxious to avoid further afternoon ambling amid avenues abundant with ambulatory autres.

[Alcippe]

Alcippe listened to the exchange between Theuse and Lo'en with a detached interest, preferring to let Lo'en do the talking than engage the stranger herself. The inn, however, did seem to be exactly what she would need. The smells wafting from the building where those of good cooking: roasting meat and hickory wood in the oven. Feeling somewhat foolish for being back on her horse for such a short journey, Alcippe slid from Grane's back silently and tied him to a hitching post.

Loosening the girth, she patted his shoulder and promised him his own cold drink after they had settled in. It took her a moment to untie her pack from the saddle and sling it over her back, but once she had done that she managed to balance the box and the feathers before taking a few steps around the horse to bring Lo'en and Theuse into view.

"Shall we get a room to leave our things, then have a drink and a meal?" she asked Lo'en, not particularly fond of the idea of carrying around all of the packages. Not to mention the fact that she'd rather not try and protect her things from the unsavory characters that loitered in these inn bars. She'd rather simply put her things away and enjoy her meal.

[Theuse]

Theuse waited a moment for Alcippe to tie up her horse, he marveled at the ease she went about it; he had never been good around animals. If she planned on staying here she would need to stable the horse, and Theuse wasn't sure if there was a stable attached to the Rook. Of course it could simply be further back, there were sizable alleyways on either side of the building. When Lo'en spoke, he turned his attention back toward her. The inn was a large building but from the sounds inside there was a large group gathered there. It could be that not all of the patrons were travelers, just locals who enjoyed the food and company. Seeing no reason to waste time staring at the Rook like some sort of back country farmer, Theuse opened the door and stepped inside. He almost forgot to hold it open for the ladies as he caught his first sight of the inn.

The Rook was like many of its cousins scattered throughout a hundred different cities and towns. The common room was spacious, two stairways led to a second and even a third story, and covered with tables and chairs. Men and women inside all talked and sang, eating and gambling with friends or friendly strangers. The site was immediately comforting, which was doubtless the intention of the Rook's owner. A traveler who felt at ease would be a happy customer, and a well paying one too. That made Theuse grin, he wondered just how much it cost to stay the night in a place like this. The sight of ham, warm bread, and a delightful looking pale ale on a serving woman's tray erased that train of thought in short order.

“Well now, this looks promising.” He chuckled.

[Jaspenellar]

"Cozy," Lo'en murmured as she stepped in behind Theuse. Her stomach rumbled audibly as her nostrils flared at the homely scent of food, but she had been travelling on her own long enough that she had no compunction to appear embarrassed. The half-elf's eager expression mirrored Theuse's. No doubt the trio gaping in the doorway appeared ever the stereotypical group of road-weary travellers. Her grey eyes followed the same pale ale as Theuse's but movement in her peripheral caught her attention. The host, perhaps the owner, stepped smartly up to the three standing in the threshold.

"Good afternoon, ladies, gentleman," he began in a warm voice. The man was past his prime, but not yet bent with age, standing portly with stick thin arms and legs. He was well dressed, not in rich clothing, but practical, well-kept, and pristine bar-tending attire. Despite his welcoming words, he was eying the group warily, as if he expected less than civilised behaviour from the rough looking crowd before him. "Welcome to The Rook, a home away from home, as it would appear you three need."

Lo'en practically crossed her eyes at his presumptuous attitude. Yes, she was dirty, disheveled, and probably smelled like campfire, burnt meat, and dirt. She was sure Alcippe smelled of sweaty leather and horse hair. And Theuse... well, she had worked alongside and travelled with her brother Koloque to know how proliferous a man's odor could become after days on the road. After filtering through these facts, the half-elf decided to clip her tone and instead offered her disarming grin. "Sir, indeed, we could use a... two rooms, an' if t'isn't too late after th'noon meal, we'd love t'try the kitchen's off'rings. What would it cost for a night 'ere? Nothing too fancy... a bed or cot would do just fine."

Whether her unwitting charm worked or the man was just eager to receive customers was a moot point. His smile widened enough to be honest, no doubt inspired by the thought of drawing income from them. "I'm afraid the only rooms we have available are the more fancy ones. 100 bishani a night is the best rate I can give you. Stabling," he pointedly looked at Alcippe, "costs 25 bishani, to cover the cost of hay, oats, water, and grooming. Food and drink vary on what your tastes are, and we have the best variety in Marn of both here."

Lo'en gaped, barely managing to keep her jaw from dropping to the floor. Consternation crept into her grey eyes as she mentally puzzled the costs. She had planned to ask Alcippe to split the costs of a room, but 100 bishani? She wondered if the other girl could overcome her apparent unease of Theuse- a third party would be helpful in splitting the costs further. At this late point of the afternoon, the half-elf was more concerned withgetting a meal than with her potential bedfellows.

[Alcippe]

Alcippe's mouth watered and her stomach growled as they walked into the tavern. She hadn't had a solid meal in the weeks she'd been traveling; she had only been able to have water and whatever wild game she could hunt on the journey. The prices of the inn were far from what she was willing to pay, though. 100 bishani for a single room? 25 for stabling? It was ridiculous. She'd be better off turning Grane out on the city limits and sleeping in the stall herself. Grumbling slightly, she stepped closer to the innkeeper.

"15 bishani for stabling, no grooming necessary. 75 bishani for a room." she offered, watching the man twist his face slightly in obvious distaste.

"20 bishani for stabling, and 90 for the room," he rumbled, eying Alcippe and folding his arms. Alcippe shook her head, still unwilling to accept the deal.

"85 bishani for a room, and there are three beds in the room," she clarified, bargaining for something she already knew had to come to pass. While she could afford 50 bishani for a room with Lo'en, she could not afford it for long. With the third traveler and a hopefully lowered price, she would be paying about 50 bishani for both herself and Grane. It was a much more reasonable price. Holding her breath slightly, she watched the innkeeper think it over. While she was sure the rooms were slightly nicer than the standard rooms, she was even more sure that they were not worth 100 bishani a night. However, in her experience, some innkeepers were open to bargaining while others became irritated with it. Alcippe prayed for the former.

"Done. But my boys aren't touching your beast, feed him yourself. And you'll have one bed and one cot," he clarified, and Alcippe nodded. It was certainly better than nothing. Glancing at her newfound companions, she waited to see if they wished to accept the price of a night's stay. 29 bishani a night per person was about as good as she thought they could find within the city.

[Theuse]

100 bishani really was an outrageous price, there was no way the rooms that that money would be paying for was so good. Doubtless the cost would seem a pittance to a traveling noble, but to a common man, and a traveler at that, it was too much. Staying at The Rook was out of the question if this was the cost of a single night, let along the week or so Theuse would doubtless be in town. He might actually be able to afford the expenses, but it would leave Theuse incredibly drained of finances. No, he would have his ale here, maybe a meal, and repay the ladies what he felt he owed them. Before he could say as much, Alcippe stepped in.

Theuse was caught up in the whirlwind of bidding, listening as Alcippe brought down the cost of spending a night; the performance was masterful. It wasn't until the price was reached that something struck him, however. Why was he being included in all of this? He fully intended to share a meal with the two ladies, to make up for the accident earlier, but sharing a room with strangers did not seem wise—the fact that they were women only made Theuse all the more uncomfortable. Something about sharing a room with them seemed to make him squeamish and a little bit bashful. Rather than stand their, staying silent, he gestured for Alcippe's and Lo'en's attentions. It took a moment, and he used it to screw up his courage.

“While I am honored that you trust me enough that you would like me to help you pay for your time at the inn, I would like to point out some issues with your plan.” He said, trying not to sound nervous. “I hardly know either of you, and while I mean no disrespect it would seem foolish to share a room with someone, or a pair of someones, that I have just met. There is also the little issue of... er, etiquette.”

[Jaspenellar]

The half-elf listened at the bartering between horse-girl and the innkeeper. As she kept whittling down the price of a room, Lo'en's mind wandered again to the aroma of the food. Her attention was much more fixated on watching the other patrons eat than participating in conversation, which was what took Theuse a moment to grab it.

She barked a short laugh. "Etiquette?" She eyed the taller man with a mischievous glint in her grey eyes and complete amusement in her tone. "Are you afraid of us?"

Lo'en couldn't claim to be a good judge of any young man's character but Theuse's shyness was both amusing and endearing and annoying at the same time. She wasn't naive enough to not suspect it might be a front for more devious intentions, but his demeanor seemed as honest as her own. The half-elf's annoyance stemmed from her careless confidence, however unproved as it might have been, that she would be well able to handle herself if he advanced inappropriately. Teasing the man might have been inappropriate given their unfamiliarity, but Lo'en never had more than a flippant care for propriety.

"M'stomach is quite 'bout ready t'eat itself. Come, let's get a room, drop our gear, and discuss over food. There's nothing saying y'can't pull y'stuff from our room after a bit t'eat."