[TAVERN] The Tattered Sails

[Sakura D'aron]

The Aftermath of Imperiageddon

Located down on what many called the bad side of town, the Waterfront area, down where pirates where known to hang out. An old two-story building stood. It used to look old and worn down, damaged. A while back it had gone through some repairs. Not too recently the outside of the building had been repaired and painted a dark brown. An old thick and worn wooden door served as the only public entrance to the building. To the upper right hung an oak wood sign with a black metal frame. The sign had a ship with tattered sails on a black background and in red and neatly written letters over the logo read:

Tattered Sails Tavern

Inside the tavern were several small round tables and wooden chairs. The bar was to the far end of the tavern with several worn stools on the front of it. There was almost no sunlight filtering in through the greased filled windows of the tavern creating a rather dark setting, several oil lamps were mounted on the walls and kept lit throught the day and night.

To the right, on the wall a few feet from the entrance a large bulletin board could be found, that served as the Tattered Sail's source of information. For posted there, were the current job openings offered at the tavern.

To the left of the tavern a fireplace could be spotted along with a few wooden chairs nearby where on cold nights some of the frequent drunks that visited the tavern sat in hopes to get warmed up. Over to the right side of the bar was a swinging door that lead to the kitchen.

Over to the left, a few feet away from the fireplace were some wooden stairs leading up to the second story of the building. It was on the second story that the owner's office and living appartment were located. To the right was The owner's office, and to the left was her Appartment. Both doors were locked at all times, and a second guard dog made it a habbit of napping on the hallway, right by the stairs, so that if any one other than the owner should make his or her way up by mistake, they'd be promply escorted back down by the angry glare and growl of the angry guard dog.

As you aproach the bar, a male bartender can be seen behind the bar either tending to customers with their drinks or cleaing the bar at all times. "What will it be mate?'' is his usual greeting to all that aproach the bar.

Drinks Price List

Ale: 2 silvers [Pint]/1c [Pitcher]
Light Beer: 5 Silvers [Pint]/2c [Pitcher]
Dark Beer:6 silvers [Pint]/3c [Pitcher]
Brandy: 5 silvers [Shot]
Cider: 1c [Glass]/4c [Bottle]
Honey Mead: 2c [Pint]/5c [Pitcher]
Light Rum: 6 Silvers [Shot]/2c [Bottle]
Dark Rum: 8 Silvers [Shot]/4c [Bottle]
Wine (Fair): 3c [Glass]/12c [Bottle]
Spiced Wine: 2c [Glass]/10c [Bottle]
Whiskey: 4 silvers [Shot]/5c [Bottle]

Menu Price List


**Riot Stew**

A mix of pork, beef, wine, diced dried bread, potatoes, cheese and butter, all slow cooked and seasoned to perfection. [3c]

**Stuffed Chiken**

Large whole chicken, carrots, hint of sugar, hint of pepper and butted all stuffed and cooked. [2c]

**MeatPie**

A mix of chicken livers, diced pork, cheese, salt & pepper, a shot of wine, a shot of whiskey offered with a bread roll. [1c]

**Harbor Stirfry**

fried pork, beef and chicken seasoned with salt & pepper and a shot of brandy and hot butter over it. [2c]

**Honey Cake**

Mix of honey, eggs, sugar, ginger & flower slow baked and glazed with honey. [2 Silver pieces per slice]

OOC INFO:

Tavern Staff:

NPCs:
*Cook: Albert (Human)
*Bartender: Toby (Esh'lahier)
*Guard Dogs: Atal (downstairs) & Nwal (Upstairs)

PCs:
Owner/Manager: Sakura D'aron
Bartender: (open)
Waitress/Waiter: Nozas

***Please remember to TIMESTAMP your posts! You do NOT want our kind GM FOX reminding you to timestamp. ^_^

**If you do not want to wait for I (Sakura) or any employees to mod/tend to your pc (you just dont want to way for a reply), feel free to selfmod the NPC bartender. This thread is however, frequently checked and modded by either myself (Sakura), or any employees.

[Sakura D'aron]

BULLETIN BOARD

Current Job Openings:

Tavern Openings

*Waitress/Waitor (2 positions) [100c + tips per Cycle]
*Bartender (2 positions) [100c + tips per Cycle]

Ship Openings

We are currently hiring for several positions aboard the Evening Star.


Note: All interested in any of the above positions: Talk to Bartender Toby for more information.

OOC: You can either inquire within IC, or PM me or both. And remember to TIMESTAMP ^_^

[Alexander]

Timestamp:
3rd Cycle of Junctior in Autumn of Era I
Era XIII Post Fractum

With a slightly nervous feeling worming around in his stomach, Alexander slowly entered the Tavern that seemed all too familiar to him. He paused in the doorway, allowing (for dramatic effect perhaps) his white cape to billow slightly in the breeze.

It seemed as though nothing had changed in his long absence. Immediately, however, memories began bombarding his mind, flashing in front of his eyes in brief moments of recollection, both joyous and embarassing. Would she be here? Did she still own this place? Or was she gone somewhere? Would she be glad to see Alex again, or would she be filled with the urge to kill just at the sight of him. Shaking his head to rid himself of the troubling thoughts, Alexander took another step into the darkened tavern and peered around.

There, at the bar, a man that Alex recognized. For a moment, he had to search the wells of his memory to find the man's name, but finally, it came to him: Toby.
Feeling confident that this would be enough, Alexander crossed the empty floor of the tavern and stopped in front of the bar.

"Hello, Toby," he said calmly. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but do know if Sakura is around?"

[Sakura D'aron]

Alexander

Toby had noticed Alexander the moment he stepped it. He was honestly surprised to see him. He'd thought the man was dead... worse yet: So did Sak. Wheather she admitted it or not, the she was not the same after they'd parted ways. Toby was wise enough not to coment on it. Sak's short temper was as bad as it'd always been.

Toby nodded. "Hello Alexander." He said calmly. "You'll find her over by the fireplace. She's not keeping her crew company tonight, so you won't have a problem talking to her." he said with a smirk. Maybe he should've warned him that she was in one of her ill moods.

"Would ya like anything to drink?" He asked looking at him. Alexander's return would either be good... or terrible for Sak. Oh well, better Alex get the sharp end of Sak's temper and not himself. He didn't hate Alex, he just partially blamed him for Sak's change. Thought with Sak... you could never really tell who was to blame.

Toby pointined towards the fireplace. Sakura was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, clearly lost in thought as she stared at the fire. Toby could tell... it wasn't good thoughts she was having.

[Alexander]

Alexander smiled at the drink offer. "No, thank you, Toby," he replied. "If I am to speak with Sakura, I shall need my wits about me."

Nodding to the barman, Alexander slowly stepped towards the couch inf ront of the fireplace. Instictively, he swallowed hard. Was this a mistake? What did he expct would result in his returning here. He was suddenly filled with the urge to turn and make a break for the door.

Despite this, Alex continued to make his way over to her. Was it him, or were his boots suddenly louder than usual? Ignoring the butterflies...no, the bats...that were fluttering around inside him, he stepped up behind Sakura, standing a bit to her right, and rested his hands on the back of the couch.

What would he say? She looked troubled, but he wouldn't ask her about it straight away. All he needed was something to annouce his presence, then he would have to play it by ear. So, clearing his throat, Alexander opened his mouth and spoke.

"You know, I never found fire that entertaining."

[Sakura D'aron]

She needed to leave, and she needed to stay. As much as she wanted to leave she had forced herself to stay grounded for the past season. Now it was Autum, and she was no closer to finding the peace of mind she desperately needed. The guilt she felt at not being here when Imperia had been devastated by meteors and destroying what seemed most of the city still ate at her. Both her taverns... and her employess had had to face the disaster without her. And why? Because she had been a coward about what she might feel for Alex and took to sailing shortly after he'd left. And she'd stayed away... for too long.

How was she supposed to know that the Gods were going to punish her town in such a way? Sakura sighed, no matter what excuse she gave herself, the guilt refused to leave her. The very fact that Dzrg had been there to save the Tattered Sails and have it back in business was more than she could handle. Yes, he had practically taken over her tavern, the one tavern that was her home! But she could not hold it against him. He had been there to ensure her employees' safety when it should have been her. And now, she would be forever in his debt for the favor. Which was why she'd said nothing against his making her be in the bloody Council. Well, at least she'd know what was going on...

Then, there was Caidy. She had barely hired her as part of the crew when she dissapeared. Now she had lost many of her crew members that way in the past. But it was not like Caidy to just... dissapear. Without a word, without a damn trace. She had come to like and care about the girl. She and Caidy shared an eerie physical resemblence, but what had caught Sakura's attention had been Caidy's personality. She was sweet and innocent, and thought she was fragile looking she knew Caidy was far from helpless. Caidy had reminded Sak of herself... when she was younger, when she'd first landed in Imperia. Before she'd turn criminal. It had been Caidy who had Sak thinking about the future, about her past, about her parents. The life of a pirate was far from what her mother had wanted for her.

Sak frowned again. Her life would have been far different had she not lost her mother at such a young age, and then her father shortly after. And it seemed it was the God's way of punishing her to have grown up looking just like her mother. She was the living image of her mother. It wasn't enough that she'd think of her day in and day out, she'd be forced to see her in a daily basis everytime she looked at herself in the mirror.

What had happened to Caidy? She'd be fine if she'd just left... but how was she to know? She had promised to protect the girl and now it seemed... she had failed. It was Caidy who had her worried the most.

And like before, she wanted to leave, not because she had to, but because she had to runaway from her fears. If anything had happened to Caidy...

Sakura had been so lost in thought that she had neither heard nor senced anyone aproaching her. Until Alex spoke that is. That alone had her blinking and turning her head in surprise.

"Alex..." She said puzzled. She was surprised to see him, in shock even. He'd been gone for so long, and he'd been so troubled when he left that she'd half convinced herself he'd gotten himself killed by something far worse than a warewolf.

"You're a..." she stopped shortly. She could not tell Alex she'd thought him dead. That might make him think she'd given up on him... had she? No, she'd simply locked him and whatever feelings she may have for him away. She had ran away from her feelings for him, and now she wanted very much to run away from the man himself. It'd been safe and easy to ignore her feelings for him when he was gone. Now he was here.

But he was alive! That alone brought more happiness than Sakura was comfortable with. "You're... ok." She said quickly then bit the inside of her cheek for actually glancing over at the front door. Coward! She told herself angrily.

Sakura sighed quietly. "Though it's a surprise to see you, it is good to see you, and you're well." She said looking at him more carefully. Was he wounded again? Was he hurt? He seemed well enough... different actually. Sakura arched a brow as she noticed he was wearing a white cape. She'd never seen alex wear anything but black. And now he was wearing white? The change was... odd.

Sakura smiled, though her eyes remained dark. "Sit down will you? I'm going to break my neck trying to look at you." she said lightly. She'd forgotten how much taller than her he was. Then she remembered what he'd said. "Oh! The fire!" she said quickly. "Um... a family trait perhaps. My mother used to do the same thing when she was... well, sometimes." She said with a forced smile. She wasn't going to tell him she'd been plagued by fears and worries. He probably had enough of his own.

[Alexander]

OOC: Man, that's a hell of a post, lol.

IC: Alexander gave Sakura a half-smile as he saw the shocked expression on her face. It was safe to say that he had been expecting it, but still, it was a different case once he had actually seen it. He felt a slight twinge of guilt stinging in the back of his head. She didn't exactly seem glad to see him, which he took to mean that he had hurt her by leaving. THIS was a result that he had not quite expected. He had entertained the possibility, toyed with the notion that she had developed some sort of feelings for him, but he had difficulty believing that such a thing could be true. After all, he had only been in one relationship in his entire life. No other woman seemed to even glance twice at him. He had never mentioned this, but it was maddening nonetheless.

Now he was back. Yes, he had returned. But what did he expect? Did he honestly expect things to be the same between the two of them? Such an idea seemed foolish, now, though it had not only seemed possible, but probable as he had journeyed to Imperia. It was only now that Alex realized how naive he had been to think such a thing. He had heard that terrible things had happened to Imperia while he was away. He had hoped that Sakura was all right, but still could not bring himself to return. He was focusing all of his energy, all of his will power on the task of killing a man.

Not any man, however, but a side of Alexander himself. It had already been one pattern ago, but it was an event that would stay with Alex forever. He would never forget how he had struggled with his identity, how powerfully he had hated himself and the world around him. He would never forget all the tears he had shed, all the nights he had spent screaming in futility at the heavens, the months he had spent searching for Hope, searching for something to make life worth living. He would also never forget that he had found it, that he had brought a light back into his soul, given himself wholly to the Gods. It was in this long process that he had learned to hope again, learned to open himself up to the world and its people, to all the wonderful things that it had to offer. Now, he enjoyed waking up each day, wondering what it would bring.

But, in the present time, Alexander watched as Sakura struggled for something to say. She had started and then finished, and now appeared at a loss for words as she glanced at the door. Just what was going through her head? Alex would have given anything to know, to somehow be able to see inside her mind. He remembered wishing for such an ability the last time he had been with her. Taking a deep breath, Alexander held his smile in place as he spoke.

"Yes, I'm all right. I am alive," he said. "Though, I can certainly understand if you had believed me to be dead." He nodded at her offer to sit, and he sauntered his way around the couch to sit beside her. Oddly, he was having difficulty looking her in the eye. He listened to her speak, though, hearing the tone in her voice that he found all too familiar. Something was troubling her.

"It's good to see you, Sakura," he said genuinely, still avoiding her gaze. "I was relieved to find that you were still here. I'd heard that....horrible things had happened in this city."

Mustering his will power, he looked up into her eyes, watching the flames dance elegantly in them. "How are you?" A stupid question, Alexander knew. But it was too late to take it back now.

[Nozas]

Sunrise, Brightening 3 of Junctior
Autumn of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIII Post Fractum
Paradigm: The Isle of the Crown Return


It was said that the Tattered Sails Tavern was tended by an Esh’lahier like himself, namely Toby. If Nozas were to seek for an employment in a tavern, then this would surely be his first choice. In truth, it already was; and he had come for job inquiry this brightening. The elf hoped he could get fair treatment working in here, especially if being an Esh’lahier ever posed to be a threat to his living in Imperia. It was still fine though, if the thing didn’t turn out to be what he fancied; for he had always thought of the worse first and been prepared for it. The fact that this part of the city was infamous to be a gathering spot for the pirates and criminals didn’t matter much to him. On the contrary, he even thought that he could seek for opportunity among them, expectantly they be the regular customer of this tavern. It was risky but rewarding.

The moment he stepped into the tavern, he immediately fell in love with it. The dark yet comforting atmosphere was so close to that of his hovel. The interior was so dark that even during the daytime they had to use the oil lamps to dimly provide illumination so that it wouldn’t be under the suspicion of being only vysstichi-friendly. He hadn’t expected that, although this kind of setting could very often be seen applied in other tavern on Telath. Perhaps this practically unsurprising amazement was induced by his initial thought of having to work in an otherwise exhausting environment, depending on how much it was exposed to sunlight.

Nozas’ unusual alizarin eyes carefully took in the entire scene of the interior one last time before he further his progress to the bar where Toby was busy serving his customer. Quietly standing a few paces away from them as he didn’t want to interrupt them with his presence, he watched Toby secretly with curiosity. Nozas had never met any other Esh’lahier so far in his life, except his own parents of course, but they died when he was still very young. And so he never got the chance to learn about the way of his people. Many a times, he had experienced diverse degree of hostility from different races, but he never got to know why.

He would wait patiently until the customer decided to leave Toby alone then he would approach him and said, “Serale, sir! Is there any vacancy here? I can work as a waiter if you like.” His tone was so dulcet that it wouldn’t let you related something negative to his person. If he were to be employed, this was surely one of the assets that Toby considered.

[Sakura D'aron]

Nozas

Toby nodded to Sakura as she wandered off to clean the tables and just as quickly Toby was greeted by an unusually early newcomer. Toby arched a curious brow at the man. He was... unusual, for an Esh'lahier that was. He reminded him of Sakura's sweet disposition. Though in Sak's case, that sweet disposition of hers, only hid a short and sometimes deadly temper.

"Serale lad." Toby said in a friendly tone. "And I do believe we've employment for you. Though you'd have to talk to the boss. I'm merely a bartender." he said with a smile. Sak had been kind to him this many years, when she was gone she left him in charge and even when she was home she'd still let him run the tavern if he'd wanted to. But Toby had always made sure that at least in Sak's presence, she be the one doing the hiring. Gods forbid he'd hire the wrong person and have her piratical line of work discovered because of his indiscresion.

Toby pointed towards Sakura who was now at the far end of the room lost in thought as she cleaned the tables. "Sak over there, is the person to talk to." he said lightly.

[Sakura D'aron]

Alexander

OOC: Sorry lol, I kinda over-wrote there @_@

IC:

Alex could have not brought a more painful subject than Imperia's recent missfortune. Sakura quickly looked down at her hands away from the firelight so that she might hide from him the pain she knew her eyes could not hide, and the guilt at his mention she might have thought him dead.

"I hadn't completely convinced myself you were dead Alex..." she said honestly. Though she had come to think him dead, there was still a small part of her that had clung to hope. As to the why, she had not bothered to think on, and she wasn't about to now.

"As for Imperia's unfortunate event well... I was... I wasn't here. I was out at sea dealing with my own demons." she said quickly and almost whispered it. She didn't mention that he had been the reason why she'd gone away and stayed away for so long. No, she didn't tell him that. That might mean he meant more to her than she was willing to admit... even to herself. "Toby wrote me, that's how I knew of the situation." she said quietly. Even then she'd taken her own sweet time getting home.

"As it turns own, the Tattered Sails survived just well." she said painfully. Sakura sighed heavily and willed herself to put her dark thoughts aside, if only for a moment. The last thing she wanted to do was to upset Alex in anyway, God help her he may already be upset enough.

Smiling she looked up at him again. "I'm doing just fine." she said brightly. "How about you?" she said bracing herself for the worse. Last time, he'd come to her wounded and in an all too dark mood. The fact that she had not been able to make a difference at all had hurt her. He'd come to her in a dark mood, and it seemed he'd left her in an even darker mood. And so now she was determined to be as positive as she could possibly be, even if that mean shoving aside her own troubles.

She bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. A part of her still thought he'd left because he'd learned she was a pirate. Looking at him she frowned. "I'm still a pirate Alexander." she said almost wincing. She hardly ever called him by his full name, she'd gotten used to her shortened version of it. She wasn't mad at him... she was just... well, confused.

While she was happy to see him back and alive and unharmed, she didn't quite understand what he was doing here. He'd left so abruptly and really without any reason that she'd half convinced herself he hated the very fact she was a pirate. He had said nothing to her about her being a pirate, nothing about his reason for leaving, and nothing about their time together. So she'd come to believe he just didn't care about her the way she cared about him.

And for that she had decided to lock him, and her feelings for him away. Except he was back now, for a reason she did not understand. And Gods help her she was going to keep her heart locked if it killed her. All too soon Alex would leave again, without reason and without notice. Wasn't that what men around her did? Come and go, then eventually, they'd go and stay away. Not that she had much experience when it came to relationships with men. She'd only been involved once, back in Prime. Which had not ended well, she'd ran away from Prime, and stayed away.

Suddenly she laughed coldly. She'd promised herself never to care for a man in that way again. Over the years she'd come to understand that she'd never really been in love with Malkora, she'd simply been infatuated with him. And now, there was Alexander, who was a puzzle she could not quite figure out. Hadn't she hated him when she'd first met him? She bloody couldn't remember why.

"Sorry." she said looking at Alex. "I um... got lost in thought again." she said with her first genuen smile in a long time. Blast him! Looking at him was just as distracting as it had always been. She felt so many different feelings with him around it left her wondering if she wanted to kill him or hug him. Maybe I can hug him first, then kill him. she thought to herself. She sighed softly, it was good to have him back, even if it was just for a little while. She didn't hate him for leaving, she really didn't. In that way, they were much alike. She had never been able to really settle down in one place. And she suspected, Alex hadn't either. It had been the suddennes of it all that had hurt her. One day they'd been fine, and the next... he was gone. A simple goodbye would have been nice. Him being in a good mood for a change would have been nice. But she got neither.

The Gods must hate her. They had the cruelest of ways to punish her! She had hurt for a long while after Alexander left, now when she had finaly put a stone wall between her heart and Alex, they'd brought him back into her life. And blast it all! Just having him here was enough to slowly break the fragile barrier she'd placed on her heart! It hadn't been enough she had inherited her mother's physical appearance, she had also inherited her soft heart! She shrugged. Oh well, I'll survive... somehow.

[Alexander]

Alexander could not help but look at Sakura as she spoke. He had developed the habit of watching the faces of those he talked to. He had learned that this was the best way to get an idea for what they were really thinking or feeling. While speaking, most people were so busy thinking about what to say that they would forget about the fact that their eyes told all.

Sakura was different, though. He could gather from the way she spoke that she was distratced...confused, perhaps? With Sakura, Alex reflected, looking into her eyes told just as much about him as it did about her. The way she looked a him...he could not quite tell if she was glad to see him...or if she would like nothing more than to see the back of him. He would have to watch carefully to be sure.

So she had been out at sea during Imperia's dark hour. Alexand blinked several times at the sound of this, his expression faltering. Did this mean hat she was still a pirate? He hadn't told her, but the fact that she was a pirate was the primary reason for him leaving so suddenly a pattern ago. No, it had not been the fact that she was a pirate that had driven him away...it was simply a matter of trust. Alexander had incredible difficulty trusting anyone. He only had one friend in the entire Plane of Material, a Dracon named Feniox. Oddly enough, Alex had no idea where the Dracon was or what he was doing.

Despite his deep trust issues, Alexander had risked himself and lowered his walls for Sakura. He had allowed himself to trust her. It seemed like a fantastic idea, at first....but then he had discovered the truth. It wasn't the pirating that he had hated (he had done his fair share of things outside the law) it was the fact that Sakura had not been honest with him. She had not been the person that she had led Alex to believe. He was hurt by this, hurt in a profound way. After that, he could no longer bring himself to look at her. Rather than face her, Alex had gone. Without a word, he had slipped back into the obscurity from which he had come.

But Sakura WAS still a pirate. She had said so herself, blatantly, just now. Alexander had convinced himself that this didn't bother him....but still...he felt a slight stab of disappointment at the comment. He remained silent, though, unsure of how to express himself. Even when she had plastered on a fake smile, said she was 'fine', and asked how he was...Alexander could only muster:

"Um.....I'm......."

What? What was he? Fine? Dandy? By no means. He had been in such a positive mood when he had come to this place. Now, just being around Sakura was bringing back...feelings, feelings that Alexander thought he was done with. He decided it was best to not answer. Instead, he shrugged, shook his head slightly, and gave a quiet laugh.

After a bit of a pause, Sakura suddenly laughed. It was not a mirthful laugh, but something else, surely driven by something that Alexander did not, and wasn't sure he wanted to, understand. He raised an eyebrow at the outburst, looking over at her in confusion. Perhaps it was best not to ask.

Oh, she was enchanting. Alex could not help himself. He found himself staring at her, watching the orange light from the fire as it played across her face, burning away the shadows for tiny moments, making her smooth skin glow warmly. Alex would have liked nothing more than to to reach out and touch her, but he stopped himself. He thought to himself that he would likely pull his hand away with several fingers missing. Perhaps his mind exaggerated, but he decided not to chance it.

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to explain everything: Why he had left, the way he had felt about her, the way he still felt about her...he wanted to tell her everything. Perhaps that was why he was back here. Filled with a momentary confidence, Alexander opened his mouth to speak, to finally convey to her the weight that had hung on his soul for over a year. His mouth was open.....

But nothing came out.

It seemed as though his words and thoughts had all rushed forward at once, tumbling down from his mind and getting lodged in his throat. Alexander actually felt as though he were choking. Finally, sound was coming from his mouth. Unfortunately, it was not words, it was only a loud grunt of frustration. Alex balled up his fists and focused his gaze on the floor.

He wanted to tell her everything......he just didn't know how.

[Nozas]

Nozas' mouth corner twitched somewhat in a slight disappointment when he learned that Toby had no right in hiring. But still, he staggered to form a smiling face and nodded thankfully to the bartender. Keeping his smile which by degrees, gradually became more natural after the faint vexation, he proceeded to the brown-haired lady to whom Toby had steered him.

"Excuse me, madam!" said he softly in volume just enough to make her aware of whom he was talking to, as he didn't want to startle her so much while she was seemingly pondering on something. He tried to remain courteous as not to sear a bad image into her impression of him. Anyway, he had come for a job, and this was the boss. However, in an otherwise situation, he would have chosen to leave her alone, but just not this time. If she showed sign of listening, then he would continue with his business: "My name is Nozas. I have come to seek employment, madam. And I was told that you are the one to talk to about this."

[Xera Elherro]

Timestamp:
3rd Cycle of Junctior in Autumn of Era I
Era XIII Post Fractum
Early Evening

She was at the door of the tavern, trying to convince herself that it was, in fact, okay to go inside. She tried reasoning, pleading, even begging. Her feet just refused to go the rest of the way in the door. For a pirate, Xera Elherro was sure being a coward.

This cowardice was a result of her departure from Imperia, Xera reasoned. Her mother had found out about her acts of piracy, and sent her brothers bring her ‘home’. It was a months-long battle between her and her family, but eventually it was ended. She could have returned then, she supposed, but fear kept her away. She had abandoned Sakura, and her crew. There would be no forgiving that.

Then why was she here now? She could just turn around and leave, no one would notice, or care. The truth was, however, that Xera missed Sakura and her crew. She had joined other crews, but often she was sent away. It seemed that only Sakura’s crew had wanted her.

It was that memory that brought her all the way inside the tavern. She made her way to the bar, wondering if Toby remembered her at all. She dropped a couple coins on the counter, and looked at the man.

“Something to drink, please. I’m not too picky as to what at the moment. And could you, perhaps, tell me if Sakura will be around shortly?”

And so Xera waited, wondering what kind of reception she would be receiving. Hopefully a decent one, with a place to stay for at least one night. She wasn’t sure what she would be doing otherwise.


OOC||Eh, I'll bet most of this post is grammatically incorrect. This is what I get for writing this at twelve last night, then being too lazy to fix it. >.< Sorry about that.

[Sakura D'aron]

Alexander

Sakura watched Alexander carefully for a long moment. When he'd fail to say anything she simply turned her face away from him, and the light of the fire once again. She needed to hide the pain she felt just then. In his silence, he had confired her assumption of his leaving at finding she was a pirate. Or so, that's what she understood so far.

At first, she tried to ignore the pain, but unforortunately, she could not. It very nearly brought tears to her eyes. Calming herself she sighed heavily, only then, after being sure that her eyes would not betray her... or at least, she desperately prayed they would not. If Alex had indeed left because of her secret line of work, and after not even letting her explain herself well then... it was best he never knew to what extent she cared for him. Her pride was too strong, and too easily hurt when it came to him.

She had wanted to explain to him, the circumstances of her being a pirate... but he had not given her the chance. He'd simply gone away. Why then, was he here. Sakura had thought of him differently. She had thought him a fair person, much like she was. She had thought he would not judge her until she had been given the chance to defend herself, to explain herself. But obviously, she had been wrong.

Suddenly, Sakura's expression hardened, her blue eyes turned a dark cold shade as she looked at him again. It was too much pain, too much pain, too much feeling, and too much Alexander. Her pain turned to frustration then to anger.

"What do you want from me Alexander?" She hissed quietly. Angry as she was, she was desperately trying to keep her temper under control. But anger had always been her last resort... to hide pain. Anger after all, was easier for her than the pain he was causing her. "You are obviously still against my line of work, so much so, that you saw fit to leave without so much as a chance for me to explain, without a damn word!" she said angrily though she kept her voice low. "What then, do you want from me?" She kept her fists pinned to the couch lest she lose what little control she had left and try to strike him. She shouldn't be angry with him, she knew that much, but damn him to death and back! The man had a way of breaking her heart without saying a single damned word! In truth, she was angry with herself, for giving him that power over her. For caring for him when he clearly felt nothing for her other than repulsion at her line of work. Blast it all!

OOC: xera dear, i'm working on your post now, so just hang in there

[Sakura D'aron]

Xera

Toby had been too busy with customers to notice Xera entering the tavern. But as soon as she spoke however, he turned his shocked attention to her.

"Good Gods!" He said surprised. "Look who's come back to this little piece of hell." He said with a wicked smile. "Now now, you know better than to pay for drinks here girl." he said as he served her a pint of ale.

"You know, we've all been worried about you little one, but Sak more than anyone else. You know how she worries." He said shaking his head.

"Oh and she's around alright, though if I were you, I wouldn't go interrupt her just yet. She's... busy." he said nodded towards the couch in front of the fire place. They were too far away from the bar to know what they were talking about. But Toby could tell that Sakura was not happy at the time being, and neither was Alexander. Best leave them been, Toby was far too familiar with that look in Sak's eyes... she wanted to kill something... or someone. Poor Alexander...

"You've been with her long enough to know her moods. Mind you, she would be blissfully happy to see you back, and alive. But how about you give her a short moment first, how about you drink up this ale and keep me some company before the boys find out you're here and steal you away from me." He said with a playful wink. It was good to see the girl back, it may be enough to lighted up Sak's sour mood.