[L'Epée de Gelée] A Battle Of Wits, Words, and Ale [Dego]

[Jade Alanon]

Third Cycle of Melora, Season of Winter

Wondering around Jaedaxia could prove only so much amusement before Jade needed to find a place to rest. The skies had opened up and let loose the small flakes, the winter wind blowing at the Sanguine sisters. Jade was glad she had brought a warm cloak to wrap around her shoulders, the hood up so that her sensitive ears were safe. Nymira wasn't all that bothered of course, considering she had a thick coat that protected her from the elements, something that she got to rub in Jade's face, summer was for Jade while Nymira preferred winter.

Jade's attention was drawn to the L'Epée de Gelée, the suns just halfway over the horizon called out the patrons to the tavern to get drunk and enjoy themselves. Darkening hadn't even taken hold and already the tavern was busy, the sound of laughter being heard from a good distance. Jade and Nymira looked at one another for a moment, as though pondering whether to continue on or stop for a time. Carrying her weapons with her caused her to be confidant in case she ran into any trouble, though Nymira was usually enough to ward off unwelcome attention.

A strong gust of winter wind made up the mind for the two sisters and they headed towards the establishment. Jade abhored the winter, it was cold and it made it all the harder to hunt. Seeing as how the weather wished to be a total bitch, Jade and Nymira would have to resort to resting rather then hunting down the Rhasic for the darkening. They would take up their hunting the following brightening should the weather allow it, also it was hard to hunt in the darkening anyway.

One thing that could be said about the tavern she had chosen, it wasn't as dingy as some she had come across nor were the patrons as shady. The patrons sitting around were more of the military or political types rather then just the usual drunkard, which was fine for Jade. An ale was an ale and at least political types kept their hands to themselves when you threatened them with violence, she wouldn't be there long enough for any politician to frame her for a rejection.

Walking in the door, Jade had to shake the snow from her, pulling back the hood and letting her long chestnut brown hair fall down her back, a bit damp from the snow. Nymira looked like a great black wolf with flecks of white throughout her pitch black fur. Holding her staff tightly in her hand, Jade weaved through the crowd, picking up on snippets of conversation, most of it a battle of wits or a debate of politics or philosophy, which was all interesting but unimportant to her. Jade ordered a mug of ale at the bar, Nymira finding a table and curling beneath it, quite pleased that she had chosen a table that she actually fit under.

Once the ale arrived, Jade returned to her table, at least the tavern was warmer then it was outside. A few shivers passed and then she was fine, looking out the window every so often between sips to see if the snow would stop soon. One ale soon became three and Jade was feeling just a bit tipsy, but she wasn't drunk yet. Jade was trying to be careful not to get drunk, though it was hard not to every so often, when she was drunk, she was able to forget her worries for a while. It was a false sense of happiness, but it was the only kind she could get at times. Nymira didn't scold her elder sister, she merely watched beneath the table, ready to bite anyone that tried to take advantage of her sister.

[Dego Mernoff]

Pacing the street with a half tankard in hand, the half elf known as Dego mernoff sang a jubilant song in the ancient dwaven tongue, a melody while having no idea what the words meant had always brought a smile to his face as its soft rhyme rang in his ears. He added a bit of slur and stumble to his walk for the amusement of himself, far from falling under the spell of one of his more favored past times, it did offer him the slight refuge of acting like a child without the scolding looks of parental figures. Most laughed, giving him a polite smile as he softly sang his tune in the fading suns of Telath, and with an over flourished bow to the maidens of the city he was even gifted with a blush and giggle on occasion.

The alluring sounds of laughter and jolly merit caught his sensitive elven ears from afar however and like a siren drew the curious lad closer to the already filled bar. Pushing his way into the confines dego had gone rather light with his attire on this fine darkening. Wearing a pair of finely tailored forest green slacks that hung in a well cut form over his boots, hiding his dagger on the inside of his right leg from view, and his beautiful black dress shirt that hung from his shoulders only buttoned three quarters of the way up his pale fleshed chest. Smiling to the bouncer he simply raised his mug with a cheeky grin twirling about so that the guard could see he carried no visible weapons before pouring another healthy gulp down his throat.

Rewarded by his sly demeanor and joyful attitude the guard gave the newest patron little mind simply waving him through without much thought. Making his way to the bar, the half elf wedged his way to the counter, plopping the near empty mug on the wood and rolling his cuffs while he waited for service. In an Arium thick accent, laden with a bit of booze the pale patron spoke up when his turn at last arrived. “Stout bit o’ Ale and a fine shot of whiskey if ye would lass.” His grin returning full force as she politely smiled and filled his order.

Scanning the room after retrieving his drink the young fellow looked for the table where he could disturb the air the most. It was easy enough to spot jade and her ever so serious demeanor from across the room, her overgrown pup lounging beneath the table he gave a soft nod to himself, having decided upon his mark. Walking with a swagger in his step the showman gave a casual kick to one of the chair legs, spinning it about and flopping down in it, raising the shot of whiskey to the woman and plopping it back like a child with a candy. “Ello dere lass’ hope ye don’t mind me joining ye, but you and yer pup are a might serious for my taste and I thought I’d spread a bit o’ cheer.” Leaning across the table he offered his hand in a friendly handshake before leaning back and taking another gulp of Ale. “Name’s Dego, and you?”

[Jade Alanon]

Being the paranoid sort, Jade often watched to see who came into the tavern, though she appeared to be uninterested in whoever walked inside. The elven woman had a hard time in taverns at times because of her heightened senses, not only from being an elf but also because of her bonding with Nymira. The sounds were louder and more abrasive, the vile smells even stronger but at least Jade's view of what was going on remained sharp. Nymira hated taverns, they were dirty and dingy and most of the time they brought nothing but trouble, especially for a woman such as Jade.

Jade was not a social drinker and she normally knew better then to get drunk in such a public setting, the last time she had been drunk, she had at least had the protection of the spring. Here in Jaedaxia, there was no such protection but Nymira herself, since Jade's drunken side was more kind and trusting and less logical. Jade was on her third ale when Dego entered the tavern, her emerald eyes followed the handsomely dressed elf for a few moments before her attention fell back to her ales, she took notice quickly that the elf that had entered seemed already in high spirits, which was odd since most patrons were drunk only after entering the tavern.

Jade didn't pay much attention to the other elf after he made his way to the bar, now more concerned with emptying her ale and possibly getting another for herself. The room spun just a bit and she definitely felt a buzz, but she still had most of her wits about her which meant she wasn't all gone just yet. She swiped some of her dark brown hair from her face and took another long drink, effectively emptying the mug of it's contents and attaining yet another buzz.

Jade felt eyes upon her as she pondered another drink, but she was used to such a thing, especially in a tavern such as this. She didn't pay the feeling any mind, not until someone approached her table. Jade looked up rather quickly and had to hold onto the table for a dizzy spell struck her. She blinked a few times to rid herself of the double vision and focused on what Dego was saying, a slight growl playing from beneath the table which would be Nymira of course, wishing to have the man keep in mind that she would attack if he gave her reason to. He seemed to make a show of sitting down at her table and then downed his drink. She couldn't help but crack a small smile, though she tried to hide it by looking away. It was a known fact to anyone that knew the woman, she was a lot more agreeable when she was drunk, smiled easier and fought less.

"I doubt my minding would stop you from joining anyway." There was only a small edge to her words as the ale continued to take away the ever so serious Jade. She wondered just how he planned to spread a bit of cheer to her and Nymira, if it was through more ale then she accepted. A few hiccups passed and she sighed, looking down at the Virkyn for a moment before looking back to Dego, a small smile touching her lips still. She eyed his hand for but a moment before slipping her hand in his and shaking. "I'm Jade." She gestured to her sister beneath this table. "And this is Nymira."

"So Dego, just how do you plan on spreading cheer?"

[Dego Mernoff]

“Ah there we are, a nice pretty smile does rest somewhere in that serious face.” Dego gave a soft laugh about his comment of her simple smile, wetting his throat once more with the mug before waving for one of the bar maids to attend to them. “And you are quite right, the chair was here and empty which means it needed someone to put er ta use. I think Id do a better job then most Lady Jade.” He gave the hand a soft shake before peeking below the table and nodding to the overgrown wolf as well. “You too Nymira, quite nice ta meet ye.”

As the pretty little thing in her revealing Jaedaxian outfit came to take their order Dego leaned in gently pushing her bouncy brown curls back to whisper into her ear. Giving a soft giggle and nod she was off in no time allowing the half elf to return his attention back to Jade. “Oh, it will be here shortly but while we wait why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself. What brings a lush little thing like you this far north?” He knew he was pressing the envelope on their conversation, but that very much was his idea. She would either enjoy his extrovert persona and have a laugh, or would simply be offended and cause a short ruckus. Either way was fine with the elf, he was a more then seasoned drinker, taking time at local pubs whenever he had a chance… one of the side effects of spending so much time in the company of dwarves. Right now the alcohol was barely in his system, likely only minimally slowing him, but that didn’t mean anyone else had to know. Half the fun of being out on the town was playing up the dramatics.

Only a few flickers of the candle had passed before their waitress had returned holding two stout mugs of ale and two lesser tins of something else. Giving her a soft nod he turned to Jade lifting the tiny metal shot glass to greet her own in a toast. “Cheers” and with a flip of his wrist flicked the liquor back into his throat. It was straight whiskey, tasting of sin and bitter like the sweat off a dogs back. Dego had asked her for the cheapest they had on purpose just to watch Jade’s reaction. A few brisk coughs of his own and he dumped the last of his near empty tankard that he came in with down his throat. “It can only get better from that eh?”

He let off a laugh, obviously amused with himself, before pushing a few strands of raven hair back behind a pale ear. Another long draw and he was smiling from ear to ear, his blue grey eyes locked onto Jade, admiring her from across the table a soft twinkle in his eye as he pondered his next move… it was all based of what he could read of the woman, was she a flower or a thorn?