In Search of Something Shiny (Closed)

[Rayner]

The tavern was filled with smoke as numerous people continued to take deep pulls from their pipes, letting smoke rings slowly drift from their mouths to the ceiling. Luthien walked from the door and quickly grabbed a seat near the bad, trying not to draw attention to him as people instantly looked at the most recent person to have opened the door. The ‘Radasanthian Watering Hole’ was always packed close to sundown and remained this way until the sun rose. It was a great place to calm down and check in on the most recent activities in the never sleeping city. It wasn’t the most reliable place to get your information due to the vast amount of drunken tails which spread around the tavern at night, but it was a great place to start and if need be have a little fun until something did come up. This particular night was different for Luthien though; he was running low on gold and needed to find something that would make him some money and fast.

Leaning back in the wooden stool, Luthien reached into the sack of gold at his side, and pulled out a few gold coins and through them on the bar table. The bartender quickly scuttled over as soon as he heard the sound of money. The fat greasy man eyes the coins and then Luthien before letting out a smile that revealed a few missing teeth. “What can I get ya sir?” As he spoke, the fat man was already scooping the money off the table and into his hands.

“I’ll just take a glass of ale, and next time, do not touch my money until I actually place my order.” Luthien’s words came out with a tinge of spite towards the man, filled with anger towards how the barkeep had assumed the money was his. The man simply nodded and shrugged Luthien’s words off as he poured the ale and placed it in front of the young man. Taking a sip of the dark liquid, Luthien smacked his lips as it slid down his throat. Happy with a drink in hand, Luthien finally began to take in the scene around the bar. There were many people already feeling the effects of the alcohol they had consumed, and many more were having a good time trying to pick up the many whores who came into the tavern to try and make a quick buck for a night of service.

Catching bits and pieces of the conversations around him, Luthien had not heard anything of interest until one many mentioned thieves. Focusing in on a well dressed man who was sitting at a table with what Luthien assumed was a friend as well as two rough looking men to his side. The man was rambling about thieves breaking into his house and stealing a precious gem which had no true value, but he would be willing to pay if someone were to return this family heirloom to him as well as something of the thieves that he could mount on his wall. Smiling, Luthien got up from his stool still holding his ale, and made his way over to the man who he assumed was a noble and slid into one of the chairs at the table. Before he even had a chance to relax, one of the rough looking men had grabbed a hold of his shoulder causing him to wince in pain, the other lifted him out of the chair and grabbed hold of his other shoulder.

The commotion caused the noble to look up at Luthien, with a smug look he looked him up and down. “And who do you think you are, and what makes you so special to sit with the likes of me?” His voice was arrogant, and he clearly felt like he was on an entirely higher level then anyone else around him.

Shaking off the body guards, Luthien looked at them and simply smiled. “Now boys, there is no need to be causing a scene in here. I simply overheard you were missing something and being the capable person I am, I figured I could help ya out.” Luthien’s words fell upon the noble causing him to raise an eye brow.

After a long pause, he waved off his men and allowed Luthien to have a seat. “Well the item I wish to get back into my possession is a fake crystal which fits nicely into someone’s palm, but seeing as it looks real I understand why those thieves stole it, but really it is simply a heirloom from my fathers side of the family, and I will be willing to pay you well if you manage to track those thieves down, I hear the ‘Street Kids’ are responsible, but trust me they are not no kids. They hang out down in the slums and are quite a rough crowd. If you manage to make it out with the gem then you can find me hear every night, and I’m sure we can make a deal.” As the noble finished, he held up an overfilled sack of gold which easily contained more money then Luthien had ever seen.

Getting to his feet, Luthien nodded to the noble and gave the two guards a pat on the back. Spinning on his heel, he walked back up to the front of the bar where he jumped up on a bar stool. Scanning the bar, he decided the quickest way would be to cause a scene.

Shouting out to the crowd of men and women, “If anyone needs some quick gold I’m venturing into the slums and need a couple capable people two watch my back as I track down a particular item for someone I know.” Smiling, he jumped back down from the stool and sat down, waiting for the potential candidates to roll in, and prayed the drunks would stay away for once.

[Fairfield]

There was a kind of serenity that one felt when having a brew. That first splash of cold beer washing over the tongue after a long, hard day in the hot sun was unlike any other. The taste was something that only a select few could appreciate. It was too bitter for some, but perfect for others, and the complete satisfaction a fresh brew brought was a pleasure truly worthy of the heavens. Of course Drag would never know. Drag didn't drink alcohol.

The young Mr. Harlan slammed back a cold glass of orange juice and gently placed it back on the table, careful not to break the already cracked glass. There was something to be said about an establishment that served you drinks in broken glasses.

The place wasn't much to look at either. The floors were covered in a thin film of alcohol near constantly. The ceiling had leaks, which only added to the already ocean-like wetness of the floor. It wasn't raining outside, so Drag could only assume that someone's bath was running over upstairs. On top of all of this, the bartender was shit ugly. What ever happened to having a pretty young lady working the counter? No doubt they would draw in more customers. Drag shrugged in his seat.

To each his own I 'spose.

The cycloptic gunslinger eased forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands. It had been a rather uneventful week for the hunter. Mary-Lou wasn't working, so he wasn't either. He wasn't much of a hunter without his gun. Problem was, he needed money to have it fixed, and to get money he needed to work, but he needed his gun in order to do his job. Such was the vicious cycle Drag found himself in.

Life in Corone was much harder than he had anticipated. Unlike in his home town, he could not rely on the kindness of strangers here. Perhaps in doing so previously, he had crippled himself for life outside of Fairfield. But what's done is done as they say, and Drag would have to find a way to make ends meat. If only there was someone offering some quick gold for something simple, like watching someone's back as they wandered into the slums.

“ If anyone needs some quick gold I’m venturing into the slums and need a couple capable people two watch my back as I track down a particular item for someone I know. ”

Drag's head snapped in the direction of the bar where a man, not much younger than him, stood atop a bar stool, announcing that he was looking for help with a job.

...Well that was pretty damned convenient.

Drag rose out of his chair and made his way over to the bar. He extended his hand towards the young man and offered a smile as well.

" Howdy! Name's Drag Harlan, stranger. If I'm not mistaken, you're lookin' for some help? "

[Khalxaen]

This tavern was no different from any others. It was cramped and rowdy, and an array of people occupied it. Khalxaen had been bored for days now, not being able to find anything to quench her thirst for excitement. She drummed her fingers on the wooden table in front of her and bit into some bread. All she had in front of her was a loaf of the said bread and a glass of water. The demon wasn’t broke, she just didn’t want to spend any money on things she didn’t need at the moment. After all, money was precious to her.

The demon scanned her scarlet eyes around the place. She could see a couple of men crowding in one table, and wondered if it was the start of a brawl. She looked to the other side of the room and saw some drunk men flirting with a few women, who seemed to enjoy the attention. Really, it was a very typical night, and she wasn't in any way pleased.

It might have been that or her need for excitement which caused her ears to perk up at the announcement of one of the men in the tavern. Blinking, she looked over at him and decided that he looked like your average human. He said something about quick gold, and she easily assumed it would be for an easy task. It didn’t sound very exciting, but she decided it would probably keep her occupied for a while. Plus, it was gold.

Just before she could call the man’s attention and tell him she was interested, someone else beat her to it. It was another man—one with an accent she wasn’t too familiar with. Her ears picked up that his name was Drag Harlan.

Khalxaen quickly swallowed what was left of her bread, and then she quickly approached the man who had made the announcement about the quick gold. She said, rather enthusiastically, “I’m interested, too! My name’s Khalxaen!”

She did the math and confirmed that two two men plus her would make them three, and Khalxaen knew that more would probably be more troublesome than helpful. "When's this happening?" She asked quickly.

’…And you’d better not be kidding around about the quick gold.’ She added in her mind.