Mismatched Pair ((Closed for now))

[Zasha]

There really was nothing like a hot bowl of soup other wise known as slop. And some wonderfully crisp strong ale. The soup was thick and warm and the world was moving on into it's fall and winter months which meant that every bowl of soup was much more like a God send than just something to sate someone's hunger. The tavern where the young elf now sat was filled with people. It was loud, one of those impossibly loud places where you almost wished it was the slow season, maybe the middle of winter when the ice covered the ground and made traveling much more difficult. It was odd in a way. When traveling alone you always wished for a companion. Someone to share the long nights with, someone to enjoy a meal with, to look at over the crackling fire as the smoke filtered up into the sky. Someone that could make the days pass by just a little quicker, and make life as a rogue move on at a better pace. But then, when you got to a place that was as busy as the tavern where the sable headed girl now sat, it seemed that silence was amazing. To be able to hear yourself think! Something you had grown so tired of over the days of being alone now seemed coveted.

Her name was Zasha. She was a slight girl. Pale skin that glowed a bit in the fire light that she sat close by. It was a bad choice. Sitting by the fire. But she had been near frozen coming in out of the rain driven night and the biting cold wind. So she had sat at the busiest table, the one that sat across from the fire, letting the warm orange glow run over her small pale body. Warming her from outside in. Slowly feeling herself thaw. The feeling returning to her fingers. She was feeling much better now, more limber than before. Her hair was tied back and now dry it hung in it's leather toggle tie down her back in it's thick curling river. Her gloves were off tucked gently into her belt her bag between her legs beside her feet so that nothing could be taken from it. She didn't need to get anything stolen from it tonight, that really was the last thing on earth she needed at this moment.

Taking a small wooden spoon full of the stew she swallowed the warm and thick stew letting it slide down her throat warming her from the inside out. Feeding little bits of bread to her coat, though no one could see what she she was doing or what she was feeding, She took a long sip of the now warm ale and let it wash the taste of the stew down as her piercing green eyes looked around the tavern. It was filled with people. So many of them. They were all crammed together on benches at tables doing the same thing she was. Eating their stew, some men were having too much ale and getting rowdy in the back corner. The poor bar maids, she felt sorry for them, the way they were used and abused here, the way the men treated them. But Zasha kept to herself it was the best way not to get noticed. And not getting noticed was something she wanted. Being an elf it seemed humans were always game for having a little 'fun' after a few tankards of ale. And she wasn't into fun. She didn't want anything to do with it. She just wanted her meal and a palette somewhere she could curl up on and sleep away the night.

The door opened again, the crisp cool breeze blew in from outside sending a shiver down her spine. The sound of the pouring rain was loud. She could hear the large drops of rain falling into the puddles that had already begun collecting outside on the muddy street. She could see that it would not stop soon, the rain was unrelenting and looked like it would pour all night. Zasha sighed and returned to her food not in the least bit curious about the person that had entered. After all, it had nothing to do with her, she was here for sustenance. And that was what she was getting.

[Nightfire]

Enter Dryden Amos! Wizard extraordinaire!

Or at least that would be what Dryden would like to say as he opened the door to The Peaceful Promenade; an establishment that had gained reputation as being the place to be if you were an adventurer. Really Dryden couldn’t care less. He was cold, he was a tad soaked, and his stomach was growling for REAL food. Not the ruckus that Dryden had managed to disastrously make most of the time. Burnt bread, badly cooked stew, and cooked meats a tad too salty. Dryden had ill luck when it came to making his own food in his travels. Hence his attachments to taverns like The Peaceful Promenade. Oh sure he got attention the people close to him giving Dryden the evil eye for letting more cold air in. Dryden removed his cloak and took a moment to shake it out, being ever so careful not to nail anyone with that cold water.

Two things caught Dryden’s attention as he got most of the water off his water-proof cloak. One was the smell of a savory stew. I mean sure you could call it soup but, if it was a thick soup then stew was often the word for it. Item two was the fact that the place was practically filled to the brim. People laughing, cheering, raising voices, and yelling. There were a couple shoves and pushes and merry swinging happening from the ones who had too much ale already. Still Dryden searched out a table noting that the one sitting near the fire had a seat. That already decided where Dryden was sitting.

He was cold, damp, and that fire looked VERY inviting. There was the added bonus of a pale-skinned beauty sitting at that table as well but, that was just an added bonus. Really it was not deciding his seat choice at all…not…one bit…wow she had really pretty green eyes…

Back to reality Dryden took that seat across from hers as the barmaid made her way to the table she saw the new customer.

“What can I get you sweetie?” she asked in that husky tone, the kind of voice bound to keep a customer there longer at a tavern. It was a universal ploy that you always had sweet girls as barmaids. After all it helped keep the customers there longer so you could leech more money.

“Bowl of what she’s having, some toasted bread, and a tankard of ale,” came Dryden’s reply his voice calm and collected as he brushed aside a damp lock of raven black hair away from his face.

“Coming right up,” she said with a smile letting her hand brush Dryden’s shoulder before she headed to get his order. Now let’s recap on the clothes Dryden was wearing. Dark brown leather pants, boots, and vest, a cloak that was in a dark gray and now hanging on his seat behind him. A long-sleeve gray shirt underneath the best made of a durable linen. His gloves also made of leather he sat on the table. Also this done quickly enough before he gave a smile on the girl with the charming green eyes as he navigated his backpack beside him and hooking a leg into a strap to pull it under the table where he could keep track of it.

“Hi there,” Dryden said to the charming girl with those pretty green eyes.

[Zasha]

((OOC: I got permission from Dryden for Flake's little excursion))


The door swung closed and with the latch clicking back in place allowing the warm fires and the gentle wood burning stoves to heat up the room again. Zasha looked down as a little white furry head poked his head out of her leather armor. She smiled softly at it and came down with some bread in her palm. The little squirrel began to nibble on it, holding the little bit of bread in his claw like hands. He was so cute, she would be so lonely if she didn't have her Flake. He was a flying squirrel while they weren't rare it wasn't easy to tame one, but Zasha seemed to have done it quite easily, but many said it was because she was an elf. Something to do with her innate ability to be with nature. Flake was her buddy. The one she talked to when she knew she would go insane, and while the little bugger couldn't speak he made her laugh when she needed it most and that sometimes was all a person needed to get through a day. But he was definatly mischevious.

The traveler that had brought with him the cold draft and a dripping cloak that pitter pattered across the floor with that high pitched dropping sound as each droplet impacted the smoothe wood. He took a seat across from her and Zasha's pale green eyes glanced up at him for a moment before moving back down to her food. The bench he sat on creaked with his weight and the fact that the poor benches had been used and abused by large men that could probably snap her spine in half without thinking about it. Covered in armor and getting rowdy on ale. The bar maid came over, using her assets to make the sale worth while. Zasha rolled her eyes, thank God she was a woman, while she had to deal with the occasional slap on the ass in a tavern she never had to degrade herself to sell stew. How horrible. And the worst part was most of these women would definatly take to your bed chamber for a little bit of extra gold.

Hi there.

Zasha looked up again not having noticed the woman had left snce she was lost in thought. Her eyes looked up again at the traveler across from her. Her pale green eyes looked up once more into his own dark blue that reminded her of a rainy sky. Not the kind of grey with the storm clouds but the beautiful deep blue of a sky that was tormented by rain clouds verging on the twilight hours, the grey blue of a bruised sky. She gave him a gentle smile, a little shy though, she really didn't talk to people Zasha wasn't good with people, not outside her own race and even then she had always liked to be alone

"Good Evening." she said softly, her voice was gentle, like a refrehsing breeze in the forest. So gentle and kind. A almost immediatly trust worthy voice.

She went back to her meal. That was really all she could do. He hadn't asked her anything and it really wasn't like her to continue a conversation. Her social skills lacked severely. She was trying so hard not to look up, and not to feel embarassed about the fact that a handsome man was sitting across from her. She didn't even feel Flake move. He scurried down her leg and crawled under the table and up the leg of the unsuspecting man. The great thing about Flake was that he weighted almost nothing. Digging through the man's pocket he came out with a large silver coin. Biting it with a happy squeak, inaudible to the both of them because of the volume in the tavern he quickly tucked it away in his small front pouch and ran back to Zasha and into her tunic where he belonged.

[Nightfire]

"Good Evening." she said softly, her voice was gentle, like a refreshing breeze in the forest. So gentle and kind. A almost immediately trust worthy voice.

“Rather miserable evening tonight, I think that’s why everyone is crowding here in the tavern,” Dryden commented as he brushed aside another lock of hair. He had that little joyful moment of her eyes meeting his he letting a smile tug on his lips. OK now that he was closer he got the general idea that she was an elf. Who cares? Elves were generally good-looking, the women sexy, and they had that exotic beauty to them that you wanted to hoard to yourself. All right probably not the greatest reason but, the sweet voice, the shy expression, and those eyes of hers were definite bonuses. Though really he had to keep himself occupied for a moment when she looked away finally. You know remembering to breath, and remembering to lean his staff so people wouldn’t trip over it. The last thing he needed was getting yelled at because his staff was in the way of someone walking around.

So she was probably going to be one of those quiet types judging from the way she greeted and went to her meal. Either that or she was hungry…lets go with the first guess given that there was this unwritten rule that girls were always polite and willing to talk unless shy…or mean. Yep that was a universal rule in Dryden’s mind as silly as it was. In fact Dryden was about to talk to her a bit more till the barmaid came about. Setting his food down in front of him and a slightly foamy tankard of ale the barmaid spoke with that same husky tone.

“There you go sweetie, enjoy your meal and call me if you need anything else,” she commented before stepping away and attending to her other customers. Dryden didn’t miss her hand brushing against the back of his neck or the inflection on that ‘else’. Still his nose distracted him by getting a whiff of that stew and he took a quick spoonful of that letting out a faint groan at the taste. God, he really needed to eat at taverns more often especially if they were as good as this one. Still he hadn’t forgotten about Miss Sweet and Shy sitting across from him as he tore off a piece of bread and wolfed into it and washed it down with a bit of ale before he spoke.

“Name’s Dryden, just arrived in town, and from the looks of it good timing too,” he added as he looked out at the window at the literal down pouring of rain. “I’d hate to be walking in that,” he said with a faint chuckle as his eyes turned to look at hers. So he was eating and talking, you tended to want to talk to the first friendly face you found, especially if you had been traveling alone for most of the past year. Sure solitude had its good moments, but Dryden was someone who liked talking and meeting people, not just doing the endless grind of walking and trying to make a gold piece or two.

[Zasha]

“Rather miserable evening tonight, I think that’s why everyone is crowding here in the tavern,”

Obviously. It wasn't that she was in a bad mood but you had to understand that the man was just saying the obvious. Granted this place was probably busy from time to time. But right now it was packed because of the rain and the weather that made you wish for hell over the freezing cold rain and the biting wind. Zasha didn't look up from her meal. There was no reason to, he stated the obvious what more could you say to a man that was trying so very hard to make conversation. She finished her soup and pulled her ale close both her small pale hands wrapping around the cylinder in her hands gently. Allowing the warm ale to keep her fingers warm and allowing her to support her cup easily. Not that it was heavy, but she was tired and with the ale and the stew, not to mention the fire it was all beginning to lull the small elven woman to sleep. Thought of home and her mother's kitchen fire began to seep through her mind.

The maid brought him his soup and ale refilling Zasha's cup with a wink. She told the man across from her that if he wanted, she could service him in other ways. The word 'else' carrying so many different connotations that it was sickening. How much more obvious could you be really? It was disgusting. Zasha looked out one of the darkened windows, it wasn't like she could see anything with the night descending and the heavy rain clouds blocking the moonlight from doing any good, it was pitch black, like tar, or her leather armor. His voice called to her attention again and her head moved swaying back over to him her eyes locking onto his like targets. he told her that his name was Dryden, very human. She gave him a soft gentle smile as he told her where he was from.

"My name is Zasha." she said softly as she took a soft but long sip of her ale letting her eyes stay on his. They were the kind of eyes that could look right through someone. The kind that almost made you nervous to look into them. "And you're right, the weather hasn't been this bad in some time, I'm glad I was close to this Tavern, it is warm and comfortable I'm looking forward to a real bed for the first time in a long time." she said honestly as she looked back down into her ale.

"I have never been to this part of the world, it's very crowded." she mentioned, trying to use conversation, but she was horrible at it. Remember, there was no social skills for the young smithy. She sighed softly and looked over his shoulder and to the fire, the flames reflecting in those pale green eyes. They were an odd color, most green was deep and emerald hers was almost the color of summer grass in a hay strewn field.

[Nightfire]

All right then so she was probably humoring his conversation or at least acknowledging it, maybe stating the obvious wasn’t the brightest of actions. Though hey talking to pretty girls was an incredibly difficult task. You were either successful or you totally failed and had them laughing at you or yelling at you. Most guys tended to have a poor success rate when they were trying to be polite and not pull a gladiator muscle flexing impression. Still he didn’t miss the expression she had when the made was dropping off his meal and refilling his drink. In fact he had a quiet and silent chuckle over it. Glad he was not the only one who found the barmaid’s attempts a little TOO obvious.


"My name is Zasha." she said softly as she took a soft but long sip of her ale letting her eyes stay on his.

Victory! A name! It was short and sweet the kind of name that you wanted to whisper at night when you were in that half-awake state right on the verge of sleep. His eyes meeting her eyes once more as he quietly ate and that smile that she was wielding definitely needed a warning label for sweet yet deadly. He didn’t mind at all though as he at least had her attention once more. And hey it wasn’t a Sir Obvious moment. So that was an extra point to his little book of things he did right. He ate slowly as he heard her start talking once more. His eyes rapt with attention as he listened to her talk.


"And you're right, the weather hasn't been this bad in some time, I'm glad I was close to this Tavern, it is warm and comfortable I'm looking forward to a real bed for the first time in a long time." she said honestly as she looked back down into her ale. “I have never been to this part of the world, its very crowded." she mentioned, trying to use conversation, but she was horrible at it.

“Hmmm too true too true, this is my first time in this particular region as well, being from a less densely populated region its kind of intimidating coming here at first,” he commented as his eyes turned to hers and he remembered her comment about a comfortable bed and gave a faint smile. “Though truth be told the fact I’ll be sleeping in a cozy bed tonight does lessen that intimidating factor. Almost like a magical effect,” he said with a small chuckle as he finished off his bread having been starved for real food. And his craving for real food had made this simple meal seem more like a feast in his eyes. Dryden got the idea she wasn’t used to be social, just those little hints that people picked up if they were paying attention.

He saw her gaze shift to the fire well he knew she was looking at it the way the flames reflected in her eyes. It was hypnotic in a way. The kind you could just forever watch and never grow tired of it.

CRASH!

Dryden damn near jumped as someone had fallen out of their chair at a table still singing quite happily and swinging a mostly empty tankard. The voice was quite atrocious but, several people laughed and joined in on the song as Dryden winced briefly and gave Zasha a conspiratorial look and a smile.

“Though truth be told…I think I’ll be breaking for the upstairs soon. I’ve about had as much noise as I can stand for now,” he said with a wary smile at her as he continued working at his soup.

[Zasha]

She was completely zoned out. Remembering her mothers kitchen. The sweet smell of berry salads, the wonderful scent of pies baking in the wood oven. Filling the house with the scents that would make your mouth water from across the valley. She always made the most wonderful things, having a nack and a love for cooking. The breads she would make from sweet to wheat and white. She would make the most wonderful things of the natural vegetables that her brother and Zasha's little sisters would find. She would wrap them in the edible leaves and spice them in the edible flowers. The root soups in the winter were always the best. They were thick and spicey they warmed you up from the inside out. Zasha could remember that back then winter had been her favorite season. It was the time of wonderful food, of presents, of family and love. Back before her father passed, it was such a wonderful time. But now, winter was bleak, rainy, cold, and with a lack of the comforts of home her least favorite season.

A crash brought the young Zasha back to the world making her jump slightly. Her green eyes regaining focus on the world she looked around and just to the side of the pair. Falling on the ground singing loudly and horribly out of key she winced. Her ears crying in pain at the mans' drunken wanderings of the mind. Dryden spoke again telling her that he was ready to go find a room and she smiled softly and nodded.

"Myself as well." she said gathering her things she gently rose and reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out two silver coins and handed them to the woman that was walking by thanking her kindly for the food and the drink. They would have to go to the bar to ask for a room and she nodded.

"Well it was a pleasure, sharing a meal with you." she said as she went up to the bar to ask for a room. But they were busy, and she couldn't ask just yet. So she waited, waited her turn, and of course, all men were served first. So that meant if you traveler friend came up he would be able to get his room first. But that mattered little so long as she could get a warm bed and fall asleep within.

[Nightfire]

“Please was all mine Zasha really I enjoyed the company and someone willing to talk,” Dryden said with a faint grin as he wolfed down the rest of his soup and wiped his mouth. He standing up and putting his cloak back on. Grabbing his bag and shouldering it he grabbed the dry and warm staff as he walked to the bar seeing Zasha standing there. He handed a couple coins to the serving girl for his meal and drank the last of his ale quickly enough not wanting to be in the same room as a bunch of drunken singers. The barkeep on duty was one who was obviously a traditionalist, men before women. Dryden noticed that as Zasha had to wait and he found the barkeep’s attention on him.

“You going to get anything or do I move to the next in line?” the barkeep finally asked and Dryden’s attention was on the barkeep now his eyes meeting the middle-aged man’s dull and bored gaze. Hmm, Dryden was truly impressed by this confidence that the man seemed to inspire. Dryden was even slightly intimidated by the awe-inspiring boredom that this man invoked with just a mere glance.

“Room for the night and meal for the morning,” Dryden replied as he tucked his gloves into a pocket and the barkeep fetched a room key from underneath the table giving a grunt and a nod.

“Seven silver,” the barkeep said in that dull voice of his as Dryden nodded getting the coins from his pockets and paying the man as he took the key that was handed to him as the barkeep spoke once more. “Your room is on the third floor the first one on the left meaning you’ll be facing the road.”

Exciting…I think I almost fell asleep here. The guy really should get cheerful or something I mean come on he’s even getting more money off of me because I’m staying the night. You think that might get some decent customer service! Dryden thought to himself as he pocketed the key and turned just about to head upstairs himself. A squeal from a barmaid followed by a laugh just made him wince and turn away from the tavern scene in general as he started to make his way to the stairs.

[Zasha]

It was finally her turn. She had just watched Dryden get his room, and that meant that since there were no other men around she would be able to get her own and fall asleep. She could probably sleep just about anywhere so long as it was warm and dry. She looked up at the burley bartender. He was large and bulky probably because he had to often despense of men that were far too rowdy and on drink that would best be left in the barrell it came from. But the worst part was that he was hairy and there was just something about hairy men that didn't do it for her. The way his dull brown eyes ran over her body she almost grimmaced not wanting that kind of look, she was small, female and elven. That meant.. she was wanted. Even if she didn't want to be. He looked her over concentrating on her body and not her face when he finally asked her, after making her stand there in his disgusting gaze for moments.

"What can I get ye lass?"

"I'd like a room please." she said already fishing out the money to pay for one. Wait a minute.. She couldn't remember having that many silver before. She had ten, then two went to the bar maid that had served her, and seven would go to the man that was in front of her, but she had nine silver left. That wasn't right, it didn't add up right at all she was so shocked, there was only one answer. Flake. Her eyes narrowed.

"Can' help ye lass. Got no more rooms. Lad there took me las' one." he said with a grin. A nasty dirty grin. "Tho I be willin' to share me bed withcha." he said with his thick accent.

"No, I'd rather not. Thank you for the delicious food. Please tell the chef."

"Aye." he said with a sad sigh, no elven loving tonight, a shame really it was.

She pulled her pack up on her back and grabbed her cloak fastening it around her shoulders she began to head off in the opposite direction of the stair case. There were no rooms here perhaps that extra silver that she had would come in handy. Because she could pay some farmer to let her sleep in the stables or mabye a barn. Anything really with a roof over her head. She pulled her cloak around her and stepped out into the rain, feeling cold almost instantaneously. She shivered and stepped out into the puddle of the road that had become nothing but muck. She began to head down the road. Her head hung low but even from the windows above you would be able to see it was her. As lightning lit up the wet strewn sky you could see her pale skin gleaming brightly, and you could see her black hair so stark and now soaked against her skin and down her back. It would be a long night.

[Nightfire]

Dryden was heading up the stairs the last thing he heard was Zasha trying to get a room before he was unable to hear it over the entire ruckus. His boots making those solid thuds as he trudged up the steps now and then using his staff which gave a wooden thump each time it hit a step. He walked down the hall briefly and reached his doorway putting the key in and giving it a little jiggle to get it in quicker. Unlocking the door and opening it he looked at the average bedroom. Nothing exciting about it but, it had a nice inviting bed as he shrugged off his bag and set down his staff. A loud thud going on as his bag hit the wooden floor. There was a rumble of thunder outside of his window he looking at the rain and shaking his head as he walked to the window.

A flash of lightning and a chance look down at the road showed Zasha out there in the downpour and he froze for a moment. Did he get the last room? Or was that barkeeper even crueler then he had suspected him of earlier? Still Dryden couldn’t ignore the classic damsel in need moment even as little as he knew about Zasha.

Refastening his cloak he bolted out of his room slamming the door and taking the steps two at a time. Reckless it was but, he wasn’t about to let her go and freeze in that rain by the time she found another shelter. He opened the front door and exited out of the tavern slamming the door behind him and shuddering at the chill that washed over him. Moving as fast as he could on the slippery road he went after her walking form.

“ZASHA!” he yelled hoping she’d hear him over the rain to get her attention. Regardless when he caught up to her he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her under a porch overhang to get the rain off them for a sec.

“You shouldn’t have to walk out in this rain!” he said quickly and was annoyed for some reason that this sweet woman got the short end of the stick rather then he. He stood in front of her brushing her hair away from her face his eyes meeting hers. “Come on we’ll share my room, you’re going to freeze and get sick by the time you find another shelter you’re already drenched,” he said with a frown as his eyes met hers. The rain pouring down outside of the safety of the porch as there was another crack of thunder and a flash of lightning illuminating the area once more.

“OK, so we don’t know each other that well that’s true but, I’ll be damned if I let someone freeze out here in this chill,” he said with a frown as he seemed very stubborn on this.

[Zasha]

ZASHA!!!

She stopped the rain sliding down her hair, her bangs falling in her face, and dripping down her shirt. She shivered her lips were already blue it was so cold and the way that the wind blew it was insane. She turned to see a dark figure running after her. But she didn't really know anyone here, she really didn't. She could only assume it was the guy from the tavern but why would he be coming ater her. making her stand here in the pouring rain, was not the best way to get on a woman's good side. She turned slowly to face him and saw that it was indeed the guy from the tavern. She was shaking, her lips moving in a heavy shiver. He ran, splashing through the puddles as he did so, making himself get wet. His large hand gripped her arm and pulled her to the small awning just over a large window. She was shaking she was so cold. He reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, her green eyes looked up at him as she wrapped her arms around her small body as it shook violently.

He told her that he wanted to share the room he had with her. She gave him a look that probably could have killed him, if she wasn't freezing her small behind off here in the rain. The wind blew again and she shivered violently once more her body was almost goiing into convulsions she was so cold. He told her that they might not know each other but it was better than getting cold and getting sick. Well she was half way there she was freezing. slowly she just nodded she couldn't speak anyway. She felt his arm go around her small body helping her get back into the tavern. The bartender gave her a grin and a look that said he figured she was doing more than just sleeping with the guy helping her up the stairs now. But she didn't care what that bastard thought, it didn't matter. he was a no body, not to her at any rate.

"Thank you." she said shivered as they got up to the stairs and to his room. She stepped in and put her things down shivering so much that she could do nothing but begin stripping. She had to at least get out of her outter clothing. Pulling her cloak off she hung it close to the fire that some maid had started at some point. She took off her armor and her over tunic, as well as her skirt leaving her still dressed in black in her under tunic and leggings. she grabbed the blanket from the bed and sunk down in front of the fire letting her hair loose as she leaned against the brick that framed the fire place shivering so much she couldn't even speak her eyes closing gently as she tried to warm herself up.

A little white furry head poked itself out of her over tunic and glided down to her perching on her shoulder he nuzzled up into her hair pressing his little warm body to her neck. She smiled softly even with her eyes closed and began trying to just get warm.

[Nightfire]

The death glare he partially winced at. Any guy worth their salt knew when a female was giving you the look of ‘you are so dead’. It was a natural law that you just had to know being a guy. If you didn’t know it then well you were screwed enough said, see you at the funeral. Still the death glare didn’t quite cow him as he was concerned about her getting sick if she continued this stupid path. Dryden’s eyes met hers as he knew he was right it was just a matter of keeping her from trying to kill him if she thought he was hitting on her. Still somehow he must have convinced her to trust him either that or the fact that she was chilled decided it for her. Dryden led her back into the tavern and inside the establishment. He blatantly ignored the looks that they were getting a she helped her up the steps. Of course he missed the look that the bartender was giving her as they soon reached his room.


”Thank you,”

“Don’t mention it. It was horrible weather to be out in anyways,” Dryden replied as he they were soon in his room his things where he left it when he had rushed out after her. He saw the fire had been lit that was good as his eyes bulged slightly when he saw her starting to take her clothes off. Now a man had two choices in this situation. Either you avoid looking that way until she was done or you blatantly look and hope she likes the attention. Dryden chose the former of the two turning on his heel and stepping out of the room when she started stripping. He stopped a maid for a moment.

“Can I help you sir?” she asked a cute girl really in her late-teens form the look of it as she stood waiting patiently. He pressed several silvers in her hand.

“Pot of boiling water, two bowls of hot soup, and two heated ales,” Dryden said to the lass.

“Right away,” she responded as Dryden sent her on her way as he stepped in his room and rummaged in his things. A couple herbs might help her out but, firstly he dragged his dry blanket from his pack and walked over to where she was. He crouched down covering her up seeing the small rodent nuzzling her. He blinked at the white rodent but, wasn’t sure what it was exactly as he returned to get his herbs out. She would need something to help her since she was chilled. The smells of dried herbs, powders, and other essences would no doubt reach her nose as he glanced at his pouches. A knock causing him to look up as he headed to the door and open the door. Dryden gazed at the maid and saw the tray as he took it.

“Thank you that’ll be all,” Dryden assured as he closed the door and set the tray down near her as he dealt with his damp clothes for now his cloak hung up to dry. With the boiling water he poured a cup of that and made it into a fresh herbal tea that he carried to her setting the cup in her hand.

“Here,” Dryden spoke as he looked at her. “Drink this, it’ll help your body fight off the chill,” he said calmly as he set the tray with the food and drinks near her. He brushed his hair aside as he shuddered lightly. He shrugged off his vest and shirt leaving him in just undershirt and pants as he sat down on the other side of the tray and picked up a hot drink sipping at it eyes watching her briefly.

[Zasha]

She was shivering heavily. But it was now because she was sitting in front of a wonderful fire and because she was wrapped in a blanket. The wool was rough and course, it wasn't the top of the line nor was it the soft clothe of the elven but it would work. The fire was slowly warming her body and her muscles that had tightened because of the cold were slowly letting go which only made her shivering much worse. But she knew that she wouldn't be cold for much longer in fact she could feel her fingers again and her lips were shivering like they had been. She sighed softly as she smelled the sent of strong herbs and her eyes closed forcing her body to begin relaxing and to stop shivering. Slowly it began to warm up enough to stop but she was still cold and even more pale than normal. Her pale skin seemed so white. She heard him moving and opened her eyes looking up at him with her gentle green eyes as he handed her a mug of tea.

Moving around in the blanket, that had been wrapped around her tightly she found her hands and got them out of the covers and grabbed the toasty warm mug and blew on it softly. It was so cold. But it was so good, the way it smelled and the way it tasted. Putting her lips to the brim she gently let some of the warm fluid run down her throat and into her stomach warming her all the way down following the train of her body. She closed her eyes. She wasn't really hungry right now, she had just had a bowl of stew downstairs maybe they could eat it in the morning or something, but the tea was exactly what she needed right now. Leaning against the stone barrier of the fire place, close but not close enough to catch her blanket on fire she sipped her tea quietly.

The flames licked at the cold around her body, she felt like she had frozen she hadn't expected the weather to have changed so much. But she was glad that he had come after her offering to share his room with her. It was so warm in here and she could just curl up right here next to the fire and fall asleep in it as well. Finishing the mug she pushed the tray away and curled up on the floor in front of the fire wrapping the coarse blanket around her. Her eyes drooping already. Roof over her head, the sound of pounding rain on the wooden roof was like a soft symphony, the crackling of the warm fire like her mother's arms keeping her warm on a cold night. She was getting dry and her hair spilled all over the floor, she couldn't sleep with it pulled back, it made her head hurt, so she pulled out the toggle and wrapped it around her wrist letting her dark curls fall all over the wooden floor. Shimmering in the fire, the dark depths almost glowed. She was soon asleep her head cradled in one of her arms as her body rose and fell with every breath. She felt safe for now.

[Nightfire]

Carefully Dryden watched her knowing that chill could set into a body and do bad things. Something that Dryden did not want happening to the sweet girl who had nearly been forced to endure that harsh cold and rain. He watched her drinking the tea and he gave a faint smile for a moment seeing that little white rodent shift about against her. Such a cute thing it was, it must be nice to have a companion that went along with you. After all simply talking to something helped during those long lonely hours when you had too much time to yourself to think. Dryden’s gaze paying attention to her as he saw her undo the tie to her hair seeing those curls cascade down like silk. He took a deep breath for a moment trying not to be mesmerized by the simplistic beauty that it held. He saw her starting to fall asleep as he picked up the empty mug and set it on the tray. The tray he made sure was covered. He headed back to her gazing at her sleeping form for but, a moment. She was going to be stiff if she slept like this. Carefully he leaned down picking her up.

Very carefully, he shifted carrying her to the bed and laying her in it letting her get comfortable. He made sure she was covered up as he headed to the chair that was in the room. At least he had an extra spot to doze himself as he got in the chair and curled up in it for a moment. Scowling he got up and fetched his cloak that was dry on the inside before going back to that armchair. He sat in it and curled once more in that chair while using the cloak as a blanket as he yawned softly. Dryden’s eyes grew heavy as he watched her seeing her sleeping comfortably. He could not keep awake much more as he yawned again. He covered his mouth as he watched her doze. Moreover, without even realizing it he had fallen asleep himself.

Curled up like he was in that armchair as the rain sang its nightly symphony against the roof. Now and then, a crack and a snap emitting from the fireplace as it spread its warmth about the room. The night proceeded smoothly the storm cutting back to just a mere drizzle of rain.

~~

Morning came hours late Dryden opening his eyes and stretching out slowly wincing when he felt something pop. He hated sleeping in chairs but there was not much of a choice in that. He had been playing the good Knight here much to his distaste as it was as he uncurled himself and stood up. Carefully he began to stretch to get the stiffness out of his body as he slowly moved about. He let out a quiet yawn as he rubbed the grit out of his eyes right after he had finished stretching out. With that bit of routine going Dryden set the tray near the fire and made sure it was still going to let the food and drink warm back up. He walked to the window and gazed outside at the dreary morning. It was starting to let up it would probably clear up by evening but, the traveling would be miserable.

[Zasha]

Morning came. And with it the light of the sun that was just beginning to christen the world with the gentle rays of it's light. The way the sky would begin to turn grey. Just before the beauty of the sunset, like a watercolor painting given to the world by the gods. The oranges, pinks, and purples that would blush across the sky creating such a masterpiece. The small elven girl lay in the large bed wrapped in the blanket like it was a cocoon. She loved the way it felt here in a warm place with the blankets wrapped around her, the roof over her head protecting her from the rain. When her eyes opened the first rays of beautiful color were cascading over the sky and falling across the beautiful blue depths that it would later become.

She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes gently. Her eyes were the most striking color of green. Like deep hidden emeralds that you longed to look into. The kind that could capture your interests. She looked up at him, he was staring out the window looking like he was lost in thought. The light began to fall over him, cascading down his beautiful features and changing the way his skin and his hair looked. Her eyes watched him for a moment making no noise. Just enjoying the way that he looked in the morning light for a moment.

"Good morning." she said softly as she rose from the bed, the blanket falling off of her revealing her undertunic and the leggings underneath it exposing just a bit of the skin of her thigh showing but not much just an inch. she sat down across from the fire pulling up the mug of ale that was warm now and sipped it gently as he turned around, she could see his face now looking into his eyes. She smiled.

"I'm sorry I took the bed." she said softly "I hope that you slept well." she said honestly. "If not, then I am in your debt."

[Nightfire]

A voice caught his ear as he was standing at the window. He indeed looking more like a legend an adventurer then just a lucky and sometimes ignorant traveler. He turned his head to look at her since the bed was to his left from where he stood. Emerald green eyes is what she had. The ones that sparkled with an inner light that would fascinate you. That you could stare on-end just like you would gaze at the inner portion of a flame for as long as you could. As if trying to understand what it meant. His sparkling blue eyes met her emerald ones his blue eyes the blue you would see from a crystal clear lake.

If you put them together you could say his eyes represented that lake and her eyes represented an untouched forest. Both of them had probably seen things during their travels yet still yearned for something more. She rose and he quirked a brow her body a bit more exposed in that under-tunic and leggings. Something that he certainly wasn't going to complain about. Dryden gave an impish little smile and didn't follow the pervert creed of celebrating over exposed skin.

When he turned around as she sat down near the fire his eyes met hers once more. He saw her smile and heard her apology and comment and just chuckled faintly.

"Good morning to you," he started as he waved a hand in a simple 'don't worry' gesture. "Really it's no big deal that chair is far more comfortable then some of my previous camping spots that I've slept on." he said with a grin as he sat near the fire as well not sitting too close to her if she was one of those personal space types. He picking up his own mug of ale and sipped at it.

"Feeling better?"

[Zasha]

She smiled at him softly as she sipped her ale. He was nice, though he seemed like he would enoy talking more than she did. It wasn't that it was bad per say, she just was normally such a quiet girl. He asked her if she felt better and she blushed nodding softly as she sipped another little bit of her ale watching him as he walked over closer to her before taking a seat close but not too close. She had of course been a little worried about him sitting too close, liking a bit of space around her.

"I am.. thank you." she said softly as she looked at him and gave him a gentle smile. Her smiles were beautiful. Though rare. It wasn't that she didn't like smiling it was more that she just saved that kind of epression for something a bit more worthwhile. And some people were able to get her to smile and some people weren't.

"Can I ask, where you are heading?" she asked curiously. "The reason I ask is that, I was curious if we might be heading in the same direction." she said softly as she leaned against the foot of the bed watching the fire dance of his features, playing with the dark hair. Little did she know it was having a beautiful effect on her milky skin and her beautiful sable hair. The waves of black hair that fell in a beautiful curtain around her, it was such a sharp contrast from her skin and yet when it was down like this, it seemed to really soften her features giving her that forest nymph like look.

[Nightfire]

That smile. That warm heart-felt smile that just made feel a bit of warmth inside made him feel he was doing the right thing. He watched it for a moment and brushed his hair away from his face. It was something that was almost hypnotizing in a way. Dryden was a guy that enjoyed simple things sometimes and that smile was one of that. For those few moments that she was smiling he was lost in the attraction it had. Dryden had a weak-spot and it mainly dealt with women. He shifted and gazed at her smiling back.

The question though brought him back to reality as he listened to it and shifted.

"I'm heading nowhere really. I'm a traveler a wanderer I'm someone without a destination. I started traveling hoping to become one of the wizards that you would hear in a fairy-tale when you were slowly drifting to sleep. A bit of a reckless goal maybe but, I kind of like it. You just never know what you're going to find." he said with a smile on his lips as he sipped at his soup. He shifting and gazing back at her seeing the way the flame played on her body.

She looks more like an nymph then someone with elven features... he thought to himself as he gazed at her. Just wow I mean wow is she even aware how the flames play on her features? Judging from the way her expression was more innocent and relaxed then seductive she probably didn't. Probably a natural with the looks she had. She'd be the kind of the girl that men dreamed of seeing at one of those seedy tavern peep shows. His eyes meeting hers for a moment as he smiled again as he chuckled softly for a moment.

"So I guess anywhere sounds good right now. Maybe we can travel together," he said with a smile at her.

[Mathias]

Mismatched Pair

I'm sorry if this judging may come off as harsh; rather than focusing on what I enjoy, I tend to lend my criticisms. This was, above all things, a very average introductory quest with no more purpose than to connect two characters together. Or atleast, that's what I'd gotten. Let me begin by offering some critiques that aren't quite associated with the writing itself; First off, Zasha - I don't really understand the necessity for your purple font. It started to hurt my eyes after a while, and it was just... odd, switching back and forth between colors every post. Secondly, Nightfire - your use of the QUOTE coding was misplaced and was detrimental to the flow of your posts. I'd refrain from using it to reiterate someone's words in future threads.

STORY 15
Continuity ~ 5/10 I didn't really understand anything about your characters. I didn't get why they were doing what they were doing, why they were in Underwood, or really any sense of their direction. It was, "Hello, I'm here, let's be friends," and both of you sacrificed characterization for convenience.

Setting ~ 7/10 You both did a pretty good job of making me feel like I was in the tavern itself, all other criticisms aside. I would, however, avoid using clichéd phrases and descriptions that are both repetitive, as well as over-used.

Pacing ~ 3/10 This would've been a lot, lot higher, because there wasn't anything wrong with the actual pace of the story; I think it flowed quite well. But what absolutely killed you here was the brick fucking wall that was your ending. It was so abrupt and out of nowhere - it completely cut off and had no resolution. Honestly, even one more post from Zasha would've been able to tie things up. But the way it ended simply and utterly destroyed this score.

CHARACTER 10
Dialogue ~ 5/10 Aside from the forced bits of conversation, I found something incredibly odd; The bartender/innkeeper went from having no accent in Nightfire's post to having a thick one in Zasha's. That's the sort of detail that throws a wrench in immersion. Even if he was a one off, and not terribly important, it unravels what you're trying to weave - a consequence of miscommunication, or a lack of OOC interaction between the writers.

Action ~ 0/10 There was no action to speak of.

Persona ~ 5/10 I find it sheerly and utterly impossible to accept that an Elvish lady would accept a random Human male's invitation to his bedroom, no matter his intention. You two just met, and there was instantaneous trust ; something I find highly unlikely, given the state of affairs in Althanas, and just in the general sense of reality.

WRITING STYLE 16
Technique ~ 5/10 I have never truly believed in the sanctity of the Fourth Wall. However, I must make a point that both of you learn to stay within a consistent form of narration. You switched from addressing the reader, sometimes indirectly conversing with them, to writing in the formal, third person omniscience of normal fantasy. It was extremely distracting. As well, I will never be able to stress the importance of proof-reading enough. Make sure you go back and re-re-re-read your posts and hammer out the grammatical errors and typos, as well as editing some of the awkward phrases that popped up all too often.

Mechanics ~ 5/10 You both had a tendency to miss commas, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, proper spelling, and typos. This really hurt your score, because it took a few re-reads on too many sentences. Again, proof-read. Also use an online resource to check your spellings if you're unsure, or run your post through spellchecker. (I know Microsoft Word has a very lackluster grammar checker, but it's still something.)

Clarity ~ 4/10 The previous two comments basically sum up whatever I'd have to say here. There were just so many problems with grammar and such that some sentences were completely lost on me, and others, took me too many times of re-reading to understand them.

MISCELLANEOUS 3
Wild Card ~ 3/10

TOTAL ~ 44/100

EXP Rewards
Zasha receives 400 Exp!
Nightfire receives 400 Exp!

GP Rewards
Zasha receives 80 Gold!
Nightfire receives 80 Gold!

[Karuka]

EXP/GP added!