Shinsou hadn’t felt rain since he last saw Storm Veritas at Whitevale.

The rain of Stonevale wasn’t like the warm drizzle of the Brotherhood's township headquarters. It was cold. It was punishing. Each drop hammered against his pale skin, but even so the Telgradian felt uncompelled to seek shelter. He simply tugged the hood of his white coat down over his forehead as he leaned against the wall of a closed bazaar.

Though a thoroughly unpleasant evening, the town was alive. The squelching of sodden boots on the pavement as people passed by and the buzz of chatter defied the elements. There were several lights up ahead in the windows of some of Stonevale's establishments. Shinsou blinked through the watery veil splashing down on the world, until his eyes rested upon the door of the building that he had been searching for. Standing just outside the door were two bouncers, as tall as they were wide.

They don't know it yet, but they are wasting their time.

Shinsou didn't consider the pair any further. He approached, pulling his hood back to reveal his face, and slipped by the venue's 'security' without addressing them.

The Telgradian opened the door and peered inside.

A typical, city centre pub. It was abuzz with people, conversation and merriment, and all too cheerily lit despite the absolute disrepair of the place. Shinsou took care to avoid the worst maintained areas by meandering through the labyrinth of tables and chairs to the corner of the bar furthest away from the crowds. The strong scents of ale, sweat and piss clung to everything. To make matters worse, he could feel the vulture-like eyes of the clientele picking his unfamiliar face apart piece by piece.

Shinsou nodded to catch the attention of the lone bartender.

“Whiskey, neat.” The Telgradian asked of the short, moustached fat man with a lowered voice.

“Sure thing, pal.” The pug like features of the barman screwed up as he grabbed a bottle of amber liquid from the shelf behind him, barely even glancing at his customer. "Miserable evening, isn't it?"

“Could well be.” Shinsou quipped.

The retort surprised the bartender as he fumbled with a tumbler he had been cleaning up, and looked up to meet the slitted, golden gaze of the Telgradian. "Sorry, sir, I don't follow. Are you ok?”

“It could be for someone in here,” Shinsou said vaguely. “...a miserable evening, that is.”