Whiskey Taters Fish

Log Info

• Title: Whiskey Taters Fish
• Emitter: Aryia
• Characters: Aryia, Aya, Merek, Sabina, Seyardu, Lysos
• Place: A03: The TarRaCe
• Time: Saturday, September 18, 2021, 10:00 PM
• Summary: Many of the guests to Lord Swadlings party arrive at the Tarrace to relax and talk it over. Sabina, and her partner Rupi, are present and invite them over. It's clear they're stressed from the experience. Some small-talk is attempted, but the topics keep drifting dark. Rupi is either off her game or deliberately pretending to be as she offends just about everyone at the table. Sabina, tells her to listen more and leaves, having received a secret summons. The group finally share 'happy' childhood memories, none of which are adorably poor, and some quite violent or dangerous. At least the drinks are free and flowing. An unexpected conversation from the kitchen when no one feels like talking, and they silently listen. Once it has completed they split for the baths or other places, or simply stay and drink that endless tab.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aryia        4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her.                    
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Seyardu      5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.
Lysos        5'6"     105 Lb     Human/Tsuran      Female    Dark eyed tsuran girl.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Secretly Judging  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Aryia, dressed in her black slacks and silvery vest, stumbles into the TarRaCe with a white mask on obscuring her features. She peels it off, making a 'guh' sound as the inside was plastered with sweat. She drags her feet over to an empty table, requests more spicy salad, and lets her head face fall into the wood with a solid 'clunk'.

The Tarrace is half filled this evening and yet still lively. A harpist and a singer stand on the stage doing light and airy songs that fall into the background and add a soothing backdrop.

Ayria's enterence does not go unnoticed by a few inside the Tarrace. Sabina herself is at her normal spot near the kitchens with a glass of wine. Noting the Mul and her mask she gets up and goes over. "Aryia? Are you joining the masked ranks of Tarien or did something else drastic happen?"

A rather alluring woman who is being Sabina's shadow leans in to whisper in her ear, "Should I go in the back, help Chef? She looks... something has happened."

Aryia peels her face off of the table, it sticking briefly before she gets herself upright. She raises a brow, the suggestion of being a Tarienite making her face twitch. Her head shakes, some moon colored threads sticking to her face. She holds up a finger and rummages around for her journal, her popping off the cap of a pen with her teeth and scribbling down something on the pages. The book hits the table, and she turns it around.

"Dumb noble party with masks. It went tits up."

Seyardu, after sharing what she could, followed along with Aryia. She wanted to make sure she was alright, and also, she needed to relax, and quickly determined Aryia's route. A silver sith-makar in a dark green dress stepped into the Tarrace as well, wearing a mask and hat that covered her face. She joined Aryia at the table, slumping into the seat.

Aya enters the establishment, neither masked nor as finely dressed as Aryia. This may make for less facial sweat. The other mul is promptly noted, or was a known arrival ahead of her, and she promptly makes her way to what is obviously the popular one. "Are you alright?" she inquires as she arrives.

Merek walks along and into the TarRaCe, while he takes the time to adjust the hood which he wears, the visor on the face placed into a pocket while he will check the people that are about. Then he's walking to one of the tables, coughing a little and looking at the blood which is on the glove, while he cleans that. The man finds a place to relax while he draws a hand along his stubble, and looks at the menu.

Bina waits patiently for Aryia to get out her journal and write, blinking as Seyardu joins the table and with the same dejected air about her. She reads the note first and then tsks softly. "Ah.. Might I inquire how it went ..south?" She turns to Seyardu and gives her proper greeting in Draconic, /Peace on your nest, Seyardu./

And then Aya as well and Merek too? "Greetings to you both. I take it things were.. serrious then?"

Aryia sighs in relief as she sees Aya and Seyardu arrive, her gesturing the two over. As well as Merek if they wished. The mute mul'neissa nods at Bina, her slowly drifting to the side until she was leaning against Seyardu's shoulder. A thumbs up is given to Aya, and she pats the seat next to her. She looked a touch rattled, and tired, but not worse for wear.

Sabina's shadow glances at Ayria, meeting her eyes. She points at herself and makes a thumb-jerk motion. A clear, 'me go' even if it's not proper handsign.

Aryia just shrugs at the shadow after glancing to the movement, uncaring.

Aya offers some explanation to Sabina as she takes a seat. Her tone and expression are both quite neutral, if perhaps weary. "A noble with known ties to fiends, perhaps for generations, and with fiendish offspring held of gathering. At that gathering was another noble, all but confirmed in league with another fiend. To everyone's great surprise..." she pauses for effect, though remains deadpan, "fiendish chaos ensued."

Merek will nod a little bit to the invitation, then he walks along to that table to settle in at it, "Ya. I really didn't want to use magic," he will note. The man looks to everyone, "Anyway. Information we learned will be used going forward. With that in mind, I would like a whiskey, if you would."

Bina reaches back to snag the hand of her shadow. "Rupi. If you please? Would you mind getting a bottle of whiskey as well as a bottle of wine and ale together? Glasses for all here. It seems there is need of some drinakable recovery after a rough evening."

"Peace on your nest, Sabina." Seyardu replies, and sighs. At the question, she shakes her head, and pulls a large blanket out of her bag to drape over most of herself. She takes a moment to tug on one of her arms, pulling a black cloth sleeve off, with the mask and hat vanishing, along with seemingly everything else. She pulls the sleeve back on, and when the blanket is tucked back away, they were wearing a light yellow tunic and black skirt now.

"A lot happened. And several at the party were slain in an explosion, likely coming from the person who was with the Lord."

Merek will think about it a moment, "I haven't seen Cryosanthia and Lily around in a while," he will admit, then he takes the time to relax, while he waits along for that whiskey. "I don't want to think about the noble thing. I like drinking, probably."

Rupi nods, slipping gracefully over to the bar. She returns with a bottle of whiskey and several glasses, on a tray. There is also a small bowl of stones, "Whiskey rocks, from the freezer."

She serves expertly, defying her earlier admission of being a poor waitress. Aryia's glass is nudged in front of her, as she leans back. Seyardu's and Sabina's get delivered with a bit more leaning close, though not as close to the silverscale as she does Sabina.

The bowl of rocks is put in the middle of the table, then she stands with the tray held low against her front with both hands.

She's listening, obviously.

"They're..." Rupi starts to say, then, "one of her friends should tell you."

A whiskey glass with rocks is placed in front of Merek too.

Aryia nods, both to the notion of having some kind of liquor in her system as well as the explanations brought forth. Trouble gives a thumbs up towards the supposed sucky busser and partakes in a glass of chilled whiskey. A shot is taken, her grimacing before shaking her head and sitting upright once more. She looks off to Merek, giving him a blank stare. "I do not have the energy to answer that question, nor entertain talking about it," she bluntly lays out, glancing towards Aya. Watching her briefly. Before reaching low to give her hand a squeeze and pull away. <Handspeech>

Aya holds up a hand to decline, though after the inquiry, motions for a glass, instead. She reaches over to pluck a stone for her drink, as well. A brief glance is given Aryia after the squeeze and a flicker of expression; not quite a smile, but a slight possible hint of one. "Cryosanthia is healing, as are many others," she offers to Merek.

"Thank you." Seyardu replies with a nod to Rupi. She picks up one of the stones, squints, and licks it once, before squinting some more. "Your people put rocks in your drinks, or are you supposed to eat them? They do not taste particularly pleasant."

Then though, she listens to what Mikilos says, and she hangs her head. The silverscale sighs. "Cryosanthia is healing, yes. Lily is, gone." She says, shaking her head now and taking a sip of her drink.

"It keeps them cold. It's a Khazadi thing," Rupi answers Seyardu, with a cautious glance towards Merek as the silverscale answers him.

Merek looks between people, a bit perplexed by the way they are being. Then, it's Seyardu who answers the man. While he listens, the man will note the way that she speaks, the tone. He doesn't need to ask what she means by that, although within him his blood cools and a rage begins to build. A hand takes that whiskey which is served, while he begins to drink from that. He coughs again and lifts a hand to his mouth, the blood covering it gently a bit along the glove. Everyone had probably actually noticed all of the coughing before, though it's clearer what it means when he can't really keep that away.

The man takes the time to look forward, his gaze distant while he watches the alcohol in his drink. "I'm thinking about buying fish." Complete subject change. Still, there's no clear indication at any point that he's listening to anything anymore.

Sabina sighs at Merek's question but then nods to Aya's answer. "Cryosanthia is in the temple being tended by Zeke. Mana poisoning and other wounds. Mister 'E' took Lily's life.. and body. He who took you away." She takes a long pull from her wine and shakes her head. "I really need to meet with Cesran and Mikilos."

"She is not lost," Aya notes before taking a long pull from her glass, "merely ...misplaced. She'll be returned in short order." Her eyes shift to Sabina at her final comment. "Was something discovered?"

Aryia sinks into her chair as the topic rounds itself, her nursing her whiskey as her spicy pepper salad slides into place in front of her. There's a flick on her lips to return the ghost of a smile to Aya, but Aryia was a bit too tired to be as sunny as she was some days ago. The continued topic continues to dour her mood.

A glance to Merek. "Can't you just turn into a fish? Isn't that what mages do?" <Handspeech>

Rupi seeks social points with Aryia by changing the topic. Perhaps this will impress Sabina. If anyone can read a table, or a room, or a small city block, it's her. "How about something else? Uhm..."

She looks at Sabina, back at everyone, "... favourite childhood memory? From when you were a ba... teen ager?"

"You're older than nineteen, right?" The woman asks Seyardu.

Rupi smiles hopefully at Aryia, "I mean Trouble, you've got to have one. It looks like they are all terrible, almost anything could be top of the pile?"

"How about you? Tall, dark and coughing blood?" She asks Merek, and there go some social points.

"Would fishing not be better? Do you not enjoy doing so?" Seyardu asks as she shakes off some of the sadness and sighs. She could tell the subject was being changed.

"Yes, I am?" She responds to Rupi, tilting her head. "Favorite childhood memories, ah, well, those aren't really an option up to a point. I suppose, I will have to think on that, I am sorry."

Bina looks to Aya and shrugs slightly. "An idea about what to do that is beyond my ability to do. I do not wish to speak of it in a place that can be scried upon, even if it can not be done." She yawns and takes another sip of wine and then give Rupi a grin. "You're about to be surprised by the answers, Rupi dear. The average adventurer has had a poor earlier life. There will be good times, yes. But there's a reason why a person seeks out danger and adventure."

Merek will take a look along that whole table, looking to his drink then. He will take a sip from that, "I don't turn into fish. I wanted an aquarium." The man looks to Seyardu and back to everyone else while he thinks about it. "You don't want me to answer that." The man seems to be working to keep from his anger coming through.

Aryia was glad that that Rupi shifted the topic so abruptly, her even perking back up with some energy. Though, the question gets her thinking behind a sipping sound of her whisky. It all a blur. The faces, the places... childhood... smeared like oil on a canvas...

She's quiet, such an innocent question making the mute pugilist draw inward in introspection. The next glass is sipped through, and her hands are replaced with a journal, a pen, and a small tale. Scribble scribble scratch, scribble scribble. A couple of minutes later, patience will of the table, she places it down in the center for all to read.

"When I was around 40? I had to work on a farm. My owner was this really miserable asshole. Always made us overwork. Even though I told him it was too much and the sun was too bright. So, before some people came over to look at his animals to buy, I fucked with the gates and the pens. And when they came, I chucked a rock at a cow from behind a hay bale, and made a stampede happen. He didn't get to sell anything. Fucker."

Aya does have a very fond memories of -A- childhood, and fishing was involved. She downs the remaining half of her glass, perhaps before the chilled stone can do its work. After the glass is returned to the table, she looks to Sabina. "In that case, I need to speak with them as well. Wherever is deemed appropriate and soon."

Her eyes shift to Aryia's scribbled response. "A shame he wasn't trampled in the stampede; insult -and- injury."

Speaking of people with other reasons... Lysos steps inside, rubbing her hands together to warm them up a little bit before unclasping her cloak and folding it over her arm. She looks about the interior somewhat wide-eyed, noting the location of the tables, the kitchen, the bar, the stage.. she smiles a little bit at the latter, then starts towards the bar.

The incompetent table-clearer watches Trouble as she writes, and then leans to read. Aloud, as it would turn out. She does so in a neutral tone, reacting when she's done. "Uh. Wow. That's creative."

Next, Rupi is gazing at Merek as he speaks, her eyes widening with alarm. She crouches behind 'Bina, her full lips close to the other woman's ears. She whispers, "You know him, right? He's really powerful, and getting kind of angry. Should I...?"

This is followed by a nod at silver-scaled Silver, "Oh."

She straightens up, "Well 'Bina-beans, you're right. I thought they'd at least have a favourite turnip tale, something adorably poor."

Bina smiles at Rupi and plants a kiss upon her temple. "Listening is a good skill to learn as well. What is said and what isn't. But i know that you know this. A time and place for every word, yes?" She gets up and grunts as her peacock flutters down from above to land on her shoulder. "Emp.. have you been putting on weight? Nevermind." The question earning her a peck on the head. "I'm going to go seek out some wizards. Please forgive me for leaving you all. Drinks for you are on the house this evening.. within reason of course." She grins.

"There was one time, where I went fishing, when I was a lot younger, and the fish was so large it dragged me into the water. But I was able to pull the line towards me, and spear the fish with the dagger I had on me. It was almost too big to bring it home, but I managed." She offers finally in explanation. Then she sighs, and looks to Aryia. "The one you met, he showed me the herbs he foraged, how to mix them with a few other ingredients, and bake the fish wrapped in leaves. We shared it with my father, it was nice."

Another look to Rupi. "It does not sound like you were sincere in your questioning though, based upon what was said afterwards."

Merek nods a bit along to Sabina when the woman states she needs to be on her way. Then he stands up while he places both hands along the table. While he does that, he will watch the place, "I don't have any stories like that." Then he takes the drink, and lifts that up to bring it to his mouth, finishing that. "I would like, three rums. Each one with a butterscotch, if you please." That to Rupi.

Aryia glances towards Lysos as she passes by. She didn't know her personally, but she was familiar enough from the party, and they helped out. She offers a wave as Lysos passes by the somewhat crowded table.

Though, her head swivels over to Rupi. Blink blink. "Something adorably poor?" her lips mouth. A heavy scowl, and she snatches her journal back, flipping a page over and writing with a bit more fervor. Trouble finishes and shows it the table-clearer, though others could easily read it.

"Adorably poor? Do you walk down the warehouse district and watch kids play with half mended toys for fun? I gave you the best story I got that isn't depressing or horrible."

The mute woman huffs and goes back into her chair, her looking towards Seyardu, her annoyance abating somewhat. "That's a nice story. Glad it worked out," she gestures with a hand, nodding at the person Seyardu mentions.

She glances to Aya, smirking faintly. "I wish. I got sold to those same people that day, ran it out of business with that," she adds with the same hand, her raising a brow towards Merek and is increasing drinking habits. She gives a wave to Bina, and gives a thumbs up at the free drinks. With pleasure.<Handspeech>

Aya has emptied her glass, and perhaps has no pertinent adorable and/or poor childhood memories to share. That, or possibly Sabina's departure and reason take precedence per her request. "Excuse me," she offers to her tablemates before she departs. With some haste as she simply leaves her chair with a fading puff of shadow.

"That sounds like more drinks for all!" Rupi declares. Merek's three rums are fetched and delivered, and everyone else gets the same three glasses of increasingly dark rum, with butterscoth.

As she delivers Trouble's she says, "No. But I do walk those streets."

"You are ignoring what I am saying." Seyardu notes, looking at her drink, shaking her head and taking another sip. "Fair enough. I do not see what is adorable about poorness."

Merek looks to the drink, then he picks that up to drink from that. The man looks to Rupi while he considers, "Thank you." The gaze looks like it could go right through steel, it's clear that he didn't really like that 'adorably poor' thing. Even if he has plenty of money, people would know that he often does his best to use it to assist people. Then he takes a look along to Aya while she takes off, and asks a question that perhaps no one would ever think he would ask. Even if that would not be answered. "Why did we even save this world?"

It certainly is a crowded table.. or was, at least. Lysos returned Aryia's wave along with a beaming smile, though her pace to the par didn't slow. Once there, coins change hands and an earthen mug, steam wisping up from its contents, is slid into her hands before she turns to regard the room as a whole once more. Of course, there is much to be interested in, but there's something to be said about familiarity grabbing attention.. and though she doesn't know them all that well, her attention does keep getting drawn back to that table with Aryia and the others.

"Just, saving my words, Silver." Rupi replies, without answering.

She looks away from Merek, not meeting his gaze, "and not the world, I guess... Um... Anyone want anything else?"

Aryia frowns at Rupi as another, darker drink was slid in front of her. A scribble.

"Then maybe don't sound like you had to swallow nails when you aren't satisfied."

She huffs, then turns to Seyardu, visage softening a touch. "Poorness is irrelevant. Unless she's being a snooty noble. Like those pricks at that party."

However, the mute woman swivels slowly over to Merek. Perplexion writes itself all over her visage. An eye twitches, before she gestures quickly, "I don't fucking know, man. Because you liked the people in it or some shit? Fuck. Do humans always do this shit? Get existential when they get a drink?"

Lysos is given another look by Aryia. Then a beckon, and a finger pointing to the empty chair beside her. She shakes her head at Rupi, and sips on her new drink.<Handspeech>

"I do not even know what that is supposed to mean." Seyardu sighs. Her drink was emptied. She waved to Lysos as well. And then to Merek she tilts her head. "Aryia has a point. Asking why save the world? Why would you not if you can is the better question. But this is difficult talk for just wishing to relax some from, everything that is going on."

Lysos doesn't hesitate to accept the invitation. Still being something of a stranger, overall, to the city, the chance to talk with people who at least recognize her is too good to pass up. So she meanders over to the table, even managing to save her drink when someone unexpectedly pushes their chair out in front of her and she nearly trips over it. Further mishaps are thankfully absent when she finally drops herself into the offered chair, placing her drink on the table a safe distance away from the edge. "Starry nights, everyone! That was sure something else, wasn't it?"

Merek looks over to Aryia from the hood of his attire, watching the woman. His eyes seem to be a bit more draconic than usual, while he takes the time to consider. Many memories seem to come to him while he thinks about it, then he takes a look to Seyardu. He doesn't comment upon Lysos' words, and he doesn't really look along to Rupi, while he watches the statues that look over the place from that alcove along the wall. The drink in the hand of his frosts while he takes that to his mouth, and will drink.

Rupi gravitates towards Lysos, the only member of the conversation she hasn't alienated yet. Perhaps she's trying for a complete set. "That's a nice greeting. I wasn't there. What was something else?"

Aryia was sure glad that Seyardu called it out, and that Lysos was sliding their way over with a cheery disposition. This was a place of relaxation, not anxiety. And as much as she wanted to feel somewhat bad at making Merek stew, she was kind of getting sick and tired of all conversation turning into lead-heavy topics.

The mul'neissa at the table looks up at Lysos. A heavily scarred throat bobs as she raises a hand in greeting. She gives a nod, sighs a touch, and picks up her journal again.

"She was with us at the noble house thing." She writes for Rupi, shows it, then scribbles something down in Tradespeak for Lysos.

"Hello. I'm Aryia."

"Peace on your nest, Lysos." Seyardu greets, moving so she would have enough space. Though at the question, she sighs. "We just told you what happened there, but perhaps Lysos can tell you her view if that is what you are curious about But it makes me angry just to think about. If that person actually tries to call the guild out after everything that happened-."

She shakes her head and refills her glass with fresh water after a brief prayer. "Surely someone has something pleasant to speak about."

Maybe it's an inability to read the room, or a deliberate attempt to avoid adding to The Mood. Either way, Lysos doesn't let her smile drop, reads Aryia's words, then bobs her head. "Me, I'm Lysos. That's an interesting script you have there," she adds, then explains for Rupi. "Oh, it's just what we say back home.. you know.. if you can see the stars, then it's probably going to be a good night, right? I can't believe I got away with sneaking into that place. Probably wouldn't have if... well... you know. Things didn't start getting on fire all over the place. And did you see what colour that guy's dad turned when he showed up? If I wasn't so busy being so terrified, I think I might passed out laughing from it." So, yeah, it seems Lysos might have a completely different take from the event that everyone else does. She takes a long, deep drink from her mug.. too long and deep, for she quickly sets it down and starts coughing into her sleeve. "Oh. Sorry." She looks a little bit abashed at Seyardu, realizing that finding any humour in the event might be a bit much considering how serious it actually was. "So... this place. It's my first time here. Seems nice."

"Yes, polite conversation. A happier topic. Like when I try to switch it to be about fish and get mocked about being a Mage," Merek will note then, while he begins to settle into his seat. "So why should I offer any happier conversation if that's going to be made fun of?" he asks.

"Oh, right. Yes." Rupi says, finding a seat and sitting on it. She sits back from the table, not within the circle of friends, "Thanks Trouble. Silver."

She doesn't add any commentary, and looks at Lysos, "I don't need to hear it."

She waits, seeing if a more pleasant topic is floated, and one is. "Oh! Welcome to the TarRaCe. It's an eating space, a stage, and a bathing house dedicated to ..." She points up a the statues looking down on all, "Those three!"

A look is then directed Merek's, way. Rupi shrugs a little, grinning at the others and attempting to bond, "Salty old fishermen, right? Unhappy no one wants to hear about the one that got away?"

Aryia looks down at her script, her raising a brow. It wasn't terrible, almost like it was practiced quite a bit to the point where it was moderately legible with the occasional scrawl. She flips to another page as she took takes some water, downing that while The Mood was inadvertently piled on to. More. And More. And More. And just when she was about to probably snap at Merek- ah! A way out of this!

Sribble scribble. Show.

"Thanks, I only just learned how to not write horrible. The bathhouse here is great, I go here all the time for it."

Merek looks around and to everyone, then he watches Rupi for a moment. "I've caught almost all the fish I ever went to catch. I am great at fishing. You ask Sey." He nods a bit to Seyardu. Well, he does remember when he met the sith'makar. Then a look to Aryia, "Apologies." Back to the table, he seems to consider it all, while he will take a drink, "I want an aquarium of fish, to take care of. Not like, eat." To Lysos, the man nods a little bit. "Ah, YOU! Ah, the cat lady! And... I remember, and when the gnome was launched into the tree. And you were."

"It is a nice place. That woman that was here, She is the owner of the building, and the one there-" She gestures to Rupi. "Is her Cihuaa? Or something similar, I do not know if it is a more informal partnership."

"There are heated baths in the back rooms and massage tables." She pauses, and nods. "Yes, he has donated many fish to the temple Althea, that have helped feed a lot of people. But what is this about cats, and being launched into trees?"

Lysos's grin becomes a little bit forced when Merek brings to mind the great Cat Caper. But it remains. "Well," she starts. "I certainly needed a bath after that." So she goes on to describe the event, in detail, displaying a little bit of her magical talent with some prestidigitation effects... faint, coloured light left in trails by tracing fingers, she outlines a tree. Explaining about a little boy who needed help, his pet cat stuck up in the tree.. "And there was this gnome fellow, Jinks, and Aya.. "

Lysos pauses, looking at Aryia. "An elf like you, right? Anyways, I think Jinks might have been a little bit drunk, thinking he was going to climb the tree..." Then conjures another light, then flicks it up wards. "Well, Aya goes and grabs him, spins.. and wow. Never seen a gnome fly so high. He gets up there, and then grabs the cat and drops it." Then her face goes flat. "Well, it wasn't a cat. It was gross. And it landed on my face."

"Yup! Partner! Business Partner, dream partner, partner for life and beyond. Formal and everything. We exchanged vows, even got commemorative matching tatoos!" Rupi says cheerfully, then adds in a lower, more ribald tone, "Which I /will not/ show you."

She goes silent, watching Lysos' performance, the tale-enhancing magical effects. "Ha!" She laughs at the gross reveal, "I mean, oh. Did you wash it off?"

Aryia gives a light, yet long sigh, her glancing towards Merek with a thumb tapping against her sternum. She didn't seem frustrated at him in particular, it was just... everything getting to her. "It's fine. Probably should work on getting more fish for that then."

The elf blinks at the story, her tilting her head to the side. Aya did something like? Huh. She'll have to ask her later when they talked. Though, she couldn't help but make a 'Pffft' sound, a hand covering her mouth as her cheeks puffed out as the story from Lysos concludes. That got her spirits back up, as well as a breathy huff of a chuckle from Rupi's little comments.

Yep. She was taking this mood back to the baths. She downs the last of the darker drink, grabs a new one, then gives a two finger salute to the table. She points to herself, then to the baths beyond before turning to Lysos. Slowly, she mouths, as a hand slide over an open palm, two closed fists with pointer fingers touching together, then points to Lysos. "Nice. To meet. You."

She invites Seyardu with a beckon, and a motion for 'if you want', then steps away to feed her addiction. <Handspeech>

From the kitchen, a voice can be heard asking, "how do you dry potatoes after cutting them?"

A second replies, "What for?"

"Frying. There's an order up."

The second voice again, "Towel I'd say, just pat them dry."

The first voice, saying, "almost cut through my leg"

"That sounds bad, glad you're okay"

A third voice chimes in, "That is some vigorous potato cutting."

"I have a scar on my wrist from touching the oven with no mitts on the other week. I've never pretended to be a competent cook"

"How'd you get a line chef position then?" A fourth line asks, "Chef Ligum is so strict!"

"Ow!" First voice, "this time my pinky."

A fifth voice orders, "please slow down and use a cutting board. We can't afford regenerate spells."

"Keep your fingers tucked." Second voice.

"Don't think I have any."

"Fingers or cutting boards? How do you not have a cutting board? I've got eight at my station. I only use two and they keep showing up." Fourth voice.

Second voice says, "Have you checked for mimics?"

The first voice, "I might. I was given all kinds of supplies." There's some clattering noises. "Apparently not a board."

Fourth voice, "Take one of mine. If the other six are mimics they landed a sweet gig."

"I have five spatulas and five fry daddy pincers." This is followed by, "potatoes are cut. Now dry them, and I don't know. Do I put them into inch deep oil or instead coat oil on the pan?"

Fifth voice, "I actually have zero idea on how to fry potatoes. I only work the mashed prep."

Fourth voice says, "If you put them in oil, you have to do it twice."

"You have to fry them twice?"

Second voice, "No. You should boil them once, and fry once"

"First fry is to cook them, second fry is to give them the layer. Or boil then fry, boiling needs to be done before they are cut."

"If you don't have the oil in a pot yet," the second voice says, sounding tired, "I might recommend roasting in the oven."

Third voice, "Roasting them is pretty straightforward."

"How do you roast?"

"Do you have any olive oil?" Different voices. "Why are you in this kitchen?"

"I would say, get a glass baking dish," The second voice instructs, "put the potatoes into the dish, and mix them with a couple tablespoons of oil. Add salt and pepper, and bake 400 for around half an hour."

The oddly captivating and interrupting conversation fades as one of the kitchen staff closes the window between the bar and the kitchen. Everyone who has been silently eavesdropping looks at one another.

"Peace on your nest, Aryia. I would join you, but I need to make sure that Zeke actually sleeps." She replies to the gesture, with a sigh. Then, she turns to Lysos. "Ah, I have met Jinks before. I can not say I like him particularly, to be honest. But he has been through a fair bit, so I can not blame him too much. I am glad you were able to get the thing out of the tree at least."

Then, she turns to Rupi. "Ah, matching tattoos. In an area you do not normally show I assume, but I thought most softskins got rings so they can be seen."

"I have never heard of an aquarium. Is it like a farm for fish?"

"It is like a farm for fish," Merek will note to Seyardu, while he thinks about it. "Jinks. Well, he went through a lot and apologized when I asked about it, but told me to not try to defend him on his behalf as the man was worried about what people think. I'd like to think whatever it was, the man's trying to change away from that," then he nods to Rupi, "That's fancy!"

Lysos's cheeks go a little darker for some reason, and she clears her throat, shaking her head roughly. She gives Aryia a thumbs up gesture before the woman leaves, then leans back in her chair to drink from her mug, long enough to let her cheeks return back to normal before it thunks back on to the table. "It was a hideous little sewer beast. I'm not sure what happened to it after that... I might have passed out. Or blocked it out. You know, traumatic memories. I definitely washed my face for at least an hour. This," she points to her face, "Well, this is just from today." She rubs at her face with her sleeve for good measure. "I don't really know Jinks. He has a nice voice when he sings. Don't think he'd leave a traveller's camp with all those jewels still in place though."

"Rings! I'll see if 'Bina-beans likes that idea." Rupi says thoughtfully, "and, he's right, It's like a farm without the farm."

"Well, we've got bath's here, and they're very good, and there are nasty things in the sewers, that's true." The woman continues, "I've seen a few weird heads poking out late at night."

"I used to know kin who would paint their horns with a matching pattern. But softskins do not have horns, so I suppose rings make sense." Seyardu nods to Rupi.

"I do not know him well, but I cannot trust him after what he has said in the past. If it is his disdained for my kind and kobolds, I will believe that when I hear it from him, and even that would be taken under scrutiny. Apologies. A farm for fish would be useful, this is true. Not a bad idea."

She turns her attention to Lysos, and nods. "I understand, though I hope things turned out alright. Given you and Aya and Jinks are still around, I would believe they did. Although, I should probably get going. I need to make sure that the healers I know actually get some sleep."

Merek nods a bit while he takes the time to stand up. "You don't need to trust him, with that in mind... Well, try not to let all those emotions take you into something you are not. You are a wonderful person, Silver." Then he nods to everyone, and to Lysos along and Rupi, "You all take care."

"Bye Mr. Mysterious." Rupi waves, still holding her serving tray somewhat defensively. As the table clears, she stands and starts clearing the dishes from it as well. She smiles at Seyardu, "Oh, matching horn carvings! I like that idea. Well, I need shoes first, but I'll make a list."

Fade to Drinking

Ashes' Theme Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J46sRuj99Cw