• Memory • Red in Winter

[Syhera Ki'hadi]

"A flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."

• 2nd of Zida, 709 Arc
  
  The door to the inn opened and a few laughing sailors stumbled in and headed for the hearth to warm their chilled bones. Burly men with strong arms and tattoos lining their arms, their common was accented differently than other men in Rharne, outsiders but still at home in a familiar environment. Dirty and with frost in their beards, they joked loudly, commenting on the trip across the sea and one of the men offered to play a round of dice. And so they settled in to the slow tavern, eager for a little rest and recreation after the journey.
  
  Behind them, a much smaller frame glided into the room with hot red hair dusted with white snow. Bundled in a white, wool coat with shiny black buttons, her dark boots thudded against the worn wood flooring as she entered. A cold cloud brushed past her painted lips as she exhaled, shutting the door behind her.
  
  “Hera,” one of the sailors called, his pointed ears distinguishing him as Biqaj. Switching to Rakahi, “Are you cold?” he grinned at his heckling, and the red head smirked at the attention, knowing very well what was coming next. She patiently began removing her leather gloves and tugged at the black scarf around her neck as he waved her over, “I can warm you up.”
  
  Nice try.
  
  Hera smiled, shaking her head and blowing a kiss. Ignoring the burly men, her silver eyes looked around the room to get a feel for the atmosphere. It was slower than she was used to, most drinking establishments she visited in Andaris staying full year round, but it was a nice change of pace. Heading towards the bar, she noticed the young bartender filling drinks, not quite sure what she had been expecting, but still feeling a bit surprised. Tossing her gloves onto the table, she removed a compass from her pocket and set it next to the pair, sliding onto a barstool and undoing some buttons of her coat, “Would you do me a favor?,” she asked in common to the bartender as he passed, sparing a look for the sailors who were watching her, perhaps thinking of approaching her, “I need help with something I think you can help me with,” she smiled mischievously, as if sharing a secret with the tall man before her.
  
  He was a bit older, maybe mid-twenties. A handsome sight after being on a boat with nothing but sailors, fishermen, and a few eclectic merchants. She tucked a strand of hair behind her pointed ear and resting her cheek into her palm casually, “It’s harmless,” she promised, although her eyes suggested a little more fun, “Every drink they order me, just fill it with something non-alcoholic. I just have an idea that I want to play with. In the meantime… Could I have a shot?” Hera reached beneath the counter and pulled some coins from her pocket, “Surprise me.”
  

[Patrick]

With the transition into the coldest time of the year, people tended to prefer the warmth of indoors over outside trips any day. Patrick more or less preferred the warmth of a body honestly, but somebody had to run the bar in its not so busy quality time. It seemed many a Rharnian took to drinking earlier in the day rather than later, so nights were going to get a little bit quieter for him in the later days to come. To an extent he kind of liked that idea but only because it left him plenty of time for whatever, and typically the bar was the easiest thing to tidy up first due to lower hordes of customers. Of course with the recent docks of ships sailors and passengers now docked in port, customers would flock to wherever was warm enough to escape the cold, and the Bronze Boar wasn't any different in regards to this.

A band of sailors came in through the door as Patrick wiped down the counter top with a washrag, the blistering cold an unwelcome intrusion on his behalf as the air from outside dampened the heat. After another followed the lot inside and the door finally swung shut, Patrick moved over to the end of the bar where a pile of wood had been placed, and with a few small logs grabbed he fed them to the hearth for more warmth. The cold was always something he always tolerated because of its expectations, where as the heat of Ymiden was always too sweltering for his personal taste. Still there was only so much one could do to keep a place entirely warm, and hopefully with the fire given its own fuel they'd be graced with more heat here shortly. When he'd returned to the bar he'd moved to resume the wiping of the counter, however the lady who had entered had already required his attention.

"Aye, what'cha need lass?" He asked as he rolled his white long sleeves up in preparation for service, he had honestly expected her to outright pick a drink she wanted after settling in, but instead it seemed as though she had a more personal matter on hand he could assist with. Her smile definitely wasn't unnoticed in regards to the favor she was about to ask, Patrick honestly wondered just what this interesting customer had working in her head. She seemed a bit younger than he was actually, with vividly red hair that almost gave him pause until he recognized her other characteristics. Sharp eyes with the qualities found in silver, and pointed ears that indicated her real heritage instead. This woman was a Biqaj instead of an Aukari, so he needn't be wary of her presence here in the tavern. Still she was quite the radiant beauty that had a keen sense of style, her eyes suggesting that this intended favor that this was something in fact fun. "Let's hear it."

He laughed for a moment before his arms folded onto the bar, his interest now piqued as he listened in closely.
She wanted him to water down any drinks bought for her, or rather substituted with something that wasn't alcohol. Normally he was against such ideas as it were bad for business, and quite often a common insult on his part for both parties. This case however... He seemed to want to go along with it honestly, mostly because he liked the idea of it. Fun as it sounded he still had to make sure they didn't catch him in the act. "Aight lass, I'll see what I can do." He agreed with a soft grin to follow, when she asked for a shot and to be surprised he chuckled with a nod.

Patrick straightened up to turn around and face the cabinets behind him, a few bottles pulled out and placed on the counter before him. He'd taken a bottle of rum and checked its level with a few shakes, confident that bottle was actually just about empty. Feeling a little bit cunning and crafty he'd poured what was left into the last shot of the bottle, and proceeded to take the pitcher of water nearby. If he moved quick enough then he could pretend that bottle was what they were buying her, after all how many shots did they intend to spend their money on anyway? He heard the bar stools scrap against the floor which told him her companions had found their seat, and with the washrag grabbed once more he casually wiped the counter as though he'd accidentally spilled just a small dose. "Here we go." He finally said as he moved her shot of rum onto the counter, a trusting look given to the woman as he waited to hear what the sailors wanted to order.

[Syhera Ki'hadi]

"A flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."

• He didn't question her motives, which made Hera appreciate him all the same, “Thank you very much,” she said graciously, her hands watching the bartender's hands. He was quite casual about it all, and so she remained at ease, even when the men she had traveled with sauntered over to join them. Taking the shot, she watched one of her fellow sailor men eye her drink and a grand smile spread over his lips.
  
  “I didn't know you were a drinker, Syhera,” he mused, pushing up his sleeves to reveal dark tattoos and sliding into the bar stool next to her, “What are you drinking? Rum?”
  
  “Not anymore,” she answered, resisting the urge to grimace and carefully sliding the shot glass away from her, “I have things to do tonight, so only clear liquor from here on out, I do believe.”
  
  The man nodded, as if the clear stuff was less potent – only for women and boys. Real men like him drank the strong stuff like rum or whiskey, straight. Hera gave a knowing look to the bartender, motioning for him to pour her the false drink, “You wouldn't share a drink with us, would you, lass?”
  
  Hera scooted forward, needing to make sure no one questioned anything, “How about this,” she mused, smiling sweetly, “If I can out drink you, you have to buy me a gift” She could think of a few things she wanted. New jewelry, some books, maybe a new dress. Whatever she chose (within reason, of course), her proposition had drawn attention to her fellow sea mates and some of them laughed.
  
  “And if you win,” Hera continued, drumming her fingers on the table and leaning back, “Whatever you want.”
  
  A young woman challenging a sailor to a drinking contest didn't seem fair at all, or even intelligent for that matter. Hera certainty didn't look like the type of person who could beat him at his own game, but then again, he didn't know about her deal with the bartender. She purposefully didn't look at the man across the counter, afraid someone would catch the glance and discover her attempt at a swindle.
  
  Hawkins, as the tattooed man opened his mouth to point out that she had things to do, but seeing the young woman so boldly challenging him in this way... His eyes trailed from her face, to her chest, to her hips and legs. Was she perhaps doing this... on purpose? Had the sea been as lonely for her as it had for him and the other men? “How old are you?” he asked skeptically, a hand reaching up to scratch at his black beard.
  
  “Old enough.”
  
  A tension built in the air, both sides weighing the chances of their success, and understanding the unspoken questions. Hawkins gave a gruff nod, and both patrons began reaching for their coin purse. Hera knew if she played her cards right, paying for the drinks would alleviate any guilt for taking advantage, and Hawkins, because it was the proper thing to do when you planned to take a women to bed.
  
  “Put away your money, Hera,” Hawkins, ordered, lifting a hand and motioning for Patrick to pay attention, “Three shots of dark to catch up to the lass, and another of whatever she's drinking,” he ordered, noticing the glasses beside her.
  
  The red head tried not to tense, chewing her lip and continued to try and push a few nel towards the server, hoping this wouldn't end in disaster, “Are you sure?” she asked, her bright eyes falling more on the bartender than her opponent. By watering her drinks, he was essentially being paid for alcohol he wasn't really selling. Hera had been under the assumption she would pay for everything she ordered, as a way to thank the bartender for his secrecy, not trick a sailor to buy her false drinks and a new trinket. Would her partner in crime offer to change her order, or expose her?
  
  She was about to find out.
  

[Patrick]

Patrick's eyes faltered from the woman and onto the men that approached the bar, the counter space wiped clean as they took their seats afterwards. "What'll it be boys?" He inquired with arms crossed as they bothered the woman about her drinks, it seemed like she knew how to play it cool for the most part. That and she intended to make a bit of a game out of it with the two, the poor sods wouldn't have any clue that she intended to drink softly instead.

This would have to be one he would have to watch out for, if he were to ever try anything with her later of course. Patrick had met many of people who would scheme and prank like this, and while it certainly didn't mutually benefit him completely; often the reward was seeing how these situations panned out. Regardless of what she planned it seemed like the men were keen to accept and even pay for the drinks, something she hadn't counted on and well found herself in a situation. Three heavy shots and then what she had before; they clearly intended to outlast her before she'd even started. Patrick couldn't help but chuckle for a moment as he turned to pour drinks for the lot.

He'd poured the whiskey shots first seeing as how that's what the men seemed to want first, and when they were ready he moved them over to the bar for them to indulge. "Tell ya what lads," Patrick interjected as he took another bottle of rum, actual rum and not the planted water, and poured shots just as he did before, "granted I probably don't have any place in this bet; I'll match it with my own bet to boot." Three shots poured for the men; while the plant was inadvertently poured for the lady. Patrick then resumed his own personal order of drinks, so that he could catch up to the men that he now joined.

"She wins then ya get t' pamper her, ya win then she does the same t' you. If I win though," he quirked with the first shot of whiskey raised, "then I get t' be the one pamper her." With a wink shot to her he threw the whiskey down the hatch, the credible burn in his throat casually brushed off like it were nothing. He could certainly pretend to pour her drinks, but to keep credibility to a minimum, he needed to be able to distract these two from the facade. One such way was to raise the stakes in his own way, and granted he was a Rharnian he felt confident he could outdrink the whole lot.

[Maltruism]

Come and get your Loot!

(There's plenty more where that came from)

SYHERA KI'HADI:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +3 (two posts)
• Structure: +0

These points can Not be used for magic.

Knowledges:

• Deception: Don't Look at Your Accomplices
• Deception: It's All in the Wording
• Deception: Keep The Alcohol Out of Your Drinks
• Deception: One-Sided Drinking Contest
• Linguistics: Don't Confuse Accent with Dialect
• PC: Patrick: Bartender at the Bronze Boar
• Patrick: Willing to Go Along on a Joke
• Seduction: Blow a Kiss
• Seduction: Laugh at the Stupid, Predictable Jokes Too.
• Sociology: Running a Test on Feigned Drunken Interaction

Loot, Loss, Injuries, Fame, Devotion:

None of the above.

___________________________________________________________

PATRICK:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +3 (two posts)
• Structure: +0

These points can Not be used for magic.

Knowledges:

• Business Management: Keep Wood on Hand for Cold Weather
• Business Management: Not Usually a Good Idea to Water-Down Drinks
• Deception: It's All in the Wording
• Deception: Making Yourself a Distraction For
• Deception: Replacing Clear Liquor With Water
• Detection: Not All Redheads are Aukari
• Gambling: Raising the Stakes by Inviting Yourself into a Game
• Logistics: With New Ship Arrivals Come New Customers
• PC: Syhera: Redhead Female Customer
• Syhera: A Conniving Prankstress

Loot, Loss, Injuries, Fame, Devotion:

None of the above.

Comments:

Well, it is a damned shame this did not go any further.
I could truly envisioning Syhera's sharp turn of the head to glare at Patrick taking advantage of her manipulation.
There is the issue of the drink cost, but I'm not going to be a stickler on that and the NPCs paid for most of it ayway.
Sorry, but per the review guide, if a thread is abandoned - as this obviously was - and no one makes an effort to finish it, no structure points are awarded.
PM me with any comments or concerns