NationStates Jolt Archive

Welcome to Grim's Tavern.

She's small and offers little else but alcohol and a bed to rest in, but she's well-populated and quiet. Sometimes.

Located on tiny Planet 098, a stop-by for travellers in all lines of work, Grim's Tavern is nestled between two tall, smog-sky-scraping buildings which in turn are lined alongside more. The city of Briisan 08 is bustling and dirty, home to crooks, weary travellers, small and large laboring families, and more.


Some may say there's no rest for the weary, but the occasional lucky one may find it here. May the fools make themselves appear more foolish, the beautiful win hearts, the brave die once, the cowards die several times before their deaths, and the thieves rob each other blind. I raise my glass to your stories.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
READ THE RULES. PLAY BY THEM. We will be moderating you.

1. This is a free-form RP. Bring your own plotlines to the table. We are not about chat. Give us some stories to work with.
2. Absolutely no god-moding. No immortality, no invincibility. If you're going to fight, bleed. It's just how it works.
3. No cybering; that should go without saying but there should probably be some sort of warning here. If you REALLY feel the need to go that route, which I hope-to-God you don't, there are TGs. Use them.
4. Just because it says "The First Month" does not necessarily mean that one month passes for your character between each thread. It's just an innovative way of keeping the number of threads up to date. We'll be shutting down the threads at the appropriate number of posts.
5. As of now, the barkeep, Grim, is a global NPC. Please feel free to puppeteer him whenever you wish. We're still looking for someone who would like to take on the role of a barkeeper. If you're interested, have your character contact Grim and do the necessary paperwork. :P
6. Your character can be anything you want it to be. Animal, person, strange alien race... have fun with it. Make it up. Make it work. Don't make it cliche.
7. We'll add more rules as we see fit.

Description of Grim's Tavern to keep in mind:
There is a dimly-lit barroom; as soon as the door opens, the mutilated-yet-polished counter is lined along the opposite wall, peppered with bar stools. A fire burns in the fireplace to your left, and the worn, cushy furniture surrounding it is perched on an old, false Persian rug. To your right, tables and chairs litter the empty wooden floor, leaving a twelve-by-twelve space open for dancing against the rightmost wall. A large and rusty jukebox sits there, beside the stairs, which are wooden and lead up to a hallway, which leads to a small, grimy window at the front of the tavern. Along the hall are doors; beyond them are rooms. The keys to the rooms hang on a board alongside a sign-out sheet at the end of the bar.

It was raining outside, and she slipped down a little sidestreet, dark boots squishing in the mud of the gutter. She moved up onto the sidewalk, which wasn't much better, and continued squelching unstealthily.

Her hair was plastered and white against her head, water running into her pale eyes. She looked virtually albino, small and fine-featured, figuratively drowning (and somewhat literally, due to the weather) in her long, dark coat.

Neon lights flickered somewhere ahead down the street, which was really no more than a backwater alley. She squinted through the water, hand lightly resting on a pocket of her coat, read the name "Grim's Tavern" in feeble orange. A sign outside read "BARKEEP NEEDED, APPLY INSIDE" and she let loose a chuckle. "No way in hell," she said, as she pushed the door open and let it shut with sound behind her.


Her hair was instantly dry, and the rain still ran in rivulets from her jacket. The fireplace roared feebly in the corner, an old man, apparently the owner Grim, stood, slouched behind the counter, polishing a dirty glass with a dirty rag. He watched her somewhat angrily, unaware that the glass was growing steadily more dirty with each swipe. She ignored him and collapsed into a rickety chair at a table. A small white candle burned in the center of it.

<<<OOC:What is this?

*Pokes thread with stick*

Looks like this is in the wrong forum>>>

ooc: In the NS General's rules--

Originally Posted by Frisbeeteria
Copycat threads: When somebody creates a popular thread, copycats and parodies quickly flood the forums. Like any other fad, a few can be fun, but once everyone starts to copycat them it becomes overbearing and spammish. Such threads may be locked or moved to Spam by any moderator who considers that thread to be a copycat or spam thread. Threads with genuine content may be left alone, but that probability increases dramatically when you don't use a fad title.

Chat threads: If you want to have a private conversation with one or two other people, this isn't the place to do it. One of the instant message clients (AIM, MSN) or an IRC /query is best. If you must chat on forums, use Jolt's Chat forum.

Cybersex chats: Illegal under the "obscene" clause of the TOS. Take it elsewhere

Social RP: In the wake of several out-of-control threads, standards were established for socializing threads. These sorts of threads are tolerated as long as a) there aren't too many of them, b) they attempt to maintain at least a façade of roleplaying behavior, and c) they are locked at approximately 1300 posts.

Tag Games: Carrying on with a conversation or chase game in unrelated threads is spamming and topic hijacking. Don't do it.

Word Games are banned. Period. It's not a matter of bandwidth, they're just not coming back. If you want to play word games, go start or join some in the spam forum. They're not welcome here.


And thanks for the ooc, haha.

<<<OOC:What is this?

*Pokes thread with stick*

Looks like this is in the wrong forum>>>

ooc: Read the General Forum Rules Thread please

ic:
A man, whose dark brown hair was flat against his head, neck and face from the rain that beat steadily against him, ducked quickly into the shelter of a backalley. He reached up and swept the water from his face and began to walk deeper into the alley. There was barely enough light to keep from tripping over something, and he found himself standing underneath an ancient orange neon sign.
"Grim's Tavern," he read aloud, before proceeding inside.
Once through the doors into shelter, he shook water from a dilapidated leather jacket and pushed his dripping hair back out of his eyes, letting them play slowly over the inside. Immediately he was attracted to the fireplace, and, nodding briefly to the grumpy looking old man behind the bar, he sat himself down in a chair next to it, draping the jacket over the back.

Rain. Miserable means of getting wet.

She was just barely over five feet tall, and walked with her shoulders slightly raised, trying to protect her face from the rain.

Keen violet eyes looked for a place to get in out of the damp, and she could feel her long raven plait heavy and cold down her back. She shivered a bit, pulling the upraised collar of her black jacket a bit more close around her throat.

Her clothes had gotten to that state of being uncomfortably clingy and tight, and it was with relief that she saw the bar nestled in the block of buildings. With a sigh, she pushed open the door and headed straight for the fireplace.

She held her hands out to it for a moment, pushing her sodden bangs out of her face, then proceeded to stand as close as she could comfortably stand, letting the warmth of the fire take the chill out of her bones and start to dry her clothes.

The old man had crept over to her table, still looking angry, still polishing the dirty glass with his dirty rag. His voice was crumbled and ancient, creaking like a tree being torn out of the ground. "Grim."

She looked up at him blearily, one arm beneath her chin and resting on the table while the other was sprawled out before her. "Whaddya want?"

He made weird sounds in his throat, as if his throat needed oiling to allow speech. "Ya applyin' for ba'keep?" he asked her.

Noire snorted. "No."

Old Grim glared. "Ya buyin' some drinks, then?"

She waved a hand in his direction, eyes shut as she rested on her arm. "Not tonight."

He grumbled away, back to his counter with his dirty glass and rag.

Her world was darkening, and Noire was asleep in moments. The candle on her table flickered, and went out.

ooc: Outta here, got work in the AM. Night.
EDITED OOC: By the way, Grim is a global NPC for the thread. Anyone can puppeteer him if they want, until we find someone who actually wants to play the barkeep. Also, welcome, Katganistan. :D

Shure she was being fallowed she quickend her step. looking for any place that would get her off the street and out from under the rain. Pulling her scarlet cloak tighter around her she turned the corner and was happy to see the neon sign before her.

Breaking into a run she reached the tavern door and slipped inside, her heart was beating wildly but atleast, for the moment, she was safe. Walking toward the bar she took an iventory of the people and items in the tavern. One can never be to safe.

Can I have a whiskey please, no ice?

Turning in his seat, he looked at the new entry. The warmth of the fire had brightened his mood a little bit and he grinned up at her.
"Lovely night isn't it?"
He stood up, stretched and turned to survey the rest of the bar. His gaze was caught by the startlingly white hair of the woman asleep at the table. He looked and his grin widened as he listened to the other woman's response.
"Now that's a mop I'd recognize anywhere. Excuse me for one second miss."
He got a napkin from the bar and managed to borrow a pencil from Grim. He scribbled a short note:Squorn was here! and slipped it gently into Noire's hand.
He also retrieved on of the roomkeys from the wall before turning back toward the fireplace.
"I'm afraid it's late and I've got to be turning in for the night, but maybe I'll see you later Miss. . . ."
He let the sentence trail off.

The night crept on in relative silence, disturbed only at intervals by the stridulous groan of the heavy tavern door, which presently creaked open to permit the passage of another weary traveler, who by now had come in from under the driving rain, cold and indeed soaked to the inmost pith. Attired in the uniform of a transient – rucksack, heavy coat, scarf – his eyes instinctively sought the darkest nook of the inn, from where he could rest his tired bones unnoticed.

Striding unevenly forward, he groped his way to a bench set against the wall farthest from the door. Deciding it an adequately comfortable seat, he unburdened himself of his baggage and collapsed there ungracefully. His eyes surveyed the room for a time, swollen and dimming – looking, but seeing nothing. They rested for a moment on the pallid illumination of a candle standing on a distant table, which calmed him somewhat, and soon sent him off to sleep, there on the bench.

ooc: I've never tried any kind of role-play before, but this seems fun - until tomorrow, good night. :)

The super duper ultra hell mega demon has come in to wreck everyone's shit because some doofus posted an RP in general.

If you'll read the last page or so of NS Pub, you'll see that RP is apparently allowed. If that isn't enough evidence, you can see here that one of the mods (Katganistan) is participating in this thread. I think it's legal. ;)

Ruffy slowly turned the door knob to enter the bar, not knowing if the bar was open for business due to the dim lights. To his surprise he found people littered all around the room enjoying their drinks and conversation. As he walked over to the bar the inviting warmth of the fire made him feel as if he were meant to be here for more than just to quentch his thirst. "Hello there!" the bartender exclaimed. Seemingly caught off-guard, Ruffy replied "Hey, rum and coke--please."

Ruffy then grabbed a hand full of peanuts and stuffed them into a napkin as he scoped out the dim lighted room looking for a place to sit.

"I prefer the seats next to the fire." the bartender said as he handed Ruffy his drink and nodded before adding "Those nuts are too salty form my liking."

A man that seemed to be on his sixth pint let out a soft laugh.

Ruffy shrugged and proceded to take his place next to the fire.

If you'll read the last page or so of NS Pub, you'll see that RP is apparently allowed. If that isn't enough evidence, you can see here that one of the mods (Katganistan) is participating in this thread. I think it's legal. ;)

Well, if the copycat spam thread mod says its ok... ;)

At any rate, you couldn't pay me to read a page of the pub thread, not even the last one.

"Hmmph. New dive opened up. Well, let's check it out." he thought.

He walked into the dimly lit place, dressed in a charcoal-gray pinstripe suit, fedora placed rakishly on his head, and sat down at the bar.

"Hey, bartender, give me a scotch on the rocks." he said.

He looked around at the other patrons. An odd assortment. Some looking like they'd just been to a Broadway show, others like they'd come from skid row. His kind of place.

The rain beat down on the young man's head as he tried without success to dry his glasses on his drenched tee-shirt. Eventually, he sighed, placed the glasses back on his thin face, and headed for the nearest lit windows.


As the man entered the tavern, he was clearly illuminated against the stormy skies. He was a small, neat man with long black hair gathered into a ponytail and a thin face and a strong jaw. His square, black-rimmed glasses sat at a slight tilt high on the bridge of his nose, and he had a small scar above his right eye. On each of his fingers, he wears a ring of green stone. As his brown eyes surveyed the other patrons, his lips quirked slightly and he seemed somewhat amused. He headed directly to a table, not bothering to attempt to dry himself out by the fire. He sighed and pulled the ring from the third finger of his right hand. After tapping and flicking the ring experimentally a few times, he began to play with it absently.

Just great...
Jeremy White trudged down the middle of the rain soaked street, unwary and uncaring of any cars that might not swerve out of the way fast enough to avoid him.

He was once again dwelling on his glory days, back when he was known as Jukebox Jeremy and the only thing played more often than his songs was the newest Pepsi commercial. Or at least that was how it had seemed at the time.

Now he was a nobody, lucky to get an audience enough to earn the spare change to buy a brew. To make things worse, his favorite dive had just come under new management, and he was no longer welcome there.

Once again he was alone, with nothing to love but the guitar strapped to his back.

As he passed some nondescrepit tavern he remembered the couple of bucks in his pocket from the night before. A friendly gentleman on his way out of the bar had tossed it his way, just before the old barkeep told him that his money wasn't good there anymore.

It's enough to end tonight... he thought. The optimism that had been keeping him alive for so long seemed to slip for a moment, for his next thought wasIt's enough to end it all...

As he debated whether he wanted a beer in his belly or a bullet in his head, he gazed absentmindedly through the tavern window at the assortment of patrons inside. People talking, laughing, drinking. A man slipping a note to a sleeping woman. Probably a lover.

A second later he realized he had seen the man before. In fact, it was the same man that had slipped him money the evening before. With this physical reminder that he still had some place in the world, his optimism was temporarily restored. He strolled into the bar and ordered a drink.


OOC: Thought I'd just continue on from where I started at the pub.

"I'm afraid it's late and I've got to be turning in for the night, but maybe I'll see you later Miss. . . ."

She looked up at him, her eyes slightly guarded, as if expecting a curse or a blow; when none seemed forthcoming, she relaxed slightly, her eyes sliding away from him and glancing quickly around the bar.

"I go by Melanie," she said softly, and her voice has an almost musical lilt to it. It sounded slightly sad, and very weary. "Perhaps we'll meet again at that, Mister..."

She smiled slightly, letting her question trail off expectantly.

"Stupid rain," the man thought as he approached the door of the tavern. "Brand new hat, brand new jacket, argh."

As he stepped into the tavern and his eyes adjusted to the light, he went to take off his now dripping hat when he noticed a man wearing a similar hat sitting at the bar. "No room for two fedoras in this place," he said, placing the hat on a hat rack.

The bartender waved at him. "Can I get you something?"

"No, thanks. Just need to slow down for a change."

He figured the fire would dry his new jacket, so the tall, skinny man sat in a high backed chair by the fire, eyeing the jukebox.

How long had it been since he danced. . .

do you do sandwiches?

A long, dark corridor of the incredibly cliche sort opened in her mind; something was following her... and Noire twitched and fell out of her seat into an undignified tangle of limbs and her height of five feet, eight inches. The note that had been in her hand floated down from the table to land delicately, presumptuously, on her face.

ooc: Welcome, all who joined.

ooc: Also, for all who joined, the rules have been updated; check 'em out. :p

She rose smoothly from her ungainly position on the floor, snatched the note from her face, glanced about quickly to be sure no one had witnessed the incident, and reseated herself in the rickety chair, leaning her elbows on the table.

Turning the note over that had been clasped in her hand, she read the words Squorn was here! in a slanted scrawl. A grin flitted across her features and she crumpled the napkin up in her hand and shoved it into one of the many pockets of her coat.

She yawned lazily, rumpled up her short hair, almost accidentally cutting a finger on the small shuriken dangling from her left ear, and took a sip from the vodka bottle that had seemingly appeared in her hand as she perused the tavern and the chatting customers.

Letting her eyes drift around the walls of the tavern, she looked from hanging photo to hanging photo until her gaze rested on the large, old-fashioned clock ticking loudly above the bar counter. Her eyes widened at the time, and her hand went for an inner pocket of her coat, dropping the bottle, which burst into something so quickly you couldn't directly tell, and ash drifted down to the floor. The door of the tavern banged shut in her wake.

TBC wanders in, feeling slightly stupid at having bet his roomate he could get drunk at eveyr bar in the system, and even more stupif for having allowed himself to become as endebted to his "benefactors" as he had.

Removing his overcoat, lowering his hood, and lighting a ciggarette, he strode to the bar, waiting to be served.

The young man frowned down at his hands, as though he had just become aware that he was playing with a ring. He slipped it back on his finger and waved the bartender over.

As the bartender approached, the young man gestured for him to come closer. When the barman was mere inches away, the man whispered, but so loudly that the words were audible throughout the bar.

"Uhmmm...excuse me. I was wondering, do you have any of that...you know...liquor, Mexican, got a worm in..." He smiled at the bartender and appeared utterly at ease, but his words were hesitant and there was a note of nervousness in his voice.

"Yeah, we've got Mescal," replied the bartender, frowning slightly.

"Ah, good!" exclaimed the young man. "Bring me the worm, please."

"The worm? Whaddaya want the damn worm for?" asked the barman, seeming somewhat horrified.

Suddenly the young man was holding a knife in his hand and his face had changed from an expression of calm indifference to one of hatred and rage.

"Just do it," he grated through clenched teeth.

"all right, all right, no need to be like that," said the bartender, backing away. He returned a moment later with a plate holding one worm from inside a bottle. He placed it in front of the young man, whose expression of boundless anger had vanished, along with his knife. The young man studied the plate for a moment, sighed, and looked up at the bartender.

"This won't do at all. How am I supposed to eat this? With my fingers?"

"Well, I can get you some silverware if you like..."

"No, no, no. Let me see...have you got any of those little plastic thingummies, you know, you skewer fruit on them to be put in drinks? Tiny plastic...swords?"

The bartender rolled his eyes and left wordlessly, returning a moment later with one of the aforementioned objects. The young man took it from him, grinned triumphantly, and skewered the worm.

He bit into the worm and began to chew, still smiling. After he had consumed the entire worm, the young man leaned back contentedly and began to pick his teeth with the plastic sword.

OOC: My god... the RP is spreading!

Shoo! Shoo!

OOC: Does my "film noir" motif violate the "don't make it cliché" rule?

OOC: Does my "film noir" motif violate the "don't make it cliché" rule?

OOC: I cliche'd your fedora, so I guess not. :D

IC:The man stared into the fire from the chair, elbows on his thighs, fingertip to fingertip.

"Who shall I be now?"

OOC: consider this post as retroactive to last night. Maybe uneccessary but I don't like leaving things unfinished.

IC:
"It's Squorn."
He smiled back at her before heading up the stairs.
"Good night."

In the farthest corner, away from the roaring fire, the bar, and the friendly banter she rested her hand on the half empty jug of cheap red wine. The other hand held her glass to her chest as she listened to the music in her head, persistant tonight, and watched.

Rain... why is it always raining... Ju opened the door and looked around.

he took off his raincoat and hung it on the coat hook as he wandered further into the establishment.

"err... excuse me... I seem to be lost. can anyone point me towards Interstate 60?

Rain... why is it always raining... Ju opened the door and looked around.

he took off his raincoat and hung it on the coat hook as he wandered further into the establishment.

"err... excuse me... I seem to be lost. can anyone point me towards Interstate 60?

"Why certainly, sir..... right after you buy me a drink"

"Why certainly, sir..... right after you buy me a drink"

"Certainly. barkeep... barkeep? anyone?"

*looks around*

"is there anyone tending the bar?"

*Shrugs and hops behind the bar*

"Name your poison sir."

"Certainly. barkeep... barkeep? anyone?"

*looks around*

"is there anyone tending the bar?"

*Shrugs and hops behind the bar*

"Name your poison sir."

*runs behind the bar too, and makes as many snakebites as his possible*

"the interstate's easy sir, all you need do is walk out the bar, turn right, turn right again after the turn off into the cemetary, and then walk ahead for a mile or so"

"why not stay anyways? It's late, and frankly, I wouldn't wanna walk anywhere this time of night"

He sat up suddenly. Rubbing his eyes with his fists, he searched in a panic for his bag, before finding to his great relief that he had been using it to cushion his head. Observing the crowd which had by now thronged into the tavern, he yawned deeply, sat upright, and rested his elbows on the polished wooden table that he had slept beside the night before.

He signalled with one hand in the direction of a man he took for the bartender. The latter cleared his throat loudly, set down the glass he had been polishing, and approached.

"What'll you have?"

"Bring me something strong, and be quick about it."

"Right," the bartender mumbled inaudibly, in no mood to question him further.

The man soon returned, setting a drink on a napkin in front of the still-damp customer and pocketing two limp bills left on the table's edge. The traveler gave the foul brown liquid a sour look, before draining it quickly and sliding the glass away. Grimacing, he hacked phlegmatically into his elbow and leaned back against the wall.

*runs behind the bar too, and makes as many snakebites as his possible*

"the interstate's easy sir, all you need do is walk out the bar, turn right, turn right again after the turn off into the cemetary, and then walk ahead for a mile or so"

"why not stay anyways? It's late, and frankly, I wouldn't wanna walk anywhere this time of night"
"you're probably right...

so it's right, past the cemetary, right again, then straight... Gotcha!"

ooc: In regards to the cliche thing, really, don't pay too much attention to it. It's just a pet peeve of mine. :p As long as your character isn't the stereotypical good/bad girl or good/bad guy, I don't mind.

ic: She strode in the door, which banged shut behind her, holding a red rag to her hand and muttering something about goddamn stupid citizens who can't keep their noses out of private affairs.

Noire surveyed the room, purple shiner gracing her right eye, and winced slightly as she put a bit too much pressure on the rag, which, upon closer inspection, was red only from collected blood.

A familiar face was behind the counter. "...Ju?"

"...Ju?" *glances towards the door*

"Noir? fancy meeting you... where ever we ar... hurt again!"

*Ju comes around from behind and grabs a familliar box out of his backpack*

"For some reason, I grabbed this when I left."

*Ju tosses the PBC first aid kit to Noir with a grin.*

She grinned back and caught the box with her uninjured hand, the bloody rag draped over her arm. "You know how the job goes; I owe you for this first aid kit. Seems like every time I see you, I need it."

Noire dropped onto a bar stool and put her focus to bandaging the long cut on her hand. "This one's pretty shallow, but it's bleeding like hell..." she paused, cutting herself off and looking up in mid-sentence. "What're you doing behind the counter? Did Grim recruit you for barkeep? Tried to get me to take the job last night..." she snorted and continued to wrap her hand, finishing with a safety pin, closing the box and pushing it back to Ju.

She looked a bit frustratedly at the shoddy wrapping on her right hand. I really need to get that ambi-dextrous thing down. Also, I really need to get that avoid-stupid-people thing down. She slammed up from the bar stool and stalked over to the coat pegs by the door, hung up her coat with much clanging, then turned on the sofa, where she sat down rigidly and watched the flames for a few moments.

"It's dead in here." She said it aloud for the sake of a voice. I should start storing my books in here... having previously reached into an inner pocket of her coat, she slipped Ovid's Metamorphosis between the cushions of the sofa. Noire, a little more comfortable having shed the coat and now more casual in her close-worn, typical dark attire, allowed her head to drop back in relaxation and drained half the vodka bottle which had popped into her hand.

She looked a bit frustratedly at the shoddy wrapping on her right hand. I really need to get that ambi-dextrous thing down. Also, I really need to get that avoid-stupid-people thing down. She slammed up from the bar stool and stalked over to the coat pegs by the door, hung up her coat with much clanging, then turned on the sofa, where she sat down rigidly and watched the flames for a few moments.

"It's dead in here." She said it aloud for the sake of a voice. I should start storing my books in here... having previously reached into an inner pocket of her coat, she slipped Ovid's Metamorphosis between the cushions of the sofa. Noire, a little more comfortable having shed the coat and now more casual in her close-worn, typical dark attire, allowed her head to drop back in relaxation and drained half the vodka bottle which had popped into her hand.
*Ju sighed.*

here... let me.

*He begins fixing the bandages on her right hand. keeping the wounds clean and the bandage secure without loss of use.*

"You really gotta find a new job sister." :p

"Oh!" She looked up in surprise. "I'd thought you left, or I wouldn't've let you catch me talking to myself. She chuckled wryly and grudgingly let him fix the bandage.

"Everyone keeps telling me that. About the job, I mean. But to be quite honest with you, I enjoy it. I need some sense of adventure, and this sort pays well..." A brief, strange look flitted across her face.

"Granted, it's not the sort to be forgiving to family."

"Oh!" She looked up in surprise. "I'd thought you left, or I wouldn't've let you catch me talking to myself. She chuckled wryly and grudgingly let him fix the bandage.

"Everyone keeps telling me that. About the job, I mean. But to be quite honest with you, I enjoy it. I need some sense of adventure, and this sort pays well..." A brief, strange look flitted across her face.

"Granted, it's not the sort to be forgiving to family.""NBD... we all talk to ourselves... Right? of course."

"so... where are we?"

She looked at him, a little surprised. "Briisan 08 on 098. You didn't know? What'd you come here for?"

She looked at him, a little surprised. "Briisan 08 on 098. You didn't know? What'd you come here for?"
*Ju blinked for a moment.*
"what I came here for? Directions... got lost."
*stares at the door*
"I take it Brisan? 8? on 98? is not the exit ramp I took when I left Danvers..."

She grinned. "Highly doubt it. Though I'm not sure how that one went about happening.

When I saw you in here, I thought you'd come for the sake of the job. The old guy'd been pestering me about it last night." Noire nodded towards the old man ferociously polishing the dirty glass, glaring at a loud, young group of customers gathered around the jukebox (which was now playing some pop song which sounded like it involved a series of cats being stepped on).

Upon noticing that the sleeping drifter had awakened, the young man wearing rings stood up with his plastic sword clenched between his teeth. He walked over and sat down next to the transient.


"You look like you've been around. Can I buy you a drink?"

She grinned. "Highly doubt it. Though I'm not sure how that one went about happening.

When I saw you in here, I thought you'd come for the sake of the job. The old guy'd been pestering me about it last night." Noire nodded towards the old man ferociously polishing the dirty glass, glaring at a loud, young group of customers gathered around the jukebox (which was now playing some pop song which sounded like it involved a series of cats being stepped on).

"... another bartending gig..."
*pops a grape in his mouth.*
"... let me hang around first... get to know the place..."


"Nuts?" *Ju opens his hand and reveals a small mound of Cashews.*

Ed ducked into the bar to get out of the rain. First day of planetfall and he had already managed to get into a huge rainstorm. And it kept coming. He shrugged off his worn tan trench coat and slid it onto a rack. He moved towards the bar where several of the loclals were. "Hey." Said a voice like grinding gravel. "Put your piece over there." The bartender jerked his thumb to a large lock box. Ed walked over and slid his pistol out of the shoulder holster, unloaded it, and placed the empty pistol in the box before sliding it shut. He went over and sat down. eyeing the worn bar. "Names Grim." Said the Bartender. "Now what can I get ya?" Ed leaned against the bar. "Hot whiskey, keep them coming." He slid a 20 credit chip to the bartender. "Also... a little information on the military regulars that come here." Grims eyes lit up. "Ah, military, eh?" He went and got a shot glass. "Word 'as it that a lot of foreign soldiers have passed through here." Ed chuckled. "Crimson uniforms?" Grim snapped hsi fingers. "Yeah, they were all wearing them lobster uniforms." Ed slid another five and a hundred. "Give me your best room, and nod disruptions." Grim laughed. "You'll find no luxury suites 'ere, but privacy I can gaurentee." He pointed up to the stairs. "Last room on your left, has the best view, and its hard to look into from the street." "Thanks." Ed grabbed the shotglass and the bottle, went to the rack and crabbed his coat. He slowly walked up the stairs, looking around at the bar below. He slid his key into the dorr, then opened. Grim was right, it was hardly five star. Better then barracks he flopped down onto the couch after shutting and locking the door. He pulled a slim metal case from his coat and flicked it open. The screen flickered to life. "You're right sir." Said Ed. "There has been a lot of Imperialist activity in this area, I'll kepp you informed." The person on the screen nodded. "Blend in Edward, do what you do best." Ed chuckled. "Gonna need a lot of cash for that sir. Harrison out."

ooc: Who's the transient?

ic: She nodded. "I wouldn't blame you for not taking the job. It's bartending, after all, and only a select few enjoy it." She gave a sarcastic gesture towards Grim, and selected a single cashew, rotating it between her small thumb and forefinger.

"Thanks."
Noire ate it and stole another.

ooc: Who's the transient?

OOC: In this case, I am referring to Thumbless Pete Crabbe, who described himself as looking like a drifter.

She looked a bit frustratedly at the shoddy wrapping on her right hand. I really need to get that ambi-dextrous thing down. Also, I really need to get that avoid-stupid-people thing down. She slammed up from the bar stool and stalked over to the coat pegs by the door, hung up her coat with much clanging, then turned on the sofa, where she sat down rigidly and watched the flames for a few moments.

"It's dead in here." She said it aloud for the sake of a voice. I should start storing my books in here... having previously reached into an inner pocket of her coat, she slipped Ovid's Metamorphosis between the cushions of the sofa. Noire, a little more comfortable having shed the coat and now more casual in her close-worn, typical dark attire, allowed her head to drop back in relaxation and drained half the vodka bottle which had popped into her hand.

Jeremy White woke up on a couch not too far from the fire, the light seeming blinding and even the quiet background noise of the tavern seeming deafening.

Then a voice, seemingly from nowhere. "It's dead in here."

I wish I were...

When his senses had recovered from the initial onslaught of the tavern, and the hammering in his head steadied to a dull, painful throb, he took a look around. Over the coffee table, gaudily decorated with a tile mosaic, he saw a pale young woman sitting and stashing a book in the cushion of the couch.

"Like a squirrel in spring," he commented to the girl, with a nod to her apparent friend.*


*OOC: lookin at you Junii

OOC: In this case, I am referring to Thumbless Pete Crabbe, who described himself as looking like a drifter.

ooc: All right, 's what I thought. Just didn't want to ignore your post and seem rude, if I was in the wrong.

"You look like you've been around. Can I buy you a drink?"

*looks from him to Noire takes a step back and out of the way.*

*looks from him to Noire takes a step back and out of the way.*

"Pardon me sir, you have me confused. However, I could not miss the opportunity to speak to such a woman. Miss, allow me to introduce myself. I am Martin the Tumbler." He smiled and bowed slightly to Noire.

Ed looked around the room. He wasn't going to find out much by staying here. He slid of both his boots and popped the heels off. He pulled a handle and a barrle from them, then slid them together and psuhed the berrle to the left. Ad errigner was hardly the most modern firearm, but it was good enough for what he needed. Ed removed a button of his coat and popped off the stem, inside was a .22 magnum round. He slid it into the chamber then pushed the barrel to the right before putting it in a hold out holster in his sleeve. If only I had a bigger gun He left his room and made sure the door was locked before entering the bar. He sat down at the same seat he had taken before, far enough away to observe the locals, but close enough to listen in.

ooc: Hahaha, hate it when everything gets mixed up like this. :p Sorry to all for the confusion.

ic: She nodded to the older, worn man now seating himself in an armchair across from she and Ju. "That way there's always reading."

Another voice sounded behind her, and she eyed the man calling himself Martin the Tumbler warily. "Noire." She grudgingly raised her half-empty vodka bottle towards him, barely enough to be perceptible, and took a sip.


A man was watching the crowds from a corner of the room. She didn't look at him, but felt his eyes sweeping each patron.

ooc: Hahaha, hate it when everything gets mixed up like this. :p Sorry to all for the confusion.

ic: She nodded to the older, worn man now seating himself in an armchair across from she and Ju. "That way there's always reading."

Another voice sounded behind her, and she eyed the man calling himself Martin the Tumbler warily. "Noire." She grudgingly tipped her half-empty vodka bottle towards him, barely enough to be perceptible, and took a sip.

The young man declined the bottle politely, and adjusted his glasses before speaking. "It is truly an honor to meet you. I'd offer you a drink, but you appear to be accounted for. I do, however, have a small question for you. I am looking for a man...A man that I have not seen in many years." Martin sighed wearily.

"He is like a brother to me, and I must find him. He is my approximate age with striking blue eyes, and he wears rings like these on his fingers," said Martin with a wave of his ringed fingers.

"I do not know exactly how many he would have worn--at least seven, I think. Have you seen him?"

"Like a squirrel in spring," he commented to the girl, with a nod to her apparent friend.*
* Ju returns the nod*

"Pardon me sir, you have me confused. However, I could not miss the opportunity to speak to such a woman. Miss, allow me to introduce myself. I am Martin the Tumbler." He smiled and bowed slightly to Noire.
*Ju gave a 'quirky' smile to Martin and almost unconciously put a glass of water infront of the person (Ed) who sat some distance away. on his return trip, he paused, looked at Noire and sighed.*

"Guess some habits die hard..."

Upon noticing that the sleeping drifter had awakened, the young man wearing rings stood up with his plastic sword clenched between his teeth. He walked over and sat down next to the transient.

"You look like you've been around. Can I buy you a drink?"

Leaning on one elbow, he looked over and smiled at the stranger.

"S'pose I've got time for one before I call it a night. Whatever you're having will do just fine," he said, in a friendly, though subdued tone.

Leaning on one elbow, he looked over and smiled at the stranger.

"S'pose I've got time for one before I call it a night. Whatever you're having will do just fine," he said, in a friendly, though subdued tone.

Martin called the barkeep over and requested a bottle of scotch and a couple of glasses.

"I suppose you heard what I asked of Noire. I'd like to ask you if you've seen anyone like that in your travels..."

She noted Ju's pass to the older gentleman with some humor before she quirked an eyebrow at Martin. A man with seven rings? It seemed familiar... Yet she wasn't so sure.

She spoke cautiously. "Can't say I've seen him around. What's it to ya?"

A young girl slowly made her way up the street. While others rushed passed hurrying to get out of the rain, the girl took her time. The rain dripped out of her black hair onto her drenched back she passed a small bar, then back peddled and stood in front of the door for a moment."well this looks like as good a place as any." She thought to her self as she pushed the door open, and stepped inside, closing the door behind her quietly.

Martin called the barkeep over and requested a bottle of scotch and a couple of glasses.

"I suppose you heard what I asked of Noire. I'd like to ask you if you've seen anyone like that in your travels..."

*slides a bottle of scotch and two glasses down the bar.*

o.O

*Proceeds to bang head against bartop*

ooc: RAVEN! Well, ANTIKYTHERA! :p :fluffle:
@ Ju, haha! Old habits do indeed die hard. XD ;)

She noted Ju's pass to the older gentleman with some humor before she quirked an eyebrow at Martin. A man with seven rings? It seemed familiar... Yet she wasn't so sure.

She spoke cautiously. "Can't say I've seen him around. What's it to ya?"

"As I said, the man I am looking for is like a brother to me. I have very little money--hardly enough to pay for a room and my Scotch. I would do anything to find him again. Sadly, all I have to offer are the few mean tricks of my trade."

Martin thanked Ju as he poured himself a large glass of the scotch. He tossed it back with a slight grimace. He poured a glass for his friend the drifter, and another for himself.

"I suppose I will have to stay here a while and look for some work to earn money so I can continue my search."

She thought quickly, pale brows knitted beneath her forehead. Recent employers, previous termination jobs... recent employers? Can't give out info on the job, but was it him? It seems familiar. I remember glittering fingers, though the face wasn't apparent, goddamn mask... What the fuck is up with these crime lords and their masks? Or for that matter, these rich people who need others removed? I don't think I worked for the guy this one's talking about... the last employer doesn't seem like the type to consort with a seemingly bleeding-heart like this'un... then again, colors don't always show... and this one gives vibes...

Her eyes appraised the Tumbler quickly, thoughtfully, and she plunged back into thought. Either way, I do nothing but lose for voicing my considerations.

"No idea."

She downed half the vodka bottle, leant back into the cushions of the sofa.

A young girl slowly made her way up the street. While others rushed passed hurrying to get out of the rain, the girl took her time. The rain dripped out of her black hair onto her drenched back she passed a small bar, then back peddled and stood in front of the door for a moment."well this looks like as good a place as any." She thought to her self as she pushed the door open, and stepped inside, closing the door behind her quietly.

*Ju stops banging his head on the table top. he turns his head to look at the newcomer. He waggles his fingers in a feeble wave at the woman.*

She glanced around the small room, noticing the small group gathered by the bar(?). she made her way over and sat a couple bar stools away, giving the group some privacy for their discussion.


ooc: norie!! ju!!:fluffle: yay good to see everyone again, i'v been missing this.

"I suppose I will have to stay here a while and look for some work to earn money so I can continue my search."

"Great! you can apply for the barkeep posistion... forgive me if I remove myself from this vicinity!"

*Ju wanders away from the bar. He crosses the room and curiously, he enters a door.*

*A couple of seconds later, he comes running out and sits down opposite of Noir.*

*Cough*kitchen*cough*

She chuckled dryly at Ju's behavior. "Caught in a rut, hm? Hopefully someone'll snatch the job before the stove possesses you." She smiled humorously and took another sip from her bottle, which seemingly was never emptied.

OoC: Raven or someone new?

ooc:go with the presumption that its raven, the girl looks exactly like her;)
edit: sweet time warp

She glanced around the small room, noticing the small group gathered by the bar(?). she made her way over and sat a couple bar stools away, giving the group some privacy for their discussion.


ooc: norie!! ju!!:fluffle: yay good to see everyone again, i'v been missing this.

OoC: Raven or someone new?

She thought quickly, pale brows knitted beneath her forehead. Recent employers, previous termination jobs... recent employers? Can't give out info on the job, but was it him? It seems familiar. I remember glittering fingers, though the face wasn't apparent, goddamn mask... What the fuck is up with these crime lords and their masks? Or for that matter, these rich people who need others removed? I don't think I worked for the guy this one's talking about... the last employer doesn't seem like the type to consort with a seemingly bleeding-heart like this'un... then again, colors don't always show... and this one gives vibes...

Her eyes appraised the Tumbler quickly, thoughtfully, and she plunged back into thought. Either way, I do nothing but lose for voicing my considerations.

"No idea."

She downed half the vodka bottle, leant back into the cushions of the sofa.


"Ah. Well, thank you for the conversation. I am sorry to have intruded on your time." Martin seemed somewhat dejected as he turned away from Noire.

He looked at JuNii and frowned slightly. "Bartender? No thank you. I prefer to exercise my skills as a tumbler to earn my keep."

ooc: RAVEN! Well, ANTIKYTHERA! :p :fluffle:
@ Ju, haha! Old habits do indeed die hard. XD ;)

He saw that she was busy talking to someone she was obviously familiar with, and her tone was cold enough that he had felt it through heat of the fire. He decided not to pursue further conversation for the moment, and instead turned to the girl he knew best.

He ran a quick scale to make sure he was in tune and then began to pick out a tune. An upbeat tune, vaguely familiar to anyone listening as a variation on one of his more rockin' hits. He sung softly, almost under his breath, a tune about a bar, a girl, and dancing.

Just as music should be... too bad so few remember it

She took another sip of vodka, watching Martin from under the curtain of her pale hair. The older man across from her took up his guitar, began playing something soothing and bluesy and familiar. She'd heard it before, playing from a similar jukebox to the one in Grim's Tavern, sitting in a quiet booth in the corner with a dark man, discussing the past...

Her thoughts trailed off; she veiled her eyes once again with her hair.

"You've got a hand at the guitar."

"Bartender? No thank you. I prefer to exercise my skills as a tumbler to earn my keep."
"well... there is a tumbler for martini's" :p


*Looks at Noire.*
"is that raven or is my brain still addled..."

She glanced up quickly, still lost in the sound of the guitar, the crooning voice, and peered towards the doorway and the girl making her way towards the bar counter. "Looks it, doesn't it?"

"well... there is a tumbler for martini's" :p


*Looks at Noire.*
"is that raven or is my brain still addled..."

Martin groaned audibly at JuNii's jest. He sighed and took a sip of scotch, thumbing a ring pensively.

He glanced over at his friend the drifter and asked again "Hey, have you heard anything about my friend?"

She glanced up quickly, still lost in the sound of the guitar, the crooning voice, and peered towards the doorway and the girl making her way towards the bar counter. "Looks it, doesn't it?"

"yeah... so if you can see her, then my brain isn't addled."

HEY RAVEN! *waves*

She chuckled slightly. "If I, the master of forgetting all things important about my life, am your reassurance that your brain isn't addled, I might grow a little concerned for you."

She continued to occasionally eye the Tumbler. He was a bit obsessive over this friend. Maybe it was her naturally paranoid nature speaking out, telling her something more than his "search for a best friend like a brother" was up, or maybe he was just overly attached to said best friend. In that case, she thought she might've felt a bit sorry for the best friend.

But her gut was rarely wrong.

She twiddled the vodka bottle in her hands.

she sits quietly for several minutes then slides off the bar stool and then slowly walks around the room, looking at the various small faded pictures on the walls. she smiled at the music,"brings a bit of cheer to this place." she stopped suddenly and turned around when one of the men said hey raven and waved." My names Gem" she said softly

She took another sip of vodka, watching Martin from under the curtain of her pale hair. The older man across from her took up his guitar, began playing something soothing and bluesy and familiar. She'd heard it before, playing from a similar jukebox to the one in Grim's Tavern, sitting in a quiet booth in the corner with a dark man, discussing the past...

Her thoughts trailed off; she veiled her eyes once again with her hair.

"You've got a hand at the guitar."

"Thanks ma'am. I should hope so after all these years." He looked her in the eyes as he kept on playing a small solo section, the notes weaving in and out of a bassline that you couldn't tell if he was playing or if your mindhad just supplied it. Nothing too fancy, just a way to provide a break from what he'd been doing before.

Then he went back into the verse, but this time, instead of singing about some 17 year old dancing by the jukebox, he changed the words around to be about the pale woman sitting across from him. Just a section of the 12 bars, encompassing what precious little he'd seen of her. He ended with a small flurry of scales and a prolonged chord.

"Any chance you could spare a bit of that to take the edge off?" motioning to her vodka bottle.

A large mug of rum appeared in his hand, a little warm, yet the taste was sharp enough to leave a burn. "Watch it. It's a bit stronger than the usual stuff."

She took a sip from her vodka bottle again.

"Your music played on an old jukebox I used to listen to."

She chuckled slightly. "If I, the master of forgetting all things important about my life, am your reassurance that your brain isn't addled, I might grow a little concerned for you."

She continued to occasionally eye the Tumbler. He was a bit obsessive over this friend. Maybe it was her naturally paranoid nature speaking out, telling her something more than his "search for a best friend like a brother" was up, or maybe he was just overly attached to said best friend. In that case, she thought she might've felt a bit sorry for the best friend.

But her gut was rarely wrong.

She twiddled the vodka bottle in her hands.


Martin turned back to Noire, a slight gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Noire, I can't help noticing you glancing in my direction. Does something about me trouble you?"

He smiled innocently and spread his open hands apart. Suddenly, colored balls appeared in his hands and he began to juggle. The balls started in a simple circle, which became a figure 8 and then a fountain as his hands moved deftly.

She snorted into her vodka bottle. "Trouble me?"

She watched the juggling, watched the gleam in his eyes changing. "Nah." The vodka bottle stopped turning in her hands, and she took another sip.

Originally posted by Masregal-

"I'm surprised you recognize me. Few do, these days. Which juke joint was it?"

He paused to take a sip from the mug that had appeared in his hand. He spluttered and coughed.

"Haven't had stuff this strong since my uncle used to to brew his own on Varellio. Where'd you pick up that trick?"

"Paradise Club." She said it matter-of-factly, downed the last of her vodka, which refilled again.

At his splutter, she gestured to his mug, an amused twist to her lips. "Picked it up off a scientist. My line of work, all sorts of lucky accidents tend to happen."

A large mug of rum appeared in his hand, a little warm, yet the taste was sharp enough to leave a burn. "Watch it. It's a bit stronger than the usual stuff."

She took a sip from her vodka bottle again.

"Your music played on an old jukebox I used to listen to."

"I'm surprised you recognize me. Few do, these days. Which juke joint was it?"

He paused to take a sip from the mug that had appeared in his hand. He spluttered and coughed.

"Haven't had stuff this strong since my uncle used to to brew his own on Varellio. Where'd you pick up that trick?"

She snorted into her vodka bottle. "Trouble me?"

She watched the juggling, watched the gleam in his eyes changing. "Nah." The vodka bottle stopped turning in her hands, and she took another sip.

Martin's eyes hardened for an instant, but softened again after an instant. Suddenly knives appeared in the circle of balls, and with a complicated motion, three knives left Martin's hands and impaled the three balls, leaving them stuck to the woodwork above the bar.

"Oh good. I wouldn't like to think I was troubling anyone unduly," he said as he pulled the knives free.

She watched his tricks appraisingly, bottle somewhat forgotten in her left hand. "Quite the character, aren't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

The man seemed to not have heard so she turned back to the pictures in front of her, the grainy faces staring back at her struck her as sad so she moved on to the next picture.

"Paradise Club." She said it matter-of-factly, downed the last of her vodka, which refilled again.

At his splutter, she gestured to his mug, an amused twist to her lips. "Picked it up off a scientist. My line of work, all sorts of lucky accidents tend to happen."
"Paradise Club... I think I knew a cat who went there on vacation once. Pretty good picker himself."

He took another sip of the alcohol, and noticed that his headache was already gone. This is good stuff... he thought to himself.

"You're line of work, huh? Sounds like an old mob movie. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say your hand wasn't a dogbite?"

He set the mug down and resumed his fiddle* playing.

*Fiddle here referencing Guitar.

She chuckled despite herself. "To say the least. It wasn't as quiet, and when it's not quiet people like to get in the way. Namely stupid citizens. It should've been healed hours ago, by now, though. Just haven't checked." Noire peeled the bandages back; her skin shone through the stained bandages, bright and whole. "Hang a sec."

She stood, stretched, went to the end of the bar counter and dumped the wrappings and the pin in the wastebasket, and collapsed back onto the couch.

Having taken notice of the girl, she thought, Well, she sure looked like Raven, at least... Gem, is it?

She watched his tricks appraisingly, bottle somewhat forgotten in her left hand. "Quite the character, aren't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

"I am an entertainer, aren't I?" said Martin, grinning. "It's my job. Besides, what is the point of knowing how to do things like that if you can't show them off occasionally?"

He watched her intently, calculating his next move, although he maintained a friendly, open grin.

she felt a pair of eyes on her back and turned her head to see a pale woman watching her. she turned back to the pictures and then sat in one of the chairs by the wall.

She twisted her lips into a semblance of a smile, eyes tired over the neck of her vodka bottle. "There are always multiple points to things." She thought of her coat and chuckled inwardly. I'd know.

Sleep was beginning to weigh down on her eyes. Making as if to take a sip from the vodka bottle again, she changed her mind and it disappeared in an almost imperceptible burst of dark flame. Her pale eyes shone faintly.

She twisted her lips into a semblance of a smile, eyes tired over the neck of her vodka bottle. "There are always multiple points to things." She thought of her coat and chuckled inwardly. I'd know.

Sleep was beginning to weigh down on her eyes. Making as if to take a sip from the vodka bottle again, she changed her mind and it disappeared in an almost imperceptible burst of dark flame. Her pale eyes shone faintly.

"True enough." Martin paused meditatively for a moment. Interesting. Quite the secretive one, this. I'm sure she knows more than she's telling. Better keep an eye on her.

He smiled at the girl again. "How do you do that? It is quite an impressive feat, and I'd love to learn. You look rather tired, though. Perhaps some other time."

"I am an entertainer, aren't I?" said Martin, grinning. "It's my job. Besides, what is the point of knowing how to do things like that if you can't show them off occasionally?"

He watched her intently, calculating his next move, although he maintained a friendly, open grin.

The chords progression grew more erratic, more discordant, as Jeremy sensed something funny about the whole juggler scene. And yes, that was an intentional pun.

He leaned over close to this girl he was quickly feeling a sordid sort of kinship with. "This guys up to no good," he whispered softly, the sound of the guitar covering up the words he was saying. "Just give me the signal and I can help. I may not be young anymore, but I'm pretty deft with the knives I carry in my pocket."

"The vodka? Just can. Like I said earlier, got it off a scientist." Twisting a strand of pale hair in her fingers, she gave the older guitar player a little half-smile, willing him to know her thinking from her expression. He's fine for now. Something's up, but he's fine for now.

Noire moved down the sofa a little more, patted the seat next to her. "Your friend?"

ooc: Night, Ju. Good to see you about again. :fluffle:

*Ju slowly sags down till he's lying on the other couch. a snore can be heard.*

OoC: Night all.

she watches as the man who spoke to her earlier falls asleep. she stifles a yawn and carefully makes her way over to those that are still awake," do any of you know if i could get a room here for the night?" she asked in a quiet voice

"The vodka? Just can. Like I said earlier, got it off a scientist." Twisting a strand of pale hair in her fingers, she gave the older guitar player a little half-smile, willing him to know her thinking from her expression. He's fine for now. Something's up, but he's fine for now.

Noire moved down the sofa a little more, patted the seat next to her. "Your friend?"

He saw her confident smiled and leaned back a little bit. He remembered the little she'd said to him, and he figured she was probably more adept at taking care of herself than any help he could have provided anyway.

Besides, they both seemed to have some kind of magic up their sleeves. Something a little more potent than anything he could do with the guitar.

"The vodka? Just can. Like I said earlier, got it off a scientist." Twisting a strand of pale hair in her fingers, she gave the older guitar player a little half-smile, willing him to know her thinking from her expression. He's fine for now. Something's up, but he's fine for now.

Noire moved down the sofa a little more, patted the seat next to her. "Your friend?"

"Damn. Another mystery."

Martin poured himself more scotch, having slowly drunk his down. His cheeks were slightly reddened now, and his eyes a little unfocused. he took a long, slow sip and set the glass down on the bar. He hunched over it, muttering in almost under his breath. Only occasional fragments of his murmuring were audible. "Fucking humans...damn mysteries...fucking Alex. He has..." The low ranting continued incomprehensibly for some time before he slowly trailed off.

"Sure thing." She nodded to the girl and pointed to the keys hanging on the wall at the end of the bar counter. "Just grab one and sign your name next to the number on the list next to the key rack."

"Damn. Another mystery."

Martin poured himself more scotch, having slowly drunk his down. His cheeks were slightly reddened now, and his eyes a little unfocused. he took a long, slow sip and set the glass down on the bar. He hunched over it, muttering in almost under his breath. Only occasional fragments of his murmuring were audible. "Fucking humans...damn mysteries...fucking Alex. He has..." The low ranting continued incomprehensibly for some time before he slowly trailed off.

She grinned to herself, keeping her outward facial expression smooth. Ding ding ding, we got a fish on the line. Knew it. The gut's always right.

Noire touched a finger to the glass, filled it to the brim with scotch. "Sounds complicatedly frustrating. Any specific issue the problem's currently presenting?"

She stifled a yawn.

After sitting in silence for a little while, Martin abruptly frowned. he patted his pockets, looked behind his ear, and seemed slightly distraught.

"Has anyone seen my tiny plastic cocktail sword?" He asked the bar in general.

Noire produced it, seemingly grown from the tip of her finger in a minute burst of flame. It balanced precariously. "This what you're lookin' for?"

"thank you" she turned away then turned back to face the woman," do you know why that man called me raven?"she asked nodding at the sleeping figure on the sofa.

"thank you" she turned away then turned back to face the woman," do you know why that man called me raven?"she asked nodding at the sleeping figure on the sofa.

Noire gave the girl a strangled look. "Well... you remind him... and I, I should say, of a Raven we used to know. No big deal."

She grinned to herself, keeping her outward facial expression smooth. Ding ding ding, we got a fish on the line. Knew it. The gut's always right.

Noire touched a finger to the glass, filled it to the brim with scotch. "Sounds complicatedly frustrating. Any specific issue the problem's currently presenting?"

She stifled a yawn.[/size]

The Tumbler smiled gratefully as he watched the glass fill. He looked at her and appeared to relax somewhat. He sipped his scotch as he thought.

"Well," he said after a long pause "It is my friend that I am looking for. I found a trail that led here, but now it has petered out. I just don't know what to do."

Martin's voice faltered slightly as he spoke, and he stared into his glass. "I--I'm afraid--I'm afraid that something has happened to him."

Noire produced it, seemingly grown from the tip of her finger in a minute burst of flame. It balanced precariously. "This what you're lookin' for?"

"Damn. You are good." he seemed genuinely impressed.

She chuckled at the Tumbler, watching the red spots fade in and out on his sallow cheeks. "Good is what you make of it, and I'm pretty confident by now that this worry you claim to have for this best friend of yours is pretty much bullshit."

Noire tilted her new vodka bottle towards him in somewhat of a toast, her voice free from malice and full of matter-of-fact.

She chuckled at the Tumbler, watching the red spots fade in and out on his sallow cheeks. "Good is what you make of it, and I'm pretty confident by now that this worry you claim to have for this best friend of yours is pretty much bullshit."

Noire tilted her new vodka bottle towards him in somewhat of a toast, her voice free from malice and full of matter-of-fact.

the cloudiness disappeared from Martin's eyes and he seemed much less drunk than he had a moment ago.

He smiled slightly and laughed. "Hah. Well, you've caught me. Don't get me wrong, Alex is my best friend. We grew up together, did everything together. But I'm not worried about him. He can take care of himself. I'm just concerned with finding him. You see, he is currently in possession of some small items to which I feel I have a claim."

She pursed her lips, eyebrows knitting beneath her white bangs. The shuriken earring spun in agitation, glinting in the low light. "Makes perfect sense." Her teeth showed, a flash of a grin, and she downed the whole vodka bottle, leaving the empty thing to sit disconsolately on the countertop.

"Interesting, to say the least. Though not uncommon."

the girl nodded slightly and moved away, filling out at slot in the list with her name,Gem k., she found the key to room 26 and headed up the stairs

She pursed her lips, eyebrows knitting beneath her white bangs. The shuriken earring spun in agitation, glinting in the low light. "Makes perfect sense." Her teeth showed, a flash of a grin, and she downed the whole vodka bottle, leaving the empty thing to sit disconsolately on the countertop.

"Interesting, to say the least. Though not uncommon."

"Indeed. Now that I have come clean, I have to ask you--what do you know about Alex? I know you know more than you say. Have you seen him?


As he spoke, Martin drew the empty vodka bottle to him and played with it for a moment, twisting it and examining the bottle in the light. Then he returned it to Noire, full.

She watched the girl climb the steps, listening to the Tumbler speak. "What do I know about Alex?" Noire shrugged, twiddling the vodka bottle again.

"To be entirely honest, I'm not quite sure." The bottle disappeared, her voice dropped hardly a notch, still nonchalant. "With my job comes quite a few employers. One here, maybe there, may or may not have had a penchant for rings. From time to time you get the occasional flamboyant one."

She shrugged again, stifled a yawn with her hand, casually leant back in the chair.

She watched the girl climb the steps, listening to the Tumbler speak. "What do I know about Alex?" Noire shrugged, twiddling the vodka bottle again.

"To be entirely honest, I'm not quite sure." The bottle disappeared, her voice dropped hardly a notch, still nonchalant. "With my job comes quite a few employers. One here, maybe there, may or may not have had a penchant for rings. From time to time you get the occasional flamboyant one."

She shrugged again, stifled a yawn with her hand, casually leant back in the chair.

"I see. So he's employed you? Judging from your appearance, I'd guess that he has become some type of crime boss. You look like a mercenary, and not the cheap kind.

"That really doesn't surprise me--in fact, it is a remarkably good strategy."

His eyes narrowed for a moment, and he seemed deep in thought.

"Noire, I thank you for what you've told me, but I need to know more. I am new to this city,and have no way of finding him. I need your help. I have no money to pay you for your services, but perhaps I can help you in some way?"

She narrowed her eyes, a hostile look taking over her face. "Like I said, I don't know for sure. I don't get personal contact. I don't discuss my business endeavors."

Her fingers traced an engraving some stranger had decorated the bar top with. "I have a feeling that you, of all people, should know that certain lines of work entail that you avoid the habit of trust."


Noire stood abruptly, slid a key off the rack, signed her name next to the number 13 on the list, turned to Martin. Inclining her head to him, ever so slightly, "I need to sleep. I have things to do in the morning. We'll talk later."

Without so much as a backward glance, she turned on her heel and slipped up the stairway, taking her coat with her. Walking the hallway to the last door by the hallway window, Noire opened it, closed it behind her, locked it, and collapsed across the bed, out cold.

A patch of moonlight fell across her white hair; small, imperceptible snores flirted with the strands swept across her face, and she fell into a comfortably dreamless sleep.

ooc: Goodnight, hope to work more of this plot out with you later!

The Tumbler smiled slightly as he watched her leave. Well, that was...interesting... he thought.

Martin stood up, yawned, and stretched. he wandered over to the rack of keys and selected one at random. Number two. He scribbled something illegible on the sheet and walked slowly into his room, closing the door with a quiet snick. Suddenly, he looked incredibly haggard and weary. Darkness welled up, and the Tumbler fell to the ground, asleep.



OOC: Until tomorrow, then.

ooc: Sorry, had to add more to the post for the sake of my bedtime! Have a good night, daytime, whichever it is you're currently experiencing.

OOC : Please treat this post with a humorous approach and the gesture is not threatening, but as weird welcome of fresh breath of air to the scarcity of social RP in General. :)

"... wet, damp, choke inducing smog,... perfect," the vandal chants silently.

He was outside looking at big empty wall, across some what he could make out as a derelict excuse for a tavern. Like all of his kind he was wearing some sort of a paint splattered coat with a hood and gas mask, and he carries with him a bag of spray paints and assorted muzzle caps to control the flow of the paint. He dons his headphones and turns up the volume so that the repetitive bass line vibes in his skull. He also wears gloves to prevent the proverbial being caught red handed.

Contemplating on the empty wall, he thought of what should he write or draw in it, and quickly too, before someone notices him and either alert the authorities,... or worse, his rivals, of what he was about to do.

Thinking, imagining things and focusing, however prove to be difficult lately, the vandal had a lot of things going through his mind. It's like trying to differentiate a single grain of sand in a sandstorm. The bass line helps in sorting things out. Taking a deep breath and focusing on a single current event topic he heard earlier in the news.

It seems that a minor party within the general populace (general meaning the all the sorts of unhinged people that crawl around the place), the Rolushan Party, was recruiting (or cadre-izing, according to the Party's propaganda). Most of the people lurking there doesn't really care about the party and those who might be opposed of them doesn't really bother to put up some sort of a resistance.

He doesn't have any gripe or sentiments for the Party nor does he really have a political motive, he just like to rile things up,... he is after all, a vandal.

I took him about an hour and half to finish the ground work, another half an hour to add the details, and two more hours to add in the background. All in all it's good way to empty fifteen cans of spray paint. He took a few step backwards and begins to admire his latest mischieve. He took off his gas mask and took several pictures of the mural with his digicam.

After standing several minutes like an idiot in the middle of an empty street,... he took out and lights up a cigarette. Turning around to see the tavern across the street. He ponders as the smoke writhes around his face, as wheter he should go in.

"... nah, got too much swill in my system already,...", he whispered under the smoke trail, and starts gathering his stuff and looks around for another bombing target.

The faulty street lights vividly illuminates the vandal leaving the scene like some sort of a weird Japanese horror flick of Old Earth,... behind him, his latest handiwork,... an asymmetrical patterns of black and white, and an outstanding but not too big slogan that reads "RP-ERS SUCKS".

Staring at the fire, seemingly dazed and unconnected to the world around him, Ruffy began humming a tune he had heard earlier while standing in the elevator at his office building. He looked up at the clock then refocused his attention back on the fire.

"If only I had marshmallows and a stick.." he thought to himself.

Walking down the street Wotevor noticed a cloaked stranger admiring what appeared to be their latest handy work. So of course he looked past the figure to see what was so pleasing to them, and was shocked to see the words "RP-ERS SUCKS" splayed across the wall. Suddenly filled with rage Wotevor reached into his coat pocket and produced a smallish apple and threw it at the shadowy figure, unfortunately the apple hit its mark
not being a big man, he then did what came by instinct, he sprinted to the closest door and ducked inside.
due to the hasty entrance he lost his footing in a wet patch on the floor and came down with a thud.

Walking down the street Wotevor noticed a cloaked stranger admiring what appeared to be their latest handy work. So of course he looked past the figure to see what was so pleasing to them, and was shocked to see the words "RP-ERS SUCKS" splayed across the wall. Suddenly filled with rage Wotevor reached into his coat pocket and produced a smallish apple and threw it at the shadowy figure, unfortunately the apple hit its mark
not being a big man, he then did what came by instinct, he sprinted to the closest door and ducked inside.
due to the hasty entrance he lost his footing in a wet patch on the floor and came down with a thud.

An apple, a diminutive apple, not a fresh one too that judging by the destroyed brownish maggot filled core upon impact.

"thump thump thump... good thing it's not tomatoes,... or rocks, atleast rocks are clean.... must've been one of those cadre members,... thump thump thump thump", a string of clear thought caught within the vandal's buzzing bass filled mind.

Cleaning his coat or jacket, but certainly not a cloak (he has a certain aversion to cloaks as they're often associated with the emotional poser society which in turns are often the subject of ridicule of his kind), he then felt something that most of his kind longs,... recognition, wheter it's positive or negative.

After all, they're all vandals, and like all of his kind, he went his merry way, with a thumping in his brain.

Ed looked up from the bar and checked his watch. Appearently he had fallen asleep after one to many rounds of bourbon. He sat up and saw Grim watching him. "Its not every day a patron falls asleep on my bar." Ed rubbed his eyes and looked around the room. It was empty, save for a few early morning customers. Ed ordered some hot coffee and got it promplty. It was a bit more bitter then he was used to but he gulped it down anayway. A comotion at the door caught his attention. Three people in Crimson Uniforms had thrown open the door. Grim looked at them in disgust. "Get out of my bar." The first one strode up to the bar and smacked his fist into it. Get me three rounds of vodka, on the house." Grim stood still. "So you want to do it the hard way.." He chuckled and pulled his pistol out the holster. "Maybe if your lucky I'll leave a sme cash in the box." Ed looked at them. "If I were you, I would step away from the bar and walk out that door." "And who the hell are you?" He said, switiching his aim from Grim to Ed. Ed got up and walked closer. "The guy whos going to break your wrist." He grabbed his wrist and twisted it a full 180 degrees, snapping it. The man let out a cry of pain, but was quickly cut off by Ed grabbing him by the neck with his arm. "Now, if any of you fire, two bullets will head your way, and one will go into his neck." Ed picked up the fallen pistol and pressed it against his captives neck. The two others shurgged and turned and left. Ed kicked the other one in the back of his knees and pushed him to the door. He unloaded the pistol and placed it in the lock box. Grim came over to where he was sitiing. "Whadya want? Its on the house." Ed chuckled. "Small whiskey." And gave him the full price for it. "On me."

*Ju woke up and looked around.*

*He watched as three would be theives were stopped and sent packing. with a relieved sigh, he sent three round crackers sailing into the fireplace. they hit the brick backwall with very solid thunks and Ju sits up and stretches.*

Nope... wasn't a dream.

*Ju stretches again and walks towards the bar, biting into an apple as he reaches a stool.*

wotta way to start the day...

Martin the tumbler awoke slowly on the floor of his room. He sat up and looked around, for a moment unsure of where he was.

Must have drunk more than I thought last night. Didn't even make it to the bed.


He turned and exited his room. As he approached the stairs, he allowed the corners of his mouth to curve very slightly up, and he came down the stairs quickly, jovially. He sat at the bar and ordered a cup of coffee and another Mescal worm.

"This is the last worm we have," said Grim as he came back with the cup and plate. "And we're out of cocktail swords."


"That is quite all right, Grim. I still have the sword you gave me last night."

Martin made a small gesture with his right hand, snapping his wrist forward and down, and the cocktail sword was embedded in the center of the worm. Martin picked up the sword and began munching the worm with every sign of enjoyment.

worms and apples.... all we need is someone with a dead robin...

Ruffy's calm daze has been interrupted. He looks up to see who it was.

*throws a peanut at JuNii*

Ruffy's calm daze has been interrupted. He looks up to see who it was.

*throws a peanut at JuNii*

*Ju looks at ruffy. throws a marshmellow the size of a bean bag chair at ruffy.*

*it hits the floor and flopps to a stop inches from Ruffy and the fire.*

"fucking vandals" said the leather clad figure who slipped through the front door.

she--it seemed most likely that it was a she--walked up to the bar, giving Ed a wide berth. The other 2 looked harmless enough--they were evidently of limited intelligence as they were occupied tossing peanuts at each other completely oblivious of the dangers presented by Ed should one of them hit him with a nut.

she tossed an ear onto the bar. "is that enough to buy me a drink?" she asked Grim.

the idiots gave her a startled look, Grim seemed undecided, Ed payed her no attention.

"oh for god's sake, its not MY ear" she said, pulling the stringy gray locks behind her 2 intact ears. "I cut it off the coat of a vandal walking up the street eating a rotten apple. when he realizes its gone, he'll pay a good sum to get it back."

Grim shook his head. She sighed.

Giving the idiots her best smile and obviously quite proud that she had fully half the teeth that god had alloted her she asked...

"buy a girl a drink?"

"fucking vandals" said the leather clad figure who slipped through the front door.

she--it seemed most likely that it was a she--walked up to the bar, giving Ed a wide berth. The other 2 looked harmless enough--they were evidently of limited intelligence as they were occupied tossing peanuts at each other completely oblivious of the dangers presented by Ed should one of them hit him with a nut.

she tossed an ear onto the bar. "is that enough to buy me a drink?" she asked Grim.

the idiots gave her a startled look, Grim seemed undecided, Ed payed her no attention.

"oh for god's sake, its not MY ear" she said, pulling the stringy gray locks behind her 2 intact ears. "I cut it off the coat of a vandal walking up the street eating a rotten apple. when he realizes its gone, he'll pay a good sum to get it back."

Grim shook his head. She sighed.

Giving the idiots her best smile and obviously quite proud that she had fully half the teeth that god had alloted her she asked...

"buy a girl a drink?"

""Certainly. Grim, give the lady whatever she likes." Martin smiled widely at the woman.

"My name is Martin. I am a tumbler. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss..."

""Certainly. Grim, give the lady whatever she likes." Martin smiled widely at the woman.

"My name is Martin. I am a tumbler. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss..."

she was startled, having thought that the coffee drinker was passed out. she admonished herself to be more careful.

"my kind is usually just called 'ashmoria', sir" she replied. she was verrrry impressed with his dazzling white teeth. His breath smelled of worm but she'd smelled much worse in her day.

she tossed him the ear

"im not familiar with tumblers, sir. what would that be?"

she--it seemed most likely that it was a she--walked up to the bar, giving Ed a wide berth. The other 2 looked harmless enough--they were evidently of limited intelligence as they were occupied tossing peanuts at each other completely oblivious of the dangers presented by Ed should one of them hit him with a nut.

OoC: Peanuts? I tossed a fucking HUGE marshmellow. :p

*Ju glanced at the stranger. looked at the ear and scoffed.*

*he then seperated his hands that were folded on the table and sipped from the small glass that was hidden between them.*

"And what does the lady want?"

she was startled, having thought that the coffee drinker was passed out. she admonished herself to be more careful.

"my kind is usually just called 'ashmoria', sir" she replied. she was verrrry impressed with his dazzling white teeth. His breath smelled of worm but she'd smelled much worse in her day.

she tossed him the ear

"im not familiar with tumblers, sir. what would that be?"


Martin caught the ear deftly and examined it carefully.

"We tumblers perform small tricks, juggling, gymnastics, and the like. We travel from place to place, putting on performances, and usually earning hardly enough to survive. What about yourself? What is your trade?"

ashmoria pondered whether a marshmallow peanut is a marshmallow or a peanut. the smaller man did have a point. she was glad that it was a drink under his hands and not a small grenade. many assassins masqueraded as pubfools.

now, what lie to tell the tumbler?

"im...uh...between jobs right now...im usually...a....ladies maid"

ohfuck that was a stupid lie. its true that breathing engine fumes made you stupid. plus those teeth are very distracting. i wonder if he'd sell one.

ashmoria pondered whether a marshmallow peanut is a marshmallow or a peanut. the smaller man did have a point. she was glad that it was a drink under his hands and not a small grenade. many assassins masqueraded as pubfools.

now, what lie to tell the tumbler?

"im...uh...between jobs right now...im usually...a....ladies maid"

ohfuck that was a stupid lie. its true that breathing engine fumes made you stupid. plus those teeth are very distracting. i wonder if he'd sell one.

"A ladies maid," Martin repeated, and he sounded amused. The grin on his face was one of pure disbelief, but he did not question her.

"Well, I too am in between jobs, and I am seeking employment. I have a few tricks that can be...useful." At this point, Martin pulled his now-empty coffee cup towards him and covered it with his hands. He withdrew his hands a moment later, a the mug was now a wide glass filled with vodka. He slid the vodka across the bar to Ashmoria.

"I wonder if you could help me..."

"A ladies maid," Martin repeated, and he sounded amused. The grin on his face was one of pure disbelief, but he did not question her.

"Well, I too am in between jobs, and I am seeking employment. I have a few tricks that can be...useful." At this point, Martin pulled his now-empty coffee cup towards him and covered it with his hands. He withdrew his hands a moment later, a the mug was now a wide glass filled with vodka. He slid the vodka across the bar to Ashmoria.

"I wonder if you could help me..."

oooooo vodka. damn she could use a drink. it helped clear the fumes out of the body. but it did dull the senses and she needed to keep her wits about her with Ed still in the room.

"well that would depend on the kind of help now wouldnt it?" she replied taking a tiny sip of vodka.

why didnt the cup hold more than a tiny sip?

she didnt see how she could possibly help an unemployed entertainer. he probably wanted her to give him references to the birthday parties of the children of the idle rich.

she looked at Ed and the idiots, they didnt seem to be paying attention....

"what did you have in mind?"

oooooo vodka. damn she could use a drink. it helped clear the fumes out of the body. but it did dull the senses and she needed to keep her wits about her with Ed still in the room.

"well that would depend on the kind of help now wouldnt it?" she replied taking a tiny sip of vodka.

why didnt the cup hold more than a tiny sip?

she didnt see how she could possibly help an unemployed entertainer. he probably wanted her to give him references to the birthday parties of the children of the idle rich.

she looked at Ed and the idiots, they didnt seem to be paying attention....

"what did you have in mind?"

With a slight gesture from Martin, the glass refilled with vodka.

"Anything that pays." he leaned closer, and lowered his voice.

"Preferably something that pays big. I don't much mind about legality. And as I said, I have some small talent." Martin moved his left hand so that it was only visible to himself and Ash. Suddenly, a knife appeared in the hand. The tumbler rolled it across his fingers for a moment, then with a lightning-fast movement threw the knife, which became embedded in the coin slot of the jukebox. Suddenly the sounds of Gogol Bordello's "Start Wearing Purple" filled the air. He smiled grimly.

With a slight gesture from Martin, the glass refilled with vodka.

"Anything that pays." he leaned closer, and lowered his voice.

"Preferably something that pays big. I don't much mind about legality. And as I said, I have some small talent." Martin moved his left hand so that it was only visible to himself and Ash. Suddenly, a knife appeared in the hand. The tumbler rolled it across his fingers for a moment, then with a lightning-fast movement threw the knife, which became embedded in the coin slot of the jukebox. Suddenly the sounds of Gogol Bordello's "Start Wearing Purple" filled the air. He smiled grimly.

Grim glared at martin. the jukebox was a delicate antique put there to entertain the terrans who were becoming increasingly common in this sector. he had no idea how it worked but it made him lots of money.

Grim leaned in. "i think youll find, sir, that ashmoria only ever has one job"

ashmoria felt her hand tighten around Grim's throat before realizing that he had only told the common truth. she let go with a nod of apology.

"true" she said sheepishly. "but Grim might know of a bit of work for you"

she finally noticed that the glass held more vodka. she wondered if it were some kind of trick as she drained it in one tiny sip.

"there's always work to be had in Grim's Tavern as long as youre not too picky"

"Well, I too am in between jobs, and I am seeking employment. I have a few tricks that can be...useful." At this point, Martin pulled his now-empty coffee cup towards him and covered it with his hands. He withdrew his hands a moment later, a the mug was now a wide glass filled with vodka. He slid the vodka across the bar to Ashmoria.

>.>


^.^

*She lay on her bed, eyelids flickering as though dreaming and although there was no discernible heartbeat, multiple pictures flashing through her mind.
Horses, snow, a child on a toboggan.
A large black man-cat, wolves, vampires.
Dragons, precious gemstones, pirates.
Caves, sea, sun, otters.
Rain....always rain.
Unspeakable beings chasing her.
Sky illuminating, world destroying lightning.
Ear splitting, mountain shattering thunder.*

Oblivion.

Tumbling, spinning through space and maybe even time.
A massive jolt and her heart starts to beat.

Her eyes open, the water running in rivulets down her face and through the mists she sees a neon sign flickering.*

'Grims Tavern'

Well at least it'll be dry.

*She walks towards the sign, stiffly at first but by the time she walks through the door her gait is a little easier.

The first thing that strikes her is a familiarity, as though she had seen the scene in front of her a thousand times before, many eons ago.
She walked to the bar and addressing the grumpy old man who was serving she spoke aloud, her voice unrecognisable.*

Could you get me a.....rum....a rum and coke please.

*She glanced at herself in the cracked mirror behind the bar, but did not know the stranger who looked back at her, hair dripping onto her shoulders.*

Grim glared at martin. the jukebox was a delicate antique put there to entertain the terrans who were becoming increasingly common in this sector. he had no idea how it worked but it made him lots of money.

Grim leaned in. "i think youll find, sir, that ashmoria only ever has one job"

ashmoria felt her hand tighten around Grim's throat before realizing that he had only told the common truth. she let go with a nod of apology.

"true" she said sheepishly. "but Grim might know of a bit of work for you"

she finally noticed that the glass held more vodka. she wondered if it were some kind of trick as she drained it in one tiny sip.

"there's always work to be had in Grim's Tavern as long as youre not too picky"

"Thank you for the tip, Ashmoria." Martin smiled, a look of gratitude in his eyes.

Martin walked over to the jukebox and withdrew his knife. The music stopped. Martin frowned slightly and smacked it with his fist. It started up again and Martin nodded in satisfaction as he walked back to his seat.

"Now Grim, do you have any work for me?"

Grim grimaced slightly and said "Well, I need a bartender, if you're interested. Otherwise, there isn't much."

Martin grimaced. "Well, I know I refused last time, but I do need the money. All right, I'll take the job, assuming JuNii isn't too settled in. One condition, though: I work to my own hours, no one else's."

Grim sighed, but agreed. He presented Martin with some paperwork, which was filled out with remarkable speed. Marting handed the paperwork back to Grim, and vaulted over the bar. he winked at Ashmoria.

"Not exactly what I was lookin for, but it'll do...for now. If you hear of anything else that might require my skills though, please pass it on. Now, what can I get you?"

*She lay on her bed, eyelids flickering as though dreaming and although there was no discernible heartbeat, multiple pictures flashing through her mind.
Horses, snow, a child on a toboggan.
A large black man-cat, wolves, vampires.
Dragons, precious gemstones, pirates.
Caves, sea, sun, otters.
Rain....always rain.
Unspeakable beings chasing her.
Sky illuminating, world destroying lightning.
Ear splitting, mountain shattering thunder.*

Oblivion.

Tumbling, spinning through space and maybe even time.
A massive jolt and her heart starts to beat.

Her eyes open, the water running in rivulets down her face and through the mists she sees a neon sign flickering.*

'Grims Tavern'

Well at least it'll be dry.

*She walks towards the sign, stiffly at first but by the time she walks through the door her gait is a little easier.

The first thing that strikes her is a familiarity, as though she had seen the scene in front of her a thousand times before, many eons ago.
She walked to the bar and addressing the grumpy old man who was serving she spoke aloud, her voice unrecognisable.*

Could you get me a.....rum....a rum and coke please.

*She glanced at herself in the cracked mirror behind the bar, but did not know the stranger who looked back at her, hair dripping onto her shoulders.*


ashmoria hissed like a wet cat suprised by a dog.

"what the fuck are YOU doing here?"

*She lay on her bed, eyelids flickering as though dreaming and although there was no discernible heartbeat, multiple pictures flashing through her mind.
Horses, snow, a child on a toboggan.
A large black man-cat, wolves, vampires.
Dragons, precious gemstones, pirates.
Caves, sea, sun, otters.
Rain....always rain.
Unspeakable beings chasing her.
Sky illuminating, world destroying lightning.
Ear splitting, mountain shattering thunder.*

Oblivion.

Tumbling, spinning through space and maybe even time.
A massive jolt and her heart starts to beat.

Her eyes open, the water running in rivulets down her face and through the mists she sees a neon sign flickering.*

'Grims Tavern'

Well at least it'll be dry.

*She walks towards the sign, stiffly at first but by the time she walks through the door her gait is a little easier.

The first thing that strikes her is a familiarity, as though she had seen the scene in front of her a thousand times before, many eons ago.
She walked to the bar and addressing the grumpy old man who was serving she spoke aloud, her voice unrecognisable.*

Could you get me a.....rum....a rum and coke please.

*She glanced at herself in the cracked mirror behind the bar, but did not know the stranger who looked back at her, hair dripping onto her shoulders.*

martin slid smoothly between her and Grim.

"I'm tending bar temporarily. Now, a rum and coke, was it?"

Martin mixed the drink and put it on the bar.

"There you go. I haven't seen you around before. What brings you around here?"

ashmoria's head spun. how did he dare get that close to that... THING?
he was talking like he had been around but his behavior belied his words. he didnt even seem to realize how dangerous Ed was.

what was going on?

she turned to junii....

"has HE been in today?"

ashmoria hissed like a wet cat suprised by a dog.

"what the fuck are YOU doing here?"

*Startled by the venom in the other womans voice, she took two paces back.
The man who stood in front of the grumpy barman offered her the drink.*

Oh...yes...a rum and coke please.

*Startled by the venom in the other womans voice, she took two paces back.
The man who stood in front of the grumpy barman offered her the drink.*

Oh...yes...a rum and coke please.

ashmoria stood behind the woman's stool and hissed into her ear.

"this is MY job. you'll get no part of it. do you understand? NONE!"

*Startled by the venom in the other womans voice, she took two paces back.
The man who stood in front of the grumpy barman offered her the drink.*

Oh...yes...a rum and coke please.

Noting that the woman had stepped out of arm's reach of her drink, he picked it up.

"Catch," he said, and threw the glass high in a high arc. It flew upwards, nearly brushing the ceiling before it began to fall. Martin watched the woman in front of him attentively, not sparing a glance for the drink.

ashmoria stood behind the woman's stool and hissed into her ear.

"this is MY job. you'll get no part of it. do you understand? NONE!"

*Gathering her wits about her, she spun round on the woman who dared try to intimidate her.*

I have no idea what you are talking about...and I'm sure that I wouldn't want to take YOUR job.

*Her eyes flashed as though red and blue sparks flew from them.*

Now if you'll excuse me.....

*She turned just in time to see the glass fly high into the air.
As she stared at it, the glass stopped, spun around and gently came down, allowing her to pluck it from the air.*

"has HE been in today?"


ashmoria stood behind the woman's stool and hissed into her ear.

"this is MY job. you'll get no part of it. do you understand? NONE!"

*Ju spoke in a monotone voice*
"dunno who you're talking about."

"'ello miss."

*Ju's right hand dropped along the side and his hand twitched.*

*Gathering her wits about her, she spun round on the woman who dared try to intimidate her.*

I have no idea what you are talking about...and I'm sure that I wouldn't want to take YOUR job.

*Her eyes flashed as though red and blue sparks flew from them.*

Now if you'll excuse me.....

*She turned just in time to see the glass fly high into the air.
As she stared at it, the glass stopped, spun around and gently came down, allowing her to pluck it from the air.*

"just remember that youve been warned."

she wondered if it were the woman or the new bartender who had made the glass slow down...

*Gathering her wits about her, she spun round on the woman who dared try to intimidate her.*

I have no idea what you are talking about...and I'm sure that I wouldn't want to take YOUR job.

*Her eyes flashed as though red and blue sparks flew from them.*

Now if you'll excuse me.....

*She turned just in time to see the glass fly high into the air.
As she stared at it, the glass stopped, spun around and gently came down, allowing her to pluck it from the air.*


"Quite the little trick, is that. I don't suppose you'd tell me how to do it, would you? You see, in my main line of work, I am a tumbler, and I am always looking for things to improve my act."

Martin smiled at her with an expression of avid interest.

"Quite the little trick, is that. I don't suppose you'd tell me how to do it, would you? You see, in my main line of work, I am a tumbler, and I am always looking for things to improve my act."

Martin smiled at her with an expression of avid interest.

*smiles*
down boy. let the lady sit first!

*Ju spoke in a monotone voice*
"dunno who you're talking about."

"'ello orchid."

*Ju's right hand dropped along the side and his hand twitched.*

was he that stupid, was it all an act or did he think that she was that stupid?

"ju, this may be MY first time in this establishment but i hear that YOU are here every day." she said, noticiing the twitch in his hand. was he going for a knife or another peanut?

"you know who i am asking for. the tall man wearing a cape fastened at the neck with a blue gem. or has all Onineate taken to wearing capes all of a sudden?"

"Quite the little trick, is that. I don't suppose you'd tell me how to do it, would you? You see, in my main line of work, I am a tumbler, and I am always looking for things to improve my act."

Martin smiled at her with an expression of avid interest.

I just looked at it....

*She stared at this man who seemed much friendlier than the woman who seemingly looked on her as a threat.*

*Ju spoke in a monotone voice*
"dunno who you're talking about."

"'ello orchid."

*Ju's right hand dropped along the side and his hand twitched.*

*A familiar voice spoke nearby, and a name that brought the pictures back to her gave her a warm glow inside, but she didn't know why.
Turning, she saw him. one of the people in the pictures.....deja vu maybe?*

Hello.....

"ju, this may be MY first time in this establishment but i hear that YOU are here every day."

"you know who i am asking for. the tall man wearing a cape fastened at the neck with a blue gem. or has all Onineate taken to wearing capes all of a sudden?"

... sorry, I only arrived here las... yes, last night. I slept on the couch there.

there was one man sitting there *nods with his head* never got his name tho.

the only people I know is Martin, Noire, and Raven.

OoC: Orchid... I'm assuming I don't reconize you... true?

*A familiar voice spoke nearby, and a name that brought the pictures back to her gave her a warm glow inside, but she didn't know why.
Turning, she saw him. one of the people in the pictures.....deja vu maybe?*

Hello.....

*he nods back the woman seemed familiar, but it was more by what she orderd than her appearace. *

Must be imagining things.

OoC: Orchid... I'm assuming I don't reconize you... true?[/QUOTE]

OOC.
I think she has gone through some sort of metamorphis.....

... sorry, I only arrived here las... yes, last night. I slept on the couch there.

there was one man sitting there *nods with his head* never got his name tho.

the only people I know is Martin, Noire, and Raven.


"fine" she said in the tone that means "well then, fuck you"

maybe he would whisper the truth to her after orchid leaves him bleeding on the floor. it had happened before only not with him and not with this ashmoria.

she sat on a stool well away from junii and orchid. she started searching her pockets for something valuable enough to trade for one last glass of vodka. that would chase the last of the fumes away.

I just looked at it....

*She stared at this man who seemed much friendlier than the woman who seemingly looked on her as a threat.*



*A familiar voice spoke nearby, and a name that brought the pictures back to her gave her a warm glow inside, but she didn't know why.
Turning, she saw him. one of the people in the pictures.....deja vu maybe?*

Hello.....

"Ah. I see. Yet another damned mystery. They do pile up around here, don't they?"

His smile remained on his face, but there was a hint of anger in his voice when he mentioned mysteries.

"Well, I doubt that it is important," he said.

"fine" she said in the tone that means "well then, fuck you"

maybe he would whisper the truth to her after orchid leaves him bleeding on the floor. it had happened before only not with him and not with this ashmoria.

she sat on a stool well away from junii and orchid. she started searching her pockets for something valuable enough to trade for one last glass of vodka. that would chase the last of the fumes away.

Martin approached her seat with a glass in his hand. He set the glass in front of her. it smelled very strong, almost like rubbing alcohol.

"Here. Take this, on the house. You look like you need it. I should warn you though, it is none of Grim's rotgut. This stuff is everclear, pure ethanol, about two and a half times stronger than the vodka, from my personal supply. It tastes worse than it smells, but I doubt you'd care for a mixer."

*The she-cat of a woman moved away, and started fumbling through her pockets, and the man from her head seemed preoccupied, probably because SHE had been trying to get information out of him.

As the bar keeper spoke she turned and smiled appologetically.*

Sorry....were you talking to me?

*Too late he had already walked over to HER.*

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Sorry....were you talking to me?

hmm? me? sorry, for some reason, you remind me of someone i knew.

*the crisis over, Ju flicked out his right hand and sent yet another cracker flying, with pin point accuraccy into the fireplace. the thunk of the cracker hitting the back wall was barely louder than the popping of the firewood.*

The more things change, the more they stay the same.


hmm? me? sorry, for some reason, you remind me of someone i knew.

*the crisis over, Ju flicked out his right hand and sent yet another cracker flying, with pin point accuraccy into the fireplace. the thunk of the cracker hitting the back wall was barely louder than the popping of the firewood.*

*There was something....his right hand....this man from her head*

Excuse me...but have you had an injury to your hand?
I sense there is something wrong with it....

Martin approached her seat with a glass in his hand. He set the glass in front of her. it smelled very strong, almost like rubbing alcohol.

"Here. Take this, on the house. You look like you need it. I should warn you though, it is none of Grim's rotgut. This stuff is everclear, pure ethanol, about two and a half times stronger than the vodka, from my personal supply. It tastes worse than it smells, but I doubt you'd care for a mixer."

"i owe you, martin" she replied weak with gratitude. she immediately cancelled her idea of taking the teeth from his head in the alley later that night. they were beautiful teeth.

"im out of the habit of dignified drinks. mixers hide all sorts of other additions to a drink."

she wanted to down the drink in one gulp but knew that the strength of it would leave her helpless for a time long enough that orchid could overcome her. not that she was sure that orchid was back for her, she just couldnt take the chance. fucking re-incarnators were unreliable and dangerous.

she took a few drops. it made her eyes water.

she sat back to wait for her target to enter the bar.

it was only a matter of time.

"i owe you, martin" she replied weak with gratitude. she immediately cancelled her idea of taking the teeth from his head in the alley later that night. they were beautiful teeth.

"im out of the habit of dignified drinks. mixers hide all sorts of other additions to a drink."

she wanted to down the drink in one gulp but knew that the strength of it would leave her helpless for a time long enough that orchid could overcome her. not that she was sure that orchid was back for her, she just couldnt take the chance. fucking re-incarnators were unreliable and dangerous.

she took a few drops. it made her eyes water.

she sat back to wait for her target to enter the bar.

it was only a matter of time.


"Certainly. And trust me, I know all about dangerous additions." Martin smiled slightly, a look of good-natured amiability on his face as he lowered his voice so that no one else could hear.

"What's the deal between you and the woman who just walked in? Is it simply a personal matter, or is she someone that I need be concerned about as well?"

"Certainly. And trust me, I know all about dangerous additions." Martin smiled slightly, a look of good-natured amiability on his face as he lowered his voice so that no one else could hear.

"What's the deal between you and the woman who just walked in? Is it simply a personal matter, or is she someone that I need be concerned about as well?"

"you are quite the puzzle, martin. how did you manage to live this long on 098?

"orchid is a reincarnator." ashmoria spat on the floor to show her disgust. "couldnt you tell by the way her eyes changed colors when she stepped into the light? or by the way she was surprised at her image in the mirror? if youre to survive, you have to pay more attention to your customers"

*There was something....his right hand....this man from her head*

Excuse me...but have you had an injury to your hand?
I sense there is something wrong with it....

... nope. Nothing wrong.

*shows his hands and wiggles his fingers.*

... nope. Nothing wrong.

*shows his hands and wiggles his fingers.*

Oh...forgive me...I'm not feeling so good.
I have had a long journey and I'm not feeling quite myself right now.

*She looked at the strange person in the mirror once more.
Then she caught sight of the keys hanging on the other wall.*

Oh, can I get a room here...I don't know how long I'll be staying though.

I don't even know why I'll be staying.

*She finished her drink and shuddered.*

Why did I ask for that...it was terrible!

Oh...forgive me...I'm not feeling so good.
I have had a long journey and I'm not feeling quite myself right now.

Oh, can I get a room here...I don't know how long I'll be staying though.

*She finished her drink and shuddered.*


Guess so. I guess I'll need a room also.

if you're not feeling well, perhaps you should rest.

oh, I'm Ju by the way.

"you are quite the puzzle, martin. how did you manage to live this long on 098?

"orchid is a reincarnator." ashmoria spat on the floor to show her disgust. "couldnt you tell by the way her eyes changed colors when she stepped into the light? or by the way she was surprised at her image in the mirror? if youre to survive, you have to pay more attention to your customers"

Martin smiled, a glint of light bouncing off of one tooth.

"Oh, I've a few tricks up my sleeve. But I'm afraid that I have had almost no contact with other beings outside of my single best friend until very, very recently. Most all of this" - he indicated the room in general - "is entirely new to me. So tell me about these reincarnators."

Guess so. I guess I'll need a room also.

if you're not feeling well, perhaps you should rest.

oh, I'm Ju by the way.

Yes, I think I should.

*She smiled, even the name sounded familiar.*

Glad to meet you Ju...I'm...
A flower...a flower
Orchid...
yes...Orchid.

*She walked to the keys and helped herself to number 7, signed the book and turned back to Ju.*

I'll say goodnight then....

OOC
As you must remember...tis my bedtime now....night all...

Yes, I think I should.

*She smiled, even the name sounded familiar.*

Glad to meet you Ju...I'm...
A flower...a flower
Orchid...
yes...Orchid.

*She walked to the keys and helped herself to number 7, signed the book and turned back to Ju.*

I'll say goodnight then....

OOC
As you must remember...tis my bedtime now....night all...

*watches her leave.*

right... Orchid could be a common name here.

*Signs in and sits back at the bar.*

Martin smiled, a glint of light bouncing off of one tooth.

"Oh, I've a few tricks up my sleeve. But I'm afraid that I have had almost no contact with other beings outside of my single best friend until very, very recently. Most all of this" - he indicated the room in general - "is entirely new to me. So tell me about these reincarnators."

"sounds like you have an interesting story of your own, martin. if i complete my job here, id love to hear it. if i dont complete my job, well it wont matter eh? ill be dead."

she took another sip of her drink. with orchid gone to bed (oh how good it would be to sleep) safety wasnt as much of an issue.

"re-incarnators are abominations in the eye of the one true god DYAN. they dont live one life, do they? you cant kill them. at least not permanently.

"now dont get me wrong, *I* didnt kill orchid. i have nothing against her personally. except her being filth, of course. but someone did, and recently. people dont get killed for no reason eh?

"you cant trust someone who wont stay dead. it makes them reckless. it makes them mean. they can keep at you until they get you. it doesnt matter how many lives it takes eh?"

she drained the drink. her head swum.

"now me, im a clone. but you must have known that. clones only get one life each so we are acceptable in the eye of the one true god. not as good as you uniquers but acceptable. if i dont complete my job, another ashmoria will show up to do it. we'll keep at it until HE is dead.

"its our job. its our life"

ooc: First of all, what the fuck is up with people robbing Noire of her vodka? Hot damn, man. Chill, no robbin' of the skills.

Secondly, Ashmoria, no more god-moding or you'll be asked to leave the roleplay.

ic: Noire sauntered down the stairs in casual clothes, for once: jeans, a black t-shirt, bare feet. Her white bedhead was mussed and short, catching the occasional glance from a streetlight outside. Fiddling with something in her pocket, she reached the landing, popped a quarter into the jukebox, covered her wide yawn, and stretched.

ashmoria drains her glass, rises, and leaves the bar closing the door quietly behind her.

her quarry isnt here.

any news on those sandwiches? i'm gettig that empty stomach feeling that always happens an hour or so after gorging on chinese take away.

Surprised to hear another voice, she chuckled despite her better instincts and gestured towards the kitchen.

"Chinese'll do that to you... and I'm sure Grim'll be less than thrilled to whip you up something. He'll still do it."

ooc: First of all, what the fuck is up with people robbing Noire of her vodka? Hot damn, man. Chill, no robbin' of the skills.

Secondly, Ashmoria, no more god-moding or you'll be asked to leave the roleplay.

ic: Noire sauntered down the stairs in casual clothes, for once: jeans, a black t-shirt, bare feet. Her white bedhead was mussed and short, catching the occasional glance from a streetlight outside. Fiddling with something in her pocket, she reached the landing, popped a quarter into the jukebox, covered her wide yawn, and stretched.morning... evening... what the heck time is it anyway?

any news on those sandwiches? i'm gettig that empty stomach feeling that always happens an hour or so after gorging on chinese take away.

??? there are sandwiches? where... oh, here. *pulls a ham and cheese sandwich out from behind the bar and bites into it.*

wanf fon?

She waved cheerily at Ju from across the room. "Oh, I'd say about..." she peered at the clock above him, muttering something about needing to buy a new pair of glasses, "Nine fifteenish, it looks like. Either way, I had a good sleep and I'm wide awake... so the party should go on into early morning."

morning... evening... what the heck time is it anyway?



??? there are sandwiches? where... oh, here. *pulls a ham and cheese sandwich out from behind the bar and bites into it.*

wanf fon?

time for a drink i say. *quaffs rum*

Grim's russling me up something just now. i told him to use his imagination so i'm awaiting in trepidation. in the event of truly disasterous results i've always got the rum to kill the tastebuds.

incidentally, what's the smoking policy in this place. i think my tastebuds need more punishment.

time for a drink i say. *quaffs rum*

Grim's russling me up something just now. i told him to use his imagination so i'm awaiting in trepidation. in the event of truly disasterous results i've always got the rum to kill the tastebuds.

incidentally, what's the smoking policy in this place. i think my tastebuds need more punishment.

sur.

Noire? sandwich?

*Ju pulls out a crystal plate with some finger sandwiches of various fillings from behind the bar and puts in on top the counter.*

Noire gestured about the room, implying that the light haze that occasionally made up the air from customers' breathing was more than enough of an answer to the man's question.

She hopped comfortably up onto a bar stool and unsheathed a small tanto blade from her ankle, retrieved a small, marble-like object from her pocket, and proceeded to sharpen the blade. Smiling a little wryly to herself as she saw Ju serving up food, unconcious of her own habits, she thought, Old habits die hard, don't they.

Nodding to Ju, she reached out and skewered a tiny sandwich on the end of the tanto.

ooc: Ju, TG. Desole. :p

sur.

Noire? sandwich?

*Ju pulls out a crystal plate with some finger sandwiches of various fillings from behind the bar and puts in on top the counter.*

gosh, this place is more salubrious than i'd imagined, thanks. *fingers sandwiches*

think i'll have the chorizo and mozarella.

*fires up a small cigar, swirls ice cubes*

so, what's the craic?

a yell is heard from the kitchen. "S@ndw!ch!"

"Ta, Grim. Lets see what we have here... corned beef... gherkin... tomato... and... mayonnaise... i hope..."


*munches anyway*

*yells* "superb, Grim! much obliged."

*takes one of Grim's sandwiches.*

Mmmm... yo GRIM! AWSOME Sandwiches!

*Sits back and finishes one. picks up another and bites into it.*

"so much better when someone else makes em."

*Looks at Noire with a puzzled look.*

"didn't you hang around with someone... a kid? Keth... Seth... yeah, Seth I think..."

Looking uncomfortable, she said, "He's at his grandmother's house on a planet called Earth... the city, state, whatever it is... New Jersey, I think is the name." Noire stuffed the sandwich into her mouth and returned her focus to sharpening the blade. Her voice was a bit muffled, "Didn't really think this'd be the best place to bring a kid, 'specially since I was here on work."

She redoubled her efforts on sharpening the now-gleaming tanto.

Looking uncomfortable, she said, "He's at his grandmother's house on a planet called Earth... the city, state, whatever it is... New Jersey, I think is the name." Noire stuffed the sandwich into her mouth and returned her focus to sharpening the blade. Her voice was a bit muffled, "Didn't really think this'd be the best place to bring a kid, 'specially since I was here on work."

She redoubled her efforts on sharpening the now-gleaming tanto.

*Ju stops in mid bite*

repeat that please? on Earth?

*Ju blinks and takes a solid look around.*

mutters: I knew I should've taken that left turn at Albuqurque...

*He watches Noire for a moment. wondering about the things she did say with her body and not her voice.*

She grinned a little waveringly. "Yeahh, definitely a wrong turn of sorts."

Shrugging, still keeping her focus on the sharpening of her blade, she added, "You know. Family complications, stuff like that."

Noire set the blade down, took a drink from the vodka bottle that had burst into her hand. "Want anything?"

ooc: Does Ju remember stuff from the PC and PBC?

She grinned a little waveringly. "Yeahh, definitely a wrong turn of sorts."

Shrugging, still keeping her focus on the sharpening of her blade, she added, "You know. Family complications, stuff like that."

Noire set the blade down, took a drink from the vodka bottle that had burst into her hand. "Want anything?"

ooc: Does Ju remember stuff from the PC and PBC?

nah, Don't drink alcohol... remember?

*holds up a glass filled with a dark orange drink*

OoC: some... but not too much. his memory has... gaps in em. a result to correct a mistake I made with his growth.

"Oh, right," she tapped her forehead. "My bad."

She took another sip from her bottle, twiddled it in her fingers.

ooc: Haha, okay. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind, then. XDD

"Oh, right," she tapped her forehead. "My bad."

She took another sip from her bottle, twiddled it in her fingers.

ooc: Haha, okay. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind, then. XDD

*He grinned.*

Hey Grim... not to be rude, and sincere apologies if you are offended... but being that I just found out I'm on a whole new planet. you're my very first confirmed first contact... so what the hell are you?

OoC: you know about Ju's... injury on his left side? it's healed... completely. that much will be noticeable since you can see both flesh and bone hands.

"this isn't earth??

shit! how much did i drink last night...?

what did i do...?


hmmm... no new scars to speak of, knuckles are a bit bruised though... what's this..."

*pulls out polaroid of a battered and rusty tramp steamer*

there's an address on the back: pier 5, space port gamma, buenos aires.

"space port? shit, that boats's floating on air.... this i fucking weird"

*empty's glass*

"make it a triple this time Grim, thanks"

Grim grunted somewhat offendedly in Ju's general direction, waving his dirty glass and rag with very human arms. "Whadda I look li'?!"

Noire rolled her eyes at him and muttered quietly to Ju, "Personally, I'm not too sure." She chuckled under her breath.

Watching his hands move, lifting his cup to his mouth, she suddenly noticed something. "You look a bit... different than when I last saw you."

ooc: Yeah, I remember... and sounds good. XD

ooc: Lol, sorry! I just assumed your characters would know; after all, I did put the description in the first post... :p

ooc: heh! must have missed that bit.

Grim grunted somewhat offendedly in Ju's general direction, waving his dirty glass and rag with very human arms. "Whadda I look li'?!"

Noire rolled her eyes at him and muttered quietly to Ju, "Personally, I'm not too sure." She chuckled under her breath.

Watching his hands move, lifting his cup to his mouth, she suddenly noticed something. "You look a bit... different than when I last saw you."

ooc: Yeah, I remember... and sounds good. XD

ooc: Lol, sorry! I just assumed your characters would know; after all, I did put the description in the first post... :p

Do I? *he peers in the mirror. then grins at Grim.*

Being from another planet doesn't mean not looking huma... Terrian.

After all, Star Trek had lots of species that looked human but wern't. Zephram Cochrane was originally from Alpha Centari, Kingons looked human. and so did Vulcans... if you discount the ears. so it's an honest question. as I said, no insult meant.

OoC: yeah you did. but since I got 'lost' and now find myself stuck on another planet... I had to ask. :p

Grim grunted his acknowledgement of Ju's answer and returned to polishing the mug.

Noire nodded. "Dunno why, though."

ooc: Perfectly understandable. XD

Grim grunted his acknowledgement of Ju's answer and returned to polishing the mug.

Noire nodded. "Dunno why, though."

ooc: Perfectly understandable. XD

weird...

*Ju looks down at his left hand... flexes his fingers and shrugs. he then reaches into his pocket and extracts a lether glove and slides it on is left hand only.*

for some reason... that does feel... better.

She shrugged, eying him a little strangely. There was something specific about his arm... it was different, it did things. Why did he forget? She shook off the strange feeling that was moving in, settling on her thoughts, dropped her chin to rest on her crossed arms, lying on the bar counter.

"Weird, huh?"

"Weird, huh?"
*Nods.*

Hey Grim. you need a cook and part time tender?

Grim scuttled out of the kitchen eagerly, dirty glass and dirty rag still clutched in his hands. "Yeh, yeh I do, ya 'plyin'?" A light gleamed in his eyes.

Grim scuttled out of the kitchen eagerly, dirty glass and dirty rag still clutched in his hands. "Yeh, yeh I do, ya 'plyin'?" A light gleamed in his eyes.

Guess I am. you wanna test me? since I really don't think my references would mean much...

considering the last three places I worked at blowed up good...

"Test yah?" Grim frowned, as though he was unsure of this 'testing' the young man spoke of, then decided it sounded like a position of power for him, and went with it. He had no idea what would even be the kind of questions on a test like this, so he decided to go with a simple,

"Yeh, go 'head, show me whatcha got."

Noire watched the entire scene quite amusedly. Poor Ju...

"Test yah?" Grim frowned, as though he was unsure of this 'testing' the young man spoke of, then decided it sounded like a position of power for him, and went with it. He had no idea what would even be the kind of questions on a test like this, so he decided to go with a simple,

"Yeh, go 'head, show me whatcha got."

Noire watched the entire scene quite amusedly. Poor Ju...

well... since this is my first trip to another planet... my specialties would mostly be terran foodstuff.

so... have a seat Mr Grim.

*Ju walks into the kitchen and looks around.*

Yeesh... this place is a disaster area... is that patch of mold moving?

*After a moment of pots and pans being banged around, a whoosh and a 'sorry, just figuring out this... stovethingie...'*

*Ju walks out with a surf and turf dish, complete with drawn butter, a beautiful salad, fluffly rice pilaf, steamed and seasoned veggies all set on crystal china, and proceeds to pour a glass of wine to set besides the dish infront of his potential boss. The steak is lightly seasoned and juciy and the lobster melts on the tongue.*

and that's what I can do in a pinch. Want anything Noire? *he looks at Noire and winks.*

Give me a challange but keep it to Earth foods, k?

Grim's face, surrounded by his grubby hair, formed a shape of surprise at the platters before him. (:eek: ) (:p) Gruffly, he said, "Job's yers, then," and stalked off into the kitchen. Over the clatters and running water, distinct mutterings were heard along the lines of, "Wall, I never seed tha likes of tha'," and "Mo'ar money!" and "Finally, tha wife 'n' I ken get away..."

Noire dissolved into laughter and whispered to Ju, "Wife, yeah right, the guy's not married. He sleeps under the counter."

Eyeing up the tray hungrily, she pointed to the lobster... the rice pilaf... the veggies, the steak... "All looks lovely, Ju, let's just eat it all ourselves. I could eat a herd of horses."

Grim's face, surrounded by his grubby hair, formed a shape of surprise at the platters before him. (:eek: ) (:p) Gruffly, he said, "Job's yers, then," and stalked off into the kitchen. Over the clatters and running water, distinct mutterings were heard along the lines of, "Wall, I never seed tha likes of tha'," and "Mo'ar money!" and "Finally, tha wife 'n' I ken get away..."

Noire dissolved into laughter and whispered to Ju, "Wife, yeah right, the guy's not married. He sleeps under the counter."

Eyeing up the tray hungrily, she pointed to the lobster... the rice pilaf... the veggies, the steak... "All looks lovely, Ju, let's just eat it all ourselves. I could eat a herd of horses."*Ju pushes the plate and wine glass towards Noire*

... I wonder if he'll notice that nothing's been used... in that Kitchen... I was attacked by a spot of mold... and I swear something scuttled in the cabinets...

She began to dig into the food, stopped to take a sip of the wine, closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Good Lord, Ju, this is heavenly." She continued to eat as if she hadn't eaten in years.

"Looks like your job may be a bit more dangerous than you expected, then, no?" Noire chuckled.

She began to dig into the food, stopped to take a sip of the wine, closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Good Lord, Ju, this is heavenly." She continued to eat as if she hadn't eaten in years.

"Looks like your job may be a bit more dangerous than you expected, then, no?" Noire chuckled.

maybe... but I know you'll pull my ass out of the fire.

*Ju sits back at the bar and begins munching on a hotdog.*

Needs more mustard.

*he runs his finger down the bun and leaves a yellow line.*

better...

Jeremy woke up unsure of where he was again. He wasn't terribly uncomfortable about this, as this had been the norm for more or less the last decade of his life. Even the hangover was a welcome constant at this point.

But something was wrong. Something was missing.

He focused his senses to take stock of his situation. He was in a dirty alleyway on the wrong side of town. Guess whatever he'd had last night was potent. He looked around, and about half a block down he recognized the door to Grim's tavern.
He knew where he was. Not an out of the ordinary place. What was wrong? What was missing? What wa... his guitar.

The one thing he loved in this world had been stolen. It couldn't have been left anywhere. Even on his worst nights, with enough alcohol flowing through his veins to kill some other men, he had never misplaced it, never let it out of his grasp...

What had he done last night? He woken up, and gotten a drink. It was a good drink, from a pale young girl he'd thought he'd been starting to develop a friendship with. Her booze was stronger than usual... after that he didn't remember.


It must have been her...

He took off at a run towards the tavern, and threw open the door with such force that the bartender dropped the grimy cup he seemed to be forever cleaning. A quick scan showed Noire with one of her friends from the night before.

He stormed up to her, his eyes blazing hotter than the fires of hell.
"What did you do with it?"

She grinned at Ju. "You know how I roll."

Taking a bite of the lobster, she was suddenly confronted by the older man from the night before, raging like a drunken lunatic.

Her brows knitted and a hostile look swept over her face. Noire put the fork down, turned around to face him, voice steely, "What the fuck do you want?"

*Ju steps back leans against the wall. his left hand curls around... nothing, and ju stares at his hand for a moment... puzzled...*

She grinned at Ju. "You know how I roll."

Taking a bite of the lobster, she was suddenly confronted by the older man from the night before, raging like a drunken lunatic.

Her brows knitted and a hostile look swept over her face. Noire put the fork down, turned around to face him, voice steely, "What the fuck do you want?"

"You know damn well what I want, now What Did You Do With It?"

Every syllable was emphasized with venom. His hand strayed closer to his pockets, should he have to pry the information out more... forcefully.

*sonders on in and wonders why this isn't in 'International Incidents'*

*rips one*

Wasn't me.

* Ju looks between Noir and the man he met last night... *

why does this all seem... familar...

"You know damn well what I want, now What Did You Do With It?"

Every syllable was emphasized with venom. His hand strayed closer to his pockets, should he have to pry the information out more... forcefully.

Roused out of his alchohol-induced stupor by the commotion, the stranger moved unobtrusively toward the argueing couple; listening carefully so he was able to interfere if necessary.

She gave him an icy look. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

Leaning back on the bar stool, which she'd turned around so as to face him, she added cuttingly, "You'd better damn well give an explanation, too, or act in a more civilized manner." Her lips curled in disdain.

ooc: Sorry... my net cut out, and I had to shut down the computer and set-up the network again... : \

She gave him an icy look. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

Leaning back on the bar stool, which she'd turned around so as to face him, she added cuttingly, "You'd better damn well give an explanation, too, or act in a more civilized manner." Her lips curled in disdain.

ooc: Sorry... my net cut out, and I had to shut down the computer and set-up the network again... : \

"You're the last person I talked to. I accepted your drink. And now my guitar is gone. I don't leave it anywhere.... EVER."

the girl tip-toed down the stairs ans soundlessly crossed the small room and took a seat by the fire. There were others about she gave them a slight nod in greeting.

the girl tip-toed down the stairs ans soundlessly crossed the small room and took a seat by the fire. There were others about she gave them a slight nod in greeting.

*noting that the two are talking (good) and not drawing weapons (bad) Ju slowly made his way to Raven as she sat by the fire.*

ello Raven. sorry I konked out like that. how have you been?

Her brows knitted, hostility clearly in her eyes now. Her fingers staccattoed on the table in anger.

"Not my problem your guitar is gone. I have no need for a guitar, nor reason to take one. Keep better track of your things.

Also," she crossed her arms across her chest, pale eyes flaring with a dim light now, "You came in from outside. I've been inside since last night. Use your brain, if the gods so deigned to bless you with one."

*noting that the two are talking (good) and not drawing weapons (bad) Ju slowly made his way to Raven as she sat by the fire.*

ello Raven. sorry I konked out like that. how have you been?

The girl looked up, slightly suprised," you must have me confused with some one elce, my name is Gem."

" you must have me confused with some one elce, my name is Gem."*blink...*
oh... err...

*blush*

so sorry, you look so much like someone I once knew. infact, you could be her twin.

*extends a hand*

Names Ju. forgive me for such a faux pas.

*blink...*
oh... err...

*blush*

so sorry, you look so much like someone I once knew. infact, you could be her twin.

*extends a hand*

Names Ju. forgive me for such a faux pas.
she smiles and shakes his hand," it quite alright, nice to meet you Ju, my full name is Gemma but i go by Gem."

Her brows knitted, hostility clearly in her eyes now. Her fingers staccattoed on the table in anger.

"Not my problem your guitar is gone. I have no need for a guitar, nor reason to take one. Keep better track of your things.

Also," she crossed her arms across her chest, pale eyes flaring with a dim light now, "You came in from outside. I've been inside since last night. Use your brain, if the gods so deigned to bless you with one."

"Play innocent why don't you. That guitar had worth to it. I know it did. You think I hadn't thought about selling it to make my way still.

But I didn't.

You've got to understand, this guitar was all I had. I didn't just MISPLACE it. Someone stole her. And I have every intention to find out who."


He glared around the room at all the other patrons. Those looking at him and those not.

He shouted out to the tavern "Anyone have any idea where this thing went."

A look at noire. "I want you by my side til I find it."

She burst from her barstool, angry hands clenched tight at her sides. Her voice was steadily rising, eyes flaring angrily beneath her white bangs. "Well," she said, placing emphasis on her words, gesturing into the air with a hand, "IF you, my good sir, have every intention of finding out who," she curled her lip again, "'Stole' your guitar, you are going about in an idioticly incorrect fashion, and I'd thank you to not accuse me of petty thievery!"

Practically snarling, she tacked on, "And I'll not have you policing my every move until you find it!"

she smiles and shakes his hand," it quite alright, nice to meet you Ju, my full name is Gemma but i go by Gem."

Gem... again, my apologies.

*Looks towards the bar.*

Play nice. I really hate to have to toss either one of you into the Kitchen. The... whatever that is growing in there... is mean and nasty...

ooC: Masregal, tg coming.

She burst from her barstool, angry hands clenched tight at her sides. Her voice was steadily rising, eyes flaring angrily beneath her white bangs. "Well," she said, placing emphasis on her words, gesturing into the air with a hand, "IF you, my good sir, have every intention of finding out who," she curled her lip again, "'Stole' your guitar, you are going about in an idioticly incorrect fashion, and I'd thank you to not accuse me of petty thievery!"

Practically snarling, she tacked on, "And I'll not have you policing my every move until you find it!"

"Try and stop me, missy. As of right now you're still my prime suspect. Though if you give it back now, I'll forget this ever happened."

Rook, tired of weather in general, had decided he ought to spend some time indoors. Looking back, he found it necessary to admit that this seemed to be his sole motivation for going anywhere. Here he was, on his fourth planet, and the new skies of 098 were just as menacing as those of Liquida. He found himself toying with the idea of himself having become a carrier for some form of atmospheric virus, a mosquito of the universe. He seemed to have an inexplicable talent for transforming the joyful sunlight of a clear day into a glaring, intolerable shine and the mellow tones of a thunderstorm into a monotonous blue-black blur.

He forcibly removed himself from such dark thoughts and began searching avidly for the nearest roof with four walls. Immediately he noticed the crouching building lodged between two towers of ridiculous heights, near-quixotic in their competition to show the sky exactly who it would be that could shove their steel spire the furthest up an angel's ass.

"At least it's for a good cause," Rook mused to himself.

Upon realizing that the building between buildings, a mere shanty when compared to their "glorious" heights, was idly labeled a tavern*, Rook decided his quest for a roof had come to an end, and hastily tossed his body, complete with large rubber cloak, through the doors into...



(*Rook wasn't sure if it quite deserved the title, but he was sure there were authorities for such things and until such a time as the tavern authorities saw fit to rescind this particular location's rights to the label, he would have to trust the ill-painted sign.)

OoC: JU: I responded. If it is an idea, tg me back.

she smiled,"No worries"
*glances at the argument*
"this doesn't sound good"

OoC: JU: I responded. If it is an idea, tg me back.
ooC: Replied
she smiled,"No worries"
*glances at the argument*
"this doesn't sound good"

nope... I hate cleaning blood up.

*Ju rolls the large, white, squishy thing over by the fire. he sits down on top of it and bounces as it settles. he then rips out a small piece and pops it into his mouth. Taking out a couple of crystal skewers from his sleeves, he rips another piece out of his 'chair' and holds it in the fire place. within moments, the smell of toasted marshmellow fills the room as he pops the cooked piece into his mouth and chews. he offers the second skewer to Gem.*

wanna join me?

... an interior that one would expect in an inner-city tavern.

Pulling the hood of his bright yellow cloak forward even further, Rook dashes to the leftmost stool and hurriedly begins brooding over the chainlink fence pattern left by years of coasterless drinks.

Her entire body suddenly relaxed, as if puppeteered on liquid strings. So quickly her movements were hardly noticed, the six-inch tanto blade she'd been polishing was in her hand, unsheathed now, hanging loosely at her side. Barely inches from his face, she stated through her teeth, "I don't. Have. Your fucking. Guitar." and eased back, sitting back down in her barstool and popping open Hamlet, which seemed to have appeared from under the countertop. The blade rested, gently held between her fingers and the cover of the book.

She turned the page.

ooC: Replied


nope... I hate cleaning blood up.

*Ju rolls the large, white, squishy thing over by the fire. he sits down on top of it and bounces as it settles. he then rips out a small piece and pops it into his mouth. Taking out a couple of crystal skewers from his sleeves, he rips another piece out of his 'chair' and holds it in the fire place. within moments, the smell of toasted marshmellow fills the room as he pops the cooked piece into his mouth and chews. he offers the second skewer to Gem.*

wanna join me?
She accepts the skewer and places it in the fire then pulls it out to cool. she takes a small nibble
"yummy"

"yummy" OoC: you eating the skewer or toasting bits of the freaking huge marshmellow I'm sitting on. no worries... it's clean. :p

IC. Errr.. so what brings you here?

Her entire body suddenly relaxed, as if puppeteered on liquid strings. So quickly her movements were hardly noticed, the six-inch tanto blade she'd been polishing was in her hand, unsheathed now, hanging loosely at her side. Barely inches from his face, she stated through her teeth, "I don't. Have. Your fucking. Guitar." and eased back, sitting back down in her barstool and popping open Hamlet, which seemed to have appeared from under the countertop. The blade rested, gently held between her fingers and the cover of the book.

She turned the page.

He saw that her eyes burned with an anger equal to that he felt at his loss. He considered drawing his knives in response, but saw how quickly she had moved. What grace! He was no amateur with a blade, but he knew he was far outclassed.

Instead of pursuing this issue further he stormed out of the bar, a malicious glint in his eye.

OoC: you eating the skewer or toasting bits of the freaking huge marshmellow I'm sitting on. no worries... it's clean. :p

IC. Errr.. so what brings you here?

ooc:oops, i assumed that the skewer came with a bit of the marshmallow attached:p..so yeah im eating the marshmallow:)


She was quiet for a moment, then shrugged sadly and looked away
"my brother was killed a few months ago...my mom didn't take the news very well a friends taking care of her...i just need some time away i guess"
she looks at Ju
"what about your self?"

ooc:oops, i assumed that the skewer came with a bit of the marshmallow attached:p..so yeah im eating the marshmallow:)


She was quiet for a moment, then shrugged sadly and looked away
"my brother was killed a few months ago...my mom didn't take the news very well a friends taking care of her...i just need some time away i guess"
she looks at Ju
"what about your self?"

OoC: just wondering... gotta give info for certain actions ya know.

IC: ah... sorry to hear about your brother, hope your mom gets better. me? I got lost, needed a job... found that old habits died hard...

*ate another piece and tossed his skewer into the fire... he watched as it glowed then melted away, leaving a sweet burnt smell in the smoke.*

guess no matter how much things change... they always stay the same.

*yawn* and with that... night ladies. *bows to Gem and Noire* and Gent *bows to rook.*

*He made is way towards the stairs leading to the rooms. pausing long enough to put a glass full of whiskey infront of Rook.*
this outta warm your bones sir.

Night all.

ooc: iam just out of practice :(

"thanks"
she nods as he stands
"good night..see you around"
she settles back in her chair watching the flames dance

Rook allowed himself a quick glance down the bar, searching hopefully for some sign of a bartender. In doing so he was forced to reveal a hint of his ocean blue eyes, or what most people would consider to be his eyes, glinting from underneath his hood. It was in these dark pools his body stored light-sensitive liquids as well as other wave-sensitive biosubstances, allowing him to observe the world in something a bit more detailed than that which humans referred to as "sight*".

Despite this, he saw neither heads nor fins of the bartender, and called out meekly for service before resuming his study of the bar's pitted and stained surface.



(*Rook tried to remember that he mustn't think of their single-spectrum views as a disability. They were, for their race(s), completely normal. The fact that their eyesight was near-equivalent to blindness in Rook's culture had become a touchy subject in the years since his species had begun contact with other races in the universe.)

She glared up from her book at the newcomer, down the bar a few seats. Still angry from the earlier incident and from the disruption this man was giving to her reading, her hostile eyes flared a pale light, her hand sparked, and she violently shoved a large beer down the counter in his direction, slopping over the sides as it slid.

"I'd prefer you to shut the hell up when I'm trying to fucking read Hamlet. You're welcome."

Jeremy White was thinking bad thoughts. Very bad thoughts. In fact, he had the intention to kill. Plastered to his vision was Noire's face, with all of it's sinister features. Oh, how he wanted to make it bleed.

She had stolen his guitar. She had stolen his soul. That guitar meant more to him than anybody he knew. Certainly more than an upstart little girl he met in a bar.

He thought on his guitar. He thought on it's wondrous beauty that seemed to still last despite the years. The gold pegs faded a brassy silver, the midnight blue sunburst with the dark brown of the real wood starting to show under it. The flame inlay made of pearl burning it's trail up the neck. It was certainly more worn than it used to be, but it's beauty still rivaled the more expensive guitars of the modern day.

Of course, the beauty was not why he'd loved it.
When he was a young boy, his father had died. Cliche would have it that the guitar was his fathers. It wasn't. He had bought it with the little money his dad had left him. To follow the cliche though, the money was all his father had given him.

He had other relatives he lived with, and grew attached to. But a few years later a plague had swept across his home planet of Cleerwater, killing them off. By this time he was old enough to fend for himself. He grabbed his guitar and took the next shuttle off his planet, paying his fare by the tips he maed off his bluesy music. Rock, rhythm, and blues had almost disappeared off the airwaves, and to many he was a brand new sound. His popularity grew.

Soon his music was cycled on station after station, and played on jukeboxes across the system. He was given the nickname Jukebox Jeremy and now, unlike his childhood, he was never alone. Also unlike his childhood, none of them were ever truly loyal and true. He grew to despise everybody, and trust no one and nothing.

Except his guitar.

His popularity lasted a fair while, but almost as quickly as he rose up, his music died out. Now no one but the most die-hard fans had his records. The last juke joint he knew of that played his songs had expelled him.

He wandered the system still. He made enough to get by, and learned to trust people again, to an extent. But still the only thing he loved was his guitar. It had been with him from his first bar fight through his last girlfriend, never once leaving his side.

And now it was gone. And he was going to kill the woman that took it.

Rook accepted the beer's appearance as he accepted most things in his life, quietly and without ceremony. Deciding it best not to thank the not-quite-charitable donor of his refreshment, he sipped at the sloshing mess without care, noting with interest the subtle parts his first splashes would play in the greater pattern of the bar's slimy surface.

It occurred to him he ought to offer some form of payment to his benefactor in lieu of verbal appreciation, but decided that his odds of tossing the appropriate coin were roughly as bad as the odds that the contributor would accept a second interruption in quite the same understanding humor as she did the first.

Jeremy White stopped in front of a pawn shop, eyeing all the beautiful tools people had created for the sole purpose of killing. One man's trash...

He didn't bother to complete the phrase, instead allowing a maniacal grin to cross his face. There was little doubt that Jeremy White had been pushed past the edge.

He strolled into the pawnshop nonchalantly, and the weasily man behind the counter asked what he could do for Jeremy.

Jeremy told him to go open the case at the front with all the handguns. Meanwhile he scanned the wall at a small assortment of rifles the pawnshop had.
You know this must be a bad neighborhood...

Suddenly, his vision was arrested. There, on the wall, between some old fashioned pistol and half of a cabinet that some person had just had to have, and another just had to destroy, was his guitar.

When the counter man came back, Jeremy grabbed a hold of them, and pointing at the guitar yelled "WHO SOLD YOU THAT?!?!"

"Some dark man in a trench coat." The counter man stammered.

Still infuriated beyond control, Jeremy pulled his knife and embedded it deep into the man. He grabbed his guitar off the shelf, and left.


I guess Noire really didn't do it...

Jeremy slunk quietly through the tavern, trying to avoid confrontation with Noire for now. He quickly grabbed a key off the wall and went up to his new room. 14. Killing that man had been a revelation for Jeremy. What he had done hadn't been particularly daring or difficult, but it had shown him that he still had some kind of control. He realized that he could not come close to leading the life he once lead unless he took a more forceful attempt to get there. He was going to take control of his life.

His first step was to use his remaining knife to shave off the scruff that had been accumulating on his face and neck. He then did what he could to cut his shaggy hair back into old style pompadour, using, somewhat disgustingly, a tin of grease he'd grabbed from behind the counter on his way back up.

He studied the effect in the mirror.
Not bad... I still don't look like I did at twenty... He winced at this thought.
But not bad...

She glared up from her book at the newcomer, down the bar a few seats. Still angry from the earlier incident and from the disruption this man was giving to her reading, her hostile eyes flared a pale light, her hand sparked, and she violently shoved a large beer down the counter in his direction, slopping over the sides as it slid.

"I'd prefer you to shut the hell up when I'm trying to fucking read Hamlet. You're welcome."

He watched all that transpired, bleary-eyed but as intent as his state allowed. Looked like he wouldn't need to leap on a white horse after all. This was no damsel in distress; the lady could more than take care of herself. Just as well, he thought to himself. He wasn't sure what kind of rot-gut scotch they served here, but it was certainly going to work on his wits. If only it would do to his memory what it had done to his co-ordination.