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Something Strange...
Topic Started: May 6 2017, 03:41 AM (177 Views)
梟 Inara Serra	May 6 2017, 03:41 AM Post #1
Honesty without tact is cruelty. Posts: 5,454 Group: Owlministrator Member #3,790 Joined: Feb 18, 2014	It had been a good night. Snow had walked the city streets of Poinsettia with her head high, though she had been in less than elevated spirits. The wind had howled along every alley she had passed, making her smile. It seemed as though the air itself was mimicking her truest self, and that in itself was worth smiling over. She had forgotten in her time of mourning what a creature she was. Now she was learning again to enjoy the power of her own self, and being alone. After all, everyone died alone in the end. It wouldn't be so hard now to make herself move forward. The scents of the city were all around her, and she found herself enjoying them again. The sounds were nearly an affront to her ears after spending so long in the darkness. She had retreated from the world in order to find herself again. And it had worked wonders. Now she listened to conversations going on around her, reminded that the world was still moving, and merely waiting for her to rejoin it. In front of her, a sign swayed in the wind. It made her smile still, as she watched the hand-painted words on the wooden board shimmer slightly. The silver paint mixed with the black had been her own idea. The Lavender Dog would no doubt be waiting for her most patiently. As it always had before. She wasn't mistaken, as she opened the old door onto the bar and inn she had bought months ago. It was still beautiful. She would have to say something nice to Kaede, or at least one of the boys she had brought with her. There was the familiar smell of old pine, and slightly older ale; of cigar smoke, and playing cards and ink. It was a lovely place to call home for part of the time. People talked and jostled each other as Snow made her way toward the bar. It would be closing time soon. The people who sat there smiled and waved as she got closer, and a small cheer went up from her employees. Gods how she had missed this rotten place. "Miss Snow! So glad to have you back! Staying long?" Kaede slid a small glass of whiskey her way without asking, ans Snow found herself grinning at the much smaller girl. "I had at least planned on staying a few days. More than that... We will just have to wait and see." The crystal class made the whiskey look prettier as it was raised to the rose-red lips. The burning felt good, all the way down her throat. "You and the boys are doing a fine job of taking care of the place for me. I'm proud of you." Kaede choked on her own whiskey, and Snow held back a snort of laughter. Was the girl really so afraid of her? The bright, round blue eyes said that yes, she had been, until right this second. "Anything interesting been happening in my absence?" No one asked her where she had been. They knew better. What was her business was not to be pried into. It was one of the few rules she imposed even on her employees. "Well some weird rumors are going around I guess. But other than that, nothing major." Kaede looked at the floor and back up, a sure sign she was lying, but Snow was in too good a mood to press the point. Instead, she downed the whiskey, and asked for her room key. She would be going up in a bit. Well, after a few more drinks anyway.
座 Sachio	May 8 2017, 01:05 AM Post #2
Just Hanging Around Posts: 2,084 Group: Guild Librarian Member #677 Joined: Feb 17, 2011	A man needed friends. It was due to this fact, that Sachio found himself sitting in The Lavender Dog. Of all the places he could have went, this was pretty low on the list of ones that suited his...style. The general feeling of cheer and happiness, coupled with the brightness and friendly strangers, made this a place Sachio would not have visited ever. However, the one thing that more than any of that, was the owner. A fellow member of Nine Lives, Snow was someone Sachio had a few run ins with, and the ones they had were quite memorable. So in a desperate act of 'friendship', Sachio now sat at a back table, sipping red wine and watching the rabble of the patrons. The longer he sat at that table though, the more the place grew on him. What first started off as a grimace, had slowly turned into a face of neutrality. It was a start. He didn't know if Snow would show up here or not, as he knew this wasn't where she spent most of her time, but it was worth a shot. At the very least, his effort wouldn't go unnoticed, because there was no way the cute barkeep, Kaede, wouldn't have informed Snow of Sachio's presence here. How many people who looked like Sachio really would have come to The Lavender Dog? Add the fact that the man's general aura just exuded violence and delinquency, then you have someone you want to keep an eye on in case of trouble. Sachio was used to this. This was one of the few times he would thank the judgement of others. For now, Sachio would wait, as he had no where else to be, and drinking red wine was a perfect way to spend the night regardless. The night was nearing it's end, before Snow walked into the door of the tavern. Sachio almost instantly put his glass down and adjusted his resting bitch face. It was such an awkward and quick adjustment, that anyone watching him surely would have found it amusing. Sachio watched as she spoke to Kaede and drank her whiskey. After gauging an alright time to approach, as to not interrupt, Sachio grabbed his wine and walked to the bar. The patrons moved out of his way the best they could, and gave him wary glances. He didn't mind. Upon finally reaching the bar, he thought of something to say, that didn't sound lame. "Fancy meeting you at your bar." He had failed in not sounding lame. With a sigh, Sachio took a gulp of his wine and tried to relax. "Good to see you again, Snow." That was better.
梟 Inara Serra	May 8 2017, 02:11 AM Post #3
Honesty without tact is cruelty. Posts: 5,454 Group: Owlministrator Member #3,790 Joined: Feb 18, 2014	Snow felt the approach before she saw who it was. There was indeed an aura about him, and of course all her own customers shimmying away was a dead give away. Crawling and creeping more like. An unusual circumstance in and of itself when the owner was in residence. She was, after all, one hell of a guard. Sachio's voice was familiar and alien all at once. She hadn't spoken to anyone from Nine Lives in a long time. Not even Artorius, though that saddened her to consider. "Yes. What on earthland would I be doing in my own bar." The sarcasm was both playful and teasing. Sachio would know at once that she wasn't irritated, or trying to rile him either. "It is good to see you as well." Snow turned her grey eyes toward him, her head half cocked to the side as she did so. He was a strange one, to be sure. Kaede, bless her, looked straight at him and smiled. She wasn't the least bit scared. Another reason that Snow had liked her from the start; the girl was hard to intimidate. The red and black that comprised Sachio's eyes was usually hard to meet for anyone else. Snow had become used to it. Kaede was just a brave soul. As Snow watched Sachio, a nagging feeling started tickling the back of her mind. "How have you been?" There was an unintentional note in her voice, somewhere between genuine curiosity, and a sudden apprehensive edge. It had been her experience many times that no one sought her out -- and this felt like him seeking her out, since this place was not suited to him, or his tastes-- without needing something from her. Most especially a guild mate. Snow motioned for another glass of whiskey as her friend talked. The bar itself seemed to again be breathing easy, though the two of them were now given a wide berth. Snow hadn't erupted into immediate violence, which boded well for anyone who came to see her personally. As they talked, the nagging thing in the back of Snow's mind faded away. It seemed this was simply a friend, checking on a friend. Nothing more, and nothing less. The thought in itself made her smile, even as her guard relaxed noticeably. It had been a long time since someone had simply sought the joy of her company, such as it was, without needing anything else from her. She took advantage of a rare moment of actual friendly banter and enjoyed the conversation. She picked at him over drinking red wine, in a manner which belied the kindness in her, as she sipped at her second glass of whiskey. Around them, the bar began to empty. The night was drawing on toward its end, and her patrons sought their beds, or the street if that was as far as their aching heads would allow them to make it. They didn't have to go home, the saying went, but they most certainly couldn't stay here either. Kaede yawned behind the bar, and Snow motioned her toward her own bed. "Just leave the bottles. We'll clean up after ourselves most likely." One red and one brown bottle sat on the wooden bar, and Snow raised herself to sit beside them. She had always hated sitting on the little stools in front of the bar. From here, she could see everything far more clearly. There were questions she had been putting off; purposefully avoiding as she spoke with Sachio. Now she crossed her long legs, which were clad in the long black boots she so favored. "How is everyone at the guild?" She hadn't wanted to ask. She was sure that they were angry with her for the sudden and prolonged disappearing act. Not that it mattered. What they had housed for a short time was but a hollow shell of who she was. Now, at least, she was again herself. She waited for the answer as she eyed the door, feeling as if they had forgotten something important, though she couldn't put a finger on what it was until said door burst open, slapping against the wall and rebounding with such force she thought for a half second they were under attack. "My children!" Snow quirked a brow at Sachio, her whiskey forgotten and her hand on her little knife. "Please. Please. I need help!" Snow huffed. "What the fuck do you want lady? What children?" They had forgotten to lock the godsdamned door.
座 Sachio	May 9 2017, 09:36 PM Post #4
Just Hanging Around Posts: 2,084 Group: Guild Librarian Member #677 Joined: Feb 17, 2011	"I have been alright I suppose. Fighting crazy cultists, dealing with my partners. The usual, really." Upon mentioning the cultists, he nearly shuddered when he remembered how horrible he smelled after the ordeal was over. It took him weeks to scrub away the scent of death and decay for good. It was a annoying to get rid of, much like the zombies that caused the smell to begin with. Sachio drank a larger mouthful of wine, in his attempt to mellow himself out as much as he could. He was generally a calm and collected person, that never let anything effect him, but lately, he had been changing. He didn't know if it was for the better, yet. The wine eventually sent another wave of calming, further adding to his eventual inebriation. He drank more and enjoyed speaking with Snow. Of the Nine Lives members, alongside Artorius, Snow was one of the people he actually liked hanging with. It mostly had to do with her involvement at the Sanzibar Desert, and the changing of Blair. That was an emotional event for him, that Snow would always be tied to. He had her to thank, for everything going smoothly. It was also that fact, that led him to seek Snow out specifically. Getting to know her better couldn't hurt. As they drank and spoke, The Lavender Dog grew on him a bit. It wasn't his style, that's for sure, but it had charm and a friendly atmosphere. He could see himself coming here again. It also helped that Kaede was nice to look at, and didn't react the same as most people did when they saw him. He liked that. The night grew later and it the patrons began dwindling. Eventually Kaede took her leave as well, which at that point, Sachio and Snow were the only two left. Snow's question about their fellow guildmate's made Sachio turn his head sideways quizzically. "Ah, I suppose you aren't around there a lot. Honestly, I just care about the cats. I don't really keep up with the other members. We may be under the same roof, but the only care I have is out of obligation. So in short, I have no fuckin idea." He laughed and took another drink. He was in a great mood at this point, thanks to the alcohol and Snow's company. Sachio opened his mouth to speak again, before someone busted in the door suddenly. Had Sachio been any less drunk, the doorway and anyone near it, would have been doused in poison. Instead, Sachio turned slowly to see a woman scrambling frantically and yelling about her children. "I am too drunk for this." Sachio sighed and put his bottle of wine down. Eyeing the woman, Sachio gathered she was in her early thirties at least. Her long wavy brown hair was unkempt, likely due to whatever was going on with her children, and her clothing showed the same signs of negligence, as they were wrinkled and torn in some places. Aside from the obvious lack of looking on herself, she was quite pretty, and had nice clothes. Even in Sachio's drunken state, he was able to ascertain the information he needed from her body language, appearance, and tone. This was a serious matter. "What's the call?" Sachio asked Snow, with a nudge of is elbow. They had both been drinking quite a bit, and a potentially serious situation was thrust upon them. Were they heroes? Absolutely not. Probably the opposite actually. Were they bad people? Not at all.
梟 Inara Serra	May 10 2017, 03:03 AM Post #5
Honesty without tact is cruelty. Posts: 5,454 Group: Owlministrator Member #3,790 Joined: Feb 18, 2014	Snow sighed. The woman was indeed disheveled, and she had been drinking more than usual. It was clear Sachio had as well, since he had laughed at his own joke. She found she liked seeing him laugh. And she liked that he was comfortable enough to do so in front of her. She hadn't had someone she saw as a peer in a long time. She had spent a lot of her life looking up to others, or after them. But not just enjoying their company. It was a pleasant change, given her life thus far. She needed more friends like this one. The woman at the door coughed, or sobbed, and Snow's attention snapped back to her, even as Sachio proclaimed himself too drunk for this and poked her in the ribs. Snow stifled a giggle, knowing this was a serious situation. "Come on in. Sit down and have a drink. You certainly look as if you could use one." The woman glowered, but what could she expect at 3 in the morning in a bar? Witty banter was clearly out of the question. Anyone with any amount of sense knew that much at least. She moved further in all the same, and Snow offered her her own slightly used glass, now filled again. "I can see it weighs heavily on you. Perhaps it would be better left until morning?" That would certainly be preferable for both Snow and Sachi, as it would at least give them time to sleep. The woman shook her head, even as her shivering hands reached out to take the glass from Snow. "It's my children." "Yes we covered that bit. And what have your children go to do with us?" Snow indicated Sachio and herself with a quick point of the index finger. The woman sipped from the glass, seeming to steady a few seconds after. "They're missing." Normally, Snow was all about saving some kiddos. It was like, her MO. She saved the weak and helpless, and kids were inherently both of those things. Right now though, with her rather cloudy judgement, she wasn't sure it was worth the trip out of doors. "Right. And?" She moved the same index finger in a small circle; the universal sign for, "Just tell the fucking story already, would you?" The woman hiccuped and took a breath. "I've already been to the police, and they say they won't help me. Neither will the knights, until the children have been gone for three days. I heard from a friend of mine that you were in town, and that you took this sort of job all the time. I mean, they've only been gone from their beds for a few hours. They can't have gone far." The woman wrapped her freezing hands around Snow's much warmer one. "Please. You're the only hope I have left, the two of you." Tears had started in the corners of the woman's eyes and Snow glanced side-long at Sachio. "I'm not entirely sure that we'd be much help in our current -- Ah -- State. We could start early in the morning. Come by your house, and pick up the scent. Sound doable?" The woman nodded and started chewing her lip. She was clearly overwrought. "Provided my friend here agrees that is." She looked at Sachio. It was, after all, a practice to do missions in pairs. It was much safer that way. Of course, if he refused, she would go it alone. It wouldn't be the first, nor the last time. But she desperately needed sleep either way. Once he had given his answer, she would stand, lock the door, and head straight up the stairs. It was definitely bedtime.
座 Sachio	May 12 2017, 01:34 AM Post #6
Just Hanging Around Posts: 2,084 Group: Guild Librarian Member #677 Joined: Feb 17, 2011	Listening to the woman talk, Sachio finished what was left in his bottle, and reached for another bottle that wasn't there. With a shrug, he returned his focus to the conversation, just in time to hear the woman wrap up her explanation. Watching the desperate woman was going to ruin his enjoyment of being drunk, but at the very least, this gave Sachio something to do tomorrow. He wasn't really into helping people, but if Snow wanted to take part in this, then he figured he wouldn't mind joining after all. Hearing the woman say that Snow and himself were her only hope, made Sachio roll his eyes. He wasn't sure why the knights ignored the woman, but surely there were other mages that were willing to help her. Fairy Tail? Blue Pegasus? Those guilds helped people. Sachio wished she would have bugged them instead. "A drunken hunt for children does sound like one of my weekend fun times, but I have to agree with Snow here. We can start tomorrow. I'd hate to mistake one of then children for some sort of gremlin, and accidentally melt them." It was thanks to the alcohol that Sachio teased even more than he usually would have. "Is there a room for me?" He asked Snow, nearly ready to lay down for the night. It was unfortunate that he was without Lydia, because whenever he drank, he became extremely cuddly. After confirmation of a room, Sachio would head to it with a wave goodbye, and grumble as he walked, mostly complaining about his lack of female company on this night. Sleep came quickly for the man, albeit after a bit of tossing and more complaining about no one to cuddle. He even debated on sneaking into Kaede's room, but facing Snow's wrath was not something he wanted to deal with. Thankfully, Sachio's hangover wasn't as bad as it could have been. A little bit of food and a lot of water would make the day bearable and the light tolerable. Groggy, and quite hungry, Sachio yawned and made his way to the bar, slowly. If there was anyone around, he would give a sheepish wave and yawn more, as he either waited for Snow and the woman, or found them waiting for him, after adjusting to the waking world.
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