Goblin's Night Out
Log Info
- Title: Goblin's Night Out
- Emitter: Ashes
- Characters: Ashes, Irshya, Nels, Elyanna, Merek, Aya, Tae
- Place: A03: The TarRaCe
- Time: Monday, September 14, 2020, 5:59 PM
- Summary: Ashlee has invited a few goblins she's adventured with, and also spread some invitations around Goblintown, to a Goblin's Night Out at the TarRaCe, where there will be drinks and food and hopefully goblins. She's waiting for arrivals, and Irshya, one of the proprietors of the TarRaCe, sits with her and they start talking. Nels, Elyanna, Merek arrives oon after, with Aya and Tae appearing later in the evening. Ash entertains everyone by drawing Tarot cards for them, and they are overwhelmingly coming up positive, predicting luck for Nels, success in business for Irshya, and somewhat strangely, motherhood for Elyanna. Ash declines to draw a fortune for Merek, saying his cards always have negeative results. Troll rations and Kobolds are discussed, as well as winter flowers. Then the evening draws to a close.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.
The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.
Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.
To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= At a glance around The TarRaCe -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Irshya 3'0" 35 Lb Goblin Female A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes. Nels 3'7" 42 Lb Goblin Male Tall, for a goblin, and athletic. Close-cut black hair. Elyanna 5'11" 153 Lb Half-Orc Female A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. Tae 6'2" 135 Lb Half-Orc Female Female half-oruch, lean, black hair -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
A table has been reserved. One with a good view of the stage, the kitchen and the door. Invitations have been sent out, and a few were left around Goblintown. They had a picture of Ashlee on them, with 'come have a drink with me', across them and the symbol for the TarRaCe. As a quick glance suggests it's a drink with Death, it's not exactly an inviting invitation. It is her first time though, and anyone that knows her might recognize her.
The ashen Arvec is sitting at the table, with her satchel tucked close to her chair and her hands folded in front of her. In front of them, are a small stack of conical party hats, and a bunch of drink tokens. She's arrived on time, got in her place, now she has to be social. Big inhale, exhale. She stares at the door.
A blue-skinned Gobbo approaches Ashes, and smoothes down her sea-green robes. "Hello Ashlee!", she says cheerfully. "I got one of your invitations. I am glad you've come here to share drinks with others!" Irshya pulls herself up into a human-sized chair, and fidgets a little, attempting to get comfortable. "what is the occasion, if I may ask?"
Nels is here, and not in a dress, much to his relief. That was months ago, but sometimes he still wakes in a cold sweat from becoming a nightmare with smooth, unblemished, pale skin and nice hair. Not that he can really claim a proper gobliny assortment of warts, but he's got one, prominently on his nose. Making his way to the table with Ashlee at it, he waves, calls out, "Hello!" and will attempt to climb up into it. Standing on a human's chair puts him at about the right height to use the table.
Merek was permitted to come by, which means the man takes a bit to put on his dark attire, then the beltcape with that hood up. He notes the people all about and nods to the goblins, while he offers a wave to those he knows, which is most of them.
"Hi" Ash says, stiffening her posture and looking directly at Irshya. She pushes one of the drink tokens towards her. Stares some more, she doesn't smile. She's fidgeting a little also, "Getting to know people a little better."
Hearing Nels' voice, she looks his way, then raises a hand in his direction and continued her explanation, still in monotone, "We adventurered together and survived. So, drinks after, right?"
The news of a new stage and bath house aroused a certain curiosity, but not quite sufficient to warrant a visit. The peculiar invitation is apparantly the crest of the wave, one that washes Elyanna's reticence from the board. Features too soft to be Arvek, but altogether too close to deny decendancy, the cloaked woman carries herself with a certain regimented, almost stately poise. She takes in the decor andd takes in the countenance from a past adventuring partner and proceeds toward Ashes' table. A cordial nod and a greeting of the Goblin dialect with a foreign timbre is afforded the Mourner, and by extension, her companions at table, "Greetings, you're looking well."
Irshya giggles and slides the token back to Ashes. "I am going to pass on the drinks, sadly. But I will enjoy some stew instead, yes?" She looks to Nels, and offers a finger-wiggle wave. "I am Irshya, nice to meet you. There are smaller chairs, and indeed, tables, if you like?" She nods to Merek in return to his.
Glancing back to Ashes, the Gobbo nods. "It is good of you to get to know people better." She grins to Elyanna and waves. "Hello!"
Nels peers at Ash, nods about surviving. "I hope so. Well, if I were undead, you'd certainly be the one to know." He nods about drinks after, calls for beer, himself, saying to Irshya, "Humans use those for babies, so it's kind of awkward for me."
Merek nods a bit then to Irshya, while he smiles, then he finds a place to settle in a little away from folk to order a water to drink from, then he leans back.
Ashlee takes the token from Irshya and slides it Elyanna's way. She inclines her head slightly as she looks her over, "Thanks. This is for a drink. I'm glad you came."
She is secretly jealous of Nels' nose-wart, but this must never be spoken about. If she started on about her personal flaws, Elyanna's might come up and she's so smooth skinned she must be terribly embarassed about it. Nels has the right idea, best to find some other conversational topic, chairs!
Not that she has a lot to say about chairs. "Hello Merek. Have a seat."
Answering Irshya again, "Stew sounds nice, and something for the table? Chips with chili on them?" It sounds as if she's giving an order but she's actually seeking approval.
Elyanna dips her head to the little ones, smiling faintly, perhaps a little uncertainly, it may not be an expression she indulges a lot. The token is accepted with a polite, "THank you." still preferring the goblin tongue, it seems, though the 'glad you came' seems the genuinely, momentarily, surprises her. Her chin dips again, and she shrugs her cloak back over her shoulders before settling in. She's travelling light, tonight; the falchion and buckler are at home. The dining query perks an eyrbrow, but, "As you say." she replies, at last in Trade. She pans her gaze about the table and, "My name is Elyanna, Ashley and I have worked together, before." a momentary pause, and, "It is nice to meet you."
The blue-skinned Gobbo giggles at Nels and shrugs her shoulders. "Here we use them for us shorter folk. I just like the bigger chairs. Gives a bit more personal space, you know?" She looks to Ashes and nods. "You want stew then? And uhhhm. I will see what I can do about chilli and uhm chips?" Irshya bounces down from her chair, pausing in front of Elyanna and offering her hand to shake. "Nice to meet you, too!"
Nels mmmns at the mention of chili, and calls for that also. "I've heard the chili here is good," he notes. Goblin chili often tastes of gunpowder, though whether this is intentional or just a bonus is not clear. He'll wave to those he's not met, and he says, "I'm Nels." He hrms to Irshya, but says, "I'm good with this. Humans can stand at the bar, I can stand here."
Merek offers a smile to Ashlee, while he finds a place to settle in and nods a bit, "Good to see you, and everyone," he offers. Then he takes a sip from the water, his golden eyes looking to folk, taking the time to think about it, "You all doing alright today?" he asks.
"Thanks!" Ash answers Irshya. Ash looks between Nels, Elyanna, Irshya, blinks, then stares. She thinks about her pamphlet, which suggested conversation but didn't go so far as to list good topics.
"I'm mourner Ashlee Ciaradh, I prefer Ash. I've worked with Nels a lot." She's staring at Elyanna as she speaks, whose skin colour is fantastic and rather rare and high-born, "Were you in the military? My Goblin Army Knife isn't nearly as nice as Nels'."
"Yes Merek, I'm ok. Thanks."
Elyanna accepts the little hand gently and gives a shake. She's been coached on this by the finest tutors at the Temple of Althea. Well, the one who would have any substantial contact with her, anyway. "I served in Bludgun until not too long ago." she replies simply. That probably accounts for the accent. She considers the pureblood's face for a time, the artwork emblazoned upon it again. Military service. intimidation or... psychological warfare? Interesting. She considers the others, then and, "I am well enough, thank you."
Nels looks embarassed as Ash talks about his knife. He mumbles, "You probably got a version for humans or something. Sometimes people try and push knock-offs made by gnomes or something, they're nowhere near as good, though they look kinda the same." Talking about a man's knife like that in public is embarassing!
Ash sits straight, breathing regularly, her hands on the table in front of her. Everyone is getting long, steady gazes. She looks composed. Inwardly, she is panicking, this is a lot of conversation already and she's not sure how much she has left. Her choker spins around her neck, it's not clear why.
"I don't think mine is a knock-off." She says, now she's concerned about it and unwilling to bring it out. Instead, she reaches into her satchel and withdraws a wrapped deck of cards. They're in a sheet of rough silk, black, which unfolds into a sort of mat. She shuffles slowly, "I can tell a quick fortune for everyone."
"Ah, interesting," Merek offers then to those that are about the table. He watches, perhaps wishing to participate, though mindful of the fact it's a Goblin night, and will keep to himself while he takes a sip of his water. When someone offers the man food, he nods a bit to them, "Thank you, I don't require food anymore,: he states.
Some yelling can be heard in the kitchen, and it ends abruptly with a loud ringing sound, much like a large gong had just been run. Moments later, Irshya returns, struggling under a rather large tray. She makes it to the table, and carefully slides it before Ashes. There are several bowls of stew, and what looks to be chilli over thinly sliced potatoes fried up a golden brown, a large pitcher of water with ice floating in it, and several empty glasses. As well, several spoons and forks. The Gobbo slowly reclaims her chair, and looks to Ashes. "You only need ask one of the serving girls, they'll bring the table whatever drinks they wish, from what we have." She blinks, her ears perking up slightly. "What are those?", she wonders of the grimfaced Arvek.
Nels nods slowly to Ash, and at least she hasn't brought it out or asked to compare with his. They're generally all different, unless they were made by the same goblin, and even then, 'quality control' is just a collection of syllables to most goblins. He ooohs as food comes out, grabbing a chili and wooden spoon, because the metal ones sometimes dissolve. "Fortune?" he asks Ash. "Sure, hit me!"
The red woman seems rather curious for a moment, but tamps it down. She'll check her knife, later. Instead, the cards draw her eye and she asks, "You soothsay as-?" The gong breaks off her remark for a moment, pulling her interest that way before Irshya returns. She human(?) gets a quick look at dismissing food on a less short-term basis, but the Fortune talk brings her back into previous focus, "This should be interesting."
"Fortune cards," Ash answers Irshya, continuing to shuffle them. She holds them out to Nels, "Think of something, cut the deck, turn over the top card."
She waits as he follows the instructions, then looks at the result. It's the Six of Sticks, "This is the public recognition of success, and achieving your goals. You have conquered chaos. You should be proud. Congratulations."
Ash pours herself a glass of water, then raises it towards Nels. Following, she nods to Elyanna, "I do."
The gong doesn't draw her attention, but Merek's remark does. She looks his way, shuffling the remaining deck. "Tell me you didn't eat a troll ration. Those are terrible."
Merek watches on with curiosity at that reading from the cards, with a look between the folk, nodding a bit in thought.
Irshya's eyes widen at the cards, and stares in silence as Nels draws success on the first go. "Well, congratulations!", she says cheerfully to the other Gobbo. "Your wart's really come in handy, hasn't it?"
Nels hrms at his fortune. Congratulations? He doesn't feel partcularly accomplished, though. "Uh, OK?" He raises his beer, drinks. He nods hesitantly to Irshya, but says, "If my fortune was as good at Ma Rosie's, I'd be a lot richer. And less single." He shrugs.
Ely hmmm's softly, and her eyes drift partly closed as she considers that. She, of course, has questions of her own. She gets derailed by the talk of troll rations, "The seasoning packet is more important than most realize." she remarks to Ashlee in deadpan.
Ash stares at Merek, shuffling the cards. She tears her eyes away and holds the deck out to Elyanna, "Same as Nels, shuffle, cut, turn over a card."
"The girls at Ma Rosie are really beautiful." Ash says, very careful to keep her voice monotone, "Maybe you'll get lucky next time Nels."
Then Elyanna's card is turned over. Ash looks at it, "Oh, that's the Hermit. This indicates you're seeking knowledge that's only found within. It suggests you need solitude, to disconnect from the crowds and ignore voices that threaten to overcome you."
She hands the deck over to Irshya, "You should shuffle these and think of things."
"Ma Rosie is old, though. Hopefully your fortune will arrive in time for you to fully enjoy it, yes?", Irshya says to Nels with a grin. She eyes Elyanna's card curiously and then blinks when the cards come her way. She first takes a bowl of stew, and a wooden spoon. Setting these aside, she takes up the cards and shuffles them carefully. Almost reverently. Looking away, she draws the top one over, putting it on the deck and sliding the cards to Ashes.
The Gobbo digs into her stew while awaiting judgement.
Nels nods thoughtfully to Ash, and says, "Yeah, particularly if I'm this lucky at cards over there. Girls like a big winner." He says to Irshya, "Ma Rosie's older, yeah, but a lot of her girls are around my age." He eats his chili thoughtfully.
Merek watches on, while he blinks at Ashlee's look, then he glances back to the folk that are about the table. He does take a drink of that water while he offers a wave to Irshya, and looks back to the table in thought. He plays along with the goblin army knife he keeps with him.
Nels finishes his chili and says, "But since you say so, I think I will try my luck." He hops off the chair and heads out.
Ash watches intently as the card is turned over. "The Two of Pendants. Rapid change has become normal for you. You're resilient and able to navigate rough and troubled waters. You are carefree among the chaos. It's a really good card."
"Thanks for coming Nels. Good luck at Ma Rosie's." The ashen Arvec says, waving as the gun-gobber heads out.
She takes a bowl of stew closer, taking a spoonful. As she swallows one, she stares at Merek again, before looking towards Elyanna. "I hope yours makes sense.
Irshya is eating her stew as if the world were about to end, or someone was attempting to take it away from her. She pauses in her ingestion to listen to Ashes' telling of her fortune, and she nods slowly. "That seems like it fits me. How does it do that?"
"They respond to the magic in the world. They give hints, mostly." Ashlee explains, watching Irhsya eat. The arvek maintains her slow and steady pace, she takes one spoonful to perhaps eight of the blue goblin's.
She continues to shuffle the deck, staring at Merek now. She doesn't make a move to hand the cards to him, instead, shuffing further. The three drawn cards remain on the table. Ash stares at Merek's goblin knife.
"Troll Rations are almost a war crime. It's a ration made from a troll. It is sized for the soldier's body weight. It regenerates as you digest it. Too small it disolves eventually. Too large, the soldier gets fat then the ration explodes out of their belly, and a troll regenerates. If the soldier dies, a troll regenerates out of the corpse a while later. I heard rumours they were used with beserker troops."
"I can't believe you ate one, Merek." Ash says, in monotone, then she looks at Elyanna, "How do the spice packets help?"
Elyanna bows her head, "Be well." She offers to the departing goblin in the Father tongue, then, as Ashes wonders of her fortune, she replies, "In part." she says softly. She reaches out to carefully acquire the sustenance du jour, "I thought you meant the flavor." She could be trying to make a joke.
"Ah, I wouldn't remember all of that," Merek admits, "I think I might've kept with mine," the man mentions. The knife he keeps was black with golden tones upon it, then he places that away. A nod offered a bit as well, "I don't need to eat anymore in any case. I don't require any sustenance like that."
Irshya doesn't do a whole lot of chewing while she eats, mostly swallowing. A few of the bigger portions are kind of chewed, but go down almost as quickly. She makes a face upon hearing the description of the troll ration. "Ewh. They eat bits of troll? That is horrid. Not to mention, there is some question over whether they are sentient." Her stew seems slightly less palatable, judging from her look. However, she does still upend the bowl and quickly gulps down the rest of the stew.
"That's why it's a almost a war crime." Ashlee says, nodding. In contrast she chews her spoonfuls a lot. It seems like she's counting each one, getting to a certain total, then swallowing. She's quite consistent in how she does it. Slowly, her stew is going down. Once in a while she interrupts to take a chili-chip.
Instead of handing the deck to Merek, she wipes her hands and shuffles then cuts for herself. She flips over a card. "The King of Swords, a representation of truth and authority that cuts through deception and rules with stern calm."
The ashen Arvec stares at the card a little while longer, she adds, "An incorruptible pillar of strength, with a spiritual understanding. Sometimes I think the cards are teasing me."
"Trolls can reason... within their limits." Elyanna replies, daintily partaking of her stew, "It seems to mean less coming from certain breeds." A vague disquiet touches her tone, "Kobolds are considered vermin here, I understand." A frown, "Imagine my disappointment."
Merek makes a face at the comment by Elyanna, "Kobolds are nice," he mentions, then he nods a bit, looking to Ashlee while she works on the cards, "Ah, interesting, I wonder what mine might be," he then admits, looking to people along the table with a little nod, "People are like that a lot of places."
The Gobbo snags a bowl of chilli and chips, and pulls it close, eyes Ashes. "It's going to go cold if you take so long to eat it. And while I am not saying trolls are good beings, they are usually not, I don't think we should stoop so lot as to eat them... especially in that fashion." She looks to Elyanna then, and shakes her head. "Some might consider them vermin, but many do not. Kobolds might not get... as good a welcome as others, though." Irshya shrugs her shoulders and digs into her chilli.
Inside the TarRaCe, amongst the regular patrons is a table of goblins and hobgoblins, with the goblins having tall chairs. On the table are bowls of stews, a few alcoholic drinks and enough water glasses for everyone. Spread out on a black matt, are some fortune cards. Nearby, the human seer Merek sits at another table.
Ashlee stares at Merek. She's holding the deck in her hands, she still refrains from offering it his way. "They're bad Merek. Yours are always bad. I don't want you to draw."
It might curse the deck, it might curse him. It might make her feel guilty that any misfortune he receives is somehow her fault. She worries, but expresses nothing. Her gaze unblinking.
Ash tears her attention away and gives it to Irshya, "Troll rations are horrible, but desperate nations do desperate things. I haven't met any kobolds. I'm ok with cold food."
Tae enters as quietly as a tall half-oruch can. Which is to say she steps in and makes straight for a table that is out of the way and unoccupied. Not too close to the gathering of goblins and hobgoblins, but near enough to at least hear some of what is being said. She's settles lazily in her seat, reclining somewhat and casting back her hair with her right hand before she makes a few attempts to get a server's attention.
There's a glance turned toward Merek on his assertion, "Nice is a curious appelation." she remarks. A little more stew is consumed, then, "Trolls think nothing of eating anything, weather it thinks or not." There is a little shrug and Elyanna scoops up some chilli on a chip, "I brought a kobol suspect in, the creature was set immediately toward execution as 'vermin', until our group intervened." She misses the entrance of her partner from that mission, but munches on a chip, a distant look in her eye.
When Elyanna mentions that about the kobold, Merek seems to be a bit in thought while he nods, looking to Ashlee, "Well, fair enough." He then offers a wave along to Tae, and tries thinking about anything besides what was being talked about with the kobold, looking to the place, "I think it's great you intervened."
Irshya pauses in her eating as another person shows up, and she offers a wave to Tae. "Hello!" The chilli is rapidly downed after that. Licking her lips, she sets the bowl aside, and looks to Ashes. "Would you do another for me?", she wonders, with a grin.
Tae eavesdrops for now, getting the attention of a server and in hushed tones ordering. She offers Merek a small wave. As the conversation goes on, she sighs softly. She mutters something under her breath about needing a break, but perks up at the delivery of a glass of red wine.
Ashlee nods, shuffling the cards then handing them towards Irshya. She waits for the goblin to shuffle, then cut, and the card is flipped over. Ash blinks, "Queen of the Goblets. You might even say queen of goblins. There is someone near you that is nurturing and understands the emotions of others."
"It's Sabina. The card would mean her." Ash adds, "she also means you, as she is symbolic of land and sea. It means you have good intuition, and are using the resources in the business well."
She waves a hand to Tae as she enters. Oruchs are goblinoids, so Ashes waves an holds a drink token out. "There's space here."
Elyanna is silent on that front. The refreshed Fortune seems to send the red woman deeper into her own head, slowly, absently feeding herself as some detached, autoatic process.
The Gobbo giggles gleefully at the positive sounding card, and nod slowly. "It could be Sabina, or even Ygraine. They are both caring and nurturing people. It is good that we are using our resources well. Hopefully that means the business will do well." She grins at Ashes. "I like this. What is it called again?"
"Tarot," Merek voices to the table as a whole, while he takes a drink of water, looking to Tae and to people with Ashlee. He seems to be content, while he watches while listening.
For a moment, Tae doesn't register that she's being invited. When she does, she considers it for a few seconds. She eventually lifts her glass and rises from her seat, moving to join Ashes. "I see that there is space," she replies drily. "Are you telling fortunes?"
"As he said." Ash answers Irshya, nodding as she names the other two proprietors, "They are good signs." She looks at Tae, bobs her head, "Yes, yes. There is space. I am telling fortunes."
She hands the deck to the half-oruch, "Shuffle and think of what worries you, then cut the deck and turn over a card when you are ready."
It is not the grand opening, but the establishment is still open. It is likewise likely grand, depending on whose opinion was asked. Therefor, Aya can consider herself having not missed any key moment as she now enters the establishment. For those who consume as much by osmosis as ingestion (not that she is in that group), food, drink, and baths in one location are quite convenient.
Tae laughs softly, "Think of what worries me, huh? Right now my top concern is that my steak comes out medium and not charred to a crisp. I swear some people don't leave any cow in it at all!" Whatever is really on her mind, though, she isn't going to so openly announce. Instead, she lazily slips the top card to the bottom, then flips the new top card onto the table.
Irshya nods then to Ashes, and bounces a little in her seat. "Irshya would enjoy to hear more, if Ashes wouldn't mind telling her?" The Gobbo pauses to guzzle down a glass of water in short order. "Does Ashes charge money for this?"
Elyanna looks up to the new voice and regards Tae with something a little more vibrant than the regimented courtesy normally at play on her features, "Hello, Tae. You look well." She considers the others at the table as the population shifts again, and "There are more than one fortune?"
Aya is many things, and curious is upon that list. Talk of fortunes, worries, and charred cow draw her interest. The first perhaps the most, as she relocates herself adjacent to the table at the teller's side. Most personal soothsayers she's encountered spoke less sooth and more bull manure; easy coin collected from the gullible and/or desperate.
Merek seems content to take a drink of water with him, while he watches the people, thinking to himself with a yawn from the man.
"I have a few sets of cards, and there are different ways to use them. I have a Lucht Siuil set, that are edge pictures. Using them, is mostly trusting them, and spiritually listening. Some times are better than others." Ash explains, looking around, "They have been coming up well. This is a good group."
The ashen Arvec watches as Tae turns over her card. It is a woman in silhouette with two swords, surrounded by subtle clouds, "This is the Page of Blades. You are embarking on a new idea and mental adventure. You are eager to share your plans and thoughts."
She takes a sip of water, "You are anxious in relationships and avoid emotional confrontation." Ash touches the card, staring at Tae, perhaps she shouldn't have said that. "You would be better off talking about your plans."
The mul'niessa sitting beside her gets a glance, then Ash answers Irshya, "I could. I don't. I'm not that sort of messenger."
"Well, I would like another turn.", Irshya says softly, eyeing the card Tae gets and looking a little anxious over the results. "I would also like to know how to learn tarot. It seems like an interesting way to start conversations."
Tae laughs softly, "Mmm, a bit of this, a bit of that," she muses. "But honestly, I've so rarely been interested in doing what was best for me." She considers what Ashes says and though the words are serious, finds herself grinning over at Elyanna. "I suppose emotional confrontation isn't my cup of tea. I have enough confrontations as it is. Still.. they say variety is the spice of life, yes?"
Elyanna nods a little at that and, at last, seems to remember her little drink marker, holding it up for a Server to act upon. Tae's inquiry prompts, "One of them." She glances between the numbers about the table, then kind of settles for considering whoever is speaking at a given moment.
Aya arches a brow, also curious of the art of reading. In a manner of speaking. "If I may ask, does the skill lie within interpereting the cards, or the one they would represent?"
Ash hands the deck over to Irshya, motioning for her to shuffle it again, make a cut. She waits for that to happen, looking at Elyanna, then Aya, finally nodding as Tae responds to her telling. "They are a way to think about things. Each one can apply to everyone, some closer than others."
"They are good for conversation." Ash agrees with Irshya. "Whenever it feels right, cut and turn a card over."
"The skill is in interpreting, reading the feeling around them and what they represent." The mourner explains.
Irshya shuffles a bit clumsily, but manages to get the cards sorted. She cuts around the middle, and looks away, turning up the top card.
The card that turns over shows a knight on a white horse, in a calm pose and holding a goblet. "That's the Knight of Goblets. It says you are in touch with your intuition, and charming to others. Faced with a decision, you will follow your heart."
"It also means you are in love with the idea of pleasure." Ash looks over at Tae, "This might have been meant for you. At least the deck has stopped being sarcastic. They were telling me the Blar Airship Warship would be great at community building."
She looks back at Irshya, "He brings an invitation or heralds the arrival of something that will benefit you."
"Mmm, well, who isn't?" muses Tae, laughing softly. She asks Elyanna then, "And what of you? What secrets do these cards draw from the deepest corners of your heart?" The young woman is pleasantly surprised when her food is brought. It is a healthy cut of steak, thick and perfectly cooked. With a deep breath, Tae sighs in gratitude, "My compliments to the chef. And the cow."
Elyanna hmmm's quietly and observes in silence until the Airship revelation prompts a little snort of laughter, then, "It still may, at that." she concedes in a vaguely amused tone. Tae's question prompts a, "I need to think off by myself." before she looks to the card stack and she reaches out for them, but not without a, "May I?"
A stranger enters and waves at Irshya. The blue goblin hops off her chair and immediately heads out with him.
"Of course." Ash hands the stack of cards to Elyanna. She looks over at Merek again, her voice is quiet and still monotone. "If you want, you can Merek, but..."
She's already warned, no need to do so again.
Cards handed over, Ash finishes her soup. It has gotten cold. So have the chili chips. It is fine, it's far better food than she's had in the saddle, or school.
Merek nods a bit, "I will content with what I have already," he mentions, then he takes a moment to look to the waitress, ordering what seems to be a whiskey on ice. The man places a few coins on the table, then waits while he watches people, "You all are doing well?"
Tae snickers a little as the cards are passed on for the next reading. She directs her words to Merek, "Bored a lot, lately. The world keeps testing my patience, as if there's a point to that. What good are the pieces if they don't move when they are supposed to?"
The halfbreed reaches out to carefully take the cards up and begins to shuffle, her eyes faraway at first. Elyanna's at it for a little while, pausing only to request, "Kvass, and a shot of vodka, please?" before she gives it a couple more shuffels, cuts, and presents Ashes with her new card. She glances sidelong to Tae, "It comes down to proper motivation."
Ash lays the card on the ground. It's very suggestive with the sun and the moon showing, a stork flying over and a woman with a very motherly figure who is expecting. She has all symbols, the pendants, goblets, sticks and swords. "It's the Empress. She says you should connect with beauty and bring happiness to your life. It represents motherhood and family, and that you are committed."
She leaves a few details out. She can't really blush with her facial markings, and as a mourner doesn't usually react that much. "It's a good card."
A reluctant glance in Merek's direction, a quiet, "Sorry."
"I get a feeling this is more about fun than future," suggests Tae. She busies herself with the food. This steak isn't for looking, and as perfect as it is, it won't feed itself to her, either. The point being that there's always room for improvement. Regardless, the half-oruch enjoys every bite. That there are a fair bit of roasted vegetables alongside this marvel of culinary devotion isn't lost on her, either. After the first forkful of that, she declares abruptly, "I'll never disparage carrots or potatoes again."
"They are influenced by being held." Ash says, as a sort of explanation. She watches Tae eat, "I usually don't get many vegetables. I'll try some more if they're good here."
Which could be true, the Lucht chefs are masters from what she's been told. Her choker uncoils, turning into a centipede which runs down her arm and then coils up like a bracelet around her wrist. The wrist of the hand she uses for the cards.
Motherhood....
Beauty
Happiness...
What does she know about any of those things, really? Elyanna's expression darkens some at the explaination, more melancholic than wrathful, but it's there, all the same. She squeares the deck for a moment in silence as she composes herself, then nods, "I see."
Merek looks to the whiskey when it is brought to him, then he takes a sip from it. The man nods a bit while he watches people, "Well, I know that, you want me to check the cards, I would rather..." He sighs, speaking to something, then nods a bit.
Tae nods at the mention of the vegetables, "Yes, they are good. Well worth the price. It's a good change from what I had gotten used to. And I don't care at all if that means I'm getting soft. Actually, I need a moment to just.. enjoy this bit of heaven on my own." And she sets to doing just that, slipping off, food, wine, and all, to a more distant table.
"You're drinking too much, Mer-mer. You're always drinking now." Ashlee says quietly, taking what's left of the deck back and shuffling them. There are fewer cards, but they can still come out good and bad. The ashen Arvec keeps shuffling, cutting, shuffing. "Your auguries are much more accurate Merek. Your goddess answers you. These are more toys."
That always seem to come up bad news for the seer.
She holds the deck out to him. "I don't think you should and I don't know what you would rather."
"I don't drink that much, it's my first drink of the night," Merek mentions, nodding a bit to Ashlee, then he seems to consider it, looking to the deck. The man twiddles with that whiskey, then he takes a sip, "I wouldn't want to, it's alright." Then he thinks about it a little bit, "It's pretty nice that you're doing social things for folk."
Ash withdraws the cards, then takes up all the turned over ones in front of the others and puts them back into the deck. She finally wraps it up in the roughspun silk and slips it into her satchel. "My pamphlet said I should do something, and my drill sergent."
She hunches a little as she picks up Elyanna's cards, "Sorry. That one didn't seem right." She avoids looking at her, it was enough to pick up on her body language.
Elyanna continues to mull over greater things inside her own head while the pet names and chidings are laid forth. Rebuttals, elaborations, then...
Apology?
Elyanna looks up toward Ashes after that, blinking once, then, "No." she starts in Goblin, "It doesn't seem... easy." and slides the card to it's owner.
Aya has vanished when no one was watching.
Ashlee nods, staring at Elyanna, ensuring her cards are all carefully tucked away. "If you want to talk about it." She offers. Another glance in Merek's direction. The mourner doesn't have this kind of experience with ghosts. Of course, she may only notice the ghosts that are loud.
"It usually isn't. She suggests you have all the things you need."
"Perhaps.' Elyanna replies. She looks around the other clientelle for a moment, then, "In another place." She accepts her vodka and Kvass as they arrive, tossing back the harder stuff first and hissing in a breath between her interlocking fangs, then chases it with the more raisiny Kvass.
Merek finishes with the drink, then he nods a bit to the two, "It's winter, which means that it will be a little cold, I probably should find a few new flowers."
Seems like it was summer and hot and hazy only a week ago.
Ashlee has a glass of wine. She's had it all night, it's about half empty now. She drinks it very slowly, although it also has a very large bowl. She looks over at Merek, "There are flowers that grow in winter? I thought in autumn bulbs are planted."
The red woman nods, giving a faint, if uncomfortable smile. Another hit of Kvass, and she resumes her work on that bowl of stew. She glances between the two as they discuss horticulture, but, being recent to the region, she remains a passive observer.
"There are flowers for every season," Merek mentions, "I like Fall and Winter," he states. The man takes a drink from the whiskey, "I've mostly kept to research while I work on new alchemist projects. I like the gardens."
"Ok," Ashlee says. She adjusts how her satchel rests against her chair. She's finished her stew, and enough of the chili-chips that she can resist picking at the cold remainders. She still has her glass of wine. She takes another sip, a small sip. She watches over the rim, and ends up staring at Elyanna, focusing on the shape of her head and the line of her jaw. Plus how red her skin is.
She's been put together ok enough. Elyanna takes a few moments to relize Ashlee is staring at her in the wake of Merek's remarks. When she does, she seems briefly taken aback, perhaps something about the Arvek's tendency to hard stare in their past combats. A blink, then, "Yes?"
Merek nods a bit to the two when it looks like the conversation would be moving, then he sips from that drink with him while he finishes the whiskey.
Ash had been curious about Elyanna's skin tone, so flawless, she wondered if she had any warts. Which got her thinking about Nels' lucky wart, and then her mind kind of drifted off. Not out of body, but definitely the back shelves of the library, and far enough away she forgot what she was aimed at.
"I was thinking," the ashen Arvec says, adding, "why was everyone talking about kobolds? Are they 'nice' or are they 'vermin'?"
She's heard that word thrown around for a few species, depending on the local, and sometimes even within if the location and politics were right.
Elyanna's surface topography is up for later scrutiny, perhaps one day. The red woman sighs a moment and takes a harder swig of her Kvass, "I'm having trouble with this, myself..." she confesses in her Bludgunni accented goblin-talk, "It started with the greated value of trolls, I conpared them to how kobolds are regarded, here."
"There were Adventurers going after nests, a Sith'Makar adopted a kobold whose parents were killed," Merek offers to the conversation. Then he begins listening to that whole conversation.
Ashlee nods, to both pieces of information, then nods to Elyanna, "Not well then?"
There is a low rumble in her throat and, "I once intercepted a slaver in Sith lands as part of an adventuring mission." Elyanna then turns back to Ashes, and, "We managed to catch one that was part of a group trying to scare tolls out of people. He was going to be sent to the block, without trial, as 'vermin'." Then, in Goblin, "This placce was supposed to be... " ending in a despondent, "better..."
Merek looks between the people, and lifts up his shoulders, "No place is really better, when I came here it was like it always was, people being well, themselves, generally."
Ashlee nods, following along, the details easy enough to imagine. She blinks, "Was Mourner Locien involved? He came back badly injured." She waves a hand, "I didn't mean to interrupt. It seemed better to me."
Of course, she lives inside a funeral home, so her view is skewed. Ash glances over at Merek, then back at Elyanna.
"We drove the kobolds.... away. For now." Elyanna replies with a frown, "Locien was amongst the injured, yes." A shrug, "We have not encountered each other, since. I presume he recovered?"
Tae's steak is finished. Her meal is finished. Her wine, well, she has a full glass in her hand, but she's certainly had many visits to refill it by this point. She's at that stage where the corners are comfortably filled in and the world has just enough warmth and buzzing in it not to annoy her. She settles back in her seat and smirks crookedly, "Cards all done for now?" she asks curiously. Her posture takes on a lazy grace as she leans back in her chair and casts her right arm behind the back of it while the left cradles her wine.
Merek looks thoughtful about the conversation, nodding to people.
"He's... still living." Ash answers obliquely. She's unsure and hasn't seen him in a while. Also mourners have a tendancy to wander off, sometimes for weeks, and it's not discussed when they finally show up dead or alive, or somewhere in between. Ash takes another sip of her wine, and nods to Tae, "I put them away. They were getting intense."
She attempts to mimic Tae's posture. No, back won't do that. Not built for that. She returns to sitting rigidly. It was only a few minutes of looking skewered on her seat.
Elyanna gives a little nods, then, "I see. That is something, at least." She gives a little sigh, then looks to Tae, "It would seem so." She scoops up a little chilli on a chip and crunches on that.
"Intense? Wouldn't you know it, I missed the good part! Still, isn't that the whole point of the thing? To face all the dark little things that are going on in our heads seems like a worthy activity. And now that I've enjoyed the finest this place has to offer, I feel... emotionally prepared." Tae laughs suddenly, shaking her head. "You know, a bit... inebriated, I think is the proper word?"
"Yes." Ash says, looking at her wine glass. There's a quarter left. She makes an effort and drains it all down. Completely finished. She stares at Tae, "You are properly inebriated. Do you need help getting home?"
"I think it's time." Ash suggests, having made it through the marathon attempt to be social. This should be good enough for the month, perhaps the year. Her shelf in the catacombs is sounding very attractive right now.
"I'll pay, then we can go. Thank you for coming out." She relays in monotone, standing up and adjusting the shoulder strap of her satchel. Some more coins are left, and she waves at a circulating Irshya.
"Come on Merek, you too. Life needs to live."
Tae tilts her head at Ash, "Home? Hmmmm.. that's a good one. Perhaps your cards have something to them after all." She makes no move to depart just yet, though. "You can all go on ahead. I will find my way somewhere warm tonight, the Gods willing." She snickers at her comment, "As if they care.. but should Eluna deign to come on down here to escort me to a comfortable place, I assure you I will let everyone know." She looks at her wine glass, "I don't think I'll start seeing her for at least another bottle, though."
