Go Ahead And Throw Your Stones

It's a lovely day outside, which means that at the moment at least - even though evening is settling in - that the bar is quite quiet. There is in fact only a few patrons scattered across the room. A small group playing poker, which looks like its been going on for a few hours. A gnome who's polishing off a snifter of brandy and looks like he'll be leaving soon. And a man in black armor at the bar. He's into what is at least his third beer - if the empty tankards at his elbow are any indication - and seems mostly focused on the alcohol in his cup.

This last is a handsome man, and to be honest he'd have blended into the scene entirely except for his purple eyes. Perhaps the symbol of Vardama painted on the chest of his black armor. There just aren't that many warriors of any variation dedicated to the goddess of death.

The door to the Pub opens wide, admitting the small form of a Goblin. Her pack is full to bursting, almost, and her leather armor and shiny breast plate are covered in road dust. she makes her way to a smaller table, one set up for the wee Folk: Gnomes, Goblins and Lucht.

Her pack is dumped into one chair, and then she steps out of her boots, that causing a lengthy sigh. Acedia settles into another chair and sort of melts into the shape of it, another noisy exhale of breath being heard.

Theadosia pushes open the double-doors to the pub with all the wonder of a country girl who is spending her first day in the big city... Because that is who and what she is. She looks impressed with the lack of grime on the walls as she moseys toward the bar, the fabled source of all information, with a chunk chunk of her armor.

She slides up onto the stool with a smile and a nod to the bartender. She asks for a drink with bright eyes and a grin, "Could I get something cheap that will make me regret it? I'm feeling adventurous today." She leans up on the counter with a clink. Perhaps she doesn't know what the drinking age in this city is, or more likely, she didn't bother to check. Maybe she doesn't even know what a drinking age is. Still, she smells of country fields, so it's possible they don't even bother checking 'round her parts.

She shoots a glance around the bar at all the people there, as if to see who all is already looking at her and who isn't. Then she turns her focus back to the bartender. It looks like she's aiming to grill the bartender for information: or at least ask him loud enough that the rest of the pub can hear her ask...

The bartender brings the man at the bar another beer, and then goes around to Acedia, asking if she has any order before returning to the bar to assist the woman there. He pours her out an ale and slides it over. "Blue Moon ale. It's our most popular ale in-house, and has a nice kick." He comments.

Theadosia might well notice that the man at the bar is looking at her, but then that's little surprise given that she's joined him there really. He blinks at her and shakes his head subtly before taking a pull of his own ale and commenting mildly. "Come in from the country?" It's hardly a question.

Theadosia takes a swig of the ale offered to her and she gives a guffaw, "Aw, I told ya to make me regret it, didn't I? Here I am going to have to enjoy this now! Heh. I forgive ya." She drops some coin on the bar, quite a bit more than the drink is worth before saying, "Keep 'em coming?" It's definitely a question. She doesn't seem confident in how bars work in the fancy schmancy city.

She catches a pair of purple eyes in with her sparkly blues, shooting the Aragos a smile as she replies, "Oh, is it that obvious? Heck, I was thinkin' I fit right in or somethin'. 'Pollergeez if I offended. I'm, obv'isly new 'round here. Name's Thea. And to whomst'd've do I owe the pleasure, good sir?" She gives a bow, trying to be all civilized and stuff.

The Goblin's eyes flicker open, and she tilts her head back to look at the bartender from an upside down viewpoint. "I'll get up in a moment and go to the bar. So if you could get me some tea, and I'll be right there. Thanks so much!" Her eyes close and she simply relaxes again, her head hanging over the back of the seat.

There might be some snoring heard.

But after a few minutes, she stretches, and then hops off the chair, and makes her way to the bar, choosing a stool next to Aragos, opposite Theadosia. Acedia sighs as the barkeep slides a mug of tea her way.

Aragos eyes Acedia as she slides into seat and eyes Theadosia for a moment before shrugging. "I know the look I guess." He offers and drinks a long drink. "I'm Aragos, and not offended that you're not from around here. You'll find that most folks aren't actually _from_ Alexandria."

Purple eyes land on Acedia once again and after a moment he takes another drink, mumbling into the rim. "Rude."

Theadosia gives a shrug, as she tosses back her drink, finishing it only to find another waiting for her. She grins as she sets the mug down and picks the next one up with a nod to the bartender, "Ah. Sounds fair. It's one of those places you go to say you're from somewhere else. Gotcha. I mean, my ma's from hereabouts, and I came ta ask about her family. Ya know. Peek at the roots and such. You e'r heard of the Armati family?" Her thick country drawl doesn't sound like it comes from any Noble family, that's for certain.

Acedia blinks and peers at Aragos. "Well hello to you too.", she replies. She grins toothily.

The Gobbo lifts up the little cup to sip at the tea, and then leans forward on the bar, to peer at Theadosia.

"I hope Alexandria has been kind to you so far. You've found just about the best pub, so she's not done you wrong yet."

"It's alright." Aragos counters to the goblin with a gruff growl. "No sake."

This last is said just enough for the bartender to take note and look properly rebuffed for not having the alcohol in stock. The man scurries away to find something to occupy himself with while Aragos grunts and drinks his ale. Clearly an inferior drink in his mind. "Can't say that I've heard of 'em."

He eyes the Theadosia. "What kind of family is it that you're looking for?"

Theadosia gives a shrug to Aragos, then takes another gulp of her drink, "They were 'spose'ta be a pretty up an' up Merchant family when ma left. Don't know about now. That was like, twenny years 'go, prolly more. Might not even be 'round these parts, y'know?"

Thea notes the presence of the goblin and gives a grin and a wave, "Well, hello there to you too!" The look in her eyes when she examines Acedia is akin to what one might see on a human looking at a cute puppy, "I reckon maybe this is a good pub, though they don't know how to right an' proper disappoint someone when they ask fer it. Probably for the best, I suppose. Good memory so far. Heh."

Acedia cants her head sideways to look at Aragos. "You're not going to buy me sake? Or you're saying I cannot have some even if I buy it myself?" She eyes the tea a moment, and sips daintily at it. "Or are you saying I shouldn't be drinking tea?" She snorts at him, and sticks out her tongue at him, giggling afterwards.

The Goblin stares at Theadosia, blinking. "Why would you ask a pub to disappoint you? Wait... if you ask them to disappoint you.. and they don't... haven't they succeeded?" Another snort, and she offers up yet another toothy grin, before she sluuuurps heavily at her tea, finishing it off.

Aragos stares at Acedia a moment then shakes his head. "They don't _have_ sake. So even if you want it they don't have it. Mores the pity." He grunts and shrugs at Thea. "Wouldn't know your family; sorry."

After a moment he eyes the blade on her hip, the edge of the axe that he can barely see now but had caught sight of earlier. Acedia gets a similar once-over for weapons; noting the longsword on her belt, and Aragos silently shakes his head, mumbling something into his cup.

Theadosia she takes another swig of the beer. The first one she tossed back. The second one, well, she's going a little slower. First one was probably to get her in the mood for socializing. She gives a shrug, "Ehn. It's a thing that I am here for: not THEE thing I am here for, ya know? It would be nice to have a starting spot, but I don't really NEED a starting spot. There a merchants guild 'round here? 'r a crafters guild? 'r an Adventurer's guild either? Don't know my way round town. 's like the back of my head, ya know?"

To answer the gobbo, she gives a big grin and winks, "Well, if they disappoint me in disappointing me, I bet ya it wraps right back around to bee'n successful." She gives Acedia a tap on the shoulder with a gauntleted hand. "Y'r pretty smart, ya know that?"

"Oh, well, you could perhaps request that they should have it in? Maybe if they get enough people asking for it, they'll see that there is a demand, and then they'll do something about it." The Gobbo runs a hand through her hair. "Heck, if you brought some it, you could ask if they'll sell on consignment."

She blinks and leans in a little closer. "Pardon? I missed that, I'm sorry."

Acedia blinks at the compliment, and she grins broadly. "Aww. Someone's finally noticed!" She giggles and nods, "Thank you kindly, though honestly, I'm just quick on the uptake, you know? My eyes see everything, and I just ... process stuff quickly. Cunning, I would say, not strictly smarts."

Aragos thinks about it for a moment - consigning some alcohol so that he could have some when he wanted it. "Not a half bad idea if I had the money." Which he largely doesn't. But that doesn't make it less a good idea. He waits for Acedia to comment on her complement before responding to Thea. "As for a guild - there's a few around these parts. An Adventurers Guild if you're looking to make a little money and don't mind risking your life for gold."

A flash of teeth here. "I've done it a few times and survived. It's not too bad. But it's not the sort of thing that a woman should be doing."

Theadosia guffaws at Aragos and his opinion on ladies, "Well, toot my horn, look at this fella thinkin' I'm a right an' proper lady with frilly dresses and junk!" She leans her back against the bar with her legs spread, letting out a belch, "I 'prishiate ya looking out fer the little ladies of the world 'cuz those delicate flowers need pr'tectin' and all, but I've been learning the sword from my Da since I was knee high to a grass hopper, and," She leans forward, tapping her shield, which has a worn but still vibrant symbol on it: a white-cored red flame on a blue background. "Da's been around, rest his soul. I reckon it's my time, ya know?"

She looks over to Acedia with a raised eyebrow, "I bet you don't get near enough credit as you dee-zerve, shorty. You got spunk. You got a head on yer shoulders. You keep doin' yer thing, and you don't need no jessification from no one. Ya hear?" She gives a firm nod to Acedia before finishing her drink and starting another.

Ace's expression brightens, and the smile she gives is as toothless as she can manage. "Well, if it's just money, I could arrange something. I wouldn't call myself fabulously wealthy, it is not befitting a Paladin after all... But I do have some coin I could put forth to see sake being stocked here." The Goblin offers a wink, "Make this place just that much more civilized, eh?"

The Goblin snorts then, and laughs loudly. "Hooo boy. That is sooooo funny.", she says, the humor slowly draining from her face.

Acedia leaves a few coppers for her tea, pushing the cup towards the barkeep. "See, had he said lady, it'd not be as insulting.", she says to Theadosia. "But he said woman. An argument to be made for a Queen, or princess or noble lady to not be crossing blades. But a woman? Meh." The Goblin nods to Thea, "Aw, been doing my thing forever now, and demons nor evil will stop me." She snorts, "Shorty? Your kneecaps may regret that..." She laughs again, her face a bit fuller of cheer.

Aragos seems less amused by the amusement born of his statement. His eyes flicker to the shield and an odd look crosses his face. "You're fighting for your father? Is he alive to know that his daughter has taken up arms in his name?" He sounds... displeased and he eyes Acedia and shrugs. Undismayed by her displeasure. "I said what I said. And I meant it. I'd say it again if I thought that it'd do any good."

Theadosia gives a shrug, "Y'ever here the phrase, 'Rest his soul,' be'fer? He's dead. Happened about a week ago. In his sleep. Least he waited til the day after mah birthday, eh?" She takes another swig, "Yeah, ya said what you said, an I said what I said. My Da never looked down on me because I was a woman. He never stopped bein' proud of me fer bein' me, neither. An what you have ta say ain't gonna change that my Da was proud of me, or that I am proud ta be me neither. So, yeah. Yer right. It ain't gonna do you any good judgin' me cus I'm doing manstuff when I have boobs and junk."

She sighs, "I understand you got 'pinions, and I ain't tellin' ya to keep 'em to yerself er nothin'. I hear what ya got ta say, and I juss don't agree. And I ain't gonna say yer wastin' yer breath neither, cuz maybe we can reach an understandin' of some sort with us talkin' it out. Who knows. You wanna talk about those reasons o' yers? I'm listenin'. I might not agree, but I'm listenin'."

She shoots a sheepish grin at Acedia, "Sorry bout the shorty thing. Sometimes I say stuff, but I don't mean no harm. Go ahead and give mah knee a good wack. I can take it."

Acedia shrugs at Aragos. "That's okay, it's better if you don't say it again. Because it does the opposite of good."

She blinks at Thea, and shakes her head, "Nah, I can take a ribbing, I get shorty all the time. Short stuff. Short stack. Shorty shorty short short. No promises though, I may just gnaw on your kneecap if I see it unprotected by armor."

From a pouch on her leathers, she pulls a small golden coin, setting it spinning on the bartop. "Ale, keeper, and a round for the rest of the bar, ye?"

"It's sad your dad passed, but hopefully he lived a full life, and watches over ye from above."

Aragos chokes on his drink and shakes his head, muttering to himself again. "You know... I never said it was a life for a _man_ either." He looks at both the women shortly. "But go on then." He doesn't say anything else save to go ahead and wave over another drink. Shunning the one that Acedia pays for.

Theadosia gives Aragos a grin, "Eh. We'll juss have to agree to disagree on that too. Maybe when I have a couple adventures under my belt, I'll think like you, but goin' out, explorin' the world, findin' new things, fightin' off monsters and bad guys an' stuff? That's life right there. That's what I'm goin' fer, an' I'ma git it." She slams her fist on the bar with a hoot as she tosses back not only the drink that Acedia got her, but the one that Aragos didn't touch. "Thanks, short, dark, and pretty. I'ma have ta by you a couple sometime, maybe take you out to dinner. We'll have a good time, yeah?" She shoots the gobbo a flirtatious wink. How many was it that she had?

Acedia snorts then, "Nah, not buying that, Aragos. If you were honest, you'd have said that from the start. Not let it hang there, knowing you'd get a reaction." She leaves the coin spinning, which the barkeep will scoop up a moment later. Hopping down from the stool, she makes her way back to the smaller table, slipping back into her boots and pulling her pack onto her back.

The Goblin is approaching the two once more, and she stops, staring at the taller woman. Her cheeks begin to flush deeply. "Ah uhm, The drinks would be nice uh..." A loud gurgle can be heard then, her stomach daring her to refuse a meal. "Okay. But I'll wait til you've had a mission from the Guild, okay? Don't want to eat you out of your coin purse on the first dinner, right?"

Aragos looks at Acedia, flashing her a bit of a dour look. "I'm nothing if not honest. Always. No matter how little people want me to be." He drinks his beer down and rises to his feet, he doesn't stumble, but it's clear that he's had quite a few drinks at this point. "And I'll tell you both what I'd tell any sane soul. The life of an adventurer leads most to a swift end and I... I for one have seen one too many women die."

He shakes his head and touches it gently. "Gotta piss." He grumbles to himself and heads off toward the back exit. "Drank too much." He says to the bartender as he reaches the door and waves the man off. "I'll be back to drink more when I'm done. Stop mothering me man!"

Theadosia nods a couple of times talking quietly to Aragos's back, even if he can't hear her, "I get yah. Adventurin's what did mah Da in too, even if it took him years ta do it. But... I'll live my life proud a him like he was proud a me."

She sighs and gives her head a shake before hopping up from the bar, leaving what's left of the money she put on the bar there. If there's any left, it'll go on her tab, prolly. She stands up from the bar and turns to Acedia, shooting her another of those embarrassed grins, "Hey, ah, I pologize, but I think I furgot yer name already, if ya gave it to me. If ya tell me again, I promise not to ferit this time. Uh, yeah. I go by Theadosia the Flamewrought. Flamewrought's from my Da fer adventuring and stuff, but you can call me Thea. Ma friends call me that. Only Momma calls me Theadosia, really."

The Goblin watches Aragos head out to return to nature all the alcohol he's drunk. "Aww, now I can’t walk out all haughty and smug! Dammit, a Bard's gotta have a good exit!"

She eyes Theadosia and nods. "My name is Acedia, but you may call me Ace. Many do, mostly because I usually have one up my sleeve." Ace looks around all shifty eyed. "Are you planning on leaving too? You wanna like... just reach down and carry me off, over your shoulder, down the street? That's how salacious rumors start, but there's no such thing as bad pr, I say! I promise I am not all that heavy."

Theadosia lets out good, powerful laugh, "Heck, I'll throw ya on the back a my horse and we can ride off inta the sunset if you wanna, darlin'. Lydia's a peach 'nless ye touch 'er tail. She don't like that none, and she's got a kick to her that'll drop a worg, ya know?" She does as she is requested too, swooping Acedia off her feet and throwing her over an armored shoulder like the gobbo girl was a prize she won, she talks to Acedia's bum like it's her face as she starts heading out the door, "Oh, ah, where do you wan me to drop ya off? I dun really know mah way around the place..."

-End