[Flashback] Scary lady is scary! (Tessa)

[Bob Barton]

OOCSorry if its not too good. Rushed through it so that you will have something to reply to while I am on holidays

A sigh escaped, reacting to the scene in front of him. Was he really that intimidating to Tessa to get reactions like this. It wasn't even him who attacked her the day before to make her so scared about him today. Maybe he accidentally engineered the attack but she didn't know that right? If that was the case she should not be scared of Bob that much.

His eyes jumped from the messed up cloth and back to Tessa when she was done. The only time he had seen someone this much in terror was at the gambling table, especially when they have a lot at stake. Tessa was just like them. The more scared they were the more they drank to get their mind off it. Why is this happening? Bob did not even use hypnotism yet. Not that he planned to on a night like this.

Bob raised his hand and called for some water for Tessa. Then he passed over his napkin with a smile "Looks like you could use a new one. Don't worry, I haven't touched it yet." This awkward dinner looked unsalvageable but like Tessa thought this was costing quite a bit of mizas. If thats the idea might was well he made the best of it. He still owed a debt from the night before anyhow and intended to pay it off.

Sighing, he leaned back on his chair with his eyes to the ceiling. What to do...what to do... Finally he looked back at her. "Yeah they normally do. If you think that is bad, you haven't experienced the same things I have then." A chuckle escaped Bob as he said that, recalling even more embarrassing moments which he hopes will never be written in the books once he became super duper famous. Taking up a knife and holding it upright with his finger, Bob started to spin it in place. A little bored gesture and an entertaining one too.

"You know we have quite a nice dinner here. So we should enjoy it. Why don't we talk about our funny experiences? Me first. The last time I was in Syliras, I was chased by a crazy religious Akalak down an alley. We ended up having a fruit fight and when I lost, he dunked me in a tank and started preaching about some Priskil. Had anything like that?" Well Bob actually had a lot of stories to tell. But since he was in Syliras he might as well tell something close to it. Whatever happened to that squire anyway? He probably should look him up soon. Or maybe not. That one was really obsessed with training the body, and Priskil.

[Tessa Poe]

Tessa found her eyes drawn to the knife dancing across his finger tip, something that was easy for him apparently. It was quite some skill to have, that much control over a spinning blade, it seemed there was more to Bob than met the eye and that piqued her curiosity. The nerves were still there, fluttering away like so many butterflies, but now she had something to distract herself with. She smiled gratefully at first Bob for his offer of another napkin and then at the serving girl as she brought the water Bob had called for. It'd help ease her throat if nothing else. She took a careful couple of sips, not wanting a repeat of her most recent embarrassment as she listened to him. She was rather glad that she hadn't taken another glug as a fit of giggles overtook her as he came to the end of his story, doing wonders for easing the tension she felt. It was strange how just a little laughter always seemed to lighten the mood, to relax her. "I've never been in a fruit fight with a Akalak," she started in, smiling as she tried to picture the scene, "I met some though, back when I first left the caravan, they were a little creepy... but they were all pretty nice to me. I met this girl there, Fela her name was, and she... well she was sort of strange too, I tried to shake hands to introduce myself and she bit me!" Her smile softened at the memory, she'd no idea what she'd have done that night if it weren't for Fela and the kindness she’d shown her. Well that wasn't quite true, she knew exactly what she'd have done, it just wouldn't have been very comfortable.

Her mind wandered off for a couple of moments, trying to picture Fela and wherever she was with Salida. She hoped the two of them were still together, they’d been so close to one another… she’d been just a little jealous of the pair of them, of how happy they'd seemed with each other. It wasn’t something she’d ever really had since she’d left the caravan. With those vague thoughts in mind she looked over at Bob, he seemed nice enough, didn’t he? He’d been patient enough to hang around at least, though she had no idea why. He was treating her to a meal after she’d apparently made a scene the night before and honestly seemed like he just wanted to get to know her. There’d not been a hint of, well, ‘come ons’ was probably the phrase for it. Or if there had been she’d missed them, which was actually more likely. She’d never been all that good at realising when people were flirting with her… the whole thing just made her uncomfortable and it always turned into such a mess. She really hoped Bob wouldn’t turn out like some of the others who’d done something like this and spend the entire evening praising her, that would just turn into a disaster. "So errrmmm... do you do that often? Get into fights with Akalaks and then get preached at by them?" She grinned as she looked over at him, the nervous tension sort of going away for the moment. It was just like he said, they had a nice meal coming, some very nice wine, at least when it wasn’t dribbling down your nose, and hopefully some pleasant company too. Might as well try and enjoy it at least.

[Bob Barton]

Bob listened attentively to Tessa's story. It was as funny as his. He nearly chocked on the contents of his own glass while he tried to hold in his own laughter. Very bad timing to get a drink on his part. But at least all this was good. They were now able to have a normal night and Tessa had stopped all the worrying and jittering of hers. Perhaps now would be a good time for Bob to make his move? He still did not know how open Tessa would be. Maybe some subtle ones might work just to get a feel of her.

"You should try it one day. But just make sure that the Akalak does not have any armor or weapons on him. They play a little dirty but will start talking about how good they are in the end." Hopefully now Tessa would be off guard enough for Bob to try his luck. "I haven't gotten bit by a girl before. Is it something I should try?" Bob's eyes was twinkling as he looked at Tessa when he said that. He probably had some ideas of his own.

Curses where was the food. He could use the distraction now. He looked back and forth in White Swan. For one he could recognize as the serving girl which had brought the water. When he did find her it only took one look and she waved to tell him that the food was coming. Time to keep this up until then.

A little chuckle marked the start of something snarky. "That? That would be a rare experience that I'd like to avoid. Fighting with Akalaks or non akalaks. Getting preached by them too. It would probably be the same for you getting bitten by girls." Bob grinned a little. He has been talking a lot. Tessa should be getting the limelight for a bit. "So tell me, have you met anyone else interesting? Present company excluded of course. I already know how interesting I can be." If she hadn't run off by now of course she is interested a little by Bob. Or at least that was what he wanted to think.

[Tessa Poe]

She really had no idea what to make of Bob. She'd been trying to work it out in between the choking fits and confusion over what had happened last night and she was no closer to an answer. He was funny, that much she'd managed to work out, seemed like he was really trying to make her feel comfortable too... with that in mind it didn't really matter if he was maybe a little full of himself. She risked a sip of her wine, the slightly strange flavour of the tanin coating her tongue pleasantly as she smiled over the table at Bob, his little dig about getting bitten by girls going quite over her head. "It's not something I'd like to do again, getting bit I mean, she had really sharp teeth. I think she'd have drawn blood if she'd wanted to." She grinned again, her eyes finding his and catching the little twinkle that sparked there. It was nice that she was finally starting to relax again and it seemed she'd made the right decision in coming down for this meal after all.

Her lips parted to answer his question when the serving girl returned with a plate balanced on each palm and the smell coming from them... Tessa quickly wiped her hand across her mouth to make sure she wasn't drooling while trying to disguise it as fussing with her hair. Since she'd been pretty much unconcious for most of the day she'd obviously not been able to eat, and the arrival of the food had reminded her just how hungry she was. She'd have to be careful, to make sure she didn't just wolf the lot down in a couple of chimes and leave Bob thinking she was some sort of savage. She didn't often eat at the Swan, the mizas it cost tended to put her off, but she knew what was in store for the pair of them from the couple of times she had tried it. Ten courses, and this was only the first. Maybe it was a good thing she'd not eaten today after all. It did mean her earlier thoughts on just getting through the meal as quickly as possible were a little foolish though.

The first course seemed to be some kind of shellfish, baked in their shells by the look of them. At least they'd cracked them open in the kitchen, on tonight of all nights she didn't trust herself to be able to do that without making something of a mess around herself. "I hope you're hungry Bob, we've got nine more courses after this you know." She grinned as she scooped one of the little things out of its shell and popped it into her mouth, her tongue delighting in the briney taste mixed with a hint of garlic. Maybe she could get a job in the kitchens here and learn how to cook properly? Or at least get a few tips. "Gods that's good! I'm famished you know, oh wait you asked me a question didn't you? If I'd met anyone interesting? Well there've been a few, there was this bandit when I first got back to Syliras, he was... strange really, didn't try and rob me or anything. Never did get to the bottom of his story, doubt I ever will now either." She paused to pop another of the shellfish into her mouth, letting it sit on her tongue and relishing its flavours before chewing slowly. She was going to enjoy every last second of this meal and its wonderful flavours. "There've been other people too, some of the Drykas I met were really nice too, they're a lot of fun you know, even if they kept trying to get me to learn to ride." Tessa's nerves were still there somewhere, but she was burying them in food and conversation, her voice bright and cheery as she went along. She really had made the right decision in coming down to dinner with Bob.

[Bob Barton]

See? Bob was right. As funny as memories like these were, no one would want to go through those again. Especially when the joke was on them. The hint was completely lost on Tessa it seems as she continued on about the girl. She was described interestingly enough but she was not here. No, the one here was Tessa. Maybe a little more direct? Bob looked at the shellfish and then back at Tessa. Actually, better not. There will be other chances and going to fast might scare the woman off.

Tessa must still be choking over the wine from earlier because she started to wipe her mouth again. "Do you need anymore water? I can call for it." The perfect gentleman, or at least Bob tried to act it. Calling for the water if she wanted it. Then like Tessa, Bob started looking at the shellfish. Not for the same reasons though, it was just that things like this normally don't agree with him. He might enjoy them but the gas later is bad. Especially in the presence of women. He needed some way to get rid of them.

There actually was a way to do this. And get Tessa to feel special too. Kind of. She looks like she is really looking forward to the meal. Bob took three and scooped out their contents on his plate. Eating only one first. Slowly now...he wouldn't want to let out anything he did not want to. Then the realization. "Nine more?" Thats a lot of these type of dishes. No wonder this meal was so expensive.

Bob started stacking the shells. One, two and three on top of the one before on the table. There, perfect. Time to sell the idea slowly. "A bandit who does not rob? How does he live?" A hard concept to swallow. Like the shellfish. But the Drykas provided another good opportunity. "I am sure they wanted to get you to learn how to ride. Maybe one day I can ride with you. I never tried that before yet." another strange suggestion to anyone but Bob. And so vague that people will take the innocent interpretation first.

"The shellfish tastes good huh? I am sure you want more, like me. How about this." Bob stretched his palm out to the small stack he already made to show to Tessa. "A game if you will. Whoever can stack up the most before falling wins. It may look easy but I am sure eventually the curved surfaces will be annoying. Loser gives up half of theirs?" This was a game, but one he was looking forward to lose. Only because he can dump half of the tasty but deadly meat on Tessa's plate right under her nose. "Ladies first!" he invited or Bob would not know how high he should be stacking it to make it look real.

[Tessa Poe]

The serving girl appeared promptly to refill her water glass and Tessa murmured a thank you, she hadn't actually needed a top up just yet but it was better to have a full glass then an empty one. She grinned as she thought back to her Da's awkward words about alcohol, about how you should always have your drinks with something like fruit juice or water so you didn't end up in a complete state. It’d been good advice too, or at least as far as she could tell it was. Barring last night she'd never had one of those nights where you drank so much you ended up with holes in your memory... but she'd not had a thing to drink anyway had she? She sighed quiet shrugged to herself, knowing she'd keep coming back round to these thoughts like they were a bad tooth she just had to probe with her tongue. Something like that anyway, now what had he asked her again? Oh yes… about Luke.

"I think he robbed other people and so on, just didn't want to rob me for some reason... he did say I was pretty though, it might just've been that." She shrugged and got ready to crack open her third oyster when he suggested going for a ride, and she couldn't help but laugh a little at that. "Oh no, I never learned, way I see it if I can't make it somewhere on my own two feet then I'm obviously not supposed to get there. I mean what’s the point of making your journey faster when the journey’s the fun part of going anywhere?" She grinned and again looked down, fingers grasping the gap, ready to pull the shell a little further apart so she could get to the lovely garlicy morsel inside when Bob proposed his little game. She flashed him a grin and nodded, glancing down at his little tower to check what she had to beat at least. Just the three, that shouldn’t be so hard, curved shells or not.

She shifted her two still full shells to the centre of her plate, hoping the harder surface would work to hold the little tower she was going to build more securely, well that and she didn’t want to cover the lovely crimson table cloth in garlic and butter. She knew what a pig they were to get clean when someone did that to them. It was a good thing she’d hesitated about opening a third one, else she’d not have had the stake to match what Bob had proposed. She lifted the first shell onto the second, turning it so it sat across the top of it and hoping again that its position would give the whole thing a little more stability. Maybe she should have wiped them off with her napkin first? All that grease from the butter probably wasn’t going to help this work after all. Still, too late now she had the first two up, if she took one off Bob could claim she’d only manage two and win straight away, and she was far too hungry to let him do that.

She followed the same pattern as she carefully placed her two empty shells on top of those, wincing a little as the structure wobbled slightly before coming to a rest. She’d beaten his three at least, that was a good sign. She glanced over at Bob, holding her hand open with her eyes locked onto her tower, willing it to stay standing as she felt him drop one of his into her open palm. You could say she was taking this little challenge of his a little too seriously. The tip of her tongue slipped out of the corner of her lip as she gently laid the fifth oyster on top of the rest, holding it between her fingers and slackening her grip just a little to see if they’d stay standing. She didn’t even breath as she took her hand away, afraid a stray breathe would knock over the little quivering tower. But it held, she’d managed five, though six would probably be stretching it. She stuck her hand out again, still not looking away from her tower as she felt him drop the sixth one into her palm. If she could make it to six… there’s no way he could match six. She laid the last shell onto the tower and almost as soon as she pulled her hand away the whole thing came tumbling down with a clatter of shell against plate. “Looks like five is all I can manage, think you can beat that?” She was grinning as she looked up again, surprised by just how much fun a silly little game like this was. If Bob was going to be this entertaining for the whole meal the time would end up just flying by.

[Bob Barton]

Bob shrugged when Tessa explained about the bandit. "Pretty? Yeah I can tell why someone would not want to rob you because of that." Bob thought to himself as he took another look at Tessa. Not that it stopped Bob the night before. Then again he did not expect that to go on so badly. Still it was still a little sad she did not take up Bob's invitation on the ride. It was one of those rare chances he would take advantage of his lack of knowledge. Bob started grinning to himself. Imagining how horrible he would be at riding a horse and Tessa being forced to help him and show him how properly. Well, there would be other chances for that.

"But the faster you get there, the faster you get to do things." Not to mention you get to avoid all the dangers of the journey. Bob started working on his own stack. The one he had to lose at. Unlike Tessa, Bob was not a person who would take an interest about other people's troubles especially when he had no hint of it. So naturally he took the first shell and put it on top of the tablecloth. The plate was reserved for the food which is actually going to be eaten by him.

To make things realistic, Bob had to actually make it look like he wanted to win. And even if he was looking to lose in the end, the knowledge that he could have won if he wanted to do will make him a real happy man. So he will get as close to Tessa's score as possible before throwing the game. Bob got to thinking. From that little trial run he sneaked in earlier and from how Tessa's stack had fallen he knows that this was not going to be easy...

Instead of putting the second shell on the top, Bob put it beside the first. The only reason that he dared to try something like this was because he had nothing to lose, he already wanted to lose. The curvy parts was the problem he had the first time. So to reduce its effect would make things a lot easier he thought. Bob took the third shell. Time to see if this works. Curvy parts looked like they would fit curvy parts. The gap between the two shells would, he hoped fit the incline of the third and Bob put the third shell. Happy when it did not fall off with a perfect fit.

Bob started to get to work with the fourth one. Putting it on the table to make the first between the fourth and the second shelll. "I just said we had to stack the shells right? I didn't mention how." Bob reminded Tessa. Just in case she tried to voice out against his stack. It didn't matter to him, she was going to win in the end. When Bob took his fifth shell to put on the top of the first and fourth only he realized. Will this count as him having five shells already or two levels? Putting on vague rules was troublesome. It has so many ways to work that Bob might sometimes not get the result he wanted. Curses. He had to lose right now, never knowing if he could have stacked five levels or not.

When the fifth shell touched the others, Bob pressed down on it hard. Pushing on the other shells until they moved away and brought the unfinished structure toppling down. "Opps, that didn't work out well now did it?" trying to hide his satisfaction and turning over to Tessa her prize. "I guess you earned this then." Bob said waiting for the second dish which would come after Tessa was done eating.

Yay shrimps! Bob's favorite. No way was he giving his to anyone else so he won't be making any stupid fool games with it. Bob started eating, munching away to satisfy his hunger. In between shrimps he tried to satisfy another hunger. To get to know this lady before him better. "So, Syliras and Endrykas. Have you been anywhere else? Anymore interesting experiences? Hard to think that a person would go to Endrykas when they do not fancy horses." Bob asked with a chuckle. What he did know so far is that this woman had strange friends, traveled quite a bit and does not like horses from this night alone. Not too bad if he had anything to say about it.

[Tessa Poe]

Tessa sat a little straighter in her chair at Bob's slightly strange compliment coupled with a rather large grin. Was he... but wasn't the meal just supposed to be friendly? That’s what he’d said when he’d woken her up, but maybe he had other things in mind. A faint flush started creeping over her cheeks as she went back to trying to figure out exactly what he wanted from her, again coming to the conclusion that if he wanted to follow her up to bed tonight he was going to be disappointed. That was assuming quite a lot though, he might just have been being nice for all she knew. People were always so complicated, never making much sense, unless they were gambling. Then it was all there to see, or at least to make educated guesses about. Everyone was after the same thing, the stack of mizas in the pot, and once you knew that it was just a matter of watching them carefully enough to recognise their little habits and tics and matching them to what they did to get said stack of mizas. This… situation, for want of a better word, was impossible though. Maybe he was on the level and all he wanted was a meal, maybe he wanted to bed her, maybe he was out to con her, maybe he was some kind of maniac and this was just the first step in his little game… alright so the last one wasn’t particularly likely but still… what exactly was she supposed to do? For moment though there was nothing to do, and besides it seemed Bob was trying to pull a fast one on her. At first she simply stared as Bob stacked his shells into a little pyramid, not sure whether to laugh or be annoyed. It was true they hadn't agreed just how the shells should be stacked, but there was the spirit and the letter of the game, and Bob was certainly sticking to the latter rather than the former. Though come to think of it, they hadn't specified how the bet was to be settled, was it by height or number? Bob was clearly trying for number, but she could argue just as well that it was height, couldn't she? She smiled slyly at realisation, it seemed Bob wasn't quite as clever as he thought he was now didn't it? At the very least she could probably get the whole bet voided, she’d not get any extra but she’d not lose anything either. It’d be enough, it’d have to be. So she settled back and took another sip of her wine, running the tip of her tongue along her teeth to taste the roughness it left behind on them. She didn’t know much about wine, but this was clearly on the better end of the scale, something you’d expect when dining at the White Swan. As he placed his fifth she gathered herself, ready to argue the point to keep hold of her two remaining delicious shellfish when a quiet clatter came as his stack came tumbling down. “Looks like I win then, little heavy handed there weren’t you?” She asked with a grin, scooping up two of his full shells and adding them to her own plate. She cracked the first of them, deciding to enjoy the fruits of her victory first and thought on his question. She’d been all round Syliras by the time she was 15, though to be fair she’d never gotten to see parts of it what with her Ma’s insistence that it was too dangerous to venture out by herself. “Ahhh people come and go you know? Never really stayed any place long enough to get to know them, never really got to see much of Sunberth or Ravok either for that matter, Ma always said it was too dangerous to have a look round. I’m thinking of heading up to Ravok at least though, they say the city’s absolutely gorgeous, and a little look around couldn’t hurt. But ummm… what about you? D’you travel much or are you from round here?” She finished the last of her shellfish and glanced up as the second course arrived, their plates from the first course quickly and efficiently cleared before the second was set before them. A little gathering of whole baked shrimp, artfully arranged around a single plum tomato lay before her and Tessa had to hold herself back from just wolfing the lot down. The White Swan wasn’t the sort of place you attacked your food like an animal after all. She lifted the first of the shrimp, juggling it from hand to hand as it cooled a little before her deft fingers easily cracked and peeled the shell away to get at the delightful morsel inside. If every course was as good as these two she wouldn’t need to eat for the next couple of days at least.

[Bob Barton]

Tessa was right about one thing. Bob was a maniac when it came to people. Growing up was good, until his height got stunted and everyone else started to avoid him. From then on to him those same people were like playthings. Until he has played with them long enough to be his favorites. After that then maybe he would consider them friend. Tessa right now was a plaything unfortunately for her. She should not have gotten Bob's interest like she did the day before. Doing something like saving him would do that sadly enough. Selfless acts like that are lost on him making him want to mess with them for what he sees as an insult. He already knew her weakness from the night before too. So of course he will be using it.

Bob only smiled at Tessa's heavy handed comment. "Oh well. I may have lost the shellfish," which he actually intended at all times making this another win for him "but at least you are happy." There was not much else Bob had intended for this dinner to begin with but to make up for the night before. Tessa may have all the suspicions she wanted but that would not change that fact. Unless Bob really decided on what he truly wanted for with the girl. Then that would be bad. For her anyway because he would push her as much as possible to get it.

"Ravok you say?" Bob asked with much concern. He had been there before too. Following all the nice things people told him about it which could be the same things other people told her. At least until he learned more about it. The people there were cold for some reason. Maybe he should give her some of the advice Victor gave him last time. That should give her a little more idea about Ravok so she would know what she should do.

The first thing he remembered Victor telling him in the bar was about that Rhysol god person's importance. And the thing about how newcomers are welcomed. "It might not be too good to go there without any reason though...Maybe? Why are you going there yourself? The city really welcomes merchants and pilgrims with open arms I hear..." His voice started to get softer. Thinking whether Tessa would get the hint instead of missing it like so many of the others he had given earlier.

Well he hoped that Tessa would get it anyway. He did not feel like talking about Rhysol that much. That god sounded so powerful when Bob heard about him. "God of Everything..." Better not talk about him so freely unless absolutely needed.

[Tessa Poe]

She stripped the shell from the last of the shrimp, placing it in a tidy pile with the rest and slipped the pink flesh past her lips, letting it sit on her tongue for as long as she could, wanting to savour the flavour as he talked. It was sweet that he seemed worried about her going to Ravok by herself, at least his tone of voice suggested he was. But still, she could look after herself these days, she’d had more than enough practice at it. “I’ve no real reason for going there, I just want to see it. The city that floats on the lake, it’s streets made up of little rivers… I don’t think I’d be going on a pilgrimage though, I don’t have much to do with the Gods. I mean, why would they care about us? They’re, well you know, Gods! They can do anything they want and we’re… well like little bugs, or something, I guess. Anyway when I go I’ll probably be working on a trade caravan so I guess I could stretch that to getting me a welcome, maybe?” She thought she might have been babbling again, throwing words out to fill the silence left by his warning, at least she thought it was a warning, and was about to start again when the third course arrived. Bowls full of a steaming, delicious smelling soup were place before the pair of them as their used plates were whisked away. Tessa carefully dipped her spoon in at the edge and lifted it to her lips, blew gently on it before finally tasting it. She’d thought the first two courses were good but this was… she couldn’t quite describe what it was. They’d used some kind of mushroom as a base, and she could taste something familiar with it, but there were just so many flavours, each one complimenting the other. This was the sort of soup she’d always wanted to be able to make, rather than the rather watery broths that she usually managed to produce. Maybe when she was next in Syliras she could see about getting a job in the kitchens here. It’d be worth putting up with the stone for a while just to be able to learn how to make miracles like this one happen. She took another couple of quick spoonfuls, hoping that she’d be able to identify at least some of the herbs and spices they’d used, but was really drawing a blank on it, well aside from the pepper they’d put in, there was definitely pepper involved somewhere. “So… the soup’s delicious, isn’t it?” she managed, again more for something to say than anything else. They still had seven courses to go after this one and she didn’t want to sit and eat there in silence. Well, she could have done it, it would’ve been a comfortable way to enjoy the meal for her at least, but… Bob was paying for it all and everything so she felt like she had to make an effort. But… since Bob hadn’t answered her first question about himself she wasn’t sure if she should ask any more… maybe he didn’t like talking about places he’d been? It was possible, there were things she didn’t want to or wouldn’t talk about after all. Maybe it’d be better to stick to simpler topics until Bob chose to talk about himself, and if he didn’t? Well… they’d probably end up sitting in silence, but she’d made an effort at least, that’s what counted.