The night was young but Gad didn't feel like hanging around to see what might happen. Maybe it was the change of the seasons but he was feeling heavy, sluggish, and ahead of him all he could see was monotony. Something about coming here just drove home the sensation of loneliness that Gad wasn't even aware he was feeling. Whether he'd known it or not, he thought coming here might liven things up, and give him a chance to get away from the thought of spending another season going nowhere fast in this city. But, as soon as he was in the tavern with it's drunken dancers and bar-stool vocalists, he was forced to look his solitude in the face. He spared a moment to consider his nature. Was it being a mage that isolated him? The fear of being discovered, the paranoia associated with letting someone know him, and his abilities, of course it was present. But, no, that wasn't it. The keeping of that secret actually provided him something more of a sense of security, thought it may seem ironic. Whenever he felt alienated and alone he could always reliably point to his magic tendencies as an excuse. And yet, Gad couldn't help consider that if this were one of those places where magic and mages weren't frowned on, and even considered part of society, what then? His mind always returned to one answer; things wouldn't be any different.
These things, these "people" as they liked to call one another, but less often themselves, offered little for him. Entertainment, sure, utility, of course, occasionally insight, but at the end of it all, Gad couldn't help feeling like he didn't connect. He hit on a different idea. Maybe he was thinking about this wrong. He'd been looking for one thing, one cause to point to all these various effects, but perhaps there were more layers. He was a mixed breed, and a mage, and a semi-pro swindler, and mostly, this was Sunberth, where no one could really claim to "belong." So, he figured, maybe he should just get over it. Gad looked over his shoulder to see the blonde, looking sour-faced and slightly constipated, scowling at his back. Gad couldn't help but crack a wide grin when he saw how his dismissal had wounded her. She was soon the recipient of some consolation from the brunette, though. Interesting. He didn't expect that. Though, it wasn't some alien concept to him. Of course, two people with similar interests- in this case dancing- and a shared experience might become friends but the brunette offering up coin, that was strange to him. Of course, Gad's own philosophy on coin and currency were very different from most peoples'. To him, it was like water. You drank when you were thirsty, and then you pissed it out, and then you drank some more. No big deal, life went on. Even if he'd struggled his way to a great fortune, and saved and added to it for several seasons, he still might just as well blow it all in a night at the dice table, if the whim struck him. But, he knew he was the exception. Most people around here with any sense pinched coppers like the tits on a dried out old heifer. So, seeing the girl offer up the coin to the other one, well, it was interesting was all.
Gad watched them surreptitiously, steeling short glances when he could, trying not to make a big scene of it. Maybe he had it wrong, did they already know each other? Were they already friends? No, the blond bimbo was now looking awfully confused at the whole thing. Strange. Gad considered there might still be some form of fun to be had at the young ladies' expense, and was then soon mulling over his varied options for entertainment. Well, he had the gold, he could do something extravagant, like have them wrestle for it. Nah, that was a little too much. Though, having a dance off between them- there might've been something to that. Gad was tickled at the thought. Yes, two beautiful women, dancing for his amusement, both getting more and more risque as the vied for his attention in the form of little discs of metal and stone. He was just the kind of pervert to make such a thing happen, and he might've done too. But, when he stood up it was on the brisk and abrupt side and the man sitting next to him didn't have time to react when his fresh mug of ale was elbowed over, toppling into his lap. A span of time as thick as an eyelash passed, as Gad considered how he should respond. Should he a; apologize respectfully, and offer to buy the man another drink, or b; continue walking, act like he didn't notice, and hope the guy doesn't think it's worth a fight? Gad chose option c; be belligerent as possible. "Hey! What!? You looking at me? Don't look at me, look at you, looks like you pissed all over yourself. Yeah- yeah buddy watch where you set your stuff and this wouldn't happen, I've got an acceptable elbow range, everything inside that zone is forfeit, it's called personal space pal, gimme fifty feet wouldja?" It didn't take long before the pants-wetted victim of Gads antagonism decided to stop the lip at the source and put four rough knuckles right under Gad's nose.
Gad went reeling back several paces, more than you'd expect actually, from Gad's size and the force of punch. He ended up tumbling right in the middle of where the two dancer girls were. As he started to topple backwards he reached out on either side with both hands groping and grasping for something to hang onto, and the only thing in range was the dancers. |
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