[The Stone Garden] Tranquility (Open)

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon raised an eyebrow at Jabari. "...I like trees, but not THAT much. Jonathon DuFraine, hunter." He was almost as surprised by his other companion's words, too; he offered to take them for a drink tomorrow. This was quite pleasent, however. Jonathon was naturally stoic and to-the-point, and appreciated a man who could say what he wanted simply.

"I would be honored. It has been many a month before I've drank at the Rearing Stallion." He seemed almost insulted by the foreigner's dislike of ale. "Well, there are other drinks, but I will most certainly be drinking ale. The Rearing Stallion has the best."

As Alexander began to leave, Jonathon continued his walk, indicating that the foreigner could keep walking with him if he wished, or leave now.

[Alexander Vasiliev]

OOCI'm moving on to the Bar, if everyone is okay with that. Just RP walking in and seeing me, then sitting down. Also at this point we're accepting anyone else who wants to join can RP it now.

Timestamp: 25th Day of Fall, 511 AV, 19th Bell (7 PM) Location: The Rearing Stallion Alexander opened the door to the Rearing Stallion, the warmth of the fireplace instantly warming him. He realized he hadn't closed the door and people were staring. Quickly, he turned around, closed it, and sat at the bar. Instantly, the barkeeper came over, asking him if he wanted anything to drink. Alexander decided against it, waiting for the other two people he invited to show up. The barkeeper thought that was fair enough, and went to attend his other customers. The tavern reeked of stale ale and food stains, but Alexander thought the building was quit hearty. There was a nice fireplace, nice staff, lots of customers, and the constant noise of chatter. Once he had some ale, his senses would dull, and his muscles would unwind and relax, allowing him to sit more cozily. While waiting, Alexander had a look at the prices. "Hmmm, the beverages cost more than the meals themselves." Alexander said while frowning. Oh well, he had come to relax, no matter the price. He could also go for a decent meal, and he noted the Inn's food was "good enough". Especially for the low price it was.

[Sighard]

"But the company's free, friend." Sighard answered the musings of Alexander with a courteous raise of his mug that leveled to his visage and then tipped back expertly against his gullet. A swath of flowing amber liquid fell within the corners of his lips and drained neatly into his esophagus before he placed it back down again and wiped his moistened stubble against the back of his sleeve. He'd not realized the jostle of a newcomer at the bar until words escaped his lips, and even then it was but good fortune that the young squire caught it over the cacophony of raucous chatter and music. Arbitrary statements were not a usual cause for introduction, but it seemed Sighard was none too shy about involving himself.

He looked much older in the crimson firelight that painted the tavern in its red glow. The deepening shadows reflected off his features and made them seem gaunt and sullen. His dull brown cloak was draped across his equally simplistic clothing that offered no indication to he he was. Even unshaved and disheveled, he continued to exude that boyish charm, albeit a little rougher given his circumstances. His eyes were bright and sober, and examined the man across from him with curiosity.

"Why come then, if not to drink? The spirits lighten the soul and elaborate the colorful scenery all about you. You'll find no sweeter sounding bard then when at the end of your glass." He tipped his wooden mug in the general direction of a jovial, stocky man playing furiously at the strings of a lute while the deep soprano of his voice meshed nicely within the crowd. Sighard spoke with a general air of confidence and courtesy that eased him into the eventual conversation that may have or may have not taken place.

[Alexander Vasiliev]

"I'm waiting for my friends before drinking, but you shall do well enough in their place, at least for now" Alexander said, sighing heavily. He motioned to the barkeeper, whom he asked how much for the mug of ale. The barkeeper answered, saying it was 1 Silver Miza per mug, 2 Silver Mizas for a gallon. Alexander let the Silver Miza slide around in his fingers until letting it roll into the barkeeper's hand. The barkeeper quickly returned with a glass filled to the brim with ale. Alexander slowly drank, allowing himself to finally relax. Alexander turned to the new arrival, inquiring his name. "I am Alexander Vasiliev, what is your name? he said, shaking his hand. Alexander continued to sip on his ale, the flavor becoming richer as he drank more and more. Alexander considered buying a meal, but decided against it. He still had food at home, and needed to secure a job before spending too much money. Alexander felt happy, his muscles had never been so relaxed before. Normally, they would be tense, working hard or tightening due to nervousness. "The wonders of ale." he thought to himself, raising his glass and drinking it until it was half empty. He remembered hearing that you should always say half full, in order to be happy. "Pffft" he thought, half empty sounded better. "Where are the others?" The thought suddenly invaded his head, making him worry. He silenced his thoughts, he was just being impatient. They would come in due time.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon slipped into the Rearing Stallion with a smile on his face. Well, more of a smirk; Jonathon wasn't really a happy person. But this inn brought back memories, of before he was a hermit, and when he was just a hunter living out of Syliras. The ale, the food, the air, the bartenders, the fire... Oddly enough, while he found the streets of Syliras quite suffocating, he was at home in the stuffy tavern.

Jonathon's yellow eyes quickly picked out Alexander from the group. It seemed that their friend, the confused foreigner, hadn't joined them yet... but another man was there. Someone he had never met before. Jonathon considered pinning him as a squire, but, remembering the last time he had done that, he decided to let the man tell Jonathon himself.

When he was close enough to touch the two of them, he tapped Alexander on the shoulder, taking a seat next to him. As he did so, a silver miza slipped out of his hand onto the table, along with the sound of a knocking fist on wood. "I see you are already having a taste of the Rearing Tavern's ale! Next round on me." He indicated the man on the other side of Alexander with one hand, drinking a mouthful of his new ale with the other. "That includes you, whoever you are."

[Alexander Vasiliev]

"Ah, hello Jonathan" Alexander said. He grabbed a new mug, and tentatively began to sip from it. Realizing he knew almost nothing about his new friends, he decided to ask some questions. "Jonathan, what do you do for a living?" He asked, still sipping his large mug of ale. "I still need to find a job" Alexander added. He wondered where in Syliras could he apply for a job. No jobs would pay extra for a man who knew Reimancy, and he had no other skills that could help him get a job. As for teaching Reimancy, he was only competent, not many people would pay at all to learn from a teacher at his skill level. 'Ah well, c'est la vie" he thought. Returning to the present, Alexander noticed the lovely music the bard was playing. The man was right, music was sweeter once you had a glass of ale. He threw a couple of Copper Mizas into the bard's hat, hearing them clatter among the piles of coins. The bard nodded at him, continuing to play his wonderful music.

[Sighard]

"You heard the man, barkeep. Refills are in order!" And so it was that both ale and silver flowed equally on that night, and the near empty mug perched idly between the boy's two fingers was filled quickly with an expert sweep. Again, Sighard tilted the mug back, drank deeply and placed it against the table. A large grin dominated his features as he spoke, catering to the two new gentleman.

"I am Sighard Beleld, squire of the Syliran Knights, at your service. A pleasure Alexander and. . ." His voice trailed as his gaze tapered from the Reimancer to hunter, quirking a curious brow in his direction. The final syllable of his statement elongated and stretched in order that the man could finish as appropriate. All things considered, the capacity of the rather smallish boy seemed impressive due to the amount of alcohol he'd already retained at that moment.

All the while the crowd about them grew more noisome. As time begun to drift onwards so too did the environment from its placid tones to the usual drunken fervor. Now, when one contemplated the dancing firelight that lit the tavern, they considered how the heat jostled the ale in the bellies of its customers and deepened the effects of ale. The pungent smell of collective perspiration danced along the nose of Sighard and caused it to twitch momentarily.

[Alexander Vasiliev]

OOCSighard, Alexander never told you he had Reimancy, nor did Jonathan tell you he was a hunter, you had no way of knowing that IC. I'll rp something so that you guys know I have Reimancy. Alexander was beginning to feel woozy, deciding to refrain from further ale. He was feeling very hot from the ale and the fireplace. Without using his judgement first, Alexander began to generate res, creating air to fan himself with. He instantly felt cooler, temporarily forgetting about the problem of people around him. Suddenly, he realized he was being watched, and dropped all his Res, pretending as if nothing happened. Alexander began to sweat profusely. Had a knight seen him? Was fanning still considered dangerous magic? The matter was out of his hands.  Seen him or not, he had no way of knowing, and couldn't control the ramifications of any result. If the knights tried him in the Court of Three, there were plenty of people who had seen him, perhaps some would stand by his side, saying he had only made air, quite a harmless element in itself. Alexander silently munched on a piece of bread, concealing his face between his arms.  He knew the bread would do well to soak the ale in his belly,  plus it was bad to drink ale with an empty stomach. Alexander was tired, the Ale having taken a toll on his body. He decided he would wait for the foreigner, converse a bit, then head off to sleep. For once, he would have no trouble sleeping, thanks to the Ale. Curling himself in his cloak, he sat more comfortably. At least as comfortable as he could possibly be in the uneven, rough stool.  Thankfully, the Ale took care of it for the most part, relaxing his muscles so he was comfy.  Taking care not too fall asleep he continued to make small chat with Jonathan and Sighard until the foreigner arrived.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon took another gulp. "I'm a hunter by trade. I live out in the Bronze Woods with my bow." Jonathon shrugged. "Not a bad job, but a dangerous one. If you're careless, anyways." Jonathon took yet another, calling out to the bartender for another drink. "A squire, huh? I could have guessed, looking at you. That's a compliment. I think."

Jonathon was surprised by Alexander's display of magical aptitude. He wasn't one for magic, but he had seen that very kind once before; the Mage-Knight Andresciel was a disciple of Reimancy, and a user of that particular type, as well. He considered commenting, but the nervous way Alexander seemed to look about him self made Jonathon check his words. Puzzled, he shrugged it off and continued drinking himself into the bartop.

"Oh! Right. I'm Jonathon DuFraine. Pleasure." He would have shaken the squire's hand, but he was on the other side of Alexander. "I see you can hold your mead with the rest of them, Sir Squire! How many drinks have you had before I even got here?"

[Sighard]

OOCApologies, I tend to narrate from the third person, omniscient point of view. In that sense I wasn't trying to say Sighard had access to that IC information but I, the narrator did. I thought about that when I wrote it but didn't bother to change it.

"Johnathon and Alexander-- I'll do well to remember the names of such fine gentlemen." Sighard responded, offering a short inclination of his head towards both of the men in turn, his eyes sweeping curiously over them a final time before drifting lazily off to relay what the scene offered. He recognized many an off-duty knight outside his armor, and even more the tavern ladies who'd he gotten to know most of. There was much in the way of diversity, from beggars to merchants to guards who each catered to their own clustered group, though some emboldened by their liquor did mesh with the the other hierarchies. A few musicians had gathered to collaborate on popular tunes and the thrum of music gave the boy goose-flesh.

"I merely follow in step to my family's lineage. Many a brave Beleld has served the Knights honorably and I am but a humble son to continue the tradition. You are a brave soul, Johnathon to live outside the safety of these walls. I would feel lost without the comfort of such perpetual safety." His words were steely and braced, and offered more serious tones than the situation called for. Sighard's unease on topics concerning the world further from Stormhold was evident in those brief moments where he allowed his vulnerabilities to be exposed, but he regained quickly with a broad grin, this time addressing Alexander.

"Could have sword I caught a draft. . ah well must be the ale playing tricks! So you're looking for work Alexander, have you considered the Knights?" Sighard seemed oblivious to the subtle trick played upon by the other across from him, and was due partly due to the fact that his attention had diverged into many channels, attempting to catch all meaningful events that were occurring while maintaining conversation with these fellows.

". . And not to give you men the wrong impression, I'll share in the merriment of drinking with my fellows but never to the point of dishonoring myself! Belelds are taught composure from an early age when dealing with fickle drink."