[Kulkukan Tavern] The Perils of Boredom (Open)

[Scratch]

Scratch could not argue with the Akalak's response. She herself had noticed that responding to your instincts within the walls of Riverfall tended to bring a large number of angry blue men down on one's head.

She wasn't used to being asked personal questions, so his asking for her name caught her off guard. "My family calls me Scratch. I just started working here recently. My last job...didn't work out. I'm hoping this place has fewer easily bruised egos." She tried to use the joke to turn her grimace back into a grin, but it didn't quite make it all the way. The bitterness of the memories was still too strong.

She was suddenly glad she was not holding anything. Her fists were clenching, and even if she managed not to break anything, she probably would not be able to keep her claws from gouging anything in her hands. She looked directly at the uncomfortable Akalak with the same grin-grimace that, to the untrained eye, might make her appear quite mad. "I used to train young Akalak in the art of unarmed combat. There were those who...did not approve of my influence on their sons."

[Sethos]

Sethos roared with a sudden burst of laughter, attracting a few stares but he could not help himself, the statement struck him as entirely funny. “Fewer bruised egos? In Riverfall?” “I do not mean to laugh,” he said when he managed to regain his composure, “but we Akalak are prideful things even at the best of times.” Quieting once more he watched her grin turn more grimace like, in fact, she look quite angry. He shifted uncomfortably and pointedly ignored Cashlin’s quiet jibs and slid four more pieces across the counter; he had clearly not drunken enough if his less than savoury half could still talk coherently. “Another.” It was impossible to miss Scratch’s bitterness as she spoke but he was not exactly sure who it was directed at, “I used to train young Akalak in the art of unarmed combat. There were those who...did not approve of my influence on their sons.” For moment he stayed completely silent, he was shocked they had let her train them at all! Sure may be welcome in Riverfall—in a manner of speaking—but he doubted many would take kindly to the idea of her training their sons, what with her heritage. It made sense they had been…irate with the young woman. “I…cannot speak for any other Akalak’s present but I can assure you,” he could not stop his voice from rising as he spoke, once again attracting attention, “as a warrior any training in fighting is a good thing, by who it is done should not matter.” Must you insist on kissing everyone’s posterior end? You were just as ready as the next person to slice her open, the only thing stopping you now is that fact that you, dear brother, are a scared. Besides Cashlin’s voice he could hear words of the same manner spoken by the other patrons who were being non-too quiet in there whisperings. I think you should attack her, perhaps she will not attack and you can prove to everyone that she is not that savage seems. Yes, of course. No need to sound so angry. Sethos snorted and blinked himself back into awareness; Cashlin was beginning to grate on his last bit of patience almost as much as the other tavern occupants. He had come here to escape his thoughts and the other voice that rang through his mind but it seemed he would have no such luck. Flicking his gaze back to Scratch he felt himself once more at a loss of what to say, finally he settled on continuing to avoid asking her about her heritage, “Do you still fight? And train? By yourself, I mean.”

[Scratch]

There was a slight bounce to Scratch's step when she got the Akalak his second drink. She was raking in so much business! Any time she decided to do something, she place great importance on its success or failure, and it was hard not to get excited that this new job was going so well. Three drinks sold on this shift alone!

When his comment on her job history elicited a reaction from the room, she felt the need to set the record straight. "It wasn't so much the training itself that was objected to... more the...philosophy... that I taught." She decided that a bar full of Akalaks who were already none too pleased with her was not the place to get into her personal beliefs, so she busied herself cleaning one of the used mugs behind the counter.

She looked up in surprise at his last question. "By myself? What would be the point of that? Why do you ask? Are you looking for instruction?" The corners of her mouth turned up in a laughing smirk at her little joke. She did not care to bet that the pride of an adolescent Akalak would allow him to accept her instruction.

[Sethos]

"It wasn't so much the training itself that was objected to... more the...philosophy... that I taught." Sethos nodded slowly in acknowledgement, considering what she had told him about herself so far it was obvious there would be…problems. “Your way of thinking differs greatly from ours.” Once more he tipped the mug back quickly, intent on ordering another soon as he finished his second. Slamming it down a little heavier than necessary he wiped his mouth and grimaced, he may enjoy tormenting Cashlin in the manner but the taste of ale always left something to be desired. “By myself? What would be the point of that?” “To train, dulled senses are useless.” He could feel the sudden wave of pressure to his skull, the second drink already beginning to creep through him and his dark brother unwillingly sliding forward. “Why do you ask? Are you looking for instruction?” He shook his head quickly with a slight laugh before pausing, “No, not instruction. A sparring partner perhaps.” Now that, dear brother, I can thoroughly enjoy. Imagine, you would complete the Rite of Passage without ever leaving the city. You will not! We can even go outside right now. There was a gleeful note in Cashlin’s voice, he wouldn’t easily be able to force his way forward just yet but with the liquid settling in Sethos’ belly it would not be long before he came about. Little sneak that he was Sethos had no doubt he could not stay; standing abruptly he slammed his hands on the table and smiled perhaps a little too widely. “It is time for me to leave. I thank you for the conversation and I will enjoy our sparring match, if you agree to it.” He did not wait for her answer, instead slipping out of the tavern quickly, ignoring the whispers that followed him. He had not realized it was so stifling in the building until the crisp air hit his face, it cooled his dark brother’s thoughts and his own, he knew for all his talk of sparring though their meeting would not happen. Cashlin was too antsy around the Zith woman, it would be dangerous for them both to spare. I would not have done anything. True he was not one to come out while Sethos drank…all the same— You were trying. Killjoy. Snorting Sethos began his slightly unbalanced walk home, he would not be returning to the tavern.

[Stranger]

Hi, there!

Obviously this thread was largely impacted by Scratch's retirement. As a result, there isn't really much here to grade. Both of the other characters can take +1 in Socialization, and add the lore "Drinking Holes in Riverfall" to their CS.

Hope you guys jump right back in, despite this little setback!