Don't drink the beer [Ndale]

[Idue]

91st day of Winter, 511 AV After arriving in Zeltiva about nine days ago, Idue had figured it wouldn't take long to find the more known bar. After never stepping into one for most of his life, it seemed that Idue had lived in one for the majority of his time. Fighters were better, talker was more interesting, and the women looked nicer. Well, atleast after the alcohol was in your system. This didn't make Idue an alcoholic, always searching for his next fix. In fact he hardly ever drank, choosing to be fully aware of his surroundings. This was something he had to learn to do at all times while in Sunberth, so he wouldn't be killed. But this was Zeltiva, and his life wasn't on the line at every moment. At least, he thought it wasn't. And after a day of fruitless searching for anything interesting, Idue needed some alcohol to soften his mood. He had wandered the docks, looking for the "politics" Faylon had told him about not too long ago, and found nothing dark and sinister. Maybe he hadn't looked deep enough, or in the right places. It was difficult to undercover anything interesting, especially without the swordsman to point him in the right direction. So yeah, he wouldn't be doing anything on the docks until Faylon was around, but he didn't need anyone to help him drink. But what was Kelp Beer? Idue was surprised not to find anything but water and this concoction called Kelp Beer on it; they didn't even have any food! Once, while in Sunberth, he had listened to a drunk tell about the silver ale he had drank on a visit to Ravok. Of course Idue didn't believe it, but when a waitress had passed his table along the wall, he had saw a green liquid followed by the smell of rotten fish. How did these people drink this shyke? But he had bought a mug of it, which happened to be brought to him while he was talking about it. His eyes stared at the liquid as the barmaid who brought it walked off, and he felt sick. It was green! Like the plant it was made from, yet the sailor at the table beside him downed it in one gulp. Maybe it didn't taste as bad as it looked, so Idue took a gulp of it, and felt like he just died. He sat the mug down on the table, and spit the disgusting ale onto the floor beside his table. This drew a chain of laughter from the sailors around him, muttering about how the Benshira couldn't handle Zeltivan alcohol. Idue figured it was a humorous sight to these men seeing a man in a blue turban spitting up alcohol they had grown accustomed to. And only after he fingered the handle of his axes did they quiet down. Idue didn't doubt they wouldn't fight, but Idue was up for it. With the sailors back to their mugs, Idue scanned the bar. It was a crowded today, with barely any seats open. In fact, only the seat across from Idue was free. Well that and the seat between two round sailors who smelled worse than the Kelp Beer. Yeah, he felt sorry for anybody who sat there. Although he doubted anybody would be coming in here; it seemed like everyone who would be seen on the docks were already in here. And then the door opened.

So I placed you entering the Bar. Now either sit with me or the two smelly sailors and we'll go from there. Choose wisely

[Ndale Soromund]

Why Nadle was going to the bar she wasn’t sure. She did not like alcohol. Especially Kelp Beer, it was disgusting and…well, she couldn’t very rightly remember what else about that day but she sure it was horrible, after all, she had woken up on someone’s roof. In her human form. It hadn’t bothered her but the young scholar and his wife had been thoroughly displeased, though what they said, she had no clue. She did not speak whatever it was they had spoken. But there was so little people on the docks and she had been in the library for a large enough portion of time. She had actually taken a nap in the corner, curled up beneath her jacket. Glancing around she watched yet another person slip into the bar, she couldn’t take notes about these people if she couldn’t see them! Irritation. A emotion that was new to her and very frequent but she found soothing it was the easiest way to get rid of it and to soothe it she needed to go into the bar. Now she had her reason, if only she would actually enter. Her decision came to a close though as a slightly already drunk sailor walked past her before stopping abruptly and turning to face her, “Pretty lady.” He grabbed her arm,“I’ll buy you a drink.” Her reaction was instant. One moment his hand was loosely wrapped around her forearm and the next he was gripping his shin, Ndale having sent a vicious kick to his ankle. “What the petch?” He muttered angrily. Ndale didn’t bother to say sorry because she wasn’t, what was it with humans and grabbing people? Though she had no room to talk for she was guilty of doing the same and at a greater frequency but that tidbit conveniently slipped her mind as she paraded past him and into the bar. Upon entering it was obvious business was going well. There was barely any seats in sight, even the bar itself was full! Well, nearly full anyway. There was one seat open by a man wearing a turban and another by two drunk looking sailors. Jostling her way through she made her way towards the door, giving slight kicks to those who bumped into her for too long. Was her emotion research worth this? Looking at all the different facial expression everyone wore she decided it was but this didn’t stop her eye from acting up, moving to and fro a little more agitatedly than usual. But as she got closer to the only two open seats even her poor sense of smell could pick up the aroma the two men gave off and she did not hesitate to shove past the other entering patron who had been trailing beside her. She gave a little hop and landed in the seat, a small smile on her face as she heard the other man curse. Her hop had thrown her a little off balance though and she reached an arm out to steady herself, gripping the turbaned man’s arm briefly. She didn’t bother to apologize for that either and instead stared at the waiter and tried to remember how one ordered a drink. Her eyes scanning the crowd for a target to become her notation on, preferably one close by so she would not have to move any closer to those odd smelling humans.

[Idue]

When the door to the bar opened, Idue expected another sailor to walk in, hoping to get his fill of this disgusting beer. And the Benshira wasn't entirely wrong, as a slim sailor did walk in, sailor's cap in hand. But he wasn't the only person to walk in, and this was a patron Idue did not expect. A woman with what Idue thought was red eyes, walked in. And the woman had white hair! She seemed very odd, almost like a Konti. If Konti had blond hair the color of the snow on the ground and eyes as crimson as blood. It wasn't that Idue was not used to women hanging out in bars; it was common enough in Sunberth. But this woman should've atleast been wary as she walked in, yet the inner fire was a bright as he eyes. Idue could tell beauty when he saw it, and this woman had it. But he wasn't sure if he want to woo her after witnessing her attitude to men. A drunk sailor put his hand on her. . . well maybe grabbed her arm, and Idue thought he heard something about buying her a drink. And she kicked him in the ankle! Maybe she was in a bad mood, or maybe she was insulted that someone actually wanted her to buy her this shyke they call alcohol. My, my she was a fiesty one. But even her spunk couldn't her sense of smell. The woman, after kicking a few more sailors who got in her way, had moved towards the open seat between the trash piles with mouths, but decided not to. Idue didn't blame her for it, but that meant she was going to sit with him. Which didn't bother him at all; he'd much rather have a woman there instead of another of these sailors. And she seemed like she wanted to sit with him too. Not because she noticed how sexy Idue was, but because she didn't want to sit with the dung heaps. She even pushed the other slim patron who had entered with her out of the way just so she could get there first. And she did, with a little hop into the seat for emphasis. A hop that sent the white-haired lady off-balence, and reaching for Idue's arm so she wouldn't fall out of the chair for the enjoyment of the crowd, especially the ones that had been kicked already. But she didn't fall, and didn't apologize for it either. In fact she didn't even greet the Benshira, turning her attention to one of the workers. Yeah, this woman had a little insanity mixed with her explosive personality. Idue was no normal patron of the Kelp Bar, and he was sure he could handle himself better in a fight than most of the drunkards already here. But he wasn't here to fight, or drink for that matter. Not after that horrid taste that was still in his mouth. Instead Idue leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the woman. "You have mighty nerve just bustling through this bar, kicking anybody in your way without worrying about the consequences." A brief smile crossed his lips. "Impressive if stupid. I mean I don't care how you run your life. Just as long as you understand that if I get kicked, I'll kick back. After that, I'm smooth sailing." Maybe Idue exaggerated a bit. He wouldn't kick her back. Maybe cold-cock her with the blunt side of his axe, but not kick her. "Name's Idue. And your would be?" Might as well learn the most basic thing about this woman sitting across from him. After that, who knew what would happen?

[Ndale Soromund]

She heard the suction of air before she actually heard the man speak, her gaze still burning into the back of the bartender as she finally remembered how to order. But the moment she did the urge for anything was gone, she did not want water or food for that matter. “You have mighty nerve just bustling through this bar, kicking anybody in your way without worrying about the consequences." She turned towards him blankly, her gaze traveling over his face with intense curiosity, he did not look any different than any other human she had met or seen in the bar, perhaps he would be willingly to answer her questions; after all, he struck up the conversation first. So she returned his smile with an easy one of her own, questions already bubbling in her mind. “Impressive if stupid. I mean I don't care how you run your life. Just as long as you understand that if I get kicked, I'll kick back. After that, I'm smooth sailing." “It’s not nerve. It’s…” she paused, searching for the word. She had heard it a few days ago from a man scolding her for getting in the way at the docks, what was the word? Ah, yes. “…cause and reaction.” The words sounded strange as she said them, as if rehearsed or being tonelessly read from a book. And she quickly forgot what she was saying in favor of sizing the man up again and had the urge to yank on his beard but past experience told her that was not a good idea. Last time she nearly gotten her feathers ripped out. "Name's Idue. And yours would be?" “Ndale Soromund.” It was once more said with a practiced recitation, she knew why she had a name and of its uses but the concept still eluded her. Many of her more bestial acquaintances knew who she was without it and vice versa. Ignoring her inner monologue she tried to sum up her questions into one large one but it was not working so instead she thrust her hand into his face, humans liked this gesture didn’t they? “Handshake?” She wasn’t sure if it was necessary to announce it or not. This would be her first time practicing after she had read about the gesture in the book. It was a weird ritual, much like their ‘hugs’.

[Idue]

Idue had really experienced women outside the Benshira women, but his after two seasons among the city women, he could only call them different. And this woman was no different than any other women in being odd. She had kicked burly sailors twice her size without any emotion, and her face when he began speaking held no emotion either. Well, after a little more observing, he noticed one emotion. Curiousity. She looked at him as if she was looking at something she was unfamiliar with. He was sure she'd have the same look if she tried to determine what was in the grimy beer in front of him. It. . . unnerved Idue a little. Women shouldn't look at men like that. And when she spoke. . . it just didn't sound natural to Idue. Oh he listened without interruption, but the way the woman spoke just wasn't right. She spoke as if she was reading from a tome in the library, quoting the words like they're written, without emotion. If reminded him of how a corpse would talk if they could. But she was breathing, so she was no undead. But who, or what, was she? Idue didn't speak, allowing the woman to tell him her name. Ndale Soromund. Even that held no emotion when she spoke it. Did she not take pride in her name to even say it with joy. While he rarely gave his full title, Idue always poked his chest out a little and spoke it with pride. Yet the only thing this woman poked out was her hand, thrusting it in his face. At first Idue thought she was going to strike him, but then she said handshake. Idue raised one of his eyebrows, but shook the Ndale's hand anyway. Her hands were soft, almost soothing compared to Idue's hands which were used to the hilt of his axes. Releasing her hand, Idue glanced at the crowd around them, before returning his attention back to Ndale. "What brings a woman like you into a place like this? It doesn't seem like your kinda place." Well she did know the meaning of a bar fight even if the opponents she picked out weren't the best for her. With that, Idue leaned back, waiting for the woman to speak. All the while he tried to figure out what was wrong with her. Did she not know the proper conversational techniques, or was there something different about her?

[Ndale Soromund]

She couldn’t precisely remember all her information about human skin that she had written down but it made sense to assume he used his hands often, the callus’ reminding her of her own feet, which often went bare between shifts. But her attention moved away from that to the bartender passing her and her mouth seemed to move of its own accord, ordering her a water that was promptly splashed in front of her. "What brings a woman like you into a place like this? It doesn't seem like your kinda place." She did not exactly understand what the man meant by his phrase, humans and their metaphors! Couldn’t they say things flat out? It took her a few moments to struggle for an answer, her own thoughts and questions clouding her reasoning. Patience was not a virtue she possessed. Did he mean woman did not frequent bars? That could not be the proper reasoning considering the last time she had entered the place had been swamped with men and women alike. Finally she let loose an odd sound from the back of her throat, a cross between a squeak and hum before answering bluntly, “I was bored.” At this a small grin flitted across her face and stayed in the shadow of her lips as she continued speaking, growing slightly more comfortable with the glass of water in her hand and target to bombard with questions. “You are correct. I do not enjoy this place and their drink…” she gestured to his cup, “is odd. Even my palate does not agree with it. Ale of any kind is a horrid drink.” Her eyes narrowing in remembrance of the havoc it wrecked upon her the last time she drank it, “Are you fond of it? And why is…a man like yourself here?” She wasn’t sure if she used the phrase correctly but only practice would tell her. Flashing another small grin at the more she learnt simply from communicating she sipped the water, no matter how clean it was there always seemed to be an undercurrent of salt, perhaps it was the air but or how close the bar was to the docks but she always sipped warily.

[Idue]

As Idue sat here, listening to Ndale and observing her in this environment, he came to the conclusion that she was different. How he was unsure, but he could tell by now that she wasn't like some of the other women he's met over the years. Although he couldn't compare her to women in Ekytol because the Benshira were different than the city folk. But even the women he had met in Sunberth couldn't be compared to this woman. She was different. Everything about her, from her red eyes, to her social talent was different. And that sound she made was different too, something Idue had never heard before. This was followed by a simple answer about being bored, and a small grin. My this woman was odd, trying to fix her boredom by coming to a bar. Idue couldn't deny that some entertaining things could happen at bars, ranging from brawls to a hooking up with a woman. But that was only entertaining to those who were used to it. And this woman didn't seem like they was a usual patron to bars. He knew he shouldn't judge a woman by her appearance, but she just did not look like a a frequenter of bars. And then the woman continued fueling his doubt by saying she wasn't fond of any ale. Idue could admit that this kelp beer was horrid, but he did enjoy himself some finely brewed ale or a nice glass of wine. He wasn't against people wanting to stay sober in their life, but why come to a place where everyone drank? It was pointless when you could just fixate your boredom at more. . . suitable places for your priorities. And then she asked was he fond of it. Did she think he was a drunkard, or something else? He might as well answer; it wouldn't hurt doing so. "Well I'm not a drunkard if that is what your immediate thoughts were, but I do enjoy a nice mug of ale when the time is right. Although I will agree that this kelp beer was disgusting." Some of the sailors nearby chuckled, the image of the Benshira spitting out the beer earlier still not out of their minds. He could ignore them at the moment, focusing on the more important thing. The woman asked why he was here? Idue looked her, brown eyes revealing puzzlement. What did she mean by here. Did she mean the bar itself, or this city? Idue bit his lip once, but decided it wouldn't hurt to answer the question; it wasn't like he was here to cause problems, so Ndale could know. "If you meant at this bar, I came for a nice drink. Although I didn't get one." Another chuckle from the sailors nearby. "But if you meant why I am in Zeltiva, I don't quite know to be honest. My life has gotten to the point where I don't know what I want to do with it. So you can say I'm here to find the purpose of my life at the bottom of my mug." Idue looked down at his mug. Yeah, he wasn't going to find the answer at the bottom of this mug. He was actually nervous about what he would find at the bottom of kelp beer. So the purpose of his life will be discovered at a later date. All he had planned was to learn more about Ndale. The rest was up to Yahal. If the god even cared for his troubled follower anymore.

[Ndale Soromund]

“Well I'm not a drunkard if that is what your immediate thoughts were, but I do enjoy a nice mug of ale when the time is right. Although I will agree that this kelp beer was disgusting.” She heard a few nearby human chuckle and cocked her head curiously, had the man, Idue, said something funny? She mulled over his words for a few more moments before deciding she could not find the entertaining part. Sipping her water she contemplated her questions while shifting uncomfortably, too many people in one area, she enjoyed people but her elbow continuously brushed the persons beside hers. She found herself squirming on her seat in an effort to avoid the contact but it only served to provoke more. She did not mind touching others when she felt it was necessary but she did not appreciate others touching her, it was a double standard she kept with pride. Taking a deep breathe she ignored her own discomfort in favor of spewing out her questions, judging from his clothes alone he was no sailor and any man who did not wear a sailor or scholars robes in Zeltiva was not raised in Zeltiva. Which meant he was like her, someone new, although she had been there for a few seasons yet she still found there was much she did not know in this city alone, she did not even wish to dwell on the knowledge she did not possess of everywhere else. “You are not from here.” It was not a question, more of an affirmation, “And what is a…drunkard?” Ndale had attempted to sort the word out but she could find nothing that matched up with her knowledge of common phrases. But she liked the way it sounded, the syllables rolling off her tongue, many common words seemed to do that, they were much longer than any Kontinese phrase, more complicated. But the way the tickled her tongue appealed to her at times. Sometimes she found it easier to lengthen the Kontinese words and phrases rather than try to force common to suit Kontinese. She could understand it much better than she could speak it, it was a quick decision but it didn’t suit her well. She need to be able to speak it to gain information. His answer to her next question affirmed her earlier suspicions and she nodded as he spoke but she could not help the puzzlement that crept into her placid smile. Why were these men laughing? "But if you meant why I am in Zeltiva, I don't quite know to be honest. My life has gotten to the point where I don't know what I want to do with it. So you can say I'm here to find the purpose of my life at the bottom of my mug." She waited until he finished speaking to fling out her questions, interruption had got her in enough trouble as of the late, “Why do they laugh when you speak?” She had not actually meant to ask that particular question first but it was what tumbled forth and she watched as the slight confusion in his eyes increased but she plowed on ahead, her words not halting in their flow partially out of habit and partially because she wanted to kick the man who kept brushing against her side. “Humans are always being confused, lost. But…” she stumbled, “it’s okay. Normal.” The almost forlorn look on his face when he stared into his mug had made her attempts at comfort seem odd but it was not often she tried to comfort people. She did not know how but she copied what she had seen others do and patted his arm with a smile. Still, her comfort only lasted for so long before she felt her curiosity once more override everything else, “Where are you from? Do you feel…sad?” She had meant homesick but the word simply wouldn’t translate. Ah, well. She would still get her notes, Idue seemed more insightful than most. Perhaps he would pick up on it.

[Idue]

After busting into the bar like she owned the place and kicking any man who got in her way, Ndale's squirming whenever she was brushed was something new for Idue. How could this woman, after striking out at the biggest men in the bar, moved whenever an elbow brushed her. The Benshira thought this woman was odd earlier, and this behavior didn't change his beliefs. In fact it strenghtened his beliefs. This woman didn't have something right about her. But whatever her problem was, she still could realize that Idue was not from here, as in Zeltiva. But then she asked what a drunkard was, and Idue sighed. How could she, someone who was at a bar, not know what a drunkard was? He gave her the benefit of the doubt, telling himself this was her first trip to a bar, which could also explain her odd behavior. But anyone should know what was a drunkard was. "A drunkard is someone who often drinks, and is often intoxicated. She drink just to drink, not for any particular reason." That statement wasn't entirely true; some drunkards did have a reason for their drinking. But she didn't know that, and his explanation was good enough. And then she asked why these men laughed whenever he spoke. That Idue could let pass; she wasn't in the bar when he spit beer everywhere. So this time he could give a good answer without labeling this woman as weird. "They laugh because they find it funny that some people just can't drink the piss they call kelp beer. It doesn't bother me though." The woman must've seen the confusion in his eyes at her question as she quickly continue her speaking, saying that humans were always confused. Idue nodded to that, but for some reason the way Ndale say it puzzled him. Idue often referred to people like him humans, but he was one too. But the way she said it almost sounded like she wasn't human. And she surely looked human, with her pale skin. and white hair. Sure the red eyes were odd, but he let that slide. He wasn't sure what exactly was normal with humans. Besides being confused like the woman had stated. The conversation continued with more questions from Ndale. Idue almost felt like this was an interrogation, but he didn't care. He rather enjoyed talking to the woman. So when she asked where he was from, Idue quickly replied. "I lived in the lands of Yahal, also known as Ekytol, for the majority of my life." Her next question was a little more difficult to answer. Was he sad? Sure he didn't find his mother, but maybe his expectations were a little too high. She had been gone for over twenty years, and lived in Sunberth, a place not so safe for anyone, especially women. "I guess I'm downtroddened by my lack of purpose in my life. But I'm not depressed, and I'm sure I'll find a new purpose in the future. So no, I'm not sad." Idue looked at the woman. She was very curious, always poking her head into situations. It almost reminded him of a hen. . .

[Ndale Soromund]

She nodded, her expression more serious than the previous moments. Any bit of information had to be carefully retained and even if she had the attention span of a goldfish with amnesia she was good at remembering these sorts of things. Well, at least if they caught her attention she did. “And you are not. A drunkard that is. And it is not so bad, I drank it before. It was…odd. But better after many.” Her sentences were short and choppy, fraying quickly with her patience. Turning sharply she smiled at the man behind her, “Do not touch.” Then proceeding to hop off her chair she dragged it close to Idue before taking a seat once more and staring at the waitress until she was brought another water. Content now, a smile eased back onto her face and her posture relaxed slightly though her eyes continued to rove, her left more so than her right. “Yahal? Ekytol?” she mimicked his words like a parrot, keeping even the inflection. They were strange, new and tasted absolutely delightful. She tried them again, this time in Kontinese, even more pleased with the way they sounded. A look of childish glee swept across her face and she had near trouble remembering to pay attention Idue. “Where are Yahal and Ekytol? Tell me…much.” She gestured excitedly between them, inching forward as if to hear his thoughts, her words straying this way and that following the sway of her thoughts and body. “Being happy is better than sad. Sadness is…” Thinking of her own experiences with the emotion she frowned slightly and sipped on her new glass of water. She wasn’t sure what it was but she never wanted to have much to do with emotions like that. What was the word they used for things they did not like? Empty? No…ah! “…useless.” There was an air of finality around her words and she nodded as if she had solved the mystery of why Kelp beer tasted less bitter after drinking more than one. Returning to her previous train of thought she more carefully looked the man, this Idue, over. Now that he was from these strange lands it was as if he glowed from the inside. As if he was a hidden puzzle full of secrets that she had to know.