One Room Please... [Casper]

[Kressha]

16th of Summer, 512 AV World's End Grotto in Zeltiva After having spent two nights in her tent on the beach just outside of Zeltiva, Kressha had finally decided she should probably find a place more suitable to live. Not that she hated her tent, it just wasn't a secure place to leave her stuff and it took time outta her day to set it up and take it down whenever she wanted to go explore. Not that she'd done much exploring the last two days. Her time spent with Faval had been enjoyable, but he had duties he needed to take care of, or so she assumed he did. Her pace through the city was slow, this being her first actual time looking at what the city was made of. The sort time she'd come in with Faval didn't count as she'd been following him. This was a slow walk, her eyes watching the people as they went about their daily lives. She had a better view of everything around her from Rahhale's back than if she would have down on the ground leading her by hand. She got a few rude looks directed at her for her slow pace, but she didn't pay any mind to them. Rahhale was big, but not big enough to take up the entire street. People could just go around her if she wasn't going fast enough. After spending the better part of the afternoon on Rahhale's back exploring the city with the sun baring down on her back, Kressha finally came up to a place that looked like an inn. Faval's idea of taking Rahhale to the stables had flopped as he had recalled they were horse breeders and weren't actually a stable where she could leave her mount. Swinging her legs off the saddle, she free fell down to the ground, her little five foot even height making her look like a kid on a massive horse. Patting at her side, she lead Rahhale over to a post and loosely draped her lead around it before stepping inside. Serra, the owner of the establishment greeted her right away with a bright smile on her face. The business had quite the cozy feeling and despite Kressha not being used to that kinda feel, it felt nice. "Welcome to World's End Grotto, will you be staying with us tonight or just here for dinner?" Her voice was soft and Kressha couldn't stop from smiling at the young woman. She had a pretty young face that gave an air about her that said she was always smiling. "A room, pleassse." She said before nodding her head back toward the entrance. "And a ssstall for my horssse too pleassse." The woman eyed her a bit as she heard the clear hiss Kressha's dialect to it as she spoke but other than the odd way she spoke, she looked like a normal human. Short and rather thin, but human all the same. It took a moment for her to bring herself back and she returned the smile to her face. "Alright then dear, for one night it will be 2 silver for your room, and 1 silver for a stall for your mount." Kressha shook her head, she didn't really have any other place to stay and there was no point in getting a room for just one night only to go back to the beach the day later. "I would like to ssstay longer if ssat is possssible." Reaching down into her coin pouch, she produced one gold miza and set it on the counter. "How many nightsss will thisss get for me and my horssse?" Serra's eyes looked down at the gold trimmed coin and it looked like she was doing math in her head before looking up again. "That will hold you over for three days with get you one main meal." Kressha hmmed a little as she looked down. Three days didn't feel very long to her, and she knew she didn't want to get a permanent place to stay only to up and leave to head somewhere else again. Looking down at the counter, she moved her finger against the surface as she counted. 2 silver for a room, 1 silver for Rahhal's stall, 1 silver for a meal and 5 copper for a breakfast. That was 4 silver and 5 copper per day she wanted to stay. Hunting outside the city wasn't as good as it had been in Alvadas and she guessed that their meal wouldn't be large enough to keep her fed for a few days with the price only being at 1 silver for the main meal. Scrunching her brows she nods to herself, her fingers writing numbes into the counter as she counted. 4 silver 5 copper x 13 days -------------------- 52 silver 65 copper = 5 gold 2 silver 65 copper She really didn't want to spend over than 5 gold on a room so she recalculated. 4 silver 5 copper x 12 days -------------------- 48 silver 60 copper = 4 gold 8 silver 60 copper Nodding her head as she was finally happy with that, she left the one gold miza out on the counter and pulled out four more and set it beside them. "I'd like to get a room for twelve daysss, pleassse. Enough for breakfassst and sse main meal each day and a ssstall in your barn for Rahhale." Serra looked at the miza on her counter and did the calculations herself in her head before nodding. She was used to working with money whereas Kressha wasn't so it had taken her awhile to figure out how much she needed. Serra took the 5 gold miza and pulled out a box and started counting out the change. "Breakfast is served after the 6th bell and is available until the 9th at which point it is taken down. If you'd like to eat in the morning, please come during that time." She counted out 2 silver and 40 copper on the counter and Kressha slid them into her pouch. "The stable is around the side, there should be an empty stall you can use. Your room will be..." She leaned over the counter to point toward a staircase just to their left. "Up the stairs and to the right, 3rd door down the hall." Kressha thanked her again before walking out to go move Rahhale to the stall she had gotten for the mare. Ledger Item Debit - Miza Credit - Miza Total World's End Grotto (12 days) Room, Stall & Meals 5 gold 2 silver 40 copper

[Casper]

Casper stretched his arms as he got out of bed, noticing that the sun had gone down significantly since he had decided to take a nap. He woke with ease and felt well rested enough to stay up until much later in the night. If only he had something to do with that time. He strapped on his belt, his Tulwar placed firmly at his side, but decided to leave the shield. He wasn't going to run into enough trouble to need the weapons anyway. Once he was down, he noticed a group of men sending taunting stares his way from one of the tables at the restaurant. They had already been there when he entered earlier that afternoon, and shot dark looks then too. When he spared them a glance, he recognized one man as the one he had gotten into a fight with a few weeks ago. He was aged, but hardened as a sailor should. The brawl had only lasted a few seconds before it was broken up by a strange woman, who recognized that Casper was of Dhani blood. He hoped her accusing words had not reached his ears. Either way, he was here now and looked like he might want to finish the fight he started. For now, Casper ignored them and left the tavern. He tried to convince himself that he was being slightly paranoid, but was feeling fidgety nonetheless. He looked around, wondering which direction to go in, and moved aside slightly for a girl walking outside once he realized he was in the doorway. She was small, with a lithe form that Casper could admire as she went right by him and towards her horse. For a moment he only watched, but decided spontaneously that a little flirting wouldn't hurt. He had nothing to do that night, and wanted take his mind off the disturbing group at that table. She seemed to be struggling slightly with the knot that tethered her horse. "You need any help with that?" He asked as he walked up to her deliberately with a thin smile upon his lips. Though he personally preferred taller women, she had quite an alluring appearance. Her tanned skin and dark hair made her look rather exotic, and it wasn't hard for Casper to discern that she was a foreigner as well.

[Kressha]

Kressha hadn't noticed any ill looks getting thrown around while she had been inside, she had been focused on figuring out the payment and getting her room. As she left to move Rahhale into the stall she'd just gotten for her, she had to stop as a man close to a foot taller than her blocked the door. Her hand went out to poke at his back gently just enough to get his attention and that was all it took for him to step aside so she could get out. Thanking him with a small smile, she continued out and came to a stop next to the much larger mare. The loose tie that she had done for Rahhale wasn't so loose anymore. Lifting her hands, she rubbed at her face a little as she eyed the horse. Something must have got her attention to jerk her head or move it or something... Or, someone had come by and tightened it. Perhaps they thought the cream colored mare would run if she wasn't properly secured. She was busy trying to get the knot undone when she heard someone talk to her. Looking up, she let a smile touch at her lips as she recognized the male that had been blocking the doorway a few moments before. At his question, she looked down at her progress. She was slowly getting it, and would eventually get it all the way, but if he wanted to help the pretty looking girl, she wouldn't stop him. Her hands pulled away and she gave him a small nod. "I don't recall tying it ssat tight. Ssank you for helping me." Her head tilted as she gave him a sweet smile. Casper's thoughts were right, Kressha wasn't exactly from around there. No, she was rather far from her home. Though she had spent the last few years of her life traveling after she'd learned how to take on the human shape, Kressha didn't give off any hints that she spent quite a bit of nights sleeping outside. Her hair was tangle free and silky smooth while her skin was blemish free, well, for the most part. There was a dark bruise on her neck that was visible through her hair. It had started to heal and was a mix of dark purple and yellow tones. That wasn't the only one she had, but the rest of bruises she was sporting were hidden under her clothes. She didn't walk with a limp or anything and didn't appear to be hurt. As the man got closer, she let her eyes do a quick look over of his form, her head tilting a bit as she inspected. Kressha wasn't exactly known for being shy with strangers, and so her examination of him wasn't hidden. When he got close enough, she returned her gaze to his face. "I'm Kressssha. Do you work here?"

[Casper]

Her smile was charming, and she accepted his help with little hesitation. When he heard her speak, though, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. Her S's seemed to linger just like his did, in fact she seemed to have it worse. He wondered for a moment, maybe she might be... He quickly expelled the thought from his head and stepped in to help her with the knot. It was indeed tight, and he had to give it a rather strong pull in the right place before it finally loosened. He could feel her staring him up and down, hiding his discomfort of her probing eyes. With a few more motions, the mare was released from the post and Casper turned back to her. She had asked him a question while he was untying the horse, but only responded when he finished, "Nah, I'm jusst sstaying here. I'm Cassper." He put the reins in her hand carefully, and gave her a toothy smile. "Sso, where to?" He asked, almost slyly, "Pretty women can't be walking around alone at dussk, you know." He spoke confidently, not because he was socially apt but more because he couldn't care less if she reacted badly to his being so forward. Being alone made one eager to converse no matter how introverted. He found his comment a little silly, something that would be appropriate in Sunberth, but Zeltiva? He couldn't see much harm coming to him here besides a few brawls over that repulsive drink they dared call beer.

[Kressha]

She didn't seem to take not of his discomfort at how she looked him over. Kressha wasn't what one would call shy, or subtle. She openly examined people, watched how they moved, how they acted and what emotions played over their faces. When the knot finally came loose, she bounced a little and clapped her hands together. "Ah, ssank you! I would have been here a lot longer if you hadn't offered your help." When he turned and answered her prior question, she felt her head tilt a little as she instantly picked up on the drawn out S's in his speech. It wasn't anything like her's, but it was there. "Casssper. A pleasssure." She said, her tiny fingers curling around the reins as he offered them. "I'm Kressssssha." She purred out, the two S's in her name making it even more drawn out than it was supposed to be. She couldn't help it, and those that thought it funny to draw the name out as she did, quickly found she didn't find it very funny at all. Looking around, she bites at her lower lip a bit. "Uh, sse ssstable, sse lady inssside sssaid it was around sse ssside of sse building." Letting her eyes look back up at him, she graces him with another of her charming smiles. "Well, perhapsss you ssshould come wiss me to fight off any attackersss." She lets her eyes roam up and down his form again before settling on his eyes again. "Be my knight for sse night?" She purred out.

[Casper]

She had a cheerful attitude, something that Casper found rather refreshing compared to his past encounters. Her speech was however a little distracting. He had often been accused of being of Dhani descent on account of his speech, but he had never thought of being the one doing the accusing, so he put the question to the back of his mind. This proved to be easy, as his attention was diverted to the sound of the tavern doors squeaking open. What trailed out with a lumbering gait was the old sailor. The first time he had met him, he was drunk enough to fall in love with a fish, but sober, the man was indeed intimidating. Even though his face was old, he had the tenacious build that was demanded of a proper sailor. He was followed by two men, and gave Casper a fleeting look before turning away. Suddenly, Casper was eager to be elsewhere. The trio looked like they were heading for the docks, but he didn't want to stick around to find out. He turned his gaze back to Kressha, trying to distract himself with her charming smile and soft voice."Be my knight for sse night?" She asked, sending a sensation of desire through Casper's mind. His eyes traveled elsewhere as he imagined the warmth of her tanned skin, and he replied almost absentmindedly, with his crooked smile, "M'lady." The wary expression on his face was not completely gone as he led her around the building and into a small stable, with four stalls,lit dimly by torches on the cold, stone walls. He opened one of the stall doors so she could lead her horse inside. Turning back towards her, he found he was not quite sure how to make small-talk. He usually started using his charms on women once they had a drink or two in them, which made his work significantly easier. Catching sight of a moving shadow in the darkening street outside was not helping in his endeavors either, and he found himself losing focus on her captivating body in order to harbor his increasing suspicion.

[Kressha]

oocSorry haven't posted in awhile, been busy with RL and its been draining me. Hope you haven't lost interest in threading with me! Kressha knew what she sounded like, she knew what she was, and she knew that most people guessed what she was right off the bat, or well, had an idea. Though, despite the speech, Kressha acted very much human, using her size and her looks to her advantage. Guilt played wonders when she asked people why they thought she was a monster because of how she talked, having given them no other reason to think that way. As Casper looked away toward the door to the Grotto again, Kressha felt her eyes follow only to land on the sailors. She hadn't recalled seeing them inside, but from the look her new friend was giving them, they'd met before. She could almost taste the shift in his attitude and his unease. Though, as he returned her request with a cute title, she smiles back up at him and lets her arm slip through his. She let him lead her around the building to where the stable was. Walking arm and arm with him was a little awkward, their height differences throwing off their steps a little. Either Kressha had to walk faster, or Casper had to take slower smaller steps to match her gate. Once there, she pulled herself away from him and led Rahhale into the open stall and went about removing the saddle and setting it on the ground in the corner for now. She'd have to get a chest or something where she could keep her stuff and have it locked in place. She didn't have much stuff, but it was enough that it would be annoying to carry it back and forth from her room each time. Grabbing a brush out of her saddle, she peeked over at Casper as he seemed to be distracted with something outside the stall. "Ssso friendsss of yoursss?" She asks as she starts quickly brushing Rahhale's coat, wanting an answer to her curiosity. She really was blunt. Something caught her attention and she wanted to know more about it.

[Casper]

Her arm was was warm as she locked hers with his, though admittedly not as warm as he had expected. This close to her, he noticed how much smaller she was than him, his bulky frame struggling to match her pace. He was a little disappointed to see her let go of him to tend to her horse. "Friendss?" he repeated, as though it were the most ludicrous suggestion he had ever heard. Then again, she did notice that he was being uneasy about them. He couldn't decide whether she was being very observant or he was being very obvious, all he knew was that he didn't want to concern her with his paranoia. "Not exactly, no," he continued at a much smoother tone than his previous outburst, and took a few silent steps closer to her. She was occupied with brushing her horse, but he hoped to distract her from the mundane activity. "sso, what do you ssay to a few drin--" His flirting was cut off abruptly by the appearance in the doorway, the face that Casper hoped to forget flickering in the light of the torches. "Am I interruptin' something 'ere, lovelies?" The old man's scraggled voice repulsed him, and Casper went from almost leaning on the horse to standing stiffly in front of Kressha, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "What the hell do you want," he whispered harshly between clenched teeth, knuckles whitening under his gloves. He strained his eyes to see what he held in his hand, hidden from the torchlight, to no avail. "We 'av a score 'ta settle, snake." All of Casper's fears had just come true in one sentence, and as though the gods wanted to make things doubly worse for him, the two cronies from earlier appeared behind him. Petch this, he thought furiously, hoping to the gods that they were just looking for a good beating and not a flat-out murder, because he couldn't see himself coming out on top in such a situation. Cornered in a stable with a pretty girl by three hardened sailors definitely put the odds against him.

[Kressha]

Kressha didn't seem to mind that he seemed to struggle to keep up with her pace. Nope, didn't care at all. He wanted to walk with her, he was going to walk at her speed. Once at the stable and after she started tending to Rahhale, she let her eyes shift over to Casper as she worked. It wouldn't take her long, she hadn't overly worked the mare that day. "Ah, ok, ssey didn't ssseem like ssey be good friendsss to anybody." She leaned in against Rahhale's side for a moment and gave him another of her sweet smiles. "I would have had to ressink my opinion of you if ssat wasss sse kinda crowd you ssspent your time wiss." She gave him a wink and a laugh as she continued her work, nearly being finished. As he moved closer and started his pick up line, Kressha let her eyes shift over to him as she waited for him to finish but didn't get a chance to answer him as he was interrupted. Leaning away from her mare, she peeked around Casper toward the voice in the entrance to the stall. The stall wasn't very big, only being designed large enough for a horse to stay in so it quickly became crowded with the new individual. Letting her arms drop to her sides as she stepped to a little more to Casper's side so she could see, she looked up at him. There was that tone in his voice that clearly confirmed that they weren't friends. When his hand went to his sword, Kressha tossed the curry she had been brushing Rahhale with back toward her pack then put her hands on her hips. Ok, the score to settle was interesting, usually that meant that the target of their angry had one upped them at some point. That put a little smile on Kressha's face as she thought for a brief moment what that had been. Then the snake comment came out of the man's mouth as two other blokes finished filling in the gaps to the stall entrance. "Sssnake?" She asked, her brows knitting as she looked up at Casper. "Why would ssey call you a sssnake? Itsss not becaussse of how you talk, isss it?" She asked, her eyes narrowing a little. True, she was a snake in every sense of the word, but, she liked playing that she was human most of the time. She didn't very much like it when people accused her of being a snake when she worked so hard to appear human. Casper looked and well, sounded more human than her so it didn't seem fair for them to be slapping that label on him, even if it happened to be true or not.

[Casper]

Casper winced at Kressha's question. Yet another person who would know something he preferred to keep to himself. He wanted to look back at her, but his eyes were rather preoccupied. "Oh, did ye not tell yer bitch what ye really are?" He grinned, revealing an incomplete set of crooked teeth. "Ye best not be mixin' with these Dhani folk, love," he continued, now addressing Kressha, "Scum an' monsters, the lot of 'em." "You jusst going to talk all night, old man?" Casper asked, the fact that he didn't deny his words proof enough that it was indeed the truth. And the old man didn't need much provoking. He lunged immediately, revealing the wooden club in his hand by swinging it directly at his head. Casper responded quickly, not with his sword, which was much too long to swing in the confined space. Instead, he ducked from the blow, and immediately tackled him with the opening, and the old man was pushed back, his back colliding brutally with the stone wall behind him. He only grunted, and knocked Casper away with another swing of his club to his ribcage. Casper cried out in pain and let go, staggering to the side. Before he could recover, he felt another pair of hands grab him and throw him out of the stall, where he was met with one of the sailor's larger friends, who simply put one beefy hand on his shoulder to catch him and buried the other into his stomach. Casper tottered backwards with a groan, the pain threatening to bring his lunch back to the surface. He looked up, and saw another punch directing itself toward his face. He sidestepped, grabbed the extended arm by the wrist, and pulled it just as he struck him across the jawline. He swiftly pulled back his fist for another assault when the second man tugged him backward and locked both of his arms behind his back before he could react. Casper struggled to break free, but just as he could feel the grip slipping, the one he had managed to punch came to his friend's aid, placing a firm restraint on his left arm while the other held his right. He squirmed as the old man straightened himself, walked up to him deliberately and punched him in the eye. On his knees, his arms completely restrained, Casper had no means of defending himself."You'd be lying in a pool of your own blood if you weren't ssuch a coward, you petchin' basstard," Casper spat fiercely, obviously referring to the two accomplices. He was met with another punch, which cut the inside of his cheek, the metallic taste of blood spreading across his mouth. Clearly, he'd pissed him off with the comment, for the old man reached for his belt and pulled out a long dagger, recently sharpened by the looks of it. "Shyke," Casper muttered to himself. The old man smiled. "If ye really wanna know, these two came o' their own accord. Ye'd be surprised how much people jump at the chance ta put ye Dhani bastards out o' yer misery."