Solo Crows and Crosses

[Rilian]

Winter 5th, 512 The point of her elbow met Rilian's mouth with surprising precision, sending him stumbling backward into a barstool. Had he not grabbed the bar, he would have toppled right over. More startled than anything, the Kelvic held his aching face and peered up at his attacker. He half-expected more. "Petch off, old man!" The blonde spat at him, not unlike a feral cat, then tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned away, pointedly crossing the room. Finding his feet, Rilian straightened. He drew his hand from his mouth, considering the small red stains on his palm. He smirked. Fiery, that one. Well, at least it was fun watching her leave. "Tough luck," the barkeep said from across the counter, in the midst of cleaning his hands in a damp cloth. Rilian accosted him with a friendly, if defeated smile, then sank into the barstool he'd nearly tipped over. The barkeep watched him as he dusted off his feathery mantle. Surprising amount of dignity for someone who just suffered a decent hit to his pride. "You want a drink? I find that always helps after a rejection." Rilian raised his eyebrows, then glanced in both directions around the bar. The entire establishment smelled of some sour drink, which he assumed was what they all had in their mugs. It was mildly rancid, and not in any familiar way. Then again, that may have just been the crowd. "Sure. Everyone else here seems to enjoy it." Setting himself apart from many other Kelvics, Rilian showed a stroke of wisdom and experience by asking, "How much?" "Half a nilo." He was already filling a mug with the green liquid. Rilian watched intently as he felt around for his coin purse. When the mug was slid in his direction a full nilo coin was slid back in return. "Keep the difference," he said. "I'm wretched at maths." The barkeep nodded with a smile. Rilian picked up his mug, then turned to observe the rest of the tavern. A smell like dead fish billowed around his face as he neatly inspected the different gatherings humans (among other things) within the Kelp Bar. The racial divides here weren't as dramatic as they had been in Ravok. The non-humans did not look or act like slaves. And the humans were… well, varied in their demeanors. Ravokians were a much quieter people. All very fascinating. Rilian lifted his mug to his lips. And immediately withdrew it. Choking, he covered his mouth as he tried to cough and clear his airways. "Yeah, lot of foreigners don't take to it." "Why wouldn't they?" Rilian laughed, glancing over his shoulder. He lifted the drink as if in a toast. "Went down the wrong pipe is all. It's fantastic!" No one enjoyed the taste of old fish more than a vulture. Well, seagulls perhaps.