As Larry waits to get his tankard refilled he listens to Dagny's reply. He had barely nodded when Darius made his expected appearance and sat down.
He is a little curious about Dagny's words.... touch kissing? Was there any other kind? But what would be wrong with it? He'd spent uncounted hours kissing the local girls in his neighborhood while they and he had been children experimenting with such. He'd always enjoyed it and most of the girls had as well. Other than the occasional chapped lips he couldn't think of anything wrong with it. And if both parties wanted to take the activities beyond kissing.... ?? His experiences there hadn't been all bad either. If one wasn't careful those activities tended to start families before.... Maybe that was her concern?
He started to open his mouth to speak, but raised his mug to it instead. For once he had to admit that his words would have sounded rather ignorant. And he really wasn't.
"I like meat pies." he quietly states after he sets his mug down on the table. "And donuts."
Wyssal is so amused by Larry's performance she's practically belly laughing. It makes it hard for her to keep sipping on her beer, but somehow she manages well enough to finish it and ask for another from Ameiko before she walks away from the table.
The only response Wyssal manages to get out during it is "Oh, good Sir, I think you may be a wolf in sheep's clothing! Or maybe a wolf and wolf's clothing!"
Since he's spending so much time looking at Wyssal, Larry notices something, or maybe he does, it's always very fleeting and hard to pin down. The light, what there is of it alway, seems to always be falling on Wyssal in exactly the right way to most flatter her appearance. Even when she is practically snorting with laughter, she sounds musical, dulcet. It's a little uncanny.
As things settle down with Dagny's arrival, Wyssal does correct one misapprehension that seems to have arisen. "Oh, I've been with human men before. I've lived among humans all my life. The size difference isn't actually a problem."
"Not that I'm suggesting anything about here and now" she adds quickly.
The tangent into talking about humans brings another thing to mind for Wyssal.
"I should have gone to get Odette to join us. She's my friend. We stayed behind when our caravan left to visit her relatives for a while."
Wyssal makes no move to correct her oversight though, instead starting on sips from her new beer.
"YES! FOOD!"
Wyssal might just be a little tipsy.
"If someone is good with hunting and butchering be it animal or monster I have some recipes for us. I know how to cook, how to sew, to patch and guard. I was with an adventuring group since I was like 8. So that I can handle. The Pixie and the...business there is a bit much for me." Dagny says as she then smiles.
'If you want I can make some sausage rolls, and sticky cinnamon bread for us tomorrow morning!" Dagny says as she looks at the others and then leans down to whisper to Wyssal.
"You have to teach me how to be so sociable" She says as she then sits back up.
'So how about we ask about the Rusty Dragons specialty!"
"Ah. The Pixie Kitchen", Darius remarks. "It's a lovely building. But, sadly, whenever I get with a few feet of it's walls, I hear my aunt's disapproving admonishments in my head." The aasimar sighed.
" Why they are super nice. Several have tried to fix my hair and find me outfits. They also love my food....Oh, yeah I forget sometimes the ladies actual work. Some have beautiful singing voices." She blushes scarler again and takes a drink, yet finds it empty.
Larry laughs at Wyssal's words. He had usually considered himself a lamb in wolf's clothing. But that was just because he tried to be a nice guy, and wasn't looking for a bride! Her comment about size difference not being a problem was interesting.... but she had quickly indicated that she wasn't suggesting anything.
"So my little lady, I don't believe I've met your friend Odette. Is she as interesting as you? Certainly she couldn't be as pretty though!"
Noticing that Wyssal had perhaps not eaten properly before drinking he moves to get some bread and cheese for the entire table, and a small plate to hold the snacks for Wyssal to sample or snack on. Proper drinking should be stretched over the evening, not rushed....
Hearing Darius and Dagny discussing the Pixie Kitchen Larry starts to turn toward them with a leer on his face. He quickly stops himself though as he remembers that his much more virtuous friend has seemed to be interested in Dagny. Clearing any expression from his face was difficult so he simply says, "It is a nice looking building." To stop himself from saying anything else on the topic he takes a swallow from his mug.
" It is a nice building. I stay in the storage part of the basement. I get to read and pray there. I also was given an everburning lantern." she sdds as she holds up her cup.
" Can...um..we please get some more to drink and maybe some bread and cheese please" Dagny hopes she doesnt sound annoying.
Darius's brow furrows. "You're staying in the corner of the basement?! While, I assume, the other girls get full bedrooms?! That's terrible!
And honestly, it's really an insult to your faith. Stuck in a cellar!" The aasimar is sounding more agitated. "How are you expected to worship
The Dawnflower when your 6 feet underground!! That sounds like a Pharasman!!"
The same half orc waitress brings over some bread and cheese, and the bread is warm and fresh. She also refills all the ale cups and asks Darius what he would like to drink.
"Ale would be fine. Thank you, miss." The paladin changes his disposition to that of courtesy.
" No I requested it. At first I was with a lovely Half-elf woman close to my age called Corri, though her stage name was 'Rouge'. She was nice, but schedules threw me off and my schedule distrubed her. Though we do make time for tea every other day!" Dagny says with a smile.
" I hope she finds her way. Right now she loves what she does but still is looking for something. I told her she may need to look at what she wants to do when she tires of her current work"
Darius frowned, folding his arms. "It is possible to be 'too nice', Dagny. I hope you don't let others walk over you."
Tomo finished up and sets things up so Nisk could easily get to everything while he listens to him then Tomo replies,
With things bottled up at the Bottled Solutions, Tomo heads off south towards the docks to check in on his aunt.
Nisk gives a soft sigh of relief, and nods.
Suddenly the same dromaar waitress appears with four plates of food. "On the house, Chef Ameiko's specialty-curry spiced smoked salmon with a baked potato. Courtesy of the chef herself."
Darius smiles wide as the laden plate is set before him. "Thank you, Ameiko!"
Larry takes a big bite of the salmon. He chews with his usual smile, then swallows. "Very good as always! Pity this can't be made into an ale. Cayden might come here just to sample it!!!"
"Eat up! Food is needed for a proper night of drinking. Praise to our hostess and The Lucky Drunk!"
Dagny takes a bit of eat thing. She lets it linger on her palet as she enjoys every bit.
"You know Lawrence, you can ferment fish and other things alongside grains and fruit." She says as she continues to eat.
Larry's face freezes as he hears Dagny's words. "Fish? That's.... Cayden's Tankard! Hey!?!" He stands and follows after the waitress. "Do you have any ale made from fermented fish? Maybe like this delicious fish here! I gotta try it!"
" Yoi dont drink it you eat it" She says with a giggle.
Tomo nods to Nisk and heads out the door cutting to his left as he heads down Raven Street at a quick pace. He takes a right on Festival Street and heads south to the Sandpoint Market then cuts southeast through the market as he heads to the docks. He passes by the Mercantile League as he moves quickly along the docks. After rounding a corner, he moves past Fatman's Feedbag headed towards the Sandpoint Shipyards but cuts to his left just before he gets to it and bounds off the docks to land just behind is aunt's place and then slips through the back door of the shop and calls out,
he knows that due to the recent events she might not be present as she might be tending to others elsewhere but even if she was tending to others their would still be a good chance that she would be here doing that rather than elsewhere. He loathed to think that she would not be present because she was injured or worese, and listened with trepidation as he moved further into the shop looking for his aunt Hannah.
Larry freezes again at Dagny's words. Eat it? He glances to his mug and turns back to the table. "Ah.... I wanted to meet Cayden." He looks more crestfallen than anyone could imagine, but it only lasts a moment. With a fork in one hand and his mug in the other he attacks his potatoes. Halfway through he stops and seems to focus on chewing and swallowing. He sets the fork and the mug down, and smiles again. "Cayden says that we should be merry, and what do I have to be sorry for? Good food. Good friends. And good drink. Everything that a good man needs!"
He smiles around the table and picks up the fork again, eating at a proper pace, obviously enjoying the taste and cleaning the plate.
The house seemed empty, save for the rocking chair moving slowly near the fireplace.
The door to the Rusty Dragon suddenly slams open, and a tall, gruff man storms in to the bar, his face coated in a scowl. “Strongest ale you got, and keep it coming,” he demanded the barkeeper. It was Ven Vinder, who rarely ever came to any of the inns; it’s clear his bad attitude has stiffled the livelihood of the rest of the patrons.
Hearing is aunt's voice gives Tomo a mental sigh of relief. Further, the fact that she was in peaceful reverie meant she was not aware of the latest violence.
Larry scowls when he hears Ven's tone and words. Then he smiles at the man. "Ven? You might want to try Chef Ameiko's specialty, curry spiced smoked salmon and a baked potato before you go pounding ales. Give your body some stength to deal with the alcohol before you pour it down!"
"Lawrence." The aasimar calmly said to his friend. The shelynite got up from his place at the table, and found a place next to Vin at the bar.
"Ven. Any other news about your family?" The paladin lent a sympathetic ear to the grieving man.
'If you want I can make some sausage rolls, and sticky cinnamon bread for us tomorrow morning!" Dagny says as she looks at the others and then leans down to whisper to Wyssal."You have to teach me how to be so sociable" She says as she then sits back up.
Wyssal sort of frowns for a second at Dagny's request. But, she puts a couple of things that she's seen now together in her mind and they form a coherent picture. She leans into Dagny, sort of actually leaning on her, and replies. "We'll talk." Wyssal smiles at Dagny and gives her a wink before pulling herself up straight again.
"So my little lady, I don't believe I've met your friend Odette. Is she as interesting as you? Certainly she couldn't be as pretty though!"
"Oh she is prettier than me though! Wyssal doesn't seem the least bit bothered by saying this, it's almost like she's bragging.
"Odette is tall, but not too tall, and lithe. Her hair falls to her waist and it's the color of sunlit copper. And she has the biggest brown eyes. Whenever we walk anywhere together all eyes are on her."
"That means a lot of the time. We've known each other forever. For all practical purposes we're sisters."
When the food comes, Wyssal gets busy eating. Only taking time out to make theatrically disgusted faces at the talk of fish ale.
Dagny smiles as she nods."I'd appreciate that"
Seeing Lawrence and she looks down.
" Though we did stop the goblins from destroying the town, People still lost in our victory." She continues to eat.
"Those left behind need to mourn. As well as those who did survive not get blinded in Survivors guilt." She stated with true emotion. No pity no sorrow, just heart felt honesty.
Larry hears his friends, especially Darius since the man had used his formal name, and thinks for a moment. His own family had lost members in battles years ago and they held annual remembrances for that. He nods and sets his fork down. His mug was already down. With a somber expression he quietly states, "Sorry. You are right. We should honor the dead, and never forget them." In his mind he adds several additional sentences, but he doesn't voice them.
He considers Wyssal's words about Odette. Tall and lithe, and prettier than Wyssal? And the way she mentioned that they'd been together for years? Was Wyssal.... He thinks again about the people that had fallen. It wouldn't do to have a smile on his face when people were being somber.
Ven looks ready to slug Lawrence until Darius intervenes. However his scowl remains. “You know damn well what happened. My son is dead, and all I have left are ungrateful harlots for daughters and a wife with her head in the clouds.” The man gives a sour glare at Darius, “You know, I half expected you to be of some worth for a mutt. But guess you Deverins only give a damn about yourselves, huh? And that goes for your friends too.” He returns to drowning himself in ale.
Dagny stops eating and gets up. Though small for a human she walks over to Ven.
"Excuse me, Ven was it. If you wish I would love to know about your son." She says offering earnestly to listen to the man and his troubles. It was the least she could do to help ease this mans burden.
Larry sits quietly listening. He hears the insult to Darius but is pretty sure his friend will ignore it, so he does too. Knowing that Ven doesn't really like him much anytime, and especially today he decides to not join Dagny in comforting him. He hadn't know the dead son much anyway, so it wasn't likely that he could help.
"We are sorry for your loss", Darius said softly, having an idea what pain the poor man must be under. "I'm glad your wife and daughters are safe. Shelyn's peace be with you, Ven."
The aasimar pats the grieving man's shoulder and goes to return to his table, all frivolity gone.
Ven glared at Dagny. “He was an actual good child, unlike those daughters of mine…” Before Darius can leave he grabbed the aasimar by the shoulder and shoved him. “To hell with that! I won’t get a lick of peace with my son dead! Take your pity and shove it where the sun don’t shine!”
“Is there a problem here?” Ameiko asks, finally arriving after getting word that Ven isn’t in a good mood.
The chair stops rocking and his aunt shot out of the chair.
“Is there a problem here?” Ameiko asks, finally arriving after getting word that Ven isn’t in a good mood.
Darius smooths out his clothing. "No problem here, Ameiko." The aasimar backs away rather than turning his back on the clearly agitated father.
Dagny lets the exchange play out but takes a seat next to Van.
" Van, I am new here. I did not know your son. I see you loved him. Tell me about him what did he like to do? What made him smile? Did he have a talent?" she asks earnestly ignoring Darius. She new Van was in pain and his daughters were not something to bring up.
"YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW HIM!" Ven bellowed, shooting up so quickly his ale went flying. He reaches out to grab Dagny by the throat...but just as he's mere centimeters from strangling the woman, he stops. He glares at the group.
"Let it be known, mutt," he growls softly, his eyes focused on Darius as he utters that insult, "[b]My son's death? Is your fault. All of your fault. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. You call yourselves heroes? You're nobodies-worthless piles of flesh who think you have worth in this world, while actual good people like my son get slaughtered like swine. This is my only warning-cross paths with me again, and I'll send you to a grave, just like the goblins did to my son." And with that, the man drunkenly storms out of the inn.
Larry watches, and cringes at the words. He knew that he'd been as drunk as the man was now, but had never been as angry or abusive. Or at least he hoped he hadn't. He didn't remember ever....
He picks up his fork and mug and starts back, eating at a respectable pace with an occasional sip. If anyone notices his occasional pause, they would also notice that his eyes are focused on the exit, perhaps thinking about Ven? But he doesn't speak.
"Dagny, let's sit down and enjoy our meal", the aasimar suggested to the cleric. "Ameiko, may I have some more ale please?"
Larry hears Darius's words and starts to raise his mug, then sets it down. With Ven's bad example he decides that even Cayden might practice restraint....
He glances over to Wyssal, "So Wyssal, What's next for you, and Odette? Unless it's private and I shouldn't be asking?"
9"Yes, I am fine. Though I fear his pain will not lessen least he mourn properly. Vengeance though alluring does not allow for hope." Dagny says more to herself than Darius as she goes back and sits at the table.
" Wait Lawrence, Are you aiming for Odette or Wyssal?" Dagny says as she then eats more of the Curry. She lets it sit on her palet to think about the dish and distract herself from the altercation.
Larry leans back to relax, and does pick up his mug for a sip. He listens, expecting some interaction between Darius and Dagny, wondering if they realize that they are the subjects in a romantic comedy in his head....
He sputters when he hears Dagny's question. Had she been watching him and waiting for his attempt to swallow, to interrupt him? Wasting good ale was sacrilege to Cayden!!! "Ah.... I'm sure I don't know what you mean! Regardless of what Wyssal says I can't believe that her Odette could match, let alone better her beauty. But Wyssal was clear that she had no interest in that. I'm no desperate boy, pushing myself on where I'm not wanted. I'm fine with adding Wyssal as just a good friend! Same with her friend Odette." He takes another sip, then adds.... "And aiming? I never compare a lovely woman to a target, to be 'hit'!" Then he turns to Wyssal with a leer and a wink.
"Oh, My teacher would have said that why stop at Odette when you can have Wyssal too." Dagny says as she continues to eat than giggles.
'Uncle Ors, a surly dwarf from Absalom, also said he would welcome three or four wives. Though he was found of several unsavory places. At least thats what Uncle Kannith said. he was one who hid his family history, he supposedly was a member of some Chelaixian Noble house, He helpped Corrin escape but was caught." She said as she continued to eat.
"I miss the Lads, they raised me and taught me alot. though they sent me on my way here when Other Priests deemed me ready to find my own path and voice of the Goddess. Hince why I came here." Dagny reiterates as she smiles. She then sighs.
" Though I hope not all my journeys face the loss I saw in his face."
Tomo was a bit surprised by his aunts reaction as she new he was not one to miss speak nor say something that was not, had he meant a game he would have made that clear,
He then waited to see what his aunt had to say.
" Though I hope not all my journeys face the loss I saw in his face."
"Cheers to that." Darius raised his tankard in a toast.
Larry hears what Dagny says and considers his parents. "Three or four wives? Why would a man even think about more than one wife? Why even Cayden...." His voice trails off when he remembers some of the stories of the God he venerates. "Ah, I mean.... Why would a woman want to be with a man that already has a good wife? It's just. It's just not natural!"
He tips up his mug, not intending to drain it but not thinking about ale with the notions Dagny had placed in his head. Could Odette really be as pretty as Wyssal? And did it really work with a girl as small as Wyssal? He'd never tried, but she had said....
"I must not have filled my mug proper. It's empty!"
" I mean have you travelles with many men, cause I can see why a woman would share a capable man. If not to have to do allthe disgusting work by herself" she says as she turns up her face.
" Like laundry. Do you know how gross washing the underlinens of a man let alone men who have been in a dungeon the entire week!" Dagny places a disgustes look on her face as she then giggles
" Besides having another woman to talk to about your husband, who also is there husband makes it easier to manage."
" At least thats what I have learned from the Madame"
This loose talk of ployamorous relations cuts some of tension at the table between the Caydenite and the Shelynite.
Darius looks up at Lawerence and smirks. "Dagny may have a point there."
" I know the Everlight has no problem with ployamory" Dagny says as she looks at her holysymbol rhen sighs.
" She also doesnt have any issue with dating multiple ladies at once if your honest about it. At least my Master told me that, though I feel that it was more an excuse for him to enjoy the multiple ladies"
Larry sputters at Dagny's words, and Darius's smirk. "No! Every time a girl I was seeing started talking with a girl I'd been with.... That ended things! Last thing I'd ever want was to be seeing two and have them talking about me to each other! Behind my back! As to the washing, I wash my own. I'm a man and I know how to keep clean. Why would I need a wife to do my laundry? And I can cook too! Hardly ever burn things. My mother taught me."
"Poly what? You mean girls with girls? That's just guy's dreams 'cause they ain't getting any. Silliness. Not me. I'm normal. When I'm with a lady I'm not interested in another!"
Darius leans back in his chair, deep in thought. "I do believe several shelynite text indicate The Eternal Rose, The Everlight, AND Desna are in a romantic relationship together."
"Hmm. So there is THAT precedent.."