((From RDI 3/1/08.))
Hand gently placed against the door to the inn, Izira made her way into the building. A long black ladies trench protected her form, covered toe - black heels in view below the hem. Her hair of various hues?reds, browns and copper?was smoothed away from her face, kept in a stylish bun at the back of her head. In one hand she carried a glossy black gift bag. She moved clear of the doorway before looking around with amber-brown irises.
The inn had a number of people in it and sure enough one of those them just happened to be Paladin, standing behind the bar and slinging drinks in his spare time. He noticed her, his expression stilling before introductions with another person pulled his attention away.
Izira gave Paladin an easy smile, making her way towards him and the bar - though, mindful always of others, she avoided standing near anyone else. While Paladin introduced himself to another, the black gift bag - about the size of a couple loaves of bread - was set upon the bar. She stood, keeping her coat about her as it was not her intention to stay long.
As soon as he was free, he moved down the bar to stand across from her. "Izira," he declined his head in greeting, studying her closely while seemingly trying his best to make it look like he's not. "A fine evening to you..."
Somewhere in the inn a voice called out to Paladin, asking after a dartboard. He indicated its location without looking away from Izira "Corner."
As she was somewhat studying him, she caught the slight gesture of him studying her but only perked a silent brow at him for it. But quickly the brow was lowered as she smiled kindly to him. "And to you sir.", sliding the black bag towards him.
He glances at the black bag, then up to her. Perhaps finding nothing wrong, he relaxes a bit. "Thank you. May I ask the occasion?"
She reached a hand out, tapping the edge of the bag. "A return and a gift for? inconveniencing you."
He nodded in acknowledgement. "You didn't have to trouble yourself, but thank you very much." He draws the bag towards him with light fingers, turns it, running his hands over the packaging.
It was very basic, glossy black paper on the outside and white on the inside. The robe was folded up and set in the bottom and upon that was a white box. The box too was plain. Contained inside it was a not so plain male ring, silver with a dark red jewel. But if someone thought the jewel was the gift, then they were not paying close attention.
Down the bar a man had taken a seat. Fingers tapping the bar, he inquired, "Somebody working?"
Paladin nodded to the man. "Evening, sir." A quick smile sent back towards Izira before he moved towards the man. "Help you?? Owning an inn, she knew how it was when working behind the bar. She gave him a nod as he moved away.
?Tea, any old sort will do.?
He nods, picks up the kettle - it whines in his hand, the water churning at a near boil - he fills a mug, snags a tea bag, passes it on to the customer. "Milk, honey, sugar, lemon?" He was quick at his work, Izira thought with a smile as she waited and watched patiently.
"Milk, honey." The man answered, then continuing, "Harasho, spasibo." He pauses. "A linguistic transformation has been taking place within me. While that may have seemed minor there, to me it was a big difference."
Paladin tilted his head to one side, seeming not to quite follow what the man had said. He slides the milk jug and a container of honey across the bar.
"My story has ended, you know. I've slain the dragon, rescued the princess, and am in the process of living happily ever after. I have no idea what to do now, I mean in the day-to-day."
Again Paladin tilted his head at the man. "You live your life. That's all any of us can do. Thus the living happily ever after."
It was starting to be an amusing exchange. A quiet chuckle, Izira covered her mouth and looked away from the man Paladin was tending to focusing instead on some well made mugs sitting behind the bar. Though, an ear was kept open to the exchange.
Another man had come to the bar, speaking to himself. He was too far for Izira to hear, but Paladin must have for he poured out another shot of the pure grain alcohol for the other, sliding it along. Then moving back over to Izira, he was stopped about halfway between her and the determined conversationalist as the man spoke up again.
"Small-scale agriculture is satisfying, in that I've planted most of my pumpkins and triticale. I was adamant about the pumpkins, and being a city boy it's fascinating to dig around in the soil and feed the chickens." The man paused a moment before continuing, "But that's only a few hours a day, and rising early like I do it gets done quickly."
The other, who had gotten the shot, spoke up as well, ?Aye Paladin! Can I ?elp ?miself?"
Paladin was multi-tasking. Listening, replying, and opening the package from Izira. Calling back down to the man who had addressed him by name, "I don't work here, anymore than you do." Nodding to the man, the response earned him a wink from the other. Izira remained silent, not wishing to interrupt and add her voice to the many making requests upon the stand-in tender. He had pulled out the box from the bag and was looking at the ring that was enclosed.
"I grew up in a one-bath one-non-bath with two parents and two siblings. Walking around a couple hectares and being like, 'this belongs to me,' that's a great feeling.", chimed in the determined conversationalist.
"You could write your memoirs," Paladin suggested idly back. "There's still your work with the Security Division. You could work your way through the library of Teas'n Tomes, from fiction to nonfiction and back again." He gestures at the bar behind him. "You could take up bartending." The ring was twirled idly in his fingers, his gaze studying the stone... then slipping sideways, to Izira, questioning.
Seeing his gaze, she glanced from him to the talker and back. Lips sealed while the two exchanged comments. For she knew the moment she started to speak she was likely to but cut off.
"I still do a great deal of reading, but I'm no kind of writer except for some calligraphical recitation, and even that I only learned recently. And I'm done getting shot at, now and forever."
"I can't blame you for that." He tilts his head at Izira and nods. She smiled, figuring he caught that she didn?t care to split his attention. Looking back to the man he said, "I'm sorry, I'm neglecting my friend. I hope you enjoy your tea." Then smiled slightly, "It is good to drink tea and think of concerns."
?I wonder if they?ve got any scumble!? The man who?d gotten the shot earlier cried out, then laughing loudly.
"Feel free, feel free.?, softly heard from the talker while the other was laughing.
"Clear bottle, bottom shelf, no label." Paladin pointed, for the laugher, then slides the rest of the way down, across from Izira? following her as she moved further down the bar. Ring twirling in his fingers, he gives her another questioning look again.
Once at a good distance she leaned forward speaking softly to him, "I'm sure you can tell it is more than it appears. I put an enchantment into the ring for your use - my way of thanking you further for any troubles I might have caused. The ring will show you whatever you need to see, no matter the time or distance. Do know, that the power of it is not limitless... but it should last you a while depending on how you use it."
He nodded, closing his fist around the ring, and murmured back. "Thank you, Izira. This... is a princely gift. I will treasure it."
She smiled, pulling away from the lean. "Then I am glad."
Another nod, he slipped the ring into his pocket. Then unslinging his backpack, which seemed to appear out of nowhere, he opened it up and tucked the robe away into it. The packaging the gifts came in was neatly bundled up and tucked away in a drawer beneath the bar.
Izira noticed that the laugher and talker were now engaged in conversation.
"What's scumble?"
?Scumble is a spirit made from something similar to apples!? Declared the laugher to the talker. "So I'm told."
Paladin interjected absently, "Mostly apples," Before his attention returned to Izira as he slung his backpack on his shoulder again. "Will you be staying a while, m'lady? Or may I walk you out? I'm afraid I must away now."
"I will accept an escort." A nod, she stepped away from the bar and alloing the conversation of the other two to fade from her thoughts.
Paladin quickly leapt the bar, landing lightly next to her. He didn't offer his arm, but kept his steps along in time with her. Opening the front door, he bowed her through. She spoke to Paladin as they moved through the door, "You'll be happy to know,? The door closing behind them as they exit and shutting the winter chill out, ?that I will not be having any more incidents.?
"That's good to hear." He stood on the porch a moment, the icy breeze stirring his coat about him. "Your problem, I take it has been... resolved?"
"It has, sir." The happy smile she wore unmistakable.
I'm glad to hear that." He returned her smile with one of his own, and nodded. "I hope things continue to go well for you." He looked down the street and back to her, "I suppose this is farewell, then, until we meet again." He touches his fingers to his brow in salute and starts down the porch stairs.
"Until then." Her smile following as he made his way off. She lingered on the steps a moment before setting off towards home.
Hand gently placed against the door to the inn, Izira made her way into the building. A long black ladies trench protected her form, covered toe - black heels in view below the hem. Her hair of various hues?reds, browns and copper?was smoothed away from her face, kept in a stylish bun at the back of her head. In one hand she carried a glossy black gift bag. She moved clear of the doorway before looking around with amber-brown irises.
The inn had a number of people in it and sure enough one of those them just happened to be Paladin, standing behind the bar and slinging drinks in his spare time. He noticed her, his expression stilling before introductions with another person pulled his attention away.
Izira gave Paladin an easy smile, making her way towards him and the bar - though, mindful always of others, she avoided standing near anyone else. While Paladin introduced himself to another, the black gift bag - about the size of a couple loaves of bread - was set upon the bar. She stood, keeping her coat about her as it was not her intention to stay long.
As soon as he was free, he moved down the bar to stand across from her. "Izira," he declined his head in greeting, studying her closely while seemingly trying his best to make it look like he's not. "A fine evening to you..."
Somewhere in the inn a voice called out to Paladin, asking after a dartboard. He indicated its location without looking away from Izira "Corner."
As she was somewhat studying him, she caught the slight gesture of him studying her but only perked a silent brow at him for it. But quickly the brow was lowered as she smiled kindly to him. "And to you sir.", sliding the black bag towards him.
He glances at the black bag, then up to her. Perhaps finding nothing wrong, he relaxes a bit. "Thank you. May I ask the occasion?"
She reached a hand out, tapping the edge of the bag. "A return and a gift for? inconveniencing you."
He nodded in acknowledgement. "You didn't have to trouble yourself, but thank you very much." He draws the bag towards him with light fingers, turns it, running his hands over the packaging.
It was very basic, glossy black paper on the outside and white on the inside. The robe was folded up and set in the bottom and upon that was a white box. The box too was plain. Contained inside it was a not so plain male ring, silver with a dark red jewel. But if someone thought the jewel was the gift, then they were not paying close attention.
Down the bar a man had taken a seat. Fingers tapping the bar, he inquired, "Somebody working?"
Paladin nodded to the man. "Evening, sir." A quick smile sent back towards Izira before he moved towards the man. "Help you?? Owning an inn, she knew how it was when working behind the bar. She gave him a nod as he moved away.
?Tea, any old sort will do.?
He nods, picks up the kettle - it whines in his hand, the water churning at a near boil - he fills a mug, snags a tea bag, passes it on to the customer. "Milk, honey, sugar, lemon?" He was quick at his work, Izira thought with a smile as she waited and watched patiently.
"Milk, honey." The man answered, then continuing, "Harasho, spasibo." He pauses. "A linguistic transformation has been taking place within me. While that may have seemed minor there, to me it was a big difference."
Paladin tilted his head to one side, seeming not to quite follow what the man had said. He slides the milk jug and a container of honey across the bar.
"My story has ended, you know. I've slain the dragon, rescued the princess, and am in the process of living happily ever after. I have no idea what to do now, I mean in the day-to-day."
Again Paladin tilted his head at the man. "You live your life. That's all any of us can do. Thus the living happily ever after."
It was starting to be an amusing exchange. A quiet chuckle, Izira covered her mouth and looked away from the man Paladin was tending to focusing instead on some well made mugs sitting behind the bar. Though, an ear was kept open to the exchange.
Another man had come to the bar, speaking to himself. He was too far for Izira to hear, but Paladin must have for he poured out another shot of the pure grain alcohol for the other, sliding it along. Then moving back over to Izira, he was stopped about halfway between her and the determined conversationalist as the man spoke up again.
"Small-scale agriculture is satisfying, in that I've planted most of my pumpkins and triticale. I was adamant about the pumpkins, and being a city boy it's fascinating to dig around in the soil and feed the chickens." The man paused a moment before continuing, "But that's only a few hours a day, and rising early like I do it gets done quickly."
The other, who had gotten the shot, spoke up as well, ?Aye Paladin! Can I ?elp ?miself?"
Paladin was multi-tasking. Listening, replying, and opening the package from Izira. Calling back down to the man who had addressed him by name, "I don't work here, anymore than you do." Nodding to the man, the response earned him a wink from the other. Izira remained silent, not wishing to interrupt and add her voice to the many making requests upon the stand-in tender. He had pulled out the box from the bag and was looking at the ring that was enclosed.
"I grew up in a one-bath one-non-bath with two parents and two siblings. Walking around a couple hectares and being like, 'this belongs to me,' that's a great feeling.", chimed in the determined conversationalist.
"You could write your memoirs," Paladin suggested idly back. "There's still your work with the Security Division. You could work your way through the library of Teas'n Tomes, from fiction to nonfiction and back again." He gestures at the bar behind him. "You could take up bartending." The ring was twirled idly in his fingers, his gaze studying the stone... then slipping sideways, to Izira, questioning.
Seeing his gaze, she glanced from him to the talker and back. Lips sealed while the two exchanged comments. For she knew the moment she started to speak she was likely to but cut off.
"I still do a great deal of reading, but I'm no kind of writer except for some calligraphical recitation, and even that I only learned recently. And I'm done getting shot at, now and forever."
"I can't blame you for that." He tilts his head at Izira and nods. She smiled, figuring he caught that she didn?t care to split his attention. Looking back to the man he said, "I'm sorry, I'm neglecting my friend. I hope you enjoy your tea." Then smiled slightly, "It is good to drink tea and think of concerns."
?I wonder if they?ve got any scumble!? The man who?d gotten the shot earlier cried out, then laughing loudly.
"Feel free, feel free.?, softly heard from the talker while the other was laughing.
"Clear bottle, bottom shelf, no label." Paladin pointed, for the laugher, then slides the rest of the way down, across from Izira? following her as she moved further down the bar. Ring twirling in his fingers, he gives her another questioning look again.
Once at a good distance she leaned forward speaking softly to him, "I'm sure you can tell it is more than it appears. I put an enchantment into the ring for your use - my way of thanking you further for any troubles I might have caused. The ring will show you whatever you need to see, no matter the time or distance. Do know, that the power of it is not limitless... but it should last you a while depending on how you use it."
He nodded, closing his fist around the ring, and murmured back. "Thank you, Izira. This... is a princely gift. I will treasure it."
She smiled, pulling away from the lean. "Then I am glad."
Another nod, he slipped the ring into his pocket. Then unslinging his backpack, which seemed to appear out of nowhere, he opened it up and tucked the robe away into it. The packaging the gifts came in was neatly bundled up and tucked away in a drawer beneath the bar.
Izira noticed that the laugher and talker were now engaged in conversation.
"What's scumble?"
?Scumble is a spirit made from something similar to apples!? Declared the laugher to the talker. "So I'm told."
Paladin interjected absently, "Mostly apples," Before his attention returned to Izira as he slung his backpack on his shoulder again. "Will you be staying a while, m'lady? Or may I walk you out? I'm afraid I must away now."
"I will accept an escort." A nod, she stepped away from the bar and alloing the conversation of the other two to fade from her thoughts.
Paladin quickly leapt the bar, landing lightly next to her. He didn't offer his arm, but kept his steps along in time with her. Opening the front door, he bowed her through. She spoke to Paladin as they moved through the door, "You'll be happy to know,? The door closing behind them as they exit and shutting the winter chill out, ?that I will not be having any more incidents.?
"That's good to hear." He stood on the porch a moment, the icy breeze stirring his coat about him. "Your problem, I take it has been... resolved?"
"It has, sir." The happy smile she wore unmistakable.
I'm glad to hear that." He returned her smile with one of his own, and nodded. "I hope things continue to go well for you." He looked down the street and back to her, "I suppose this is farewell, then, until we meet again." He touches his fingers to his brow in salute and starts down the porch stairs.
"Until then." Her smile following as he made his way off. She lingered on the steps a moment before setting off towards home.