She looked back to Wil, chuckling. Obviously, she was a bit more aglow than usual. Moments before she was just a tad dimmer, in other words. Elven lovers had that effect on Gypsys. "Well, it's going, Wil. How're you, dude?" She chirped.

It isn't entirely clear how the slender man gets there, but whichever way that is, Vaire is in the broom closet at the back of the common room. The trick broom closet. There is no loud bang to announce him, no bright flashes of light, black-magic black smoke or elemental flames, only the quiet clicking of a doorknob turning. He opens the door just enough to slip his slender form through, lips parted gently in thought upon his examination of the room, the hands behind his back pressing the door shut again.

Wil would grin a bit broader to mask his darkened pains that were inspired in his heart. His lover, his fianc?e, disappeared on him on their wedding day. Poor, poor Wil. ?I'm doing okay, Chase. Making it through, day by day.?

Locke shoved the door open and entered, somewhat subdued. His outfit was equally subdued as well: a black sweater paired with blue jeans, and black leather boots as well (though his white hair was still spiked-up). His ever-present messenger bag was at his side, as he slowly sidled up to the bar.

The Gypsy nodded warmly to Wil, smiling softly. "I'm glad to hear it, Wil. Rock on." She again chirped, looking back to Quel with almost child-like excitement. She bit her lip bashfully, smiling as her eyes showed emerald eruptions laced with sweetened golds. "So, Q, what's up?" She tried to uphold the act of small talk they had going, but she knew she was doing a miserable job of it.

The hum. The noise. He shuts his eyes, dips his chin, and rakes his fingers back through his stringy black hair until his head is tipped all the way back while he changes the dial on the radio. His eyes open. ?There. Better.?

Kitty, the Ex-Governor, peers curiously at Vaire with an arched eyebrow, then leans and wriggles claws at someone else in greeting.

Chase kissed him back with equal loving tenderness. She couldn't help but smirk maliciously at his order. "Oh? And last night didn't? I'm hurt." She whined, smiling impishly in her Gypsy way. She looked down to her guitar, making sure not to lose track of her place in the song. She almost slipped with her fingers, but recovered before anybody but she would notice.

Panther looked back towards Vaire, pondering a moment. ?Well, I suppose I will say yes for now.?

A flash of a smile for Panther, before Sjira's stolen look was spotted. He couldn't help but flash that same smile to her, and wink, to boot. Then, he faced Panther again. "Thank you most kindly, mate."

"Thank you." His eyes move up and down the bar quickly, and he places two silver coins upon it. "I will have a glass of brandy."

Panther grabs a snifter, rolling it in his hands a bit before reaching for the bottle. A decent amount is poured in before he turns to set it before Vaire.

?I asked how's it going.? Kitty repeats with a smirk.

Locke nodded politely back to Chase, before quickly returning to Kitty. "Oh, I got the latter part of your statement. I was just curious about the former." He arched an ice-white eyebrow at Kitty.

?Oh.. the Jack Frost bit. You never heard of that guy?? Kitty?s smirk remained smirking to the Locke.

From somewhere the slender man produces a cane. His eyes are downcast while he turns the knob of it slowly under his fingers, the other end angled into a little gap in the floorboards. He collects his drink blindly and sips very carefully from it.

Locke waved Kitty off, but he was still grinning a bit. "Yes, I have. And Frosty the Snowman. I've probably heard just about every nickname you can come up with, mate."

?You're not very snowmanish. You're not round enough.? Kitty observed his frame.

Locke straightened up a bit, back arched just slightly. "You're absolutely right about that, mate. If I do say so myself, I'm fit and fetching." He winked at Kitty. "But I prefer it when others say such things about myself."

?And, if I recall the stories correctly, Jack Frost was far more mischievous.? Kitty grinned.

He flashed a Cheshire Cat grin Kitty's way, dimples clearly visible in his cheeks. "That shows how much you know about me, mate. Give me some time, and you'll find me quite the imp."

When he decides to lift his gaze again, it intensifies, and right now it's boring into Kitty. He nurses his drink and thinks only a little about it.

The Gentle Elf had zoned off into his own little world at that point. Eyes drifted shut as he listened to Chase play. Not lulled to sleep, necessarily, but just relaxed. Relaxed into a trance where recent vivid memories played, surrounded by only the sounds of strumming. Doubtless to say, Quel was puckered out from a long exclusive night with his Gypsy.

Kitty shot an amused look at Chase, then back to Locke. ?Indeed.?

He sipped his water, glancing over to Chase quickly and smiling as she added on to their conversation, before looking back at Kitty."You seem rather bright, mate. Do you have a unique nickname for me, or are you like the rest of the birds on the block?" Thumbed jerked towards Chase. " 'sides her of course."

His eyes fall to his wristwatch, and he watches the little hand tick away seconds. His lips twitch suddenly, and he smiles.

Kitty?s eyes twitched to the side with an arched eyebrow, but refocused on Locke and grinned. ?Oh, I'm sure I could come up with one.?

With her hands balled up into little fists at her sides, Atalanta came muttering up the porch steps and into the commons, lips turned down. Green eyes kept bouncing towards the lone, oversized slipper besides her dress shoe, the difference in the heels making her walk a little lopsided.

Chase looked to Locke angrily before he quickly recovered by making her an exception over the others he had mentioned. Nodding in proud satisfaction, she smiled impishly. Glancing to Quel, her gentle eyes of emerald softened to a forest green. She didn't have the heart to disturb him, and she had no reason to. She looked to a new entry, her eyes in slight worry yet unable to suppress a chuckle at her mismatching footwear. She played on effortlessly, peering at Atalanta.

Quel couldn't be disturbed as long as fingers plucked at strings. Face was resting on the arms atop the chair, relaxed. But perhaps he would be drifting for the moment. Drifting away from the world about him and fully immersing in the one within him. He couldn't help it at the moment. Muscles requested to rest, and he obliged.

No. Not a headache. Atalanta?s eyes grew to the size of saucers as she stared at a spot on the floor. A spot of her on the floor. Full-body...blood? Was that blood? Going sheet-white, she froze, wondering if someone had slipped her something. Or...wait. Could she be...?

He chortled back at Kitty. "Well, unless you're still in power, mate, I would be inclined to agree that it would only stick with you."

?Thankfully, no. Despite a few who insist on still calling me Gov, I am happily no longer owner of that title.? Kitty grinned broader. ?So you're safe.?

"Oh my my," He murmurs again with a soft smile and brings his brandy up to his gently parted lips.

Had she blinked? Atalanta didn't think she had, but the image was gone in an instant. An instant too slow, maybe. She kept staring at the floor as if it'd come back. Was that supposed to be a warning?

Locke spotted 'Lanta's wide-eyed look, and, with a slight waver in his voice, addressed Kitty. "If you'll excuse me for a moment?" He grabbed his glass of water and headed for the table. He quietly spoke to 'Lanta, having also noted her attire. "Are you doing all right, mate?"

Chase waited. And waited. And waaaited to be acknowledged. She waited so long, her eyes were given time to examine Atalanta. A liquid-like shine on the ground quickly drew her attention. Its color got even more of her attention. She nearly slipped while playing. Was that...blood? Could it be the girl's time of the month? An injury? She grew terribly worried terribly fast. She urgently leaned further forward, unwanting to disrupt Quel's relaxation but dreadfully worried for Lanta.

"But I...was there." She said, really barely audible, her eyes near leaving that spot. She sounded honestly confused by her own disappearance from the floor. Her brow creased as she mulled over it.

Being politely abandoned by Locke, her serpent gaze goes again. Kitty?s tail twitched slightly in intermittent intervals.

"Dut, da da... da da duh..." He hums slowly and quietly to himself, eyes lowered to the strange silver knob of his black cane, twisting it in circles in place.

Locke leaned over, to murmur quietly into her ear. Eyes glanced down at the spot of blood on the floor. <vs>"Is that your claret, mate?" Then, a pause, to contemplate what she'd said. "I...don't follow."

"Daaaa-rum pa pa pa..." His voice is still as soft as a whisper, eyes fixed now on the drink. It sloshes a moment as if something were just dropped in it, though nothing was.

"Huh? You saw it...oh." Well, fancy that. The spot where she'd slashed her pinky had managed to get a few splotches on the floor--probably during the fist-making. It hadn't been as much as she'd spied before, though. Or, thought she'd...She looked to Locke with a half-smile, offering a nervous laugh. "Strange night."

He chuckled a bit, though not for too long, lest the gesture be interpreted as laughing at and not laughing with her. "That would explain the sweats? And the slipper?" Then, he leaned in close again, to whisper in her ear. <vsw> "Could've sworn what?" His face was blank, but his eyes seemed to be jumping at shadows. He was probably just being paranoid...

Upon her Elf's disappearance, she hopped off the bartop and darted for Atalanta and Locke. She cared not if it drew attention. All she cared about was what the hell was up. Upon her travels, she felt an intrusion within her thoughts. Nothing interruptive, but an override. Almost like her Avatar heritage, a vision got the best of her. It was her...slitting Atalanta's throat. She saw herself raw with bloodlust, cold with driven intentions. She saw blood gush from her best friend's neck.

She halted in her steps, her eyes going wide and frozen. She gasped sharply, hands rushing to cover her mouth. As if watching something horrible happen before her eyes, which she did, she slowly began to fall to her knees. Tears brimmed upon her eyes. She was astonished. Shocked. Horrified. Petrified.

"What...the hell...?" She murmured, her eyes unblinking for several moments too many. Why...did she just imagine that? Why did she bloody SEE that?!

"Don't remind me..." Grumbled, her nose wrinkling in distaste. "At least he seemed sorry..." She sucked on the little cut on her hand, trying to keep it from messing up her shirt. Of course, when he asked her that question, she almost ended up chomping down. Green eyes narrowed suspiciously, her voice dropping so only he'd hear it. "I...I know this is going to sound...well, I...I saw me...but...not...quite living. I was..." She pointed to her throat, and shook her head quickly.

"Whoop-see-dai-sy," Leaves his lips softly. He steadily drinks down the rest of his brandy.

Chase was clearly rattled, yet the Avatar of Release in her was feeding off of her rising tension. It would need to exude it all somehow. And due to her title, it would be quick in one way or another. Locke was the most obvious target. The Avatar's emotions shifted from Horror to Rage in an instant. "Damnit, Locke, can't you SEE I'm a bit upset right now?!!? Could you wait just a bloody moment?!"

She slammed her fist against the table, reopening her eyes that were glued downwards. Venomous reptilian patterns and colors filled her eyes. Right when Quel leaves, crap happens. Why was his timing so damn precise?! She had gotten her fill last night, but now...there was more to free. More to express. More to release. She dragged her slammed hand back to her person, covering her eyes with that hand. She was trembling hugely. She was trying to control herself. Failing miserably at it, too.

She gave a little hop on her mismatched shoes, body wobbling at the peculiar fellow with the cane. Her smile was crookedly fixed on as she regained some notion of politeness, sturdying herself to face him and his greeting. Though, something about him still had her unsettled. Was it his speech, or simply that he'd caught her on such a night? Maybe it was just...him? She watched after him, eyes wide, again. She couldn't figure out how to speak.

His eyes fell on Vaire as he walked up to 'Lanta and introduced himself, then widened a bit as he just walked away. <m> "Nutter..." Then, with another arch of his eyebrow, he spoke one simple word to Chase, quietly. "Quite."

Two fingers unfurl from the knob of his cane to reach for the door handle... and falter. Nutter. Insane? Him?! He turns his head oh-so-very-slowly, and stares at Locke. At long last he forces a smile. "Aheh." The laugh is quick and humorless. He jerks the door open sharply and stalks out.

"I got chundered on, mate." She said to Ethan, furiously rubbing a circle into her skull with her fingertips. She was able to smile for the fellow, though."Howya, Ethan? I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know! It's been a while." Smiling at her, but he gets an odd expression on. "Chundered?"

Chase was finally regaining herself. She could hear the others now. She was relieved. The danger was still close, but she reigned supreme. She was winning, for now. She let out a dry laugh, grinning tiredly over at Locke. "Shut up, Frosty." She barked playfully, grinning with a fatigued look on her face.

"Hey, E..." She said, reopening her eyes only to look away from them all. She wasn't sure what they looked like, after all.

Locke glared evilly at Ethan for a second, but his attention suddenly shifted back towards Chase.

"What's going on, Chase?" Settling a broad hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. Oh, and ignoring Locke. Like usual.

She made the universal puking gesture, puffing out her cheeks and clapping a hand over her mouth, before pretending to expel the imaginary contents of her stomach. Afterwards, a nod. "Chunder."

A leeeeeeeean over towards Atalanta and he stage whispered, loud enough so that the rest of the table could hear it. "Bloke's making it bloody difficult to apologize to him."

And then a turn, green eyes to Chase. "Were you dead, too?" Her question surprisingly serious.

Then to Atalanta, Ethan?s expression contorting into one of disgust. "Oh sick." Then his expression fell, staring blankly at Locke. "Don't need an apology from you, mate. Everyone knows I'm an asshole." Great. Ruin his night. Shaking his head, Ethan turned back to give Chase his full attention.

Chase brought a reassuring hand to rest on Ethan's hand, giving it a pat or two with a shake of her head. She looked to Atalanta, eyes opened now. They were a deadened gray with subtle ribbons of red and yellow dangers looming about. "No, Lant. I was the killer."

She nodded to her, feeling a cold sinking feeling in her stomach. She mouthed the words to Atalanta silently. "Your killer."

Ethan didn't know what was going on, but Chase seemed hurt by their actions. The chair legs scraped loudly against the hard wood floor as he moved it closer to Chase. Dark eyes met hers, silently seeking answers. He squeezed her hand back and brought it down to rest on his knee.

Rena had told him he wasn't careful with acting like he wanted Maeve. It didn't matter to him what others thought. Chase was his friend and he didn't back down from friends. Ethan's look told her he was there for her.

Locke's primary reason for being at the table now gone, he wordlessly picked up his water glass and messenger bag. He finished his drink on the way back up to the bar, choosing to take a seat somewhere near Perceval. His eyes kept dancing back and forth between the man and the ladies' room, as he set his empty glass down on the bartop. "Evening, mate."

Chase's other hand came to the bridge of her nose, pinching the tip-top of it and closing her eyes. She shook her head slowly to herself. Her eyes reopened and watched Atalanta head for the restroom. She shouldn't have told her.

She shouldn't have been honest. Yet again, her friends are sickened by her. In this case, probably, literally. Chase didn't even look to Locke this time. Was he conspiring against her? Whispering that she was the new enemy and that he would protect Atalanta from her no matter what?

When Locke left, that only made her feel worse. Chase looked to Ethan with a pained smile. One of emptied proportions. Gray dominated her eyes. The beast was nowhere to be found now. Grief remained as debris.

Locke let the sigh escape his lips audibly, before suddenly standing and heading through the break in the bar. He grabbed his old glass and put it in the sink, before pouring himself something stronger. He grabbed an Old-Fashioned glass, poured himself a finger of whiskey, and put plenty of ice in the tumbler.

Locke returned to his seat quickly, finally addressing Perceval. "I was faring far better before I came in here this evening. This place...sometimes I bloody wonder why I even bother with it."

Atalanta had gone. Locke had left without a word. Ethan was confused and Chase didn't even look like herself. He wasn't good at this whole comforting thing, though he often tried. "What's going on, Chase?" Asked softly.

?Ethan..." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She reopened them, showing no difference. She leaned into him, whispering so only he would hear.

Upon finishing, she sat back, covering her mouth with her hand. Tears threatened to make reappearance. She looked downwards, looking to the ground around them slightly. She then found it in herself to look at E again. "Now do you see? How things are just nuffled up even more? God, my luck sucks..." She groaned.

"Maybe he's trying to kill me. I could see him trying to have a friend do it. He's not one for getting his hands dirty when he doesn't have to." She mused aloud, seemingly unperturbed by the thought as she poured herself a glassful of the bluish wine kept on the lower shelves. Someone had told her it was potent. Good for the nerves.

Ethan listened patiently and sat back with in stoic silence when she'd finished. After several moments of this information bouncing around in his brain, he looked from Chase to Atalanta at the bar. "How do we even know this is true?" Spoken for Locke, Atalanta, and Chase.

"The Good Book is full of visions, innit?" She furrowed her brow, gaze bouncing over towards Chase and Ethan. "Wouldn't you call that a vision?"

It took him a while to remember the Bible stories that his step-father, who was never all that devout, would tell him on occassion. He whispered to 'Lanta, using her slang. "Your Da'?" A little louder, then. "He trying to pull a Judas on you?" He pretended not to hear Ethan.

"Sure, but isn't this place full of wizarding folk? Couldn't someone have.. I don't know.. faked it? Put it in your minds?" He shrugged.

Chase shrugged, looking to him. "We don't, dude. But still...that's...something to think about. God, I feel sick." She letting out a heavy breath. "I really, really hope this is all just a hoax. Just a mindf*ck to get us all rattled for no good reason, y'know?"

"I wouldn't put it past him. I'm not sure he's terribly fond of me." She gave a little chuckle, gulping down two mouthfuls. "Good morning, indeed." Back again went her attention to Ethan and Chase. "It might be that, too...I suppose. But why? How would they know to pick us two?"

Really, Ethan probably knew more about Chase than she did. If Atalanta had taken a moment to really think that over, she might have been upset. Instead, she chose to take hearty sips until her glass was empty. Upon seeing Hawk, she gave him a toss of her chin and a sideways smile, both looking unusual coming from her.

Looking back to his rainbow haired friend, Ethan smiled. "No problem. Anything for you." He finally released her hand and leaned back in his chair.

In imitation of her, Locke slammed back the rest of his whiskey on the rocks. In an attempt to keep 'Lanta's mind off of macabre things, he shook his glass a little. "May I have a refill, please, lirimear?" Then, spoken out of the blue. "We should go sledging tomorrow."

When he released her hand, Chase found it hard to take her hand back. She found comfort in his contact. Alas, she knew better. She brought her hand to her person, crossing her arms, rubbing at her elbows gently with her fingertips. She smiled a bit wider, keeping her glance outwards to the distance of the Inn. She wished she had left with Quel. That would've been the smarter idea. At least, that's what she'd tell herself.

She knew him well enough to not have to ask what his beverage of choice was. Bartender skill, and all. As she crossed to get the whiskey bottle, along with her preferred wine of the night, she tipped her head to his suggestion. "Come again?" His glass was filled and pushed over with her fingertips as she set to work on her own refill.

"Get you something, Hawk?" Asked as she regarded him from the corners of her eyes.

Both of his hands were raised and rubbed over his face as he sighed. "So... the shop is coming along." Tired, dark eyes settle on Chase since Locke and Atalanta seemed to be content in each other's company. "I think Bradley was expecting me to be around more. I don't know why I thought I could handle running my own business.." Shaking his head.

For a moment Hawk contemplated, his head taking a sideways tilt. ?Ale, if it is none too much trouble, 'Lanta.? Hawk placed a scar riddled hand upon the bar and lifted it, a few silver crowns remaining upon it. ? Someday soon it shall be I who gets you your drinks, and you will have no other choice but to sit and enjoy.? Plush lips bowed concave. "Thank you."

"Poor fella." She said sympathetically, sipping at her glass. "I got chundered on!" Brightly offered back to Tucker, smiling as chuckling as though it was common.

He was tempted to make her sing it anyways, but he waved her off. "Nah, I'll wait until it's finished. It better be goo--- OW!" Ethan frowned and rubbed at his head, turning in his seat to stare after Rena as she left.

Locke was able to put two and two together, hearing the slap, Ethan's expression, and following his glare to Rena. Though she left before he could wink and grin at her, he still had something of a triumphant expression on his face.

"Some bloke at the Silver Mark. I work there, too...same job, different place." She grinned, shrugging her shoulders. "I should have seen it coming. He was swaying---in hindsight, he even looked a little green. But I just had to go and offer him another scotch...."

The hand rubbing the back of his head moved to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Sometimes I wonder why I stay? Really...this is ridiculous."

Chase rose her hand in agreement, nodding. "I'm right there with you on that one, Ethan. I really do think this joint's a cruel place. I wonder why I'm still around. I also, however, wonder how my campsite still remains unattacked by any upset folks. That really is a miracle to me...."

"Could've warned me! Well, at least I'll be prepared next time..." She smirked, head rolling to the opposite side as she looked to Tucker. Oh yeah, there was sudden curiosity. "Has it ever happened to you?"

This angered Ethan more than the events of the past few weeks. Dark eyes turn to Hawk as he stands abruptly. "Yeah, well, I shouldn't be crucified for it, either." Ethan glanced to Chase, shrugging at her. "They don't hate you as much as me, it seems." And with that, he turned and headed for the door.

Tucker had her smiling again, with the touch and the reassurance that she wasn't pestering him too much. "You've a farm? Do you grow crops, or do you raise animals? There was a bird farm down the way from me when I was younger--they were large and scary, though. I never could touch the jerky my Aul Fella brought home from there."

She shuddered at the thought of them. Creepy things. Had she known what an emu was, she could almost compare them--except the creatures she spoke of were the nastier, Rhydin universe types. She looked down to Locke again, raising her brows. "I understand that--but I have heard you be curt without need."

Chase pushed a chair with intentions to make noise. She would've marched out the Front, but knew how that looked. Rolling her eyes to herself, she wiped away at the dry riverbeds of tears on her face and headed out the backway. "Remember, Atalanta. If you still want...Girls Night is whenever you want it to be. Wherever, too. In case you don't feel safe to be alone with me anymore." That wasn't meant to sting. It was sincerely considerate. She headed out the Alleyway door, not saying goodbye.

"Soon? Please?" Called to Chase's back. It was a real plea, without fear. No, despite the 'vision', she didn't want to separate herself from the woman. Her lips twisted in an odd manner to the Gypsy's back, before looking back to Tucker. She let him see the tail-end of her frown, before resuming her previous expression.

"I suppose I have. He's damn infuriating though." He sighed. "What would you have me do?? He lifted the tumbler to his lips, as he polished off his drink. Eyes glanced aside to Chase, but he didn't say a word or nod or give any indication that he'd actually seen her.