The spitting dragon Inn and Tavern

[Audrey Thatch]

Phire touched the rim of her glass to her lips and grinned to herself. This would be almost as interesting as that rendevouz with..

"My line of expertise?" She paused for a minute, wondering if she should play around the topic or not.

"oh.. I'm just a little girl.. Who happens to take great interest in a particular lizard beneath her." Her small hand quickly found it's way down the lizard's torso, carefully avoiding *that place* and came to rest on the upper insides of his right leg.
"Typically, I'm someone nice, innocent young beings like yourself should avoid at all costs.." Phire continued softly.

The girl picked up her drink and drained the glass, peering over the edge of it every so often. She put it down and leant towards him. ".. My name's Phire."

[Slither]

Slither smiled ruefully. The girl was more direct than he had given her credit for. Her hand was straying dangerously close, and they were still in the bar. He either needed to change rooms or change the subject...
"Phire... that's such a nice name..." he commented, placing his glass on the nearest table and leaning towards her. "I don't think you'd really want to know my name... but people call me Slither."
Grinning, he added, "but you, Phire, can call me whatever you wish".

[Audrey Thatch]

Phire looked at Slither and threw her head back jovially. Peals of laughter shook her body and echoed through the bar. She soon managed to flick her body back and looked at the lizard with a cheeky grin. "I bet'cha don't know WHY I was called Phire, do you Slither? I wonder.. should I demonstrate..?" She said with a wink.

[Slither]

Phire - Slither turned the name over in his mind and the pun hit him. He chuckled to himself. Hell, why not?
He winked back, and let a grin spread across his face. "Why not?" he replied. "Why don't you show me your... phire." He traced the curve of her back gently with his hand, so soft when he needed.

[Audrey Thatch]

Phire bit her bottom lip gently and stood up. "I was beginning to worry that maybe I didn't quite have it anymore.." She purred, a seductive smile plastered across her face.

".. You've lucky.. The best demonstration room isn't in use at the moment.." Phire pressed her lips on Slithers cheek and skipped across to a curtain covered door at the far wall of the bar.

[Slither]

Slither stood slowly and made his way after Phire through the curtain, glancing at the other patrons of the bar. Some of them nodded at him - they knew what was coming. He didn't know whether or not to nod back. So he simply pulled the curtain back and stepped inside what she had dubbed "the demonstration room".

[Audrey Thatch]

((Rightiho.. I'm gonna stop this here.. You know why Slither. ^^;; this particular RP's over for the timebeing..))

[Audrey Thatch]

Audrey wandered into the tavern, draping her cloak over the polished hook near the door. Unfazed by the sights around her she sat at the bar and ordered a shot of Otherworld liquer.

The bartender nodded at the order, holding a small glass under the unplugged opening of a barrel labelled "XXX"

'triple strength' Thought Audrey. 'Perfect.'

The truth being, she was worried that she was under some kind of curse, doomed to meet with a certain elf everywhere she went for the rest of her life. 'There is no way in Hell' she said to herself 'That Ryosei will come on here.. It's not his scene..'

The thought stramed out of her head and she nervously looked around her, making sure that he wasn't here. Seeing noone but male and female prostitutes seducing clients she downed the shot that was placed in front of her.

A hand on her shoulder. Audrey closed her eyes, her temples ached. If this was Ryosei, she would scream.
"Good evening, my dear" Came an unfamililiar, drawled voice. She could feel this person's breath on the nape of her neck, and she grimaced. Thankfully, not Ryosei, but Why in the world did she come in here anyway? What was she thinking?

Audrey spun around in her seat and faced the good-looking, yet overly confident man, her lips pressed together tightly.

"I'm sorry sir. I'm not really in the mood for being whored right at this moment, In fact, the only reason I came in here was to..." She paused. This would sound awkward no matter how carefully she worded it.

"Never mind. Just leave me be please. I'm not interested." The man bowed, and leant in. Uncomfortably close, and sneered.
"You think that just because you have a big sword.." He touched the hilt of her blade "That I'm going to leave you be?" He whispered, bitter laughter spreading like wildfire through his eyes.

He raised his voice so that everyone else could hear him. Showing off. Boasting his power over everyone. "Kelkor gets whoever he wants, you hear? And this is one pretty damsel he's not letting go so easily.."
Kelkor was quite a large man, and despite the strength Audrey exerted against him, he pinned both her wrists to the bench.

Ther patrons in the Tavern stopped to watch the scene. It wasn't the first time Kelkor had attempted to take a girl forcefully to his quaters and make her sleep with him, but never had they seen anyone resist him for so long. Generally, Kelkor's women were quite willing to dissapear into the back with him, but this one..

"She looks familiar" Said one merchant to the man opposite him. "But where I've seen her before, I can't remember.."

Audrey was agitated. By Kelkor's ignorance. By the lack of interest displayed by the people in the tavern, but her stupidity angered her the most, and she tore her wrists from the bench. Kelkor's nails dug into her skin as she did so and she shrieked, landing a punch to his nose breaking it with a 'crack'.

Kelkor roared bitterly despite the pain from his bloodied nose, snatched Audrey's katana and threw it a safe distance away from her. No one in the tavern moved towards it. 'At least' he sneered 'that's out of the way..'. A picture passed through his mind. This woman. Ferocious, firey. Just imagine.. Another smile passed over his young face as he caught her around the middle, restraining her; her wild kicks barely mosquito bites against his skin.

Audrey's face and arms were bloodied by her wrists, and without her katana she was weaponless. Her weapon lay be metres away from her, and once again she cursed her stupidity... If only her crew were here, but it was too dangerous to scare him off, demanding him to release her because she was the Pirate Captain. He would just laugh.. and the others? They'd have her dead in a second.

For the first time in years, Audrey's eyes filled with salty anger-induced tears.

((Whoo.. I feel like alek! ^_^ ))

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei shivered in the rain outside the rowdy tavern. Having made up some lame excuse to escape the lady's advances, he had grabbed his coat and bolted out of the door.

There wasn't much shelter outside the tavern. He would much rather prefer to be inside where it was warm, but he figured there was too much risk of a fight or advances from ladies trying to make some quick money. The tavern had seemed like a nice place when he first entered, but everytime he glanced at it now, it seemed more and more seedy. Maybe it was the drunkards getting more drunk and rowdier, or the whores getting bolder as the night drew longer. What the lizard-man had done to the window didn't help matters either. I'm sure HE'S enjoying himself right now.

Ryosei's thin, strong chain was wrapped up his bandaged arm inside the jacket sleeve. He clenched the end of it with his good, gloved hand and sighed. Things just seemed to get worse and worse since the incident at Sephira Nu.

At least you've spoken to her, he thought to himself. At least you know you're on speaking terms, and she isn't out to kill you or anything. It's always a good thing. He sighed again, and looked at his bandaged hand. How much longer it would have to remain that way, he didn't know, but he knew the crystal wounds would take their own sweet time to heal.

There seemed to be some kind of quarrel happening in the tavern, but he dared not look. He had learnt to stay out of other peoples' business...he didn't get hurt that way.

Ryosei's green eyes almost seemed to glow in the dark, rainy night. He watched everyone running to and fro, trying desperately to find shelter. He remembered one such night when he was one of the drunks merrily dancing and running and racing in the rain.

He also remembered the morning that followed.

That's your problem, Ryosei, you always focus on the bad memories, his inner conscience told him. Don't forget there have been plenty of good ones.

He closed his eyes for a second, and reopened them as the noises in the bar got louder and louder. He stared towards the shattered window, and curiosity finally got the better of him. He entered into the warmth of the tavern once again, carefully avoiding the eyes of the woman who had sat on his lap earlier, and continued towards the commotion. Bystanders were rowdy and drunk, and a lot of them were much bigger than him. They crowded around one section of the bar and he had some trouble trying to get through.

"Excuse me...I...ouch! Hey...I'm trying to...oh, for the love of Mother," he threw, trying to get their attention and ask for some room. They were all so loud he could hardly hear himself talking.

There was an ear piercing scream, and Ryosei instantly caught the scent of blood. It was followed by a loud crack and another exclamation of anguish. Ryosei stopped shoving. The first voice had sounded very familiar.

Painfully familiar.

"That's IT...let me THROUGH, dammit!" Ryosei said through gritted teeth, nudging a large drunkard out of his way, and another, and another before he could finally see what was happening. He stepped on something, and it sliced easily into the sole of his boot, nearly reaching his feet. Looking down, he saw a familiar kitana.

No...not here, too, Ryosei thought desperately, before looking up. There, bloodied and captured, was Audrey.

Ryosei took one look at her tear-streaked face. It wasn't the pirate captain he told himself he despised. It was the same woman he fell for, the first time he had met her. And she was in pain.

Ryosei didn't think, and in a second his coat was off, revealing his bandaged arms and chain. With deadly speed and accuracy, he was in the air, flinging his chain and wrapping it around the man's neck. Landing on the counter behind him, he tugged it, tightening it around the large man's throat.

"Let...her...go..." he whispered through gritted teeth, with a ferocity he didn't know he had.

Frost particles covered the parts of the chain wrapped around his glove, fusing it to his hand, but Ryosei was just too furious to notice.

[Audrey Thatch]

Kelkor strained to get his words out, yet he spat them out with such venom that the occupants of the taven gathered tightly in their corners, careful not to get in the Path of the Giant. "Oh look.." He mused bitterly. "A tiny elf-prince out to save his pretty little princess.. touching.." Grinning, Kelkor feigned a tear and plucked the chain from his neck, throwing his captive to the ground.

Audrey fell to the wooden floor with a sob as Kelkor pushed her violently away. Her cheek skidded across the planks, splinters scraping deep into her skin. Her surroundings blacked out; only for a few seconds. Opening her eyes, Audrey saw her Katana and ignoring inscrucible pain the splinters gave, she willed herself to reach out for the blade.

She couldn't hear anything. Anger and pain clouded her senses and she stumbled trying to stand up. No one offered any help. 'Cowards' she winced 'Every single F*vking one'.

The weapon was heavy in her hand. A different feel altogether. Why she was weakened so much by these wounds she didn't know.. She had been injured far worse than this in previous years, but still had some control of her senses and strength. Odd. It's not like she was particularly old for an elf, so why did she feel so worn out.. so.. defeated.

Mustering whatever power she could, Audrey called upon Mother, and felt a cold surge rush through her veins. She opened her eyes and saw her attacker; The Tavern-goers and their hosts.. Ryosei.

Hitting Kelkor over the head with his chain.

Blade in hand she stumbled towards the two men, teeth grinding against each other. Though she looked an absolute mess, Audrey still had some dignity, a presence.

She looked at Ryosei. A mixture of irritation, gratitude.. love. Yes. That was definately there somewhere, though perhaps not as evident as Audrey would have liked..

..She felt soft hands, gripping tightly to her upper body; fondling areas that were not his to go anywhere near. The Woman blinked and saw Kelkor standing in between the two. She hissed, drew her katana and slashed it across his chest. Once. Twice.

His hands dropped and Audrey stepped away, utterly disgusted with how this evening had turned out.

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei backed away unsteadily, grabbing the counter to support himself as Audrey retrieved her weapon and went to work. The ground shook beneath his feet as the defeated man fell to the ground, clutching his chest.

Smiling with pain and satisfaction, Ryosei wrapped his thin, whip-like chain around his bandaged arm again, raising his hand to wipe some blood off his mouth. He wasn't seriously hurt; his fall and the fist fight would sport him some fairly bad bruises, but he could walk and didn't need any serious medical attention.

He looked down at the fallen man, pondering whether to attack him anymore. Mother knows he deserves it...the scumbag...

Opting to leave him be, he tried to catch his breath as he stared at Audrey. She was a real mess...she had blood all over her, and the smell of the substance blanketed almost everything else. Yet still she was standing so strong.

"Aud...Miss Thatch," he said, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry...I didn't get here sooner..."

He walked over to his jacket, which he had flung in any direction when he had entered the fray. Picking it up slowly, he looked around at the murmering patrons of the tavern. Some went to check if the hulking man on the floor was okay.

The tavern was a mess too...spilled drinks and mixed with spilled blood around the battleground. Ryosei was pretty sure this story would hang with the bar for a long time.

Slipping his jacket on, he approached the pirate captain.

"I suggest we leave...I'm sure this man has some cronies around...and we'll have to see what we can do about your wounds..."

Ryosei took a step towards the door. "Unless you'd like to take care of things yourself, Miss Thatch?"

[Audrey Thatch]

Audrey smoothed her arm over her bleeding cheek, wincing at the pain yet doing nothing but smearing more blood around.

She gave a watery smile. "Thank you Ryosei.. I will take you up on that if you don't mind.." She smoothed out her clothing and looked around the tavern. Still, nobody moved, but kept to their corners keeping a wary eye on the three.

Glass cracked under her boots as Audrey walked silently around the room, surveying the damage done.. Nothing too drastic like that night at Sephira Nu, but still the worse for wear.

Unhooking her cloak from it's hook, Audrey gave a sorry nod towards the barkeeper, wishing she could pay him, but knowing it would only make matters worse, and she stepped out of the Tavern to join Ryosei.

The setting sun glared brilliantly; perhaps a little too bright for liking in comparison to the dark and seedy tavern from which they had just emerged.

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei looked at the setting sun. Soon it would be dark, and thugs would be out in full force.

He was secretly glad that Audrey had decided to leave with him instead of by herself. Even though he knew she was capable of taking care of herself, he still believed in strength in numbers.

He stopped when they were a fair way from the tavern and took a cloth from his pocket, wiping away some of the blood from his adversary's face.

"I know you really hate running into me, but I hope I came in handy this time..."

He proceeded to tear some of the fresh bandages from his arms and help bandage the wounds on her wrists.

"You know, all this time I've been worried about when I'd have to fight against you, I never really thought about if I'd ever have to fight alongside you," he said, not really changing tone, but focusing on what he was doing.

[Audrey Thatch]

Audrey gazed absently into the distance, hearing the murmuring of Ryosei's voice, but nothing else. Whatever he was saying was undistinguishable, so she nodded at intervals; completely oblivious to the fact that her wrists were being bandaged.

The views didn't help much. They weren't that spectacular in the first place, and Audrey felt her surrounding spin; unnoticable at first, but soon more jolted - pacened. She felt her stomach lurch, and, with closed eyes Audrey dropped to her knees.

((Short.. sorry ^^;; didn't know what else to write))

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei stopped mumbling, realising that Audrey was too lost in her own thoughts or the aftershock that always set in after a big fight. He had just finished bandaging her wounds when she fell to her knees in the street, silently.

Just as quickly, Ryosei knelt down on one knee, offering his support. It was still raining, not heavily, but raining nonetheless. It washed some of the blood from Audrey's arms and face, some of the watered down fluid running over his own arms.

Looking helplessly at the setting sun, Ryosei grimaced, his blue bangs sticking to his face. They needed to go somewhere, quickly...Audrey would need some place to rest, and recover. Out of the cold rain and wind, and away from the filth that walked down the street.

Removing his jacket, he draped it over Audrey's shoulders. He was a bit taller than her, so it was a little big for her, but Ryosei only wanted it to keep the rain off her battered body.

Not bothering to ask for her approval, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms, and holding her to him for warmth. Ryosei wasn't very strong, but Audrey wasn't very heavy, so he didn't have too much of a problem.

I need to find an inn, he thought to himself desperately, walking down the darkening street. Before some lunatic or drunkard gets any ideas...

Not slowing down, he thought to himself worriedly. I hope none of my shipmates are around...how would I explain this one?

Glancing at the many unhelpful stores and taverns, he had a worse thought. What if one of HER shipmates sees me? It would definitely not be taken lightly...a SEA corps member carrying the bloody pirate captain off to some unknown place.

Don't think like that...keep walking.