Fantasy Casual Moderate ✿ڿڰۣ— The Queen's Tavern —ڰۣڿ✿

[Fatal Nymph]

Celia seemed to be uncertain or was that emotion more closer to weary? The watery creature raised her glass to the waitress to let her know that she was watching and not letting things get by her. If anything she certainly wasn't afraid to make a show in the effort to sway the person away from their goal.

Beyond the eerie eyes, the female was very much a looker, not like lady Rose but it certainly could distract most. Her style of dress was more revealing as well though most sea fairing folk didnt wear a whole lot. This particular patron however wasn't all over the place or very show off unless she needed to be.

The poor wyvern was now under suspicion probably not only by her but others as well. Though now he had her curiosity as well. Her body shifted to get a more natural view of him and another angle of the bar from her current vantage point.

So many things going on tonight and lady Rose certainly seemed in an entertaining mindset tonight. Which was much better than a brooding night. Still so much to keep tabs on though the plum sake was worth keeping her eyes on things.

It didnt take long before another waitress was settling a bottle of plum sake down upon her table. The gal seemed in a rather chatty mood. "Some gentleman said he wanted to remain anonymous but I'll tell you this he is a looker for a rough and tumbler type."

Tess gave a smile and leaned forward as if to say something charming. "I'll save the entire bottle just for him if he dares come to sit with me tonight." This particular comment was rather back handed. She was either offering to drink with the person or dump it on him. The worst part was, the female had yet to decide which choice she was going to make.

 

[Hawksearcher]

Maven felt his stomach growl as the kitchen went to work on the several new orders passing through. He began twiddling with a traveling quill he brought with him—one that he always brought with him—while his mouth watered with anticipation. It wasn’t until the Queen began to chant that he even noticed there was a change in theatrics in the tavern.

"Boom Shi clack clack."

He felt the magic on the back of his neck before he realized what was happening. His eyes opened with curiosity and gazed at the Queen as her shadowy attendants began moving and clamoring.

Shadow magic!

He knew of a few illusionists who went to school with him, but most of his friends could only control a single convincing illusion or two. That the Queen controlled a veritable small crowd of independent figures shocked him, and he wondered how long he had just been casually leaning back in his seat while he was in the presence of such a talented magic user.

Then, the show really got started.

With the shattering of the wall, the Sorceress sent fragments of illusion magic dancing around the room, and one happened to move in close proximity to Maven’s table.

Now, Maven knew how to hold his own in a combat situation, but attack magic was not really his specialty. His true talent lay in metamagic—using magic to amplify or nullify other magic, and analyzing magical forces in the area. So, when the wall fragment past by him, it was almost on instinct that he began whispering something under his breath, and after making a sign with his hands, he drew a small pyramid in the air with his finger, leaving behind a small amethyst-colored magical cage right in the path of the wall fragment. Just in time, too—for it was no sooner after he constructed the cage that a part of the Queen’s spell passed through it. The cage would not have stopped or slowed her spell, but a small wisp of her shadow magic remained within the pyramid, suspended a foot away from his table.

Suddenly self-conscious, and not wanting to seem to be in competition with her creative performance, Maven snatched the magic and brought it to his lap. With a look of concentration on his face, his cheeks burned red at the thought that anyone should have seen what he did. He didn’t dare look down at the magic he caught—he would study it in a moment, after he waited long enough after the performance. Fortunately, his last final exam required no actual spell casting, so he had plenty of mana to keep his cage sustained.

How can someone be such a talented singer, and be so gifted with magic? The young man thought to himself. The Queen was certainly an experienced person to have such diverse mastery.

——-

Maven thanked Celia with a bright smile for the food, and his face reddened ever so slightly when she pointed out the shot. He wasn’t a big drinker, and he was thinking about asking for something stronger than juice anyway—but he lost his nerve at the last moment. It seemed that the kind waitress had read the poor college student’s mind.

So, with youthful vigor, the young mage tore into his food and drink, keeping a curious eye on the goings on of the tavern but largely content to simply keep to himself for the time being, lest some major event should draw his attention away from the flavorful goose he was enjoying. Every once in a while, he would glance down at his lap, wondering when the perfect time would be to analyze the magic the Queen ha

 

[UndeadEyes]

Approaching her chair, she noted a man approaching her from the side at a slow stride. Her white gaze shifted in his direction as her steps slowed and her body turned to face him. One hand gently wrapped around her waist below her large bust as her other hand continued to cradle the bowl of her wine glass. The man came to a stop in front of her and bowed low in respect. To the room, it seemed he was merely greeting, but those who knew her well, such as the guards and bartenders, they would spot the sudden quick movement of the vines that constantly crawled around her attire.

Anyone who knew her knew well her name came not just from the rose but the thorns. The vines were always present, always crawling slowly and calmly. When they became alert or felt under threat, they began to move quicker. It was a natural defense the queen had on her body. It could react before she was ever required to.

It was within good reason, for as the man came up, there was a quick glint of metal.

One of those nights... She thought, watching the blade as if in slow-motion as he attempted to stab her in the side of her neck.

Unfortunately for him, he'd be the one stabbed...multiple times...by the thorns. The tip of the blade had stopped inches from the fabric around her neck, his arm, hand, and most of his body now wrapped in a tangled mess of vines. The same vines had exploded outward, crawling now through the room, over tables, into the rafts, around people (never touching them or barring thorns when around the innocent). Blood dripped audibly in the now silent room. What could easily be ten inch thorn protruded through the man's hand and arm that held the blade, the vines squeezing until he ultimately released the handle.

The queen didn't move during any of it beyond taking another slow sip of her wine, bright eyes locked on the man who had pain written all over his face. "You nearly spilled my wine..." She told him, lowering it from her lips and drawing her other hand from her waist to run her index finger along the rim of the glass, creating a musical hum of the crystal. Her long, red nails tapping on the glass here and there between the hum.

"Do you know how much this wine costs?" She asked him, finally stepping closer to him. "Far more than anyone here would pay to save your life..." Lifting her hand from the top of the glass, she grasped at the man's chin, him unable to move due to the vines. Her nails gently pressed into the soft skin of his cheeks as she did, though not to cause pain--more a second threat. "It is by luck that I was taught to give mercy in my days since the war..."

By now, a large half-orc of a man approached, careful of the vines. He was one of the lead guards due to his tall and muscular stature. The moment the vines began uncurling, he had the man by the shirt, lifting him off his feet before he could attempt anything else. The man's arm bled rather profusely once the thorns retracted, freeing it to fall limply to his side.

He said nothing. Perhaps it shock or perhaps in disgrace. One more failed attempt at the Queen's life.

The many vines throughout the tavern withdrew to the queen, disappearing within her attire until only the calm vines remained, slithering slowly around her body.

Turning back to her corner, she continued on her way. Once seated in her large chair, she took another sip of her wine and listened as the room's volume slowly returned to normal.

 

[Hekazu]

As he had believed, it had been simple enough to find him again for the bar girl. He reached out to the bowl-like container offered to him and carefully took it between his wings, to cradle it before himself. "Thank you", he had managed to say before she had asked the relevant question again: Was this vessel sufficient? It was the best she had found, she had assured in the same breath, but nonetheless he raised it up to his lips and tilted it slightly, sipping the bubbling liquid within. None of it ended up spilled. "It's perfect, thank you", came the second expression of gratitude. And then she was off again, the wyvern left behind with the friendly smile upon his visage.

Of course, he hadn't missed the fact that she had thrown a glance somewhere where she quite clearly was not heading now, not with what she had been carrying in her arms. Was there something of interest to her up there? No, the barely noticeable expression of suspicion had lied upon her features as she had served his drink. It hadn't been there before, so it had to be the spot he had chosen for himself. That he was attempting to make contact with the Lady herself. And that meant there likely was someone keeping an eye on him up there as well. Meh, so be it. He sipped his cider again and glanced over his shoulder, seeing no need to let himself know just whose eyes it might be upon him. There really was no need for that. What turned out to be more important was what would be happening before his eyes now.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me", he mumbled under his breath, turning to face the upcoming altercation. It was as clear as they came. He'd been in enough courts to know when someone is attempting a coup or anything of that sort, and this man was clearly nowhere near the level of those professional assassins. A blade for hire more used to simple dagger in the back style attacks perhaps? No, even those required more finesse. Though this made him wonder what he would do if someone were to approach him now with intentions such as his were towards her, he had little doubt the Queen of Thorns was perfectly capable of keeping herself shielded from such a crude attempt.

Lo and behold, the idiot got what was coming to him. He tilted his head to the side and flashed a disappointed smile. It was even sympathetic, like that of a parent observing their child fail in an obvious way after just having told them not to do what they were planning to do. Such as biting into a raw chili pepper. A shake of his head brought it back down lower, and he took a longer sip of his drink as the vines and thorns punished the attacker. Had he, perchance, missed the display of magical prowess she had just put up? No, certainly not. He was just an idiot.

Briefly he remained interested in the assailant being hauled out of the door, but there was little to see there and he returned to his beverage, considering what the Lady had briefly mentioned about her own. Perhaps he should have asked for that instead? Even if roses were no springtime flowers, wine made of them was likely to be cheerful and bright as the season itself. Quite akin to why the cider with lemongrass had been his choice. He'd have to remember that, should they even serve the stuff to those that were not Her. If it was so rare, perhaps she would rather keep it all for herself? It would be uncouth not to ask first.

But now, he found himself surprised by how casually she passed by him and sat into the chair nearby, sparing nary a visible glance for him while he occupied the area right beside the fire she was looking into. He pondered for a second if this was a test, or a hint. Both of which it might well be. But he had made up his mind before, and she had just extolled the virtues of her learned mercy. And the rumour was that she did talk with the patrons that dared approach. He would not be deterred by self-doubt, that was to be sure.

"Shameful display from that man", he made an attempt at opening a conversation, nodding towards the door before turning to face her more properly, still with a slight sideways angle to his head. "I've seen sneakier attempts at the longhouses of the Northern tribes, and they have a habit of very loudly challenging their adversaries to duels." She more than likely knew that, considering where the rumours told she had gone to just as well, but it would also serve to provide legitimacy to his claim. "Nonetheless, I'm delighted to finally be at a place where I may enjoy a night without someone drawing a dagger at me as the primary target of their attention. And I do not mean that solely in the way of there being someone else that those daggers are pointed at", he flashed a grin at her, briefly closing his eyes in the gesture. "It's not that common for one of the dragonkin to be able to mingle among other races without certain risks. Here… I can feel much safer. I thank you for fostering such an atmosphere."

But of course, he still had to introduce himself. He hadn't been asked to, but surely not doing so would be even worse. "I go by the name of Spring, one of the messengers of my liege", he resumed after a brief pause spent sipping from the bowl. "The four seasons are we, and you may have met with Summer previously should she have spoken to you and did not only find a place to lounge in and drink the atmosphere." This should be enough. Whether she would reciprocate with conversation or dismiss him was up to her. He had said the most important thing on his mind, which was the thanks. But that wasn't to say that missing the opportunity to speak with another commonly hunted individual or someone of her magical aptitude would have been disappointing.

 

[Fatal Nymph]

The black and white feminine creature watched on as an attacker attempted what they may have thought a sneaky surprise attack but it would end in disaster. Did none of those that tried to kill realize that they held themselves in a very specific manner? Whether new or veteraned. It was absolutely silly. She simply gave a very disappointed look. Perhaps one day they would learn but it didnt seem like anytime soon.

The one she had been keeping an eye on seemed to have a similar reaction to her. And then he moved to speak with lady rose. He seemed harmless, more of a talker than anything. Those eerie eyes gazed over the crowd and behold someone was looking at something, a bit nervous about it too. Or was that excitement? Too many emotions for her tastes. Though she did appreciate some of them, happiness, sadness, anger, and her favorite sarcasm.

Another order of plum sake was put down upon the table as Tess contemplated the issue at hand. Her hands wrapped around the small cup, the smell wafting up was delicious. A small drink and it warmed everything it touch on the way down. If she was to be of any help the woman may want to go down but she could see the flirting that was happening and didnt want to intrude upon such a young feeling. It probably would end up going nowhere but that wasn't the point.

 

[Hawksearcher]

In the commotion, Maven almost lost his dinner.

Here he was, ravenously devouring his delicious courses, when in an instant an assassination attempt both occurred and was thwarted. He was in the middle of a bite of goose when the Queen subdued the wretch, and Maven stared at the scene with wide eyes. A man had been nearly killed just across the room from him, in the process of trying to kill the tavern owner, and not only did the Queen display ferociously precise and elegant magic in the process of stopping him, but everyone also else in the bar almost seemed to see this moment as commonplace.

Just what kind of tavern had Maven decided to wander into on a whim? What was this place?

His face grew quite pale, and suddenly, he felt extremely in over his head. It didn't help that he remembered that he had promised the tavern owner a show of magic as a thanks for the meal. He set down his goose, and he slowly stood up from his table. He glanced in the Queen's direction to see that she was engaged in conversation with the dragon from earlier--which was a nearly mindboggling display of authority and power to command such a conversation--and Maven's eyes lifted towards the upper level.

He made eye contact with Tess (@Fatal Nymph), taken by the spectacular pattern of her scales. And promptly excused himself to the restroom, leaving his plate behind, and cupping his hands close to him.

-----

After he managed to steel his nerves, Maven looked down into his hands at the glowing magic contained within.

He took an extra minute to study the illusion, turning it in several different ways and muttering an enchantment or two under his breath.

"Twisted shadows, semi-physical form, independent focus... This spell reminds me of Old-Era Magic, the synthesis of basic elemental arcana. But surely, she can't be that old, right?" As soon as he thought this to himself, the assassin's grimace flashed in his mind. Maybe it wasn't impossible that she was at least aged, despite her appearance of vitality. After all, with such powerful magic, she could keep herself alive much longer than the average person.

Satisfied, Maven finally relaxed his mind, and his magical containment dissipated with a quiet sizzle. Still not quite hungry anymore, Maven left the washroom and made in the direction of his table, planning on sitting awhile to plot his next move.

 

[UndeadEyes]

Her gaze shifted to the voice, glowing eyes of white looking the number of feet between her chair and the one with the wyvern speaking to her. "Though not your intention to state," she began, only to pause as her gaze shifted down and her left hand reached across her body to gently place her index on her shoulder. A single droplet of blood had been spotted in the weave of the mesh that covered her exposed upper skin, requiring to be wiped aside. "It is true... Few will come here hunting anything but myself... Even if they were too, the bounty on me is one of the highest, so if they hunt for anything other than revenge, it is unlikely they would continue their pursuit toward their original target..."

Placing the finger with the smear of blood to one of the vines, which, in turn, bloomed a white rose that slowly blotted a red spot. "Some assassins are better than others in their approach, but many failed sneak-attempts have led others to try a more forward approach... They are rare, but some come in droves before a few months of silence..."

Lifting her glass to her lips, another slow sip was taken before continuing into his introduction. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Spring... I am Lady Of Rose and Thorn... Queen to others, but while not in my kingdom, I find 'Lady' is more fitting..."

Her gaze shifted then across the room toward the restrooms, feeling magic in use. The vines on her body began to crawl down the front of her chair, hidden behind her large gown, winding below and crawling over the wooden floors. Nearing the student's table, they wrapped the legs and worked their way up, thorns extending to begin dragging into the wood of the table while he was away. A few people took notice, but no one thought to look, figuring whatever it was had nothing to do with them...

"As for this Wyvern named Summer, it is likely I have... Though you will need to forgive me, for summer is not an uncommon name and neither of Wyverns--at least in this tavern..." By now, the vines were retreating back to her.

Cupping the white rose like she did her glass of wine in the other, she plucked it from the vine and gently turned her wrist. Shifting, she brought it around to her right side and blew on it gently with her lips, sending it air born toward the Wyvern. Every inch it grew closer, it began to change, soon forming but a small white rose charm with a red blotch. Lightweight, it landed with nearly no sensation on his lap. "Consider it a lucky charm to ensure you see no harm for time to come."

 

[Fatal Nymph]

Lady Rose let her vines come forth to touch the table, no, they did more. The marks too small for her to make out, in a darker space maybe Tess might see the marks, but not here in this lighting. That settled her issue as well. Bringing her drink with, and the whole bottle that had solely been meant to be for someone else, the oceanic creature made her way to the youngsters table.

A soft clunk of the wine could be barely heard above the crowd noise level to her own ears. With an unheard scrap of the chair against the floor, the black and white woman sat down, making sure to leave some space away from the table spot that the young one wouldn't assume she was there helping herself.

Granted the queen could certainly take care of herself as she had just proved to everyone in this tavern but it was nice to not worry about every single thing going on, though Tess was positive that Lady Rose was still aware. How else would she have made it this long? The female creature thought that the regular patrons help was a bit of a relief and wanted help. Otherwise her heart might break never to surface the ocean again.

 

[Hekazu]

Well well, she really didn't think too highly of bounty hunters did she? "Perhaps if they come with a death wish", he suggested with a casual shrug, "I know that if I was in the business I'd assess my targets enough to know not to just look at the bottom line. While fools are par the course, I don't believe that to be every bounty hunter. Unless the same protection that you enjoy is extended to every visitor, without even speaking of your capacity to protect yourself, I could see the occasional spat break out. Suppose if I spend here long enough, I will come to see how all of that comes to fruition or not."

Introductions underway, he laughed politely at her suggestion of Mr. Spring. "Just Spring is fine, Lady Rose", he offered a gentle correction, "It is my title. My actual name is far less consequential." He had one, naturally. It just meant little to him to use it in introductions. Summer had not earned a comment for herself yet, though it was too early to say whether that meant that Lady Rose would have forgotten her. After all, she appeared to be busy with something right now, something Spring had little intention of interrupting. He took a polite step backwards to give her some space she did not truly need, its purpose more to signal that he acknowledged the pause and kept waiting for her to resume, sipping on his drink while he waited.

And soon enough, she did indeed apologise that she had not committed the other wyvern to memory. Spring smiled a wide smirk, taking a few steps closer now. "I do understand if she has managed to fly under the radar. She has a habit of doing so, not drawing attention to herself. It makes me wonder…" He did not shy away from standing only one and a half steps away, though he certainly did not look to loom over her or anything of the sort, nor did his body language suggest hostility. Perish the thought of joining the ranks of the overambitious idiots that would raise a weapon against the Lady.

Yet he was soon directed to step backwards by the gesture of gifting him with a flower, the wyvern lifting the bowl of cider up to see what had just landed against his tunic. A genuine and friendly grin took over his face as he received the explanation of what it was, the wyvern bowing to express his thanks. The bubbles of his drink brought a faint ticklish and wet sensation to his visage as he held it above them, something that only brought more energy into the grin. "My humblest thanks for your wish. May fates be so kind to you just as well." This had a certain air of a dismissal, and any conversation had been rather surface level. Not unusual for something that had just started between them, where the link was nowhere obvious.

But it also was no concrete gesture of the sort, and so Spring remained close by, looking behind himself to see that there was in fact a free stool he could commandeer, and so he did. "It feels quite a bit like a court away from a court here, with how many eyes scan every visitor. But more than that, the regal presence is brought forth by yourself and the beautiful blossoming vines. Are they so common a sight to behold on a daily basis, or have I been lucky to have arrived at an exceptional time?" he inquired, peering over his drink as he took another sip soon after finishing the sentence.

 

[Hawksearcher]

Maven didn’t notice the writing at first. He was content to sip his juice and look around at the crowd instead. He did notice the black-and-white-scaled being had moved closer to him–he smiled and nodded when they made eye contact again, but he broke away when his fingertips brushed along a jagged, rouch-hern surface on the table. He glanced down.

“Beware how often you peek.”

Maven’s heart just about stopped. Without thinking, he glanced over at the Queen, still displayed promenntly on her throne of thorns, then his mind raced with questions and he sort of shrunk into himself. IT might not have been the Queen, it could have been someone else. In any case, this was all the more evidence to suggest that he was a bit in over his head in this place.

Maven contemplated what to do. His juice was room temperature by this point anyway. Should he try to talk to this Queen of Thorns? A part of him did wonder what he might be able to learn from such a powerful sorceerss, and if she was the one who left him the engraved note, perhaps his approach would be seen as an apology or a peace offering. Or he would end up like that assassain.

Do it. Just do it! Stand and go!

Pumping himself up, and ultimately eager to leave a good impression, Maven stood and scooted away from his table, left enough coin for a 50% tip on the free meal, and pretended to be confident as he approached—

Ah, but the Queen was already in conference with someone. Shoot, he chided himself. Like a scene from a comedic play, he had lifted one leg in the direction of the throne, only to—quite clumsily—pivot on his standing food and throw himself right back into his seat, clearing his throat. He grabbed his cup and and his eyes narrowed as he stared down into the sugary drink.

It’s ok. I’ll get my chance soon, He thought.

 

[Fatal Nymph]

Perhaps she had been a little too nice by sitting the distance she did. The young lad seemed to attempt something but failed, it gave her a chuckle. "Are you always this clumsy? If so I'm sure it would be much harder on you in the school your are going to." Her voice clearly a female but a deeper pitch than one would think.

Her switching places certainly did draw more attention to them both. The oceanic creature was quite used to the looks, stares, and even at times hatred of her existence. "Or perhaps, you are much more than you appear." She gave away nothing as to what she had seen or why she was really there. As of right now her words could merely be construed as flirting. Though Celia would know better. Her taste in men was much different than young and foolish.

Now she was nowhere near as old as lady rose was estimated to be but she wasn't a short lived human either. Though this poor lad had no idea the people around him or their capabilities. At any point if the queen wanted to take control, she would simply bow out and find another table to sit at with her plum wine. Tess knew better but would still help where she could, otherwise she might as well be a wallowing self pitiful drunk on the cliff side.

 

[UndeadEyes]

"I have faced all sorts of assassins and battles in my years... Unless a new style or tactic comes into play, it will not be something I fail to see coming... The vines that protect me will sense danger before it arrives, in most cases, lest they have a magical barrier around them so strong it blocks their true nature...but then I can sense that and will be curious... In turn, they protect the tavern, though they may not be as fast to reach a target if I am across the room, but sometimes, they act on their own and a single vine will root its way through the building to prepare for a defensive strike..."

Another sip of wine and the glass finally landed upon the small round table beside her large chair, fingers sliding away from the bowl to free it. Her bright gaze shifted upwards, her head only turning slightly, as the Wyvern approached. "Spring it is... As for Summer, it is likely I saw her, as Wyverns come and go, but did not speak with her. Thus, never got her name... I do not approach all tavern goers, but do speak with those who approach me."

Lifting her free hand upward in a swooping motion, a ball of light appeared over her palm, spinning until it formed a crystal ball that began to replay footage from the tavern, as if the tavern itself had a memory. Drawing the long nail of her left index finger over the orb, the images began to rewind, moving quickly to the point the image wasn't visible to an eye that couldn't track its speed.

"Ah..." She said softly, drawing her finger away after swirling it over the top, slowing the image speed until it froze on a wyvern sitting in the back by one of the other fires. "Is this Summer?" she asked, lifting the orb to a higher level.

At this moment, her gaze shifted to the right, looking toward the young man who had taken a step in her direction only to swivel back into their chair. She showed no signs of any emotion toward the act, the vines not reacting out of their slow crawl over her body and, in the end, her gaze fell back upon the Wyvern, awaiting his answer.

 

[Hekazu]

Lady Rose was sure of her abilities, but what she had shown so far more than matched the description out of her mouth. She did not only talk the talk, but walked the walk just as well. Unlike others that would like to keep their continuous security measures out of public knowledge, she had no qualms with laying the ideas bare before a visitor that was here for the first time. But with the capacity she showcased casually, what might be beyond the immediate surface? There were many, many fascinating rumours about her kingdom where it stood, but she still decided to remain away from those lands. Asking why would be grossly impolite. But he had reason to believe that she wasn't laying all of her cards bare on the table while still hiding her empty hand in bluff.

Frankly, he wasn't quite sure if the topic of Summer was worth all of this attention it was getting, but he would take the excuse to spend a bit longer in the Lady's company. Leaning towards the orb of memoirs, he observed the moving scenery, the flashing attempts at different people's lives, an instance where a dragon shifter pummelled a would-be hunter into the ground themselves before the thorns would even get to the scene, but above all the merriment that was going on in these parts all opening hours. It was lovely. He'd briefly forgotten what they were looking for until the film slowed down and it all zoomed in on his fellow Season.

"That's her", Spring nodded. It was impossible not to recognise her brilliantly shimmering jade scales, to miss the flowing dress and its numerous silks, and most importantly to not make note of the circlet upon her head, the very same design as his. "She told me of this place, I think I mentioned. Let me know that there was a place where we wyverns can sit down for a while without fear." He looked up from the orb at Lady Rose, his shining eyes seeking her luminescent pair. "Did she stay the night? I have been wondering if that is something your establishment offers, or if I should prepare to fly back away before I have the chance to get too deep into my cups. That she never elaborated on."

 

[Hawksearcher]

"Are you always this clumsy? If so I'm sure it would be much harder on you in the school your are going to. Or perhaps, you are much more than you appear."

At the low, confident female voice behind him, Maven swiveled around in his seat and brought his fist up under his chin, digging his elbow into the back of his seat to try and appear as casual and nonchalant as possible. In reality, he hadn’t expected the scaled being to try and talk to him, and he quickly tried to assess whether this speaker might be a threat to him.

“Ha ha, oh my goodness, how embarrassing, right? I’ve never been very good on my feet. I’ve only been on one quest before, and we encountered a climbing puzzle. The fighter of our group basically had to wear me like a backpack up the ledge—This was before I knew any levitation magic.”

As Maven spoke, his mind raced and remembered the incantation that could allow him to assess levels of threat. Maven was one of the more gifted in his class at silent magic, so he thought clearly the words of the spell in his head as he traced a quick pattern into the cushion of his seat, out of sight of Celia. The spell would silently analyze the physical and magical strengths of the target, as well as basic intentions to determine how much of a threat the target was.

In the pattern he traced on his seat, there would appear a faint glowing symbol and color that corresponded with the danger Maven was in:
—Blue: no present threat. Even if the target is powerful, they have no current intention tonharm
—Green: low threat and danger, an easy match for Maven’s abilities
—Yellow: moderate threat and danger, Maven would likely be lightly injured in such an encounter but perhaps not killed
—Red: high threat and danger, Maven likely to sustain heavy injuries or death
—Black: death is almost certain or immediate.

Maven would glance down soon, when he could discreetly do so.

“What is your name?”

 

[UndeadEyes]

"The size of this place would indicate that we do, indeed, host our guests over the late hours. It would be foolish not to. The profit alone makes it worth it, but not wanting to send drunk travelers out onto the streets to be mugged also weighs on my conscious." Closing her fingers around the orb, it shrunk down until it simply vanished in a closed fist--or more a flat fingered fist due to her long nails.

Uncurling her fingers, she glanced up at the creature and shrugged. "Whether she stayed or not, you will need to ask the people at the bar. However, though they have the books, unless she gave the alright for them to let you know she stayed, they will likely refuse to confirm. A simple safety protocol... Someone visiting is one thing, someone staying is another."

Yet again, her senses perked to the use of magic, noting the spell he was in the middle of using. With a sigh, she placed her hands on the armrests of her chair and pushed herself up to stand. Smoothing her gown, she turned to the Wyvern, giving a slight bow. "If you will excuse me for a moment..."

Turning about, she rounded her chair, putting her at a further distance from the young magic student. Her steps were silent and, per usual, her own magical and life energy completely hidden as they often were unless announcing herself. In the chance that anyone, including the creature he spoke with noticed her approaching from behind, a finger would rise to her lips, long nail resting on them as she gave the sign of 'be silent'.

In reach of the young man, she slid her arms down around his shoulders, crossing them over his chest. Of course, given the rather unabashed size of her own, this meant they were now planted right against the back of his head, to the point he'd sink somewhat into them. "You rely too much on magic... If she is a strong magic user herself, she can easily trick your little test..." Her words were soft, her eyes on the creature he was speaking to. "She is safe...enough." She said the last word with a gentle smile, clearly indicating she was being playful with the two.