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Post by Tommy on Dec 3, 2006 21:16:48 GMT -5
Marcus Bergran parted company with Stark before their dream of running an inn and tavern together could ever get off the ground. The disagreement, at least originally, was simply over the name. Marcus thought that The Wander Inn was a horribly stupid name. The discussion of a name for their tavern ended in a fist-fight in the street, a sight which has become fairly common over the five years since. These fights usually begin with Jacob throwing insults at Neec, formally his and now Marcus' wife, or with Marcus out in the street heckling The Wander Inn's name.
The Gryphon's Claw is a very clean establishment with plenty of gambling and drinking going on, but none of the skin-trade that his competitor deals in. The waitresses dress alluringly, but respectfully, and they try to attract a slightly more sophisticate selection of patrons. They lay claim to the best whiskey in the city as well as the widest selection of liquors. Their room rates are higher than Wander's (and they don't have hourly rates) but the rooms are well-kept and clean.
Marcus and Jacob have been competing heavily ever since they split, Neec changing partners in the process. They chose their locations based on the shared belief that it was a prime spot for a tavern and inn, the last thing they'd ever agreed upon. They raced their construction, The Gryphon's Claw opening a day before. They've been competing over everything ever since.
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Post by Tristan on Mar 13, 2007 13:48:33 GMT -5
It didn't bode well for him once he noticed the first couple of places they tried were closed up; apparently people were frightened of zombies. After a certain point, he realized they'd have to hit up Meridian for a place half-way decent, and that raised problems. Gryphon's was always busy, something he'd been trying to avoid, but it was a better option than the Wander - he'd heard the owner say some choice words to women before, and he didn't want to see anyone's tongue get cut out when they were supposed to be having a good time, nor did he want busty maid pushing her chest in his face whenever she poured a drink. The Unicorn would be nice, but... well, neither of them could probably afford it, and they certainly weren't dressed for the occasion. Gryphon's it was.
Tristan poked his head in on the mid-day crowd and was pleased to not find it terribly busy. The two hadn't spoken a word on the way there, and now he looked behind him once more to make sure the Nymandine was there before heading for a corner table.
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Mar 13, 2007 20:07:42 GMT -5
Of course Syn followed, looking about idly as if just taking in the scenery for a moment or two as they walked. No one would ever expect her to be drinking in the details one thing at a time. "Well, this is surprisingly nice," she said as she followed Tristan to the corner table. "And here I thought your tastes would be more.. risque."
A semi-playful jibe at her companion, but still a joke nonetheless. Ah, well. She didn't seem opposed to the Gryphon's, at any rate.
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Post by Tristan on Mar 17, 2007 15:47:55 GMT -5
The youth snorted softly as he sank down into the cushioned seat, trying to get comfortable. "Anything about me seem risque to you?" It was almost as if he took it as an insult - he'd placed a good amount of pride in his prudence. "The place across the street is a dump, and although you look ravishing in blood-stained leather, I doubt they'd even consider letting us in at the Unicorn." He ran his fingers through his hair and tossed it back, which he somehow managed to screw up... it was intended to keep his hair out of his face, but it just made it messier. He grumbled quietly.
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Mar 25, 2007 12:48:28 GMT -5
The Nymandine woman snorted in amusement at Tristan's attempted, but failed, hair-toss, shaking her head slightly in her amusement. That was why she had a short cut; it kept things manageable, and she didn't have time to work with it every day. Sometimes you wake up and you just have to rush into battle, after all.
"Now, now," Syn began. "Don't get me wrong, but every man I've ever met has had a taste for the risque and all that it entails.. Which is also probably why most of the men in my life aren't around anymore. Regardless, this was a good choice of place. I guess I'm sorry or something if I offended you.. I haven't really decided yet."
Yes, that was Syn for you. Ever bold and ever unafraid to say what she wished. She was reasonable, yet completely unorthodox. Intelligent, yet in an evil-genius sort of way. At least Tristan could rest assured that he wasn't completely worthless in her eyes. That was always a good sign.
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Post by Tristan on Mar 27, 2007 21:29:48 GMT -5
"There's a few acceptable risks in life, but..." He looked down and shrugged one shoulder, curious about what she said. Was he risking the same fate of those that'd come before him simply by socializing with this woman? Surely she wouldn't hurt him... he hadn't done anything to deserve that. He worried his bottom lip a bit and looked her in the eye. "What happened to them? The... men, I mean." Tristan could ask bold questions when he had to, but that didn't mean he wasn't a little frightened of the response.
No matter. He wasn't into the risque, despite what she might think, and she'd probably agree with him once it came time to order drinks. He wasn't really looking forward to that moment, but he was determined to stay loyal to his own vows.
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Mar 30, 2007 23:05:43 GMT -5
Syn glanced at Tristan with a coy, almost secretively mischievous look as he asked his question. To make squirm, or not to make squirm, that was the question. Finally, she decided on a median between the two. "Well, then it wouldn't be a secret, would it?" she asked, a sly wink taking one crimson eye. She certainly was frightening when she wanted to be.
Then, however, she tilted her head and offered a little wave-like gesture of her hand. "I suppose if you'd really like to know, I could tell you," she said, lightly teasing. "Some of it isn't as bad as it sounds, if that helps your nerves any." Syn was a truly marvelous creature.. She was so very wild, and yet it was slightly possible to attempt to tame her. She could smell the fear on him, even so acute as it was, and she attempted to help him relax.. How strange..
Perhaps she'd actually made a friend? ....nah, that was crazy talk.
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Post by Tristan on Mar 31, 2007 10:45:11 GMT -5
It was hard to tell if he should be scared of this woman or not. When they first met, she seemed feral, that she could fly off the handle at any moment... yet she was much more subtle in a place like this, something he wasn't sure she was capable of. Maybe she was just luring him in, waiting for the right moment to add him as another notch on her blade. What had happened to all of those other men, after all? He shivered slightly. "Maybe later," came his attempt to change the subject, looking around for a waitress of some sort. "That doesn't seem appropriate for the moment. More of a dinner conversation, don't you think?" He smirked, despite himself, unaware of what kind of trouble that sort of remark could get him into.
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Apr 1, 2007 0:53:57 GMT -5
The Nymandine smirked in return, catching wind of exactly what sort of trouble Tristan could get himself into with such a remark. For the second time, she asked herself; to make him squirm, or not to make him squirm? Dilemmas, dilemmas..
"Well, then perhaps we might have to save it for dinner sometime," she said nonchalantly, refusing to let it show that she was messing with him. No, better to f*** with him now while she had the resolve to do so than to surrender so quickly..
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Post by Tristan on Apr 4, 2007 21:16:56 GMT -5
He shrugged off her remark, still glancing about for someone to take their orders. Tristan had a feeling that she might just be toying with him for the sake of doing so, that maybe she liked watching guys shift around... if it wasn't for said feeling, he probably would've left by now. He wasn't interested in being killed by a drink date.
He felt some partial relief when he finally managed to catch the eye of a waitress. What was up with that, anyway? They were hardly busy. He could only guess that it was Syn keeping the tavern staff at bay. Curious as to what Nymandine order in places like this, he couldn't help but feel a little embarassed at what his own choice would be. He just hoped that Syn didn't make a scene about it. "About time. Here comes someone."
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Apr 5, 2007 15:53:26 GMT -5
Syn tempted a smirk, some sort of hidden amusement in crimson eyes. It would have almost been a mystery as to what was so amusing (and probably better if it had remained such), but she spoke in a slightly lower voice to Tristan, revealing her amusement. "I think they recognize me," she said. Whether it was because she had been there before, or whether it was because her name was well known, she did not say. Honestly, she hadn't been here before, but chances were she'd encountered and/or frightened a few workers when in Meridian the last time.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 6, 2007 0:39:37 GMT -5
Tristan had no real reason to disbelieve - the way the waitress looked at Syn, you'd think her whole family had been murdered by the Nymandine at one point. Perhaps they were just... less tolerant in this part of town? Seems like he'd already forgotten that he felt the same only a few hours ago. This dark-skinned woman was so strange, so mystifying in the way she impacted his world and his usual routines...
Gods, was he staring? He blinked and glanced up, just now registering the frightened tone of a girl asking for his order. The Deus looked between both ladies, blushed a bit, and quietly requested some water. Please don't let her embarass me... please don't let her make a scene...
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Apr 6, 2007 10:37:11 GMT -5
Such an interesting situation for a woman of Syn's..uh.. charms to be in. She could choose to be classy, as she'd grown up, or she could choose to be more blusterous.. For Tristan's sake, for the fact that she read his expression without many misconceptions, Syn chose the former.
"Juice will suit me, if you have it," she said, her tone strangely polite, her smile a little less frightening, and her overall attitude by far different than how she behaved on the battlefield. As the girl ran off to fetch their drinks, Syn returned her gaze to Tristan and leaned foreward a little, whispering in an almost seductive tone. Almost.
"Just because I fight like one, does not mean that I am an uncivilized beast, Tristan," she said, before sitting up again and smirking at him, amusement clearly in her face. It took a lot to offend her, and this was not even close to nothing.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 6, 2007 20:59:16 GMT -5
There'd never been a time before where he felt so hopelessly out of his league. His parents did their fair share of treating him like a child - it was one of the reasons that he had to get away. Syn, however, was not only destroying all of his misconceptions that he'd faithfully clung to as truth, but seemed to be reading his mind as well. Maybe he never made it through the battle earlier... maybe the Nymandine woman had torn him down, like he'd been expecting her to try. The afterlife sure had a sense of humor.
Once he was done pitying himself for no real reason, he sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and just sort of talked down at the table. "I'm not conceited enough to say I have anything even akin to a reputation in this town, but I used to hear enough from my family about my unwillingness to drink..." A deep breath and he raised his pretty face, looking far more natural with his expression of amused sadness than he did with that whole tough-guy facade. "It's hard sometimes, convincing myself that my life isn't just one big joke that I'm playing on myself. Thanks.. for helping with that.. You're the most remarkable person I've ever met, woman or otherwise. Guess that's just a bonus." He smiled weakly and rest his head against his up-turned palm, laughing softly at the situation.
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Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
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Post by Syn on Apr 6, 2007 23:13:43 GMT -5
Syn's eyes glittered, something of friendliness in them before she smirked softly, a strangely warm smirk, and nodded. "There is no shame in choosing to abstain from the tap," she said. "I'm going to tell you something about myself, Tristan, because I think you're worth the warning. If you ever see me drinking alcohol, try your best to leave or avoid me at all costs."
And then, for a brief moment, she smiled a true, genuine smile, not mysterious, not dangerous, but actually happy.. She had made a friend, and that was what she considered him to be now. Yet, catching herself, she returned to her more devilish appearance, smirking lightly almost out of defense to hide that inner happiness. Well, at least for now.
She was still getting over the fact that she hadn't scared this man away yet. Interesting..
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