Ash 18th, 117 AoS
(Continued from here)
Ricky entered a moderately large room that was decently furnished and certainly well decorated after he had pushed the door ajar to walk in. Of course, the half-breed had to mind his head when he'd entered, but the fact the room actually accommodated the price pleased him. As he walked into the center of the room, his eyes did a sweep to take everything in. He had a desk and chair in one corner, though doubted he'd ever use such a thing. Then there was a sitting area near the windows, and then the dresser and vanity section of the room; with a paneled divider situated to provide privacy; from any who might've stood in the doorway.
And of course, his bed was massive to look at, larger than anything Ricky ever slept on honestly. He wondered if his feet would still hang off the edges of course, since most frames and mattresses weren't really catered to his size. As sad as that would've sounded to admit to someone, he was actually quite used to living with that problem for a while now. To think he'd be able to sleep on a soft mattress though, even looking at the neatly tucked bedsheets felt inviting to him. Yet the wolf couldn't ignore the fact he still felt hungry, so with a tug at the strap, Ricky pulled off his backpack; carelessly letting it fall to the floor with a thud as he sighed. He was very worn out, now that he felt himself noticeably relax anyways.
So with the key to his room tucked inside a pocket, the wolf mindfully marched out the room; closing the door behind him when his head was cleared of any possible impact. It didn't take long for him to return back to the bar, where he actually grabbed a free stool to sit, while the barmaid he spoke with earlier sauntered her way back to him. "The giant returns!" The brunette woman exclaimed in a teasing manner, her elbows planted on the bar as she leaned into it once more, her chin rested atop her fingers as she looked to him curiously. "So how about that drink?"
"Sure." Ricky responded as he plainly looked into the brunette's brown eyes. "Oi'll also take that hot meal, whatever's y' got cookin' back there anyways."
"Oh?!" The barmaid almost straightened as she raised her eyebrows, seemingly surprised that he even ordered anything. "Sure thing, only take a minute." She assured him almost gingerly as she moved to step away, disappearing into the doorway that presumably led into the kitchens. Ricky looked from it to the general space before him, his peripheral vision used to observe others sitting near him. There were a few onlookers that were wary of his presence, likely because of his stature and demeanor also. Though he merely looked away back to the doorway, unfettered by the gazes that were drawn to him. The barmaid came back out with a plate in hand, with a saucy strut in her step as she approached the bar once more.
When she placed the plate down in front of Ricky she proceeded to shoot him a wink, turning around once more to begin pouring him a drink. "Beer please." He called out to her as she moved to with an empty tankard in her hand, a smirk shot at him as she then pulled the tap to fill the container. Ricky looked down at his plate to see a nice cut chunk of cooked mutton sitting at the center, with vegetables caked all around it and a small dollop of butter melting atop. The wolf found he hadn't the patience to wait any longer, and took the fork brought with the plate to start digging in. By the time he had torn off a rather decent sized bit, the barmaid brought around a full tankard of beer with that light coat of foam on its surface.
"Here we are!" She added as she noticed him starting to dig in, another casual lean on the bar's counter as she took the moment to watch. Almost right away he wanted to close his eyes, allowing the vibrant blend of seasons meld with the smoky flavor of the meat. Ricky took the mug to help wash down the bite he'd chewed on, pausing when he noticed that she wasn't moving now. Didn't she have more drinks to pour? More assholes that needed something? Or did she just want to keep showing off her cleavage in a teasing manner? Whatever her reasons he slowly put the tankard back down, with a brief hiccup made before he belched within a closed mouth. The barmaid raised her eyebrows at him then, her chin planted on the palm of her hand once more; as her nails drummed rhythmically in a row a couple of times.
"What?" He asked bluntly with a confused look, his fork stabbed into the meat once more as he started to tear off another bit.
"Just curious is all. You're clearly not from around here." She pointed out in a little chaffing tone, which Ricky hardly reacted to as he continued eating. "Obviously you speak Kokalath so you're native... what part of Atinaw did you come from? They all big like you there?" She inquired with a curious smirk directed at him, as she rose to a full stand once again with a hand moved to grab a washcloth.
"Kamdin." He answered as he continued chewing a few more times, the tankard brought up to wash down the bite yet again. "And no." The barmaid raised her eyebrows at him again, evidently surprised that he was even speaking with her; even if his answers were firm and brief.
"I see. So what's brought you to Loras?" She then posed at him with another curious look, watching him while pretending to be busy wiping down counters.
"Personal business." He answered quickly before taking another bite of his meat.
"Cute." She remarked almost sardonically, her smile still present as she dropped the act. "Well, my name's Hannah. If there's anythin' you need to know, then feel free to ask."
"Thanks." He nodded briskly before resuming eating, going completely quiet again as he focused on his meal. While he stared heavily at his plate to avoid looking at Hannah, Ricky noticed from his peripheral vision that she appeared to laugh. Quietly though as if she didn't want him hearing, even then there was meritable confusion in her expression. Or was it intrigued? He didn't care too much, the meal was delicious as he was hungry. Thus he continued eating as she seemed to give up, focusing on someone else who sat a few stools down from him.
"Well hello you! Was wonderin' if you'd be poppin' in today." Hannah greeted as it looked to be another woman, shorter than her in fact, with blonde hair and fairly light skin complexion. She wore some kind of dress the color of a light blue, considerably the shade of robin's egg, with a ukulele strapped to her back as well.
"Sorry I'm late! Had a slight crisis with some of the children but it's been dealt with." The blonde answered in turn as she situated herself comfortably. "Who's?..." Her voice trailed off suddenly and in that moment, Ricky's eyebrows nearly furrowed at the sudden shift. Clearly she was asking about somebody, and if he were a betting man it was probably him. Thus the wolf slowed down on his chewing, looking the part as he slowly worked his jaw to continue the facade. With a slight crane of his head and a bit of filtering through the general bustle in the room, he honed his sense of hearing onto the two women; curious as to what it was she had to ask. "Who's that?" He could barely hear them, but the fact their conversation was even audible was enough.
"Just a stray, wandered in here not too long ago." Hannah answered in turn. "Cute isn't he? Doesn't talk much though... maybe you'll do better?"
"No!!" The other woman shirked lowly but clearly with emphasis. "No I can't, it's still too soon Hannah."
"Come ooon Telly, it's been well over a week. Forget that asshole and learn to have some fun!" At that comment Ricky nearly cracked a grin, thankful that he'd brought his mug up to wash down his current bite to keep it hidden.
"Thanks but... I'm fine. Really." This 'Telly' woman answered in turn. "If anything I just want to play for a while. Maybe it'll lift everyone's spirits more, as well as mine after a drink or two."
"Well, cheers to that honey!" Hannah answered in turn as she twisted around once more, quick to start pouring her friend a drink without even asking what she'd like. To Ricky, this implied that they were close, fairly even, since they could speak on such familiar terms. Reluctantly however he could help but glance the other woman's way, surprised to see her blue eyes briefly fixated on him when he did. Rather quickly she looked away and in turn, he did too, with a brief nip at his lower lip for giving in to the temptation. He knew better than to look her way, and now that he'd done so she'd likely be curious. Yet she said nothing at all, just sat there until Hannah brought around two shot glasses. "To sweet freedom." She cheered as she held her shot glass out, with the other woman briefly giggling as she repeated the toast.
Ricky resumed tearing into his mutton as he did before, feigning minimal interest as he was over halfway finished with his meal.
(Continued from here)
Ricky entered a moderately large room that was decently furnished and certainly well decorated after he had pushed the door ajar to walk in. Of course, the half-breed had to mind his head when he'd entered, but the fact the room actually accommodated the price pleased him. As he walked into the center of the room, his eyes did a sweep to take everything in. He had a desk and chair in one corner, though doubted he'd ever use such a thing. Then there was a sitting area near the windows, and then the dresser and vanity section of the room; with a paneled divider situated to provide privacy; from any who might've stood in the doorway.
And of course, his bed was massive to look at, larger than anything Ricky ever slept on honestly. He wondered if his feet would still hang off the edges of course, since most frames and mattresses weren't really catered to his size. As sad as that would've sounded to admit to someone, he was actually quite used to living with that problem for a while now. To think he'd be able to sleep on a soft mattress though, even looking at the neatly tucked bedsheets felt inviting to him. Yet the wolf couldn't ignore the fact he still felt hungry, so with a tug at the strap, Ricky pulled off his backpack; carelessly letting it fall to the floor with a thud as he sighed. He was very worn out, now that he felt himself noticeably relax anyways.
So with the key to his room tucked inside a pocket, the wolf mindfully marched out the room; closing the door behind him when his head was cleared of any possible impact. It didn't take long for him to return back to the bar, where he actually grabbed a free stool to sit, while the barmaid he spoke with earlier sauntered her way back to him. "The giant returns!" The brunette woman exclaimed in a teasing manner, her elbows planted on the bar as she leaned into it once more, her chin rested atop her fingers as she looked to him curiously. "So how about that drink?"
"Sure." Ricky responded as he plainly looked into the brunette's brown eyes. "Oi'll also take that hot meal, whatever's y' got cookin' back there anyways."
"Oh?!" The barmaid almost straightened as she raised her eyebrows, seemingly surprised that he even ordered anything. "Sure thing, only take a minute." She assured him almost gingerly as she moved to step away, disappearing into the doorway that presumably led into the kitchens. Ricky looked from it to the general space before him, his peripheral vision used to observe others sitting near him. There were a few onlookers that were wary of his presence, likely because of his stature and demeanor also. Though he merely looked away back to the doorway, unfettered by the gazes that were drawn to him. The barmaid came back out with a plate in hand, with a saucy strut in her step as she approached the bar once more.
When she placed the plate down in front of Ricky she proceeded to shoot him a wink, turning around once more to begin pouring him a drink. "Beer please." He called out to her as she moved to with an empty tankard in her hand, a smirk shot at him as she then pulled the tap to fill the container. Ricky looked down at his plate to see a nice cut chunk of cooked mutton sitting at the center, with vegetables caked all around it and a small dollop of butter melting atop. The wolf found he hadn't the patience to wait any longer, and took the fork brought with the plate to start digging in. By the time he had torn off a rather decent sized bit, the barmaid brought around a full tankard of beer with that light coat of foam on its surface.
"Here we are!" She added as she noticed him starting to dig in, another casual lean on the bar's counter as she took the moment to watch. Almost right away he wanted to close his eyes, allowing the vibrant blend of seasons meld with the smoky flavor of the meat. Ricky took the mug to help wash down the bite he'd chewed on, pausing when he noticed that she wasn't moving now. Didn't she have more drinks to pour? More assholes that needed something? Or did she just want to keep showing off her cleavage in a teasing manner? Whatever her reasons he slowly put the tankard back down, with a brief hiccup made before he belched within a closed mouth. The barmaid raised her eyebrows at him then, her chin planted on the palm of her hand once more; as her nails drummed rhythmically in a row a couple of times.
"What?" He asked bluntly with a confused look, his fork stabbed into the meat once more as he started to tear off another bit.
"Just curious is all. You're clearly not from around here." She pointed out in a little chaffing tone, which Ricky hardly reacted to as he continued eating. "Obviously you speak Kokalath so you're native... what part of Atinaw did you come from? They all big like you there?" She inquired with a curious smirk directed at him, as she rose to a full stand once again with a hand moved to grab a washcloth.
"Kamdin." He answered as he continued chewing a few more times, the tankard brought up to wash down the bite yet again. "And no." The barmaid raised her eyebrows at him again, evidently surprised that he was even speaking with her; even if his answers were firm and brief.
"I see. So what's brought you to Loras?" She then posed at him with another curious look, watching him while pretending to be busy wiping down counters.
"Personal business." He answered quickly before taking another bite of his meat.
"Cute." She remarked almost sardonically, her smile still present as she dropped the act. "Well, my name's Hannah. If there's anythin' you need to know, then feel free to ask."
"Thanks." He nodded briskly before resuming eating, going completely quiet again as he focused on his meal. While he stared heavily at his plate to avoid looking at Hannah, Ricky noticed from his peripheral vision that she appeared to laugh. Quietly though as if she didn't want him hearing, even then there was meritable confusion in her expression. Or was it intrigued? He didn't care too much, the meal was delicious as he was hungry. Thus he continued eating as she seemed to give up, focusing on someone else who sat a few stools down from him.
"Well hello you! Was wonderin' if you'd be poppin' in today." Hannah greeted as it looked to be another woman, shorter than her in fact, with blonde hair and fairly light skin complexion. She wore some kind of dress the color of a light blue, considerably the shade of robin's egg, with a ukulele strapped to her back as well.
"Sorry I'm late! Had a slight crisis with some of the children but it's been dealt with." The blonde answered in turn as she situated herself comfortably. "Who's?..." Her voice trailed off suddenly and in that moment, Ricky's eyebrows nearly furrowed at the sudden shift. Clearly she was asking about somebody, and if he were a betting man it was probably him. Thus the wolf slowed down on his chewing, looking the part as he slowly worked his jaw to continue the facade. With a slight crane of his head and a bit of filtering through the general bustle in the room, he honed his sense of hearing onto the two women; curious as to what it was she had to ask. "Who's that?" He could barely hear them, but the fact their conversation was even audible was enough.
"Just a stray, wandered in here not too long ago." Hannah answered in turn. "Cute isn't he? Doesn't talk much though... maybe you'll do better?"
"No!!" The other woman shirked lowly but clearly with emphasis. "No I can't, it's still too soon Hannah."
"Come ooon Telly, it's been well over a week. Forget that asshole and learn to have some fun!" At that comment Ricky nearly cracked a grin, thankful that he'd brought his mug up to wash down his current bite to keep it hidden.
"Thanks but... I'm fine. Really." This 'Telly' woman answered in turn. "If anything I just want to play for a while. Maybe it'll lift everyone's spirits more, as well as mine after a drink or two."
"Well, cheers to that honey!" Hannah answered in turn as she twisted around once more, quick to start pouring her friend a drink without even asking what she'd like. To Ricky, this implied that they were close, fairly even, since they could speak on such familiar terms. Reluctantly however he could help but glance the other woman's way, surprised to see her blue eyes briefly fixated on him when he did. Rather quickly she looked away and in turn, he did too, with a brief nip at his lower lip for giving in to the temptation. He knew better than to look her way, and now that he'd done so she'd likely be curious. Yet she said nothing at all, just sat there until Hannah brought around two shot glasses. "To sweet freedom." She cheered as she held her shot glass out, with the other woman briefly giggling as she repeated the toast.
Ricky resumed tearing into his mutton as he did before, feigning minimal interest as he was over halfway finished with his meal.
