The Rogue and the Soldier (Attn: Locke)

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks leaned back casually in her seat and scanned the tavern as the hour grew late. People were at different levels of intoxication. She knew she was pleasantly tipsy, but not yet drunk. Every so often, she glanced at the table holding ‘Freckles’ and the brunette. That the pair were looking towards her table with Alric seemingly boded well for her and her drinking companion. She would not, though, count her chicks before they hatched.

Not a moment later, Alric was back, setting a mug of something new in front of her. She took an experimental sip, and grinned, “Oh that’s nice. I like the bite,” Paks said and held up her mug, “Good choice...not that I’m picky about what I drink, mind.”

“Got some food comin’ too,” Alric replied after he took an appreciative sip of his own beverage.

Paks smirked, “Excellent. Our table of lasses seems to be pleased they are drinknin’ for free. They keep looking this way. Whenever I make eye contact, they giggle like school girls. Could be a good sign for us, or. . .not.” She laughed before taking another sip and setting her mug on the table, holding it between both hands.

“Once we’re done with our food, it might be a good time to try and join them. Hour’s growing late and those who will pair off will likely start soon. I don’t want you to miss your chance with Freckles,” she added with a smirk.

As if on queue, the catfish bites appeared and were set on the table between them, “Ooh! Fish!”

Spoiler: show

Semi-obscure Red Dwarf reference. . .who gets it?

[Locke]

Alric

Raising his mug for a toast, Alric said, “Honestly, I could care less how this night ends, I just know I want to be sweating alcohol by the end of it.” He took a long drink as if to prove his point. The beer itself extremely rich and malty, and while it didn’t have the burn of hard liquor, Alric was familiar enough with strong ales to know that if he didn’t put something in his stomach soon, he would be annoying Paks with off color, and off key, marching songs. Depending on how the night went,I might just do that anyway, he thought with a small laugh.

Steeling himself, the Mayener reached out for one of the battered chunks of catfish. He didn’t eat it right away. Instead he sat glaring at it. He’d seen sketches of catfish, the slimy creatures looked disgusting. They just lived in their own filt in lakes and rivers. There was no way a creature like that could taste any good. Show a Hama Valoner a squid and they’ll probably think it’s just as disgusting, said a more reasonable part of his mind.

“No point staring at it,” he muttered before sniffing it and popping it into his mouth. The fish itself was surprisingly fresh. Well it shouldn’t have been a surprise seeing as they were on a lake. Catfish couldn’t hold a candle to well most fish he’d had growing up in Mayene, but the anything could taste quite wonderful once covered in batter and fried. Especially when paired with an excellent beer.

“I’m kinda curious,” Alric said, voice beginning to slur slightly, “How do you usually get back into the Tower?” By now, he’d forgotten all about his reservations about catfish and was steadily eating the small fried morsels, dipping them in their tangy sauce.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

Paks popped another piece of catfish into her mouth and washed it down with the dark ale. She picked up another piece of fish and flashed her smirk at Alric, “How do I get back into the Tower? I don’t have to get in the tower itself. I just have to get on the Tower grounds, and to the Warder Hall.

“As a Drin, I’m allowed to leave the grounds, so I have a little more leeway than Soldiers or Novices. The guards don’t seem to pay much mind when I walk into or out of the Tower grounds,” the Drin answered. She smirked again, “Maybe we should see about getting you a Drin uniform? I wonder if they know who are Drin and who are soldiers or Novices.”

She popped the piece of fish into her mouth and grinned as she began chewing it, “Though, I suspect if you carry yourself as if you own the place, I doubt they’d notice if you were a Soldier in a Drin uniform.” She picked up her mug and held it up in a salute before taking a big pull.

Just as Paks was about to say something else, a shadow was cast across their table. The Drin looked up and her grin turned to a smirk, “Good evening, ladies.” She pointed to the two empty chairs around their table, “Would you care to join Alric and me?”

The one Alric called Freckles flashed him a big grin, and sat next to him. The brunette flashed Paks a smirk just as mischievous as the Drin Rogue’s own, “Lacey and I would love to. I’m Lana, and you are?”

Paks let her smirk grow, “Call me Paks, Lacey.” She looked to Alric with a knowing grin, “Though. . .I’m not expecting to get back to the Tower until morning, if I’m lucky.”

[Locke]

Alric

“Oh, so walk like I always do,” Alric said returning the jaunty salute. He was about to add that the fact he wasn't currently dressed as a Soldier might help when the two women they'd been steadily buying drinks for approached.

Change of plans, they made the first move, Alric thought before taking a swig of liquid courage. When he was introduced, he gave a half smile and tipped his mug to Freckles. Lacey, that was her name. He'd try not to call her Freckles to her face. The nickname was appropriate though. Now that they were sitting together, he could see that even her arms were covered in the little flecks of pigment.

“So what do y’all do with your days?” Alric asked, internally cringing. That could have come out smoother. Paks was definitely the suave one here. He slid the plate of fish towards the two women, sure he was making at least a little bit of a fool of himself.

Fre- Lacey didn't seem to mind. “We're scribes at the L&J Trading Company,” she said, dipping a piece of fish. She actually looked eager to talk about her job, but Lana stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“We didn't come to talk about work,” the brunette said locking Paks with a smoldering gaze. Apparently, she was a woman on a mission.

[Roan]

Paks Liard

More often than not, when Paks was on the town, and on the hunt, she was usually the one making bold and risque statements. Not that what Lana said was all that risque, but she made her intentions clear with the look she gave Paks. The drin popped another fish bite in her mouth, and smirked even as she chewed. She cast a quick glance at Alric before locking her gaze back on the brunette and wiggling her brows, “I am more than certain Alric and I can offer more pleasant conversation and distraction than discussing work.”

The Drin paused long enough to take a long pull from her mug. A stray thought went back to Cassie, who’d been more than forward with Paks. It was an interesting twist to the night, but truth be told, Paks preferred a little more subtlety. . .not that she regretted the evening. Lana was tantalizing in her own way, and made her intentions very clear with a simple look.

Before Paks could say anything else, the barkeep came over and set down another round of drinks, “I figured ye might be gettin’ low. How are the fish bites?”