The Grey Tower

Posted: **February 20th, 2017, 5:46 pm**

He sensed that he had caused a shift in the mood, he was oft given to introspection these days so he knew that he could be melancholic and that it could be infecting their meeting like a plague. He couldn’t help it when asked about his past and reasons, there were precious few happy memories left, all of them soured, bit by bit, with bitterness. He was learning to rise above it, or at least hold it at bay, but he was failing at that moment and this had to be changed.

A poor host, to bring a lass out and talk her into a bad time spent. Foolish Alrim, friends are rare these days… he resolved to himself internally as he finished what dregs remained in his cup and twirled it upon the wood, the wobbling echoing within the wood.

“Right you are Paks Laird, right you are. Inviting you out and I haven’t even got you a drink, what must you think of me. A poor show indeed!” he chuckled, “and being that I cannot be the show for we know your tastes, what could we do about this?” he wondered aloud with amusement. He held up a finger in a pausing motion and slipped away, taking his cup with him.

“Hey Briar,” he asked as he approached the bar, casting his eye about and seeing that it had filled up somewhat but was yet showing patches of space, “know where I could get some more ale and some slender figures?”

“Aren’t you lot sposed to think about different things?”

“Ah, but I am not ordinary Drin. I know what it is to have a life” he winked and the man chuckled back.

“Be taking after that girl eh? Well don’t say I didn’t warn ye, heart of gold but trouble finds its way”

“And trouble,” he leant against the bar upon his elbow, “is the fun part”

“Few girls in the back there, ale I can give you. Don’t blame me if it gets tipped over yer head though, they’re feisty these days”

“You’re golden Briar, golden, could you take a few rounds over to Paks and I’ll round them up in a bit, give you something shiny if you point us out to anyone fun and they come and have fun”

It was a matter of a few moments, he hoped it wasn’t too long for Paks but he thought it had only been right to do the honours and get the next series of mugs. He was willing to get them all, he had no use for what coin he had and a good time out was worth any price these days. He settled back into his chair opposite her and grinned.

“More ale is on the wa-” he began but as soon as he was speaking they were being put before them, two cups each and with it the promise of more, “well there we go, best service around” he drank from his cup to moisten his throat.

“So, I have this notion that there are some pretty little things here, and more to arrive, and that I bet you that I can do a dance, kiss or other unspeakably terrible things with more of them than you. Obvious reputation aside, Arafellin are clearly better at these things things” he made the dare with a grin so she would know it was a game.

“Care to wager? I accept coin, favours and amusing punishments as fair wagers,” he nodded affably, pretending to be the very paragon of decency, "of course if the bet is not to your liking I'm game for other bets too, I do like a good gamble"

Posted: **February 26th, 2017, 7:17 pm**

Paks Liard

Paks smirked, “A wager to see who gets more attention from the lasses here?” She barked a laugh, “Oh Alrim, that’s a fool’s wager. I know nearly all the lasses who tend to partake in dinner and drink here, and I’ve at least danced with every single one, and many it’s been a dance between the sheets, my friend. It is not a fair wager.”

As if on queue, three ladies descended upon their table, two of whom sat on each of Paks’ knee, and the other stood behind her. Her lips twitched as did one of her brows, “How about we just enjoy the evening for what it is.” With this, she tilted her head and held up one of the recently delivered mugs, “And save our wager for a game where the odds might be a tad more even?”

Posted: **March 5th, 2017, 9:58 am**

It was rare that he enjoyed the fact that h lost a wager, even if technically it had never really started. This time, however, he positively beamed from ear to ear. Once he had gotten over the initial shock of a group of until then unknown and unnoticed women descending upon their table like cats to a milk saucer. It had almost been art, choreographed to perfection from years of repetition he supposed to himself. It was impressive nonetheless. He laughed - at himself, at Paks and generally at the world.

"I was ever the fool Paks, don't you remember?" he grinned as he finished off the first of his cups, "but I hereby conceded defeat, on the basis that you are a better rogue than I. In some ways" he saluted her with the next cup.

She is either deeply loved or very good between the sheets. Probably both he conceded.

She was a mystery to him in truth, her background seemed similar to his own, if a bit darker. They had reacted in differing ways, for differing reasons, yet they were both here. Paks clearly lived her life and everyone seemed to like her. He couldn't understand how she wasn't marching the Drin up and down the Yard before getting them all to dance like they were in a tavern. She seemed the personality to be able to get people to do things. And she wasn't lazy like him, she would have finished her chores, she had said so herself. He chuckled at the idea of her being able to get the Master of Training to do a jig.

"But fair enough, for what it is and for who the company is. Get me drunk enough and I might sing a song about that, Light help you all"

With that the mood relaxed and grew a shade lighter, more merriment and less overshadowed by memory. Alrim even managed to acquire a lady of his own for his own knee quick enough, a fact he was quite happy with. He turned his hand to earning them some free drinks with a few of the tricks he knew. Knotting a scarf without letting go of each end was the easy one, crossed arms to open - there's the knot. Others were more about trickery of the mind than anything else but they were fun enough. Penny drawing, balancing items from the tavern which might seem impossible unless you knew how.

I took perhaps a handful of minutes, maybe a score, but not too long truly. It was hard to keep track of time when you were having fun but he didn't think an eternity had passed just yet.

"You know what Paks, I don't think I've ever met someone as well liked as you. Everyone in here seems to know you and haven't hard a bad word. Must be nice" he stated, it was a general observation.

"Tell me Paks, what is your most favourite of things to do on such nights? Bedding with present company excepted of course," he flashed a smile as he passed a drink to the new friend on his knee.

Posted: **March 5th, 2017, 6:42 pm**

Paks Liard

Paks laughed and gave her best attempt at an innocent shrug, “Well liked, I don’t know about. I am sure there’s a lad or three who might not like me quite so much.” She looked to each of the women surrounding her. The one behind her leaned down and whispered something before slinking off, smiling like something akin to a cat who ate a canary.” Paks didn’t take her eyes off the woman as she licked and then bit her lower lip before shaking her head. When she looked back to Alrim, she couldn’t help but smirk, “I won’t deny I don’t like the attention, though it sometimes can bring unwanted trouble.

“I can’t say as I mind, though, because if I did, I’d likely tone things down, but where is the fun in that?” Paks admitted.

Alrim was a curious one. He seemed happy and go-lucky, and while to the outside observer, so was Paks, there were undercurrents few if any were aware of, and she wasn’t about to share them tonight. In some respects, they were kindred spirits in neither had a real choice on coming to the Warder Yards. There were other similarities too, though Arlim seemed much more at ease with his lot in life than Paks.

Her smirk was like her armor, and she flashed it again, “As for what I like to do on such nights? Well, depending on the crowd, I’ll spin a tall tale as any bard might do, or sing a little diddy with the performing musicians, if they’ll have me. Remember, I was an entertainer before being thrust upon the Tower’s Warder Yards. If you wonder why I seem so liked, then it might well be the fact I do my best to bring joy to people at the end of a long day or long week. . .at least, when I can that is.” She reached around one of the two women on her knees to grab her mug and took a drink.

“And you? What about you, Alrim? What are your favorite things to do on such nights?”

Posted: **March 5th, 2017, 7:34 pm**

"Trouble indeed," he snorted, "I know the feeling" he tilted his head as he felt the first buzzing of what had been consumed begin to creep its way up his spine, fanning out though him slowly, almost an oozing.

Oh he could tell her about trouble, the sort which went beyond mere angry brothers who ended things in fist fights. Swords were far more common when honour was called into question. He was an able swordsman for a reason, one which he did not like to think upon. Glibness and a mocking attitude to the world served him best. Not a rebel without a cause, a rebel with a cause. It was far more effective he had found. He smiled and downed another bit of...what looked like brown. Didn't matter, it was working.

"There is none! Fun comes with price, always and it is usually worth paying" he stated, perhaps there was more of an emphasis on the usually but he didn't care and it would likely be ignored.

Paks smirked at him, that little flash that was so infectious. He was beginning to see it more often, he assumed it meant that she was enjoying herself. He saw no other reason for it. If he were in her position, loved and liked and a girl upon each knee he would grin just as broadly. He did not even begin to think that it might be something else. Perhaps he might later, maybe. If he remembered to. But not then. He listened and found one other common point of interest, perhaps one they might form friendship over.

Though you've got a passable voice, she's like as not an expert. Still...it's too tempting the thought came quickly, strongly in response to her question. He shifted the lass upon his knee to one side with assurances and stepped out of his seat.

"You could say, oh lovely madam Laird," he bowed not too smoothly, "that we share an interest," he stated as he finished his drink, grabbed another cup and stepped towards a crowd, he was the beginning drunk now and he didn't care as he clinked his cup against the few in the group and started the song.

"Tinker in the kitchen," he sang, not awfully but not the best either as he shifted to another nearby group to continue, "with a job of work to do" more cups clicking together as a silence of sorts fell. He could not sing brilliantly but he was good at getting drunk people involved.

He sang the rest of the tune as he flitted between groups nearby, grinning and trying to get them to join in.

Mistress up above, slipping on a robe of blue.
She dances down the staircase, her fancy all so free,
crying, Tinker, oh, dear Tinker, won’t you mend a pot for me?

By the end there were others singing and he repeated the song so that everyone had a turn, the last words ending with him finding his sat once more, his cup empty and a cheer of merriment from the inebriated.

"My favourite thing is life Paks, and fun"

"Care to better my performance my lady joy bringer?" there was no mockery in his tone, he admired her desire and she would see it.

Posted: **March 6th, 2017, 1:12 am**

Paks Liard

Paks laughed and shook her head, “Not bad, Alrim, not bad, though I’d suggest you not quit your day job. Perhaps learn an instrument, eh?” While he’d been singing, a trio of musicians settled on what would be a small stage. The female Drin knew them thanks to time spent in that particular tavern. Feeling emboldened, Paks drained her mug before encouraging the two women off her lap. “I accept the challenge, as a matter of fact,” she replied before crossing over to the musicians.

There were a few whispers back and forth, and the percussionist laughed before nodding. There was just a moment’s hesitation before the music started. Paks let them play one bar before turning to the crowd as she started singing.

As I went home on Monday night,
as drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a horse outside the door,
where my old horse should be.
I called my wife and I said to her: “HEY, WIFE!”
Will you kindly tell to me,
who owns that horse outside the door,
where my old horse should be?

Paks switched gears and put on more feminine airs and then sang the wife’s response, Oh, you're drunk, you're drunk
you silly old fool, and still you cannot see.
That's a lovely sow that my mother sent to me.

The Drin straightened up and pretended to tug on suspenders and deepened her voice Well, it's many a day I've traveled, a hundred miles or more,
but a saddle on a sow, sure, I never saw before.

She moved through the crowd and accepted a mug from a stranger, paused to chug it, and carried on.

And when I came home on Tuesday night,
As drunk as drunk could be,
I saw a coat upon the floor,
Where my own coat should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her,
"Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that coat upon the floor,
Where my own coat should be?"

Once again, she changed her pitch, She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk,
you silly old fool.
Still you cannot see!
That's a lovely blanket that me mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've travelled
A hundred miles or more.
But buttons on a blanket, sure, I never saw before.

By this point, most were tapping their feet, if not clapping, and Paks went through Wednesday night, and Thursday night, the lyrics getting more and more suggestive. She paused dramatically, again taking a pint from someone and draining it in one go before finishing the song.

And when I came home on Friday night,
As drunk as drunk could be,
I saw a head upon my bed,
Where my own head should be.
So, I looked at my wife, and I said to her,
"Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that head with you in bed,
Where my poor head should be?"

The Drin strutted around as feminine as she dared, She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk,
You silly old fool.
Still you cannot see!
That's a lovely baby that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've travelled
A hundred miles or more.
But whiskers on a baby, sure, I never saw before."

The musicians ended as she finished with a flourish in front of Alrim and sunk into her chair. She was in her element and simply beamed at the other Drin. “I rarely turn down a chance to tell a story or sing a song, especially if I know the musicians.” She wiggled her brow as another mug found its way into her hands. She was well on her way to intoxicated, and enjoying every minute of it.

The lyrics are from 'Seven Drunken Nights' and while I ended it on Friday night, there are lyrics for Saturday and Sunday. I ended on Friday because it was getting rather long. Feel free to look up the lyrics if you are curious.

Posted: **March 7th, 2017, 7:57 am**

He bowed in response to her words, half praise and half teasing, she was correct and so he didn't respond beyond gesturing to the floor and waiting. The truth was he was poor at most things but he liked to see others who were better do what he could not. As the beginning of the song rolled out he was suspicious, as it got into its strength he was certain - she was better. So much better at playing the crowd, at singing, at projecting what he was within through herself that he stood in awe. She put everything into it that she had and it showed.

An admiration of philosophy for us all he told himself as he began the chain of drinks.

He was no fool, he passed them down the line and directed them towards the woman. If he was going to get drunk then she flaming well was too and as it stood it seemed that the more fun she had the more she unfolded. Like a flower creeping, searching for the sun's light. He had no shame, he had used that up many years ago. He did, however, have enthusiasm and he used it well. Singing alongside her, drumming empty cups upon the wooden table. He clapped, he stamped, he cajoled as many as possible. He likely didn't need to but he was having fun and in between verses he would down some mixture of his own.

"Well well Paks," he greeted her with a grin as she sat back opposite him, "I think you have proven your point. I cannot beat you at either bedding nor at singing" he chuckled.

"I would like to say, for the record, that you shine out on stage. I have met many who claim to be entertainers, Light I've claimed it if it helped raise a skirt or two. But you...you are something special. I reckon you could get the whole Yard to dance in unison if you played the tune" he snorted, believing it but still finding it amusing.

He wondered about stories then, she had said she told stories. Unless you were a Gleeman he knew few who told tales that were not in some way precious to them, be it for reflective resonance or because part of them liked the motives and characters. He considered whether to ask for such a tale and dismissed it as quickly. He was drunk, she was drunk. Or they were close to it. It would be unfair and he did have some moral code left. Instead he drained another cup and opted for something else.

"I heard a tale once, it involved two Drin, lots of ale and perhaps a bit of mischief. I can't recall if it had a happy ending. Ask me in the morning" he flashed a grin.

He was about to open his mouth again but instead found it filled with someone else's, the lass who had been sat next to him. He thought. He was not ashamed to admit that he was quite drunk and was probably miss-remembering. They both lost their balance and his back would complain to him in the morning as it took the impact of the floor. True to form, just for his own amusement, once he had recovered and established there was still kissing going on to held up one finger and a fist behind the lass's back just to Paks. There was a laughing cheer from somewhere.

"Well, that's one way of doing it. I think, Paks my friend, that you deserve one tale. Perhaps we should make our own?" he raised his cup over the table to her, that old silent signal that words were soon likely to give way to actions, instinct and somewhere down the line trouble.

Posted: **March 18th, 2017, 3:25 pm**

Paks Liard

Paks laughed as she watched Alrim and his lady topple over, and laughed again as he held up a finger. He was, in many ways, a kindred spirit, and the night had been an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. Perhaps she’d met a drinking partner for nights to come.

“I would be disappointed if we didn’t each make a tale of our own, Alrim, and if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say you are well on your way,” she answered with an easy smirk just as one of the two women who’d been on her lap before came back and guided Paks out of her seat to lead her away, and not to the dance floor.

The smirk seemed to broaden as Paks looked back to Alrim, “Just remember, you’ve got to be back at the Yards, dressed and raring to go come morning. We can spend the occasional night out on the town, but we still have our duties to attend to. Play hard….work hard. It balances things out.Enjoy the rest of your night, Alrim.” She winked before turning away and putting her arm around the woman who’d led her away just as the two disappeared upstairs.

The Grey Tower

Honest Work, Honest Heart

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