New Face at The Wayward King Tavern

A roleplay transcript by Iskrin, Lyrena and Gisele Valentein (played by Etain Moonflower).

Iskrin Orin'Darr stepped into the Wayward King with a sour look on his face. He cast his eyes around the room but saw noone of particular interest or important, so made his way to the bar and drummed his fingers impatiently on the wood.

Gisele Valentein slid her gaze in the direction of the open doors, lifting her chin to greet the patron. "Find a table. Be right with you," she said as she lowered eyes to the floor and continued sweeping. Less than a minute passed before she returned the broom to its resting place and ran the back of her hand along her forehead. "Or sit there," she muttered under her breath as she noticed him taking a seat at the bar. She wiped her palms on her skirt, making her way over to him. "Special today is chestnut bread and sharp cheese with a mug of bitter. Or you want something else?"

Iskrin Orin'Darr flashed a thin smile at the woman as she rounded the bar and spoke to him. "That'll do," he said, glancing at her briefly and then looking out into the room for a moment. "Actually, hold the cheese. Just butter with the bread." Then after a moment added: "If you please."

Gisele Valentein eyed him casually before shifting her gaze to work on his request. She served up the mug of bitter, sliding it across the counter. "Fine. Got some jam too. Want that?" Her tone was pleasant enough, but there wasn't a hint of a smile. She went to move around the bar and enter the kitchen to retrieve the rest of his order and leaned in beside him to place the platter before him. "6 copper." Usually the patrons paid just before they were to leave, but she was asking for the payment up front.

Iskrin Orin'Darr shook his head. "No jam," he said, watching her head to the kitchen. When she returned, he leaned slightly to the side to allow her to place the platter, keeping his eyes fixed away from her. At her request for money, he turned with a raised eyebrow. "You're new, aren't you?" he asked, seeking to meet her eyes for the first time since arriving.

Gisele Valentein made an attempt at a smile, but it was fleeting. "Yeah, don't know everyone yet. Not going to have someone walk out on their tab and have it deducted from my pay." She held out her hand, turning her palm up expectantly. "Thanks for understanding."

Iskrin Orin'Darr took a thoughtful swig of his bitter and placed the tankard on the bar. He drew a pouch from his belt and counted out six coppers, placing them deliberately on the bar in front of Gisele. "There," he said, spreading them out into a neat line. "Six coppers." He turned back to his meal and took up the knife to get to work on buttering the bread. "My name is Iskrin," he said, after chewing his first bite of the surprisingly good bread. "And you would be?"

Gisele Valentein wiggled her fingers as she waited for him to hand over the coin. The barmaid gave a curt lift of her chin as she looked down the fine line of her nose at him. She watched him lay out his copper pieces, deliberately ignoring her waiting hand and bit her tongue, stifling the words just itching to spill from her lips. "Thank you," she said with a lilt in her voice in an attempt to keep her tone airy and light. She scooped up the coin and made her way behind the bar. "Gisele," she offered. "Lemme know if you need anything else, sir." She intentionally refrained from using his name.

Iskrin Orin'Darr focused for some moments on his food, using his slender fingers to tear pieces of bread and place them in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. His brows, tightly knitted when he had entered, were relaxing with the meal and the beer. "Gisele," he said at length to the woman now that she stood behind the bar. His voice was quiet, but audible above the din of the tap room. "Tell me, where are you from?"

Gisele Valentein blinked his way, fully intending to turn her back to him and work on placing the mugs she recently washed and dried on the shelving, but had a change of heart as her gaze slid over his form - or the upper part of his form that she could see from her position and angle. His garb was nice and she could just make out the coin pouch at his waist which loosened her tongue. "Here and there. I like it here though. More than likely stay. You live here, Iskrin, or are you just visiting?"

Iskrin Orin'Darr watched her momentary hesitation and smiled as she turned to him. "I am usually present here," he said in a slightly cryptic answer to her question. He placed his knife down on the platter and pushed it slightly away from him. "That was good," he said. "Better than the Wayward King usually serves. Did you bake the bread yourself?"

The sound of coins clinking against coins rang out gently as Gisele Valentein made a show of adding the patron's payment to the collection bag beneath the counter. Another sound too could be heard faintly - coin sliding gently against wood. She straightened then to take a lean on arms now propped against the counter. There was a hint of a smile on her lips that never quite reached her eyes. Nothing offputting, but it was probably obvious the woman did not smile much. "I did. I would cook exclusively if I could make more coin, but I end up making more from the tips waiting tables and serving up drinks."

Iskrin Orin'Darr listened to the sounds the coins made as Gisele put them away in apparently two different places. "I can understand that," he said. "Often the work we need to do is not the work we'd like to do." He turned then at the sound of the tavern's heavy wooden doors opening. Recognising the Dame Commander as she entered he turned back to the bar, unconcerned. "Where were you before you came to Ansa`fel, Gisele?"

Lyrena Auberan made her way to the Wayward King tavern after her shift had ended, clad in something that definitely wasn't the Blood elf's armor and Guardian uniform. Peering inside, she found the establishment inhabited, but not packed. Lyrena's crimson heels stepped forward as she looked for a table to claim, only to spot the familiar backside of the First Estril - who seemed to be talking with a gorgeous barmaid the Blood elf had never seen before. She made her way to the bar, and only then addressed Iskrin none too loudly, not wanting to make a big show of titles while the First Estril was likely off-duty and relaxing. "First Estril.", she nodded with a wink before inviting herself to the seat beside him. "Making new friends?", she asked him rhetorically before looking at Gisele. Studying her features. "Another new girl at the King?", she inquired coyly. "You look like you might be my favorite, so far. What is your name?"

Gisele Valentein's gaze narrowed at the elf's second attempt to find out where she had hailed previously. She quickly widened her eyes, blinking, and settled them on the new patron who joined them. The greeting sat on the tip of her tongue, but fell short as her blue gaze roamed over the alluring blonde. The blood elf was truly attractive. Gisele took a steadying breath, giving her a nod. "Special today is chestnut bread and sharp cheese with a mug of bitter. What say you?" She lightly said by way of greeting. "Gisele. That's my name," she offered, reaching for a hanging cloth and started rubbing a smudge away from the counter. "What's a First Estril?"

Iskrin Orin'Darr smiled with a shake of his head as Lyrena sat down. "Dame Commander," he returned her greeting. "I was having a quiet lunch." He emphasised the word quiet in a way that suggested he may have wished to remain just Iskrin for now. Then he turned to Gisele. "I am a representative of the High King," he said simply, but didn't expand further, noting that she too was avoiding answering certain questions properly. Then he stood. "I will have to leave you to work your charm with Gisele, Lyrena. I'm afraid that duty calls me away." He brushed down his trousers and then reached into his belt pouch to remove a single silver coin. "For the conversation," he said, placing it on the bar and sliding it towards Gisele before turning to leave. "I hope there will be more of it."

Lyrena Auberan pondered for a moment whether to order the special described to her. As she was about to answer, she peered to the left as Iskrin began to stand up. "I can be quiet.", Lyrena retorted with a tilted head, though she expected the First Estril had made up his mind by now. "But very well.", she added, in case Iskrin didn't have a change of heart. "When you are not having a quiet lunch, I would like to speak with you. Preferably within the weekend.", she said, without elaborating on the purpose. "But be safe, Iskrin.", she nodded, then turned towards Gisele. "I hope you do not think I did that on purpose.", the Blood elf said to the barmaid, a smirk briefly curling her lips. "For what it is worth, I expect he really would have had to go soon either way. As for the special…", she hummed. "I will have it. But not the bitter. Beer will be fine."

Gisele Valentein tossed the cloth beside the bag of coin and wiped her palms along her skirt. "Ah, sounds prestigious," she softly said, her gaze careful as she considered him. She reached over and cupped her hand, bringing the silver piece to her. "As do I," she replied softly and held the coin in her hand. "Farewell for now, Iskrin." She turned her full attention to the blood elf as she spoke. "As you wish," she said, her hands working at the empty tankard, filling it full with the beer the elf requested. "Here you go. Be right back with the bread." Gisele moved to make her way around the counter and enter the kitchen.

Lyrena Auberan nodded to Gisele in thanks as she poured her that beer before the barmaid went to prepare the rest of her order. Lyrena looked around again after Iskrin left, rolling her shoulders relaxedly while humming. She clasped her tankard by the handle, tasting the foam before taking a few small sips. At times, she peered towards the kitchen area, catching another glimpse of Gisele. The human really was stunning. When Gisele did come back with the bread, Lyrena hailed her again with a dip of her head. "You are new in town, I take it? You have the look.", she inquired, sipping again. "Myself, I have been here a few months now."

Gisele Valentein did not make a show of putting away the coin, but it was no longer in her hand when she stepped into the kitchen. She sliced up a half loaf of the chestnut bread and plated several slices of the cheese with it. "How's the beer," she inquired once she had returned, her gaze now moving over the backside of the shapely elf. She slid the plate over to the blonde. "That'll be 9 copper," she said before answering, "Yup. I'm new. And have already been warned that if people get up and do not pay their tab then I gotta cover it." Her lashes fluttered, an attempt to break up any harshness in her gaze. "You the law? That right?"

Lyrena Auberan palmed the side of that plate and slid it right in front of herself after Gisele placed it on the counter. After that, Lyrena pulled off her crimson gloves one after the other, before folding them and stuffing them under the hem of one of her tight stockings. "Good,", the Blood elf reassured, in regards to the beer, which she soon lifted to sip from again. "It happens. Sometimes.", she decided to warn as well. "Not so much in the other tavern. The Crescent Moon. But they rarely hire there, I am told.", she shrugged. Upon hearing the price, she went to dig under her black bra, withdrawing a single silver coin before handing it to the new employee. "This should cover the next few walkouts.", she said, before biting on a slice of the bread with cheese on it.

Lyrena Auberan looked up from her plate again and towards the barmaid as she forgot to answer her last question. "I am. The Guardians, you will hear us called."

Gisele Valentein watched the elf's hands move about her stockings, her intense blue gaze lingering there momentarily before drifting upward toward the blonde-maned creature's fingers at the silken-like bra. Her garb looked expensive too. The barmaid's gaze dipped back down, looking for any other items of interest on the Dame Commander's person. "That's some outfit," she acknowledged, explaining away her curious gaze if it was noticed. "Bet you don't get into many knife fights, yeah?" She abruptly laughed, the sound was more like a cough and where one would expect a smile, her lips instead parted and then formed a fine line. "Thanks," she said as she clutched the coin in her hand and went back behind the counter. "Yeah, I tried there but they weren't hiring. Hopefully something opens up soon though. I bet tips are better there." She slid her gaze back over to the blood elf's face to hold her gaze if her eyes were on her. "Commander, was it? You like a big shot then?"

Lyrena Auberan did notice Gisele's stare but mostly attributed it to a natural curiosity. "The summer begets this mood of mine.", she explained in regards to the revealing outfit. "Not here.", the Blood elf answered when asked about her knife fighting encounters. Momentarily, she looked Gisele in the eyes after the barmaid's slightly awkward joke, but figured it was likely just the nervousness of a new job and such. "You will find this city a safe place to live in. Mostly.", the Dame Commander assessed. "Where do you live? With a friend? At the tavern here?", she inquired, and by the look on her face, it was with a purpose. "We have had reports of burglaries lately. No one was harmed, but that is never certain. Hide your things well, and lock up before bedtime.", she counseled, before eating some more bread, then washing it down with beer. "Newly appointed.", she explained with a nod, not directly answering whether she considered herself a big shot.

Gisele Valentein placed the silver piece in the large bag of coin beneath the counter and withdrew some coins, placing them on the wood surface beside it. She stood and took a lean against the counter, her forearms propped against the countertop. "Oh so that's not an official outfit then." She gave the briefest of nods, her eyes crinkling at the corners but no smile surfaced. "I like it," she offered, her voice trailing off. "I am renting a room just south of here. I hear I am lucky to find one available, actually. I guess the last person passed away? His misfortune is my fortune." One corner of her lips twitched as if she were about to grin, the slight movement causing her dimples to deepen. "It's cheap. Well, cheap enough. Don't plan on living there for long either. But I'm not gonna gripe as I'm just starting out here." She released a careful breath at Lyrena's warning. "Ok, noted. Thanks for the warning." Her eyes sparkled playfully then, "Can I get you anything else? Want a refill?"

Lyrena Auberan herself couldn't help but steal a glance at Gisele's heavy breasts as the barmaid leaned towards the counter - before the Blood elf's glowing eyes looked back into those of her companion. "My uniform covers a bit more.", Lyrena said in some jest, aware that her current clothes didn't - and in a tone that implied her uniform may not conceal much more either. "You are lucky.", she affirmed. "Ansa'fel is one of the jewels of Ysa Thalas. Many people come to live here. The builders cannot keep up. And the walls, they can only contain so much.", the Dame Commander explained. "Refill this.", she requested upon the offer, sliding her almost empty tankard of beer closer to Gisele. "You from the continent? Or from overseas?"

A sound resembling a chuckle escaped her as she took up the tankard. "You got it," she said and then passed it back gingerly to the blood elf once it was full of frothy goodness. "First time ever visting and knew I had to live here right away." She said, and her words were true. "Damn livestock keeps me up though, and I have quite the commute," Gisele shared in an attempt to sway the conversation in the direction she favored, "hey do you know how I can go about getting a pass to use the south door to the city? Right now I have to boat over to the cave and travel through the cistern, then take two ferries to get here." Gisele Valentein absently scratched at her hairline. "Commute is way too long. Especially for the pay. They told me only hired servants who obtain a pass from their employers can use that entrance. Has to be a way around that, right?"

Lyrena Auberan gladly took the tankard once it was offered to her again, briefly slurping at the foam before taking a bigger gulp, after which she exhaled. "Thank you.", she said afterwards. Lyrena gave a look of sympathy when Gisele mentioned the animals near her house keeping her up. "Southern gate? The one that leads to the mainland?", she asked. "For a civilian, I would not know. Are they telling you that you need to be using the gate for work to have access to it? Have you asked the tavern owners already? I imagine they have access, for supplies and such."

Gisele Valentein eyed the elf as she enjoyed a large gulp of her beer. "Course," the barmaid replied to her thanks. "Southern door that leads to the slaves quarters you locals refer to it as, I am told. Where many workers who are employed as servants to the wealthy residents of the city live." She pulled at the towel hidden beneath the counter and dipped it into a pitcher, soaking up some of the soapy water so she could begin wiping the counter down. Her hand moved in a circular motion along the wood. "That's where I am living temporarily. And I've been told by the guard stationed at that door that I must have a pass. But he told me that I needed to sign up as a servant which I will not do." She hesitated a moment, her gaze reaching over to Lyrena's. "I don't suppose there is anything you can do about it is there?"

Lyrena Auberan just about finished up her meal, offering the empty plate containing crumbs and pieces back to Gisele as she noticed the barmaid preparing to clean the counter again. "Ah,", the Blood elf exclaimed with a nod. "You mean there. They are making you go around?", she rhetorically asked, though a bit surprised. "I thought they allowed residents of the quarters to go in and out as they want.", she perked her long eyebrows. "Not unless you plan to join the Guardians.", Lyrena said half in jest, sipping from her beer again. "Next time, do not be afraid to insist. Tell them you live there and you are heading off for work. They may just be trying to dismiss you because you're new. I would speak with your bosses at the tavern, like I said. They have probably been living here a lot longer than I. See if they suggest something.", the Blood elf nodded. "I have faith you will soon make enough tips to move out of there."

Gisele Valentein shook her head, "Yeah, the tavern owner confirmed it. It's how they run things I hear. Oh well. Won't live there for too long." She finished wiping down the counter and tossed the dirty kitchen towel to the side. "Well, if your Guardians are looking for a cook and can pay well we could work something out." Gisele lifted her hands high above her head and arched her back like a cat, stretching away the stiffness. The expression on her features was hopeful and something shifted in her gaze as she watched the blood elf. She dropped her hands and reached for the plate, moving it off to the side so she could collect it after their conversation. "Otherwise, yeah, all in good time. Anything else I can get you? My shift is about to end and I need to clean up before I take off, miss."

Lyrena Auberan finished her beer, grunting softly before leaving the empty tankard at the counter in front of Gisele. "We have a cook already,", Lyrena started off, then paused to contemplate. Her eyes looked back into the barmaid's once she was done thinking. "But he could use an assistant. I will speak with him tomorrow.", Lyrena offered. "But no promises.", she clarified rather formally and business-like while standing up from the tall chair, her chest briefly bouncing as she stood back up. "Gisele, was it?", she asked with squinted eyes and a tilted head. "I am Lyrena.", she finally introduced herself, having forgotten to previously. "It is time for me to go too. But this was pleasant. You have a good one, and be safe."

Lyrena Auberan also put her gloves back on, her fingers wiggling as they stretched into the hands of the sleeves.

The smile vanished as quickly as it began to surface as Gisele nodded. "Ok, no promises. Thanks," she spoke in earnest as she grabbed the plate, her eyes flitting over the blood elf's voluptuous shape as she stood. "That's pretty. Yeah, Gisele." She collected the empty tankard too and started around the bar. "Yeah, it was nice. I'll be in again tomorrow. Drop by if you get a break."

Lyrena Auberan pulled up her slingshot thong a bit after she stood up, then peered back to Gisele as she complimented her looks. The corner of the Blood elf's lips briefly rose in a coy smile. "I will see to it.", she said in response to that invitation, before making her way out.

Gisele waited for the Dame Commander to take her leave before she entered the kitchen. "Be safe, Lyrena," she called after her.