The Gift

A roleplay transcript by Coraline, Eulena, Kormak and Gisele.

Coraline awoke naked in the inn bed with a head that felt like a hammer pounding on a rock. She looked around and slowly gathered herself, realizing where she was and seeing her clothes scattered about the room. She managed a soft giggle as she recognized that she had torn her clothing from herself during the night and thrown her garments off as she often did when she slept. Forcing herself up from the bed, she gathered her clothes, dressed, and went downstairs. The innkeeper greeted her, as she had been there often enough and she inquired of him about how much she owed for the room. "The young gal that helped you here paid for it. And, yer breakfast too!" he told her with a grin. She stood blinking for a moment and forced herself to remember the previous night's events. Her memory slowly returned. "Gisele." she said quietly to herself. She walked into the hollow after leaving the inn, grabbing a few almonds to munch on and stripping quickly to dive into the nearest pool of water. The restorative waters soon had her feeling better, and she emerged to dress and make her way back to the Wayward King to see if she could find Gisele, and repay her debt, or at least, thank her.

Gisele Valentein leaned in so she could hear the patron better as she poured coffee into his cup. The room was louder than normal and Selma continued to not show up for her shifts. Gisele was worked thin. She pulled a full shift at the tavern and then, of course, worked at night. She planned to cut back to part-time at the Wayward King as she had other leads she was looking into, and if any of them panned out, they could provide better intel which she could work with. “Can I get you anything else?” She gave a satisfied nod as he shook his head, and strode over to the next table.

“Hey there. How are we doing over here with our ale? Did we decide on the special?” Gisele Valentein looked to the couple nursing their drinks. “What’s the special again,” the man spoke up, his eyes raking over the barmaid as she named the food she had cooked herself that very morning. “Roasted pheasant and cabbage with a tankard of cider for 10 copper each.” The seated woman scoffed, noticing her companion’s roaming gaze and kicked him under the table. “We’ll call you over if we need anything. We’re fine,” she haughtily said, causing Gisele to blink, her lips pinching into a grim line.

Gisele Valentein started moving to the next table and halted her step only temporarily. Most would not have noticed the disruption of her stride. “Hi. What can I get you? The dried parsnip is divine.”

Coraline strolled into the inn, feeling much better after her soak in the waters of the hollow, even if not quite fighting fit. Her eyes scanned the tavern area, looking for the barmaid she had shared several glasses of wine with previously. Spotting her moving from table to table, carrying various pitchers and trays, she made her way through the room towards her. She ignored the looks of the patrons there, especially the leers of the men, as she walked. She knew they were unaccustomed to having a nymph of the hollow visit there, and the nymph's reputation throughout the city was quite mysterious indeed. Nearing where Gisele stood, she stopped and stood quietly with her hands folded at her waistline, waiting for her to finish speaking with the patron she was attending to. "Gisele. " she said quietly as she finished with the patron. "May I speak to you about something?" she asked.

The dark-haired man gave a nod to Gisele. “Then that is what I’ll have. Thank you,” he said as he waited for the exchange. “Wine too?” Gisele asked. “Yes,” he replied and placed a pouch on the table. Gisele took it and turned toward Coraline as she neared the table and called her name. “Coraline. Well, I certainly did not expect to see you around so soon. Hope you are feeling well?” She asked and then responded to the nymph as she attempted to lead Coraline back toward the bar and away from the man she had just greeted. “Yes, give me just a sec, ok? Come over here and I will get you some coffee? More wine? Something to eat? Have you eaten?” She walked back behind the bar to set down the coffee decanter and the tray. She bent down slightly when the lower half of her body was hidden behind the counter, putting the pouch she had just collected somewhere safe. She poured a wine for the man and raised a finger to Coraline so she could bring over his wine. “I’ll be back in a moment,” she said to him, her quick steps bringing her over to the nymph. “What’s up? Are you ok?”

Coraline followed Gisele closer to the bar as she seemed to want her to do. She stood quietly, not wishing to interfere with Gisele's work and waited as she bustled about carrying the man his wine. As Gisele returned to the bar and indicated she was able to speak for a moment, she nodded her well being and said softly to her. " I am fine. And first, I wanted to thank you for helping me to the inn in my state last evening. I am unaccustomed to wine, other than the hollow wine. This is much stronger" She paused and glanced around to make certain that none was listening closely to their conversation. She always felt that these matters were not for public consumption. "Secondly, I understand that you paid for my room. I would like to repay you for that." She smiled as she spoke and reached to dig into the folds of her dress hem.

Gisele Valentein shook her head. “I cannot believe you look so well,” she said almost to herself. “That explains it then,” she said as the nymph mentioned the wine. I served you the good stuff so it was even more potent than the shit they usually serve here.” Gisele gave a little shrug, “Well, I did promise you I would see you safely to a room, and we were full here. I figured you probably did not want to be taken to the Hollow because of your sister. Err, sisters,” she corrected herself. Her gaze softened as she looked over the nymph once more. She noticed the other patrons were watching her curiously too, and she was certain there was lust in the gaze of many of them. The nymph was just extremely beautiful. She had heard they all were equally so, but she had only seen just the one, and the barmaid felt the need to protect her. She could not put into words just why that was so. Perhaps it was that something so beautiful should not be marred in any way. “Coraline, there’s no need to repay me. Sure I can’t get you anything? Please,” she said as she glanced toward the kitchen, continuing “give me a few minutes and I’m all yours, ok? I need to get this patron his food.”

Gisele Valentein hurried back into the kitchen and plated up the roasted pheasant and cabbage, she pulled a linen napkin from the tall pile of folded cloth and placed it beside the plate. She lifted her skirts, reaching for a tightly folded parchment she had stored away in a pocket of the pouch fastened to her thigh. Sliding it beneath the napkin, she balanced the tray on her fingertips and made her way out to the table. “Sorry but we’re out of the parsnips. You’ll find this dish more enjoyable though. I roasted it myself this morning.” Gisele left him with the plate and joined her new nymph friend. “Ok, hopefully I can take a breather now. That other good-for-nothing barmaid hasn’t shown up for work in a few days. Just me here.”

Coraline smiled as she watched her move breathlessly to the kitchen and back, admiring her skill as she balanced the tray and skillfully set it in front of the patron. When Gisele had returned back to near where she stood, she smiled kindly at her and in her soft lilting voice said: "Gisele, you work very hard for your wages and I would not deprive you of any of them." Her hand still lingered near the hem of her dress and she looked around once more at the various patrons near them, pausing as if to make her mind up about something. "If you will not accept repayment, then we shall call it a gift. From me to you for your kindness to me." she said after turning her eyes back to Gisele. "But, I would rather give it to you in private, or at least where there were not so many eyes to see." she said as she looked around at those watching them.

Kormak (asavarkull) grumbled horsely in a language that sounded like boulders tumbling down the mountainside, wiping the sea from from his beard and surveying the tavern he entered. He was greeted by the pleasant smell of mead, and the warm music the atmosphere provided. He nodded to the others in the room, a silent acknowledgment of their presence. The large man skirted the outside edge of the room, seating himself at a table and plucking a map from his belt, unfurling it and starting to mark it with a piece of charcoal, making the rough markings of a shoreline.

Gisele Valentein tsked at her as she sat down the tray. “I leave in 10 minutes. Just waiting on the barkeep to get here so he can take over. But you owe me nothing,” she added as she looked to the lovely nymph. Secretly, she was anxious to know what gift Coraline had in store for her. “I’ve no other plans the rest of the evening though. Do you mind waiting?”

Eulena Svagrdrifa now seeming much more clean, well-groomed, and attired than some days prior once more showed up at the tavern door. One might assume the creature found some manner of 'work' or the like, though it was anyone's guess! At any rate, shi had also evidently been studying how people operate these door things without bashing them down with hammer and axe. So grabbing the handle, shi swung it open... hard enough to make it slam against its opposing hinges on the outside. Not paying what shi did much mind (or any, really) shi immediately sauntered indoors, greeting the two shi had met back when shi first made port in the city. "HI AGAIN! PRETTIES~!" shi called out to both of them with the excited overhead waving of a small child. Without even noticing any other patrons making way behind hir, those golden eyes quickly began searching for a certain NPC servant - albeit to no avail.

Coraline nodded at Gisele's request to wait until her shift was over, smiling brightly at her. "Of course I will wait." She jumped slightly when she heard the sudden sound of the doors slamming open and turned to see the strange winged creature she had met there previously and the armored man seating himself at a table. To the man she smiled and nodded. To the winged creature's greeting she replied much softer, "Hello again!"

Kormak (asavarkull): The man finished his sketching, the nearby shore sufficiently sketched on what looked, to the trained eye, to be a sea chart. A shipwreck was drawn not far from where they currently sat. He looked up at the greeting, unnatural eyes that had hues of orange and red in them realizing the words were not for him. He stowed the map, stretching out and looking over to the woman with the tray. "Kor'mak hates to bother." He said, in a heavily accented voice, full og bass and gravel. "But before the wench leaves, might she provide Kor'mak with a mead, and a crust of bread. I have no coin you recognize but..." He dug in his belt, producing a brooch of dwarven work, a brilliant sapphire set within. "Kor'mak has trade." He seemed to refer to everyone in the third person, a strange halting pattern of speech as he translated. He was wary of the large beast-kin in the room, eye looking at her.

Gisele Valentein slid her glance over toward the table and realized that her contact had taken his leave. Her eyes flickered to the newcomer and she gave him a nod in return and lifted a finger to signal that she would be with him shortly. The barmaid’s lashes fluttered as she noticed that large familiar taurian form had returned. She slightly jumped at the loudness of her voice. “Be with you in a moment,” she said and then eyed the door. Where was the barkeep? He knew it was time for her shift to end. “Thanks, Coraline,” she said and went over to the table to greet the patron.

“No bother at all,” she said as she glanced down at what the stranger had to offer. Gisele Valentein slid her gaze around the room with the purpose of determining if anyone had overhead him. “Sure,” she said and scooped the brooch up. She would inspect it later. “Mead and bread coming up.” She made her way to the bar. “Did you bring coin this time?,” she greeted Eulena. “Special is roasted pheasant and cabbage with a tankard of cider for 10 copper.”

Eulena Svagrdrifa would scarcely have paid any mind much less cared whatever else but good company and good food was afoot, eyeing all the females in the tavern with a nearly hungry look in those eyes of hirs. But then the subject of food came up, which elicited the potential to satisfy a more polite sort of hunger. Ears perking up from under that dirty ashen hair, shi beamed at Gisele and nodded with an almost eerie eagerness. "Uh-huh! Uh-huh~!" shi proclaimed, rather wordlessly, reaching behind hir to a large pouch that rested at the crux of hir back. Within a second or two, shi managed to grab a handful of coppers and plop them onto the counter. There may have been more than ten, of course, but shi didn't bother counting. Eulena, count? Right~! Regardless, shi was squarely up against the bar proper now, having shoved the stools aside for the moment as hir eyes darted between the barmaid and the nymph-looking woman, but also drifting elsewhere in silence for a moment before shi finally asked. "Where other pretty one at?!" shi asked with no thought to what sort of question shi was asking, or how shi was asking it.

Coraline looked up from her finger that was tracing an unseen design on the bar counter at the clatter of coins as they were slammed onto the counter top. She giggled softly as she heard what sounded like a question about a "pretty one" but not knowing whom or what was being spoken of, she turned her attention back to her finger and began tracing with it again while she hummed to herself softly.

Gisele Valentein filled up a tankard of mead for the patron who had offered her the brooch with the sparkling sapphire. Her heart skipped in her chest for she could not wait to fully inspect it later. The barmaid had slid it between her generous bosom and then made her way around the bar. “Good,” she called over her shoulder to Eulena when the creature confirmed she was there with coin. “Be right with you then,” she said, sauntering over to the man who referred to himself as Kor'mak. She left him with his mead and went off to the kitchen to hunt down some bread. She returned shortly after and then sidled up beside the taurian to count her coin. “The -pretty one- is a -worthless one- and has not shown up for her shift in several days.” Her lips formed a hard line as she straightened. “You want the special?” she questioned Eulena. “Coraline, can I get you anything?”

Eulena Svagrdrifa nodded eagerly at the 'special' question, only to furrow hir brows at the comments regarding a certain barmaid being useless. Rubbing hir arm for a moment as shi looked around again, shi thought for a bit before hir torso (and, somehow, only hir torso) jumped in sudden, excited realisation. "Can hunt! Can find! Tell ME where you put her last?" shi rushed out, a little less than loudly but still with plenty of volume and boom to hir voice. Of course, there may have been something of a miscommunication, here. "OH! Oh! Can I please use her before returning?! Please~?" shi asked with a silly smile, plainly having somehow conceived the notion that Gisele *owned* the other barmaid, in body as much as job. What's more is that the topic was handled just like the topic of food, with no thought as to how others might react. Such was Eulena!

Coraline smiled up at Gisele as she asked her if she wanted anything. "No thank you, Gisele. I had quite enough of that last time I was here." she nodded her head towards the casks of wine. "And, I had some almonds at the hollow before I came here this evening." She paused and thought for a moment. "Have you ever had our almonds before? You should visit us and try them sometime." She listened rather intently to the discussion about the barmaid that was unknown to her and giggled softly at the differing manner of remarks about her from the two of them as they spoke of her.

“I’m not sure. I mean, I haven’t been to the Hollow before,” was Gisele’s reply, and the wheels started turning in her head as she considered Coraline’s offer. “Ok, I will most definitely visit,” she said before turning her attention back to Eulena and inwardly groaning as the creature continued to go on excitedly about the other barmaid. “I didn’t put her anywhere. She just hasn’t shown up.” She frowned and started sliding Eulena’s coins toward her, clutching them in her hand. “I don’t care what you do with her,” Gisele said flippantly as she rounded the bar and placed most of the coin into the collection bag hidden beneath the counter. She started pouring the taurian a mug of cider and slid it across the counter to her. “Enjoy. I’ll go plate up your food.”

Eulena Svagrdrifa reacted to Gisele's words as though it was a total go-ahead for whatever shi wanted, the taur beaming in a toothy smile even as shi took up that mug of cider and downed it in a few short, big, audible gulps. Oddly, there was no burp was was typical of those who downed such libations that way, but that was probably for the best at this point. Hir big, frilly tail began to wag and weave behind hir, along with either of hir hind paws softly stamping down onto the floor in hir excitement. The tones with which Gisele had responded to hir went completely over Eulena's head, of course, the simple-minded creature still having no idea how to decipher such things. Of course, it was only a matter of time before hir eyes fixated on the one sitting at the bar 'round the corner, offering the nymph woman an idle grin and wink as shi waited on the food.

Coraline smiled as she watched her down the tankard, gulping it. A soft giggle escaped her as she saw her toothy grin and what appeared to be a wink. She was curious about the creature and she couldn't help but gaze at her a moment. She could recall seeing her here on her last visit. But, she couldn't quite remember anything about her. She shook her head again when she thought of how much of that wine she had consumed and sighed audibly. She would ask Gisele about her sometime later she decided. It would be impolite to ask questions of a practical stranger in this setting.

Gisele Valentein plated up the delectable food, the aroma causing her tummy to react with a hungry growl. She had cooked the meal herself so she knew just how tasty it was. The barmaid strode back to Eulena and slid the plate in front of her. “Roasted pheasant and buttered cabbage. Cooked fresh this morning,” she said with a smile in her voice and took her position behind the bar to watch the taurian eat.

Eulena Svagrdrifa made no qualms of eating with hir hands, those claws serving as utensils in their own right as they immediately set to ripping up the bird meat, taking it up to that mouth. Those naturally off-pink lips would reveal a row of very shiny, and very sharp teeth both above and below, themselves ripping at each morsel as shi swallowed each bite whole. The cabbage, much the same, was treated as something of a chaser for each bite of meat. There was almost nothing on the plate that wouldn't get torn up and ravaged by claw and tooth alike, and within merely a moment was shi finished. The plate may have been plenty enough to satiate a humanoid figure, but this taur was quite large! Additionally, it may have been something of a small mercy that shi had the wherewithal - or perhaps the training - to wipe hirself off with a cloth shi kept in a kit behind hir torso. Once all was done, shi proclaimed a loud, "MMMMMN~!" as shi soon picked up the plate and started licking, not leaving behind a crumb or speck of meat, seasoning, nothing at all before it was finally set down... only a little less than gently.

Coraline watched as Gisele came out  from the kitchen and set the food down on the counter. As she made her way around behind the bar, Coraline stood from her stool and followed her. "Gisele." she said as she reached beneath her dress hem to pull out the glowing blue sphere. "All nymphs have a hidden treasure trove, and this is from mine. It is valuable as reckoned by men, I think anyway. And, it is certainly magical, although of a sort unknown to me." She thrust out her hand holding the sphere towards her and said. "Take it, please. In thanks for your kindness to me."

Gisele Valentein’s gaze softened as she watched the creature lick the plate clean. She was about to speak up when she heard Coraline call to her. She hesitated and turned to her nymph friend. “Yes,” she said as she watched the nymph’s hands move to produce a glowing orb. “Fascinating,” she said as she leaned in to peer at it closely, then lifted her gaze back to the nymph’s face. “Coraline,” she started, and then furrowed her brow as she looked back to the gift. “Thank you,” she offered and reached for the orb. “I will see what I can find out about it then,” she softly said and heard the familiar voice of the barkeep as he entered the tavern. “Oh time to go,” she spoke. “Do you want to walk with me?” She asked of her companion. She waited for her response before she turned back to the taur.

“You liked?” Gisele Valentein asked, already knowing the answer. “We can get you another plate if you are still hungry,” she dropped her gaze to the taur’s waist as if she could see the pouch of coin she kept at her back. Marv will finish up with you, ok?” She watched the barkeep join them at the bar. “Eulena here,” she pointed to the creature, “has already paid up.” She informed him. “I’m going to grab some food and take off.”

Eulena Svagrdrifa nodded ecstatically at the question of hir enjoyment of the meal, and hir eyes went wide at the prospect of more. Unfortunately for Gisele's comfort and perhaps Eulena's safety, seeing her eyes lower to hir waste got quite the leering stare back from the taur for a moment. It was short-lived of course, as shi finally noticed the two women preparing to leave, only to be replaced by a male figure. It quickly began to look as though Eulena would only get one sort of hunger satiated this night, as it was with most nights. Though this time shi was not looking quite as saddened as last time, perhaps on account of having gotten somewhat used to such a dry spell by now. Either way, shi patiently waited for the next plate serving, hands akimbo as hir gaze drifted between Gisele and Coraline.

Coraline smiled warmly as Gisele took the orb from her and put it under a towel to extinguish the glowing blue light. "Of course, I will walk with you." she replied happily. Her eyes darted up to the one eating at the bar. "Eulena, is it?" She thought she had heard Gisele call her that. "I'm Coraline. I'm sorry if I can't quite remember that last time we met, but I was not at my best. Anyway, it is good to see you again." She spoke to her as she moved from behind the bar and prepared to leave.

“Ok, just give me a few minutes to wrap up,” Gisele said and turned to narrow her gaze at the taur as she caught sight of Eulena’s leering, but her glance was not as hard as it had been previously. Watching people enjoy her food put her in a good mood. She gathered up her coin and placed it into the pouch at her waist, holding tightly to the precious gift. “Just give me my tips tomorrow,” she called to Marv as she headed into the kitchen, ignoring his question about the glowing orb. Gisele collected some food, wrapping the pheasant and some crusty bread in a cheesecloth and made her way out to meet Coraline.

Eulena Svagrdrifa beamed at Corealine as she spoke to hir, hir torso twisting somewhat to focus on her, looking the nymph's figure up and down as she spoke. Most of it went over hir head, but what did catch hir attention was the nymph saying something about being 'not best' or something. It sort of got mixed up in the simple creature's head, though, and soon enough shi made a silly comment. "How you not best? So pretty~!" shi remarked, if a bit slurred by hir thoughts and being mid-meal. "LOVE seeing you~! Want to s--um..." cutting hirself off as if remembering something else, shi went quiet a moment before hir 'needs' of a sort might have gotten the better of hir. Instead, hir focus turned back to food, smelling this Marv person's work as shi began to fiddle with the little pieces of wood that others might have used as utensils. Indeed, once more, the looks from Gisele were more or less unnoticed, as hir thoughts continued to drift from one thing to another... well, mostly the 'one thing' if all was written in truth!