|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 8:20 am
"Well, whaddya know, I'm outside the box, then", was Beatrice's chuckling reply to the woman's small report on the Denian by-passers and inhabitants. She then nodded in the direction of the Denwale-crowd, and added: "Though it seems like a lot of people come for the booze, too. As for me? I'm on, uh, I guess 'vacation' is what they call it."
She took another, larger, sip from her drink, as her gaze continued to flicker between conversation partner and surroundings. The peculiar-girl-at-the-door-although-no-longer-at-the-door had amused her somewhat, but as more colourful guests appeared, she started wondering just how crazy this place would get during the night hours.
"So, forty-eight years, huh? Then, following the laws of simple mathematics, you ought to be at least a tiny bit older than that. With all due respect, I'd think you were mere forty-eight divided by two and then four subtracted -- heck, maybe less than that. But, seeing as you're apparently a seasoned ex-local, maybe you'd know of any good inns?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 9:56 am
(This is Denwale's response to Petite Symphony)
Denwale had to give this woman credit for her persistence but the fact remained the people, and even himself once drunk enough, liked him better this way. His stool turned sideways, Denwale leaned back against the bar and let out a small chuckle at the young woman. There was no way Billy and the rest of the people gathered around him would even let Denwale touch anything that could possibly sober him up before it was time.
"Little lady, you don't seem to fully grasp the situation here," Denwale began, "You see the people, well, they won't let me drink anything but what Billy here is pouring. It transforms me. Tell her Billy."
Billy, the brown haired green eyed bartender, was in the middle of pouring Denwale another beer when he spoke to the young woman trying to reason with the drunk man. "It's simple really. Denwale comes in here sober, shy, socially inept, afraid to talk to anybody, and sits down in this very chair. He never remembers why it's always this stool or when he became owner of this stein or why he joined the Stein Club in the first place. He knows he's a member and each time he's in here I have to remind him why he joined. That's when it happens. You put a drink in front of him and he freezes for a moment. That's when the crowd forms. They coax him, if you will, into drinking it. The first three as you saw are a struggle for him and he fights it all the way but they won't let him back out of it. After three drinks, Denwale is a new man, and miss that's the man the people like."
Billy then slid Denwale his fifth beer of the night. Picking up the beer Denwale took a sip as he waited for the cute little woman to process what Billy told her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:54 am
(This is Aylin's reply to Beatrice)
Aylin let out a small chuckle and smiled at the younger woman's assumption of her. She wasn't mad that people assumed upon first glance she was younger than eighteen. In fact, at times she used that to her advantage. Aylin would dress up in a cute little dress with Mary Janes and put her hair in two curled pigtails and go into the local ice cream parlor in her neighborhood in Durem to score a free extra scoop on her cone. If she changed her facial expression and batted her eyelashes just right anyone who didn't know her would assume she was an innocent child.
"Yep, I was just only sixty and married going on ten years when I left. That was definitely a decade filled with adventure back then," Aylin was ready to slip into a long ramble about her life with Orrin but figured it was best to get to the woman's question, "The Denia Inn is a decent place to stay. It has quite the colorful history from what I recall. That is if you don't mind staying in a former mafia run hidey hole. Oh how I wish I was old enough when my clan's military was asked to help the men and women of the Denia Uprising."
Shirley, who had been watching Denwale try to hit on a poor young visitor, dipped into the conversation taking place between the two women next to her. It was apparent that Aylin had yet to know about the newer Desert Rose Inn and Cafe on the tree itself and felt the younger woman should be made aware of that option.
"There's also the Desert Rose Inn and Cafe. It's a very nice inn and more recently built than the Denia Inn but it's also a bit more expensive. You might not be able to afford it if your funds are limited." Shirley added as she ticked off the fifth time Billy poured a beer for Denwale on her pad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 1:24 pm
"Oh, the old days were the best days, I can't argue there." Beatrice slowly shook her glass in her hands, the melting pieces of ice clinking solemnly. For a second she seemed lost in herself, but quickly came to. "Denia Inn, huh? Well, that's keeping it simple. But I like that. That's former mafia, you say. Pity." This was clearly a brave attempt at ironic silliness on her part.
As Shirley suggested an alternative, she chuckled a bit again. "Thanks, but that doesn't really sound like my cup of tea. 'Specially not if it's expensive. And Denia Inn's gonna be easier to remember if I ever find myself in a dark alley with a hangover. Besides, I'm already rather hooked on the mafia-thing. I knew this place had history, but I never bothered to read up on it; thought it'd make things more exciting that way."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 2:16 pm
The smile on Aylin's face remained as she let out another small chuckle. As she recalled it, Denia got a lot of history buffs coming to the island just to see the inn, the homestead site, and the former Fattorino mansion built up on the tree. Aylin recalled some of the stories the clan's airship captains would tell of their stops on Denia when she was a child. Porta Denia was not a good place for anyone who wasn't paying Fattorino through the nose for what he called protection.
"Porta Denia has quite the colorful past. I was six in 1908 when the island became a crime ridden lay over for ships flying the flag of the Fattorino family. Our airship captains and pilots would tell my father that anyone who docked on Denia would be watched and followed by armed thugs with rifles. They didn't trust anyone who wasn't connected to the family. This very tavern, from what people say, was the launching grounds for many mafia backed illegal acts. It was like that for ten years. The Uprising changed all that," Ayln explained showing more of her true age.
Like any human her age Aylin had the tendency to ramble on about history and how things used to be when she was a little child, even if she was still considered a young adult by her clan's standards. The young woman talking about Denia's history had the pixie slipping into tales of how her people were affected by the mafia owning the island in the early part of the 1900s. Feeling a little stiff from sitting for some time Aylin placed her stein on the bar next to her and stretched her arms above her head as she arched her back and gave her wings a careful flutter. Aylin wondered in the back of her mind if the young woman next to her had noticed her previously folded wings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 5:53 pm
Stokiaci was hot, and tired. She had spent the majority of the day at the base of the Denia mother tree collecting soil samples. For what, she has no clue. It was an errand her boss sent her on. She knew that there were plenty of soil samples already available in the lab. In fact, there was a back log of soil samples. Stoki, thought that her time would have been better spent analyzing those instead of collecting more. Why in the heck do they need so many samples, anyway? Something must be going on. Stokiaci didn't notice any major changes in the mother tree, but there was definitely something bothering her. She just couldn't place her finger on it. She quickly decided that ,if she had time tomorrow, she would investigate the mother tree more throughly.
Stokiaci stopped in front of the Red Lion Tavern. Her field bag felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds. Perhaps making the trek back to town on foot wasn't the smartest of ideas. She pulled the shoulder strap over her head and dropped the bag on the ground. "This looks like a good place to rest." Stokiaci sat down on top of the dusty old bag and relaxed. She let her thoughts drift to the time when she first came to Denia. It was just a few years ago, right after she got her degree. She had been hired by the Gaia Botanical Society to research the Denia mother tree. They put her on an airship and sent her away. Stokiaci had been pretty scared. She had never been that far away from home, nor had she ever been on a ship. Let a lone an airship!! Stokaici had airsickness the entire time so she didn't really get to enjoy the trip. However, when the captain announced that they were close to Porta Denia, she made an effort to get out on deck. Stokiaci was moved by the sheer beauty of the floating island. She didn't know where to look first. So, she just tried to take it all in at once. She had heard stories..but nothing she heard did the place justice. She couldn't believe the size of the mother tree. She was sure that there was nothing else like it in existence. Stokiaci even thought that the Denia tree could be the original. Of course she couldn't wait to tell someone. When she mentioned it to her boss he laughed at her..and then when she asked her co-workers to help her prove it..they laughed. Ever since then she has been the butt of every joke. "I don't understand what their problem is. It's entirely possible."
A loud grumbling noise interrupted Stokiaci's thoughts. When was the last time she had food? An apple for lunch, maybe? Stokiaci glanced over her shoulder at the tavern. It seemed to be pretty lively at this hour. "I should really get something to eat." Stokiaci stood up and stretched. She looked down at her bag and sighed. It was in pretty bad shape. She would have to buy a new one soon. Until then, maybe she shouldn't sit on the damn thing anymore. Stokiaci grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
Once inside Stokaci didn't know exactly what to do. "Should I sit at the bar?..or a booth?..hmm..at a booth I can sort out my notes,but.." Stokaci scans the bar. It seemed to be were all the action was. There was a loud group of people to one side. They were clearly enjoying the night with a good amount of drink. At the other end she saw an older lady with a note pad, a child and another lady all involved in a conversation. Stokiaci was a bit confused. She wondered who would allow a child to be in such a place..and is she drinking?? Shocked, Stokiaci just stared at the young girl. She was unsure if she should walk over and take the stein from her. Everyone around her seem to be okay with what was happening. "Looks can be deceiving..." Stokiaci shrugged then turn to scan the booths. Stokiaci thought she saw her captain but was unsure, the poor girl look like she was hiding from someone. Stokiaci was undecided what to do, so she just stood there in the middle of the room examining her hands. They were a bit dirty from the days work. Her tummy rumbled again reminding her why she entered the tavern to begin with. She turned and walk to the bar. The bartender was busy pouring a drink for a large man. Stokiaci realized it was he who was the center of attention. Everyone seemed to be trying to get him to drink more. However, there was a petite girl trying to give him a black pouch. Stokiaci wondered what was in the bag. She sighed and sat on a bar stool. She would have to wait to place her order. She smiled shyly at the 3 women near her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 6:14 pm
 One of Sil’s ears twitched again as a very nearby voice caught her attention. Her gaze fell down to this small rabbit like creature and her brow quirked a bit. The thing looked like one of those grunny creatures that the late Gambino had released on the Gaia populous, only… …less cute. The fact that it was attempting to flirt with her made the creature seem even less adorable. With a bit of a mischievous smirk, Sil leaned forward on the booth table, propping her elbows on the table and resting her head on her hands. “Well if you must know, I’ve been trying to find a new, unique pelt for my new hat. I’ve never used green rabbit before, though, so…”
Sil’s sarcasm was cut short as the rabbit was hoisted off the ground by the young woman. She could only really chuckle at the fellow captain’s apology, giving a dismissive wave. “Oh it’s alright! When most of your crew members are men, you get kinda used to all of the flirting.” Sil shrugged, letting her arms rest on the table. Sil really wished she had more of a variety amongst her crew members, but as it was, the majority of her crew was a bunch of rowdy, pervy men. How they actually became astronomers and scientists was completely out of the shifter’s comprehension. Luckily for her, with the newest addition to the crew, the ratio was beginning to even itself out.
Speaking of newest member. Sil glanced up, noticing the girl sitting off by herself, looking a little awkward. She gave a small, almost apologetic smile to the captain infront of her. “’Scuse me.” Sil sat up more in her seat, waving towards the girl at the bar. “Stoki! Hey! Stoki! Come sit over here!” She had felt bad for the young girl, obviously the past couple of weeks were the first time Stoki had been on an airship, and she wasn’t handling it a well as the experienced members. Not to mention, the girl seemed shy and reserved in general, but Sil was determined to break her of that little habit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 7:39 pm
Stokiaci was sitting there feeling a little out of place while waiting for the bartender to take her order. She was furiouslly trying to clean her hands, of course just rubbing them together couldn't get the job done. Fustrated, Stokiaci opened her bag and pulled out a small square plastic container. She fumbled with the lid until it popped off. Stoki pulled out a few sheets of moist papertowels and proceeded to clean her hands as throughly as possible. When she was done she put the papertowels back into the container, and returned it to her bag.
Stokiaci was sitting there wondering what she should order when she heard someone call her name. She turned and looked over her shoulder, Sil was waving for her. "She wants me to come sit with her? I hope I'm not in trouble..." Stokiaci stood up and headed over to sit with her captain. She pulled her bag off her shoulder and tossed it onto the seat before silding into the booth. Stokaci frowned..that bag has been through a lot today. She looked across the table at Sil. Stokaci couldn't recall if she has ever seen her without a hat on.
"Err, hi captain. I thought I might have seen you when I entered, but I wasn't sure and I didn't want to inturde on a stranger...So...uh"..Stokiaci was very fidgety. She never really knew what to say in these situations. She looked around the room for a waitress. "I'm soo hungry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 7:58 pm
Petite frowned this time, biting the tip of her tongue with her eyes on Billy. When she spoke, her voice was faltering, starting quiet, but becoming louder, and eventually quiet again, “So, these are potions meant to change personalities? Why? Is shyness a symptom of a deadlier disease? Is that why people prefer the changed personality? I recall individuals shunning those cursed with contagious illnesses.”
Her questions poured one after another, fascination finding some deep well to draw from, “Is this ‘Stein Club’ looking to cure this disease? What research has been done, and may I see it? I, too, am looking to cure a disease.” She turned her gaze to Denwale, “And, if that is so, there are herbs not so hazardous to the human body that can accomplish the task of alleviating certain personality traits.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Petite leaned against the bar. She scratched her neck, thoroughly confused, “In any case, this stuff is not what I was looking for. Do any of you know where I can find a-“ Petite stopped speaking abruptly, peeking out from the group where she spotted a short, green rabbit, “Is…what kind of creature…is that?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 8:39 pm
Denwale smiled at the little lady trying to reason with him. It was obvious she had never heard of beer or alcohol before. She believed they were some kind of potion or chemical concoction for healing people. Boy was she wrong. It was obvious the way she was going on about herbs she was into alternative medicines and mind altering things like mushrooms and toad secretions. Denwale wanted nothing to do with hallucinogens and funky herbs.
She was a curious thing Denwale noticed. As soon as she wanted to know all about the Stein Club, she got distracted by what Denwale could only guess was some kind of weird looking grunny. With a small chuckle he decided to take it upon himself to answer all of her questions.
"Little lady, the Stein Club is a group of people who own beer steins kept here at the tavern. You see beer is alcohol. It's something we adults drink when we're partying and having a good time. It's not medicine but it does change people," Denwale explained before he switched subjects, "As for the green guy that is what's known as a grunny. Though, I don't remember the images of them looking like that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 9:25 pm
"You're quite right, that is not a Grunny. I think..." Petite stared at the creature for a few moments. It certainly looked familiar. It hadn't been to long ago, in fact. Around April, maybe, but Petite was spending most of April on Astronomer's Island, "I hardly recall them, personally, but..." her voice trailed off.
After a moment's pause, Petite spoke once again, "Oh, yes. The beer. Alcohol can be used for medical purposes, you know. But when ingested like this, well..." she crossed her arms once again, "Why would you purposely cause yourself such harm?" She turned to Billy with a smile, "Oh, and may I please have a cup of hot water? I, myself, would like some tea."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 9:49 pm
Luciano walked into the building as quietly as his pants would allow him. When he walked in, he smiled. The place already felt like home- he loved places like this.
Suddenly he was glad to have hitched a ride with the weird Sky Pirate guy and his odd crew- What was his name again? Scott Sp. . Sprye? Spyro?- Anyway, the name slipped his mind but he was glad to be at the port.
Ever since losing his journal recently, Luciano had been dying for a good story to tell to his readers.
Luciano smiled and nodded with approval, "Nice!" he said, then walked away from the doorway and sat at the bar. While smiling at the Bartender, he gave him a small nod and he said, "Hello! How're you?" Luciano said, extending his hand to shake his.
He was quite nervous. Being in a new setting always made him slightly uncomfortable, but he tried not to let that show through and instead he put on his 'Journalist face'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:02 pm
Billy nodded and went for the hot water kept on hand for when customers wanted tea. It wasn't a normal request but with Shirley coming to the tavern quite often they kept it on hand for when she wanted a cup while working on her column. The crowd at that point had backed off some watching as Denwale went toe to toe in a battle of reasoning with the visiting woman. As Billy was getting the cup of hot water, Denwale took a large sip out of his beer stein and smiled at the woman before him. She was innocent looking, curious, and proper in her manners. She reminded Denwale so much of Lin Fong.
"Because little lady without it nobody gives me the time of day because I'm too chicken to talk to people. Heck, if I were sober you and I wouldn't be having this conversation. I'd probably be off in the corner too scared to even look at anyone. The people like this Denwale better and what the people want I give them and beer brings it to them," Denwale tried to explain.
It was at that moment Billy returned with a mug of fresh hot water and the tavern's wooden display box of commercial tea and set them down on the bar for the young visiting woman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:09 pm
Luciano looked around at the people around him. He smiled at the small crowds of people; Everybody conversing with each other. It reminded him of home. He caught small snipets of some drunk guy talking about how he wouldn't have the guts to ask her out if he were sober- it reminded him of one of his uncles- and he heard a few other conversations but couldn't make out what they were saying. Luciano sat quietly now, and he just stayed in one place; Watching people pass, talk, and all that jazz.
Smiling to himself, he wondered if he should move from Durem to come up to live in this small community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 5:34 am
"I'd imagine it did", Beatrice thoughtfully replied. She had begun digesting the fragments of history that she had caught on to, and as usual, the more she thought the less she talked. She emptied her glass, giving the woman's suddenly flickering wings a quick gaze; it was unexpected to see them simply appear like that, but it didn't overly surprise her. She had seen a lot of weird things in her day; so many, in fact, that century-old women with delicate wings could scarcely even be considered one of them. Still, out of curiosity, while holding up her glass gesturing get me another one of these! to the nearest available bartender, she asked: "Can you fly with those?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
