"Well hopefully she appears or we get a replacement. Having a no show is only gonna be a huge risk with no gain on any tougher battle. As for your question that's not my responsibility. Just a hired sword paid to fight, unless they need me to know you're gonna have to ask someone else."
Vance looked over to Miercoles as he spoke, and then nodded to him. “We may see her eventually.” He said as he put on his shirt, pulling it over his head, slowly as not to further injure his shoulder.

“We survived the battle” he said. “Hopefully she did too. There’s no way to know unless she emerges, or we hear something.”

He looked over towards where he heard the town crier make his announcement, which could be heard from the clinic. He had an annoyed look on his face, almost angry. “Damnit, already?” he said, looking to Miercoles. “I guess rampaging monsters don’t take a day off, huh?” he said with a sarcastic tone in his voice. He made a gesture towards the main area of the tavern as he walked out of the room, reminding himself to come back for his armor before they left the city. He wanted to meet the other surviving heroes, and see who was going on this next quest.

He walked in as soon as the bartender made his statement about their ‘duty’ to serve Maplestead. Now he was pissed off. He looked over to Eve, who was fluttering quietly behind him. “This is why I never swear allegiance to any man, or kingdom. This is what happens when you do. Give them an inch, and they take a mile, or take until you’re dead.” He said to her.

He looked around the tavern at the others, sighing. “This is all that’s left?” he said, looking to the people here, and remembering how many people he saw sign up for the first mission.

The bartender heard the templar speak something of allegiances working men to death, and asking if these were the only heroes left. "Aye, lad. These be the only heroes to return. Fret not, most turned tail and scampered off when they caught sight of the demons outside the walls, yet not all that went to fight came back..." Looking off into the distance, the barman grabbed a bottle of ale, cracked it open, and offered it to the templar. "May as well drink up. Never know what day'll be yer last. That harem over thar gets it" nodding towards Louis and his surrounding female teammates.
The bar man nods towards the ale still offered to the templar "tell ya what, this one's on me. I also got the reward gold over in the back. It's available in full upon request, but I'm also agreein' to keep hold of it if ya don't need it now. No need to pay bar tabs whilst there's gold in yer pouch in the back. I take tabs out of the pouch if it's not paid up front" the man looks at the templar, obviously worn out from his day. He seemed a little stiff in one of his shoulders, but not too damaged otherwise. He shot a quick, half-hearted smile at the templar and went about his job.

A spry old man, short in stature, enters the room wearing cover-alls and rubber boots. His face is beaming as he scans the room, looking from face to face. Seeing some happy, some sad, and some... expressionless? Though not very tall, his voice booms across the tavern, saying "Welcome, one and all, to the Tavern of Heroes! I'm Trevant Burnell, the owner of this establishment, and I also do the upkeep, so if you find problems with the structure, come straight to me. My bar man over there is Finny. He's been my main man for countless years now. And she" pointing to the waitress serving drinks "is my lovely daughter, Lucia. Don't let me catch any of ya's flirting with her," Trevant added with a smile "or you'll regret it." After he finished talking, Trevant walked, with a spring in his step, to the bar and ordered 'the usual' from Finny, all the while humming an Irish-sounding tune.

BARTLEBY STERLING:

OUTSIDE OF MAPLESTEAD
-------------------------

"Meoowww!"

That's all that could be heard, the sound of a desperate meow across a wasteland of bodies both human and demon. Proceeding on his way through the end fires of the recent battles which has occurred, Bartleby grimaced and gagged as he looked around himself, the bloody corpses, the disgusting predicament, so many lives lost... Though that wasn't what he grimaced at. The sound of a high pitched... wet noise echoed behind him, the sly noble in retaliation suddenly cupped a hand over his mouth and nose, cocking his head slowly to the side, to view what could only be described as an oval fat furry boulder attached to his back like a backpack of made of gelatinous lard. With a look of terror, the man let out a whiny, tired voice at the figure.

"You didn't...!" exclaimed Bartleby, a look of horror and fear filled his eyes like looking into the face of a wide awake nightmare, his cupped hand quivering in fear as his eyes met the greedy blackness of his companion of blubber, a cat, as wide as his back and more fat than a cow in killing season, it let out a single sound, which caused the thin male to whimper and dry heave...

"Meow...!"

Letting out a muffled cry, the noble screamed into his cupped hand, which barely made a sound, shaking his head with a look of both tragedy and hatred, he suddenly uncupped his mouth and yelled, his voice cracking at the volume.

"WHY?! WHY CHOOSE NOW TO... FLATULATE?! WHY NOT JUST JUMP OFF MY BACK AND DO THAT AND NOT FORCE ME TO INHA-HURCK!"

Cupping his hands over his mouth and nose again, he crashed to his knees and felt the warm putrid taste of vomit climb up his throat like a torrent, but before it could fire from his mouth, he held his throat tightly with his free hand and practically choked himself to hold back the vomit induced by the scent of his disgusting cats... inhuman mannerisms. Swallowing the vomit back down, Bartleby instantaneously jumped back onto his feet, which caused his cat to meow with surprise and fall off, lucky for it, the blubber of fat cushions the fall, causing the roly-poly feline to bounce several times before conveniently landing on its thick paws, not even bothered by the sudden event, it carried on as if nothing had happened, proceeding to waddle practically behind the thief.

"I hate you." He whined regretfully. "With the burning of a thousand suns screaming in unison wanting to tear your flabby little fat cheeks off and sell them to a black market HATE!"

"Meow!" Retorted the obese lardaceous rock, unamused.

"Oh no, I hate you! You are the bane of my existence, you are the Bandit to my picnic, YOU ARE THE SYPHILIS OF MY PLANS!"

With a eccentric twirl, Bartleby swirled around and pointed at the fat cat with his finger, like a hero would point at a villain in a storybook, his finger shook with righteousness, his eyes burned with the flames of courage and his heart sung with pride as he unleashed his next few words.

"AND THUS... I AM PUTTING YOU... SHIN... FINALLY ON A DIET!"

(Yes!) He thought to himself. ("That will teach this fatass not to mess with me!")

Content and with a smug arrogant shit eating grin, Bartleby turned away and walked to maplestead, but the sound of the cat did not follow. His smug grin transformed into a quivering look of agony, and slowly but surely he turned... to view the cat had not moved a single inch since he spoke his last words. His shoulders sagged, his expression soured and his voice returned to a much more whiny tone.

"No... Nooo No no no no! No, you bastard...! You smelly fat unwashable bastard no...!"

"Meow..."

"NO! no no no no no! You obey me! I am your master! I am your king! I am your conduit, I am your BRIDGE!"

Yelling this, Bartleby stomped over dramatically and bent down to stare face to face with his walking pile of catfat, making sure their eyes locked, Bartleby continued his speech.

"And you know you would not be able to survive in this world without me, you fat, ugly, disgusting little shi-"

Interrupted by the sound of a vile wet and vomit like sound, Bartleby felt the feeling of a wet, vomit like scent hit his nose and face, as a ball of hair instinctfully shot out of the cars mouth like a bullet and planted firmly against his face with pinpoint accuracy, once again, Bartleby could not move at what just happened, His cat just spat a hairball into his face! His mouth agape, his eyes quivering, and a single word escaped him, voice cracking and high pitched, too shocked from the event.

"Whyeeee....!?"

"Meow" Once again retorted his cat, as it launched onto his back once more without question, and without even saying anything back, Bartleby just stood up, and walked, mouth still wide open, locked in a horrified expression, as if a basilisk had frozen him solid... This was going to be a blast...

--------------------

INSIDE MAPLESTEAD

--------------------

"Hear ye, hear ye. The palace has just received notification from our fair neighbour, Brindle, that the infestation of demons and monsters is affecting their town as well. The city officials have sent request for assistance, and we are sending our Heroes. Anyone else who wishes to join in our fair city's crusade against the evil that has fallen upon us may sign up at the palace entrance. The Heroes, both present and future, will leave at high noon tomorrow."

"Oh wonderful! Now we get to sign up and become full fledged heroes! You know what that means Shin?"

"Meow"

"That's right! Sit on our ass and let everyone lese do the work, and while everyones busy, we horde whatever we can find! Clothes, weapons-"

"Meow"

"E- no, you can't find food on corpses shin... Atleast not edible food! What we need for food is money! We find coin on the corpses of our foes! Allowing me to purchase food... Because food is very important!"

"Meow...!"

"FOR ME, NOT FOR YOU!"

Bartleby looked around him and laughed awkwardly as its residence stared at him as if he were insane yelling at the fat cat which rested on his back like a cross...

"Heheh..." -cough- "So... Be a good fatass and do what you do b- do what you always do, sit around, act cute and steal some nice rich shit from some gullible ponce, m'kay? M'kay!"

Bartleby and his cat approached the palace registration desk and quickly signed up, and afterwards it appeared they would have to go to the Tavern of heroes to get a briefing on the mission. With a nod of understanding, Bartleby proceeded on his way to the tavern and opened the doors, suddenly swinging the doors open, he stood in the doorway and posed like a nobleman would, making himself look rather rich and elegant.

"Goodevening my gentlemen... My name is Bartholomew Sterling! Your newest and most strongest team member yet... I don't know what you've been told, but I assure you, the man you see before you is a man who could end you in a moments notice! I am a shadow which dances through the... shadows. I am a knife that slips through the... kitchen? U- Uhm... AND I AM THE WARRIOR, WHO SHALL GUIDE YOU ALL T-"

*Poot...*

Bartleby would suddenly raise his hands up and throw them down in a hissy fit of hilarious frustration, before yelling out his next words at his cat in a rather silly and comedic fashion.

"FUCKING DAMMIT SHIN! STOP RUINING MY ZEN YOU LITTLE-"

-Like dejavu, the sound of a wet hairball smacked into the side of his face, as the whole bar was greeted to the sight of a morbidly obese cat literally spitting a hairball into its masters cheek, with a deathly silence filling the air, and what he would only expect to be laughter. And all he could retort with was one sentence... so low only his cat and vance could hear.

"I hate you shin... So... Much..."

Elisha's mind was wavering off to something else when Louis had suddenly swung his arm around her. She was very surprised at his sudden gesture and her face had turned beet red. Not that many men have gotten this close to her before barring family members, and so she felt very awkward.

"S-sir Louis please! I am v-very flattered but t-there is a time and place for this!"

Louis wasn't finished, and soon converted his hold onto her into a full on body hug. Elisha found this situation to be very very awkward, and her heart was pounding madly. Their closeness, his body heat and hers, as well as the alcohol's aura mixing together was bad. Her head was starting to feel light, and she had starting losing conciousness.

thump

However, she was brought out of it by a sharp pain in her chest and had a pained look on her face. "A-again? Why now of all times?" She jumps out of her seat and out of Louis' grasp.

"I-I need to go to the bathroom."

Not wanting to be a bother to the others, she starts heading for the bathroom, but not before asking the waitress where it was located. She was directed to go to the door in the corner of the room.

thump thump

Once inside, she closes the door before keeling towards the wall and slid down to her knees. She was sweating pretty badly, unsure if it was caused by the alcohol or her heart acting up. "This hurts. I-I need to drink my medicine..." Her medicine bag was still thankfully hanging by her waist, and so she quickly grabs one of the pills inside and swallowed it immediately.

It only took a moment to stop her heart from getting worse and go back to normal, but she felt exhausted and drained. She turned back around and sat down on the floor properly with her knees close to her chest while regaining her breath. Elisha wipes the sweat off of her forehead before noticing how small and cramped the bathroom was.

There was only enough room for one toilet and one bathroom sink inside. Although you could probably fit in two or three people if the need would arise for some reason. The room wasn't fancily designed, but it probably is doing its job well. The smell wasn't too bad either.

After a few minutes, Elisha had calmed down enough that she could stand up again. "I need to be more careful... I've already had two pills today. Any more could be very dangerous for me." She shortly walks out of the bathroom and starts walking back towards her group, trying to look as calm as she could.

Before that though, she walks over to the waitress named Lucia, as her father had shouted out a moment earlier, and bows as low as she could. "Thank you, Miss Lucia." Before she could make a little more small talk with her however, someone suddenly barged in to the bar and made a scene. He seemed harmless judging from his words, but his cat suddenly jumping out and smacking his face with a hairball was enough to get her to start giggling a bit.

"Elishaaaaaaaaaa..." Louis moaned "don't...don't try to escape the hugz. You can't run from them; they will find you" he cried out to the fleeing girl, unable to muster up the motor function to pursue her "is doesn't matter...sheeee can't run for long...the hugz shall catch her." He said to himself "oh well...I still feel like hugz. Oh Lenna" he sang her name as he hobbled over to the beastkin and, for lack of a better word, 'fell' into hug with her "u like hugs right? Ha, what'm I saying, of course you do! You're a sexy bunny lady, and bunnies are cute little balls of fuzzy that love cuddlez. Therefor! you must love cuddlez too. Is science" he then passed out while still managing to keep a hold of Lenna

"Tell ya what, this one's on me. I also got the reward gold over in the back. It's available in full upon request, but I'm also agreein' to keep hold of it if ya don't need it now. No need to pay bar tabs whilst there's gold in yer pouch in the back. I take tabs out of the pouch if it's not paid up front"

Vance nodded to finny as he took the bottle of ale, taking a big swig of it after raising it towards the bartender. "Thanks" he said.

He turned his back to the counter, looking at the other patrons. His expression was that of worry, and it got worse as he looked at each of the heroes that was left after the first mission.

There was a drunk girl, who raced into the bathroom, with a female friend helping her.

A Rabbit-girl who had carried her already-drunk companions in.

A man who looked to be depressed from the battle.

A seemingly horny drunk that was eying the girl who ran into the bathroom.

After hearing the banter between the newcomer, and his cat, the last thing he heard was the cat hacking up a hairball onto it's companion's cheek.

"Great.." Both Eve, and Vance thought in unison.

"This is our fighting force? We're putting our lives in the hands of.... them?" Vance said to Eve, as the hairball slid off of Bartholomew's cheek, and onto the counter with a squishy "thud".

With a heavy sigh, he took another swig of ale. "Cheers" he said in a less than subtle tone to the room.

Lenna held Louis, and giggled.

"I wonder if he's being serious or not about the bunny stuff. I wonder if he even knows I'm mostly just telling rabbit jokes at my own expense," Lenna said with a fond smile, "Ah, well. Either way, you are a riot, my drunk and unconscious companion. I just hope you stay safe on the battlefield."

Lenna trusted Cecilia to take care of Elisha, and so stood up to carry Louis to a room. Lenna didn't know where his room was, so she figured she'd share a bed with him. The beds were supposed to be decently large, so she didn't see a problem with that.

Then she heard Vance speak, and smiled as she walked over.

"Now, sir, have some confidence in your allies. I mean, true, this guy," Lenna gestured to the unconscious dork in her arms, "is a bit of a dork, and...I don't even know what's going on with Catman over there."

Lenna gestured with her ears at Bart.

"But people will surprise you," she said to Vance.

She then glanced at Eve, "By the way, you are very pretty, miss. Would you guys tell me your names? I'm Lenna Underwood."

Cecelia had walked up to Elisha as she was still giggling about the new guy's funny entrance. "Yes, I am alright now, Miss Cecelia. My heart had suddenly started acting up, but it's stopped doing that now." She couldn't resist not adding in another line. "And yes, Louis' gesture was really bad." She had started giggling a little more at the thought, but she felt weird at the part that Cecelia was calling her 'sweetie'.

"Miss Cecelia... please just call me..." A pause. She thought about it for a moment before continuing. "...Eli." She felt satisfied at the nickname. 'Elisha' felt too formal and reminded her too much of her family, while 'Elle' was something that her parents just used to call her because they found it to be more convenient.

Cecelia

Cecelia smiled "Eli. That's a pretty name. Also, I'm sorry for all the stuff I've probably made awkward. I don't really talk to people much, so my small talk isn't all that good." Realizing that her thumb has still been mindlessly moving back and forth across Eli's shoulder, she retracts her arm, adding "stuff like that." Seeing Lenna carry Louis off, Cecelia giggles. "Well, I think Lenna's heading for bed. Or she's taking out the trash, by the way she's carrying Louis. I think sleep would be good. We need to be awake and sobered up by high noon, and all that alcohol we've had is gonna be a bitch of a hangover in the morning. I can fix up something to help with a hangover. Should I make a second for you? Not that you can't take a hangover- I mean, you don't have to be able to, cause of my fix-up, but you don't have to have my fix-up if you don't want to. Just... Would you like some tomorrow?" Finally ending the babbling brook flooding from her mouth, Cecelia's cheeks turn tomato-red and adds "Also... Um... The multi-person room is cheaper, and I thought it would be more frugal- I mean, I know you have your own money and probably a lot of it, but I try to save where I can, but I don't wanna make it seem weirder than I mean. I just- *sigh* wannasharearoom?" She speaks the last question quickly, her cheeks growing redder by the minute.

About rooms:

Single room: 20 gold
Double room: 30 gold (15 per person)
Triple room: 40 gold (10 per person)

MALAKI:

A mans body suddenly collapsed at the Reptilian mans feet, body bloodied and mangled, ripped and torn, bashed and bludgeoned. His skull crushed, squashed into a fine paste outside maplestead, in the forests leading toward it. The mans corpse was disturbing, as its entire body was broken and squashed in several places, as if it had been crushed completely. That is indeed what happened. Standing over the mans corpse stood the Knight, a large warhammer rested on his shoulder, looking down at the pulverized dead body with a look of remorse. Malaki spoke, tired and painfully, on the verge of tears.

"Why...? This could all have been avoided if you just listened... Did you think fighting me... Was going to get you any gold? Why couldn't you have simply asked... I could have freed you from your starvation, put you onto a better path, a path where you didn't need to die so needlessly...! I didn't want to kill you... But you left me no... other... choice...!"

His last few words were forced before the Drakenheir gripped his chest and let out a held back snarl, the disease inside him started to boil, his blood raised in temperature, and all he could feel with a painful sting, like a million daggers piercing inside every vein of his body, it paralysed him for a second, falling to his knees, the man gripped his own helmet and forcibly removed it to breath in some air, his neck coated in purple and black veins which rapidly pulsed, some scales on his cheek decayed until the flesh could be seen, a purple poisonous patch of flesh on his cheek squirmed, and leaked with pus, which only further pained the Drakenheir. For minutes he sat there, taking in the pain, trying to deal with it until it eventually stopped, allowing the man to climb back onto his feet, put his helmet onto his head once more and limp toward maplestead.

"I'm sorry... Please don't hate me... I'm sorry..."

Malaki stared downward and silently weeped, until he reached the gates of mapelstead and entered, hearing the voice of the crier, he quietly and without drawing attention to himself signed up for the job before approaching the Tavern of heroes. Noticing Bartleby and shin messing around and the event, another face entered the Tavern, a tall, quite muscular man, coated entirely in armor ((check his char sheet)), speaking up with an exhausted tone, his size and build, along with his bloody warhammer would no doubt draw their attention.

"Is this... the Tavern of Heroes...? I was told... to come here... to join the quest..."

VELTIS ARUNDIA

Veltis had been dragged to the Tavern of heroes by one of the villagers, by the time he reached the doors, he nodded to the villager to let go, smiling happily at the man.

"Thank you for the help, I think I can move from here, you were a great help, I owe you one...!"

With that, Veltis bowed and walked inside, suddenly noticing Vance, he felt instantly relieved and approached the man, giving vance and eva a pleasant bow to greet the two of them, resting one hand on his hip in a flamboyant way, giving them a cheerful smile.

"Ah, vance, eve! I'm glad you both made it! I didn't have a doubt in my mind you'd survive! How are you both? Tired and exhausted I bet...! I used up all my energy during that fight, which is why i'm late, my apologies for making you all wait! I hope I didn't make you think I died...! That would have possibly been disasterous!"

Veltis decided to take a seat next to vance and enjoy his company, hoping the other didn't mind him being close to him.

"You don't mind if I sit here do you? I wouldn't want to be interrupting you if you're not in the mood for talking or not in the mood for company... I can respect your wishes...!"

ADRIAL HACKIS

Adrial yawned and stood up from his seat, frowning at the loud and obnoxious banter of the drunk stupidity that was surrounding him. However, he suddenly noticed his other companion from the battle, the tactician was in a drunken and depressed state. Folding his arms, the cleric approached and pulled the drink away from his grasp and grimaced, speaking as if giving him a lecture and a talking to.

"Are you getting depressed? It's about the loss of the people isn't it? They were stupid and weak, it wasn't your fault they died, you can't stop a fly from being devoured by the spiders fangs. If you can't accept the loss of a few people, you're not cut out to be a tactician. Every option has casualties, you just have to grasp the more beneficial option to you and continue. If you chose to do nothing, we wouldn't have had saved the lives of the other 60 people. We would have lost 84 if you didn't help, but we only lost 24... Do you understand? Honestly, you're acting like a child, drinking like a stupid cliche drunk from some love struck novella... Listen, these idiotic neanderthals are annoying me, And since I assume you seem to be the least stupid of this Potpourri of Pathetic, join me for a read and a chat in a shared room, it's going to hit nightfall, and a room away from these louts will be beneficial to us both. What do you say, Brennan?"

Adrial grimaced even more monstrously at the words that practically drooled out of Brennens mouth. His eyes bubbles with an intense bitterness, he couldn't help but instantaniously snarl and snatch his hands onto the table which the tactician was resting on. In one ferocious swing, the cleric suddenly lobbed the small table against the flooring with a powerful impact, which no doubt perked up some ears around the room. Adrial absolutely despised every single word that was being vomited out of his mouth, and if he wasn't going to teach him a lesson, then nobody was, and thus, had no choice in the matter. In a split second, just after he threw the table, Adrial practically hissed as he held his stretched hand out, preparing for an assault and with as much force as he could, immediately sent a ruthless backhanded slap straight into the Tacticians face, his bare knuckles bruising his soft skin and bone and removing some of the skin off the clerics own knuckles at the same time, the force of the hit practically sending him onto his drunken ass. The cleric stood over him, judging him ceaselessly every moment their eyes met, and without a second to lose, the cleric spoke.

"You bastard. Are you seriously going to act like a child over something like this?! Those damn villagers had no hope in hell of defending themselves against the foes we had put ourselves against, weak peasants with no combat training against the demons that will maim and murder everything in sight, you're goddamn lucky we even saved half of them! Just because you have unrealistic expectations doesn't give you right to sulk... You lost ten people at most? Lucky you! You just got lucky...

I was forced to serve in a war for over one hundred years watching every single person I know and love die before my very eyes every single day, one hundred years. Thirty six thousand five hundred and twenty four days of nothing but endless death, misery and suffering, all while I was forced to watch as we protected a worthless bastard for a leader... You think you have the right to sulk like a fucking child over something so minuscule? A real tactician would accept the loses as inevitable and accept the facts of death. If you're going to act like this every mission, if you're going to put us at risk with such pessimism every mission, I will void you from existence...

Now stand up and quit your crying. If your a leader, act like it. Don't disgrace yourself. Now sober up and get to bed. If I catch you acting like you possess no balls again, I'l make sure you don't have any properly... Understood? The battle out there was nothing compared to what goes on on a daily basis every day where I lived. Count yourself lucky you never had to experience that..."

With that Adrial walked to the bar and picked the table up, setting it down and ordering a double room and paying for the gold in full, before taking his key and walking up the stairs to stay in his room to rest, possibly for the night.

Vance had closed his eyes as he tipped the bottle back, taking another swig from it, and started to feel a bit light headed. Usually, he could hold his liquor, but he hadn’t had something as strong as this ale in a long time. His head was turned away from the direction that Lenna was approaching.

Eve, though, did notice Lenna, and tapped Vance’s shoulder lightly. When that didn’t get his attention, she kicked him just below where she had tapped his shoulder. That got his attention and he turned towards the fairy with a glare. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed the rabbit girl approach them. His look softened as he listened to her.

"Now, sir, have some confidence in your allies. I mean, true, this guy," Lenna gestured to the unconscious dork in her arms, "is a bit of a dork, and...I don't even know what's going on with Catman over there."

Lenna gestured with her ears at Bart.

"But people will surprise you,"

“It’s true, I haven’t seen any of their combat abilities, but they don’t seem like a very organized lot.” He said. “And If we’re to set off tomorrow at noon, they had better sober up quick, before they stumble head first into an enemy’s spear.” He said.

"By the way, you are very pretty, miss. Would you guys tell me your names? I'm Lenna Underwood."

“Thank you!” Eve replied quickly.

“Lenna..” Vance repeated, If he didn’t use the name often, he would forget what it was.

“My name is Va..” and that’s as far as he got before Eve put her hands over his lips, keeping them closed with an annoyed look from him, and a bit of a grunt towards his fairy companion.

“Ugh! That breath! It’s not nice to exhale that stuff onto pretty women, Vance!” she said hurriedly. “I don’t know what’s in that ale, but you’re done for tonight!” she said in a mothering tone.

After scolding her companion, she turned towards Lenna, wearing the sweetest smile.

“My name is Eve, and this brave Templar is Vance” she said with one hand still keeping Vance’s mouth shut, though he didn’t protest, as he saw it as pointless, and she would complain if he did.

“You’re cute!” she said to Lenna, fluttering closer to her, starting to whisper. “y’know…” she started in Lenna’s ear. “Vance is single” she said with a grin, while looking at him. He was still glaring at her for shushing him moments earlier.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lenna” Vance said with a slight bowing of his head towards her.

Vance noticed Malaki walk through the door, though his first reaction was to help him, but he realized that he didn’t have the strength to heal his injured shoulder, much less wounds on another person.

As soon as Veltis entered the tavern, Vance looked to him and smiled, waving him over with his good arm. Eve, on the other hand, stared, wide-eyed for a moment before screaming like a fangirl at a concert.

“OH MY GODS! VELTIS! VANCE! IT’S VELTIS” Eve said, her words getting faster and higher pitched as she spoke. She shook his shoulder with both hands to emphasis her excitement. Luckily, it was his good arm that she was pressing against. He rolled his eyes at her reactions to seeing their comrade.

“HE’S HERE! HE MADE IT! BY THE GODS, HE SURVIVED!!!”

“Eve?” Vance said in a calm tone.

“Hmm?” she replied.

“I think Veltis is here” he said in his most sarcastic tone.

“Smart ass!” she shot back at him, crossing her small arms in front of her chest as Veltis approached. Vance was shocked that she hadn’t acquired a piece of paper for him to autograph with how excited she was to see him again.

They watched him approach, and gracefully bow in the manner that he did.

"Ah, vance, eve! I'm glad you both made it! I didn't have a doubt in my mind you'd survive! How are you both? Tired and exhausted I bet...! I used up all my energy during that fight, which is why i'm late, my apologies for making you all wait! I hope I didn't make you think I died...! That would have possibly been disastrous!"

“You better not die, pretty boy!” Eve said to him in a louder voice than she usually used.

“Vance?” she said in the tone that a child uses to get a toy from their parents.

“Hmm?” he replied.

“Can we keep him!?” she said excitedly. “Can he come with us on our next mission, please!??” she begged.
He shrugged a bit, wincing at his shoulder that still ached considerably. “I don’t know. I don’t make the roster of who’s together on these things." He said while looking at Veltis. “You would make a valuable ally”

"You don't mind if I sit here do you? I wouldn't want to be interrupting you if you're not in the mood for talking or not in the mood for company... I can respect your wishes...!"

“Not at all. I could use the company of someone who isn’t completely piss drunk” he said with a bit of a laugh. “Honestly, looking at this bunch, I don’t think any of them will be sober enough tomorrow to do any good on the battlefield.”

He raised his bottle towards Veltis, about to take another drink when Eve quickly flew to his hand and stopped him, shaking her head. “Nuh uh uh” she said, reminding him that he’d had enough.
“I’m glad that you’re here” he said to Veltis after he was denied his drink.

Finny had just told the bar area it was last call, and was starting to close up shop. It had been a long grand re-opening for the Tavern of Heroes to be used as intended. The three workers looked at each other and smiled at what they had accomplished. A tavern reserved for the bravest of heroes. And the place they stay after their escapades on the battlefield. With Finny closing down the bar, Lucia wiping down tables and shooing off guests to their rooms, setting up their rooms if they hadn't already bought one, pairing them off if they were with someone they knew. Even though the woman with long ears, though carrying another patron, requested a single room. Lucia figured don't ask, don't tell. Another lady who had armor dangling from her long, worn shirt asked for a double room and led a younger girl who seemed to be keeping most of her focus on not acting drunk or passing out. Lucia thought they were either siblings, mother and daughter, or a cute couple. She noticed a couple others pairing off, including the odd angel-elf and the human-ish boy with three swords who was crying for an ungodly amount of time. Lucia looked over at her dad to see him fidgeting with some nuts and bolts. "Dad, it's fine. You built this place better than anyone could. Admire your work for a little while. Let it get some wear 'n' tear on it before fixing it up. You need down time. Your back won't last forever, and we don't know what number the timer's on, so don't push yourself." Lucia admired her dad's passion for his tavern, but he'd been to the doctors before, and they warned him about his back. He's going to need to hire some help soon.

Lenna saw another adventurer approach whom the templar with the fairy knew, and figured she'd allow them to have their moment. She smiled as she ordered a room and walked away.

Shipping iiiiiiit.

She went up to her room and tucked Louis in on one side of the bed. It was smaller than she expected, so she basically ended up being the big spoon, since she couldn't have any room to herself anyways. She briefly considered switching to a double room, but decided, hell with it.

As she slept, she wondered what tomorrow would hold for her and her allies. She hoped they'd be okay. She mentally swore to herself she'd defend the dorks as best she could.

She slept, then, dreaming of home.

Miercoles left the man to rest and headed to the tavern which was designed to contain all these mercenaries. Sure they were being called heroes but as he approached the tavern which under the moonlight had its wooden sign swaying in the breeze with "Tavern of Heroes" engraved and painted into it he rolled his eyes. They were just hired muscle plain as that. Any "heroism" would be byproduct of their orders save for maybe a rare few with noble intentions which he figured would be rare.

Stepping through the door he made his way through the crowd who were many and seemed more than ready for a little bit of entertainment. However he stopped cold the moment he saw and heard Vance. He appeared behind him with hand with a vice like grip clawed onto that injured shoulder making his displeasure clearly made. A most evil of presence made itself known as his voice flowed coldly yet with venom, "Let it be known I hate having my time wasted like with that stunt you pulled off after having acted like you had been greatly injured. Now you're either well or injured, and I prefer the latter since if we fail the next assignment it will be solely your fault for not fully recovering. Now excuse me I have some real money to make."

With shoulder free from that terrible grip he walked away temporarily blending into the crowd of people. Pure instinct guided him to the stage of sorts it had as he dropped the box and readied some instruments. He strummed the guitar to ensure it was properly tuned and finding it satisfactory began to play something that was neither to slow to bore and annoy them or put them to sleep nor too fast that would incite even more rowdiness leave him ignored and without pay.

"There she goes again with her awkwardness..." Elisha couldn't help but smile a bit. "Hopefully she won't need to rely on alcohol so that we can speak more properly in the future."

"I'd like some of that fix up, thank you." Anything that'll help lower the hangover Cecelia mentioned is a good thing for her... perhaps. All she was hoping is that it won't be icky or disgusting to take in.

"I don't mind." Might be the remnants of the alcohol speaking, but she replied to Cecelia's offer with a straight face. Perhaps also missing the possible implications it might raise. Or she was just tired and just wanted to sleep.

Shortly afterwards, Cecelia led her to one of the double rooms. Once inside, Elisha was too tired to take note of the details in the room and just crashed onto the nearest bed she saw, looking rather clumsy in the process. It didn't take more than a few moments for her to start sleeping.