Hardwick waved back to Ben with a sympathetic smile. The fairy man was clearly past the point of no return; he shuddered to think about the hangover he'd have in the morning.

When he turned back, he found his double whiskey sitting in front of him. Rummaging around his trenchcoat, he pulled a few more dollars from an interior pocket and handed them over to Ayeka. 'Thanks.' He stared at the whiskey, watching as the 'legs' dripped down the inside of the glass. It looked a tad oilier than he liked it, but it was still better than most of the pig-swill available back home.

Back home... Now THERE was a strange concept. He'd been in the tavern barely an hour and already home had become a distant memory, the remnants of a bad dream. The evil forces of Azothoth; the dark Lord Cthuhlu and his fanatical devotees; the Shoggoths he had tried to slay; Nyarlathotep and the Faceless Men... In here, it seemed he insidious reach of the Eldritch and the Unknowable could not find him. He was safe, he was warm, he had fine liquor...

It was hard to tell how long he'd been staring silently at his glass, or how long the tears of mixed relief and anguish had been flowing silently down his face to rain upon the bar. Embarrassed, he quickly dabbed his eyes with his handkerchief and looked sheepishly around the tavern, hoping no-one had noticed - but as he looked, he noticed a girl with brown-blonde hair staring at him intently.

He looked back to the bar, the whisky still sitting before him. He picked it up and downed the contents in one go, feeling the burn as the liquid made its way down. Maybe wisdom couldn't be found at the bottom of a bottle, but it sure as hell helped.

@Song Book @Alisdragon911 @POOHEAD189

Willow grinned and opened her mouth, gesturing to the small space, "See, no room," she said with wink. She crossed her arms and waited for something to happen. She was not in a mood for initiating any more conversation and having her mouth closed felt strangely comfortable. So for once, she decided to indulge her comfort and keep her mouth shut. @POOHEAD189 @Pineappletumble

Outside of the cosy confines of the taverns warmth and walls, the setting night was like any other. The rustling and jolly commotion of what took place inside slowly faded out with distance, as too did the radiating light offered from the glass windows. Amongst the silver lined star lit darkness those windows became little yellow flashy guiding beacons off hope, rest and security for the weary or lost traveller.

The heavy footsteps of one such adventurer casually trod the flat stone path leading towards the tavern, a driven man lured by such promises.

Outside the taverns almost mystical sphere of influence and atmosphere, piercing the silence was the inharmonious un-orchestrated song of the night. Crickets chirped and shrubbery rustled with no discernible timing. Occasionally an owl would hoot or some other rodent would let out a shrill cry for its territory or life.

Step by tired step the mans large worn boots and loose apparel jangled each time a foot slapped against hard stone. Slowly the tavern would take shape.

A great howl echoed out from the far distance beyond, yet only a faint whisper of its glory pierced the distance and the solid structure of the taverns timeless walls.
Insistent on being heard it called again, a short moment later another powerful call fills the air. A true silence ensues this time as nature pauses her song.

The eerie silence was almost more terrifying than what ever creature caused it, almost. But at the end of that silence was the soft audible hum of hope and safety at the stone paths end.

The footsteps became a hurried walk quickly ascending into a frantic run. Feet pounding wildly against the floor all sounds washed away beneath the growing thrumming of a panicked fast beating heart. With deep exasperated breaths his lungs drew in desperate gasps of cold air, attempting to fuel malnourished muscles that burned as though fuelled by acid. Limbs numb and sore, continued to operate beyond reason, moving on their own accord as though his life depended on it.

Finally the path came to an end, the runner didn't notice or slow.
Instead coming to an explosive halt as he crashed violently into the unforgiving wooden tavern door with a loud sudden shocking thud.

@Dark Light
Ayeka notices a newcomer who just wanted to rest from his travels with dirty blonde hair that hung in a mess. Her ears twitch as she hears something from outside. She puts down her fork and went to answer the door. As she opens the door and notices a guy stuck in the door after he crashed into it. "Hold on I will get you unstuck." She says as she pulls on the guy,s shoulder to get him out of the door.

Slowly drifting away to the abyss of his mind, a loud sound broke his trance. He quickly turned his back, just to see someone... crashing in the door.

That didn't seem normal to him, for some reason. Also, for some reason, he felt that he won't get much rest in this place after all. Slightly intrigued, he got up and made few steps towards the door. He wasn't sure what exactly he was expecting or what he would do...
but you don't get to see people crash into doors every day, am I right?

@Dark Light

@Dark Light@dogtac@Alisdragon911
The loud crash broke her watch on the trench coat dude. Her mind racing on what would hit the door so loud. When the barmaid opened the door she noticably flinched. Expecting the worse.
"Hold on I'll get you unstuck."
The lady said. It wasn't some monster she had I worry about. Just another traveler. She was worried for no reason. Another man, One who had arrived earlier walked up the door. Her eyes following him suspiciously as well.

Unconsciously her glass rose to her lips. Distracting her long enough for her eyes to scan the rest of he rooms reaction to the sound. A slight sound in her mind wondering g if the person who crashed was okay. The more dominate part of her didn't care all that much about anyone else. Her safety was the most important to worry about.

Maybe the barmaid knows where the solider went, she was drunk enough to try her luck. What ever there was left. Her gaze now following the woman. Waiting for the perfect time to ask.

There seemed to be offers of help all around. The confused dazed young man didn't reply, instead releasing a low painful groan. He was a shambled moaning mess of thin limbs, loose fitting rags and crude tattered leathers, all topped with a face concealing mop of thick brown messy hair.

He swayed around unbalanced even as he sat there on the floor between inside and outside. "Th-thanks" he stammered on dry breaths as he slowly gained his bearings. A hand strokes his bruised head and parts his wild hair instantly revealing a pair of the most bright vibrant curious green eyes. His eyes were undoubtably beautiful in their on right, the same could not be said about his face. His face was disfigured by deep lines of discoloured scars, more than could be politely or subtly counted. They appeared to be poorly treated, if treated at all. They cut through an eye brow and left patches in his short stubble beard bare where the hair would not regrow.

Despite being in a new place surrounded by new people he had only an initial interest in his own things. His hands ran over his pockets and belt as he pat down his items and checked them off in his head. This did not take long as clearly he did not own much but once complete it left him at ease and he released a large sigh.

"DRINK!" he calls loudly to no one in particular as he drags himself into a nearby booth. His arms still slightly shaking and his breath still returning. Despite the ordeal a wide accomplished grin had settled across his face.

@dogtac @Song Book@Alisdragon911

Willow sat in shock at the newcomer. When he had crashed into the door, she had visibly become pale, now she saw it was someone she didn't know, she calmed down slightly, placing a hand over her heart to try and slow it. He looked in rough shape, but she had seen worse and wasn't particular worried. Though the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to hear the stories behind those scars that dressed his face. She sat thinking about this as he sat down in the booth before she got up and ducked into the kitchen, emerging with a small cake on a cracked plate. Willow set it down in front of the stranger and murmured something about how it would make him feel better and might help him heal a bit faster before going back to the bar counter, turning her back to the rest of the room and staring at the counter top.
@Dark Light

@Dark Light

Ayeka nods not knowing what kind of drink he wanted but water will be okay to her. She walks to the kitchen to get a pitch of ice water and a glass. She shortly returns as she pours the water into the glass and hands it to the guy with scars. She would like to know how he got those scars, to her it be better to ask later. She notices some brought him a cake as well, she hopes he be in a better mood soon after he relax some.

@Dark Light@SkeletonShadow@POOHEAD189@Alisdragon911
With a shrewd eye Tic examining the gaping maw of the woman before him, to his surprise she didn't take this opportunity to eat him and it actually didn't look like he could fit down her throats. Satisfied he sat back in his seat without a word and looked a lot calmer than he had a few minutes ago, that was of course until a loud thud resonated through the tavern. Taking a moment longer then he should have he leap to his feet and whipped his head back and forth scanning the room for the Source. The man collapsed in the room puzzled the pixie for a moment before he decided the man being helped to his seat was no threat to him.

Tic felt a ping of a feeling when she left their small table, was it guilt? Nah, couldn't be, he hadn't felt guilty in a long time and he doubted he was gonna start now. Maybe he was just tired, He'd felt like he'd been awake for two days straight if it weren't for the lapse in consciousness earlier in the evening.

Slowly he got up and rather sightly Tic spoke to Ben "I think I'd better get a room and call it a night" slowly he made his way to the bar and awaited service to order a room for the night.

@dogtac@Pineappletumble@Alisdragon911@SkeletonShadow@Song Book

Cake!?
The startled stranger sat up from his slumped position and examined the unexpected food with a puzzled curiosity.
His bright green vacant eyes shifted from the food to cling to the waiter as she spoke, and lingered with her a little further more after she left. Then just as he noticed the small winged intoxicated creature across the bar he was distracted by yet another waitress approaching him, this time with a drink.
His hands were a blur as he snatched up the glass as fast as physically possible. Half the liquid was thrown over his face as he ravenously gulped down the cold contents of the glass.

His glass empty he turned to the food, his first bight was a slow careful one but as soon as the taste settled on his lips he devoured the rest of the cake without a shred of etiquette or manners.

@Dark Light@Pineappletumble

"I will leave the pitch of water with you, sir." I will check on you later." Ayeka says as she walks away to see what Tic needs at the moment. "This may be a guess, you want a room." She knows that by the way he is acting and how he look like. She went behind the bar to take a key off the key ring. She quickly hands the key to him. She hopes he will have a good nights rest.

@Alisdragon911
Inside

Exchanging some credits with the key Tic glided down from his seat and landed rather uncomfortably on his face at the base of the stairs. Groaning he pushed himself up from the hard wooden floor and started dragging himself up the stairs to the landing above, he had to find the room that match the blurred number that danced along its metal surface. Slowly he trudged up the hall and compared the incomprehensible metal bevel to the ones on the doors till he found a match.

"...on land or sea or foam" he muttered attempting to recall the ancient tune. The room swung open with relatively little resistance once the key had actually been used on the lock. The room look a whole lot simpler then one would have thought Tic would have favored. Polished wooden floors, a soft bed, a small Trideo set and table with a few shitty romance novels strewn atop it.

Kicking the door shut behind him Tic wasted as little time as possible getting atop the bed and passing out.

@ViolentViolet@Alisdragon911@Dark Light@SkeletonShadow

Outside

"Well if you aren't feeling up for a chat right now, I'll be off" Koru slowly got to his feet very careful to not lose his balance again. Reaching out into the moonlight a brand creaked slowly and placed itself in the waiting hand steadying him. With little effort the stray branch lifted the elf off his feet and slowly lowered him to the ground "If ya need me I'll be inside and do try to be careful with that fire wooded area and all"

Once safely on the ground Koru made his way inside, as he crossed the threshold he felt a shift in the world, everything felt familiar however different. Maybe this tavern has some secrets to it, granted from both outside and inside it looked like your average tavern in the middle of nowhere. Everyone in the tavern looked to be so diverse, it was like a goldmine of interesting people peppering the tavern. Koru couldn't keep the grin off his face and had to stop himself from prancing up along to each table to ask each patron about themselves.

Taking a deep breath he slowly walked to the bar, he set his large book on the counter and awaited service.

@Pineappletumble

Ayeka watches Tic leave and trip, she hopes he makes it to his room before passing out on the hallway floor. Before long she notices she has a new costermorwaiting for service. "How can I get you this evening?" She ask as she awaits a answer, she is thinking that she is glad to meet every diffrent kinds of people as she works here. She should rest but there are still costed or to serve at the moment.

Willow looks over her shoulder as she hears the familiar sound of a book hitting the table. She looked at the person first, narrowing her eyes as she studied him closely. She couldn't pick up any accent since she hadn't heard him speak and she couldn't tell where his clothes were from so it wasn't very helpful.
Once she had determined that he wasn't a threat, her eyes trailed down to the book he had set on the table. It was large, that much was clear, but just like the owner of the book, she couldn't tell much about it. She turned her head back to facing the wall, her face set in an unsatisfied grimace.
@Pineappletumble

@Dark Light@Pineappletumble@SkeletonShadow@Alisdragon911
The new comer was not much to look at for her. Though while she could she hazily listed off his features. Brown hair. Somewhat thick, as again what she could tell sitting at a table nearish the door. His face was scarred badly, but his eyes, the green eyes kept her attention longer than it should have. A bright green, something with she hasn't took notice in for a long time. Since that one boy... never mind that was a while ago. The lady from before delivering a cake slice, or was it more? To him allowing her to shift her attention towards the other group.

The fairy boy was talking with the once open barmaid to get a room was that right? They had open rooms here. At least she hoped there were more. If not well she would probably make due with the table. Off track.

Another man had walked into the bar. He seemed hyper. To say the least. Carrying a large, by standard, book along with him, unable to read more she grew quite bored and took her attention off that. Raising quietly from her seated position. Moving toward more of the bar. Her glass left behind. A slight shake in her hand which, as she arrive at a spot, sat upon the counter tapping a rythem in quick succession duh dum... Duh dum..

If there was list of things Hardwick wasn't anticipating at that moment, 'sudden door explosion' would have been at the top of it. He slammed the whiskey glass back on the bar, but instead of the satisfying *thunk* of a tumbler on polished mahogany there was an almighty din of splintering wood and twisting metal.

It took him a few moments of confusedly staring at the empty glass before he realised that the sound had come from behind him. He turned and looked at the source of the commotion, the anxiety rising once again like fire from his belly. It's not possible, he told himself. There's no way they could have broken through. The exit - it changes, it wouldn't open for them, surely, I'm safe, this is safe...

What was left of the door had put up a good fight - the newcomer had ripped it half off its hinges, while the other half lay on the floor with the man wedged in it. With relief, he noted that the stranger wasn't clad in occult robes. He looked at the doorframe and saw...

Well... It was difficult to describe. It looked like a street pulled straight from a fairytale, but something was wrong about it. The features in his peripheral vision seemed to warp and change, and when he focused on them he couldn't help but feel they were imperceptibly different. Without even realizing, the scene had changed to a modern concrete walled side street, and continued to warp and alter in the face of conventional physics.

The front door shut itself. This confused Hardwick, given that only moments earlier the front door had been shattered into countless splinters of wood. Ayeka was long gone, having walked off to help the newcomer out of the door and to tend to the other patrons.

Before he could put his journal away, a loud thud came from the seat next to him. A man he hadn't noticed before had sat next to him and placed a large and obviously heavy book down on the bar. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the girl from earlier staring intently at this new patron.

@Pineappletumble @Song Book

@Alisdragon911@gohKamikaze@Song Book
Koru was taken aback by the sheer caliber of elf that came to serve him, while wood elves might as well have been the hillbilly cousins to that of regular breed of elves this waitress could have matched any high elf he'd seen in his travels. He could see a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead resting in the nook of her circlet, for a brief look Koru had already began formulating questions. What house did she hail from? Was she a high elf or Eladrin? How many fingers was he holding up? and of course how she came to work in this strange tavern?

Questions he decided to leave for later, perhaps when she was on break keeping up with all the orders must be tiring.

"Ahh yes my order" His voice have a spring in it much like his step however it was laced the gruff tones of an old man whose seem more than his share of the world "perhaps a glass of the house red" Koru Relaxed into a stool as he waited for his drink any the few watching him to get their fill.

A strangely dressed man seated beside him intrigued Koru, while he might seemed a bit jumpy the eye of someone who had seen beyond their own scope was laced behind the veil his stoic expression seeked to uphold. duh dum... his cloak like garb was clearly stained at its base, how it was puzzled Koru a little, it hadn't rained in a few days and the forest had assured him the nearest river was a day away. duh dum... The choice of drink looked a little strange, must be a human dink; oh there was so much to learn and he only had a night before some of these lovely patrons disappeared into the night. duh dum....

Ok that noise was starting to bother Koru, following the sound the the human gaze came to look at another human. A woman this time, all in all there was little to say. She was pretty attractive however he didn't need his book to remind him how fleeting their lives were. Koru was about to dismiss her altogether when a she turned her head slightly and revealed a strange tattoo on the back of her neck, in a flash his book was open and the pages blurred past. Apparently having found nothing the pages stopped on a blank page, resting the book his his lap Koru's writing hand scribbled in some notes as he tried to get her attention.

"Excuse me mam, but would you happen to know where we are?"

Without realizing she had placed her self nearer to the two men. The trench coat sporting man had kept the attention of the hyper one. He asked for a glass of the house red? if she heard correctly. It could mean wine, red wine could be good too her didn't look like he was from here.
@Pineappletumble
"Excuse me mam, but would you happen to know where we are?"

The Hyper one had interrupted her thoughts, rudely she was barely paying attention to him. Her gaze had returned to the stair case, in a unwinnable match of wills as her fingers tapped on. Her head turning quite sharply to met his gaze. Light gathering, dark orbs drilling holes into his appearance.

" A Tavern." The words came from her mouth sarcastically as if she wasn't in the mood for people, then again when ever was she. She stretched her neck, instinctively pulling her hair down and then putting it back up. Her gaze looking down at him book Sighing. She wanted to be too drunk for this, at least the barmaid should come by this way soon. She hoped. @Alisdragon911

Well, Tic had gone to bed and the girl they had been talking to had decided to head to the counter, so Ben did as well. However, he wasn't exactly right next to her. The young man ran a hand through his thick, dark hair and leaned casually, taking in the newcomers as they were with his eyes. He was a curious contradiction. Ben had always been an introvert more interested in living in his own head rather than the outside world, but he wasn't awkward either like most. He'd adapted and learned how to be downright likeable in the right company. If anything he was polite. For now though, he decided to just ask for a glass of root beer, hailing the lovely Elf girl.
@Alisdragon911@SkeletonShadow@Pineappletumble@Song Book