@Triesa
The rodent writes down its thankfulness for the offer and the help he has given before standing from its seat and offering the man a deep bow. It then leaves to look for the poster the man had mentioned.

Conda stays watching the rodent leave for a sec, wondering if he could find someone else to take on his task, then turns back to his work in a cloud of smoke.

@Dark Light

The bipedal rodent finally spots the poster and reads that there was a job offer that required an adventuring party to retieve something from a wasteland. Seeing this opportunity, it quickly heads back into the tavern to look for the room where the poster wanted those interested to gather.

how me join

Evelyn rubbed her cheek with her palm, the dried blood there itching like mad. She groaned and rolled her eyes, knowing she'd need a long shower to get that shit off. And her clothes? God that would take even longer. That was one thing she hated about her job... the clean up afterwards. Which, some jobs weren't as messy, while others... Christ. It looks like she bathed in blood.

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and ran her fingers through her hair. Tangles galore. She stepped off of the frigate she hitched a ride in, a d low and behold, as soon as she stepped off, there was a tavern. She smiled like a fat kid who just caught sight of a chocolate. Without hesitation, she walked up to it and went inside. Still, without stopping, she went up to the bar and plopped in a stool, dropping her bag on the floor next to her. "Excuse me," she called out softly, not wanting to bother other patrons.

@BoyMom69035

A familiar figure responded to the mercenaries call. While never seen before in person, he was a clear match to the image she had previously been shown. Even down to the open leather jacket sitting across his wide shoulders and exposing his bare heavily tattooed chest.
He was a tall man with a solid physique, dirty blond hair and a short beard. He had a rough yet charming look to him. Mostly because of his constant daring perfect smile and his deep mesmerising pale blue eyes.

He approached the bar from the kitchen out the back, a small towel in one hand and a clean glass in the other.

“Haven’t seen you around before.” he states as he puts away the glass and drapes the towel over the counter. Leaning forward on the bar he shamelessly examines the new patron.
“Looks like you could use a room with a shower.” he playfully teases, flashing that notorious grin as he pulls a cigaret from his jacket pocket and puts it in his mouth, letting it hang from his lips.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow as the man came in from the back. Quite an attractive man of she had to say so herself. Though, he must have been thinking the same about her, because he was practically eye fucking her. Which, wasn't new to her, by any means. She playfully raised her eye brow again and grinned. She set her arm on the bar and leaned towards him. "That's because I've never been here before," she said sarcastically, then winked to show it was all in good nature.

"And yes,' she began with a chuckle as she sat back down, looking over herself, "I could definitely use a shower. But first, could you be so kind as to set me up with a couple shots of whiskey, please?" She would drink first, then go out and do some shopping, as she did have any clothes on her at the moment. Then she'd get a shower and clean up. "Also, would you happen to have a room with a shower, available? Again, she flashed her playful grin.

“Sure thing.” He said with a nod, still smirking at her sarcasm.
He carefully lay out three shot glassses between them and knew just where to go to get the perfect bottle of whisky. He removed the cigaret from his lips as he poured the liquid, generously filling each little glass. Then he took a swig himself before turning to the near full board of room keys.

“Sorry doll, don’t look like we got any rooms with a shower left.”
He blatantly lies with a sly chuckle. He takes a key off the board and turns back around. Eyes locking onto hers.
“But seeing as I’m a nice guy, I’ll let you share mine.” he returns her wink from before.

While the man filled the glasses, Evelyn reached down into her bag and pulled out her own pack of smokes. She took one out, then tossed the pack onto the counter. She then stood and removed the lighter from her back pocket. The cigarette was put between her lips, then she brought the lighter up and lit it, inhaling. When the man finished, and took a shot of his own, Evelyn copied his motions. She downed one shot, then stuck the cigarette back between her lips.

When the man responded to not having any rooms with a shower available, Evelyn leaned over in her chair, glancing at the board full of keys. She raised an eyebrow, then locked eyes with the man when he turned back around. His statement made her laugh out loud. "Is that so?" She inhaled again and pulled the cigarette from between her lips. Evelyn down the second shot, never breaking eye contact. When she put the glad down, she stood and snatched the key from the man, tucking it inside her back pocket. "That's fine," she replied. "So long as you know that I won't sleep with a man on the first date."

Evelyn motioned to the glasses, grinning. "Lets get a few more." Then a thought suddenly hit her. She leaned over the bar and extended her hand. "Evelyn Sanderson. But you can just call me Evie if you'd like."

@BoyMom69035

”Well shit.” The man replies, he takes another swig straight from the bottle before casually filling up the shot glassses again.
”Better hurry up ‘n’ get this first date out the way then.”

Clay he responds, taking her hand.
”So Evie.” he says accentuating her name as he tests it. ”Can I ask where you came from? Musta been a hell of a party.

He notions to the state of her hair and attire. Once again finding his cigaret, he holds it out for her to light.

Evie laughed and downed another shot. "Eh, you wouldnt want someone like me. I'm gone all the time. Not real good relationship material," she replied with a shrug and another wink. She rolled her eyes and groaned at his question. It was far from a party, that was for sure.

"Well, it's like this," she began taking another drag from her smoke. "We were sent to another country to rescue some rich brat that had been taken hostage. Some deal had gone bad or some shit and they took his son. So, we were sent there to get him out." Another drag, and the second shot was emptied. "So, some one finds out were there, all hell breaks loose." Evie exhaled heavily as shook her head. "It was a fuckin mess. Anyways, we got the brat back home safe and sound. And no I'm here," she looked up at Clay and smiled. "Talking to a handsome man and having a few drinks."

She noticed that he had put his own smoke between his lips and leaned her way, indicating he wanted it lit. Chuckling, Evie grabbed her lighter from the bar and brought it to his smoke. It came to life with a soft 'flick' and his smoke was lit. "So Clay, how many ladies have you offered your room key to," she asked with a raised eyebrow.

@BoyMom69035

”Who said anything about a relationship?” Clay softly growled with a playful predatory grin. He continued to listen and top up her shot glasses as soon as they were emptied, taking a sip for himself each time.

”So was the kid worth it? He asks, shuffling between his now lit cigaret and the bottle.
Looking down at the table he chuckles before taking a deep drag on his cigaret, trying to decide how to answer her invasive question.
”Well enough that it’s gotta finally pay off for me.” he said with a laugh before washing it away with a long drink.

@Dark Light

Evie shrugged and leaned back in her stool, propping her arm up on the back of it. She stated the man down for a moment before chuckling. "Fair enough." An then grinned mischeviously. "Still gotta take me on at least that first date."

Pursing her lips, Evelyn looked up at the ceiling, smiling softly. She was remembering the kid. "Yeah," she said as she finally looked back to Clay. He was. He wasn't such a brat after I got to know him." She looked down. "Made me cry before I left." Evelyn stayed lost in her thoughts for a moment before taking a deep breath and shrugging again, wiping her emotions away.

"Well, Clay," Evie began as she downed the two shots he had poured for her as she stood. Leaning over, she grabbed her bag, then stood back up, "perhaps it will work for you. She winked. "I've gotta head out and find some things and then I'll be back." Evie let her eyes roam over Clay for a moment before grinning. "Bring that bottle with you too."

@BoyMom69035

Clay raises the near empty bottle and gives Evie a nod.
”Safe journeys, you know where to find me.” he says with a sly smile.

Putting the bottle down he quickly rummages behind the bar. Finding what he was after, he stands back up and throws a small packet her way. A simple bag of peanuts.

”Now that’s some food and you already had the drinks. Might be a terrible one but that’s still a date in my books. I promise the next one will be better.” Clay teasingly winks while giving her a wide uncontainable smile.

@Dark Light

Evelyn had turned to walk away, waving at him, while she headed for the door. She just happened to glance back when Clay rose up from behind the bar. He chucked something her way, which a caught. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at the bag. It was a little bag of peanuts. Clay's next comment made her look up at him. Evelyn grinned and shook her head.

While she stood there, she opened the bag and popped several peanuts into her mouth. "Thanks for the date, babe," she said around a mouth full of peanuts, with a wink. With that, she turned and left the bar, grinning from ear to ear.

Evelyn had hardly been gone for long, Clayton still wore that stupid smug grin that she had left him with, feeling quite pleased and proud of himself.
It may have been because of this preoccupation that he didn’t hear the commotion going on outside.

The landing and unloading of a transport spacecraft. The marching of heavy boots surrounding the buildings perimeter. The arming, loading and locking of high tech weaponry. The small group of privately own soldiers huddling at the main doors.

It could have been his preoccupation with Evelyn, or it could have simply been their elite expert training, purposed tactical gear and years of field experience.

Since Dorian, the tavern owner’s, disappearance, the ‘magic’ of the old building had seemingly been fading. Repairs were required more often and to their dismay, staff found themselves required to clean more frequently.
Less kind hearted, adventure yearning, refuge seeking patrons magically happened upon the building, while those seeking it for less than savoury purposes, were actually managing to find it.
These were some of those people.

Clayton wasn’t the sort to put his faith in hope. He accepted and expected the worst at all times. That included losing the safety and security that the regular tavern dwellers had come to know. As such, he had began putting into place his own defensive measures.
One of such was a defective AI spider repair drone that had been weaponised. It was still a work in progress, since trade for parts, tools and knowledge had been difficult. But regardless of its progress, as four heavily armed and armoured men burst through the front door, shouting commands for everyone to fall to the floor, the green laser lights of their guns sweeping the room, Clay didn’t hesitate to hit the red button beneath the counter and release the robot.

It didn't take her long to get what she needed, at keast, it did feel like it did. Her mind was preoccupied with her newfound friend, and just the thought of him made her smike, or chuckle. He was one of a kind. While deep in her thoughts, she had managed to buy several pairs of clothes, including undergarments, and the necessity to get clean... A not smell like a man.

She was in her way back to the tavern to get her shower and hopefully, something else, when she saw something that made her blood run cold, in the distance. She froze and stared for a moment before her brain told her to react. She quickly dodged to the side, just behind the tavern and hit the wall, her back to it. "Oh fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck..." She chanced a peek around the corner and watched as they all went inside, shouting for everyone to get down. Her mind was racing with thoughts of what to do. She had to draw them off. This people inside couldn't get hurt.

So, she dropped her bag of new items and then slid the bag off of her shoulders. Kneeling down, she set th bag on the ground and reached inside. Evelyn pulled out 2 old school revolvers and made sure they were full. With a deep breath, she ran out from behind the tavern and to the front. She didn't waste any time. As soon as she got to the door, she kicked it open and shot the two closest to her. Her eyes locked on to Clay' s for a brief moment before she shouted, "Get them out!" And with that, she ran. Bullets flew past her, and she even chances turning and shooting, but all she did was waste her ammo. She just prayed that clay and the others made it out safely.

"That's her, get her!" Came a shout from behind her. Suddenly, there was a burning pain in her thigh. Evelyn cried out and collapsed, grasping her thigh. She had been shot. She quickly put her hands on the wound and pressed, her blood seeping between her fingers. "Goddamn it," she shouted as the men grew closer.

@Dark Light@BoyMom69035 as the button was pressed a hatch opened above the counter. Crazed laughter was heard before a large hunk of blue metal fell out and slammed into the bar. Legs unfolded as it hit the surface "TIME TO PLAY!^zzrrt Red don't make to much of a mess this time" K12 said as the Gatling gun unfolded from the side. "four count er scratch that two one injured friendly, short spread" the barrels began getting up to speed as k12 said "Lady I would suggest getting down, immediately!" seconds later bullets started flying tearing into the last two unknown soldiers passing through them tearing into the door and walls behind them blood splattered the wall as the gun jammed k12 saying "damn it blue I jammed again! _brztthats not my fault you tried to over do it again!" the robot proceeded to bicker with itself as it crawled over to the four checking for any signs of life

Amongst all the commotion Clay was momentarily distracted as a familiar face re-entered the tavern. Evelyn. He quickly snapped to when bullets began flying. After that things quickly started making sense and falling into place. A faint smile grew on his lips as the whirling of the droids gun began.

Unarmed he remained out of the gun fight. Quickly, calmly and with an authoritive voice he ushered and aided the few bystanding patrons through the kitchen and out the back door. One particularly elderly man, fragile and slow, Clay carried in his arms. A regular visitor Clay had come to know quite well and even grew fond of as they shared banter back and forth.

A sudden cursed cry of a woman’s voice rung out, followed by the deafening throttle of a mini gun tearing up the tavern. Clay was suddenly torn in which direction to go. Before he could make a decision the ground began to rumble.

———————

Meanwhile inside.

An eerie silence took a hold of the tavern. The four bleeding corpses lay lifeless and unthreatening.

Suddenly the sound of glass shattering breaks the silence. It’s instantly followed by the descending bouncing of a small metal canister scattering across the wooden floor. It comes to a quick abrupt end and with a short mechanical wirl the strange device anchors itself to the floor.

This occurs in heavy rapid succession in various places all throughout the tavern.

————————-

Clay appears from the kitchen behind the bar, blood splatter covering his chest and face, a hollow look in his eyes, he is about to speak but then... he suddenly vanishes from sight, consumed by the oncoming chaos.

The tavern suddenly erupted in a violent sensory onslaught of maddening chaos! A deafening loud whooping sound terrorises the ears and robs everyone of any communication. A high pitched buzz pieces the brain giving an instant interfering headache. Sight is stolen by a viscous blinding strobe light and the entire floor is quickly clouded in a thick itching, chocking tear gas.

@Dark Light
@Blueflame

At that noment, so many things happened so quick in succession, that it was almost like things were in fast forward. Evelyn wasn't too far from the tavern; 50-60 feet, give or take. Just as the men can upon her, guns drawn, there was slight banging around in the tavern, a mechanical voice, and then bullets. Bullets were spraying everywhere. Evelyn immediately released her leg and rolled into her back, covering her head with her arms. Grunts and groans came from the two men that were hovering over her. She could hear the bullets hitting them, and then they toppled over, right on top of her. So hard, that one of them knocked the air from her. The other hit her legs, pulling a pained scream from her lungs.

Moments after that, a horrible sound fills the air, startling Evelyn. She gasped and hurried to cover her ears, crying out as the sound pounded it's way, even past her hands. And then another noise, one that hit her brain instantaneously. She cried out again as her head began to throb, her face scrunched up in pain, eyes squeezed shut. And even through her closed eyes, she could see a bright light coming from the tavern.

What the hell was all of that? She had never seen or heard of a tavern ever doing anything like that before. But whatever the hell it was, it was definitely better than a security system. That was for sure . Still, she hoped and prayed that Clay and the others made it out and weren't physically injured. This thing that was happening though, good God it needed to stop before it drove her insane.