” Oh kid, you gotta think I'm not as sharp minded as I was long ago but if ya think I believe in them cards?" The old man’s voice cut through caucus of the tavern around them. His words as offensive as the swill she had been served prior.

Ophelia wasn’t new to naysayers. Though the blatant disregard easily wormed beneath her skin and chewed on her nerves. With a calm, steady hand she packed the cards tightly against one another—a sharp rapt on the table. Her eyes had narrowed into glittering slits the only not calm about her was the burning malice that wafted from her gaze. ”Oh, trust me old man. I knew you were past your prime long ago. But I didn’t realize that old age had riddled your mind so deeply, already. But maybe it’s the one too many knocks against the head, eh?” The tone in her voice matched her movements, steady and calm with an edge of fury that gave it a small bite.

She cupped the cards in the palm of her hand, folding them toward her body before reaching up on the toe of her boots and leaning across the bar. Her free hand struck across the air between them. Opehlia's index finger hooking and pulling onto the nearest bit of loose fabric on the old man, drawing him towards her. ”You going to tell me you’re a skeptic in this tavern? Where a corpse and shade walk freely around us? Magic. Death. The strange and unusual,” she paused to cock her head to the side, eyeing the loud man while he clattered down his drink, ”are reality but afraid to trust a little in some cards?” Her lips parted in a sharp grin.

Ophelia let go and leaned back away from the bar. She had shut her eyes away from the duo, taking moment for herself before reaching back to her earlier disregarded bottle. The bridge of her nose wrinkled as her brows pinched together in thought. She plucked her cards up from the bar. Ophelia’s knuckles white with the grip she had around them. ”Ah, fuck it.” She could feel the burn of blood rushing to her cheeks, knowing full well that it had already bloomed and painted her with a deep rose color. Be it from the drinks or the anger, she couldn’t tell. She took another swig from her bottle. Nor did she particularly care at that moment. For the moment the rim left her lips she let her fingers spring open. The bottle fell to the floor in a sharp crash. Glass and wine scattered and pooled beneath her.

”Huh,” she mused. She was a terrible drunk. Didn’t matter how much experience she had. Something always got broken. With a shrug she stepped away and closer toward the strange man, tucking her cards idly away. Someone will get that. The mess was already out of sight and mind. Ophelia let her gaze loll around before taking a half step backwards and bumping into the strange man who was still at the bar. He seemed aggravated a moment earlier, but she was too swept up on berating the old man to pay attention. She turned her head back and over her shoulder. ”Got something to add, stranger?” She let her eyes widen to their full extent, hoping to mirror his own previous intensity. Part of her was aware she was toeing a possible dangerous line but what was life without a little fun. Plus, she didn’t plan to stick around for much longer.

It hadn't been a long time someone had the guts or the stupidity to treat him in such a manner as gripping the fabric of his linen shirt "You going to tell me you’re a skeptic in this tavern? Where a corpse and shade walk freely around us? Magic. Death. The strange and unusual," when his gaze shifted from the hand her eyes were met with a violent glare in the old warriors eyes, setting down the glass he had been cleaning as Ophelia cocked her head to look at the drunkard next to her "...are reality but afraid to trust a little in some cards?" she smiled a shit eating grin, before letting go and turning away like a petty child to pout about something not going her way.

Krin would have taken her by the neck and blackened her eyes for grabbing him in such a manner let alone insulting him. He grabbed her by the shoulder, not so gently to turn her with a furious look in his eyes and a snarl on his lips but he stopped. This wasn't the man he was anymore, and nor was he in any position to doubt the cards. This place did defy such logic.

"Sit down girl, now." there was an edge of anger in his tone, but he bridled himself the girl was probably drunk or just foolhardy "Break any more glasses and you'll give us both away." he leaned across the bar and set down an empty glass before sighing "You got a point kiddo, might have been a snap judgement to dismiss the magic of the cards..Go ahead, deal." he poured them both a glass of bourbon "And try not to break any more glasses while your at it?"

@blesses blight

Corbin was taken off guard when the vampyress rejected the blood. He cocked an eyebrow and studied the woman curiously. "No?" He asked as he poured the contents of her glass back into the vial and drank his glass. "What brings you to a place like this?" He asked. Corbin couldn't help but notice that the woman seemed distraught, distracted and uncomfortable.

She seemed to keep glancing in the direction of the entrance to the tavern as if she had somewhere else to be, and wondered if she wasn't as excited to see another vampire the way he was. "Have somewhere to be?" Corbin asked her. "Need a lift?" Corbin slid closer toward her with his drink, hoping the scent would tempt her into sharing the blood.

As they stood behind the bar, and they each glanced toward the entrance periodically, he felt the slight tingle of magic in the air. A moment later the entrance opened and a mage walked in, not just any mage though...this mage was city guard. He carried a decapitated head. The mage was asking patrons questions as a spell projected the head's last moment through its eyes. A projection of himself appeared before the face.

Corbin could easily take care of the mage and be rid of the head once and for all, but he had a feeling this vampyress would look down upon him for such a thing and he wasn't ready to part ways just yet. He grabbed her and pulled her below the bar. "Alright, well..." He went on. "Where did you come from?"

---

The transformation was swift and subtle. Her shape changed suddenly, and she acquired another set of arms that sprouted along her shoulders. Scarlet sinewy flesh formed upon bone, soaking in sacred blood, soon becoming smooth skin, and afterwards shrouded beneath ethereal sleeves. Sorrow seemed fertile soil for four slender limbs. Loss. Suffering. Sacrifice. Sacred.

Anath Homura stayed silent as she slightly shifted again in her seat, adjusting for her additional appendages. She stared through her single eye - ruby-red and shimmering regret - at the various denizens, at the veneer of their surroundings, at the shared venue, a myriad of visions seen with her scrutinizing sight. She was... pleased she had the opportunity to speak with so many odd and magical people.

Fiona Flamebeard

Fiona looked around and tried to get an understanding of what the norm was here. No one had offered her a drink yet. She did see a waitress that was serving the table areas. There were so many different types of people in here. She didn't know where to look first. She smiled grateful to have a soft seat but looking at the bottles of alcohol behind the bar had her mouth watering. She could really use a drink. Is this a self serve bar? Well if they object they will tell me. I am happy to pay for my drinks. I will serve myself and leave payment on the bar.

She shrugged and climbed over the bar. She didn't see how you got behind the bar. Decision made, She would serve herself. She grinned and turned to peruse the selection available. Hmmm not many of them were in a language she could read. She uncorked a dark brown bottle and sniffed. It was a nice strong alcohol with a smoky spicy scent. "Perfect. I will try this one." She dropped a few silvers into the tip jar she spotted on the middle shelf with the bottles. She didn't bother with a glass. She didn't need it.

Hmm now how to climb back over. The stool had given her a boost up. It took her minute or two but she managed. She reclaimed her barstool happily with a bottle to drink now. She uncorked the bottle once more and sighed happily as she took her first sip. "Ohhh that's good." Her shoulders relaxed a little. "Yeah that's just what I needed. I wonder what they call this?"

“Hmm… your divinity has been damaged -- a shame. Why ask if I wanted a drink? Do you work here? How far have you fallen, far from home, forsaking your honor? Ah… I have no need to drink, but I believe I wish to rescue you, Daughter of Darkness.”

Gabriela felt anger pour over her like ice-cold water. A frost gathered at the corner of her eyes, and little crystals of ice formed behind her ears where the cold of her blood flowed slowly and labored around the back of her neck. Whether it was the audacity to assume so much or the ugly negativity with which Anath painted the very ordinary offering Gabriela had made -- she could hardly contain her sudden displeasure. It was one thing to have a stranger, powerful or not, know so many secrets about her and blurt them out to the world as if they were nothing at all, but Anath spoke with so little regard toward her own existence that if she did not turn and walk away there would be problems.

“Rescue me?” Gabriela replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she regarded the woman, “Perhaps you should see to your own shortcomings before offering aid to someone else.”

And she intended for that to be the end, for she was in such a foul mood now that she could barely contain her vexation but Corbin remained -- steadfast it seemed. His expression was caught between amusement and disappointment as he watched her interaction with the strange rose-faced woman and her rejection of his offered drink.

“No?” he asked, but he was already pouring the blood back into its container.

She watched it go.

“What brings you to a place like this?”

“Escape,” she answered honestly and her eyes nearly drifted toward the door again but she stopped herself -- he wasn’t coming. So then she smiled in that disarming way of hers, “...just looking for a change of scenery, adventure, discovery. I don’t know.”

“Have somewhere to be?” he asked when she failed to mask the fact that her attention continued to shift toward the door. “Need a lift?”

Gabriela was disappointed in herself and it showed. She bit her bottom lip and crossed her arms over her chest, and with her muddy boot, she toe'd what was left of the shattered glass on the floor.

“No, well, sort of…”

Did she have somewhere to be?

“Alright, well…Where did you come from?”

At that, Gabriela became quiet, much like earlier when Salvator had asked her the same question outside. She didn’t know how to answer. She knew where she came from, but she didn’t know how that related to this place or if it would mean anything at all. And there was a deep and painful fear in her that speaking the name of her home -- of her land, now dead -- would awaken the very ghosts that would drag her back into the grave. So anxiety prickled at her scalp and she lost her social graces completely, “I am sorry, you’ll have to excuse me, I should really be on my way.”

But where?

She didn’t know.

Panic was prickling every inch of her body and spurring her forward into foolish and impulsive decisions. So she pushed past him, leaving Corbin and the very rude woman behind, uncertain of where exactly she was heading.

Zafira found herself at the tavern, the building seemed to be the hot spot for the lonely, the not so lonely; and for the adventurers looking to let out some steam. Sliding past a large man leaving the seemingly small opening to the tavern comparatively to his stature, the vampire made her way through the crowded entry way.

Pushing past the few people trying to stumble their way out of the tavern, Zafira made her way up the staircase to her left, leading to the main floor holding all the tables. Looking around at the crowded tables of laughing and hollering patrons, she turned immediately, bee-lining it to the bar. Waiting for the right moment to squeeze in between two occupied barstools, she awaited the bartender to greet her.

---

"A White rose." Anath Homura held up a hand and touched the pale plant that replaced her second eye.

"A warm and well-lit tavern." She said, gracefully gesturing to her surroundings with another hand.

"A familiar face." The disdainful deity remarked, looking at the man that looked like Lucis, the one lost long ago.

"Ah, someone else, and a night to remember..." Her reclusive ruby-red eye reflected a sea of blood spilled upon slender hands.

Czelsc

The occasional sounds of a branch or vine pulling against Czeslc as he made his way through the thickly settled field flooded his senses. The soft crumbling sound of the grass as he walked upon was softly audible whereas the bugs of the area were lively and made their presence undeniable. The occasional bird calling out to the other that had just called out. The world was conversating. He was surrounded by an entire ecosystem to him, and what may seem like nothing to others.

He held his hand out to gently feel the leaves of some plants and branches as he strolled through. These moments were all he needed in life.

He had no exact destination. No exact reason. Nature had brought him in this direction it seemed. Rumors had set him on the trail though. Rumors are dangerous. They can be true, they can cause curiosity, or they can cause serious trouble. He chose which rumors or tricks to follow with great consideration.

KLEE

Czelsc seen some smoke from a distance. Typically a sign of human life. He was drawing closer to what he had heard about.

KLEE-KLEE-KLEE

"Yes. I know." Czeslc responded. His voice low and audibly tired. It would seem to have spoken to himself had someone else been near. No. It was only him in this field.

There it was. This building in the rough.

"I guess so." He confirmed in his thoughts.

-----

Czelsc opened the main door and took the moment to look around as he walked inside. He slowly closed the door behind him while keeping his body mostly forward. He didn't know anyone here. He was not going to be turning his back.

He felt like he was in the doorway far longer than he was. He felt anxious and awkward. The anxiety he has battled his life has nothing new. He looked around to see if he made eye contact with anyone as he navigated his way to the bar top.

It was loud. There was a lot of activity going on. That isn't always a bad thing... it meant that once he wasn't such a new figure that he would be able to blend in easier. At least that was the intention.

As close to the corner as he could find a stool, he took a seat. Czeslc seen someone who was certainly a bartender having to deal with a patron testing their patience, so he wasn't about to bother him. Quickly a younger guy behind the bar came up to Czeslc.

"What will you have?"
"Do you have tequila?"
The young guy laughed out a little by reaction. "Of course."
"Do you have chicken? Raw?"
Now the kid's face dropped flat.
"...What..?"
"Raw. Chicken. Do you have any unseasoned raw chicken?"
"Are you.. asking me to cook you some chicken or something?" The young bartender was visibly confused.
"No. I'm asking if you have unseasoned, uncooked, raw, chicken. That's all."
"I...Yeah... I mean... Yeah we do?" The bartender knew the answer, but didn't know *why* he had to answer.
"OK great. Then one silver tequila, double, neat. Not one thing added to it. Then also get me one plate of raw chicken meat."

Czeslc looked point blank to the bartender who was blankly confused by this whole interaction. He wasn't moving yet. He was trying to comprehend what was going on here.

"....Thank you.." Czeslc's face never flinched as he said flatly after a pause. This was to try and push the bartender to get started on his request.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

" I hate this.. Can we just sit down already? We've been walking for, " Brown eyes shot down towards her fingers, each digit twitching as she counted. How long had they even been walking for? Hours? Days? Weeks? It felt like a millennium since she had some real food and a place to sleep, that wasn't just a pile of leaves and a jacket. " Hours! I'm tired, mama. " Annie turned her gaze upwards, to the tall, redheaded woman walking along side her. All the while, a frown stayed plastered on her lips.

The redhead returned the glance, and frowned almost immediately upon seeing the young girls expression. She'd sigh, shaking her head. " Hun, I'm just as tired as you are, but if we stop walkin', we'll never get started back up again. Remember the last time we set up camp? Took you an hour to get back up again, if that! I promise that we will stop. Just not right now. " While Martha refused to rest, she couldn't help but consider Annie's request. Perhaps they should rest. Stop for a bit. Being constantly on her feet could grow tiring for the little girl, and she didn't want that. Just as Martha opened her mouth to speak again, she spotted something in the distance. it looked like.. Smoke. Where there's smoke, there's fire. And where there's fire, there's a warm meal bein' heated up. Or.. Some careless pyros. " Annie, ye' see that? " Questioned the woman, pointing a finger towards the smoke.

" That time it wasn't my fault! I was too tired to get up, and you know that! " Scoffed Annie, her freckled arms crossing over her chest. " You didn't hear me complainin' when you went down by the river and refused to get out because the water ' felt nice. ' " Annie had a point. If anyone's guilty of wasting time on this trip, it'd be the both of 'em, not just her. That pouting expression on the brunettes face switched to one of pure bliss, at the sight of smoke in the distance. " Fire! " Turning towards Martha, Annie clasped her hands together in a pleading motion. " C'mon, mama. Can we pleeeeaaaase check it out? There could be some nice peoples down there. And food! " There was a possibility that Martha would agree, and they'd go. But that chance was.. Slim to none.

" Hey, hey now. I was sunburnt to hell. The water was soothin' the pain. You can't blame me for that either. And y'know what? I wouldn't have been sunburnt had ya not used the last bit of our sun cream. " Just like bickering siblings, the two could go back and forth with one another, blaming each other for the trip being longer than intended. However, whose fault it was wasn't the main focus right now. The smoke was. Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Martha thought over Annie's pleading. " I reckon yer right.. Or there could be a wagon of bandits waitin' to ambush anyone who's dumb enough to just walk in. We can check it out, but you stay close to me, y'hear? No wanderin' off. Hand me the bag. "

" Well, what'd you want me to do? Just let myself get burnt up too? " Huffed Annie, maneuvering her arms around to slip the backpack that was on her back, off onto the ground - Allowing Martha to pick it up. Inside, was basically their whole lives crammed into little pouches and pockets. There were some weapons, ammunition, cans of beans, fruits, two jackets for the two of them, dried jerky, and some clothing for the little girl. Among other things. " I know the drill.. Stay close, hand on my knife, be ready to run if somethin' happens. You say it all the time. "

" I say it all the time because the one day I don't, you'll choke up 'nd get hurt. " It seemed unnecessary to the little girl, but to Martha? It was life or death. She's been in situations where she had no clue what to do, and didn't want that for Annie. Scooping up the pack in one arm, she used the other to rummage about, looking for some... thiiinnngg. " Ah! " From the pack, a revolver was retrieved. The barrel was a shiny silver, it's rosewood handle carved with the initials B.T. " Alright then.. " Blue eyes went down towards Annie, head tilting towards the side. " Ready? " In response, Annie would return the nod, hand already on her holstered knife. " Ready. "

With that, they were off, steadily approaching the smoke..

-------

As the pair neared the smoke, it became apparent what the cause was. A tavern, rustic yet oddly in a charming way. The lack of a sign was somewhat worrying, as that normally meant the area was long abandoned. However, there was a warmth coming from inside.. And light. Squatters were a possibility.

" Well, it.. Ain't a.. Wagon of bandits. " Jokes the young girl, the corners of her mouth curling into a sly grin. Even to Annie, the lack of title this tavern had was cause for some questions. How would people know what to call it? How would anyone find it in the first place, if it weren't for the smoke? Her hand was removed from the handle of her knife, and placed onto Martha's hand, which was given a firm squeeze. Almost as though she were reassuring the woman.

" That it ain't.. " Agreed Martha, though there was still a look of defensiveness on her face. It was clear she wasn't all too convinced this wasn't some sort of trap. Or a simple case of squatters getting a little to comfortable. Either way, it didn't feel safe. Yet. The grip on her gun tightened, finger moving close to the trigger and she shuffled over to the door. She would lower her head and her voice, speaking in a tone that only Annie would hear. " I'm going to open this door.. You stay behind, stay quiet. Got it? " " Got it. "

There was some hesitation, but after a while, the redhead pressed her boot up against the tavern's door and slooooowly nudged it open. Gun in hand, she was ready to shoot anything that made a wrong move, until..

Warmth enveloped her body, radiating from a burning hearth. No, it wasn't some ambush, or squatters. It's.. " A tavern. " A look of bewilderment was plastered on the older woman's face, thin brows knitting close together and forming a wrinkle in the middle. Seriously? That's all? All that suspicion and preparedness, just for it to be a poorly advertised tavern? Her gun was lowered, though it was never fully holstered, just in case. " Um.. " Wide eyes went down towards the little girl approaching behind her, her cracked lips stretching into somewhat of a smile. One of both relief and confusion. " 'Suppose you were right about the.. Nice peoples and food. Heh. Whaddya know. "

" A tavern!" The little girl almost seemed to sing out her words, pure joy getting the better of her as she scooched pass Martha and fully entered the tavern. Her arms were stretched out towards the sides, as though she were hugging the room. " See? I told you it wasn't bad. You're too Pessimi.. Pess.. Pe- Pesimbis- " " Pessimistic. " "That.. You're too much of that! Now c'mon. I'm starvinnnng. " Reaching both hands to the redhead, she would grab onto her shirt, using it to tug and drag her towards the bar.

" Yeesh, girl. I'm comin', I'm comin'. " Without putting up much of a fight, the older woman would follow close behind the younger, hand finally coming fully off of her gun as it was slipped back into it's holster. There didn't seem to be much of a threat in this building. Some drunken patrons, another man at the bar, among others. It was like any other pub or tavern she had been to, just lacking a name. " Raw chicken.. Weird.. " Mumbled Martha, brows scrunching again. Eh, everyone had their tastes. She shrugged it off, and instead turned her attention elsewhere, as she found a stool along side Annie.

" I already know what I want! Some beef stew, potatoes and carrots! Oh, OH! Can I get some tea with that? Sweet, none of that bitter stuff some of y'all be servin'. " Without much of an introduction, the little girl spewing off at the mouth about what she wanted to eat, to the bartender. Can you blame her? You wouldn't want to make simple small talk either, if you were as hungry as she is. Tip-tappin' at her thighs as though they were a drum, the girl scrunched her face as she thought. " Oh! Can you add butter rolls to that order? Wanna take some on the road. " Not like she was payin' for it, might as well go out. As punishment for the long walk.

The more Martha listened to Annie ramble at the bartender, the hungrier she got. Her mouth watered, her stomach rumbling fiercely. While she wanted badly to scold the little girl for her rudeness, It's not like she was any better. So, she'd keep her mouth shut, for now. After Annie's order was made, it was time for the woman to order. In an attempt to sound.. Nicer, and mostly as a joke, she would put on the stereotypical ' sweet southern woman ' voice. " Why, hello there. Terribly sorry about my daughter, it's been a long day. Um, I'd like to have the same as her, minus the rolls. We're on a bit of a budget.. " At the word budget, a glare was shot towards annie, to which annie would respond with a taunting giggle. " Sweet tea does sound nice, so I'll have some of that as well. " The young bartender would nod, walking off to prepare their meal. With that finished, Martha could finally turn her attention on the room around, taking in it's atmosphere and all the new faces. All the while, she stretched her legs out, joints crackling and popping assumably from old age. " Woo.. Shelter at last.. "

Fiona Flamebeard

Fiona drank the spicy alcohol directly from the dark brown bottle. It warmed her from the inside out as it burned pleasantly all the way down as she drank. She could feel her muscles relaxing from her travels. She blushed as she remembered she had forgotteen to thank her goddess for her blessings. Her voice came out in a melodic alto as she prayed to her goddess. Her hand clasped around the heavy medallion around her neck. "Thank you divine Breanne for the elixir that I know partake in. May it's warmth remind me of home and hearth and your bountiful blessings." Fiona's thanks werer sincere and contrite. She should have offered that thanks and gratitude before she took the first sip. She was tired from her travels though.

She hoped once she was well rested and had a hot meal that she would be able to figure out how to get back to her own lands. In the mean time, with her duty to the goddess fullfilled for the moment. She turned her attention to the fine liquor in her hand. She would give her thanks to the owner of the place if she had any clue who they were. They obviously ran a fine establishment. She took another drink of the potent spicy liquid.

Fiona began to look around at the other patrons. Maybe there was a reason she had gotten lost and was in this tavern. Was she here in this place to do the goddess' bidding? She looked around at the patrons and began to watch what was going on more closely. The tavern seemed busier than when she had come in. She looked over the crowd and didn't feel particularly drawn to anyone. If she was here to do the goddess' bidding, maybe the time was not right yet. Or maybe the person she was being directed at was not here yet. Maybe she was here simply to bless this fine establishment. They did serve very nice liquor. That was certainly worthy of a blessing.

@LadyAmber

---

"Am I welcome to join you?" Sharp and soft-spoken. Serene and savage. A virtuous voice. Vicious too.

Anath Homura had approached the comely dwarf currently drinking and seated in solitude. Such a sacred aura surrounding the faithful.

"I am Anath Homura..." She said, bowing respectfully to the servant of Breanne, as she introduced herself.

Standing at the bar, Zafira awaited to be greeted by the bartender. A young lad stepped forward after briefly attending to a man at the far corner of the bar, leaning into the bar she spoke carefully for him to hear her. Her voice was sultry, yet authoritative when giving him her order. “Yes, a large dark rum.” About to pull away from the bar, she remembered to end her sentence with a “Please.”

Watching the young bartender move from the bar to select a dark ceramic bottle that held a very dark rum, he pulled a cup carved from a bulls horn from a shelf just under the bar counter. While the bartender worked at his task given by Zafira, she stood against the bar looking about at the other patrons of this massively busy establishment. It appeared that the welcoming smoke of the fireplace pulled many adventurers from a day's work to come rest at its tables, its kitchens pulled families out to eat from home; and welcomed the loners to its corners for those strong drinks to contemplate life's quandaries.

To the eye of others Zafira stood a good five foot seven inches, tall for a woman of her stature, although she was athletically built her body held curves in the right places. She kept her silver-gray hair cut short, long on top, shaved on the sides and underneath. To the eye Zafira didn’t carry in weapons, although her body was dressed in leather. Leather pants held tight against her legs, boots climbing to just below her knees. The high collar of her jacket framed her angular face, black and yellow gold lace spread over the space which would give the peekers the visual of her cleavage. The shoulders of her jacket are so intricately sewn together in the pattern to give shape to shoulder armor, it appeared she was some type of warrior or someone’s general.

Finally, the bartender completed his task, sliding the horned cup in front of Zafira. Looking at the cup, she instinctively made coins appear before the boy to pay for her rum. He stood blinking a moment, as he hadn’t seen her hands move to place the payment upon the wood top of the counter. Smiling and with a nod, she took her drink from the bar top and searched for an open barstool further down the bar.

@Miss Reiya

---

"Am I welcome to join you?" Sharp and soft-spoken. Serene and savage. A virtuous voice. Vicious too. A second simulacrum speaking...

Anath Homura had approached the two that come in and seated themselves at the bar; a woman and a child - with their contrasting caution and cheer.

"I am Anath Homura..." She said, bowing respectfully to the two travelers, as she introduced herself.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Annie was the first to respond, with just as much glee as always. " 'Course ya can! I mean, it's a bar. You needa be social at least sometimes. " At this last part, a glare was shot towards the woman beside her, a joking one, of course. Martha was never the most social of creatures, which is what annie was trying to fix. One step at a time.

" N- " Before Martha had even gotten a word out, her daughter had fired out the mouth, practically greeting the stranger with open arms. Seriously? Just like that? Her lips would purse into a slight frown, head tilting to the side so she could get a better look at the stranger. Pretty.. Clean.. No wonder Annie wanted her over. " Alright, alright. None of that.. Bowin' bullshit. " " Mama! Language. " " Sorry.. No need to bow. Names Martha Dunn, this here's Annie. "

" Annie Thompson, at your service. " With a giggle, the young girl returned the bow, hairs of ebony falling over her freckles face. She would then sit up, gesturing towards a stool beside the pair. " Sit, sit! "

@Miss Reiya

---

"It is a pleasure to meet the two of you." Anath Homura said as she seated herself aside the pair. She smiled, showing sincerity and serenity.

With a graceful gesture, she summoned a set of small toys to play with afore Annie. They glittered and sparkled, shifting and animated - a collection of animals and magical creatures that meandered across the counter.

"You two have traveled far then?" Anath Homura asked, glancing at the signs of the long path that stuck to the pair. She stared at Martha with a single ruby-red eye, the second replaced with a white-rose that smelled wonderful, wafting over the other odors of the tavern. She was strange. Weird. Yet welcoming as well.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

" Oh, ma'am! The pleasure is aaaaaall mine! " With the swiftness of a tiger pouncing on it's prey, Annie swiped one of the toys up, holding it up to the sky to examine it. It wasn't anything like any toy she saw. Much prettier, shinier. Not a doll made of old cloth and stuffed with hay. If this was the strangers way of bribing the little girl into liking her more, it damn sure worked.

" What she said.. " Mumbled out the older woman, still giving Anath a look of distrust. Clearly, the pleasure wasn't entirely Martha's. Despite the sparkling gifts, she was too sure about the woman. Maybe it was the red eye.. The white rose which Martha seemed to think was fucking growing out of the lady's eye. Or maybe it was the simple fact that Anath made toys appear out of thin air? " Ah, yeah. Thought it was best to relocate. Town we were in was riddled with no good people. Definitely not safe for kids.. " Grey eyes went down towards Annie, then up at Anath. " What about you? Yer probably not from any place I've heard of.. With an appearance like that. " Was this a compliment? A dig? Could be either.. It was hard to tell. She had asshole voice syndrome.

@Miss Reiya

---

"I have traveled far from... home too. My appearance shows the suffering I have seen along my journey... reflects the taint that this world has become brutally rife with. I wish you well, miss Dunn. The cruel come for the children first." She said, her voice directed at the woman which held a weapon, and nothing more than a barely audible whisper to Annie. Anath Homura seemed content, regardless whether she was complimented or rudely insulted.

She held out a hand to Martha, the appendage slightly shrouded by the beautiful sleeve she wore, and she spoke softly so:

"Where would you go? Do you wish to flee forever, or have you a home somewhere? I am a spirit, so I cannot touch humans. Yet you can see me... you can hear me. Where have you been, wanderer? Have you Honor in your heart?"