Time: Dusk Location: The Nest
Corvina listened to Kenia’s words and nodded. It made sense; she was just on edge. She sighed and looked at Floopa with disappointment in her eyes. This crazy demihuman had nothing better to do than spike people drinks? Avalia wasn’t too different from Earth in that aspect. How many times had she seen the worst-case scenario in real life and tried intervening? She remained silent and turned away from Floopa without a word. She didn’t want to aggravate the demi, nor start anything. She sipped her water and scrunched her nose at the taste of it. It smelled awful. She didn’t need a superhuman sense of smell to detect it. She blanched and looked at the woman who was now pointedly ignoring her. What the hell was in the water? She pushed it away and looked at her again after Kenia had stumbled off. Cora sure hoped Kenia would be all right; though it didn't take long for Malachi to follow her. Cora sighed again and rubbed her head. What was wrong with her?
” Rei,” She began and began to shovel food in her mouth to try to dampen whatever the hell she had drunk, but trailed off. She had good tolerance due to her fallout after high school. Corvina turned and heard the name Terneus and locked eyes on the pair of Elves.
” Terneus was almost taken out! Did you see it?” Corvina watched as the Elf turned to his female fairy accomplice and shook her head. Cora felt herself become giddy at the news. She didn’t know Terneus personally but laying in the mud for what felt like a century caused her to feel ill towards the man. She had nearly lost her favorite sweatshirt because of him. It was one of her only items from Earth, and one that gave her a sense of peace and happiness.
”No, but I saw this stupid Centaur running away. Nearly took me out, the stupid horse. The crazy thing is, nobody knows who shot the arrow. Nobody could see who it was. Must’ve been some light magic.” Cora turned to Rei with a grin and nudged him.
”Terneus, huh?” Rei said, his amber eyes seeming to glisten at the new information.
” Not surprising, with how he acts I’m surprised he’s lived this long, at least in this world. That and he owes me amas for my sweater.” ”It appears as if someone is doing the dirty work. Pompous git,” She mimicked an English accent with surprising accuracy and giggled. Corvina turned to Floopa and stared her down.
” Water, please, and nothing else in there you crazy woman.” Cora laughed at the end and turned to see an Elven man grabbing Kenia. Malachi quickly intervened and broke it up. She watched with wide-eyes, then felt herself beaming from ear to ear.
Yes! They were kissing! Cora turned to Rei, unaware that Floopa had spiked her drink, this time much stronger than earlier.
” Well heck yes, finally!” Corvina remained quiet, beaming as she watched.
” Hot damn, they’re going to need a room. Thankfully, the Inn isn't far away,” She turned and began to drink her water and downed it quickly. She stared with confusion at it and blanched again. This water tastes like a stale … She didn’t finish that sentence and pushed it away.
” I’m going to stretch. I’ve been sitting down too long,” ”Who knew you were such a vindictive one.” He continued, finishing the last of gulp his drink. He eyed the miffed bartender, waiting for her to pull anything. She didn’t seem to do anything but the way Corvina acted was definitely out of character. It was like she was drunk and as far as he could tell, she didn’t drink any booze.
”Hey, Floopa, can you bring some beer..” He said putting on the most genuine smile he could muster, though it didn’t manage to reach his eyes. He kept his gaze on her as she disappeared into the kitchen with a huff. It would only take a minute or so before she was back. The glass dropped in front of him looked normal. He would stare at it for a moment before speaking up again.
”That’s for you!” He heightened the pitch of his voice, watching for her reaction.
“Ah, er- I can’t take the drink of my patrons.” Floopa said, unable to maintain any prolonged eye contact with Rei.
”I insist, my treat.” He threw a couple of amas, that Kenia had given both the humans, onto the table. His fake smile had faded into a frown.
”... or do you not have pride in your drinks?” If looks could kill, Rei would have been dead five times over with the glare the bartendress shot at him. She didn’t say much else and instead downed the drink in seconds. Her movement seemed more restrained than before, but if there was anything in the drink she was trying her hardest not to show it. Were his instincts wrong? She moved away before he could make sure.
As Corvina moved off the bar stool, she bumped into a rather dismal looking demi-snake hybrid. It took all of her self control not to laugh at the woman, but the amusement was shining in her light blue eyes. The snake-woman glared crossly and hissed at her,
” Is something funny there, Elfie?” Corvina bit her lip and felt adrenaline pulsing through her veins, though she wasn’t sure why. The energy from earlier was pulsing through her. She kept thinking of Linnet and Gale, the two worst people she had ever met. In the back of her mind, she knew that the stupid bartender had spiked her drink and god would she pay her back tomorrow. She couldn’t think of it now; this snake was sizing her up like she was a snack.
” In all my life, I’ve met snakes, some bitchy, some jealous, while others were plain horrendous, but never have I met a real-life snake. Are you going to have a hissy fit? The Garden of Eden’s the other way.” The woman glared at her deeply.
”I bet your friend is much nicer than you. Why is he hanging out with a lowlife Elf like you? Why don’t you join me, handsome and ditch your bitchy little Elf friend?” ”Don’t talk to my friend like that!” Corvina snapped and her voice raised, causing some heads to turn. Her temper felt like it might explode. She was controlling her ability not to use pyrokinesis, though she wanted to throw a fireball at this hideous looking demihuman.
”Besides, he’s committing a sin just by associating with you. Best you cleanse yourself with holy water, Rei, as not to enter purgatory with this sinful looking snake.” The snake woman had it and went to punch Cora but she grabbed the woman's fist.
” The first rule of self-defense? Never make an easy first move on your target. Guess you’re too busy slithering around like the snakey bitch you are to know that.” She then moved to the side and pulled the woman's arm toward her, locking her elbow and then placing her hand on the woman's neck and kneeing her in the back to drop her. Corvina then used her other knee to kick her in the face. She held the woman on her back and smirked.
”Well whoopsy daisy, look at what we got here.” Corvina taunted and kept the demi down with her foot and glared at her. Her other leg was on the women’s arms to stop her from grabbing at her feet.
” When I release you, you’re going to beat it like the lowlife you are. Got it?” The snake watched with wide eyes and nodded, prompting Corvina to release her slowly but carefully. As the woman stood up, Cora braced herself. She watched as the woman swung at her and knocked her in the jaw, causing her to stumble backward. She glared at the woman and rubbed her face. She then cracked her neck and pulled her pepper spray out.
” Choke on this, bitch,” She sprayed the woman in the face who had been staring with confusion. She yelled out and Cora ran back to Rei’s side protectively, though with wide-eyes.
The situation unfolded before he could react. It didn’t help that some of his focus was on that shifty bartendress. Before he knew it, the situation was already over and Corvina had pepper-sprayed the serpent.
There was definitely something in those drinks. He thought, assessing how violent and terrifying she had reacted.
”Corvina, are you alright?” Rei asked, glancing at his side. Though really, he should be asking that question to the snake lady. A large section of the bar was now staring in awe or amusement at the whole debacle. He patted her head in an effort to calm her down.
”Sit and relax.” Rei placed her onto a chair before getting up himself and going over to the snake lady, who was now writhing less but sending death glares down to the sitting Corvina. He bent down next to her.
”I’ll apologize for my friend.” He said blankly, placing down a bag of amas (50 - from the bank?) beside her.
”Hopefully that will patch things up between you two.” ”The rest of you.” He said, his voice cold and prickly.
”Screw off back to your drinks and stop gawking, this is not a show.” The beady-eyed stares began to disperse. A few clicked their tongues while others grumbled. The little that remained met his steely gaze, with them looking away after a moment of eye contact. Rei massaged the bridge of his nose as he settled back into his seat. That whole debacle drew too much attention for his taste.
Corvina stared at Rei as his words replayed in her mind. Was she all right? She didn’t know. Something in her mind was letting loose. Rei patted her head, and smiled faintly, though she eyes on the table. She found it difficult to look at him after her debacle. Her cheeks were flushed.
” I’m sorry,” Her voice was low as she watched him begin tending to the snake-demihuman. She laughed quietly when he told the rest of the bar to back off. It had surprised her that he’d come off that cold; she hadn’t expected it from him. On the other hand, he probably hadn’t thought she could act that way as well.
”I think I’ll dehydrate over ordering again. I think there was something in my drink. Are you alright? I’m so sorry, Rei,” Corvina sniffled and pulled her hood over her head as she retreated into silence and confusion. Her eyes were teary. Why had she done that? Cora glanced sideways over at Kenia and Malachi with an apologetic gleam in her eyes. She hated to think what would have happened if it had continued to blow up. What if she ruined Rei’s cover or the Elves? She bit her lip and sighed heavily into her hands, then rested them on the table.
”It’s no worry at all. Hopefully, I managed to disperse the attention of the crowd.” He said, his gaze sweeping across the room.
” Something definitely was in that drunk, I was lucky that mine wasn’t spiked..” Though he did want to reprimand her, it seemed like she was already beating herself up over it.
”Not like I want to know what side of myself would appear..” Rei unconsciously whispered to himself. Maybe there was something in his drink. He looked at Corvina.
”Ehm, we’ll take a short break before we fetch those two rambunctious elves..” Corvina felt his gaze and knew that Rei was likely trying not to scold her. She knew Malachi would if he sobered up and had seen. She glanced at him at the mention of his drink.
”I hope not. I think we should take five and then go. I don’t want to stay here anymore in case something else happens.” She shuddered at the thought of Rei might expose if he were drugged. He seemed too peaceful, but then again, so did she and look what happened. Corvina sighed and picked her head up with a melancholic grimace.
An inconspicuous demi-human with a sly smile approached their table.
Oh boy here we go. Rei sighed internally. The demi-human whistled.
“I saw your fight, feisty little thing, aren't you.” He said he bowed incredulously.
“I am Damon and I’ve been enchanted by you. What say you drop this downer and hang out with me tonight? ” ”Well, what say you Cora?” Rei said with an amused chuckle.
Corvina turned to look at the demihuman approaching their table and raised her eyebrows. She struggled not to laugh and managed to keep a straight face.
” I appreciate the compliment, however, I am going to stay with my ‘downer’ as you called him.” Cora eyed Rei, then turned her head to keep Malachi and Kenia in their line of vision.
” It is nice to meet you, Damon, but I must deny your prestigious offer.” Corvina eyed Rei now with a slightly panicked gleam and turned to face the demi-human without emotion. She was at her tail end of the bar and dealing with drunks. The look on her face would convey she had been in the situation before, though not with a demihuman of course. She knew how to carry herself at the moment, albeit being slightly spiked still.
”There it is, see Damon.” Rei said boorishly.
”Now please leave her alone, she’s a bit out of i-” The demihuman clasped his shoulder with a heavy hand.
“It’s not because of this downer of an elf, is it,” Damon said condescendingly.
“If so I can get him out of the way.” ”I will give you exactly three seconds to get your hand off of me.” Rei said menacingly.
The demi-human let out a pointed, bellowing laugh, almost crying tears.
“You really think I couldn’t handle ya half-pint-” One… Two… Three… In a moment Rei had taken the arm on his shoulder and placed it into a reverse joint-lock. He pushed downwards at an angle, making the arm bend at an angle it shouldn’t naturally bend to. It only took a few seconds for Damon to take a knee on the beer-stained floor. The demihuman yelped in pain. Rei pressed down hard at the steepest angle he could. Three… Two… One… Then he let go. Damon collapsed onto the floor like a house of cards.
”Please leave.” Rei said, his nice words were betrayed by the cadence of his voice.
The demihuman didn’t take a second look and hurriedly scuttled away, into the crowds.
Corvina could only stare in shock at the current events, much like Rei had been staring at her debacle. She swallowed hard and then cleared her throat. Their group was attracting too much attention; they had to leave. She couldn’t help but blush with warmth inside at Rei defending her and knew she would have done the same, had someone hit on him. She shook her head at the madness that had been The Nest, and also the debacles. She rubbed her aching head and emitted a sinister growl at anyone still eyeing Rei and her. They turned away quickly.
”You sure that drink didn’t also give you a fever or something?” Rei asked, placing the palm of his hand on her forehead.
” You’re really red.” “I don’t know,” Cora’s words fell empty as she stared at him. She felt horrible, but mainly emotionally. She touched her hand to his and gripped it gently.
” What do they do for fevers here, a potion?” Her words were quiet as not to be overheard. Then, she began to focus more on him and less on her. She mustered up enthusiasm for him and forced a smile.
”If it helps, it seems like I left a packet of paracetamol in this sweater.” He fished in his pocket and produced the paracetamol packet with four tabs left. He slid it across the table with a wink.
”Take one. It’s extra strength.” Corvina started laughing with shock. Out of all things from Earth…
”Coming in clutch, Rei. Thank you so much. It’s funny what we still have with us. I still have my spray of course, and also my pocket knife. I never left my home without it.” She glanced around for something to drink and sighed. She didn’t trust Floopa not to give her the same spike bullshit. She tilted her head back and swallowed it whole, rather quickly. She sighed with relief and rubbed his shoulder kindly. This new world was much more tolerable with Rei. Cora wasn’t sure if her face was flushed from blushing or the fever, or perhaps a combination.
”Don’t touch that shoulder, I might put you into a wrist-lock like your lover Damon.” He joked.
”Oh no, I’m scared,” Cora joked with a mock look of fright then laughed. Her tone became serious, as did her expression when guilt and sorrow filled her eyes.
” I'll make my bullshit up to you tomorrow somehow.” She added with a grin and stood up, catching the table to steady herself. She gritted her teeth. One day, this Floopa bitch would get what was coming to her. Cora hated herself for the implications with the snake-demi. Her gut was in knots at the thought of endangering Rei, Kenia, and Malachi.
Corvina forced herself to smile as she genuinely commented,
” Good move. Maybe we should try combat and self-defense together during training.” She sighed, then glanced at Floopa to give her a glare then turned back to Rei. The woman had blatantly ignored her.
” Let’s collect our lovebirds and go. I can’t stand this place.” Her tone was sharp, a reminder of the spiked drink she had ingested earlier. Corvina waited for Rei and didn’t move. Corvina couldn’t help but wonder what idiocy might occur next if she left his side.
”Best we do. I’ll show you some Brazilian jiu-jitsu locks and throws.” Rei said, his eyes trailing over to the two elves.
”Agreed. Somehow the smell’s gotten worse.” Corvina nodded at his comments.
” That sounds great. Thank you,” She shuddered at the smell once she took a whiff.
”Ugh, gross.” She brought Rei along with her as she strode over to Kenia and Malachi. The noise was growing louder but she didn’t want to look and find out why. Her heart rate began accelerating at the noise level rising.
” Alright lovebirds, as much as I ship you both together as a couple, we have to go. It’s getting crazy in here.” Her voice was pleasant with an urgent tone underneath it. Her eyes were gleaming with panic, though she tried to keep a relaxed expression for them.
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