Who: Lalin and Azabeth Where: Shady Tavern, Denerim When: They're probably about 17 here, so 9:38ish Summary: Lalin and Azabeth get together some years before the events of the game to drink, play cards and pick some pockets. Rating: K (Some mention of groping and the kicking of groins) Warning: Casual AIM chat in which the two of us seem unable to pick a tense and stick with it.
Lalin:
The guards were definitely giving her the stink eye, Lalin decided, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. It was a rather hard thing to do, considering she was wearing her favorite and warmest cloak of a deep red color. It was a lovely thing, but not very helpful when trying to sneak past the watchful eyes of Derenim’s human guards who probably already suspected her of being a thief. … Well, she, but not tonight! Or, at least, not right now.
She was supposed to be meeting a dear friend of hers at a tavern, not far from the Alienage. Lalin wouldn’t look out of place there, even with her ‘knife ears’. Taverns were fantastic places. Full of men and women relaxing from a hard day and reveling in joys of their ale. There would be music and probably dancing. Maker knew Lalin could use a bit of relaxation and music. Mistress Talin had been a vicious bitch that day. Probably had something to do with the fact that the old hag was growing older by the day and highly resentful of that fact that the same time and she had a tendency to take it out on her charge.
Lalin grinned as she reached the door of the tavern and shuffled inside, rubbing her fingers together to chase the cold away. Evidentially the watchful eyes of the city guards had better things to do that night instead of harassing a poor, little elven girl. Lalin craned her head, trying to see over tall forms of humans that occupied most of the space.
Azabeth:
There was a moment of relative quiet, a lull in the roaring din of the tavern's cheerful conversations - and this is, of course, the moment Azabeth chose to strike. She must have been waiting in ambush for Lalin, to appear so suddenly at the little elf's side without warning, a grin bright as an Antivan sun on her face and laughter dancing in her eyes. Perhaps she's already had a round while waiting for her friend to show up. "About time, La," she grins, then flourishes a bit of a bow. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten all about me."
Lalin:
Lalin frowned deeply at the humans watching them. What, like they'd never seen an elf before? When her friend appeared out of nowhere, Lalin had to fight a grin in order to keep a disapproving look on her face. "And here I thought you had left me to the wolves! We should not doubt each other so, my dear Az." Lalin tugged Azabeth out of her bow and into a tight hug. "Come on, then!" she said, "I believe you own me a drink or two." The acceptance of one of their own seemed to appease the humans, who all went back to their cups or their games or their conversations. "A good crowd tonight," she said, a whisper dropped in Azabeth's ear.
Azabeth:
Az returned the embrace with good humour - the little elf was practically the closest thing she had to a sister - and then they were off, and the staring eyes were no longer upon them. Sod them all anyway. "So I do! Let's see if we can't remedy that, eh?" One last statement for anyone listening, then she too drops her voice. "A bann's son is having a birthday party in the back left corner. Half a dozen noblemen, drunk as skunks. Practically begging to have their purses lightened."
Lalin:
"These spoiled little boys..." Lalin mutters, eyes drifting towards the mentioned corner. "Think they can waltz down here, rub elbows with us common folk and get away unscathed." Lalin grins widely, thinking of her personal stash of coins. Talin would take a portion, of course. She wasn't teaching Lalin for free, but Lalin was amassing her own little stash. A stash that had increased a good deal since she met Az. "Shall we go introduce ourselves or be a little more sneaky than that?" Lalin led them over to the tavern keeper, ordering up a round for the two of them. Not that they would drink all that much. Alcohol slows the fingers, you know. And it was surprisingly easy to convince other drunks that you were just as far gone as they were and oh, isn't that your mug just there? Oh no, mine is long gone already! Take a long drink, that's it. Couldn't possibly be mine.
Azabeth:
And Az liked helping Lalin, because it wasn't often that she met someone who could keep up with her own frenetic pace. "I think if it were just me, a drunken floozy would be just the thing," she notes, eyebrows high, and her mirthful expression at odds with her sober tone. "But one of them's got a cruel streak, and a thing for elves. Don't want any paperwork with the guard tonight."
Lalin:
Lalin made an annoyed sound. "No blood shed, eh? Alright, then, not tonight." Not that Lalin had ever really gotten into a fight that she didn't get out of right away by just running away. Spilling blood wasn't her schtick. Not in such close quarters and without any chance of overpowering the large human that Az was speaking about. A bar wench handed over their drinks with a small sneer. Lalin ignored her and looped arms with her friend, dragging her to a table right near the fire, surrounded by lots of loud drunks and within sight of their target. Sitting in the shadows just made you look suspicious, best put yourself right where everyone could see you. "To a successful night then!" She said, raising her mug. "However we choose to make it so." Lalin winked and downed a gulp of the alcohol, wincing slightly at the taste. "Some day we're going to try something better than this pig swill!" A drunk near them laughed and toasted that thought, downing the rest of his so called "pig swill"
Azabeth:
"Valere got onto me about kicking that guy in the stones last week," grumbled Az. She couldn't exactly argue with her patron, but she could pretend to be a good girl until the arlessa's focus was back off of her and onto something else. But there were better things to focus on tonight! She took her ale and put a studied amount of stagger into her step, stumbling a bit into her smaller friend and smiling, lifting her mug in toast. "Hear hear!" In the corner, as promised, was the party of noble humans, marked by their fine clothing and pale faces, and the fact that every barmaid in the establishment was taking pains to stay away from them as they grew increasingly rowdy. It would be a matter of moments before they noticed Az and Lalin, and Az was tossing her scarlet mane like a red flag before a bull.
Lalin:
"What?! He deserved it!" She said loudly, wrapping an arm around Az as though she needed her friend's helped to keep her balance. Just another little elf who couldn't hold her liqueur. In truth, she was taking her cues from Az, who seemed to want to get their attention. It went against every tale or advice told to Alienage girls that boiled down to STAY AWAY FROM MALE HUMANS. But Lalin was usually quicker than men who wanted to do her harm, plus the last person to give her advice of that sort was long dead and her mistress never bothered to give her any advice beyond "Don't get caught." So she didn't. "Sometimes men just need a good kicking in the stones." Lalin nodded, as though she had giving very sage advice.
Azabeth:
"It's not that I kicked him, it's that I got caught," groaned Az, playing the drunken act to the hilt, but also keeping an eye out for the notorious elf-abuser in the noble party - she doesn't want La hurt. Valere was pretty good as patrons went, but her wrath could be an awful thing if she was displeased. Then they were in front of the fire, and at last one of the nobles saw the girls and works up the courage to stagger on over. "Hellooooo there. What's a bar like you doing in two girls like this?" He meant well. Probably. From the steely glint in the depths of Az's eyes, though, she couldn't care less. "Drinking," she said, in her best vapid tones, twirling a red curl around one finger.
Lalin:
Lalin laid her head on Az's shoulder, smiling up at the human with a smile of a young girl who didn't know to be afraid. "We decided tonight was a good night to come out!" She said cheerfully. "You're partying two huh? Who are your friends?" She looked over at the nobles' table and waved at him, ever so slightly with a sultry heat in her eyes. Lalin had long since learned that it wasn't all that hart for women to use sex to their advantage. You weren't thinking about watching your belongings when you were trying to bed someone.
Azabeth:
Seated in the center of the other five nobles was a man who was a little less drunk than the rest - or at least, drunk enough to look mean. He was the only one not catcalling when the party of nobles began to wave and holler and wink at the girls. "Well, it's Kinon's birthday, y'see," slurred the noble, conspiratorially. "S'we're having a bit of a party. Maybe you pretty ladies would join us?" "Sure," smiled Az, a look as empty and stupid as she could manage - not an easy feat for her. She was keeping an eye on this Kinon, whose gaze had slid like a snake down to Lalin, as if she were a piece of meat to be judged.
Lalin:
With the man leering at her like that, Lalin thanked the Maker (who she usually wasn't one speaking terms with) that she had such a good friend in Az. The human would make sure she didn't run into any trouble. It would have been an entirely different operation had she been here by herself. "Oh, I donno..." she said, looking back and forth between the men as though she were frightened and a little excited all at the same time. It was a look, she had learned, that these every so slightly violent alpha males salivated at the sight off. "We wouldn't want to intrude, right...?
Azabeth:
"Nonsense," purred Kinon, gesturing for the girls to rise and join the party. This seems to be the seal of approval that the other srequire, as they begin to make similar pleas. Az rose unsteadily - the first noble solicitously took her arm to guide her, the others of the party also coming to their feet out of "respect" for a human girl - and to all appearances she is quite drunk as she drifts towards the party and exchanges hugs of greeting, rifling pockets with quick fingers as she does so. Kinon has his sights set squarely on Lalin, though, and Az can't prevent the slimy bastard from sneering down at the elf and saying, "And you're her servant, I assume? How quaint, letting the pets out for a night on the town."
Lalin:
Lalin smiled after Az, shooting her a smile that she would be all right and to take the opportunity to get into their pockets while she had it. "Oh no!" She said flippantly, as though she didn't see the way his dark eyes watched her closely or the sneer in his voice. "No, we're just friends! I don't think she has any pets." Lalin made a show of pondering this, as if she didn't realize he was speaking about her. "Maybe a lapdog, but he wouldn't be let out of the house." The little elf leaned in to him and whispered conspiratorially, "Little dogs can get into a lot of trouble out at night by themselves, you know."
Azabeth:
"Perhaps this... 'little dog' needs a keeper?" That was a vicious-looking smile slashed across his angular face, and his hand descended to make a pass at La's rear end. Az had her hands full distracting the other nobles, flirting outrageously and allowing personal contact that would, in any other circumstance, have caused her to go ballistic. As it was, seeing Kinon drooling over La was causing dangerous sparks to flare in her eyes, and she seemed tense and waiting for the first excuse to kick the man's teeth in. So long as La got at his pockets first.
Lalin:
Lalin saw his arm moving and slid around to his other side with the pretense of getting at her mug. She took a swig and made a show of swallowing, though no alcohol actually entered her mouth. "Oh no! I think he's very well behaved...Or was that her little sister? Oh I don't remember. I can't matter much anyway, could it?" She said, a sweet smile sweeping across her face as she leaned toward him. Just a little closer, she was thinking. Come a little closer... I'll even let your greasy human hands grope me if you come close enough for me to get your money first.
Azabeth:
And Kinon, lecher that he was, took the bait, moving in closer and reeking of beer only slightly less than his compatriots did. "Why don't you come sit down next to me, ssssweet thing?" Such an innocent offer. Az had been coerced into having a seat herself, between two of the nobles, but in such a position that with a nimble dive across the table she could win free of their reach. She was still watching Kinon anxiously, her temper making her itch to show the noble what a woman could do when her friends were threatened.
Lalin:
Lalin winked at Az, she could take care of it the look said. Don't worry. Let him think he's got me trapped. Lalin giggled a little and let him tug her down into his lap. The perfect position for her to slide her hand down into his pocket and relieve him of those oh so heavy coins. "Oh, I'm not such an sweet thing," she giggled, smiling up at him with a twinkling smile. Let him concentrate on that, rather than what her hands happened to be doing.
Azabeth:
"Oh, I'll bet you're not." Kinon's hands descended on Lalin's hips, holding the rogue in place, and it's not long before said hands begin to wander other places. The pockets of the other five nobles were likely picked clean at this point, but Az was willing to maintain the illusion of drunken revelry as long as was necessary, or until Lalin gave some sort of sign to cut loose.
Lalin:
Lalin was starting to get very, very uncomfortable and, with his coin safely in her own hidden pockets, was getting desperate to find a way out. A little quick thinking had her sticking out her foot at a passing woman, carrying several flagons of ale. The alcohol tumbled down onto Kinon and Lalin, who jerked out of his lap with a screech. "Ooh!" She pressed at the lap of her dress and the large wet spot there. "I need to... Oh, oh, this is my -favorite- dress!" she tried wringing out the liquid and when that didn't help, gave the big human an embarrassed look. "I'll be right back, I just need to.. Ooh, clean up," She pouted, but turned with a small stumble and grabbed Az's arm. "Give me a hand?" When the men all groaned and tugged at the women, trying to get them to sit back down, Lalin tugged her friend away and just smiled. "Sorry boys. We'll be right back, promise." Lalin maneuvered the two of them towards the back door, praying they didn't follow.
Azabeth:
Az had a lot of experience twisting in subtle ways to free groping hands from her form. "Oh no! We need to get that blotted right away or it'll stain! La, how could you!" How does she make herself sound like the most shallow bitch to ever set foot in Denerim? Either way, Az plays the part to the hilt, smiling blazingly bright at the group - "Don't go anywhere, boys" - and then they're practically home scot free. Az is very careful to make sure they make it to the back door unseen, and one they are out into the night air, bursts out laughing. "Did you see that bastard's face when you dumped that ale on his lap? I thought he'd bust a vein!"
Lalin:
Lalin shut the door firmly behind them and joined her friend in her laughter. "Well serves him right! He called me your pet, did you hear that? He was just begging to get robbed. How he expected to insult a girl one moment and try to get her into bed the next is beyond me." She wrapped an arm around her friend's waist and nudged her firmly. "And you! It will stain? Have you seen the state of most of my clothing? A stain is the least of my worries." Lalin laughed again and spun away to take in a big gulp of evening air after the stifling heat of the tavern. "Ah well, I think tonight has been a success, what do you think?"
Azabeth:
"Men are pigs," said Az, dismissing the nobles without a second thought. Lalin herself got a one-armed hug around the shoulders and a laugh. "You're the one going on about your favorite dress! You ought to actually buy one before you start making claims like that." Ah, but the clean night air did taste wonderful. "A rousing success. Did the lech have anything good in his pockets?" She herself pulls out a fistful of coin. "I've got enough to cover Talin's taxes if you don't. Maker help those guys when they go to pay the tab, eh?"
Lalin:
"Mmmnf, not all are pigs," Lalin said with a leer, thinking about her on-again-off-again-currently-on-again lover, Dolain. Then, after thinking about it, she laughed, "No, no. I take it back. He's a pig too. Even if Dolain does have the mouth of a god." She swept her hands down her dress, frowning at the wet spot that was quickly collecting the cold. "What?! You think I don't buy my own clothes... !" Lalin pretended to be offended, for only a moment. "Ok, you're right, they are mostly Talin's hand-me-downs. But I do have to sew them up to make them fit right. Though, I actually got lucky with this one. Dolain was two-timing me a few months ago and evidentially he told me but not her. I walk in on them kissing, make some leering comment and she gets all bent out of shape and walks out on him. In her under dress." Lalin laughed. She didn't mind when Dolain took another lover, IF he told her about it before hand. It wasn't like they were in love with each other, or anything. "Leaving this lovely thing behind her." Lalin spun, showing off before digging into her pockets. "You know, I didn't even get a chance to check what he had. She opened her palm to several pieces of gold, some silver and a bit of copper. Lalin stared, she rarely got more out of a mark. "What in the Maker's name was he doing in a TAVERN with all of this!"
Azabeth:
Az rolled her eyes. "Dolain doesn't deserve you. He deserves some disease-riddled prostitute to give him leprosy, so his little pecker falls off." But she grinned and laughed at the story. "When did this happen? Was that the last bitch or the one before her?" And then La revealed her takings, and Az couldn't help but lean over them and make a low whistle. "Damn, girl. I think you made out better than I did, and I had -five- of those jerks. Who knows what he was looking for, and who cares?" She straightened and stretched her arms out over her head. "The night is young! Let's find you a dress, and then some more marks, and we can drink ourselves sodfaced."