A Newcomer to the Tavern

[Gene_Kynes]

He shrugs.

"You'd call me crazy, if I told you why I take so much interest in people. Well...perhaps mildly insane, or severely eccentric, but something along those lines."

Almost annoyingly, he doesn't answer yet, appearently awaiting an answer to the comment. He moves to take another sip...yet the glass is emptied. Putting the glass back down, he crosses his arms slowly.

 

[HeavensRose]

She gets an appologetic look on her face, which makes her look like the she has just hurt her best friend. It seems she is not use to annoying others or any other such emotion. "Please forgive me, I didn't mean to annoy you Gene, it was a mere question. It's just that you ask so many questions of me that I do not know what to ask of you. However I suppose I will keep my questions toward you limited so that I will not offend you again."

She softly clears her throat and looks nevervously around. Her eyes fall on the bar keep for a minute before letting her eyes return their studious gaze on Gene. "Can I answer anything else that you might want to know?"

 

[Gene_Kynes]

He blinks...seemingly surprised.

"No, no...ask what you please, Miss Rose! I thought I was being the annoying one!"

A faint tinge of crimson spreads across his features, as he tilts his head forwards and coughs. When he looks back up, the crimson shade hasn't left, yet his eyes have both synched, appearently, both being a light blue.

"I'd never limit what anyone says...as long as it's friendly, right?"

Managing a small smile, visible only as a shift on his face, he quietly orders an entire bottle of the Eliverquisst. Pouring himself a glass after removing the cap with a tiny blade, then making the small edge dissapear.

"So...er...ask away, Miss Rose."

His smiles widens, faintly, as he presses the glass to his lips and tilting it back, takes a much larger drink than his previous sips. Setting the glass down, he watches her, awaiting her response.

 

[HeavensRose]

She nods politely and smile while thinking for a moment. Her face brightens as she gets a few questions in her mind.

"You have asked what I am, and now I would like to ask what you are if you don't mind. Also, why is it that you only drink that certain thing and not try anything else. Lastly, do you have a protector?" She seems a bit happy to ask those questions, perhaps they had been bothering her since they first talked. Either way she seems relieved to have them out of her system.

"Oh, and I didn't mind you asking so much of me. I don't mind answering questions, for it is the only way you will know." She grows silent and anticipates his reply.

 

[Gene_Kynes]

He shrugs...and seems to be contemplating something, before finally answering her first question.

"I'm a...part Shadovar, primarily human. I drink Eliverquisst because it calms me, other drinks tend to make me much too warm, and much too weak-willed carry on a conversation. And as for a protector....yes, in a way. But we protect each other...and it isn't as loving a relationship as yours, trust me."

He grins, before taking another drink of his wine, looking back at the Dyrad...and mirroring her, he also grows quiet, watching her through...oddly enough...still clear vision.

 

[HeavensRose]

She nods thoughtfully and purses her lips for a moment, "It must be strange to have such a relationship with others. I can not imagine such a thing, though I am sure you must think otherwise." She smiles softly at him then continues, "However, I am interested in what you say you are. What is a Shadovar excatly? I have never heard of such a creature." She studies him thoroughly with her lips, again, pursed in thought.

 

[Gene_Kynes]

"Never really thought of myself as a 'creature', per se, but...a Shadovar is a strain of humanoid." Repeating the same explaination he often had to do... "The Shadovar were once citizens of an ancient Netherese city. When the city's mythallar failed...the metropolis almost plummeted to the sands, if not the for city's Arch-Arcanist teleporting the entire city into the Plane of Shadow. For Eons, the city brooded...remained unseen....until this passing year, it reappeared, as the city of shade. Those who had been in the city, those who had been born in the city...were...changed. They were much darker, most of them. Some called them human drow, which is a parodox...since drow are drow, and humans and humans. But the gist is fairly easy to catch."

He smiles to her.

"Fair enough of an explaination? And...don't...worry about me. Are all drow malicious? Then..neither are all with Shadovar blood."

He doesn't seem to try and hide this information at all...nor does he try to alter her view of the Shadovar's morals, at least he hopes he isn't, as he watches the dryad.

 

[HeavensRose]

She nods, "Yes, that was a good explanation. As of now I am not real sure how to feel about your type, but for now I suppose I will remain nuetral. As I see no point in wanting to harm nor do I see where I think your kind has done something justly. Please forgive my opinion, but that is how I feel. Well, I am not sure what else to ask for you pretty much have covered all my questions. What about your friends... are they all Shawdovars?"

 

[Kami no Kenshin]

The door swings slowly open.........in it stands framed a short asian man with a pair of curved blades, one long and one short, sheathes tucked carefully into his belt. The kimono he wears is plain, gray and frayed, yet at the same time it looks clean and well mended. He is clean shaven, and has numerous visible scars. His long hair is carefully and severly pulled back away from his face and tied behind his head. Heavily callused hands rest, one on his hip and the other on the hiltguard of his long blade. His eyes narrow as he surveys the tavern before him carefully, seeming to take in the positions of all visible weaponry and thier wielders. He looks to be approximately in his mid-twenties, but at the same time
his face is seems possesed by the wisdom of one who has seen too many things in a short time. It also displays a great weariness, beyond normal fatigue.....and more than a little sadness. He murmurs something softly to himself.....

.oO.......this tavern looks just like the last one. Right down to the drunken fool passed out in the corner......the same corner......I think it's the same fool too........Oo.

He stands in the dorrway for a moment before finally entering the tavern and walking toward the bar.....he spots Gene and nods curtly toward him then orders a bowl of food from the barkeep and a hot cup of tea, and takes an out of the way seat to eat it.......

 

[Gene_Kynes]

Same lil'basta-er...person who ditched me las' time...

He nods in return to the man, before looking back to Rose...frowning.

"Actually...erm...me and a few friends are heading to the Anarouch...the birthplace of all Shadovar...and...none of my friends are Shad's, oddly enough. Khaira's an elf, Faeryl's a drow, Branth's...human...I think...Agudo's human, Lady Hoot's an owl, Kheldar and Leetah are both human, Rocky's a dwarf, Kulideb's an elf..."

He thinks for a moment.

"yeah. Not a single Shadovar. Anyway...if you're wondering why I brought up the Anarouch issue...I was wondering if you'd like to come along with us? I know...you may not like the overly dry climate...but it'll be fun. Promise."

He offers another faint smile.

"How about it?"

 

[HeavensRose]

She looks at Kami who nods to Gene, her deep blue eyes watch him carefully, almost as studing his every move. Her head barely moves, only her eyes can be seen following him. She turns back to Gene, "Do you know this being?" She disregards his question for the time being, but offers a soft smile. She also smiles to Kami, whether he notices or not his up to his discretion, but still she makes the smile a friendly one.

 

[Gene_Kynes]

"Me? Saw 'im before...but never got the chance to converse wit-"

Acting upon impulse...as usual...he turns to the man, and says in a quiet voice that still seems capable of audibility, despite the distance.

"Stranger. Would you like t'join us?"

He turns to Rose, an amazingly faint smile traced on his features.

"Maybe now we'll know him."

 

[HeavensRose]

She nods and smiles back, "Yes, I suppose we will." She looks to the man and waits to see what his response shall be.

 

[Kami no Kenshin]

His face wears the same impassive nigh emotionless expression it wore when he entered. He shows no reaction to the look given him by Rose. When asked to join thier table, he shrugs.

Why not.

He picks up his bowl and steaming mug and makes his way toward them..... As Rose studies his movements, she notices that he seems to move only with a purpose. Unless he has some specific agenda in mind, he stands stock still. His hands never stray far enough from his swords that they could not be drawn quickly if the need arose. He seems to be constantly keyed up to react to any hostility and his eyes are always roving. In his bearing, she also notices some hint of nobility........

 

[HeavensRose]

She shows a bit of interest in his movements, but quickly averts her eyes as not to be rude to stare. "Well, it is nice of you to join us sir." She stands and gives a perfect curtsy, "I am Rose." The more she moves the more the rose scent could be traced from her.

She smiles, walks over to the bar for a moment, tells the bar maid what she wants, and pays her for it. As she walks upon careful inspection roses seem to fall underneath her feet as she walks, so that it looks like she is walking on rose petals. The petals being of pink and white color. She gracefully sits back down and looks from Kami to Gene, as though waiting for conversation to strike up.

 

[Kami no Kenshin]

He bows slowly, carefully watching both people at the table, then sets his bowl down. He takes a seat.

I am called Kenshin by those who bother to address me.

 

[HeavensRose]

She smiles, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintence Kenshin." She looks over to Gene for his reactions to Kenshin.

 

[Gene_Kynes]

He...simple watches the man, smiling slightly. Appearently...fascinated with the man's shadow, Gene's eyes seem to notice a painful realization, as he glances back up between Rose and Kenshin.
"Pleasure meeting you...Kenshin...thank you for joining Ah...as...rude as this sounds, and as inconvinient a time as this comes...I made a promise t'Miss Khaira that'd I'd be a sufficent guide for the Anarouch. I'd like to...quickly propose to both of you...a bit of a...trip, if you will. If you feel like going...wander around. You'll eventually mind a map of the planes, somewhere. Miss Khaira's notice should be up there. Anyway....I trust you both to keep each other company...I'm truely sorry 'bout this, Lady Rose, Sir Kenshin."
Taking a black cloth from his cloak's lining, he puts it over his lower face, and ties it behind his head, looking to all the world...a bandit.

"Desert winds're harsh."-a seemingly valid explaination.

If both of their eyes drift away from the man...then when the two look back where he was...there's nothing but flooring. A glance to where his glass was reveals a white rose, it's tips flushed with red, and a note pinned to one of it's thorns. Oddly enough, the flower seems to be attached to it's roots, Gene's glass now filled with dirt to sustain the plant. The small black note reads in silver inking: "I know you probably have become sick by these...but...this is my way of honoring me with your company, Lady Rose. That Kenshin fellow seems nice...it'd be appreciated if you showed him the same kindness I had glimpsed in you. As for now, farewell." The handwriting is as visually exotic as it's author, seeing as if written by a hand which had never encountered the Common letters before...instead accustomed to more larger words, with interconnected letters. However...you have a feeling it'd still be messy, even if Gene had written in the unknown origin language.

Artwork Copyright © Christopher C. Quigley 2003

 

[HeavensRose]

She was stunned at Gene's behavior, she looks at the rose and the note. As she reads it a pain stings her, her first friend she had made has taken his leave. She lets out a small soft sigh, then looks to Kenshin perhaps for some comfort. She looks back to the rose and lightly runs her finger over its petals, she seemed to be happy, for just a moment, to have such a beautiful rose. Her gaze turned back to Kenshin, still looking for some comforting look or perhaps even a kind word. Though she didn't seem that he might be the kind to do such actions. She cast her eyes downward, then softly speaks, "My first friend has left. Does it always feel this way when friends leave? Does it feel like a part of you is leaving as well and that it should only return when they return? This... this feeling is undescribeable, totally opposet of happiness of which I am so accustomed to. Pray tell Mr. Kenshin, what is this new feeling?"

 

[Kami no Kenshin]

After glancing away for but a moment at some movement just within his field of view, he looks back in Gene's direction and his face takes on a slightly vexed expression, damn Ninja...... he murmurs softly before glancing toward Rose again, the expression quickly draining from his face,

The feeling, Lady Rose, is called lonliness. It will pass in time. It doesn't always feel that way, no. After a while, you may become....accustomed to the idea of having no one around you.....like me. You will eventually learn to make your own way, without the support of others. Once you have achieved this, the feeling will be substantially......lessened. It is a hard lesson to learn, and an even harder one to unlearn.