Watchful Eyes and a Drink

[Adrian Roux(H)]

Le Poulet Gauche was having one of it's more sedate days- which wasn't to say that people were happy or even quiet, but that no one new had stepped in the doors yet to be appraised and various actions taken, depending on their status and attitude. Show more than a couple silver tooth-marked and scraped to nearly nothing and you were asking to have every ounce of lower-class resentment turned against you.

Lately I'd been having a fat time- a successful theft, and fence, but I looked no different than usual, had no more copper than usual jingling in my pockets. I'd grown up here, and knew better. 'Honor among thieves' was only applicable when they had a common enemy.

Being such a regular as I was I'd managed to secure a glass of gin without much water in it and sipped it liberally; gin was cheap stuff, and the choice of the masses in such places. Especially if you knew what they thinned the rum or brandy with.

It was almost boring. Sighing from my table in the back I took another sip of the stuff and waited for something. After all, the night was young yet.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I'd been bounding through the city here and there. After my initial exploits on Mont Nuit, and my close escape, I needed to lie low for awhile. Slowly but surely, I found my ways around the city, locating the less glamorous and more tenuous portions. I was dressed dark, but as I walked, I began to realize how much I started to stand out. Here, there was far less natives, not to mention that I held a couple of attractive items. My dagger hilt was well polished, and would occasionally collect glimmer. Also, while dark, my cloak was rather fine.

I was approached once, but he assume me nothing more than a wayward lost noble. I turned. A dagger placed carefully between us, hidden from view, pursauded him to leave quietly.

With that, I ducked into a small tavern, and found my way quickly to a shaded booth, waiting out the night, for now.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

Well, HERE was an outsider, that was certain. My eyes went to him for a moment in idle speculation, as did many others, though most were content to continue sipping their drinks for the time being. Being a patient man I did the same though my clever gaze took in numerous details.

With the astute knowledge of one who was used to dim dealings he hadn't looked around as though the pub was a curiosity, and he carried a small blade rather than a nobleman's sword; still, his clothing showed good making, and his cloak wasn't as worn as someone constantly on the run. That, along with his foreign features, showed he was either a traveler or had been one recently and managed to get himself into some trouble.

In any case, a good game could be handled here. With another sedate drink I waited to see how he reacted to the slightly discontent murmurs and shadowed looks without looking in his direction; keen hearing would serve me well here. Already one of the hard-bitten waitresses was making her way over, an avaricious gleam in her eye- they'd noted the moneyed look of him too.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I felt it. That tingling heat of observation, it was akin to rousing a bee's nest. A hush followed but a rush of whispers. This must be a very local bar, where everyone is known, all else are questioned. Too late to leave, if I did, no doubt there would be consequences. It's amazing how every action can be scrutinized.

Footsteps came closer, and I stern faced waitress stood there. "Brandy." I said quickly, reaching to my initial stash pocket. I pulled it out halfway, realizing it was a gold ducat. Not good, I only one option. I ushered her closer, and slipped it into her hand, hopping not to draw attention to others, whispering, "For your silence."

If I was going to spend more time here, I might be needing more fitting currency.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

The man offered the waitress a coin, which caused her eyes to glow even more brightly with greed, and she smiled wolfishly though with a hint to overly-sugared sweetness and nodded before turning and walking back to the bar. Evidently he'd offered a higher tip that she'd seen in quite some time, and I wouldn't doubt she'd whispered something back that I'd missed. Too much coin and she'd assume he wanted her between the sheets, and would give it up gladly before drugging him, robbing him blind and leaving him for morning.

The man's face was showing a growing wariness- perhaps he was realizing the state of his situation, but at least he hadn't gone pale and left as quickly as possible. That road was even more dangerous, considering the number and type of people present.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

With drink incoming, I needed some time to think. A hobby of mine was always cards. A dexterious hand can cut, shuffle and deal with expert ease, and an alert mind keeps good track of what's been laid down. A well worn deck I kept on me, which I removed, and I could always entertain myself in a soothing game of solitaire. whilst I contemplated my actions.

Several things to take stock of. I need a place to operate from. More importantly, I'll be needing information. I let my eyes sweep a pass of the room, trusting images to memory rather than having lingering glances.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

Cards- now there was an expensive hobby if one had their own deck! For a person to own their own set of playing cards showed a good deal of status and disposable wealth, as even the woodblock prints had their designs hand-painted for the interiors and the blocks themselves took ages to make and were quite expensive of their own right. I almost wondered what the man was getting at.

The woman shortly returned with his jigger of drink- brandy. I couldn't help but snicker. Here, the brandy was called 'piss pot', and for legitimate reasons. Others had noticed and an aquaintance of mine looked to me with a raised brow and wry grin. "Three, he chokes," I called boldly.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I noticed the waitress return out of the corner of my eye, and paid her no mind, at least none she would have seen. I reached out with one hand, pouring a glass. I reached out and took a swig, and fought every instinct to spit it out. Horrible. I swallowed with reluctance, and calmly set the glass down, and tried to forget the taste.

Meanwhile, I'd been cycling through my head who's who around this little room. Groups of three or four clustered together. For now, no one seemed to stand out, a more dangerous situation.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

Immediately a debate began as to whether his ill-appearing pause had been a choke- finally, most conceded it was and I tucked the assorted copper coins into my bag, then ordered a round of ale for those involved in the betting. It wasn't much of a drink, but the gesture would show there were no hard feelings and with their own money getting them drunk on gin and beer they'd only remember I had served a round. I even gestured for one to be delivered to the man who'd won me the few coins. Thanks for the win, I thought in his direction as I raised my glass.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

Just as I finished a game, the bar maiden returned, with another drink that I don't remember ordering. With nothing more than an inqusitive look, she gave me a cynical smile, and nodded to a group across the room, rabblerousing and talking.

I shuffled my cards, scanning them more intently, though trying not to draw attention to myself. If I had to guess, I'd been the subjet of some discussion, perhaps even a ploy. I looked to the bottle of brandy, then back at them. Was that poor excuse for a drink their doing?

[Adrian Roux(H)]

Sighing again as the man hunkered down- perhaps he did know what he was doing, a bit, and would be less fun for that fact- I rose easily and finished my glass, then walked quietly over to where he was playing. Eyes followed me, but I simply shrugged and rolled my eyes in exasperation and they went back to their business. I was known, and so I wasn't bothered, so long as I kept to my usual habits.

Once at the stranger's table I dragged over a chair with just enough noise to alert him of my presence, then sat backward in it, wearing a friendly enough smile with a hint of curiosity. "Greetings," I offered in an amicable tone. "What's your game?"

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

A patsy, or a leader. He didn't seem dumb, rather ballsy to come here. Then again, if he was a leader of sorts, the whole room was at his beck and call. "Skill, poker." I said, giving him nothing more than a single look to acknowledge his prescence. I'd nearly finished shuffling, and found to indulge him quickly and use the game as a distraction. I threw him two cards, then gave two myself.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

"Fair enough," I acknowledged easily, taking the cards and giving a bored look, then reaching into my pouch and pulling a copper for the ante. I remembered this game well, and I had a moderate amount of skill in it from long practice- as well as an ability to bluff and misdirect rather well. "So, what brings you here, traveler?" I asked conversationally. "No offense, but for all your fancy dress, mate, you seem to fit in well with this sort of crowd and know enough to keep your mouth shut. That's unusual in peers, I've found."

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I waved the coin off. "First, no coin. Maybe the next game." I liked to set a control first. I could judge a difference between when something of worth was not on the line and then when it will become.

"As for my dress, they are nothing more than family relics. Compared to what you may assume, they are not as good an indication of station as one might think." I said lowly, no doubt my accent coming out a bit. I'd gotten down the common slang of the language, but somethings you can't fix. I dropped the deck, and flipped up one card.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

"Oh, but here they are good indications, as good as anything else," I replied nonchalantly as I put my coin away. Hmm, he must not want to show how much gold he was carrying at the moment, or he had close to none. Well, I had a few minutes to burn on a pointless game. "Around here families don't keep something long enough for it to be a relic- it's sold long before so they may have the ability to live and eat. Such is the world we live in, I suppose."

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I looked at my hand, matching jack face cards. On the flow, two tens, and a queen appeared. "Perhaps. But I would not so willing part with my heritage. Especially when it reminds me where I come from." I looked him in the eyes a mere moment. "I don't suppose you've traveled much, have you." I said, checking to pass.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

"Not far enough to be worried about losing anything I want to keep," I replied pointedly though I smiled. "I started with nothing, so everything has been moving up, and I don't intend to lose my place in line to start at the bottom again."

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

"Hmm." Now, if I were a slightly more sullen man, I might have added how one would be better off. But one like this doesn't need to know my personal past without having earned some unanimity. On the turn, a 9 came up.

"Commendable." I nodded to the group behind him, who'd been eyeing me carefully. "So, are you admired or feared among your little gang?"

[Adrian Roux(H)]

"Gang?" I asked curiously over my cards. "Who said that of me? I have friends who I advise who respect my decisions enough to follow them, perhaps, but I haven't ever really given an order."

That was gilding the lily to an exceptional degree, but I wasn't lying either- my people respected me because I put in close to the effort they did and my plans worked more often than they didn't.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I let a small laugh loose. "Perhaps, but one not need control the hearts and minds of men through sheer intimidation." The last card was a three, giving me two pair.

[Adrian Roux(H)]

"No, but is it really control if they get to think about it?" I asked plainly.

[Delarri Esponda (D)]

I shrugged half heartedly. "I supposed then one would be led to question what one means with the word 'think'. I know many soldiers who are assumed to 'think', but clearly haven't contemplated anything they were told." I looked him a moment. "It may be a bad example, but you get my drift, don't you?" I asked curiously.