A Little Luxury

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I had been doing well at the forge. Indeed I had even come into a good deal of coin as of late from several rather intricate weapon commissions. Now considering they were done for thin blooded D’ Angelines they probably would drop the dam things and carve off their own feet but that was not my problem.

I could not afford any of the high class whores that this pretty country was famous for. But I could at least afford to indulge in some of the lower income requiring vices. So I made my entrance and tried to figure out how in Odin and Ponar’s name such a place worked. I felt particularly naked without my trusty ax but at least the average D’ Angeline came up to about my kneecap so I had no fear of them other than a possibly nasty bite at the shins.

[Yves Chevalier]

I was lounging deceptively by the bar, trying to appear more relaxed than I actually was, when a mountain walked in. Well, not a mountain, but damn close. I furrowed my brow, hoping this man - not d'Angeline at all by the looks of him - would not cause any trouble. Mostly because I had a feeling that a man like him caused trouble if he wanted to and there wasn't a whole helluva lot I could do to stop him.

In an effort to head off any possible problems, I sidled over to him, grinning up at him and saying, "Good eve to you, sir, you look a little lost. May I be of assistance?"

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I was in the middle of scratching deeply in my thick beard as I suspected some vermin had taken up residence in it. I heard a small and rather squeaky voice addressing me from someplace below my chin. I spotted the source of the voice and scowled a bit. Now here was a fellow who would go a viking in some poor lads arse if I ever saw a D’ Angeline who fit that description.

None the less I grunted at him since the locals frowned on splitting skulls just because someone was not a proper warrior. Though I was rather sure Odin would not be asking this girly man to join him at the table in Val Halla. “I could use to get cleaned up and enjoy some refreshments and luxury.” I was rather proud of my choice of words since I did not use the words ‘whores’ or ‘horn of mead’ or anything else that the little piss ant might find offensive.

[Yves Chevalier]

I nodded, well wasn't that what most men came in here for? If I hadn't traveled so extensively in my misspent youth I might have balked at his accent, but I recognized Skaldi (even spoke a little but my accent was atrocious) and so didn't miss a beat.

"Well, then, you've come to the right place, friend. Now, are you interested in those things in that order, or can I interest you in a drink?" I found that most people were willing to part with more coin once they had had a few drinks in them, and hopefully the Skaldi were no exception.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

Must not smash little queer, must not smash little queer, I chanted over and over to myself in order to remind myself that well I must not smash the little queer. A drink sounded good but I was not so sure if I could stand his company much longer but I was trying to adapt to my new life. “A drink would be good” I grunted in my deep bass voice.

[Yves Chevalier]

I led the burly fellow to the bar, then beckoned the bartender over before looking up at him and asking, "So, what's your poison? Rum, brandy, ale ... you name it, I'm sure we have it here somewhere."

[Uruz Teiwaz]

At least the bunghole raider was in front of me where I could keep an eye on him. I settled my bulk onto a stool that groaned in protest considering how small and inadequate these people made everything. “Ale, not the thin stuff either something so thick you can cut a hunk off and chew it.”

[Yves Chevalier]

I nodded to the bartender, who went off in search of something that would meet this man's expectations while I slid onto a bar stool beside him. I would have liked a drink, but I made a point not to drink while i was working, so I had to make do without one for now. The bartender returned with a large tankard of ale that was hopefully as described and set it in front of him, some of the foam sloshing onto the counter.

I glanced around the room for a moment, wondering which girls were about tonight, and if any of them would be scared off by his size. "So, have you been in the City long?" I asked politely, wondering if I should even bother making small talk or if I should be seeing about getting a tub filled for him.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I accepted the frothy tankard and grunted in appreciation before taking a sip. I got a bit of foam on my beard and mustache but did not really care. It was cold and had a thick taste to it and that was good enough. At the fellow beside me’s question I gave another grunted response “Few months.” Indeed it had not even been a year yet, but at least I was settled in now even if this place would never really be home.

[Yves Chevalier]

"Ah, so you have not been in the City overlong then," I commented, as Maldin, the bartender, slid a glass of water my way. I looked at it morosely, but took a drink anyway, if only for something to do. "How are you finding it?"

[Uruz Teiwaz]

Odin and Ponar this thin blood was a chatterer I fought down the urge to backhand him to shut him up as I would most likely break his pretty little face. I grunted my response “different. The livin is sure easy here” no wonder these D’Angelines were so weak they had no challenges in life.

[Yves Chevalier]

I hadn't always thought so, until I'd gone abroad, so I was constrained to agree with him. Especially Skaldia; the land was not in the least bit welcoming. "True," I said, laughing slightly. "It must seem especially so, to one from Skaldia."

I cast my gaze around the room for an available girl, spotting Elodie nearby. "Did you wish to have some company for your bath?" I asked, catching her eye and motioning her to come over.

[Élodie Reinard]

Yves caught my eye, and I knew what he was trying to tell me: there was a potential customer here. I began to wander over, taking a seat a safe distance away. If the man said he didn't want a girl, I could slip away unnoticed. If he did, it would be as though I appeared out of nowhere to serve him. This last I thought with a touch of irony.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I grunted my answer and drained my mug motioning to the tender for another "it is even more fun when your hall is burnt in the middle of the night in the middle of winter." My response sounded bitter even to my ears but Odin knew I had the right to be bitter.

At his question I made another grunt and noticed one of the wenches had made her way closer. She was a frail thing that I was rather certain might break with vigorous usage but then that was not really my problem was it?

[Yves Chevalier]

I sensed a story there, but not one he probably wanted to tell, so I let his remark pass as Elodie sidled closer. His grunt could have been taken either way, so I chose to take it as an assent, and motioned Elodie closer.

"This is Elodie," I said, introducing her and hoping they'd hit it off.

[Élodie Reinard]

I moved to the other side of the big...Skaldi? Yes, I was sure that's what he was. "A pleasure, Monsieur..." I trailed off, wanting to catch his name. "Can I interest you in a bath and some company to go with it?"

[Uruz Teiwaz]

Well she was better than the lad who seemed likely to go a vike in one’s behind. Though I always worried that these d’Angeline women might break they were pretty enough. “Uruz, and I reckon that you might if you asked nicely.”

[Élodie Reinard]

I already have asked nicely, you cur, I thought, though I smiled prettily. "A very good joke, Monsieur Uruz," I said. "If you would follow me, Bianca will conduct the transaction and then we can get you in a bath."

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I fought down the urge to groan as these d’Angelines were always so pretty and precise about everything. Instead I reached over and gulped down the rest of my drink before working my immense bulk off of the stool to follow the lass.

[Yves Chevalier]

Well, it appeared as if my work here was done, and I rose from the barstool and headed back over toward the door, to check in with the man I had working that area. The night looked like it was shaping up to be good for business.

[Élodie Reinard]

I led Uruz over to Bianca's desk. "Monsieur Uruz would like a bath," I said.

"Very good, monsieur," she said to him. "Would you also like a private room to enjoy after your bath?"

[Uruz Teiwaz]

While on the move or going to vike I had never been overtly shy but I did not see any particular reason to make public such displays unless there was no other way. So when asked if I would prefer a private room I simply grunted in the affirmative and continued to follow along.

[Élodie Reinard]

Bianca raised an eyebrow. "For how many hours do you expect to be with us, Monsieur?" she asked.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I fought down the urge to strangle the wench since I was not planning on having an hourglass running out its sands sitting beside my head. Instead I just quirked a single eyebrow “I am not accustomed to timing such matters in order to not go past a deadline.”

[Élodie Reinard]

Bianca's face was perfectly still, though I could feel the annoyance rolling off of her in waves. "That will be 30 gold ducats and 75 centimes down, and I shall keep a tab for you at the desk," she said, before handing me some towels.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

These snotty little thin bloods were really starting to tick me off, but I still handed over the coins while making a mental note to charge the next d’Angeline that came into my shop at least double the normal price.

[Élodie Reinard]

Slightly mortified, I motioned Uruz to the stairs. "If you'll just follow me," I said.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I grunted in response and followed. Odin knows but these snobs wondered why we invaded them at every opportunity. It was tempting to let them know it was because they are such jerks that they gave a strong urge to smack them every time they opened their pretty little mouths.

[Élodie Reinard]

I led Uruz up to the public baths and showed him to a changing cubicle. "You can leave your clothes in here," I said, handing him a towel. "I'll meet you in the bath." I gave him my most fetching smile, before slipping into a different cubicle, shedding my dress, and walking back out, covered only in a towel. Leaving the towel by the edge of the bathtub, I slipped quickly in, enjoying the hot water.

[Uruz Teiwaz]

I grunted my understanding to Élodie I was naturally a man of few words as action tended to suit me more. And I was still more than a bit angry, but being stuck in this pretty yet soft land was the fate the gods had handed me and a real man does not whine and complain about such matters he just deals with them. All of these thoughts went through my mind as I disrobed revealing my thick, hairy, and scarred body. Not bothering with the towel I then went to the bath.

Élodie had already entered and I slipped into the warm waters after having looked down at her a moment. She was certainly a fetching lass but at present my mind was too much of a jumble to take more than a passing notice of that fact.