Fifty Shades... Freed?

[Robin]

[ModNote: Continued from Fifty Shades Lighter.]

*It is not quite dusk in the village yet, but certainly threatening to be. Richard S. Thike, a man beginning to show his age, has recently been employed as a lamp lighter since sobering up after a fight in the Heifer brought him to his senses. He busies himself with flint and tinder, setting light to all the lamps that weren't damaged in the conflagration of some days ago. Most of them survived, and soon enough, Thike is pleased that when night does fall, the lights of Wolfenden should be seen from as far out as the very brink of Level 1.*

So what do you think?

*Robin has just crossed the brink into Wolfenden. He hadn't expected it to change much since he was last here, in the company of Shadow and Trusty Seldam. He had almost expected them to still be here... but then, he mentally reminds himself, they were in the marketplace, along with Copperkettle. But he was right... it hasn't changed. Wolfenden never seems to change much, the occasional fireball notwithstanding. It's bigger than Warlock, at least.*

Serena: "It's bigger than Warlock, at least."

*She has been trailing behind Robin for a while, quietly bemused at the flora and fauna they have been encountering. Now that he's stopped, she has had the chance to catch up. As Robin fiddles with his belt and re-laces his top for no reason other than to do something with his hands, she adjusts her own posture, sweeping her hair back to reveal her livery.*

Yes. Well. I'm not exactly sure what to do now. I want to get you a room, but I can't rent a room with a flower. Maybe we can find someone to help you. I know an ogre at the tavern, but I'm not even sure where he is right now. There's a man called Crocodile who could help you, at least I think that's his name. But we're not going to get anywhere standing around here.

HEY! DO YOU KNOW ANYONE AROUND HERE WHO COULD HELP WITH...

*His shout carries to Thike, who takes a look around and hurries off as fast as he can.*

Rude.

[Robin]

*Robin cautiously advances into the village, mindful of the time. He wasn't intending it to get dark while he was still with Serena in tow, although she has stopped talking so much. A quick glance at her features reveals something Robin identifies as fatigue.

While walking on, he reels back in his head the mile-long trek to Wolfenden from Greenshades, the diversion they had in Warlock and the invigorating, but odd, food and drink from Rix Astor in The Bracing Breeze. Add that to the couple of days she was probably alive without sustenance in the ruins of Brinkatore's estate, and she has every right to be tired.

Robin idly wonders what her sleeping conditions were like back there. He's used to sleeping on a bundle of cloths in his own house, but... whatever she experienced... he resolves to get her comfortable, at least.*

Okay, so here we are - over there's the marketplace. There are some places we could get you a room - the Crazed Heifer's okay, but a little cheap. But then again, I don't have any money. And the Wolf's Howl has a good reputation, apart from the bricks.

*He smiles at his own joke. Serena blinks politely.*

The Gateway Inn's been open for a while, although I'm not entirely sure about it. Maybe they'll do you a room. Otherwise we'll just have to... to...

*He trails off. He genuinely has no idea how to blag his travelling companion indefinite bed and board with only a flower and weaponry at his disposal. As dusk draws in, he begins to feel, for the first time that day, helpless.*

[Robin]

*Robin dithers, reflecting on the options they have one more time. He had hoped, perhaps, that some miracle would happen - a voice coming out of nowhere, perhaps, or an unknown person appearing and handing them money. Serena, still looking around her serenely, isn't helping much, but then he's the hero... right?*

Okay, so let's go to...

*And a wolf howls in the distance. In some lands, this is the cue for nightfall. In the gathering darkness, this is certainly an omen.

Or very good luck.*

...the Wolf's Howl.

It's somewhere to warm up a bit, anyway.

[OOC: There has to be a sequel.]