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Sequel
May 3, 2014 16:03:57 GMT
Post by Robin on May 3, 2014 16:03:57 GMT
[ModNote: Continued from Fifty Shades... Freed?] *With the howl of the wolves in the distant Forest, dusk begins to turn into night. The Wolf's Howl's clientèle has been thinning out, most of the punters returning to the sanctity of their homes, and permanent residents - librarian and monk among them - going up to their rooms to seek whatever passes for "comfort" in these parts. The staff start to clean the tables; innkeeper Dal Marx is to be seen behind the bar, cleaning glasses. It looks as if business is over for another evening. At which point the door opens.* Hello! Sorry it's so late! Am I... are you still open? I don't need a drink, I just want to talk about... well, ask about, really... *On the threshold stands Robin, who shouldn't be unfamiliar to the staff, having both been involved in a bar-room brawl with ex-drunk Richard S. Thike and the mission to retrieve the floating brick, once to be seen outside. He's even had his share of beers here, although it's been heard he prefers the cheap stuff at the Crazed Heifer. They once had a pint-for-a-groat offer for him.* You are still open, yes? *He takes a step in when nobody stops him. Behind him comes Serena, her long blonde hair appearing just a little more flyaway than it has recently.*
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Sequel
May 19, 2014 12:04:58 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 19, 2014 12:04:58 GMT
[OOC: I'm very sorry. I missed this thread for some reason.]
*Dal looks over at Robin. From his position, he doesn't have a clear view of Serena standing behind the woodman.
Dal: Good evening. We are still open. A room for the night?
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Sequel
May 19, 2014 15:49:41 GMT
Post by Robin on May 19, 2014 15:49:41 GMT
*Robin forces his face into a smile. He's always found Dal Marx to be easy-going. And after encountering Rix Astor earlier in the day, this is much less surprising.*
Uhm, well, I don't need a room, per se...
*Serena, curious, peers around from behind Robin's back, taking in the scenery around her. Were Robin not immediately engaged in conversation, he would ruminate on how she's probably never been in a tavern before. Today she's been in two.*
...but I am looking for a place for my friend to stay. She's had a bit of a shock, shall we say. The only problem is that she doesn't have any...
*He begins to tail off. This is what he had feared.*
...erm... well, she doesn't have any money. I don't suppose there's the slightest... chance...?
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Sequel
May 19, 2014 17:23:42 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 19, 2014 17:23:42 GMT
Dal: The name's Dal. Percy's a local pig.
*As Robin continues, Dal glances at Serena then looks back at the bar, too embarrassed for eye contact. He'd been hoping not to have any requests like this.*
Dal: Times are hard for all of us. As you can see, we've had shocks of our own lately. We can't afford to have non-paying guests, whether it's won't or can't.
*The maid Sasha Pearl, who has been tidying up nearby, looks at Serena more closely.*
Sacha: Begging your pardon, miss, but that uniform you have on...
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Sequel
May 19, 2014 20:20:45 GMT
Post by Robin on May 19, 2014 20:20:45 GMT
*Dal Marx isn't the only one averting his eyes. Robin is decidedly uncomfortable, and as Sasha addresses Serena, the servant who's been so chatty after a good meal suddenly clams up. She's been talking enough to Robin, but she seems suddenly unsure about everything. Clearly, she doesn't like her uniform being remarked upon.*
I don't imagine she wants to be linked to the Brinkatore clan if they weren't the kindest of masters.
*Robin need to take action as there is a very pregnant pause, and he's come this far. Placing a hand on Serena's back (carefully avoiding any private areas), he gently propels her forward, with what he hopes is an encouraging smile. Serena totters forwards.*
Serena: "Yes... my uniform...?"
*It is a meek little voice, but audible in the quiet tavern.*
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Sequel
May 20, 2014 17:37:58 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 20, 2014 17:37:58 GMT
Sasha: Is it... well, is it yours? You didn't find it, or... or borrow it?
*Serena now has Dal's full attention too.*
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Sequel
May 21, 2014 20:35:57 GMT
Post by Robin on May 21, 2014 20:35:57 GMT
Serena: "It's... it's..."
*She glances back at Robin. He gives an encouraging nod in her direction, but doesn't want to get involved. At least not yet.*
Serena: "...yes, it's mine. It's... well, it's all I've ever worn. I was given... well, I think I was given, I can't remember..."
*There is another pause.*
Serena: "...yes. I'm - I was - a servant of Br... someone. This is what I wore."
*Robin nods again.*
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Sequel
May 22, 2014 17:49:26 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 22, 2014 17:49:26 GMT
*Dal realises from Serena's nervousness that he and Sasha have not made the effort to put the potential guests at ease.*
Dal: I'm sorry, I don't believe we introduced ourselves. I'm Dal the landlord, and this is Sasha, who works here. When she feels like working!
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Sequel
May 23, 2014 15:22:40 GMT
Post by Robin on May 23, 2014 15:22:40 GMT
*Robin lets out a perfunctory laugh. Serena attempts a smile, and after several attempts to speak, she finds her own voice.*
Serena: They... they called me Serena.
That's what I've been calling her too. It does seem to suit her, doesn't it?
*It's a clumsy attempt to break the silence, but it works. Robin's voice seems to calm Serena down a bit.*
Serena: Yes. Yes, Serena. That's what they called me. That's my name. Thank you for telling me yours.
*She lapses into silence again, and absent-mindedly begins playing with her hair, as if distracted. The gentle sweep of her hand over her hair partially reveals the faded Brinkatore crest emblazoned upon her tunic.*
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Sequel
May 23, 2014 17:14:42 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 23, 2014 17:14:42 GMT
Dal: I know Count Brinkatore. He has been here before. Did he send you?
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Sequel
May 27, 2014 13:26:58 GMT
Post by Robin on May 27, 2014 13:26:58 GMT
*At the mention of Count Brinkatore, Serena starts to visibly shake. Evidently she wasn't expecting the name of her old master to come up with such alarming rapidity - further adding to Robin's suspicion that she wasn't the best treated during her time in servitude. This is unfortunate, as her surprise renders Serena seemingly unable to verbalise a response.
Mindful of the time, Robin steps in.*
She is here from the Brinkatore estate, yes.
*It isn't technically a lie. She is from the estate. That the Count didn't send her - or if he's even alive to do so - doesn't need to be mentioned. If Serena is the sole survivor, then (Robin justifies to himself) she is by default an emissary from Brinkatore, whether or not she was intending to be. Not that she has any information to impart.*
Although she's come a long way today.
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Sequel
May 27, 2014 17:40:28 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 27, 2014 17:40:28 GMT
*Dal is puzzled. Normally it is a Brinkatore courtier making the inn staff nervous, not the other way around. He looks at Serena.*
Dal: Are you thirsty?
*Sasha steps closer to Serena, hoping to be comforting.*
Sasha: We heard that the fires got the count's estate. Even worse than the fires here. If he didn't send you... what's become of him?
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Sequel
May 28, 2014 13:48:01 GMT
Post by Robin on May 28, 2014 13:48:01 GMT
*Serena is unsure how to answer. Though she nodded at the offer of a drink, and Robin - clearly struck with a sudden lust for ale - has engaged Dal Marx in fervent and overfriendly conversation as he fixes the promised beverage(s), she still finds the task of talking about her previous (and current) situation to be a daunting one. Still, Sasha doesn't seem particularly unfriendly - and more trustworthy than that man with the strange voice she met on the path.*
I...
*She is struggling to find the words. She was going to say that her former employer was dead, but how does she know? She wasn't even aware who was in the house when the fireballs hit - one quick explosion and who-knows-how-many lost lives, plus the reduction of a building to rubble and cinders.*
Has the Count... gone?
*Aware that she must answer, Serena forces the words out.*
I don't know.
*One more sentence.*
I doubt he survived.
*It's not true; she genuinely doesn't know. But she has already decided not to feel too much remorse for a man who didn't treat people of her standing particularly well. She is almost hopeful, when she says that last sentence, that is is true. She has never thought of freedom before - and suddenly, with that one simple sentence, there's a light in her heart that some may identify as hope.*
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Sequel
May 28, 2014 17:37:55 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 28, 2014 17:37:55 GMT
*At Serena's last sentence, Dal visibly relaxes. He brings Serena a drink and Sasha beckons her to sit down.*
Dal: Here. Some water. *More quietly, with a small smile* For I don't see you shedding any tears.
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Sequel
May 29, 2014 13:49:41 GMT
Post by Robin on May 29, 2014 13:49:41 GMT
I wasn't allowed tears. But I shouldn't say that.
*Serena sits down with as much grace as her tired body will allow her. Robin hovers in the distance, not wanting to get too involved. Let's see how much this girl can do on her own, he thinks to himself.*
Serena: Tears wouldn't do me much good. I've been trapped underneath bricks for days on end, pulled out and fed and watered, and walked for what seems like ever such a long time and... and...
*She falters. For a moment, she looks lost, almost as if those tears will manifest after all indications to the contrary. But, steadying herself with a sip of water and a glance at Robin, she carries on.*
...and I've just had enough! Enough of all of this being a servant and being hurt and being trapped and... I've seen more of the world than I'd ever seen before in the space of this one day! And I just want it all to stop!
*She lapses into silence again. There is a long pause.
Robin is thinking hard. If it is true, and there's no reason to believe otherwise, that Serena had seen little outside the Count's estate before whatever happened happened, and to be fair she has seen a lot today, including Warlock, the whole of the Path to Wolfenden, areas of Greenshades, Wolfenden Town Square and this inn... not to mention them man and the maid and, he reminds himself, himself... that's going to be a shock to the system. Robin's seen a lot, but here in the real of Knightmare, there's always a little more going on than meets the eye or tantalises the ear.*
No wonder she's been a little random today. I would be.
Serena: "I'm tired."
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