the_lioness | Out of Otherways

Once she's gone, he turns back to the merchant with a faint smile.

The merchant does not look entirely pleased at the smile, really, and gulps, just a bit.

He'd said he'd planned to bargain, but it would seem that that wasn't exactly what he had in mind; he picks out Alanna's dagger, and one item of jewelry that had caught his eye and looked to be the right size besides, and informs the merchant that these are what he wishes to buy.

The merchant blusters, naming a price rather too high, even with the careful detailed work in both pieces.

He rolls his eyes, pulls out a small leather pouch, and shakes several gemstones out into his palm, choosing a dark sapphire - so dark almost as to be black - and tossing it to the merchant before dropping the rest back into the pouch.

"You're overcharging, you know. But if you're smart, you'll manage to get the price you want out of that, instead of just what they're worth."

With another faint smile, the jewelry is added to the pouch as well, the dagger is sheathed, and he wanders off to find Alanna again.

*Alanna waits patiently down a neighboring rows of stalls. She's eating an orange, lost in thought and watching the prostitutes again.

No drinks.*

His hand lands not quite heavily on her shoulder.

The dagger is nowhere in evidence, slightly moreso than the beltpouch hanging at his side again.

"My dear Alan, you appear to have forgotten our drinks."

*She staggers slightly and looks sheepish.*

I'm sorry. I got distracted by the fruit seller and then some knights rode by... Here's the money. Besides, they don't have good coffee here.

Shall we continue? I want to go down that alley. I've seen three men slip down there in just the last five minutes.

"As loathe as I may be to admit it, there are other drinks than coffee, some of which are even more suitable for a day like this."

But he's rather amused, really, as he looks at her alleyway.

"Do you have any idea what's down it?"

Before she can answer, his hand snaps out from her shoulder to catch the wrist of a waif of a street urchin whose clever fingers were attempting to relieve him of the terrible weight of his beltpouch and its contents.

"... well, well. What have we here."

*The street urchin's eyes go very wide, and he stares at Grace with an odd combination of irritation and horror.*

Please sir, I was just reachin' for a piece o' fruit...

*Alanna tilts her head and studies him.* I was going to say taverns and thieves, but it seems we've already found one here.

"I think, child, you will find that you would not care for the fruit you might find there."

He looks more amused than irritated, still, as he somehow forgets to release the street urchin's wrist.

"We've found a thief, I think, but perhaps not a tavern, or at least not yet. Would you trust a tavern filled with thieves, anyway?"

*Alanna bites her lip and shrugs. She looks at the street urchin worriedly.*

Let's go see, shall we? I'm sure there are taverns that will suit, trust or no trust.

He smirks a bit at the child at the end of his arm.

"You heard the lad, then. Lead on, I know you've got some sort of base of operations around here somewhere, or one such as you would never have been so bold."

*For his part, the street urchin is relieved to be given a task. Maybe if he's lucky, he'll see a bit of coin at the end, despite their less than auspicious introduction.

Smirking, he leads them down the aforementioned alley, around several corners and halts right before the Dancing Dove.

Alanna beams. It looks disreputable. She's in heaven.*

This should do.

He's still rather amused, if the look on his face is anything to judge by, as the urchin is set free with a silver coin, most likely more than he'd expected after, as one might say, an exceedingly inauspicious introduction indeed.

"I suppose it might, at that. After you, lad."

The urchin has already vanished.

That keeps confusing me. *She smiles at him, only fractionally hesitant as she pushes open the door. A wall of smoke greets them, and Alanna coughs, waving her hand in front of her face.*

Goddess, it's like a chimney in here.

"Well, it does make the best sense, doesn't it? You'd hardly like it if I called you aught else, cherie."

He smirks, following her inside.

He does not cough at the smoke.

Or blink at it, particularly.

(To be fair, he's used to worse.)

He catches her elbow, guiding her over to a table along the wall, and nodding at one of the barmaids, who brings them both ale a moment later.

It's very crowded inside.

*Alanna sits down, her head craning in every direction, both in an attempt to see through the smoke, and to study as much as possible. Thieves line the tables and lounge near the fireplace, rowdy and unkempt. Women in low cut dresses weave between them, always touching and flirting. She bites her lip and starts to feel horribly out of place for all that she is relishing the adventure.*

I fear we stick out here.

*She tries the ale, sputtering a bit at the taste.*

He chuckles, grinning rather wickedly really, and it's probably not fair that he doesn't stick out nearly so much as she does.

"Would you rather have something else, cherie? The ale's not bad, precisely, but certainly it's an acquired taste."

He raises his head, flagging down one of the barmaids again, and it's also probably not fair that he knows precisely how flirtatious to be in return, as she giggles, runs off, and returns a moment later with lemonade for Alanna.

There seem to be only two tables in the entire tavern whose occupants are not known to everyone else. He and Alanna, of course, have one of these tables, although if he continues to flirt so with the barmaid it is possible this will not stay so for long, if the somewhat wary glances cast their way by some of the thieves by the fireplace have anything to say about it. The other table is across the bar, in the corner furthest away from the fireplace, where two men dressed to claim to be nobles are scowling at everyone else, and not apparently pleased with their lack of service.

*Alanna reddens as Grace flirts with the barmaid. She is suddenly uncomfortably aware of her charade. Her eyes drift across the room, and she starts as she sees the noblemen.

Torn, Alanna attempts to cover her surprise by guzzling the lemonade.*

Grace...? Maybe we should leave. *She tugs her lower lip and whispers.* Those men might be from the palace!

He winks at the barmaid, sending her back across the room with a swat to her rear that results in shrieks of laughter, from her and several of her friends.

And then he turns back to Alanna, perfectly calm as he takes a sip of his coffee, for all that his mug is supposed to contain ale, and probably will again when he leaves.

"Oui, ma cherie, they are, and if we leave now it will only call attention to us both. They've not noticed us quite yet, and for all of that I am more recognizable than you, just now. This is an adventure, you know. There's no sense in giving up on it now, when with a single notable exception, you have an entire tavern full of friends, just waiting to meet you."

Friends? *Alanna looks quite unconvinced.* Maybe we should just enjoy each other's company?

*Flushing, she glances at a table of thieves nearby. One curls his lip in a half smile, half sneer and yells something she can't understand over the din. Squaring her shoulders, Alanna meets his gaze and thumps her tankard on the table in a manly fashion.

They don't know it contains lemonade.

The group laughs. It does not matter if they laugh with or at them. Alanna feels that as long as the thieves don't attack, it's her victory.*

"Mais, ma cherie... we do enjoy each other's company, quite frequently. But this is a different tavern, and this is a grand adventure, isn't it?"

They might know it contains lemonade. If so, that's probably why they're laughing.

And it's probably terribly wicked of him that he catches her wrist and hauls her away from their table, over to the table full of thieves, with his arm now slung across her shoulders.

"Excuse me, my friends, I'm afraid the lad here is a bit uncomfortable. He's not used to being out in such polite company as yourselves. Do you think you would mind terribly if we set ourselves all at ease with a few introductions?"

*Alanna's face?

Bright, bright red.

Despite this, she grins and gives the group a half-hearted wave. A nonchalant wave. Perhaps they will buy it, but most likely not. She pokes Grace rather hard in the ribs.*

Evening, gents. I'm Alan. This is Lord Hilarious.

One of the women makes a crack about how the boy's hair matches his face, but it's not unkindly, really.

Meanwhile, he laughs, ruffling her hair through her cap again, and not deigning to notice the poke in the ribs.

"As good a name as any to use for me, indeed. And now, my fine friends, you know the both of us, but I fear we still are unacquainted with you."

*The thieves mutter amongst themselves for a moment, and finally a short, filthy man gets to his feet.*

I'm Lightfingers. That un there with no hair on 'is head is Solom. This 'un...

*Lightfingers is interrupted by the sound of someone delicately clearing her throat.*

And who am I, 'Fingers? I don't warrant an introduction?

*It's a voice that is not easily ignored. Alanna turns and sees a large woman with a crooked grin seated in a large chair by the fire. It almost looks like a throne.*

Was she there before? I don't remember her.

*'Fingers curls his lip and looks chagrined.* Her Ladyship Rispah, Queen of Thieves. Show respect, lad.

*Alanna turns back to Rispah with wide eyes and bows. Badly.*

He snorts, clapping a hand on the "lad's" shoulder, somehow managing not to overbalance her, and his own bow, while far more shallow, is nonetheless rather more graceful.

"My lady, you do us all far too much of a kindness to allow us into your glorious presence. But then, I'm sure one so wise as you would already know this."

And that would be a terribly rakish grin he gives her, as he straightens.

*She eyes him, sauntering over in a way that highlights both her femininity and her skill as a fighter. It's in the hips, and it's a talent. Alanna continues to stare. Once she's within striking distance, she gestures to the two nobles with her dagger.*

Friends of yours? *Rispah's smile makes Alanna back up a step. It looks sharp.*

No, your... Highness. *Alanna bites her lip.* Never seen them before.

He smiles as well, amused perhaps by the saunter.

"I have seen them once, o my bold and bright lady of this den of iniquity, but I would not call them friends, as they have hurt the one I love."

It's funny sometimes how unexpected honesty can be thought to be a lie, almost more readily than an easy lie might be.

He rests an arm on Alanna's shoulder again, not quite leaning on her.

"Have they been causing you problems?"

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