[Faris]

• Location: Alexshire
  
• Date: Menenas 9052ZT (10012XA)
  
• Time: Evening
  
• Other notes: Alain, Faris.
  Marriage of Mahir
  

Faris was musing over his mug of cider when a brawl broke out a few tables away. Quickly vacating his seat, he carefully backed away from the intensifying fight between the two less-than-sober Therians. He had no intention of getting anything spilled on his clothes today; the dark green tunic he was wearing was not cheap. With his drink in one hand and a trident in the other, Faris circled around the exchange of fists towards the counter.

He figured that this would probably be the best time to ask for news and rumours, when people were preoccupied with other things. Disappointingly, the owner of Alric's Alehouse seemed utterly bored and somewhat peeved by the brawl, which had gained two additional participants since its start. Leaning on the edge of the counter Faris glanced at what the nymph, whose name was presumably Alric , was busy writing. Scribbled on the thick ledger was a growing list of what seemed to be desired compensation for destroyed furnishings and potential loss of income. Chuckling lightly, Faris struck up a conversation.

"Drunken troublemakers yet again… Don't they have wives to get back to?"

The gray-haired nymph shrugged. "Or maybe it's because of their wives that they'd rather spend time in my tavern punching each other's lights out."

[Alain]

On a whole, the Alehouse didn't seem like much. Then again, Alain was used to traditional slogans used in the city, such as DRUNK FOR A XANTHOS; DEAD DRUNK FOR GOLD. There was, of couse, Elysian beer, but Alain would drop dead before being so unadventurous. In as much as a city dweller could be adventurous. Beer came free at times, anyway, when Councilmen wanted voters to be less-than- sober for elections, and two particular Therians in the bar were getting started early. Patience tended to be in short supply and tempers flared quickly around election time, and Alain knew they were coming close for one of such elections soon. Enjoying a quiet drink in the midst of a job was quite the different getaway, though, if only for the occasional brawl.

The magistrate turned to look on to an erupting fight between two Therians. This had to have happened now? When Alain had already removed his magistrate uniform? The thing was heavy and hot, and it got in the way of movement. As a result, Alain had little grace and even less style wearing the uniform. Now he looked a bit slovenly instead, even if comfortable, in a faded dark olive coat and old and battered boots. No one would believe him if he stepped in as a magistrate to stop the blasted noise. Not that he wanted to, beyond a desire for the end of the noise. The patrons encouraging the fight certainly weren't helping the situation; At least the crowd was too busy placing bets to get involved themselves. Mere moments after his turn a Zanaryan moved up to the counter.

“Drunken troublemakers yet again...Don't they have wives to get back to?”

The gray-haired nymph shrugged. "Or maybe it's because of their wives that they'd rather spend time in my tavern punching each other's lights out."

"Get 'im with a left! No, no, your other left!"

Alain wished their wives could arrive at that moment: so the crowd could laugh at the poor soul being dragged out by the ear. Nevertheless, Alain gave a friendly nod to the newcomer who started the conversation, glad to at least have civil company. “It also doesn't help when their pay is good, but the working conditions are lousy.”

Alric looked up for but a moment, partially to keep tabs on the brawl's damages as he acknowledged Alain. A few crashes came up from behind the group of males. He sniffed dismissively. "And they better use that pay for what they owe me in damages, or I might just call your wife to shake the change out of their pockets."

Alain winced, also feeling wary for the Zanaryan seated nearby to have heard such a thing. The race tended to look down on women as free spirited as his missus. He hoped to steer the conversation from that topic before the Zanaryan might say anything, and onto any news that might've reached the Shire before Alexandria.

“I can imagine. But don't—we still need these people to be able to work afterward. From what I've heard things out here on the Shire have already been rowdy enough as is, and this is a good example of why...”

This post has been edited by Alain: 22 June 2012 - 06:10 AM

[Faris]

Faris chuckled at the thought of the burly Therians being hauled out of the taverns by their wives ears-first. The mention of Alain's wife on the other hand, prompted a raised eyebrow from him. Faris was still new to Alexshire and exploits of the magistrate and his wife had not yet traveled to his ears. Nevertheless Faris found his lips quirking up again. Henpecked husbands were one thing, a wife whom men in general feared was another altogether. From the tone of the Nymph's voice, the Dracovari's wife sounded like a Lady Kaia. Though of course Lady Kaia was no someone you could call for something as mundane as breaking up a bar fight. Faris made no move to continue the trail of conversation however, for it had already eased into the topic he was no less interested in.

"This? Rowdy? Hahahaa, this is nowhere close to the trouble they can get up to over at Espur or Marport. For starters, nothing's on fire yet. No baby hydras escaping from cargo holds either; I'd say things are rather peaceful around here."

Ironically Faris was indirectly giving himself a bad rep, but the comparison just had to be made. Alric seemed unimpressed by it, frowning when a table turned over and crashed under the weight a airborne Therian. What things were like in other cities were of little importance to the Nymph; his business was situated in Alexshire and Alexshire was in enough of a mess as it was, hydras or no hydras.

"Maybe not hydras, but we have our share of runaways too. Servants eloping and leaving their masters in the lurch, all sorts of people fleeing from tax and debt collectors, heck we even have a pair of Zanaryan families who decided to hold their wedding over here instead of in their homeworld!"

[Alain]

Alain enjoyed the mention of fires being common in Espur, as from the sounds of it Clara would enjoy the city a lot more than Alexandria. Though, he never did ask why she chose the city as her base of operations; it certainly didn't fit her as well as the other locations in Elysia. Then again, he still didn't know what fit him best, he just stayed in Alexandria for comfort's sake. It was likely the same for her. That entertainment within his mind was cut off by Alric's response regarding the marriage. A Zanaryan family that were holding their wedding in Elysia—there weren't too many of those around.

He began scowling at the connection in his mind. It wouldn't take long for the news of what happened for that wedding to get out, regardless of both families efforts to hide it. The broom would've needed to get information and resources to run away from his wedding, leaving tracks as he went along. That was what Alain was planning on, anyway, as he was hired to find the damned fool. Two of his leads had already gone cold, though, and he only had one left. Otherwise, obviously, he wouldn't have the time to drink before following it. He had decided to press the topic in hopes of finding any new information that had travelled within the Shire. Soon enough, it would be in the city and then—well, Alain could only pray for the family after that.

“It's just a sign that racial relations are improving, I suppose. First merchants entering Zanarya, then Zanaryan marriages here. Mind, the Anyeli are still warring with each other, but so long as that stays within the Empire, the rest of us are all the better. ”

They were much like the humans on Earth, but with less mass destruction instead. Though no one spoke of that—Earth was a topic to be wary of in Elysia, and for good reason. Most of the races didn't have an enjoyable history there. Neither did Alain, for that matter, after living there for over a thousand years, he had his fair share of awful stories to tell.