Dive Bar and Strangers Watching

Jp with Redsword. Lasersexpanther, LucianNepreen and Cindy

As the night began to set in Masao was finishing the tour. Only a few places were omitted from the tour. Namily bedrooms and the storage area. The only rooms besided the helm Masao was seemingly excited to show of was the collection of books. All sat on book shelves with wooden bars that slid into place to keep them from falling of onto the floor. "Would you gentleman like to go for a drink? Meet some of the crew, and local sky dock workers, might be able to find someone you're looking for." Masao said. "Or if you'd rather stay in that's fine too."

Hearing Masao's suggestion Sung thought for a moment turning to Masao "Captain, it would be unwise if we did not." Sung said with a grin besides a drink won't be that bad, or is the Ale bad there?" asked Sung now wondering.

Masao shrugged. "I guess if you like Ale it's fine, I prefer my drink a bit stronger." he said, "But might be best for the two of you do not go deep into the bottle and keep your wits the first time there." Masao paused a moment. "You said you do not use guns but do you have a knife you can conceal? I can provide if not but best you have something to flash to make a point if needed." Masao added.

Sung turned to walk again clasping his hands behind his back "I always have something nearby I can use as a weapon. If I don't I will just take one from someone that does not need it anymore." Talking with a confident tone and still having a grin. "I just hope it does not come to that," commented Sung

Masao shrugged. "It shouldn't, but you know how drunk people are. Predictably Unpredictable." he said, "Goes without saying something rambunctious does occur do not kill them, and if you can help it do not injure them in an meaningful way. Most of them are just working class men who need to feed their families and hurting them is a ripple effect. Like a pebble in a pond." Masao explained, though he knew Sung was more than smart enough to understand that.

Vor listened to the two banter, getting an idea of a personality he could use to better fit in. The warning made him want to stay with the books, but Sung made a good point. He had never been much for drink unless a celebration was happening, though that was around his people. He absently checked his coat pocket where his knife resided as he responded.

“I have my own defenses, though avoiding conflict is always a priority.”

Masao nodded. "I want to avoid it as much as both of you but fresh faces in places like this raise attention."

The three left the ship and took the long walk back to the edge of the field. Around its outer edge was a smattering of small buildings but only one was important now. It looked to have been a store house at some point but now sported a faded sign that they couldn't read in the low light.

"Well gentleman here we are." Masao spun to face the two mean and spread out his arms.

"I..." Sung started to say. He had not been to a place like this in a long time. The last years with the Ellingtons have been a plush one of luxury. Sung was not even sure if he could fit in anymore in a place like this. Sung was unsure of himself and it showed by looking nervous.

The sounds of carousing were coming from the building in front of Sung. There was a piano playing and lots of people talking. The building itself was nothing to look at peeling paint old some cracked windows. The smell of booze filled the air. Sung could hear women in there as well. It felt like a street bar from what Sung could remember of them.

"Here I go, into the pits of fire," Sung stated under his breath walking through the door. It was like walking in another world as the noise and smells were almost overwhelming. Sung stepped to one side and looked the place over.

Vor had never been one for raucous taverns, preferring festivals. Mostly for the open air that carried the nastier smells away.

Walking in, his senses were hit with a wall of booze and BO. Neither was to his liking. He kept his features stern as best as he could, to both fit in and to avoid showing his inexperience in the environment.

Amongst the crowd, the noise and the foul odors, to a corner table made of wood, a conversation, in French, was occurring between two human men.

A young man, maybe in his twenties, with hair the color of sand and deep blue eyes, dressed in clothes that had clearly seen better days, was listening to an older man, with black hair and dark eyes discuss how the elite Eldren have keep the people down for far too long.

"Why should they get everything? All royalty.." the older man spat on the floor. "Never had to work a day in their lives."

"I agree, Huron, but what can be done?" The younger Marook said.

Huron glanced around the bar, as if he was concerned that someone might over hear and took a sip of ale from out of the mug in front of him. "Maybe another race should be known charge. I believe the leadership was stolen."

"From who?" Marook inquired.

"Which race was found by Merlin? Their land conveniently destroyed afterwards." Huron asked.

"The Arundan? But why them?" Marook inquired

"They are more powerful than anyone knows. I believe they live forever - are immortal. They hold the secrets to all other races living forever but are held down by the Eldren. " the older Huron explained.

"Don't they go back to the sea, after - what is it - 100 years or something like that?" Marook, like most European citizens had heard plenty of stories of the Arundan growing up, some myth, some facts. That one was a fact.

Amongst the crowd, the noise and the foul odors, to a corner table made of wood, a conversation, in French, was occurring between two human men.

A young man, maybe in his twenties, with hair the color of sand and deep blue eyes, dressed in clothes that had clearly seen better days, was listening to an older man, with black hair and dark eyes discuss how the elite Eldren have keep the people down for far too long.

"Why should they get everything? All royalty.." the older man spat on the floor. "Never had to work a day in their lives."

"I agree, Huron, but what can be done?" The younger Marook said.

Huron glanced around the bar, as if he was concerned that someone might over hear and took a sip of ale from out of the mug in front of him. "Maybe another race should be known charge. I believe the leadership was stolen."

"From who?" Marook inquired.

"Which race was found by Merlin? Their land conveniently destroyed afterwards." Huron asked.

"The Arundan? But why them?" Marook inquired

"They are more powerful than anyone knows. I believe they live forever - are immortal. They hold the secrets to all other races living forever but are held down by the Eldren. " the older Huron explained.

"Don't they go back to the sea, after - what is it - 100 years or something like that?" Marook, like most European citizens had heard plenty of stories of the Arundan growing up, some myth, some facts. That one was a fact.

"They do, but it's just part if their plot, they will all return and those that know the truth will be granted immortality with them." Huron might have sounded drunk but actually wasn't. "Look at yourself. You are down on your luck, in need of work. Never able to get ahead. I can introduce you to people that can help you. Just come tomorrow. Check it out, see for yourself. You won't be lost brother." Huron stated .

"I will come tomorrow." Marook agreed and Huron gave they younger man an address with some instructions he was supposed to follow upon arriving.

Marrook then left the older man to his drinking.

Huron sat back in his chair, keeping an eye out for anyone looking like a lost soul, down on their luck, possibly drowning their sorrows in a bottle of booze. In other words recruits.

However, what Huron didn't expect to see among the humans, orcs, dwarfs and occasional gnome that normally frequently this bar, was the three that walked in. The two humans were of little acknowledgment, though one was of some Asian descent, and that might be something as a lot of them had a difficult time of it. Huron however was far more interested in the Arundan that walked in.

A lot went through Sung's mind maybe because he felt out of place or some instinct from battles fought. Sung started to note people carrying weapons that he could see or anyone with a look of they wanted trouble. Sung let out a breath and focused. As the room started to get a pale look to it as Sung looked at the room from a Ki perspective.

Sung watched as the KI and magic flowed around the room. He became more focused and could feel the people moving and the flow of the crowd. Sung felt or saw any animosity towards him or the others with him. Then the flow changed and swirled around a guy in the back of the room at a table. it was white in color which meant neural. He could see that mad looking at them Sung made a note of it.

"Captain first round is on you? Where should we sit?" asked Sung with a cunning smile. Sung had persuaded the Captian into buying the drinks he did not have much money on him anyways.

"Get what you want. Just don't get top shelf whisky or vodka, and stay away from the wines." Masao said. "Owner waters down the booze, and fakes the vintage on the wine." he added. "You're libel to get sick if you drink it, it or the 'house ale' it's rockgut. Stick with something you know." Masao told the both.

"Sake or Soju?" asked Sung. Looking and seeing a spot at the end of the bar towards the back of the Room. "Mr. Vor I see a spot we can drink at the end of the bar." Sung motioned with a nod. I say we go fishing and test the waters some," said Sung with a grin. Now adjusting to the noise and smells Sung started to relax some.

"Get the whole bottle if you get Sake or Soju." Masao told them, "And made sure its a new bottle. Not everyone one is honorable." he added. "Keep your head low, and don't offer any information." Masao said before heading to the bar separate from them.

"Yes, captain" responded Sung in a military tone that was almost like a more natural reaction than planned. Sung seem to be distracted by the crowd as he responded.

Sung made his way to the bar trying not to trip over people or get pushed or bumped into. He suddenly remembered about coins and pouch and put it in his front pocket for safety. Sung glanced back now and then checking on Vor to make sure he was ok. Sung was not sure if Vor had been to a lot of establishments like this one. In the Yakuza Syndicate, he was in them every day for good or business reasons.

The warning against the wines made this harder for Vor. It was his usual choice of drink, leaving him unsure of what to get. Thinking it would be better to at least have a drink than order water here, he inquired about some lager or a few shots of Akvavit. The latter option bore fruit, Vor joining the others with three glasses.

Masao leaned back his chair catching his foot on the table leg to keep from tipping fully over. "See anyone interesting?" Masao asked Sung, looking around the bar himself. Around the tavern were several men wearing things like bandanas, arm bands, and other appeal in shades of red matching Masao's coat, or as close to it as they could get, marking them as part of his crew.

Sung was not naive but was not sure either. "I guess we are out of uniform?" answered Sung looking back at the captain. This did not answer the question asked of Sung. But time will tell if someone was interested in them. Maybe it was better not to look like part of the crew yet. Sung looked at Vor. "Red is our color if you have not seen that yet," commented Sung. "Man corner," Sung said quietly and straight to Vor. "he has looked at you a few times but I don't know," said Sung unsure what the man was interested in.