RP:A Dreary Meet

Synopsis: At Kelay Tavern, Penelope, a local, meets a traveller, Hake. What turns into a light-hearted greeting turns into a dreary memory of Hake's past.

Kelay Tavern

Whether the Tavern was bustling with patrons, or vacant. The figure of Hake would walk into the tavern, his boots dusty from the trail, brown in color, and leather against black cotton pants, he would wear a simple Brown shirt and over it, he wore dark blue trench coat. His appearance human, youthful yet adult, with a Electrum gray hair which while short, was in desperate need of a proper combing. His sun-kissed skin, rosy, and pink like a man who had walked in the hotter skies west of Craugmoyle, and his eyes green, and weary, peaceful in their existence as if they were a still graceful grassy plain, his voice soft and calm, as words formed on his lips as he took a seat at the bar if a stool was free, lest he take a table and turn his eyes to the Nancy setting his eyes on her, and speaking in a calm soft voice. “Brandy please, in a mug not a shot.” He would reach into his coat and pull from a nap sack some gold coins to pay for the upgrade if he could and patiently await his returning order.

It was a mild day in Kelay, and thankfully, for once, a mild day for Penelope. Lately her world had been simple again, and the workaholic actually had the evening off with her friend while Yerrel was taking the reins at the Kelay Healer. The woman sits with a leg crossed over the other at the bar, and next to her had been another gentleman. Ruari Erickson, her friend and apprentice. A man who was tall with black hair and piercing grey eyes, but with a wilderness edge to him with the beard he had grown. The two clinicians had been talking over a drink. A merlot for the woman and an ale for the man. The two looked invested in their comedical banter before Penelope points out a pale blonde lady across the tavern. “Her. Ask her. I think you and her would have some great genetics.” Ruari frowned at the healer before shoving on her shoulder playfully and walking across the tavern to greet the strange woman. As Penelope watches Ruari, moss green eyes find another set of green eyes. Weary. The stranger was coming to sit at the bar next to her. The observant woman watches Hake order the brandy before taking in his appearance. “You must have been having some sort of day to order brandy in a mug. You know Mesthak, he does not mess with alcohol content. It’ll be stronger than average. Just sayin’.” The Ardelian sips on her merlot before turning to face forward to give Nancy a knowing smile before sliding her now empty glass across the bar. “I’ll take another glass, Nance,” she says easily to the barmaid.

Hake would give a glance at the woman he sat alongside, taking in her features, but not focusing to long on them, just like he hadn't focused on Nancy. With more closer observation to his proxmity she could prolly see his left hand where two white gold electrum colored wedding bands resided on his ring finger. He heard her words, and gave a small tired smile, his voice replying to her soothing, soft and kind, "Thank you for the advice, I will ask for some water as well then." He said, soon pulling off his rings and sliding to look at them, again. "Its been three years since lost them, thank you for... reminding me to try to kick the habit." He said glancing back at her enough to get some more of her features for memory, but more importantly to be courtesous for eye contact if she thought it polite. It was hard, Venturil was a different place than Keylay.

Penelope receives the glass from Nancy and the water is slid from Nancy to Hake. The Ardelian would look over to the man who fiddles with the rings. She subtly squints before staring forward. Was Hake talking death? Or was he talking about someone actually lost? The woman was invested now, for she was someone to listen to others. Be patient with others. The healer takes a moment to ask about the touchy topic, but Nel was someone who was bluntly curious about stories. Tainted lips purse, and those moss eyes slide over to look at the rings he was fiddling with before she connects the eye contact in her own politeness. “Lost who, if I may ask?” Her words are slow, careful, and soft as the topic may have taken a mournful turn on the stranger before her.

Hake picked up his rings and past them to the woman, "my wife, and my children, killed when the drow invaded Venturil to wipe out the Razurath." On the inside of one ring she would be able to see inscribed on the one with a feminine jewel, 'My Hoard' and on the other more simple, 'My Dragon'. Hake would pour some the water into his mug diluting the brandy, "I have been in mourning for the past two years," he said now taking a sip grimacing slightly at the diluted flavor.

Penelope stared down at the rings before shifting her eyes back to her wine glass. ‘My Dragon’... He was human, though, right? She gives him a gaze before connecting the dots. He was a dragon beneath that mask? She takes a small sip as she listens to him, but all the while, she is frowning. “My condolences to your family.” Eyes shift towards the water he is draining into the brandy, but she just shrugs that off. “We never know when it is our time to leave this world.” The healer says this slowly. “How old were your children?” Pause. “And what brings you to Kelay?”

Hake would mix the water into the drink, and remember only drink half. "Yes our time is limited, thus we all try to leave our mark" he paused and then replied, "The triplets were two months old," he then responded to her third question, " Keylay is just my pitstop, i am trying to get as far away from Aedrynbyrg as i can."

Lips twist in a careful manner as she listens to Hake confess the age of his children. "I'm sorry. I know I'm just a stranger, but... again, I'm sorry," the healer says slowly. Penelope then blinks her moss eyes before they squint. "Aedrynbyrg...?" The place, if it was, did not sound familiar to her. "What is Aedrynbyrg?"

"Aedrebyrg, is sorry forgive my lisp, i must have said it wrong, sometimes this occurs.Aedrbyrg is a small village or town in Venturil, its where I was raised. Its at the mouth of the Foregengan River. Lovely place, especially this time of year, when the grape vines and orchards are in full bloom. I left because of what happened, I just, I prolly should have left sooner, I did myself no service mourning these past three years, the further away, the less I will have to remind me of what I lost." He said in reply drinking his drink to halfway and putting the rest of it aside. "I am trying to break the drinking habit."

Penelope listens intently to the geography of Aedrebyrg, but the woman is not an expect on navigational areas. The healer could only nod and look forward in the imagery of what the man briefly describes. "The only way to ease the pain is to grieve. It seems like you're not done mourning your loss yet. I wish you luck on your journey." She sips on her wine again. "If you need help on... your.. habit of drinking," the woman frowns, "let me know. I know a thing or two about detox when it comes to addiction." The Ardelian inhales before finishing off the rest of her next glass of wine. "I do have to go, however. I try to get back to the cottage before the night settles in." The woman stands in departure. "My name is Penelope. I'm a local in Kelay. If you have any concerns, leave word with Nancy. I'm around from time to time."

Hake nods, "Maybe I just need a little more time, but if you can help...I would greatly appreciate it, perhaps next time I am around." He said. "Would you like me to walk you home?" He asks this as simply remembering what is mom told him, nothing more. "Thank you, I will be sure to communicate with her when I am next in town."

Penelope smiles easily at the man. "I appreciate the offer of walking me home, but I think I'll be okay," she says politely. "I don't live far off from here, and well," she turns where Ruari is chatting up the blonde in the back. The half-elf man gives the Ardelian eye-contact. Wide eye-contact with a forced smile which means... 'help me'. "My friend is with me, so I'm in safe keeping." The woman then nods to Hake. "I'll see you around. Try to take it easy," the woman would then walk over to Ruari who is in 'SOS' mode. The Ardelian acts like she is swaying a little before pressing her hand on the table in a 'dizzy' act. Ruari acts like he is concerned before telling the blonde he has to leave. Penelope wobbles while Ruari puts a very 'concerned' arm around the acting girl before they wander out of the tavern in their escape scheme. What a duo.