RP:A Familiar Scenario

Synopsis: Familiar faces gather in the Whaler's for a drink.

Characters: Trent, Meri, Raphaline, Leone

Location: Cenril, The Whaler's Bar

Date: April 9th, 2016

The Whaler's Bar

Trent was seated against the eastern wall with his body aimed toward the door to note any incoming and outgoing patrons that passed through; A scene all too familiar from the night prior. He sat, as he had before, gazing out the dingy windows in idle thought, quite unobservant of the general populace that wandered through the brightly lit city streets. That devious hand of his was kept under watch today, nestled deep in the side pocket of his leather trench coat. Safety first.

Raphaline is just now coming to Cenril after her long absentee from the lands. First it had been the forest and the mountains and for reasons unknown she craved the smell of ale and the sea, so it only makes sense to be here. She pushes through the door into the hustle and bustle of place, nodding in greeting to those who have patroned her musical performances before. In one hand she has her sacred violin case, ready to start up any sort of revelries whenever she is ready. For now though, she makes her way around to the bar, much to right side of the counter and leans over to place her order. "Tall whiskey please." She sets the violin case a top the counter as she turns to regard the entirety of the room for a moment.

Trent was jarred from his idle rest when the sound of the door creaked above the already noisy patrons; Cool, steel-blue eyes traversing over the newly entered for any signs of familiarity. Female. Musical instrument. Face obscured by movement and drunks blocking the view. Probably nobody he knows. Then again, who did he know in the first place? Two years prior her had only met a small handful of people. Who is to say if they still live in the area? Trent blinked as the musician turned toward the crowd then, his eyes widening in surprise. "Is it...?" He swore he recognized that woman! Lifting himself from his seated position, Trent collected his things and moved toward the bar. Confusion turned to happiness as the details of the others came better into light. "...Raphaline?..." he asked with a smile.

Trent looked at Raphaline.

Raphaline ::At the mention of her name, she turns not sure whether it be friend or otherwise. When her emerald eyes fall upon the male, recognition dawns upon her, and she smiles in greeting. "Trent." She answers back, stepping forward just enough to close the space between them. "You're still around?" Chuckling, she places a hand in the crook of his arm and leads him to the bar, nodding for the tender to take his drink order while they speak. "It has been quite sometime, hasn't it?" She releases his arm and turns to snatch up her whiskey, downing a bit before speaking again. "How have you been?" She glances down at the arm she knows has given him trouble before looking back up at him, still all smiles.

Trent motions to the bartender that he is content with another round of tea; His thoughts were just far too important to numb with alcohol this afternoon. Raphaline's observation was met with a bit of a smile. "It seems that way. It really has been some time. Two years, in fact." He doesn't quite pick up his drink when it is delivered, the woman's latter-most question causing the man fall silent for a moment before he would answer with, "I honestly do not know. In my mind, as far as things have been, it's like we had only seen each other a mere three days ago." His metal-free hand took his tea then, a sip taken as he asked, "How about you? How have you been since last we met?"

Raphaline chuckles once more as she dusts back a few, fiery curls from her face. How had she been? "Well enough. It seems I go from one war to the next. Frostmaw," she was aware most people knew about the war, "needs a healer again. So, I volunteered." Not to mention one of the most dearest to her heart was putting herself in the line of fire, so the bard could not turn away. "It does feel like it was merely a few days, but only because it seems as if we may have been embroiled in so much that days are not long enough." She downs a long gulp of the whiskey, a necessity as she tries to remove her mind from the responsibilities that are on the horizon. "I am here to play so," She lifts her glass in salute, "As soon as I am done with this, you can make a request for the bar."

Trent lifts a brow. "War? Frostmaw? Who or what is... Frostmaw?" Even when he had first arrived, Trent had yet to even go so far as to explore anything due west of Kelay. Then the fact that there was a war brewing- it just didn't seem to sit right in the already lost and confused male. "I suppose, perhaps that is it... perhaps my mind has been so busy that the years just escaped me." He didn't sound so convinced. Taking thought away from the negative, he once again fastened a smile to his lips and bobbed those golden locks. "I look forward to it... You play beautiful music, Raphaline. I still recall the first time you played for us- it was unlike anything I've heard before."

Leone appeared from the east.

Raphaline forgot some did not know the northern lands, or the lands half as well as she. "Its far to the west and north. Sometimes, I forget not everyone is a bard filled with wanderlust." Chuckling, she turns to the violin case sitting on the bar counter while she listens to him speak of her musical talent. Running a hand a long the top of the case, she answers, "Aye yes, well, you have yet to hear your choice of song. Im quite happy to place something simple or even epic if that is what you like" She glances over her shoulder to the blond, beckoning for him to pick something while she unsnaps the latches on her case and carefully lifts the instrument from its velvet surroundings.

Meri edges her way into the bar. It wouldn't take long for those blue eyes of Meri's to land upon Raphaline and Trent, nor does she seem surprised that they know each other. She has Trent to thank for that bit of information. It's the bar that calls to Meri first, booted her feet carrying her that direction with the singular intention of collecting a herself a neat and short glass of whiskey. Once drink is in hand, she'll approach the duo. Both of them are greeted with a half-smile. Yes, both. Trent too.

Trent rests against the bar, both hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket for the time being; Caution still the height of his main concern for the time being. To the offer, a shoulder is lifted with indifference. "I am.. unsure. Perhaps something upbeat and uplifting?" With meri's appearance, Trent's smile fades slightly, his head lowering into a greeting nod. After the way the prior night ended, he still felt a tad on the guilty side. He knew he had gone too far. "Afternoon..." he greeted, simply.

Raphaline turns when Trent seems to be speaking to someone other than herself. Her eyes light up as she spots the blond and dear friend. “Meri,” she cries as she moves to embrace the blond even if she doesn’t quite remember their friendship all that well. “Trent is undecided, but has chosen something upbeat for music. What about you? Like to make the request more specific or shall you both be leaving the choice of music to me once more.” A few songs came to mind, but first she wanted to see what the notoriously, sassy blond might request this time.

Meri seemed content to let bygones be bygones when it came to last night's argument, provided that Trent did not actually address the elephant in the room. "Hey there," comes her simple response toward the male before those blue eyes drift toward Raphaline. That half-smile that was spread across her red lips only widens as she is greeted by the redheaded bard with a hug, returning the affectionate gesture before releasing her hold. Here is where her gaze swivels between Trent and Raphaline, mulling over the choice of music. "Oh, I don't know, I guess if he has requested something upbeat and uplifting, we could probably at the very least grant him that request."

Trent was more than satisfied to sit back and listen for the time being, his cool gaze looking from Raphaline to Meri and back. From within the confines of his pocket did the male's right hand emerge, if only to grasp the ceramic cup his drink were contained in and bring it to his lips.

Raphaline finds the choice of request settled, so when she releases the blond from the hug, she is quick to gather up instrument and bow and step out towards the main floor. People are still passing by, darting from door to table or from table to table with little glance towards the woman preparing to play. But, when she plays that first note, it is as if the bar begins to silence, many there knowing her and her music. As for those who don't, they are nudged by those who do. She plays another note, allowing this one to linger in the air and call to the other people in the bar to think long and hard about what kind of tale she might tell. It is then that she bursts forth, the bow dancing over the strings of the instrument, chorusing a melody of exuberance and the celebration of life. The bard herself cannot help to dance along, twirling and moving with the song even as her hands work over the instrument. After the initial shock, many in the bar begin to join her in the dance and sing along, given it is a song about living life, even when life is difficult. Mugs are lifted in toast and partners are made, and many find reason to enjoy their own lives that evening.

Leone stumps in, the thud-thud-click of her boots and the tap of a cane heralding her approach - not that either old friend or acquaintance would recognize the rapidly aging blacksmith's addition to her gait. The diminutive human woman moves through the bar as if she were on a mission, passing by sailors and ruffians with an easy, mostly genial but stern air before reaching the scarred, hand-smoothed bar. A shock of red hair and a gleaming blonde catches her attention promptly, and the metallurgist's phosphorescent gaze swivels toward the trio of Raphaline, Meri and Trent. A wide, warm grin stretches tawny lips, pulling them taut from the proverbial ear to ear while a hand is thrust into the air and waved vigorously to Raphaline and Meri in particular.

Meri was never one for dancing. The only times the woman ever attempted such things was Raphaline practically made her, there was practically nothing that she would deny the bard afterall. Though her feet resist the tune of the music, her eyes are locked on the red-haired woman as she twirls, dances and plays for the crowd that was quickly putting all focus on her music. As consumed by Raphaline as she is, she doesn't miss Leone waving toward her and though she does not recognize the blacksmith, Meri waves back. It was apparent they should know each other. Trent is given a rather questioning gaze and kind of panicked look. Help. Please tell me you can identify this woman for me.

Trent feigned a smile as he listened to Raphaline's beautiful music ensnare the local patrons in its mesmerizing and catchy tune. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the music; Hardly the case. There was just so much going through his mind right now that he couldn't seem to concentrate on the here and now. From one to another he began to survey the crowd, taking in every little detail he could possibly devour. He hoped for some sort of familiarity- but like those years past, nothing stuck out. When Leone appeared, Trent seemed to look her over closest of all. This one was most familiar in a sense. Had they met before in some time or another? Meri is flashed an equally mystified glance before he issues a polite nod to the blacksmith.

Raphaline isn't so caught up in the music she does not see an approaching figure, especially a familiar one. She smiles, and as she the revelries continue but her own bit in it begins to fade, she bounces back over to the duo she had left and greets Leone with a hug as well. "Goodness, it has been far too long since that last time I got to lay eyes on your gorgeous self" The gait and cane are noticed, but the bard is not one to point out or question readily about someone's state. Instead, she wants the priestess to know how much she has been missed. "Leone, I hear you have been up to a many things." She doesn't announce what she has heard, but leaves it up to the petite woman to speak on those things as openly as she desires.

Raphaline is called to play another song by the local drunkards.

Leone raises an eyebrow to Meri's apparent forgetfulness of her, though Trent's memory lapse does not surprise; they'd only met the once before. Still, the sacred smith's brilliant, peridot sights fix once more upon the blonde before swinging to the quickly approaching redhead. "Raph," she hums out in diametric notes of grit and gloss while wrapping an arm around the bard's back, "It's so good to see you. When you have the chance to sit down, we can talk." The invitation is complete with a gesture toward the pair of flaxen haired friends as well, though she does not press the issue. Instead, the raven and sterling crown lists to one side, and the petite plover inquires, "Meri? Are you okay?"

Meri was counting on Trent information and Trent had let her down, dashing her hopes of perhaps coming across as 'normal' for the night. Leone's question is met with a tired look, through no real fault of Leone's own. It was frustrating to not recall those that you were so evidently close with and it seems that she had gotten to know quite a few faces. An apologetic look toward Leone, a slow shake of her head to answer that, no. She was not okay. "Can we pretend like I am for the night? And perhaps converse about it later? Perhaps privately?" As Meri was suffering from a pang of guilt at the moment and didn't want to be the Debbie Downer for the night, "We're all old friends catching up, right?"

Trent's expression turned to surprise when the stranger's name was uttered, memories of that night down in Gualon finally coming back to him. Still, he remained somewhat detached from the current conversation, choosing instead to observe and listen in on what the trio of female would converse about. After all, they all had far more history with one another than he had. His armored hand finally found its way out of his pocket, coming now to fold over his chest and grip the right bicep. it seemed fairly inactive this evening- which for all involved was probably a good thing.

Leone nods to Meri's query, a sympathetic smile and furrowed brow pressed across the space between them toward the tattoo artist. "Privately is fine. Do you still live in Gualon? I do maintain the smithy there, still," the High Priestess offers softly, "We could have tea...or something that looks like tea and burns like fire." A broad grin is offered with the not-so-veiled reference to whisky before the limpid, green pools flicker toward Trent, but just for a moment.

Meri bites down on her bottom lip. Does she still live in Gualon? A basic question that most people should be able to easily answer but it gives Meri hesitation. "I stay down there from time to time. Sometimes on Emilia's farm, most of the time I just rent a room if I stay down there. I can venture down that way no problem if that is a suitable meeting point." Though now it doesn't have the feel of old friends catching up, does it? Seems like poor Leone has two people suffering from amnesia staring at her like the fools they must feel like. Meri tries though, motioning between Leone and Trent, "You two know each other, right? No need for introductions or anything?"

Trent nods once, a smile of sorts taking over that cool observant expression. The amulet that hung around the neck of the golden haired male pulsated with a quiet azure glow, seeming to accompany his vocal response. "Not well, but yes, we met once. The Grogshop- albeit briefly." Two metallic digits lifted as he states to Leone, "Well met, again."

Leone frowns at Meri's answer, though she nods in kind. "I thought you had a room in the castle, but the farm is just as nice. Lots of fresh air," the blacksmith offers as gently as she can, perhaps hoping to prod the blonde's memory into firing, like a fire stoked up from low coals. A slow nod greets Meri's offer of a visit. "I would like that very much," the bantam woman accepts graciously before her attention snaps back to Trent. "Have you manged to make any headway on your runes?" The question is accompanied by raised brows.

Meri wanted to procrastinate on explaining the obvious to Leone as much as possible and yet there the blacksmith was, poking at the memories were failing her. "Did I have a room in the castle?" Her brows furrow together in contemplation but it seems that the efforts were in vain. "I don't remember," she finally confesses to the blacksmith. Something Trent was already aware of, no news to him. "Perhaps you could show me." To Trent, let's put the focus on him rather than her current state. Avoidance was the best solution, right? "You were doing something with runes? What were you doing with runes?"

Trent's smile faded when the question was posed by Leone. That particular part of the puzzle had been put on hiatus until he could figure out what in the hell what going on in the last couple of years. "No... Not exactly." he stated with caution. "Something happened in the past two years that caused my quest to... halt, if that is what you would call it. Before I found myself upon the Milous Plain for a second time, I figured out that only one of the three markings were runic in nature. The others were merely common lettering." With Meri's questions posed, Trent sighed and began to remove his jacket- an event that took place two years prior to this day. Bare arms were now revealed; The arm with gauntlet grafted nearly to the elbow, bore a tattoo of thirteen lines standing vertical, each with varying degrees of thickness. Above them, in a uniform line, a series of symbols from a dialect unknown by most in the land. Upon the right bicep were three symbols. A common F, a common K and a runic symbol that looked similar to a common lowercase n, yet more angular than rounded. "We were trying to figure out the meaning of this." he commented to the questioning amnesiac.

Leone leans forward to study Trent's arms, nodding at the same time to Meri's echoed question. "Yes," the blacksmith comments, "I think so?" Another smile is pressed toward the bombshell, along with an additional, encouraging nod. I finger is held up to the golden-armed enigma, and the farrier's mouth falls open, but no sound comes out for several seconds. "Ahh," she says in verbal pause, "I've seen this before. I have to go get a book, that might be able to help," the metallurgist prattles on while gathering herself to leave, "I'll see you again soon. Few days!" And with that, the holy woman hobbles out of the bar as fast as she can.

Meri finds her gaze trailing after Leone as the blacksmith hobbles out of the Whaler in such a hurry. A lead on those runes? Well that most certainly looked promising for Trent, at lest Meri hoped that it did. "Perhaps you should venture down to Gualon for my meeting with her too, see if she has discovered anything about the runes that it seems like she means to research." Blue eyes focus on Trent and Trent alone, even turning in her chair just a smidgen so that she was angled toward him now that there were not others that they were chattering with.

Trent stares upon one section of ink, and then the other, brow knit as he pondered the various meanings that come from this. With Leone's last comment, he did feel some sense of hope, yet this would not be shown for now. Then again, how often did he show true emotion? When Meri spoke, golden strands wavered as Trent looked up, his gaze meeting hers momentarily. "I... just might do that. It would be nice to know if the held some sort of clue ot just happen to be meaningless scribbling due to a long night of pub crawling." A half-hearted smile. "She seems like she may have the answers I will need."

Meri half snorts in amusement. She doesn't need to know every single detail about Trent in order to come to this conclusion, "You? Who likes to drink tea in bars? On a pub crawl? I don't know if I am going to buy into that hypothesis there, Trent." There gaze is only locked momentarily before Meri lets her sights fall to the lettering that they are presently discussing. "There is really only one way to find out if she has the answers or not." Encouragement from the woman who seems to be avoiding any possible solutions to her own predicament.

Trent could not resist chuckling at that very same notion. "I know, it's unfathomable. Yet, I do not know much about whom I was before...." He paused in thought. "..Well. Before whatever incident lead me to this point. I could have been a lousy drunk for all I know. Though, if the badge that I carry truly does belong to me... well, I'd hardly say being spat upon bodes well for my history." With focus on the mystery ink, Trent nods. "Yes, I suppose you are correct. I will have to seek her out, perhaps when you pair next meet."

Meri bobs her head in a nod. Were it not for the friends that she has re-encountered, she would probably be struggling with the same questions. She at the very least had more answers than Trent, "I don't know, I don't believe that you were just a lousy drunk. I mean, I guess I am no expert but I mean...I would say that the things that I was good at carried over as did the vices and the cravings. But perhaps it is different for your case...But I don't think you were a lousy drunk. I don't believe that."

Trent slips his jacket on over his arms. he felt rather naked without the thing. "I honestly wouldn't mind it, really. It's far better to suffer that fate rather than to be known as some sort of criminal or even a murderer." He slightly frowned at the idea. "With those dreams returning, I fear that I may discover things I would rather not know. Things I was supposed to forget. Part of me says to stop. To turn back and start anew. Yet..." he gazes to the table in thought. "I need answers, no matter the cost."

Meri frowns a bit as Trent starts hitting a bit to close to home with certain issues. I need answers, no matter the costs. This causes Meri to level her baby blues on the pendant that Trent wears around his neck, and not by choice. "So when I touched that thing? You said that I felt weak afterward? And that I had a headache? And saw some things?" If Meri intended to go through with it or not, that was hard to say, but at least she was asking questions. Which meant she was at the very least entertaining the idea.

Trent had still been focused on the table when Meri started asking questions about the amulet. Eyes widened briefly and he snapped himself out of thought take the pondering woman into full view. Part of him was relieved that she were curious, yet another part, deeper down, was not certain this was a good idea. Unlike the night prior, he would let Meri set her own pace, refusing to push the issue. "Correct." he stated softly. "It was terrifying, to be honest. My heart pounded in my chest... I thought you might have been severely injured. I had to help you venture to where you were living. You could barely function. I don't think I saw you for two days after it happened... You spoke of seeing what you thought may have been memories." He took a moment to think hard. "A woman... War.. A knight... and a dark figure in robes. There was something else, but I can not recall... you weren't very clear."

Meri stares at Trent like he may as well be speaking a foreign language to her as he tries to explain her visions to him. "Not very clear indeed....that is a horrible answer, if that is all I gave you to work off of." Cue a dry smirk at her own expense. Her seated position is abandoned, though she keeps speaking with Trent even as she takes to standing. "Well let's try it then. Soon. Maybe after we meet with that Leone again." Or sometime in the near future. "Not tonight though....I think I am going to venture down to Gualon and stare at the castle Leone was thinking I might have resided in..."

Trent takes a deep breath, a slight nod issued before his reply. "We shall see. I would rather you weigh on this idea quite heavily. Neither of us know what may dangers the idea poses. I was not thinking clearly last evening. I was desparate." He appeared concerned, his gaze not once leaving the other's form. "Let us seek our options first. Safer alternatives. And if... in the end.. you want to attempt this, well, we will give is a try." In the midst of speaking, Trent too rose to his feet, preparing to potentially venture off as well.

Meri starts looking a little flustered again. First, Trent wants to go repeating past events. The idea is pitched, and yes, she got a little huffy over it. Now that she has had a chance to think on it and has come around to the idea? Trent is telling her we'll see? What the....? Meri's confusion manifests itself with a slow shake of her head, the blonde turning and wordlessly walking out of the Whaler. It's in a bit of a huff but at least she is not ranting at Trent tonight. But not even a goodbye? Ruuuuude.

Meri exited to the east.