RP:A Werewolf And A Vampire Walk Into A Bar

Summary: As the title suggests....

The Fallen Star Inn

Rilla couldn’t say for sure when she’d been accepted into a group of any sort. Something had changed after the demon archipelago and she wasn’t running anymore. At least not for the time. The tavern seemed like a safe place to go to stay in from the increasingly cool night air. So she made her way in, the smell of food no longer truly appetising, but it didn’t hurt. All in black, she was quiet as she entered, nodding to the barkeep and taking a seat at a time, her back to a wall. She shed her jacket, hanging it over the back of her chair as she offered a smile to the woman who came to take her order. The exchange is quick, and she was off in search of a drink - whatever her favourite was as long as it had alcohol - as Rilla sat, tugging the sleeves of her shirt down over her hands as she scans the room. Old habits die hard.

Meri does not often venture out to Venturil, her stopping grounds tend to be considerably east of here -- Kelay-Sage, Cenril, Rynvale -- but every so often the woman has need to come out here. The business that brings her out today? Harmless horse business. Once upon a time she gifted Callum with a horse, and as her daughter was starting to age, Meri was thinking about investing in a third horse for the youngin'. It would not be too much longer until Fleur would be able to ride. Alas, Rilla would not be able to catch sight of Meri's long time companion. Kadence is stabled well before the tattooed blonde even shoulders her way into the bar. Rilla might be able to smell the horse though, as Meri had been riding all day while traveling to Venturil. Looking at her, one might not peg her as Khitti's sister. Meri was tall and blonde, the only real common characteristic the sister's had was that both were covered with tattoos. While Meri had not exactly made her way to Venturil with the intention of making new friends, but she was quick to spot a hazily familiar face. It took Meri a moment to place her: she briefly encountered Rilla at one rather crazy ball. Meri does not approach right away though, her priorities are in line with Rilla's: stiff drink and then maybe conversation. Once Meri has a glass of whiskey, she'll think about saying hi.

Rilla, despite her general air of quiet-and-brooding, was generally a fairly friendly person if someone could get past her initial suspicion. Her gaze followed the blonde who entered, absolutely certain that they had met before, but where? Thin fingers tapped against the table, her head tilted slightly as she tried to place her. “Excuse me?” Rilla asked, her mouth getting ahead of her brain. “Have we met before?” She stood, stepping out from behind the table. “I think I might owe you a drink or something from when we met?” Her brow furrowed, hands rested on her hips as she looked at the woman up a little closer. The smell wasn’t familiar, though anyone who was around animals was generally someone that she liked, but Rilla offered a smile, “I think I might have gone off on some business instead of drinking with you. Can I get this round?”

Meri :: Most animals didn't really take kindly to Meri, they could probably since that the werewolf was something of a predator to them. Her horse tolerated her though, probably because of the relationship she had built with the creature prior to being turned. When Rilla approaches, Meri turns to face her and an easy grin forming across her vivid red lips. "I would say that we've really only half met. We didn't have the chance to get as far as introductions, but that's alright. It was quite the night." Rilla offers to get this round and Meri is quick to agree, that was half of why she was here. Outside of looking to invest in a new horse, but at this point that could wait until tomorrow. To the barkeep, "I think the woman just offered to buy us a round of whiskey. Two shots if you don't mind." Careful Rilla, two shots might turn into three, which could lead to Meri trying to convince the woman to put back an entire bottle. Blue eyes give Rilla a once over from head to toe, but it's nothing to read too much into. Meri's a married woman these days. And the glance was done with purpose, "Looks like you made it out alright. What's your name, dollface?"

Rilla nods in understanding, yes this was the woman she’d left in favour of working. Brushing a stray curl behind her ear, she offers a smile. “That it was, I’m sure not every party ends that way, but since that was my first here in nearly a decade it was a bit of a change.” Resisting the urge to step back as Meri looks her over, though there was rarely much to see. A thin form with little blades hidden across it, one strapped to her thigh out in the open that was longer than the others. How many exactly? Good question, and without a strip search you’d probably never know. Looking away and over to the bartender and nodding her consent to the drinks. “I’m pretty good at getting into and out of sticky situations.” She laughs, looking back to the blonde who she studied for an instant before speaking again, bright blue gaze cautious but not concerned. “I’m Rilla, I’ve been away for a number of years so if you’re also someone powerful and famous, I apologize but I’ll need a refresher on why.” Why was that so common around here? Once upon a time everyone had been mostly-normal, but clearly something had happened to help many rise above the rest. How strange. The niceties are only interrupted by the bartender sliding four shots of whiskey across the bar for the two women. “After you.” Gesturing with one hand, Rilla paused a moment to let Meri pass before she too would step up to the bartop and with little ceremony, down the shot of whiskey and set the glass back on the counter.

Meri's once over of Rilla revealed exactly what she was hoping to see, and she did not even need to do a strip search of the woman to conclude that she had more than just the visible weapon. There was no reason for Meri to give this inspection, she honestly was here to enjoy a drink, it was just paranoid habit. For a change, Meri was not armed as both sword and bow were left with her horse. That didn't mean much in these lands though, did it? The 'after you' is meant with a wink, red lips curving up into an easy-going smirk, and then up to the bar Meri steps. First thing is first, Meri deals with one of those two shots of whiskey that was passed her way. The now empty shot glass is placed upside down on the counter for the barkeep to collect. This is about where Meri's good behavior ends. Was Meri someone famous? Was she powerful? If she was it was not a brag that would be coming out of Meri's mouth. Instead what Rilla gets is...two lies and a truth. "Oh, yes. Introductions. Well, hi. My name is Lionel O'Conner. You know? The most famous hero in the land?" She gestures at her current appearance. "I know I don't look like my normal spell." Lie two. "Just trying out this glamor spell I got off some witch somewhere." It is right around this point that Meri decides to empty her second shot glass, also putting that one on the bar in a similar fashion as the first. A tattooed hand is extended, as both of the full-sleeves run all the way down to her knuckles, and a wide smirk still is still held on Meri's painted lips. "For reals though, the name is Meri Boyce." Or Rochester? Rochester-Boyce? She and Callum have not had that discussion. "As for if all the parties in the land are like that...? I mean, my advice to you is that even if they say 'formal wear required'...it'd be smarter to come armed. And don't waste the gold on some fancy dress. You're just going to get it ruined...At least sixty-percent of the time."

Although Rilla wasn’t used to being here, to being around people, to drinking anymore, she took the shot that was presented to her, knocking it back like she’d done far too much as a human and not nearly enough now that she had an eternity to waste. She set hers down as well, lowering her shoulders as the burn down was replaced with the creeping moment of warmth. Nothing like a shot of whiskey to make a friendship happen. Crystalline eyes sparkled with amusement when Meri spoke, a crooked grin tugging at one side of her lips though she fought it back the best that she could but biting her tongue. “That might have worked,” she laughed, “except that I met Lionel and didn’t recognize him once already, I doubt it would happen a second time.” Her head cocked to one side and she gestured to the bartender for another round with a finger and a nod. “It’s a pleasure, Meri. I’ll take it under advisement to do things the way I’ve been doing them.” She shrugged, leaning against a barstool, one hand rested on the top of it, holding herself upright. “I’m not one for parties anyway. Too many people, all of them lying in one way or another and you’re left sorting through which ones are benign and which are more insidious.” For a moment she looked past Meri, habitually surveying the room before the barkeep set down another round of shots, and Rilla took hers once more, holding it up in a quick ‘cheers’ before knocking it - and in turn her head - back. "Most events, black tie or not, are usually smart to be armed at anyway. It's no fun if you have to improvise."

Meri does not seem to mind that Rilla does not believe that she is Lionel in disguise. It was a far-fetched fib even if a glamour spell was a great reason for Lionel to be looking a little different. Meri settles into a barstool, at first her back to the crowd and her body angled toward Rilla, appropriate for holding a conversation with a potential new friend. Meri does not address the topics in the order they are delivered. The blonde gives a bit of a shrug, "I don't know, the lies don't bother me so much." Possibly because she has never been an entirely honest woman herself. "But I suppose that's probably because I don't care to sort through them. I look after me and my own....As for it not being fun to improvise....?" It's at this point that Meri's blue eyes slide away from Rilla, really taking in the setting. A devilish grin begins to pull at her read lips. "Don't tempt me to prove you wrong. I'm supposed to be here to buy a horse for my daughter...not get myself kicked out of the city by starting up trouble." However, if the bartender keeps delivering those shots of whiskey, Meri might soon be finding it harder to resist temptation. The second round of shots is paid for by Meri, it seems only fair. The two woman cheers to this latest round and down their shots before Meri inquires, "So you know Lionel, hm? Through the Warrior's Guild, I can only presume?" Sometimes Lionel is social, but Meri is of the opinion that it is a rarity. "Oooor?" Look at the psion, behaving herself and not starting barfights. What a good werewolf.

Rilla shrugs, stiffening very slightly though she was almost certain that Meri was trying to make a joke. Too many people had come after her with much less warning, crystalline gaze fixed on her face, watching to make sure that she didn’t move before she was ready. For a moment she considered tipping her hand, but this was a stranger, and out of an abundance of caution, she offers a smile. “Improvising is well and good, but I’d rather bring a knife to a fist fight if you know what I mean.” Finally she looked away, still watching in her peripheral vision though her posture softened and she looked past Meri once more for an instant. “I prefer not to start fights, I only end them.” Her smile spreading, a wild amusement flashing across her face. “Bring me the next whiskey neat, please.” She says, pushing her shot glass back towards the barkeep who nods and looks to Meri for her order. Rilla does too, leaving a beat for the woman to answer as she slides onto her stool proper, though perched on the edge. “I wouldn’t say that, no. I just have a way of running into people who need me for something whether they know it yet or not.” Laughing, she shakes her head, pushing an auburn curl back behind her ear with one thin hand. “In his case, I suspect he was enamoured with my cat. He’s a character, I’ll give him that.” But Rilla’s caution outweighed her amusement with him, with anyone at this point. “I’m not affiliated with him as such though, no. And who is he to you?”

Meri has a good chuckle when Rilla stakes her preference of preferring to end fights. The laughter is not really meant to express that Meri did not believe Rilla was capable of doing such, it was actually a moment of sincere amusement on the blonde's part. "Ah, I am pretty sure that we all prefer to be the one that ends the fight. It always makes the moment more enjoyable. Or at least...maybe a bit less painful." Meri seemed more than content to keep the whiskey coming as long as the conversation was flowing. Truth be told, Meri found that almost any adult conversation was a blessing. This was not a stance that she has always had, only once she became a mom. "How do I know Lionel. Well. There is the answer that Khitti would probably like me to give? And the answer that I am usually inclined to give. See, she adopted him. And she also adopted me. And so Khitti used to try and convince me that Lionel and I are related by virtue of her adopting us both? But..." Meri shrugs, because she dose not. Meri and Lionel just do not share the same connection that Khitti and Lionel share. "Either way, he's a friend. One who has my blade whenever he needs it. As does Khitti." Obviously. "I cannot say that I am surprised to hear he is fond of your cat. That does sound very Lionel."

Rilla || Shaking her head, Rilla lofts a brow at Meri’s laughter, amused by the reaction more than anything. “I didn’t say that I prefer to end fights.” The words are even and leans back, her hand flat on the seat of her stool. “But I’m sure you’ll learn eventually.” Her other hand waved dismissively, her smile remained as just a hint of amusement in the corners of her eyes and lips. The bartender brought them back another round, a shot for Meri, and a glass for Rilla who took it in one hand, swirling the burnt umber liquid around the glass a few times before taking a sip. “Adoption certainly doesn’t change lineage.” Rilla pointed out, ever the smart-alec, and bit her tongue. That tangent warranted another sip, and so she took one and rested her glass on her bent knee, her hand over top of it as she held it there. “He does seem like an odd-ball, usually when people stumble on me in a back alley the following activity isn’t petting a cat, if you know what I mean.” She wagged her eyebrows playfully, whether calmed by the whiskey or the fact that Meri still hadn’t given her a real reason for her caution, the result was the same. “You should be careful with promises like that. In my experience people are happy to ask for help, but rarely as happy to provide it. I keep my circle tight; everyone has a price.” Looking into her glass, she took a beak, took a breath, and smiled back to Meri. “Why come all this way for a horse? Surely some of the other towns had one for sale. Though a trip through the mountains can make a great vacation when there are little ones around.”

Meri's amusement fades just a bit, right at the point when Rilla says that Meri will learn eventually. A brow is lifted and her tattooed shoulders are rolled in a lazy shrug, issuing a quick, "Maybe." Another shrug is delivered in response to Rilla's point that adoption does not change lineage, a detail Meri was not interested in debating because...she was agreement. If Meri did have an idea of what Rilla meant by her dark alley comment, the blonde played it down. She only issued a casual smile and then moved the conversation forward. "My circle is tight...and trust me when I say...that I am quite aware of who I make that promise to." The werewolf does not feel inclined to go on some tangent about this topic, Rilla is spared the history lesson. "Fleur is at home with her father, every once in awhile it is nice to get out of the house without the kid. Plus I am not bringing a toddler to go horse shopping. She'll want something ridiculous. Like a pink unicorn." Meri shrugs. "I am not going on a hunt for a pink unicorn." Meri snorts, "But you're right. I could find horses closer to where I live...but Venturil is known for the horses it's breeder's tend to produce. All of the best horses come out of Venturil." She makes a vague motion south, indicating the general direction of the stables she plans to visit. "My own horse is from Venturil's breeder. Callum's horse is from Venturil's breeder. They've both been great, it seems like a good enough reason to remain loyal."

Rilla nods, happy enough to move along from the subject. From her reaction the point was driven home. She had never been very good at making friends. Sipping her drink, she steadied herself, her heel tapping lightly in the air where it rested on the beam of her stool. “I can imagine, though I never had children myself. I imagine you can only hold conversation with mostly children for so long before your brain starts to turn to jelly.” Laughing, her shoulders soften, intentionally calming herself; pulling herself from her own head. “I’m sure she’ll be happy with whatever horse you get for her, pink or not. And if the unicorn bit is non-negotiable I’m sure you can find a horn to attach and satisfy her for another few years.” Her finger traced around the rim of her glass, eyes following the motion before shrugging one shoulder and scooting back onto her stool proper. “I never spent much time this way when I lived here initially, but I appreciate the tip. A good horse is hard to find sometimes. Do they come broken?”

Meri issues a bit of a grunt when Rilla speaks of brains turning to jelly. Just thinking about holding a conversation with her child is enough to cause Meri to order another round of shots. Not that she doesn't love her daughter...just. Look, Meri never intended to be a mother, no one said she would be good at this. "Gods, try holding a conversation with a toddler who is also a werewolf. Talk about a never ending ball of energy...." The woman makes a cross-eyed expression, her mind briefly moving toward how Callum is doing with Fleur right at this moment....and then that thought is quickly shoved to the back of mind. Daddio can deal with it. "I am sure you could make arrangements for any horse that you purchase to not come broken." Meri purses her lips together. "If have enough knowledge of horse training, I suspect that it would be better to break a horse yourself. It would be better for the bonding process, I think.....If done right." Don't mistake Meri for the avid animal lover though, that's the druid. She's just a got a soft spot for horses. "For Fleur, I will probably purchase a horse that is broken. It would be better for her when it comes to learning how to handle them." A brow is lifted. "Thinking about investing in a horse yourself?"

Rilla holds in a snort at Meri’s reaction, having children had never been in her future either. Her husband had tried hard enough, but it never fit into the plan. She had done what she’d had to do to keep the life she wanted that she’d never told him about. He wouldn’t have understood.. “I’d prefer not to if it’s all the same to you.” She nods along at the explanation, biting her tongue, her smile bit back and tamed before sipping at her whiskey that was rapidly draining. “Absolutely, and you wouldn’t want a horse that’s likely to kick or rear. Better to avoid it, although kids do heal quickly.” Her nose wrinkled at her own joke and she let it hang for a beat, licking her lips. “You get thrown off once and you’ll learn to be more careful, but it’s probably best to leave that to full grown adults.” Setting her glass down once more, she covered it with her hand, fingers tapping against the sides of the glass. “I’m not sure yet,” she mused, “when I was human it was a faster way to travel but you know, vampire.” She jokes, shrugging slightly, “I may get one just to have it, but right now I’ve got little need outside of wanting the companionship. Or maybe if I find a human and want to go somewhere at a reasonable pace with them. I didn’t realize how *slow* we were.” She jokes, bright-blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

Meri was not one of those parents who took any offense to someone declaring that they did not want to speak with her child. Look where Meri was? Look what Meri was doing? It was a feeling the blonde could relate to -- and again, she does love her daughter. She would without a doubt die for Fleur if it came down to it. But...she didn't have to LIKE her child all of the time, did she? "A werewolf and a vampire walk into a bar..." Meri jokes, "And they somehow managed to not tear the place up." Meri puts a fist out toward Rilla for a bit of a fist bump, as of to say 'go them'. "In terms of companionship, horses are great. Kadence has been my best friend for...." The blonde is trying to count the years, and failing. Blame the whiskey. Her gaze is fixed on the ceiling as she tries to consider how long it has been, finding focus on Rilla only when an answer is delivered. "Four years? Yeah. That sounds about right. I won't go on about how much work they can be though, you seem like a smart woman. I suspect you have already figured this out."

Rilla , though somewhat surprised by the offered fist bump, did in fact do as intended, briefly touching fists with the werewolf as a crooked grin settled across her face. “Truthfully, I’ve never had an issue with you wolves. As a human I had … I suppose you’d call it an affair - he was never mine - with a lycan named Sulos,” raising her glass once more and draining the last of it, “one of the best people I ever met. If I’d had a choice he’d have been better than the vampire I did end up with for a while, and much more fun than the man I married.” Picturing the blonde boy in the trees turned her smile wistful for a moment before she blinked, pulling herself from the memory. They were all bittersweet anyway, and she rarely considered them unless plied by liquor. “Why should that change just because I’m a vampire?” Shrugging, she pushes her glass towards the barkeep, but shakes her head no to another drink, hands folding in her lap. There was a warmth crawling up the back of her neck that had no place being there, and she was far too in-her-own-head to allow it to continue it’s ascent. “But yes, I’ve had them before. In fact, Lionel’s only memorable for offering me a job tending the guild’s animals. I may not have to look too far for that companionship, although I’m in the process of winning over a particularly ornery goat right now.”

Meri :: Conversation with Rilla was going smoothly, but the hour was starting to get a bit late. Rilla was not the only one who was feeling the effects of the whiskey, but it was her turning down the shot that stopped Meri from getting too tossed. Just because she could handle her alcohol a bit better as a werewolf does not mean she can always escape the nasty hangover that tends to follow. When the barkeep comes around, Meri makes inquiries about a room. Obviously she would not be buying a horse tonight, that would wait until tomorrow..when she was sober again. And while the inquiry of a room means that Meri is close to making her exit, she does not seek to break away from Rilla just yet. "It shouldn't. Honestly, never had an issue with a vampire a day in my life. Now...those frakkin' drow..." Meri snorts, letting her racism show just a bit. Meri shifts the conversation back to Rilla's past. No judgement is made when Rilla speaks of her affair, in ways the blonde could relate. She's quite loyal to Callum, and will continue to be, but she has not been faithful to every man that she has been with. There is one detail in particular that Meri hones in on, "Ah, blame the alcohol for being nosey. But what do you mean if you had the choice?" Meri lifts a brow. "What I mean is...most of the time we all have the choice to leave and be with someone else if we so decide..."

Rilla || While Meri inquired about a room, Rilla took the opportunity to gather the rest of her things from where she’d left them across the tavern. She returned an instant later with a cloak wrapped up, and she rested it on the stool she once more perched on, still half-standing. Rolling her eyes, she laughs, “oh the drow. We didn’t have any of them where I was before this, I have to say that I didn’t miss them. But maybe one day one of them will prove me wrong.” She shrugs, resting her hands on the stool. Licking her lips, she considers the question. Though not generally forthcoming with information, this was harmless enough. There was no trace of him here, and when he’d disappeared she had looked. “I didn’t have a choice to be with him because he made the choice to leave with someone else.” Rilla explained evenly, her gaze fixed on Meri’s face for an instant before she shrugged. “I met him while my fiance and I were on an extended break. Turns out I just have a thing for men who disappear. The man I married wasn’t either of them. He at least stuck around,” she shrugged, suddenly craving another drink despite her unwillingness to let go of control. “He’s passed away. I wasn’t too torn up about it, before you ask.” Her smile spread, bitter but not about that. “Been on my own since up until I got here, actually. It’s interesting being around people again -” cutting herself off, she wrinkled her nose, smiling. “It’s late and whiskey’s dangerous.” She justified, gathering her cloak once more, holding it against her side,hesitant to let it unfold in front of the other woman.

Meri held no judgement for Rilla as she listens to the woman recount her past. While there was no judgement, there was a relief. Meri was not entirely sure what answer she would get while inquiring about Rilla's lack of choice in the matter, some responses could be more nefarious than others. In Rilla's case, it mostly seems to be an issue of horrible timing. "Oh. Well. I am relieved....I was going to offer to crack skulls open if I needed to, though I am sure you would scold me for that." Meri smirks, "As we just talked about what happens when you promise your blade to people..." Meri is rising from her seat, Rilla is preparing to depart as well by the looks of things. "Or maybe you will just have to learn to accept that I love a good invitation to trouble." There is a wink as Meri begins to turn, intent on departing one of the available rooms. "Been a pleasure chatting with you, Rilla. I'm going to pass out. In a bed. By myself. No husband. No child." Not that her child didn't have her own room, but toddlers get scared of the dark sometimes, you know? "It's going to be gloooorious. And then I am going to sleep in tomorrow...Frak yeah." Rilla would be given a salute before Meri is off to find out how comfortable her bed for the night is.