RP:Interceding for Bastion

From HollowWiki

Synopsis: Zahrani and Scandal meet again at the Tavern, noticing a young boy being mercilessly harassed by drunkards.

Bastion didn't spend too terribly much time in taverns, but every now and then, he was suckered into it. Ergritt was busy looking for a way to cool down, still unused to the southern clime of Kelay. Bastion found it hilarious that she found the lack of giant sized conveniences so... inconveniencing. And here she'd often said she was used to 'roughing it'. The giantess was nowhere to be seen, trying to find ice in a desert, probably, and Bastion yawned at his table, sipping on goats milk and eating fresh biscuits. He enjoyed modest fare, though the bartender Mesthak often offered finer food. Few things made the grumpy veteran tender smile, but Bastion was one of those things. Acupuncture was simply magical, properly applied.

Scandal sat near the fire. His furs that he wore around his body, managed to keep the his frame from being physically seen, which would have been seen likely as athletic but for those who knew from the way he sat and the way the floor creaked with every movement, it might have been obvious of just how dense the muscle was underneath those furs. Scandal sat on a stone block having previously ordered a raw steak which he had cooked using the fire, while sipping from a glass of brandy which was about to refilled because Nancy soon was dropping off another bottle of brandy, his second, today. From appearance of what could be seen his features coming off as drow, save for his eyes which while red irised looked humanish, and his bright fiery red beard and short hair on his head, made the difference. “Thank you,” He said to nancy as she plopped down the bottle, and swiped the gold he had previously left on the table as if to hint for a refill.

Zahrani quietly walked in, the paladin covered from head to toe in a fluffy hooded cloak to keep out the chilly night air. Upon closing the door, the fur was removed, revealing a very athletic and androgynous feline. She stood at roughly 5'11, wearing a sleeveless fitted tunic and insulated pants and boots. Black, velvety for covers her body, and the longer hair on her head was tied into a beautiful that lady across her shoulder. Blue eyes scanned for familiar faces, and her keen sense of smell recognized scandal sitting at the fire. The Warden strode past Bastion, offering him a warm smile before taking a seat next to the red bearded man. "Evening." Her voice has a slight feline rasp, but it is inviting and reassuring.

Bastion didn't often rub people the wrong way, but it happened. He gave a smile and a small wave to Zahrani, feeling the aura of a paladin from her. There were few enough in the lands these days, and it was a good thing to see. He'd seen few such anthromorphic sapients as she, and it was interesting to see more often. She sat with an odd looking elf, perhaps drow. And then, the action commenced. A man walked up to Bastion, and grabbed a horn. "Oye, I've a rack like this on me wall at 'ome. C'mere, you didn't steal into a man's home to play dress up with 'im trophies, didja? Ah, lads, c'mere! It's real!" Bastion gave a dismal little sigh, but didn't lift a hand against him. The man sat next to him, his friends crowding around. "Pretty little lass, isn't she? Maybe she's a faun." "Whassat, Earl?" "Issa goat-girl. Got hooves, and furry legs, but the rest is woman." "How 'bout it, lass? You got a hairy goat arse? Let's have a look, heh?" The men seemed to be having a grand, drunken adventure at Bastion's expense. In their defense, he did look very much like a young woman, prim and regal and pretty. Even his voice was effiminate, and gentle. "Please, gentlemen, find your entertainment elsewhere. Aren't I a little young for men of your age?" Then, he found his chin in a man's hand, turning his face forcibly towards him. "Such soft skin on 'er. Cheer up, sweety. Is harmless fun."

Scandal smiled when he saw the feline, enter. He stood quickly to pull a chair could so she could sit, and then sat back down giving a nod to her, and pulling off the steak from the fire.

Zahrani was about to take a seat before her ears turn towards the drunken men who were harassing Bastion. The most neutral of poker faces was adopted by the feline as she turned on her heels and quietly approached the men from behind. Zahrani was calculating all of the possible ways this could go. She wasn't interested in starting a brawl. Instead she stood up straight right behind them, crossed both arms to accentuate her muscles even further, then said diplomatically, "Now gentlemen, surely you can leave this boy to his meal without any fuss. You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself like this in front of the barkeep, would you?"

Bastion was thankful for the peaceful intervention, though the men seemed less than convinced. Some of them grumbled and got up, but two stayed. "Boy? Miss, you seem to be seein' wrong. This here's a girl-goat. Ain't that right girly?" Bastion looked the man in the eye, and shook his head. "I'm sorry sir, but you are mistaken. I am a boy." The man frowned, and huffed, then stood with the others. "C'mon boys, ain't worth the trouble." They'd already shoved off though, and he followed behind. That left only the most beligerant one. "Boy, girl, it ain't matter. All that matters is, I think this might be m'own child." He put his arm around Bastion's shoulders, grinning maliciously. "I done shagged a goat, once. Bet you didn't know your daddy growin' up, didja?" He laughed, and Bastion stayed silent, flushed a deep crimson.

Scandal by this point had already noticed the commotion. He started to smile seeing Zahrani handling the situation well, but the smile degraded when one remained. Normally he didn't care, the kid wasn't his concern, but drunken man or no, this man was delaying his conversation with his friend, he cared when it concerned him, at least thats what he preferred people to believe.. Standing up, he manuevered his way through the chairs and tables, changing his step or rather the transformation magic that held his form together, he adjusted his density to become lighter and more silent. As he approached the man standing next to Zahrani, to make the point stronger. He didn't care in the least if the man saw his unnaturally non humanoid like sharp teeth, behind his lips as he spoke deeply in his own voice, "Sir, if you fancy children so much perhaps you would be best to return to your home, as i am sure there are plenty to choose from admist your wife's rantings. Or, i can simply relieve you the ability to enjoy your wife's company, especially in the bedroom." He let the last note sink in if that didn't work, well he was sure that zahrani could handle him, afterall it would be best that he didn't intervene.

Zahrani kept her eyes on the remaining drunkard, her arms crossed as she heard the words leave Scandal's. The hair on the back of her neck raised slightly at the sound of the dragon's true voice. Her neutral face remained as she placed her hands on her hips, the mace at her belt making a soft clink in its clasp. To the drunkard, she spoke calmly, "If you leave now, you might catch up with the rest of your friends." They were all probably well down the street by now, and he was alone with a feline and a dragon.

Bastion knew men like this one. Men with ego's, ego's that overrode any common sense, any fear, turning them into machines of rage. He also knew who this man was likely connected to, and the hellfire that would rain down upon the innocent of Kelay should he be harmed. The man was obviously intimidated by Scandal, his eyes never left him, even as he unsubtly reached a hand for his dagger, the transformation of fear into blind fury happening on his visage. Fortunately, he was drunk. Bastion had his hand over the man's own, and another hand around his waist in an instant, during the pass of which he'd inserted a needle into the small of the man's back. "Sir, your friends are going to leave you behind. You've got to catch up to them." The man blinked, as though confused, his expression returning to something more placid. "You triumped this day, sir. You got what you came for. You always do, isn't that right?" The man looked at Bastion, quizzically, then nodded, and swallowed. He rose, and began silently walking for the door. Bastion slumped back into his chair the moment the man was gone, sighing dismally. That had almost gone very badly.

Scandal muscles in his back loosened, covered by the furs he wore they were not seen, but the relief was a good feeling. He preferred to not to intimidate, as that lost allies and friends, or potential ones in his case, kinda difficult to claim you've had friends especially since you've been asleep for a very long time. As soon as the drunkard left, his voice unchanging as if this was simply the normal way he spoke, the tone being the only thing that had changed, and the aroma of cinnamon returning that he smelled hintly of became present again. "Splendidly done Zahrani, and you, sir, good job on holding it in."

Zahrani becomes slightly more relaxed, an aura of soft amber light playing across her fur; it was subtle enough that it's not annoying, but it was noticeable nonetheless. Turning to the dragon and placing a warm paw on his shoulder, the feline said, "Scandal, I like you, but please warn me before you do or say something like that." That same cerulean gaze rested on Bastion, the Warden then asked, "May we sit with you? Possibly help keep the people who are staring at us at bay?" Zahrani turned towards another man that had been ogling her from a distance and he turns around immediately. A slightly inebriated woman does the same at the cat's gaze.

Bastion gave Zahrani a cherubic smile, and bade them sit. "I've a love of good company, ma'dam, sir." He looked back at Scandal. "I know your intentions were good, sir, but please, cause no violence here, if you can help it. It is the locals who will suffer should we indulge such whims." And suffer greatly, at that. Unless they were willing to stick around and solve their problems, they shouldn't go around causing any. "Scandal, is it? A pleasure, sir. I am Bastion." He was small, and pretty, though a boy. He had ram horns, black as midnight, and wore the robes of a monk... of an order unknown in these lands, besides. Then, there was a lamb. A she lamb, though something about her was off... she had horns identical to Bastion's own, and wool as black as her horns. She clambered up his chair, and Bastion 'oofed' as she shifted herself up onto him, bearing her weight. She took a seat in his lap, bleating for attention until he started petting her, then licking his hair into a silly upturned spike on the side while he tolerated her presence with an indulgent slump. "Sorry about that. This is Kyrie. Say hi, Kyrie." The lamb bleated at them with what looked like a goofy grin on her features, then turned back to licking his lamb-lick into place.

Scandal nodded in response to Zahrani, but remained silent. Taking a seat he sat down at the table and replied, "I assure you, it was only a threat, I intended to scare him off, but yes, Zahrani, next time I will let you know, at least if I can remember the telepathy of dragon. Its been... a very long while." His voice having softened but still remaining rich and deep. "A pleasure to meet you, perhaps..." He paused a second as nancy placed his brandy and his cooked steak in front of him leaving a note of thanks, "Thank you, ...perhaps we may speak of good conversation, yes?"

Zahrani sat down across from Bastion, the feline beaming at the young boy and his lamb and just...how freakin' adorable they were. After Scandal's words, the paladin introduces herself, "I am Zahrani, the Warden. But you, Bastion, may call me Zahrani. It is nice to meet you and Kyrie." She tented one arm on the table, resting her cheek on her before looking over at the dragon tucking into a delicious-looking chunk of meat, "I think you mentioned something about waking up recently, when we last spoke. Where were you sleeping, and for how long?"

Bastion blinked at the title. Warden? He wonder what the title entailed. He was unfamiliar with it. "A pleasure to meet you, Warden Zahrani." He hoped that sufficed for a formal address. Meanwhile, she seemed more interested in Scandel's mention of a long sleep. According to what he was saying, he was likely a dragon. Bastion didn't see why not... he'd yet to see a dragon take on their real form in Hollow, even once, yet. They seemed to all delight in running around as bipedal humanoids. Apparently, on a permanent basis. Perhaps it was all a ruse, in truth. He wondered about it.

Scandal replied, "Well it wasn't yesterday, but rather a few hours before we first met, I had been previously asleep. so when i refer to waking, I mean to say when I woke from the long sleep, I know not how long, but as for the location, it was a mountain, around here, not really an important, I slept as you see me now, not as a dragon. I shudder to wonder, what I would look like now."

Zahrani was trying to wrap her head around that explanation. She concluded that she would need more context and knowledge of dragon physiology. The paladin turned to order a glass of wine from Nancy, smiling sweetly and fixing her braid absentmindedly as she spoke to the barmaid. As Nancy left, Zahrani turned back to Bastion, smiling again and purring a response, "Warden was just the title my teacher and the paladin trainees gave me, for my skill with magical wards as well as healing. What of you, young Bastion? I have so many questions to ask you, but: what work do you do? I've never seen such garment while I traveled Lithrydel. And your horns...they are beautiful." She then stopped talking, wondering if anyone had said that before, and hoping to the gods that the boy doesn't take offense.

Bastion flushed at Zahrani's praise of his horns. "Ah, well. Most people just assume my mother was a goat, because of them. They're not even goat horns..." He sighed. "But I digress. I'm a peasant monk, on a pilgrimage of labors. It is my duty to toil alongside the commonfolk. I share their labors, and I protect their interests. I am vowed to Poverty, Truth, and Peace, that I may always remember my duty. I am schooled in the art of the Gentle Fist, which also allows me some forms of therapeutic healing, like acupuncture. I perform this service, along with massage for those who dislike needles, for the asking. It is very soothing, and rejuvenating." The health benefits were beyond extraordinary, as well... even his elder vampiress bardic tutor, the ex head mistress of the bards guild, had mentioned that some of what he was capable of was beyond her own healing abilities.

Scandal listened Bastion, as he was intrigued, though he wasn't about to show it, so he continued to eat his steak as if he were more interested in the food rather than the tale being told. "I am sure, those sessions truly are nothing short of sweet heaven, though, i bet they would be better performed upon those who skin, is not of scales." He said with a nod to Zahrani. "I hear such things can keep the body in tone. Is this still true?" he asked of Bastion.

You 's ears are turned towards Bastion as he explained his profession. A monk...with the most intriguing of healing capabilities. Acupuncture...the use of needles to assist with healing. After Scandal's query, the feline spoke again "That sounds...incredible. Most of the healing I've done is not that precise. Your pilgrimage sounds a lot like what paladins are sworn to. If you wish for a traveling companion, I'd be honored to travel with you." She turned to the dragon, wondering if he would express any thoughts on the matter, or just continue appearing disinterested.

Bastion considers Scandal's words a moment before answering. "No. Not mine at least, sir. It takes diligent exercise to keep the body in shape. However, my acupuncture targets the vital energies of the body with my own Ki, and can improve the body's health in a number of ways. Besides soothing and inducing euphoria, staving off pain and headache, my acupuncture is capable of improving blood pressure, halting or even reversing long term illnesses, and over long term application, permanently improving health. Some who received acupuncture treatments their whole lives ended up living near twice as long as most of their kind. I have had a few patient who swore they were physically stronger, or more nimble after many treatments though, so I suppose I could be wrong. I believe it's just improved circulatory function and comfort with self however, manifesting as a greater ease of applying ones self physically and mentally, and spiritually." He shrugged. "Then again, I dodge things faster, trained men cannot through capabilities of mystical intuition. They could certainly be right. The art is immature. It has been practiced for a long time, but its secrets are too closely guarded. I'm the only male practitioner in two thousand years, and was exiled once it was discovered I'm actually male." Bastion bit his lip on the thought of a paladin traveling companion. "I would welcome the company, truly. Right now, I travel a lot, but mostly in service of Frostmaw. I've been using a wizards help to travel quickly, through teleportation... it's quite helpful. Amazing, really."

Scandal pondered Bastions words. "It seems to me, that the practice is awfully tempting. What would the cost be of a session?" He asked. When it came to overhearing the talk of teleportation, he wanted to object, but then he hadn't flown since before the long nap, so he held his tongue "How interesting."

Zahrani listened studiously, soaking up all of the information Bastion as best she could. She frowned at Bastion mentioning being exiled, before replying with a wry smile and a twinkling gaze, "And they told me a woman wouldn't be able to stand the full weight of 'the Paladin's Mantle.' That's what some of the males told me when my foster father started teaching me." She folded her arms over her chest, purring softly as she leaned back and listened to Scandal asking about an acupuncture session. She would be curious to see how it was done, whether or not the dragon was interested in being on the receiving end.

Bastion shook his head. "I do not charge. Besides, I am sworn to poverty. I am not allowed to own coin." He smiled. "The services are free for the asking. I must travel for my pilgrimage, though, so I cannot stay in one place and tend to you for long periods of time. I apologize for this." He looked to Zahrani. "Truly, I meant no deception. I was taken in as an orphan, and the kind woman that took me in hid my true sex so that I'd have a home. I was easy to pass as female, and learned the art well." Bastion was surprised to find that Zahrani was in fact purring. He supposed she more than simply looked like a cat. Kyrie bleated at her again, wiggling her hoofs in the air, and Bastion thumped on her on her thick skull, to which she licked his face until it was messy and drippy.

Scandal shrugged as if he didn't care, but in truth he was little miffed, mainly because he felt the boy was owed for his services, plus it was in his own nature to be covetous it was what was expected of red dragons, and he was both red and black. Which only doubled that expected need. "Pity bout the coin, i been meaning to get rid of 400 some odd gold, and I had hoped to use it for my own pleasure, or that of a friend." He paused. and pushed his plate away. Taking a sip of the brandy he glanced at Zahrani, and lent her his thoughts if she would hear them. *for a friend* he thought to her. And motioned to the gold on his chair. "It was pleasure to meet you Bastion." And with that he slipped out, of the tavern, yet he hoped perhaps that if stayed he'd at least get a friendly good bye from his feline friend.

Zahrani stood up as Scandal was preparing to leave. She had just barely felt the words; it sounds like the old dragon's power was beginning to finally awaken. She walks up to the dragon, smiling warmly and offering him a warm farewell embrace. *Thank you.* she thought back in return. She then returned to Bastion and said, "I can usually be found not far from Kelay in the coming days. If you have need of a companion, please do not hesitate to contact me..." Her face glowed slightly with her smile as she took one last look for the evening at the boy and his lamb, before, "Good night, Bastion."