Post by Mercy on Jan 25, 2014 10:46:03 GMT -5
The tavern was bustling with activity, and as a recognized safe house for the underbelly of the city the clientele were a bit on the sketchy side. Some were friends and some were enemies, but there was an active sanctuary agreement on the roof of the building and so no one drew arms within its walls, and the strongest thing thrown around were a few veiled glares and a promise.
Mercy was in the center of it, sitting at a table with a few 'companions' with which she was discussing shop, trading techniques or preferences, granting the occasional offhand quote of the value of a supposed item of interest. You were careful not to say too much, an errant word here could mean a missed opportunity tomorrow as while you were deep in your cups a rival would already have swiped your intended. But it was a haven, somewhere you could relax and forget about trying to stay three steps ahead of the city guard (not particularly hard) so at least there were no literal backstabs alongside the metaphorical.
"Ah, Nightspider. Care for another round? I'll pay."
The voice was deep and friendly, prompting a lift of a brow and a turn of her head that was soon followed with the growth of a lazy smile. Jyssom was a colleague with whom she had shared a few jobs, and while he was as ugly a human as she had ever the misfortune to meet he was capable and reliable, though not without a few faults .. which was why she merely nodded with a slightly disbelieving glance as to the truth of his statement, that prompted him to make his trip to the bar. Turning back to her companions, she acknowledged their curious expressions with a half shrug.
"It may come as a surprise .. " Tongue dripped with sarcasm. " .. but some are still so misguided as to believe that every darkelf comes with an intense spider fetish. There was such a one who attempted to win my favour - you are familiar with Quilal, the Halfbreed? - he thought it was a compliment. Unfortunately, it caught on .. and that was how I received the nickname Nightspider."
True to his word - to the surprise of everyone at the table - Jyssom returned with a tray of drinks, though each one was competing for the title of cheapest item on the menu. With his arrival Mercy fell into silence, content to merely sip her drink as she examined each member of their party beneath her lashes. She had a job to think about, and that book would not steal itself.
Mercy was in the center of it, sitting at a table with a few 'companions' with which she was discussing shop, trading techniques or preferences, granting the occasional offhand quote of the value of a supposed item of interest. You were careful not to say too much, an errant word here could mean a missed opportunity tomorrow as while you were deep in your cups a rival would already have swiped your intended. But it was a haven, somewhere you could relax and forget about trying to stay three steps ahead of the city guard (not particularly hard) so at least there were no literal backstabs alongside the metaphorical.
"Ah, Nightspider. Care for another round? I'll pay."
The voice was deep and friendly, prompting a lift of a brow and a turn of her head that was soon followed with the growth of a lazy smile. Jyssom was a colleague with whom she had shared a few jobs, and while he was as ugly a human as she had ever the misfortune to meet he was capable and reliable, though not without a few faults .. which was why she merely nodded with a slightly disbelieving glance as to the truth of his statement, that prompted him to make his trip to the bar. Turning back to her companions, she acknowledged their curious expressions with a half shrug.
"It may come as a surprise .. " Tongue dripped with sarcasm. " .. but some are still so misguided as to believe that every darkelf comes with an intense spider fetish. There was such a one who attempted to win my favour - you are familiar with Quilal, the Halfbreed? - he thought it was a compliment. Unfortunately, it caught on .. and that was how I received the nickname Nightspider."
True to his word - to the surprise of everyone at the table - Jyssom returned with a tray of drinks, though each one was competing for the title of cheapest item on the menu. With his arrival Mercy fell into silence, content to merely sip her drink as she examined each member of their party beneath her lashes. She had a job to think about, and that book would not steal itself.
