06-25-05

Characters involved: Keita & Ripclaw

Halyard Tavern: Main Room

In the early morning, all that can be heard in Halyard's one and only tavern are the morning antics of a few sea birds outside, and the snores of the captives inside. Lying in various places on the tavern's wood floor, or on wooden benches for those lucky enough to have gotten to the booths before the rest, the various creatures have yet to wake up to the day's cruel realities. Keita has, however, and she lies atop the bar-top staring up at the ceiling while she waits for the rest of the village to wake up. She taps out a beat idly on her stomach.

Ripclaw was always an early riser, and, having nothing else to do, opens the door and enters the tavern.

Keita doesn't bother looking up, as she assumes it's merely one of the guards filing in to kick the rest awake. Since she's already awake and not very interested in the guards besides, their entrance doesn't interest her. Ra-ta-ta-tap-ta, her claw-tips go, now on the counter-top beside her.

Ripclaw sits down at a table and looks idly about the room. He had actually gotten sleep last night.

( As the lack of groans and mutters lengthens out, Keita fiiiinally lifts her head to see what all the quiet is about. One brow quirked up at a comical angle, the doe surveys the room 'til she spots the tod seated at the table. Ra-ta-tap-tap. Hm. Silent sort of fellow, isn't he? After considering things for a moment, she does the only thing that she can think to do. She waves. )

Ripclaw notices the doe, and waves, quite sheepishly, back.

If possible, the eyebrow goes up a bit more. Heartened by the wave back, she then goes on to wave him over to the bar. She swings her legs over the edge of the bar and sits up, then proceeds to pat the back of one of the stools invitingly, with an amused grin.

Ripclaw has never seen a stranger thing in his life. Stupefied, he goes and sits on the stool.

Keita scooches a bit away from the stool she's directed him to as he begins to come over, just to give him a bit of breathing room. Breathing room for herself too, for that matter. As he sits, she offers another grin and whispers a greeting - so as not to disturb the others. "Hullo, hullo, and mornin'." You'd almost think that she's forgotten about the rope 'round her neck. XD

Ripclaw looks at the doe. You'd think they'd been best friend all their lives. Suddenly, his voice comes back. "What?"

Or perhaps she's cheerful to the point of peril in the mornings? Could be, could be. She makes a disagreeable face at his question, "What, what? I said good mornin'." She pauses to consider him long and hard. "Ya can't be in here fer a drink this bloody awful early in the mornin', so I c'n only assume ya've heard what good company I am." She really has got to be joking. Right?

Ripclaw asks, "Have -you- been drinking?"

Keita hmms, tapping a claw-tip to her chin as she considers his question. "I shouldn't /think/ so. Don't drink m'own stock, ya know. Rathah unprofitable, 'n' all that."

Ripclaw suddenly looks interested. "You own this? Or, rather, used to?"

Keita nods, and gestures widely with a paw at the slightly worse-for-wear room. "Indeed I do - or did - m' deah tod. Apprenticed from the age o' six seasons 'n' inherited at eight, that I did." She pauses, and gives Ripclaw a look. "An' no, I didn't poison the previous ownah." she drops a wink, "Untimely death, 'm afraid, at the paws o' an unsatisfied customah."

Ripclaw nods. "Then you must know who works here, right?"

Keita gives Ripclaw a look that suggests she's now questioning his intelligence. "... Well, yes, tends t' go with ownin' a place, knowin' yer bartendahs does."

Ripclaw catches the look. "I didn't know if we had assigned others different from the original employ."

"Ah - well, yes. I'm not quite sure where the rest o' the bartends are, now that ya mention it." The doe takes a moment to peer out over the sleeping beasts, with a paw held up to shade a non-existent sun. "I c'n only assume they're bein' kept elsewhere in the village, or they died in the attack. Who knows, who knows? Bettah fate than havin' t' see the tavern in such a state as this, anyway." She then has a thought, and glances back over her shoulder to a snoring vixen on the floor behind the counter. "That? Is m'new bartend." She points.

Ripclaw nods. "Yes, I've met her."

Keita hms, looking between Ripclaw and the snoring vix. "Well, that's good 'nough, then. And what did the two o' you fox-types talk about, in this meetin' o' yours?"

Ripclaw leans in close. "I'm breakin' out of here. She had to go clean in the back 'fore I could tell her."

Keita... brow-quirks, and then scratches absently at a half-drooping ear. "... Since when d' the captahs have t' break out?"

Ripclaw says, "I'm not in the high captain's employ by my own will."

Keita looks as if she's not sure whether to believe him or not. "Well... that's unfortunate, I s'pose. How'd that come abou'?"

Ripclaw grimaces. "I was kidnapped and carried off. Not too fun, believe me.

Keita hms. "No, I shouldn't think it t' be." She's looking intrigued, anyway. "When'd that happen, then?"

Ripclaw says, "When I was nine seasons old."

Ripclaw leans against the bar. "Anyway, I'm getting out of here, and maybe come back when the others have left. Tis nice here."

Keita rests her chin in a paw, and offers the tod a grin. "Well, yer welcome back 'ere anytime. 'Course, once the othahs have gone you'll have t' start payin' fer yer drink, again." She tilts her head, considering Ripclaw speculatively. "Mayhaps might even have a job fer the likes o' you. Eh - time'll tell."

Ripclaw looks offended, though only slightly so. "I -have- been paying."

Keita laughs, and raises both paws in surrender. "Oh, 'ave ya now? Well, 'tis appreciated. I c'n assure ya that most don't."

Ripclaw nods. "I know. You probably make just enough to stock the bar."

Keita laughs. "Stock the bar? I haven't been stocked since the lot o' you came through. Think they let m'suppliah through? Not likely..." The doe trails off, glancing back at her quickly-dwindling supples. Sigh. She looks back to Rip, "... Well, unfortunately I've got t' prepare fer the day's work. 'Twas a pleasure chattin' with ya." She turns and hops down off the bar, and takes a few steps down towards the other end of the bar, waiting for a reply before going the rest of the way.

Ripclaw moves to where she is and slips her a dagger. "You can use this to escape, if you get the chance."

Keita takes a long look at the dagger, and then an equally long look at Ripclaw. It could be a set-up of some sort, but... what choice? With a quick but thorough look around for any prying eyes, her paw jumps out and takes the dagger, and quickly it goes up a sleeve. Without another word, she turns away from Ripclaw and continues down to the other end of the bar and "gets to work". Where the dagger goes after that, only she knows.