forum Adventures with Barkeep (Private Party from Tavern. You know who you are.)

Started May 19, 2019 by @GameMaster group

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"Cute, but I don't know." He said and smiled at the bird. "I guess I should look around a bit to decide on what to get." He said then thought of what would be something god to get here.

They walked through the stalls eyeing many odd toys and trinkets. Various pieces of jewelry and automations plated with bronze and silver littered the tables. One cart had a collection of daggers made of hardened amber. Another displayed tea cakes and cookies with delicate decals made from hardened candy.

"Great stuff here, I must applaud their aesthetics." He said with a smile. then thought of something. "Maybe I should get an automated Cat, something you don't have to sell your soul for."

“It’s okay if you need a soul to sell. I have a few extra.” She smirked but it was still unclear as to whether she joking or not.

"Yeah, I don't actually have a soul… So that is whatever." Calix said back to her with a smiled.

They pulled up to a stand with various automation animals. Bird twittered in cages. Emerald amphibians skittered on the table. Most importantly, several cats of various sizes crawled around the table making small metallic purring noises at the passerbys. “Is this what you were thinking of.” She bent down to pet a black kittens with opalescent eyes.

"Yes, definitely." Calix said then pet the quiet automated cats, they were interesting and built to seemingly last.

Adri stared at all of them for a moment. "They're really cute." She lifted a small chickadee automaton off the table, turning it over in awe at the workmanship.

The barkeep pulled up her sleeve revealing her many watches. “We should get going soon. Purchase your new pets, quickly please.”

Adri nodded, handing the vendor a few coins and accepting the little bird in return. She tucked it into a pocket of her tunic, as she straightened and turned to the barkeep.

"You almost ready Calix?" The barkeeper handed Adri a small silver birdcage for her new chickadee.

"Yeah." Calix said holding the cat he bought in a carrier. "I'm good."

“Kay.” The barkeep snapper and the dome formed back around them. Their clothes flickered and returned to how they were before. Calix and Adri look down at their cloaks. “I had them dry cleaned by the way.” She snapped again and they were back in the tavern.

The barkeeper, Brie, and Eris appeared in the pearly dome.

"Ok, this is a pretty simple mission." She looked Brie and Eris up and down. Their clothes flickered. Brie was suddenly wearing an emerald fit-and-flare dress with silver jewelry and strap heels. Eris wore a pinstripe suit, brown dress shoes, and a jaxon hat. "Do you think you can keep in humanoid form for a while Eris?"

"With so many people with legs around? Sure, I can." he said flatly. "Aww, you're just gonna miss the tail." Brie said sympathetically.

“Well if you can manage then that’s fine.” The barkeeper swiped on some lipstick and the dome dissolved around them. They stood in a dark alley with what appeared to be a service door to the right of them. “I’ll go over the plan once we’re inside.” She then walked up to the door and performed a complicated set of knocks. The door swung open and the three of them stepped in.

Brie and Eris marveled at the cabaret style club. Layers of velvet booths covered three sides of the room with a bright stage inhibiting the fourth. The air was thick with cigar smoke and a young woman stood on the stage singing a show tune. “The most beautiful and exclusive cabaret show in the U.S. After all, it pays to have friends in high places.” She winked at them and strutted into the club. “Brie, how good are you at flirting?”

"Absolutely fucking horrible. I'm too forward, in the hey-if-I-wasn't-ace-I'd-fuck-you way. Ask Eris, he's a master of seduction." she said.

She shrugged. "That'll work. Eris, do normal human bullets kill you because you might be in range to get hit by accident."

"I'll be fine." he said, deliberately avoiding answering. It would freak them out too much, even if it did reassure that there would be minimal injury.

"Okay, so Brie and I are going to head backstage. Get up to the catwalk and take a shot…" She pointed to a stage door next to a well-stocked bar. "And Eris I need you to distract that man preferably by flirting." She pointed to a man sitting by himself in the third tier. He was rather large with a thick cigar between his teeth. "He owed me something and never paid up, so I take it for myself."

"On it. Wait, is he straight? Just wondering how entertaining this will be." Eris said. "Oh god, you aren't gonna… no, Eris, not the venom. That never goes well." Brie said.

"No idea. Doesn't really matter, does it? You would be just as distracted if you weren't attracted to them and they were flirting with you as if you were. Same difference." Eris shrugged and started to make his way towards the man. Brie and the barkeeper ducked into the dressing room.

"Well hello there. Strange to see someone so good looking all by themself," Eris said, settling in a position that broadcast some kind of greasy wanton sexuality throughout the whole room, making you feel uncomfortably hot uncomfortably quickly. "Oh god, he's using the venom." Brie groaned.