forum Unwilling Allies//oxo//Closed//Stalkers welcome

Started August 18, 2021 by @Elder-God-Jacks347

tune

Meanwhile, Xachia was continuing on in her shift like nothing happened. People always said she looked mature for her age, although she just guessed that was from years of working hospitality since she was little.

Kayin finished putting her things away, leaving most of it packed in the event that they'd need a quick getaway. She made her way back down to the tavern and sat at the bar, hood over his face and his hands folded in their lap.

The tavern had since cleared out a little, the busy time starting to pass. Xachia watched the now slightly familiar stranger settle back down at her bar. She made her way over with her signature warm smile. "Welcome back adventurer. Now, can I actually get something for you this time?"

"I'm not an adventurer," Kayin said, irritated. "Sure, yeah. What do you have that's strong?"

"Well until you give me a name or a title you'd like to be called, you shall be called adventurer." She shrugged with a giggle. "As for strong, that depends on when you want to wake up. If you want tonight, I'd go with the Firefly Whiskey. If you want anywhere from tomorrow morning to the next three days, then the classic Dragon Lily cocktail should do the trick."

"You can call me Kai," he said. "How much for two of the whiskey?"

"Well Kai, that'll be ten silver." Someone called her name at the other end of the bar and she excused herself to take care of it, brightening up as it was one of her regulars.

Kayin dug around in her pockets for a moment, then scooped the requisite coins into his hands, waiting for Xachia to come back so they could pay her.

When Xachia finished with them, it almost seemed like she flipped a switch. It was very slight, unnoticeable unless you knew what you were looking for but it was there. She returned to Kai and took the coins before she started on pouring the whiskey.

"Thank you kindly," Kayin said in a mild voice. He pushed back his hood in a bout of rashness and shook out their hair. Kayin pulled a tangerine out of their pocket and began peeling it with one of her knives.

She set down the glasses with an amused smile and a raise of her eyebrow. "A tangerine? I'd mistake you for a child if I didn't know any better." She laughed, tossing her braid over her shoulder before heading back to take care of the rest of her customers.

Kayin kept their composure, downing one of the whiskeys and then the other, then put a tangerine slice in her mouth. "Hm."
A customer in the bar caught a glimpse of Kayin's face and said, "Hey, I know you." Then he frowned. "From somewhere. I think. Yeah, you're on the wall over there."
Kayin looked where the man was pointing and scowled at the wanted poster hung on the wall. "I'm much prettier than that, thank you," she said and ripped it off the wall angrily.

"Oi! Leave the signs and posters alone! They're there for a reason, thank you!" Xachia raised a warning brow at Kai, huffing quietly.

"Mine's only up there because I'm doing my job," Kayin protested. He uncrinkled the poster and held it out angrily for Xachia to see. "I DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THAT."

She gently moved the poster down out of her face with a blank expression. "I understand you're upset but it's better if you go put it back up while I'm being nice before my father realizes you took it down and turns you into barbeque chicken."

"I'd rather be barbeque chicken than being wanted by the government." His expression brightened. "At least I'm worth two hundred gold now. It used to be only one hundred." She tacked the poster back up and frowned at it. "That's absurdly ugly."

"Well maybe you should avoid capture a little more obviously so they would have reason to fix it." She chuckled with an amused grin.

"I don't get captured. Maybe I should and then escape, hmm? Then they'd get a good look at me."

"Maybe so. You can't blame them for drawing you so bad if they don't know what you look like. Or maybe they do and they're just using it as a trap to lure you in based on pride." Xachia shrugged as she cleaned a glass. "Who knows."

"You might have a point," is all Kayin said. Then he sat back down at the bar and said, "Give me one of those cocktail things."

"That's what I thought. Coming right up." She chuckled, turning to make the drink with rehearsed ease.

Kayin scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He gave Xachia a bland look. “You weren’t very surprised that I’m wanted by the king,” she commented.

She raised an amused eyebrow at Kai. "Do you see how many posters are up there? You're not the first person who's been wanted that's wandered in here and you certainly won't be the last."

Kayin took a sip of the cocktail and spun it around on the counter. "I suppose that's true," is all she said, eating another piece of orange.

She set the drink on the counter with an amused smile. "This one's on me. Looks like you need it after that revelation."

“I don’t need anything,” Kayin said sharply, but took the cocktail and drank it all quickly. Their head swam and they blinked, listing to the side.

"Mhm, sure you don't." Xachia chuckled as she watched Kai down the drink in one. She came to Kai's side and took them into her arms, carrying them to an empty table like they were light as a feather.
(I've never worked with multiple pronouns before so sorry if I'm using them wrong!)

(you’re doing good!)
“Don’tttouchh mee,” Kayin said angrily, his words slipping together. “Iii’mm finnee.”

"Ah shush, you can barely stand on your own two feet. I'm just setting you down so you don't knock yourself out on the floor." She rolled her eyes with a smile, setting Kai down at the table. "There, better?"

“No, ittisnt. Disrespecctful.” He waved Xachia away impatiently. “I’ll bee jusss fine withhhout you.”