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* Michelle unlocks the door and looks around in the alleyway, "Where did it go?" <Michelle> ::A moment later a trunk stumps around the corner and heads towards Michelle.:: And where have you been? <Michelle> ::The trunk coughs and spits up a boot:: I hope there wasn't anything in that when you ate it. Put the sign out. <Michelle> ::The trunk opens and something reaches out sticking a note to the top of the trunk which reads "Coat Closet":: Hall's Open! * Michelle heads back inside and behind the bar. * Jaret enters, a stout scarlet woolen cape keeping the wind off him. "Saints and devils. I thought spring was finally here. Michelle, would you be my saviour and make me a goblet of mulled wine?" * Michelle smiles, "Of course Jaret. Anything else I can get you while I'm in the kitchen?" * Tarri comes in. She's dressed in her healer's tunic and trousers and looking very tired. "Hello, Michelle, Lord Malkier..." She takes a seat at the bar. "Can I have a glass of wine, Michelle?" * Jaret hangs his cape from one of the pegs on the wall, revealing his almost-ordinary dove-gray jacket and breeches, over his customary ruffled shirt. "The wine will be lovely. If I think of something later, I'll entreat you for it then." * Lisl strolls in, her head turned back to peer out the door as it swings closed. "'Evening, all. 'Chelle, I don't want to know what people have been putting in the closet out there, but you may want to ask them to keep their pets at home." * Michelle grabs a mug and a glass, "I'll have a talk with the closet later Lisl. I *think* everything is alright. I was just about to step into the kitchen, would you like anything while I'm there Lisl. Or you Tarri?" <Tarri> ::shakes her head:: No, I'm not hungry. <Lisl> I'm good. I'd take some 'kick from under the bar when you're back, though. * Michelle disappears into the kitchen. * Michelle returns from the kitchen and set the mug down in front of Tarri and the steaming glass in front of Jaret. "'Kick you said Lisl?" <Lisl> Aye. ::leans on the counter, looking around:: Quiet night. * Michelle nods, "Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. We could use more customers, but when things get noisy around here the repair bills tend to mount up pretty quickly." Kneels behind the bar for a few moments before standing and depositing a stone cup in front of Lisl, "There you go." * Orlann wanders into the Hall. He is dressed casually, in black leather pants, a white linen shirt and a green patterned sleeveless vest. His hair, braided and set with green-glass beads, is held back with a leather tie. <Jaret> Thank you, Michelle. ::he takes a long, slow drink from the goblet:: Ah... I feel further from the grave already. <Lisl> My thanks. ::taking a sip, her eyes tinging faintly yellow as she swallows:: Ahhhhh, that's the stuff. What you're saying we're rowdy, 'Chelle? ::grinning:: * Tarri picks up her mug and takes a gulp, then leans on the counter tiredly. "It's been a long-" She looks around as Orlann comes in and smiles. "Hello, love. You look nice tonight." <Lisl> ::glancing over her shoulder:: 'Evening, Sergeant. * Michelle considers, "No, I'd say you're boisterous." Gives Lisl a Cheshire cat grin. <Orlann> ::grins broadly:: Evenin', darling. Miss Lisl. Miss Michelle. Master Jaret. Bitter cold out, ain't it? <Lisl> ::looking affronted:: Boisterous? I'm not good enough for rowdy? Hells, I'll have to work on that. ::grinning wider:: Have to spend more time down at the 'Warren. <Michelle> What can I get you to fight the cold Orlann? * Jaret stands briefly to bow to Orlann. "Quite." <Tarri> I don't know if I'd call it *bitterly* cold. Just a bit chilly. * Orlann eyes his girlfriend. "Aye, but out by the harbor, t'is a bit nippy." * Michelle grins back, "If I call you wildly exuberant do you promise to keep your patronage here?" <Lisl> Cold, bah. Winter's just being a little stubborn, the old bastard. Let 'im have his last fling, not like he's here year-round. * Orlann walks over to Tarri's side and kisses her cheek briefly. "Iffen it ain't much trouble, Miss Michelle, I wouldn't say no to a hot cup of tea." <Tarri> ::smiles a little wider and puts an arm around Orlann's waist:: I'll help warm you up, then. <Michelle> No problem at all Orlann. Can I get you anything else while I'm in the kitchen? <Lisl> Wildly exuberant? Hunh. Naaah, I'll just have to behave myself here and drop by the dive bars on weekends to practice my chair-breaking. <Michelle> ::A few chairs scuttle away from Lisl:: <Orlann> ::raises an eyebrow at Lisl:: I don't reckon you ought to be doin' *that*, Miss Lisl. <Michelle> That's probably for the best. <Lisl> ::grins at Orlann:: Not that I'd suggest before an officer of the law that I'm anything but an upstanding citizen, of course. <Tarri> I think you already did... * Jaret grins, drinks some more wine, and doesn't incriminate himself. * Tarri leans against Orlann's side and has another gulp of her water. <Orlann> ::slightly stiffly:: But I'm off-duty, at present, ma'am. * Michelle disappears into the kitchen. <Lisl> Aye, that you are. ::waves a hand:: Just foolish talk, Sergeant, don't pay me any mind. <Jaret> ::nods:: Yes, don't mind Lisl. Her bark is worse than her bite. * Lisl directs a mild glare at Jaret and mumbles something under her breath. * Orlann raises an eyebrow. <Tarri> ::to Orlann:: Were you at the port all day? <Orlann> Off an' on. My squad's been guardin' the warehouses, recent-like. There's been a bunch o' robberies down that way. <Tarri> I hope it's not too dangerous... What kind of robberies? <Michelle> ::What sounds like birds singing emergences from behind the kitchen door. A few moments later Michelle emerges with two steaming tea cups. She sets the larger of the two in front of Orlann and then takes a sip from the other.:: There you are Orlann. <Orlann> ::sighs:: Food, most times. More ships're finally comin' in with harvests from other countries an' all. <Lisl> Aye... ::makes a face:: And winter *is* holding on... way too early to be putting crops in, with so little to spare for a late frost.... <Tarri> ::nods gravely:: <Jaret> Scarcity does drive up prices, and when food is scarce.... some of the merchants have less conscience than rabid beasts. <Tarri> It's the *merchants* doing the stealing? ::she looks both horrified and angry:: I thought it would just be the hungry people! <Orlann> ::nods:: There's a bit a'debate in the Council now, fer price regulatin', but - ::stops to look at Tarri:: <Lisl> Well... they're probably regretting it now, but the flocks started to come south two, three weeks ago already. Game's picking up. City got through the teeth of winter, we can make it past his tail and we're in the clear. <Jaret> I apologize, sweet Tarri, I've misled you. They're stealing in an abstract sense. They price the food so high that the poorer Marsembrians can't afford it. <Lisl> ::mutters:: Nothing abstract about it... highway robbery without the highway. <Tarri> ::bites her lip:: Oh... Well, but... ::she sighs and drinks the rest of her water:: Michelle, can I have a glass of wine? <Michelle> Certainly Tarri. ::Sets a glass on the bar in front of Tarri and then pulls a bottle from beneath the bar. A moment later the bottle is open and Michelle fills Tarri's glass.:: There you go. * Lisl takes another swallow of her 'kick. "Don't mind them making an honest wage... they have families to feed, too, I know. But showing a little charity in hard times is good business sense, too." <Tarri> Thank you. ::she takes a healthy swallow before she turns back to Orlann:: Are you actually looking for the robbers, or just patrolling to discourage them? <Orlann> ::nods:: Don't reckon the motion'll get through in time t'do anythin' useful this time, but should keep it from happenin' again. * Orlann takes a few swallows of his tea and smiles appreciatively. "We're just... dissuadin' people fer now... an'... sometimes, we're not lookin' as sharp as we could. Ain't so bad, if a few bags o' rice go missin'." <Lisl> ::muttering darkly:: If it gets through at all... bunch of damn gougers.... <Tarri> ::gives Orlann a quick smile of approval:: <Michelle> You mean like the ones who fined us Lisl? <Lisl> Aye, that's what was in my mind... ::taking another cautious sip:: <Jaret> With the council being in session, city business has been heavy, I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone about Magus Niralan. <Tarri> Who's Magus Niralan? <Orlann> ::snorts his tea out his nose, then coughs furiously:: <Michelle> The War Wizard who got us slapped with a thousand gold fine. <Jaret> He's a War Wizard who visited the Hall a few weeks ago, ignored the warning against practicing magic inside, and found himself transformed into a member of the member of the fairer sex. Unfortunately, his ethics were not likewise improved, and he was found three days later having set up camp in some of the women's public baths. <Jaret> Are you quite all right, Sergeant? Has the tea gone cold? <Tarri> ::eyes widening:: Oh, my- That's- ::she sputters:: <Lisl> And how *we* got fined for *his*-- ::starts to take a hefty swallow of 'kick, catches herself, and puts the mug down, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths instead:: <Jaret> He claimed the transformation affected his judgment and... he's a filthy clump of a man who's ashamed at what he got caught at. <Michelle> Very well put Jaret. <Lisl> ::mutters:: Shame'd imply he had morals to begin with... <Tarri> ::grumbling:: I'm glad we've got a tub at home... It's small, but... Ooh, that's so infuriating! <Orlann> ::coughs a few more times:: I'm right as rain. Jus'... damn ::blushes:: Sorry, ladies, but that... ::he shakes his head:: He ain't... it ain't the first time he been lookin' where he ain't s'posed to be. <Jaret> If not a withered, pathetic sense of morals, he scraped together enough brains to realize that he'd have over a hundred husbands, fathers, and brothers laying in wait for him unless he came up with some kind of a cover story for his antics. * Lisl opens her eyes, the irises still faintly tinged yellow, and leans over to regard Orlann. "Oh, *really.* Do tell, Sergeant?" <Tarri> ::stares at Orlann:: * Michelle quirks an eyebrow at Orlann, "Oh, do tell Sergeant." * Jaret lets the new center of attention speak his piece. * Orlann flushes until his dark skin is nearly purple. "Well... I ain't sayin' it was certain him, but... " He clears his throat again. "Few months back... one of my women soldiers - nice lass, bit sensitive to magic - knew someone was... well, scryin' on the ladies dressroom, down to the barracks." * Jaret finishes his wine. "Another round, if you'd be so kind, Michelle." <Michelle> Certainly Jaret. ::takes Jaret's glass and heads into the kitchen:: <Tarri> Oh, that dirty-! Was it him? * Michelle returns from the kitchen with another steaming glass that she sets before Jaret. * Lisl picks up her mug again and takes a small sip, eyeing Orlann over the rim. "You're not certain... but something makes you suspect him in particular? Something else, Sergeant?" <Orlann> ::looks very embarrassed:: He... looks up at the stairwell... <Jaret> Thank you, Michelle. <Lisl> ::frowns:: Stairwell? <Michelle> ::shakes her head and sighs:: I was thinking maybe I just need to open a women's bath house but it really sounds like plucking his eyes out would be more effective. <Orlann> ::tries to explain:: There's a wrought-iron staircase... at the barrack house... <Lisl> Ahhhhh... stairs're just grating? And some of the staff, or prisoners, wear skirts? ::grins:: Am I getting warm? <Orlann> An' when ladies come down, in dresses... ::he lowers his eyes to his mug:: <Lisl> Aye. ::snorts and cracks her knuckles:: Well, then. We'll have to give our Peeping Tim a bit of thought. <Tarri> ::harrumphs indignantly:: You would think he could have more subtlety than a half-grown boy, at least. * Michelle shakes her head dejectedly, "He probably has about as much appeal to women as a half-grown boy." <Lisl> 'Bout the maturity, too. I'd say he needs a good cuffing from his mother, but he'd probably enjoy it too much. <Tarri> ::to Orlann:: Don't you stop him? <Lisl> Mother. ::getting a wicked gleam in her eye:: Now... that's worth thinking about.... * Lisl takes a sip of 'kick. * Michelle primly sips her tea, "If your mother's coming to town Lisl I expect you to tell her that she's invited to dinner at Ellesmere," grins, "We'll call it a strategy session." <Lisl> Let me think on it a bit. I just got her to go home, after all. <Orlann> Well, course I do... but ::sighs:: Well, he's got what y'might call relations in high places, and it ain't 'zactly good for my career to go tippin' the apple-cart. So, I gotta be... subtle. <Tarri> Oh... ::bites her lip:: <Lisl> So... doing away with the bastard would do a world of good, seems to me. Right. <Orlann> ::looks cautious:: He ain't that much of a menace... I don't rightly mean he's, y'know, an upstandin' citizen or nothin', but he ain't... dangerous. * Jaret arches an eyebrow. "Voyeurism is reproachable, but I don't think it qualifies as a capital offense." <Lisl> ::waves a hand:: Pfah. I didn't mean that kind of "do away with." What am I, a barbarian? ::raises an eyebrow:: * Michelle smiles, "I think we need to ask your mother on that one." <Jaret> ::with a sly grin:: Oh, no. You're just boisterous. <Orlann> ::raises his eyebrows:: Don't know about that, Miss Lisl. * Lisl buries her face in her hands. "I am besieged." <Tarri> ::half-smiles:: You asked for it... * Michelle pats Lisl's shoulder, "Come on Lisl. You know you wouldn't be happy if we actually left you alone with nothing to complain about." <Lisl> ::snorts:: Wouldn't mind the chance to find out from time to time... * Jaret has another good drink from his goblet. "It is helpful to know that our accuser does have a history of this sort of activity. Even if those he spied on might be reluctant to serve as character witnesses against him, in our appeal." <Lisl> Still, that all aside... no, I'm not planning a blood hunt.... just yet. But to say he's not dangerous... one man abuses his power, disrespects people and gets away with it, maybe others start thinking they could get away with it, too... and enough start getting away with it, and people start getting the idea it's *alright* to get away with it. *That* to my mind is dangerous. <Tarri> Well of *course* they're not going to let him get away with it! <Orlann> ::darkly:: Well, he ain't gonna be, should somethin' ever happen. I ain't sayin' any of my men would, say, shove him in front o' somethin', but bein' in the line of work we're in, it don't pay none to have people unwillin' to watch your back. <Lisl> ::smiles and claps Orlann on the shoulder:: You're good folk, Sergeant. <Michelle> ::sigh:: We'll see how the appeal goes. * Jaret finishes off his wine. "All that said, I think it's time for me to be going along. Much mischief to be getting in to around town. I hope you understand." * Orlann ducks his chin. "That's right kind of you." <Lisl> ::grins:: Planning a bit of boisterousness, Jaret? * Michelle looks out the window, "Last call folks." <Jaret> I never plan. It always ended up being a waste of time when I tried to, so I've given up on the notion as silly and pointless. * Tarri finishes her wine, then snuggles against Orlann's side. <Lisl> ::glances into her still half-full mug:: I'm good with this, 'chelle. Probably better-than, even. * Orlann finishes off his tea. "Are you ready, then, darling?" <Lisl> Ha. Man after my own heart. Well, at least try to have fun, Jaret. * Jaret finishes the glass off, pulls a large, dented gold coin out of his belt pouch and puts it on the bar top. "And I've been trying to get rid of this ugly thing all 'round town without damaging my reputation, but here I should be able to safely put it in the coffers. Good night, everyone!" <Tarri> ::nods:: It's been *such* a long day. I'm ready to head home. ::she puts a couple of silver pieces on the counter:: <Michelle> Good night Jaret. Don't do anything I wouldn't. <Michelle> ::sweeps the coins into the lockbox:: * Orlann stands up and offers Tarri his arm, obviously not asking what Michelle might or might not do. <Lisl> Aw, let the man have his fun, 'chelle. ::takes another sip and puts the mug down, eyeing its depths again:: Ummm... 'chelle? Got a funnel? * Jaret takes his cape off the peg by the door, swirls it around his shoulders, and practically runs out into the night. * Tarri takes Orlann's arm gratefully and leans against him tiredly. "Good night, everyone..." <Lisl> Evening to you both. ::grins:: Keep warm, now. <Lisl> ::looking after Jaret's hasty exit:: I *do* wonder what he's up to, though... hm. <Orlann> ::pointedly:: I don't want to be knowin' about it, I'm sure. <Lisl> ::grins:: You're clear, Sergeant. He very carefully didn't tell you. * Michelle shakes her head, "Just a moment Lisl. Good night Tarri, Orlann." * Orlann escorts Tarri from the Hall. * Michelle disappears into the kitchen and returns a moment later with a funnel, "You want to do the honors Lisl?" <Lisl> Oooh, trusting woman. Hm. ::frowns slightly:: Which reminds me... got a little bottle? Not that much left in here... if you don't mind, I'll take a sample home and see what I can make of it... never *did* find out if it explodes or not. <Michelle> Sure. ::Rummages under the bar for a moment and comes up with a bottle and a stopper.:: Here you go. <Lisl> Thanks. ::sets the funnel in the bottle's mouth, steadying it with one hand as she oh-so-carefully decants the remaining 'kick into the bottle:: * Lisl sets her mug down and licks the end of the funnel. "Hm... ahhh, sorry 'bout that, 'chelle." She hands Michelle back her funnel minus the spout, which appears to have melted or corroded off. * Michelle shrugs, "Not like we aren't used to that sort of thing." <Lisl> Heh. ::corks the bottle and tucks it inside her vest:: I'm off, then. Sleep sweet, Michelle. <Michelle> Good night Lisl. As like I said, let me know if your mother is in town again. * Michelle starts shooing the dishes into the kitchen. <Lisl> Will do. ::tosses off a mock-salute as she heads back out into the cold, a thin shirt all that stands between her skin and the frigid night wind:: * Michelle finishes with the dishes and dims the lamps before stepping out into the alley, "You can put the sign away now." Something reaches out of the trunk and removes the sign. The sign then coughs again and a bag hits the ground with a jangle of coins. "That didn't come from a patron did it?" Michelle picks the bag of coins up and tosses it onto a table before closing and locking the door. "Good." |
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