A New Life

[Annia Siadon]

Annia Siadon

Her words were cryptic, but the knight had an idea what she meant, seeing first-hand the invisible 'bunny' she had talked to, or at least Annia thought she must be seeing a bunny. Annia didn't know whether or not it was something to be jealous of, though she did find it very curious. What kind of wonders does Aria see? Annia watched as Aria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was a slight pang of empathy for the elf. Usually alone, with no one else quite exactly understanding her or seeing things as she does (quite literally in some aspects). The knight placed her hands gently over the elf's in an effort to both calm and placate her nervous shifting.

"Many times... in dreams or wishes. But if you mean what you see, well... that's something a bit more special."

[Fellow Rabbit]

Gandin, son of Gehin

The dwarf's cheek muscles flared with the delectable taste of the pork as he shoved more and more into his mouth, hardly taking anything else happening around him into account. His mind was so focused on the taste and texture of this pork that was so magnificent, so fantastic, so ridiculously scrumptious (if only because he turned out to be just a little more hungry than he thought he had been) that he as well have had his eyes closed for about a minute straight. It was only when he stopped eating long enough to take a breath that realized he suddenly had no idea what was going on around him and noticed something subtly off about his meals. As his eyes fell upon his mashed potatoes and corn, there appeared to be slightly less there than was there before. Additionally, the potatoes appeared to have had a bite taken out of them. Had he eaten some already and just not been paying attention? No, it couldn't have been ? there wasn't nearly enough of it missing from his plate. If he had touched it, there most likely wouldn't have been any left.

To his right, he could see that a new customer had entered the bar and was sitting two stools to his left. An elf, by the looks of him. Gandin would never mistake those pointy ears. He was petite and potentially the perfect suspect if he were to blame someone for having stolen his hard-earned sweet, delicious, savory meals. He shot a glare in the elf's direction as he cut a piece of meat off of the pork and shoved it quite sloppily into his face hole.

Of course, he had no confirmation that this elf was indeed the culprit for his missing food. He returned to his meal, more or less repeating the same antics he had employed to scarf down the first slab of pig meat (which he had indeed already finished, albeit while only narrowly avoiding eating the bone that it was stuck to). Much like last time, he went completely oblivious to his surroundings, almost immediately forgetting he had a plate full of corn and taters to keep watch over, and creating quite the spectacle as he tore into his meat as if he was some kind of dog playing tug-of-war with a much more powerful adversary (his fork). Lucky for the rest of the customers in the inn, he was magnificently proficient at making sure his food-horking abilities had developed to maximum proficiency and therefore any splatter that would have escaped the grasp of any filthy casual eater was safely caught by the expertly shaped meat, all of which would be shoveled hastily into the gaping black hole that was his mouth.

And that it was, but again, as he regained his ability to pay attention to what was going on on the table in front of him, he noticed to his dismay and disproportionate anger that even more of the corn and spuds had gone missing! He shot a fiery glare at the elf to his right, whom Gandin had suspected by now had developed dangerous powers of appearing casual in the act of thievery. The dwarf would have none of this! But he still had no proof it was the elf who had poached the plush potatoes from his plate; he had to catch him in the act. And he had just the plan!

Leaning back, he pretended as if he had grown full and was unsure as to whether he could possibly finished the rest of his plate (as if), and the looked to the door on his left as if to be on the search for a bathroom in which he could start making room for more. Distracted only for a second ? since thinking about the bathroom actually did get him wondering where they would be in case he needed one ? he turned back, believing it to be the perfect moment to catch him in the act of robbing him of one of his favorite side-dishes. This, or course, once more ended in failure, but to his fury, a great deal more of his spuds had gone missing since last time.

This was the last straw. Gandin was vehement that any horrible creature - an elf of all races - would DARE to steal from a dwarf int he middle of his meal! He shot up to his feet, sending his stool back several feet as it toppled over, and shouted as angrily as he possibly could at the elf, who seemed quite taken aback at the sudden outburst.

"How dare you lay your filthy disgusting fingers on my supper!" the dwarf screamed, his words sincere, but certainly not sweet, "Do you think this a game?! I swear on Celestia's beard I will end you!" He put his hand on his axe, but did not draw it. He may have far more angry than any living creature should be over what amounted to about a fingerscoop of spuds, but he had not lost his mind. He knew there might be consequences if he started a battle that large in the middle of a tavern. Still, his furious demeanor had created quite a scene, and after an outburst like that, there was no way he could just go back to sitting and eating his food. No, not here. He demanded retribution! No one would escape the punishment for stealing even a speck of his glorious feast!

[Ella]

Callista Fae

Wow! This dwarf really enjoyed his food, didn't he? Callista watched as he seemed to shut the rest of the world out with every bite. He had looked around between bites as if realizing he was not alone and the faerie wondered if he had noticed the missing food. She watched as he glared at a nearby elf, but was not sure why he would do that. Perhaps he and the elf had bad history. It must not have been important, she decided, since the dwarf went back to losing himself to his food. The way he ate was kind of disturbing... But what did she expect of a dwarf? At least he did not make a mess and splash her with whatever juices were in the pork.

This time, when the dwarf stopped and looked at his plate, he immediately turned to glare at the elf. Oh! So he had noticed! But why was he glaring at the elf? Wasn't the elf to far away to steal food off of his plate? Besides, why would the elf take such small portions if he were stealing food? When he leaned back and started to look around, Callista couldn't help but wonder if he thought someone else might be stealing his corn and potatoes. Perhaps he was looking to make sure there was not some other culprit to the craters in the potatoes? Heh, oh well. She was just here to eat and enjoy the show he provided. And she did, scooping up some more potatoes. It was rather fun making craters in mashed potatoes.

Woah! Callista started when the dwarf suddenly rose from his seat and knocked it over. Haha! So he did think it was the elf who was messing with his food! His outburst was both hilarious and frightening at the same time. The poor elf. But there was no way she would reveal herself. Not when the dwarf was so angry. As soon as he reached for his ax, the invisible faerie decided it was time to move away, but not before taking a few more corn kernels to nibble on while she watched the show. She landed on the armored shoulder of the human whose elf companion had caught her attention earlier. She would have landed on the elf, but the girl might have noticed if something was sitting on her clothed shoulder. The armor of the human would keep distance between herself and the shoulder of the woman. Hopefully, the woman would not be joining in the battle or Callista would have to find a new place to sit.

[Neko]

What was this...? Aria swore her heart had skipped a beat as the paladin's hands met her own. The elf was beginning to wonder how much longer she could handle this - Her face was nearly matching a tomato at this point. She quickly ducked her head down, using her hat as a shield. She couldn't let Annia see her this way...Whatever way this was. Aria herself wasn't even sure - She had never acted like this around anyone else.

"Many times... in dreams or wishes. But if you mean what you see, well... that's something a bit more special."

Special? Aria couldn't quite grasp the paladin's meaning, but even so, Annia always knew how to make the elf feel better.

Aria's head shot back up, the sound of a stool meeting the pub floor startling her. She watched then as the dwarf she'd noticed just moments before sent angry words at a nearby elf. "His...supper...?" Aria thought. So, she hadn't been seeing things...? The food really was disappearing? She took another look at his plate, confirming her own thoughts.

Aria realized then she'd lifted her head without thinking. She quickly ducked her face down against the table, more concerned of what Annia would think of her current condition over the ruckus being caused by some dwarf. It wasn't uncommon for dwarves to be loud, anyway.

[Annia Siadon]

Annia Siadon

When the dwarf stood up and started accusing an elf of stealing the dwarf's food, Annia perked up. As she stood up, she noticed her shoulder felt heavier than usual. The knight shrugged it off however, it was a long day, and the day's weariness was probably just rubbing off on her now that she's had some time to relax and enjoy her apple juice. She keenly noted the dwarf putting his hand on the handle of his axe, and Annia wondered if a brawl was just about to start. She hadn't ever participated in them, finding the whole thing distasteful.

The elven male which was the center of the dwarf's attack looked like he was fidgeting around rather uncomfortably. No doubt it was because of the dwarf's shouting directed at him, but Annia couldn't help but notice the elf was rather very fidgety. The elf's eyes darting back and forth, from the dwarf, to the people in the tavern, shifting his eyes and making himself look very suspicious.

"The tavern might just get rough in a few moments..." Annia told Aria.

[Lance]

A Random Elf That's Clearly-Assuredly-DEFINITELY Not Lyolf

The Proof Is In The Mustache

[close]

His cyan eyes quickly darted back and forth, scanning for any lingering stares. No sound was too soft, no movement too light; in a half-trance-like state, he was aware of it all. But by the gods, his disguise was flawless! Already several hours in and not one person had even managed to call out his name. The young elf smiled triumphantly, certain now that no mere mortal being would be able to see through such a perfect, such a flawless disguise.

"What're you grinning about now?" A melodic voice suddenly asked, interrupting his thoughts from atop the bar's counter. The raven had been carefully inspecting its master as they dined and after seeing the elf in such a state, it couldn't help but narrow its eyes and ask, all the while dreading the answer.

After all, seeing a young wizard smile bright was dangerous enough, but to see this particular wizard display such a bold, radiant smile was nothing short of a nightmare. Reflecting back on those times, this raven knew first-hand that no bird was truly safe during the mage's antics: a living projectile, a miniature meat-shield, a mobile practice target; The raven's master had found many uses for his familiar. Even to this day, the raven shuddered whenever it recalled the horrifying events involving the "Uli Arrow."

It hadn't even been long since a cold, oil-drenched turkey was flung the raven's way, followed by a box filled with slimy gruel. And though that particular event was not fully the master's fault, the familiar still grew more wary as a result. Today only reinforced that wariness when the elf employed his mastery over his ki and arcane powers earlier to sprout a mustache not only on himself, but on his familiar too.

Enter, Uli the Mustached Raven

[close]

The venerable masters would be rolling in their graves if only they knew that their ancient techniques, to which they spent half a millennium refining, were used in such a way.

However, it was then, while the elf-who-couldn't-possibly-be-Lyolf was absentmindedly stroking the feathers on his familiar, that a nearby dwarf roared in rage. The elf's fingers stopped in mid-stroke as the dwarf spoke, apparently enraged that he had dared to touch "his supper."

"You hear that, Uli? He thinks your food. And his 'supper' no less!" the elf-who-couldn't-possibly-be-Lyolf whispered excitedly as an aside to the bird. Despite himself, he had never considered that approach towards the feathered beasts before and the dwarf's voracious thoughts intrigued him. Without warning he then made a grab at the raven and finally managed to hold it still after a brief struggle.

He had wondered what all those furtive glances were for and now he knew.

"He must really want to eat you."

"..."

Then to the dwarf, the elf slowly held out the reluctant raven at eye-level.

"Did you want a bite?"

Immediately, the bird renewed its struggle.

[Annia Siadon]

Annia Siadon

The flying raven reminded Annia of something. Or more specifically of someone. Why it looked just like Mimic after all, who was Sophie's familiar. The way the raven moved, stood, and weaved to and fro was just like Mimic who happened to be another raven. Annia of course was no expert in animals, much less any of the feathered companions, but she couldn't help but keep staring at the bird. So intense was her gaze, that her mind raced with all sorts of ideas both profound and mundane. Then a revelation dawned on her. If that was Mimic, then the so-called elf was actually really Sophie!

Was Sophie actually a man? The idea was shocking, but perhaps there was some truth to it after all. Their maid does manage to clean the entire guild hall in the shortest amount of time that she didn't think was humanly possible. It would take a whole lot of endurance, stamina, and strength to pull off such feats. Maybe she's been getting lessons from Golas? After all the large man always claimed to be the manliest in the guild.

When the-elf-turned-Sophie grabbed the raven and offered him as food, Annia was aghast.

"Sophie! You do not treat your familiars like food. They are companions to be respected and honored!"

[Fellow Rabbit]

Gandin, son of Gehin

Gandin's fury mounted with every second he continued to torment his eyes with the deplorable sight of the elf fiddling around before him. Surely he would have vomited by now if the action didn't mean he would lose the food he had waited so patiently for. He sturdied his stance as the elf reacted to his outburst, sure at that moment that the elf would either make a run for it like the wretched coward he was or attempt to fight back like the foolish stooge he was. He readied himself to grab his axe in the case that the elf really did retaliate. His glaring eyes pierced through the air into the elf's very soul.

But then the bewhiskered elf reacted in a manner most unexpected, which in turn only infuriated Gandin even more. The elf, in all his fidgety blather, was making every attempt to cast the blame of the thievery of Gandin's meal off of himself! First speaking to his bird and then, most irresponsibly, grabbing his raven familiar and offering it as a food offering in return for the unprecedented crime he had committed against the poor, innocent dwarf.

For a moment, Gandin legitimately considered the offer. Of course, the bird was no juicy meat jackpot, but the meal it could offer was potentially free and it had been ages since Gandin had been blessed with a meal so succulent as bird. It's wings actually did look pretty delectable once Gandin examined the bird for a second moment. Maybe he could chew on the bird while he contemplated the worst possible punishment he could bestow upon this vile elf creature before him.

Then a thought crossed the dwarf's mind. The elf, no doubt, was using the raven as a ruse to distract the dwarf and make his getaway! No doubt the elf was even planning to take the bird with him and leave Gandin with absolutely nothing! Not even the satisfaction of punishing this disgusting elf for the spuds scandal.

This, Gandin thought, was truly the most punishable offense he had ever been given the displeasure to witness. The dwarf would ensure that there would be no way on the face of this planet earth that the elf would escape the consequences of his sins. The verdict had already been reached in Gandin's mind and there was nothing that could be done to change it.

The dwarf's face reddened and his breathing grew very strong. Anyone observant enough might even notice the white of his eyes grow a tiny bit pinker. No doubt his blood pressure had skyrocketed by this point as well. He let out a livid roar as his anger overtook him. There was surely no turning back now.

"I will make you regret ever stepping foot in this pub!" No doubt every eye in the bar was now fixed on the elf and the dwarf. Surely this would be a performance they would never forget. They were the least of Gandin's concerns, however. They mattered naught compared to the wrath this vulgar excuse for an elf deserved. Gandin demanded retribution, dangit!

The dwarf retrieved the small hunting knife from the leather sheath attached to his belt and prepared himself for a all-out, knock-down, drag-out free-for-all brawl. This would undeniably be a night to remember.

[Ella]

Callista Fae

"Woah!" Callista blurted when the human unexpectedly rose. The faerie had barely just landed and had not had time to settle herself in completely.  Dropping the corn kernels she had stolen to eat as she watched the scene, she caught herself from her fall and hovered in the air above the human. It seemed the armored human knew the elf being attacked. Would she join the battle in defense of her friend? Did humans do that kind of thing? Honestly, she was surprised the barkeep had not yet interrupted to shoo them all outside. Maybe he was used to it or did not care.

Shrugging it off, seeing as that was not her problem at all to worry about, Callista looked around for a new place to sit. A preferred location would be one in which she could watch the scene and that could offer her something to drink. She realized that while she had pretty much filled herself on food, she had not yet washed it down. ? Considering the human was now standing and seemed like she might join the battle, her mug of ? beverage would be left unattended. But how would she scoop out the drink? She could use her hands, but that meant she had to hang over the edge of the cup and wouldn't get to see anything that was happening.

Looking around, the faerie realized she really did not have anything suitable near her to use as a cup. If only she had one of those man-made faerie cups she had up in her hideout... or a leaf. A leaf could work, since she knew the art of molding leaves into useful items. But where could she find a leaf in this place? Maybe someone tracked on in or had one stuck in their hair? She reexamined the room. Sigh... Nothing. Oh well. She would have a drink later. It was not nearly as important as watching the scene which she had caused.

Plopping herself down on the table, Callista turned to watch the dwarf threatening the elf with the raven with a knife, completely unaware that her outburst and dropping of corn kernels may have caught someone's attention.

[Mysticsage]

Kryas Windsel

Kryas awoke from a dark corner of the bar where he had been sleeping. This Inn was one of the ones he lent his bardic services to on occasion. The innkeeper and his wife had become relatively close friends of his and since their son had a bit of the wanderlust Kryas kept an eye on him when everyone else was to busy to do it. He still had several hours before he had to preform and his charge was nowhere to be seen so he was rather upset when his nap was disturbed.

Looking quickly catching the back half of the argument he stood up and strode confidently between the two men. His usually happy mood soured by the interruption he was not looking to play around. Both of you, quit down and return to your seats before I kick you out.? He did not shout, but his voice dripped with a magical pressure that he thrust upon the two men to listen to reason. However, focused the brunt of his assault on the dwarf. His first outburst had been the thing to wake him up after all. And, for once Lyolf seemed to be minding his own business.

Authority with word?s was one of the Bard?s strongest point?s but he normally used the power sparingly. As he continued to weave his power over the two mean pushing them further apart, and attempting to pacify the dwarf he saw something out of the corner of his eye.   He saw a kernel of corn drop to the ground out of nowhere. The owners had complained to him in the past of a mischievous spirit or so they assumed that had taken residence recently. They tried their best to ignore it and let it do it?s own business as it did no real harm.

But Kryas never knew of a ghost who ate corn, let alone such a small amount. The bard had a feeling he knew exactly what had caused this mess. There was a creature of the fey in the inn. somewhere playing it's tricks on the unsuspecting patrons.The question was how to go about catching the little mischief maker. He would have to deal with this dwarf first. 

[Linwelin]

Shandon Crystalslayer

"...Noisy..."

The lone dwarf muttered from his seat near a window. He'd finally gotten to a waypoint town on his journey, and was very much enjoying the idle chatter and ambient joy of the tavern thus far. Even his mutton had been pleasant. Yes it was a rare treat and much needed rest. Until the few outbursts some of the tenants. Of course, it wasn't his style to intrude in the matter of others. He wasn't one for debate and didn't make a good liaison for compromise. No, he very much enjoyed keeping to himself. It was easier that way.

But one thing he couldn't stand was disrupting the peace and joy of the area around him. And that's just what happened. Complaining, fighting, shouting, accusing; it was ruining the otherwise pleasant atmosphere around him. Finally, he reached a boiling point, getting up from his chair and turning toward the scene. He took a deep breath, stood strong and clenched his fists at his sides. Tensing, the air started to flow around him, with coursing sparks of electricity running through those currents sporadically.

"STOP!"

The shout echoed through the room with force, even seeming to cause a breeze ear him. He released his tension, closing his eyes, and the static dancing in the air around him receded. In a short moment, he opened them, their pure white color a stark contrast to his grand, black beard and olive skin. It was obvious that he was a monk of some sort due to the shaved head and robes, as well as the quarterstaff leaning on the wall behind him. His rage subsided, he broke the silence he'd just made.

"...Want...Calm...Peace..."

[Fellow Rabbit]

Gandin, son of Gehin

The dwarf was ready for the worst, but he had no prepared himself for an intervention. He knew this elf would be easy pickin' against a dwarf with power so unlimited as Gandin's, and so he was already ready to take him on, win, and demand that everyone acknowledge that he is the unquestioned champion and leader of the universe. He was actually looking forward to it, so when this bard showed up to try and break up the fight, Gandin was about to flip his lid. Twice.

His anger only grew, although the man's attitude did inexplicably cause Gandin to be slightly less passionate about completely obliterating this pestilent little elf that stole a bite of his mashed potatoes. There was a lot of power behind the man's voice, as if he was using some kind of special ability to bend others to his will. He had either trained long and hard to be able to put that kind of ability into his voice or, more likely, Gandin thought, had discovered and read a spell from some kind of ancient book from a world far beyond the reaches of any ordinary creature from this one. A world where livestock roamed free and could speak! A world without humans, elves, dwarves, or any other similar creature that exercised its dominion over all other inferior beings! A world much more imbued with magical forces than this one.

The thought that this bard had potentially visited such a world before Gandin almost made him want to assume his final form and wreak havoc upon the entire city, but he felt it best to contain such a form (because he didn't have one) and instead attempt to have his way through other means.

But then he was interrupted again. A loud, guttural roar echoed about the inn, leaving most, if not all, bystanders absolutely speechless. Perhaps wisely so, for after all, was it really a good idea to invoke the scalding wrath of two furious dwarves?

'Yes,' Gandin thought, for some reason assuming this dwarf would automatically be on his side because he was both angry and a dwarf ? two very important traits for friends to have. Surely the two of them would be able to destroy everyone in this inn and still have energy leftover to fight off any other horrible elf scum that might think it was their duty to save to day! Ahaha! It was so brilliant! Nothing would be able to stop them then! Their team could unite and fight the crime of elf vandalism all across the land of?

"Sir, a-are you gonna eat... that?" someone suddenly asked. Gandin quickly turned to see what genuinely high-pitched voice would dare think he could get a dwarf to willingly allow anyone but himself to slither away with his supper.

But what he saw was the thing he least expected in the world. It was a boy, the much he could tell just from the voice, though that in itself hardly would have changed his reaction. No, what he saw was something much more relatable. The boy, in all his innocence and apparent hunger, had not a single possession to speak of, save for one precious item. Amidst his tattered, holey clothing that looked like it probably hadn't been washed in weeks, and under an armed that was scratched and bruised, probably from an encounter with some kind of mutant poodle, was a stuffed plushy shaped like none other than one of his favorite rock stars. It was a stuffed Maud Pie.

The furious dwarf's demeanor instantly changed, and quite a drastic change it was. His fury and unlimited disgust toward the evil filth that had stolen his potatoes was still deeply embedded into his mind, but to unleash his wrath on that elf in the presence of a boy with such magnificent taste in rock and rock-related accessories would be a criminal. And to let a boy of such style go on hungry when he could aid in his battle against malnutrition would be nothing short of taboo. So, against all that he had ever stood for and would ever stand for again, Gandin consented, just this once, to the boy's chowing down on the remainder of his meal.

There was a long silence as Gandin stood and looked at the boy, trying to decide the best way to phrase his next sentence without sounding like a completely flip-flop. Finally, he found the words he hoped he had been looking for. "Laddy," he began, still sounding as angry as ever, even amidst his hope to keep the boy from running away after the first word he spoke, "No one merely asks a dwarf if he is going to finish his meal! Of course he's going to finish his meal! That's why he ordered it in the first place! Why, what on Earth would I be trying to destroy this disgusting elf for if not for the fact the he is an elf! I mean the fact that he stole my potatoes! Gandin would never let one just walk away with his platter!"

The boy seemed just a bit (read: a lot) belittled by Gandin's lecture, but stood his ground other than the few steps back he took. He was obviously much more hungry than he was afraid to ask for a meal. Gandin admired this in him.

Then an idea struck that he believed would work in everyone's favor. Except for the elf's, but it was also in Gandin's favor to not be in favor of the elf. "But if there's anything I hate even more than losing food, it's losing it to an elf who dared lay a finger on it! It looks like I can't give this horrible excuse for a living creature what it deserves, but just to spite it and it's horrible familiar, I give ye all that remains on my plate!" After his short speech, he took a step forward, still showing a bit of anger in his eyes, "But never you forget: I am a dwarf, and I like my food. So don't expect any more favors." His last words to the boy were cold as ice.

[Ella]

Callista Fae

A man who had been sleeping in a back corner of the inn seemed to have finally awoken thanks to the commotion. Callista had avoided bothering him previously because she had recognized him as a somewhat regular entertainer and he already knew a little about her pranks around the inn. Besides, it was more fun playing pranks on people who were awake rather than asleep.

The guy quickly moved over to the dwarf and elf, telling them to stop, calm down, and return to their own business or he would kick them out. Callista wondered why the owner had not yet kicked the two out like he had the other man. Eh, oh well. That wasn't really her concern anyways.

At the same time as the guy, another dwarf in the room who had been enjoying silence in his own space seemed to have grown rather annoyed with the current events. Not long after the first man spoke, the dwarf shouted for them to stop. Callista was shocked! That was the first time she had heard him speak the entire time he had been there and the first time she had heard anyone shout so loud since she had started living among humans.

And then, a miracle happened. The dwarf who Callista had shared food with had seemed to get excited about something when a small boy came up to him. After getting the dwarf's attention, the boy asked him if he was going to finish his food. The same dwarf who had been about to fight to the death with an elf over a tiny bit of food softened at the sight of the boy. Callista flew up into the air for a better view, clutching her tiny fists with excitement as she waited for the dwarf to speak. What would he do? What would he say?

At first, his speech was kind of a let-down. It seemed like he was just going to sit back down and continue eating like the one guy had pretty much told him to do. How boring. And that poor boy... Callista's hands relaxed and she sunk down a little. All that excitement, and then everything suddenly gets boring. But then, with a miraculous change of heart, the dwarf just gave his entire plate of uneaten food to the hungry kid. Several people who had watched the scene cheered him on, including Callista.

"Yeah!" She shouted along with the cheers of the others. "Go dwarf!" In all her excitement, she had failed to hear his last sentence and the cold, angry way he said it. The others had, however, and while she continued her cheering, the others had fallen silent, now wondering where the tiny voice was coming from.

[Linwelin]

Shandon Crystalslayer

"Good?" Shandon said from his seat once more, looking at the belligerent before shaking his in realization. "Prideful. Selfish." He said assertively with a nod, his eyes closed in resignation. Yes, the other dwarf had helped the child. But with such cold and shallow after-thoughts, it was obvious the action was not an altruistic one. If anything, it was like the dwarf was shooing the child away. Hardly a friendly thing to do. He was just about ready to interject the behavior, finally standing up and beginning to move toward the scene once more.

It was at that very moment that the dwarf heard something that stopped him in his tracks. A voice. Coming from where it shouldn't. It was fairly quiet and high-pitched, but definitely there. Shandon quickly looked up to try and spot the source. He'd completely forgotten about the scene near him now, focused on finding this oddity. There was a chance whatever was hidden in the rafters was the cause of this chaos, and he'd like it rectified if possible. But there was nothing there.

"Voice...where?" He muttered to himself in confusion as he continued to scan the rafters. Nothing was there. Thus, he scanned the crowd to see if anyone else had heard the voice. If they had, they weren't showing it, and that frustrated the dwarf. But one patron stood out, and it was the man who first attempted to dissuade the uproar. He was studying a piece of corn and occasionally glancing around as well. It seems Shandon was at least not crazy.

"In rafters...definitely."

[Fellow Rabbit]

Gandin, son of Gehin

The boy seemed conflicted, not sure what to think after being shown both kindness and callousness from the same person in the space of just a couple seconds, but he nevertheless scurried over to the food and chowed down. He undoubtedly hadn't had a meal in some time now, so Gandin's uncharacteristic change of heart was likely a godsend to him.

What followed, however, was the last thing Gandin cared to hear, even though it was surely meant to encourage the part of him that didn't want the boy to go on starving. It was applause. Nearly the whole bar had united in a standing ovation for the dwarf's kindness. Maybe it was just his disgust for his current situation - it had been a while since he himself had last eaten, after all. Maybe it was just that he hadn't been given time to cool down after such an angry outburst. Normally he might approve of such an event to boost his ego. Here and now, though, it didn't improve his attitude at all.

"What are you mongrels clapping for?! Mind your own business!" he yelled furiously. The enraged look on his face hadn't loosened up a single bit. He was just as angry as ever, and anyone who had just been cheering him on had fallen dead silent. Many looked on, aghast and perhaps a bit confused that he was just as angry as before yet had still been generous enough to share his meal with a homeless boy. Most, however, took the dwarf's advice and returned to their own meals and conversations, albeit much quieter than before Gandin's outburst.

Having cast most of the crowd's attention off of himself, the dwarf turned back to the elf, a fire in his eye as he made his words very clear, "You watch yourself, you little cheat! You ain't off the hook yet!" Turning away in disgust after torturing his eyes with that elf-spawn abomination, the dwarf stepped over to his overturned chair, picked it up, and returned it to its place in the bar. He had considered attempting to get himself another meal after the outbreak, but he eventually decided it wasn't worth even being in the same building as that monstrous mustached menace. He was ready to leave.

However, there was something that stopped him on his way back to the bar table. A little voice no louder than a whisper, although much more high-pitched, could be heard by anyone not already preoccupied with listening to someone else. It seemed to come from above, though at a glance, the dwarf couldn't see a thing in the roof. Was he hearing things? Had his anger grown so extreme that it was actually affecting his hearing? That had to be it. He took pride in his vision, and if he didn't see anything there, than nothing could be there! Right? Surely that had to be it.

But he couldn't shake it. Something had to be watching them. Something that apparently didn't want to be seen. They must have been hiding, which would explain why he couldn't see them. There were a lot of wooden beams holding the roof up, after all. Was it some spirit here to punish him for some crime someone framed him for? This had to be the elf's doing! That horrid creature! He had ratted the dwarf out! Gandin would have his revenge for sure!

He rethinked his intention to leave the bar at that point, deciding instead to stay in hopes of seeing the voice's owner. If it was a punishing spirit, he would punish it right back; right where it hurts! But if it was something else, he was interested in its powers of stealth, which could come in quite handy in exacting revenge on that disgusting excuse for a elf-being.

He faced the stool toward the rest of the inn as he returned it to its place. There he sat, facing the crowd, which had now mostly returned to its own inferior business. The disembodied voice had to reveal itself soon again. The dwarf wasn't going to miss it.