Just Another Day }{ First Thread, Open to All

[Jason]

The market was unusually crowded with activity, despite the previous rain showers and overcast skies. The ground was upturned and muddy, puddles forming in every crevice available, yet people were moving about like it was a beautiful day to browse the various merchandise.

Isaac shifted his position, for he had been seated since early that morning, silently observing the multiple activities of the locale. He had just arrived to the village the night before, having traveled the expanse between the Selkia and this crossroads town on foot.

Isaac had no money, no contacts, and no reputation in this village, for he was a newcomer, used to wandering the open plains and dotting towns in between. His stomach grumbled, pain gnawing at what felt to be his intestine, he hadn't eaten in days it seemed. The thief lifted himself from the crate he had been positioned on, brushing off his sleeves, then stretching his aching legs.

He slid his bandanna up over his mouth and nose, to the usual position, his speckled green eyes displaying what seemed to be the fiercest smile. Isaac ran a hand through his matted, shaggy brown hair, then began to saunter towards a line of stalls tightly packed with hagglers and craftsmen alike.

With practiced skill and perfect precision, Isaac slipped by a rotund man, swiftly cutting the fat purse dangling from this strangers belt, then letting it fall to his left hand. He continued on as if nothing had happened, pocketing the coin and making his way towards the other, more open, side of the market.

"I could use a pint." He thought to himself, glancing at the row of seemingly shabby inn's and pub's lining the opposite side of the market, simultaneously observing the man he had just pick-pocketed. Isaac watched with both pleasure and amusement as he finally made a deal with the craftsmen, and then reached down for his purse only to find nothing there.

With a gasp he frantically began to look around, but to his ultimate disappointment and Isaac's luck, that specific line of stalls in the market had cleared and only a few remained, of which the man immediately disregarded.

The thief laughed, slid his mask down to his neck and flashed his wolfish smile, once again brushing off his sleeves. "I deserve a drink." Isaac said with accomplishment in his voice, making his way towards the nearest of the of the pub's. Although it had only been a petty theft, he was always exhilarated with the rush.

[lia]

{Hope you don't mind me throwing myself in. }

Lia was sitting on a rooftop, hiding behind a chimney. She was watching this village's pub, noticing that despite the daylight it was pretty busy. Not that such things really mattered; she could fold her wings up close to her back, so that they didn't get in anyone's way for the most part. Her two guns, usually hidden for the most part with her wings folded, were an oddity that kept others wary, just as her blackened wings did. She watched as a young man walked into the pub and sighed. There were days she wished that she were human so she was given such freedoms as he, able to walk into pubs and other places without gaining too many strange looks.

Lia turned her mind away from the boy for a moment. The other villages she had come across would usually accept her after some minor convincing. It was when she went to populated places that she wished that she could hide her more obvious features- her wings. Her mind drifted back to that boy. He was still inside the pub. She remembered seeing the two blades on his person. Was he a fighter, or were those just for protection? That was one thing she had noticed with humans; some of them carried weapons for protection but didn't necessarily use them if they didn't have to.

Sighing, she looked down at the street before standing and jumping, landing flawlessly on the overly populated street, landing in the center where there was little movement for whatever reason. Ignoring any looks of surprise that she knew she was getting and had planned for, Lia folded her wings up as close as she could to her back and walked into the pub. There were looks from the guests, but no one really stopped her as she took a seat and asked for some ale. Her money pouch wasn't full, but that didn't mean that she couldn't buy a drink now and then. She grinned and looked around.

[Jason]

OOC: It's open to whoever, so it's cool.

IC:

Isaac pushed the wooden door open to the pub, its hinges practically screeching. The room was dimly lit and damp, and there were only few occupants despite the time. He looked around and then walked over to the lone man behind the counter.

The stench of mold and stale ale penetrated his nostrils. He made his way towards the bar, taking a few coin out and dropping them on the dusty, creaking structure.

"An ale, and if you have one a loaf of bread." Isaac said to the bartender, who looked half starved himself. The man nodded and headed towards the back. The thief then turned and walked towards a table, one of which seemed as if it were to fall apart any minute.

He plopped himself down, once again giving his legs a bit of rest. He was sore still from the exhausting journey, and just wanted to eat and sleep. The malnourished and pale bartender emerged from the back, making his way towards Isaac with both a pint, and a small loaf of what looked to be ancient bread.

"Thanks." He said as his food was set on the table, flipping the man one of the coin he had happened to come across in the market. "If you need anythin', jus' holler," the man mumbled as he made his way back towards his position behind the bar.

Isaac took a gulp of the ale, to which it was no surprise, was both watered-down and warm. He forced himself to swallow it, then ripped a piece off the meager looking loaf of bread, which also, was stale and had mold growing on one side of it.

"Surprise, surprise." Isaac said to himself, flashing his ferocious grin as he bit down and swallowed it. At least he was warm.

[lia]

The ale was set in front of her, and Lia smiled in thanks and with a coin passing hands, before sipping at the liquid, frowning and scowling but drinking it anyway. It seemed that there was only a couple dozen people in the rather large establishment, and quite a few were already getting drunk. She predicted a fight in the far, front corner. They were playing a dice game, and from the shouts it seemed that one was winning far more than was normal. Lia kept an eye on them, and then noticed the young man she had seen earlier was sitting at the bar. She watched the way he moved, and his reactions to his ale that she hoped was as watery as hers (she didn't want to be the only one suffering) and bread that looked more like tree food. He didn't seem happy, but he wasn't complaining; he must have been traveling far then to be immune to tree food.

Her wings were cramping after a while, and she looked around. No one was too close; she relaxed the tight hold against her body and let her wings sit more comfortably against her back. She sighed with content before finishing her ale and looking back at where she predicted a fight. The game was getting even more heated; the fight would come soon. Lia requested another ale. She chuckled while the man went after the order. It wasn't until he came back and set down her cup, another coin passing hands, that the men in the corner started to get rowdy. She chuckled and turned, her eyes flashing with amusement as the men exchanged fists.

Lia loved pubs for this one reason. Usually there was a drunken fight no matter what time of day by a couple of useless men hellbent on spending their life away in silly gambling games. She watched as a couple of bigger men tried to stop them; it seemed none of them would be going without a few bruises. Lia couldn't help it; she laughed lowly but loud enough for some of the immediate area to hear. Slowly, she moved to sit next to the young man, offering an apple that she had been carrying since she found a tree a little ways away from the village.

"That bread can't be good for you," she commented, still very amused. She set the apple by his ale mug and looked back at the fight. "Aw, it's over already. I was hoping a few more tables got turned over." She pouted. "The fights are the best part of going to a pub..."

Lia looked back at the young man. "I'm Lia." Her wings twitched. She didn't know why she was talking to him, but since he looked like the most interesting person in the pub that was carrying a weapon she decided it wasn't a bad thing. "What's your name, Green Eye?" It was a strange part of her being, nicknaming everyone before she knew their name. Big Winner and Angry Loser were the fighters, Biggie Blond and Biggie Scar were the two that stopped them; that was the way Lia would know them in her mind.

[Jason]

Isaac smiled with amusement as he watched the scrap take place, also noting the attractive women across the way, who had been observing him since he made his entrance. He took another sip of his warm ale and another bite of bread, still watching the drunken flurry in the far corner.

The women laughed, and then slowly made her way towards him. What's this?

"That bread can't be good for you," she commented, still very amused. She set the apple by his ale mug and looked back at the fight. "Aw, it's over already. I was hoping a few more tables got turned over." She pouted. "The fights are the best part of going to a pub..."

Lia looked back at the young man. "I'm Lia." Her wings twitched.

"What's your name, Green Eye?"
[/color]
Isaac eyed the women curiously, his green eyes smiling at her, placing his out of sight hand on one of his blades. Just in case. He picked up the apple with his free hand, taking an enormous bite out of it, baring his immense canines. Sweet and crisp it was, much better than the bread.

"The names Isaac." He said with his mouth full, then swallowing and flashing his largest grin before taking another bite of the fruit.

He glanced at her wings, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly are those Lia?" Once again speaking with his mouth full.

[lia]

Lia wasn't aware of Isaac's movements, except that she noticed he was eating her apple. Her mind was partly occupied, trying to figure out if she could get another fight going. She probably wouldn't, though, not with the Biggie twins.

"The name's Isaac." She grinned and turned her attention to him again, noticing that his eyes went to her wings. "What exactly are those, Lia?" She rose an eyebrow, not because he was questioning her wings but because his mouth was still full of apple.

"They are my wings," she stated simply as though it were obvious, which it was in her mind. She wiggled them, just to see his reaction. "Have you never seen wings before?" She wasn't trying to be sarcastic; Lia was curious. If he hadn't seen wings before, then she would wonder why. There are creatures of the sky that humans see most every day, even if they never got as close to them as she did.

[Jason]

OOC: Sorry for the delay.

Isaac swallowed the remainder of the apple, tossing the core on the floor, before looking up at the women and grinning. "Of course I know what wings are, but you're not a bird, or a bat, are you Lia?" He was amused, but not at all surprised by her other-worldliness.

He had seen things others wouldn't believe, hell, he could even change forms himself. He continued to smile, curiously glancing over towards the men in the corner who were finally seeming to calm down.

He slid his hand from his blade up to the table, deciding she wasn't a threat, to him anyways. Isaac reached over and picked up his mug of watered down ale, taking a long drought, nearly emptying it before setting it back down onto the counter.

[lia]

Lia chuckled and watched the core land on the floor near one of the tables. "You are correct, I am neither bird nor bat. I have been called a Dark Angel, one of the Fallen..." She trailed off, letting him decide what to make of that.

Isaac's hand moved up to the table, and he finished off his ale.

"Would you like another?" she offered, pulling out a coin with a grin.

[Jason]

Isaac scanned the face of Lia once more, his own skewed with curiosity, pondering her answer. An angel? He decided to leave it at that, simply accepting her. Looking her over one last time he stood up and mechanically brushed off his sleeves, then rolled up the cuffs revealing scarred forearms.

"Perhaps another time. To much drink doesn't exactly put me in the best of moods, as watered down as it may be. Would you care to take a walk?" He gazed at her wings, wondering if she often ventured out into public.

He continued to grin, his fangs revealed, picking up his still bulging purse he had picked up earlier, and tossed a few coins to the barkeep who had remained standing behind the counter, of whom happened to be examining Lia with a puzzled look on his gaunt face as if she were an out of place street performer.

Sliding his bandanna up once more around his face like that of a mask, he made his way towards the door to the tavern, opening it whilst beckoning the angel, or whatever the women happened to be over.

[lia]

He was skeptical. It made sense, really; she didn't exactly act the part of "angel," nor did she really want to. His continued glances at her wings were amusing at the very least.

"Yes, a walk sounds much more pleasant than staying here," she answered, pocketing the coin and standing to follow Isaac out of the pub. She had tightened her wings to her back again to ease her way out of the building and relaxed them once outside again. Turning to Isaac, she smiled and waited for him to choose the direction.

[Jason]

The thief wondered what curiosity he had drawn from the angel, but decided to wait and see if she revealed that to him herself without his prodding. He turned to the right and made his ways towards the poorer part of town, avoiding the deep ruts and stagnant brown puddles on the muddy thoroughfare.

It was late afternoon, and the streets were for the most part clear, save a few urchins lining the sides who had no other place to go.

Isaac examined the numerous homeless that lined the edges of the road, tossing a particularly ragged youngster the remnants of his purse. The boy looked up at him in awe only to meet Isaac's smiling green eyes, before bolting off towards the market.

"So Lia, what exactly brings you to this beautiful city?" He said sarcastically, opening his arms wide to the slums and swampy excuse for a road.

Isaac cast her a glance, then rolled his neck, popping it several times in the process. He rested his left hand on the hilt of one of his blades, not at all out of worry, but simply to rest a minuscule piece of his aching body, he wouldn't sleep well tonight.

[lia]

Lia frowned as they started moving through the more run-down section. She didn't know what he could want to do here, but as soon as she saw him send off a youngster with his purse she smirked; he probably understood this area better was all.

"So Lia, what exactly brings you to this beautiful city?" Isaac asked her, noting the sarcasm due to their location. He popped his neck, and Lia rose an eyebrow at him just in time to see a hand move to one of his short swords.

"Boredom," was her simple answer. She was tired of the wilderness and the random travelers that she ran into. The lack of excitement and thrill of battle was getting to her. It was much easier to be in the midst of people where anything could happen. "The quiet annoys me. There's not enough excitement being away from people."

[StewartofGondor]

((Sorry to butt in, but it said open. If you don't want another, I can easily disappear.))

Hunter watched the dice tumble across the table, not surprisingly adding up to seven yet again. He was down several pieces of gold as the gap-toothed man cheered himself on. Perhaps his intoxication caused him to feel he was being clever, but the man's cheating was obvious. Even the third less-than-sober participant of the game appeared to suspect the dice were loaded.

"Impossiber!" He hiccuped, gaping in disbelief at the three and the four. After five successive losses, the drunkard was just beginning to figure things out. "Dubba or nuthin', you cheat!" The man demanded, pounding his fist on the table.

"Leave it be while you're down, mate." His muscular, flaxen-haired friend urged, but the gambler would not hear it. Taking two more coins out of his purse, he slammed them onto the table. Hunter distractedly flicked two coins into the pot as the gap-toothed man threw his bet in from his substantial pile of winnings.

Hunter's eyes flicked to the door as first a young man entered, followed shortly by a winged woman. A heavily scarred man sitting nearby likewise turned to look, but the other three were too engrossed in the game of dice. His eyes on the newcomers, Hunter did not catch sight of how the dice landed. However, that was not much of a problem; even had he been interested in the game, he could easily have guessed that the dice once again totaled seven.

"Filthy cheat!" The losing gambler hollered, stumbling out of his chair as he confirmed Hunter's suspicions. "Your a... a rotten cheat!"

"Ain't not!" The gap-toothed man protested as a fist met his jaw. Lurching sideways in his chair from the blow, it took the drunkard seconds to realize he had been hit. Once his mind caught up to reality, the gambler staggered to his feet and threw a punch at his attacker. It was not long before the big blond man and the scar-faced loner moved to try and stop the scuffle. Ducking to avoid being hit, Hunter swiped the coins off the table while the others were distracted and backed into the corner.

While the fight was broken up, Hunter could not help but notice that the two newcomers were getting considerably friendly with one another. The girl obviously was not human, but the rogue sensed something off about even the man. To Hunter's disappointment, they shortly rose from their table and moved toward the exit. While he wanted to watch them further, Hunter knew trouble tended to follow the most interesting of characters.

"Weasel, you stole my gold!" The gap-toothed man hollered, dabbing at his bleeding lip.

"Did not!" The now black-eyed gambler protested as the bigger men jumped between the two to try and prevent another fight from breaking out. Hunter took this as his cue to leave.

Hunter peered through the bustling crowd of villagers, hoping to tail the pair from the tavern. If nothing else was to be gained, he hoped to at least fend off a boring afternoon. The man nearly gave up before catching sight of a dark pair of wings heading toward the run-down part of town. Pulling his long brown jacket close to conceal the blades on his belt, Hunter pushed his way through the crowd in pursuit of the two strangers.

[Jason]

OC: It's all good bro, take it away.

IC:

Isaac looked back over at Lia and nodded, "Couldn't agree more," he muttered. Deep in his gut he could feel his instincts trying to tell him something, yet wasn't able to place exactly what it was.

They passed a few of the village guard standing on a paved street corner, armed with their rapier's and iron helms. The sun had lowered even more, and the thief didn't exactly know what he was doing or where he was headed.

Wandering. Always wandering.

Isaac and the angel turned simultaneously at an intersection, making their way down a broader walkway, the earth equally as churned up and muddy as the previous.

The only thought on his mind at the time was this about this women, and why exactly she had chosen him, a wanderer, a thief, to approach.

And that feeling, that deep foreboding feeling in his gut.

Something was off, yet the pair continued to walk on in silence.

[lia]

Lia frowned, looking over the area. She put a hand on her Jian, ready to draw it at a moment's notice if she needed to. Her hearing hardened; were they being followed? She heard footsteps, but nothing seemed too suspicious. Still, she'd had a feeling since they'd left the pub.

"Where are we headed?" Lia asked, more to keep suspicions from them than a real desire to know. She wasn't too bored yet, still hoping to learn what kind of fighter Isaac was, so she wasn't going to up and leave just yet. Still, conversation, even pointless conversation, raised less suspicion than silence.