Quiet Night at the Bar - Dahngrest [Cedric : OPEN]

[Droite / Cedric]

[The sun slowly sank past the edge of the horizon. The red and orange sunset blazed across Dahngrest like it always did. The crowds of guild members were slowly diminishing as the night drew on, retreating to their homes or the taverns. One tavern in particular had a more quiet crowd then most for the night. It was an old building, but well kept for its condition. The smell of food and drink wafted out the door in ripples every time the door opened and closed.

Then the sound of a voice was heard. The voice was male, calm and collected, singing of love gone wrong, tales of old and the hardships of life. His clothing was simple yet his voice was anything but as he sang sulty, slow tunes to the patrons. His stage presence said he was more of a flamboyant gent then the crowd he was singing too, and that was a right assumption.

The most eye catching detail was the blastia around his neck. No one seemed to mind, because they had gotten use to it, but new comers usually end up staring at his neck.

The song ended. A voice gargled a response.

"Cedric! Sing us another one!"

Cedric Westlen smiled warmly and bowed his head in response then started to sing another song.

[Yeager]

[Taverns, Yeager had found, were surprisingly pleasant places to do business.

They always offered a good amount of privacy, as patrons in them tended to cluster in their respective social groups and ignore everyone else. They often had tables back in corners shadowy enough to prevent him from being seen and accosted by other clients. There were the obvious benefits of drinks and music within easy access as well--all things considered, he preferred the places to his own offices sometimes.

Tonight he was finishing up the specifications of a custom blade for a Blood Alliance manager. He sipped at his appletini as he filled out forms, and as his client stood to get another beer, he happened to glance over at Cedric. He hadn't been to this particular tavern too often before, and his gaze fixated on the man's neck blastia, interested. Hmm, that wasn't a common placement region for one. Wonder if it was to augment his voice...]

[Droite / Cedric]

[Blood Alliance, Fortune's Market, Altosk. . .]

With half lidded eyes, Cedric gazed out into the audience, he was still in the middle of the song when he spotted an unfamiliar face. The leader of Leviathan's Claw, what a strange face to see in these parts.

As a tavern owner, it wasn't uncommon knowledge for guild members or knights to do business over or under the tables. Cedric never really paid them no mind unless they started a fight, but seeing an unfamiliar, yet famous face peaked his interest. Cedric finally finished the chorus of the song, then took his bow for the time being. A woman came from behind the bar and walked onto the stage where the piano was to continue with that nights entertainment. Cedric took her spot behind the bar and started mixing drinks and serving ale.

[MOOD MUSIC : youtu.be/Yk7ul6Cxb0I ]

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

(OHAI Don't mind me.)

Sat at the bar was one of the tavern's new regulars.

Lord Alvin of House Reyne, who hold the seat in Halure at the moment, was dressed as he normally was, his silver cloak bearing the red rampant lion of House Reyne wrapped round himself still.

"That was great as usual, Cedric." The lord says, smiling to his friend.

What was weird is that Alvin should be in Dahngrest at all, never mind that he was in a tavern. The man was a rich lord, holding a place on the council in the Empire. Luckily, no-one else seems to know that

[Yeager]

[As Alvin spoke up, Yeager's attention flickered over to him. He blinked and stared--yes, that was definitely an imperial heraldic symbol on his cloak. Which brought forth the question: why was the man sitting in a guild tavern without fear of being jumped? Coming into Dahngrest with such an obvious affiliation was a dangerously bold move.

He wasn't someone Yeager knew offhand, either. Yeager did have a large network of clients among the nobles and the knights, and he knew some of them traveled extensively, but he didn't recognize this man and the men he knew were more cautious. Curious, he folded up his paperwork and walked over to the bar, taking a place beside Alvin.]

Interesting cloak you have, there.

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

And the man tenses up immediately.

"Yes, thanks. It keeps me warm."

No-one else in the tavern seems to notice or care. Yet. It may be the fact that, despite the way that he's dressed, people haven't yet noticed that he's from the Empire. Let alone a Councilmember.

"Can I help you, sir?"

[Droite / Cedric]

Cedric moved over toward Alvin and set down another beer for him.

Thank you kindly as always for your patronage, Alvin~

His smile was warm when he turned to Yeager. Hopefully he won't try anything suspicious, but then again this was Dahngrest, what wasn't suspicious.

Can I get you anything else, sir?

[Yeager]

[Hmm, seemed the man--Alvin, evidently--didn't recognize him either, which confirmed that the social circles he moved in likely weren't the same as Yeager's. His skittishness suggested that, as Yeager had suspected, he wasn't here in any official capacity and aware of the risks involved. And apparently he had a longstanding relationship with the bartender. Interesting. Yeager might as well try for directness.]

I'm curious as to what a noble like yourself is doing in Dahngrest. A bit of a dangerous place for you, isn't it?

[He smiled amiably back at Cedric] No, thank you.

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

An amused smile twitches in the corner of Alvin's lips. "I knew it was only a matter of time." The lion lord comments to Cedric.

"But at least I'm not being threatened." He eyes Yeager. "Yet."

Alvin takes his tankard in his hand. "So, sir, who do I have the pleasure of meeting? The person who has seen through my silence?"

[Droite / Cedric]

Cedric watches the two converse then gives a sad smile.

Maybe if you wore a cloak that covered your family crest, MAYBE people wouldn't get curious, m'dear.

He grabs a glass to clean as he monitors them.

And boys, keep your conversation civil. I don't need to repaint the walls red anytime soon.

[Yeager]

Oh, no need to worry. I have no objection to your presence, personally. [And honestly, he didn't. He wasn't one to needlessly threaten an imperialist--not when befriending and selling to them was more lucrative. He offered his hand to Alvin.] Yeager of Leviathan's Claw. You're Alvin?

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

Alvin takes the hand and shakes it, however there is a sudden coldness to his green eyes. "Leviathan's Claw..."

"Yes, I have heard talk on your guild from my...fellow nobles." His voice dips quieter, but there is a slight hint of distaste in his tone

"Lord Alvin of House Reyne. We hold the seat in Halure since the Great War."

[Yeager]

[Ah, so Alvin is one of those nobles. Well, that's disappointing. His sheer presence here remains interesting, however--especially with that distaste for lawbreaking taken into consideration.]

Ah, I have heard of you. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. [smiles a bit] What sort of things have the nobles been saying about my business~?

[Droite / Cedric]

Ah the wonders of two different social classes arguing. Cedric couldn't entirely complain about the situation since he always enjoyed a good brawl, but he also didn't want Alvin to be upset or cause a ruckus. . .

It was a conflicted feeling.

Though he was curious as to why Leviathan's Claw was honing in on a noble. More business? Networking? It was curious. Cedric readjusted his blastia around his neck and continued to clean glasses.

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

"Oh, this and that."

He pauses to take a drink from his tankard. "Forgive me, but I am not in the habit of disclosing other people's words. Things get messy that way."

He leans back on his stool, browsing the crowd, looking to see if anyone else has noticed their little chat.

"And is there something I can do for you? There must be a reason you sought me of all people."

Alvin was being perfectly polite and sociable. Perhaps this is what made him stick out. It was the sort of behaviour that one saved for fancy evening parties, when meeting the duke of so-and-so and his delightful daughter.