• Closed • Never Not Trouble [Patrick, please]

[Pash Raj'oriq]

71 Zi’da, 713

The cold brought them into the Harlot ‘n’ Hound thicker than usual, making the crowd robust and the rooms crammed with so much skin. Snow and wind that cut through outer layers of clothing in all the wrong ways made any tavern more desirable than a longer walk home after too much hard work. Pash found playing for this sort of crowd interesting—those who came for the press of warm bodies and strong drink to light a fire from the inside out were often rowdy but also hard to please. These were the folks that, if you played that right song, would tip well or buy you a drink or two afterward.

Pash had heard the act following his musical interlude was a bawdy one, and so he made sure to end his set with a few rowdy sailing songs of questionable moral bias and very catchy lyrics, much to the joy of the loud, very inebriated audience that had assembled around the stage. Once his songs were finished, he left the stage with a wink and a bow, making sure to empty whatever contents of his bowl for tips may have been before he did so.

Shouldering his lute, the seafaring musician had every intention of squeezing his way through the crowd toward the bar to spend those new nels on well-aged drinks. A few appreciative patrons sang a few lines back at him, patted his shoulder, and generally smiled at him as he wove his way past, happy to pause and say thank you or slap a few shoulders in return.

The Earth Quarter of Rharne was one of those favorite places that Pash often returned to from traveling the Orm’del sea and elsewhere, simply because of the people and the atmosphere. Setting plenty of nel on the bar, the tall Biqaj grinned,

“A round o’ drinks for e’ryone here at th’ bar, an’ one extra for Ilaren herself!”

Off Topic

Sorry this is a bit short. I have a feeling you can roll with it. Do what you will. I'm game for whatever.

[Patrick]

Between the cold and usual bustle that he experienced when he worked at the Boar, Patrick needed to spend his evening elsewhere for the night. What better place would've been a choice than the Harlot where dancers and performers were found, and the rounds were apparently free thanks to the patron who just finished his piece, a praise given to Ilaren which earned a loud praise from all within the establishment.

True Ilaren kept the ale flowing within the city as it's patron, therefore to buy a round in her name not only invoked praise, it garnered approval from practically everyone within the city. With the exchange of his coin for the round many already hustled towards the bar, while Patrick in general sat and waited to finish his current mug of cider. "Not gonna take up that free round?" He heard the lass who was named Sugar, probably because of how 'sweet' she was, inquire as she approached with a platter of drinks for those around Pat.

"Oh I intend to," He remarked as he leaned forward in his chair, "I just gotta finish my current one lest I merely waste it." He mused with a chug while she laughed.

"Well what'll it be, since you're working so hard to enjoy that one?"

"Cider!" He barked after recovering from nearly inhaling his current mug, a hand used to wipe across his mouth as she winked at him. He leaned back into his chair with a smirk as he contemplated hiring her, after all what night didn't end better than with a warm body to share. He noticed the bard that wandered throughout the place had nearly passed, and with the mug still in his hand Patrick raised it in the form of a toast. "Cheers mate!" He encouraged with a smile as he watched another dancer move closer, oh how he loved to spend free time here when Dominek wasn't able to nag him.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

The bar was full, overflowing even, with bodies already in varying states of sobriety getting their free drinks on his coin. Because the crowd was somewhat his own fault, it was of course entirely acceptable. As Pash attempted to make his own way from the stage toward the countertop through the crowd of people like a fish swimming upstream, the seafaring minstrel quickly realized it was a currently pointless endeavor to press through all that flesh until at least half of the folks clamoring for their free rounds had settled and cleared out of the way.

He paused at the voice that cheered him to grin in his direction, only to notice that the man raising his mug in greeting also had a seat to spare.

So he took it.

“Thank y’much.” The tall Biqaj grinned, sliding into the chair and unshouldering his lute to hang it off the back by the strap in a well-practiced, fluid motion. He leaned his elbows on the table, hands tired, voice broken, resting for a moment before speaking again, grateful for the respite and curious about the company he'd invited himself into, lagoon blue eyes shifting to a more mischievous emerald as he studied the other man with his usual curious intensity: he was tall, like himself, with that same glint of trouble in his much darker eyes and a crooked smile that Pash was inclined to consider charming,

“Y’don’ mind, d’you?” The bard's question was more of a statement, his baritone voice thickly accented by his Ne'Haer Rakahi origins. Not that the seafaring minstrel made to move, however, if only because he still currently had nowhere else to go. His grin became a smirk, gaze wandering to the woman with the drinks and the other dancer approaching, suddenly concerned he’d sat in a chair the man would have preferred occupied by someone else, “This seat isn’t taken, is it?”

[Patrick]

As the minstrel seemed to draw in close from the crowd he decided he needed a chair, which of course had been fine when he decided to take the one next to Patrick. Everyone had already clamored up to the bar for their next drink, and so Pat felt it might be a few bits before actually got his next refill. Didn't matter of course since it had been paid for already, courtesy of the man who decided to sit next to him after buying a round for the whole bar.

"Heh, yeah it is actually. By you." Patrick teased with a wink as he leaned into his chair a bit more comfortably. "Don't worry mate, I'm here alone save for the pleasurable company that this place offers." He eyed Sugar briefly when he said that, a likely questionable look that hinted there to be more to the aspect. "Other then that I never turn down a free drink, so... thanks fer that." He repeated once more with a hearty chuckle as he finished his previous mug finally, the bubbling warmth of sweet syrupy apple coated his throat as it traveled down. When the mug had been emptied Pat placed it down on the table and, quite loudly, belched in front of the man for a few trills, followed it up with a sigh that led him to watch for his other round.

Yeah that might be a while...

"Well shit." He murmured to himself before he looked back to the minstrel. "Couldn't just buy me a round first and then the whole place?" The jest came with its own chuckle, in the event the guy next to him hardly found it funny. Pat did at least. "Anyways where ya from? Don't look like I've seen ya round here t' often really." Patrick inquired as he drummed his fingers on the table, curious eyes fallen on the man with his lute as he waited to hear whatever story Pash decided to tell.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

“Aye, you ‘n me both, it seems.”

Pash laughed as Patrick complained about the untimely manner in which he would most likely receive his free drink, not apologizing so much as agreeing. He may have also regretted his decision, having been the one who performed and now finding himself dry and tired, “Next time, I’ll treat jus' us b’fore th’ rest.”

His tide pool eyes shifted from the man he was sitting with to the woman who still hovered, somewhat expectantly, within their table’s general vicinity, the seafaring minstrel aware of the type of place this was, “Y’ don’ gotta go ‘cause I’m here, y’know.” He offered, mostly for the other man’s sake since he’d invited himself into a seat and into whatever he had been considering besides his free round of alcohol, “Bring some friends, stay a while. Don’ look like we’re goin’ anywhere, so we might ‘s well have a good time while we wait.”

It was the least he could do.

Chuckling, he rolled his tired shoulders at Patrick’s question, “From? Well, Ne’Haer originally. Born there. Raised there. But, well, th’ sea called me an’ I’ve been travelin’ quite a bit o’er th’ past few arcs, playin’ music, lookin’ for trouble, spendin’ too many nel buyin’ already drunk folks more ale—” The seafaring minstrel laughed again, a little hoarse but loud, unphased by Patrick’s less socially acceptable way to appreciate the polishing off of his cider, “—Rharne’s jus’ one ‘f those places I can’t quit comin’ back to.”

The tall Biqaj smiled then, honest about his love for the atmosphere and his fondness for the city’s patron Immortal. He wiped a calloused hand on his dark pants before offering it to the other man in greeting, “Name’s Pash, by th’ way. Y’ must be from Rharne, then?”

[Patrick]

Patrick could at least laugh with a smile to the guy seemed to agree well enough, clearly the minstrel hadn't credited the fact everybody in Rharne drank for a living. At least not when he figured he'd bought everyone their next round, but of course it was a tab bit too late by then once the offer stood. "If ya ever get a next time mate. Believe me there's bound t' be a huge line between 'ere, and 'next time' when ya think on it." When the bard invited another few to join in, particularly a fetching young lass, Patrick's gaze became one of swift interest as the lot joined.

They were all there for fun after all, so why not bask in the company of one another.

Eventually while the minstrel talked of where he'd came from, Patrick couldn't help but make a few eye shots towards one of the girls that joined them. Even a few winks were given while he listened, and when he heard Rharne was a favored place to return; well that of course brought a cheer out of Pat in general. "Aye! Rharne's always been a place worth stayin' in, people from all over'll always remember this place after their first visit 'ere." He mused with a hearty grin as he looked to the minstrel, his eyes alight with pride in being able to call this place his own home.

"Yeah actually," Pat answered as he looked once more towards the woman he'd been eyeing, "Rharne's been m' home ever since I was a tyke." He mused as he leaned forward to wrap his hand over the hand of his distraction, needless to say she seemed more than willing to get on up to sit upon his lap, once he'd nodded for her to come over to his way. "Patrick's the name by the way, I bar tend m' self when I'm workin'. Tonight though..." He trailed off with playful eyes on the woman that leaned into his shoulder, his hand rested on her lower backside while Sugar came back around with the refills. "Ah, perfect timin'."

When he said this the harlot laughed a little, likely from amusement, as his next round of cider now rested in his other hand. "Thanks love!" He enthused with a drink to follow, while the woman in his arm eyed both him and Pash intimately. "Now what's yer name? Don't think I've seen ya here before."

"Scarlet." She answered with a long index finger used to twirl her wavy brown locks.

"Well then Scarlet, what say you and I have a bit o' fun later? We can invite our good minstrel Pash 'ere, if ya'd like that naturally." Patrick offered to the lady with a devious grin, his eyes more or less onto Pash when he presented it. Not that he more or less cared if Pash wanted to join or not, either way Patrick intended to have fun with this one later. It just was a case of the more the merrier, and in this particular moment Pash was definitely a merrier one to include.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

While Pash was not unaware of the nature of the Harlot and Hound, far from ignorant about how nel here was spent on fleshly pleasures as much as copious amounts of alcohol, the tall Biqaj had never himself felt tempted to spend coin on what he felt easy enough to obtain for free. Patrick didn't at all appear to be a man who had to work hard for such attention, either, and while he understood that everyone had their tastes and interests to which he passed no judgement, he’d simply not ever felt the curiosity to turn sex into a monetary transaction, no matter how appealing the purchase made themselves out to be.

That said, he considered for a moment the somewhat fuzzier, grey-er area contained within the idea of enjoying the spending of someone else’s coin, which seemed somewhat equally disingenuous and ultimately the same thing ... sort of. It was a strange hang up to have, honestly, and yet there it was. It was probably also complicated by the truth that he was, at the moment, sort of seeing someone. She just happened to be elsewhere, having already committed her time to performing somewhere else but all with promises to meet him later … not that she was ever necessarily opposed to more adventurous encounters, either. Still, the seafaring musician didn’t want to speak for Ari’nne no matter how well he happened to know her mind and body.

Pash grinned in spite of his inner conundrum, happy to see drinks and company arriving none the less, far from shy. Usually, the tall Biqaj did not overthink things, but when he did, he really, really did. The issue at hand could certainly be solved by alcohol—Ilaren be praised for that—and he obviously didn’t feel confined enough by his unspoken commitments to keep his lagoon blue gaze from wandering over all that was offered him as well as the one offering, far from objecting.

He smirked coyly from over the rim of his mug, “I’m no’ very good at sayin’ no, but I’m no’ in total say o’ m’ schedule this evenin’, so let’s see whether ‘r no’ there’s a plus one t’ m’ presence.”

The seafaring minstrel chuckled, perhaps teasing a little with his suggestion of further possibilities, pausing for a satisfying drink (finally) after performing, “In th’ meantime, may I ask where y’ work? I’ve been in Rharne a season now, playin’ an’ gettin’ in trouble, findin’ th’ places that ask me to come back again.”

OOC

Yes. But no. But yes. This is me, realizing the timeline and shoving my memory NPC in there because of the date. But she’s cool, Ari’nne. She’d dig whatever. She’s just as much trouble, honestly, if not more, but I'm dumb about my own timeline that I made for myself. The more the merrier you said? Alrighty.

[Patrick]

Patrick snickered at the mention of possibility with Pash, there was always fun in having more than one person to share. Dominek definitely seemed more uptight compared to Patrick when it came to such things, but that never stopped the younger sibling from having his own fun even if it meant trouble later. "Well then, hopefully he keeps us in the know." He suggested as a murmur within Scarlet's ear, although it was loud enough for Pash to hear as well. The woman giggled then as she leaned into Pat's shoulder, her arm around his head as he more or less groped her in a couple places.

When it came to the question of where he worked, Patrick seemed awfully distracted for a brief bit. When he looked back to Pash he had to recollect the question, before being able to provide an answer in accordance to the conversation. "Trouble eh? Sounds like we're a cut o' the same cloth pal. I work as a bartender over at the Bronze Boar, its a nifty lil' place that I'm sure ye'd like. Daveth could probably set ya up if ya asked."

"I know you!" Scarlet pointed with another loud, kind of drunken even, giggle towards Patrick. "You're the guy that makes great stew there, even gave me a free drink once or twice."

"Really?" He quipped with an intrigued expression. "All the more reason y' should come by then, aye Pash?" Patrick grinned to the bard then, his head tilted to where he could murmur within her ear once more. This time a little quieter of course, but the result of what he said brought another laugh out of Scarlet as she slapped him on the chest. He got a good chuckle out of it as well, before he looked to Pash with interest in his eyes.

"So y' travel around a lot then, if yer a sailor as well as a bard. Any interestin' stories t' tell, Scarlet here would be envy with fascination I'm sure." He poked fun to the woman as she looked from him to Pash, a bite of her lower lip suggested the lustful intrigue she'd fast developed over them.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

“Jus’ for th’ stew, then? No’ for anythin’ else?” Pash began to tease, watching the two and their wandering hands with a wry grin from over the rim of his mug. He set his drink back down on the table and rolled his shoulders at the question, “Well, I’ll have t’ take y’ up on th’ Boar. It’s always good t’ have some connections an’ a place to play—”

“—Aye, Pash, tell ‘em a story.” The voice that rang above the din of the tavern was a woman’s, and it carried in such a way that revealed to the careful ear that she was used to speaking above a crowd, or, perhaps, singing above it. Her hair was notably her most striking feature, a deep black and wavy like some starless night far out at sea, but her expression was friendly and the rest of her was quite pleasing to look at, flowing skirts and just enough revealed cleavage to get an extra nel or two for a song. It was only because she'd been performing, she'd say, if asked, but whether it was true or not was up to her. She didn’t ask to sit so much as pour herself into Pash’s lap as if she possessed him, which, truth be told, she may have for all anyone knew, her magic much more subtle than her smile. Her grey eyes wandered over the pair across the table, unashamed in her evaluation of who the tall Biqaj chose to sit with. She approved, clearly, settling in her warm seat with a returned sultry grin creasing its way into her freckled features, “Though it seems your friends may prefer to hear about scandalous exploits instead of just daring adventures.”

The seafaring minstrel laughed, surprised, not entirely expecting the human bardess to meet him, “Mmm. M’haps. Didja get kicked out o’ another tavern, Ari’nne?”

“I did not. I can’t miss you?” She snickered, though she also didn’t give details. She appeared unscathed, flushed perhaps from a bit to drink or from the generally friendly nature of the Harlot or even from her current company now that she had it.

“Mmm. Y’can. Aye. Patrick, this b’ Ari’nne. Ari’nne, Patrick. An’ Scarlet, too.” Pash waved one hand back and forth between them all in order to introduce them, the other finding somewhere comfortable to settle on the warm body who’d made him her chair without complaint, already aware of the standing invitation,

“It’s a pleasure.” The human woman nodded and smiled warmly, reaching for Pash’s drink to help herself to some of it before pressing it back into his hand when he clearly wanted some.

“Aye, I’m a sailor, I s’pose. ‘S well ‘s a bard.” The tall Biqaj felt that was perhaps a little superfluous of a comment, finishing his drink while he considered his options for a tale, whether it would be something adventurous or scandalous or both, “Alright, so, I grew up ‘n a shipyard, m’ da bein’ a shipwright ‘n all in Ne’Haer. Eventually, instead o’ jus’ buildin’ boats, I got to take ‘em out an’ test ‘em, make sure they were sound. Y’know, seaworthy. Well, there were plenty o’ times I’d sail th’ boat too far ‘r sneak ‘way places I shouldn’t, usually t’ Bayward ‘n such ‘cause … well, why no’ right?” He chuckled, not knowing if any of his audience were as familiar with the city but wanting the tone of his voice to imply that Bayward was perhaps on the seedier side of the fence. As it was, “Well, ‘course, it’s no’ fun to go sailin’ alone—”

Ari’nne chuckled at this, though the truth was she’d somehow managed to keep the seafaring minstrel in Rharne for several ten-trials now. Her smile lingered between Scarlet and Patrick, though her hands did not, teasing with a purposeful familiarity at the buttons of the tall Biqaj’s shirt. Her smile was curious, not hiding her interest in the offer she overheard and making sure Pash knew of her permission without saying it, though he managed to continue his story amid the welcome distraction, unable to hide the effects of all the atmosphere of the entire table from the violet currents that swam in the lagoon blue of his eyes,

“—anyways,” The seafaring minstrel shifted in his seat, if only to make himself more comfortable underneath the dark-haired human, “There was one trial I managed t’ cajole a few friends an’ some pretty strangers along wi’ me. Waited ‘till th’ shipyard was closed, see, an’ then we all picked a ship, took ‘er out with all th’ food an’ fancy drinks we could afford, an’ headed out t’ Bayward. Ah, well, we didn’t quite make it, far too drunk an’ waaaay too distracted. But, o’ th’ fun it was for a few naked breaks—”

Pash laughed at the memory, shaking his head. His father had been so angry, furious, murderous even, he was sure the man had wanted to send him out to sea for good. His only saving grace had been the ship handled well in the storm and no one had died, though someone may had lost their pants at sea. The salty bard refused to reveal who.

“—A’ least b’fore th’ storm, o’ course.” He winked at that, Ari’nne toying with loose strands of his sun kissed hair for the sole purpose of tracing fingers along his tanned neck, though she kept her eyes not on the Biqaj but on his friends, clearly enjoying the show as much as he did.

[Patrick]

Patrick got a good laugh when Pash teased him about the stew thing, his eyebrows rose out of subtlety for the innuendo hidden within the joke. There was other things Pat proved to be good at, though of course he wouldn't openly brag about them in public. Not unless of course it was called for, or served purpose other than inflating his ego. Just as Pash seemed to like the idea of coming around the Boar sometime, another cut him off with the interest in a story. A broad with hair dark as midnight and a bodice much like Scarlet's own, as she approached the bard with a friendly composure.

"Pleasure's all ours." Patrick remarked with a nod as both he and Scarlet reciprocated the warm meeting, the woman in his lap proceeded to whisper into his ear lowly. He could only laugh a little at what she had murmured discreetly to him, their attention turned to Pash as he led on to provide what they asked for. The story seemed to be in a place called Ne'haer, Patrick hadn't quite heard much about it but knew of the name well enough. As Pash went in detail with the story, Scarlet proceeded to subtly hint at what she whispered earlier in Pat's ear. Her hand had started at his abdomen and trailed down to a leg mostly, though her intentions were made clear well enough to Patrick anyways. It easily made his own desires known to her, when he had to move about a bit and adjust to the problem she created.

Needless to say Patrick managed to keep himself in check and multi-tasked with the focus. He listened to Pash's story well enough with a few good laughs in between, the ending of it met with a cheer as Pat held his mug up. "Good one mate." The gesture followed with a deep gulp of cider as he next looked to Scarlet, who winked at him as she started to rise onto her feet.

"Agreed, it's gettin' late though. Mind if I steal you away for an escort home?" She pleaded to Pat with her hands enfolded around one of his, Patrick grinned almost from ear to ear as he looked to Pash next.

"Aye, what the lady wants the lady gets. Come find me later at the Boar Pash, we'll talk more and see if Daveth can't get ya set up proper." He reiterated as he too rose from his chair, with a wave to Ari’nne as well as Pash. "Nice meetin' the two o' ya, been a fun time all 'round." He complimented before following Scarlet out, needless to say he would be doing a bit more than just escorting the lady home tonight.