Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » A Night in Dragon Tooth's Inn - Open for All

He shifted nervously in his seat as the lady eyed his tattoos, there was not much that could be done about it unless he wanted to wear soggy clothes. No one seemed to cotton on to what they were for so he assumed he was in the clear for now. “I’m not one to lie in much, I’d sleep at my work desk if I could” he smirked, knowing that wasn’t the best thing to do. “I’ve got a heavy woollen coat that takes forever to dry, good thing I’ve not got a whole lot on in my diary for a change.” He sounded surprised at himself. Almost choking on his tea when he forgot something, taking a moment to correct his breathing and stop coughing. “I’m sorry about my manners, I’m Kiran.” His attire didn’t really call for a more formal greeting that he would regularly give to people he’d just met.

"At your work desk?" She laughed, dipping some bread into runny yolk. "Well, that doesn't sound too healthy, imagine the toll on your back. Congratulations on having nothing to do today-- though I imagine it'd only bore you than anything."

She let him have his moment to correct his breathing and stop coughing, cleaning the contents of her plate at a constant pace. When he introduced himself, she put down her utensils and extended a hand to shake. "Rosaline. A pleasure to meet you."

"So, what is it would someone in a blanket do if he didn't have a woolen coat to wait to dry?"

He laughed at her comment regarding his empty schedule “yes I do not doubt I’ll be climbing the walls by midday.” Taking another sip of tea and thought to himself, exercise might be a good way to kill time.

When she offered her hand he reached over to shake it, not a flimsy handshake but he didn’t crush her fingers either. “Pleasure to meet you Rosaline.” He smiled.

Returning to finish his own meal while they talked. “I work as a doctor in one of the bigger cities, came out here for supplies.” He explained casually. He paused to examine her outfit briefly. “I honestly couldn’t guess what’d bring you to a small village like this in the early morning.” He could of guessed but assumptions weren’t heathy for anyone. Hard facts make better evidence for a diagnosis after all.

"Climbing the walls? In your blanket? Take care to not slip in the rain, then. Would be a pity if you had nothing else to wear while your coat dries." She laughed in return, then looking to Kiran's cup of herbal tea and felt a hankering for something warm, as well. She motioned for the barkeep, "Excuse me, I don't suppose you have breakfast tea? Would like some, if you do."

With practiced calmness, Rosaline smiled as Kiran asked his question; there's no need to be too forthcoming. "I'm only passing through between cities. Left one just before sunrise and the rains didn't let up. Just happened by this inn, hoping to get something to eat and perhaps some shut-eye."

Then, she eyed the barkeep, making sure he was out of earshot before leaning in closer to Kiran, holding up a hand to whisper behind it. "Be honest, do the rooms have bugs in them?"

“My only saving grace was my underwear managed to remain dry. Plus climbing the walls or anything for that matter in a blanket would be difficult.” He smirked at the silly conversation, he was often far too serious. “What I’ll probably do is some form of exercise in my room I guess.” He shrugged, not knowing if he’d commit to it yet.

He finished off his breakfast and pushed the plate forward as Rosaline leaned in. “I’ve not seen any as yet, but it was very late last night that I didn’t stop to look…” it was an honest enough answer. “want me to go look?"

"Oh, it's alright, then." She replied, returning to her seat. Finishing the last of her bread, Rosaline took a swig of water form her canister. "I suppose I'll find out later when I get my own room."

"So, you're here to get medical supplies? What would a small town like this have that cities wouldn't?"

He nodded to her before finishing off his tea. “Small towns are great for the basics of medicines, this one being a prime example. The woods around here are a great source for plants you wouldn’t find as abundant in other places.” Dodging the question completely with somewhat relevant information.

Now finished with his meal he pulled the blanket back up and over his shoulders to hide his arms. “Have you traveled to many places? I can’t say I’ve been very far from my home unless it’s for work..” typical of him and he knew it.

And that answer was sufficient enough to sate idle curiosity. They were just having casual conversation, after all. "Hmm. Suppose I should walk into the nearest apothecary here when the rain clears, see what they have in store. I'm no alchemist, but some things may come in handy. I am running low on poultices..."

Placing her utensils neatly on an empty plate, she pushed her plate further up the counter for the barkeep to take. "I often travel to many places, yes, but I tend to stick between four cities at most. Travelling has its own dangers, and drifting between jobs is... well, less than ideal."

She tried not to let out a laugh as he covered himself up with the blanket; surely it was to hide his tattoos, but the mental image of him being cocooned up from the cold was ticklish. "And where are you based, Doctor Kiran? Not somewhere too far from here, I hope."

“I tend to find that the small towns with an abundance of herbs tend to sell it cheaper than if you waited for them to come into the city.” giving her a handy tip. “This town for example you’ll find feverfew to be considered common and thus fairly cheap.” A reminder for himself as well to visit the apothecary since he was already here.

“No, not too far at all. The city just west of here, a day’s travel if that.” his nose slightly scrunched at the usage of his title. Not that he wasn’t used to it but generally it was reserved for more formal or professional settings.

“It’s decent enough as any place I suppose” he shrugged. “I don’t quite agree with the way the medical profession is governed there but if I get on that soap box you won’t stop me.” He smirked and poked one hand out of hiding to wave it around dismissively.

“What sort of work do you do miss?”

Rosaline hummed under her breath, taking in Kiran's advice. Sure, she was neither healer nor apothecary, but any knowledge was not to be scoffed at; who knows, someday she might need a surplus of cheap herbs.

"Oh, don't let me stop you, feel free to vent out your frustrations against the academia and local jurisdiction. Order yourself another cup to tea while you're at it. Of course, I'm just a fiend for idle gossip and if you have better things to do, we'll leave that soap box empty until another time."

Closing the cap on her canister, Rosaline took a moment to smile; a vote of confidence. "I help with marketing for small businesses, representing them within and across cities for opportunities. Basically, I chat people up."

Half-truths with a touch of thieves' cant, but who needs to know?

He gave her a wry smile at her comment “Well…since you put it that way then why not!” he motioned for another cup of tea from the barkeep. He looked her up and down once again, chatting to people in full leather? whatever floats her boat he supposed. Still a bit suspicious but he didn't feel the need to be wary.

“So the major has set it up that any practicing physician can charge whatever they deem is ‘reasonable’ to people accessing their services…” His temper already brewing under the surface as he stepped onto his metaphorical soap box.

“Which means that I can charge one price but the GP down the road can either undercut me or charge a ridiculous price for the same treatment.” he frowned, clearly disapproving of the matter. “I make sure I source medicines as cheap as possible so that I can actually provide an affordable service. Others may do the same but triple the price to line their own pocket…” Sighing heavily. “I’ll even provide treatment for the very basic needs for free if someone can’t afford it.”

He paused for a moment and snorted in amusement “Told you I wouldn’t get down once I stopped..”

Full lips raised in a smile even as Kiran eyed her garb, no doubt holding reservations of his own. Good to know the doctor had keen senses, though if he knew the true meaning behind her words, he made no inclination. Worked in her favour, anyway, and as he began his spiel on prices and how fickle the market was, she was more than happy to let the matter slide.

"Ooh, that's not good at all. Undercutters are a bane in my clients' side, too; I'm sorry you've to bear that burden. It's not good for business at all, but good to know that's not your prerogrative. People with a beating heart are hard to find." She said, tapping her fingers on the table.

Trouble between practitioners. Set healthcare regulations where Kiran operated a day's travel away were lax. Rosaline knew which city this was and its ruling, knew of the unrest it caused a handful of practitioners, but didn't know it was quite this bad.

"I've heard some of them hiking up the price, claiming to be specialists in their field. Is that true?"

Kiran was now heading into full-on rant mode since he’d been given permission to. “It’s not good for business but nor is it for people that need medical treatment. How does debt help anyone to be healthy?” Sighing again he dipped his head and attempted to rub the frown off his face with thumb and index finger.

When she asked about the specialised he breathed sharply inward “Sadly that is true and for your average person it can be very hard to tell the genuine from the fake. One way to know is if your doctor will refer you on to someone as opposed to those who loudly proclaim to be specialists in this, that and the other. A decent specialist doesn’t need to be shouting it down the street.”
Speaking as if he knew the matter intimately.

“And sadly once again the charlatan specialist will make out they are so skilled in the matter as a justification for their outrageous prices…” He gritted his teeth before easing his facial features. “It’s something that really does bother me about the profession…I love the job but hate the politics…”

No wonder her practitioner was hiking up her bill. It was a pain for sure, and that coin-pinching old man was always looking for new ways to charge for even a silver or two more. Restraining the urge to click her tongue in frustration, she focused on Kiran's rant, taking another swig from the bottle.

"Would that people were more noble-hearted and honest in a field that is a necessity. These are lives they're toying with." Rosaline chimed, nodding in agreement at Kiran's words. "It's a crime to not have the prices unstandardized, or have some sort of healthcare promised to the commonwealth."

"But I take your words to heart. The next time my practitioner hikes up my bill for something so small as an extra gauze, I'm going to punch him in the throat."

“I know! we are supposed to be helping people when they most need it but it wouldn’t surprise me if the nobles and whatnot had their hands in the majority of the doctors back pockets…” He growled slightly in frustration. “Thats why I can’t stand the practitioners association as well, corrupt the lot of them.” he placed an elbow on the table and propped up his chin in the palm of his hand. “I’m not exactly popular amongst my peers..” not that he liked them much either.

“Well if your ever in my neck of the woods ask around for the Askew twins and you’ll find I won’t have a price list that warrants a punch in the throat.” he shot her a cheeky grin. “Though for your sake I hope you don’t require speciality treatment.” He was not the specialist that most wanted but often came from a place of desperation.

He mulled over his little rant and sighed, reaching up to try and tame his bed hair into something more reasonable. A half dressed, scruffy man ranting in a tavern was NOT a good look for him.

As i came out with two hot tea's i slid them over to the two "On the house, today is a special day and a drink or two shouldn't be bought". I then put away my apron and sit my self on the bar top "So you need medical supplies? i know where to buy them in bulk for a quite fine price". "Also there's a heat dryer in your room for your clothes, Also you said your from one of the bigger cities right? well that's where i'm going too so lets get acquainted i'm Jackson rampart you can call me jack and you are?. i say with a long pause.

The vixentaur set her half eaten food aside while avoiding the barkeep’s glare. She picked up her stuff and headed out the door to the outside.

"Alas, such is the way of things; stand in the way of the rich and powerful, and risk being crushed underfoot. One of many reasons why I stick to small businesses and steering away from more famous practitioners, but even then that has its troubles." Rosaline replied, grumbling under her own breath. Power was an all too familiar sight, one that despite her best efforts, had no real sway over.

"I might take you up on that offer someday-- you've been so honest and forthcoming so far, and I feel better taking my coin to more humane practitioners such as yourself."

"Oh, so you have a twin, too? Now that's uncanny." She said, before perking up to the barkeep who announced himself. "That's nice, I'm in need of a heat dryer, myself. Rain did a number on me on the way. Do you have a spare room?"

He smiled when the tea arrived “Thank you Sir and what’s so special about today?” he was curious. At the mention of the heat dryer he went quiet and tried to remember if he saw anything like that last night. Blaming the fact it was late in the night and he was tired and soggy he most likely missed it completely.

“Dr Kiran Askew, but Kiran will do just fine.” offering his name over to the barkeep. “I should probably get those clothes on the heater then, can’t sit around in a blanket all day. Sooner their dry the better.” saying out loud to no one in particular.

He gave Rosaline a look as if to say ‘seriously?!’ at the mention of being a twin.What were the chances of that? “Yeah I do, she’s the older one sadly…but she’s a godsend when it comes to book keeping and procurement”

Rosaline was mid-drinking her cup of tea when Kiran addressed her, and almost choked. "You're the younger twin, too? Now this is ridiculously uncanny."

"Your older sister sounds like a delight, the blessing of a family that works together is one to positively envy over. I have an older brother in one of the cities serving as a knight, but it's been near a decade since we've spoken to each other-- sometimes people just drift apart." She continued, drinking her tea. "At least he's doing well for himself, last I heard."

Then, she turned her attention to Jackson. "And what sort of business do you have in the nearest city?"