RP between Berry, Rook and Zoo
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Jack Walsh — Today at 5:52 PM
While he dreaded the sewers, Jack took it as the alternative route out of the city to avoid any of the guards bothering him. While he could keep up an illusion, he could avoid the sun better this way without being in his House and risking someone barging in. His letter with Donovan had been left just at the Captain's house, because there was just more enjoyment in being that blatantly bold.
Maybe it'd get to Harpur's attention, too.
The large section he left was a decent distance away, and Jack was relieved the sun had gone down by then. It would still be a few days walk to home, but Macaw would likely come looking for him.
Without further waiting, Jack started on his way, glancing over his shoulder for a moment or two.
Berry — Today at 6:03 PM
Berry wasn't familiar enough with the city yet to be comfortable on her runs, and a new face running in the dark wasn't a good look, in any case. Instead, she figured her way out of the city and decided to take a run on the path, obviously not too concerned with the implied dangers of being a woman running alone in the wilderness at night. Still, though it was uncomfortable and would definitely cause bruising to her side later, she kept her sword on her hip, just in case.
She'd find herself gaining on a gentleman ahead, and, not wanting to startle him into a fight, called out with a hearty: "'Evenin', sir! Lovely night, ain't it?" She slowed as she got closer, wrinkling her sensitive nose in dismay. Goddess, what was with everyone she'd yet met in this place smelling like they'd spent their afternoons mucking about in the sewers? Seeing as Quinne showed her this town, she was starting to suspect strange things about her vampiric friend.
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 6:07 PM
Well, that Jack fella might have been right that it was a stupid idea to hunt in the city.
At least there was shit TO hunt in the city. Jules had taken to his wings- the easy way out onto the open road, and had perched and sat in the dark up a tree, waiting for a passerby who wouldn't put up a fight.
And waited. Aaaaand waited. And- hey what was-
Oh.
"Oh God dammit. Him again?" Jules muttered, seeing and hearing the two on the trail.
"Hows this guy show up every time I try to off someone in this dump." He watched quietly from his perch, for the moment. He knew very little about Jack except that he didn't want to risk bothering him.
Jack Walsh — Today at 6:12 PM
The voice was an unfamiliar one, which meant Berry was either new or someone who didn't live in Thornmouth. "Hey, it's not bad. Quiet." Or it was, but atleast Berry wasn't yelling her greeting at him. The wrinkling of her nose was dismissed, but he wasn't about to mention his reasoning for the sewer trek to a stranger.
"What brings you all the way out here tonight? And can I help you with anything?"
If he'd noticed Jules, which was likely, the vampire didn't turn away from Berry and even smiled non-chalantly at her.
Berry — Today at 6:28 PM
Jack's offer of help slowed her to a complete stop, though she shifted from leg to leg to keep her momentum. "Help me? Ach no, I'm jes' on a run. An' hopin' I don' get myself lost, at that." She chuckled, then jerked her head towards the direction of the city. "Usually I'd run within' the walls of a city, but the guards here seem so jumpy with new faces, an' I'd rather avoid trouble if anyone gets a little, er... jumpy." She paused, then, to avoid seeming rude, she added an introduction. "Name's Strawberry, but Berry'll do jes' fine, if ye please."
Sensitive lycan nose caught another stink of someone in a tree overhead, and she glanced into it, squinting eyes at the branches. "Oi, yer likely te fall 'n' break yer nob, with crackbrained hobbies like that!" She called to the other vampire, shifting her weight to a more battle-ready stance with ease and placing a hand on her hip, just above a hidden belt-knife, though she didn't bother with her sword just yet. (edited)
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 6:32 PM
Caught off guard by her, Jules fumbled a moment, at which the branch broke and he fell into a heap along the road.
"I was tryin' not to bother ya but I guess I gotta come out and say hi now, don't I?"
He glanced sheepishly at Jack. Why did this guy make him so uneasy?
"Can't a fella just enjoy a little night exercise in this shit hole?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 6:46 PM
"Oh yeah, they do that. You could make use of the coliseum during off-hours, it's got a lot of space and no one would bother you. Maybe watch, honestly." Just for some nightly entertainment. When she introduced herself, Jack rested his weight on one foot. "Jack, interesting name. Your parents really like fruit?" A jest, and then down came Jules, after he was yelled at.
"In a tree?"
Making people uneasy wasn't something he was unused to, and Jules got a faint smirk, only to be dismissed as he turned back to the lycan. "Strange fellow, him, but pleasant. You a traveller, Berry? Can't say I've seen you before."
Berry — Today at 6:57 PM
"Ah, right ye are. Me ma was a baker, an' she especially liked makin' sweets." She admitted, grinning and sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. Normally she wasn't embarrassed of her name, but next to 'Jack,' her name suddenly felt downright ridiculous. "I'll keep in mind that bit about the coliseum, but te be quite honest, I prefer a bit o' scenery when I run. Gives me a chance te run inte interestin' folk. S'kinda like doin' patrols again, though less people are tryin' te kill me."
As Jules fell from his post, Berry clucked her tongue and shook her head at Jules' fall, relaxing her stance. A moron like him couldn't beat her in a fair fight, even if he got the element of surprise, she decided instantly. "I tried te warn ye." She scolded with a motherly tone.. When Jack assured her that their newest bit of company was quite alright, she cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at him. "Ye sure? I'll take yer word for it, then, since I've yet to meet too many of the people. I've only jes' recently moved here with me daughter, at th'introduction from an old friend. I didn't like th'other place I was stayin' too much." She informed him, tapping her neck to indicate a collar. "They had a likin' fer chainin' up folk what should be free, and th'company... well, let's jes' say I ain't much fer th'kinda folk that can afford te own slaves fer entertainment rather'n' labor."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:06 PM
Jules dusted himself off, apparently no worse for wear. "Pleasant? That's a new one. I'll have to write that one down."
Well, he would have been better off not trying to go after this one anyway. Did any humans live here?
"Yeah in a tree. I'm just... people watching ok?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 7:10 PM
"Still nice, though, not as plain as my name. I didn't get much a good one in comparison to the rest, just Jack as they liked to say." He waved a hand dismissively, and then gestured for Jules to join them. "Yes, well, I've met worse people than you. Downright unbearable."
As Berry went on about scenery, the vampire nodded. "Makes sense. Thankfully, doing patrols here doesn't come with people wanting to cut you in half....usually. Some people get grumpy." As they would anywhere else. "Oh? Who brought you in?" He asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Rich folks and their money, right? Of all the things to buy."
People.
"People watching, he says. You look like you were hoping to jump down on someone."
Berry — Today at 7:23 PM
Berry gave a little shrug when Jack complimented her name. "'avin a unique name has its perks. When someone's lookin' fer me, there's only one 'Strawberry.'" Though people had mistaken 'Berry' for 'Barry,' a problem that didn't often sort itself out until her full name was used or she'd had to write it down.
"Ah, 'is names Quinne. We used te be... coworkers, of sorts, way back in th'day, afore I left Etla. Met up again recently, though we 'aven't got te talkin' much." She wasn't even sure they were friends, though Berry considered him close enough to one to use the word. She felt friendly towards him, at the very least.
"Yer people watchin', it got anythin' te do with these?" She addressed Jules and pulled her teeth back, revealing thick, enlongated canines, though hers were of a dog's, and not a vampires. She was only guessing, but Jules and Jack wouldn't be the vampires she'd met, or even amongst the first five. "Or were ye lookin' te get someone's coin?" Either way, she didn't care, but she felt like teasing the grubby looking vampire for a bit and seeing what it got her. It wasn't her fault he looked easy to push around. (edited)
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:32 PM
"SHH." Jules shushed Jack when he mentioned jumping down at people, but when Berry seemed to be laid back about it-
"Maybe. Maybe a little a both." He shrugged. "Ain't had much luck in this town though. All the fare seems a bit above my pay grade. Maybe I'll have to get a real job."
A compliment (of sorts) from Jack put him at ease, it seemed. Vampires where he lived were territorial, but this guy didn't seem peeved about the fledgling stalking on his turf.
"Name's Jules, beautiful. Ya sure got a pretty smile." He flashed a fangy grin at Berry, now that his apprehension was gone his secondary motivator stepped up.
Jack Walsh — Today at 7:43 PM
"For now, anyway." Jack chuckled dryly, looked to the sky as if expecting Macaw to swoop in out of boredom. No chance, which probably was good, incase Jules would go into a panic. "Lawson?" He asked, just to confirm. "Old friend, too. From way back, before we both left England."
When Berry exposed her fangs, Jack glanced to her mouth. "I wondered, if it was that or you're just a dog person." When Jules shushed him, he gestured to the lycan, since she clearly didn't care. "No guards come this far out."
When Jules relaxed enough to start flirting, Jack decided to get off his feet a moment, even if there was barely a log or rock decent enough to sit on.
Berry — Today at 7:51 PM
The lycaness shot Jules a raised-eyebrow look of disdain at his compliment, put off by his smell and his filth. "Shame I can't say th'same about ye. Yer supposed te bathe with soap, not shite." She responded coldly, in an attempt to shut down his skeezy advance before she had to become more... physical in her disuasion.
Jack, however, got her biggest smile yet, nodding her chin upwards in acknowledgement. "Aye, that's th'one! Ye know 'im well, then? Did ye bring 'im here, or th'other way around?" She licked over her fangs, then shrugged when he implied her species. "A little bit of both, actually. Ain't got th'whole pack mentality, or th'vampire hatin' thing, though, so I shouldn't be too much trouble te ye." She paused, then knit her brow and lowered her voice. "Is there... a pack 'round these parts I should be lookin' te avoid? I'm not tryna start a fight o'er any territory, but my kind can be real dicks about that sorta thing, always tryna figure out who's--" She paused, then changed her wording real quick, "fangs're bigger."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:57 PM
Jules took rejection in stride. "That how you bathe? Maybe you should show me how it's done. I'm a hands on learner."
He bounced his eyebrows at her, but wisely didn't move to close the physical gap between them.
He leaned against a tree and crossed his arms. "This town seems pretty crowded, don't it? Any actual humans live here?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 8:20 PM
"Come now, I'm sure he just hasn't found the bathhouse yet." Maybe he would soon, maybe because he mentioned it. Jack stretched his legs forward, crossing them at the ankles. "Oh, I know him better than most people. He brought me here."
When she spoke of vampire hating and the like, he shrugged lightly. "I didn't think that was anything more than some of your sort seeing as competition rather than throughout your entire race. Like wolves and bears." It made sense to him. "I have no idea. I only know of Arron, haven't really talked to any other werewolves. What you have to worry about the magical ones here, nasty things. Don't matter what you are, they'll just eat you."
To Jules. "Yes, some guards, mostly the noble families. You'll have to be mindful of the latter, most of the older ones are very racist."
Berry — Today at 8:28 PM
Berry tilted her head sideways and upwards, looking at Jules side-long. "If I do, ye might not come out in one piece. My touch ain't exactly gentle; why, my ex-husband would tell ye that, if I hadn't relieved his shoulders of the burden of carryin' his big ass head. An' he was a much bigger and stronger man than ye. My suggestion is te figure it out yerself." To emphasize her point, she patted her sword, then flicked eyes to Jack. "It was perfectly legal, and deserved, I assure ye." She added, not trying to give herself too violent of a reputation right off the bat.
"Aye, wherever ye go, there's always someone tryna prove they're better than ye, even if they aren't. Most o' my kind is well enough, but like I said, there's been some bad run ins. I've been chased out of towns before." She paused, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. And why not, if Jack knew Quinne? She hazarded a guess; "This Arron, 'e a butcher? Strange fella?"
Then she balked. "Magic werewolves? Goddess, what kinda trick is that to plague up on a land?"
She spat at the mention of nobles, and added another at the mention of racism. "Ain't surprised, most nobles ain't actually worth th'cost of street muck, but they go around actin' like they're better'n' good common folk. Makes me sick."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 8:57 PM
"Racist, eh? How do they function around here? Just perpetually pissed off?" He smirked.
"Still better here than back home. Vampires back home are kill on sight. Ain't right." He shook his head.
"Werewolves aint had it much better. They can sometimes pass for human though. No goin back now. Gotta move on. Met nicer folk here than I have in a while."
He cast a sideways look at Jack.
Jack Walsh — Today at 9:12 PM
"They....yeah, perpetually pissed off sounds about right. Like that Harpur guy, I mentioned." He was sure he told Jules about him before. When Berry got a bit snarky about the flirting, he considered her a moment. "Was it? This guy's only messing with you, maybe you need to relax a bit." He teased, only to sigh faintly.
"Yeah, it was the same thing back home for me too. Though, there was a lot of killing back then for well...literally anyone." Jack wouldn't get into it, though. "Butcher, yes, pretty eccentric. Nice kids." When she asked about the magic werewolves, he hummed lightly. "Didn't really study them, you can. Library's got great books of the history and whatnot."
As Berry went on about nobles, his expression darkened momentarily. "You'll endure that here, too. The kids are alright."
Berry — Today at 9:23 PM
She shrugged when Jules mentiooned how badly people treated lycan-folk. "It's been fine enough for me, although..." She pinched her bright pink hair with a chuckle. "I don' exactly strike folk as th'most intimidatin', and most folk're too distracted by my hair and name te even consider I might be somethin' dangerous." She assumed most folk just figured she was fae, if they suspected her of being supernatural at all. She sure as fuck didn't go around telling people what she was, and if asked by someone mundane? 'Human.'
To Jack, her expression turned serious for only a moment. "Only messin' turns te more than that if not discouraged properly from th'start." She retorted, though she'd already relaxed when Jules had decided to not keep pressing his luck.
"Good te hear I got another friendly face te look forward to, then, if I'm te be tasked with endurin' more bleedin' nobles." She sighed, then in an impression too accurate well practiced to just be mere imitation, she straightened upright, changing her stance immediately to one of dignity and grace. With that, she pretended to flick a fan in front of her face, waving the phantom object with practiced ease. "If only we could live in a world without those filthy peasants. Though I need their money to sustain my extravagant and wealthy lifestyle, their very existence causes me great ill, and I'd prefer it if they were wiped off the face of this earth entirely." Then she relaxed and spat into the ground. "Ach, I better be on my best behavior, then, lest I end up in stockades again."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 9:30 PM
"Oh I could make a comment about wantin' to see you in cuffs... but I probably shouldn't. What with my bein' properly discouraged and all." He winked at Berry. Maybe not brave enough to get handsy with someone who could kick his ass, it didn't stop him from running his mouth.
"Just let me know if yer ever drunk enough to change yer mind. I got no such prejudices against werefolk, fae or anyone else with fancy hair." He chuckled.
"Nobles though... useful for writin' checks and not much else most of the time. Least back home they always had some project or other that kept me fed."
Jack Walsh — Today at 9:43 PM
"Nah, you don't." Finding someone to intimidate Jack, though, would be a feat. "Not always, it doesn't. You probably shouldn't label him with others, because he made a pass towards you. We were just talking about racists, afterall, let's not play their game over a different subject, hm?" A wink, and he'd be back up on his feet.
"They don't mind the peasants, they just mind us, horrible monsters coming into their pretty city." When Jules continued, the vampire gave him a look. "No means no." If he dropped it there, he'd go on.
"Luckily for everyone who wants to wander, there are places where you don't have to endure that whole mess. I don't even live here, and it's been grand since."
Berry — Today at 9:51 PM
"Aye, one pass, fine. But he keeps makin' em, and I'm startin' te get a bit... itchy." She shot Jules another glare.
At the mention of peasants being alright, Berry laughed a mirthless laugh. "Aye, that may be, but peasants, monsters, it's all th'same if they can find someone te look down on." A twitch of her fingers towards a flask on her belt, but she shook that urge off. She didn't need it now, and she intended on finishing her run. "Ye can hope 'n' pray fer someone te make it better, and sometimes one or two do... break away from th' 'proper' opinion, but it never fuckin' changes, no matter where ye go." She moved to spit once again, but stopped herself mid-turn, swallowing it instead.
"Oh? An' what places are that, might I ask?"
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:00 PM
Jules put his hands up in mock surrender. "Heeyyy lighten up a little, toots. I ain't tryna' bother ya that bad. I'm just a lonesome bloke, yeah? Coming off a long dry spell. Can't exactly flirt with a girl if she's screamin' unholy fits just gettin' a glance of yer winning smile."
He grinned wide to illustrate. "And so far everyone here has been real cagey whenever I ask where the whorehouse is. I swear, its like they're expectin' the worst."
He shrugged. "Yknow. I used to work on ships and such. Heard a lot of talk about a lot of places. Never once did I hear of a place someone like one of us ugly bastards could just... live freely, you know? It was all just "tolerant" societies. Societies that wouldn't murder you outright, maybe, but never a place that was just ok with it. " He sighed.
"I gotta say, I'd love to be wrong."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:11 PM
"You both need to lighten up." Jack decided, as he dusted off his pants. "Anyway, it's up to us to ensure things are better for us, not them. You can't change them, but you can make it so they aren't able to keep going." When Jules talked about the brothel, the vampire drowned it out for a moment.
"Well, I do come from a town like that. It's a town I help take care of, bit of a sanctuary for us, though humans are invited in. It's still a trading post, and we need supplies and people to sell to, still." They just weren't nobles, thankfully.
"It's a week's journey away from here, though, unless you've a quicker way to get back and forth."
Berry — Today at 10:16 PM
Berry finally eased up, though she bristled at being called "toots." "Ye need coin, sorry, shards fer a whorehouse, but if it'll getche off my back..." She fished around in her purse and pulled out a couple silver shards, tossing them Jules's way. Hopefully he caught them. "'Ere. Find yerself a girl that's willin' te wash ye first." Was it a lot of money to toss at a stranger? Sure, but Berry had the money to spend.
To Jack, she cocked her head, catching his words and tasting them on her tongue, before finally crafting her reply. "Aye, that sounds like a town I'd like to visit." She finally responded, dropping her foolish act, just a little; not enough to draw suspicion or any real meaning from her words, but her scottish drawl had definitely lightened. "Give me directions, I'll see if I can make the journey. Surely my daughter can mind the house while I'm gone."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:24 PM
Jules caught the charitable donation with a look of surprise. "Well, I'll be damned. Thanks lady. I keep findin' nice folks here. Guess they was right about this place."
He listened carefully as Jack described other far away places. "Interesting concept. I may take you up on it, but maybe after I save a bit of money up. Get on my feet a little. I spent days holed up in a crate on a boat, I ain't anxious to travel again now."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:32 PM
Jack ran a hand through his hair, as Berry tossed shards at him. "By the end of the week, he's going to be richer than half of the city if his luck keeps up." Maybe it'd do him some good, keep him off people's radar for a bit.
"Right. So, you can find a map easily enough. It's called Kara's Vale, not far from Shipwreck Valley and the Desert. It's on a well-known trade route, so you could honestly hitch a ride from a caravan to make it easier." Probably safer than walking.
"Oh, indeed," He said to Jules, walking over to him and he'd pat his shoulder. "I do need you here, afterall."
Berry — Today at 10:45 PM
Berry gave a tentative nod, still mulling it over. She quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Jules' becoming rich, and briefly entertained wrestling the shards back out of his hands; but no, she was clean, if a bit sweaty from the run, and didn't feel too keen to touch him. Another thought; she should probably warn Jules off her daughter, as she had a lot less patience than her mother-- but no, Jules would find out for himself if he tried.
"Well, alright, then. Well, Ah oughta get back te my run, it ain't getting lighter out 'ere." A goofy smile slowly spread back on her face, and she offered her company a wink. If nothing else but goodbyes was said to her, she'd turn on her heel and continue down the path; though she'd stay if addressed.
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:53 PM
"Seeya." He waved.
"Well, if its all the same t' you, Jack, I have precious little time in the night left to find that whore house so I'll likewise be off. And don't ya worry, I ain't forgot I owe you the favor. Ill keep my ears open and unless the whole place really goes to shit I ain't running off either."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:54 PM
"Yeah, good plan. I have a ride to catch myself, and I'd like to go home, lovely as this is." He said, and stepped away, a hand held up to Jules. "Don't kill anyone now."
Once they were off, so was he, catching up with Macaw somewhere they could take to the air without anyone catching a glimpse.
While he dreaded the sewers, Jack took it as the alternative route out of the city to avoid any of the guards bothering him. While he could keep up an illusion, he could avoid the sun better this way without being in his House and risking someone barging in. His letter with Donovan had been left just at the Captain's house, because there was just more enjoyment in being that blatantly bold.
Maybe it'd get to Harpur's attention, too.
The large section he left was a decent distance away, and Jack was relieved the sun had gone down by then. It would still be a few days walk to home, but Macaw would likely come looking for him.
Without further waiting, Jack started on his way, glancing over his shoulder for a moment or two.
Berry — Today at 6:03 PM
Berry wasn't familiar enough with the city yet to be comfortable on her runs, and a new face running in the dark wasn't a good look, in any case. Instead, she figured her way out of the city and decided to take a run on the path, obviously not too concerned with the implied dangers of being a woman running alone in the wilderness at night. Still, though it was uncomfortable and would definitely cause bruising to her side later, she kept her sword on her hip, just in case.
She'd find herself gaining on a gentleman ahead, and, not wanting to startle him into a fight, called out with a hearty: "'Evenin', sir! Lovely night, ain't it?" She slowed as she got closer, wrinkling her sensitive nose in dismay. Goddess, what was with everyone she'd yet met in this place smelling like they'd spent their afternoons mucking about in the sewers? Seeing as Quinne showed her this town, she was starting to suspect strange things about her vampiric friend.
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 6:07 PM
Well, that Jack fella might have been right that it was a stupid idea to hunt in the city.
At least there was shit TO hunt in the city. Jules had taken to his wings- the easy way out onto the open road, and had perched and sat in the dark up a tree, waiting for a passerby who wouldn't put up a fight.
And waited. Aaaaand waited. And- hey what was-
Oh.
"Oh God dammit. Him again?" Jules muttered, seeing and hearing the two on the trail.
"Hows this guy show up every time I try to off someone in this dump." He watched quietly from his perch, for the moment. He knew very little about Jack except that he didn't want to risk bothering him.
Jack Walsh — Today at 6:12 PM
The voice was an unfamiliar one, which meant Berry was either new or someone who didn't live in Thornmouth. "Hey, it's not bad. Quiet." Or it was, but atleast Berry wasn't yelling her greeting at him. The wrinkling of her nose was dismissed, but he wasn't about to mention his reasoning for the sewer trek to a stranger.
"What brings you all the way out here tonight? And can I help you with anything?"
If he'd noticed Jules, which was likely, the vampire didn't turn away from Berry and even smiled non-chalantly at her.
Berry — Today at 6:28 PM
Jack's offer of help slowed her to a complete stop, though she shifted from leg to leg to keep her momentum. "Help me? Ach no, I'm jes' on a run. An' hopin' I don' get myself lost, at that." She chuckled, then jerked her head towards the direction of the city. "Usually I'd run within' the walls of a city, but the guards here seem so jumpy with new faces, an' I'd rather avoid trouble if anyone gets a little, er... jumpy." She paused, then, to avoid seeming rude, she added an introduction. "Name's Strawberry, but Berry'll do jes' fine, if ye please."
Sensitive lycan nose caught another stink of someone in a tree overhead, and she glanced into it, squinting eyes at the branches. "Oi, yer likely te fall 'n' break yer nob, with crackbrained hobbies like that!" She called to the other vampire, shifting her weight to a more battle-ready stance with ease and placing a hand on her hip, just above a hidden belt-knife, though she didn't bother with her sword just yet. (edited)
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 6:32 PM
Caught off guard by her, Jules fumbled a moment, at which the branch broke and he fell into a heap along the road.
"I was tryin' not to bother ya but I guess I gotta come out and say hi now, don't I?"
He glanced sheepishly at Jack. Why did this guy make him so uneasy?
"Can't a fella just enjoy a little night exercise in this shit hole?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 6:46 PM
"Oh yeah, they do that. You could make use of the coliseum during off-hours, it's got a lot of space and no one would bother you. Maybe watch, honestly." Just for some nightly entertainment. When she introduced herself, Jack rested his weight on one foot. "Jack, interesting name. Your parents really like fruit?" A jest, and then down came Jules, after he was yelled at.
"In a tree?"
Making people uneasy wasn't something he was unused to, and Jules got a faint smirk, only to be dismissed as he turned back to the lycan. "Strange fellow, him, but pleasant. You a traveller, Berry? Can't say I've seen you before."
Berry — Today at 6:57 PM
"Ah, right ye are. Me ma was a baker, an' she especially liked makin' sweets." She admitted, grinning and sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. Normally she wasn't embarrassed of her name, but next to 'Jack,' her name suddenly felt downright ridiculous. "I'll keep in mind that bit about the coliseum, but te be quite honest, I prefer a bit o' scenery when I run. Gives me a chance te run inte interestin' folk. S'kinda like doin' patrols again, though less people are tryin' te kill me."
As Jules fell from his post, Berry clucked her tongue and shook her head at Jules' fall, relaxing her stance. A moron like him couldn't beat her in a fair fight, even if he got the element of surprise, she decided instantly. "I tried te warn ye." She scolded with a motherly tone.. When Jack assured her that their newest bit of company was quite alright, she cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at him. "Ye sure? I'll take yer word for it, then, since I've yet to meet too many of the people. I've only jes' recently moved here with me daughter, at th'introduction from an old friend. I didn't like th'other place I was stayin' too much." She informed him, tapping her neck to indicate a collar. "They had a likin' fer chainin' up folk what should be free, and th'company... well, let's jes' say I ain't much fer th'kinda folk that can afford te own slaves fer entertainment rather'n' labor."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:06 PM
Jules dusted himself off, apparently no worse for wear. "Pleasant? That's a new one. I'll have to write that one down."
Well, he would have been better off not trying to go after this one anyway. Did any humans live here?
"Yeah in a tree. I'm just... people watching ok?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 7:10 PM
"Still nice, though, not as plain as my name. I didn't get much a good one in comparison to the rest, just Jack as they liked to say." He waved a hand dismissively, and then gestured for Jules to join them. "Yes, well, I've met worse people than you. Downright unbearable."
As Berry went on about scenery, the vampire nodded. "Makes sense. Thankfully, doing patrols here doesn't come with people wanting to cut you in half....usually. Some people get grumpy." As they would anywhere else. "Oh? Who brought you in?" He asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Rich folks and their money, right? Of all the things to buy."
People.
"People watching, he says. You look like you were hoping to jump down on someone."
Berry — Today at 7:23 PM
Berry gave a little shrug when Jack complimented her name. "'avin a unique name has its perks. When someone's lookin' fer me, there's only one 'Strawberry.'" Though people had mistaken 'Berry' for 'Barry,' a problem that didn't often sort itself out until her full name was used or she'd had to write it down.
"Ah, 'is names Quinne. We used te be... coworkers, of sorts, way back in th'day, afore I left Etla. Met up again recently, though we 'aven't got te talkin' much." She wasn't even sure they were friends, though Berry considered him close enough to one to use the word. She felt friendly towards him, at the very least.
"Yer people watchin', it got anythin' te do with these?" She addressed Jules and pulled her teeth back, revealing thick, enlongated canines, though hers were of a dog's, and not a vampires. She was only guessing, but Jules and Jack wouldn't be the vampires she'd met, or even amongst the first five. "Or were ye lookin' te get someone's coin?" Either way, she didn't care, but she felt like teasing the grubby looking vampire for a bit and seeing what it got her. It wasn't her fault he looked easy to push around. (edited)
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:32 PM
"SHH." Jules shushed Jack when he mentioned jumping down at people, but when Berry seemed to be laid back about it-
"Maybe. Maybe a little a both." He shrugged. "Ain't had much luck in this town though. All the fare seems a bit above my pay grade. Maybe I'll have to get a real job."
A compliment (of sorts) from Jack put him at ease, it seemed. Vampires where he lived were territorial, but this guy didn't seem peeved about the fledgling stalking on his turf.
"Name's Jules, beautiful. Ya sure got a pretty smile." He flashed a fangy grin at Berry, now that his apprehension was gone his secondary motivator stepped up.
Jack Walsh — Today at 7:43 PM
"For now, anyway." Jack chuckled dryly, looked to the sky as if expecting Macaw to swoop in out of boredom. No chance, which probably was good, incase Jules would go into a panic. "Lawson?" He asked, just to confirm. "Old friend, too. From way back, before we both left England."
When Berry exposed her fangs, Jack glanced to her mouth. "I wondered, if it was that or you're just a dog person." When Jules shushed him, he gestured to the lycan, since she clearly didn't care. "No guards come this far out."
When Jules relaxed enough to start flirting, Jack decided to get off his feet a moment, even if there was barely a log or rock decent enough to sit on.
Berry — Today at 7:51 PM
The lycaness shot Jules a raised-eyebrow look of disdain at his compliment, put off by his smell and his filth. "Shame I can't say th'same about ye. Yer supposed te bathe with soap, not shite." She responded coldly, in an attempt to shut down his skeezy advance before she had to become more... physical in her disuasion.
Jack, however, got her biggest smile yet, nodding her chin upwards in acknowledgement. "Aye, that's th'one! Ye know 'im well, then? Did ye bring 'im here, or th'other way around?" She licked over her fangs, then shrugged when he implied her species. "A little bit of both, actually. Ain't got th'whole pack mentality, or th'vampire hatin' thing, though, so I shouldn't be too much trouble te ye." She paused, then knit her brow and lowered her voice. "Is there... a pack 'round these parts I should be lookin' te avoid? I'm not tryna start a fight o'er any territory, but my kind can be real dicks about that sorta thing, always tryna figure out who's--" She paused, then changed her wording real quick, "fangs're bigger."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 7:57 PM
Jules took rejection in stride. "That how you bathe? Maybe you should show me how it's done. I'm a hands on learner."
He bounced his eyebrows at her, but wisely didn't move to close the physical gap between them.
He leaned against a tree and crossed his arms. "This town seems pretty crowded, don't it? Any actual humans live here?"
Jack Walsh — Today at 8:20 PM
"Come now, I'm sure he just hasn't found the bathhouse yet." Maybe he would soon, maybe because he mentioned it. Jack stretched his legs forward, crossing them at the ankles. "Oh, I know him better than most people. He brought me here."
When she spoke of vampire hating and the like, he shrugged lightly. "I didn't think that was anything more than some of your sort seeing as competition rather than throughout your entire race. Like wolves and bears." It made sense to him. "I have no idea. I only know of Arron, haven't really talked to any other werewolves. What you have to worry about the magical ones here, nasty things. Don't matter what you are, they'll just eat you."
To Jules. "Yes, some guards, mostly the noble families. You'll have to be mindful of the latter, most of the older ones are very racist."
Berry — Today at 8:28 PM
Berry tilted her head sideways and upwards, looking at Jules side-long. "If I do, ye might not come out in one piece. My touch ain't exactly gentle; why, my ex-husband would tell ye that, if I hadn't relieved his shoulders of the burden of carryin' his big ass head. An' he was a much bigger and stronger man than ye. My suggestion is te figure it out yerself." To emphasize her point, she patted her sword, then flicked eyes to Jack. "It was perfectly legal, and deserved, I assure ye." She added, not trying to give herself too violent of a reputation right off the bat.
"Aye, wherever ye go, there's always someone tryna prove they're better than ye, even if they aren't. Most o' my kind is well enough, but like I said, there's been some bad run ins. I've been chased out of towns before." She paused, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. And why not, if Jack knew Quinne? She hazarded a guess; "This Arron, 'e a butcher? Strange fella?"
Then she balked. "Magic werewolves? Goddess, what kinda trick is that to plague up on a land?"
She spat at the mention of nobles, and added another at the mention of racism. "Ain't surprised, most nobles ain't actually worth th'cost of street muck, but they go around actin' like they're better'n' good common folk. Makes me sick."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 8:57 PM
"Racist, eh? How do they function around here? Just perpetually pissed off?" He smirked.
"Still better here than back home. Vampires back home are kill on sight. Ain't right." He shook his head.
"Werewolves aint had it much better. They can sometimes pass for human though. No goin back now. Gotta move on. Met nicer folk here than I have in a while."
He cast a sideways look at Jack.
Jack Walsh — Today at 9:12 PM
"They....yeah, perpetually pissed off sounds about right. Like that Harpur guy, I mentioned." He was sure he told Jules about him before. When Berry got a bit snarky about the flirting, he considered her a moment. "Was it? This guy's only messing with you, maybe you need to relax a bit." He teased, only to sigh faintly.
"Yeah, it was the same thing back home for me too. Though, there was a lot of killing back then for well...literally anyone." Jack wouldn't get into it, though. "Butcher, yes, pretty eccentric. Nice kids." When she asked about the magic werewolves, he hummed lightly. "Didn't really study them, you can. Library's got great books of the history and whatnot."
As Berry went on about nobles, his expression darkened momentarily. "You'll endure that here, too. The kids are alright."
Berry — Today at 9:23 PM
She shrugged when Jules mentiooned how badly people treated lycan-folk. "It's been fine enough for me, although..." She pinched her bright pink hair with a chuckle. "I don' exactly strike folk as th'most intimidatin', and most folk're too distracted by my hair and name te even consider I might be somethin' dangerous." She assumed most folk just figured she was fae, if they suspected her of being supernatural at all. She sure as fuck didn't go around telling people what she was, and if asked by someone mundane? 'Human.'
To Jack, her expression turned serious for only a moment. "Only messin' turns te more than that if not discouraged properly from th'start." She retorted, though she'd already relaxed when Jules had decided to not keep pressing his luck.
"Good te hear I got another friendly face te look forward to, then, if I'm te be tasked with endurin' more bleedin' nobles." She sighed, then in an impression too accurate well practiced to just be mere imitation, she straightened upright, changing her stance immediately to one of dignity and grace. With that, she pretended to flick a fan in front of her face, waving the phantom object with practiced ease. "If only we could live in a world without those filthy peasants. Though I need their money to sustain my extravagant and wealthy lifestyle, their very existence causes me great ill, and I'd prefer it if they were wiped off the face of this earth entirely." Then she relaxed and spat into the ground. "Ach, I better be on my best behavior, then, lest I end up in stockades again."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 9:30 PM
"Oh I could make a comment about wantin' to see you in cuffs... but I probably shouldn't. What with my bein' properly discouraged and all." He winked at Berry. Maybe not brave enough to get handsy with someone who could kick his ass, it didn't stop him from running his mouth.
"Just let me know if yer ever drunk enough to change yer mind. I got no such prejudices against werefolk, fae or anyone else with fancy hair." He chuckled.
"Nobles though... useful for writin' checks and not much else most of the time. Least back home they always had some project or other that kept me fed."
Jack Walsh — Today at 9:43 PM
"Nah, you don't." Finding someone to intimidate Jack, though, would be a feat. "Not always, it doesn't. You probably shouldn't label him with others, because he made a pass towards you. We were just talking about racists, afterall, let's not play their game over a different subject, hm?" A wink, and he'd be back up on his feet.
"They don't mind the peasants, they just mind us, horrible monsters coming into their pretty city." When Jules continued, the vampire gave him a look. "No means no." If he dropped it there, he'd go on.
"Luckily for everyone who wants to wander, there are places where you don't have to endure that whole mess. I don't even live here, and it's been grand since."
Berry — Today at 9:51 PM
"Aye, one pass, fine. But he keeps makin' em, and I'm startin' te get a bit... itchy." She shot Jules another glare.
At the mention of peasants being alright, Berry laughed a mirthless laugh. "Aye, that may be, but peasants, monsters, it's all th'same if they can find someone te look down on." A twitch of her fingers towards a flask on her belt, but she shook that urge off. She didn't need it now, and she intended on finishing her run. "Ye can hope 'n' pray fer someone te make it better, and sometimes one or two do... break away from th' 'proper' opinion, but it never fuckin' changes, no matter where ye go." She moved to spit once again, but stopped herself mid-turn, swallowing it instead.
"Oh? An' what places are that, might I ask?"
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:00 PM
Jules put his hands up in mock surrender. "Heeyyy lighten up a little, toots. I ain't tryna' bother ya that bad. I'm just a lonesome bloke, yeah? Coming off a long dry spell. Can't exactly flirt with a girl if she's screamin' unholy fits just gettin' a glance of yer winning smile."
He grinned wide to illustrate. "And so far everyone here has been real cagey whenever I ask where the whorehouse is. I swear, its like they're expectin' the worst."
He shrugged. "Yknow. I used to work on ships and such. Heard a lot of talk about a lot of places. Never once did I hear of a place someone like one of us ugly bastards could just... live freely, you know? It was all just "tolerant" societies. Societies that wouldn't murder you outright, maybe, but never a place that was just ok with it. " He sighed.
"I gotta say, I'd love to be wrong."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:11 PM
"You both need to lighten up." Jack decided, as he dusted off his pants. "Anyway, it's up to us to ensure things are better for us, not them. You can't change them, but you can make it so they aren't able to keep going." When Jules talked about the brothel, the vampire drowned it out for a moment.
"Well, I do come from a town like that. It's a town I help take care of, bit of a sanctuary for us, though humans are invited in. It's still a trading post, and we need supplies and people to sell to, still." They just weren't nobles, thankfully.
"It's a week's journey away from here, though, unless you've a quicker way to get back and forth."
Berry — Today at 10:16 PM
Berry finally eased up, though she bristled at being called "toots." "Ye need coin, sorry, shards fer a whorehouse, but if it'll getche off my back..." She fished around in her purse and pulled out a couple silver shards, tossing them Jules's way. Hopefully he caught them. "'Ere. Find yerself a girl that's willin' te wash ye first." Was it a lot of money to toss at a stranger? Sure, but Berry had the money to spend.
To Jack, she cocked her head, catching his words and tasting them on her tongue, before finally crafting her reply. "Aye, that sounds like a town I'd like to visit." She finally responded, dropping her foolish act, just a little; not enough to draw suspicion or any real meaning from her words, but her scottish drawl had definitely lightened. "Give me directions, I'll see if I can make the journey. Surely my daughter can mind the house while I'm gone."
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:24 PM
Jules caught the charitable donation with a look of surprise. "Well, I'll be damned. Thanks lady. I keep findin' nice folks here. Guess they was right about this place."
He listened carefully as Jack described other far away places. "Interesting concept. I may take you up on it, but maybe after I save a bit of money up. Get on my feet a little. I spent days holed up in a crate on a boat, I ain't anxious to travel again now."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:32 PM
Jack ran a hand through his hair, as Berry tossed shards at him. "By the end of the week, he's going to be richer than half of the city if his luck keeps up." Maybe it'd do him some good, keep him off people's radar for a bit.
"Right. So, you can find a map easily enough. It's called Kara's Vale, not far from Shipwreck Valley and the Desert. It's on a well-known trade route, so you could honestly hitch a ride from a caravan to make it easier." Probably safer than walking.
"Oh, indeed," He said to Jules, walking over to him and he'd pat his shoulder. "I do need you here, afterall."
Berry — Today at 10:45 PM
Berry gave a tentative nod, still mulling it over. She quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Jules' becoming rich, and briefly entertained wrestling the shards back out of his hands; but no, she was clean, if a bit sweaty from the run, and didn't feel too keen to touch him. Another thought; she should probably warn Jules off her daughter, as she had a lot less patience than her mother-- but no, Jules would find out for himself if he tried.
"Well, alright, then. Well, Ah oughta get back te my run, it ain't getting lighter out 'ere." A goofy smile slowly spread back on her face, and she offered her company a wink. If nothing else but goodbyes was said to her, she'd turn on her heel and continue down the path; though she'd stay if addressed.
Jules P. Thurgood — Today at 10:53 PM
"Seeya." He waved.
"Well, if its all the same t' you, Jack, I have precious little time in the night left to find that whore house so I'll likewise be off. And don't ya worry, I ain't forgot I owe you the favor. Ill keep my ears open and unless the whole place really goes to shit I ain't running off either."
Jack Walsh — Today at 10:54 PM
"Yeah, good plan. I have a ride to catch myself, and I'd like to go home, lovely as this is." He said, and stepped away, a hand held up to Jules. "Don't kill anyone now."
Once they were off, so was he, catching up with Macaw somewhere they could take to the air without anyone catching a glimpse.
