*Long slender jean clad legs uncrossed as bare toes flexed and pointed before settling upon the dashboard once more. The owner of these legs and feet yawned and stretched as much as her current position of being cramped in the small confines of her VW bug would allow. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced up at her reflection in the rear-view mirror and stared into her own dark grey eyes. Haunted by what she saw reflected back in that gaze, Ebony sniffed and cleared her throat, willing the tears to stay away as she cricked her neck and reached over to grab the black peaked hat that sat beside her on the empty driver’s seat. Jamming it onto her head, she smoothed a few loose strands of dark silky hair and tucked them under the cap. Lifting up the long braid that fell down her back, Ebony slipped it under the collar of the black tank top she wore before reaching into the back of the Bug for her jacket and boots. A few minutes later she emerged from the comfort of the car, fully dressed and almost completely covered from head to toe. The black leather jacket would nip in at her waist before flaring out over her hips, accentuating her feminine form; if she so let it. Instead, she let it hang open loose, causing shadows of darkness which merged with the darkness of her shirt. Locking the door, she slammed it shut and leant up against her battered up Bug.
Dark eyes peered out from beneath her peaked cap as she watched the door of the Crossroads Tavern carefully. She had been parked outside for a few days now; watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity and now it appeared to finally be happening. Straining her ears, Ebony smirked when she heard the sound of breaking glass and someone swearing loudly. She heard more swearing, shouting and then the sound of a fight breaking out. Taking her time, Ebony stretched her lithe limbs above her head before pushing herself off the Bug and standing up straight. The night was cold as the wind blew up and around her, the scent of rain heavy in the air as thunder rumbled in the distance. Checking to make sure the road was safe to cross before she did so; Ebony approached the Tavern with a confident stride as she quickly stepped around the small Italian man who had just been literally “thrown” outside. Crossing the threshold just as the first rain drops began to fall outside, Ebony paused for a moment on the doorstep of the Crossroads Tavern as her dark grey eyes scanned the scene before her quickly.
It appeared that two main separate fights had broken out, one near the pool tables and one at the entrance to the Men’s restroom. Wrinkling her nose at the thought of a smelly toilet, Ebony quickly made her way towards the pool tables where four men were involved in an all-out brawl. A rather good looking blonde guy who was wearing a biker’s jacket began to wade through the crowd at the same time as Ebony and she sized him up quickly as a good fighter. Naturally falling into step beside him, she kept an eye on the two men she had targeted while he unknowingly did the same to the other pair. Stepping up to the two guys who were hauling obscenities at each other as well as the occasional shot glass or pool ball, Ebony made sure she kept her head down and spoke in as deep as a voice as she could as she and the biker faced off to the four fighters, back to back.
~Come now gentlemen.. there is no need for this.. why don’t you both take this outside and let the rest of us enjoy our night, huh?~ The drunk closest to her, whirled around as if to hit her, but Ebony quickly ducked and moved out of his way. By the time he had even registered that she had moved she was now standing behind him and effectively sandwiched between the two men. The first man staggered before turning around to swing at her again. Ebony ducked her head to the right and winced as she heard the sound of the man’s meaty fist connecting with the jaw of his previous adversary. As the recipient of the punch muttered ~What the fu..~ and promptly crumpled to his knees, Ebony turned and delivered a perfect low kick to the swinging man’s abdomen. He let out a loud OOMPH before doubling over in pain, his head falling forward to connect his jaw with the kneeling man’s skull with a sickening thunk. Both men fell sideways to the floor, and Ebony stood over them to make sure they were really unconscious before she straightened herself up and checked out how the scene had unfolded around her.
The blonde biker was wrestling a much larger guy out of the front door while a guy with a shaggy dark beard appeared to have the ruckus by the Gents under control. He appeared to be the manager type, and Ebony knew from her recent surveillance that he was the one who could get her a job here. Taking her time to walk over to the bar, Ebony watched him work out of the corner of her eye, eager to pounce if it should look like he needed her help. She needed to impress him if she was to secure this gig, and although her most recent display was damn impressive (if she did say so herself); she was doubtful that he had even witnessed it.
Loud angry voices began to drift towards her from the front door and she turned her dark capped head to watch the blonde biker finally lose his patience and punch the larger guy in the face. Ebony watched silently while the biker made quick work of the tub of lard before literally kicking him out of the door. As if he had felt her eyes upon him, he turned and shot a flat pale look her way. Arching a slender dark brow in response, Ebony climbed onto a bar stool and swivelled around to look for the manager. *";
A mud steaked white car sped along one of the wet and muddy road towards the Crossroads Tavern. On closer inspection of the white car it was seen to be a 2009 BMW M3, and a rental sticker was plainly visible in the back window. The woman behind the wheel drove as if the car was an extension of her body, oh how she loved driving. Even now, at the age of 28, she got in trouble occasionally for driving a bit too fast. No matter how fast she went she seemed to always maintain perfect control of the car. Her long coppery hair was tied away from her face in a low pony tail, behind a pair of glasses perched upon a button nose pale yet oddly luminous brow eyes watched the road. Her tall from was clad in a black finely tailored suit. Jacket, vest and pants were all a prefect pitch black, the silken shirt crimson.
Variel was originally in the general area of the tavern investigating a case of possession. After a child had a nasty fall on a play structure, in the school yard she had spent six months in a coma, to the family's complete relief the girl came out of it. Only things were not completely right, she believed she was a 12th century Scottish Lord, she talked and acted as such. She even knew things that a girl of seven shouldn't. When Variel was on her way to return the rental car, the dirty, pearl white M3 she was currently driving. A call has come, the order had given her another assignment. She was to check out a place called The Crossroads Tavern. There had been reports that this was a place of interest, many hunters gathered there. She was a hunter of sorts, but not like them. She hunted for knowledge.
Slowing the cars speed as she neared the place, she pulled into a parking spot and lit a cigarette. As she indulged herself in one of her very few vices. She looked over the place her near photographic memory taking in every detail. It definitely looked like a rough joint, I'm going to stand out like a sore thumb she thought to herself. Exhaling a plume of greyish blue smokes, she pondered what she could do to make herself look less out of place. As she snuffed the cigarette out in the ash stay she just sighed softly, I'll just take the jacket and vest off...I'll look dressed up, not dressed in a business suit. was the best solution she found. So after she shed her jacket and vest she got out of the car.
As she headed towards the front door she heard angry voices,and then a body came flying through the door. She stopped in her tracks, she was technically weaponless, going into a place like this wasn't exactly on top of her things she wanted to do list. However she worked of The Talamasca, because it was her life it had been since early child hood, she did as she was told. Finally after she had mad her way past the people around the front door she looked around for a moment, before taking a seat at the bar. She always started by looking around, and getting a feel for the over all environment of the place, and weather or not she would be able to get anything out of the people around here. Before she gave too much scrutiny to the place she looked around for the bartender.
Variel was originally in the general area of the tavern investigating a case of possession. After a child had a nasty fall on a play structure, in the school yard she had spent six months in a coma, to the family's complete relief the girl came out of it. Only things were not completely right, she believed she was a 12th century Scottish Lord, she talked and acted as such. She even knew things that a girl of seven shouldn't. When Variel was on her way to return the rental car, the dirty, pearl white M3 she was currently driving. A call has come, the order had given her another assignment. She was to check out a place called The Crossroads Tavern. There had been reports that this was a place of interest, many hunters gathered there. She was a hunter of sorts, but not like them. She hunted for knowledge.
Slowing the cars speed as she neared the place, she pulled into a parking spot and lit a cigarette. As she indulged herself in one of her very few vices. She looked over the place her near photographic memory taking in every detail. It definitely looked like a rough joint, I'm going to stand out like a sore thumb she thought to herself. Exhaling a plume of greyish blue smokes, she pondered what she could do to make herself look less out of place. As she snuffed the cigarette out in the ash stay she just sighed softly, I'll just take the jacket and vest off...I'll look dressed up, not dressed in a business suit. was the best solution she found. So after she shed her jacket and vest she got out of the car.
As she headed towards the front door she heard angry voices,and then a body came flying through the door. She stopped in her tracks, she was technically weaponless, going into a place like this wasn't exactly on top of her things she wanted to do list. However she worked of The Talamasca, because it was her life it had been since early child hood, she did as she was told. Finally after she had mad her way past the people around the front door she looked around for a moment, before taking a seat at the bar. She always started by looking around, and getting a feel for the over all environment of the place, and weather or not she would be able to get anything out of the people around here. Before she gave too much scrutiny to the place she looked around for the bartender.
The giant of a man Artair had been standing behind the bar counter using a rag to clean a glass mug. The Scottish male watched everything and anything that went on in his bar due to various reasons that very few would ever know about. The man would bring the glass mug up to look at it before nodding to himself happily then puts the glass up on the shelf and gets another one to begin cleaning. Between this, chatting with hunters, and serving the drinks due to him being the only tender at the crossroads...........he really would need to get more help soon he supposed, he found himself constantly kept busy.
Artair finished up this glass when the beginnings of a fight, make that two fights, started up. Scowling the Scottish man stood up straight and yelled out at the patrons who had started. Of course they didn't seem to listen to him when he told them to stop fighting, or take it outside if they must, and so he reached down for the solid club under the counter. Anyone who's ever been to this bar knew of the club, knew that he would use it to knock the idiots out then throw them out as he suffered fools very little.
"I said quit!"
Artair yelled again in his Scottish accent before he slipped from behind the counter, while all the other patrons watched. He was dressed in leather working boots with steel tipped toes, traditional Scottish kilt, and a short sleeved brown shirt with a sash. Growling he headed for the ones near the bathroom and would start whopping those that were fighting and knocking one or two of them out. The others he just bruised to get the point across that he was not playing. With stern eyes he turned to the friends of the knocked out ones, as they had come to check on the two and he growled out.
"Take em home or up stairs to a room to sleep it off and I don't care which, and pay yer tab!"
He had caught sight of course of the second fight and the woman and blond biker who seemed to have things under control there, with calls and bets being placed on who would win, from the crowed so Artair strolled back behind the counter scratching at his large and full beard. He walked over and placed hands down on the counter looking at Ebony and then to Variel sizing them up.
"Can I get ye lasses anything to drink or eat and thank you lass"
The Scotsman asked looking between the two of them and thanked Ebony for the help she gave in the second fight at the pool tables. He placed the solid oak club under his counter and then just waited to see what the two wanted.
Artair finished up this glass when the beginnings of a fight, make that two fights, started up. Scowling the Scottish man stood up straight and yelled out at the patrons who had started. Of course they didn't seem to listen to him when he told them to stop fighting, or take it outside if they must, and so he reached down for the solid club under the counter. Anyone who's ever been to this bar knew of the club, knew that he would use it to knock the idiots out then throw them out as he suffered fools very little.
"I said quit!"
Artair yelled again in his Scottish accent before he slipped from behind the counter, while all the other patrons watched. He was dressed in leather working boots with steel tipped toes, traditional Scottish kilt, and a short sleeved brown shirt with a sash. Growling he headed for the ones near the bathroom and would start whopping those that were fighting and knocking one or two of them out. The others he just bruised to get the point across that he was not playing. With stern eyes he turned to the friends of the knocked out ones, as they had come to check on the two and he growled out.
"Take em home or up stairs to a room to sleep it off and I don't care which, and pay yer tab!"
He had caught sight of course of the second fight and the woman and blond biker who seemed to have things under control there, with calls and bets being placed on who would win, from the crowed so Artair strolled back behind the counter scratching at his large and full beard. He walked over and placed hands down on the counter looking at Ebony and then to Variel sizing them up.
"Can I get ye lasses anything to drink or eat and thank you lass"
The Scotsman asked looking between the two of them and thanked Ebony for the help she gave in the second fight at the pool tables. He placed the solid oak club under his counter and then just waited to see what the two wanted.
Moses sniffed the hair, why did storms always seem to follow him? A few cold drops of rain speckled his bald head; he cursed under his breath his obsession with shaving his head. He hadn’t managed to shave it for a week of so now, so he had a light dusting of white blonde hair. Large almost impossible round eyes surveyed his surroundings. Not far now, old habits die hard he whispered.
Moses was almost invisible walking along the side of the road. He wore a heavy bulky, yet pristine military style leather emerald green jacket. He wore black cargo pants and laced up heavy combat boots that travelled up his calves. Under his long jacket he wore an old military jumper. Each finger and thumb was adorned with a separate shaped silver ring. Nestled neatly on his head were a pair of high-tech green lensed goggles, the band was shiny silver and he kept t hem high on his forehead.
Moses drew his coat closer around his body as the rain started to fall with gusto now, he looked up at the sky and saw a flash of light illuminate the dark clouds above. Rounding the corner he saw what he was after. The Crossroads Tavern. Moses sighed; their relationship was a love/hate one, confirmed by the meathead that came flying through the front door. Anger seemed to be an emotion his kind had in spades. He noticed the job attracted a certain… type. People rarely went into this ‘career’ without some kind of deep seeded anger and resentment.
Moses stepped over the stumbling thug and pushed his way through the front door. It was busy night. He smiled at Artair, who was dealing with the usual ‘rough-housing’. He took a seat next to a pretty girl who was far too well dressed to be a regular. Moses reached behind his jacket and pulled out something that looked like an iPad on crack. The black screen sprung to life, a 3D image disappeared into the tablet and projected several graphics that seemed to hover inches off the screen. Moses flicked through it until he found what he was looking for. He hit the button and reached into his sleeve pulling out a long retractable input device. It resembled a tiny USB cord. He plugged it into the tablet. Moses didn’t seem to worry about discretion; he wasn’t used to being noticed.
‘Mission accomplished, my car was totalled. Request backup vehicle, Track position; Vector Vector 3, 8, 9, The Crossroads Tavern’.
He said quietly, before putting away the device.
‘The usual, Artair’.
He said with a sigh. His blue eyes shimmered under the Taverns light and suddenly he looked like something from a science fiction film.
Moses was almost invisible walking along the side of the road. He wore a heavy bulky, yet pristine military style leather emerald green jacket. He wore black cargo pants and laced up heavy combat boots that travelled up his calves. Under his long jacket he wore an old military jumper. Each finger and thumb was adorned with a separate shaped silver ring. Nestled neatly on his head were a pair of high-tech green lensed goggles, the band was shiny silver and he kept t hem high on his forehead.
Moses drew his coat closer around his body as the rain started to fall with gusto now, he looked up at the sky and saw a flash of light illuminate the dark clouds above. Rounding the corner he saw what he was after. The Crossroads Tavern. Moses sighed; their relationship was a love/hate one, confirmed by the meathead that came flying through the front door. Anger seemed to be an emotion his kind had in spades. He noticed the job attracted a certain… type. People rarely went into this ‘career’ without some kind of deep seeded anger and resentment.
Moses stepped over the stumbling thug and pushed his way through the front door. It was busy night. He smiled at Artair, who was dealing with the usual ‘rough-housing’. He took a seat next to a pretty girl who was far too well dressed to be a regular. Moses reached behind his jacket and pulled out something that looked like an iPad on crack. The black screen sprung to life, a 3D image disappeared into the tablet and projected several graphics that seemed to hover inches off the screen. Moses flicked through it until he found what he was looking for. He hit the button and reached into his sleeve pulling out a long retractable input device. It resembled a tiny USB cord. He plugged it into the tablet. Moses didn’t seem to worry about discretion; he wasn’t used to being noticed.
‘Mission accomplished, my car was totalled. Request backup vehicle, Track position; Vector Vector 3, 8, 9, The Crossroads Tavern’.
He said quietly, before putting away the device.
‘The usual, Artair’.
He said with a sigh. His blue eyes shimmered under the Taverns light and suddenly he looked like something from a science fiction film.
Two men lumbered along the side of the dirt road, one clearly not enjoying himself while the other looked all around with interest. The taller one had his shoulders hunched forward, his hands balled into fists in the pocket of his light brown coat. His messy auburn hair looked as if he had run his hand through it one too many times and the untamed mess stuck out in impossible angles, soon to be dampened by the oncoming rain. The second man was somewhat shorter and stockier, clearly hosting large muscles under his clothing. He wore a plaid button-down shirt with a white long-sleeve shirt under neath and ripped old jeans. His feet were covered with stained work boots giving him the exact appearance of a lumber jack; which in fact, on a normal day, he was. His hair almost mirrored his companions; messy and unkempt but shorter and russet and swept along his jawline in the form of stubble. He elbowed his companion, a lopsided grin pulling his lips.
"Hey, look." He pointed with his chin and tucked his hands in his back pockets. "We found a place." He wagged his eyebrows in an attempt to lighten his companion's mood, but the auburn haired man only grunted. He turned his head to glare at the former, his mismatched blue and brown eyes a picture of contempt. "Oh, come on Remy, it's not entirely my fault that we had to leave the car..." But Remy's continual withering look made his opinion change after a moment of it melting him. "Okay, alright, it is." He shrugged and continued to stroll along. "You're so uptight, I would have thought you'd have liked walking as much as me. And if you didn't want to have a car no one would recognize, then we could have taken my truck, but noooo, you have to be picky."
"Bade?" Intoned Remy, a slight accent noticeable in his speech.
"Yea?" Bade's grey-green eyes slid to his taller friend in question.
"Just shut your bleeding mouth, 'right?" Remy put on some speed as the rain started to pelt his shoulders and pulled an old page boy's hat from his pocket. Slipping the hat over his unruly hair, one could see a yellow smiley face pin had been stuck on near the brim. Bade had shrugged off Remy's blatant dislike for his talking and followed, still grinning lopsidedly.
"Oh!" He put his nose to the air and took a deep breath. Letting go of the smells, his tongue lolled out. "That place smells like a bar with some good beer." He trotted past Remy and headed for the door. The former followed at his own pace, shrugging his over-full camping pack higher on to his shoulders.
The pair found the Crossroad's Tavern's door as the rain was becoming furious. They entered the establishment, looking exactly like two men who'd just walked a long way in the woods might look: dirty, disheveled and ready to sit down. Bade took a moment to take the whole place in, but his younger companion shouldered past him to find a table in the corner to sit down in. He sat with his back to the corner and waited for Bade, who had made a b-line for the bar. Apparently some sort of scuffle had just occurred as the place was slightly torn up and Bade could smell the adrenaline all around him. If it disturbed him, his expression did not betray it.
He placed his hands flat on the bar counter and addressed the bar tender.
"Three beers, please." He looked at the woman already at the bar and offered a wink, smiling wider at the bar tender.
"Hey, look." He pointed with his chin and tucked his hands in his back pockets. "We found a place." He wagged his eyebrows in an attempt to lighten his companion's mood, but the auburn haired man only grunted. He turned his head to glare at the former, his mismatched blue and brown eyes a picture of contempt. "Oh, come on Remy, it's not entirely my fault that we had to leave the car..." But Remy's continual withering look made his opinion change after a moment of it melting him. "Okay, alright, it is." He shrugged and continued to stroll along. "You're so uptight, I would have thought you'd have liked walking as much as me. And if you didn't want to have a car no one would recognize, then we could have taken my truck, but noooo, you have to be picky."
"Bade?" Intoned Remy, a slight accent noticeable in his speech.
"Yea?" Bade's grey-green eyes slid to his taller friend in question.
"Just shut your bleeding mouth, 'right?" Remy put on some speed as the rain started to pelt his shoulders and pulled an old page boy's hat from his pocket. Slipping the hat over his unruly hair, one could see a yellow smiley face pin had been stuck on near the brim. Bade had shrugged off Remy's blatant dislike for his talking and followed, still grinning lopsidedly.
"Oh!" He put his nose to the air and took a deep breath. Letting go of the smells, his tongue lolled out. "That place smells like a bar with some good beer." He trotted past Remy and headed for the door. The former followed at his own pace, shrugging his over-full camping pack higher on to his shoulders.
The pair found the Crossroad's Tavern's door as the rain was becoming furious. They entered the establishment, looking exactly like two men who'd just walked a long way in the woods might look: dirty, disheveled and ready to sit down. Bade took a moment to take the whole place in, but his younger companion shouldered past him to find a table in the corner to sit down in. He sat with his back to the corner and waited for Bade, who had made a b-line for the bar. Apparently some sort of scuffle had just occurred as the place was slightly torn up and Bade could smell the adrenaline all around him. If it disturbed him, his expression did not betray it.
He placed his hands flat on the bar counter and addressed the bar tender.
"Three beers, please." He looked at the woman already at the bar and offered a wink, smiling wider at the bar tender.
*Ebony spun around on her seat absently as she watched the events unfold within the Crossroads Tavern. A woman with the most beautiful hair Ebony had ever seen and wearing what appeared to be a very expensive suit, appeared in the doorway and soon was seated on the stool beside her. Offering her a lopsided grin which was all but hidden under the peak of her dark cap, Ebony turned her attention back to the Scottish bar manager and smiled approvingly at the club as he came back to the bar. Nodding her acknowledgement of his thanks, she shrugged awkwardly when she realised he had called her a lass. Knowing that the gig was up, Ebony sighed and reached up to take her hat off. Placing it on the bar beside her, she smiled over at the bar tender as she pulled her long braid out from her jacket and smoothed back a few loose dark strands of her glossy hair.
~I’ll have a Jack on the rocks with a Tequilla chaser thanks..~ she purred while grinning over at the new arrival who had sat down next to the woman beside her. ~And he will have the usual.. apparently.. while she.. will have..?~ she arched a brow at the woman beside her questioningly before her attention was diverted by the appearance of two very wet and dishevelled looking men. As one approached the bar, she was watching him curiously and therefore could not help but see when he offered her a sly wink. Grinning despite herself, Ebony blushed and offered him a smile. It had been a long time since anyone had offered her any kind of attention, therefore a random wink from a member of the opposite sex was enough to cause a sparkle to gleam in her dark eyes as she turned her attention back to the bar tender.
~Look’s like you are pretty busy tonight.. if you need a hand.. I have experience working bars.. and.. well..~ she grinned, faking modesty and tried to look sheepish. ~I just showed you I can handle myself.. so.. any jobs going?~*
~I’ll have a Jack on the rocks with a Tequilla chaser thanks..~ she purred while grinning over at the new arrival who had sat down next to the woman beside her. ~And he will have the usual.. apparently.. while she.. will have..?~ she arched a brow at the woman beside her questioningly before her attention was diverted by the appearance of two very wet and dishevelled looking men. As one approached the bar, she was watching him curiously and therefore could not help but see when he offered her a sly wink. Grinning despite herself, Ebony blushed and offered him a smile. It had been a long time since anyone had offered her any kind of attention, therefore a random wink from a member of the opposite sex was enough to cause a sparkle to gleam in her dark eyes as she turned her attention back to the bar tender.
~Look’s like you are pretty busy tonight.. if you need a hand.. I have experience working bars.. and.. well..~ she grinned, faking modesty and tried to look sheepish. ~I just showed you I can handle myself.. so.. any jobs going?~*
*Blue smoke swirled upward in a misty dance as he stood, barely sheltered from the pouring rain, under the small awning above the back door of the roadhouse. As he raised his cigarette to his lip once more his pale eyes glanced down in disdain at the sight of the bruised and bloody knuckles on his right hand.
He hadn’t meant to hit the idiot, but he was sick to death of guys like him coming in and killing his buzz. Before the fight had broken out he had been enjoying a couple of brews with his buds while shooting some pool. Hell, he had even had a cute little blonde making eyes at him over the jukebox before the fat dickhead had decided to pick a fight with two guys half his size. Taking a deep drag on his smoke, Jax threw the butt away as he stepped out into the rain for a moment to inspect how Fatty was doing. Delighted to see the unconscious brute breathing heavily while lying in a quickly deepening puddle, Jax chuckled to himself as he stepped back inside, letting the door swing shut behind him.
Pale eyes scanned the crowd and he noticed straight away that the blonde from earlier had already vanished. Scowling as he wondered if she had taken off with the dark guy who had helped him break up the fight, Jax looked over towards the bar where he saw the guy from before was sitting at the bar – with a redhead. As he watched however, the guy took off his hat to reveal a shiny braid knotted down his neck. Curious now, Jax continued walking towards the bar, his pace slow and purposeful as his eyes stayed on the man. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen long hair on a guy before, but there had been something strange about this dude from the first second he had laid eyes on him. It was only as he approached from the left that he was able to see the delicate features of a female.
Taken aback slightly by the fact that she was a girl (and not a bad looking one at that), Jax shrugged out of his jacket and threw it onto the bar, revealing a slightly stained light grey long sleeve tshirt and battered faded jeans. Pushing his sleeves up, Jax waved his friends on their way as they called out to him that they were leaving. Nodding at their catcalls and jibes, Jax merely grinned and flipped them the bird as he lifted up the wooden galley that provided access to the area behind the bar. Though it had never been made official, he had been helping out here for the past six months. He had originally intended on staying for a few weeks, but that had turned into a few months and now here he was serving up only fairly cold beer and breaking up drunken fights.
Offering Artair his usual crooked grin, Jax called out in his thick Southern drawl “Looks like we got an interesting night ahead, huh boss?” Popping a match stick in the corner of his mouth, Jax walked over to where Artair was about to serve the people at the bar. Seeing Moses arrive, Jax gave him a slightly detached nod of acknowledgement.
Cool pale eyes flickered over the dark haired girl, surprise registering briefly on his normally blank face as her beauty caught him off guard now that he was standing before her. Feeling as though the breath had been knocked out of him, he turned towards the redhead who was as equally lovely and grinned at her.
“My my.. what an unusual sight.. two lovely ladies on the same night.” He looked over to see Artair move off to get the drinks.
“I’ll get hers..” he called out, pointing to the dark haired girl. Offering her a crooked grin, he quickly moved around the bar with the expertise of one who had been doing this for more than just a few months. Placing a glass of ice and JD on the bar in front of her, he poured not one but two shots of tequila. Grabbing a lemon from under the bar, he sliced it into quarters before sliding the salt shaker over towards her.
“This one’s on me.” he drawled, playing up his Southern accent a bit, ‘cause lets face it – girls liked that.
“Thanks for having my back before – I know some of those guys, and trust me when I say that could’ve got nasty.” He grinned at her as his eyes roamed all over her while he chewed on his matchstick.
“So..where did a pretty little thing like you learn to fight like that?” He raised one shot glass to his mouth, sucking the tequila down before slamming the glass back on the bar. Foregoing the salt, Jax popped a piece of lemon into his mouth and grinned at her with the lemon rind covering his normally perfectly white teeth. *
He hadn’t meant to hit the idiot, but he was sick to death of guys like him coming in and killing his buzz. Before the fight had broken out he had been enjoying a couple of brews with his buds while shooting some pool. Hell, he had even had a cute little blonde making eyes at him over the jukebox before the fat dickhead had decided to pick a fight with two guys half his size. Taking a deep drag on his smoke, Jax threw the butt away as he stepped out into the rain for a moment to inspect how Fatty was doing. Delighted to see the unconscious brute breathing heavily while lying in a quickly deepening puddle, Jax chuckled to himself as he stepped back inside, letting the door swing shut behind him.
Pale eyes scanned the crowd and he noticed straight away that the blonde from earlier had already vanished. Scowling as he wondered if she had taken off with the dark guy who had helped him break up the fight, Jax looked over towards the bar where he saw the guy from before was sitting at the bar – with a redhead. As he watched however, the guy took off his hat to reveal a shiny braid knotted down his neck. Curious now, Jax continued walking towards the bar, his pace slow and purposeful as his eyes stayed on the man. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen long hair on a guy before, but there had been something strange about this dude from the first second he had laid eyes on him. It was only as he approached from the left that he was able to see the delicate features of a female.
Taken aback slightly by the fact that she was a girl (and not a bad looking one at that), Jax shrugged out of his jacket and threw it onto the bar, revealing a slightly stained light grey long sleeve tshirt and battered faded jeans. Pushing his sleeves up, Jax waved his friends on their way as they called out to him that they were leaving. Nodding at their catcalls and jibes, Jax merely grinned and flipped them the bird as he lifted up the wooden galley that provided access to the area behind the bar. Though it had never been made official, he had been helping out here for the past six months. He had originally intended on staying for a few weeks, but that had turned into a few months and now here he was serving up only fairly cold beer and breaking up drunken fights.
Offering Artair his usual crooked grin, Jax called out in his thick Southern drawl “Looks like we got an interesting night ahead, huh boss?” Popping a match stick in the corner of his mouth, Jax walked over to where Artair was about to serve the people at the bar. Seeing Moses arrive, Jax gave him a slightly detached nod of acknowledgement.
Cool pale eyes flickered over the dark haired girl, surprise registering briefly on his normally blank face as her beauty caught him off guard now that he was standing before her. Feeling as though the breath had been knocked out of him, he turned towards the redhead who was as equally lovely and grinned at her.
“My my.. what an unusual sight.. two lovely ladies on the same night.” He looked over to see Artair move off to get the drinks.
“I’ll get hers..” he called out, pointing to the dark haired girl. Offering her a crooked grin, he quickly moved around the bar with the expertise of one who had been doing this for more than just a few months. Placing a glass of ice and JD on the bar in front of her, he poured not one but two shots of tequila. Grabbing a lemon from under the bar, he sliced it into quarters before sliding the salt shaker over towards her.
“This one’s on me.” he drawled, playing up his Southern accent a bit, ‘cause lets face it – girls liked that.
“Thanks for having my back before – I know some of those guys, and trust me when I say that could’ve got nasty.” He grinned at her as his eyes roamed all over her while he chewed on his matchstick.
“So..where did a pretty little thing like you learn to fight like that?” He raised one shot glass to his mouth, sucking the tequila down before slamming the glass back on the bar. Foregoing the salt, Jax popped a piece of lemon into his mouth and grinned at her with the lemon rind covering his normally perfectly white teeth. *
Bade was mesmerized briefly by the woman's flushed smile before realizing that he probably had some other woman waiting for him somewhere and they wouldn't be pleased with his flirting. True, he seemed to be a failure at relationships by no fault of his own; it was just the women he chose to love. A witch with dual personalities, the latter of which wanted him dead, a dhampir whose father had never relinquished control on her... And incidentally also wanted him dead... After thinking about it, he decided that the whole reason he'd agreed to go on this quest with Remy was to get away from the insane females in his life. This one probably wouldn't be any different if he really knew how to pick them.
His beers were placed on the counter before him, clinking together and dripping with perspiration. He was snapped out of his gaze that held the dark-haired woman's now revealed plait of hair. Snapping to the barkeep who'd just gave him his drinks, a crooked grin split his lips and he offered the man money and thanks. Taking the three bottles in his hands, he went to return to the table but his feet faltered right behind Variel. Blinking, he breathed deep and let the air out slowly, sorting through what he was smelling. Something... Animalistic? He gave a sidelong glance to the woman with his grey green eyes. He looked to Remy, who was constantly watching the room for any signs of aversion to his presence. Shrugging, he sat back at the bar, on the side of the mysterious woman who seemed a little over dressed in his opinion.
"Hello, there Red. I seem to have ordered one too many beers, care to take one off my hands?" He had placed the other two on the bar, one in front of him, the other by her and he took the third, pulling the cap off by twisting the top of the bottle against his forearm. He placed the twisted metal bottle top on the bar and took a deep drink of the beer. "Please, I'm just trying to be friendly," he stated, pushing the bottle closer to her.
Remy sat alone in the booth, eying everyone around him from under his hat's brim. He glanced back to Bade who clearly had forgotten that he was supposed to be coming back to the table. Grumbling to himself about attention spans, he rummaged in his too-full travel pack and pulled out a worn book. It resembled a leather journal, or at least it might have been that at one point. There were bite marks and claw trails on some of the pages which had very carefully been taped back together. The cover sported a scar diagonally across it's edges which had been sewn crudely with thick pink thread. Some pages even looked like they'd been written on in crayon. Opening the book to its first clean page, Remy frowned again, dusting off what seemed to be sugar grain embedded in the spine. He dated the page and began to pour out his observations of the tavern, its people and his predicaments leading up to finding it.
His last words on the page had been: "Scent has gone cold; must find new clues." He tucked the journal carefully back into his bag and stood to retrieve Bade.
His beers were placed on the counter before him, clinking together and dripping with perspiration. He was snapped out of his gaze that held the dark-haired woman's now revealed plait of hair. Snapping to the barkeep who'd just gave him his drinks, a crooked grin split his lips and he offered the man money and thanks. Taking the three bottles in his hands, he went to return to the table but his feet faltered right behind Variel. Blinking, he breathed deep and let the air out slowly, sorting through what he was smelling. Something... Animalistic? He gave a sidelong glance to the woman with his grey green eyes. He looked to Remy, who was constantly watching the room for any signs of aversion to his presence. Shrugging, he sat back at the bar, on the side of the mysterious woman who seemed a little over dressed in his opinion.
"Hello, there Red. I seem to have ordered one too many beers, care to take one off my hands?" He had placed the other two on the bar, one in front of him, the other by her and he took the third, pulling the cap off by twisting the top of the bottle against his forearm. He placed the twisted metal bottle top on the bar and took a deep drink of the beer. "Please, I'm just trying to be friendly," he stated, pushing the bottle closer to her.
Remy sat alone in the booth, eying everyone around him from under his hat's brim. He glanced back to Bade who clearly had forgotten that he was supposed to be coming back to the table. Grumbling to himself about attention spans, he rummaged in his too-full travel pack and pulled out a worn book. It resembled a leather journal, or at least it might have been that at one point. There were bite marks and claw trails on some of the pages which had very carefully been taped back together. The cover sported a scar diagonally across it's edges which had been sewn crudely with thick pink thread. Some pages even looked like they'd been written on in crayon. Opening the book to its first clean page, Remy frowned again, dusting off what seemed to be sugar grain embedded in the spine. He dated the page and began to pour out his observations of the tavern, its people and his predicaments leading up to finding it.
His last words on the page had been: "Scent has gone cold; must find new clues." He tucked the journal carefully back into his bag and stood to retrieve Bade.
{fixing up this post.]
Variel would return the smile from the dark haired woman as the bartender appeared. She was thinking of ordering coffee, but that would likely make her stand out more than she already felt like she did. So when the bar tenderer asked what she wanted she gave him a soft smile, "Scotch neat if you please." her voice was lightly accented, it sounded vaguely British, "And I seen a sign outside, it said you rent rooms. Would there be one available at the moment?" a coppery brow was perked as she asked the question.
After speaking with the bartender she cast her luminous eyes around the room, it seemed to her that she had arrived just in time, for the place seemed to be filling up. The seat next to her was no occupied by a curious man who was talking to what she assumed was a computer, and the friendly seeming woman sitting next to her seemed to be the center of attention. From the crowd that was gathered in the bar she was positive she was in the right place.
As she waited for her drink, a man with unruly tawny colored hair claimed his 3 beers. She was about to turn to the woman next to her and introduce herself when the man with tawny hair returned to the bar, her gaze flickered to him as he started speaking. A smile spit her lips when he called her Red, "Hello there." she returned the greeting, "And I think I might be able to do that." she shifted a bit so that she was looking at him. As she looked him over quickly she said, "Friendly is good." the words were acompanied by a little laugh.
Variel would return the smile from the dark haired woman as the bartender appeared. She was thinking of ordering coffee, but that would likely make her stand out more than she already felt like she did. So when the bar tenderer asked what she wanted she gave him a soft smile, "Scotch neat if you please." her voice was lightly accented, it sounded vaguely British, "And I seen a sign outside, it said you rent rooms. Would there be one available at the moment?" a coppery brow was perked as she asked the question.
After speaking with the bartender she cast her luminous eyes around the room, it seemed to her that she had arrived just in time, for the place seemed to be filling up. The seat next to her was no occupied by a curious man who was talking to what she assumed was a computer, and the friendly seeming woman sitting next to her seemed to be the center of attention. From the crowd that was gathered in the bar she was positive she was in the right place.
As she waited for her drink, a man with unruly tawny colored hair claimed his 3 beers. She was about to turn to the woman next to her and introduce herself when the man with tawny hair returned to the bar, her gaze flickered to him as he started speaking. A smile spit her lips when he called her Red, "Hello there." she returned the greeting, "And I think I might be able to do that." she shifted a bit so that she was looking at him. As she looked him over quickly she said, "Friendly is good." the words were acompanied by a little laugh.
Moses rolled his eyes as the various men through themselves shamelessly at the pair of women. He cast a quick glance around, apparently the only two women in the whole Tavern. Moses took his drink and sipped it quietly. He was looking forward to a quick nap in his car, but that was out of the question now, he thought longingly of the beautiful green Lamborghini, now resting on the bottom of a lake.
‘Make that two rooms please Jax’.
Moses said, interjecting into Variel’s question to the bar hand. Moses shifted uncomfortable as the redheaded man placed himself between Moses and the young woman. He picked up her English accent and smiled, it had been so long since he’d heard one. His own English accent was confused and disjointed; he’d been born in England, but spent most of his life in wales.
He furrowed his brow as Bade pushed a beer on her.
The woman on the other side of Variel, took off her cab, and gave him a smile; Moses returned what he thought was a smile, but probably looked more like someone pressing their lips together tightly.
Moses was handsome, with a lean frame; his garb gave him an appearance of age though. It was hard to tell exactly how young or old he was. The man next to him pulled out a tattered old book; he looked at it quickly before looking down at his own, high tech 3D holographic interface Tablet and smiled slyly.
‘I love technology’.
He whispered quietly to himself. Moses suddenly felt a little too surrounded, it wasn’t that he was antisocial exactly. He just liked his solitude. And his space. He coughed politely and leaned forward into the bar.
((Excuse any typo's! typing very quickly, in a tiny window to avoid detection while at work... ;P))
‘Make that two rooms please Jax’.
Moses said, interjecting into Variel’s question to the bar hand. Moses shifted uncomfortable as the redheaded man placed himself between Moses and the young woman. He picked up her English accent and smiled, it had been so long since he’d heard one. His own English accent was confused and disjointed; he’d been born in England, but spent most of his life in wales.
He furrowed his brow as Bade pushed a beer on her.
The woman on the other side of Variel, took off her cab, and gave him a smile; Moses returned what he thought was a smile, but probably looked more like someone pressing their lips together tightly.
Moses was handsome, with a lean frame; his garb gave him an appearance of age though. It was hard to tell exactly how young or old he was. The man next to him pulled out a tattered old book; he looked at it quickly before looking down at his own, high tech 3D holographic interface Tablet and smiled slyly.
‘I love technology’.
He whispered quietly to himself. Moses suddenly felt a little too surrounded, it wasn’t that he was antisocial exactly. He just liked his solitude. And his space. He coughed politely and leaned forward into the bar.
((Excuse any typo's! typing very quickly, in a tiny window to avoid detection while at work... ;P))
A large pickup truck would pull up to the Crossroads Tavern. The man behind the wheel was visibly athletic. Hair more salt than pepper, buzzed, and clean shaven. Wearing a dark green tank top with a two sets of dog tags hanging from his neck, one seemingly clean, the other undeniably charred. The man would turn the lights off to the large black pickup and lean back in his seat. "This is the place?"
Intelligence he had gathered indicated that there was a member of The Movement taking leave in this location... he was hoping he'd found good intel. This tavern was supposed to be where people went when they didn't want to be noticed... at least that's what the intel suggested. He didn't care, worst case scenario he could have a good drink and maybe learn something about someone new...
He would step down from the pick up and attach his pack to his side, as well take his gun and place it under the seat of his pickup. He wasn't sure what they would say about a weapon, best not to draw attention if he didn't need to. The man would be wearing black came BDU pants. They had some rips in them, but no blood stains, at least not anymore. The man would put on a black camo bdu jacket and lean down to tighten his black boots.
He would stand up from his boots and walk to the entrance of the bar, hearing the usual beer, whiskey, and daiquiri chatter. He would sigh and enter the Tavern and make his way to the bar...
Intelligence he had gathered indicated that there was a member of The Movement taking leave in this location... he was hoping he'd found good intel. This tavern was supposed to be where people went when they didn't want to be noticed... at least that's what the intel suggested. He didn't care, worst case scenario he could have a good drink and maybe learn something about someone new...
He would step down from the pick up and attach his pack to his side, as well take his gun and place it under the seat of his pickup. He wasn't sure what they would say about a weapon, best not to draw attention if he didn't need to. The man would be wearing black came BDU pants. They had some rips in them, but no blood stains, at least not anymore. The man would put on a black camo bdu jacket and lean down to tighten his black boots.
He would stand up from his boots and walk to the entrance of the bar, hearing the usual beer, whiskey, and daiquiri chatter. He would sigh and enter the Tavern and make his way to the bar...
Art stared hard at Ebony for a few brief minutes. Those wanting drinks could bloody hell wait to get them from the bar, or they could just leave. Yes, he saw she could take care of herself, yes he could use the help, and yes he was hiring but that didn't mean he would just take someone in off the street like that without a trial. So Artair would extend his hand to her.
"You do well tonight lass with the crowd, and we will talk about you having a job."
With that, and if she took his hand, he would help her over the counter of the bar and then he would give a quick rundown showing her where the cooler for the beer was, the shelves of liquor, the taps, and quickly where things would be for easy grabbing.
"start out here at the bar until I can see your skill."
He wasn't about to send her out in the crowd to fill there orders, not just yet. He would even leave her to get some of the drinks for the customers. The ones he got were the three beers and he set them up on the counter for the two men who came in. He got Moses's drink, and Variels leaving the others for Ebony. With those gotten he made his way out from the counter to take orders on the ones at the tables and shouted back at Ebony to get them ready for when he came to pick them up.
This was all a test after all, a good one considering all the new faces tonight and the actual rush. He was out and about as well incase anyone else wanted to start a brawl in a neutral space for hunters. As to the question for rooms he would nod his head.
"Aye lass, rooms are for rent here, 20 bucks for the night, or 100 for a week."
The price was defenitly a hell of a lot better then any hotel, and the rooms were a hell of a lot nicer then any hotel for that price as well. He could get away with charging so little because of the income he made on food and the alcohol he sold. His attention was also grabbed by the one in BDUS's for a bit before he just went back to work.
"And since you seem to like the lady so much, you can make sure she doesn't screw up to badly as well and I need to talk to you after we close."
He scowled at the other man who worked, but he hadn't officially hired yet. It was like most jobs where you had a certain amount of time before you actually became an employee. You got paid, you helped, and if you did good on that trial period then you got officially hired. He liked Jax's work and was actually going to make it official tonight when they closed the bar down.
"You do well tonight lass with the crowd, and we will talk about you having a job."
With that, and if she took his hand, he would help her over the counter of the bar and then he would give a quick rundown showing her where the cooler for the beer was, the shelves of liquor, the taps, and quickly where things would be for easy grabbing.
"start out here at the bar until I can see your skill."
He wasn't about to send her out in the crowd to fill there orders, not just yet. He would even leave her to get some of the drinks for the customers. The ones he got were the three beers and he set them up on the counter for the two men who came in. He got Moses's drink, and Variels leaving the others for Ebony. With those gotten he made his way out from the counter to take orders on the ones at the tables and shouted back at Ebony to get them ready for when he came to pick them up.
This was all a test after all, a good one considering all the new faces tonight and the actual rush. He was out and about as well incase anyone else wanted to start a brawl in a neutral space for hunters. As to the question for rooms he would nod his head.
"Aye lass, rooms are for rent here, 20 bucks for the night, or 100 for a week."
The price was defenitly a hell of a lot better then any hotel, and the rooms were a hell of a lot nicer then any hotel for that price as well. He could get away with charging so little because of the income he made on food and the alcohol he sold. His attention was also grabbed by the one in BDUS's for a bit before he just went back to work.
"And since you seem to like the lady so much, you can make sure she doesn't screw up to badly as well and I need to talk to you after we close."
He scowled at the other man who worked, but he hadn't officially hired yet. It was like most jobs where you had a certain amount of time before you actually became an employee. You got paid, you helped, and if you did good on that trial period then you got officially hired. He liked Jax's work and was actually going to make it official tonight when they closed the bar down.
*Ebony cast an appraising glance over the blonde biker from before who had now removed his jacket and looked nothing like a biker at all. His general appearance combined with the Southern accent brought a smile to her lips as he placed her drinks in front of her. ~Cheers..~ she murmured as she watched him slam down a shot. Picking up her glass of Jack, Ebony took a much needed sip before she shrugged in answer to Jax’s question regarding where she had learnt to fight.
~Just a misspent youth I guess..~ she answered vaguely before a chuckle escaped her lips at the sight of the lemon rind smile. Certain that she was going to like this smooth talker, Ebony drained her glass and crunched a piece of ice in her mouth before her attention turned to her tequila chaser. Throwing it back like a pro, she also bypassed the salt and went straight for the lemon slice. Grinning back at him with her own lemon rind smile, Ebony could not help but laugh before her attention was taken by the arrival of Artair before her.
She nodded and discreetly removed the lemon from her mouth before she gave what she hoped was a grateful smile as Artair offered her his hand. Taking it, she hopped up and over the bar and paid close attention as he ran through where everything was and how the drink machine worked. After a few minutes of making manic mental notes, Ebony offered him a bright smile.
~Okay! I think I’ve got it..~ she grinned before a large trucker in a stained baseball cap hollered for her attention down at the far end of the bar. Waltzing up to him like she had been doing this for years, Ebony flashed him her pearly whites as she drawled ~What’ll it be darlin’?~
The next half an hour passed in a blur with Ebony serving many more drinks and making her way quickly around the bar. After bumping into the blonde biker one too many times, Ebony decided that perhaps it was time to introduce herself. Waiting for a lull in orders, she turned to both the blonde and the bar manager.
~I’m Ebony by the way.. but my friends call me Ebs. .. and you are..?~ she shot them both a quizzical look before more patrons arrived and began to order their drinks. The roadhouse was quickly filling up, and despite the fast pace behind the bar, Ebony still kept one dark grey eye trained on the door.
Pouring herself a coke to quench her thirst once the pace had slowed down a bit, Ebony grinned over at the manager. ~So how did I do? Any chance of making this a permanent gig?~ *
~Just a misspent youth I guess..~ she answered vaguely before a chuckle escaped her lips at the sight of the lemon rind smile. Certain that she was going to like this smooth talker, Ebony drained her glass and crunched a piece of ice in her mouth before her attention turned to her tequila chaser. Throwing it back like a pro, she also bypassed the salt and went straight for the lemon slice. Grinning back at him with her own lemon rind smile, Ebony could not help but laugh before her attention was taken by the arrival of Artair before her.
She nodded and discreetly removed the lemon from her mouth before she gave what she hoped was a grateful smile as Artair offered her his hand. Taking it, she hopped up and over the bar and paid close attention as he ran through where everything was and how the drink machine worked. After a few minutes of making manic mental notes, Ebony offered him a bright smile.
~Okay! I think I’ve got it..~ she grinned before a large trucker in a stained baseball cap hollered for her attention down at the far end of the bar. Waltzing up to him like she had been doing this for years, Ebony flashed him her pearly whites as she drawled ~What’ll it be darlin’?~
The next half an hour passed in a blur with Ebony serving many more drinks and making her way quickly around the bar. After bumping into the blonde biker one too many times, Ebony decided that perhaps it was time to introduce herself. Waiting for a lull in orders, she turned to both the blonde and the bar manager.
~I’m Ebony by the way.. but my friends call me Ebs. .. and you are..?~ she shot them both a quizzical look before more patrons arrived and began to order their drinks. The roadhouse was quickly filling up, and despite the fast pace behind the bar, Ebony still kept one dark grey eye trained on the door.
Pouring herself a coke to quench her thirst once the pace had slowed down a bit, Ebony grinned over at the manager. ~So how did I do? Any chance of making this a permanent gig?~ *
*His yellow smile grew even broader as she grinned at him with her own lemon rind smile. Laughing, he spat the rind into his hand and threw it into the wastebasket beneath the bar as Artair approached. Knowing that it was time to get his ass back to work, Jax met Ebony’s dark eyes with his pale blue ones and gave her a wink. “Later darlin” he drawled before shooting a glance at Artair. Nodding to the only guy who had given him a break when he had so desperately needed it a few months back, Jax looked up at two guys by the bar and set about getting their drinks while Artair talked to Ebony. He came back just in time to see Artair offer her a hand and help her slide over the bar. Leaning up against his favourite corner of the bar, Jax rolled his matchstick around his mouth while he watched the boss show her the ropes before putting her to work. Fortunately it turned out that she was surprisingly useful behind the bar and he was able to halve his time between the bar and running the floor. More than once he bumped into her accidently/on purpose and he grinned as she finally stopped and acknowledged him. Nodding at the introduction, he swapped the dish rag he was carrying to his left hand and held out his right hand.
“Well now, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ebony.. I’m Jax and I hope that one day soon I will be able to hold myself in high enough esteem as to be able to call myself a friend of yours that calls you Ebs.”
Jax’s surprise at Artair’s words were etched upon his face for a fraction of a second, before he shrugged and grinned back at him. "Sure thing boss.." he drawled before giving Ebony a wink. "I’ll definitely keep my eye on her.. guarenfreakinteed." Chuckling at the thought, Jax tipped an imaginary hat at her before he turned away and began his post ten pm scan of the crowd. His pre ten pm scan had warned him of the impending fight before hand but he had been too distracted by the blonde and his chance to win his fifty back off Floyd to have paid it too much attention at the time. Mindful of this mistake repeating itself, Jax took his time with his scan while washing and wiping some glasses in the small sink behind the bar.
Everything appeared fairly normal for this time of night. The bar had reached its maximum capacity about an hour ago and now the door should remain closed for the next hour or two while the clientele did what they came here to do. The jukebox had grown silent while the area by the pool tables was considerably quieter now that the college kids had moved on to another club down the road. Stacking the glasses in their drainer, Jax offered Ebony a lopsided grin which failed to impress as he stepped out from behind the bar and began to clear some tables.
A table far in the back was shrouded in shadows and was usually avoided by most of the regulars. Many complained of a vibe that someone or something was watching that corner, and that people only sat there at their own risk. Artair had warned him to keep an eye on this corner of the tavern when he had first started working here, but so far he had never had reason to pay it any attention as it was always empty. Jax usually didn’t care as it gave him one last table to clear. Tonight however, he could see that the table was occupied by one surprisingly large individual. As he approached the table he drew himself up to his full height of 6 foot 3 as he ambled over to the table and reached out to take the empty jug that was standing to the left of two empty glasses. A large meaty club of a hand struck out and wrapped its long thick fingers around Jax’s wrist just as his fingers had wrapped around the handle of the jug.
“Hey now!” he shouted in surprise, looking down at his wrist which was starting to burn under the touch of this mysterious man. “Hey.. come on man! I was just doing my job.. I gotta clear the table or the boss will have my hide.” The grip around his wrist loosened enough for Jax to be able to pull his hand away from the table. As he rubbed the skin around his wrist, Jax looked up as the large dark figure at the table spoke in a deep gravelly voice which made gooseflesh break out along Jax’s skin in ripples of revulsion as he slowly began to back away.
“You tell your boss that unless he wants to try clearing it himself, this table is off limits until I either leave or die.. whichever comes first. Do you understand me mortal?” He laughed; the sound deep and loud as it bellowed around the tavern. “Now fuck off and leave me be, none of us here require your particular skills this eve..” Jax opened his mouth to let the mysterious big mountain of a dickhead know that he was all alone in the shadowy corner when it slowly began to dawn on him that the corner table had been rapidly filling up with new patrons in the short time that he had been there. Although he had to strain his eyes to make out even a vague outline of these beings, Jax definitely heard, smelt and sensed at least four other shapes sitting at the table this night. How they had arrived without physically walking past him was more than he could comprehend at the moment and he offered the large being at the table a lopsided grin as he turned and quickly made his way back to the bar. Looking for Artair, Jax found him out back and quickly took him aside.
“We got a problem boss. There’s some trouble brewing in that back corner you told me to keep an eye on when I first started working here, remember?” He licked his lips nervously as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“Yeah well I aint never seen anyone there, but tonight.. there is definitely someone.. or some.. THING sitting there. And I don’t mind telling ya, it scared the shit out me.” His wrist began to burn and throb again and he held it up to show Artair. Surprised to see the skin was starting to blister as though he had been burnt, Jax shot a wide eyed glance at Artair. “Uh, don’t suppose workers compensation would apply to this eh boss?”*
“Well now, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ebony.. I’m Jax and I hope that one day soon I will be able to hold myself in high enough esteem as to be able to call myself a friend of yours that calls you Ebs.”
Jax’s surprise at Artair’s words were etched upon his face for a fraction of a second, before he shrugged and grinned back at him. "Sure thing boss.." he drawled before giving Ebony a wink. "I’ll definitely keep my eye on her.. guarenfreakinteed." Chuckling at the thought, Jax tipped an imaginary hat at her before he turned away and began his post ten pm scan of the crowd. His pre ten pm scan had warned him of the impending fight before hand but he had been too distracted by the blonde and his chance to win his fifty back off Floyd to have paid it too much attention at the time. Mindful of this mistake repeating itself, Jax took his time with his scan while washing and wiping some glasses in the small sink behind the bar.
Everything appeared fairly normal for this time of night. The bar had reached its maximum capacity about an hour ago and now the door should remain closed for the next hour or two while the clientele did what they came here to do. The jukebox had grown silent while the area by the pool tables was considerably quieter now that the college kids had moved on to another club down the road. Stacking the glasses in their drainer, Jax offered Ebony a lopsided grin which failed to impress as he stepped out from behind the bar and began to clear some tables.
A table far in the back was shrouded in shadows and was usually avoided by most of the regulars. Many complained of a vibe that someone or something was watching that corner, and that people only sat there at their own risk. Artair had warned him to keep an eye on this corner of the tavern when he had first started working here, but so far he had never had reason to pay it any attention as it was always empty. Jax usually didn’t care as it gave him one last table to clear. Tonight however, he could see that the table was occupied by one surprisingly large individual. As he approached the table he drew himself up to his full height of 6 foot 3 as he ambled over to the table and reached out to take the empty jug that was standing to the left of two empty glasses. A large meaty club of a hand struck out and wrapped its long thick fingers around Jax’s wrist just as his fingers had wrapped around the handle of the jug.
“Hey now!” he shouted in surprise, looking down at his wrist which was starting to burn under the touch of this mysterious man. “Hey.. come on man! I was just doing my job.. I gotta clear the table or the boss will have my hide.” The grip around his wrist loosened enough for Jax to be able to pull his hand away from the table. As he rubbed the skin around his wrist, Jax looked up as the large dark figure at the table spoke in a deep gravelly voice which made gooseflesh break out along Jax’s skin in ripples of revulsion as he slowly began to back away.
“You tell your boss that unless he wants to try clearing it himself, this table is off limits until I either leave or die.. whichever comes first. Do you understand me mortal?” He laughed; the sound deep and loud as it bellowed around the tavern. “Now fuck off and leave me be, none of us here require your particular skills this eve..” Jax opened his mouth to let the mysterious big mountain of a dickhead know that he was all alone in the shadowy corner when it slowly began to dawn on him that the corner table had been rapidly filling up with new patrons in the short time that he had been there. Although he had to strain his eyes to make out even a vague outline of these beings, Jax definitely heard, smelt and sensed at least four other shapes sitting at the table this night. How they had arrived without physically walking past him was more than he could comprehend at the moment and he offered the large being at the table a lopsided grin as he turned and quickly made his way back to the bar. Looking for Artair, Jax found him out back and quickly took him aside.
“We got a problem boss. There’s some trouble brewing in that back corner you told me to keep an eye on when I first started working here, remember?” He licked his lips nervously as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“Yeah well I aint never seen anyone there, but tonight.. there is definitely someone.. or some.. THING sitting there. And I don’t mind telling ya, it scared the shit out me.” His wrist began to burn and throb again and he held it up to show Artair. Surprised to see the skin was starting to blister as though he had been burnt, Jax shot a wide eyed glance at Artair. “Uh, don’t suppose workers compensation would apply to this eh boss?”*
The english woman was about to say something else to the tawny haired man, but then a ringing sound emitted from her trouser pocket, the woman shut her mouth before anything was uttered. Setting the bottle of beer down, she fished a cell phone from her pocket. Calling already. Variel thought irritatedly to herself as she silenced the phones whining. Then her luminous eyes flashed up to the man who was evidently the owner and smiled, "Well then sign me up for tonight." And she pulled out the money to cover the room, her drink and the tip.
As she was settling up with the room, her gaze flickered to the man who pro-offered her a beer, "Sorry, duty calls." a smirk crossed her lips for a brief moment, then she accepted the keys to her room, and stole off up the stairs with her scotch, and the beer.
As she was settling up with the room, her gaze flickered to the man who pro-offered her a beer, "Sorry, duty calls." a smirk crossed her lips for a brief moment, then she accepted the keys to her room, and stole off up the stairs with her scotch, and the beer.
A pure black 1965 Ford Mustang sped down the road leading to the tavern weaving past cars. A young man in his 20s was seen behind the wheel, his black suit and white shirt made him look like a cool business man type but the way he drove his car made him look like a professional race car driver. Pulling up outside the tavern he sat back and took a deep breath. "Okay, need a place because this case is going to be tough... I absolutely hate windigos" whispering to himself in annoyance as he exited the car locking it then opening the boot to reveal a mini armoury of weapons. Chris threw in his pistol and pulled out his machete "can't go any where without ya" a smile on his face as he flipped threw his fingers then his it well on the inside of his blazer.
The door slowly creaked open letting a cool breeze invade the tavern, his dark silhouette standing by the door before he entered. Making his way to the bar he sat on a stool near a few others "hey, can I have a beer?"
The door slowly creaked open letting a cool breeze invade the tavern, his dark silhouette standing by the door before he entered. Making his way to the bar he sat on a stool near a few others "hey, can I have a beer?"