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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 25, 2009 15:27:01 GMT
Evie leant against the wooden bar, attempting to clean a dirty tankard with an even dirtier cloth and staring around the relatively empty bar. Even during the day, the dark wooden interiors, low beamed ceilings and musty air gave the inn a dingy, dark atmosphere- but this suited the Brotherhood to a tee. There were plenty of shadowy corners to make or break deals in. Evie had worked here for a good few years, and so she was used to the comings and goings of the Brotherhood. She recognised all of the men and the few women that were nursing drinks, or engaged in hushed conversations. The inn was normally quiet like this during the day, but at night, brawls almost always broke out. She welcomed the brawls, she had a prime spot to watch the brotherhoods deadly fighting skills, and she could hold her own if things turned too nasty. Evie was forever sweeping up broken fragments of chairs, tankards and bones in the early hours of the morning at closing time.
She set the tankard aside, tucking the cloth into her off-white apron. "Shall I do th'candles?" she asked, directing the question to Mattie, an older retired member of the Brotherhood and the owner of the establishment, "It's gettin' pretty dark in here." He glanced up and nodded his scarred head once, gruffly muttering. Evie took the glowing candle from behind the bar to relight the stubs on the tables, each wedged into an empty bottle with rivers of old wax cascading down the sides. Holding back her straw like tangle of hair with one hand, she set about visiting each table, candle in the other.
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 25, 2009 17:09:31 GMT
Dante drank deeply from his mug of ale in the dark corner of the bar. He sat alone at the small table, his hood pulled over his face and cloak wrapped around him. He winced slightly as the alcohol burned down his throat and settled into his empty stomach. This wasn't his usual place to drink, even though he was a member of the Brotherhood. He had come down here tonight with the intention of finding work but it seemed no one needed someone else killed. Just things stolen, and that wasn't Dante's forte.
He glanced around the bar at the assortment of grizzled patrons. Several looked like they hadn't eaten in weeks, others looked like they could snap Dante in half with their toes. Thieves mostly, he figured. There were few assassins in the Brotherhood but the ones that had membership were good at what they did.
His eves snapped to the barmaid that had taken the unlit candle from his table and was lighting it. She looked young, yet like she had been around the Brotherhood for a while. She was pretty Dante thought. "Well hello miss." He said and smiled under his hood at the barmaid.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 25, 2009 17:50:23 GMT
Evie lit the candles in turn, taking the opportunity to eavesdrop in on people's whispered conversations, and offer her opinion if it was asked. A few of the regulars acknowledged her with a smile, a few of the men with a leering glance (one with a proposition which she ignored haughtily), and as she lit the last candle in the furthest corner of the bar, the man sitting there spoke to her.
Her mood instantly lifted. "Well hello sir." she replied, returning his smile. As she replaced the candle on the table she was allowed a brief glimpse of his face. Although she hadn't seen him around before, she took him to be one of the Brotherhood instantly. Dropping into a spare seat at his table, she threw a quick glance to make sure Mattie was busy, before sliding her own candle onto the table and leaning in.
"What brings you here? Business?" The classic question that most sect members understood to mean 'Brotherhood business'. She hoped the stranger wouldn't mind that she joined him- she had taken his words as invitation enough. The afternoon had been a slow one, and nothing alleviated Evie's boredom more than a chat with a mysterious young man.
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 25, 2009 22:05:30 GMT
Dante was a little surprised that the girl sat down at his table, he was kind of used to drinking alone. He smiled at her question.
"Yes, but it would seem that it is harder for an assassin to get work than a thief around here." He replied with a small chuckle. He sipped his ale and pulled his hood off. He was among the Brotherhood, he didn't need to hide his face here. The candlelight lit her face in strange ever-changing patterns of shadows. She was younger than him by a couple of years he could tell.
"My name is Dante." He added and offered his hand to her waiting for a reply.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 25, 2009 22:26:50 GMT
Evie looked at Dante in a new light when he revealed he was an assassin. Not out of shock, but the Brotherhood members ranged from petty pickpockets to serious assassins, and now she knew his place on the scale. When he removed his hood she was able to get a better look at his features- he looked a little older than her, but still young and fresh faced when compared to those who had been with the brotherhood for the best part of their lives. They often looked gaunt and haggard, but the more weathered the face, the more exciting the tales they had to tell.
"Well there's always people needin' other people killed." she replied simply, watching him sip his ale. She didn't remember serving him, but perhaps she had been in the cellar when he came in.
She took his proffered hand with hers, shaking it warmly. "My name's Evie. Evie Perroy." she wondered if he'd recognise her surname and make the connection with her father. Although if he was a newer addition to the brotherhood, it was possible that he wouldn't have heard of him at all.
"So, Dante" she repeated his name with emphasis, leaning her head on her hand. "That's an unusual name you got, where's it from?" She wondered if he'd answer her; members of the Brotherhood could be very secretive at times, unnecessarily so she thought, it must be very tiring to have to keep your guard up all the time.
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 26, 2009 18:42:47 GMT
Dante smiled. "It's nice to meet you Evie." He said warmly. He didn't recognize her surname, he had never heard of her father though he had been a high ranked member of the Brotherhood.
Dante chuckled a bit at the comment about his name. "Well, I was born across the sea in the Ottoman Empire, specifically Greece. It's a fairly common name there but here it's as frequent as a diamond. Then my family moved to Spain, I was brought up in a monastery by monks. I have since forsaken that lifestyle for an assassin. After a high profile killing I was sent here by my old order to hide out and lay low." He said with a smile. She hadn't asked for his life story but he figured that it would just answer any other questions about his past in advance.
He finished his ale and set the glass down on the table and looked at Evie. "What about you? Tell me about Evie."
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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 26, 2009 22:35:29 GMT
Evie listened interestedly as Dante explained his namesake. She was surprised that he told her so much about himself within minutes of meeting her, but surprised in a good way. "So, you were bought up by monks?" she repeated. Her lips tugged into a smile, it was hard to imagine an assassin growing up in a peaceful monastery environment.
Evie was just about to launch into her own story by Dante's invitation, when a deep yell came from across the bar. "I don't pay you ter fraternise with every man that walks into this bar Evie!" Evie rolled her eyes dramatically, swiveling herself to face Mattie and called back, "Actually, I was just gettin' this customer a refill!" she waved the empty tankard as if to illustrate her point and throwing Dante an apologetic smile, quickly slid from the seat, and headed back up to the bar. She returned a few minutes later with a full tankard which she pushed towards Dante.
"Sorry about that! That's on the house by the way. Where was I? Oh, Evie." she grinned, " Well it's not as excitin' as your story I'm sure. I've lived in Camelot all my life. My father was in the Brotherhood for a while- he's dead now. And I've worked here since I was 16. Sometimes work with the other girls. I live upstairs." In the brief synopsis of her life she gave to Dante, she realised how dull it sounded.
"So, do you come here often?" she asked, smiling as the words left her mouth. It was meant as a genuine question, not a cliche. She attempted to cover by continuing: "I mean, have you been here before? I haven't seen you around."
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 27, 2009 1:10:05 GMT
Dante smiled at Mattie's comment. He watched as she walked to the bar and grabbed him another beer. He thanked her for the drink, and she was buying only made it better. A woman hadn't bought him a drink in a long time. He raised his glass to her before taking a gulp.
He listened intently to her short story about her life. Even though it was rather uneventful Dante was genuinely interested in the story. "Sound's like a good life." He commented. "Even though mine is exciting, I must say it does pain me to have to leave friends behind and start a new life."
So, do you come here often?
Dante shook his head and took a small sip of ale. "I've only been down here once or twice. I like to drink out where the normal, well, the innocent I suppose, people drink. I frequent the Ram." He replied. "I have to lay very low for a few days though." He continued in a slightly sad tone. The he went on in a low whisper.
"I was the assassin who attacked Arthur and his caravan. My friend Henry helped me break out of jail and I had to spend a few days at home recovering. Now I just have to keep my head down until the end of the week when the arrows stop flying around." On his one expedition to the Ram he only made it halfway. There were wanted posters bearing his face posted all over the town.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 27, 2009 14:37:41 GMT
Evie wondered how many new people Dante had met since leaving his old life behind. She imagined that it was hard for a member of the brotherhood to make new friends- not being able to tell those you met your secret, and other members of the Brotherhood could be just as secretive and unfriendly amongst themselves as they were to outsiders.
"The Ram?" her ears pricked up as she heard mention of the much nicer tavern in town, "I bet it's miles better than in here, less fights. I've never actually been... maybe you could take me at some point?" she asked boldly, smiling at Dante. Her smile was soon replaced by intrigue, when Dante told of his assassination attempt on Arthur, the Crown Prince. She had no idea that he would have undertaken such a serious mission.
"You were so lucky to escape!" she continued in a low voice, sounding genuinely concerned. She knew too well that failed attempts almost always ended in death. "How are you? I mean, were you hurt much?" she scanned his body, but his clothes gave nothing away as to any possible injuries underneath them, and the scar on his face was clearly not recent. "I guess you owe this Henry your life now..." She recognised the name Henry, remembering a youth who often came to this bar. Only the other week he had caused a scene by standing up for some rich girl, and knocking out one of the regulars in the process.
"So how does it feel, to be a wanted man?" she asked, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, filled with curiosity.
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 27, 2009 18:44:55 GMT
Dante nodded. "I'd be honored to take you there." He said with a smile.
He listened to her questions and shook his head. "Most of the wounds have healed pretty well. I was pretty banged up after the interrogation but I'll be alright. I've had worse." He said and indicated the scar on his face. "And yeah, I owe Henry my life and then some." He chuckled a bit.
Being a wanted man was... interesting. He couldn't go the places he usually went or do the things he always did. He had to be on his guard at all times, sleep with one eye open. He found himself quite paranoid whenever he saw a guard or anybody who might be against the Brotherhood. He was especially suspicious of the Lows lately, something rather uncharacteristic of him, because if information led to his apprehension there was a substantial reward for the informant.
He had been wanted before in Spain but soon after the posters went up he left the country and found himself in Camelot. This time he wouldn't run, he would just have to stick it out until the end, whatever the outcome may be.
"Being wanted isn't too bad." He replied with a smile and took a sip of his drink.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Oct 31, 2009 17:06:25 GMT
"I suppose your face is plastered all over the city now, best to keep that hood of yours up." she replied, glancing out of the window and watching the parchment flyers fluttering in the streets, clinging to buildings and wagons with the damp of autumn. She supposed several of those flyers contained a likeness of Dante's face, commissioned by the Pendragons. She felt excited just talking to a wanted criminal.
The bar was beginning to fill now, and there was a louder hum of background noise.
"You're lucky that I don't need the reward money!" she joked, "Otherwise stumbling across a fugitive would've been my lucky day."
Of course she never would- even if she did need the money. Evie had the utmost respect for the brotherhood and did everything in her power to keep their goings-on secret. The Black Bear was the sort of inn that the monarchy knew existed outside of the law, but as far as they were concerned it was a rowdy bar that encouraged antisocial behavior and a brothel that encouraged promiscuity. If they'd have realised it was a centre of trade for the brotherhood, a raid would have occurred long ago.
"Do you always drink alone?" Evie asked.
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Oct 31, 2009 17:14:25 GMT
Dante chuckled at Evie's comment about turning him in. She didn't seem like the type to do that kind of thing.
Dante watched as a few familiar faces from the Brotherhood poured into the bar, closing the door behind them against the cold autumn evening. They grouped at a table near the other side of the bar and got drinks from the bartender. He almost expected Henry to walk in soon.
"No, I usually don't but I have been known to sit quietly in the corner with only a mug to talk to." He replied and gave her a charming smile. He didn't like drinking alone but sometimes the situation called for it. He had been on edge for the past several days and needed to calm his nerves. The alcohol was doing a good job of that.
He looked up at Evie and smiled, "So, do you usually sit down and talk with all wanted assassins that float into here?" He was joking of course and hoped that she would realize that.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Nov 1, 2009 18:35:03 GMT
As Dante watched the newcomers go up to the bar, Evie watched too, receiving a hardened glare from the bartender who was struggling to serve them all by himself. He beckoned her over, which she decidedly ignored. She turned back to Dante as he spoke, smiling at his smile. How come trained killers are always so charming? Evie thought to herself. It was easy to forget what they did for a living when you met members of the brotherhood in a more relaxed and social environment.
"So, do you usually sit down and talk with all wanted assassins that float into here?"
Evie laughed as Dante joked with her. She stood up, and walked round to his side of the table, answering with an alluring smile.
"Only the handsome ones..."
Mattie was swamped at the bar, and she had overheard him arguing loudly with a customer. She didn't want to cause trouble because she had been distracted from her job.
"Oh, and I get off at 2" she called back to Dante. Hoping he would take it as an invitation to wait around for her. He was good company. As soon as she'd reached the bar, she began to pour mugs of ale for the waiting customers, throwing the bar manager an apologetic look as she did so.
__________ [ooc: I was thinking we could move to later in the night with a * * * and a brawl breaks out just before closing time?]
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Dante Grixis
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Assassin
There are reasons for things that a casual observer might not understand.
Posts: 310
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Post by Dante Grixis on Nov 1, 2009 19:24:57 GMT
((ok, sounds good! You can start the brawl after this post=]))
Dante grinned at Evie as she walked away back to her work. He finished his current glass of ale and he got one more before he decided he had enough to drink. Since he had decided to wait for Evie to finish he figured it would be a good idea if he wasn't totally drunk by the time she got off.
***
It was a little more than an hour before Evie got off for the night when another patron sat down with Dante. He was a brotherhood recruit that wanted to hear about Dante's escape from prison. He told the story, the listener in awe at Henry's daring and skill. Then Dante told him about the assassination attempt. It was rather strange, to half of Camelot he was a criminal and to the other half it was like he became a hero. Dante figured that life was just funny like that sometimes.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Nov 2, 2009 12:57:49 GMT
Evie was pretty rushed off her feet from the moment she left Dante's table. There seemed to be a constant stream of newcomers, and the crowd around the bar got bigger. A couple of the other barmaids had started working in order to get everyone served in time. When she wasn't pouring drinks or chatting to the regulars, Evie threw glances over to where Dante was sitting. He had been joined by another man, one Evie recognised but couldn't name. She wondered what they were talking about.
A hardened voice grabbed her attention from the other side of the bar. A large man, with inky tattoos across his arms and exposed midriff had leant across the bar and grabbed one of the other barmaids by her blouse, almost pulling her off of her feet.
"This ale's bin watered down!" he declared, wavering slightly- he was obviously drunk. "I'd like a another on the house, and m'money back-" he looked her up and down, "-Then maybe you can make it up ter me in your own way." He leered at her, his yellowing teeth forming a dangerous smile. The girl he was clutching was the newest addition to the bar staff, and was clearly petrified. Evie snatched one of the knives from under the bar. The background noise was still buzzing, no-one else seemed to be paying any attention to the harsh words being exchanged. She marched over to where the girl was being man handled...
"Get your hands off of her you filthy pig!" she demanded, sending a stinging slap across the arm stretched across the bar. The man looked from the girl he was holding to Evie, his alcohol addled brain taking a good few seconds to comprehend her words. He let go of the girl, and she dropped backwards alongside Evie with a gasp.
"An what're you gunna do about m'ale little lady?" he growled, leaning forwards so that Evie could smell that alcohol on his breath. She stepped forwards within his reach, and picked up the full tankard, pretending to examine it's contents.
"Oh I'd say it was strong enough, wouldn't you?" she said, smashing the tankard around the man's face as hard as she could muster. He staggered backwards, swinging a punch that landed on the man drinking beside him, who in turn pushed into the man beside him and so on. Uproar. Punches flew, knives unsheathed- someone picked up a bar stool and brought it down over their comrade's head. The brawl had spread to those sitting down now, as one man was thrown across a table scattering drinks and candles. A couple who had until that point been happily drinking turned on each other with cried of 'You bastard!' and 'You whore!'
A typical night then.
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