Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

With all the gobbling going on, Mei's attention briefly turned onto Nina, she had not missed them after all. The guard shook her head at the display. "Now look who is the hamster here..." she quickly snapped into the green-haired girl's direction, still remembering the conflict they had gone through at the Lord's dining hall. But the maid-knight was not what she was here for, and the redhead soon went to take care of what was the pressing issue at the moment, grabbing a firm hold of the chair that had been thrown at her as she went towards the table with the offenders still squaring at each other.

And it appeared that there were quite many among the clientele who knew the gateguard. Chairs moved aside and few people slipped away to clear an unobstructed path for her. The fighters were caught pretty much unaware as the impending doom aproached, Mei pulling the chair back and bringing it right back with one hand, the sturdy-looking wooden furniture piece shattering to pieces as it was brought onto the head of the cheating dice player. Only a leg remained in the girl's hand, and that was discarded in favor of a normal punch to the gut, doubling the chair-thrower over before a rising toe kick caught him in the forehead. This had the effect of sending him flying into the table behind, plowing it clean of all the mugs and plates before the man landed onto the floor behind. Just like that, two guys had been knocked out. What little resistance they had tried, it was of no use against this sour girl.

"Sorry about that, didn't mean to take out your drinks. Get yourselves some new booze with their money." the gateguard told the people who had just lost their drinks, giving them a small pile of coins from the gambling table as an apology. Having done that, she turned to the dice, picking them up in one hand and analyzing the things with careful shifting on her palm. "He was not kidding... these things are weighted..." a quick analysis revealed, which one of the people sitting nearby protested. "Are you in league with this guy?" Mei was quick to turn at him, casually dropping a tankard onto the knocked-out cheater and dousing his face in ale. "Hmm... bad cheating in a gambling scene. This town is not a good place for your kind. Take my advice, once morning comes, pack your bags and fuck off to the next kingdom. Your kind is not tolerated here." she issued a rather blatant and direct threat. It seemed to work, the man was quick to pick up his stuff and leave. The two knocked-out people were still there, but they too were quickly taken out from the tavern as the gateguard grabbed them both by one leg and dragged them out. Shortly, splashing sounds could be heard from the ouside. Apparently the two had been introduced to the town fountain real close and personal.

After a while, Mei returned as the bouncer too got back to his post. The burn-faced hulk seemed to know the girl, and patted her on the shoulder as she passed. "No need to thank me, Gralf. It was fun to clear them out, like old times." the girl gave him a look back before heading to the table where the men had been, taking a seat and ordering a trayful of beer mugs with the leftover money. She sat by herself for a while, but soon there was a full compliment of people drinking with her, each of the seats taken by another client. Even if there was some unease in that table, it looked like the people enjoyed and respected the company of the redhead for some reason.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina swallowed her food. "Hamster... raging bull... we're all some sort of animal at times."

She then watched as Mei quickly smashed her way through the offending gentlemen, not very impressed with the way the girl handled the situation, but to each their own. When she figured that Mei was not going to inadvertently knock her table over, she returned to eating at a normal pace and not so guardedly.

Nina would then proceed to ignore the brawler as much as she could, having little desire or incentive to interact with the woman. If one didn't have anything nice to say, there was no point in starting a conversation.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina's wish was granted, Mei too didn't seem to care about them as she remained on her chosen table, drinking away with the group that had gathered around her. The sour mood seemed to go away soon, leaving behind a much friendly-looking girl. "Hmm, still holding onto her skills, that girl. Wish she still worked here, we might have it a bit easier with the disruptive behaviour if she still stood at the door." the owner commented on the whole thing, apparently not lamenting the loss of a chair too much. No people had left either, with the obvious exception of the troublemakers. "But oh me, should probably focus on keeping up the service instead." he soon trailed away, filling up Iliana's glass. It looked like the mistress was in a drinking mood.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina took another sip of her own drink and shrugged at the comments. Such establishments shouldn't attract a rough crowd if they charged the right prices, the sort that the upper class could afford like the Lady Einzbern.

She didn't deny that Mei looked more approachable now, but first impressions were important, and Nina knew that Mei just wasn't the kind of person she was going to get along with - at least not without something tertiary to mend the bridge between them. Nina wasn't going to spend the effort to worming her way into Mei's good graces and it was crystal clear that Mei was not going to do the same for her. The maid knight was okay with this. She didn't need to be friends with everyone and she had Iliana and Iris to keep her occupied.

She finished her glass of wine and had a second poured. She swung her attention back to Iliana and shared a few pleasant jokes with her as the two of them got a bit more red in the face together.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

The three girls carried on with their good times, letting Mei too have hers. There had been a coincidence meeting, which had gone pretty good as far as Nina's side was concerned. But it had passed, and now both parties were enjoying themselves, chugging booze pretty hard. Iliana showed that she could manage her liquor, but somewhere along the line of jokes and chat she began to tire. Iris remained there with them as usual, looking somewhat amused and embarassed with the wasted redhead beauty. After a while, she began to poke Nina with what seemed to be suggestions of stopping and heading towards sleep.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

"Yes, what? Oh, you're right Iris. It's time we went to sleep, don't you think, my Lady? Let me help you up. Oof! You're heavy! Heehee! Let's get you straight to bed, okay?"

Nina had been a bit slower with her alcohol, and handn't gotten too drunk on her wine. She supported Iliana by the shoulder and helped her toward the stairs. If she could manage well enough, then the maid knight would merely guide the statuesque beauty by the arm instead. It was nice to see the tall, tanned woman take some time to cut loose, but now they should probably rest.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

"HEAVY?! You, my dear, are not just strong enough! I, however, am of perfect weight!" the intoxicated mistress gawked upon being called for her weight, apparently not too happy about it. Still, it seemed like it was purely her drunkenness that caused the reply, for Iliana didn't look angry in any way. While she had taken in a good deal of booze, the redhead could still walk pretty alright and needed only to be held by the hand unless she trailed off to the side. Iris stayed behind the two, ready to react in case there was a slip at the stairs.

But that was not the case, and the group were soon up at their room. The hassle and noise of the main room was beginning to quiet down, most of the clientele were apparently at their limits as well. The trio began to settle down, Iliana just barely managing to get the topmost layer of her clothing away before she covered up under the blankets of the bed in her undies. Iris was more calm in her ways, as usual. She too went down to the bed, leaving her sword propped against the nightstand in case it was needed. Galeon and Isane had most likely been asleep since they got there, both looking pretty orderly in their sleeping ways.

Just as Nina herself was about to sleep away, she was brought back by strange, almost silent tapping sounds above them. They were repeating pretty fast, suggesting that more than one thing was likely there. Just barely, she could see something pass over the skylight in the ceiling of their room, blocking the entire window briefly as it passed.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

After getting Iliana to bed, and having changed into her own night clothes, the maid knight was about to turn in for bed when she heard the pattering sounds above, and saw the shadow pass by the window.

"Iris... did you sense that?" She whispered to the blind warrior. Nina edged towards her sword and shield, which like Iris, Nina had taken to keeping within arm's reach of her bed. "Someone's on the roof and outside the window..."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Iris was as wary as ever, pretty much with Nina on the situation. The girl had her weapon in her hand already, even if she was only halfway out of bed and in her nightrobe. The sounds continued in the ever-faint manner, though nothing passed the ceiling window at this time. In the corner of the room, there was a ladder with hooks. With a look, one could see them being the ladder to access the skylight as there were loops near the panes.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina armed herself but didn't approach the ladder. It was her duty to protect Illiana and her other companions. If whatever it was passing over the inn's roof stayed outside, it wasn't her concern, she was just being ready to confront an enemy if they intruded upon these living quarters.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Iris too got ready in case something decided to burst in through the window. The tapping sounds went about a bit longer, beginning to go quiet and eventually stopping totally. It seemed as if the possible threat had passed.

But just as the two eased down from their stances of preparation, another tapping started to sound on the roof. This one was not frantic or multiple like the previous one, it had a slow and calm pace to it. This one was easily trackable, coming from one side and approaching their ceiling window. Eventually there was someone standing at the edge of the skylight, looking down into the room. From what Nina could gather by her view up, the person sported a rather large and fancy dress, thus being a woman or girl. But they were not content to just looking down, eventually starting to knock on the window with some sort of pole.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

"Sir Galeon, Isane, Lady Iliana!" Nina hissed as she kept her eyes and ears alert, waiting for an abrupt entrance by an unknown foe. "Please get up! We may be under attack."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

At Nina's shriek alarm, the others were up in a flash. Even if Isane couldn't really use her powers and Iliana was still in a drunken daze, having Galeon and his considerable skill and durability was pretty much a guarantee of their safety. But it looked like the odd window knocker was not going to break in, for they only knocked more on the window for a while. When no answer came, the previously tapping pole was turned, revealing that it was indeed a weapon. A slightly curving blade topped the other end, making the whole thing look like long billhook used to trim trees. The person used the thing like a lever, prying the window open with surprising quietness. And before they knew it, the skylight was opened and let down to hang, clearly not meant for outside opening. Following that, the blade was used as a climbing aid, allowing the sneaker quiet entry.

Even with all the obvious defensive attitude towards her, the person did not assume any hostility. Slipping down the weapon, she set it to her back. Dressed in a frilly, black and white Victorian style of dress, a maid-like headpiece and silk gloves, the girl did not speak, letting her court bow do the speaking. It was all done in perfect grace, showing clearly that this person knew the ways of the nobles, even in a awkward situation such as this. "Oh me, this is awkward. I should have considered this a bit more." she spoke up in quiet and super-polite voice, the light coming from the ceiling showing her doll-like, powdered facial features. It really did look like someone had imbued a big doll with life, though it was still detectable that this one was a human being. "Can't be too careful on the hunt. Did you come across another person before? What direction did they go to? Are you hiding them here? Can I look around?" a sudden burst of questions was brought onto the group as the invader spoke to them. Having blurted out the questionare, she started scanning the group, barely blinking in the process.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina had to fight to keep her jaw from dropping at the weird night time intruder. If no one else spoke, Nina would do her best to recover and answer the girl.

"Wh-who are you? No, no one else is here and we certainly aren't hiding anyone and do you have any idea what time at night this is? You can't just be barging into someone's room! Now go away, you're disturbing us!"

She held up her sword in a ready position, putting herself slowly in front of Iliana, protectively.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

It seemed that everyone else was either too stunned or tipsy to manage any response to this super-odd person, so it was up to Nina to speak with the intruder. Even as the girl had her outburst at this person, the other curtseyd at them, lifting her dress as was the style. "Ethelinda Moonbright is my name, I am a bounty hunter acting on behalf of this city's militia." she replied to the initial question after Nina had finished, keeping the pose for a long ten or so seconds before returning to a more normal stance. "This really is awkward, isn't it?" Ethelinda asked them again, doing it with an unbelievably straight face.

As the dress girl tilted her head and apparently waited for an answer, Galeon interfered. "I did ask them to hire a bounty hunter to look for the strange ceiling walker who has been keeping people awake at night, but... not sure if they picked the right person for the job right now..." the knight expressed his thoughts aloud, managing to break the intruder from her reverie. "Oh no, I am absolutely the right choice. I will not rest until that creeper is caught, this I swear. Are you associated with the guards, old man?" she blurted out, getting the confirmation pretty much instantly. "This is now both awkward and I appear to be slacking off. My greatest apologies." Ethelinda replied to the veteran knight, bowing again. "I must be off, it appears there really is nothing here." were her final words to the group before she reached the long weapon out from the window, propping it against the roof and climbing up with surprising skill.

Once the girl had vanished, there was only the most awkward feeling and an opened window left inside.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina blinked, then slowly sheathed her sword as it seemed the danger had passed. Turning to Galeon, she gave him a questioning look.

"So there's a rooftop creeper keeping people awake at night, and now you've got that person looking for them? Hey, check our things, I don't want her to have burgled anything... for all we know, she could be the ceiling creeper herself by the way she acted. She certainly kept us awake!"

Nina prowled around the area where the woman, Ethelinda, had entered. Looking to see if during her audacious entrance she'd managed to slip something away, or leave something behind while they were all stunned.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

"Well, I did give the order to find a bounty hunter, but the actual selection process was left to my vice-captain when I departed with you people. I think I have to voice my dislike about his choices once I get back." Galeon replied, looking at his belongings briefly as the girl suggested it. But as the near-total stillness that the intruder suggested, nothing was missing, with everyone confirming it to be true.

Getting the ladder out, Galeon climbed up to close the skylight as best he could before returning to bed. Maybe there would be peace now, with the odd girl back on her job.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina did her best to go back to sleep, but kept her weapons close. For a long time she lay on her side, listening to the sounds of the night. There was nothing for it but to try and find a way to sleep - which eventually the green-haired girl did. Drifting off with the hope of a brighter day tomorrow, and renewed strength for everyone.

She said a silent prayer in her mind for the safety of her friends and was sure to mention a small blessing for Iliana, that her hangover tomorrow morning may be a small one, if it was to be there at all.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

While she stayed up, Nina could hear the more hasty-sounding taps one more time, but eventually only silence reigned over the room to give her some needed sleep.

In the morning, it appeared that no-one besides Galeon had bested Nina in the art of waking up early. Even Iris was feeling sleepy and taking as much rest as possible, while she was usually an early waker and the one to wake the others. But while he was the first up, the knight had not gotten out of bed yet, instead simply sitting in the bed and looking over the rest of them. But the most notable thing around was the snoring from the bed next to the maid-knight's own. Iliana was really taking in all the sleep, announcing it subconsciously as well with all that sound. It was a bit surprising, for the mistress had not done it before.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)

Nina slipped quietly out of bed and moved closer to inspect Iliana. This snoring was highly unusual, as Nina of course knew, having woken up in the mistress' arms on many an occasion. She looked at the woman's mouth and how her body was positioned. And looked apologetically to Galeon on the Lady Einzbern's behalf. Then, gently, she poked the mistress to see if that would make her stop. Then she tried tipping her onto her side if that didn't work.

"If this is how you react to alcohol, my lady, then I will have to keep a better eye on your limit going forward," Nina said quietly, under her breath.

When and if she'd improved Iliana's snoring, she started getting ready for the day. Anticipating grogginess on the Lady's part, she went down and arranged for some tea and coffee or any morning drinks typical of this land, to be brought up along with enough breakfast vittles to satisfy the five travelers. If the inn provided any of the foods Nina knew that Iliana liked, she would make sure to order those. She also arranged for a bath to be drawn for the mistress, and possibly for the others if additional baths were available.