Quote from: Mr. Kent;797400"Thanks," Hanalee tells Iodar, and throws back the first of the shots.

When Georgette passes, Hanalee forces a small grin. "I'm not okay, but...I will be," she says, raising her empty shot glass. "As long as Io keeps these coming...I'll forget my problems in no time at all."

She turns on her barstool to face Karnath. "So...the thing today. I wasn't myself, so anything I said or did I didn't mean. Something controlled us." Hanalee shudders suddenly. "Left a heck of an aftertaste though..."

"I don't need this." Karni says sliding the shot to Hanalee, looking half dead, because frankly, she is half dead. "I don't really remember anything you said, I was fighting it out with my own demon."

She doesn't really understand what is happening with the other patrons, so she ignores them unless they look threatening.

still within quarter past noon

Geraldine's Porch

Alric

Acolyte looks back at you, Alric, studies your face, then smiles. "I'm sure this one will be fine," he starts to scratch Mal behind the ears, looking at the dog, then you, then Mal again. "A hunter by trade, ah (eh)?" commenting upon your gear. "Long way over the mountains for a land poor with forest game. I hope you are not in it for the furs, as hares might be the best available during these hot months."

Looks at Mal lapping up the attention, "Ehh, dogwai'yu (that's enough)." He stops scratching Mal's ears. "Greedy for love this one. Quite normal, a good dog.

"Should be fine," he repeats.

You see Bright Feather come across the street towards Geraldine's... with a Shoshone young woman in tow.

"Ose (hello), sister," the acolyte says while nodding his head. An arched eyebrow lingers, questioning? A smile lingers, too.

"Behne (hello), brother," the young woman bows a reply, leaving her chin tucked in from possible shyness.

Both of you, Alric & Bright Feather, are free to exchange pleasantries and information where others went before disengaging here.
-------------------

'Another Respectable Uptown Establishment'

Caden

Oh, this place is just larded with Respectable Street... you stick out like a sore thumb. Several well beaded native patrons, women and men, size you up and down and roll their eyes. A few Easterners are here, too, fluffed to the gills with fine ruffled clothes, again both women and men, and similarly roll their eyes. Going to be hard to back out of here with grace.

Perhaps one quick shot and leave. The chatter tends to hush and then return as if you are a veritable bubble of silence as you enter deeper towards the bar. You can only really spot top shelf whiskey, amid other pricey spirits. Since you are not violent or belligerent, so far no one bothers you. Maybe you might here a good rumor or two if you linger, as well.

As you reach the bar, an Eastern dandy gives you the once over, then hails the bartender before you with a trifling gesture, who rapidly attends, "A 'Velvet Gauntlet', please."

"One well whiskey for a [silver piece] and a raspberry cordial chaser for two more [silver pieces], right away."
-----------------

Geraldine's

Hanalee & Karnath

"Where have they been?" "Who knows, but that one's got the stomach of a man, the way she hits those shots." "But so early in the afternoon, here in Uptown?" "Yeah, doubtful she'll ever hold a good man."

"A priestess of Grandma Spider here, mommy?" "Even holy people need to take the edge off once in a while, baby." "Oh, is that why she's so dusty and bloody, too?" "Deche (hush) little one, eat your acorn mush."

"Pretty lil' darlin's, if a bit messy. But like they've seen a ghost." "Maybe they went out dancing with the new moon haints?" "Heh, next you'd tell me they danced with the devil in the pale moon light. Leave 'em be, they're probably off work anyway."

"Evening Lady Bright Feather. " Alric nods and smiles warmly, He is stroking Mal's side and checking on his condition. "So what happened up on the hill today?"

Hello Alric, I'm not sure exactly but the Elders do have information and will want to speak with all of us as a group, it seems that fetish holds more then a little significance. Where are the others?

Quote from: Opaopajr;797642"Yeah, doubtful she'll ever hold a good man."

Hanalee catches this, and gladly finishes her second shot, slamming the glass back down with a crack. Then she takes the first of Karnath's two shots.

When Georgette comes near again, Hanalee waves her over. "Hey...Georgie. What you know what they says about them graveyards?" she asks, slightly slurred.

"A whiskey please" Caden breathes airily, the weariness of the days events catching up with him. He will take his time with his drink and keep his ears open for anything juicy, if he spots anyone amicable looking enough he will try to make conversation and get a feel for the place.

Bright Feather walks into Georgina's sees Hanna and says..." I'll have what she's having, that graveyard is more than merely curious"....with a shudder.

Alric sits quietly petting Mal until someone tells him otherwise.

still within quarter past noon

Geraldine's Porch

Alric

The acolyte and weaver hold a knowing look before parting, the weaver following Bright Feather into Geraldine's. His smirk noticeably faded during your exchange, leaving the arched eyebrow. He turns his head as the two enter the establishment, pauses, then returns to facing the street with a practiced inscrutable mask.

He lets the lingering silence get uncomfortable, "And a fetish, too? Busy morning."

Turns to look at you, seriously, across happy Mal being petted. That fucking judgmental silence of religiosity! Well, hunters know how to stay silent, too.

"So why are you still here? Who sent you? Or is it a blood feud?"

"Never mind. Defend yourself when you stand within the sacred smoke." Turns back to gaze at Main Street. "Like We, The People, don't have enough problems."
-------------

Geraldine's

Karnath, Hanalee, & Bright Feather

Georgette nods acknowledgement to Bright Feather and sets up a shot of well whiskey. She gestures quickly from her hand three outstretched fingers to indicate the price [three copper] and gets back to cleaning up Hanalee's new batch of emptied shot glasses.

"Any more at that pace, 'red', and I'll be sweeping you off the floor. Take it easy some." She scrutinizes Hanalee and Karnath as if she should be reading warning signs.

"Graveyards? Not much, besides 'have no hurry to go there yet.'" Looks between you both, Hanalee & Bright Feather, then a passing worried glance at Karnath. "Why? What'ch've been doin' on out there, so close to a dark moon?"

Gets in conspiratorially close to Hanalee and jokingly chides in a low voice, "Y'all off to a black sabbath at the witchin' hour, signin' an extension on that pact to hold sweetheart Tamar ensorcelled to your wiles?" Pokes at your arm, Hanalee, like a ribbing sibling. Backs up, "Or are you girls off plannin' to dance naked in the midnight air where no one with any sense'll come see ya?"

"I'd like to come see ya." "Shut up, Ralphie boy." "Well when're they back on the clock?" "They ain't workin' none like that, so shut up ya hear?"

Returning to you three, "I like to air out my gongas with a nice open air dance like the next lass, but I got work tonight. So thanks, but gonna pass, whatever y'all are up to."

The weaver unconsciously gasps at this exchange. Almost forgot she was there, hovering quietly by Bright Feather. Demure thing, possibly easily shocked.

Leans back in towards Hanalee. "Seriously though," thumbing a gesture at Karnath, "if she's gonna yak in here at least let me bring an empty spittoon."
----------------

'Another Respectable Uptown Establishment'

Caden

"Sure thing, one whiskey. A [silver], please."

The dandy slams his shot, holds it in his throat with upturned face, closing his eyes in a wincing ecstasy. Next he then sips half his cordial and rolls it in his mouth. He eyes you as he rolls his cordial. You actually have trouble discerning whether this is intimidation or a come on.

With an audible swallow and suck of the teeth he finishes. He leans into the bar, fingers tracing his stemmed cordial glass, and levels his eyes at you. "Waiting for the next load to arrive?" his voice huskier from the strength of drink.

What the hell is he talking about? Silver? Customers? Cordials? Bowel movement?

You catch whispers of commentary about you:

"Oh good, Leander'll bounce out any riff-raff tendencies."

"Maybe he's just an early 'call' before lunch. Rather bold for a trick, though."

"Out of all the establishments in town, this one... looking like that."

Alric ignores the man's jibes and focuses on Mal.

Does he seem much better, what is his status.

Gives the acolyte a glance.."interesting at least and nothing so grand as a feud just curiousity really".

Karnath listens to the bartender, greeting Bright Feather's arrival with a sort of grimace; but she isn't in the mood to be amused. Frankly, she is feeling like she'd like a rest, and maybe something simple, like that she could hit with her mace.

Hanalee shakes her head to Georgette, and actually laughs. "You know I don't have to cast any hoodoo to get Tamar to come running--but it was me who postponed our engagement, remember? Least until I get this whole Destiny thing figured out."

"We were up at the graves investigating some right spooky business--not for fun, but to see if we could clear it out. Felt like I was taken over, possessed by something fierce." She looks quietly at the other ladies.

still within quarter past noon

Geraldine's Porch

Alric

"Your dog seems fine, by the way." He looks alternately back and forth at Mal soaking up the attention and the street.

"Eh! (ah!) He's a lovable, big oaf, isn't he?" Succumbs to the urge and again scratches happy Mal's exposed flank.
----------------

Geraldine's

Bright Feather, Hanalee, Karnath

Karnath is amid her short rest, brooding? Hopefully the hour will pass uneventfully, as Geraldine's is a good quality establishment. Besides there's the staff to handle the riff raff.

Bright Feather receives a whiskey shot (and loses 3 cp). It looks right good and painful at the same time, amber color and a whiff of sharp mixed with earth. Mmm... better quality fire water, not like a dive bar.

Hanalee continues with Georgette, but she seems incredulous at the suggestion. "Why on earth go there?" Looks about as if this is crazy talk, and then leans in as if wanting to shelter her friend, whispers, "Clear out what, the dead?

"What sort of destiny sets you out chasing nightmares and risking your soul? I don't know much about those spirit things, and from childhood stories sorta don't wanna know. To think any of them might be real is real bad news.

"I do remember a few horrors told about graveyards. There was the black dog from hell that guards the graves. Ooh, that one's frightening!" Backs up and speaks a bit more normal in volume, forgetting herself.

"And then there was the monsters that took to eating human flesh! The ones that were dead and stupid, and then the ones that were smart and dug tunnels under graveyards and cities. Those would even poison or disease the people to get more food, or kidnap those walking the streets. Ooh, gives me the oodiegots, just thinking about it. Glad we have no real sewer system here.

"Oh, and then there's the ghost lights that whisper in your ear by the light of the new moon to join them! Those sounded not so bad, except for the 'join them' part. Like a fly buzzing in the ear, just swat it away. Spooky, but wouldn't it take a weak will to be convinced by whispers?"

"I think you may be right but still I would rather not take chances. If something lingers and I juss forgot about it I would never live with myself."

Alric settles in waiting for the elders to finish with the woman hoping they have time for Mal and whatever may have taken him. Settling in his mind the need to deal with the unnatural presence in the graveyard.