Party Hard Every Day (Open)

[titania]

Another day in Castle Town left Titania bored. The people around just seemed to be so plain, so she made her way to the tavern to find someone interesting, or drink enough to make everyone interesting.

She took a seat at the bar, giving the bartender a nod and a motion to get his ass over to her. "Barkeep, I need something to tide me over between now and my second drink." The bartender was smart, and appropriately handed her a first drink. Many of the men in the bar were already looking at her, and she scoped the field for any of them with chutzpah. Didn't seem much like it unfortunately. She could wait, maybe one would separate himself from the rest.

[wiseman]

"Little did she know. Wiseman was already watching her. "

[/i][/b]

One would think that would be the ominous line to end a chapter, fill it with thrill and suspense. But, things were only just beginning for the puppet master. And his eyes, ever watchful were already filled with that hungry excitement. That suspense that dangled above him before the moment of the kill. Wiseman had been scanning over his list of potential victims, like some kind of grim Santa Claus he weighed each one against the other. Which was bad, which was terrible and which was worst? It wasn’t hard to collect information, after all when one had three bodies to choose from it was much easier to cover your tracks, obtain seemingly pointless random pieces of information. All separate, up till the point he pieced it together and then the true gold revealed itself. Wiseman wasn’t just any particular kind of Serial Killer. The woman who charges money for special services had been guilty, but she was minor league stuff. He could judge her and kill her without any kind of research, without any kind of work in getting close. With his little heartwood message he had attracted attention.

And as much as this pleased him. The idea of being caught so early on would not be pleasant. He would tone down his messages for now. Focus on taking down bigger targets.

And what ‘bigger’ target could one imagine than Titania? One of the leaders. The Fairy Queen. From what he had heard, Titania was just as guilty as the hooker he had killed previously. The only difference being that her currency didn’t include the exchange of money. And who knew, perhaps killing her would provide him a good enough body for another puppet. The queen was currently in town, which made her the boldest name currently standing out. And so, he made it his business to begin preparations.

The Male Puppet. For, what else would he use to catch the attention of this lime light woman who charges money for special services? Finding out the locations of celebrities like the Leaders wasn’t difficult. There were many in both the gritty sides of the underworld, and the civilised law abiding sort who kept tabs on the movements of such people. Be it for grim or nosey purposes. Word on the street was that she was in a local bar in castle town. So, that was to be his destination for today. The hand of the male puppet pushed the door open, the click of the cane against the wooden floor as he walked within would echo throughout the bar.

The male puppet was a ruggedly handsome man in gentleman’s attire. He walked over to the bar, avoiding looking at the Fairy Queen ( for the moment) and ordering his drink. “ One straight whiskey please”. Being made of a former human, the puppet could ingest food and drink. However neither would have any effect on its performance. And would likely have to be cleaned out later when it came to maintenance. Still, he needed the puppet to appear as life like as possible if he was going to fool anyone. The drink came and he clasped its hands around it and lifted it off the top. At this point allowing the eyes to drift over to Titania. Raising the glass to its lips, he gave a slight smirk and a wink to the fairy queen. Tipping his hat before walking over to a table shaded in the corner.

Subtle. But hopefully enough to attract her attention. He leaned back and folded one leg over the other, waiting and watching for things to unfold.[/blockquote][/size]

[eris]

Eris let out a slow sigh as she walked into the bar. She was glad to be out of the hustle and bustle of the large town and have a chance to just sit. A small smile curled at the corners of her mouth when she noticed some of the eyes draw from Titania to her, even if just for a moment.

She was in town on business but now that the business was done she could wash her hands of it and chase it down with a few drinks. Eris approached the bar a couple of seats down from Titania and she let out a little chuckle. "I do not think you will find any suitors here. Many city men are far too lazy to be of much use." She flagged down the bartender and ordered a drink.

"No, you want the men who do hard labor, because they understand what it is to work for something. Play hard to get with some of these and all you'll get is a bit of frustration before they walk out the door or the expectation that they've earned the right to something if you finally talk to them."

Her eyes followed the Wiseman as he ordered his drink and made his way back to the corner. A frown wrinkled her forehead briefly but it was soon washed away with a smile as her drink arrived.

[titania]

Titania kept a watchful eye on Wiseman's puppet. He was certainly more forward than any of the other men here, giving her a wink with his well-dressed self. He had potential if nothing else. Then there was this female Zora, trying to give her advice on which men to go for. She gave a faked laugh and shrugged.

"Typically I wouldn't take advice from a fish in a bar, but in this case you're right. The men here often times are not worth the time to string them along, but I have good luck finding a gem every so often." She gave a quick glance to the shadowy figure in the corner. He was certainly the enigma of the tavern so far. She took a swig of her ale and smiled at him.

"Many of the hard-working men are far beyond my reaches unfortunately. There are a few around here but quite a few of them are elsewhere." A certain someone was recruiting all of them to his cause. Now that was a real man if she ever knew one. A shame she had to deal with him being currently unavailable.

[wiseman]

His walk from the bar side to the table was met simply by the distant tittering of two women discussing the quality of men. It would appear that the second was advising the Fairy Queen against her prowl tonight. How interesting. A strange grin spread across the face of the puppet, mirroring his own feelings at this moment. On the table he merely sat, watching the two in his peripheral vision whilst slowly drinking down the whiskey. . Wiseman would have to think on this one, it was going to be a more complicated game than he had imagined. This second one had brought a new factor into things. And that was always fun. Finding ways to dance and dodge around new things to head straight for the goal. A barrier to his final task, just another to be overcome.

The taste of the whiskey didn’t reach him, which was a shame, he had an idea that he would probably enjoy this particular brand. But business before pleasure. Perhaps he would return here as his actual self later. A bit of information collection and a drink. Perfect. But it really all did depend on just how this little encounter went. If it did indeed go at all. For all intents and purposes however. Wiseman had already accomplished his goal. He had been seen by Titania. He had appeared on her radar, and as subtle as that move was now. He had planted the seed for the fruits of the future. It only really was a matter of time. But then, it could flourish faster than imagined. But it was all down to the Fairy Queen. His eyes for the briefest moment drifted over to the two making it more clear that he was looking. His eyes thinned on the Zora girl. The barrier. He’d have to do some investigating into this one. Did she deserve death? He hoped so. It wasn’t often he had the chance to take such rare parts for his puppets.

“ Heh...”.

He let it breath out misting over his glass before another sip. Placing the glass lightly down upon the surface of the table. Sliding them down and allowing his fingers to rap down into a rhythm. An almost hypnotic rat tat tat tat against the surface. Repeating every few seconds.

[eris]

"Oh, it was more of a complaint than any sort of advise. You can go for whatever man you wish, the consequences of your choices are all yours." By which she meant of course that Titania might find herself unfulfilled and bored. Eris had taken little notice of the puppet aside from that passing glance and though she had the idea he was watching them, there were very few who were not.

Eris turned her head to look at the fairy queen and took a small sip of her drink. "They are hard to find, I know, but that is what makes snaring one of them to be all the more fulfilling. Granted I have little time for love so I should not be telling one such as yourself, someone so well known in the subject, how things are." She turned away from Titania and let out a sigh. She had yet to find someone who could keep her interested for long. Strange that they all seemed to have various sorts of accidents.

[titania]

Titania smirked at her comments. "Very true. It makes you wonder if anyone here has any sort of experience sometimes. You have every right to complain." Easy to please was an understatement for Titania. It mattered little to her how talented the man was, the desire meant more to her than anything else.

"I don't have the mindset for love. I have the time, but love just seems so...permanent. Maybe I'm just under pressure to have kids. You know, continuing the bloodline and all." Her last sentence, as she rolled her eyes, was said with a harsh about of cynicism. She loves kids, but the thought of having her own just felt so strange. She was expected to have them so she could have an heir, but she wasn't ready. In her current traveling state, she couldn't be a very good mother. Children meant settling down, taking care of them.

"Seems to me that you know a fair amount about myself. I don't see many zoras around, have we met before?" She became cautious, trying to keep an eye on those she found oddballs in the bunch. This Zora woman seemed to know her fair share, and this man in the order was tapping rhythmically, staring down the two women at the bar. She took a drink and tried to remain cool.

[wiseman]

He cradled that drink in his hand, swirling the liquid in the glass around like a twisted carousel His gaze upon the two appeared to be shared by multiple others in the room. And as he listened into the conversation between the two. Wiseman got a bit more of an idea of just what the Queen was like. It had been as he suspected, a political woman who charges money for special services. But at the same time she reminded him all too much of a teenager, one who wanted to party hard all the time and yet was here bogged down with responsibility. Albeit a kind of responsibility that she likely did not deserve. Such things however were left do to blood line and kin.

Nothing to do with who deserved what. That was his business. Dealing out just what people deserved in the more gruesome and artistic way he could imagine. With hat done he turned his eyes away from the Fairy Queen and the fish girl and reverted back to watching them through peripheral vision. It wasn’t as good on the detail but it worked for being inconspicuous Not that him looking at them looked out of the ordinary amongst he patrons who already were. But he had made eye contact and had shown interest in the Fairy Queen. And with the glances being made back at him in this male puppet. It may have been an idea just to simply ease off the tension for awhile.

He turning his attention back to his drink. Taking a quick sip of it before placing it back down on the table. What to do what to do. He could simply just stand up and leave. Technically his goal had already been accomplished in the grander sense of things. Be identified by the Queen. But he still felt as if he should stick around for more. But at the same time not look suspicious. It was simply a question of danger over gains. He decided, one last move be it subtle again. Then he would leave it till another day.

The Male puppet swigged the last portion of his whiskey and then stood, heading back over towards the bar. Walking past the Fairy Queen and the Zora girl., briefly glancing their way. But just in the same way a stranger would to anyone that they passed. He placed bow arms on the bar folded into themselves. “ One for the road barkeep. I have a feeling I’m going to require the courage this evening!”. A brief chuckle before staring down at the wood grain of the bar as he waited for the barman to pour his drink.

His comment about needing the courage was designed as a lure to combine with the fashion in which he was dressed. Likely one might have thought that he was either nobility proposing to his lady tonight. But then again the idea of hitting a bar like this contradicted that factor. He could have been attending his wedding, but that was again unlikely due to the time scale of everything. The conclusion that seemed to fit best with both his apparel and his demeanour was likely the role of the Best Man making the speech. Requiring whiskey based courage to get him through the speech. But then again, any number of things could be drawn from it. It was a thinking lure, designed to ebb curiosity. He just wondered if the Fairy Queen or the Zora, would take the bait.

[eris]

She chuckled lightly and finished off her first drink when Titania questioned her. Eris considered leading her on but in the end she decided that perhaps playing mind games with royalty was not the best way to keep herself out of any major troubles. After some time to think she finally responded. "In my line of work it pays to know who is in power and learn a thing or two about them is all. It's nothing personal, you see. You just happen to be a high profile figure."

Eris flagged down the barkeep for another drink at about the same time that the puppet and her eyes turned to look him over. She knew better than to make assumptions about people but she could not help but think of a man out to duel a rival for the heart of his love. She knew that wasn't his purpose though; she just enjoyed making wild leaps of logic for her own amusement.

"You have some sort of battle ahead of you?" She asked in an offhand manner. In her experience people needed whiskey the most when they were getting ready to go into a fight. Granted when most of her experience came from growing up around pirates there were many things that would precede a fight or a pillaging so she was naturally inclined to think such things. Not only this, but with her question it would be easy to take it as a metaphorical battle rather than a physical one.

[titania]

Titania's eyes drifted slowly downward, stopping at the charm Eris wore around her neck. She knew she'd seen something similar to it in the past, but where? After a moment of thinking, she finally figured it out.

"No need to talk about it here. Your boss knows more about me than you ever will through idle conversation. Besides, I don't really like seafood. Nothing against the race as a whole, it's just not my thing." Her eyes couldn't help but drift over the well-dressed man as he walked by. Apparently he needed courage for something. Probably the courage to make false accusations against the fairy queen. She was no prostitute. She was never paid for special services. She paid once, that was fun though.

It could be fun to ask him about why he required courage, but the Zora beat him to it, and so she did not compound the question. She did, however, listen intently. Might be a fun little story.

[wiseman]

Irony. It was the fish that took the bait. The head of the male puppet turned lightly, a look of slight curiosity on its face as it was asked the question by Eris. He needed to think of a good story, The girl had mentioned battle so likely he would have to think of something that involved that to magnetise her attention. Then the idea came to him. ” Well I suppose you could call it that...Its a long story...” . He said, the drink came back and his attention returned to the barkeep. With a nod and a thank you he took the drink in hand and took a mild sip before returning to his story;.

“ Well about two weeks ago I went to this engagement party...real good time had by all wonderful food...honestly didn’t know the couple but my brother dragged me along anyways....so the drinks got flowing and I got talking to this delightful petite girl, had the biggest brown eyes you’d ever see...well one thing led to another and-“. He laughed, closing his eyes, pressing the glass of the whiskey to his forehead. “ Well everything would have been fine and dandy if not for the fact she was actually the betrothed in question....we agreed not to speak a word of what happened and go about our lives as if nothing happened...But as it turns out the husband to be’s family had this little thing about checking the....*coughs*...purity...of the women in question....so when her maiden hood was found gone...she spilled the beans, the fiancé called off the wedding and now her father is out for my blood...challenged me to a duel tonight”. Wiseman rolled the eyes of the puppet, which in puppets was particularly difficult. He opened his eyes and took another drink from his glass, a deeper one this time to help reflect the mood.

“ So my choices are find a way to slink out of town un-noticed or kill an old man”

He looked to the side briefly with a thoughtful expression. “ Well I suppose there’s also the chance I could die, but I’m confident enough that won’t happen....What about yourselves?...what brings two lovely ladies to the drinking stool today? Not looking for courage I would hope!”

[eris]

She moved to protest that she did not have a boss; she was the captain of her own ship. After a second thought she realized just who Titania was talking about and sat back with a grin. Her attention then turned back to the puppet.

Eris nodded along with the story as though such a confrontation were only the natural result of such actions. Whether it was true that she honestly considered it that way was questionable but this man had her curious so she would do what she could to keep him talking. "Well, you could always maim him." It likely said something about her personality that she said the words so offhandedly. Perhaps she did not care, or perhaps violence was not something that she gave a second thought to.

"No, not looking for courage. I am simply relaxing after having run some errands in town." Eris' drink arrived and she took a long sip. "This place is a little less amusing than my usual haunts but townsfolk normally are a little more subdued than sailors."

[titania]

Titania listened to his story. He certainly spun a fine tale, and while it seemed like a plausible series of events, of course with such a fantastic story the validity of it should be questioned. But rather than publicly protest, she decided to give it a good sound fact-checking. Later.

"I'm just passing through. Figured an ale or two wouldn't hurt. Then the other one over here told me to watch out, since the men here were boring. Apparently hard labor is a measure of satisfaction." She shrugged, looking at the fishy one. She could be right, and in a way she was. Noblemen felt too entitled, and merchants thought enough talk would suffice. Hard laborers knew value.

"So you think you're gonna fight him?" she asked, looking back to the man, still seemingly in thought about his impending duel.

[wiseman]

So it seemed they'd bought the story. Good. But there was more questions to it, or statements. First from the fish girl. Asking why he wouldn't just maim the person. It was a good question, and an excellent oppertunity to add a little bit more intriguie to the story whilst dancing with his own fires. " Ah well that ones simple my lady, you have to remember that the man I'm talking about is of noble caste, ex-knight in fact. Maiming or crippling him would likely be a worse insult to his family than his death. He would probably spend more resources trying to hunt me down and kill me if I'd done that, than if I'd snuck away. Killing him in an honourable duel, with the rules and such would take care of nasty loose ends like that....". He couldn't help himself with the next sentence.He chuckled lightly " And in my line of work...you can't afford to have loose ends...". Another drink and he listed to the Zora girls story, so she hung around sailors and frequented some of the more exciting places in town. Interesting. He'd have to take note of that one later.

" Indeed. Normally I wouldn't be in here either. But...well...going to the classier joints I'd have more of a chance of an early run in with my date tonight"..

And then came the story of the fairy queen. " Oh I see, well I'd probably agree with you there..but sometimes you'll find the odd diamond in the rough...".. Another little flirty comment but leaving that as it was for now. His face seemed to turn cold as she asked him if he was going to fight. It was the face of someone who knew they were, and knew what they were going to have to do. " Yes, and I'll kill him. At least if I don't find a way out of here by sunset. If only walking out the city gates was so simple.."

[eris]

"You are concerned that if you would him he will track you down yet you consider running. Would that not be a worse insult? I know I would be far more upset to be stood up than to be bested in combat." she considered the situation vriefly and shifted her weight back so that she could stretch out a bit.

"The way I see it you have three choices. You can fight, surrender, or find some way out of it. If you fight you kill, surrender and likely die, but who know whaat will happen if you flee. Perhaps you will be fine, perhaps not but I'm simply stating the obvious at this point aren't I? Do what you feel is best"

[titania]

Titania laughed at the man's predicament. It seemed that his situation was unfortunate, especially given the circumstances. He was getting blamed for what seemed to be the fault of the woman. Although she didn't know who came on to who, so saying that wouldn't be fair at this time.

"I'm not exactly privy to the details of how these duels work. I try to avoid excessive violence, but it seems to me that you could simply disarm him and declare yourself the victor. At that point, your debt is paid, and if he wishes death for himself, you may oblige. This is of course assuming you have the skill to take down an ex-knight." She said her last part as a sort of challenge. He didn't seem to be much of a fighter, and if this man was an ex-knight, even at his age he would be a formidable opponent.

[wiseman]

" Ah you misunderstand me"

Wiseman actually had to wonder if at this stage they were actually listening to him or if they had just decided to draw their own conclusions off the faint fragments of sentences they had listened to. " If I run, I invite attempts on my life, however if I maim him then the attempts upon my life are likely to be more vigorous and severe". It was simple enough, in the case that one ran then a few attempts would be made, but eventually the matter would come undone, why waste such resources on a coward? However the maiming was a direct dishonour to a most honourable person, shaming them would result in a life hatred. One that meant attempts on a life would continue for the remainder of that persons life, and beyond if his or her family cared enough about it.

" As for the disarming my Lady, it doesn't quite work that way when the person in question considers your debt to be paid worth more than your life. If I diarmed him and declared myself the victor. Likely he would pounce upon me and attempt to kill me by driving his thumbs through my eyes...or something ghastly like that....terrible business"

He smirked at the point mentioned about having the skill. He gestured to his cane, with a small twist of the handle. he pulled up around two inches, and revealed a sword blade. Then. Reached behind his back, under his shirt to reveal a hidden dagger in a spine sheath. " Knights tend to have that whole honour thing going on....I on the other hand play dirty"

With that done Wiseman finished his drink. " Well I'd best be on my way, wish me luck and such. And if I do live. Perhaps we will meet again!" Nothing more to say. Time to leave. It was best not giivng too many details as to thinks. But Wiseman imagined if he did meet them again, and alive. It would perhaps deliver another sort of message. That not all is as it seems. With that, he moved towards the door. Taking his leave of the tavern.

[[Wiseman Exit]]

[eris]

Eris watched the puppet man exit and shook her head. "Something seems fishy about that. If the man he is to face is an honorable knight and they are to be facing in a duel then the knight should be bound by honor to accept defeat should it be given to him, not to seek further revenge. A duel is to settle a score and the result of the duel is the answer, at least so far as I can tell. Either he is sorely mistaken on the rules of an honorable duel or he was trying to make himself seem impressive." Eris shrugged lightly and finished off her second drink.

"But that matters little, we will likely never see him again." Eris glanced down at the bar and let out a little chuckle. "My apologies your highness, sometimes I start talking and I cannot seem to make myself stop. Though I suppose that happens to most of us at times." Eris took her eyes off of the table and turned them toward Titania. "So you are familiar with my profession?"

(Deepest apologies, life decided to do the equivalent of bashing me over the head with a 2x4 and I have been dealing with a few problems recently. I should be more active now that they are settled.)

[titania]

Titania waved goodbye to the man as he left the room.

"I don't think he's used to being in duels. Doesn't strike me as much of a fighter. Knights accept defeat when it happens. At least the ones I know do, especially the honorable ones." She took a sip of her ale as well and sighed, shaking her head.

"I don't know exactly what you do. Quite frankly, I'm not too worried. The pirates don't bother me thanks to an agreement between the two sides. Something only he and I know about. Just know that you don't attack any of my ships, though we currently don't have any sort of navy as a people. In return, I keep my mouth shut. Seems a bit advantageous to me, but we're really on good terms." She wasn't really a big fan of pirates, but a fairy wasn't exactly someone to argue with the rough and tumble of the high seas.

Titania raised her ale high. "To continued agreement between our groups. Hopefully neither side will ever have to worry about invoking any treaties." Titania wasn't stupid. She knew she was taking risks associating secretly with pirates and Gerudo, but someone had to.

(Apology accepted. Take your time and don't rush out posts on my behalf)

[eris]

"You have my word that if I should come across any fairy ships I will lower my guns and will not attack. It is not my place to question your treaty, seeing as it was made by my superior and to cross him is somethiing that few who are wise or wish to keep their lives should do." She said this with the recent attempted mutany in mind and wondered quietly just how many captains he had killed in quelling it.

Eris flagged the bartender down for a drink and raised it high upon reception. "To the pirates and the fairy race." She tapped her glass against Titania's and took a small drink. Over the years she had gained a good bit of tolerance for alcohol and had yet to feel more than a slight calming effect from her drinks.