[ OPEN ] One time love, take care how you use it

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran Arainai, Isabela, their audience
WHAT: Zevran and Company heat up a cold night with some steamy songs from up North.
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Tavern
NOTES: Bawdy songs, salacious dancing, coin being tossed- adult language and content.

It was cold, they were bored and a little tipsy, and Zevran had run through as many stories of the fifth blight that he could stand for the night, Isabela had run through as many suckers as she could get in her game of cards as would be lured in by her laugh and her bosom. Comfortably buzzed and not wishing to become maudlin Zevran began to pick out the notes to a rather saucy Antivan song- one he recited recently for Alistair. By the time he'd gone through the first verse with just the Lute Isabela was chortling. "You wouldn't actually-"

"Oh, mia Bella, I would. I truly would." Never one to step down from such a challenge, his plucking went from idle to strong with purpose, which only had Isabela throwing her head back and cackling.

Giggling, in her own way, warm and rich and turning a few heads. The atmosphere wasn't dire or dour but it could use a little spice. A little heat. Whether it was the sudden sharp strum that brought him back to the beginning or Isabela elbowing him in the ribs to actually start singing that got more heads, he couldn't say. by the time he hit the refrain and had nudged her enough to get her standing on the table, writhing along with the music? They certainly had the attention of most if not all of the tavern. When he hit the second call and response- half the women in attendance replied, egged on by Isabela on the table still- leaping onto another in time with the music.

As he had quite a few such pieces in his repertoire, they had all night to fill with song and dance and bawdy intent.

[ ooc: tag around and have a party, everyone's game! ]

Comments

[keeperofmagi]

She'd just come for a drink. In truth, she'd been drinking more than she should have been, since the Mage Council, but it made little difference. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't this.

Her first inclination was to simply ignore them - after all, the tavern was hardly a quiet place at the best of times, and to the most part she was able to keep to herself. This, though - she could feel the heat rise under her collar as she turned her glare to the elf and his companion.

It wasn't the material, really - the subject matter was bawdy and eyeroll worthy, sure, but by the fifth one she was getting a little worn out.

"Don't you have something decent you could play instead?" She growled over the crowd.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Look, he's used to this place being backwards and old timey. But there's a long moment there where Church doesn't seem to find Baby Got Back to be out of place because it sounds a little like more modern times! Plus, okay, he's distracted by a chick tabledancing. With some curves to back up the song.

But once he realizes what he's more or less listening to, his brain comes crashing to a momentary rebooting halt. What the fuck is going on here?

Maybe. he should just. keep watching the lady. Should he tip her? Does she want tipped? He doesn't have any money on him. He won't bring any attention to this. Just...keep watching pretty ladies and do not ask him to dance to anything and everyone will be a lot happier that way.

[easternseaqueen]

Isabela, for her part, was absolutely enjoying all this, a show of truly Rivaini glory right there in Skyhold. She knew what the people came for. A little shimmy here or a dip there. She certainly had plenty of assets to draw attention.

And considering how much coin was being tossed under her boots or aimed right for her cleavage, she wasn't about to argue.

[wickedchase]

The mood of Skyhold had been far too dour since the Abomination and mage-templar political talks and whatnot. None of it was particularly enjoyable, and sour enough for someone who preferred to enjoy what pleasures life had to offer instead of being pulled into it.

So, suffice it to say, the mood of the tavern is significantly uplifted in his opinion considering the whole affair.

At his seat, Twisted Fate is chuckling quite entertained by Isabela and Zevran.

Suffice it to say, he is almost inclined to share his coin to assure his own amusement. A high compliment from someone who preferred to keep his own money to himself.

[ombranera]

"If you wanted decent you should have come earlier. The hour is late and the ale, it is flowing!" Zevran cackled as he finished the last chord with a flourish. Truly they should tag out soon, give him a turn on the table and Isabella a turn at the lute. Zev did take the time to weave over to this lovely woman's side, smile wide and eyes bright. "I am afraid it shall only become more rowdy from here, Bella. Perhaps you have a request to make?"

[ombranera]

The pretty lady isn't the one that asks him to dance; Zevran is the one that swings by with his lute in hand, a song in his throat, and drops full into his lap between one song and the next. "She is lovely, no?"

[ombranera]

After a few songs, Zevran taps out, offering his Lute to another well versed musician and hopping onto the table to join Isabela or to take her place. The dancing varies from the stomping, staccato motions of the taverns of Antiva to the sinuous undulating motions better suited to Rivain. Between songs he took requests as he strides through the room, picking up coin and drinks from those that would offer it.

[ombranera]

"Bella- what was that new dance you were telling me about?" There's a soft interlude between songs where Zevran was sweeping coin into a bag at his side- something for them to split. After all, they have both earned the coin.

[ombranera]

Between songs Zevran slips over to Fate's side- sidling up until he has space and leave enough to settle not against him, but in his lap, still picking away at his lute. "A song for a kiss, bello?"

[serannas]

Ellana's been a little less like her usual positive self lately. There are a number of factors attributing to that, but despite the friends she's been making here, she hasn't confided in anyone as to how she's feeling. But it shows on her face. In the tavern she tucks herself away in the back, behind a pillar even, to hunker down with a drink. But when Zevran starts his songs, she can't help but smile just a little and lean so she can have a view of him from her little cove of privacy.

She stays there as he switches to dancing, watching his movements with great interest. She's never seen dancing like that before. By the time he sweeps around towards her table, she already has a coin in her hand to give to him.

"You've certainly brightened up the place," she comments, since now the tavern is far more rowdy and full of laughter than it was an hour ago.

[wickedchase]

A soft laugh escapes him and he places an arm loosely around Zevran's waist. It's obviously loose enough for the other elf to escape easily, should he wish it.

"Only if it's dirty," he teases, remembering how Zevran had made his preferences clear when they first met. "Not that I would expect anything else from you, dirk."

[middle_of_calibrating]

Saucy music, attractive women dancing on the tables, passable drinks to get you drunk. The Inquisition was just getting better and better each passing day. And he had only been there for a few.

Hunkering down a bit into his seat, Garris grins behind his mug, focusing more on the busty woman dancing on the table over rather then the actual taste of his drink; so long as it got him drunk right? As he watches the swaying of her hips, the clapping, and the stomping of her feet he cannot help but feel he's seen her somewhere before. It's on the tip of his tongue, but he cannot quite place it.

His attention eventually goes towards the man playing and singing; being talented in just one was impressive, but both at the same time? Once he takes a break from playing, Garris leisurely gets up from his chair and clicks down a coin onto the table, giving it a small slide over with his finger. "Can't say I've heard many of those."

[kallian_endris]

The tavern was usually filled with at least a low din, but this was by far the rowdiest Kallian had yet to see it. But, when the attention was on the entertainers, it made it that much easier to sit unnoticed in the corners.

The elf girl had no drink. No coin to spare for anything like that. She simply listened, occasionally having to hide a smile or a blush behind her hands.

Kallian didn't think she knew the woman dancing. But the elven man who was playing the songs... She was certain she had seen him before, years ago, the memory seeming like half a dream among a fog of chaos. Those marks on his face... Kallian studied them carefully. That was the face of a man who had fought against the darkspawn who had threatened the alienage all those years ago...

[ombranera]

Zevran leans over enough to slip that coin into his bag along with the rest that he'd gathered between songs; this face is new but the coin? Is familiar enough. "They are recent songs from the taverns of Antiva."

Some altered by he and Isabella, of course, but half the fun of telling is changing the song with each verse sung. The music remains the same, the plucking and the singing and the dancing- that was all improvised. And done so beautifully by Isabella.

[ombranera]

So many faces in the tavern, so many more that were unfamiliar. But there was something that prickles at his skin- the idea that someone was watching him with curiosity rather than attraction. It lingered until he took his latest round and found the eyes that followed him.

Or rather the eyes that remained on the tattoos on his face.

"So. You have been watching quite intently, Bella. Do we know one another?"

[ombranera]

Somewhere in the middle of a sultry twist of song Zevran has dropped down on wide spread knees on the table, bending over backward to see Ellana rather than face her properly. It puts them at level- even if to him she is upside down. Still he smiles wide and bright with the joy and ease of the happily inebriated. "Mia Bella!"

He extends a hand to her, fingers brushing along her cheek before he takes the coin, tucking it into his belt.

"I think perhaps it might be brighter still were I to remove my shirt. What do you think?"

[ombranera]

"Mmmm. What else would I ever do for you?" He nuzzles along the side of Fate's throat, tipsy and comfortable in his seat, even if it's on someone else's lap. Perhaps especially because he's in someone's lap.

[kallian_endris]

Kallian promptly blushed and looked away.

"My apologies, ser," she said softly, "And... no. You would not have seen me. But, years ago... You were there. When the darkspawn attacked the alienage in Denerim, you were there, weren't you? With the Hero."

[serannas]

His presence makes her forget her troubles and her smile widens at his touch. It's easy to see how he could charm someone out of almost anything, because he's certainly charming her out of her mood.

"I think we won't know for sure until you try."

[wickedchase]

A pleased hum is earned and he grins sharply at the attention. He tilts his head, little Zevran provide him with as much affection as he feels to give.

"Then I think I can oblige with your terms, Zevran."

The back of his knuckles gently drag down the side of the assassin's face before tracing his jawline. He leans in, pressing his lips against the other elf's.

"Is that a good start?" he murmurs, lifting a brow.

[middle_of_calibrating]

He knew the accent had been familiar. "Well, now I'm just sad that I never made an effort travel north enough into Antiva to enjoy any of the taverns. This is far more entertaining and... expressive then most of the stuff down here in the south." Nothing against the woman who usually sang here in the tavern, but half the stuff she sang was hard to tolerate at times.

"You look like you could use a drink. On me."

[motherfucking_ghost]

He sees it coming at the last possible second and tries to move, which turns into more of a short flail instead, and an accompanying 'oof'. Good thing elves are all...smaller and lighter. "Uh, yeah, that's one word for her." Other words might not be polite to say, but this isn't exactly polite company, and he's never been the most polite person ever. "I don't exactly have anything on me to tip you with if that's what you're fishing for, dude, just so you know."

[ombranera]

"And you...are one of the survivors of that battle, yes?" A beat and he narrowed his eyes, fighting through the years, the multitude of faces he has seen, and wine. Quite a bit of wine. "I think I remember you."

[kallian_endris]

"I doubt it."

She shook her head.
"I was only a child then, messere, easily lost in the crowds. But if not for the Grey Wardens and their companions... if not for you... I almost certainly would have died that day. So... thank you."

[nadasharillen]

Up until this very moment, Nahariel had avoided the Herald's Rest. It wasn't that she didn't like to drink--she did, and it wasn't that she didn't like most of those she'd met since coming to Skyhold--she did. It was more that drinking around the fire and laughing had been for Clan, and every time she gave a piece of Clan to the Inquisition, it felt like she lost another piece of the life she'd led before.

And she loved that life.

It had only been a few months, and already the forests seemed so far away. Had it snowed yet? How was the garden faring without Sina to look after it? Had Isen made any truly astounding trickshots?

She sighed heavily, and let her feet turn toward the warmth, merriment, and music. Just this once, maybe, and then... her eyes widened as she entered the tavern to see a grinning elf singing, the rich timbre of his voice and lute providing the music and rhythm for a human woman who moved like water on a table--both of them with skin as dark as hers.

She thought the woman might have smiled at her, and she found herself flushing to her eartips. Had she been staring? For how long?!

Maybe she'd... come back another night.

Nahariel backed up, and ran into the chest of another entering patron. Turned to try to pass him, and another came in. No escape. While wondering whether or not the second floor windows would open to let her out, Nari moved quickly for the minimal refuge of the bar.