Culture Shock

[Xenosa Alaoui]

This was no place like home..

From the people and right down to the sights and smells that encompassed this foreign place, it was painfully obvious that Xenosa was far, far from home. Even still, she felt even now that she couldn't get quite far enough. But in truth, she was sure that no place would ever be far enough, and rather than subject herself to a life of constant running, perhaps it was best to make a claim somewhere; anywhere. Well, so long as it wasn't those lands where that disgusting man and his sons resided.. But then, she'd be lying to herself to say that she hadn't seen some.. less than desirable faces and acts during her journey. Alas, there was no use in outrunning everyone, now was there?

She'd been just lucky enough to be bandaged by a kind soul in a place called Teronna before making her way into Aralore. Being the prosperous placed it was - or at least, it was trying to rebuild to - Xenosa hoped that it would be easy to get lost in the sea of people that lived here. Of course, it would be difficult to hide the dark-skinned woman with her silver-white hair and striking, bright grey eyes. Perhaps she'd find some way to dye her locks. If all else failed, she could take to chopping it all off.. No, she wouldn't dare. Not because she felt the price of vanity like many women, but because she didn't want to feel that she had to give up her entire identity and let them win. Surely, they would not come this far to find her. Despite the price they'd paid to purchase her - and subsequently, their freedom from her homeland - they'd lose much more coin than that attempting to track her down. At least, that's what she hoped. But then, only time would tell.

In another instance of luck, someone had been kind enough to point her to a local tavern that came complete with an inn. The young woman didn't have much in the way of coin, but she could spare just enough to have a place to lay her head, if only for a few days. It was her hope that within that time, she'd have found some means of an income to maintain her stay - at least until she could manage to afford a place of her own. But as she made her way to the entrance of the building, she felt her heart lurch in her chest which caused her to pull her dark grey cloak tighter over her head. The sun was only beginning to set along the horizon, but the loud chatter that could be heard here in the streets was indication enough that the tavern was already alive with more than a handful of folk. Taking a deep breath, Xenosa entered the tavern, relief washing over her when no one seemed to pay her any mind. She stood for a moment, taking in her surroundings and the drunkards who were already becoming rather ornery. One already seemed rather on edge after having lost a card game, and Xenosa made a mental note to steer clear of that particular group at all costs. Part of her wanted to turn around and walk right back out that door, find a nice, quiet place on the streets to try her luck further. Another, more desperate part of her just wanted somewhere soft to rest. Somewhere with a door she could lock so that she might feel safe, even if for just a short while.

tagged; open for anyone and everyone

[Michael Gregor]

Michael Gregor narrowed his eyes at his opponent from across the table. Looking over the edge of his cards at were practically pressed against his nose. He reached over for his mug of ale and took a gulp of it before he set it on the table. His dark, almost black eyes never leaving the man, or little man as he should call him, eyes. 

It was a typical night at the Sparrow. Michael liked to come down here when he wasn't needed at home to have some dinner and good drink. Especially when he wasn't working. He also liked to take the time to people watch when he could get the chance, but his opponent had his full attention. He looked down a the growing pile they had in front of him and he scowled. "Got any two's?" He growled. 

"Go fish." Came his opponents response. Michael groaned, putting his arm on the table and rested his head on it. "You're killin me kid." He moaned. Danny's giggle filled the air and then Michael sat up and took a new card from the deck. "Got any..." Danny narrowed his eyes at Michael and leaned forward. "Threes?" He asked. Michael rolled his eyes and plucked the two three's he had in his hand and tossed them on the table. "Yay!!!" The little boy cheered. Doing a little dance in his chair as he laughed. "Your uncle's been teaching you to cheat hasn't he?" Michael chuckled. "Never! Uncle Ian has been teaching me to spot when your cheating." Danny said grinning at him. "Of course he has." Michael made a face at his son, and then looked back at his hand. "When's dinner coming? I'm hungry." Danny said. 

Michael looked back up and over at the bar. "It's coming, you just gotta be patient." He told him. "Got any 7's?" He asked. The Tavern door opened and Michael watched a hooded figure walk in. From their height, Michael assumed a woman, but he couldn't be sure. What peeked his curiosity was the fact they kept their hood on. "Paaapaaaaa." Danny's voice came. 

"Hmm? What?" He said looking at the boy. "Got any nines!?" Danny said exasperated. "Oh. Yea yeah yeah." He sighed, smirking as he slid one over and took another card.  His eyes flickering back up to the newcomer. 

[Roxanne Abernathy]

Roxanne swung out from behind the bar with a tray in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other, grinning and winking at customers as she neatly navigated the crowded tables. Behind her trailed a curly-haired little girl of four, carrying her own child-sized tray with a plate of cookies on it. They neared the boys playing cards, and Dot had to work a little to push her tray up onto the table without spilling any cookies, but she did it. Once it was there, she clambered up into the extra chair at the table and snagged one for herself. Just when she was about to take a bite, her mother interrupted.

"Excuse me, little Miss Dottie, but what do we do before we have dessert?" Roxanne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Eat our dinner..." The little girl answered mournfully, putting the cookie down on the table in front of her.

"That's right," Roxanne agreed as she effortlessly slung plates onto the table, an adult-sized one for Michael, and two smaller plates for the children. All of them were filled with roasted potatoes and chicken that smelled of rosemary and garlic. Next was a cup for each child, which she filled with water before setting the pitcher on her tray and exchanging it for a mug of cider for Michael. She put her now free hand on his shoulder to get his attention from the visitor at the door and grinned at him.

"Thanks again for letting Dot sit with you boys. You just let me know if she gives you any trouble, and I'll get Nana in here to haul her home, alright?" She'd wait for a reply, then turn to Danny next.

"Hey little man! If you finish all that off and you're still hungry, you just let Auntie Rox know. I'll take good care of ya."

[Roman Gothard]

Roman hardly looked at the rather noisy game of go-fish happening at the other table--he was still trying to keep up with the whiny drunks at the bar. One after another he slid mugs of ale down the bar to the grumbling customers, who only shut up once their mouths were full. Thankfully, he managed to get them all taken care of quickly; he was rather good at this after doing it since the day he could walk, after all.

That done, he followed the bar up to its front corner, nearest the bar, and leaned his forearms on it and bent his waist slightly so his tall frame was half over the top of it as he called out to the newcomer.

"Hullo! Welcome to the Singing Sparrow. Can I get you something to eat? A room? It's a little busy tonight but that won't stop us from making sure you get everything you need."

He couldn't see the face of the guest under their cloak, but he got the impression they were a little nervous from the way they hesitated in the entry like that. He needed to make them feel welcome. He gave the guest an easy smile and waved them towards him.

"C'mon in, we've room for everyone here."

[Xenosa Alaoui]

It didn't take a clever person to know that standing here in the doorway would eventually garner her the attention she was trying to avoid. What she wasn't expecting was to make direct eye contact with the man at the card table. Quickly, she averted her gaze, landing instead on a woman who seemed to move through the crowd as if she were floating on air. The smell of food on the trays in hand was enough to make Xenosa's stomach growl quietly and as her grey eyes traced her movement to.. of course it was that table. Again, Xenosa averted her eyes, but not before she took notice of the two small children sitting at the table. She wondered, for a moment, if this were really a family friendly place. From the smell, she'd say it wasn't. But then again, her culture was vastly different from the cultural standards on display in Avalore.

However, she was quickly pulled from her train of thought as a voice carried over the noise. Doe-eyes opened wide as fear shot down her spine, all but freezing her place. As the man at the bar called her over, Xenosa moved towards him slowly, releasing her death grip on the hood over her head, allowing a few strands of white hair to slip from it's shadow. She looked at the man from below her lashes before her eyes darted around her surroundings.

"Uh, hello." She said softly, quickly aware that her voice was drowned out by the sound of mingling behind her. "Something to eat and a room would be lovely." She said, forcing herself to speak a bit more loudly than she would have liked. She removed her coin purse that was tied at her side to the belt that did it's job in holding up the oversized, dirty clothing she wore. Her posture stiffened as she could feel eyes now beginning to land on her. She couldn't blame the bar tender for drawing attention to her, it seemed he'd only wanted her to feel welcome. But instead, she now felt like she had a target across her back though she tried her best to not show it.

[Keiran Donnelly]

The newcomer shouldn't fret, because another was about to draw all the attention in the room.

Or so he liked to think.

The door swung open rather abruptly again as Keiran Donnelly set foot inside; quick to shut the door behind him and pressing his back to it. He didn't think the fat man was following him, but he couldn't be too sure. He'd promise Roman he wouldn't bring any unnecessary trouble into his tavern, and he wasn't intending to tonight.

But, as he stood there, he was silently praying with his eyes tightly closed.

When the door didn't seem to burst open with an angry nobleman, he sighed a breath of relief before casually strolling further in. The barkeep seemed to be busy with a hooded newcomer while Roxanne was over by Michael's table with...children. It wasn't that he didn't like kids- they were cute and all of that- but he was kind of awkward around them. And they always asked so many questions. He didn't know why the damn sky was blue, alright?

Still, he slipped into that swagger and moved in closer; reaching for the waitress' free hand to spin her around in place. You know, all gentleman-like, wary of the tray she carried. "Roooooooxanne," he greeted in a low singsong voice. Although it would have been second nature to try and schmooze the woman, he liked this place and would respect the family's wishes. For now, anyway. "Would you be a love and grab me an ale? Please?" Cue the trademark grin.

[Michael Gregor]

Michael caught what he thought was the strangers eyes, before Roman drew their attention, and Danny was requesting his again. He looked up as he saw movement, and tossed his cards on the table. "Alright little man, looks like dinner is here." He said. "Yay!" Danny whooped. Michael leaned forward gathering up the cards, and quickly stacking them by the time Rox came and sat things down. "Ooooooo Miss Dot I like what you have there." He said eyeballing the plate of cookies. 

"Wow that looks great!" Danny said looking at the cookies and then Dot. Michael hid the smile that wanted to cross his face as Rox parented about no desserts before dinner.  Danny was practically wiggling in his seat at the dinner placed in front of him. Damn the kid loved to eat, and Michael had no idea where he got it from. "Thank you Miss Roxanne." Danny told her without Michael having to prompt him. He smiled at his son, and then looked up at Rox, putting his hand over hers as it rested on his shoulder. A small smile on his face. "We love having dinner with Dot." He patted her hand before letting it go, and then fixed his eyes on his two dinner dates. 

Danny had already dug into his dinner, but was nodding to Rox as she went off. Michael caught movement out of the corner of his eye and could see Dot snatching a cookie after her mother told her no. "Miss Dot, what did your mama tell you?" Michael asked her. His was firm, but it also held a question to the child as he picked up his fork. He arched an eyebrow at her, staring the four year old down until she put the cookie back. "When is uncle Ian getting here Papa? He know's we're here right? What if he's late and you eat all the cookies again?!" Danny suddenly asked mid bite with a potato. "You remember last time right Dot, Papa ate all the cookies and only let us have two." Danny said glaring at him. "I'll save him one, but I don't promise I won't finish it off before we head back and he's not hear to claim his cookie." Michael told. Danny's eyes narrowed at him for a second and Michael narrowed his eyes right back. "Daniel." Michael said. "Papa." Danny fired right back, a small grin appearing on his face. "Eat your dinner!" They both said in unison. 

[Roxanne Abernathy]

Roxanne sighed happily as she turned away from the children's table, feeling a little better knowing her daughter had someone to spend the evening chatting with. She spent as much time with Dottie as she could, but she couldn't help feeling a little guilty that she spent so much time working. She loved her job nearly as much as she loved her little girl--it had been her dream for ages to have a place like this, where all the customers were family and she felt completely at home--but she wouldn't hesitate to give it up if Dot needed her. Her daughter had her whole heart in those precious little hands.

She didn't even jump when someone grabbed her hand--the moment she was put into a twirl she knew just who it was. She laughed and followed Kieran's lead easily, pulling her tray along with her so that not even a drop of water splashed out of the pitcher. "Anything for my smoothest customer, Kieran dear. D'you want to sit at the bar, or did you want a table?"

[Roman Gothard]

Roman's grin widened as she approached, and he was left feeling proud that he'd comforted her a little. Her voice was soft, and her gestures were clearly nervous. It left him with a deeper concern tingling along the hairs at the base of his neck, but he decided that he'd worry about that later. If she needed help, the Gothard siblings would step up. First things first, she needed a decent meal and probably a drink.

"Absolutely. Why don't you take a seat up here, and I'll get my sister to bring you over some dinner?" He suggested with a gesture over his shoulder to the tall stools along the bar, hardly aware that she had gotten out her coin purse as he was still focused on making sure she felt safe. He turned towards the main part of the bar and waved at Rox, and once he had her attention he let her know what he needed in a kind of short-hand sign language the two had developed over time. It got loud in a tavern, and they needed to communicate anyway. This was their way of doing it.

Roxanne signaled back to him, asking if there was anything else, and he glanced back over his shoulder at the young woman.
"She'll make sure there's a room ready for you, too. Did you want anything to drink? We've got ale, cider, dandelion wine, tea..."

[Xenosa Alaoui]

She jumped as the door was flung open, grey eyes watching the man who'd entered for a brief moment as he held his back against the door before striding forward to greet the woman she'd seen just moment earlier with the small girl. Settling herself, she took up the man's offer to sit and promptly sat as close as she could to the door, allowing her hood to fall to her shoulders and revealing her white hair. While it felt strange to be so exposed, she assessed that there were far too many eyes within this place for her to be in any real danger. At least, that was her hope.

When the dark haired man began naming off drinks, Xen found herself tilting her head, giving him a curious look. "What would you recommend?" She asked him. "I can't say I've ever tried any of those things except for tea.." She admitted, a sheepish look taking over her bronzed features. It was true. The lass had never had a drop of ale or cider, and certainly not something that sounded as marvelous as dandelion wine.. Tea was even still a new concept to her as she'd only had it once since leaving her homeland - since leaving her.. Well, there wasn't really any one word that could accurately describe him and the scum that he was. While most men made her rather nervous, she couldn't deny that she felt comforted by the kindness of the stranger before her.

[Keiran Donnelly]

The grin on his face widened a bit more with her response. Keiran nearly drew her in closer, perhaps to whisper his answer against the delicate curve of her ear, but again...children were present. One of them being her own daughter. He knew he could be a sleeze and a bit overbearing, but he had boundaries. Usually.

When she was facing him again, he bowed his head to place a kiss to her knuckles in thank you. "The bar as always." He didn't think Liam would be here tonight. This hadn't exactly been a planned visit, but there was always a chance. "Thank you, Rox." With that, he wouldn't take up anymore of her time and silently made his way towards the bar. Keiran would have greeted Roman, but he seemed to be preoccupied with another customer. The hooded figure he had barely paid any mind to.

Speaking of, as they lowered that hood, the farmer came to find that it was a woman. And a lovely one at that. He'd been halfway to an empty stool on the other side, but the sight of her caused him to make an abrupt stop, turn, while he sauntered back closer. Keiran sat two empty stools away from the stranger because he didn't want to seem desperate.

Ha ha, as if he ever was.

Slowly turning his head, he finally regarded her with that crooked grin. "Hi." She was new, because he would have remembered seeing her before. The new ones were always fun, but this one appeared to be a little timid. "I always suggest the ale. The best in all of Aralore here."

[Michael Gregor]

Michael was half living to the kids ramble on about something, and he looked back to the hooded figure that had made it to the bar, and was talking to Roman. Rox seemed to just get rid of Keiran Donnelly when the figure removed her hood, and Michael did a double-take. He rubbed at his eyes, blinking, and then wanted to make sure he was seeing things right.

Where had she come from? Another world? He suddenly thought of the wild islands from his old travel days with the Brotherhood. Could she be from there? He glanced at Dot and Danny, and saw they were in a very serious conversation about how best to dig for worms. He glanced back up to see that Keiran had apparently spotted the exotic beauty too. His eyes narrowed at the farmer. How come he got all the good ones? What was so charming about Keiran Donnelly that he had ladies throwing themselves at his feet? Clearly, they'd never had the pleasure of Michael Gregor's company. Maybe it was a good thing Ian was running late...

He reached over for his mug of ale that still had about a quarter of it left, and looked at the kids, and those around him, before he slowly lowered the mug and tossed the contents somewhere behind him before he stood up. "You two going to be okay if I get a refill?" He asked the kids. Danny eyeballed him but nodded his head, and he saw the look Dot was giving the plate of cookies. "I counted those cookies kiddies, there better be the same amount when I get back." He said with a pointed look. "Don't get lost like you did last time!" Danny called after him, and Michael couldn't help but laugh.

He came up to the bar on the other side of the woman, placing a hand on his hip while he set the mug on the counter, and leaned in. "Hey Roman Gothard , can I get a refill?" He asked the other man, and then glanced down at the woman. Acting as if he'd just seen her, and then his dark gaze drifted over to Donnelly. "Staying out of trouble Donnelly?" Michael asked with a smirk, making light conversation. It wasn't news to Michael to know that Kieran Donnelly was a thorn in his brother's side, but his thorn was also right next to Michaels.

[Roxanne Abernathy]

Roxanne groaned when she saw that her two flirtiest friends had taken up vigil on either side of the new woman. Honestly, they were predictable as hell, but she'd hoped at least Michael would have had enough to keep him busy. She looked back at the children and saw that they were just fine, and he was only a few feet away, really, so she decided not to make a stink about it. She did, however, make sure to catch the eye of Michael Gregor as she busied herself getting all the orders ready--two ales and a dandelion wine for the lady because Roxanne sure as hell wasn't taking recommendations from those two, even if Keiran was right and her ale was the best in all Aralore--and raised a pointed eyebrow at him. He would know what she meant. She slid the mugs down to Keiran Donnelly and Michael, trusting them to catch on their own, but gently set the glass in front of the young lady.

"First one's on the house," she told Xenosa Alaoui with a gentle smile. "Welcome to Aralore." 

She didn't stick around for long, though, as she soon vanished into the kitchen to grab a plate of food for the traveler. 

[Roman Gothard]

Roman had tried to ignore Keiran Donnelly, honestly, because he was hoping that the example he set would teach the guest that she could ignore him as well. But once Michael Gregor had come up on her other side, he grimaced and ran his hand through his already messy hair, rolling his eyes up at the ceiling. Poor girl was like chum in the waters, and the sharks were circling. Not that either of them was a bad person, perse, but he didn't want them to whisk this clearly frightened girl off into something she wasn't happy with.

"Yeah, Michael, I can get that. Just a sec--"

He was just turning to grab that refill when he saw two new mugs already sailing down the bar toward the men, and a relieved grin broke out on his face. Thank god for Roxanne. He was pleased when she gave Xenosa the wine nicely, too, and he had no objections to it being on the house. It would set a good precedent, he thought, for them to be welcoming to travelers. After all, people seemed to be flocking here to make a new life for themselves--something the Gothard siblings could certainly sympathize with.

He turned an apologetic smile to Xenosa Alaoui. "Don't mind these two, they're just excited to get some fresh faces around here. But if they give you any trouble, I'll throw them out for the night, okay?" He raised an eyebrow at her with a pause, wanting her to know he was serious, then gestured to each man in turn. "This is Keiran Donnelly, and this is Michael Gregor. If either of them ever hassle you outside of here, just ask around for their brothers, and they'll set them to rights." He told her with a chuckle.

[Xenosa Alaoui]

Before she even had time to make a decision, one of the patrons, the one with the grand entrance, had sauntered up next to her, giving her a grin that made her coil in on herself, if only just a little. Xenosa offered a forced smile and a quiet hello before the man suggested the ale. But just as she turned back towards the barkeep to provide her answer, another patron had sidled up to the other side of her. Drawing herself back as he spoke to the man who had earlier come up from across the small space, Xenosa was plesantly surprised when the woman from earlier placed a drink gently in front of her, welcoming her to the kingdom. Now, there was a genuine grin across her face, though she barely had time to say an enthusiastic thank you before the young woman was off again, vanishing into the kitchen.

When the barkeep spoke up again, Xen felt relieved and nodded as he mentioned throwing them out if they bothered her. "I'm sure I've encountered much worse.." She said shyly, though the truth was evident in her expression. He then introduced the man as Keiran Donnelly and Michael Gregor, and it was all Xenosa could do to give them a polite nod. "Pleased to meet you both." She said, not looking directly at either of them. "And you as well." She said, actually looking up at the barkeep before taking a sip of her drink, her grey eyes going wide as the liquid hit her tongue. "Whoa, this is amazing!" She said excitedly, taking another drink and closing her eyes as if to savor the taste. "What did you call this again? Dandelion wine?" She asked with interest.