DnD-style roleplay!

[Nail Strafer]

The barkeep didn't seem to care that Chadin mentioned his name. He merely turned around and went back into the kitchen as soon as the deer placed his order. Once he was gone, Augustine continued talking.

"This looks bright blue to you?" Augustine tugged on his cloak. "To me, it looks more like the color of clear sky around midnight, when the full moon's out. Anyway...humans like it when you dress up and make yourself look presentable. Getting the tunic in this color was more expensive than the fabric itself, but my clients like seeing me dressed like this."

Augustine couldn't help but notice their different philosophies regarding their work. He seemed to prefer image and appealing to humans, while Chadin preferred practical survivability in the wilderness.

Heck...even the name I go by is human. Dad gave it to me on top of my real name, so it would make me more approachable.

"I'm not going to wear this once we're on the road though. It's going into the sack once we're underway, and then I'll pull out my travel cloak."

Another customer entered the bar at this point. Unlike the lowly peasants, this man had a fine dark green cloak that fluttered in the wind behind him. His hair shone sparkly silver over his wrinkled face, indicating his age. Augustine took a moment to look at him. If you survived to have your hair change color like that in a place like this, you deserved respect. Augustine turned back towards the bar to wait for his food.

Silver Hair's brown eyes lit up when he saw the two beast folk sitting together, before he quickly took a seat to observe the pair. A thin smile could be seen on his face.

[Chadin]

"I've never really had a problem with humans approaching me. Many are intimidated by my size, surely, but I suspect they view me as more approachable since I'm a deer. To them I suspect a fox, or a wolf would be far more intimidating just by your natural appearance."

Chadin's ears swiveled toward the door the moment the newly arrived human entered. Chadin cast a curious look and caught that odd look in the old human's eyes. Chadin turned away, but kept one ear turned back towards the tavern on the off chance he might hear something interesting. From the brief glimpse he got of the grey haired human he didn't get the feeling he meant Agustine or himself harm, but something about his interest in the two of them warranted scrutiny and caution. "It would appear we've drawn the new arrival's attention, my friend. Not sure what his interest might be, but he's clearly fixated on us." Chadin warned Augustine, clasping his hands together over the top of the bar table so as to appear casual.

[Nail Strafer]

"I don't know about people always being afraid of me..." Nail smiled a bit. He recalled a pleasant memory from a couple years ago. "This little human girl walked up to me once. She said 'Mr. Dog, can I pet you?'. Guess she had a regular dog and she thought I was just like a dog, only I could walk and talk. So I knelt down and let her scratch my ears and run her hand down my tail. Of course once her mom found out she pulled her away very quickly, but the memory was pleasant nonetheless. Maybe once her generation grows up things will be better."

The deer whispered to him about the odd silver-haired man. Augustine simply shrugged and didn't think too much of it.

"Maybe he's that late customer I was talking about... The one who wants to travel at the last minute. I wouldn't worry too much about it. He doesn't look like the town constable or anything."

Silver Hair pulled out a scrap of paper from a pocket under his cloak. He unfolded it and read over the words within, occasionally glancing back at the beast folk pair. The man seemed to be possessed with giddy excitement, almost like a child. He made a few low but audible giggles as he continued reading.

[Chadin]

Chadin smiled as Augustine described his encounter with the human child. It would be nice if all humans were like that little child, but alas, such is not the way of the world. Sometime during Agustine's story, Chadin's food arrived. The bar tender made no attempt at conversation, merely placing the food down in front of Chadin and walked away to deal with other 'human' customers.

Quote:"Maybe he's that late customer I was talking about... The one who wants to travel at the last minute. I wouldn't worry too much about it. He doesn't look like the town constable or anything."

"Heh heh, No I suppose he doesn't look like the law. You're probably right about being a customer. Might as well sit tight and wait to see if he's actually here for us or merely just a curious on-looker.

[Nail Strafer]

Augustine's food arrived as well. Apparently the special was a small bowl of vegetable pottage filled with onions, leeks, and assorted other plants. A small serving of bread and ale was provided on the side. In case Chadin was confused, Augustine explained.

"You know foxes are omnivores right? We don't have problems eating vegetables too. Not like it matters what kind of predator you are though. My dad is a pure wolf beast folk and he eats vegetables too. Maybe it's because we look like humans except for the animal traits, so we can get by eating the same things as them."

On the other side of the room, Silver Hair breathed out a satisfied sigh and promptly marched over to the pair of beast folk. He placed a hand on both of their shoulders, quickly leaning down to smile at both of them. Augustine accidentally swallowed a piece of bread he meant to chew, and gagged for a moment from the action.

"Well well well... Fancy that! I wasn't sure if I saw it right at first, but I can't believe a carnivore and a herbivore beast folk could have a friendly chat like this!"

Augustine wanted to smile to be polite, but he wasn't sure where this was going. Sometimes he'd been the target of pranks (some harmless, some deadly) when a human pretended to be friendly.

"I...suppose..." he spoke with a guarded expression. "I thought most everyone knew that beast folk don't necessarily act like wild animals."

"Maybe, but it's very interesting to actually see it happening in person!" Silver Hair continued saying with a beaming smile. "May I ask what the two of you are doing together?"

"We're...we're both wilderness guides," Augustine started, still a bit taken aback by how friendly this guy was. "I'm looking for work myself."

[Chadin]

"To each their own, Augustine. I might be able to tolerate meat, unlike my four-legged brethren. That doesn't mean I can stand the taste of it however. I prefer plants and vegetables out of preference, not need." Chadin chuckled as he popped some of his roasted potatoes into his mouth.

Just then his ears twitched as he heard someone approaching. A small turn of his head brought his wider range on vision onto the silver haired human. He carefully watched this human from the corner of his eye the whole time, he'd been on the receiving end of human hostility far too many times for his wary nature to be completely at ease around them.

"Indeed we are guides. My name is Chadin and this is Augustine. What, might I ask is your name?"

[Nail Strafer]

The silver-haired man's smile vanished, as Chadin asked for his name. He blinked a few times, looking absent-minded.

"Sorry...what was that?"

"He asked for your name?" Augustine repeated Chadin's query.

The man's expression looked blank and distant for a few seconds, before he blinked again and appeared to regain consciousness. It was as if his mind had stepped out of his head for a second.

"Sorry about that. I'm getting on in years you know. You may call me Geoffrey."

"Geoffrey..." Augustine repeated, not sure what to make of Geoffrey's actions just now. Shrugging, he decided to guide the conversation in the direction he thought it was going in. "So...do you need a guide to take you somewhere then?"

"Why yes as a matter of fact I do, my furred friend!" Geoffrey laughed, slapping Augustine on the shoulder. The hybrid gave a little sideways smirk at Chadin, in a 'told you so' kind of way.

[Chadin]

Chadin eyed Geofrey suspiciously. Something about this human didn't sit well with him. Old age or not, completely blanking out like that from a simple question, especially one regarding his own identity was not a good sign.

"I see. And where pray tell might that be? Surely you must realize that winter won't be long to set in. Not exactly preferred traveling weather for one as old as yourself." Truth be told, Chadin also was curious as to the purpose of this journey, but past experience told him that being a little too curious could sometimes ward off potential customers. Sometimes it pays to ask questions to weed out shady characters, other times, he lost contracts to other guides who cared less about details. For now, Chadin chose to play the middle or the road, for now.

[Nail Strafer]

When Chadin asked for the destination, Geoffrey looked around as if concerned someone might be listening, and then he leaned in closer to both Augustine and Chadin.

"I can't tell anyone else in the town this."

He whispered too quietly for human ears. However, the two beast folk would hear him with their special ears. Obviously Geoffrey was banking on this to help him keep his secret.

"I am a doctor, and I've recently started serving beast folk in addition to humans. But I try not to let my own kind know about that. Anyway, I have a patient I have to see in one of your villages. If I wait until spring, it will be too late. I am willing to pay more than the going rate for guides."

Geoffrey paused for a moment to let that sink in. Augustine certainly smelled profit, but he maintained a poker face so as not to come off as offensive.

"Anyway, we need somewhere more private to talk. Do you have a place we can meet after your meal?"

Augustine shook his head.

"No, I don't. But Chadin, didn't you mention you were staying somewhere in town? I understand if you don't want to leave after just getting here, but I'm interested in this."

Both Geoffrey and Augustine looked over at Chadin expectantly, awaiting an answer.

[Chadin]

"Actually, I was intending to stay here at the inn. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten around to renting a room yet. My first goal was to get something to eat. Perhaps we can discuss this on the outskirts of town? Or perhaps we can meet you where you live?" Truth be told, the talk of Geofrey being a doctor who needed to tend to a sick patient piqued his interest. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation didn't allow for them to take the easy route to find out more about the situation.