[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Gren_Eckener]

"Sort of...It began with the elven guest, though her name slips my mind." Gren admitted, gathering a few more before taking to the kitchen. "Then everything got kind of...busy."

 

[Zulma san]

Jeff looked at Violet a little puzzled then nodded slowly.
"Oh...I see. Sorry I didn't mean to ask about a touchy subject." he tilted his head slightly.
"Where I grew up, I used to go look at the blacksmith when he was working on blades. It is a lot of work, it almost looked like magic." he had a distant smile. "But don't worry, I won't ask her anything that would hurt her." he reassured his friend.


Zulma's shoulders lowered and she let out a small sigh of relief. Her face brightened some and she leaned to kiss his lips. It was a tender kiss which lingered lightly.
"Thank you Tyler..." she whispered.
He was such a sensible and smart person, she often wondered why he cared for her with how she'd behaved since they started 'seeing each other'. She felt quite grateful that if he didn't excuse, at lease he understood her.  

[Azana Brown]

"Well, you're a good guy, so I doubt she'd mind too much," Violet reassured him, looking down at the picture. "She just...she got tired of making things that she knew would hurt people. But everything she makes is pure beauty; even the weapon I saw from her was a work of art." She flipped a couple of pages to show off Elizabeth's dagger. The ornate carvings on it seemed nearly impossibly precise.

"Mm, you're welcome," he answered quietly, just enjoying a moment with her in spite of her own insecurities. Zulma's doubts would be her downfall, if she wasn't careful. Then again, he had his own troubles to worry about. Secrets. Paranoia.

Shut up. She's here, he reminded himself, resting against her and secretly hoping not to bring up his most recent escapades...

Sariel, Sosol gently reminded Gren as he chatted with the nurse idly. He hadn't entirely remembered, either, but a quick scan of Azana turned up the information just fine. She wouldn't mind.

"I guess you're right...but still, if I'm really going to be an Innkeeper, I have to do more than throw idiots out," Azana answered, pulling her weight with the dishes and starting the hot water. "It's a lot to get used to, really...and I know I could never really replace Eli. He's been busy an awful lot, hasn't he...? How are you holding up?"  

[Gren_Eckener]

Thanks, Sol.

"Well there's more to it than that, true, but remember that you're as human as...well, I am." he chuckled, grabbing a dish towel. "Remember which juggling balls are better to drop than others, and you'll be fine."

At the question of his husband, he smiled warmly. "All right...He'll be home soon, really, but this convention of his is a real doozy. Being guest of honor really makes a difference, I suspect."  

[Azana Brown]

((Oh yeah, life goes on...long after the thrill of livin' is gone...))

A few days had passed since his sweet reunion with Zulma. It had given him a much needed boost, one he had used to work with Remy on reclaiming one of his destroyed machines. It had been destroyed with good reason, of course, but here, with these people...he could think of no safer hands.

"...and that should do it," he said at last, closing the casing and screwing it into place. "That's the hardware, at least...we'll have to code the other half, but it can be used for now to collect raw data."

Sosol had been trusted with the duo's key, one he idly played with, floating a slalom through a few empty bottles. It was still sinking in, being an Innkeeper officially. Bartending was originally just a hobby, a way to help earn his keep while staying with Azana. Now? It was a full and stable career with an amazing family.

Azana walked into the main room with a few packets of documents, looking through them with idle interest. Current open missions...would one tickle her fancy finally? She was feeling rusty and eagerly looked for something to do aside from tend to her new job.

Hm, that one could be fun...

Violet had worked on planning a trip to the ocean with Jeff, when she wasn't working on her artwork. She had still yet to speak with Max about setting up a website...but she wanted a good portfolio together before plastering it online.

Max had been hard at work, balancing her favor-peddling and data-mining with her side project for Ty's brother. She found what she could...text statements from others, letters, what few recordings already existed. She needed that Memory Coder, though...with the shared memories of the Inn, how could anyone think badly of him? Right?

Kristen waddled into the Inn, weighed down with a variety of ingredients. She had finally found time and energy to shop. With any hope, by the end of the week, she'd have Spicy Strawberry Rolls to share with the others.

I wonder how Sol would react to it...?  

[Zulma san]

Zulma had decided to keep the rest of their reunion light and she hadn't questioned Tyler even though she wanted to. She could see things had happened but she selfishly decided to enjoy being with him for now.
Life got busy. She made spare keys for Az and Sosol and looked at the accounts of the Inn, things she hated but it had to be done.

Sitting in the main room behind a stack of bills and paper, she growled for the tenth time in the last minute.
"Not again..." she sighed.



Jeff was just back from running to the lake and back when he saw Kristen carrying far too much.
"Let me help you with that." he said, grabbing some bags and opening the door for her.  

[Azana Brown]

A cup of steaming cocoa hovered to a stop in front of Zulma, resting gently on a saucer. "I'd offer more help, but financial documents are a bit too esoteric..."

Azana continued to pore over the folder, quirking an eyebrow at one. "...huh."

"Oh, thank you," Kristen grinned, fumbling a couple of bags to Jeff. "I didn't know how much I need...it depends on how many times I mess up, I suppose."  

[Zulma san]

Zulma smelled the air and lifted her chin with a delighted grin on her lips.
"You read my mind!" she chuckled. "Thank you Sosol. Don't apologize. I shouldn't have put those on hold for so long." she answered, blowing on her cocoa before taking a sip.

Her eyes moved to Azana. In truth, she was procrastinating and hoping for a distraction.
"I hope your papers are more exciting than mine Az. What are you looking at?" she asked her friend.


Still sweating despite the outside cold, Jeff followed Kristen to the kitchen.
"What are you making?" he asked, putting down the bags on the counter.  

[Angeles Valentine]

((yay, a spot to jump back in without interrupting!))

Sariel hurried in from the cold, huffing and stamping her boots outside the door so as to not track anything in. She set her bow and quiver by the door in cutesy, but appear to once again forget about the sword on her back. Cheeks rosy from the chill she scanned across the inhabitants of the front room and smiled as she worked on removing her cloak.

"Good day everyone," she said cheery, finally unclasping the cloak and setting it to hang by the door. She didn't expect very much of an answer since it seemed most everyone was busy, and she knew how absorbing paperwork could be for some. She did smile and wave to the man at the bar; Sisal she recalled with some frenzied thinking. No wait, that wasn't right....

Embarrassed that she had already forgotten his name, she smiled sheepishly, finished her wave, and moved to sit at a warmer part of the room and wait until she could feel her toes again before doing anything else.  

[Zulma san]

Sitting in one of the armchairs by the fireplace, feet tucked under her, Celine looked up from her romance novel and gave a friendly smile to Sariel.
"Hey there! It's cold outside isn't it?" she pouted. "I wish it were spring already!!" she sighed.

She took a longer look at the woman and had a head nod in direction of the bow and quiver by the door and sword at her back.
"Are you a hunter?" the nurse asked with interest.  

[Azana Brown]

Sol breathed a sigh of relief, waving back to Sariel with a lighthearted grin. Part of him wanted to correct her clear embarrassment, but he wasn't familiar enough with her to understand how she'd react. Instead...hm, maybe some mulled wine was in order to warm her up.

I'm glad I can't help with those...I'm no good with finances.

"Currently open missions," Azana answered, pulling one out. "I love being an innkeeper, but I'm an agent, through and through. This one sounds like a case I could tackle...some mysterious thefts."

"...it's a recipe I tried once. It was delicious, and useful. The chef finally gave me the recipe, but to be honest, I have pretty much no idea what I'm doing." Kristen chuckled, setting down her bags in the kitchen. "It's called a Spicy Strawberry Roll."  

[Angeles Valentine]

Sariel smiled at the woman who greeted her, one that wasn't there previously, or at the very least, Sariel hadn't noticed her for the past few days, "it is cold," she agreed with a nod, "but I can wait for Spring," she grinned.

She settled back into the warm cushions of the chair and sighed happily, only adjusting slightly so that the sword wasn't digging into her back, murmuring something under her breath.

When she was addressed again, she turned her torso to look back at her bow to make sure the quiver hadn't fallen and scattered the arrows everywhere while she wasn't looking, "yes I hunt," she said with a smile, "but I wouldn't really call myself a 'hunter.' I only do it as necessary and I don't get the same thrill out of it that real hunters do.

"I'm more of a.... hm," Sariel paused and thought for a moment. She didn't really have a title for what it was that she did, mostly because it wasn't any real sort of profession, just something she did, "I suppose I could be called a... tracker?" she shrugged, "or a mercenary maybe, I do odd jobs here and there as I travel."

Sariel reached across the arm of her chair, extending a hand to the woman, "my name's Sariel, nice to meet you Ms....?"  

[Gren_Eckener]

Remy grinned, dusting his palms on his jeans. "Brilliant. Time for a raw test run, then?"

He was excited for it, really. They hadn't been at work for days on this project for nothing. Moreover, he really had to admire Tyler's dedication: for someone who needed sleep, he certainly didn't get much when a mission was on his mind.  

[Azana Brown]

"That it is," Tyler nodded, grinning with pride at the completed project. In all honesty, it was minorly improved over its ancestor due to simple quality of parts. How would the new one fare? He connected the cables, providing a channel from the newly-completed helmet to a desktop rig.

"This side is the front," he gestured in reminder, though Remy probably didn't need to know, as he had helped in building it in the first place. "Get comfortable while I make a partition in this...when you're ready, turn it on and remember. Concentrate on the memories; the clearer you can do it, the better it'll turn out. I will warn you, it stings a little at first."

"Why is a theft mission so appealing...?" Sosol asked out of curiosity, beckoning his wife over. "It sounds a little under your usual grand adventures."

Azana flipped over a couple of pictures, security feeds. "Because mannequins. These mannequins just walk into a place in daylight, go shopping, and walk out after handing over a fake credit card. No one is seen with them, and no one has found them once they drive off. I'm surprised no one else has been curious about it, but then again, a lot of the thefts are really minor. Basic things."  

[Gren_Eckener]

Remy pulled up a chair and flopped down, settling in with a grin as he pulled on the helmet and strapped it on. "Let's get this party started."

Flicking the switch, he turned it on, eyes flinching at the sting as he drummed up the first memory: the barren, choked wasteland.