La Taverne Forge au Feu - The Forge Fire Tavern.

Nodding to them each in turn, Naoki responds simply- perhaps a bit curtly, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Shifting in her seat in a futile attempt to relive uncomfortability that has nothing to do with her butt, Naoki glances sidelong to appraise the latest individual to enter the tavern. As enticing as her current company seems, something about the woman seems vaguely familiar. Without getting closer, Naoki can’t quite place it but makes a mental note regardless.

Returning her attention to the women she’s seated with, Naoki nods quietly, but noncommittally. As it turns out, Naoki is fully aware that Gauldish cheese is very good, having already sampled it in the royal palace, and written and executed upon trade agreements to import Gauldish cheese to Isra. She was sort of looking for a suggestion specific to the tavern they’re sitting in, something that she could order directly from the wait staff without having to consult the menu.

But it isn’t of any particular consequence, Naoki supposes. She isn’t hungry anyway- a drink will be enough.

As if on cue, the waitress returns with what Naoki, placing it on the table next to her before quickly excusing herself.

Taking it in one hand, Naoki eyes it for a moment in an attempt to discern what sort of thing it is. It seems to be a beer of sorts, but certainly not of any sort Naoki has had to date. This can, of course, be partially attributed that Naoki does not drink beer, and in fact, doesn’t really care for it at all, but that’s what she gets for trying to be excessively casual instead of actually spending the time to select something decent to drink.

Still, she raises the flagon to her lips and has a bit of a sip. Midway through, she pauses and lowers the glass slowly. Is it... cinnamon? That is some strange stuff, Naoki muses. Why would you flavor beer with cinnamon? Deciding that it isn’t at all to her liking, Naoki resolves to leave the drink where it is for the remainder of her time at the table.

In an attempt to continue the pretense of causality, Naoki directs a question at the women and raises her inquisitive eyebrow, “So I take it the pair of you aren’t from around here, then?”

This question is, of course somewhat superfluous, considering the manner in which the pair of them referred to Gauldin in the third person, but it’s at least an effort to make small talk.

Quietly, yet another individual enters The Forge Fire Tavern. This is shaping up to be something of a busy night.

This latest individual is a rather subdued sort, a man of middling age and wrinkled features. He wears a well-made tunic of gray fabric and seems to have pants to match. Protruding slightly from his collar, one may be able to see past his double chins to the scarf he seems to be wearing under his shirt. Visibly, the only weapon he carries is a long knife- or perhaps a short dagger, holstered across the back of his waist.

He walks with of an air of uncomfortability. Of one who not is not only doing something he cares not to but in an unfamiliar locale, at that. He also walks with his boots, which are- to those of a discerning eye, the very same sort of boots that are often issued to airmen serving in the Royal Air.

Regardless, the man makes his way into the tavern, sidles up to the bar, and orders a drink. Once it is provided, he continues to lean against the bar and sip at it, though it seems his mind is elsewhere.

Shortly after Faisine leaves, the burly sort of gentleman in the gray tunic bustles out after her, leaving a few coins of his own on the counter that ought to cover the cost of his drink- which he leaves half-finished on the counter.


<Exit to The Memorial Park>

Alli was only half paying attention to the conversation, the slightly shady man that had come in a few minutes after Faisine had drawn her attention for some reason, and she watched him out of the corner of her eye. Faisine's near immediate departure, followed a few minutes later by the shady man confirmed her suspicions.

"That rather large man who just walked in, pretty sure he was following the beggar who came in earlier. I'm gonna go make sure she's okay, that man had a dangerous look about him. Be back in a bit."

Alli began to get up, reaching for her weapon as she scooted out of the booth.

Naoki offers a slight, almost apologetic shrug in response. Being relatively close friends with the royal family has some benefits, and she had been already been authorized to have Sun Marshals operate to a limited extent in Travere anyway.

Regardless, that’s not what Naoki came to talk about. Turning to face Feru more directly, Naoki lowers her voice a tad and addresses the other catwoman, “Ms. Narith, if I might, I would like to ask something of a personal question.”

After waiting for a response, and assuming that Feru doesn’t object, Naoki continues, “What do you know about your past, or- more specifically- regarding your feline features, why you have them?

Without stating it outright, Naoki makes herself clear by casually winding using her own tail to brush up against Feru’s, assuming that it is within reach.

Drakken had spent a while at the academy now. Learning plenty of the basics and growing accustomed to the academy. It was evening when he heard some of the other students mention the tavern in the library, he had heard its name a few times during his stay and decided that it wouldn't hurt to at least check out the establishment.

He wandered the streets searching for it, finding it by chance as he came around a corner. He pushed the door open and slowly walked in, looking around he could see a lot of people, some he recognised from the academy, others he didn't know at all. He headed straight over to the bar and just stood there not knowing what to do or why he had even bothered to come out in the first place.

“Oh,” says Naoki.

Honestly, she wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Something more, maybe.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I quite like them too.” With this, Naoki offers Feru one of her more lecherous grins and watches carefully to gauge her reaction before abruptly segueing into what would seem to be the next topic.

“If I may continue with the questioning, what line of work are you two in? Nothing particularly boring, I assume?” Tilting her head, Naoki indicates each of the pair’s overly large weapons in turn.

Alli rolled her eyes as she took another sip of drink. Trust Feru to attract the attention of the one ruler of a country as flirty as she was. Maybe it was a catgirl thing to be flirty, irregardless of how they came to attain such features.

"I was a mercenary for a while, but I was...well, monk isn't exactly the right word, I wasn't stuck in a monastery or obeying any sort of celibacy rules, but kind of like that. Just learning about the world and training. But Feru's right, I am actually looking to move to Isra, I heard that's where the remnants of my people went after the undead catastrophe."

Another drink followed that statement, as it usually did whenever she thought of what had become of her home.