One Wild Party (Alternate Universe Edition)

[Matsuni]

Matsuni was walking with Tieg down the streets of the Souk District. "So Tieg, you said you spent some time in Vione. Do you happen to know anyone there? I met a dragon named Rufus while I was there. People treated him like a priest. He said he was coming to Onise. Maybe we'll end up meeting him here."

The streets were not terribly busy as the approached Phil's Tavern. It was too early for most of the tavern's business, and Phil seemed to be setting up just as they were walking up to it. "Hey Phil!" Matsuni called out inside to the tavernkeeper.

"Matsuni! How are you, my friend?" the large tavern keeper said. One might be initially intimidated by his large apperance, but Phil was rather friendly to those that passed through his doors. "Ah, I see you have a friend with you. Welcome Father, please come in, have a seat. Can I fix you two anything?"

Matsuni smiled and took a seat at the bar he had occupied the first time he entered Phil's establishment. It was a feeling of familiarity and Matusni smiled, getting to see his friend Phil again. "Water for me, Phil." Matsuni looked at Tieg and smiled. "I doubt my friend here's much of a drinker either, so make it two waters."

Phil sat both of the waters down and Matsuni took his and spun around in his stool and looked around. Nothing had changed much since the last visit. All the tables and chairs were empty, however, as it was too early for business, but Matsuni was always welcome here. "Hope you don't mind if we stay the night, Phil. I hope you haven't given away my room since I've been gone."

"Everything's just as you left it, Matsuni. Except been keeping it clean if you needed it. So what've you been up to lately?" Phil smiled and leaned on the bar, polishing some glasses in preperation for the night. It was the middle of the week, and not much was bound to happen, but one could never guess the odd rushes of business that happened in a place like Phil's. Matusni told Phil about how he had met Lady Sithra and Hermoine and had been staying with them, and the Summit and how he just needed to come back for the day and rest. "Sounds like you've been busy, Matsuni. I'll make sure you guys get a good night's rest and so you'll be ready to go int the morning. Before you leave, there's something I want to show you, but it can wait after a good rest."

Matsuni smiled and finished his water and turned to Tieg, "Hey Tieg, the room's in the back if you want to go ahead and get comfortable. Second door on the left."

[Tieg]

Tieg regarded the entire place with a disdainful look. Bars and taverns were the bane of mankind. He blamed alcohol for his father's decline from respectability and also, indirectly, his mother's demise. And even more recently alcohol had been the cause of his own embarrassment when he had been enjoying a fine lunch with the mayor only to fall asleep in a public place.

He kept to himself, becoming colder and quieter as Matsuni continued his banter with the bartender. The man was Yli and he sensed something off about him. This Matsuni was not physically well in the way most people were. He found himself battling the temptation to pry and dig and find out what it was impairing the man's physical condition. He could find it if he wanted to. All he had to do was look.

But this was all speculation. Or was it? His eyes seemed to look through Matsuni when he looked at him as if searching for something that might not be there.

"Yes, you are right. I do not drink." He said reassuringly. "Thank you for inviting me along... I guess. I don't really like taverns though."