The Honor Circle Returns! (IC)

[lucas marcone]

"That will be another fight for another time." Ian started playing again noticeably looking about the room at the new people.

[Cogidubnus]

 Brinald was faster than Cog gave him credit for.

The downstroke of his cut met the wolf's ribs, but Brinald still managed to launch at attack at the wolf's head. Patterned Damascus steel glittered in the sunlight as it arced for Cog's head.
Cog sucked in a breath.

Cog didn't really didn't appear to move at all - but simply dropped to his knees, he brought the sword up horizontally from where it rested, the tilt of the edge already set up from his previous strike. Using his fingers and wrist instead of his shoulders, the blade shot up, and supported with the rest of Cog's arm met Brinald's sword with the resounding clash of steel on steel.

Brinald's sword had just cut the tip of Cog's hat before sliding off and past the wolf, whose movements really could not be clearly seen - only a single, blurred black-and-silver motion whispered that the wolf had ever blocked at all.
Knees on the ground, Cog lifted one foot until he kneeled and then rose back, rolling onto his back foot. There was a small nick on his hat, and a cut on his shoulder.
A drop of blood fell from Brinald's sword.

The silver wolf seemed to pause, feeling the lull in the rhythm of the fight. He brought his sword down to a middle guard, staring carefully at the crimson lupine.
He struck.

Running in those same half-steps, Cog crossed the distance between the two fighters in a strange, fast and shuffling gait, and then lashed out at the wolf with a spiral cut. Not stopping, the wolf brought the sword back in a blur, doing the same from the opposite direction, and then again, the wolf's motions becoming hard to follow, and the angle deepening on each strike. He struck a last time, his angle the deepest so far, and his motion simply a black-and-silver blur.
His sword came back and rested at his waist, and in a blindingly fast blow he cut across at the red wolf's waist, a rolling strike that came back around and over Cog's head in silver arc aimed at Brinald's head.

[Boog]

Boog set out Stygian's mulled wine and turned his attention to Mel, trying and failing to prevent his gaze from being immediately yanked toward the information gem. "Ah, ah hah hah hah, heh, ooh..." He finally managed to get his face straight and vaguely businesslike, "Ah, the gem should erm, ah, cover it. Yeah. Yes." Before the dragon could change her mind Boog snatched the gem and set out the drink, information laced stone vanishing somewhere into his coat.
"Yeah, I know about the issues with the view. I try to keep my magic use to a minimum, but I think that might be the only option short of remaking the circles from the ground up. If you're offering to help set that up I'm all ears, don't get me wrong, but magic doesn't exactly come easy to me."

--

The instant Piix sat down on one of the infirmary beds she found herself incredibly tired, and was unconscious in minutes. Dr. Holic slinked out from his back room and got to work, pausing every so often to swallow some pills out of a clear orange bottle.

--

Siolen scanned the ground, trying to find any visible disturbance where the mech had disappeared. The behemoth seemed to have vanished, and its occupant with it. He flew further, watching for where the mech might arise. After all, one could assume the pilot had to come up for air sometime...
He landed at the edge of the network of ravines, leaning over slightly and peering down below. Come out, come out...

[techmaster-glitch]

Karazkt

   Karazkt got his mech to a relatively shallow depth, before slowing and finally stopping the mech, shutting it down. He then leisurely put out his antennae to feel the ground, for Siolen. We Insectis are born to withstand the deepest horrors a planet has to offer us. He thought to himself. We can survive near-indefinately anywhere underground you care to name. We are built for endurace and durability. And, right now, I am at rest. Karazkt made an Insectis smile, which wasn't done with the face, but rather with his antennae. But you, the sky could be your home, but you are in action. Eventually, you must tire. Even if your flight is magical, you cannot possibly stay in motion for as long as I can remain still. Behind his goggles, Karazkt closed his eyes, letting only his atennae tell him of the earth around him. Whether that be days, or weeks...you cannot out-endure me. You cannot leave the boundries of this magical Circle. Eventually, you will have to land, in the trenches or on the surface. In Insectis terms, Karazkt's smile widened. And when you do...I'll be waiting.

Mechangel

   The cloaked hunchback watched with interest at the sword duel that had begun between two wolves. He watched them carefully, recording everything they did with interest. Pretty... He thought. I probably could never replicate that level of proficiency, but...I don't need to. That doesn't mean this duel isn't quite entertaining, though.
   Underneath his hood, the man smiled. Calculating in all the other battle that had taken place, and the other newcomers, he could tell he was going to have great fun during his stay here.

[Angel]

Sylvie remained quiet while Ian and Stygian discussed the battle, opting to look around at the new people. One of them looked a little like Alejandro, the metal golem she once knew, but 'she' looked much better cared for and more modern. The human was the most normal-looking person in the bar, and arguably one of the prettiest. And the cloaked man standing outside was a complete mystery to her, and probably to everyone else in the bar as well.

She would have ignored the conversation save for a smile in Ian's direction (if he was really hiding guns, he was right about both of them holding back); but then Stygian aimed a meaningful look at her. She blushed even deeper than she had the two previous times, but the fight had gotten her metaphorical blood running, and it wasn't long before she responded.

"Careful. You were right about me holding back, remember?" she said, a slight smirk on her lips as she turned to the owner, eyes on the blond human. She reached in her bag and another gold coin hit the table. "I need another water."

[Stygian]

The human smiled at Sylvie in return and got a particularly sly look to his eyes. This was only partially because he entertained the thought of what might happen if you gave the elf something more volatile to drink.
   'This needs warming. And do you have almonds, Boog? Or should I turn to the lady for that?' he said, swirling the extremely spicy drink under his nose. 'And I know, Sprout. But all women do that.' He looked slightly up, aiming a grin at the chlorophyll-tinted woman. 'The trick is to know how to challenge them.'
   His words were placed, accentuated and timed perfectly, like an act rehearsed a hundred times over. The man had a silver tongue and an author's hard wit. Unfortunately, neither could really deflect the titanium sarcasm of Sahlena.
   ':oh, but [Bastian], putting up with you is a challenge for anyone, man or woman,' the android called over to him from Keaton's and her table. Stygian quirked the corner of his mouth and exposed a bit of a fang in a bitter look.
   'Nice observation, Sal,' the man replied with both humor and a little bite. 'But having to socialize with a cold, heartless, overgrown digital organizer doesn't really help me with that.'
   ':still seems to be the best you can manage, doesn't it, meatsack?' the machine retorted.
   'As if I were doing anything but using you, chrome-dome.'
   ':ponce.'
   'Hood ornament.'
   As one, both the man and the android turned away from each other, and looked at their respective conversational partners, saying 'Ignore that one'.

[SpottedKitty]

Brinald narrowed his eyes and bared his fangs as Cog advanced once more. He raised his sword, holding it in a two-handed grip now, and parried desperately, twisting and dodging from side to side as he tried to fend off the lightning-fast attacks. This time he was just a little too slow. Despite the deafening clash of steel each time, his blade was still forced back enough for the attacks to bite into his arms and chest: the only blow Brinald completely blocked was the slash across his waist. He threw himself back from the final strike, but couldn't escape a cut down the side of his muzzle. The russet wolf almost staggered backwards several paces then just stood there for a moment, his sword slowly drooping, shoulders heaving as he gasped for breath. Then...

Brinald glanced down at the cuts and bloodstains scattered about his body, and his tongue flicked out and licked at the cut on the side of his muzzle. He raised his head and grinned toothily at Cog. "Is that the best you can do, youngster?" he asked, with more than a little dark amusement in his voice. "My last bondmate bit harder, if she was feeling frisky!" Taking a deep breath, he flicked his sword into a high guard position, crouched slightly and lunged forward, his eyes blazing with determination. As he came back into range he struck, putting all his weight and speed into a diagonal slash across the silver wolf's body.

[Angel]

Sylvie's initial smirk masked her overall astonishment as Stygian answered her. Did I just...flirt successfully? And get a positive response? Granted, her smile did flicker a bit at the somewhat-demeaning nickname and the almond remark, but other than that, the elf was very pleased with the blond human. He was quite the pretty talker, and judging from his expression, he knew it. Sylvie decided that he would be worth a fight at some point. If he was making fun of her, she could get her revenge, and if not, she'd find out why he was the first male (besides a certain deity she'd met once) not to treat her with fear and repulsion.

When the metallic woman at the back of the room offered her remarks on Stygian, Sylvie didn't bother to bite back a giggle. She watched as 'she' and Stygian exchanged banter; the two were obviously close, though they probably knew each other too well to act very fond of each other. She responded to the human's comment on the robot with a grin and turned to get her drink.
---
At some point during the exchange inside, singing had become audible outside. A rather strange-looking woman was singing "The Drunken Sailor" as she approached; she didn't have the best voice in the world, but it was clear, strong and remained on-key most of the time. The woman in question was practicaly skipping up to the bar, long red ponytail swinging back and forth, sandals slapping against her feet, and a long, bladed pole-arm twirling around her body like the baton of a drum majorette.

She slowed down and stopped singing once she got within ten feet of the building, but a smile stayed on her face - a smile that at the same time managed to be truly happy, but oddly anarchic and insane. She dusted off the front of her sleeveless blue tunic, propped her weapon against her shoulder, and entered.

When the door swung open, she scanned the bar for a second, taking in the various species and classes of patrons. But her brick-dust-colored eyes stopped and her grin widened when she saw a certain verdant young woman sitting at the bar.

"Ho-ly shee-it."

The moment Sylvie heard the voice of the new girl, her face turned very pale and a clear "oh-good-Lord-I-just might die" look appeared on her face.

"Oh God," she said, planting her face in her hands and peeking at the bartender through her fingers. "If there's a crazy-looking redhead behind me with a sword on a stick, just pretend I'm not here."

"Hard to pretend you don't know me when you say somethin' like THAT, don'tcha think, Syl?" the newcomer called to the elf, approaching the bar. Sylvie straightened up, not turning around yet.

"Clearly, you're sorely mistaken, and possibly drunk," she answered." As for myself, how do I know if I'm right? I haven't even looked yet. You could just be jacking me around." The redhead's eyes gleamed in a new light, and her smile changed a little; it almost became less scary and more relieved.

"First of all," she said, walking slowly up to Sylvie's back, "If I am drunk, then the soda makers of the world are getting far better advisors. And secondly, unless I am mistaken, then the best damn plant-mage I ever met is sitting right in front of me." Her smile relaxed again. "I knew we'd see each other again someday, Sylvie."

Said plant mage sighed and straightened up, a look of resolve and slight happiness crossing her face. "Unfortunately, unless I really have succeeded in teleporting to the center of the earth like I've just been wishing, then the most ironically good prison guard I ever knew is right behind me." She spun around in her seat, smiling a warm greeting to the new girl. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Dani?"

[Cogidubnus]

 The russet wolf's comment seemed to wash over the silver wolf without reaction, Cog instead taking the time Brinald spent taunting him to get into the middle guard, his sword waist-high and pointing straight out in front of him.

Brinald struck, a streaking silver line at the wolf's shoulder with all of his strength and weight put behind it. Cog's sword came up horizontally, managing to catch Brinald's blow upon the base of his blade - his other hand had rushed to the tip, supporting the rest of the sword by the dull back. Sunlight rippled down its mirror edge.
Cog's body twisted sideways, Brinald's sword still caught upon the base of the silver wolf's sword which rotated quickly beneath it, Cog's left hand swinging the tip behind his head even as his right kept the sword in position until both blades were perpendicular to each other. Cog's legs contorted, sliding forward as one knee backing into the other knee and crossing in a strange, uneasy-looking stance.
Cog pushed.

The two wolves were as close as combatants of the blade got, only inches apart. Perpendicular to Brinald's blade, Cog's sword pushed forward with all the leverage and weight that the silver wolf had - and he was in a prime position to do so, able to use his shoulders and straighten his legs at the same time to provide force. Cog's sword flashed forward, Brinald's blade caught and pushed back against the russet wolf.
They were only inches apart. Cog's sword raked forward and down Brinald's face and chest, Cog's free hand pressing down upon the flat of the blade as it sliced like a scalpel. The hilt of his sword ended up somewhere near Cog's hipbone, and with a simple twist of his sideways body his hip and center pushed forward.
The sword was not flat, like a needle - it was tilted, the tip of the sword high. A thrust into a stomach would not be a small hole, but rather a large, gaping and eviscerating slice into something's entrails.
That done, Cog flicked his hand to the side, bringing the blade flat and a bit to the right.

"Anybody can hit hard." the wolf whispered.

[SpottedKitty]

Brinald grunted with the effort as Cog blocked his strike with another loud clash of steel, and this time a few sparks flying. His muscles strained, but he couldn't make another inch of headway against the silver wolf's blade... then he began to be forced back. Just a whisker's breadth at first, then a little more, and more yet. The two wolves' faces were close enough for Cog to see the look of determination in Brinald's eyes gradually replaced by uncertainty. He was at the limits of his strength and leverage with the two-handed grip, but if he shifted one hand to brace the tip of his sword, as Cog had done, he would be put off balance and overpowered at once. And he knew exactly what was going to happen in just a few more seconds...

The russet wolf's eyes narrowed, and he threw himself backwards just as his thrust failed completely. Just as he'd guessed, Cog's sword twisted and struck straight down, and his own blade was completely out of position. He backpedalled desperately, and only barely in time: the sword's tip sliced through his jerkin and shaved some fur from his chest, but no more than that. Brinald caught his balance, his arms spread much too wide, then snarled as he realised the significance of Cog's odd sideways stance. He began to shift his weight and twist his body to the side...

Too late. Backed by a solid thrust, Cog's sword ripped into the russet wolf's torso. Blood spurted as Brinald yipped shrilly, dropped his sword and clutched at his stomach with both arms. He staggered back for several paces before he caught his balance. Bloodstains splattered on the ground at his feet. "I yield," he croaked, his eyes wide and his ears drooping.

[lucas marcone]

Ian kinda turned away from the conversation when it got flirty. No matter how much he like a girl or could open up when it came to push anything past "friends" he just couldn't, he was too darn shy. He left his table and sat at the bar on Sebatian's side a few seats away. The red woman held his attention for just a few moments then he turned to the bar keep. "Jim Beam" He slid Boog some money.

[Cogidubnus]

 Cog whipped the sword around quickly, blood spattering onto the floor as it sluiced off the blade an onto the mossy stones below. He sheathed the blade in a blink of an eye, walking up to the russet colored wolf.
As soon as Brinald had spoken the word Yield, the entire arena began to melt around them, fading back into the simple circle that it was before. In the same way, Cog's expression changed, from the nearly blank look that he'd given throughout the fight to an expression of concern for the bleeding wolf in front of him.

"Hey, you alright?" Cog said, pausing just a moment in front of Brinald before giving him a supporting arm, moving to the right and helping the wolf stand. "The Circle won't let anything happen to you that'll kill you. You should be fine." Cog said, helping the wolf move out of the ring and back into the bar. He didn't touch Brinald's sword - he didn't want to presume, and the russet wolf could retrieve it later.

[techmaster-glitch]

Mechangel

   The swordfight between the two wolves ended spectacularly. [End recording. Saving recording...done.] The man under the cloak grinned slightly, though no one could see. Well, that certainly was...educational. And entertaining, like I thought. The man then noticed the Circle that had been turned into a maze of threnches by the Insectis. The gargoyle [Siolen] was flying above them, looking like he was searching for something. Well, I would guess that the digger's gone under. He's either a cowardly insect, or one smart little bug. The man continued to watch [Siolen] fly around, watching the way his wings moved, the way he flew gracefully in the sky...and then suddenly got an idea. He thought of all the other patrons who have come to the Hono Circle Inn, and the idea grew. It grew, until the man finally had a plan all laid out.
   I was right. I am going to have fun here indeed...

[SpottedKitty]

Brinald nodded at the silver wolf's question. "I will be well, Cogidubnus, I need only... ow... walk carefully for a little while." He leaned against Cog as they walked slowly back to the inn. Pausing for a moment where his sword lay on the ground, Brinald took one arm cautiously away from his stomach. Nothing drastic happened: in fact, the bleeding from the wound was beginning to slow, and the others had already stopped, although the cuts themselves were still clearly visible. He raised one foot and stamped on the pommel, grabbing the sword's hilt as it bounced and spun up into the air. He wiped off the few remaining drops of blood on the blade with his sleeve, and slid it back into its sheath, wincing and yipping softly as he raised his arm a little too quickly over his shoulder.

By the time they were back inside, Brinald was walking much more easily, although he still laid his ears back and snarled every now and then. He stepped away from Cog and patted his arm. "My thanks, I can manage now, I think. Before we drink a toast to your victory, my friend, I must clean up a little." He raised his free arm to his nose, sniffed and wrinkled his muzzle. "Faugh! I hate stinking of gore, especially my own!" He limped over to the bar, picked up his pack by a strap, and made arrangements with the innkeeper-shaped creature behind the bar for the use of a washroom.

[Cogidubnus]

 Cogidubnus stepped away from the russet wolf, and gave the crimson-furred lupine a bow, a slight smile on his face and a twinkle behind his shaded eyes.
"I shall toast to an excellent battle, sir. It's been some time since I've gotten to fight another combatant of the sword."

He sat back down at the bar, and called out to the red swordsman. "Take your time!" he said, sipping on his orange-flavored drink. He took a single sip, his face going from grinning to musing. One eye narrowed, although he certainly seemed to still be in good spirits.
I expected the circle to end that match -before- I stabbed Brinald. And those cuts...some people aren't bleeders, but...

Cog sipped his drink, glancing at the Jackal still standing by the window.

[Angel]

Dani had been rooting for a little money for a drink when the fight outside ended. She watched, wide-eyed, as the russet-furred wolf and the gray-haired wolf entered the bar - the former badly injured, but in good spirits.

"Geez," she said aloud, rubbing a pale hand over the tribal-looking slashes on her face. "Never thought you'd go near a place like this, Syl. Do all the fights end up like that?"

The elf shook her head, stirring her fingers in her water. Dani decided to ask more questions later. In the meantime, it would be rude not to talk to the other patrons. She got up and headed to the wolves to make sure they'd be alright.

"You guys okay? From the little I saw, that was a good fight," she said, standing over them, concerned but admiring.

[TheGreyRonin]

 Risky leaned over towards Cog and smiled. "Nice work out there. I think you're faster than the last time I saw you."

She inhaled a long drag, held it, and blew it out. "I did notice the way it ended, though," she said, her tone carefully level and neutral. "I'm not so certain that this one is laid out quite right. Or shielded properly."

Her eyes slid towards Boogey, and she pitched her voice low enough that only those close could hear her. "I already glow in the dark; I don't think spectators would appreciate it, though."

[Angel]

When neither wolf responded to Dani's question, she assumed they were both all right and turned her attention to the dark-haired human.

"Glow in the dark, hunh?" she said, pitching her voice low as well and taking a seat next to her. "Well, I've met people with stranger gifts. Dani Sanders. And you are?" She held out a hand for the human to shake, a very toned-down smirk on her face.

[Boog]

Boog grinned back at Risky, "What? An audience not appreciatin' your loveliness on some screen, for all to gawk at while you fight?" He snickered, "Well now I HAVE to figure out some method of display." He muttered something to himself and began making some odd motions with his hands, like weaving a cats cradle without any string. Some arguments took setting up, sometimes.

--

Siolen clambered down from the cliffs where he'd landed. He'd underestimated this foe's patience. Time to lure him out. He kept near the edge of the ravine, ready to climb up again at a moment's notice.
Now if I was... THAT, where would I pop up?

[TheGreyRonin]

 "Mariska Callan, Lieutenant, Time Corp." She took the hand and shook it, then turned full towards the bartender.

"You might want to have some concerns for your patrons, you know," Risky said in a carefully level voice to Boogey. "I know what has happened before, in other Circles. And there are only three here that I'm completely sure could handle a shielding failure."

She took another long drag of her cigarette and stubbed the butt out on the bar rail carefully. "And you're not one of them."

[SpottedKitty]

Brinald returned from the washroom after a short time, his fur looking freshly scrubbed and roughly tidied and groomed. He wore a different jerkin now, sleeveless and decked out in similarly bright cheerful colours as before. There were still a few specks of blood on his trousers and boots, but most of it had been cleaned off. Almost nothing could be seen now of the cuts on his arms and down the side of his muzzle, apart from strips of roughness in the lay of his fur. He strode up to the bar, a grim, determined look on his face, and stopped a few paces away from Cog, leaving his pack propped against the bar.

His severe glare suddenly became a broad, tongue-lolling grin as he stepped forward and gave the silver wolf a friendly whack on the shoulder. "Cogidubnus, you rascal!" he roared cheerfully, "You neglected to tell me your mother was a bolt of lightning, and your father was a wisp of fog! That was one of the most challenging duels I have fought in... hmph, more years than I care to think of!" He waved over the bar-thing and put more money on the counter. "Another ale here, and one for my good friend Cogidubnus as well!"

[Cogidubnus]

"Faster?" Cog said, glancing at Risky. "Perhaps. But then, I don't get a lot of call to really start moving, anyway." he took a sip of his drink, and tipped his hat to the lady, smiling. "But thank you for the compliment."

He listened with a bit of interest to her conversation with the Boogeyman - he was surprised to learn that, indeed, the circles could fail. He'd thought that once the arena was up, there's wasn't anything in the universe that could bring them down.
"Huh."

Cog took another sip of his drink, and promptly choked on the contents as someone yelled in his ear, and slapped a hand on his injured shoulder - a spluttering glance to his side revealed the russet wolf from before had indeed recovered, and was intent on celebrating. Cog coughed into his fist a few times, but couldn't help grinning at Brinald's boisterous congratulations. He coughed again to clear his throat.
"And you sir, neglected to tell me that you've got the mind of a snake and the blood of a hydra. And I mean that as a compliment." he said, downing the last of his orange-colored drink quickly. "Something tells me that you really didn't need to stop when you did." he said, grinning. "And I've never had someone launch themselves over me during a swordfight, sir."

[techmaster-glitch]

Karazkt

   The moment Karazkt felt Siolen's feet touch down on the ground, he immediately started sending jolts of earth magic into the ground, creating rough vibrations that he intended for Siolen to feel.
   Keeping one antenna against the ground feeding earth magic into it, Karazkt put his other into one of the intake ports of his mech and started it up with a small burst of fire magic. He put the mech in motion, starting to grind the soil in front of him with the mech's arms, and began feeding earth magic from the antenna that started his mech into the same intake port, and began channeling it through the arms. At the same time, he cut off earth magic from the antennae against the ceiling. The irregular vibrations continued. Karazkt started digging his way directly toward Siolen.
   The mech itself, when digging, could be felt at close proximity with all the digging and grinding. It would give ample warning to Siolen to take wing when it would draw near. Karazkt certainly could out-wait him when he was flying, but if Karazkt was moving and Siolen hopping around, Karazkt would surely run out of steam. But, with the vibrations permeating the entire arena and masking his approach, Siolen would have no way of knowing where Karazkt was.
   Karazkt got close to Siolen, and slowed the mech down. He maneuvered it directly underneath Siolen, a yard or two down. He stopped the mech, but kept up the vibrations. The were strong enough that the addition of the mech's slowed approach should be unnoticed. But the next part would be noticed. This is what it came down to; how fast were Siolen's reactions?
   Karazkt, still using one antenna to feed earth magic into his mech, channeling it out the arms and into the soil to keep up the vibrations, used the other antenna to start feeding fire directly into the boiler to begin overclocking the engine. He pulled some levers, putting the mech down into a 'ready to pounce straight up' position. Finally, he cut off the earth magic into the soil, cutting off the vibrations, and instead began collecting it the digging claw-hands for three seconds, charging up a powerful burst.
   One.
   Two.
   Three.
   Karazkt then hit several levers simultaneously, causing the mech to jump straight up, claws first, the pre-overclocking giving it a huge boost. He released the three-second pent-up magic, blasting into oblivion the entire section of topsoil above him. The huge claws reached up like a gigantic cage or bear trap, eager to snatch Siolen in them. How fast Siolen reacted after the vibrations stopped would determine whether or not he was caught.

[Angel]

Dani smiled evenly at Mariska during the brief handshake, then released to root around in her travel pouch for money. She grinned when the russet wolf came back and greeted the grey wolf enthusiastically. The latter - apparently named Cogidubnus - didn't mind at all. From the little the prison guard had seen, this place was so incredibly un-Sylvie-like it was laughable.

She glanced around the bar, having not really looked at the patrons once she'd seen Sylvie. The two wolves seemed like interesting foes, but she guessed that they'd need a little more time to heal from their battle. Then there was the jackal by the window, the human next to Dani, or the cloaked mystery outside. But she decided it would be best to get herself settled in before she went into a challenge.

"Hey, Dan? You need money, just say so, 'kay?" Sylvie called to her friend. "I'm not paying for every drink, but if you're a little strapped right now, just ask."

"Relax, Syl, the budget cut wasn't that bad." The red-head rolled her eyes, smirked and continued searching.

"Ah-ha!" she said under her breath when she finally found a few silver coins. "A Bailey's coffee and a night's lodging, please," she told the odd-looking man behind the bar. "And if that's not enough, you'd better not try and rip me off; I watch guys who do that for a living."

[SpottedKitty]

Brinald grinned evilly at Cog's retort, then snorted as he leaned against the bar. "I could have fought on, true, but the way your last blow hit me... the novelty of tripping over your own guts palls after the first two or three times." He scratched the side of his muzzle, where the scar was now only barely visible, then he smiled wryly, cocking his ears skewed to one side. "And if you've never had that jumping move tried against you, then you've never fought a weasel or a marten determined to take your ears and tail — that's who I copied it from."

[Cogidubnus]

 "I can imagine it would." Cog chuckled, turning on his seat. "Even so, it was a close thing. You are very correct when you say I've never fought a marten or a weasel that way...generally, my opponents don't last beyond the first few moments." Cog said, smiling at the red wolf. "You are perhaps faster than you know, sir."

As the wolf said that, the Jackal in red turned from his place at the window and gave him a sharp look, glancing out at the rest of the patrons. His eyes seemed to pause over each one, an appraising glance, before settling on none of them in particular - although he did pause for a moment longer as he stared at the strange hooded figure in the back. He seemed to almost leer in amusement for just a moment before leaning back against, the wall, still facing the entire tavern.

[Stygian]

Experienced at reading people though he were, not to mention skilled - hard, natural talent and years of study had seen to that, and the man was practically an actor, a psychologist and a magician packed into one - Stygian was getting just a few contradictory signals from Sylvie. The clorophyll elf's body language seemed mostly the same as that of a human, no matter what might be mixed in between, and the dilation to her pupils and her stance all signaled alertness and interest. However, he did notice some clear undertones of tension. Particularly that quick waver in her smile caught his attention. She was also still not directly facing him, turned perhaps a fifteen degrees away and leaning back on the counter, whereas he had consciously faced her directly and brushed his hair out of the way, easing up his own body language, as soon as he had finished talking over his shoulder with Sal. It wasn't entirely bad; at least her gaze was steady and her hands still, so she wasn't feeling pressured or overly nervous, which meant that it most probably signalled that she was simply unsure of him or around him. But he had expected by now, with his own controlled and, for him, quite blatant show of intrigue, that she would have opened up almost entirely. Ah, well, he thought. Some act more self-assured than they are. She seems to take things at a moderate tempo. I'll cut back and let her think and get comfortable.
   Of course, the man had expected that someone more would enter. But he didn't immediately think that it would be someone that would interrupt the conversation. Of course, he stepped out with one leg a slight bit to the side and offered a look and an encouraging smile with all his face to both Cog and Brinald when they came back in. But with Sylvie turned away from him, he didn't know quite how to address the situation, other than to simply let his smile fade into a more natural, sly and observant expression, and watch the newly arrived woman in wait for a cue. One that, fortunately, came faster than he had thought.
   'Oh', Stygian said, very plainly, and with a raise of both his eyebrows and a slight change in posture accurately feigned an expression of surprise and beginning tension, in response to the revelation that this new woman, Dani, was evidently a correctional officer. At the same time he watched her even more closely. 'I would introduce myself', he continued, 'but with that sort of... Well, how seriously do you take your job?'
   It was, of course, not too bright a question, and a challenging one. She wasn't some beat cop, and for her to try and enforce any authority in the sort of place they were in, she would have to be stupid. But it was the best he could come up with on short notice, and gave what he hoped was a little hint about himself while still keeping focus on her.

[Angel]

When Stygian spoke up - and basically admitted to Dani that he was an ex-convict - Sylvie's eyes widened. Well, this isn't a very good common ground for us to have, she reflected. She didn't assume anything immediately about the human, having walked that path herself, but it was still enough to get her a bit nervous. She watched Dani and Stygian carefully, turning to face the two and holding her water glass in both hands.

---

Dani turned from the counter and stood, facing the blond human. It wasn't something someone would ask seriously, but she knew he wasn't kidding. Still, ex-cons usually kept their records hidden to avoid attention - especially from people with her job. With that in mind, she kept her eyes off of Sylvie and focused on the blond. She wasn't stupid; she'd seen him eyeing her friend, and had noticed that although the elf seemed much calmer (and exceedingly less angry) than previous times she'd been hit on, she still looked unsure. She's not exactly used to that kind of attention, but he seemed all right, the human reasoned. Now, to get to that little challenge he'd sent her way.

"If you mean do I practice vigilantism, then no. That's exactly what I'm supposed to prevent." At this she glanced at the other patrons, hoping that they'd get the message. She wasn't going to be responsible for his mistake. "As for in my workplace... well, define 'serious.' " She resisted the urge to tell him that she had to trust a few of her 'clients' in case she fell asleep on the job.

[Stygian]

The man tilted his head and gave Dani a gaze, and then shook his head lightly, casting his eyes down a bit. 'Perhaps I expressed myself wrong. How passionate are you about your work?' he asked her instead, shifting his stance lightly but still maintaining that relaxed, easy look. He wanted only for these women to feel well about him.
   'I'm sorry,' he continued, just as Dani was about to speak up. 'Clumsy of me. I meant no disrespect. I'm just trying to make sure that you won't try and handcuff me out of the blue or something.'

[Angel]

The Red relaxed a bit after the man showed contrition. Whether it was fake or not didn't really matter to her, and he clearly wanted her approval. She smiled with her eyes, if not with her mouth, and shifted to indicate her own comfort.

"Not unless you commit a crime serious enough, in which case the worst I'd do is report you. Besides, I'm not really authorized to arrest anyone." She had brought pepper spray and a nightstick, but that was more for self-defense than attacking prisoners. "Nice to meet you, no matter what you've done."

Behind her, Sylvie relaxed. She let the others think it was because of the conversation.