Allergic Inflection

Log Info

• Title: Allergic Inflection
• Emitter: Slixvah
• Characters: Slixvah, Irhsya, Patch
• Place: The TarRaCe
• Time: September 16th, 2022
• Summary: Slix is busy bartending at the TarRaCe as the proprietor Irshya comes up to chat with the sniffles. The egalrin gives are a once over, finding that she's got an allergy to something, but she's unsure. Patch arrives, giving her two copper before they try out some pickled tomatoes from Irshya. It's good! Wait, is this a new thing? Maybe that's the allergy? A promise made to adventure together is made before Patch and Slix are left alone. The latter inquires about an observation she made in the past, which gets them talking about their past, finding their situations somewhat similar.

The TarRaCe, Midday.

A chilly breeze blows from the west, a sign of autumn to come, along with potential for showers from the dark clouds that block the sun. Inside the TarRaCe, it is decently busy, far moreso than last time the new bartender was on duty. Still, it was enough time for them to lean against the metal bartop, a glass bottle in hand and a brush in the other. A spectral hand was cleaning out a glass nearby with a rag.

This time, it was Slixvah in the flesh, feathers and all. Though she is wearing something a bit more professional, a white shirt with a black trim, as well as loose black pants. She keeps the ribbons on her wings though. "And... done," she coos happily, holding up the glass bottle with black paintings of draconic runes upon it. Water is poured into the bottle, and a mechanism is screwed into the top.

The pool-shark and proprietress sleepily waddles out from the baths, clad in a white, fluffy housecoat. Wet footprints follow along behind her as she makes her way to the bar.

The bottle is eyed curiously, the Gobbo's eyes squinting. She sighs and settles heavily on a stool, and lays her head down on the bartop. "Irshya only know it says something in Draconic."

She peers up at Slixvah, her chin still on the bar. "Can you fetch Irshya something hot to drink?"

Slix-tender raises a feathered brow. "It's just Aelwyn's name, fo' when he's gettin' feisty, ya dig?" she chuckles. "Howdy boss."

She looks over and down, her eyes softening a bit. "'course, sugar. Anything hot? Tea? Hot water? Warm cider?" she lists off, her reaching under the bar to put away the spray bottle and grab an empty cup. "You aight?"

"Irshya guesses she is just under the weather.", the Gobbo says unhappily. "She sneezed earlier and... ick." She inhales quickly and something in her sinuses makes a terrible sound.

"Maybe some hot cider." Her head turns sideways. "So you... spray Aelwyn when he gets... grabby?" She giggles then, at length. "Irshya found him the other day, on fire... so she dunked a couple of full conjure water spells on him. He is amazed at Alexandria having rain on a cloudless day."

Slix's eyes crinkle in a smile. "Sure thing, cutie, comin' right up," she coos, reaching over to pat the pool shark on the head before reaching to the side and beckoning with a finger. The spectral hand from before glides over a bottle of cider, pops the cork, and pours it slow into the waiting glass. A snap of the finger, a poof over the glass, and its steaming warm. She slides it over, "Here ya go, on the house," she jokes, winking.

She bobs her head. "Yeah. It'd be funny." The bartneder snorts, leaning on the bar. "Like that. That's funny. Yeah he uh, does that. Likes to be one with flames and stuff."

She tilts her head to the side. "You want me ta take a look at ya? I'ma healer part time."

Irshya makes a pleased little sound as she's patted, and her eye follows the bottle's progress as it pours. She blinks at the poof, and it's results.

"Oh! Irshya wonders what spell that was!" She giggles and nods. "He apparently takes fire dancing very seriously. Irshya is concerned at times, she doesn't want him to be injured."

The pool-shark murmurs and sighs at length. "Irshya would not mind someone looking into her wellbeing."

Slixvah waggles her hands. They're covered in white gloves. "I do a little bit of cheatin'," she snickers. "Jus' some basic mojo students could do at tha' Society. Prestidigitation."

A little sigh leaves him. "Eh, don't worry 'bout him. He's redscale, he can take the heat. The man is serious 'bout his dance. I just steer clear when he's practicing. Pretty cool stuff to see though!"

She tilts her head the other way. "Hmm. Welp, I'm comin' ova there boss," she says with finality, abandoning her spot on the bar and-

She clambers over the countertop and flops into a stool beside the pool-shark. Slix cracks her knuckles and reaches out. "Aight, c'mere. Let's see what's up witcha..."

GAME: Slixvah rolls heal: (14)+7: 21

The pool-shark warms her hands on the glass, and takes a lengthy sip of cider.

"Irshya knows, but she is still concerned for him. And where did you get those gloves?" She laughs as the Egalrin climbs over the bar and settles into a stool. The Gobbo grabs the seat of her stool, and bounces herself closer to Slixvah. Her maw opens and she sticks out her tongue at Slix. "Stho? Ish Irshhya sthick?"

Slixvah answers off the cuff, "Slick deal from the Society, I leave them alone more if they sell me the gloves. Easy trade. I never left them alone." She leans in some, then shrugs a bit. "I was too, but he'll sort himself out. He's a bit wild like that."

And now begins her inspection. Oh. Wow. That's a lot of teeth. Her hand cups Irshya's chin, carefully moving her head about one way, then another. "... sniffely nose, sinuses built up, red irritation. Got some... hives..." she muses idly, reaching up to playfully grab the tongue briefly before letting go and wiping it off on her pants. "Sorta. Seems like you either caught a head cold, or somethin's been irritating your nose. What'cha been doin' recently?"

She snorts, which is quickly followed by a sneeze, with her turning her head in time to direct it away. "Hnng. Irshya hasn't been doing anything differently. She works, she cleans, she eats, she sleeps." The Gobbo rubs at her throat lightly. "She was okay before going to bed."

Her hand rubs at a cheek, and her expression grows curious as she ponders the question.

"Bless ya, sugar!" Slix snickers. The spectral hand wanders over, offering a rag to the proprietor to clean their face. "Hrmm..."

The bird abandons her seat to go back around the bar (properly this time) before reaching down for another glass. And this time, she's rifling under a pile of robes, looking for a small pouch. "I gots some herbal medicine in here tha' should help wit' tha swellin'. Does this happen often, honey?"

That horrible sound in her sinuses is heard again as she blows her nose. She turns away again to deal with it, and huffs. "We can just burn this one.", she says of the rag.

"No, Irshya has not had this happen before. She has had colds, but this seems worse. Irshya will give you coins in exchange for medicine."

Slix quietly laughs, shaking her head. "Can burn it," she agrees, filling up another cup for water and snapping a finger at it once more to get the liquid to a proper heat. She pulls out different herbs from a pouch, wraps it up in a thin cloth, and sets it into the cup to steep. "Sure, can give me an extra silver at tha end of the shift.

It's midday and the TarRaCe is steady. The new bartender, an egalrin woman in a white robe with black trim, is busy fixing a drink for the woozy looking pool-shark propriteor. "That is weird. I wonda if ya tried anything new. Or somethin' tha season brings? People don't get hives unless it's somethin' that irritates the heck outta them."

The Gobbo slips from the stool, and goes to dump it into a small garbage bin. "Maybe Irshya should try removing curse on it first. Just in case." She giggles as she returns to her stool.

Irshya eyes the cup, and the colour curling out from the thin cloth. "Oh, is it tea?", she wonders. "Can we put honey in it?" Her expression is hopeful.

"Irshya... will have to think about it. Hmm. She has not eaten anything new, she thinks. The flowers are the same kinds she always plants. She has not noticed any strange smells or foods..." A wee clawed finger taps at her chin, before a strange expression takes over her. For a moment or two it seems like a titanic struggle, before she lets out a breath. "Whew... Irshya almost sneezed her brains out."

Slix snorts and shakes her head. "Maybe! Might work, who knows!"

The birdtender gives a soft sigh. "Sorry hon, can't put anything fun in it. I dunno what caused this, so I gotta keep variables like that limited. But what I can do is-" she twists her gloved fingers, nudges a thumb to the side, and raises the hand, and the infused water takes on a faintly different hue and scent. "Flavored it."

Bag removed, she slides it over to the gobbo. "Not tea, it's medicine. Should help wit' the sniffles and soothe that hives."

She dips under the bar for a moment before popping back up, a rack of dirty glasses before her as she leans against the bar and her spectral hand zooming about gets to work on them. "Please don't do that, I ain't got mojo ta fix that," she laughs. "But, hrm. No weird foods or smells... cleaning stuff has been the same... same plants..." she muses, then bluntly inquires, "... sleep with anyone? I dunno, just throwin' pasta at the wall."

As the birdtender's handy spell hand gets to work on the dirty glasses, the Gobbo brings the cup to her mouth to drink.

She sips steadily while Slixvah goes over the different possible allergens.

A small fountain of tea happens when the Egalrin inquires into any recent ... activity. Irshya's cheeks begin changing to a pleasing lavender colour, and she wipes at her face with the sleeves of her housecoat. "You think Irshya might be allergic to sex?", she whispers, glancing around to make sure there is absolutely no one within earshot.

Slix was half expecting this, hence why she didn't particularly flinch from the spray of medicine. She laughs, picking up a glass and working on that to remove the shark-spittle. "No, I was just spit balling. Sometimes people might be allergic to certain kinds of things. Sometimes people," she prattles back in the gobbo's native tongue quietly for her privacy. <Goblin-Talk>

Irhsya hides her face behind her hands. "It's just.. Irshya has had uhm... fun. In that manner. Not too long ago. Irshya means, in the past season, not like... yesterday or anything."

She huffs, and quickly downs the rest of the medicine before the birdtender could say things that might make her choke on the medicine. Her ears suddenly perk up. "Irshya didn't know you spoke Gobbo.", she says in said tongue.

The door to the TarRaCe eerily opens on it's own, lightly swaying before Patch enters with her case held before her. Hurdy-Gurdy secured she wiggles a finger, sending the door closed behind her with a quiet click. She's already headed to the bar, capelet pulled taught against her shoulders as she seems to be headed towards the bar. Some goblin-talk is heard, an ear twitching, but not understanding words, but knowing the tongue.

"A lot of us do, apparently." Patch says to Irshya, a glance spared about the room. "Hello. Sorry to intrude, it's been a slow day."

Slix is quick to dismiss it with a pat atop Irhsya's head once the medicine was out of the way. "So it's been a bit, it's unrelated," she coos. "Don't be ashamed, it's natural."

She chuckles, nodding. "Yeah, I do. Picked it up in Blar. Pretty handy to know," she replies back in that rapid fire language. <Goblin-talk>

The bird-woman bartender perks at hearing the door open, and her face lights up. "Oh heeeya Pattie!" she chirps warmly. "Nah, don't worry. I work here now!" she enthuses, gesturing to the space behind her.

A spectral hand is busy cleaning glasses beside her. Then, she amends: "Only two days a week tho'. Fillin' in here and there. What up?"

Irshya's expression brightens, and she hops off her stool, bouncing over to Patch, hugging at her waist. "Patches!"

Giggling, she nods to the taller Sil, "It's okay, we're just gabbing. Irshya may have an allergy, and Slixvah has given her medicine for it." Her cheeks flush brightly once more. "Irshya is just shy about it... And yes, it is a handy language, Irshya has learned." The Gobbo looks from Slixvah, to Patch, and back again. "Pattie is an excellent nickname for her!" <goblin-talk>

Patch returns that hug of Irshya's, her smile broadening "Irshya!" she echoes with a smirk, hand resting in the other woman's hair.

"It's okay, I work here somedays too. I think Irshya has a thing for the under-privileged, and street dwellers." teasing to Slixvah, and a smile broadening down at the blue-hued gobbo woman. <Goblin-Talk>.

With a glance up, a wink is cast to Slixvah. "Miss anything while I was busy?"

Slixvah smooths her crown feathers back as she resumes her talk in Trade. "I think its a fun nickname," she laughs, setting a clean glass to the side in a slowly growing collection. "You work here too? Dang Rish, between me, her, and Aelwyn, you got a handful ta keep up with. I promise no rules will get broken!" she so solemnly swears!

She shakes her head to the bard. "Naw. Well, sorta? Not really. I've just been keepin' my ear holes to the ground, studyin' up, sleepin' in weird spots to bleed the mojo, ya know the deal. You feelin' better, honey?"

The pool-shark grins, pulling at Patch's waist, tugging her towards the bar. "Sit with us.", she says brightly.

The Gobbo heads behind the bar, and after a bit of puttering about, sets a couple of bowls upon the bartop. "A few snacks if you're feeling a little hungry." In one bowl, the bog-standard bar snackfare: peanuts. In the other, something that looks like shrunken, misshapen tomatoes. It smells fairly pungent.

"Irshya is a priestess, and she considers it her duty to tend to the people. Irshya is.. modestly wealthy. It seems only right that she gives. She just.. don't like giving away coins. She'll give food and drink, blessings, advice... to those she wishes to give coin, she offers jobs."

Patch nods, following Irshya after that beckoning tease, and crosses towards the bar. "I know, Irshya. You're kind for all the opportunity you offer." she says, smiling and finding a seat at one of the stools. The spread placed out looked upon with curiosity, a brow rising as she smiles the odd misshapen fruit. "What's that?"

"I get it, Slix. About the same here with me. Working on some things, but not much came of it." Patch muses, fingers choosing a peanut first. Uncertainty steers her from the other treat. "It's like thing went quiet after the worms. One can hope."

Slixvah makes room behind the bar for the owner, a wandering feather from her wings snaking out and shoving out a step stool for her so they'd be on more even footing. "Nice of ya ta do such," she hums. Unlike Patch, she picks up whatever the small tomatoe was and popping one into her beak without considering anything further. "I do similar. Tho', I ain't rich."

"If was a bettin' woman- which I am- I'd say there's somethin' brewin'. But, anyways, tha's jus' speculatin', and I don't wanna ruin anyone's day. You want anything? I got the bar all stocked up! Well, except me, I ain't on the menu," she winks with a laugh.

Irshya's cheeks flush lavender once more, and reaches out to squeeze at Patch's hand. "Irshya thanks you. And you, miss birdtender. It makes Irshya happy to have you both here. To know that you're safe. And hopefully saving up your coins." She giggles lightly, and several of the misshapen tomatoes vanish into her maw, the Gobbo hardly chewing. "Irshya has learned how to pickle things. These are pickled tomatoes. They will last much longer than regular tomatoes in the root cellar. And they will add interesting flavours to soups and sammiches."

The pool-shark goes quiet, taking in the words about things brewing. "Irshya is afraid that this may just be the quiet before the storm. Irshya knows a lot about storms, this one may be one of the worst yet."

She blinks and peers at Slixvah, licking her lips. "Well, you weren't before... but Irshya just realized you have the biggest wings in the city..." She snorts then, giggles for half a moment, then turns away suddenly to sneeze loudly... three times in a row.

"Well...." Patch says, looking between the two. "I know. It's not going to be quiet long." agreeing and giving Irshya's hand a squeeze in return. "With the dragon bone, and worm tunnels, I am wondering if something else isn't already underway."

"Also, the magical study. I'm afraid of what we'll find there. I have no reason to think they're related, but what if there is more bones like the one we found scattered about in those damned tunnels?" Patch says to Slix, her instrument left to rest on the floor, both hands now free.

A tomato is tried, raised and tossed into her mouth with a twitch of ear. "Oh! I like those." she says, focus back on Irshya. "You should try carrots, or... lots of things." pickling seeming to be to the elf's liking.

Slixvah winks at Irshya. "Ya welcome. I totes am. Jobs here and there lets me do risky shtuff later ta learn mo' stuff."

The taste gets her to blink, then shakes her head to get over the sting. "Yeah they's pretty pickly aight. Totes good on a sandwhich fo' sho'."

A small sigh leaves her. "Yeah. Eye of tha storm. But, best right now we do is just rest and recover before we get back into the thick of it. But yes, Pattie, I think it's related ta that. Actually, I wanted ta pick ya brain 'bout that later. Privately. This is not a pass." A beat. "... but it could be." Cheeky bird.

She looks down to Irshya. Her eyes squinting in a grin that makes her eyes sparkle. Beribboned wings unfurl carefully to their twelve foot span, casting a shadow from the lights above. "Oh? Big ol' bird wings? Wanna fry 'em and try ta eat me? I bet I'm quite tast- oh goodness! Blessed be!" she says in surprise from the sudden onslaught of sneezes.

The Gobbo is out of sight briefly, before a sigh is heard, followed by some sort of horrid nasally monster honking noise. "Thank you.", she replies. "And that's... another rag to burn.", she says with a sniffle.

She appears above the bartop once more, settling herself back on the step-stool that's just the right height. "Maybe Irshya is allergic to one of the spices in the pickling process?" Her expression is rather unhappy.

"Irshya could do carrots!", she exclaims, her cheery expression returning. "And cucumbers. Also, strangely... apples."

Her eyes dart back and forth between the two. "You could use one of the rooms at the back if you wish to talk privately. Or if you want something more comfortable, Irshya could close the lady's baths. And uhm, Irshya wouldn't stoop to cannibalism. But if there were giant chickens with wings like yours..."

"Oh, allergies?" Patch asks, looking after Irshya, and furrowing a brow at the sneezes. "That's terrible." she notes. Thinking on that, the comments about Slixvah and eating causes a coy grin and change in thought. "Oh, yeah? She says she's not on the menu, but she is a tempting treat." a wink cast to the Egalrin.

"As for... yeah. I am worried it is too." Patch says in answer to the topics previously discussed, her ears drooping a bit. "Can I get an ale?" she asks, looking back to the Egalrin. "We seem to be on the same page with things. So yeah, lets talk about it later." agreeing about that topic, and brain picking. "So, it's no good you're allergic. Is it safe to keep pickling?" another tomato taken.

Slix shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe? See if ya get betta leavin' out some picklin' delights. Try picklin' again, see if it kicks back up. Then just gotta narrow down the spices until ya figure out what's gettin' ya."

She gives a laugh. "Oh hell, if I found a chicken with these kinds of wings? Shoot, we feastin'!" But she shakes her head, agreeing witch Patch. "No worries, Rish, we'll hash it out later. We get lots of private time."

A blink. Her face feathers floof up as her beak ran faster than her mouth as she dips under the bar.

She pops back up with a flagon and clanks it under a keg. "Sure thing honey," she hums to Patch, folding her large wings back. Flagon full, she slides it over to the sun elf. A giggle is earned for the treat-sy tease.

Irshya suddenly straightens up, and she eyes them both. "Are... you two having fun with each other?", she wonders.

Then a frown spreads across her expression. "Are you two planning an adventure without me again? Related to whatever this future storm is about? Irshya wants to help this time around."

"Oh, we can include you!" Patch says to Irshya, turning to her as a hand takes up that flagon that slides her way. "I mean... In the adventure planning." Patch's cheeks flushed as she tries to hide it with a sip.

"She sniffed that out quick, didn't she? Though, it's not like we're hiding it." Patch says, turning an eye to Slixvah, still blushing, but the grin she wears is wide. "So, a date for all three of us. For adventure?"

Slixvah glances to Patch as Irshya puts the puzzle pieces together. Her beak opens, then snaps shut as the egalrin starts coughing into an elbow. Which turns into a fluffy faced laughter. "Yes, yes, we can include you on the adventure," she giggles in agreement.

Getting herself pulled together, she hums in a twitter. "We are. Like Pattie said, we don't really hide it."

She shrugs nonchalant. "Sure, adventure date for three."

Both of the Gobbo's eyebrows shoot up at once. "Those were two entirely separate, unconnected questions!", she says with a snort. "Irshya had inklings of such, and both. Irshya does want to use her priestly abilities to lay low those who would infect us with undeath, or slay us outright, or use people as batteries for their foul magics."

She lets out a huff. "And uh... she might be interested in that other stuff too." She turns suddenly once more, and lets out another noisy sneeze. "Irshya should probably wait til this... cold-allergy thing goes away. Irshya doesn't want to... inflate someone with a giant sneeze."

Patch finds a smile, watching Irshya run her course with those sniffles and sneezes. " I know, but... it came out wrong." she answered after Irshya, waving after the woman with a fond smile. "She's one of the few I believe when they say they don't want to lay low. Irshya likes to be in the middle of it, yeah?" she asks of Slixvah.

"Sorry, sweety. I didn't mean to sound so bold, but it's not as if I have any shame over it." Another wink flashed after Patch's words. She sips her flagon again, turning to watch Slixvah as she works the bar. "So, what's on your mind, Birdtender?" picking up on Irshya's words from earlier.

Slixvah bobs her head. "Noted. I'll keep that in mind fo' later when tha plannin' gets goin'."

Though, at that last bit, a brow quirks up. Followed by a grimace. "Y... eah, naw, let's not have that happen. Rest up, then we can chat 'bout that," she waves to pool shark as she scampers off. "... need ta know her a little betta befo' I entertain that," she comments mostly to herself before looking to Patch.

"Hmm? Yeah, she likes bein' in the know. But also likes ta be by herself when her social self gets empty."

She shakes her head, chuckling while leaning against the bar as she starts to put clean cups away. "Naw. I don't have shame over it either. Was funny ta see her turn purple."

A glance about the bar, then she leans in a bit so she could speak quietly and be heard. "Yeah, so I lied. It wasn't about the magic stuff. Was about you. Hence the privacy."

"About me?" Patch asks confused, sitting there a moment thinking on the conversation and growing flushed again. "I hope in a good context." she quickly adds.

"Irshya has always been kind to me, a bit flirt, but wise, and warm." Patch notes, musing and thinking on the small woman a moment. "Kept trying to set me up on dates at first." she admits, though this is met with a laugh. "She's got a good heart, and is a founding sister of the bad-mother club."

"Tell me, what's on your mind?" Patch asks, leaning conspiratorial close, a hand seeking some nuts from the bowl between them. "I'm all ears." wiggling her slender one's as if to make a point. It does little other than look a bit provocative, and send her jewelry bouncing.

Slixvah chuckles. "Interestin'. Wise and warm. She's a bit shy, so I'll go slow on 'er ta see what she's 'bout. Off tha job tho' don't wanna fuss it up."

Her gaze drifts to the jangling jewelry, a small part of her bird-self fixated on it. But, unlike them, she gets over it and instead reaches out to playfully wobble one of those wiggly ears. "Wibblin' these things is the funnest dang things when I'm an elf. Ya can do so much wit' 'em!"

She shakes her head and props her head up on her hands, her gaze soft. "Yeah. You. It's nothin' bad, I don't think. Was just somethin' ya said that I couldn't help but file away. It was when we was talkin' ta Eztli and Miki-mo-names. Ya said-" and she nearly copies Patch's voice in a hollow, bird-like manner- "'I took so long getting comfortable in my own skin.'"

Her attention soft, she clears the clean glasses out of the way so she had an unobstructed view of the elf. "I caught that knot and I'm givin' it a lil' tug is all."

"Oh, oh!" Patch says, her cheeks crimson, the mark upon her turning a purplish hue. It's the touch of her ears, breath catching almost a soon as Slixvah's hands hand graced her ear. It's one of those erogenous zones, her mind sent into a flutter of fuzzy thoughts. "Well, I do like them myself." she admits sheepishly, snapping out of it once the lavish and attention ends.

"So, that's an interesting knot to tug. It... it kind of applies to the bad-mother club." Patch says, growing quieter in her seat, and sipping her ale once again. "Llyana Galakir was furious her daughter had spots, and made her think she was sick and needed curing. I can tell you about the years, and her efforts, but the each segment of the tale ends the same as the last. No cure, a broken family, and a mother who couldn't accept it." Patch says, glossing over many things, but the way the topic causes her eyes to dull, and fall half-lidded shows she's thinking hard on what she wishes to share. "My father did little to stop her, enabling her madness, but... also trying to broker peace. I don't know if he saw me as she did, or if he just entertained her issues. Either way, both of them did little but hide me from Llyranost, and other elves. I was Siofra, a stolen impostor of a daughter." pausing. "Not too riveting a tale."

Slix files that reaction away for later, her giggling and keeping her hands to herself in a neat pile in front of her. "I like 'em too," she coos.

But, alas, she ends up finding her hands searching for Patch's own to rest upon as she unwinds that knot. Her eyes soften. Sympathy.

No. That's too close too pity. Their time together is enough to figure out that look from the egalrin woman wasn't that. It was- "I understand." -empathy.

But why? "I got shunned out from home, so I get it, the isolation, the 'that girl ain't right'," she elaborates quietly. "Sorry ya went through that, sugar."

Then, another tug from another angle. "Not all tales are riveting. Don't need ta be. But they all tell somethin'. What settled ya on 'Patch', might I inquire?"

"It's two parts to one identity." Patch answers, turning to look at the Egalrin, a hand seeking to take one of the other woman's.

"Why were you shunned from home? I find you delightful. No, downright wonderful." Patch says in a bit of shock, the other woman's pain and words provoking a response, and squeeze of hand.

"We seem to have shared the same hurts, which I would not wish on another." Patch's done dropping as she sets the ale aside, taking the one hand she had now in both of hers. "Don't be sorry. You've made up for a lot of that pain. You fill a hole you didn't make, and you care for an oddity without issue." she teases, winking.

"As for Patch, it was both given, and accepted. Crossing near Rune, and Dragonier, I had to cross The Vast to make it to the Bardic College here. I traveled with a Tsurani family, one that... took me in. I mean, /really/ took me in." Patch admits. "Helped me cobble together the pieces of a broken dawn elf into something I could be proud of. A patchwork bard, educated, but not."

Slixvah squeezes the hand taken into hers. "It's the thing I told ya about. Ya see, I was a terrible, terrible diplomat for the Khazad fo' a couple of years. Then after I met Fiadh, and they taught me a bit of stuff, and then things just start goin'... really smooth. Too smooth. Like, deals that had been dead locked for decades started being agreed upon, shipments came early and smoothly. My fam was cool wit' me bein' odd and lucky, the rest of the aerie was... not really a fan of it. There's a little mo' to it than that, but after that I jus'... left."

A sigh leaves her, and she shakes her head, and her attention returns to Patch with a smile in her eyes. Slix chuckles. "Thanks sugar."

She listens attentively as to how the name came about, her looking thoughtful upon it being bestowed. "That's... honestly reall' nice of them. Patched up bard. Huh. Tha's prett' clever," she hums.

"Right, you mentioned how the luck builds and...." Patch's words dying off as she gives that hand in hers an affectionate stroke. "My mother was never really proud of anything I did. My last act of defiance was taking an instrument made by my father, and leaving." she notes, sighing. "I can understand why you left, but I don't think of it as something against you, more the situation others were okay with manipulating." Patch reasons. "You're not one to be all about yourself, it's part of your endearing side. You care about others, and it shows." Patch says.

"Sometimes I feel you care about others more than you do yourself. Is that something Fidah taught you, or is that something you have put in your head yourself?" Patch asks softly. "That, or is it you don't feel comfortable with yourself, and you don't know how others could be comfortable around you?" not quite identifying what she's seeing.

"Regardless, I see you as I always have, Slix. A beautiful lass, whom carries and thinks too much of a past that bears little on the present. You're damn near perfect, if not a tad self-depreciating." raising the egalrin woman's hands to her lips, planting a soft kiss.

"Yeah, builds and gets weirder and weirder..." Slix echoes. The last act is noted, but she chuckles and shakes her head. "It was less that others were manipulating, and more 'being afraid and ostracizing what they don't understand'."

The rendered words and observations makes the well meaning witch perk up, her attention focused solely on Patch. Duties left to the wayside while fingers curl around the elf's. "I..." the wordy bird is at a loss for words.

Gaze grows unfocused. "... no I'm... comfortable wit' m'self. I'm just..." more at a loss. Peck of the hand. Face all afloof. "... I...-"

There's a sharp inhale through her nose holes, and she's rubbing her eyes on her sleeve. "Good. Gods. Girlie," she shudders, chuckling away a sob that was building. "And I thought I had a way with words. You're too sweet."

"Sometimes I say some very nice things. Not all times, but I try." Patch muses with a wider grin, letting that hand go as eyes roam to those colored feathers that raise, and ruffle.

"Infatuation does tend to make you see the best in people. Mostly. Or, we'll say it does." Patch's tease coming with a wink. "It's good you're comfortable, I know I am." another wiggle of brow as the woman muses in a coy tone. "I just know you have a great big heart, Fidah too"

"Fidah just doesn't have time for idiots I suspect." This tease coming as she sits up in her stool, feigning a stretch so that she can move in her seat. "Sweet? I could object to that. I often think I am fixated, and pushy."

Slixvah recomposes herself, but whatever guard she had up for the bartending duties was completely and totally disarmed for the elf after that. Hand reclaimed, she smooths her face out, and readjusts her robe. One robe. The rest are in a pile behind the counter. "Gotta save the reall' nice things fo' moments like that for when it reall' hits home," she coos warmly, rocking on her feet.

A feathered brow raises. "It tends ta do that, yeah. But I know I got a bitchy side when peeps are bein' slinky," she admits.

She looks over her shoulder to the pile of robes. "Fiadh just... yeah. They don't have time nor energy for idiots. They got a mission ta do, and don't want buffoons ta screw it up. Part'a bein' an emissary of wisdom and all that jazz." Whatever jazz was.

Was that a playful twinge? It had to be in those eyes. She leans over the bartop on her elbows, hovering over Patch. "Fixated are ya?" she hums. "Perhaps a bit... fo' good reasons. But I'd say ya sweet. If I put ya on the menu, ya'd be in the dessert."

"Dessert is really nice. A good one is a thing to savor, and think about for years." Patch flashes back with shift in posture, something about Slixvah's words and physical bearing causing her to quirk a brow.

Patch's ale is quickly taken back up, sipped, and thought upon. Well, not the ale. More, something the Egalrin woman had said. The ale just helps. "Bitchy is a terrible word for you. Barbed... maybe." Patch testing that second descriptive word. "I do promise to try and not be a slink. Other than when it's into your bed." another audacious wink flashed.

"Is fixated a bad word? I just enjoy you. Immensely. Banter, ribbons, all of it." sitting up and, resting elbows on the bar. "Plus, you have a creative soul. Vaire would totally approve."

"Hrm. Barbed is a better word, yeah," Slix agrees, then chuckles. "A good one to savor. Think about for years. Maybe come back for seconds... thirds..."

Her gaze had been trailing off to the ceiling, then glances back down to Patch to catch the wink. She giggles. "Slink into my bed anytime, hon. But, ya don't reall' slink ta be honest. Others..." she wafts a hand about. "Sometimes don't like that tell it ta me straight and it makes me annoyed when I'm just tryin' ta keep their interests at heart."

The bartender's got her head propped up by her hands, elbows on the bar like Patch, eyes shining a warmth and smolder. A patron is trying to get her attention with an order, but a wayward wing feather fulfills it for them as her focus was completely elsewhere at present. "I do find it warming that you enjoy every bit of me, it's... comforting. Like we said befo' a place ta rest and get comfy wit' one another. Revitalizing, it is."

There's a spark of inspiration as her fingertip taps against her beak. "I. Do. Like. Bein'. Creative. It's elative. Eleva-tive. Rippin' inspires post-dated befo' they're slated. Unbated. Maybe Vaire's got a bit plated? Unstated. But this bird loves drippin' rhymes ungated. Sated?" she grins.

Patch can't help but laugh, her lips parting to speak, but she can't. It's enough mirth she has to look away, even flushing at the last words. She has to clear her throat, and twitch her ear before she can talk. "You've never failed to satiate."

"And there you go mentioning how you keep others interests at heart. I think of Integrity." Patch says, but at the mention of that name, she shakes her head, and waves a hand. "Sorry. I hope that's not a sore thought. I like the fellow, I do. I just know you have been dancing up a storm." her flagon pushed away after her words. "Gods, that was stupid of me to mention." wincing again at herself.

"Hi, I'm Patch." She says, introducing herself with a foced grin. "I sometimes say things I shouldn't."

Slixvah's eyes crinkle cheekily. "Good. I don't like ta leave a job unfinished," she coos, swaying from side to side in time with the beat she was carrying earlier.

She blinks, then quietly laughs, shaking her head. "No no honey, it ain't a sore spot. Don't worry. It's just... me tryin' ta get a quiet moment ta explain ta him my situation is hard, ya know? I've told him about the luck thing, but he don't knows I..." A hand swirls in the air. "... am a bit uncaged. He's also a bit dense, so, unlike Rish, he prolly ain't picked up on us flirting."

The egalrin giggles. "Hi Patch. I'm Slixvah. I do that too. Such as: my shift ends in five minutes. I have a key to the backroom that no one goes in. I think I might need a hand changing? These wings are so annoying to get things on..."

"Oh, I have the time and desire to fuss with your robes." Patch's words heavy in sultry tone, spoken in a whisper as she stands from her seat. Her instrument is taken up, lest it not be forgotten. She carries it with her to the break that lets her wheel about behind the bar. The woman didn't have to think twice at the invite.

"Let me help you with all those pesky issues of feather against cloth." Patch's affirmation coming with a coy grin as she wheels to look about the bar one last time before eyes flick towards the back room. "You sure you're good? Dessert too early might spoil dinner plans."

Slix's face floofs up once more, though a ripple of feathers creeps down her neck. "I. Um. Yes. The robes. Feathers and- okayyouknowwhat-"

She leans over the bar, a feather being plucked out of her robes she casts a familiar looking cantrip for far speech. It's easy to hear her whispered words of- "Hey. Montie. Honey. I'm done with my shift. Everything is cleaned. I'm gonna go change out. Peace."

Message sent, she reaches over, grabs Patch's arm, and tugs her off and away. "I'll have you know I am a sweets for dinner kind of gal," she huffs a bit breathlessly. "Besides. I placed an order already. It's the special. You."

The door is locked and closed just as briskly as it was unbarred and kicked open.

GAME: Slixvah casts Message. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
-End Scene-