Rainy Day at the Bar [Anyone]

Ooc: This is my first Crossroads post, in fact, it's my first RP post outside of the Battle School. Hope it's alright, haha!
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Bic: Francis sat at the bar, one foot resting on the floor, the other firmly placed against the crossbars of his bar stool. He'd been sitting at the bar, day-dreaming and reminiscing, for almost two hours, hoping for some activity or event to break the monotony of the last few days. He'd been training vigorously, from martial arts to translating Elvish scripts, and back to martial arts again, and he was getting sick of it. He ran his hand through his newly buzzed hair, feeling the pricks of hair on his right hand, and muttered silently, "Not a damn thing to do around here. Not a thing." He raised his drink--a glass of tomato juice with a hint of Sprite (after all, he didn't drink alcohol)--to his lips and took in a small amount, swirling it in his mouth before taking it down. The sound of the rain against the windows, and the cobblestones outside when someone entered or left the bar, left a depressing tone in the air, one that had penetrated Francis on this bleak, rainy day. He raised his head, glancing left and right, sizing up the other patrons of the bar. Two elves to his left, a dwarf and four humans to his right. Behind him, the sound of laughter from a mixed group of humans, half-lings, and dwarfs, got his attention, and he turned to check out the activity. They were all gathered around one figure he couldn't make out, as the smoke emanating from the dwarf's pipes perfectly cloaked the figure's face. "Just what is up with this guy?" Francis thought out loud. Yearning for a better time, perhaps even a little laughter to lighten up his day, Francis approached the group, swaggering slightly under the weight of his weapons, and sat down in a chair. The entire group fell silent, wondering who the newcomer was, what he was doing here. Francis stared at the figure, waiting for a response.

OOc: hey, I'm gonna jump in, and if it makes you feel any better, you're doing great, better than me for sure. btw, where's your character? do you have a link to it or something? It's common courtesy to give one when RPing. Mine's in my sig, the one that says "Axen"

Bic: Axen was sitting on a red plastic seat, stirring up a good time in this run-down bar. "Ahhh, that's better. Nothing like some good laughs and a good time to lighten the spirit. And you would be?" Chortled Axen, peering from atop his shades. " Anyways, I was just telling them about the time a good friend of mine, Joe light up his own tent! Boy, ws I glad I was sleeping under the stars that night. The firelight also made for a good campfire, although Joe sure wasn't happy, I assure you" I joked and everyone chucked too.

Francis laughed at the man's joke, "Axen, right? Name's Francis. Francis Abel." He paused to sip his drink, slurping up the tomato soda through and around the hollow ice cubes. "Nice blades" he said, nodding at the ornate swords leaning against the wall, "Got a custom one myself. Eight inch, forged from a fallen meteorite. How did you acquire yours?" Francis stared into Axen's eyes, which gleamed a dark hue in the firelight. A strange hue that seemed to defy the light of the room. Outside, the sun had set on the bar, and the night sky had already begun to fill with the stars, glimmering and shimmering from above. Francis waited for a response, sizing up Axen's abilities and the nature of his demeanor. The next few minutes would determine Axen's role in Francis' life.

"Oh, how did I get these? well, I got them through a series of trials, hardships, and revenge. This one, Rox, I made in my friend's forge and installed the emerald later on. Burn, on the other hand, I obtained by......'acquiring' it from someone else and the rope was another installation." what about you? I heard you were a pretty good shot from the guys around here." I commented, waving to each in turn. The group seemed to like this, so they responded with "Oohs" and "Ahhs" of varied levels of enthusiasm.
OOc: any goal or something to work towards? just curious but these kinds of things need a goal to them

Ooc: Character friendship perhaps? Maybe leading towards an RP cooperation. Ooh that would be fun!
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Bic: Francis paused before responding, weighing his words in his mind before speaking, "I," he paused again to sigh, "I trained in...a strange place. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you where it was. It was a...strange day for me. I spent three years in a place that I can't even recall. Although to me it seemed almost instantaneous. I soon learned, upon my return, that I was returned into another realm, and that I had aged three years in what seemed like five minutes." Francis paused, lost deep in thought before continuing, "as for more about myself, I never met my family. I was raised by a monk who fled from my birth-town. The only thing I learned was that my father stayed behind to protect the rest of my family. My mother was sick so she couldn't flee. I never learned what had happened to my brother. Whether he stayed or was escorted away." Francis paused to drink again, topping of the glass in three gulps. "I'm trying to find him right now. That is my goal. In the meantime though, I have some work to do." Francis paused, deliberating how to tell Axen that he had an occupation fulfilling the wishes of the divine forces in the world. After about four seconds, he knew he should wait to say anything. After all, he had never told anyone his line of work. "I....I work in private contracting. Done everything from body-guarding to freelance work. Lovin' it to." He paused again, lifting his right hand to signal the barkeep for another drink, "I actually got a lead I'm working on right now. Out near the Liadre sector of Nova Forte. Hoping to figure out some new info on my broth--" the barkeep tapped Francis' shoulder and Francis turned to accept his drink, waiting for a response from Axen or any of the others.

"Well, I admire a guy who has a goal and sticks to it, especially one as special as that. well, I gotta tell you, I'm with enforcement. No, I'm not like those other goodie-two-shoes, I just work through law enforcement to fight tough opponents. My contractor knows me so I get all the toughest ones. Right now I'm working on Finding-" I pulled out a parchment of paper and threw it in the center of the table for everyone to see."- Rijanji, a master at gunmanship, swordplay, and puzzles besides. I've been looking for a partner, I hate to do stuff alone. So, you in?" I asked while the crowd parted for me to go sit next to Francis.

I was sitting at the table next to the two of them. I thought it might be a good idea to help find this Rijanji. I wondered if they would let an 11 year old boy join their group. I deemed it not very likely. I went with the hood of my cloak up, as it always made me look older. no one seemed to notice the newcomer. I then ordered a glass of olive oil and tomato juice along with a bigger cup.

As a boy came to sit at our booth I noticed his beads which were glowing with energy."Hey kid, what's your name?" I asked, everyone turning towards the newcomer. "My name is Tarok, a traveler and adventurer." Tarok tried to lower the pitch of his voice and make it seem older without much success."Pfff, that's just a kid, he would just slow us down" Francis joked, to which everyone started laughing at.
"Be quiet!" I screamed over the ruckus. "This kid here-Tarok-he can handle himself. Where's his parents? They surely aren't here, and this kid didn't wander in here unsupervised. No, this kid's got a rough look about him. He's surely telling the truth. I say we take him. What about you, Francis, Tarok?" I asked, seeing where this would take me.
OOc: yeah, this is a good start, but let's not let the other one die. after the agreements, let's pick up where we left off, alright?

When Francis made that joke about me, I was about ready to make him immobile, but Axens words calmed me down. I said, "I would like that. When do we leave?"

"I'm thinking tomorrow. G'night." and with that I fell asleeep.

"Wait. I...I...I don't have any money." I was not going to show him my tent just yet. I was going to see what he would do with what I told him.

"Hmmm? you don't have any money? Well, that's alright, I got plenty. Here, have a few, could help you in your travels" I said with one eye open and threw a couple of red rupees in Tarok's direction." Don't worry about it, There's plenty more where this came from. I don't usually buy my way through battles, I fight them out.So, again, g'night.rupee.gifsleeping.giffire keese.gifzelda-suspicious.gifzelda-dizzy.gif

OOc: Hey, just announcing, I GOT NEW SMILES!!

Francis waved at the two as they stood up, preparing to retire for the night. "I wouldn't be able to set out with you just yet. I have something to take care of first," he said, "I'm actually going to set out tonight." Francis took both Axen's and Tarok's corresponding hands in his, shaking them briskly in a symbol of friendship, a little unsure if this gesture meant the same here as it did where he was from, he then promised to them, "I will catch up to you. Within the week. Just go on and continue. I need to follow that lead about my brother first." With these words having been spoken, Francis strapped his weapons back on, placing his right boot on an oak chair for balance, and then took five long strides towards the door, opening it on the last one. "Oh and Tarok," he turned smiled back at the group, "I'm looking forward to see what you can do." And with that, Francis departed from the group, finally feeling like he was making progress in this world.

Ooc: Sorry I took so long to respond, Comcast lost our payment and we didn't straighten it out until this morning.

I then used the money he gave me, though this was not money I was used to, and rented a room for the night.