017 Locks Picked

[everborrowing]

[There wasn’t a huge crowd in the Inn of the Last Home. Popular as the place was, Solstice was a time for family and friends and, as the evening wore on, most of the patrons had gone off to celebrate the holiday in the comfort of their homes.

But for the companions, this was home. And, for once, they were all there. Tanis and Flint sat at one

Comments

[hulloeverything]

[Grabs Tas' wrist when he sticks his hand in his pocket]

Hullo there, Tas.

[everborrowing]

[Have a bright smile, Doctor, as if he hadn't just been caught mid-theft] Zivilyn! I didn't know you knew where Solace was. But you must now, even if you didn't before, because here you are. Have you had the potatoes? You should really try the potatoes, because Otik makes them the best...though Tika's been learning and she's pretty good too and you almost can't tell the difference unless you really know what you're looking for.

[hulloeverything]

[can't help but laugh at Tas' exuberance.] Well I can hardly pass down a recommendation like that, now, can I? Who do I speak to to try some of these delicious potatoes?

[everborrowing]

Well, you could talk to Tika... [a glance back at the table where the other companions are chatting] except she looks pretty comfortable, so maybe you should talk to Otik.

Or I could talk to him for you? He's in the kitchens, and I know exactly where those are... and I'm pretty sure him telling me to stay out was just him having a bad day.

[abletothink]

[he's wearing the red robes, surprisingly enough - and after a while, he'll get up from the table and make his way over to Tas, stooping down with the aid of his staff to speak softly in his ear]

There's a gentleman over by the fire, the one with the mulled wine ... keep your eye on him. I think he followed us here.

[everborrowing]

[glancing between the mage and the stranger, Tas's eyes go wide.] He did? [how had he missed that? D:]

[but he shakes it off quickly enough, nodding resolutely] Of course. I can do that. Why, there was one time in Schallsea, when I had to keep an eye on this one fellow...and he was really sneaky, too. Not like this here he's not going anywhere... and I never lost him. Not once.

There was a rather close call when we ran into an incident with a dwarf and a merchant, but-

[...feel free to cut him off at any point.

At least his eyes haven't left the stranger?]

[abletothink]

[he clamps a thin, surprisingly strong hand over Tas' mouth and hisses]

Don't be so obvious about it!

[everborrowing]

[there's a muffled string of rambling...followed by an annoyed huff as he steps away from Raist's hand]

I'm not going to be obvious! He won't even know I'm there. It's not like this'd be the first time I did this...were'nt you listening at all?

[and, grumbling slightly, he'll slip back into the crowd to get a closer look. Which, true to his word, once he's focused on lurking, he's remarkably difficult to spot, even with the common room slowly emptying]

[forgedinbattle]

[Solstice at an inn? If it weren't for the presence of a few odd looking characters and the absence of her family, Xena would have thought she was still in her own dream.

As it is, she's just leaning against the wall, trying to figure out whose dream this is.]

[everborrowing]

[If she's paying attention, she might notice the small, pointy-eared figure slipping past her on his way towards the kitchens. If she's watching even more carefully, she might notice small fingers lightly lifting objects from the people around him, with barely the slightest disturbance.]