#thread.vee

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi grinned. “Good, very good, I’d be horrible if I were to be less.” And she’d been less, more contained, more fitting in the image of the Vaanii, more fitting as a daughter of her father’s and grandfather’s house. But she did not intend to be so when she was free as a bird. She could be her own person and shine, as brightly as she’d wished to. Without having to let her light be diminished by others. 

They laughed even harder. And with a grin still on their face put five snack cucumbers in a little paper bag while thinking about where each would fit, the mischief in her eyes apparent. She was not one to judge those who would rather have snack cucumbers than men, she’d have men, but she also wouldn’t mind having a snack cucumber wielding lady at her bedside. “Sometimes,” she said, with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “I’d rather take my pleasure from a snack cucumber.” She winked at Vee, even if she knew that would lead nowhere. It was too fun to flirt with people.

"I'm not asking you to be less, and fuck anyone who does," Veda argued vehemently. Her friend was over the top in all of the best ways and she'd never want to see her diminish her light. She just thought Vanathi was light enough as it was and couldn't imagine her being even more over the top than she already was.

An unladylike snort left the tavern owner at the continued innuendo, shaking her head slightly even as she chuckled. "I'm not entirely certain how many would fit, m'dear. And I have no interest in discovering such a thing. Who needs snack cucumbers when you can have men?"

[djinnoffire]

Eons. Eons was a long time, longer than Notelaih had been around, as far as he knew. But that would make it even harder to find a curse, it could perhaps be so ingrained in the ground by now that nothing would be capable of breaking it. He wondered if his Djinn fire would be enough to subdue it. If it was ancient, it would be stronger than him, if it was merely consequential, he could at least stave it off long enough for the trigger to end and calm to return. All he had to do was save the structure and the people within the complex, should any remain. To beg the fire not to burn the wood or anything else, to merely rage within the area. 

“It would depend on what I end up doing,” he assured her. “But I do not ask much, provide me with a few drinks while I am here that night, and we will discuss a good price after.”

"I'll keep that in mind the next time I need something that someone is ... unwilling to give away," the owner chuckled, grabbing a heel of bread for herself lest she get dizzy from running around so much. It also allowed her more time to evaluate the djinn before her and how genuine the offer was. Veda tended to trust people who appeared trustworthy unless they'd proved otherwise. And given that his name nor his kind hadn't reached her ears yet -- she was inclined to believe him.

It was good that Noteliah was familiar with curses because as a human, she objectively was not. "Consequences that we've been dealing with for eons," she sighed, a little disappointed that he would not be able to find out what had motivated the curse in the first place. But the sigh was followed by a smile at the djinn. "Anything you'd require of me for either? I'm willing to pay if it's that. Just don't," she teasingly warned. "Think you can overcharge me for such services."

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih enjoyed chaotic places, while used to very pristine and organised, but also lavishly decorated, ballrooms, mansions, and courtyards, it was the opposite that he wished to see. For he was a being of fire, and fire knew not how to be bound, it was chaos itself. His heart radiated with places like these. 

And thus watching Vee work and call out people around the place made him smile. He enjoyed the bickering, the serving, the drink that flowed. 

He was not sure what look he gave, for he was smiling still as the attention of the bar’s owner reached his. “I’d appreciate a beer,” he decided. He found he was not so well versed in owners of places who used vulgarity and harsh words, but the place was still standing - and continued to be rebuilt - so it must be working for her.

busy | open starter

The tavern was packed and two of her employees had failed to show up for their shift. Which led to a somewhat frazzled Vee, even if she didn't show it outside of having a shorter temper and less patience than usual. The human was winding through the main room, dropping off refills and picking up glasses and food remnants. One blessing for the day - at least Cookie showed up. That man's job was the only one Veda couldn't do herself.

"Callaghan! Sit down before you fall down," she called out loud enough to be heard over the crowd as she slipped past table after table. "Oakenfold! I swear on all of Withermore that if you put one more scorch mark on my table, you'll be tied to it until it fades. Vallance! Grab her ass again and I'll personally provide her a cleaver to cut off your hand."

Vee made it behind the bar, handling the dirty mugs as she visually checked in with those seated before her. There was one that hadn't been there her last circuit, wiping her hands on an already dirty rag before approaching with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, don't give me that look. Someone's got to keep them in line to keep this place from devolving into a warzone. What can I get you? In case you haven't noticed, we're short staffed tonight. So you can fuck right off if you want anything that doesn't come from a bottle or a barrel."

[thevaaniiofcrirtha]

Vanathi made a face, big puppy eyes staring back at Vee. "Everyone wants me to be less? Is this what you are saying? I do not believe it, I'm simply great company, and I could be better company. This is why everyone is always yelling at me to drink more." Also growing up at court, the Vaanii should know what incorrigible meant, but they had zero clue, so they figured something fancy and probably something they wished to be.

Biting her lower lip, she considered the offer, staring back through the store to see if she could spot her boss, not that they actually cared that much how much Vanathi sold: despite having a big mouth, she was always on time, always had a smile on her face, and could be expected to do some heavy lifting from time to time - lots of heavy lifting, courtesy of her ring.

"How many do you think will fit?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"No, Vanathi, not what I'm asking for," the human teased with a chuckle at her friend's boisterous laugh. "Not what anyone is asking for. You're absolutely incorrigible."

It didn't stop her from taking another small bite of the snack cucumber. Veda would probably buy a few if anything to make Vanathi's day a little brighter -- not that it seemed she needed brightening at the very unsubtle double innuendo thrown Vee's way. She pretended to think about it as she crunched the vegetable. "I might have to go with the snack cucumbers." Having her cervix punched repeatedly by longer men wasn't exactly her favorite pastime. "How many do I need to buy to keep you out of trouble?"

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih smiled. "Alas, it does," he said. Perhaps not with everyone, but people inheritely wished to be of some importance to others. To be seen, to be acknowledged, to be treated as beautiful or pretty or handsome or exceptional. He wished to brighten up people's days and not make them possibly hate him if he said something that could be considered rude.

The Djinn smiled.

"Perhaps an option three is available," he suggested. Though he'd have to move things around a bit to be present at the tavern the whole evening. He did hope he could figure out if there was a curse, but knew with some certainty that it would only present itself when it needed. "I cannot say that," he answered. "Very few curses leave intentions, only consequences. But I'd be able to stop it if it's a Djinn curse. And else I'd be able to tame the flames quickly if I were at the right spot at the right time," he promised. There were very few fires he'd faced that he couldn't control.

"Kindness and compliments, you say? I can't imagine that gets you very far in Destarin," the tavern owner teased with a small grin. In truth, as rowdy as the place could get, she liked to think everyone had a place in the bar. Quiet and grumpy to boisterous and loud and everything in between. Veda liked to think she knew how to handle them all. Perhaps the tavern's longevity in the city could be attributed to that.

Or not. One brow rose at the mention of a curse. It had never occurred to her before, but that wasn't too surprising considering she had no direct access to magic herself. "Can I go with option three and ask for both? I have a berserker and another human who will be helping out for the Strawberry Moon but to have a fire djinn? I might be able to breathe that night. But ... a curse. Of course there's a curse. It would explain so much, but why curse this place? Who pissed who off?"

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih smiled. He didn’t look around at the others who raised their hands, instead his eyes turned a blue colour, magical and bright, as he blinked back at her. “I can assure you,” he stated. “I’m not one who easily falls into trouble, I'm more one for sharing kindness,” he shared. “And compliments, perhaps this is not a place for me, but I figured I should give it a try.” He’d been a servant in grand places for such a long time, he didn’t often think about what it was like to share in the jolly of those who drank alcohol and danced the night away. He hadn’t always been as subdued, but perhaps it was his age. 

He frowned, but was not swayed. “A friend of mine who is much better known in this town. She told me of a curse upon this establishment that has everything to do with fire. I figured perhaps I could be of some assistance. I am a Djinn of Fire, and either I can find whether one of my kind has placed this curse upon this location, or I could offer my knowledge of fire during the Strawberry moon,” he offered. 

"And I'm just to take you on your word?' she teased before raising her voice, impressively loud over the din of the tavern. "Raise your hand if you're a troublemaker!" Almost in unison, all of her regulars raised their arms in the air. "Atta boys and girls," she called back before lowering her voice so that only Notelaih and others around the bar could hear her words. "It does still cost extra, but they happily pay it for the opportunity to get into some booze-soaked trouble." Veda ginned, clearly in a cheerful mood despite just how run ragged she felt. Better to be run ragged and busy than quiet with no coin changing hands.

At the djinn's words, she tilted her head as if in confusion. "Who told you that? Liars, the lot of them," the tavern owner joked. "Can't trust a soul in this city." Though the idea that she needed fire protection only once a year was amusing. Fires could happen at any time, but with the Strawberry Moon approaching, it felt more likely to happen than not.

"Okay fine, yes, but it comes with the territory of owning the place. It's burned down twice in my life, but not since Duarte passed, which makes me feel like it's coming due."

[djinnoffire]

Notelaih placed a hand on his heart. "I'd never," he assured her. Though never would not be as truthful, given that if someone paid him to place the evil eye on Veda, he would perhaps comply, though with what he'd heard about the place, it might already have on. Though he could not locate whether it was upon her. Djinn magic was vibrant, but it was not always as strong or persistent.

He chuckled at the mention of the meat and the one it might be. He was not much of an eater in general, sure he needed to be sustained at times, but some days flames were enough. Beer at least was something he could appreciate, it was not just water, it carried fewer diseases and had a better taste.

"No, I'm not here to take food," he told her. "A friend of mine has told me about a particular problem you have been having once a year," he said.

busy | notelaih & veda

@djinnoffire:

Notelaih enjoyed chaotic places, while used to very pristine and organised, but also lavishly decorated, ballrooms, mansions, and courtyards, it was the opposite that he wished to see. For he was a being of fire, and fire knew not how to be bound, it was chaos itself. His heart radiated with places like these.  And thus watching Vee work and call out people around the place made him smile. He enjoyed the bickering, the serving, the drink that flowed.  He was not sure what look he gave, for he was smiling still as the attention of the bar’s owner reached his. “I’d appreciate a beer,” he decided. He found he was not so well versed in owners of places who used vulgarity and harsh words, but the place was still standing - and continued to be rebuilt - so it must be working for her.

.

The owner's tone might have been sharp with those she'd been chastising, but in truth she adored all of her regulars in her own way. Corrections were made in the interest of keeping the relative peace of the tavern, but were lovingly given all the same. It wouldn't feel like the bar she grew up in without a little chaos, after all. Which, judging by Notelaih's smile, was appreciated by more than just herself.

At the request, Veda turned to draught a mug of beer for the djinn and pushed it over to him with something of a smirk on her face. "Just the beer? You're not looking to cause me even more trouble, are you? Because we're full up on trouble and that'll cost you extra. A bit of serenity, however ... well, it'll still cost you, just nothing extra. We also have an excellent stew and meat pies thanks to Cookie. Just don't ask me what meat it is; I don't ask, and he doesn't tell me."