David returns her embrace comfortably, hugging her tightly but not too roughly, and replied; "Aye, stop by again if you need a roof over your head. I'm still trying to get your clothes clean for you, and I'm sure that Tom will want to thank you himself when he wakes up." He said, and then led her to the exit of the church, letting her out and then waiting until she'd walked away before softly shutting the door.
Outside, the city guard were already doing their final rounds around the city as dusk set in. A few vagabonds skulked about as well, and Pale had the same choice as last night, either to hunt the bars or the alleyways for a meal, and find another place to rest throughout the day if she didn't want to come back to the church.
After wandering the streets for a while, Pale decides to visit a tavern. Perhaps she'd get lucky again and find someone foolish enough to try to bother her...
As taverns went, Lockacre had a lot of options available. The upscale establishments in the Northern part of the city would be the safest, but would also force Pale to actively search out her nightly meal, probably in the form of some poor soul she managed to seduce. The poorer section of the city where she'd hunted the previous night, meanwhile, would offer a greater chance of someone mistaking her for a defenseless young woman to prey upon, which would be an easier if less satisfying method of obtaining her meal. Of course, normal taverns weren't her only option, as the gambling parlors would still be open for some time after dark, and she could feasibly find either source of prey in such a place. As it was, the streets were still safe enough, for the moment at least, as the guards had just begun their nightly rounds and the change of the watch wasn't set for at least an hour after dark.
Humming quietly to herself, Pale heads to one of the better taverns. Perhaps she could seduce someone, or let herself get seduced. Once inside she would head straight to the bar to get a cup of wine before looking for someone suitably lonely.
Heading toward the more upscale districts of Lockacre, Pale eventually ducked into the 'Jester's Cap' in search of prey. It was a lesser known place, more popular among upscale merchants and the like than true nobility, but that meant that Pale's comparatively shabby appearance would only earn a slightly derogatory glance from the guards standing outside of the place. Or at least, it normally would have earned her their glare, but today they simply nodded respectfully in her direction as she passed by them and entered the tavern.
Inside, it was a far cry from the noisy, rowdy bustle that marked the lower class tavern, but a minstrel in the far corner of the room at least kept the place from devolving into a dozen or so whispered conversations. There were two dozen tables of varying sizes most of which were at least partially occupied already, as well as the bar itself which stood opposite the door and had a dozen or so people seated on stools sitting in front of it. Pale drew a bit of attention as she crossed the room, several gazes lingering on her as she approached the bar, and the woman standing behind it immediately came over to serve her as soon as she reached it.
When she asked for a glass of wine, the woman nodded and said; "Of course, priestess. We've got Alvarien Common in full stock, but we've just opened a bottle of Thunderhead if you'd prefer something more refined." Alvarien Common was cheap but serviceable wine, the same stuff that she'd had the previous night, while Thunderhead was better but also extremely potent, and was also fairly famous for the nasty hangovers that it often induced in its drinkers. Being a vampire, Pale was largely immune or at least highly resistant to the effects of alcohol so she wouldn't have anything to worry about, but in a place like this what one chose to drink was a statement in and of itself. The common wine was priced at 2 denarii, while the Thunderhead was 5 denarii for a glass.
Regardless of her choice in drinks, Pale's scan of the room showed a handful of potential prospects for her nightly meal. A man sat alone at a table in the corner, his face hidden beneath a dark cloak even as he sipped the mug sitting in front of him. He wasn't looking at Pale so she couldn't get a good look at his face from where she sat, but he was alone and judging by the way that he was swaying about was probably already fairly drunk. There were three courtesans in the tavern as well, but two of them were already sitting in the laps of men who looked quite happy with their current company. The third was eying a table near to the minstrel's stage at which two men and a woman were currently seated, having a whispered conversation with their heads held low. The woman at the table was wearing a guard's uniform with the insignia removed, indicating that she was off duty, and it was her that was drawing much of the courtesan's attention. If Pale wanted the courtesan for herself, she'd probably have to move quickly. A trio of men were also an option, and they were the loudest bunch in the tavern as they laughed and sang along with the minstrel. It would likely take very little effort on her part for Pale to slip into one of their laps much as the courtesan's had and earn her meal that way. Finally, a figure similar to the first sat at the bar, wrapped in a hooded robe so that Pale couldn't determine their sex. They were sipping a glass of wine, and the stools on either side of them were empty, though perhaps there was a good reason for that. She'd have to investigate to find out for sure.
After handing over the required coins, Pale turns to take a look at the clientele. After a calculated look around the tavern, she heads to the table with the single man. Her hips swaying as she walks, she sits down on a chair next to him, looking at the minstrel rather than the hooded man. "A cool night."
"Of course, priestess." The barkeep quickly poured Pale her drink, and after that she sauntered over to the lone hooded man. He stirred slightly from his drink as she sat in the chair opposite him, lowering his mug down onto the table with a nearly silent thump. "A tad too cold for my tastes," the main replied evenly. His voice was quiet and smooth, and he possessed an accent that Pale had never heard before. As she watched, the minstrel started playing a slower song, and a couple of people began to dance jovially despite the somewhat muted atmosphere.
Pale had never danced very much, but she did like watching it as she sipped her wine, still not looking at the man as her foot starts to quietly tap to the rhythm. As if by accident, her hand comes to lie on the table near the man's.
The man sits quietly next to her for a moment, his eyes resting on her rather than the dancers as he sips his drink. After a moment, however, he sets his mug down and gently takes her hand, pulling back his hood to reveal a tanned face as well as he rises, smoothly saying; "May I have this dance, priestess?"
Pale allows herself be pulled up and smiles at the man as she lowers her glass at the table. "Gladly." As the man leads Pale to the dance floor, Pale follows his lead, her legs carefully moving to the rhythm, though her inexperience at dancing must be showing. Still, she keeps smiling at the man. "I'm called Pale."
The stranger delicately pulled Pale to her feet and sauntered towards the middle of the floor, where the other couples or groups were dancing to the slow tune played by the minstrel. Pale recognized the song, and knew that it was a long one, but not a particularly energetic one either, and as such the dance that the stranger began was a slow and relatively simple one that nonetheless involved a lot of contact between partners. "..... Carlos," he replied politely, his voice still silky smooth as a confident smile laid claim to his expression.
As they danced together, the robes that she wore offering her no hindrance as they'd been designed to allow their wearer to fight in them if need be, Carlos said; "What brings a beautiful creature such as yourself out into the night alone, Pale?" A particularly difficult move in the dance almost caused her to stumble, but even though she recovered on her own he pulled her toward him, which also resulted in her back pressing against the front of his body. She could feel his warm breath on the side of her neck as he quietly said; "Not a dancer.... But still agile, I see!"
As Pale is about to answer Carlos, she manages to mix the steps and stumbles slighty, only to fall in the opposite direction against him. Barely suppressing an oath, she also bites back a snappy reply that comes to her mind. Turning her head Pale answers with her usual quiet voice: "I just thought I'd spend some time relaxing. I have a few harsh days behind me."
"Mmmmm... We have something in common then," Carlos said, his voice sounding more serious as he resumed the normal steps of the simple dance. After another few minutes, the song ended to a round of polite applause from those nearest the minstrels, Carlos joining in. The minstrel then started up a slightly faster tune, and Carlos glanced at Pale inquisitively.
Just as Pale is starting to feel more confident in her dancing skills, the song comes to an end. She applauds with the others, and answers the unasked question with a promising smile and an outstretched hand.
Smiling in return, Carlos took Pale's hand and set about a faster, more energetic dance that took more concentration. She didn't stumble this time despite the increased pace of the dance, and within a few minutes of fairly energetic dancing it was over. Another round of applause from the larger crowd of dancers, which Carlos joined in on, before the man stepped down from the stand to take a break. As the musician stepped over to the bar, where several people were vying for the right to buy their entertainer a drink, Carlos said; "That was entertaining, I haven't had the opportunity to dance for a long time. So, back to our table? Or would you prefer someplace more private?"
The dance goes better this time, and Pale's feet seem to move almost of their own accord in the complex patterns. When the dance is over, Pale smiles widely, looking the man into his eyes. As she hears the question, Pale leans towards the man before answering in a purring voice: "I don't think I care to drink any more wine, how about you?"
Carlos smiled in turn, his dark eyes shining in the relatively dimly lit tavern, and said; "I think I've had enough as well, yes. But what ever shall we do now? It seems that we've run out of music. I have a room upstairs, if you'd care for more... Private, refreshments."
Pale's eyes sparkle mischievously as she offers her arm to the man. "I would indeed like some...private refreshments." the vampire answers in amused tone.
Taking Pale's arm in his own, Carlos strode confidently over to the stairs and led her up, down the hall and into a private room. There was a wide feather bed and a small ice chest containing a few bottles of wine, as well as a large chair with comfortable looking cushions on it. "It's not bad, really. I've certainly had worse arrangements, but enough about that," the man said as he closed the door. Stepping toward Pale, he wrapped an arm around her lower back, swiftly getting more intimate with her as he led her toward the bed, but not continuing if she tried to push him away.
Pale allows herself to be led to Carlos' room and manages to take a look before Carlos wraps his arms around her. The vampire doesn't push the man away, but neither does she hurry him along, simply letting him do as he pleases.
