Gregory
*Melody would find herself relaxing in one of the seats within the tavern, her centaur half replaced with Macen legs in her finding it much easier to find a seat inside this way. It had been a long day of patrolling and, as she had decided to visit the marketplace later, she figured the tavern wouldn't be such a bad place to get a nice dinner before returning home. A waiter would make their way over, bringing her a sort of fruit drink before whatever meal it was she ordered. She'd thank them, taking a sip from the glass in finding herself silently watching the other patrons. It was only a few weeks ago that she had moved here and even now she couldn't help but people watch from time to time in meeting all kinds of people here.*
Eric
*Travelling was somewhere between exciting and annoying to Jikou.* 

*As the young woman made her way into the tavern she found herself assaulted by noise and light that contrasted harshly with the softening sky outside. Gritting her teeth, the woman pushed her way in, her sailors clothing and weapons warning off anyone attempting to flirt with her as she looked for and failed to find any of her crew. She cursed in her native language at failing to find them, instead forced to find a seat near the bar as she glanced over the crowd and did her best not to look as though her primary source of income was violence. Perhaps a glass of tea would help her calm down.*
Gregory
*Melody would silently watch as the woman would make her way into the tavern, coming to sit at the bar that wasn't too far from where Melody was sitting. From looks alone, it seemed like this woman wasn't wanting to be bothered, though Melody had to admit it was one of her first times seeing an Oni out here. She'd tilt her head back curiously, offering a light wave to the woman.*"Hello there."*She'd say, her more calm a major contrast to Jikouji's current annoyance.*
Eric
*As Jikou ordered her tea she did her best not to look around the room a second time, no reason to draw too much attention when she was the only Oni in sight anyways. At Melody's sudden statement the woman just shy of leapt from her seat, head whipping around to face the woman. She really needed to tamp down those instincts, she chided herself with the faintest of blushes as she felt the cup of tea push against her hand.* 

"Can I help you?" *The woman asked with the faintest hint of hautiness, raising the cup of tea to her lips and grimacing at the foreign taste. She should have known this far west they wouldn't know how to make it right. Served her right for trusting a random inn keeper. Regardless, she had to focus on Melody instead, studying the centaur with macen legs and moving to rest her free hand on her katana on instinct more than for actual violence.*
Gregory
*Melody would hold her hands up, mostly defensively in the woman's reaction to the greeting.*"Sorry. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. You just seemed to not be in the best of moods and I'd figure-"*She paused, watching the woman grimace upon receiving her tea. It probably was a bad idea to press her too hard.*"Well I figured you could use the company anyhow."*Her gaze would slowly lower to the hilt of the weapon she kept her hand on, soon saying:*"Company you aren't preferring to kill that is." *She kept it as a mental note, the enforcer side of her reminding her to keep ready in case things went south with the pestered woman. She didn't want to start anything in the tavern, things never ended well with such.*"I'm Melody. What might your name be miss?"
Eric
*Jikou forced herself to calm down as Melody raised her hands, reminding herself where she was and that unlike in Amongko things weren't lawless here. Sighing, the woman half turned towards Melody, sipping from her tea as she talked. She blushed in embarrasement as the woman's eyes drifted towards her hand, removing it from the hilt and shaking her head as she swallowed another sip of the tea.* "Hardly worth the trouble to kill anyone here anyways." *She grumbled more to herself than Melody.* "Jikouji, Jikou works fine." *She said with a surprisingly faint accent.* "Just stopping through here I'm told."
Gregory
"Nice to meet you Jikouji."*She'd say with a light dip of her head. Melody could tell she must have been foreign what with her accent and lack of being able to relax. That or something had happened in her past to make her that way. Either way, Melody figured at least one of them would have to be more calm so she was willing to do such.*"Stopping through? Where are you headed?"*She'd ask more curiously, raising the glass to her mouth as she'd sip from her drink in waiting of an answer.*
Eric
*As Melody nodded to her Jikouji turned back towards the bar, glancing around at others in the tavern as she took another sip of the tea. Why was she bothering with the drink. Apparently they weren't done discussing yet though, and she turned back to fully face Melody with a sigh, moving her hand to her belt loop to keep it from straying towards her weapons again.* "Here, there. Trading and escort along the coast. My business is just keeping the crew in line and helping when required. Captain doesn't share what we don't need."
Gregory
"Oh so you work more along the sea?"*She'd ask, watching her sip from the tea after the initial grimace of it.*"Would you like to try what I'm having?"*She'd eventually ask her in reference to her own drink.*"It probably won't carry the same flavor of what you're drinking, but it has a nice sweet taste to it if you care for something different."
Eric
*Jikouji nodded at Melody's question, not bothering to add anything to along the sea. In her mind being armed to the teeth should probably have been a dead giveaway, then again, it seemed many people in this inn were. Perhaps she should have listened more closely when the captain was trying to bring her up on current events in the area.* "I suppose it can't be any worse than this affront to tea." *She said after a moment's hesitation, setting her cup down and holding her hand out as if for Melody's glass.*
Gregory
*Melody would open her mouth, about to say that she could just order the woman her own one, but seeing as she was nearly finished with it anyways, she would silently give up the glass for the woman to enjoy to her own leisure. Melody would slide the drink over, merely sitting in waiting for a moment for the woman to give it a try as it seemed she wasn't too keen on Melody asking her questions.*
Eric
*Mindless of her misunderstanding of the woman's meaning, Jikou raised the glass to her nose, lips curling in what was likely confusion and possibly disdain as she sniffed at the strange drink. Then she took a sip, letting it roll around in her mouth as she considered it for frankly far too long.* "Better than their tea." *She said after long consideration, setting the now empty glass down and flagging the tender over to order herself and Melody new glasses.*
Gregory
"Glad you like it."*She'd say with a light smile. Melody decided to take that as the drink being good enough in her eyes with her finishing what was left. Well she hadn't spit it out yet at least anyways.*"Is this your first time visiting a tavern here?"*She'd ask.*
Eric
*While not quite smiling, Jikou did seem to be warming up to Melody, as much as someone could after meeting in a tavern in a foreign country. She wasn't quite smiling but she at least wasn't checking the woman for signs of literally stabbing her in the back as their new drinks were delivered.* "First time this far West." *She admitted after a moment's hesitation, raising the new drink to her lips with less indignation than before.*
Gregory
*Melody would take her own new glass, deciding one more drink wouldn't be so bad for the day before she had to eventually head back home.*"It is? Well there's quite a lot of countries further West if you're much of a traveler."*Seeing as Melody came from Mentia, the idea that anywhere in Salvainia would be considered far west was strange in her eyes.*
Eric
*Jikouji swirling her glass, watching the fruity concoction spin as Melody talked before yet again looking over the room for either threats or her crewmen.* "And north and south and east as well." *Jikou noted before taking another sip.* "I prefer somewhere I can see the water, but with the chaos in your lands it seems much will happen away from it."
Gregory
"Well I don't know about any countries further East, but yeah you have it pretty much on the dot. You can most likely travel North and follow the coastline around to the East, but I'm guessing things must not be going so well in your homelands?"*She'd question.*
Eric
*A thin face that may well have been a smirk crossed Jikouji's lips at Melody's agreement, preening? Perhaps, but she seemed to appreciate the minor bump to her self worth. At the mention of her homeland she practically scoffed and took a much deeper drink from her glass.* "Amongko," *She said derisively.* "Is the same it has been for hundreds of yours. Your foreign wars simply pay better."
Gregory
"I guess I can understand that. You see I'm from North Mentia. It seems like my country is always at war. I've tried to help with efforts in enforcement work around smaller towns, but came here for better opportunities."*She'd take a sip of her own drink, relishing it slightly less than the first one, but still finding it enjoyable either way.*"What are things like in your home country?"
Eric
*Jikou was suddenly aware of just how different her life was from Melody's. Where Jikou, when presented with blatant crime dove into it willingly, it seemed Melody had gone the opposite direction.* "Amongko has long degenerated past open combat save on the water." *She said simply, really not wrong considering how much fighting between the lords was based on navies.* "Avoid sailing past if you can."
Gregory
"Hmm..."*She would hum quietly.*"Well I'll try my best. I mainly plan on staying in Salvainia for the most part, but with my new job at the guild, there's not telling where I'd be needed if it's somewhere outside of this country."*The Centaur would gradually sip the rest of her drink, sliding her empty glass out in front of her for the bartender to collect.*"But if it's just as good... I'll try to be careful around there, how's that sound?"
Eric
*As Melody was finishing her drink Jikou finished hers, sliding it next to the Centaur's and studying the bartender as he bustled past them.* "Likely enough to at least not be cornered in any given alleyway." *The sailor concedes, studying her nails before sighing and turning back to face the door.* "I should hunt down my compatriots, they should have beaten me here."
Gregory
*She'd give an understanding dip of her head.*"I wish you luck with finding them."*Melody would say.*"Oh hey, and if you ever get some free time, you should check out the city more. There's a lot of things to explore here outside of this tavern. Just, consider it an escape from the troubles of your hometown if ever need be."
Eric
"I... Appreciate the recommendation." *Jikou said, pushing herself from her stool and shifting weapons and gear around on her person from where sitting had pushed them to the sides.* "Fair winds and light waves to you." *She said, a traditional sailors greeting or something to that effect as she made her way towards the door, pausing once to look back at Melody before turning and pulling the door closed behind her.*