Christina
*Time passes and we rejoin our intrepid adventurers some time later...*

Ves wasn't sure how she felt about his words. She didn't want him to forfeit his life for hers. But she sensed that there was no point in protesting. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his, and smiled despite her misgivings. His laughter made her tingle. She liked the sound of his joy. She wanted to hear more of it.

There was the sudden sound of knocking on the door and Ves jerked in alarm. She sat up in bed, looking towards the heavy wooden frame. Who was that? Were they expecting someone? Wait... Yes. They actually were. The barkeeper had said he would send up the meals once they were ready. How long had their love-making lasted? Time had seemed to blur as Ves had lost herself in his embrace. 

Ves scooted her way off the bed and grabbed the nearby towel, wrapping it around her lithe frame. She padded across the room and approached the door quietly. She would have checked the peep hole had she been tall enough. Instead she pressed an ear against it and listened closely. It didn't sound like anyone was out there. Unlocking the door, she opened it very slightly and glanced outside. On the floor were two covered plates and a note. Ves picked up the food and the piece of paper and retreated back inside, locking the door behind her.

"Our food is here. And they left us a note also. Can you read it?" She asked as she set the food down on the bed. She climbed back up and uncovered the first plate, revealing a large oven roasted fish, a heaping pile of potatoes, and carrots. Ves' stomach growled at the sight and she smiled brightly. The food looked wonderful.

Ves handed the note over to Björn. It was a simple hand-written invoice that had 'noise complaint' circled with a cost associated with it. Ves looked at the Goliath expectantly as she picked up a carrot and took a bite, innocently clueless.

||
John
*Björn jolted up as he heard the door go, his hand landed on the handle of his stolen axe before seeing Ves towel herself and plop over to the door. He sighed and shook his head, giving him the time to make himself decent. Back in a dressed down version of his outfit, he stood up and looked to her.* "What is it?"

*The smell... Gods the smell! What was that?! That was food?? Björn didn't even realise he was drooling! He stared at it, mouth slightly agape with shock at the sensations hitting his nose - it was borderline overstimulating! Sure, be had smelt food before, tasted travel rations too but not this. He had heard of this but only once; seasoning! It was some kind of alchemical thing that made food better. Magic crystals called Salt and powdered Drow skin called Pepper... He salivated as he opened up his plate, revealing the same dish.*

*He didn't even manage to contain himself, he grabbed a fistful of potatoes and shoved them into his face hole with gusto, chewing openly loudly. He licked and sucked his fingers, savoring the buttery taste and fluffy interior. A tear rolled down his face.* "This is... Beautiful!" *He had never yelled with joy like that! His entire mood lifted like a crowd after a beheading.*

*He noticed Ves and immediately stopped mid chew, he sorta just stared at her, then back to his messy hands and mouth and let out a small, food filled chuckle.* "Forgive me." *He swallowed his current mouthful and wiped his hands on the sheets before grabbing the note.* "Ah..." *His face became a deep shade of purple.* "That's... A fee for the noise complaints. From earlier." *He glanced out the window, how much time had passed?!*

||
Christina
Ves blinked as Björn began shoveling food with his bare hands. Potatoes disappeared off his plate and bits of it went everywhere. She chuckled lightly, her tail flicking back and forth. "There's no shame in enjoying a meal as good as this one," She grinned. She was actually pleased by his reaction. Had he even shouted that loudly during their mating?

She didn't seem in any particular rush to get dressed. She even offered Björn her towel to wipe his fingers on, letting it fall away from her slender body. At the realization of what the note said, her scales turned dark red. She wiggled a little, feeling very embarrassed. A noise complaint? So how many people had heard them? How many people now knew about her pleasure?

"How much is it?" She peered at the note blankly, not understanding money symbols either. When he told her, Ves shook her head a little. Despite her embarrassment she knew it was overpriced yet again. The barkeep was surely overcharging them because of her race. It wasn't fair, but what could be done? She didn't want to cause a scene.

Sitting cross-legged, Ves picked up her fork and knife and began to eat. She cut into the fish and took a bite, sighing in pleasure at the taste. Björn wasn't lying. It really *Was* Beautiful. Ves had never had a meal as good as this one. She was used to travel rations and whatever else she could manage to find. Maybe she was still basking in the afterglow, but everything in this moment felt perfect.

||
John
*Björn seemed to snarl at the prospect of paying for the noise. Why should they - well, she - pay for the noise when other people make noise too? He was bombarded with sound when he arrived! It's stupid, society is stupid, that shapeshifter was stupid! Björn felt himself getting angry, he proceeded to breathe deeply and soon calmed down. He would not let his emotions get the better of him... Even if he wanted to rip that Barkeep's head off.*

*At the same time, the food was worthy of the highest praise! He gratefully used Ves' towel to wipe his hands and even tried to dab his mouth with it! It was a sight to see to be sure. Björn grabbed the fish with both hands and proceeded to bite the head clean off, ripping at the scales with a silent yet hungry ferocity. It made him remember a fond memory from a time where he bit right through a Dragonborn's bicep and spat his own viscera in his face to blind him. The fish tasted much better than overgrown lizards did, that was not up for debate in the slightest... But he missed the gore secretly.*

*As he chewed, he pulled a bone from his mouth and proceeded to use it as a toothpick to get some scale from between his teeth.* "Thish isf breally hood!" *He spoke through the chewing, really impressed with the quality of food. It sparked something within him. Something deep inside he had never felt before... A passion! He swallowed before stating to Ves how he felt.* "This food... Someone made this. A man or woman or child cooked this fish, caught it, plated it... It tastes like nothing I've ever tasted before! If I was able to grant a wish, it would be to make food like this for people like us; the downtrodden, the framed and the escapees." *He spoke with a wonderful passion in his heart that showed there was some potential to the man before her. Potential beyond the Pits, even if it was a pipe dream... It was the first he had ever thought.*

||
Christina
Ves smiled warmly as she watched Björn enjoy his meal. He was a messy eater, but Ves was used to it. She had grown up around a whole pack of messy Kobold. Very few of her kind seemed to have manners. Ves was probably quite unusual in that aspect. She ate calmly and quietly, chewing with her mouth closed, enjoying the food in her own private way.

Her ears twitched at his words and her smile widened. She had never heard him so excited. "We can try cooking sometime!" She agreed. "We could buy our own fish and spices and try our hand at it. And we could even catch our own fish if we bought the proper nets. I know a little about gathering wild edible plants as well. We wouldn't have to keep eating dried rations. We could become regular chefs!"

The idea made her chuckle, but there was really no reason Björn's dream couldn't become a reality. Cooking wasn't too terribly hard, right? They just needed the proper supplies and a place to put them. And Ves supposed they also needed more money soon, especially if they were going to be charged with noise complaints every time they made love. How would they go about getting more? Thievery occurred to the Kobold, of course, but she was more interested in legitimate ways of collecting coin. Maybe with Björn's skills they could figure something out.

Finishing the last bite of food, Ves set her fork and knife down and covered the plate once again. Her own eyes were drawn to the window and she noted the fading light. It was early evening and Ves felt a little restless. "Do you want to go downstairs again? I think I want a drink and I suppose I need to settle our debts."

||
John
*Björn listened to her ramble on about fish and spices and survival lessons. He found it absolutely adorable. Her ramblings were something he looked forward to. Maybe he just liked learning absently from it or maybe something else like the sound of her voice. Either way, he made sure to enjoy it all.*

"Chefs... Thats what they're called? It would be fun to try." *He said between large licks of his already empty plate. As a dog, you learn to appreciate every morsel of food; no matter how disgusting or malnourished it is. That tendency stuck with Björn as he literally polished his plate. He had already done way before she noticed and he sat patiently waiting for her.*

"Sounds like a plan. However I have never drank. Keep that in mind. I barely got water, let alone grog." *Grog was a funny word. It was what the Orcs used to call their bubbling, foul alcohol that they drank from barrels with their hands, mouths pressed to the spigot or crude cups. He would soon learn more than just this horrid example, and formulate his own opinion.* "But first, you are getting dressed. You'd be the talk of the town going downstairs in less than a towel, I'd imagine."

||
Christina
Ves chuckled lightly and crossed over to the tub. She picked her clothes off the stool and began to get dressed again, stepping into her trousers carefully and adjusting her tail. She paused to reach into the tub and pulled the cork out, letting the dirty water pour down a drain in the floor. She then finished slipping on her clothes, adjusting her belt and pouch.

"That's okay. I don't drink very much either. Hopefully they have mead as well as ale," She replied. "Mead is my favorite. I've only had it once before, but it's really good. Sweet and light. I bet you'll like ale though. That's what most people prefer." 

She collected her money, figuring it was better to keep all the coin on them rather than leave it in the room. Just in case. She shut the wardrobe with its hidden compartment and returned to Björn's side. She motioned for him to draw near, then took the towel and carefully cleaned his greasy face and beard. "There. I think we're ready to face the crowds downstairs. Ready?"

The Kobold smiled warmly and took his hand in hers, then walked to the door. The tavern was far more crowded than before now that the sun had set. There was a dull murmur from below and the scent of fresh food wafted up the staircase. Ves squeezed his hand nervously as she headed down into the main room. 

||
John
*Björn turned away to button up his tunic and tighten his belt before throwing his furs over him. He gave them a sniff - still smells like mint! He then stood up and stretched, knowing this was the last time for a while he would be able to stand somewhat straight.*

"You're cute when you ramble, Ves. Do it more often." *He gave a low and small laugh before looking towards his axe... No he wouldn't need it. Not tonight. He had his own body as a weapon if he needed it.*

*He leaned near, expecting a kiss and got a face full of towel.* "Easy on the eyes!" *He winced and scrunched his face as she assaulted him with cloth. He looked at her and squeezed her hand slightly.* "I guess we will find out. Be brave, be strong, be together." *He added a bit on to his mantra, not sure how he felt about it.*

*They began to walk down the stairs, hand in hand as the room grew to a hushed volume. A few patrons looked over at the odd pair. Björn's calm face glared down at them as he rubbed his thumb on her hand... After a moment, the patrons returned to their original volume and ruckus.*

*He brought Ves to a table and sat her down.* "I'll be back with drinks and the debt payed. Your coin." *He seemed to be requesting her purse as he held his hand out, taking it with a nod of thanks and walking to the bar to pay and order.*

"Here. For the noise." *He slid across the audacious amount.* "And get me some mead. And an ale."

||
Christina
People stared openly as they descended the stairs. Ves should have been used to it by now. Yet with the 'noise complaint' fresh on her mind, she wondered what the people were thinking. Did they think her to be some kind of deviant? How loud had she actually screamed? The thought made her scales across her nose turn red.

Björn's intimidating presence eventually made them turn away again and Ves breathed a sigh of relief. They moved to a table and Ves handed him her coin purse, watching as he moved towards the bar counter. Her amber eyes reflected the firelight as she studied Björn's back, deep in thought.

The sound of a soft strumming distracted her, pulling her from her musing. She was more than a little surprised to see another Kobold sitting there by the fire, lute in hand, eyeing her. He flashed her a toothy grin when he met her surprised gaze and began to play a cheerful sea shanty.

The Shapeshifter barkeep looked up as Björn approached. He wiped his nose as he took the coins and sneered. **"No more of that, you understand? We don't need to know your 'business' with your Kobold. Her screams ran out a few of my regulars. Can't have that. So keep it quiet or you'll find yourselves sleeping on the street."** He turned his back to the Goliath and returned a moment later with two large mugs. Then he went back to cleaning the counter.