Lora
Solden tapped her fingers against her glass, surveying the tavern. Most of the patrons were men. Drunk, raucous men. She instinctively pulled her hood further over her face. 

Creaking and the sound of footsteps alerted Solden to the presence of another person. She glanced at the new person and saw a jackal in humanoid form. Turning away in disinterest, she took a sip, and pulled her sword a little closer just in case the stranger was looking for trouble. He sat down in the corner and called for what looked like ale. It seemed like he was the kind to stay for a while.
Thomas
One would not be able to so much see, but rather *Feel* The jackal's intense gaze on them, like a predator surveyed prey. The young macen girl would no be spared from that gaze, the unsettling sensation lurking right past the corner of her eye that one would so much prefer to ignore and pretend that is not there at all. 

The beastkin's cloaked figure gave away very little about him aside from the angular canine muzzle, clad in midnight black fur and tempered in a pair of deep scars; one on the top of his snout and another across his right eye, leaving it pallid and missing a pupil as if it had been severed by a past injury. Minutes passed of him savouring the liquor at a lasting pace before he called upon the middle-aged innkeeper with a subtle gesture. Muttering a few words to the dark elf, the man nodded and glanced over Solden's way briefly before parting. 

Few moments passed, the elven bartender would move towards the side the girl had been seated, offering a bowl of warm stew and honey mead to her. "Courtesy of the canifor gentleman to the corner," The dark elf stated with a soft smile before the subject of payment would come up. "He has only asked to make your company in turn while here, if you would kindly honor his request."
Lora
Solden straightened in her seat, eying the food suspiciously. She looked at the elf, and then the jackal. "Alright," She said slowly. Moving over to the corner, she pulled out a seat next to the jackal. The dark elf set the food down, and Solden murmured a word of thanks.

"You asked for my company," Solden said bluntly. "Why?"
Thomas
The jackal took a low sip of ale, eyeing her through the glass of his mug as the girl approached him. His expression bereft of any distinct emotion or intent has been uncanny to a fault.

"Lone young lass in a tavern by night is rarely a common sight, and even more rarely ends well." He stated with a deep, foreboding voice. 
"You must be either unfamiliar to the dangers lurking in such places, or confident enough in your skill to face them." He glanced over the sheathed blade at her hip, a smirk flickering on the edges of his muzzle before turning to look at the girl expectantly. The beast held no visible weapons of his own, but one could never be sure what was hidden beneath the blackened leather cloak.
Lora
Her eye twitched slightly at the smirk, and she let out something between a scoff and a laugh. 

"Don't I know it. I just come here for the alcohol. My sword will help if I run into any trouble." She shrugged.
Thomas
"Will it?" The jackal's tone lowered, seemingly unconvinced. "Alcohol turns men brazen, violent. There's only so much one blade will do to avert a group of them."

He took another sip of his ale, savouring the deep scent for a moment before baring his inquisitive gaze at the girl once more. His lips retracted briefly to flash his canines before continuing quietly. "Though if you do feel confident with yourself and a weapon, there are better ways to pass your time than a lousy tavern."
Lora
"If worse comes to worse, I can keep them off while I run." She shrugged, but then paused for a moment. "Better ways to pass my time?" Her eyes narrowed. "Such as...?"
Thomas
The beastkin raised a brow, placing his mug to the side and shifting his posture to lean his elbow over one knee. 
"Not from 'round here, are you? No, humans rarely trust dark elves enough to stay here for long. Can't say I blame 'em either, considering their 'oh-so-noble' relatives." The jackal scorned with a sardonic snarl at the mention of high elves, narrowing the slits in his one good red eye. "No, I believe you've come here for a reason... An opportunity that has little to do with liquor. And if it coin you're after, I believe I can provide."
Lora
Solden studied the beastkin. "I'm in no need of money." She said shortly. "I'm traveling, and while I may need to take up a few jobs here and there, I have no intention of staying too long."
Thomas
"That is your plan? Running from one odd job to another to make ends meet?" The jackal inquired, unconvinced. His voice was rough as gravel when raising it, even mildly. "What I offer is a chance to settle down and have a place you call home, if you will hear me out."
Lora
"...Alright, I'll hear you out. What's your offer?" She asked.
Thomas
"Thank you," The jackal half-heartedly before leaning back into his modest seat. 
"I have recently made a purchase in the city's outskirts. A quaint little estate really, and I'm in need of a steward to look after it while I'm away on... 'business'," He cleared his throat on that, arching an eyebrow. "One with discretion and passable skill with a blade would be most suitable for the job, if I can count on you to possess that."
Lora
"Business, huh." She thought for a second. "I say... No. Sorry, but I'm not looking to settle down in one place." She shrugged.
Thomas
"I see..." The jackal bemused, subtle disapproval in his tone. "S'ppose you're still young and wish to see the world for yourself. Ain't one to prevent you from that, I was no different back then."
He finished the mug of ale with a belated sigh, reaching under his cloak to procure a coin. The glint of gold was unmistakable as he flipped it into the air, landing on his armoured palm before letting it on the table in front of her. A peculiar scorpion pattern was engraved upon the coin's surface, sting raised in a combative position. 
"For your trouble," He muttered as he stood up, fixing the hood over his head. "If you ever change your mind, show this coin to the 'right' people, and you'll know where to find me."
Lora
She examined the coin, and took it. "Alright. Goodbye."
Thomas
"Farewell, may the shadow guide your path." 
The beastkin made a subtle bow, turning his way towards the exit, cloak waving behind him.