Norin's world view was fueled by prejudice, the prejudice directed at him for his mixed blood. He could admit it was a bit of a victim complex but at the same time, he didn't feel sorry for himself. He directed his displeasure outward, coloring his perceptions of other people. In truth, not everyone cared about or even noticed his mixed heritage. Some people were too busy to think about it, concerned with their own lives. Others perhaps didn't grow up with the racial divide between humans and elves. But Norin certainly had a chip on his shoulder and was ready to believe almost everyone was a little bit racist. He didn't have enough life experience to realize how flawed his world view was, not yet anyway.<br/><br/>The Black Company merc who was giving him the stink eye seemed suddenly distracted, his gaze moving to the side as Norin heard someone ambling up to the bar on the other side of him. He assumed from the sound of the footfalls that it was man but when they spoke, he was surprised to hear a woman's voice, albeit with a somewhat rough, baritone sound to it.<br/><br/>He turned, leaning on the counter as his eyes took in the orc female. Any snide retort he had was lost on his lips as he got a look at her. She was a far cry from the immaculate beauty of a high elf woman but hers was almost more striking. A mass of green muscle slipped into the harsh lines and points of orcish armor, a tangled mane of braided black hair, iron jewelry and the animalian white tusks jutting from a slightly protruding jaw that still somehow didn't overshadow a pair of full green lips.<br/><br/>Norin had inherited enough elfin beauty from his mother to be pleasing to the ladies and he'd had his share of women. But they had all been human... and one dwarf, and he'd always had several inches on them. He couldn't help a brief flash of fantasy running through his mind as he tilted his head up to gaze into her face, a good foot taller than him.<br/><br/>His hesitation lasted only a breath and he soon pulled his surprised expression into a roguish sneer. "Black Company mercs look down on freelancers like me. I've had some run ins with them before. We didn't part as friends. But I'm thinking this time it's just good old fashioned racism." He pointed at his ears, mostly rounded but with definite points at their apex. His smile also revealed very even teeth with no canines, a sure sign of elvish blood.<br/><br/>"Rare to see an orc traveling alone," he commented. "Your kind normally travel with a warband." He was mostly making conversation but he was also trying to confirm that her husband or lover wasn't outside tending the horses or something. Hitting on orcish females could be dangerous in that respect. The males held grudges. Or so he'd heard.