In a dimly lit basement in the middle of the Residential District, amidst travellers, mercenaries and the lingering smell of pipe smoke and stale sweat, Veri found herself enjoying the company of a variety of individuals. Sat crowded around tables of varying sizes the inhabitants amused themselves with dice and cards, spurred on into giving the owner more money by the ample supply of drink that he had acquired. She had momentarily recused herself from the game of cards she had been involved with to secure herself another pitcher of wine from the hairy arms of one of the halfling employees. It was simply to keep her mind occupied, but she still needed out of this damned city and there was a fat chance of an elf of all things getting through the gates without being arrested on suspicion of... something. She leant against the makeshift bar and waved the barman over, wordlessly thrusting her empty jug at him, and then leaning some more while he was off doing it. Smoke everywhere. Damn this city.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0080">Entering the establishment, Lilly, scanned the room. This was a place to get some muscle, cheaply. People here were at the bottom of the social order and thus had little way of a moral compass to keep them from getting most jobs done. All Lilly needed was to find someone who looked like they were in need or work and then go from there. Making her way to the bar she ordered a drink and then turned to look about the crowd. Noting a few potential faces here and there, before taking notice to the elf down the bar from her.<br/><br/>When the bartender arrived she took her drink and asked him a few questions. Apparently, she was off her game a bit because rather than get the usual amount of information she would get he appeared to be more pissed off than anything.  The short performance that she did, which was more along the lines of humming and singing a short tune just made the people know her a bit better but did not get the answers that she wanted or needed. Taking her drink she sipped on it and just watched the crowd.</span><br/><br/>Heh, bards. This one had been trying to wrangle information from the bartender for a good few minutes, irritating the stolid man all the more. She could certainly carry a tune though, even if the smoke made it almost impossible to breathe clearly in such a way as to make the most of it. As if by magic the empty jug she had relinquished earlier appeared next to her elbow, wondrously full. It couldn't have been magic though, right? She must have drunk more than enough already tonight if this was going on in her cranium. Shaking her head to clear the fuzziness, short black hair swishing into her eyes, she focussed on the bard again. Why was she here? Well, maybe she should ask her then. Veri grabbed the jug and sauntered over to the woman.<br/><br/>“Well, you buggered that up, eh?” She proffered the jug, making as if to refill the bard’s cup.<br/><br/>“Want some? I’ve had too much already.” Veri giggled before slamming her unruly mouth closed, internally cursing herself for losing her carefully crafted demeanour even if just for a second.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0080">Grinning, "Yeah well the smoke does not always agree with my voice. However, it was not terrible, though I'm not stuck trying to find some help and with no-one to ask for it."</span><br/><br/>Eyes widening, the she-elf sensed the blood in the water. Metaphorically speaking.<br/><br/>“Help? What kind of help? Need something found? Someone killed? Someone found and killed?” Her smirk widened,<br/><br/>“Need help scratching an itch? I’d do that one gratis.” Whatever reason in this world that caused her to wink at this woman, she couldn’t have been more disgusted with herself, if only momentarily.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0080">"Well, I may take you up on the offer another time, " she grinned. "But I need a guide. I don't have much, but I need a guide. I have a trip out of the city and need someone that knows the wilds better than me."</span><br/><br/>"A guide... out of the city? One who knows the wilds? This might just be your lucky day, girl! I'm a ranger by trade when I'm not pissing my earnings away anyway..." She turned pensive for a moment.<br/><br/>“Ah, bugger all that. Point is, I can do that. For the correct price obviously, but I’m willing to waive my premiums to get out of here.”<br/><br/>“What’s the job anyway? I like to know beforehand how much trouble I might be about to step into.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0080">"Just a simple escorting job. We get the client out and we get paid. I have 10 gold for you and passage from the city. What do you say?"</span><br/><br/>That raised an eyebrow. Ten gold?<br/><br/>“Ten gold? Not bad. Could have been better, but I’ll take it.” She took another swig of wine, pondering her options.<br/><br/>“Well, not like I’ll be able to leave here by myself anyway. Too suspicious according to some. All right, can do.” She spread her arms wide, a cheeky grin crossing her features.<br/><br/>“When and where do you want me?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0080">"In about a days time, there is a tavern," She gave directions. "I'll be there with the rest of our party. Until then," she slid a couple of pieces of silver over. "To pay for the rest of your evening drinks." Winking, she left the building to hunt down her next party member.</span><br/><br/>The silver clinked in Veri's hand as she picked it up. Huh, well... She was... nice? The table called to her again, the allure of alcohol and some risk drew her back. Her mind didn't leave the bard though. What an interesting human. Either she was going to hate her or they were going to end up best of friends. For a moment, Veri found herself wishing for the former. But only for a moment. She had a day to dry out after this, so she intended to make it count.