((Given it's been a week or so and noone seems interested in messing with the gambling ring, will move this along! ^_^ ))<br/><br/>Johan's little shoulder pat earns a coy grin from the mercenary anthro, Yumina's teeth baring in a far-too-toothy half smile "I'll remember that. Though, given the mornin', I guess I'll be trying to find me a bit more work around town. Bit on the broke side, and though my belly certainly ain't complainin'.." She gives her stomach a solid thump, earning a muffled groan from within. The slight twitch it evokes in the tightly stretched fur and flesh that covers the brother-sister pair makes her shiver slightly, her eyes slipping shut briefly "Nnf." Curling her tongue over her lips as if in reminiscence of the sibling's flavor, she affixes Johan with an intense gaze "Heh...well, maybe who's in it is, but as I was sayin'...stuff here ain't cheap, an' I doubt the ole' company will be doing much for a while. So, might as well find fresher fields, as it were. Always someone looking to be protected in a place like this. Or cargo needin' to be hauled...though I didn't see much in the way of ships in the harbor when we came in." Shrugging, she rests her hands upon her belly, lightly kneading the faint shapes of her dinner with her fingers "Work's work. Whatever comes up."<br/><br/>Alura's own observation draws a short laugh from the happily-filled feline, her tail lashing in mirth behind her "Y'didn't enjoy it as much as I did, trust me. Don't get lucky like this too often. Course, now..." Turning to Alura, Yumina eases a hand off of her belly and tucks it beneath the fairy's chin, giving a little stroke "...woulda almost been a shame. You're growing on me, I guess. Course, only ALMOST a shame..." It was hard to tell if she was joking or speaking in earnest, the toothy grin still stretched across her muzzle doing very little to show her intentions one way or the other "Anyway, like I said, you kinda took my coin, so hope you don't mind a roomie for the night. Will be gone first thing in the morning. Got m'sword, got m'armor, I'm set."<br/><br/>Anastasia, huddling between Alura and Meera, looked even more on edge than her sister. As well as she did in more 'natural' settings, towns - especially crowded ones - tended to not agree too terribly well with the smaller of the two fae "Um, it's okay..." She says sullenly, huddling so close to Meera that her cheek was pressed against the vaguely elfin shape still fruitlessly twitching in her stomach "Kinda...dirty. And there's too many people. M-maybe the water is nice?" She says hopefully, trying to ignore the faint, fishy scent that wafted on the breeze from the general direction of the docks. Digging around in her pouch, she produces a tiny berry which she immediately pops between her lips, her expression brightening just the slightest bit as she chews on the juicy treat, amongst the last she'd collected from their little foray into the forest towards the south and east of Port Tyval.<br/><br/>Meera, for the most part, appeared every bit as cheery as ever, a sort of lazy, dazed expression plastered upon her pretty face as her belly gave a deep, bassy *Grrrrgggggllleee*, eliciting a fresh bout of weakened squirms from the half-elf who'd had the misfortune of losing the little 'game' she'd played...willingly or not "Mm. Is not bad. They sell these little um...pie things on lotsa the corners. Never know whatcha gonna get. Sometimes it's fish! Sometimes it's...bird..stuff. Lotsa things. Sometimes, it's even good! Super cheap!" The cheery catgirl's words earn a faint eyeroll from Yumina, though she does not voice her opinions on the 'savory pies' or their dubious ingredients.<br/><br/>Cyria's own experience with the relative grim of the streets and buildings was colored by the ever-present hands of Anya, lightly stroking across her abdomen, massaging with skilled fingers as if to coax her stomach to digest the weakened lizardess within. It was...distracting in the extreme, even moreso when the still-living occupant of her tummy gives another half-hearted attempt at escape, the sensation of shifting weight in her backside (occasionally fiery enough to again put a little additional 'weight' against her more feminine portions, making her legs grow weak from the sudden intense rush of pleasure) only further adding to the difficulty with keeping up with the conversation. Anya's hands were skilled to say the very least, and every caress sent little goosebumps dancing along her upper half's skin. It wasn't too terribly often the drider got such a delightful meal, but the unfortunate lizard-girl was certainly making it worthwhile. Of course, by the end of the night, or at least the following morning, those little twitches and squirms would diminish in their entirety, ensuring she stayed well fed for at least the first portion of their little journey to...well, wherever they were headed next.<br/><br/>Sasara's own experience is not much less pleasant, Chrysanthemum walking at her side and - off and on - stroking a hand across the bulge of the half-blooded mage who ended up as her dinner. Though he was far less verbally protesting, every bit as quiet as when the group had initially met the bandits, every so often he gives a desperate little push against the slimy, acid-coated walls that surrounded him, trying fruitlessly to work his way up higher though her coils, and back out of her mouth. His struggles, though, proved to be for naught, as during the course of the little trip, the naga's hungry stomach had worked him down to the very base of where her belly ended, towards the upper potions of her lower third. Though his little fidgets were pleasant, what was even MORE pleasant was the tingle of magic she could feel ebbing from him as her digestive tract got fully under way trying to process him, a sensation that had only grown since the little confrontation and her initial taste of the feisty mage. It filled her with a warm, fuzzy feeling that was both pleasant and empowering, easily soothing the soreness that came from extended trips, especially over the relatively rough terrain outside of Tyval.<br/><br/>Casting a glance at the bound orc, who just gazes around sullenly, Naji gives her eyes - now wide open, given the sun had finally set and the amber rays of evening were all that remained - a little rub, blinking experimentally "Well, if we're ready, let's make our way to the Gilded Rose. Supposed to meet our contact there, and from there...I dunno. Rylee never does write enough in those little missives he sends out. Early in the morning, I'll take Meera--" She is silenced by a spirited "Yay!" and fistpump from the ever-cheerful feline that nearly makes her drop the wild-elf on her shoulders  "--...and go sell our excess and buy some basic supplies. Will go with a week of rations just to be on the safe side. Oughta be able to find something worth eating in this place, even if it costs a bit more. If you want anything for your personal use, I suggest you let me know tonight, or it'll be converted into coin by the morning. Place like this, I oughta be able to haggle out a decent enough price. Everyone is wanting weapons and armor, and if I cut shop prices by a bit, can likely sell it off on the quick."<br/><br/>Without further ado, the group makes their way towards the Gilded Rose, the finest (by comparison) Inn and Tavern port Tyval had to offer.<br/><br/><br/>************************************************************************************************<br/><br/>The 'Gilded Rose' was the prime meeting spot in all of Tyval. While there were other Inns, the establishment had earned a name as being a 'safe spot away from prying eyes'. Guards tended to avoid the place (leading to all sorts of illicit dealings), and rare were the fights that broke out INSIDE the establishment that were not dealt with swiftly and harshly. The exterior of the building matched the rest of the town - dreary and drab, with even the sign hanging loosely on a single chain, the majority of the lettering so worn it was difficult to decipher. Upon stepping inside, though, it was as if stepping into a whole new world. The varnished wood within veritably gleamed with cleanliness, it was well lit (save for a few shady spots with draw-curtains, suitable for 'business), and smelled vaguely of a mixture of alcohol both cheap and expensive mingled with lemon.<br/><br/>Upon stepping within, the group is immediately met by the place's bouncer, a anthro fox who was easily eight feet tall, perhaps more, an extreme anomaly amongst his kind. Despite his intimidating size, he wore a sort of lazy smile on his face that was both welcoming and disarming, and he held no weapons to speak of. A myriad of scars criss-crossed his bare chest and more than a few were upon his back, indicating he'd likely seen either the lashing end of a whip or had been in enough fights - and survived - to earn a few victory marks.<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://s32.photobucket.com/user/RylaMinora/media/Untitled_zpspg3v47ps.png.html"><img alt="Image" src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/RylaMinora/Untitled_zpspg3v47ps.png"/></a><br/><br/>A quick glance over the party (full stomachs included), and he ushers everyone inside, with only a single warning of "You draw weapons, be prepared to use them until your last. I'll have none of it. You got beef, take it outside." With that, he allows everyone to file past and into the establishment proper.<br/><br/><br/>The 'Gilded Rose' functioned as a tavern, Inn, and something of a brothel for those wishing to indulge their desires. Just about anything could be bought for the right price, and Lady Vashra - the owner - tended to keep a myraid of individuals 'on hand' in case certain 'specific' tastes drove a client through her door. Of course, as with anywhere, some services were not cheap, and ranged the gamut from simple sexual gratification, to other pleasures of the belly and body. It was a common phrase around The Gilded Rose that, if Lady Vashra could not find it, it didn't exist.<br/><br/>The proprietress herself was human (or, at least, appeared to be), with oddly colored hair and an outfit that was just skimpy enough to draw the eye without being so skimpy as to allow anything intimate to show. Though the group had yet to get to meet her proper, she could be seen behind the counter, busily making drinks, gossiping, and exchanging coin - both to her hand and from it - with various individuals that sat at the bar or approached her from elsewhere.<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://s32.photobucket.com/user/RylaMinora/media/Vashra_zpsjftcjgob.png.html"><img alt="Image" src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/RylaMinora/Vashra_zpsjftcjgob.png"/></a><br/><br/><br/>It's but a matter of moments before the group is situated at a long, rectangular table with comfortable enough seats (even a bench-like seat for Cyria, allowing her to rest her backside upon it and take some weight off of her legs). Before long, the group sees a bubbly human girl weaving her way through the somewhat crowded tables, dodging groping hands like a seasoned pro, and yet she could not have been any more than in her late teens or early twenties. With a bounce in her step, she slips up to the table, smiling brightly "Hello! Welcome to the Gilded Rose! What can I get for you? Interested in drink and food, or are you more interested in our extensive list of additional services?"<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://s32.photobucket.com/user/RylaMinora/media/1361208789718_zpsuen8yuyt.jpg.html"><img alt="Image" src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/RylaMinora/1361208789718_zpsuen8yuyt.jpg"/></a>