The man looked to be dour, even by the standards of the rest of the common room, his face lined and looking like the weather had frozen the expression of grave mistrust permanently into his features. He considered Konoka for a moment while the coins vanished into an apron pocket. He remained silent as he drew a cup of some slightly cloudy drink, seemingly out of habit.<br/><br/>"There's a place you can take, pretty close to a hearth," he said as he placed the cup down between them. "It's by the week, and you'll have to feed yourself."<br/><br/>There was a pause as he leaned back on his heels, pursing his lips. "Can't say much about finding a job. A lot more hands around, with winter coming. There's always women's work—you could talk to the kitten about that—" He nodded in the direction of the waitress "—but if you're not looking for that…"<br/><br/>He gave a long rolling shrug. "I've got no real wage work, but you could always try over with them," he said, alternating his glance between Konoka and one of the corner tables, where a few men sat, looking suspiciously like gamblers. Uncouth, with hair tied back as a substitute for washing it, and with the usual array of tattoos and scars, worn with pride and menace in equal measure. "Pretty or strong, they have more work than they would up at the castle."<br/><br/>He paused again, giving her a calculating look, as though the discussion of work had reminded him of something else. "The hearth spot is by the week up front, of course."