Note: Ctrl+F ~s~ to skip right to the action
*
The city of Ightwood was a bustling trade hub that, from the outside, looked like an uncoordinated explosion of civilization that had long ago outgrown its own foundations. From the inside denizens would use much more colorful vocabulary, words like 'dangerous,' and 'smelly,' and 'the bloated corpse of a twice-dead ogre.' The city was built into and out of a rocky cliff face that tumbled down to the shore, giving the multilayered structures a charming sawtooth look. At the bottom was the main trade connection of the docks at the shores of the Green Sea, although the sewage flowing out the lower levels gave the water an altogether different color.
After spending several days lost in the woods, it was the most beautiful place they had ever seen. The adventurers had been set back another day when Ziri had collapsed from exhaustion and they were forced to make camp, and despite their assurances the cleric was racked with guilt. At least she had gotten some rest and was no longer babbling quite so incoherently. Inyelw'n had kept mostly to herself, her nose in a book about magical theory that she had borrowed from Klivikx. The little goblin, meanwhile, had barely left Cuthbert's side and turned into a bashful, gibbering mess whenever either of the female companions spoke to him. That, plus the wheeled chest of alchemist tools and books Cuthbert wound up dragging, made him regret bringing the little runt along. Still, with his eyes on a warm bed the marksman couldn't complain, and they practically fell over each other trying to get through the gates of Ightwood. If he was quick he might even get a bed with Ziri...
"Empty womb, we don't have enough for even one good room," Ziri cursed to herself. They had checked several inns at the upper and middle levels, but the general price was well outside what little they had left.
"We will be okay once I sell some of these heirlooms," Inyelw'n consoled, indicating the bag of looted elven jewelry with a jingle. "But for tonight, two rooms with two beds and a shared bath should suffice." That was mostly said to reassure herself, as the royal elf examined the lodgings with an extremely dissatisfied eye. The Salty Siren was an inn on the lower side within spitting distance of the docks, and as such they stuck out amongst the clientele like... well, a fish out of water. Sailors and merchants glared at them from over their mugs, and the barkeep looked like an angry sea lion that wouldn't look directly at the group until they plinked down their remaining money for two rooms and four plates of food.
Seeing as how every shady corner was already occupied, they settled at a table under a window shaped like a porthole. The dining floor was dripping with nautical themes, complete with fish trophies on the walls and the entire establishment creaked like a ship at sea--although Cuthbert doubted it was intentional. The food was trash fish with stale bread, but enough beer and hunger makes anything bearable and he wolfed the meal down.
"I... guess I will eat in the room," Klivikx said, looking forlornly at his plate. Goblins had a shaky acceptance in society at the best of times, so to be safe the rogue elected to wear a disguise as they neared the city: a plague doctor's mask covered his face, he had pulled his hood up enough to hide his ears, and elbow-length leather gloves covered the majority of his remaining green skin. Effective enough that any passerby would just see a gnome with a taste for leather, and a female gnome at that--Klivikx had hips and a backside that would've been called breeding material on any woman, and even wore a corset just because he liked the feel. But the mask muffled his voice and made doing much of anything in public impossible, and Cuthbert had almost gotten used to seeing his dark, violet eyes staring at him. Staring at his food like that must have been torture and the marksman did feel a pang of guilt for him, he really did, but the looks Ziri and Inyelw'n were giving him clearly stated that he was expected to do something.
Cuthbert groaned when he realized that everyone had come to an unspoken agreement on the room pairings. "C'mon Kliv, I'm done so let's get this trunk up to our room and you can eat."
Up in the room the marksman laid out what little possessions he still had on the bed. He did his best to clean and repair the bow and chainmail, but he knew the latter would eventually need the attention of an expensive blacksmith. Klivikx, meanwhile, had thrown off his cloak and mask and was relishing in the exposure, airing out his big ears before he pounced on the food. It was almost cute, but when he finished the needy goblin was right back at the other's side and just would not give him any space, constantly asking if he could help or give a massage. Maybe he was just sour for not being able to spend the night with Ziri, but he had to wonder how Yolyu dealt with it.
With a creak the door to their shared bathroom opened and Inyelw'n poked her head inside. "I am going to sell these jewels and pick up some supplies. Come and help me, please." Cuthbert did so, not registering until it was too late that the duchess was talking to him like a servant, but before he could say anything Inyelw'n had already crossed their room and was walking out the door to the hallway.
Klivikx was, of course, right on my tail, but a sing-song voice from the other room said, "Oh Klivikx? Would you mind sticking around and helping me with something, please?" Klivikx looked like someone had gut-punched him, but with a stammer he stayed behind with Ziri while Cuthbert was dragged along as Inyelw'n's errand boy.
Okay, now he really was mad at the goblin.
...
After a moment's hesitation, Klivikx entered the bathroom to find that Ziri had already drawn and settled herself into the tub. His face flushed red and deepened in time to his thudding chest, but he managed to not fidget by merely refusing to look directly at the naked woman. Instead he tried to focus on everything else all at once, taking in the steamed windows, various toiletries, and the clawed feet of the tub in the middle of the room. "Y-yes, Mistress Ziri? What can I do for you?"
Ziri smirked at the bashful little man and said, "Well for starters, you can relax a little and tell me about yourself. Haven't had a chance to get to know you yet, and I just can't be traveling with a stranger." She meant it as a joke, but Klivikx seemed to recoil a little. Well, that was no fun. "Klivikx... do you not like me?"
The shock of the question was enough to make the goblin forget his embarrassment, and he met Ziri's eyes before blurting, "Of course not! M-master Cuthbert trusts you, so..."
