Plot:

In a land where all races live together :Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Human and Centaur: the elves look down on all others. Half-breeds are looked on, by all, as abominations and if they are not killed on sight they end up being beggars...or worse. Magic has been all but forgotten and the races live together in an uneasy peace.

Out of this world comes a noble, elven young woman, rebellious towards the ways of the world. When all matchmakers turn her away for her habits, she meets a young half elf man in a tavern and things begin to change. Not just in them, but to their world.

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Name: Adair
Age: Early twenties
Race: Half-elf
Basic Personality: Jaded, critical, yet curious.

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First post:

Adair had a rough morning. Nothing really was going his way, from being bullied yet again in the streets, to having gone through a large runaround errand. He knew he wasn't much liked by many others, and he could blame his cynical personality on them, though they wouldn't see it. It didn't matter to him. They all hated him, and he hated them. It was a mutual relationship, and if they could just leave him alone, Adair would be happier.

He was sitting in a tavern now, nursing a rather large mug of ale. He had to pay extra just to get that much, and Adair didn't see the point in buying another, so he would have to make this one last somehow. Drinking it slowly seemed to be his only option. At least no one was bothering him and causing him to spill it; he'd spend a good amount of money for this one beer, and he was going to raise hell with anyone who ruined it for him.

At this point though, Adair's mug was half empty, which meant he was running out of time; his break from the norm was going to end, leaving him open to more bullying and scorn. The thought had him slouching down in his seat and glaring at anyone who so much as looked at him.

He found himself wishing for something different. He needed something new in his life, as this one was getting rather old.

Name: Eusme
Age: Early Twenties
Race: Elf
Basic Personality: Rebellious, Bold, Partier, Lives Life.

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Eusme laughed as she ran out of the matchmaker's tent. The matchmaker came out of the tent, face livid. "Get out of here! You're not suited to be anyone's wife!" Eusme shrugged. "Not like I really wanted to get married to any of those losers anyway." The matchmaker picked up a broom and swung at her, she ducked and ran off.

As she moved through the city market she saw many injustices, but unfortunately she could do nothing about most of them. She usually didn't get involved unless someone's life was at stake...or they were mistreating a child. She soon spotted her favorite tavern and a huge grin spread across her face.

As she entered a cheer rose from the evening crowd of regulars. She smiled and bowed a little. She went to the bar and ordered a drink, then turned to the musicians. "Play a tune we can dance to, will ya?" As the music played a few people started to dance drunkenly. She joined them, dancing with a dwarf before some halfling bar wenches pulled her up onto the table and started to dance, quite suggestively, with her.

Adair looked up from his stupor when he heard the commotion. A scowl was on his face almost immediately. On one hand, the attention had been shifted from himself to this newcomer, which was welcome, but on the other hand, she was causing a ruckus.

Adair didn't care for the lewd behavior she was showing, and he turned his head to the side. She was just one more person to ignore, was all, and it was another reason to just leave the bar.

Finishing off the rest of his ale, Adair shoved the empty mug away and got to his feet, hoping to sneak out without being noticed. He headed for the exit, giving the strange woman one last glance.

As pretty as she was, she was too strange for his liking. Definitely too wild for him.

As he moved to leave, she caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye and her attention was captured. She left the halflings to dance together and was helped down from the table by a few guys. She moved to towards the man leaving, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hey!" She called out to him as she got close. Then she ran to him and cut off his exit.

Eusme faced him with a grin and placed a hand on her hip, her mug in her other hand. "Why are you leaving? The party just started?" She took a swig of her ale and then smiled, waiting for his answer.

Adair was not happy about being prevented from leaving. When the woman blocked his exit, he took a step back and stared at her. It was strange, she wasn't looking at him with scorn, like others usually did, and he could tell she was a full elf, not just a half-elf.

"I don't do parties," he said flatly. He crossed his arms and glared at her. How she looked at him was unimportant, since she was still part of a race that looked down on others. "If you want to..." he waved his hand back at the table she'd just been on. "...continue with your entertainment, I'll not stop you, but I'm not staying."

Still, she was holding a mug, full of more alcohol, most likely, and Adair admittedly did want more. One mug had not been enough for him, though he couldn't afford any more. He let his arms drop to his sides as he stared at her, trying to get her to move or trying to think of an excuse to stay; mainly seeing if he could get this woman to buy him another drink.

In the end, the want for more ale won out. "If you'd like me to stay, you could buy me a drink," he said bluntly. "Otherwise I'm leaving."

Eusme looked a little disappointed when he said he didn't like parties. "Well, that sure is a shame. Tavern parties are almost better than sex!" Of course she was exaggerating, but she couldn't find a better comparison. She let him think it over, then tilted her head as he spoke about her dancing. Most people didn't approve of that, other than men looking at her with their eyes full of lust.

When she saw him eyeing her mug, she moved it in just a way to keep his gaze. Then she took another drink, but slowly, over exaggerating how good it was. When he said he'd stay if she bought him an ale, she about choked on her drink. She coughed a little, then smiled at her. "Ah! Of course I'll pay!" She then took his hand and pulled him to the bar and ordered a few more drinks when she finished hers.

Adair made a face. "Sex?" He deadpanned. "Do you elves usually go for such crass activities?" He rolled his eyes, regretting his decision to stay. But since she was buying drinks for him, he felt obligated. With a sigh, he tilted his head back and gritted his teeth in an obvious display of irritation.

He followed her to the bar and stood there scowling while she paid for more drinks. When Adair finally got his, he picked it up and sniffed it, taking a sip when he was satisfied with the contents. Well, if he could get drunk, then he supposed he could put up with her company for a little while longer. Only drunk, since she was grating his sober nerves.

Well, he obviously didn't like her, but she didn't care too much. Most halfelves distrusted elves, for good reason. She wouldn't trust her either in his shoes. After a few minutes she smiled more. "You know, you don't look the type that cuts loose often. And I understand why that is." She then leaned in as if telling a secret. "But, tonight I am going to remedy that. Get as drunk as you like and I will pay. Completely free..but if you happen to want to dance, I am always free for you." She finished her ale and hollared and the rest of them did too. The song turned faster and she smiled at him, backing into the crowd curling her finger as if saying to follow him. Daring him to.

Trust her? He didn't even know her! Even if he did, how was he supposed to open up to someone who was...so brazen with their personality? Adair didn't understand any of it. He was confused, getting angry, and even a little concerned. He had no idea how to handle this situation and found himself wishing to just go home and lie down for a long while, forgetting the world.

She was offering him alcohol though, free alcohol. If Adair liked any one thing in the world, it was getting drunk, and if he didn't have to pay for it, then it was better. "Sure," he finally said, giving her a frown.

He still wasn't sure about dancing, but he supposed if she was inviting him to get drunk, then all bets were off the table. If Adair didn't remember it, then he wouldn't mind 'cutting loose' for once. He might not have been impressed with her, but she certainly knew how to be convincing.

"Who are you, anyway?" He finally asked. "I've never seen you before."

Eusme seemed to laugh softly at his question. "I suppose you don't come here too often. This is my favorite little tavern to drink myself silly in." Then she stopped and gave a bow with a goofy smile. "I am Eusme, Mistress of Drink and Dance." A dwarf laughed at this title and handed her another drink. "Damn straight." He winked at her, making her wink back as he moved away towards the bar again.

"So, how about it? Want to dance?" She held out her hand and smirked a little. The beat of the song was clearly getting to her as her body moved to it a little as she waited for his response.

"I don't normally make it a habit to occupy places that don't like my kind," Adair muttered. "In case you haven't noticed, you're the only one who's spoken to me, and I honestly have no idea why. I'm a half-elf." He shrugged, trying to make sense of what exactly was going on. No matter how hard he tried to wrap his mind around it, it was still confusing and near infuriating. He just wanted to be left alone, not be dragged out into the public for more ridicule.

He supposed what she said made sense. He gave her another small shrug and let her lead him around. She probably knew better than he what was fun and what wasn't. Adair was a little nervous though, since he didn't want to be in the spotlight, but he was drinking anway, so what was the harm in letting go completely? He tried to smile, a small and forced one, but a smile nonetheless.

"Fine," he said to her. "I'll dance with you. I don't know how though, so you'll have to teach me." He pointed to the mug in his hand. "...and keep buying these for me. I want to get good and drunk."

Eusme tilted her head at his wondering, as if she had no reason not to talk to him. She took his empty hand and pulled him close enough to speak softly, even over all the noise. "Forget why I talked to you, because honestly I haven't got a reason not to. Not unless you give me one." She motioned to have their mugs filled. Then she smiled and raised his hand and spun underneath it. Her short skirt ruffled and flashed a little thigh thigh as she twirled. Her soft boots making absolutely no noise and her hair seemed to float around her. She doubted he wanted to do anything like what she had been doing on the tabletops, but she would see if she could get him to when he was filled with drink.

Adair was starting to feel strange, and he knew it wasn't just the alcohol. Instinct told him to run, and to hate this woman, since she was everything he didn't want to be. But for some reason, he wanted to stay. He wanted to stay and be with her, and he couldn't explain why. The thought filled him with more confusion, even with his mind buzzing from the drink inside of him. Everything she was saying was starting to make sense, and Adair found himself nodding along.

"Okay," he said, just as quietly. He focused his gaze on her, purposely tuning out everyone else in the tavern, forgetting they didn't exist, even if only for a little while. She wanted him to dance and focus on her, she was going to get just that. But first, he picked up his mug and drained it, gulping down the rest of the contents to keep his buzz going. His body was starting to tingle as a result, and Adair knew something was going right.

Watching her spin and move, Adair started to copy her moves a little. He wasn't quite to the point of doing anything as wild as her, but if he could get his feet moving, perhaps he'd improve.

As she moved along with the music, her body seemed to bend in almost impossible ways. This drew glances from dwarves and halflings, some in wonder and others in lust, most of them the latter. When she noticed he wasn't moving too much, she slowed. She gently placed her hands on his shoulder and moved close.

"You seem to be effected, but still you barely move." She was almost in wonder at this, as her hands ran down his chest slowly, almost teasingly. She moved close enough to brush against him, then turned around and moved his hands to rest on her hips. "Just move with me...I'll go slow for you."

The touch almost had him recoiling. Almost. The strange feeling faded as the buzz from the alcohol took over; though Adair definitely needed more if he was to properly let go and dance with this woman. Closing his eyes, Adair took a deep breath and struggled to relax, to try and feel what she was feeling. If he focused just right, almost squinting, he could sense some sort of magic. It was probably just the drink talking though. He hoped.

He pressed himself closer to her, daring to hope that this wasn't just her seducing him for fun. He wanted to believe that this was real, that she was actually enjoying his company...

He recoiled. "I can't," he said, looking away. "I'm sorry, I can't do it."

The struggle in him didn't go unnoticed by Eusme. She just gave him an encouraging smile as she looked over her shoulder at him. He seemed to be doing really well until he started to doubt that she actually enjoyed dancing with him. The pressure against her made her smile a little and a shiver went through her. She had done this many times before, so why did it feel differently? It felt...more intimate. When he pulled away from her though, she stopped moving for a moment.

Eusme turned and looked at him, her eyes a little confused. "Did I push too far?"

Adair shook his head. "I...I don't know. I feel weird." He looked away, wrapping his arms around himself, as if to give himself some sort of comfort. She was strange, she was different, she was beautiful. Adair felt as if it was wrong to feel the way he did about her, and wanted out. He needed to get outside for fresh air, but it was rude to just run away.

"I don't know anymore," he mumbled. "I'm confused and I feel....I don't know anything anymore." He was babbling, repeating himself, and couldn't keep himself composed. "....I think I need another drink."

Eusme looked very concerned, she reached out to him and put her hand on his arm. "If you need another drink, I can get you one. Whatever you think will make you feel better." She motioned for another drink, then motioned for him to sit. She thought maybe that he was feeling dizzy or something. There was real concern in her eyes and she stood in front of him.

"I'm not sick," he protested. "I'm just.....this is all too much." He waved his arms around the tavern. "The dancing, the attention...." He sighed and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was failing at conveying his feelings to the woman, and he was about ready to give up trying.

"Just....if we're going to spend time together, if you're serious about wanting to spend time with a half-elf, can we do it alone?" He asked after a moment. "Just the two of us, in a quieter location? That way I can....I don't know." He shrugged. "Get to know the real you." The smile on his face was a slightly forced one, but there was a bit of genuine hope in his eyes as well. Hope that for once, he would have a chance at having a friend.

"I understand if you don't want to...it was just a thought."

Eusme's face seemed to relax when he said that he wasn't ill. Then she smiled kindly with a sparkle in her eyes. "Well, of course we can." She gently touched his cheek now, then it slowly ran down his neck to his chest. She leaned in close enough to whisper, with a mischievous look glinting in her eyes. "We can go right now..I have a room reserved upstairs. For...emergencies." He tone was playful and her hands now traveled a little lower on his chest and she drew closer. Honestly, she was trying to see what he wanted from her. She didn't mind just sitting and talking, or even if he wanted to go further. He seemed like a decent guy...and she just had this feeling about him.

"Further?" The insinuation baffled him. Was she trying to seduce him? Adair grabbed her fingers and held them in place, shaking his head. "I wanted to talk," he said firmly. "If you're looking for more, you're going to have to go elsewhere. I'm not a man that can be bought with pretty words and a pretty face."

He felt more like himself again, and it felt good. He narrowed his eyes and let her go. "There's something about you," he continued. "I don't want to walk away, not until I find out more about you, but I'm not going to sleep with you." With that out of the way, he jerked his head upward.

"Show me to this room of yours, then."

Eusme looked at him warily when he grabbed her hands the make them stop. She wasn't sure what this man would do, but the result was fantastic! Her eyes seemed to shimmer with what looked like graditude. "Well, we can just talk. I would like that very much." This man knew how to control himself and she was just loving testing just how much he could. She moved away from her and started for the stairs off towards the middle of the entry way. "Right this way."

She walked down the long hallway to the door on the end. It opened into a rather decent sized room, with a large bed and a dresser, as well as a private washroom. "Will this do? For talking?" She clarified that she wasn't looking for a cheap lay and that she truly wanted to talk...even if the alcohol was starting to effect her.