Irae looked slightly confused, unsure what she meant. She also glanced
(Either I have completely forgotten something or it's something going over my head.)
Daisy smiled at Irae. "Glad it's feeling better. I feel like I'm missing something, did something happen at the inn in my hometown?"
(Charlie was partially joking about how last time they got a room at an inn, they had to share a bed. She was partially hoping, for Irae’s sake, that they’d each get their own bed this time. And don't worry about Elric.)
“Oh, no. Nothing happened. Well, beyond us meeting Elric because some guys followed him out of the inn.” Charlie assured. “It's just… the only room they had available for us was a single bed.” she shrugged.
(Oh! I knew that but it wasn't important to Irae so it wasn't important to me lol)
"Ah! I see. How many rooms do we plan on getting?" Daisy asked, curious. "I can pay for my own room, if needed. Or a portion of the cost of a shared room. I can also sell some of the herbs I collected, some of the remedies I've got on me, at any point."
Irae glanced at Daisy. "Two or three? I don't think we can comfortably all stay in one."
Charlie gave a half-shrug, half-nod at Daisy’s assumption. “Two or three would be the most sensible, depending on who doesn't mind sharing. But let's see what they even have available.” she suggested, smiling at Daisy’s offers to help.
Daisy nodded, "Alright. D'you think we're almost there?"
Irae was also curious, looking at Charlie.
“I think I see an inn over there.” Elric pointed out a building just ahead of them.
Daisy smiled. "Great! That looks like a decent inn. Good eye!"
Elric shrugged with a light grin. “You learn to recognize things like that when you travel as much as I do.”
“Come on then.” Charlie chirped, already leading the way towards the inn.
Irae stayed right behind Charlie, careful as she moved.
"Makes sense. I haven't traveled much at all, so you're definitely better at that than I am." Daisy said, smiling, trailing slightly behind Charlie and Irae.
“I have been called a seasoned sojourner.” Elric admitted with a soft chuckle. “It… it takes a while to learn… I don't really remember where I picked up half those skills.” he shrugged.
Charlie adjusted her hood and smiled at Irae before opening the door to the inn.
(so sorry, notebook hasn't been loading)
Irae smiled back, just briefly, walking into the inn and looking around, cautiously.
Daisy nodded slightly, falling silent as they moved into the inn.
(I had that problem too)
Charlie lowered her hood again and nudged Elric forward.
Elric didn't react to the gesture besides easily stepping in front of the group and heading towards the bar.
Daisy hesitated, looking after him then glancing at Charlie. "Do you want to get our rooms? I'll stay where I can see Elric and he can see me, in case anyone has any trouble?" She offered, cautious of their new surroundings.
Irae watched Elric and the people around him.
“Let him do it.” Charlie nearly whispered. “We can all watch him. He’ll be fine.” she assured.
“Excuse me.” Elric called warmly, leaning against the bar with all the confident swagger of a man who knew his charms and had never been told ‘no’ before.
(do you want to be the bar/innkeeper this time?)
(I forgot that the barkeep is often the same person as the innkeep that's my bad.
Sure- but I might not be very good at it.)
The innkeeper, a half- dwarf, turned, facing Elric. "How can I help you?"
Elric’s eyes sparkled with charm as he nodded at the half-dwarf. “Greetings. My companions and I are traveling to Loumor and are in need of rooms for a night or two.”
"How many rooms were you looking for? How many beds per room?" The innkeep asked, looking around.
“I know that we would like one of the rooms to be a double, if possible. And we would also like the rooms to be near each other.” Elric added almost thoughtfully without losing his charm. “But we are flexible between a second double or two singles.” he admitted.
"Alright. I believe I have a double near a single, and another single a couple rooms down. Would that work?"
“I believe that will work perfectly for us.” Elric nodded, casting a glance at the others.
Charlie nodded in return. “Sounds good to me.”
Irae nodded as well, watching the room.
"Alright. Will you be paying together, or each for your own rooms?"
(I don't know the price of inn rooms..)
(I don't know what it would be either…)
Elric cast a thoughtful glance at the three women he was traveling with then smiled back at the innkeeper. “I’ll pay for our party.”
“I can pay too…” Charlie tried to insist, only for Elric to shake his head.
“I’ve got it.”
(P.S. Merry Christmas)
(Merry chrisis!)
Irae looked between them. "Are you sure?" She asked, though it was more because she felt she should ask then because she really cared.
Daisy looked about to ask the same, but didn't when Rae did.
Elric nodded, giving Rae a calm smile. “I’m sure. It's my fault you three are even on this journey with me. I have enough.” he shrugged.
Charlie frowned slightly, raising a brow. “You got yourself into trouble. You didn't make us come with you.” she pointed out firmly.
Irae nodded. "We chose to come with. We didn't have to. We wanted to." She agreed, firmly.
Daisy nodded. "And it's helpful. There's medical knowledge I've already learned on this trip that I never would've otherwise."
Elric raised a brow at Daisy’s addition to the protest but simply raised a hand to calm and assure them. “I know. I know you are all being truthful but the fact remains… that I doubt I would have taken up this quest on my own.” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “The odds were already against me before you two saved my life.” he nodded at Charlie and Rae before smiling back at Daisy. “And, of course, you are a most welcome addition as well. So, let me show you my thanks this way for now.” he said pulling out his coin bag and handing over the amount to pay for their rooms.
Charlie blinked for a moment, not because of Elric’s speech as bards could be talented wordsmiths and gentlemen when the mood struck them… but at the gesture he made before speaking. She had seen that gesture before. Multiple times, she was certain. And that certainty settled like a rock in her stomach. It wasn't a spell and she didn't see any sleight of hand action with it… It was just completely ordinary, and all too familiar.
Irae noticed Charlie's unease, but tried not to bring attention to it, glancing around the room again, watching for anyone looking their way.
Daisy nodded, "if you insist. Thank you."
Elric gave Daisy a smile and a single, calm, assuring nod. “It's the least I can do.”
Charlie adjusted her hood and tried very hard to keep her tail from lashing behind her as she let out a slow breath. “Let’s… let’s drop off our stuff in the rooms then,” she smirked playfully at Daisy, “I know you wanted to check out the library while we’re here.”