News of Elizabeth's death spread like wildfire through the town of scum for about a day. After that, it was old news and no one cared. People avoided the house where Elizabeth laid for 3 days until one of her friends buried her in her backyard of dirt. No one even questioned where her husband was, assuming he was out of town. That's what Tiffani loved about this place, the lack of care for the lives of others. If paid enough, a man would turn a blind eye to a murder and walk free with his life. That is until another is bribed to walk away while his turn is up. A vicious circle and yet Tiffani was still on top. Damien was slipping, though he had always been a bit below average.
Felicity and Derrick didn't return as they said they would and although Tiffani never let on that she heard their speech, Damien stayed that extra step closer to her wherever she went. He couldn't kill her. He wouldn't even know how. He was just afraid of the reprocussions of his choice would have on him and Tiffani knew it too. The only reason she allowed it was because if Damien was to die to anyone, she wanted it to be under her demand or by her hand only.
"It's very quiet today Tiff. Maybe we should just close up and play poker or something equally entertaining." Damien said, his eyes darting around beady eyed. "You mean strip poker?" Tiffani replied, looking back to him. "And why are you so damn close? I can't breathe when you're hovering around me, stealing my space." she said, pushing him back a few steps. Damien let her shove him. "Yes, well no. I mean whatever you want to play. I'm up for some strip poker." he said, a grin crossing his face. Tiffani just rolled her eyes and turned away from him and walked to the bar where several customers were waiting.
"What can I do for you?" she asked the first man. He was stocky and bald, save for a few stragly hairs on the sides of his head. A short, brown beard protruded from his chin, dirt and food impregnated inside. He spoke with a deep Valgarin accent. "Oi be vant'n a pint o' ale!" he grunted. Tiffani smiled her usual, fake, barmaid smile to him. "Right. That will be 4 copper coins." she replied. He dropped 5 copper coins onto the bar from his large hand which Tiffani noticed was hairier than his head. The man looked the amount for a long time as Tiffani poured his drink. When she placed it on the counter he was still looking at it.
"Tha best be roight oor Oi'ma loosen soome ov yer teeth missy." He said as she slid the money off the bench and into her apron. "It's correct. Take your drink and move along. Others are thirsty too you know." she said as he took his drink with a grunt and sauntered over to a table.
The next in line looked dyrling, from his long blonde hair to his expensive, green attire. The only thing wrong with the picture was his face was gaunt looking, as if he hadn't been fed in weeks, and his hair was tousled and uncombed.
"What do you want?" Tiffani asked in her false tone. He stared at her silently and Tiffani could feel him undressing her with his eyes. "Sir. Place your order." she said in a more demanding voice. When he still didn't reply she looked over his shoulder at the man behind him.
The man behind had dark, piercing eyes, with matching dark hair and dirty clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed, ever. Basically, he fitted perfectly with the other men inside the tavern.
"Sir. Perhaps you will speak up instead." she said to him, ignoring the pale man's staring. He stopped staring and turned back to the darker man before returning his gaze to Tiffani. "I've made up my mind. I want a scotch, preferably cold, a bag of peanuts and you." he said, leaning forward on the counter.
"The first two I can get you, the last will be physically impossible. You're wasting your time." She said, fixing him a whiskey with ice. As she put the glass on the counter he grabbed her wrist. "I don't think you understood me miss. There is no two ways about it. I will have you." he said, not a single word said unseriously. Tiffani yanked her hand back and tossed his peanuts on the bar. "That is 11 platinum all up." she said through clenched teeth as she rubbed her wrist. Her wrist didn't hurt but she was angry he broke the one rule the tavern had. He touched her. The dyrling placed 15 platinum coins on the bar along with a note and took his drink and nuts and moved out of the way. She scooped up the money and put it in her apron, slipping the note in too.
The next man walked up, eyeing the dyrling as he passed. "Is he giving you trouble miss?" he whispered, leaning over to her while his eyes still followed the man back to his seat. "Nothing I can't handle. What can I get you?" she asked, idly wiping the bench down with a dirty rag. "Your finest wine this evening." he said, looking back to her. "Oh? Special occasion?" she asked, looking through the wine cabinet at the dusty wines. "You could say that." he said casually.
Tiffani held up a bottle of red wine in one hand and a bottle of white in the other.
"Rice wine or grape wine? The rice wine is more expensive but the grape is sweeter." she said. "Rice. I'm not a sweet kind of man." he replied, looking over his shoulder at the dyrling as he stared at Tiffani and walked out. Tiffani wiped some dust off a champagne glass with her apron and poured the man a glass of wine in it. The note fell out along with some coins from all corners of the map. "Oh bugger!" she said, leaving the wine on the bar and bending down to pick up the coins. While down there, she opened the note and skimmed it.
Tiffani,
You're even more beautiful than Derrick told me you were. All I want is one night. Your secret will be safe with me.
*signed*Blake McTalon
Tiffani stiffled a chuckle as she crumpled the note. Upon standing up she noticed the man drinking from the bottle of wine. He quickly replaced it on the bench with a guilty expression. "Consider the bottle yours, free of charge." she said, waving her hand dismissively. The man eyed her suspiciously. "What's the catch?" he asked. Tiffani smirked and leaned in close to him. "That guy who was in line before you: Follow him home and watch his house for the next 6 days and report back to me. I want to know every movement he makes. Every step he takes, every house he enters, every woman he talks to. Everything. For every piece of information you give me I'll reward you. Deal?" she asked, putting her hand out. He glanced to the bottle then looked at her hand. "Throw in the grape wine and we have an accord." he replied, looking into her eyes.
"You can have a wheat wine. It's sourer, I think you'll enjoy it." she smiled deviously, showing him the cheap wine. He shook her hand and took the bottles with his free hand. "Very good. I'll be waiting." she said, standing back up and replacing the grape wine.
The rice wine, among other expensive gifts, was given by a jillhani man who refused to pay for a drink. Unfortunately for him, he ended up paying with his life. 5 silver wasn't worth his punishment, but Tiffani felt no regret nor remorse for her actions. To her, he deserved it, just like Charles did for his actions and like Derrick will for his.
