Common Room(#32029RM)
This large and rectangular room serves the purpose of Common Room for the Prancing Pony. Large windows along the western end of the room peek out over the Great East Road which runs outside the Inn. There are long tables with bench seats for the patrons in the centre of the room. Nestled into the wall is a large fireplace with several bundles of wood piled next to it. Overhead, lamps hang down from roof beams, but their light is dim and half-veiled in smoke. The corners of the room are wrapped in shadow.
Contents:
Dart Board(#1042O)
Obvious exits:
Out

======================= Bree Time ==========================
Real time: Sun Dec 10 17:00:27 2006
Bree time: Dawn <05:01:21> on Highday of Autumn - October 14,1439
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous Moon
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                              Breelands Weather                              
The dawn autumn air is cool but pleasant around you. The night sky is cloud-filled and gloomy.
             Five in the morning. It is five in the morning and some people are still drinking. A few look as though they have just woken up. Others are beginning to grow drowsy- a combination of the drink, and the hour. Their heads nod, beginning to slump against their broad chests... a couple let out a snore, or a belch. Smoke coils about the roof of the common-room, a lot of it spiraling from a woman sitting toward the back of the room, feet upon the table, finished goblet of wine to one side. The hood is drawn, and yet Scarlet Greythorn does not reside in shadows this night. She appears to be regarding the door- perhaps waiting for someone, this time?

            One person arrives, at least. Daniel Thistlewool in for his own early morning gathering before proceeding toward the headquarters. His eyes follow a cloud of smoke to its source, showing no surprise thereupon, as if he is becoming use to seeing Scarlet Greythorn here, at this hour, in such circumstances.
            His reaction is a minimal tucking of his lowerlip upward, and equally meagre opening of the eyes, along with an instant turn of his direction toward her and the foot-bearing table. He approaches wordless, but seems to be removing something from his cloak as he comes nearer.

             As for Scarlet's own reaction... a tiny twitch of the corners of her lips, a brightening of the eyes possibly unrecognisable by any save those searching. There is a shift in her posture, also and, after what seems a moment spent considering, the feet are removed from the table, and the woman sits up properly. "Chief..." That same velvet tone, but laced with a certain amount of pleasantness, at least... "Good morning." Coy smile, and one slender hand sweeps out to offer a seat.

            He'd planned to take a seat already, and one right beside her contrary to normal social interaction. And as he takes that seat, he removes the object--his pipe--and points down at her boots. "You needn't lower them." Daniel quirks a returned smile now, then leans back into the chair to begin preparing the pipe. "It is a good one, so far."

             A shrug rolls across those slender shoulders. "It would have appeared rude, to leave them there." Now one leg folds across the other, hands clasped about the knee. That coy smile again, a tiny inclination of the head. "I shall let you smoke alone this morning... I have had enough by myself to last me a week."
.
            His head turns toward her mid-light with raised brows. He removes the pipe from his mouth, and uses it to emphasize his words. "Oh? And how much is that?" He squints slightly. "You don't look green."

             There is a quiet chuckle that follows these words, although it is almost a self-conscious sound, such as a singer singing, when she has not sung for a long time. "I was not aware you went green after smoking overly much." Gaze shifts once to the pipe, then returns to the Chief's eyes, "Perhaps that shall be useful, next time I think I have smoked overly much."

            A concerned brow and enthusiatic nodding follows. "Yes. Seen some bad cases brought to me." He leans back, staring toward the fire. "Drogus Underhill had an entire pouch of Longbottom one evening, and was brought to me looking as green as an unripe tomato." Daniel turns his attention back to her. "Miserable sight. Was nothing the healers could do for him, but let him wait out. You'd have been impatient with all of the growing and requests for seed cakes. Wouldn't let him eat for all of a half-day, you see." A grin finally cracks the serious recounting.

             "Oh, my!" Scarlet exclaims, albiet quietly. It is, however, exclaimed in her best concerned-matron voice, one hand coming up to shield her mouth- bracelet still around the wrist and glinting momentarily as the light hits it from a different angle. The eyes are wide, and for all accounts, she appears quite shocked by the story. When, however, it is over, she laughs quietly again, lowering the hand. "I'm quite certain I could not have stood it... by the end of the day they were probably with-holding food just to cause him sufferance. Pay him back for his complaining all day, you see?"

            He ponders her suggestion, finally resolving on agreeable nods. "For we all want the halflings to suffer in the end. They're an insufferable sort, with all the belly aching." He breaks from his jest to look around nervously for halfling, before turning his attention to her. "I suppose you're off to a day's snooze soon?"

             "Oh, now, now.... I am certain some of them can be.... No, you are quite right. I cannot think of a single halfling that I have met which I could consider agreeable." And she looks as though she has finished, however, taking another breath, she continues the thought. "However... I cannot say that many humans I have met have been entirely agreeable, either."
             At the second question, she nods her head just once. "Yes, when we have finished here I shall return home for a sleep..."

            "That's terrible." He responds, then turns with a half wink that freezes in place. "I'd wanted you to come inspect the hedge with me. You'd be far better company than any of the constables. Speaking of belly aching, not one of them is willing to put up with a little chill to accompany me on the circuit."

             Those eyes are searching, for a moment, brows creasing at the centre for the tiniest second, and then the expression smoothes. "If you are asking, I shall accompany you. Sleep can wait. I would be better for a little walk, as well." And then she appears to think for a moment. "They will not go with you?" The lips purse, "What sort of people are you hiring, Chief? If they will not go against the cold, how would they be faced with a troll or some-such?" There is a coyness in her tone, but a seriousness lingering also.

            "Good questions. Not sure there's much I can do about any of that really. We've got to change our people somehow. Perhaps my plans will put them on notice and put a little fear in them." He has turned suddenly entirely serious, but reverts to the previous discussion. "You needn't, if you don't want. And I can put it off a day or two if you'd rather when you're more rested." Throughout the words, he seems to be reading her eyes carefully; in fact taking such a demeanor since the minimal creasing of her brows.

             "Perhaps, once this business with the councillors is over, they should all have a bit of a scare... see who is faithful, who is brave..." Another shrug, one uncomittal and unconcerned. A gentle smile, "I said I shall come with you, and that means I shall. I have gone days without sleep, as I'm sure have you, it is not a problem." She looks as though she's about to say something more, but covers it with another smile. And the expression is genuine, not pained at having accepted the task nor uncertain about the situation.

            A pleased, if deep inhale. He returns the genuine smile a moment quietly, before breaking away to look distractedly as his pipe which he now goes about putting away, rather than lighting. "I'm . . . happy then." The pause in words the result of clear failure to express what he means, though his smile reveals that the simple words are perhaps enough for the task. His eyes snap back to her. "I suppose I'd rather get underway anyway then. Best to start now anyway for you?" His eyes peruse her cloaks and boots. "Warm enough? We've thicker cloaks than this." He tests the fabric of her cloak sleeve while eyeing it.

             At his first comment, a nod is returned, suggesting perhaps that she feels the same. "I agree, it would be best to leave while still early..." A pause, halfway to getting ready to stand as her clothes are scrutinised. A coy smile, the expression searching again, regarding the hands as they test the fabric. "Yes...I... no, yes, it shall be fine... This cloak has seen me through many winters, although it is beginning to wear thin now, I am certain it shall serve me well this morning also." And all of this is quite quiet, eyes still watching and searching.

            Daniel stands with her, eyeing the fabric while listening. He shakes his head however, in disagreement. "Let me . . . would you allow me to . . . a bit presumptous. You're fond of it?" Cautious words, seeking not to offend; and eyes that return upward to hers patiently.

             Scarlet stands also, though something has shifted almost impercievably in her air, it too, is more cautious, more thought-out (and, being Scarlet, most of who she is is meticulously thought out.) "I am somewhat fond... However, in the end it is only a cloak.. What are you suggesting D--Chief..?" Fingers of one hand now rub subconsciously at the worn edge of one sleave.

            With slightly downturned head, and eyes that explore under brows, a warm smile grows now; some sort of response to her reaction. He gives time to allow it to fade slightly, then places a hand on her shoulder for a moment over the cloth. It must have been unwitting, for the hand drops away as immediately. "A new cloak, if you want it. We can stop by the market on the way out. If not, then . . . not." The beginnings of a soft laugh cease quickly at the recognition of his own clumsy statement.

             Scarlet had been looking elsewhere when the hand reached her shoulder. Immediately the gaze shifts back to the Chief, though the expression is just surprised. Not unpleasantly so, just surprised and curious. And then at his suggestion, her expression softens, whatever sadness had been lingering behind the eyes fades, "Ah, Chief.. We shall stop, though I shan't let you buy me anything more. I am able to afford myself a new cloak... and perhaps it is time for a change. Let us go now? So perhaps we shall reach the markets before they are too busy... I am not one for crowds, I am certain you understand."

            Daniel nods slowly, and then blinks as if to awaken himself slightly. "Good then. Though in fairness," he states as he steps away, "you should let me pay as it was my suggestion. I know full well you can afford, but that is beside the point." He waits for her to join him; the now common place escort extended.

             The arm is taken, again there is a slight pressure through the fingertips. "You know I shan't let you. I may be less independent these days, but suggestion or no I shall insist on paying. It will be a futile argument." Mischevious smile and she appears to think that the discussion is settled.