The Not- So-Great Escape

[not_sinister]

Also known as,"You mean there was partying and we weren't here to catch it?"

Naitachal and Eliathanis seem to be out of breath. This is because they (and the rest of their party) were running from guards. There is what looks like a large, rolled up ball of fabric under Naitachal's arm. This is because that large, rolled up ball? Used to be the fancy noble-looking robes he and Eli had been given just the other day by the Count. Whose forces they're currently running from.

Why are they running? That's a long story... but to cut it short... They came back to warn the count, his niece had probably been kidnapped by an evil half-fae princess, only to find out, hey, the niece in question was already there.

...Apparently released by the now-terrified kidnappers because Eli and Nait are just that good.

..No, seriously. That's what the lady in question's been telling the Count. And... you know they expected her to be dead by now.

... Fishy? Is an understatement.

So, they get given a hero's welcome...A flashy new wardrobe, a long feast, long speeches praising their sheer skill in scaring kidnappers. (And Naitachal took every single fancy robe he could find in the wardrobe of the room he was given, because he is pragmatic, and hey, they said he could!)

The party was awesome. And confusing. And worrying. And, hey, isn't that niece of Volmar's practically pasting herself to their befuddled, but very dazzled glorious leader?

Isn't that illegal? Why isn't Volmar stopping it? I mean, hero's welcome's all well and good, but that's a bit over the line.
Aaaand she's following him. For the next two days. Like he is the center of her world.

Even into the library. Where genteel pretty ladies of the court normally do not go.

...And the evil half-fairy princess is a known shapeshifter.

Glorious leader? Let's you and me talk, shall we?

So, a day or so after they explain things, the glorious leader is near date-raped, and after he is extricated from this... perilous situation.. the entire party is fleeing for their lives, (and in Kevin's case, his virginity. What the hell, hero?)

The Bar is the last thing they're expecting.

...However, it could possibly be the best thing to happen to them, in this situation. These two need a break!

...Hey, isn't that a really large stack of wrapped presents? 

The nosy Nitathil investigates.

Huh. The first gift seems to have his name on it. :D Heyyy, what is it? 
"To Naitachal, from Zak. From one dark elf to another, this may be useful to you."
It takes some unwrapping, but Naitachal finally manages to extract... A silk shirt in a brilliant red, and a dagger. With a vial of poison.
And another note. "Please distribute the other gifts for me, I am.. getting my balance back. Also, later, may have to train rambunctious animal not to eat my boots. Or his owner's things for that matter."

There are plenty of parcels in here.

Some yards of soft, dark blue silks and bundles of embroidery threads in varying colors rolled up and tied firmly into position, with the note "To Zhaan, from Zak."

The second present is wrapped in fine orange paper.
It is marked, "To Naruto, from Zak. I hope this reaches you before that strange human holiday I've just recently been informed of." 
It is an orange hoodie. With black sections, pockets, and black spiral patterns on the shoulders.

Third present is for Seras. Wrapped in simple black paper, it is a long-sleeved, elegant dress of silk, with a high collar, slit up the sides to allow maximum freedom of movement. The sleeves flare open at the wrists, and there seems to be embroidery in vee-shapes, one framing the neck, another low on the hips, and more embroidery on the wrists and hems.

Fourth, a package marked "For Guppy and his House, From Zak."
The contents are, two soft-toys that look vaguely avian, a pair of loose silk 'kimono' type robes for a male and female, and since Zak's not sure if the others are well received,  a board game with well-carved wooden pieces to resemble soldiers, and nobles.

Fifth, a package for Alistair. As is expected, it contains many kinds of cheese, and is under Bar's 'protection' to make sure it gets to the owner intact and unspoiled.

Sixth, a package for Jowan. "I haven't seen you lately, are you well? I hope these get to you safely." It contains various sweet-things, kept under Bar's 'protection' as Alistair's gift was, because Zak feels.. very awkward and unsure of what else to get the young man.

Seventh, for the Enzos and their kin , an elegant set of vases and goblets, digitized by the Bar's equipment.

Eighth, for Anthony, some interesting hallucinogenics to experiment with.

Ninth, for Zevran, some rare poisons, a bottle each of Berduskan Dark and Firewine bought from the Bar.

Tenth, for Beauford and Tyler, Zak had simply given the Bar a budget, and asked it to wrap up some things for them that they could use. Even Zak didn't know what the Bar's left for these two.

Eleventh, for Axel, a bottle each of Sa wine, Acamel brandy, Saerloonian Glowfire and Saerloonian Topaz, carefully wrapped.

Twelfth, for Rem, an intricately carved bracelet of bone.

and lastly, a note for Talae, with a bottle of Firewine. "Your present is too big to bring right now, so this will have to do. I hope you are well."

Comments

[evilontheloose]

And now there's also a curious Jordan, perusing what Nait is doing. "Hi."

[not_sinister]

Have a bright smile and a hug, if he's allowed the latter. The roll of cloth he was carrying lays forgotten by the large present-stack.

The edge of adrenaline's starting to run ragged, and Naitachal's very glad to see her. "Hi."

Eliathanis has managed to order a drink for himself, and is currently poking around the large roll of cloth that Nait was carrying. "You took every single robe in the wardrobe of the room you were given? Seriously?"

Naitchal glanced at Eli, and shrugged, "Well, they did say the room was mine. I would have looted the pillows too, if I thought I had room for them. And, anyway, aren't you glad I did? We're roughly the same size, so we can share them while we're here."

The White elf tried not to look at it, but in the end he had to agree, "You have a point. I suppose if any of these don't fit us, you plan to sell it to the Bar for supplies?"

"Well, of course." Naitachal smiled wryly, "And the irony amuses me to no end."

The Nitathil turned back to Jordan and smiled wryly. "You have no idea how glad I am to be in the Bar. We're on the run again, you see."

[evilontheloose]

"You seem to do that a lot." Jordan laughs a bit, yes, allowing the hug, and even adding a peck to the lips. "And I'd have looted the furniture too, if I could carry it."

Oh, cute white elf, he will not escape a hug, and a kiss. "Hi cutie. Missed you."

[not_sinister]

"We couldn't help it this time. Our glorious leader was nearly date-raped." The Nitathil laughs, even as Eliathanis glares at him.

The 'Missed you' is quite surprising, and Eliathanis smiles, in spite of his normally rigid self-control. "It is... nice to see you again, Jordan."

Wonder of wonders, he means it!

"why are there so many decorations around this place?" Eliathanis asks, before glancing curiously at the Nitathil, "and why is your.. other ally asking you to give out a pile of presents?"

[evilontheloose]

She raises a brow at Nait, and will want to hear the whole story later. Or now.

"Christmas. It's a pseudo-religious celebration of generosity, goodwill, peace and plenty. People exchange gifts, eat well, and try to be extra good to each other... or less bad."

She will lean to Eli, grinning, because hey... elf!

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy finds the presents, and smiles, looking at the beautiful things.

He looks around for Zak.

[not_sinister]

Sorry, no Zak, but have a Nait.

"Zaknafein is currently attempting to train a... very young and rambunctious animal." The Nitathil said carefully. "He may return when it is... what is the term? Potty trained?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Ah, well I shall thank him when I see him." Guppy says.

Sheepishly. "I've forgotton your name, sorry."

[not_sinister]

"My name is Naitachal. I am... an ally of Zaknafein." Naitachal did say one he and Zak were related more closely than that, but he won't pull that card this time.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Naitachal, sorry." Guppy says. "Happy Holidays to you."

[basic_powers]

A young blonde boy with a scruffy looking dog at his side approach the Bar at first, then the boy takes a look at the dark elf standing there and begins to back pedal.

He recalls Zak's big warning about other dark elves FAR too well.

The dog merely looks up at the boy and wuffs before sniffing at the elves.

[not_sinister]

The Nitathil sighs and covers his face. Great. Gift distribution time.

...Oho, a child. Time to see if he still has his looming skills. He tugs his hood over his head, and says in a sepulchral tone of voice;
"...Little boy, I know far too few people in this Bar. I require assistance."

Naitachal carefully debated the logic of adding, 'There may be candy for you afterwards.'

The pale skinned elf gives Naitachal a narrow-eyed glance and whacks him upside the head. "I do not condone your childish behavior. Take off that hood and stop trying to creep people out."

Eliathanis can clearly see the boy is afraid and can't blame him. "Do not worry, he is.. an ally. My adventuring party's leader recruited him. He simply needs directions to some people this.. Zak-fellow told him to give gifts to." Another narrow glance at Naitachal who is grinning like a maniac. "And if he tries something like this again, I will ensure he will not walk straight for weeks."

Naitachal grins in a feral way, "Really?"

Eliathanis gives him a flat look,"Really. And not in the way you and Jordan might assume it either."

[basic_powers]

The conversation between the...okay, so that's a regular sun elf and he and that dark elf look like friends and they're NOT trying to kill each other.

"If you need help wedging his underclothes up his butt, I know someone who can help with- .." Then he gets a puzzled look and glances from the dark elf to the light one, with a raised eyebrow, his hand only inching away from the metal tube that hangs from a belt loop on his pants.

"...Zaknafein?"

[not_sinister]

"Yes, that is his name." Naitachal says sourly, deciding to ham it up. "The bane of my existence, he who holds blackmail. He who tells me to give out gifts while he is... incapacitated."

Eliathanis frowns at Naitachal before turning to the child. "He means, busy. Don't mind his wording, he's just infuriating sometimes."

[basic_powers]

The act just gets a very dry look from the boy, who reaches down to rub the scruffy dog's ears a moment.

"What's Zak busy with?"

[for-ferelden.livejournal.com]

Presents? Those are a foreign thing to Talaerion, at least when it comes to being on the receiving end of them. It comes with the mage territory, really; everything up until his recruitment into the Wardens revolved around the Circle, and the little gifts he and Jowan had exchanged for their birthdays and Satinalia were an exception to the way of life, not the rule.

Thus, the bottle of Firewine is intriguing and definitely something that the elf will be "investigating" further. In and of itself it would make a fine gift, as far as the Warden is concerned, but Zak's note mentions something else.

"Too... big?"

Can presents really be too big?

[not_sinister]

"Greetings. That is your gift from Zaknafein?" The Nitathil says warily, "I have been.. ah. what is the term... 'blackmailed' into distributing gifts today. If I could please ask for assistance with this list..." The Nitathil frowns at it. "..Who the hells are 'Jowan', 'The Enzos', 'Alistair' and 'Anthony'?

[for-ferelden.livejournal.com]

Talae seems to remember something about being told not to trust dark elves as a species. Zak, well, he's in the clear, but this particular individual is not someone the Warden knows.

"Or part of it. The rest is apparently 'too big' to bring, at the moment."

The bright blue eyes narrow, critically hard and glittering like cut topaz.

"Not to be offensive, but you are...?"

He assumes that this must be a friend of Zak's, and the handwriting on the note that came with the wine certainly is. That said, drow. And Talae is protective of Alistair and Jowan both, as his friends, but also as people that he's responsible for (or at least feels responsible for).

[not_sinister]

"Someone under Zaknafein's command due to the fact he has blackmail on me." Naitachal says cautiously, not wishing to provoke a fight. Mmm, the smell of magic is strong in this one. Strange magic though. Nait certainly can't use it.

"That said, he will likely attempt to disembowel me if I do anything he does not approve of while he is out, whereas if I obey him, I will get paid." Nait says, lips curving up in a slightly crooked smile. "If you know of anyone on this list, take their gift with you. And.. as for his whereabouts, he is training a rambunctious animal not to eat possessions and recovering from an experiment that has restored him to a body which he is relearning to use."

[bloodyadorkable.livejournal.com]

Whatever awkwardness Zak may feel about his gift, Jowan receives it with almost childlike delight (once Talaerion is safely out of the way, of course). With this particular blood mage, sweets are always a safe choice.

Of course, the delight evaporates into an expression of worry about halfway through a delicious little bit of pastry, sweet and flaky layers stuffed with honey and nuts.

"I don't have the slightest clue what to get him in return," he says, mostly to himself but loud enough to be heard. He can't simply let such a kind gesture go without some sort of reciprocity, but shopping really isn't his strong suit.

[not_sinister]

The Nitathil blinks. Huh. "I don't think he is expecting any gifts, but he will ask me how you have been doing, when he returns."

[bloodyadorkable.livejournal.com]

The voice makes Jowan jump. He's gotten a little better at sensing the presence of others, but he's still surprised that he managed to make it to Redcliffe without getting waylaid, assaulted, or worse.

"I'm fine," he stammers, though the shadows under his eyes and the returning pallor suggest otherwise. "I just haven't been able to get back here lately."

Unconsciously, Jowan is glancing around for Zak himself; he remembers that the drow had left for a time, but maybe this particular absence is only for a few minutes. The mage is still, understandably, a bit on edge around utter strangers.

[not_sinister]

This.. is definitely not Zak. It is, however a dark elf, and a fairly well equipped one. And he stinks of magic. Dark magic. As in, stench of undead aura.

"My name is Naitachal." The Nitathil says carefully, not wanting to traumatize someone who looks this... timid. "Zak and I know each other. I am currently assigned to distribute the gifts in his absence. I mean you no harm."

[shinigami-rem.livejournal.com]

There is a large boney creature looming near the bar. She was fiddling with an apple and looked rather pensive.

[not_sinister]

There is a present left for her at the table with her name on it. It is an intricate bracelet carved of bone, though the giver is not here.

The tag says it's from Zaknafein, though.