((OC: This is considered an open RP, though if you want to get more deeply involved and want to know what's going on, feel free to PM me. Any character can join--the more diverse, the better. If you want to throw things through a loop (twist in the plot) then throw us through a loop! RP is better that way, anyways. Keeps you on yer toes, which is what I like. 
))
"...rlaina?"
...
"...orlaina??"
...
"MORLAINA!"
Morlaina jerked her head off her folded arms, shaking her bangs out of her face and looking for all the world as if she had just woken up. Which, considering the circumstances, she probably had. The barkeep gave her a look equal in sympathy and irritation as he settled a fresh glass of water before her. She fumbled for it, giving a bleary 'thanks' as she brought it to her lips. He sighed as she downed it in one gulp.
"Miss Morlaina, pardon my rudeness, but shouldn't you be headin' back to your hotel room by now? It's getting late, and I can't keep the place open much longer."
Morlaina looked around. There was no one left in the dingy old place, the lights flickering madly in the dim parlor. The televisions around the room had been shut off, and the clean-up crew were about their business, picking up cigarette butts from the floor and sweeping their ash into rusty old bins. She groaned and conked her forehead against her folded arms, a twitch in her shoulder showing her aggravation. He patted her hand with a knowing nod of his head.
"You should be off, miss. I hafta close in a few, and much as I enjoy your company you can't stay here tonight. You have a nice, comfy ole' bed waiting for you back at the Mason's, so you just scurry on along now."
Morlaina shifted once before her head came back up, an aggrieved but accepting look upon her visage. "Thanks, Smitty." She breathed out, deflating. She hopped sluggishly off her moth-eaten stool. "Thanks for your time. Oh, and for the water, too." She headed towards the door, muttering apologies as she edged around the clean-up crew.
"Anytime," Smitty called after her, raising a gnarled hand in goodbye. She waved back solemnly before she stepped out into the frigid night air, her breath coming as a puff of ice before her. She tugged her coat tighter about herself and stepped onto the grimy, uneven sidewalk and chided herself for not leaving earlier. The Mason's Hotel was at least five blocks from here, in the better side of town, and it would take her some time to make her way back.
Jezrain was a cold, desolate city in the dead of winter, close enough to the Equator to prevent snow from clogging the streets. Secretly Morlaina was thankful, as she had forever been and forever would be a Southern girl, having only seen snow once before in her life. She bundled up deeper in her thick coat, grateful for its warmth even though it probably wasn't even sixty out. She had simply always been sensitive to temperature extremes, and to her, sixty was extreme--cold-wise, anyways. She had no problem with heat.
On her way towards the city square, which was where the Mason's was located she passed by liquor stores that were either just closing or just opening, depending on how you looked at it, and shady figures leered at her as she passed by. She scowled right back, a humph of indignation the only real response she gave them. Let them prowl the streets at night, trying to scare unsuspecting bypassers; they couldn't scare her.
She had been walking for awhile, now, and the cold was beginning to seep in. She was mildly numb in her legs, either from the exercise, the temperature or both, but she didn't care. As long as she could still feel her feet and hands, she figured she'd be alright.
Within another ten minutes the Mason's entrance was within view, this part of town well-lit despite the late hour. A casino across from the hotel was raging on within, and she quietly scoffed at the idiots gambling away all their money. The valet beside the door eyed her suspiciously as she approached, but he allowed her passage when she shot him an irritated look.
The inside was glamorous and breathtaking, but she took no note of such things as she wearily trudged towards the elevator, punching in her floor and waiting in the quiet rumbling. A soft classical piece played over the intercom, and she silently enjoyed its soothing affects before the ride reached her floor. She stepped out, taking in a deep breath of air, and proceeded down the long, brightly lit hallway until she reached her room. It was locked, but that was no problem for her. She unlocked it and pushed her way in.
The inside was dark, and she took the time to flick the overhead lights on before kicking off her boots and hanging her coat by the door. The room itself was a good suite, though rather expensive. She could have never afforded it, but seeing as it was a gift to her it mattered not. She settle down on the couch, relishing its soft comfort, before a slip of paper obviously ripped out a notepad caught her attention. It was held down by a coaster, and she gently extracted it. The note read:
'Are you enjoying your accomodations, warrior?'
There was no signature, but she knew there wouldn't be. Her mysterious benefactor had never let slip their name since she had been given the key to this suite by a delivered package two days ago, and she knew she wouldn't be finding out anytime soon. She didn't mind, however: it wasn't fun unless it was a mystery.
))"...rlaina?"
...
"...orlaina??"
...
"MORLAINA!"
Morlaina jerked her head off her folded arms, shaking her bangs out of her face and looking for all the world as if she had just woken up. Which, considering the circumstances, she probably had. The barkeep gave her a look equal in sympathy and irritation as he settled a fresh glass of water before her. She fumbled for it, giving a bleary 'thanks' as she brought it to her lips. He sighed as she downed it in one gulp.
"Miss Morlaina, pardon my rudeness, but shouldn't you be headin' back to your hotel room by now? It's getting late, and I can't keep the place open much longer."
Morlaina looked around. There was no one left in the dingy old place, the lights flickering madly in the dim parlor. The televisions around the room had been shut off, and the clean-up crew were about their business, picking up cigarette butts from the floor and sweeping their ash into rusty old bins. She groaned and conked her forehead against her folded arms, a twitch in her shoulder showing her aggravation. He patted her hand with a knowing nod of his head.
"You should be off, miss. I hafta close in a few, and much as I enjoy your company you can't stay here tonight. You have a nice, comfy ole' bed waiting for you back at the Mason's, so you just scurry on along now."
Morlaina shifted once before her head came back up, an aggrieved but accepting look upon her visage. "Thanks, Smitty." She breathed out, deflating. She hopped sluggishly off her moth-eaten stool. "Thanks for your time. Oh, and for the water, too." She headed towards the door, muttering apologies as she edged around the clean-up crew.
"Anytime," Smitty called after her, raising a gnarled hand in goodbye. She waved back solemnly before she stepped out into the frigid night air, her breath coming as a puff of ice before her. She tugged her coat tighter about herself and stepped onto the grimy, uneven sidewalk and chided herself for not leaving earlier. The Mason's Hotel was at least five blocks from here, in the better side of town, and it would take her some time to make her way back.
Jezrain was a cold, desolate city in the dead of winter, close enough to the Equator to prevent snow from clogging the streets. Secretly Morlaina was thankful, as she had forever been and forever would be a Southern girl, having only seen snow once before in her life. She bundled up deeper in her thick coat, grateful for its warmth even though it probably wasn't even sixty out. She had simply always been sensitive to temperature extremes, and to her, sixty was extreme--cold-wise, anyways. She had no problem with heat.
On her way towards the city square, which was where the Mason's was located she passed by liquor stores that were either just closing or just opening, depending on how you looked at it, and shady figures leered at her as she passed by. She scowled right back, a humph of indignation the only real response she gave them. Let them prowl the streets at night, trying to scare unsuspecting bypassers; they couldn't scare her.
She had been walking for awhile, now, and the cold was beginning to seep in. She was mildly numb in her legs, either from the exercise, the temperature or both, but she didn't care. As long as she could still feel her feet and hands, she figured she'd be alright.
Within another ten minutes the Mason's entrance was within view, this part of town well-lit despite the late hour. A casino across from the hotel was raging on within, and she quietly scoffed at the idiots gambling away all their money. The valet beside the door eyed her suspiciously as she approached, but he allowed her passage when she shot him an irritated look.
The inside was glamorous and breathtaking, but she took no note of such things as she wearily trudged towards the elevator, punching in her floor and waiting in the quiet rumbling. A soft classical piece played over the intercom, and she silently enjoyed its soothing affects before the ride reached her floor. She stepped out, taking in a deep breath of air, and proceeded down the long, brightly lit hallway until she reached her room. It was locked, but that was no problem for her. She unlocked it and pushed her way in.
The inside was dark, and she took the time to flick the overhead lights on before kicking off her boots and hanging her coat by the door. The room itself was a good suite, though rather expensive. She could have never afforded it, but seeing as it was a gift to her it mattered not. She settle down on the couch, relishing its soft comfort, before a slip of paper obviously ripped out a notepad caught her attention. It was held down by a coaster, and she gently extracted it. The note read:
'Are you enjoying your accomodations, warrior?'
There was no signature, but she knew there wouldn't be. Her mysterious benefactor had never let slip their name since she had been given the key to this suite by a delivered package two days ago, and she knew she wouldn't be finding out anytime soon. She didn't mind, however: it wasn't fun unless it was a mystery.
))