Undertow

Sussex was a lively town and one he was getting to know fairly well. The smell of the ocean nearby and the salted breeze that buffeted his coat only reminded him of his journey here. It had been difficult and the trials had been all, but expected. Yet, here he stood to continue to tell his tale.

Like the tide, this particular seaside escape seemed to always pull him back in. The locals were an amusing lot and they always seemed happy to fill his time with whatever odd jobs they may have. And frankly, that's all they seemed to have some days. Whether it was carting a plethora of freshly caught fish or searching for valuable shells to trade for money, it was almost never the same.

This afternoon, he perused the market place, keeping his eyes peeled for wanted ads or even a conversation he could interject himself into to earn himself a meal or two for the next few days. He'd become quite exceptional at charming his way into a decent share of wealth, even if, for now, it only kept him afloat on the turbulent waters of his life.

@Ruel

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]. click for attributions.

He was not fond of gambling. It attracted men that saw wealth as a plaything. They wasted it on themselves, purchasing wines and charred meats that others among their rank struggled to afford. With each herb and hunk of venison that they traded, they swapped goods for pleasures. Fleeting, foolish pleasures. It was a fool’s endeavor to live only for the present when he could, instead, make a lasting imprint on the lives of others. Such aspirations were what defined a man—not his riches and wives. Which was why Ruel did not believe that he was gambling with men but beasts rather.

No, Ruel was not fond of gambling. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t do it—sometimes.

He relaxed against a bear’s fur and glanced at the two others that played with him. The game was tight and Ruel stood to lose a century’s old wine… if he didn’t find a distraction that would let him swap out his hand for a better totem.

His gaze wandered to the den opening. Aimlessly, he watched the series of paws pass by. Until he noticed a shockingly large pair. He leaped to his paws suddenly and rushed out. Outraged cries came from behind him as he scurried out into the market’s street. ”Cousin!” he exclaimed, suddenly drawing next to the large wolf. He ignored the scent of ash that clung to the wolf as if he’d just escaped a fire. ”Please, join us. I didn’t know you were in town!” Ruel’s smile was a winning one although his gaze was pleading beneath the pleasantry.

” Come, come, you must show them your gambling skill.”

@Diaval

His ear flicked as he passed a grouping of jubilant hooting laughter. He was fully intent on passing them by, shaking his head with a smirk, when someone called out. "Cousin!" Diaval flinched slightly, his whole body reacting, momentary panic filling him as he thought he might have been recognized from his previous life. As he halted in his step, he took a deep breath, exhaled and turned around slowly. Play it cool...the chances of that are highly unlikely... When he did face the gentleman that called, he flashed a charming grin in his direction.

The stranger sidled right up to him as though he knew him to be a relative, yet he did not appear familiar to him. "Do I...know you?" He raised a brow, his sharp gaze running along the form of the male, before returning his gaze to the face of the other. He hadn't realized his eyes wandered so until they had, his cheeks warming slightly beneath raven fur. Diaval blinked, his lip twitching slightly at the mention of gambling.

My, what a pastime... He thought to himself, recalling how much of that had led to his Kingdom's downfall. He peered over the shoulder of the gent, trying to get a view of the others in his party. He glanced at his path ahead, leading him beyond their company, weighing his options before finally he conceded, "Eh...what do I have to lose?"

@Ruel

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]. click for attributions.

"Do I... know you?" The man's expression was strict, those golden eyes running over Ruel's face in a detailed search of any trace of familiarity. Only, there would be none. They didn't know each other at all. Ruel had no cousins that he knew of—but that worked in his favor and none knew of any either. But everyone had cousins. Wolves couldn't stop themselves from accidentally populating the earth in droves.

But this man's uncertainty was not serving Ruel's ruse. Fighting back the urge to let his frustration show, Ruel forced his smile to remain on his face. However, his gaze did become a bit, well, sharper. "Hardly, but that's because you never come to any family reunions," Ruel answered, his tail swaying slowly behind him. To any onlooker, Ruel was at ease. However, internally, he hoped that the stranger could read the subliminal message on his face. Do this for me, and I'll do something for you. But whether this stranger was smart enough to pick up on that remained to be seen.

"We have a particularly fine vintage to lose," Ruel explained as, blessedly, the stranger joined him at the table with three dubious faces looking back. "But first you must regale us with your recent travels."

And if this man even bothered to make up anything, he'd take the opportunity to try and get a maid to "accidentally" swap the bottles. He'd rather lose his vintage to a commoner than to these dogs chasing luxuries.

@Diaval

Family reunions? Diaval narrowed his eyes, studying this man's boisterous attitude that reminded him of someone he couldn't place. What the hell is this lunatic on about? He caught the stranger's eye then and there was something hidden beneath those crimson gems, a glint that revealed some sort of facade that he must have simply stumbled into unknowingly. He could so easily walk away, yet this man urged him with a look. He returned a look back to him that seemed to say. Fine, but you'll owe me one...

Diaval carefully positioned himself so that he had a view of an exit and also had his back facing a corner so that no one could surprise him from behind if this went South. “My travels, eh? You wish to hear of my travels?" He drew upon a dashing smile that he'd always used to see himself through dicey scenarios, eyebrows raising with intrigue. “Unfortunately, for you lot, I don't go around revealing any tales of the trade winds unless a round or two of alcohol is bought for me. Should you produce that for me...I'll more than gladly share my stories of lands afar..."

@Ruel

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da]. click for attributions.