When evil rolls the dice, places like this call the winning numbers. On a table flooded with sun, the three dice manage to roll into the corner. And just when you think it may be something different, the same three sixes come up as the previous role. And yet even when the fate of those dice are so predictable, people always guess against the truth.

Somehow though, the people here kept coming back. A rough crowd, brutes and assassins, people with little to no mercy for life. Being of class she was, she fit here. Although the last time she was in a tavern, just after a royalty assassination success, she ended up so drunk, that she spent the night on the floor, and ended up awake, almost naked, and robbed of all gold and weapons. Now it was getting to be a bother, an assassin with no arms.

Coming here may not have been the best idea. But it was the cheapest place to stay in either town. She expected mice and roaches in the room, but hell, she had slept with worse.

Scarlet pushed open the flimsy wooden door to the tavern, the loud grumbling of drunken men, bar fights, crashing and slamming of people and items into walls, tables, and chairs. Not a very nice place at all... Nervously she glanced around, relying on protection from her two hands only.

Right fist curling around the inside of the fingers of the brown leather bird handlers glove. Her other hand, wrapped in leather straps itching idly at the back of her neck, just above her tattoo of a black inked dove. The looks she got from people were nothing less than incriminating and sly. But her own cold stare shot back at them, daring them to try anything.

Making her way to the counter, it only took her several minutes to rent a room. But considering the hour, it was a tad early to check in. Plotting herself at the bar, next to a very large sweaty man, she glared daggers at him, just begging for him to say something, he didn't seem to be looking for trouble though.

Ordering a glass of water, the bar tender grumbled. "If you weren't renting a room I'd be tossing you out of here in an instant. Ordering water... I swear. I'm going to start charging for it..." She said nothing, keeping her face low, black bangs swinging in her eyes, the white scar matching the curve of her right cheek shadowed by her dark locks.

It was her first day in this town... perhaps it would be best to meet people...

Azerous sat in the corner of the tavern drinking his ale, he looked towards the door as he heard it open watching the woman enter this dingy place. Ahhh...A new face, he thought. Standing up he started to walk over towards the bar where she took her seat...About half way there a drunken man fell into him...Watch where you going, Azerous said. The man pulled himself together and grabbed Azerous by his shirt pulling him close to his face...Why don't you watch where your going, the drunk replied. Azerous could smell the foul aroma of his breath. Let me go...I don't want to have to hurt you. The drunk began to laugh...You think you can hurt me, he said...Why...Yes I do...Just as those words left his mouth Azerous was out of the mans grasp, and hit him five times before the man could react. The drunk stumbled backwards and came full force at Azerous...Azerous ducked the drunk and tripped him, laughing he watched him fall face first into the floor...I think he's had enough, Azerous thought. Walking away he pulled a barstool up by Scarlet, and ordered another drink...He turned and looked at Scarlet...Hello!

Bar-fighting wasn't out of the ordinary in this place. All kinds of beings came here to brawl, and even as she stepped through the door a couple of them were going on. She paid the same heed to this one that she did to all the others... none. As far as she could discern from the sound of the match. A man of any questionable race, shape, size, and class had walked into a man no doubtedly bigger than him, neither liked the encounte; however, it was the big one to start to get the fists flying. But it was the small one to walk away.

The small one, which now sat next to her at the bar, with a rather perky hello to her, as if they were old friends. Taken back a bit by this, her face was half consumed in a dirty glass of water, unsanitary, but then again, thats what you get for being cheap. Her emerald eyes darting over to the fellow who seated himself next to her. And immediatly she took him for what he was. The only race with skin that dark, as dark as the lonely night without its pale moon, a Drow.

She took her time to finish with the glass, swallow, and pat gently the corners of her mouth before turning her attention to her newly found 'friend'. "You look good for someone who just walked away from a bar fight. I take it you like living up to your reputation." She said offering a half smirk (as if she knew what she was talking about).

In fact, among her many quirky traits, she found it almost an amusement to make people fall in public. But unlike someone who would merely stick their foot out, she would go the length to pull the invisable string across the road, and hold it between her fingers. Making sure in the end, they knew just where it had come from.

Of course, all this was merely a metaphor for her mind games. Instead of playing with people like toys, she let people play with people, but she liked to hold to strings, it made her feel powerful. This may seem confusing now. But she had her next comment ready to roll off her tongue like a fine wine rolls down the throat. Smooth and bitter...

That wasn't really a fight, he said looking at the woman. But...Yes I do love living up to my reputation. Hanging around these parts, you can't show the smallest bit of weakness, or people will use that against you...In these parts the men feared him...Not many people picked a fight with this drow. Not in a single fight on this side of town did he have to draw his weapons, for everyone knew what would happen if he did...They would just be another smear on his blades...Picking up his ale he took a big swig of the liquid...So, what brings you to this side of town, might I ask...I'v never seen you here before.

Perfect, he wasn't stupid, he wasn't brilliant, but people knew him, he made a living, and he had a reputation, a perfect life, perhaps? A small smile found her lips, as she looked down then shut her eyes, head bowing a bit as if weary.

"You are... very bold. To admit you have a reputation... especially in the light of not many toy with you, mess with you, if you'll have it. We should spar... as soon as I can afford new weapons."

She spoke in a soft tone, eyes still shut, as if she was talking to herself more than she was to him. His question was asked, and she raised her head, opening her eyes with the fluid motion. She had run out of water a while ago, and the bar tender was purposly ignoring her. She turned her head to watch him walking down the row of stools from behind the wooden counter. And standing on the ring around the bottom of the stool, she lurched forward and grabbed him by the sleeve, not roughly, but firmly enough to stop him in his tracks.

He tried to get a word in, but she beat him to it. "How about you try something new for a change. Like serving your customers who are keeping you in business. I just spent all my money on a room upstairs, the same money that feeds your family. And I would really appreciate... another water... in a cleaner glass..." She mutter the last line, giving him a cold look, returned only with spite and snatching the glass away to fulfill her demand.

Agression always seemed to get her somewhere, but physically she was incapable of fighting right now. Most of her skill lying in her diverse weapon handling. Of which were now gone... It would take time to earn the money to buy new ones, especially in her profession, where money depended on handling those weapons! Oh what a wicked cycle...

She leaned back onto the stool, slumping slightly, lamb skin boots twisting on the metal ring for feet underneath the counter. "I'm new... thats why you haven't seen me before. I just arrived in town today... I wandered over from Antioch, place where I was born. This part of town... heard it was the cheapest. Easiest to find, hardest to survive. I got a room, but I doubt I'll sleep. Not with the bar being open all night, and the crime. Not that I'm afraid! I'm just... wary."

He nodded as the words left her mouth...Thinking about what she said about then dueling, he took in another mouthful of the liquid...I'll take you up on your offer, he said looking at the woman...You look like you would be a worthy challenge against me...Better than this worthless scum who I fight around here. He turned around to notice the man he had beat up, begin to make his way with two other guys over towards him. The two with the man were muscular and big, they looked like they could handle their own in a fight. They surround Azerous...We saw you mess with our friend...We're gonna have to hurt you...The first man swung, Azerous ducked and hit the second man in the kidney. The second man fell to his knees, and began to cough blood. The third man hit Azerous across the back of the head making him fall to the ground...Then the first man picked Azerous up so that the other guy could get in a few shots...

Her smile vanished when he noted she looked like a worthy opponent. Generally peoples opinions of her before they had seen her fight was the total opposite. Her eyes traveled down for a moment, ignoring the fact the bar tender had just brought her another glass of water, the glass, still dirty, but at least it was better than before. As he turned to look behind him, on instinct she turned as well. Only to see the approaching men with blood shot eyes stomping their way through the tavern headed straight for this lone Drow.

As the fight broke out she sat there for a moment, wondering if he could handle himself, but when he caught himself in a bind, she coughed once and stood up, dusting off her black leggings before she went to work.

Tapping the man on the shoulder, hard enough to get his attention, just as he was about to hit the restrained Drow, put her hands on her hips and waited. Sure enough, he turned around to face her, one hand pressed against his victims shoulder, the other raised and ready to strike.

"And what can I do ye for miss?" He grumbled offering a wicked smile before looking back at the Drow to make sure he wasn't going anywhere.

Scarlet sighed, looking at the ground for a moment. "Did you know sir, that if you look directly at the floor, you can see through the cracks between the floor boards, down into a room where the floors are glass, and the reflection of the glass allows you see all the way up into the rooms above. And you know the only thing those rooms are used for." She hinted looking back up to him as his grin broaded imensely as he looked straight down. Giving Scarlet the cue to do a raised high kick slamming pad sole of her boot directly into his nose, blood quickly covering the floor.

She stepped back, letting him fall and bleed and curse and moan, while she quickly leapt over to the counter, reached behind to grab a bottle of whiskey, smash it on the side of the counter, or so the old cliche goes, as charge the man holding back the nice Drow she had been speaking with.

As soon as Azerous saw Scarlet break the mans nose he took advantage of the distraction...Kicking backwards he heard a loud crack as the mans knee shattered...The man screamed or more of a gurgled yell, and dropped to his other knee. Azerous watched as Scarlet jumped behind the counter and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, breaking it and charging for the man who at one time held Azerous...He spun around and hit the man once in the face dropping him to the ground...As the man started to drop Azerous took his seat, and yet again took in another mouthful of ale.

As soon as she saw the Drow break free of the clasp, she stood her ground, tossing the jagged glass aside and slumping onto one leg, stood relaxed watching the scene unfold. It only took a matter of seconds for the man to fall in painful exhaustion, and for the warrior Drow to take his place back at the bar, filling his stomach with the bitter liquid known as Ale.

She smirked a bit, having gained incentive to work to purchase weaponry. This man, this future opponent, she knew could fight, but the display he just put on gave her a whole different reason to want to fight him. She didn't think she could win. Making a note to herself to write down his residence, she took her place back at the bar. The mess of men still grumbling and wearily, stumbling one by one across the room to a booth as well as out the door.

The took a drink of water and tapped her fingers idly on the polished counter. "Looks to me like you've had some time to train. With anyone inparticular? Or are you one of those that decides early on 'my way is the only way, and there isn't a man or woman in the world to come between it.' I guess I shouldn't be speaking about such though, I've never taken proper instruction..." She laughed slightly, dabbing her finger in the water and drawing water mark patterns on the counter, watching it bend and mold to the cracks, creases and indentions on the surface of the wood.

Thinking for a moment about ordering another glass, she decided it against it. Attracting the bar tenders attention might raise the issue of a broken bottle of whiskey, and God knows that could be costly. It was best to remain silent for now, and it was getting late, perhaps he wouldn't notice at all..

Putting down the ale he turned to look at Scarlet. Well fought! He replied somewhat cheerfuly. Answering your question, I have had time to train...Growing up in the Underdark...All young drow were raised to become elite warriors...Enough about me so what about you? Azerous hated to remember his past, it ws nothing but suffering and lonelyness...He picked up his ale, going to take another drink, he found that it was empty. Getting the bar tenders attention he asked for a glass of water...Ah...First her and now you...Do you people know this is a bar? Hmmm...Why yes, I think we do. So why don't you get me my water. The bar tender turned around and got Azerous his water, Flopping it down on the counter in front of Azerous...The water slopped out of the cup onto the counter. Letting out a little laugh Azerous took a drink of it...

She amused herself for a moment with his cheery attitude. For someone who had just been in two bar fights in less than 15 minutes, he seemed to be quite happy. The smile crossing her face was a direct result of this, finding he was more like her than she previously susepcted.

Fighting was her life, she lived to reach that next level of power. That ultimate feeling when a mighty warrior falls by your hands, by your skill, power, and mind. It could be labeled one of the most difficult jobs of all the land, fighting for sport, honor, or money. She fought for all three, with rules that starved herself of the gold she could easily get, killing a child for some dirty bastard who offered her a bag of silver. Enough to feed and cloth her for months. But at what price? Selling away the soul of an innocent for a mere bag of metal? It just wasn't worth it.

Some would say she lived by a code that was very unlike the code of an assassin. And in truth she was more like a mercenary than she ever was a heartless killer. However, the retained the title of 'Freelance Assassin'. And wore the badge with pride, especially when it came to executing the people in the world that lived against the oaths she had taken. Killing the men, raping the women, beating the children and burning the home.

It was no dishonesty that people like this existed. Ones without moral or ethics... she felt it her obligation to rid the world of people like this. And more times that not she ended up killing the person who had offered her money to kill of someone for a horrible reason... to kill a child in revenge against the father... It was just plain wrong.

"My past...?" She muttered, swirling the cup on the table. "I grew up on a farm." She said with a half smirk, turning to look him in the eye. "I'll bet you didn't expect that one coming from me?" She paused, looking back down at the counter where the water marks were already fading by the light of the fire.

"I'll just say. That there was an inncident... and it left me with very few options, at a very young age. I kind of raised myself from age six. But it wasn't all blood and gore and poverty, I lived with various people that I was never emotionally attached to, and certainly not the other way around. I can't complain. My life isn't bad. I find love in something that very few find anything in at all... and to me, thats something I hold dearly. I know its my soul for what I do. But as long as the souls I eliminate cease their wicked ways... the price is worth it."

She stopped fidgeting for a moment and withdrew her right hand from its bird handling glove encasement, holding it out to him in a warm gesture.

"Scarlet Valentine." She said strongly, pride echoing in her tone. Despite the spit she acquired from nobles, their hooked noses always looking down on her from the sidelines, that personal nobility was definitely still there.

Azerous extended his hand grasping Scarlet's in a firm shake. You can call me Azerous! A small smirk developed across his face. Of all the things Azerous expected to happen today, the last thing he had expected was to make a new friend...Most people he met, he found pretty hard to get along with. Picking up his water he took in a couple of more drinks, draining the water out of it. He waved to the bar tender...Calling him over for a refill. The bar tender started to make his way over to them...Then all of a sudden walked right past, ignoring them. As he began to cross in front of them a second time, Azerous reached out and grabbed the bar tender's sleeve. Hey, why don't you stop ignoring us and get me a refill...Why your at it I think Scarlet might like another glass too...

Less and less perplexing this situation became. As he uncovered more of the wonderful personality behind the mask of a rogue warrior. In truth, her first attempt to sway his dignity failed, although at no cost other than suspicians. He went from a potential threat, to a blossoming friendship, it was rare she met someone in the towns she traveled. She was usually scoffed at, adorned with weapons and bags of many kinds. This was a pleasent difference, and she was thoroughly pleased with the outcome.

Second time the bartender had to be put in his place. Despite his bitter attitude she couldn't help but pity him. All these drunk morons ordering him about day and night, no rest for the weary, and that was the truth.

When he returned with two glasses of water, he settled them more curteously than he previously had. A good thing too, as Scarlet was on edge now. She made a point to swallow the entire glass quickly, her hand pressed against her stomach as the onslaught of liquid disturbed it.

"Azerous, I have a feeling we will be seeing eachother sometime soon. As you have given me incentive to get my life here in order and win back what I have lost to carelessness. I'll hold you to that challenge. And I'll see you in the arena soon... as for now though, I'll be turning in. While the rest of the world wastes the night away to alcohol, I have a job. One of the reasons I stopped in this town to begin with. And its something, that being on time definitely helps. Keep in touch." She said with a smile, leaving him a couple pieces of silver should he have to pay for any damages they caused, and retreated to the stairs along the farside of the room. Taking her time to ascend, with a final look in his direction.

She wouldn't forget that face anytime soon. It would be a good challenge, and she would be ready for it.

Azerous watched as she walked away...Bye, he replied to his new found friend. When she reached the stairs a smile appeared on the drow's face. It was a rare occasion when Azerous smiled at someone. It was even rarer when he smiled at someone, and he wasn't fighting them. When she turned and headed back up the stairs Azerous finished off the rest of his drink. Standing up he turned and made his way out of the tavern, into the dark night...Where to now, he thought. I guess, wherever my legs take me...Azerous began to walk down the gloomy street...Turning back he took one more look at the tavern...