And the clock strikes...

[Kendrick]

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Did that noise ever stop. A twist of his head as he glanced around the bar. This bar did not stand out from any that he had been in before. There was a dusty old piano to his left. A old miner and a trollop were making use of the piano bench. The wooden bar was to his right. There were a few working girls moving about. None of them caught his interest tonight. Tonight was not about pleasures of the flesh. Tonight was about finding the man who was trying to cheat him. He did not suffer fools for long. The man would make a showing of his face. When the man showed up, he knew what he was going to do, he almost pitied the man. Almost.

Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. He had been sitting in the bar for a few hours by now. Two of the harlots had approached him. He turned them both down flat. Neither woman seemed happy by the rebuff. Not that he cared at this moment. If his mind had not been set upon his chosen mouse, one if not both would have had been left with a big smile. And he would have had a dinning companion or two. Now, that the time has passed for his quarry to arrive, he decided to give up for the night. A quick intake of the room told him the four harlots had found buyers for there wares. A loss. The night was a total waste. It seemed that no pleasure was going to coming to him this night. At the very thought the barkeep was telling people to move along, the bar was closing.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. He would rise from the chair at his own speed. The barkeep moved to hustle others out, but he kept his distance from the man in black. Indeed he was dressed all in black, black pants, black button down dress shirt, black leather jacket, black boots. He just liked the color. It was flattering on him. Though the ladies said wearing greens and blues made his eyes pop. Tossing a few bills down on the table he turned on his heel and went out into the night.

Before night had fallen he had scoped out the area. Having spotted a Inn not to far from this establishment. It was that Inn that he was making his way briskly towards. The night air rustled his hair as he moved stealthy towards the Inn. It did not take him long before he was walking in the door. Would anyone be awake at the Inn at this hour? It looked as if he was about to test that out.

Spotting the counter, he took steps to reach it. Upon the counter he spotted a bell. Logic told him to ring the bell for service. His hand lifted and fingers pressed against the bell. After waiting half a moment, he rang the bell again. Speaking partially under his breath, “Does anyone even work at this establishment? Perhaps its self serve?” Tick. Tock. Ding. Tick. Tock. Ding.

[Aiden]

"Nobody works at night. They're all asleep ya know?" A voice drawled out from the surrounding shadows. It knew what it was talking about. The place was a ghost town. Given the hour most of the lights around the place had been extinguished, in fact the only remaining ones lit covered the entrance and reception desk. "So yer just wastin' time with that bell there."

The shadows parted to the guy's left reveling the voice to belong to a younger looking guy with partial dyed black on blonde hair and a predatory smirk on his face. There wasn't anything extraordinary about him. He was dressed in black save for a deep crimson shirt and the tinted glasses that hid his eyes. "Lookin' for a place to stay?"

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

It was getting to be rather late in the evening but that did not mean that there would be no one to answer the front desk. Even of they were sleeping as the man at the desk plainly stated. Sleep or not those wards were still in place and therefore De'Ryanna knew that someone was there and if they were being helped (this constituted as the helper moving either behind the desk or taking a hold of the ledger.) She wasn't sleeping but she was about to start exercising down in the basement when she felt the ward go off. 

And she waited in hopes that someone else would answer the arrival. However, Ryanna didn't let more than a minute or two pass before she was already leaving the gym in her gray cotton shorts and pastel pink leotart. She didn't bother dressing fully again and why should she when she was going to return to the gym once she was done? She may have been out of her normal attire that others were use to seeing, but her current state was of no bother. 

Up the steps and she rounded the corner to see the two men - one of which she recognized as a current patron. Her ears had picked up one man asking the other of he was needing a room. De'Ryanna's walk belonged to a  and easy to see with the absence of her skirt. "Gentlemen." Addressing them both as she approached the desk and went behind it. He reached for the book and set it on top of the desk before looking at the man all in black. 

Aiden had already asked the question she would have so there was no need to restate. 

[Kendrick]

Tick. Tock. Ring. Removing his hand from the bell. He turned just as that voice spoke. Having sensed that he was no longer alone in the lobby. Looking to the shadows, could he see what was not yet revealed, he was not telling. “So“ The single word was drawn out. “…then is it self serve?” It did sound like that was what the male voice was saying. That did not sound like good business sense to him. But who was he to say what worked for them. They must trust all that crossed over the threshold if that was the case.

If anything registered to the man standing in front of the desk about the other man it was the hair. He wondered if that was some misplaced fashion statement. He never understood men that dyed their locks, he thought that was a female thing. Twitch of lips. “No, I am not looking for a place to stay. I just like coming into random inns and ringing the bell at night. See what happens and all.”

He was about to say something else but he sensed someone else had got into ear shot. He awaited until the presence made herself known. His eyes ran over the woman in a quick flash. Unless she was rather keen of senses she wouldn’t of even realized he just sized her up. Lips quirked. “Are you one of the sleeping ladies of the Inn?” Left brow lifted upwards. “Perhaps you are just sleep walking? For I was informed everyone is sleeping.” A simple wave of his hand towards the other man.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

The wanderer had a sense of humor and - even if it was a scarcastic one - it could be appreciated.

His playful banter was met with a slightly mocking smile and a single bat of her eyes. even as she turned the pages of the book with her hand. There was a hint of humor in them and she made no effort to hide the fact that she was studying him, taking in his features and unabashedly sizing him up. This man had made an effort to hide his and she did quite the opposite. Perhaps he should pose. He was new here, she didn't know him and that was all that was needed for her to put him under partial scrutiny. He wasn't hard on the eyes either.

"Obviously your informant was misinformed." A turn of her head enabled her to look fully on at Aiden and she felt a small snarl begin to rise in her chest but it was contained so nothing verbal was heard. Although, if any of them were looking closely enough they'd see her eyes narrow a tad. Aiden's background brought that reaction out from her - not that he gave out the wrong information. "I am very much awake and so is he." Therefore the statement was null, eventhough she knew what Aiden meant with his statement.

A quick challenging raise of her brows before she looked from him and to the ledger. Having found the last page she took up a pen as she was now ready to make whatever notations were needed. "Welcome to the Tel'Ranemyn Inn. Now that it's been established that you enjoy ringing bells, what type of room do you require."

[Madeline Cauthon]

Madeline had been gone for a long time, it seemed forever since she left for Seleen and Shuda's wedding. After the wedding she had went to Avalon to visit her sister's there, and the tower to do some training.

She walked into the inn late. She took a deep breath, the smell of the inn made her smile. She started to walk to the desk to get her room key, and stopped short. She was surprised to see her sister behind the desk this late at night. But after all this was an inn, and people came in all the time.

So Madeline decided to wait by the door for De'Ryanna to check the gentlemen in, then get her room key.

[Aleshanee]

A small grumble would escape as she threw the covers off of her. What the heck was with tonight, she was tossing and turning like a small tornado. All she wanted to do was get some sleep. It did not seem like that was going to happen anytime soon. Her hands lifted up, balled into fists, and rubbed at her eyes. “Why!” A small sigh as she sat up, a shake of her head, as bare feet hit the floor. Her back arched as she stretched, and slipped her feet into her fuzzy purple slippers, they looked like little monsters with eyeballs at the toes and all. Deciding that she might as well go down to the bar and get herself a drink, because maybe, with that she could get the sleep her body was wanting.

It did not take her long to go through her room, into the living room, grabbing up the blanket that was thrown over the couch, a simple dark purple throw, that when wrapped around her form, covered all the necessities. Then out of the door she went. She did not expect anyone would be awake at this time of the night anyways.

Her brown locks were pulled back, in a low slung, messy pony tail. A few wisps were working their way free. Bouncing down the steps she came, hopefully those behind the doors were not super light sleepers for she was not being awfully loud, but she wasn’t the most quiet with the steps either. Thankfully her slippers did not make any strange sounds when she walked.

So imagine her surprise when she reached the bottom step and there were four people all near the checking in desk. The one girl was off to the back a bit, but there was three it looked like in a conversation of sorts. Shane thought about turning around and creeping back up the stairs, but she wanted to get a better look at the man in all black at the desk. Because suddenly she was not all that sleepy, but her voice had yet to come out, right now she was paused, hands on the blanket she had wrapped around her, waiting.

[Aiden]

"Sure, why not?" Aiden shrugged as if he could care less. What'd it matter to him if someone just walked in? It was what he did after all. As for the dyed hair? You didn't dis the hair. Who knows, perhaps the guy wanted to be a girl or something. You never knew around this town. Sarcasm. You had to love it. His smirk widened at the other guy's comment to ringing random bells in the middle of the night "I hear if you ring enough you'll get a prize."

And then there she was. Aiden had seen De'Ryanna around the Inn before, had not to when she worked there, but this was the first he'd gotten a good look at her. Behind the tinted glasses his eyes narrowed and he couldn't contain the hiss that escaped. That was it, he was getting the heck out of there. With a swirl Aiden had turned away from the guy and the woman and was heading for the door. A grin was plastered on for the woman by the door as he stalked past.

[Kendrick]

When a man appreciated the female body he was a pig. A woman doing the same it was flattery. Not that he minded her look. In fact, he did strike a pose. Right foot was moved so the toes touched the floor the heel of his foot pointed to the sky. His arms crossed loosely across his chest causing the black leather jacket to tighten against his biceps. He was a good model did not flinch or move until she had her fill of looking.

The words that left the woman caused him to smirk. “It is hard to find good informants these days, it seems.” He did not miss the narrowing of her eyes, just that smidge. Nor did he miss the reaction the woman drew from the man either. If his senses were not so alert he most likely would of missed all of the small reactions and actions. He also sensed when they were joined by another, he did not need to turn to know that it was a female. Then the first man left, not that he would complain being the company of lovely ladies always pleased him.

Grinning to the woman that had come behind the desk. “How many times must I ring the bell until I get a prize.” He had just finished that sentence, when he turned his head, looking dead on at Shane. “And there is my prize now. What impeccable timing.” Offering Shane a grin no doubt in his head that she did not remember him. Looking back to the woman behind the counter. “I require a room with a bed. Perhaps a bell.” Lips giving a twitch.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

It appeared that this man had more than humor but a slight arrogance about him as well by the way he took her look. If it was another time, or another place....

But any thoughts in that direction were untracked as she took note of Aiden leaving. If he wanted to go then she wasn't going to stop him. De'Ryanna didn't even bother to look at him as he left or even give any indication that she cared in the slightest aside from answering the man's statement. "Very." Hard to find good informants that is; once one was found they were a valuable asset.

Speaking of informants someone had entered into the Inn who hadn't been seen there in a while: Madeline. Where she wasn't an informant, she was a dependable person. "There's no need for you to stand at the back of the line, Madeline." Ryanna gave a tilt of her head so that the other could see her well. "Welcome back. I'm sure you're eager to get back to work and to your own affairs. This man here would like a room next to his Prize. Second floor." The second half of her words was said while she looked at the man with a slightly amused smile on her lips. The implication to Madeline being that if she was wanting to get back to work right away she could start by checking this man in.

Shane was the Prize - just as the man had pointed out. De'Ryanna had heard her coming down the stairs and didn't have to turn her head to know who it was for she remembered the scent from when she had checked her in months ago. Setting the pen down for now she pulled out the contract paper and placed it on the desk and eased it forward to him.

Price and terms of staying were not yet mentioned but, if Madeline was going to take the patron she would leave that for her.

"A bell will cost you extra."

[Madeline Cauthon]

Madeline couldn't help but giggle a little, as she made her way passed everyone. She was definetly glad to be home, and her mood should it. She set her bags down behind the desk, and smiled at De'Ryanna.

"Thank you De'Ryanna, I would be happy to get back to work. One room beside the prize on the second floor, got it."

And in a tone that was a trademark of there father's humorous sarcasm.

"Are we charging just for the bell, or the bell, and an extra charged every time it is rung?"

[Aleshanee]

Did she think that she could escape with out him realizing who she was? Perhaps. A part of her wished that she could forget that night. But when one had relived it their dreams, it was rather hard to do. She half hoped that he wasn’t as devastatingly handsome as she remembered him, but he was. It was not that she wasn’t used to good looking people. Back home she was surrounded with them. But it was something about this man’s eyes that held her arrested.

She heard the words going on around her. Her own voice slipped out directed to them all. “I am not anyone’s….” Oh what was the point in arguing. There were many worse things that she could have been called. And suddenly the whole situation hit her as rather funny. She let out a laugh.

“I was just going to get myself a drink. If his room is next to mine, I can show him, if you want. After my drink.” She shrugged her shoulders, careful to hang onto the blanket. “After he is all checked in.” That was not what she was going to do, offer such a thing, but something inside of her pinged, and there she was offering to help out. Even though she knew that the two woman behind the counter were more then capable of helping him out. It was just that his room was on the way or something.

And with that, she slipped to the bar, away from the eyes and the words. So all she could hear of their speaking was mumbled. She had a feeling weather she went with him to find his room or not, that they were going to have a talk, and perhaps it was best to get such things out of the way. And then maybe the sleep would come more willing, and she would not awaken with his face on her mind.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

How very fortunate for her, Madeline did catch the hint and was coming to checking in the gentleman. Once the other was behind the desk De’Ryanna took a step back and to the side, reaching forward slightly in order to turn the ledger in Madeline’s direction. The blank spot was clearly marked so she wouldn’t have to look around and find where the man was to sign or where to put his information.

“Pay no attention to the doodles Madeline.” Ryanna mentioned as she gave a nonchalant brush of her fingers to the ledgers papers. “They are all Epiphany’s doing.” That was all she was going to say about that. If she wanted Madeline was more than welcome to flip through the book and see the various pictures and comic strips Epiphany had drawn along the margins. It may even help her to get caught up on the going-on of the place.

With that taken care of De’Ryanna took another step back and was now on away from the working part of the desk. “Charge for the room and bell Madeline. I’m sure the prize he receives from his insistent ringing will come with it’s own charge. Hello Aleshanee.” Remembering her name from the book.

Now she turned fully, a perfectly executed pivot on her right foot, and started walking away. “If you need me I’ll be in the gym,” she called over her shoulder as went. Back to what she was doing before the bell had rung.

[Kendrick]

She thought his arrogance was only slight? He would have to amend that, later. He gave a nod of his head. He knew she was speaking about finding a good informant. He had a few well placed informants. He also had quite a few not so dearly departed informants as well. One did not get the chance to cross him twice. But this was neither here or there for what was going on at the moment.

Slow smile. “I am sure that the price of the bell will be well worth it.” There was humor in those grey eyes of his. Were his words treated with a bit of flirtation? Smile did not slip from his lips, his stopping over in this very inn, might end up lasting more then just one night. Depending on how much they charged for the bell.

When the other lady was coming forward to assist him he watched her. Not in the same full intake of the girl he did of the lady in the cute little shorts. But he watched her just as well. Wolfish smile in place. He listened when the women talked. The one in the shorts was De’Ryanna, the one taking over was Madeline. Such information could come in handy at a later date. As Madeline had not addressed him, he waited. He waited to see if the woman was going to put him in his prize’s possession, or if she was going to show him his room, herself.

When Shane, the name she had told him was hers, was speaking, he turned his attention to her. His eyes boring upon her mind. Wolfish smile back into place. “Now, M’dear Shane. Are you implying that you are not more then happy to show me to my room?” He turned his attention to Madeline, the wolfish smile was gone, instead he looked much like a chastised child. “Woe is me to be treated as such by my Prize.”

[Madeline Cauthon]

Madeline watched and listened with an amused smile on her face. She turned the book to where the gentleman could sign it. She pointed to the blank spot De'Ryanna had showed her. "If you could sign here Sir, It will be 300 silver, and 30 silver for the bell. Now I believe the lady at the bar said she would show you to the room."

She handed the man his room key, and waited for the next gentleman to check in. It was good to be home.

[Kendrick]

He wondered if the woman behind the counter had a hot date. Giving a shrug of his shoulders his leather coat crinkling. His hand stretched out and reached the pen that was upon the counter. Once the pen was in his hand he made a quick movement of pen pressed to paper. When he lifted his hand his scribble of his name was upon the paper. “Thank you, Madeline.” Smirk. Nod of his head at her words. “Should I go meet her in the bar, or wait here.” The words were spoken more like a thought. As he spoke he turned to look around though he saw no one else in the room with them. Perhaps a ghost was checking in as well.

Making a note of both Madeline and De’Ryanna. If one stayed past one night entertainments needed to be arranged. Unless one wished to become bored which was not a fate that he wouldn’t chose to have rest with him.

[Madeline Cauthon]

Madeline smiled and looked at the signature. "You're quite welcome Mr. Kendrick. Is there anything I can help you with?"

She noticed him looking around the room. No there was no one else around, but she did want to get her own bags unpacked, and rest a bit after her long ride. She put the log book under the desk, so she could look at Epiphany's doodles later.

[Aleshanee]

It would be that time that Shane came back into the lobby area. Having had her drink she would look towards Kendrick and Madeline. "All set here?" She figured that it would not take so long to sign the paper, and after that, Madeline was going to pass him off to Shane.

Without waiting for a word from either of them, she looked towards Kendrick. "Ready?" And once more, without waiting she would begin to make her way to the stairs. She figured there was no point for random chatting, she had a much bigger question that she was debating on how to ask.

Once she reached the steps she would go up a few of them, before looking back, if he was following she would continue up the stairs. If he stayed behind by the desk and Madeline, she would pause and wait for him. She hoped the guys liked stairs.

[Kendrick]

Shake of his head towards Madeline. "That will be all." His words had a slightly dismissive tone. He was done with her. For now. IF he decided to stay around, that might change.

His lips parted to speak. Prize was leaving him behind. Really she should know better. Though it seemed she did not. That simply will not do, she shall be in for a interesting night. His lips quirked upwards at that thought. "Oh, I am ready." If anyone knew him here, they would of been able to tell Shane to be worried, very worried. The woman thought she was having a hard time sleeping now. Just wait.

He sauntered off behind Shane. He did not mind the stairs. Besides how could he complain with the view he was getting. She had started without him. He would follow behind her until he was told they had reached the rooms. Silence might be golden but his silence meant plotting. Depending on her mood his plotting could prove quite fruitful.

[Aleshanee]

After she made it up the first flight of stairs she turned to look at him, where his gaze was was not lost on her. Though she couldn't blame him, they had had a interesting one night. That's all it was. A one night stand that just happened to walk into the very inn that she inhabited. Now if her body would quit reacting at the mere thought of him. Even now her heartbeat had picked up, though she was doing the best she could at disguising that he had any effect on her.

It probably was a good thing for her, that she had not a clue what was to come, or else she might of just high tailed it out of there. But she doubted that would stop the dreams. Once he got to the top she began to walk again. "Just another flight, and we shall be at the doors to our rooms." She spoke as they went along.

And up that set of stairs once more not waiting for him. Pausing only a moment when she reached the top. Then she moved forward to the door just past her own. "Here's your room. Did you need anything else?" She almost felt timid all of a sudden. She glanced up and down the hallway, noticing that no one but the two of them happened to be out, and about this evening. It was rather late. Her lips parted as if she was going to say something but no words came out.

[Kendrick]

He had not heard any complaints. He was to much of a gentleman to go into what he had heard. And what he would hear again. If he so wished it. She was lucky that tonight he was a bit worn out from traveling. And waiting, how he hated to wait. Impatient. He was more then fine with how he was, he was comfortable in his very skin.

Hearing her say they had one more flight of stairs to go did not get a noise from him. If she happened to look back at him she might catch the small nod of his head. The next flight of stairs passed much for him in the same fashion as the previous flight.

When she stopped by the doors on that floor he did as well. No point in running her over. What fun would she be to play with later if he broke his toy now? A simple shake of his head. “I require nothing else. At the moment. I shall ring for you if I need anything.” His room did come with a bell. Turning his back to her, he stuck his key into the door opening it. Without hesitation he moved rather quickly. Backing Shane against the wall he gave her a swift unforgiving kiss upon her slightly parted lips. Then without a word brow would lift almost in a challenge. Turning on his heel and going into his room. The door shut before she probably had time to recover.

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