Zhi had watched the girl's retreat, stepping back out of the space she'd occupied, and back to the bar. She almost jumped out of her skin when a bony hand shot out and grabbed her by the upper arm. Her squeal was, thank the gods, drowned out by the general din -- at least for everyone but those closest to her.
It was the old sailor. Again. This time, however, he had pulled out the temptation. It was in a perfectly folded piece of linen wrapping, secured with knotted twine. Desire to take it surged up in her. She wanted to reach out and snatch it, but she curbed the urge by taking hold of his hand instead. He was strong for such a frail looking old man -- strong, and with a wicked reputation. That was how he managed to keep his stool when it was such prime real estate.
"Gunner," she said, teeth gritted, "I ain't buyin'. Leggo."
"No?" He held the morsel up closer to her face.
She could smell it. Scales, but she could. . .she shook her head, rearing back. Her nostrils flared, and her fingers dug into his hand. "Go bother someone else, ye ol' bugger."
He showed her his missing teeth again. "Why? Ye been me best customer, Kink."
She narrowed her eyes. "That ain't true."
"True enough, lass. C'mon, it's been days since ye last bought."
The reminder was so not welcome. Maybe just. . .just one. She shook her head again. Finally, she managed to peel his hand off her arm. She backed away without looking behind her, bumped into someone and then someone else again. "Later, Gunner. Not now."
She turned to push through the crowd before her cravings got the better of her, sucking at the contents of her mug as if it was the salvation to all of her problems.
It was the old sailor. Again. This time, however, he had pulled out the temptation. It was in a perfectly folded piece of linen wrapping, secured with knotted twine. Desire to take it surged up in her. She wanted to reach out and snatch it, but she curbed the urge by taking hold of his hand instead. He was strong for such a frail looking old man -- strong, and with a wicked reputation. That was how he managed to keep his stool when it was such prime real estate.
"Gunner," she said, teeth gritted, "I ain't buyin'. Leggo."
"No?" He held the morsel up closer to her face.
She could smell it. Scales, but she could. . .she shook her head, rearing back. Her nostrils flared, and her fingers dug into his hand. "Go bother someone else, ye ol' bugger."
He showed her his missing teeth again. "Why? Ye been me best customer, Kink."
She narrowed her eyes. "That ain't true."
"True enough, lass. C'mon, it's been days since ye last bought."
The reminder was so not welcome. Maybe just. . .just one. She shook her head again. Finally, she managed to peel his hand off her arm. She backed away without looking behind her, bumped into someone and then someone else again. "Later, Gunner. Not now."
She turned to push through the crowd before her cravings got the better of her, sucking at the contents of her mug as if it was the salvation to all of her problems.
