Aveline

I have 4 weapon skills on gladiator now and I LOVE the combat system <3 Once you are more comfortable and aware of how often things like guard stay up for you can get in a really nice rhythm where you're just pushing one button after the next wailing on things. It's great. ^^

DO NOT INTERRUPT! Those are great. I really like your take on a male Miqo'te.

Ahahaha those sound like awesome cops. "nah just fucking with you. now go away."

Aveline emerged from the kitchen, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "Whew! Alright, I think I've done enough cooking for one day. If anyone asks, that urchin in the kitchen making steaks is a legitimate, long-time employee of whoever runs this place." She smiled gratefully at Faythriel and grabbed up a tray of drinks to take out. "Thanks so much for helping out! I don't know how it happened, but I think we became the proprietors of this place." She laughed brightly at the thought, dispensing drinks, though she stopped short as she noticed what looked to be surgery about to be performed at one of the tables. "What in the names of all the Twelve is going on?" Even as she said the words she was already on her way back to the bar to look for extra towels to provide the woman doing the healing work.

One day soon, Castiel is going to go crazy and murder whoever invented scrollbars >_>

Aveline nodded to Fayth. "Thanks for getting my back! These steaks aren't going to grill themselves, haha.." The Miqo'te turned her attention to the kitchen. "Now if I actually worked here... where would I put the spices?"

You could always do what we did and embed a mibbit client on the site that links people directly to the IRC room. That way people can chat from the site or through their own client as they wish, and it is REALLY easy to set up and free.

Yep, it's a traditional cake served up around Christmas in France and Belgium and a few other European places. I first had it at a French bakery in my city that treates pastries as SRS BUSINESS (tasty, buttery, serious business) and I've been wanting to try making it ever since. Basically it's a giant Swiss roll with chocolate or mocha cream filling and frosted with chocolate (or more mocha cream) to make it look like a log, then topped with decorations like in the picture. Here's what a real world version looks like:

That's a really excellent idea. I had been kind of wondering how much participation with the RP community freelancers would get if they weren't in a linkshell, but I think you have found one way to do so. ^^ I like.

Found this: Woot, I'm so happy buche de noel made it in game again haha. I've been meaning to make one IRL for a few winters now. This will give me the perfect opportunity. ^^

Aveline happily pocketed the gil and turned in the order for two meat pies. She resumed her bartending duties and by the time the two Lalafell had returned their food was being placed at their table, steaming hot. "Should someone maybe check on the actual bartender of this place?" She mused, wondering if there were any regulars in the crowd.

Aveline smiled as Faythiel walked back to the bar and laughed a little. "I guess you can learn something new about yourself every day, right?" Her smile faltered a little as she answered the dancer's question. "I used to work at a place called the Staggering Centaur, down near Ul'dah's market wards. I had a um, falling out with the owner." The blue-eyed Lalafell looked at the bartender. "Yes. First we would like a room. Then a meal. And finally, information. We're looking for an Aetheryte. We heard there is one near here." He tapped some gil on the table suggestively. Aveline glanced around behind the bar before her eyes fell on a board tacked behind the counter with what looked to be room keys. She grabbed the one for Room 5 and placed it on the counter. "One room, you got it. That'll be 100 gil up front, with the rest payable whenever you check out. As for an aetheryte... I believe the nearest one is about 3 malms southeast of here. There's no camp around it though, so keep your eyes peeled or you may miss it entirely." She picked up an order pad and pen and looked up expectantly at him. "Now, what kind of grub can we get for you, and would you prefer it down here or sent up to your room?"

Aveline watched Faythriel with a smile of appreciation. She focused on the drums, changing tempo a few times when the dancer sped or slowed her pace, and found she actually enjoyed participating in setting the ambiance. She finished the music with a flourishing rap of of her hands as the dancer stopped, then led the people sitting at the bar in a round of applause. "Fantastic!" she called out. Turning to the blue-eyed Lalafell at the bar she asked, "Hey can I get you and your friend anything else?"

I've always found it's much more fun to start with less and make your character work hard to get anywhere rather than bejewel them with special abilities, great wealth, or special relationships with gods. This is probably a throwback from my tabletop RP days, though. Reminiscing story somewhat sidetracked from topic: Basically, the more creative I have to be with my character, the more fun the game is. But I understand why many people do gravitate toward the cliches, especially when just starting out.

Aveline deftly mixed up a couple more drinks as she talked companionably with Faythiel. "I'm Aveline Blue. I usually go by my last name when I'm working, since it's easier for the uh less sober patrons to pronounce." She smirked and squeezed half a lemon over a glass. "Can you believe I thought just last week that I'd poured my last drink for anyone? Nymeia sure has a sense of humor, I guess." She finished up the drinks and handed them over the bar to the couple waiting patiently, accepting their gil with delight. "Can't beat unexpected easy work though!" Aveline made sure her hands were free from any juice or alcohol residue and took up the drums. "Alright, Fayth, ready when you are, sister." She began to play a Miqo'te drum song as best she could remember, faltering a bit at first but gradually getting the hang of it.

A bit late but Crystal, your baby is ADORABLE!

Aveline gave a friendly nod to the Miqo'te walking out of the bar with a mug and to the Elezen woman said delightedly, "Well aren't you sweet? Much appreciated! Now as for drums.. well I'm not much of a musician but I could certainly hold a simple beat for you." She finished off the drinks she was making for a couple of patrons and set them in front of the Elezen and wiped her hands off on a bar towel. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Hey, where'd the bartender go? I don't have my drink yet!" Aveline furrowed her brow momentarily before her face cleared back into a determined smirk as if she had come rather quickly to a decision. "He said to whatever," she said to no one in particular as she maneuvered around the persistent Hyur and behind the bar. "All right. First one's for the new bartender!" She poured herself a glass of summer ale and drank half of it down quickly, quenching her sand-parched throat. "Okay, my name's Blue and I'll be your friendly substitute bartender for an undetermined length of time. Please place all payment in this empty glass here and speak your orders! Who's first?" She turned to the Elezen woman at the bar and grnned. "You were going to perform, right? Need something to help get you in the spirit?"

Aveline wrinkled her nose at the loud Hyur in distaste at his shouting. "The way to a woman's heart, brother, is to never. yell. at the bartender." She raised one eyebrow and moved to an unoccupied spot on the other side of the performing woman and continued to crowd-watch as she waited for her order.

LOL I really like the combat so far, but I can see why some wouldn't. Still, it's better than the hypnotic combat systems of both FFXI and WoW (FFXI: hit /attack, go make a sandwich. WoW: JUST KEEP MASHING BUTTONZ)

She's so fierce! Very nice.

Aveline watched as the bloodied man took deep drinks from the oasis and as the crowd dispersed, so did her interest. Looks like he'll live, she thought to herself. Now to get myself a drink. Pushing a stray lock of long pink hair out of her eyes and behind her ear, Aveline gave one more parting (appreciative) glance at the men sitting by the water and proceeded into the bar. "Barkeep!" She sang out jovially as she sidled up to the counter next to a brightly dressed Elezen. "Get me something light and boozey, with a side of eggs, if you please!" It was nice to for once be the one giving the drink orders instead of taking them. Aveline glanced around the interior as she waited, noticing for the first time a badly beaten man on the other side of her. "Man this must be one tough camp," she mumbled.

Found this while playing around in the dats: Looks like a giant eclair >_> Any guesses on what it's going to be in-game? I am going to hazard: Moogle Cream Pie. With filling that light and fluffy, it's gotta be moogle.

Aveline yawned and stretched luxuriantly under the morning desert sun. "Another beau~tiful day in the wastelands," she remarked aloud. Before her, the south wall of the marketplace was freshly adorned with a copy of an amateurishly scrawled poster. "That's the last one," she said. "Not that there's probably much business out this way, but advertisement is advertisement I suppo--" her self-conversation was cut short by a commotion around the corner. Peering past the marketplace wall, the Miqo'te saw a crowd of people following a bedraggled-looking man as he walked slowly down the street. Pink-furred ears twitched slightly with curiosity as she moved in to get a closer look at what was going on.

Yep that's exactly how I'm viewing Aveline's, too. Her past could be considered interesting (there are definitely some interesting characters in her life), but she's just a bartender until the game starts and then she really starts to see challenge and combat, etc., etc.