A odd type of silence filled The Drowning Wench as all it's patrons had turned to face a lone red-headed woman with a green bandanna tied around her head. It wasn't just her reveling top or uncommonly pretty face that attracted the crowed, but her voice seemed to boom and echo off the polished ceilings. Nearly everyone in Limsa Lominsa enjoyed a good pirate tale and the woman who stood tall in the center of the tavern narrating had caught the attention of the crowd.
Holding her hands up over her head, and bringing them down in a crashing motion she continued, "Water poured over the ship as it began to break up. The crewmen screamed in terror as they fell into the waves and disappeared. In a short time, there was nothing left of the ship or its crew, save one lone survivor. He had a strange tale to tell. He said that he saw the captain disappear into the sea and at that very moment he swore that he had heard the ringing of a bell; as though the Devil himself was bidding the captain, “Welcome!".
She paused for a moment and began pacing around the room, meeting each persons glance with her deep green eyes. From behind the bar an Elezen girl with white hair dropped a glass and a few sharp breaths were heard as a few people became startled. As the woman turned a harsh glance in the direction of the bar the girl blushed and quietly picked the glass up. When all eyes had turned back to the woman she put her hands behind her back and continued pacing, "But even today, sailors will tell you that when the sea is rough, there are times that they can hear the ringing of a deep-toned bell. And when they look into the sky, they see a ghostly sailing ship with one solitary figure pacing the deck!"
The tavern erupted in applause and laughter as the woman took a grandiose bow before her audience. Drink service continued as the barkeep began pouring drinks from the tap behind the bar as he cheered. Several waitresses sluggishly went back to their work and took the freshly poured glasses out to the tables. Men and women gathered together in loud conversation, each convinced they had a better tale that just had to be told at that exact moment.
"Haha!" A man with a bushy black beard sitting at the table across from Cassondra slapped his knee and flashed her a toothless grin, "Now wasn't that a story worth the hearing, lass?!"
"Most definitely." Cassondra smiled in return as she used her little finger to smudge a bit of pencil across the page to serve as a crude type of shading. Actually, it was a bit cliched, she thought to herself as she added a few more fine details to the sketch of the woman who had been telling the tale.
The bearded man next to her reached into his pocket and poured a handful of gil onto the table. Cassondra's attention turned towards him as she observed him leaning on a cane to stand on a single leg, and hobble out of the tavern. Sondra looked at the pile of money, placed her sketchpad on her table, and began to move her chair closer when the red-headed woman began saunter towards her. Straightening up, Sondra picked up her drawing once again and began adding in a few more details. Sighing inwardly, Sondra watched as one of the other waitresses followed behind the woman to clear the table, leaving it free for another group of customers.
The red headed woman placed her hands on her hips as she approached, looking down at the portrait in Cassondra's hands, "I'll take it, girl. How much?"
"Here, have it." Cassondra put one hand near the edge of the page and gently tore it from the book. The woman had already cost her more then the price of the paper, but she smiled sweetly as she held out the picture and nodded encouragingly, "Payment for the good tale."
Looking over the sketch the woman shook her head and reached into her breeches, pulling out a piece of fine silk white ribbon, "Fair enough, but have this. It's straight from Ul'dah and everyone knows their weavers make all the best materials."
"Thank you. That's very kind of you," Cassondra smiled as she took the smooth white ribbon from the woman who promptly waltzed off to the bar to sit among a crowd of admirers.
Now this is what I call a fair deal! Offerings of clothing and accessories from interesting places are always accepted, she beamed to herself as she looked down at her hand. Holding it tightly so it wouldn't slip from her fingers, Cassondra tied it around her blonde ponytail.
A sketch of a butterfly, a lakeside, one of a pirate ship, and a mysterious looking man wearing a cloak were pinned to the wall above Sondra's chair. The table in front of her was filled with more sketches as well as various colored pencils, some of which were broken and past the point of needing to be replaced. At the edge of the surface was a small sign neatly written in black calligraphy which read "Portraits For a Price."
Cassondra glanced at the small gold pocket watch she had in her lap and picked up her sketchbook once more. There was still time for a few portraits before her shift began. As long as the drinks remained full and the crowds weren't too bad she was allowed to sketch during her down time. Of course, the tavern took a percentage of her profits, but it was still good practice and if a customer was feeling particularly generous it was worth the payout.
Clearing her throat and raising her soft voice as much as she could she called out, "Who wants to be next?"