Notorious [Griflet]

[Romily de Braose]

It was a fairly quiet evening with only at least five locals sitting having a quiet drink at the inn.
Romily wasn’t exactly rushed off of her feet. Everyone was hard at work with the harvest and had no time to sit around and turning comatose from too much drink.

Eldon was currently in bed (where else) whilst Agnes? Well, Romily had no idea and couldn’t care less. In all honesty, she wouldn’t be surprised if Agnes had gone to bed and left her to do everything herself.
She’d beaten the rugs, washed up cutlery and crockery, served drinks, cooked – now it was the case of just making small talk with anyone who came to the bar – the quietest evening she’d ever known since working there.

She scanned the bar before getting back to cleaning it for the fifth time that evening. She’d spent the day looking after a little local girl called Hannah, in order to give her grandmother a rest. They’d gone to the market before heading off for a walk where the little girl was more than happy to make daisy chains. The of course, it was back to work.
Tempted to close early, Romily saw a couple of locals get up and ready to leave. She ventured over and took their empty cups before returning once again to the bar. To anyone’s beck and call.

Tagged: Griflet
Timeline: Beginning of the one-year gap (between S2 and S3)
Setting: Evening - The Rams Head Inn (could possibly vary in location as the thread goes on)[/color]

[Griff Aubert]

Griff had managed to stumble his way into yet another tavern – clearly it was a particular strength of his. This one was fairly empty compared to those in the city. On his entrance he acquired quite a few strange looks, presumably from the locals who were wondering what on earth a stranger was doing in their tavern. Ignoring them he headed quickly towards the bar. He hadn’t had a drink in...three hours? It was definitely time for one.

As he approached the bar he noticed the young woman behind it. Blondes were not a particular favourite of his, but at the moment he was having to take what he could get. Using one hand he ruffled his hair slightly – it always made him more attractive to the opposite sex – and, on reaching the bar leaned across it with a wide grin and such expert skill that at that particular angle the light from the candles were highlighting his dimples. It was safe to say it was a well rehearsed action. With one eyebrow raised he spoke: “So...what can you offer me?”

[Romily de Braose]

Romily hadn’t noticed anyone new enter until they actually spoke to her! She’d been so preoccupied in cleaning and making sure that everything was to Eldon’s taste, that she’d hardly acknowledged any newcomers or locals leaving.
She looked up at the young man and raised her brows, “What?” she asked slowly. Ok that question he’d asked could be taken anyway. Either he was asking for a drink or something that was completely out of the question! Did she really seem like one of those girls? If he thought she was then she was offended.

She had come across men like him before, Frederick being one of them. She’d learnt to control herself and to deal with any man who thought that he could just charm his way into her life. This man however, was indeed one of them. Or so he seemed. With his hair ruffled and a grin that would most likely make maidens faint, she knew that she’d have to make him see that perhaps charm wasn’t the only way to get desires. She leant slightly over the bar.

“A drink or a room? Your choice”

Now that hadn’t come out the way that she’d planned, so all that was left to do was to actually go with the flow. Two could play the same game after all.

[Griff Aubert]

Gosh. A barmaid who wasn’t completely in his control after thirty seconds, this was a rarity and rather exciting. He gave the young woman about five minutes; after all, he really was that good. It wasn’t often that he had to pay for drinks after a line like that, and he was determined that today would not be one of those times. This simply meant he had to work a little harder, but her next speech played straight into his hands. Sometimes it was just far, far too easy.

“Well that all depends.” He replied, still grinning and copying her action of leaning towards forward. She could now further appreciate just how handsome he was. After a pause he tilted his head slightly. “Which one would you share with me?”

Now all he had to do was wait for the charm to work. Either he’d get a free drink or a late night, in fact, if he got a free drink it would end up in a late night eventually so either outcome was acceptable.

[Romily de Braose]

“Well that all depends.”

Did it now? Already this was getting fun and she could even see that he was enjoying trying to take over her mind. It wasn’t about to happen anytime soon though. Yes, he was very handsome – yes he did look of nobility, but she’d sworn never to give in to another man like Frederick.

“Oh really?” she smirked. Ok this was totally not going to work and she would end up looking like a floozy more than a barmaid who could stand her ground. “On what exactly?”

“Which one would you share with me?”

Romily bit her lip and grinned, leaning over a little more so that she could whisper into his ear. “I am not one of those girls who you can just charm your way into their bed – so I think I’d take the option of a drink for your own sake”.

With that she turned her back to him so as she could make his drink. Round one to Romily so it seemed. She presented him with a tankard of mead and pushed it towards him. “Anything else sir? I trust the drink is to your satisfaction”. Time to turn some tables. Revenge on men was sweet, especially if it was served in the same way as before.

Before he could even have a chance to answer, she was now clearing the tables that were slowly but surely, emptying for the evening. Romily had a feeling that either he’d be taking a room here, or she’d be throwing him out. Neither option sounded pretty in her mind, but business was business.

[Griff Aubert]

This young woman was certainly making him work for it, she’d better be worth the effort or he’d be seriously disappointed. “I love it when you whisper sweet nothings in my ear.” He replied and waited for his drink. When it was presented to him he took a fill swig, not taking his eyes of her for a second. She was certainly an intriguing thing; no doubt some painful experience had hardened her to any advances from men. Well, Griff would just have to change that. He had certainly had enough experience with girls like her, how hard could it possibly be to get passed those defences?

Griff would have replied to her rather doubtful interest in his drink. He was rather hurt that she didn’t appear to care whether he was enjoying it, but before he could say anything she was already on the move, clearing and cleaning tables. He turned round, leaning against the bar, drink in one hand and watching her intently. “A woman with your beauty should not be living out her days like this.” He was taking a different approach now, one that required a more refined charm, which of course he was more than capable of providing. He took another swig of his drink before continuing. “I would have you on my arm so all the world could see your perfection.”

[Romily de Braose]

“I love it when you whisper sweet nothings in my ear.”

Romily raised her brows. “Im sure you love it when a girl talks to you”.

Game set and match to her. She pushed herself off of the bar and set about clearing up. “So…do you have a name? Or are you going to remain as some mysterious stranger who is trying his best to impress me?”.

She could feel his eyes burning on her back as she cleared the empty tankards from the table. “A woman with your beauty should not be living out her days like this. I would have you on my arm so all the world could see your perfection.”

Romily couldn’t help but snort at this as she turned back to him. “Me? Perfection?” she chuckled, “really – I am the opposite of that, im a barmaid that’s making her living – not some fancy noble woman who is just a trophy on her husbands arm”.

Once upon a time she would have been just that – but now it was all about survival. Not marrying into a family for wealth or power. “Im sure you say the same to any woman you come across”.

[Griff Aubert]

Griff cocked his head. “You imagine it is such a rarity?” His eyes followed her across the room as she continued clearing away empty tankards and dirty plates. “Or do you just wish it so?” He mused and pushed himself away from the bar. Still watching her intently, his head angled even further, studying her. She certainly didn’t look like a barmaid, her looks were to refined, her chin to highly held. Not that it mattered to him much, he’d never been fussy.

He started walking towards her, slowly, and still looking directly at her. When he reached her, in answer to her inquiring after his name, he gave a small bow. When he stood up he replied, “My name is Griflet Aubert, second son of Corneus, the Duke of Glouchedon. I am,” he kissed her hand and kept hold of it as he spoke, “completely at your service.” That should do it, he thought, with rather a lot of completely justified self-import. “May I enquire after your name? Or shall I simply call you Venus?” Definitely should do it.

“Im sure you say the same to any woman you come across”.

Furrowing his eyebrows he looked at her with an almost pained expression. “Why would you think that? No woman I have come across is worthy of such praise.”