-Sibyl-
Sibyl wasn't much of a drinker.
She sat slumped forward onto the table in her room, a bottle standing upright before her. She stared into the dimly tinted glass, her hand gently rolling the liquor within about, watching it slosh from side to side with her dim blue eyes. A pitiful croak came from the gnome, partly cough, partly a faint groan. She brought the bottle up, taking a few too many gulps of the grog. With a thud she let the bottle fall back, her body slumping back into the chair and nearly falling off to the side.
The drunken haze atop her vision drew denser, and denser, until it simply faded to black.
“
Cor...” grumbled Sibyl, drawing her tattered and burnt cloak towards herself as she marched along the wetland trail. Her trousers were soaked from rushing through the marsh, her leggings and cloak torn on thorns and bushes she had tromped through on the way. An unpleasant squeak met her ear with each step she took, her waterlogged socks and shoes dragging the ground as she meandered onwards.
She was trying to be optimistic. Her employers had locked her out from her tentative home and employment, and most of her wealth was there as well. Most of her belongings, rather. And she wasn't even paid in advance for the job which had sent her out of Gilneas and all the way to Stormwind.
It was difficult to keep her chin up. But, she still had a coinpurse full of shining coin in her vest. Enough to last her a few weeks-- long enough to find another noble to seek employment under, she wagered. For now though, she was just worried about finding refuge and getting a night's rest-- tonight that refuge was going to be Menethil Harbor, visible upon the horizon through the oncoming dusk.
Any port in a storm, as the saying went.
Sibyl staggered into town in a bit of a stupor-- at first she had been planning on going straight to then inn, then to bed. But given how the wind had picked up, spending some time basking in the warmth of the hearth didn't sound too unappealing. She made her way in, grabbed a warm mug of ale, and situated herself near the fire. The tavern was fairly empty-- a few dwarves carousing at the bar, a human, and... another gnome, which seemed to be crawling into a chair beside Sibyl. She was about her own height, seeming a bit thin (bot not quite as bad as the sweep herself), and had bright pink hair that was on the verge of simply being obnoxious for its shade. Regardless Sibyl didn't mind. She stared back at her fellow patron, looking over her ragged clothing momentarily before going back to nursing her mug.
“Evening there!” chimed the pink-haired gnome, easing closer to Sibyl. The smaller gnome shivered some as she felt the warmth of the other resting against her shoulder. “Care if I join you right here?”
Sibyl peered down, unable to respond before the gnome set her head against her shoulder, just leaning her weight against the sweep. As Sibyl downed the rest of her mug she eased back, trying to address this... peculiar development.
In short, no. She did not.
Before she knew it she woke up to a head of pink hair turned aside her in the inn room, waking with a splitting ache in her head. In fact, the same was the case the next day as well. And the next. She didn't know much about this woman, but she knew that she brought her some sort of comfort after all the unpleasantries which were entailed in her... 'loss of work', as it were. She was smart. Witty. Rather bold, and quick to merriment. There was hardly a single night that either went to bed without a belly full of mead.
The only problem was that the coin was all coming out. Never going in. Sibyl looked for work, but there never seemed to be any takers. Her new companion didn't seem to take in any coin either... or, if she did, Sibyl never saw it. Moreover were the gifts-- Her companion asked for clothes, and Sibyl gave her clothes. It was reasonable, with the winter coming and her only attire consisting of worn rags. Then other luxuries came-- each was 'reasonable', but only just so.
Eventually there was a day when Sibyl just couldn't afford any more. Two weeks or so had gone by without any steady pay and constant spending. They could probably subsist off of what she had left-- enough to find a room for a few more nights, and later an inn in Stormwind. When Sibyl told her new friend of all this she seemed well enough with it, even if it meant no ale that night. The two went to bed that night at peace, and Sibyl once more retreated into her companion's arms for another night.
When day broke and she awoke, the room was nearly empty. Her traveler's bag was gone, as was her coat and hat. Her coinpurse was taken from its place upon the nightstand, and the room was seeming stripped of anything of value that could be lifted off discretely. In a panic Sibyl ran out to inquire about her friend, missing as well.
“She jus' left off a few hours ago, lass.” replied the stocky barkeep. “Left y'name on the tab, by th'way. I hope yer willin' t'pay up.”
“
Sh'jus... left?”
“Aye.” replied the barkeep in a stony tone, tearing off a list of dues and handing it off to her. She took it, her eyes widening as she looked over the list of expenses.
“
T'ell? I didn--...” she began. Then she fell silent, the gears turning within as she fully began to take in her situation.
“
I... I don' 'ave this kinda money, bloke.” she began.
“Then get a broom n' get sweepin'. You ain't leaving without us bein' paid.”
Sweep, O sweep.
Sibyl awoke with a start, falling off from her chair with a clatter. As she pulled herself back upright she held her weary head, spying the nearly tipping bottle of alcohol which she had set at the table's edge. Grabbing it she took another guzzle. One more burst of liquid courage. She had something she needed to take care of. Meandering out from her room with her broom for support she looked about the keep, finally taking hold of the hem of another servant's coat and tugging it.
“
Oi... b-bloke. Where's everyone?” she murmered wearily.
“Something about bugs.”
She stared up at him, letting go. Another brief look about, and she found nothing. Without another word she marched back into her room, barely managing to climb into bed to collapse.
It wasn't quite the time to seize the day.