It had been quite some time since Avery had encountered Larka.  She had taken a voyage with his crew and quite frankly Avery had taken a shine to her.  It was a good day for some shore leave and when the ship came to dock that was when Avery left.  The navigator took some things with him to potentially trade and some coin to buy teas.  That as when he heard the patter of her soft shoes and he couldn't help but sigh.

"Nora… You should stay on the ship.  Brenhin would string me up if anything were to happen to you."  He said with a sigh.

"Please.  I can handle myself.  Who was the one who drugged your whole crew and kidnapped their captain single handed?"  Nora said with a confident smile.  When Avery didn't have a good response that was when she smirked, "That's what I thought."

"Fine…  But just keep up at least."  He said as he started leading the way to where he had heard Larka was staying.  They walked for a little while, Nora admiring things as they went.  Avery paused so she could fully examine whatever had caught her interest before they moved on.

Some time had passed between them as they walked along and neither of them had really spoken about what they were doing or where they were going.  Nora finally couldn't let the silence continue before she spoke up, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to see a friend I haven't seen in a while.  Well.. friend might be too strong of a word, acquaintance is more like it.  She voyaged with me and my crew before you joined, I wanted to see if she found what she was looking for and how she was doing."  Avery filled in as they walked along.

"I didn't know you liked ladies."  She said with a cheeky smile on her face, he didn't respond to that.

"C'mon, we're close.  Please behave."  Avery said as he approached the door where Larka was living.  He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock but he hesitated.  What if she didn't remember him?  What if she just yelled at him to go away?

That was when Nora took Avery's hand a forcefully knocked for him.  He snatched his hand away from her and leered at her.  "Don't be a chicken next time, jeez."  She snapped at him.

Avery sighed and let his hand drop to his side as he waited for Larka to answer the door.

[OOC: For anyone reading along, this is Larka before she found Celeste ^.^ Also, an R post since Larka is naked and swearing :P]

Larka’s eyed cracked open as the light creeped into the small apartment she rented, funded by her mercenary work. It wasn’t anything amazing but it was enough and it gave the tall one armed woman a grounded location to come back to every time she was in Sularia. Stretching on the bed she reached over and noticed that the other half of the bed was empty, ah, yes, she should have known when she woke up that was the case since she didn’t have the nice soft elf laying next to her. Fully opening her eyes Larka sat up in the bed, naked as she always slept and smiled to the elf woman who was with her. ”Morning, sexy.” Larka smiled and got up out of the bed.

She had met Ragna the night before in the tavern down the road a bit that Larka frequented between jobs and between looking for leads on her missing wife. She was closing in and she knew it, Larka wasn’t sure how, but she felt close to finding Celeste. But as per normal the Reaver had been looking for company that night and she had found that in Ragna. The two had hit it off quickly, not a lot of shop talk though. Suffice to say that Larka knew Ragna was a sailor and Ragna knew Larka was a mercenary, and that was about either of them needed to know about the other.

Out of the bed Larka walked over to Ragna and came up behind her wrapping her arm around the elf woman and kissing at her neck. ”Last night deserves on encore the next time you’re on shore leave in the city, hm?” Larka teased releasing the elf with a grin, gently running her hand through Ragna’s blond hair as she went to find her own clothing.

Living as long as she had with one arm Larka made it look easy as she put her small clothing on first before she started to pull her pants on. That was about when the door was knocked on and Larka glanced outside and then to Ragna, who was already dressed. ”You’re closer, probably the breakfast I get delivered when I’m here, coin’s on the dresser. There’s enough for two if you want to stay.” Larka offered with a wink.

However, as the door opened it was not who Larka thought it was, and who it was made the Reaver, who only had a small top on that hid very little, made her eyes widen. ”Nora?!” Then she spotted who was next to her. ”Avery?!” She blinked and looked between all three for a moment, before realizing that she was half naked. Quickly she turned her back to Avery, Nora and Ragna obviously already seeing everything before hand, and pulled her normal top on and then got her jacket on as well

Standing she turned and looked to all three, wait, she thought, they seemed to know each other. Larka groaned and looked to Ragna. ”Jolly Roger?”

Ragna had certainly had an enjoyable shore leave.  It had been a while since she felt the touch of another and Ragna filled that void.  She had woken up before her lover and got dressed, the half-elven woman had no intention of just leaving but she certainly enjoyed the company for sure.  She  had been brushing her hair when those arms wrapped around her, the blonde leaned back into the other woman and leaned her head back for Larka.  "I certainly would enjoy doing this again."  She said softly.

There was that knock on the door and the idea of breakfast was certainly enjoyable.  But when she opened to door to find her shipmates outside she frowned.  When Ragna heard Larka say their names the half-elf seemed a little surprised by it all.  And when Larka said the ship name it became clear that the woman had run into her shipmates previously.

"I wasn't expecting to run into you here with Larka, Ragna."  Avery said to the blonde woman.

"I wasn't expecting you to come looking for a woman."  Ragna said as she looked at him.  "Besides, I know who you have eyes for."  Nora seemed to chuckle at them, Avery just crossed his arms and looked over at Larka.

"I apologize for catching you… In this state.  I had heard you were in town and I wanted to come say hi and see how you were doing since the last time I had seen you."  Avery said.  "Would it be alright if I come in?"

Larka sighed as words between the crew mates were exchanged. Larka couldn’t help the grin from creeping onto her face when Ragna spoke to Avery the way she had, even Larka knew what was being spoken about. Now dressed the tall human woman turned back to look at Avery as he spoke, asking to come in and how she was since their last meeting. ”Yes, please, come in, you too of course, Nora, it’s good to see you both again.” Larka replied. ”This room is my current rental for now, I like this city, as you three can probably guess, and it makes for a good place to know I can always come back to.” Larka explained in short as she stood and stretched.

Looking to Ragna Larka grinned, figuring she might as well explain how she knew Avery and Nora. ”A while back I chartered a right on the Jolly Roger from Canelux to Parvpora, but, as Avery can tell you, I don’t do so well on ships, either the water or air kind.” Sea sickness was a terrible thingy and Larka hated that she was so prone to it, even airships could be bad if they any kind of rough weather. If she was on an airship she’d usually hide in the middle of the ship where it was more stable for the whole trip. ”That’s how I met Avery and the rest the male crew at least, but I didn’t know Nora was part of the crew when I met her,” She looked to Nora with a small grin. ”would have been a nice trip if you, or Ragna, had been part of the crew then.” She chuckled and looked back to Avery.

”But, what of yourself, Avery? How are things going with that, uh, situation you and I spoke of before?” She asked carefully.

The two of them entered the room and Avery closed the door behind him. Ragna seemed less than thrilled with the extra company considering she would be spending more time on the ship with them. Nora on the other hand was touching just about everything she could. She didn't take anything as of yet but she certainly was making herself right at home while Larka explained how she knew the both of them. Ragna smacked at Nora's hand when she held something a little too long, the brown haired woman set it down and crossed her arms over her chest. 

Avery shifted uncomfortably when Larka asked him that question. "It's about the same as before ju-"

That was when Nora cut him off, "You don't have to beat around the bush, whatever it is I'm sure we already know. Can't spend months at a time with someone and not know every stupid secret they have."

Ragna rolled her eyes, "Doesn't mean you have to be nasty about it." She then went about putting her usual braids in her hair and getting ready for the day ahead.

"Well maybe if Avery would grow a pair…" Nora said.

"Can you not talk about me like that?" Avery said.

Nora rolled her eyes as she looked at him, "Whatever you say." With that she took a seat at the table and started to draw circles with her fingers.

"It's about the same, it's unlikely that it will change." He said with a small sigh. "How have you been? It's been a long time since I've seen you." 

Larka looked to Nora when she cut Avery off mid sentence, before Ragna cut in and said that Nora didn’t have to be so mean. She listened to the exchange between the three of them, finding it amusing, though only a small grin betrayed what Larka was thinking. Finally Avery got out the answer he was trying to say before and Larka nodded. ”Don’t stop trying, it’ll happen.” She smiled. ”Not much different than before I’m afraid. No sign of my wife yet, but that won’t stop me from looking.” Larka nodded. ”I have a job coming up soon, running guard duty into the Underdark, I’ll make good coin on that. Once it’s over I can coast on that coin for a while that will give me time to search further.” Larka said, but little did she know that that trip to the Underdark was the very moment she was hoping for. She would find Celeste once more down in that hell hole, it was only a matter of time.

To try and lighten the mood again Larka grinned and stood. ”What say we head down and get some breakfast, on me.” She glanced between the three of them. ”On that note, are there any more female crew members I don’t know about? Could make introductions.” She was teasing Nora and Ragna of course, but that didn’t mean Larka wouldn’t go through with what she implied. But on that note, Larka’s new idea made her grin and she looked between the two women again. ”So, have you two…? If you’re both interested maybe tonight the three of us can?” She normally wouldn’t talk like this around a male, but knowing Avery as she did Larka was more comfortable doing so, even if it made him a bit uncomfortable in turn.

Avery looked at her while she spoke, he chuckled a bit at the thought of Harrison finally saying yes to him.  But Avery knew that man would never even remotely go that way.  Ragna on the other hand shook her head and resumed getting herself ready for the day.  Nora on the other hand had taken to picking up random objects and looking at them.  She seemed like she was already too comfortable and when Avery shot her a look she stuck out her tongue at him.

"Breakfast sounds wonderful."  Avery said with a small smile on his face.

"Why though? So Avery can whine about how the Captain won't bed him?"  Nora said straight to the point.

"No, there's other things to talk about and catch up on. Put that down, it's not yours."  Avery growled at her, she rolled her eyes and set the object down and crossed her hands over her chest.

"Certainly not the breakfast I had in mind, but it'll do."  Ragna said as she glanced over at Larka with a wink and a small grin to imply what she'd rather be having to eat.  "Unfortunately Nora and I are the only crew that are of the female persuasion.  Though I honestly sometimes count Avery sometimes."

The man rolled his eyes and ignored it. "Whenever you're ready we can head down then."  Avery said as he looked at Larka, a small smile on his face.

The interaction between the three shipmates was priceless as far as Larka was concerned, she enjoyed the banter. She grinned at Ragna’s response and made kissy lips as she pulled the rest of her clothing on and got her sword on her hip to. For a woman with one arm Larka had managed to relearn many skills with just her right hand, it showed her determination in life, to not let it keep her down. She had had to relearn how to fight almost from scratch after losing her left arm, since she had been left-handed. Learn how to dress herself properly, eat and cut meat, so many things she had had to relearn or adapt, and she had, she hadn’t given up.

A few minutes later and they were sitting together down in the bar area and Larka looked between them all. ”Ok, I have to ask, how did you all manage to end up working on the Jolly Roger? It’s something I haven’t asked and I’m curious, if I may ask at all of course.” She grinned. ”In turn if there’s anything any of you want to know about me just ask, I’m happy to be as open about my life as I am with my legs with you two.” She eyed Ragna and Nora with a wicked little grin.

The shipmates trailed after Ragna and Larka to get their breakfast.  Ragna sat next to Larka while Avery and Nora sat next to each other.  Ragna got herself some fruit and wine, Nora got some bread and a strong liquor, Avery got some bread, cheese and tea. When the question was posed to them Avery looked a little surprised while the ladies seemed rather intrigued at the idea of being able to ask Larka just about anything.

"I was one of the first to join the Captain, he needed a navigator so I joined."  Avery said simply.

Nora rolled her eyes, "Please.  You didn't think I found out the real reason you joined?  And it's not because you want Harrison to take you to his bed."

Avery crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her, "Well then why did I join?"

Nora grinned, "You had wracked up gambling debts and were close to getting killed since you couldn't pay them back.  Harrison felt bad for you so he paid them off and now you're working off what you owe him."

Avery gritted his teeth a little.  "I don't like to talk about it…"

The young woman winked and then said, "I joined because I managed to drug all of them and kidnap their captain.  Avery was a little tricky considering he doesn't drink booze, made covering up the smell of the herb a bit trickier.  I thought I would prove useful for help with aid and other things.  Someone's gotta patch those boys up when they do something."

"You're not going to patch up Ragna?"

"Ragna's not a stupid boy."

Avery sighed and resumed eating his food quietly.

"I joined for adventure."  Ragna said simply.

"Adventure, sure.  All you do is sleep, drink, and bed women when we get to ports." Avery said and rolled his eyes a little.

"I keep the stories of our voyages.  Harrison is rather fond of hearing his stories and making sure that others know them too."

Nora crossed her arms over her chest a little and looked at Larka, "So tell me, how did you lose your arm and how good are you with your other hand?  Or can I ask Ragna about that later?"

The banter between the three shipmates got another grin from Larka as they spoke, they fought, yes, but it was as if they were siblings almost. The teasing banter, poor Avery seemed the brunt of most of it though, but he also seemed to take it in his stride and knew that the two women were teasing him. ”Gambling, eh? I didn’t take you for a gambler, Avery.” Larka grinned, there was always much fun in finding out new details about people she liked.

Nora’s story got a chuckle from the Reaver woman. ”You drugged them and kidnapped the captain? How scandalous, I love it.” Larka laughed as Ragna simply stated that she had joined for the adventure, but was quickly corrected by Avery. ”That sounds like a job for me to, the biggest of course I’d have to be on a ship, and, well, Avery can tell you how well I do on them.” Just the idea of being on a ship made Larka’s stomach want to roll with motion sickness.

Then the question came that Larka knew was coming, the one of her arm, the one story that everyone asked about. Years ago it would have been a lot harder on Larka to tell it, but after meeting Celeste the pain of losing Lilith had eased into just the pleasant memories. Larka was quiet for a moment as she took a drink and then started. ”Well, as you all know I am looking for my wife, Celeste, however, Celeste isn’t my first wife.”

She took another quick drink and continued leaning back in her chair, she wasn’t sad looking, just lost in a bit of memory. ”I’ve done a lot in my life, for a human woman in her early forties there isn’t a lot I haven’t done. When I was around twenty I had fallen in love with another woman named Lilith, she was in another mercenary company and hers and mine butted heads now and then, but nothing serious. We each bought our way of out that life and married and found a small house we could afford away from the world. We even adopted twins, a boy and girl, they were five, and we all lived happily for about three years.” Larka sighed.

”That was until an orc army started to march across the lands. Secluded as we were we didn’t know until they found our house. Lilith and I fought, but they had the numbers, my arm was the least of what I lost that day.” Another drink and Larka looked back to them. ”I just barely managed to survive, if it wasn’t for some travellers who were following and tracking the orcs’ movements I’d be dead, they follow the column of smoke from the house.” There was a bit of a pause but before it became awkward Larka spoke again, the grin returning to her face. ”And I’m just as good with my right hand as I was left with my left, practice makes perfect, after all.” She chuckled, she wasn’t upset that that question had been asked, she had expected it anyway. Larka was still willing to answer more questions if they had them to.