It was a hot day, the air outside was humid and rather uncomfortable. There was a bustle in the streets with loud rowdy people and vendors harassing passer-bys. She could have gone almost unnoticed - a petite woman in form fitting dark brown pants, a light beige top and lace up boots. Dark locks fell around the woman's shoulders and bounced with ever step she took. She noted the establishment in the distance and entered the crowded space. It smelled of foul body odor, musk, stale ale and concoctions of other liquids. Her boots clicked against the hard-wood flooring. Eyes lingered on her as she stepped towards the empty stools at the bar and took a seat.
 
The woman had no recollection of arriving in this town. She smelled of fine herbs and sweet blossoms - this seemed to almost be her natural scent. The last of her memories consisted of a forested area and an opaque cloud of white smoke. She tilted her head slightly upward and rested her chin on the back of her hand as she propped herself up with her elbow. Her eyes a striking shade of green met those of the tavern maid's brown hue. There was something in her eyes, something almost naive about her aura, something more, something untold, a tinge of anguish or maybe desperation. She could feel it, it was there. I know who you are… she wanted to say, to tell the woman. She couldn't put her finger on it. The brunette snapped out of it as the voice broke her focus. "Hi dearie, what can I get'chia?" she seemed quite peppy for someone who worked in a place like this.
 
"New here are ya'?" the dark-haired woman nodded with a slight smile. "Just, arrived" she admitted. "What will it be?" she took a long pause, as if she were contemplating a number of things all at once in that single question. "Wine please" she finally answered and the barmaid disappeared quickly and returned with a bottle and poured the sweet crimson liquid into an empty glass. "So what's your name dearie?- plannin' on stayin' the night?" she asked as she wiped down the top of the bar, trying to start a conversation. She was tempted to ask her, but it was none of her business so she remained silent about the matter. 

"Nadine and… not likely, I'm just passing through, what about you?" her voice was mellow as she introduced herself with a soft smile. "Helga" she said with a toothy grin before going back to serve the other tavern dwellers. Nadine took a sip of her drink and allowed her mind to wander. Her eyes focused on the glass before her, the wine swirling in the glass as she spun it and drifted off again. The green hue almost disappeared as her pupils dilated. Nadine found herself in the very bar she was in with the same glass of wine, but rather than full of people, it was empty. The only noise that emitted was the pitter-patter of tiny feet on the hard wood flooring, it sounded more like claws scratching the surface than actual steps, but she couldn't figure out where the source of the sound was coming from, not until it knocked her glass over and scurried to the top shelf of the bar shelves almost in panic. Something fell and shattered across the floor causing her vision to break. Her eyes focused once more only to find herself staring down at a small fuzzy creature trying to get at her drink. Is that squirrel or am I high?  

She missed it. She missed the crash of waves upon the solid hull of her ship, the feel of sturdy timber beneath her boots while the world around swayed and moved with liquid power. She’d gotten so used to the unpredictable motions that her muscles automatically tried to correct for it. Her land legs had taken an embarrassing amount of time to gain. The embarrassment stumbling around like a newborn deer until she’d adjusted was only offset by the fact that there was no one to witness the spectacle. Walking such a long distance to civilization had been her final hurdle physically speaking. Ships required very different motions and she tired far quicker on land.
 
What passed for civilization had been a pleasant enough discovery for the lost woman. Tipping her hat back a little she glanced around. Lasciel knew a pirate run town when she saw one. The way people dressed, moved about and spoke were obvious giveaways as to who led what sort of life. A lazy smile spread across her pale pink lips. A place like this was as close to home as she would get until she could get herself a new ship and train a new crew to her liking. What better place to start than a pirate haven?
 
Dark, storm-grey eyes fixed on one of the loveliest sights she’d seen in the last couple of weeks. The tavern beckoned to her with musical sounds and wonderful aromas. Drunken laughter spilled out into the street along with the faint music of a hired minstrel. The rich aroma of spiced rum and cooking meats mixed with the stale stench of vomit and piss. Her posture relaxed in the comforting environment, grinning at the people who took the time to glance at the door. Before she could hail a barmaid the small furry lump on her shoulder scurried down and away.
 
A squirrel darted across the tavern floor and made a bee-line for the only woman sitting at alone at a table. Eagerly it climbed up to the top of her table before freezing. Slowly it inched forward, pausing every few steps to see if the woman noticed. Glancing around nervously the small creature eventually reached her wine glass. It stood at its full height, gripping the top of the cup and pulling it closer, the rim tipping dangerously low. The small head leaned forward, trying to reach the fruity beverage contained within the metal goblet.
 
With a few long strides, Lasciel made it to behind the woman. Her slack features gave the pirate woman the impression that she was stoned or lost to another realm of the mind. A feral grin grew and she watched her squirrel and the woman, waiting for her to ‘awaken’ from the trance. The moment the squirrel was caught he froze, even his normally active tail stilled. “BOO!” A commanding voice snapped from behind the squirrel’s latest victim.
 

The frozen furry statue darted forward, towards the sound of the booming voice. It leaped off the table and into the waiting hand of Lasciel. She put on a mock glare and held a finger up before the small critter. “What have I told you about stealing? Never rob a pretty lady! Always go for the drunk passed out in the corner. He won’t protest or remember a thing.” She glanced at the seated woman and offered an elaborate bow, keeping Boo held up. The squirrel, trained well, also made an imitation of a bow. “Forgive my friend, my lady. He’s got a terrible drinking problem, but a great eye for beauty.”

The brunette sitting alone stared down at the small creature before her. It was reaching up, threatening to tip and spill across the bar. She pulled the goblet back up before any of its contents could make a mess for the lonely barmaid to clean up. Her head spun as she tried to focus on her surroundings, but the grogginess only dissipated when a voice behind her screamed "Boo!" She jumped, almost out of her seat; that was completely unexpected. Once she had focus, she turned to face the other.
 
Her racing heart returned to its normal pace as her eyes fixated on the woman who now held the squirrel in her hand. So I'm not high… well not that high… I smiled at her and the small animal as they both gave a bow almost in union. Interesting, I'm intrigued "Mmm…" she paused almost as if she were pondering what words she should use before she spoke again. "No harm done, just a playful encounter" she said to the women before looking at the squirrel "You my friend should have gone for my pocket instead" she said playfully as she reached inside and pulled out a handful of nuts, some shelled, others not.


 She laughed a sweet delicate laugh, but she wasn't sure why she did. "I can see that his eye for beauty does not only apply for strangers…" she eyed the woman carefully. Meeting her eyes she looked deeper, this woman was… different to say the least; she could feel it. It seemed that the woman was a pretty genuine person, none of those poser-posh types.  Nor did she look like a poser-posh type. She looked deeper into her eyes, as if she were searching for something… "Would you… like to join me?" she motioned to the empty bar stool next to her, her movements were slow, and her voice was smooth but dazed.
 
She took a moment to examine the tavern once more. Besides the barmaid, they were the only two females in the establishment. She felt the wandering eyes and carnal attraction of pathetic men. "I'm Nadine" she introduced herself as she picked up her glass of wine and took a large sip of its contents. It was soothing, sweet but delicious. "Just what I needed" she mused. She had always been on more of the friendly side but shared very few personal details about herself - most just thought she was mysterious.

Nadine brushed her hair away from her face; the hair toss filled the air around her with the very scent that stayed on her person. Her eyes were soft, stark but glassy. She pressed her lips together before taking the last sip of her drink, setting the empty goblet down on the bar. "Another please," she requested from the maid and the woman without a second glance, filled the goblet back up. Nadine set a few silver coins down to cover the cost. Two was enough for now. Otherwise with the mixing of herbal remedies and alcohol, it was unknown what would happen. 

The normal reaction from to both the squirrel and her prank was usually either an angry person yelling at her about manners and scaring people or an angry person trying to beat her into a senseless pulp. She preferred the latter as it gave the Pirate Queen a change to get a good fight in. It was a pleasant if completely baffling surprise when the woman laughed the matter off and offered the furry creature a handful of nuts. He glanced between his mistress and the offered treats, inching towards the end of her hand with each glance. “Oh go on and take them before she changes her mind you git.”
 
He didn’t’ need any more prompting than that to leap from one outstretched palm to the other. The furry critter eagerly devoured the nuts as if he hadn’t been fed in months. "I can see that his eye for beauty does not only apply for strangers…" the other woman replied. Grinning she tipped her hat and quipped “Flattery will get you everywhere my dear. Taste for beauty aside he’s got the manners of a pig…” True to the statement the nuts were scattered about in moments and the squirrel chased after each morsel.
 
"Would you… like to join me?" The dark haired woman motioned to the empty bar stool next to her. Her movements were slow, and her voice was smooth but dazed. Her answer to the invite was to simply take the offered seat. She sat with her back to the table and leaned her arms back on it. It gave her a good vantage point to survey the room from without leaving her back exposed to any sudden attacks or groping. She was used to being the only woman in a room full of not only men, but pirate men. Lasciel had learned early on that the only way to stay safe amongst them was to be the bigger threat.
 
She crossed her legs casually and leaned further back onto the table. The hungry grin and half lidded eyes screamed a challenge to anyone who dared glance at the pirate for too long. Everything about her posture was far too relaxed for anyone not ready to taste blood. There was nothing fake about the pirate, and all the others could sense it. Glancing over at her companion Lasciel allowed her smile to momentarily soften. “Where are my manners? I should be the one to introduce myself. I do apologize. My name is Lasciel.”

When the infamous woman’s name failed to get the usual rise from anyone in the room she just sighed. Not only was she stranded in a place she didn’t recognize, but no one had heard of her. Where in the nine hells had she managed to end up? She was interrupted from her musings by the flick of hair that flashed past her face when the woman shook her head. And oddly pleasant scent filled the air before it was covered by the tavern’s usual odors. Her attention was focused almost fully on her companion then. Only the barest amount was spared to keeping an eye on the other patrons.
 
Nimble fingers plucked the silver coins off the bar and pressed them back into Nadine’s hand. “My treat. It’s the least I can do for the earlier inconvenience. Besides, what kind of gentleman pirate would I be if I let a lady pay for her own drinks in my company?” Throwing in a flirty wink for good measure the pirate placed enough coin for both of their drinks. “A bottle of your finest liquor and whatever the special is to eat.” Her stomach growled its agreement at the though of food. It had been a long time since she’d had proper food.
 
“So, tell me a bit about you. You’re not the usual kind of person I see in places like this.”