Arc 2, Chapter 31: Brate's Pub and Inn

"That tavern's not too far away from here Miss. I don't want to go any deeper down these narrow streets, Betsy gets claustrophobic," the coachman relayed, petting the horsaroach.

One eye shrunk in revulsion, "Well, can't make Betsy feel uncomfortable now, can we?"

Jotou departed with the carriage. The noon Sun shone over the hooded figure who walked alone down Old-Town—her brown eyes in a swivel.

The gaze of people followed the wanderer as the streets grew narrower and large drain systems were on both sides; smaller buildings, yet stacked on top of each other like pancakes.

'Old-Town. The area's in between the borders of East Kria, the Indent, the Bargain District and the Magistrate District. The poor lack in management for the first settlements in Kria gave it its charming name.

On the opposite of Kria Estate lies High-Town, the successor of this failed neighbourhood. The people who live here are no strangers to poverty. Housing is the cheapest alongside essentials.'

Jotou meandered through her head, "Hotaru used to live here. I wonder if she ever saw an Anastasia Princely roaming around. Both their works were in the same direction," she noticed the tavern.

Written on the sign, was 'Brate's Pub and Inn'. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes wafted out the door, making the blonde fan her hand in front of her nose.

She walked in. 'Hotaru could help me navigate this area better, but she needs her rest. I don't like relying on her.' Jotou took a glance around. 'But she can rely on me.'

The walls were wood; stairs lead up to what was presumably the inn. Despite the time, the drinkers were already here, some of them wasted.

It had its own charm. 'The charm of illegality and drug trading probably.' The shelves had way less options than Veers.

Glances were taken to the new customer, whilst she stared to the floor as she headed towards the bar. 'If I can't do this, then I'm useless. Meko was right, I'm the one who got Hotaru nearly killed.'

Jotou came to a halt near the bartender. Elbow leaning on the counter, ginger mutton chops—he grinned, showing off some of his missing teeth.

Once Jotou stood facing him, she felt like more eyes were on her. She checked her cloak subtly; it covered down till her legs so that her sword was not shown.

'I'll just have to show that I'm competent and prove her wrong.' "A beer please," the elegant voice uttered.

The burly bartender raised a brow, trying to get a better look under her hood, "Damn; pretty thing like you drinks beer?"

Jotou sighed, "You know what? I never liked beer; I think it tastes like piss no matter how many times I've drunk it.

I don't know how any of you drink it so passionately. I always preferred light alcohols, but I just drank beer because everyone else did.

So no, a pretty thing like me doesn't drink beer. If you can fetch me something sweeter, I'd appreciate that," she shot a glare.

The bartender stood up, "Uh, sure," his gruff tone seemed a little startled.

He went to prepare her a drink whilst Jotou never took her eyes off of him, watching him mix it. 'Being nice has its place. If I'm not assertive here, then I'm gonna get walked all over. I just hope it doesn't come to a fight.'

In a rounded glass came a delicious looking reddish-pink concoction; with a small cherry within and ice cubes that outweighed it.

Jotou took the glass in hand, giving it a sip. Her eyes softened, enjoying the creamy-sweet texture. She placed the glass down, "What is this?" she swirled the cherry within.

"Whiskey cream on the rocks; only sweet thing I have. It'll cost you a little extra, so don't go snapping at me again."

"I don't mind the price. This is delicious," she licked her lips.

"It's always the pretty ones that are feisty," the bartender sighed. "What's got you in a mood?" he crossed his arms, "I don't think I've seen you around these parts."

"Well, I'm technically not from around here. I'm looking for someone. The trail led me to your…" Jotou looked around, smokers tainting the air, "…lovely establishment."

"Oh, merc work from the guild huh?" he assumed, "Take a look around, these are the regulars. More only come at sundown so if you want a room-"

"I'll pass, thanks," Jotou cut him off. She glanced at the patrons. 'Hell knows what happens to women in a seedy place like this. Wait, is that?' Jotou noticed a drunken man on one of the corner tables.

Greying brown hair- no, fur. Two ears on top and a tail resting behind him as he was slumped over on the table. "What's his deal?" Jotou asked regarding Hotaru's father.

"That mutt? Yeah, can't really deny them service. If I do, that bitch of a daughter of his will get the court involved. He comes in here, talking big, then passes out.

Always a fight when it turns night around here. You look like a noble so, sorry for letting that abomination in," he shrugged.

'Did he just call Hotaru a-' The pressure on the glass she held tightened, "Don't worry about it," Jotou replied, calming her voice. 'Just play along Jotou…'

"Find who you're looking for? If it's some woman, girls only arrive at night."

Jotou finished the drink, "No," she bit into the cherry, throwing the stem into the glass. She took out a gold piece, sliding it over, "You know a John Princely?"

The bartender's eyes widened, taking away the gold immediately, "Princely? You paying for his tab?"

"Not exactly, but I think that should cover a lot. You know where he lives?" Jotou looked him in the eyes.

"Not a clue, I'm not here to listen to his sobbing. His regular table's over there," he pointed. Next to the table were three men playing a game of cards, "They've roped him into a few games."

Jotou looked over to them, "You think they'll know?"

"Beats me, but that's your best shot. Nobody else's gonna sit next to a wailing old man."

Jotou stood up, "Thanks for the tip. I'll see you later."

"Name's Brate by the way if you need to find me, appreciate your tip too," he pocketed the gold, "What's yours?"

The hooded blonde halted her steps away, giving a little smirk before she answered, "Fumeko."

Jotou approached the table. "GaH! Fine, ya win!" a brawny man threw his cards on the table in a groan.

"Ha, ha! Told you, it's my lucky day," the lither man collected several copper and silver pieces from the other two.

"I hate this goddamn game," a man with a thick beard and glasses threw his cards down before chugging down a bottle. They were in various states of drunkenness, crumbs of food on their stained attire.

The lithe man turned, eyeing up the woman approaching, "Looks like my luck only provides more," he hummed to the other two.

The other two turned to see her, drunken grins growing on their faces. "Hello, mind if I ask some questions?" Jotou averted eye contact.

"Sure thing; what you offering in return?" the lithe man asked.

"How about you sit down and play a round?" the brawny man pulled up a chair from another table.

Jotou blinked a few times. She kept her face serious, sighing internally, "Sure." She grabbed the chair and sat a little apart—opposite the lithe man as they sat in a circle.

The bearded man shuffled the cards, adjusting his glasses to try and get a better angle under Jotou's cloak, "What do you wanna know?" he began distributing them.

"I'm looking for someone, I'm hoping you guys can help."

"Hold on, gotta place a bet first," the lithe man cooed.

The brawny man scoffed, "Come on, she doesn't need to do that," he said, his sly smile not disappearing.

She knitted her brows, "I don't know how to play cards and I'm not interested in the game. I just-"

"I know, I know. You're just looking for some help with something, right?" the lithe man cut off.

The bearded man licked his lips, "Why some 'one'? You're training to be one of the girls that comes at night; you talked to Brate, didn't you?"

"You got three places for fun, right? We'll break you in, nice and slow," the lithe man looked at his cards then glanced at her breasts.

"All three at once, doesn't that sound fun?" the bearded man gave a snicker.

'Alright, screw this.' "Listen, you degenerates can go look for someone else, you're barking up the wrong tree," Jotou glared.

They all gave a low chuckle. The brawny man reached his hand out, "Calm down now girlie. We're just looking for some fun," he was nearing her behind.

A mild shock went over Jotou's hair, before her hand grabbed his wrist in a tight clasp—before electricity coursed against his skin. 'Spark.'

He recoiled his arm immediately, "HEY!" he yelled out, wincing as he held his wrist.

Jotou's hands sparked with electricity as her scowling glance looked at the other two, who were now narrowing their eyes. A few other patrons looked over—most of them passed out already.

The bearded man got up, "You got a death wish bitch!?" he went to grab her hood.

Jotou grabbed the drunkard by the arm first, "Zap," a current of lightning jolted up his body.

"GGAAAAHH!" a scream escaped his lips, alerting the entire bar. His eyes were completely open, looking to the ceiling. Jotou let go. "Thump!" He fell to the floor.

Lightning marks scarred the skin going up his arm, marking up until the right side of his face. He fell, blinking erratically as his body spasmed on the floor.

Jotou turned her head, "Agh!" flinching as a punch from the brawny man hit her in the face. "Ow," Jotou gritted her teeth, punching back with a sparking fist.

In his drunken daze it was hard to dodge as she—"Smack!"—punched him right in the nose, breaking it and knocked him onto the floor as she got up in one move. "AH!" he held his nose.

"Tink!" "Crack!" Fortunately Jotou's head was turned to the side as the bottle was flung onto her hood. Jotou grabbed the side of her head—no glass cuts, but man did the force hurt.

The lithe man picked up another bottle as Jotou kicked up the table. Not to flip it over, but it rattled him enough to make him flinch as Jotou ran to his side.

She grabbed him by the shirt, knocking away the bottle in his hand. His eyes bubbled to Jotou who was glared back daggers and held two hands near his neck, arcing with sparks.

The bearded man stopped spasming and panted out in fading pain—he lied still. The other man on the floor, was too drunken to get up. The other patrons could not care less.

Brate shook his head from afar, "You messed with a merc geniuses," he remarked to himself.

Jotou looked him in the eyes, "I'm Jotou Howllett, Thundering Blade. It would be best if you forget I was ever here. Now, John Princely…"

His eyes were only filling in with more fear by the second, sobering up as he looked to his friends. He put his hands up in surrender, knowing what would happen if he did not comply…