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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EARLY EVENING
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Gareth sits at a table inside the bar area, tinkering with what looks like a large disc of some sort. At the moment, he's busy cleaning out the object, removing what looks to be a half-deflated tomato and setting it aside. He has several other tomatoes on the table, all of which are relatively fresh and round, and he starts examining them one by one as though he's scrutinizing a piece of equipment he needs to maintain.
Narrator: Walking in from the darkening outside, Lianne's eyes scan over the tavern, taking note of it's occupants. Her lips curl into a smile as she spots Gareth, moving to the bar first to order two drinks. One for herself, another for Gareth. Once she has them in hand, she wanders over to Gareth's table, placing his drink next to him and sitting down with her own. "Gareth." Lianne greets.
Gareth glances up at the glass as it gets set down next to him, then looks up at the generous patron, only to break into an appreciative smile as he nods towards one of the seats. "Evenin', Lianne. Thank ye fer the drink." He takes a moment to sweep some of the tomatoes into a pile on one side of the table, leaving room for the stingray, "If ye don't mind the tomatoes, yer welcome to join me."
Lianne Sparr's gaze follows the tomatoes with a slightly raised eye, obviously curious. "What tomatoes?" She laughs, pausing to see if Gareth would explain without being prompted.
Gareth laughs a bit. "Well, maybe I should call them power sources fer this thing, here." He nudges the disc with a hand, "Got a little trip comin' up to deliver this to the fine researchers up in Sarn."
Lianne Sparr looks to the disc, though hasn't the slightest idea what she's looking at. "And they need tomatoes." Lianne flatly questions. "And you're the wolf to deliver them."
Gareth nods. "Aye. It's a bit o' magitech to throw off the scent o' the researchers. Those addle-brained fools thought to try and lie on a contract me partner and I were doin' fer them, so this is a bit o' payback in a way."
Lianne Sparr: "Sounds like I'm missing a lot of context here. Care to fill me in?" Lianne questions.
Gareth hums and nods again. "O' course. So, a while back, me partner and I had found a bounty posted here in town from the researchers up in Sarn. They were lookin' fer a magitech thief, and knew they were hidin' out here in Respite. Long story short, the thief's no thief, and the good folks up in Sarn just wanted the kobold's knowledge fer themselves. Y'know, haul him in and forcibly get that stuff instead o' askin' nicely." He flashes a bit of a feral grin, "Now, if they were on the level, I wouldn't have minded just haulin' him up once we'd captured him, but they went and lied instead."
Lianne Sparr: "And this. . .Thing. . ." Lianne nods to the disc and the tomatoes. ". . .Is meant to throw them off?" Lianne questions.
Gareth gives the disc a bit of a wry smile before looking up at Lianne again. "This thing's supposed to be a good match fer the stuff the kobold builds, and it works a treat, too. If ye want a demonstration, I could give a short one."
Lianne Sparr: "Fair enough, I suppose. No demonstration is necessary. Though, clarify something for me. This is a decoy, correct?"
Gareth nods. "Aye, a decoy. It mimics the kobold's style, but is meant to work fer a few seconds, then break irreparably."
Lianne Sparr nods, falling quiet as she thinks for a moment. "You're. . .Not worried that they'll figure it out, or do you simply just not care?"
Gareth chuckles and crosses his arms a bit. "I'm a big, scary wolf with a scarred left eye, a sharp cutlass and two pistols in me belt. Those researchers aren't goin' to try anythin' funny even if they do figure it out, which I doubt, and I also doubt they're willin' to send anyone after Wrath and Fury."
Lianne Sparr: "Not caring it is." Lianne smiles. "So when are you due to leave, then? I'll admit, it'll be awfully dull around here without your company."
Gareth chuckles, then shrugs. "Soon, but I'm not sure when, exactly. Me partner's likely goin' to be around town fer a while still, so it'll be just me headin' out." He gives Lianne a bit of a smirk, "But, while I'm out that way, anythin' ye want me to bring back fer ye? I'd offer to let ye tag along, but yer still layin' low from earlier, right?"
Lianne Sparr: "I think I've laid low long enough. Sarn might be a good opportunity to. . .Offload, so to speak, especially if you're watching my back." Lianne smiles. "Besides, I refuse to simply let you have all the fun."
Gareth laughs a bit. "Then, if ye want to come along, I'll let ye know when I'm headin' out once I figure it out. Should give ye enough time to ready up fer the trip." He pauses, then adds, "I might also want to take a side trip to Orela on the way back."
Lianne Sparr: "Excellent. I'll get together my affairs immediately, then. And. . .Leave you to your produce." Lianne stifles a laugh. "You'd make a fantastic farmer, don't you think? Just you. . .With a pitchfork."
Gareth grins a bit. "Well, I might end up doin' somethin' o' the sort once we get back to Respite. Got to start workin' on my house out by the bay, so ye might get yer chance to see that."
Lianne Sparr: "A fisherman, perhaps?" Lianne teases. She continues casual conversation with Gareth for the evening, until it's time for them to retire to bed.