Heya!

After the last angst-ridden TnT, I feel a few things need to be said.

First of all, Laska's madness won't get any worse than it already is. In fact, I'm working on a resolution to turn things to a semblance of normality.

Second, this part of the story is dark because it really can't be any way differently. But, don't worry, the old style Tnt silliness will return. I've got loads of fun ideas for ToB. ;)

Rose carefully cleaned the bar with a rag. As the owner of the Mithrest Inn, she had decided to go back to work to get her mind off things. The inn, still being staffed and run by her friends, all ex-streetwalkers, was doing good business during weekdays. A lot of patrons appreciated a quiet and calm inn, as a haven away from the busy life of the adventurer. Most days were busy and today was no different. All conversation-pits were full, waitresses were walking back and forth between the kitchen and the customers with their ordered food and beverages.

Then, just then, by all rules of logic in the universe, something happened to shatter that pristine image.

"Hello?" a voice shouted over the crowd. "Sheesh, is this an inn or a funeral home?"

"That voice," Rose whispered as she recognized it. She would indeed recognize it everywhere.

And there she was, with the usual style and swagger of a very sexually charged brigand. The tall woman whom the voice belonged to strode inside as if she were a queen... but she definitely didn't dress like one. Her heavy boots carried in a woman who bore her free-spirit with pride. Long red hair flew freely as she strode across the room, draped over a long coat. The coat, in turn, surrounded a tight black bodice barely hiding luscious bodyparts, and a brown set of pants open with laces at the sides. An eyepatch finished the image.

She owned the room with the way she moved alone, and stared down anyone who was about to protest against her disturbing their rest with so much as a single blink. This woman was mysterious and apparently dangerous, judging from the Rapier hanging from her belt, but also had some very alluring qualities... such as an open shirt and a cheeky grin.

"Astlyn?" Rose whispered as the tall woman smiled and strode towards her.

"Rosie!" the woman yelled and literally pulled the smaller woman over the bar into a fierce hug. "Well, when I sailed back into town, I came looking for my favorite girl, but they told me you weren't working anymore. So, first I got sad... but then I got glad, because I thought to myself : 'Self, that means she's finally turned her life around'. And that's good. Nice little place you got here. A bit quiet, but otherwise very nice... Like the huge aquarium. Reminds me of the sea."

"Everything reminds you of the sea. But, Astlyn, what are you..." Rose suddenly gave Astlyn a look. "Hey, wasn't your eyepatch over your left eye the last time I saw you?"

"Oh, whoops," Astlyn grinned and quickly moved her eyepatch from right to left. "Please keep this hush-hush. My image is at stake if this comes out."

"Miss image speaks," Rose shook her head. "I haven't seen you for almost a year now."

"Yeah," Astlyn grinned. "Mapping Chultian coasts for some trading coster or other. Don't care what they're called, as long as they pay up."

"I take it you've been terrorizing the Chultians," Rose offered.

"Hey, I resemble that remark! Besides, it's moot : those Chultian girls ran faster than I did."

"You miss her, don't you?" Astlyn nodded empathically as they both sat at a small table in a quiet corner of the inn.

"Yes," Rose's eyes were downcast. "It's the little things I remember most of all... There was this time Laska wanted to give me a bouquet of flowers and she hid it behind her back when she talked to me."

"That's not that unusual," Astlyn replied.

"It was. She hadn't noticed the horse standing behind her... and was too nervous to notice it was munching on my flowers," Rose smiled briefly. "When she did find out, oh, my, the profanity and expletives were something of the like I had never heard before... Of course, the horse ran off, flowers in mouth and Laska chasing right after it. About ten minutes later, she came back... and had managed to save a single tulip, munched at the stem. It did earn her a kiss. I later heard she had chased that horse all across the city."

"I've made you sad," Astlyn said, wiping a tear of Rose's cheek. "Come on," she grinned and almost dragged Rose from behind the table. "Let's dance."

"But... we don't have a dance floor! Or music!"

"Don't matter," Astlyn chuckled and started humming a song in a terribly off-key, while snaking one hand around Rose's waist while holding her hand with the other. Rose giggled as she was being dragged along by this crazy human as Astlyn hummed and danced with her in tow, twirling and even pirouetting over the floor of the Mithrest, drawing all eyes in the normally quiet room to them. Some clapped in approval, others went back to their conversations.

"Hah," Astlyn grinned. "Made you laugh there!"

"Guess you did," Rose chuckled.

"Come on!" Astlyn said. "I'll have to tell you some stories about my recent travels. So, what do you want to hear? Vegetarian headhunters from Chult? Man-eating dragons of Maztica? Or perhaps the hauntings of Kara-Tur?"

"So, this is your place?" Astlyn whistled. "Wow, Casa de Swank."

"It belong to Laska and her friends," Rose smiled. "But me and my family live here now."

"I can't believe you have a sister," Astlyn nodded. "Wow, what are the odds of that happening, huh?"

It was near midnight, so long the two of them had been swapping tales and reliving memories. But now, it was time to return home.

"Thanks, Astlyn," Rose said. "I really needed to talk to a friend."

"Yeah," Astlyn smiled. "I'd better get back to the ole ship. Those new kids can't tell their asses from the holes in the deck they've just dropped a cannonball through."

"Thanks," Rose said and flowed into Astlyn's arms for a brief hug. "Thanks for... today."

"For you, anytime," Astlyn whispered and briefly kissed Rose's forehead. "When... when will I see you again?"

Rose remained quiet for a moment, then turned away.

"Sorry," Astlyn sighed. "That was inappropriate. I'd, well, I'd better go, I guess..."

But as Astlyn turned around to move away, one quiet whisper broke the silence of the night. "How about tomorrow?" Rose asked.

"Perfect," Astlyn smiled and blew Rose one more kiss before slinking into the dark of night.