To A Colored Animal Inn... and then to the Commoner's Dance

Taking a cue from Nick re-posting some context!

Nym danced clumsily into the streets. "I should have brought my lute!" She feigned strumming, and began to half hum half sing.

"Hmm HMMM HMM today that you're not mine to keeeeeep.
Hmmm hmmm hu-hmmm mmm mmmm!"

"I'm usually better at remembering this paaaart! Hmmm hmmm hmmm"

"It’s only water. It’s only fire. It’s only love."

"It’s only slaughter. We’re only liars. It’s only blood."

"They’re only thoughts that I’m having - thoughts safe within my head.
You’re only crying. You’re only dying! You’re only dead."

Nym slowed her pretend lute playing, staring off into the darkness toward the docks. <"Maybe you should take this,"> she murmured in Elvish, pulling her lien collection from her pocket and handing it to Evelaen. Still staring toward the docks, she added, "I'm going to go tttthataway," and pointed the opposite direction toward the town square where the general Equinox party was underway.

Nym stretched her back before beginning to clumsily skip toward the commoner's party. She turned back to wave at Evelaen, adding, <"Goodbye, lovely human, if we both survive the night, I hope we meet again!">

<"Nay, fair half-elf, though it is early for some, for you it is far too late. You should come with me to the Lady Narath and perhaps we can sing and create merriment that will undo the filth that has been laid bare."> She said as she hooked her arms into Nym's. <"Besides, Illuvaen wouldn't want his beloved to be companionless tonight!>

Nym allowed herself to be lead for a moment, her face defeated, before she stopped walking. "I don't want to go there... it's... I..." Tears were in her eyes as she whispered, "anywhere but there."

"Fine, we'll go to the lovely in where Beranhond and I are staying. You can tell me all about Illuvaen and sing songs!" She said pulling Nym off toward the colored animal inn.

"That's a really weird name..." Nym murmured as she was pulled along. "Is it by the docks?" she asked.

--------------------------------

After being pulled along by Evelaen for several minutes, Nym slowly began to realize that she was ruining more than her own evening. "The drinking is supposed to lead to forgetting, not drunken guilt," she thought, annoyed.

Nym slowed her steps, pulling them both to a stop. "You know, I don't even have by lute, so I'm not much for singing songs tonight," she said lamely, avoiding Evelaen's eyes. "I think I'll return to my own colored animal inn and you should return to the ball..." Evelaen seemed unconvinced, so Nym added, "Pipper hasn't been outside for a good hour at least, so I should do that..." She cleared her throat, adding quickly, "and stop making a mess of things." Nym looked through Evelaen. "Besides, Beranhond probably would appreciate your company."

Evelaen seemed uncertain, but Nym assured her she'd return to her own inn until the human let her go on her own way reluctantly.

Nym walked slowly along the docks toward the inn, enjoying the fuzzy feeling of the wine in her head. She leaned against a dock gate looking into the inky water below. "I wonder how many stones in my pockets would keep me from coming back up?" she thought. She shook her head as though the thought could be pushed away like an unwanted spiderweb even though she knew it couldn't. She kicked a few stones into the water and watched the surface ripple and then become still again, feeling oddly satisfied by it. Finally, feeling chilled in her lightweight dress, Nym finished her walk to the inn.

Nym opened the door sheepishly, and was greeted by the two half orc barbarian brothers she'd met the night before. "OY, ELF LADY! NICE DRESS!" Ort yelled to Nym, punching his brother Fin in the ribs. Their companion Kepio, a goliath warlock, rolled her eyes at them.

"FUCK YOU ORT, YA GIT" Fin yelled back, kicking at his brother.

"I already told you both, no fighting in here!" Tores, the Dwarven bartender yelled at the pair, her voice annoyed with their antics.

A plan began forming in Nym's head. "You need these two out of your hair?" Nym asked Tores, smiling mischievously. Tores just gave Nym a look of exasperation and rolled her eyes. To the half orcs and goliath, Nym asked, her eyes sparkling "You three want to escort me to the dance in the town square?"

"WE DON' DANCE, LADY ELF," Ort yelled.

"Some of us DO," Kepio grumbled, glaring at Ort.

"We don't have to dance!" Nym replied sassily. "We can eat and drink." She smiled, crossing her arms.

"WE LIKE THOSE THINGS GOOD, YA?" replied Fin.

"Thank you," Tores whispered, relieved. Nym winked at the bartender.

"Ok, five minutes!" Nym replied to Fin, Ort, and Kepio, running awkwardly up the stairs, stumbling a bit at the top and laughing at her drunk self. She changed, grabbed her lute and some money, and poked Pipper to see if he was awake and wanted to come too. He grumbled in annoyance, eyed Nym, and then scooted out of her reach to go back to sleep. "Fiiiine, I'll go spend the night with people twice as tall as me then. You were going to even out the heights with me, but I GUESS I can represent all the short people of Faerun myself." She smiled at the fox, scratching his ears, before she left her room.

"Alright!" she exclaimed excitedly to her enormous friends. "Let's get out of here!" Kepio seemed happy to have someone who wasn't a boorish idiot to talk to for the night, and the brothers seemed excited to eat and drink more. Nym found she had to jog to keep up with her three companions, but forgetting was worth it.

Drink Your Troubles Away at the Purple Wyrm Inn & Tavern

Nym wandered the city until she had calmed down enough to think straight. She considered going to the ship for the night, but didn’t really feel like talking to anyone she knew at the moment so decided an inn was in order. She considered returning to the Blushing Mermaid, but it had been a bit seedier last night than she’d recalled. Besides that, it was on the other side of the city, which was unappealing. While trying to sell rituals, the Purple Wyrm by the docks had been suggested as an up-and-up inn and tavern that merchants and adventures frequented. “Vampires and assassins and questionably moral people,” Nym grumbled as she turned around and headed toward the docks.

It didn’t take long to find the Purple Wyrm Inn and Tavern with its well-lit sign. Nym rented stabling and a room, and once she had her animals settled in, she headed back to the tavern. The patrons were boisterous but pleasant, and Nym settled into a seat along the edge of the bar where she could people watch.

After a few minutes, the young dwarf behind the bar came over to Nym. “Havin’ anything tonight, lass?” she asked, smiling. Nym noted that her beard was expertly braided.

“Yes, I’d like to get something to eat… and a drink too, I think. It’s been a long day,” Nym replied.

“We’ve got a nice brassla on tonight with fresh eel and oyster. I recommend it with the blackbread and waterdhavian cheese. Cheese ain’t made in Waterdeep anymore, though. Since… you know.” The dwarf shrugged and smiled as she pulled out a small pad of paper to write down Nym’s order.

“That sounds perfect,” Nym replied, letting out a long sigh.

“And t’ drink?”

“I think something strong but manageable for less hearty, non-Dwarven folk. What would you recommend?”

The Dwarf woman chuckled, “Don’ want t’ end up on the floor tonight, then. We have fireseed if you’re lookin’ for strong strong. Our house red is fine, and we have a nice clarry too. I could add a shot of seawine at no charge if you’d like it stronger.” The woman winked, smiling.

“Yes, I’d love the clarry with a shot of seawine,” Nym replied, satisfied. She wondered who named a liqueur ‘seawine’ and if they were drunk when they named it.

Over the next few hours, Nym continued to drink, learned that the bartender’s name was Tores Forgehood and became her friend, met a group of six merchants and adventurers and became friends with them, and was coaxed by her new friends to take the stage and play some music since no band was scheduled that night.