Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sun was just ready to creep down behind the short buildings that created Sticks's horizon, taking with it the breath of warm air that had made its people hope that perhaps winter was about to end. A few stubborn piles of snow still lingered here and there, dirty and shoveled up against the sides of various shops and bars, most of which were either closing-- or just starting to open.

This was a slightly less favorable area of the city. It was a bit closer to the port but not quite touching the estates, and hosted all sorts of riffraff and wrongdoings. The sight, then, of this woman's polished shoes clicking over loose and upturned cobblestones, might have seemed to some as confusing. Her height and attire made her seem entirely out of place. Added to the shades covering her eyes and the cheerfully nonchalant way she was carrying herself, it might have seemed as though she was oblivious to her surroundings.

And oblivious perhaps she was. There was not a moment where she stopped to read any painted signs within the roads and alleys, and many times her metronomic gait was interrupted when a shoe struck a stairstep or her cane plunged into a sinkhole. It would not have been surprising at all if she were to run headlong into someone.

At least the ruffles on her shirt could, in these cases, have a function as well as looking quite fashionable: the ones spilling from Nora's coat cushioned the impact somewhat, but she still managed to lose her footing. It would have saved her some humiliation if she had thought to grab something on this man, but instead she clattered to the ground, her ornate walking stick flying out of her hand. The shades miraculously stayed on her face... however, her prized red silk bowler flew off and landed near the stranger's feet.

The woman shook her head a bit to get rid of the shock and ran a quick self-inspection. No injuries were found, but a definite grimace alighted her face when her fingers discovered a smear of hopefully-just-mud on one of her exaggerated coattails. It quickly turned to slight concern as she searched around the ground for the items that flew from her person. Her shoe rapped loudly against the cobblestones once or twice, possibly in frustration and impatience.

When the stranger spoke, though, she quickly located and gathered her hat and cane from the ground. As the bowler was carefully adjusted around her frizzy dark hair, she replied, "I'm fine... please forgive me for running into you like that. It was most discourteous... did I do any damage?"

It came as a bit of a pleasant surprise to Nora that she could make level eye contact with this man. How strange they must have looked to some others on the street, though: two tall humans, caterwauling into each other and then starting a friendly conversation like it was no big deal! An odd little smile that came about reflected her amusement at this.

"Ah, yes, I suppose it does! I suppose we've all survived worse, so I shouldn't fret over it." And there returned that cheerful expression, eyebrows lifting in relief so much that they threatened to hop off her face and fly away. She seemed, for a second, to glance in the direction of Valentinian's pocket, but it may have just been a moment of idle thought.

The sudden offer was also a bit of a pleasant surprise, but who could say no to an excuse for a glass of rum or three? "I believe I would like to see this 'famous local bar'! I must admit that I get lost in this town sometimes, but if I was lucky enough to get lost here at this time, then it can't be that much of a disadvantage. And I must insist I pay for the trouble," she grinned, sweeping her cane about her leg for emphasis.

"Please lead the way if you'd like. You probably have a better sense of direction!"

A smile and a nod, and Nora let this stranger lead the way. She seemed glad that someone was able to accept a favor so easily, and wasn't taken aback by any surprise he might have shown towards her smile.

It was a quick enough walk, and probably a bit awkward-looking, as the tall woman seemed more inclined to focus on her rhythmic footsteps than continue the conversation. Talking could wait until it could be had over a drink! The pub was in sight quickly enough, and entering quickly brought the smell of ale upon them-- it was clearly brewed somewhere in this building. The grizzled, fat Hayim who started the place had just started getting busy filling glasses and upholding conversations with multiple newcomers and regulars.

"Oh, you meant this place?" Nora asked bemusedly. She was clearly thrilled that outsiders had heard of it. And she's quick to hang her hat on the rack by the door and pick a table that seemed surrounded by other noisy customers. "You didn't strike me as one for ale, but I guess so long as it does the job, right?"