The Swinging Ax

Haera rolled her eyes as she sipped her drink, "I am shaving them from a horrid night. They want to feel something besides a little man flopping on them." She said and smiled as she took a bit of her chicken strip. Haera swayed in her seat, happy about food when he kept talking. "Take notes? From that lumberjack? Nahh, I get good men being rough and tough. He gets pretty men who are fragile. Or Ofelia... it is a fifty-fifty with him." She said and looked over at him. "Did you just sit there while my brother put shit up?" She asked.

Istrain raised an eyebrow when she asked whether he just sat there while Nasir assembled the shelves. Shit. He definitely knew the right answer for this one, but it wasn't the truth. "No," he said, taking a dramatic swig of his drink before turning his hazel eyes intensely towards her. "Obviously I was fucking my sister. That's all you seem to think I do, right?" he asked, seriously hoping he could deflect this one and not get smacked. He doubted it, though.

Haera looked over at him, "You totally sat there and watched." She looked at Birger. "I need a sharp knife... this bitch doesn't deserve that small dick of his." She said and smiled. Birger shook his head. "Do that shit out back and I will get you that damn knife." He said with a smirk before stealing one of her chicken tenders. Haera look heart broken, "You food whore." She whispered before looking back at Istrain. "I will be nice to you once... and let you keep your small little toy down there." She said.

Istrain sighed and shook his head slightly, a smile creeping on to his face. "One day you're eventually going to see it for some reason or another and you're going to be disappointed that you have nothing to poke fun at anymore," he said before taking another sip of his drink. He eyed her chicken tenders for a moment before looking towards Birger. "Those look good, could I get some?" he asked, figuring it was probably safer to just order his own food than to try stealing any of Haera's. Birger could get away with it since he'd known her so long and was sleeping - and cuddling - with her, but he'd only known her a couple of days.

Haera look disgusted, "I hope the gods don't hate me that much that I would have to ever look at such a thing. Friends don't wish such things on friend, Istrain." She said and tried hard not to laugh. "Yeah Birger... get this child some damn food. What kind of father are you?" She asked him. Birger glared at him. "I am a damn good and fine one, thank you, bitch." He said before disappearing to make his order. "You gotta sweet talk him a bit before going make food." She told him and smirked.

Istrain chuckled a bit at the banter between Haera and Birger before the man left to make the food for him. "Good to know," he told Haera with a nod. He paused, glancing in the direction he'd gone before looking back to Haera. "Does he have children? Or does he only have me now that the two of you seem to have adopted me?" he asked with a slight chuckle, taking a drink.

Haera about died laughing. "He has no kids except for you, small fry. So glad you came to your senses. You are but a small baby. Ohhh you should call him daddy when he comes out. I will pay for your damn food if you do so." She said, looking evilly at him. Birger came out a few seconds later, "You want sauce?" He asked.

Istrain smirked when Haera told him to call Birger daddy. He contemplated it for a moment, taking a sip of his drink just as Birger came out. He had a feeling that Birger would see the humour in it after Haera had just called him a father, so he set his drink down and smiled. "Yes please, daddy," he said, trying his hardest not to burst out laughing.

Birger slowly looked back at him. "The hell did you call me? Only hot women can call me that. Not pretty men. Haera you bitch." He said. She was laughing silently while eating. For once she looked like a normal woman. "You know you love it." She said. Birger glared at him, "And to think I was gonna do that thing you like tonight." He huffed and disappeared. Haera gasped, "no! I'm sorry. I will be nice. I promise." She pouted and laid her head on her arm. "Dammit."

Istrain was relieved that Birger's concern seemed mainly directed at Haera rather than him. Of course, he was also unsurprised that Birger had immediately caught on to Haera's involvement. The two obviously knew one another well. "Was that as hilarious as you'd hoped?" he asked, taking a quick sip of his drinks. "Hilarious enough to be worth missing out on that thing you like?"

Haera moaned in displeasure and looked away from. "Fuck off, mini man." She huffed before sitting up. "It was worth not having the thing I like for ONE night. He holds out on the second I will just kick his ass." She said and the man next to her nodded in agreement. "Your face when you called him daddy will forever be burned into my brain and Bir's reaction. Beautiful." She laughed then she slowly stopped and looked at Istrain with a more serious face. "So what are you going to do about money? I mean... are you going to try to trade here?" She asked.

Istrain laughed a bit when Haera said that it had been worth it. He didn't know what had been so funny about the involvement of his face, as he'd been trying his damndest not to start laughing and he knew that she'd been laughing too. He raised an eyebrow slightly when Haera asked him what he was going to do about money and he glanced her way. "I don't see why not. I brought things with me for buying and selling, I just haven't actually taken the time to find a marketplace. It's more of a city anyways, with shops in buildings rather than stalls and vendors outside, so I'll have to spend time finding the good shops. I've just been busy, between dealing with Barynn and helping her to get her shop running and hanging out here..." He paused slightly, suddenly wondering to himself why he was even spending so much time here. It wasn't like he didn't have money; he had plenty of money and he was willing to sink as much of it as needed into his sister's shop, but there was also business to be had in the city and he wasn't capitalizing on it

Haera listened while she sipped her drink. She had been noticing him hanging with her more than he was doing his job. It was strange for her first off to be hanging with a dwarf, but to actually enjoy it to the point where she kind of felt like she was missing something was odd, and she didn't like it. "There are a few shops around that deal with trading and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday there are stalls you can set one up or trade with them." She said. The less time he spent with her the less she could care if he was there or not. She didn't mind being friends, the way he fought back that day proved it. Haera blinked, it was probably his trader charms that was having her act this way and she looked forward, glaring at the wall. Either way she enjoyed his company and hoped, somewhat, that he would make some money so he didn't smooch off of anyone.

Istrain raised an eyebrow slightly at just how nonchalantly she had volunteered that information. He wasn't about to complain, though, and he gave her a smile and a nod. "That's actually very helpful information," he said to her. "Thank you." His words were genuine as he did appreciate her telling him about this. It'd make it a bit easier to help Barynn if the threat of running out of money wasn't looming overhead. He had brought plenty, and he had more back home, but trading and selling off the things he'd brought and picked up along the way would guarantee security for the both of them.

Haera nodded, "Its the drinks talking, don't expect me to be helpful all the time." She said, a small smirk on her lips as she took another sip of her drink and watching Birger come back with Istrain's chicken tenders and looked over at her. "There is a girl at the back door asking for you. Said she needed help locating someone important to her." He said and she nodded before slipping off of the stool and walked into the back. A girl no older than Lorelei was frantically pacing when she saw her walking out. "Please... please help me. My baby's father took out daughter and I have no idea where they went. He... he isn't to be trusted with her. He is often drunk and god... he probably left of somewhere." She ranted and cried. Haera comforted her before getting the information she needed before going back in after sending her home. "Ight I have a job to do. You know Hindly? The bastard we had to throw out... last year... I don't know if you let him back in or not." She said. Birger nodded, "Yeah, why?" He asked. Haera sighed, "He took his one year old daughter and ran. Mother is frantic... no older than Lor." She said. "You have anything on where this ass would be hiding? Or where he would be hanging out?" She asked and he shook his head no but a customer of Birger's did. Haera paid the man for his information. "Okay, I am out. You two smooch or some shit." She said and walked out.

Birger watched and looked down at the dwarf at the bar. "She is gonna beat him to the inch of his life..." He sighed. "Can't blame her. Three things you don't fuck with when it comes to her: family, friends, and children." He and the rest of the bar chanted. Birger shook his head. "Well and ladies who get abused... but she doesn't actively try and kill them. Oh and rapist... she... uhh.. ha yeah their fate is worth than death." He said and the men and women in the bar mumbled something of an agreement. It was clear the people there knew exactly what Haera was capable of doing. Then Birger leaned down, "You wanna make a bet. I put a hundred down that you will fall in love with Haera." He said with a smirk.

Istrain sat quietly in his spot while Haera went to speak with the woman who'd asked for her, and while she came back looking for information. He knew that he was no use right now, so he kept silent and sipped his drink until Haera left. A slight smile came to his lips when Birger commented on how Haera was going to beat that man's ass. "So what you're saying is she has good morals," he said as Birger listed off the things Haera wouldn't accept. Rape, abuse, messing with children - it all made sense. He perked up slightly when Birger leaned in and said he wanted to make a bet, and then his hazel eyes went wide when the man said that he was going to fall for Haera. "I say we double that," he said almost immediately. "I guarantee you'll lose. How long do you give it before you give up and pay up?" Istrain asked, smirking. Even if he was the type to fall in love, falling for Haera would be a damn stupid thing to do because she, like him, didn't care for romance and love. At this point in time, he was confident that this was a bet he'd
easily win.

Birger laughed, leaning back up and taking the glass haera had been drinking from, and started to clean it. "I have a talent for knowing this shit. It is like I'm fucking cupid." He smirked and the man next to Istrain nodded. "It is like some kind of fucking sixth sense with this bastard. He called it so many times not to deny his talents. I'm placing fifty in this bet." He said and laughed.

Birger smirked, "I have patience. Love takes time...especially with you two. I made the same bet with Haera, woman doubled it. Ugh I am going to be making so much money." He sighed happily. "Mark my words, boy, you can't stop this shit storm." He chuckled. The man next to Istrain patted his shoulder, "Haera is a good girl... bad temper, but a heart of gold." He said before ordering Birger to make him food.

Istrain was a bit disconcerted by the way the next man over chipped in, and he suddenly found himself curious about Birger's talents. Did he have to see the two people interacting for it to work? Could he simply meet two people and automatically know that they were right for one another? "I hate to break your bubble, but you're gonna be wrong on this one, friend," he said with a shake of his head. "I don't do love and relationships, and she's already mentioned that she doesn't either. There's no love powerful enough to change my mind," he said. "But I'm curious now. You've got to tell me more. You can predict where the love's going to strike?"

Birger just smiled and placed the cup down where it was suppose to be before leaning over the bar and thinking of where to start. "I can predict it yes... in a sense. There are many cultures that have different stories of how love connects two people. The easterners say that people are connected by a single red string. That isn't what I see... I see more like an aura. At first I didn't know what the hell it was, but then I connected two and two together. The same aura I see with you and Haera." He said with a big smile. "I usually don't say anything to anyone because people need to find it by themselves, but I like stealing money from traders." He winked and chuckled. "They two have to be in the same room though." He said and shrugged. "I could always do your sister and Luther's if you want." He said.

Istrain raised an eyebrow as he listened to Birger. He was definitely intrigued, though he'd never admit it to the other man. "First off, you're definitely full of shit, my man," he said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "Second, do you realize how damn marketable that kind of skill would be? You could make a fortune off something like this! And last..." he paused, a slight frown coming to his lips. "There's no way in hell I'm putting Luther in the same room as my sister. I can already tell you that they're not meant to be. He's just the snake who broke her heart."

The man sitting next to Istrain looked over at him, "A nonbeliever is going to make us money, Bir." He chuckled. Birger shook his head and shrugged. "I can't do anything about that. Time is just going to have to prove him wrong." He said and looked over at Istrain with a raised eyebrow. "I don't like making profit off of something like that. It isn't honorable... but I am talking to a trader so..." He said and sighed. "I am sure in a way you are just like Luther... I assume you sleep with many women who are sisters to someone." He said before turning to fix something.

Istrain smirked slightly at the comment of the man next to him. He was quite confident that he wouldn't be falling in love with Haera any time soon. He raised an eyebrow slightly when he heard Birger's comment about talking to a trader. "Now I need to know what the deal is with traders in these parts. Where I'm from, trade and commerce are essential to our way of life, but everyone here seems to regard me as someone to be wary of. And I am nothing like Luther. When I sleep with women, they know what the deal is. They know I'm not sticking around. They know not to expect more out of me. Barynn was under the impression she was in love with him - exactly why I have no interest in love."

Birger didn't turn around, "Traders, who aren't known and are knew, aren't really trusted. We had a few traders come in and cause much trouble for us in the past. People are leary. Plus I like making fun of you for it since Haera likes to make the short jokes. I gotta be my own man, dammit." He huffed besides looking over at him, "From what I heard, the sex just happened. Plus he was happy with her till you showed up. The man gushed about her when he came to make orders. Said she was beautiful and passionate. She had a hunger for her dreams he didn't see in many people, but then maybe he saw things in her that he didn't see until you came. Luther isn't a man to fuck and leave unless the woman wants... and they are paying him. Luther has done more good for the islands than a lot of people who actually lived here their whole life. He paid for your sister's stuff so she could still hunger for her dreams. When she came she had enough to either live and eat before getting a small job or buy a shack in the bad part of town and call it her shop. Luther wouldn't throw that kind of money, or any, at someone just for sex. From what I see it the story isn't being fully told and you refuse to hear anything from Luther." He said before Haera walked back in with a cut cheek.

"Get me the damn kit. Stupid ass bubble butt cop stopped me from giving that man a beating he deserved. And guess who actually stopped this fucker? Luther. He had the kid in his arms. Apparently the man was going to fucking... jesus give me a goddamn drink... he was going to sell her to settle debt. He went to Luther's to talk to his brother who is in the black market, but his brother doesn't deal with the sex trade and forbids it in his markets. But James wasn't there and by the time I got there guy was on the ground with Luther's foot on his throat. I told him her mother hired me and if I could beat his ass and he was like... with pleasure as he calmed the girl down and then apparently he had someone go get cop man... OH and I heard someone tried to do the same with fucking Lor. The hell is fucking wrong with people... sell his own gosh damn daughter..." She growled.

Istrain nodded understandingly at Birger's comment that unknown traders weren't generally trusted. It made sense, after all. He frowned, though, as Birger told him about how much he thought Luther had cared for his sister. He sighed and shook his head, but before he could say anything about it, Haera walked in and immediately started to vent about the job she'd just been on. Istrain quietly listened, frowning when she said Luther's name. Of course. He couldn't seem to avoid Luther anywhere - he'd gone from talking about him with Birger to having Haera talk about him. He shook his head when he heard what she had to say. "That's disgusting," he said, a frown on his face. "I guess there's one good thing about dwarves...we don't sell our babies," he said, shaking his head. He'd heard lots about the trafficking business on the surface, but he'd never heard of anything even remotely close to that underground.

Haera slowly looked at him, "No your fucking people just disown you if you don't do what they fucking say... or better yet try and get you to ditch your fucking kids to come back to their stupid ass village. Or treat those kids like complete shit for being mixed in with elves." She snapped and Birger stepped out of that one. He knew all to well how Haera felt. She hated her mother's people for how they treated her mother and family. He has seen first hand how they treated Haera and that was his first taste of beating the shit out of someone to protect someone else. Birger gave her a different drink than she had normally been drinking. "Take it upstairs." He said and she nodded before disappearing. "...it is a sensitive subject for her." He said softly and went to attend to other customers.