Intro: The Fire King (Open to ST)

It’d been a rather slow day, the kind that left one in a languorous mood from the sheer relaxation levels. At least for one certain, short mage as she’d slept in rather late after a long night of reading. Thanks to some time-hungry jobs and travel time between, the woman’s leisure time had been severely lacking as of late so she’d felt no qualms about spending all of yesterday reading in the confines of her closet bed space and then sleeping in until she simply couldn’t catch another second of shut-eye today. It’d felt glorious as she eventually left the blessed personal bubble of her room for one simple adventure: food.

In all that time she’d consumed what little snacks laid about her room, the place lacking any personal fridges or storage spaces not already in use for more important things.  It was something she might look into, granted she could remember it long enough since it hardly hit the top ten list of “Things to Do.” Besides in times such as these there was a certain pleasure to having someone else cook the food anyhow, even if she occasionally snuck into the kitchens during down times to fix some personal snacks. One of these days she might teach the cooks how to make a proper pork bun, but for now it was one of those things she didn’t mind making on the down low so as to avoid sharing.

’What sounds good today…’ she thought with a hazy yawn, muscles stretching deliciously as the oddly tailed woman made her way towards the transportation lacrima. Currently people would be more concerned with dishes from lunch time in the guild hall kitchens, so she didn’t particularly want to bother them when the bar food sounded pretty good about now. There was a distinct flavor between the two places, and part of Mao wanted to see if she could convince one of the people manning the Ace of Spades to make her some pancakes. The fluffy treat suddenly sounded scrumptious.

Down in the bar things were lively as usual about this time, what with wayward travelers stopping in for a pint (or few) and a plate of food to fuel their journeys even if the journey for the night would end in a stumble towards a camp ground or out by an outhouse. The out-of-towners mostly ignored the newcomer, though his appearance caught the ever curious Mao’s attention. Trying to circumnavigate some of the more crowded tables, she ended up behind him, and in her usual, normal tone asked, ”Are you lost? Do you need help?” She couldn’t help staring at the tattoos that adorned his neck and stretched up to his face, having never seen such personal markings up close. Maybe they were a birth mark rather than self-created or inflicted? Green, gem-like eyes stared up at the tall fellow as the long, pointed, rabbit-like ears bent towards him as if to better catch his voice over the increasing hum of the bar.

Unfortunately for the new face that wanted to join Sabertooth, he was standing just several meters away from Frederick. Who was until now, sitting lonesome at the nearest table. Drinking the local brewed ale. And until now, he was actually having a decent day. There were no direct irritations today that could trigger his anger. Well, to be honest he hasn't encountered Blondie today, which next to the actual guild master was a frequent cause of explosive anger.
That was off course, until Mao. A young woman, with rather peculiar features. Decided to casually greet the stranger. Without the slightest care in the world. Or probably even considering the fact that he could be here to cause harm to the guild and them.

Slightly irritated by this, Frederick made his way over to the duo. Unaware of the girl who had taken place not so far from them. Only to observe at first.

Once arrived, the first thing that Frederick did was to reach out to Mao, and clench his left hand around one of her plushy bunny ears. Which he pulled towards him a bit, which would force her to step back. In his direction. 'Tch, don't go talking to strangers so casually, you never know what they are really about'

With his hood down, which on itself was a rare sight for most of the guild members. As Frederick always mostly had the hood of his cloak up. Covering almost his entire face behind a thick impenetrable shadow. He gave the man vile look, almost as if he was literally disgusted with the stranger. And when he spoke he almost hissed out the word strangers, as if Frederick had trouble even acknowledging the mans existence.

Emilia was rarely ever seen outside of her room in the Sabertooth guildhall, though when she couldn't be found there, she was most likely to be seen in the bar (and for that reason, she was probably still unknown to most members). Still, one would likely not think her to be a a member of the guild. She really didn't fit in. Aside from Frederick (who seemed to be wonderfully hostile to most people), everyone here was to... chummy. She was enjoying a nice lager, sitting alone, glaring at anyone who came too close, and grunting angrily if they tried to sit at her table, when a newcomer came in, asking if anyone was home. "Is anyone home?" She mocked quietly. Seriously? This was the entrance to the guildhall of one of the largest guilds in Fiore. Of course someone was "home". Not to mention the fair amount of people already in the tavern. She couldn't help but smirk at Fred's actions towards the girl with the weird ears and tail. Oh how fun it was to watch him be an ass to people. She felt as though she should talk to him sometime. He didn't seem like he particularly belonged in the guild either. Then again, what would they talk about? How much they should be somewhere else? For now, Emilia was content to just watch as events played out.

He seemed the tiniest bit bashful…no the word didn’t quite fit, but Mao lacked the words as he admitted his reason to coming here. ’It is a little confusing…’ Willing the memories down of when she first arrived, Mao admitted that without really talking to someone who was a member or a part of the staff, knowing that the actual guild hall was way upstairs. Then again maybe it was a sort of safety measure so someone could inspect newcomers first? Hell, Mao didn’t even know what the normal procedures were for admitting new people or any possible screening they may (or may not go as one might suspect with some of Sabertooth’s members).

It was enough to send her into a small mental fit as her eyebrows knit slightly and she stared off to the side in thought. ’Maybe I could ask someone, but I don’t know who,’ a troubling realization, her social skills a little subpar when it came to her guild mates. She knew very little about those in the guild, able to recognize faces and some names at best. However it would seem a certain veteran wouldn’t leave her in the lurch for long, in a manner of speaking.

Pain erupted on the sensitive organ as a certain one Fredward…Frederik yanked on her ear. He seemed adamant about turning it into a nasty habit ever since their job concerning some beer when the sour man learned they weren’t for show or some silly costume fetish of her’s. Teeth locked together as she suppressed any groans or whimpers of pain, long tail behind curling in a demonstration of self-restraint at clocking the bastard with the overly large limb, tempting as he made it. Even her fingers curled into fists with the force it took not to smack at the man’s hand, though partly to avoid furthering the man’s ire and grip.

”Ahh…sorry, I was curious…” Not a valid excuse really, but it was her reason all the same, ”I wanted to know if the marks were a tattoo or birth mark…” Well expecting a warm welcome from this man was plain silly as his reception was permanently set to “frigid” – regardless if you were already in the guild or not. And then she let slip possibly one of the worst comments to make as her pained gaze returned to the strange fellow, ”Sorry…Freddy-chan’s not the warmest at first glance…oh!”

Crap. She’d just heard it the other day slip from the guild master’s lips again, so it just came to mind first rather than his proper name or even his (supposed) title.

Unfortunately for Aredere the good impression he wished for worked probably with everyone except Frederick. Who's anger was easily triggered, especially when he was being called by the very nickname his guild master once gave him.

'Oy... the only way you are going is being thrown off the nearest platform!'

Already angered by Mao, to such an extent that his blackened aura actually became visible enough for other to notice. Frederick got only more infuriated because the stranger clearly decided to ignore him and his vile attitude. Which in hindsight was probably the best of choices, if it didn't resulted in the same outcome either way.

While releasing his tight grip on the bunny featured woman's ear, he stepped towards the newcomer. And immediately grabbed him by his collar and pulled the man towards himself. While the pressure of his magic who seemed to be fueled by his anger slowly yet significantly increased itself.

'What makes you think a lowlife punk like yourself, can simply stroll in here huh?!


OOC: sorry for the short post, i am out of juice

Emilia had been quietly watching these interactions. The cat bunny fox girl thing's attempt to greet the man who she now knew to be named Ardere in a friendly manner along with some other woman's attempt being cut short by Frederick's random acts of aggression. She sighed. She could understand being grumpy, but man, this guy was more angsty than a teenager on steroids. Seriously, getting angry over people strolling in and wanting to join. Isn't that how most people joined?

The redhead leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the table. "'Ey Fred, ain't that how everyone joins the guild?" She chuckled. Not everyone joined that way, her being one such exception after she joined as a result of trying to pull a fast one on the former guildmaster. "Give it a rest and enjoy your beer. It's more important than harassing newbies." She took a long draught of her own before placing it on the table once more. "If you wanna join, the actual hall is that way." She gestured to the door to the room that contained the lacrima to transport someone to the actual guild hall in the sky.

Finally something of an actual welcoming committee showed up, each fellow Sabertooth (would their short hand be Sabers or Teeth?) coming up to greet the interested newbie. Between them and Frederik finally releasing her poor, innocent ear Mao could almost cry in relief if such was in her nature. Instead the girl settled for a sigh of relief before such pleasures were cut short in the wake of Fred’s anger. A stranger to Mao commented on his somewhat silly reaction, pointing out that plenty of them joined the same way, but it might not pierce that veil of anger.
 
”Frederik…” she muttered hesitantly, unsure how to dislodge his hand from the other fellow who’d kindly answered her query without a hint of anger. She wouldn’t question it, sure that some people somewhere might be similar to calico cats in their birthmarks, but for now it was more important to get the volatile man’s grasp off the latest recruit and get the fellow up to the actual guild hall – preferably without Fred dragging him up there with the express purpose of chucking him over, as he’d suggested.
 
Delicately trying to peel the taller gent’s hands from the collar of Ardere, Mao sighed, ”Surely if he turns out to be less-than-savory as you predict, then either Raven will spot it, or…surely someone as great as you can have your way with him after and then proclaim how you were right and we were wrong.” Gods she felt silly saying such things, not one for trying to stroke another’s ego, but it was easier with her back somewhat turned and she doubted that this guy who smelled a little of burnt would give away the slight crookedness of her smile as she bravely fought down a giggle.
 

”They’ll be able to help you,” Mao nodded towards the other two who’d approached, sure that they could at least get him up to the real guild hall that the interesting red head directed him towards. Worse came to worse the animal woman could throw herself at Fred’s feet in the hopes of tripping him or something if he gave immediate chase. They’d likely need a head start after all.