Kyran hated pubs. They appeared to be unique to surface dwellers: he couldn't remember ever seeing one in the Underdark, but then, he hadn't seen so much of the Underdark itself. He considered this to be a good thing. He was unusual for a Drow in that he disliked the taste of alcohol immensely and the smell of it very nearly as much. And he disliked the fact that despite knowing this, Tomoko insisted on dragging him into every pub she could find, sometimes forcibly. Or perhaps it was because she knew it. He never could quite tell with her.

Tomoko, on the other hand, adored pubs. All those people! And, more importantly, all that alcohol! Occasionally she wondered about how much she usually drank, then dismissed it from her mind as unimportant - something she did with most thoughts that arrived in her head that didn't revolve around money, the pleasurable aspects of drink, food, sex or the occasional fight. Alcoholism be damned, this was just a girl having fun at night she reassured herself (when she was sober enough to). So without giving it a moment's thought, she dragged the Drow directly up to the first pub she saw. "Kyyyyran! Looook! Let's go in!"

The Dark Elf beside her said nothing, but sighed in a resigned manner. Her words were never a question. And once he got this far, he was never allowed to escape. Beside him, the elf started giggling suddenly, then grabbed his hand and dragged him through the door.

Pubs may not have been Kyran's idea of fun, but he could only thank the gods for port towns. In places such as these, mysterious cloaked and hooded strangers with no skin showing were a veritably common sight. His unusual choice of attire drew no curious stares and prompted no hushed whispers from dark corners of the room; people got on with their lives and ignored him. He skulked into a corner and lurked in the way that only an experienced lurker could whilst Tomoko went to buy up half the bar in alcohol.

To start with, he hadn't meant to lurk. But it seemed to come naturally to him as a Drow and after a while he realised that it meant that the more annoying patrons, curious about his attire and manner, would simply not approach him any more. This, he reasoned, could only be a good thing. And now he could lurk with such skill that only the most desperate/drunk people would come near him, and there was still a chance they would freeze, then bolt, when faced with the slim stranger with an obscured face in a stereotypical thick cloak.

Lurking and looking unapproachable also meant that people didn't drag one drunken and whining Tomoko up to him and demand if she was his property any more.

A short while later, the red haired elf returning clutching five rusty tankards and grinning from ear to ear.

Kyran rolled his eyes, safe in the knowledge that whilst she couldn't see his face, she couldn't slap, punch or incinerate him. "I take it those are all for you."

"Awwwww, don't sound so disappointed... I bought something for you too!" She slapped one of the mugs down on the cracked wooden table and pushed it towards the Dark Elf.

Kyran eyed it suspiciously. The last time this madwoman had bought a drink for him, it had been some strange and incredibly potent alcoholic concoction that had had the unfortunate effect of knocking him out for a day. It had also tasted like the water he usually drank, which had made him rather fearful of Tomoko for a few weeks afterwards.

She pouted at him. "Iss only water this time." When he still wouldn't touch it, she frowned and added, "honest!"

He reached forward cautiously and picked up the tankard by its shaky handle. After a brief sniff of the contents, he took a sip and waited for the feelings of disgust as his body decided that it still didn't like alcohol much.

Then he paused, surprised.

It wasn't water, but it didn't taste as appalling as he had expected. He raised his elegant white eyebrows at the elf. "What's this?"

Tomoko was too busy indulging in a little quaffing to answer immediately. After she wiped the liquid from her ears, she smiled sweetly at him. "Issa Drow drink, man says. Tunnel to the Undydark near here, man says. Lossa Drow so he wants to keep 'em happy." She smiled that happy smile that only the increasingly drunk can express with such ease. "Said you were brave and stupid traveller who wanted to try new drinks." She beamed at him, then turned her attention back to her own drink, nearly forgetting her travelling companion's existence entirely.

Beneath his hood, the dark elf frowned. He didn't particularly want to encounter other Drow. Most Drow were naturally arrogant and aggressive, which was only enhanced by the atmosphere of cruelty that they grew up in. And some of the more high-ranking Underdark Drow would take exception to the circumstances that led him to become a surface dweller... He sighed softly and sipped more of the sweet tasting drink Tomoko had fetched for him. There was nothing he could do now, except hope that the Dark Elves wouldn't pay a visit tonight and move away from this town as fast as possible in the morning.

And maybe in the morning, he hoped, Tomoko would have forgotten that she had bought him a drink.

All Forgotten Realms trademarks are owned by Wizards of the Coast. Tomoko Aiher is owned by Vincent Stone and is used with permission. Kyran, Braden, Erelvayas etc. are my characters and aren't to be used without permission.