* 85 * 3/7/13

The bar was almost full, now that it was dark outside. The many laborers and citizens of Crossroad Keep and its surrounding areas came to the inn to drown their woes, or just have a little fun past dark. There was a "merchant girl" in the corner, too, in case any of the men wanted to indulge in that kind of thing. She had already been taken up on her "wares" once tonight.

But Bishop wasn't interested in used goods. He was back in the tavern, though this time he wasn't drinking, preferring instead to sit by the hearth and think. The noise was preferable to being stuck alone with his own thoughts.

"Move over," said a familiar voice behind him. Bishop looked and found Qara taking a man's seat.

Qara instantly noticed him. "Oh, hi. Figured you'd come play with the rest of us drunks?"

"Regretting the decision more each second," Bishop called.

"Not gonna have any, huh? Suit yourself," she said, raising both eyebrows haughtily.

Bishop grumbled. That stuff played a large part in making him blurt out things that weren't any of anyone else's business. Come to think of it, though...he was thirsty.

He rejoined the bar, displacing another man like Qara had done. Most of the people there knew who the two were, but some of them couldn't care less, including this guy. When the man tried to pick a fight, though, a practiced glare from a contemplative Bishop made him falter and go stand against the wall.

"Water," Bishop commanded of the barkeep. He pretended nothing had happened earlier.

"What's this, now?" Duncan asked, raising his brows in surprise.

"Is thirst so uncommon?" the ranger shot back impatiently. When had he developed the reputation of a drunk?

"For you? No, but thirst for nothing more than water is," the barkeeper teased, sliding the ranger a glass. As he poured water into it, he read Bishop's expression. The ranger seemed complacent enough, but he wasn't going to test him further this time. At least, he didn't plan to.

"So what's with you?" Qara asked bluntly.

"Step off." He waved his hand as if swatting at a pesky fly.

She looked at him like he was a moron. "You're sitting at a bar with almost-wasted people and already-wasted people, and you don't expect anyone to talk to you?" She smirked at his nonsense logic.

"So you're wasted already? Didn't know you couldn't handle your alcohol, spellbrat."

Qara took a swig. "Eat it," she said nonchalantly, completely unaffected and still waiting for an answer.

He frowned at her still-present smirk. He couldn't intimidate someone who was so used to doing the same thing to other people. "There's nothing with me except for a bow and some arrows, which I would be elated to use on you if you don't quit asking."

"Oh, shut up," Qara replied, completely unfazed by his threat. "I mean what's with you. Why are you being so mopey?" she asked, then quickly added, "Way more than normal."

Bishop scowled.

"You know, all you'd have to say is 'Lily' and I'd get it." She took a swig again.

Glare.

A glare back.

"You just can't admit it to yourself, can you?" Her superior expression unnerved Bishop.

"There's nothing to admit," he snapped, irritated. She was really starting to get on his nerves.

Qara raised a brow. "You mean you don't want to screw her brains out?"

Bishop smirked. "Well... I can admit that."

"You and a hundred other guys here," she commented, rolling her eyes. Bishop bristled.

Just then, one of the "hundred other guys" there from before spoke up, "Yeah, but he fucked another elf!" The guy hiccuped, laughing.

Bishop immediately got out of his seat and aimed a fist at the offending guy's throat, but a watchful Duncan fully expected this and caught Bishop's arm.

"There will be none of that in here, Bishop. Sit down."

Bishop narrowed his eyes. He had forgotten that Duncan wasn't a complete pushover. He refused to sit for a few more moments, though, out of sheer spite. When he looked back at Qara to assess the damage this information had done, the sorceress had barely reacted.

"So you screwed another girl and now Lily won't talk to you, huh?" Her expression was wholly unsurprised. Bishop couldn't tell if this relieved or unsettled him.

"I didn't 'screw another girl'. She saw me right when I was about to," he corrected. He'd feel almost sheepish about the sorceress finding out that way if he weren't still feeling the adrenaline running through his veins.

"Oh-ho-ho, so she saw it? I thought she heard about it. That's funny," Qara said. She was totally amused. Once more, Bishop wasn't quite sure how to take that.

"Looks like you won't be in the team for awhile. That sucks. I can't stand that horned gossip girl."

The outdoorsy ranger scowled at this. That was one of the other main reasons this whole situation bothered him.

"You know, you could just talk to her. Avoiding her after you got caught isn't going to make her feel any less sore about it."

Bishop, at first, looked at her like she was stupid. After considering it for a few moments, however, his expression went back to neutral. Maybe it would cleanse the air a little. She wasn't going to stop being upset with him all by herself.

He leaned back against the bar and stared off into space. Qara watched as he considered her suggestion. "You'd better do it soon. I saw Lily and you-know-who saying goodbye for the night, and there was definitely something going on from what I could see in both their faces."

The ranger's mouth fell open in disgust and horror. "That son of a bitch would, wouldn't he..." He was talking to himself, thinking of how he had taken advantage of Casavir's screw-up to get closer to Lily. Of course the paladin would do the same in return.

So you do believe in revenge, huh, paladin?