Dead Man's Yarn - Tales from a New World

A Fox SingsKitsunir

It was the middle of the day, and the tavern frequented by sailors and dock hands was full up, barely a table free in sight, the sounds of frivolity filled the air, drunken slurs and crude jokes, as well as the sloshing of drinks.

A meek man entered through the front door, barely anyone noticed, he had pulled the door open just enough to slide in, and then carefully closed it behind him as to not make a sound, he stepped forward towards the bar, avoiding the other patrons knocking into each other or swinging their drink filled hands around with reckless abandon, a splash of ale landed on his forearm, he didn't complain, he only sighed as he brushed it off.

The man was wearing a smart blazer and clean clothes beneath, it had a coat of arms stitched onto the chest pocket, he also wore a pair of thick glasses and a black tie was tucked under the blazer, combed back brown hair upon his head, he was a sight more well-dressed than anyone else in the place, he was like a peacock amongst a pack of feeding dogs.

He edged towards the bar and stood there looking at the various bottles upon the dusty shelves, he waited patiently as the bar owner laughed and joked with another patron at the far end of the wooden bar.

"Erm excuse me?" a meek voice barely broke the chaos within the tavern, it hardly made it past his lips before the echo of laugher in the place hammered it back in.

The bar owner slapped the patron on the shoulder as they shared a joke, he was a portly man, thinning on the top, with a thick black moustache and lamb chops, he was wrapped in a filthy apron, mostly beer stains, but some of the other stains were better left unknown.

The bar owner shared one last laugh before turning away and down the bar, walking straight past the meek man without even registering him there.

"Excuse me! I'm sorry, but could I have some service?" The meek man mustered enough volume to catch the bar owner's attention.

"Huh? Oh, didn't see you there... A dock inspector?" The bar owner looked up and down the man. "You're brave to come in here. "

"Yes, I mean... I forgot my lunch, so, it was either go home, but then I'd be late back, and... My boss."

The bar holder held up his hand." Yea, I didn't want your life story, we've got stew and bread, it's five copper with an ale to wash it down."

"Oh, right, sorry." The man fumbled in his blazer pocket. "All I have is this." pulling out a silver piece and placing it on the bar.

The bar owner picked it up, inspecting in for a few seconds. "Alright, go find a seat and I'll bring it, and your change over to you."

"Oh, well, thank you sir." The man turned and tried to spy a free table over the ruckus of drunken sailors, spotting one in the haze, the man set off cautiously, trying his best to avoid disturbing the other patrons.

The bar owner sniggered, looking at the silver coin once more, before pocketing it.

The man sat patiently, he stated at the table mostly trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in the place, but they mostly didn't even notice he was there as they carried on enjoying themselves, but as time went on, he noticed other tables getting fresh drinks, or bowls of food, but his was yet to materialise, he waited ten minutes, then twenty, then he grew tired.

Several men had filtered out of the tavern, one waving to the bar owner as he went, and the bar owner finished waving back as the meek man approached the bar again. Without a hint of remorse. "Ah welcome! Didn't see you come in."

The meek man stopped and looked at the owner puzzled. "I'm sorry? I've already ordered good sir; I was wondering where my food was?"

"I don't know what you mean." A grin stretched across the bar owners face. "You've just come in."

"I... It's too late anyway, if you return my silver, I'll have to get back to work."

The bar owner's expression stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I paid you for food, I want my money back..."

The bar owner cut him off. "Are you taking the piss?"

" No, but I think you are." The meek man's voice became vicious in tone as he stared at the bar owner.

" Right, get out now." The bar owner pointed to the door as he slammed on the bar with his other hand.

The meek man dipped his head then slowly raised it up to glare at the bar owner. "Return what is mine and I'll leave, you piece of filth!" Snarled the meek man as he also slammed onto the bar with both hands.

There was something different, his eyes, feral, inhuman, the bar owner took a step back.

A group of sailors sat near the bar had taken notice of the raised voices, one of the half-drunk sailors pushed himself to his feet, as his friends jeered him on, the huge muscled man slapped his hand onto the meek man's shoulder who he was towering over.

"Alright, you heard him, time to go shrimp."

The bar owner shook his head. "Leave it, just..." This time the snarl of the meek man cut him off.

"Take your hand off me... Meat."

The sailor gritted his teeth. "What did you just say you li..."

There was a wet sound, and the sailor stumbled back collapsing onto his empty seat, he seemed dazed for a second until he looked down at his arm, which was now missing from below the shoulder down, another wet slap as his missing arm hit the stone floor, and with that the sailor let out a blood curdling shriek like a banshee.

The remaining patrons jumped up in surprise as the sailor dropped to the floor, rolling around while grasping his stump of an arm, his fellow sailors were caught between drunken stupor, surprise and the desire to flee.

The bar owner scrambled and tore at his pockets to get the silver piece, and anything else in his pockets out and onto the bar, he slammed the silver piece down in front of the meek man as several other coins and a button bounced off rolling away.

"There, there! Take it!" The bar owner franticly demanded.

A glow began to fill the tavern as an aura wrapped around the meek man, his eyes rolled back as jade green filled the white of his eyes with a black slit down the middle like that of a serpent, the aura wrapped and flickered orange like a fire, and began to form into a snout, pointed ears and two twisting horns.

The meek man reached out and took the silver coin, as he did the aura shifted into a clawed hand, four talon like claws dug into the bar and scratched marks into the wood as he took the coin back.

The meek man, whose face was only just visible though the flickering aura smiled as he dropped the coin. It chimed off the floor. "But I'm still hungry."