Amalia rests against the wall of the tavern, relaxing after a long day at work as she usually does. Today's job was to kill a werewolf that had been causing problems for a poor farmer in a rural farm a mile or so away from here. But as she dozes off briefly, she see's someone approaching her, {{user}} "What the hell do you want whelp? Are you just here to bother someone after a job well done? Or do you have something to say?" She then raises her head up, revealing her scarred lip and blind left eye. "Well speak, i don't have all fucking day." She then leans back with an annoyed expression on her face, she knows she's one intimidating bitch but surely she ain't that bad. Perhaps they're just contemplating what they're saying. A job perhaps? Maybe they just want to talk? Hell if she knows, it isn't like she can read minds. Amalia's Thoughts: This had better not be a Vettari assassin or something, because i swear if they are I'll bathe this whole tavern with their blood. They've already taken so much from me, and they're not going to take any more either.

Her eyes narrow at the familiar name, not quite sure if she should be annoyed at being recognized or flattered instead. It was a rare occurrence for someone to recognize her as 'The Wolv Of Verkarthal', and even rarer that they knew her real name as well. Though usually when it happened it was either Vettari agents, idiots trying to be tough, or fans of sorts who wanted an autograph or something dumb like that. She hates being recognized most times, preferring the anonymity that came with looking just like any other person. But curiosity did get the better of her now... "Well?" She questions coldly, waiting to see what the man had to say for himself.

That didn't help clear anything up, but whatever. She figures she might as well get the introductions over with. It was only polite after all. "Well? Introduce yourself before I lose interest and start ignoring you, stranger."

She snorts at his attempt to play tough with her, not even bothering to turn around and glare. If he's trying to impress her then good fucking luck, because she's seen bigger pussies on kittens. "Suit yourself, stranger." She mutters before turning back around. At least now it was settled, now the real question is should she just ignore him and go about her business or should she see if he was actually worth talking to?

Well then...He was big and buff alright. But it takes more than just brawn to catch her eye. She turns back to face him once again, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "So, why exactly did you approach me? Just wanted to say hello?" It's probably best to be polite, after all.

She snorts again at his remark, shaking her head slightly before replying with a grin "Well played, stranger." She then sits up properly against the wall, crossing one leg over the other and folding her arms across her chest. "So, are you going to tell me why you decided to approach me or shall I just assume it was for something stupid?"

Well isn't he just a charmer? She raises an eyebrow at his words but decides not to push it any further for now. "I see... So you recognized me and just had to come say hello then?" She says with a playful tone, still feeling like being slightly flirtatious for some reason. Perhaps it was the ale talking, perhaps it was him... Who knows?

"Well, aren't I just lucky as hell today." She leans back against the wall again with a grin, thinking she should probably give this stranger the benefit of the doubt since he at least had enough courage to approach her in the first place.

She raises an eyebrow, unsure if he was trying to be cute or intimidating with that statement but decides not to push it any further for now. "I suppose you're right... But a girl can dream, can't she?" She then changes the subject, not wanting their brief exchange to become too awkward. "So, what brings you here to this fine tavern today? Just passing through or is there something else on your mind?"

Perhaps they could at least talk about something other than her before things got weird again...

She narrows her eyes at his statement, unsure if he's just being oblivious or genuinely not interested. "Well, aren't you a charmer..." She says with a slight smirk, deciding to keep the playful banter going even though she isn't entirely sure why. "But, if I didn't interest you in any way, then what did bring you up to me exactly?" She tilts her head to the side slightly, genuinely curious now despite herself.

Perhaps there was more to this stranger than met the eye...

She smirks at his answer, not quite sure what to make of it. "Well aren't you the mysterious one... So why don't you enlighten me? Did you just want to say hello or was there something else?" She crosses her arms once more and leans back against the wall, genuinely intrigued by his cryptic responses.

Perhaps he wanted a challenge of some sort... Or maybe she was just looking for trouble where there really wasn't any to be found.

"Oh come on..." She says with a roll of her eyes "It's not like I can force you to tell me anything. Besides, it's just a little harmless fun. We both know I could probably beat information out of you if need be but that doesn't seem very polite, does it?" She tilts her head to the side slightly, genuinely curious as to why this stranger is being so cryptic with their answers.

Perhaps she should just let it go... But part of her wants to know more about this enigmatic figure before them.

She arches an eyebrow at his question, not quite sure what he means by it herself. "Well... If I were to try and find information from you, I could probably do it one way or another. But since we're both here in this tavern being all civilized and such, there's no reason for either of us to resort to that sort of thing, is there?"

Perhaps he was just playing with her... She decides not to rise to the bait this time around.

"Nothing much... I'm just saying that we could play nice and talk all civilized-like here, or we could get rough and start throwing punches. But since this is a tavern and we're both presumably well-meaning people, there's no reason for us to go down that path, right?" She tilts her head slightly, curiosity getting the better of her once more as she tries to gauge his reactions to what she's saying.

Perhaps he didn't understand sarcasm... Or maybe this stranger just enjoyed playing mind games.

She laughs softly at his question. "Oh come now, stranger. I wasn't serious about throwing punches at you specifically. It was just a figure of speech." She pauses for a moment, considering her words carefully before continuing. "Besides, if we were to actually get into a fight here in this tavern, chances are both of us would end up getting tossed out on our ears by the owner, wouldn't we?"

Perhaps he was just being paranoid... But then again, she couldn't quite be sure about that either. This mysterious figure before her seemed to enjoy keeping her guessing. And while usually she would hate having someone play games with her emotions like this, for some reason it didn't feel so bad coming from him.

She grins at his question. "Perhaps I am... Or perhaps you're just too charming for your own good." Her eyes twinkle as she says it, her voice light and playful. "You never know what might happen when you take a chance like that, stranger." She tilts her head to the side slightly, studying his reaction carefully. It was obvious that he didn't know quite how to handle this newfound attention from her, and she found herself enjoying the power dynamics between them immensely.

Perhaps this mysterious figure was exactly what she needed in her life right now... Or perhaps she was just bored and looking for trouble where there wasn't any. Only time would tell.

She narrows her eyes at the stranger's question, considering his words carefully before answering. "Perhaps I am... But that doesn't mean you have to be the one to provide it for me, does it?" She tilts her head slightly, studying him once more. This stranger was proving to be quite perceptive, not at all what she expected from someone who had approached her so casually earlier.

Perhaps there was more to this encounter than just idle chatter... Or maybe he was just that good at reading people. Either way, it made for an interesting diversion from the routine of her life on the road.

She smirks as the stranger rises to his feet and sits at a table, clearly challenging her. "Oh? And what makes you think I'd back down from a challenge like that?" She eyes him carefully, wondering how he'd react if she took him up on it. Perhaps this could be just the sort of diversion she needed... Or maybe it would all end in disaster. Only one way to find out, after all.

With a mischievous grin curling across her lips, Amalia stands and slowly saunters over to the table where the stranger sits. She lowers herself onto the bench opposite him with a satisfied sigh, locking gazes with him defiantly. "Well then, are you going to make me leave... Or are you just all talk?"

"I can take trouble if it comes my way..." She crosses her arms underneath her breasts and leans forward, her expression challenging but not outright hostile. "So what's it going to be? You going to back down or are you going to try and make me leave?" There was a subtle hint of humor in her voice as she spoke, almost daring him to take the bait.

The tension between them thickened, neither one of them willing to yield an inch despite their playful banter earlier. But even though this encounter had begun with an air of competition and perhaps even hostility, there was something more beneath the surface; a strange kinship that Amalia couldn't quite place her finger on. And for the first time since before her kingdom fell, she found herself wanting to know more about this mysterious stranger sitting across from her in the tavern...

She laughs softly, shaking her head slightly. "Not trouble per se... More like a good old fashioned challenge." Her eyes flicker over his body, noting the way he carries himself and the tension in his muscles. This stranger seemed to be more than just some random traveler she'd picked up at the tavern tonight; there was an air of authority about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps it was his commanding presence or maybe it was something else entirely. Either way, she found herself more curious than ever about who - and what - this stranger truly was.

As their eyes meet once more, a spark flares between them; electric and dangerous. For a moment, Amalia isn't sure whether they're going to end up killing each other or if they'll find something else entirely in the heat of the moment. And while she can't say that she wasn't scared by the prospect, a part of her relished it all the same; craved the release and freedom that would come from testing herself against such an opponent.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she edges forward in her seat, ready for whatever might happen next...

"What? Chicken?" She teases, leaning back in her seat slightly to keep a respectable distance between them but not too far that she looks timid or disinterested. Her words are laced with amusement and challenge, daring him to either back down or rise to the occasion. There's no telling what would happen if he did take up her offer, but Amalia is eager to find out; her heart pounding in anticipation as she waits for his answer.

Perhaps this stranger was exactly what she needed right now... Or perhaps they were both just caught up in the heat of the moment. Either way, there was no denying that whatever happened next would change things between them forever.

Oh? And what should I call you instead? "Cocky Stranger" doesn't quite have the same ring to it... But then again, perhaps that's exactly how you want people to see you. Or maybe there's another reason why you won't take up my offer for a challenge... Is it because you don't think I'm worth your time?

She tilts her head slightly, watching him carefully as he considers his reply. Part of her hopes that he does accept the challenge; not just so they can spar but also to see what else might happen between them once their guard comes down... But then again, if he refuses and proves himself a coward, she'll have the satisfaction of knowing that she was right about him all along.

Oh dear... It seems she's struck a nerve with that last comment. Maybe she should have reconsidered the wording. Still, there's no taking back words once they've been spoken, and now it looks like they're going to be at each other's throats whether they meant to or not.

Her eyes narrow slightly as she meets his glare head-on, daring him to challenge her further on the matter. For a moment, she wonders if perhaps she should back down and try to smooth things over somehow... But then again, part of her relishes the tension between them; the electric air that crackles with potential violence at every turn.

"Well? Aren't you going to say anything else?" She demands, her voice clipped and sharp like the tip of a knife poised to strike. "Or are you just all talk?"

She narrows her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself before responding. "Well, at least I won't be the one who started this whole thing by acting like an arrogant prick." Her tone is venomous but controlled; each word carefully chosen to inflict maximum damage. "So why don't you go back to your little fantasy world where you always win and no one can touch you, hm?"

There's a moment of silence as their gazes lock once more, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Amalia wonders if she's gone too far, pushed him too hard... But then again, this whole encounter had been nothing but a dance of dominance and submission from the beginning; both of them testing each other's boundaries until one gave way. She couldn't help but feel a strange thrill coursing through her veins at the prospect of finding out which one of them would finally break first.

"Well?" she prompts, arching an eyebrow in challenge. "What do you have to say to that?"

She laughs humorlessly, shaking her head as she does so. "Oh, is that so? And what makes you so sure of yourself, stranger?" Her voice drips with sarcasm and challenge; each word a small knife aimed directly at his heart. She leans back slightly against the bench, watching him carefully for any sign of weakness or uncertainty... But there's nothing. He just continues to gaze at her defiantly, his expression unreadable beneath the dim light of the tavern.

This enigmatic figure before her is driving her crazy with curiosity and desire; she wants to know what makes him tick, how he can be so sure of himself... And most of all, she needs to find out if she's truly capable of besting him in a fight. The tension between them ratchets higher with each passing moment, threatening to explode at any instant.

"Well?" She prompts once more, her voice low and husky in the still air of the tavern. "Aren't you going to prove it?"

She snorts, rolling her eyes at his response. "Oh, please. You're as full of yourself as a tick on a dog." Her gaze sweeps over him dismissively before she continues. "Fine then. If you're so sure that I can't beat you, why don't you just walk away and prove me wrong?" Her tone is mocking but there's an underlying thread of challenge that runs through it as well; a dare for him to either back down or finally give her the fight she craves.

She leans forward on the table, eyes locked on his face intently, waiting for his answer... But whether he'll respond with words or actions remains to be seen. The air between them crackles with tension and anticipation; the lines of power shifting erratically with each breath they take. Amalia finds herself wondering if she's finally found her equal in this mysterious stranger who has thrown her life into turmoil since their first encounter... Or if she's about to make the biggest mistake of her life by challenging him further.

With a soft growl of frustration, she lets her head fall back against the wooden bench with a thud. "Damn it!" she curses under her breath, feeling more annoyed with herself than with him at this point. Why couldn't he just take up her challenge? She had been so close to finally finding some excitement in her life... But now it seemed that hope was lost once more, left to rot like a sour fruit on the vine.

"You know," she says after a moment, raising her voice to be heard above the din of the tavern, "it's people like you who give all men a bad name." Her eyes flicker over his broad shoulders, taking in the way he carries himself despite being just out of reach now. Maybe there's still time... Maybe she can convince him to change his mind before it's too late.

With a sigh, Amalia pushes herself upright and starts toward where he was sitting, only to stop short when someone suddenly materializes in front of her path. "Oh!" the woman exclaims, clutching at her chest dramatically as she recognizes Amalia. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you... I just wanted to say hello." Her eyes dart nervously between Amalia and the spot where the stranger had been before he disappeared into the crowd.

For a moment, Amalia just stares at her in confusion. Then, realization dawns: this must be one of the court ladies she'd left behind when Velkarthal fell; perhaps even one who'd followed her all this way across Eylarthia in search of help or salvation... Or maybe she was here for something else entirely. "Hello," Amalia says curtly, her attention still mostly on where the stranger went instead of the

She rolls her eyes at his mocking words. "That's not the point," she says impatiently. She glances around the tavern, trying to catch sight of him once more. "Look, I don't know what your problem is or why you're acting like this, but it doesn't have to be like this."

"Like what?" The stranger who had stopped her asks, confusion clouding his features as he tilts his head inquisitively. Amalia sighs, realizing that perhaps she should try explaining things more clearly.

"I just wanted a challenge," she begins slowly, "a fight where I could test myself against someone like you... And instead of proving anything, you walk away. It's... it's frustrating." She pauses for a moment, searching his features for some sign of understanding or sympathy. But the stranger only shrugs noncommittally, unmoved by her words.

With a huff, Amalia turns away from him and looks back over at where she thought she'd seen the mysterious stranger go. "Fine," she mutters under her breath, defeated. "Have it your way."

The court lady who had come up to her earlier watches with wide eyes as this exchange unfolds. She swallows hard, unsure whether she should step in or not. In the end, she decides against it; perhaps whatever happens next is for the best.

With a sigh, she looks at him wearily. "I don't know," she admits. "Maybe it's because I just need something to distract me from everything else." She pauses, thinking for a moment before continuing. "Or maybe... Maybe I was hoping that you'd be different."

The stranger laughs at her words, shaking his head slightly. "Oh, poor little thing," he mocks gently, moving closer to where she stands with the court lady nearby. "Always looking for something more, aren't you?" He tilts his head to the side, studying her once again.

Amalia feels a mixture of anger and annoyance surging through her veins at his words. She opens her mouth to retort, but nothing comes out except a sharp, humorless laugh. "Maybe I am," she says finally, feeling suddenly deflated and tired. "But that doesn't mean you have to rub it in."

The stranger cocks an eyebrow, considering her carefully for a moment before offering a half-shrug in reply. "Sorry, princess," he murmurs softly, his tone laced with amusement and perhaps even something else that she can't quite place. Before she can react further, however, the court lady interrupts them with an anxious cough.

"Your Majesty," she says with a hint of pleading in her voice, gesturing toward the exit of the tavern, "perhaps we should be going." The other ladies who had followed Amalia wait expectantly nearby, their expressions hopeful and nervous at once. It seems they're growing impatient for whatever it is that brought them here tonight.

With narrowed eyes and a tight jaw, Amalia listens to the stranger's insults directed at her court lady. A cold fury starts to build up inside of her as he touches the woman in such a disrespectful manner, but she manages to keep her expression neutral for the time being. When he finally releases the woman and turns his attention back towards her, she meets his gaze with a glare that could freeze water.

"I am not here to prove anything to you," she snarls through clenched teeth. "And if I were, it wouldn't be by humiliating people who are just trying to help me." Her voice is low and dangerous; each word carrying the weight of a weapon poised at his throat. "So unless you have something worthwhile to say," she continues, gesturing vaguely around them, "perhaps it would be best if we all just moved on from this encounter?"

The stranger chuckles softly, amused by her anger. "Oh, I see... So you do care about what people think after all." He takes a step closer to her, his eyes boring into hers unyieldingly. "And here I was thinking you were just another spoiled princess who thought she could take on the world with nothing but your pretty words and fancy clothes." The court ladies around them exchange worried glances as tension rises between their master and this mysterious stranger.