poly_chromatic | [action]

[From the dark, dusty city streets, the brightly lit windows of a particular building might look exceptionally inviting. It's not the biggest tavern or the most luxurious boarding house or even the only place in town to offer both (and other services, although those do cost extra, mind) under one roof, but it has a certain hominess to it.

Inside, it's not so different from everywhere else in town: tables and stools that have seen better days, a scratched-up but well-polished bar, an old piano that's seldom left unmanned, walls and floors that are scarred from scuffles and shoot-outs. There's a fine selection of alcohol--the finest in town, a faded sign says--and, upstairs, some good, sturdy rooms where a fella can either enjoy a good night's sleep or a night of play. The atmosphere tonight and most nights is friendlier than that in similar establishments. Whether this is due to the place's no-nonsense hired muscle who usually manage to put down trouble before it starts, the patient and ready-to-listen barkeep, or the good-natured lady companions waiting to escort the paying customer to his bed is hard to say. Maybe it has something to do with all three.

Miss Penny is one of those aforementioned lady companions and very likely the best-natured of the bunch. She's not young enough to be either innocent or new to the job; nor is she old enough to be crass and cynical. If anything, Penny enjoys her occupation. The board's free, she's treated well, and there are few things she enjoys more than listening to the stories and woes of the tavern's patrons.

(Maybe being paid to sleep with patrons isn't quite so glamorous, but she prides herself on being sexually-liberated enough to do her job without much in the way of shame.)

Pull up a stool, if you're so inclined, and enjoy the tavern's drink selection. Just don't be surprised if a cheerful redhead in moderately risque attire joins you for a chat.]

[ooc: I'm late, be quiet. There are basically no plans here, so if you want your character to work here? Go for it. Want them to be a regular? Shoot, I don't mind. Have a desire to threadjack? Go wild!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This looks like a pleasant place to spend a little time this evening. They probably charge more than two dollars, too, which is saying something. And it's far and away better than the landlady at the hotel and the way she was flirting with him.]

[It's not a busy evening or terribly crowded, so it doesn't take long for Penny to hone in on the quiet gentleman (that word is always used in the loosest way around here)in the fine hat. He looks familiar, but all of the guarded cowboys with their hat brims pulled low over their eyes start looking the same after a while.]

Hey, stranger.

[She sits in the man's vicinity, all smiles and ruffled petticoats. There's no flirtatiousness to her advances, which makes a person wonder just how she makes a living.]

Rough day?

[Like a bird. Or a makebelieve wanton.

She catches his eyes, that's for sure, and he stares for a moment, almost gaping, looking a good fifteen or twenty years younger than he is (he's a boy inside, really). That gape slides into a smile. You're purty.]

You might say that.

[The cowboy's not bad to look at himself--which, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with anything. Penny'll just as gladly talk to folks with no teeth or unfortunate features or severed noses.

Well. Maybe a good-looking man in a ten-gallon hat gets some priority.]

The kind of rough day you want to talk about?

[Another slight smile.]

It might not be the kind of talk a lady wants to hear.

[She's the very picture of interest.]

I don't mind.

Are you sure?

It gets a little...rough.

This one time after a fight, I literally held this man's guts together until the doctor could make it here. There were things coming out of him that I didn't even know existed.

[Oh. Um.]

I mean, sure I'm sure. If you're sure.

[What you may not know about him is that he can do an amazingly subtle doubletake. Which he does now.]

Maybe I'm not so sure.

[What? What was that? Did it almost border on surprise?

Ah well. Penny's none too bothered.]

That's fine. Your job--the kind of stuff you guys in your hats with your horses do--must get pretty ugly. Which isn't a judgment, by the way. A job's a job.

[Yeah, a bit of a smile.]

A job's a job.

But you probably came here to forget about your job for a while. Anything I can do to help?

I think you're helping already.

[Peter sliiiiiiiiiiiides -- painfully, to be honest, since his chaps are so tight -- onto a stool next to Penny. He gestures for the bartender to fetch him a drink, then turns to smile at Penny.]

You. Are a fine looking woman.

[Have a leer!]

[This man isn't a stranger. Penny's only encountered him a time or two herself, but the other ladies talk about him... and not all of the talk is good. In fact, most of the talk's pretty awful.

Still, a compliment and a leer never hurt anyone. She gives him a smile.]

Well, thank you. You're not bad-looking yourself.

Yeeeeeeeah, I am a handsome devil.

So...how about you and I... [eyebrow waggle]

[Oh, an ego. He's not the kind of customer Penny prefers--she really likes the sort of cowboy who'll unburden himself of all his woes and maybe turn all romantic in the company of a lady-type--but she has no grounds to refuse.]

You're awful forward, aren't you? [Her smile warms and she leans towards him.] Do I get a name, at least?

Do you really need one?

Not really, but most men don't take too well to having names that aren't theirs used at crucial times, if you get what I mean.

Besides, I like to think names give it all a personal touch, you know? Makes everything more meaningful.

Good god it's a genuine hooker with a heart of gold!

No...? I'm pretty sure it's a regular fleshy kind of heart.

Not literally, you twit.

[eyeroll]

How much for the night?

If you're going to be mean about everything, two yellows.

[He checks his purse.]

...what's your position on haggling?

I'm all for haggling. A little money shouldn't get in the way of someone being less lonely.

[And this guy is sad and lonely and Penny's ever seen it. He smells like he's soaked up the contents of more than a couple saloons.]

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