[Kransha]

Toby grumbled quietly, as it seemed he’d been overlooked yet again. This was a hobbit’s inn, (even though a woman owned it) and men had no business ignoring any self-respecting gentlehobbit. Still grumbling and sniffing the air with his rodent-reminiscent nose, Tobias Hornblower trotted over to the man called Grimm, who’d just sat down and was currently smoking. The aroma of the weed, conveniently his namesake, did entice the elder Halfling, but he continued his inward belligerence. Beside him was the lady, whose name was Cree apparently. Instead of addressing the man, he spoke to the woman instead. He walked over to her briskly.

“Madam,” He said to Cree, repeating his question, “I haven’t seen you or your kin on the Green Dragon’s grounds of late. Perhaps you are new here, a wanderer or traveler? In any case, I would very much like to know your name and hopefully engage a noble lady such as yourself in civilized conversation.” Even though he knew the name, the woman didn’t know he did, “You see, it had been a long time since there was anyone sensible in this place to talk to and I have a great yearning for some friendly discourse with more friendly folk than the rough-hewn boars who often carouse here." He was, of course, making all this up as he went along. He had quite a flourish for exaggerated fiction.

There, again was the smile, dripping with false pleasantry. He spoke up so that the woman could hear him well enough, though his voice was almost drowned out by milling noises that overflowed the warm room. His thrifty face brightened in the firelight and his aged eyebrows rose, waiting for a response. The hobbit fervently hoped that folk of the south weren’t as clever as he’d heard they were, but since Eriador seemed to be brimming with them, he would have to learn sooner or later if he wanted to continue his fruitful hobby.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 12:18 PM February 03, 2004: Message edited by: Kransha ]