[Deorlin]

Jasper slipped his slightly grimy hand over his face, pushing his long, greasy dark hair out of his eyes. It wasn't a gesture to actually clear his vision; the lank locks immediately fell back down into his face. It was just a knee jerk reaction - one he repeated hundreds of times a day. Just like the next - rubbing the back of his hand across his nose, and then down the side of his black coat. Fortunately, his nose wasn't actually running at the moment.

He entered the inn, sidling in through the door rather than walking in a straight forward manner. Although short in heighth, he still stooped slightly, hunched forward into his clothes, like some mangy vulture, his eyes shifting from side to side as if expecting a blow or a curse. True enough, when most respectable people saw this young man, they probably felt like delivering either one or both. But tonight, the patrons at the tavern were sparse, so there were no altercations as Jasper made his way to the bar. He cleared his throat in a gravelly cough, and called to the barkeep for a pint.

Waiting for his mug, he glanced around, scoping out the clientele - another old habit. It always paid to take note of those who might be 'susceptible' to some of his little . . . games. All the faces he spied though were all too familiar to this petty thief, except . . . was that a hobbit over there? Didn't get too many of those in here! Perhaps this little one would be intrigued with a game of 'chance'?

Just then the hobbit, as if reading Jasper's thoughts, looked up from the seemingly huge pint pot in front of him. He stared intently at Jasper, taking in his appearance in an appraising glance.

"Yeah, and is there somethin' I can do fer you, little one?" Jasper sneered, putting particular emphasis on the 'little'. Best to put these outsiders in their place right off the bat.

The hobbit, quietly, but without undue nervousness, asked "Are you by any chance a friend . . . er . . . acquaintance of Evelina?"

"Who's askin' and why for?" Jasper replied in the most superior tone he could muster.

"I have a message here; she said you and another might be shortly coming in here." The hobbit extended his hand and revealed the note. Jasper's hand went out from his long coat sleeve like the head of a snake and snatched the paper from the hobbit, who drew back as if indeed he might be bitten. Knowing full well there would be no tip here, indeed he would be lucky to escape a cuff to the ear, the hobbit retreated with his pint quickly to a table in the far corner, to await the other.

Jasper opened the paper and perused the contents. A job - and with Evelina! Good. he could do with a bit of excitement. Things were getting mighty dull around Bree. He'd never really been in the Shire; those little ones looked easy pickings enough. But at heart, Jasper was really quite the coward, and even the thought of facing down an enraged hobbit farmer with a pitchfork didn't suit his fancy too well. He much preferred the easy jobs carried out under the cloak of darkness, with the knife in his boot and the club at his back for added security. Evelina's note said little enough what the job was to be - she always was a close one. Still, always wise to be careful of what one put in writing.

Well, if he was to make the midnight rendezvous, he'd better get moving. Shoving the note in his pocket, Jasper slid from the stool and made his way crab-like back out into the night.