#also rose

At least until a growl from a stout man sitting at another table in the room interrupted them.  “Ya’gonna chat-up that stranger al’night Merrilee?  Been waitin’on a refill ta’long now!”  The middle aged roegadyn was clearly in his cups, a few words slurred here and there and in a bit of a temper from how he slammed his mug on the table hard enough to rattle the empty bowl on it.  “Keep it in yer pants Claw.  Ya ain’t been waitin’ that long ya big lug.”, the barmaid rolling her eyes at the ruckus.  On the outside it looked like she was well used to the man’s behavior, but Rose was close enough to see how her shoulders tensed up and fingers gripped the towel in her hand tight.  Temper or fear?  The elezen couldn’t tell, but they kept their mouth shut and their eyes on the roegadyn to see how it turned out. The mug of ale was delivered to Claw without incident, but instinct told Rose something wasn’t right so they took their time eating.  The stew really was good and a second bowl was both wanted and a good excuse to stay downstairs longer.  

On a delivery of a mug to Claw, the man grabbed Merrilee by the waist and pulls her into his lap.  “S’when are y’gonna leave th’damn cat ya’ve shacked up with ta be with’a real man, huh?” “And ya think ya are a real man, Claw?  A real pain in the ass is all ya are. Ya know I’m taken!  Let go of me!”  “Not unill  I’ave ya sayin’ yes ta me, Merrilee.”  Rose pushed their chair back quickly as the woman stomped on Claw’s foot with all the force she could muster.  The man howled in pain, but only gripped her tighter around the waist, leaning in to snarl then try to force a kiss upon her.  

Wood snapped, vines forcing their way up between the floorboards as Rose saw red. The vines tangled the man up quickly, some even wrapping tight around his neck to make sure the roegadyn couldn’t breathe.  It guaranteed that he let go of Marilee, tugging desperately at the vines instead, blood trickling down his neck from where the thorns dug into skin.   Eyes wide in fear, Marilee pushed herself off of Claw’s lap.  Her legs didn’t support her weight and she fell to the floor, but gently since a few of the plants slithered out to break her fall and nudge her further away.   Rose walked up to the man, taking their time as he fought to get air.  Their pale eye glimmered with malice in the low light, a cruel smirk crossing their lips as they watched Claw struggle in vain.  He cast pleading eyes up at them, shaking his head best he could in denial. “Hmm?  Is that a no?  Seems the lady said no to you and you ignored her.   Why should I do any different to you?”  Leaning forward, Rose stared into the bloodshot eyes of the drunk man.  “I shouldn’t.  You’re old enough to know better Claw, you can’t just take what you want.  You’re just a small, sad man.  A bully that never grew up into a decent person.  Best make good with whatever gods you pray to, you’ll be seeing them soon enough.”  

Marilee said nothing, fear and fascination keeping her silent.   The whole incident was quiet enough that no one else in the building even knew that there was a problem.  Soon enough Claw passed out, slumping in the grip of the vines that held him.  “Is he dead...? By the twelve did you kill him?”   The horror in the barmaid’s voice snapped Rose out of the memories they were caught in, a shiver going down their spine.  Right, here not there.  A bit of aether and the vines around Claw’s neck loosened as Rose kick started the man’s heart into beating again and his lungs to draw air back within the body that was no longer still.  “No.  He passed out between the drink and the lack of air.  He might wake up stupider, but I doubt anyone will notice.”   Turning back to the table, they drop a handful of gil on the table then pick up their pack.  “You’re leaving?”