*First, please excuse any and all spelling mistakes, I know they are there. I'm just really bad as spelling.
Second, I have taken a writer's liberty with several of the following characters, so if you happen to be them . . . forgive me.
I only go by things I've seen (wherever I may have seen them) and embelish just for the fun of it. Enjoy!*
It had been awhile since Dani had sauntered down to the bank to see the usual goings on that she enjoyed so much, after spending most of her time with her beautiful new little niece up in a far off place.
Her knee high boots shining in the morning sun and clicking on the cobblestone, rose colored hat slanted jauntingly over her hazel eyes, she watched the mist from the river slowly fade away as the sun began to dominate the sky with a heavy hand.
With a sigh and a smile, she plopped down onto one of the smaller benches just outside the bank and chomped on a apple. Her friend, Jimmy was currently running around challenging everyone to a duel, Bloodforge (who appeared more than a little drunk at the time) lovingly named him Sally and patted the bench beside him invitingly. Dani didn't blame "Sally" when he looked more than a little afraid and backed away slowly.
"You're terrifying the poor kid, Bloodforge," Dani said with a laugh.
Bloodforge looked over at her with a smile, still a little wild around the eyes. "I'm doing no such thing! Sally loves me, don't you, Sally?" When Jimmy began to disappear around the other side of the bank, looking causiously over his shoulder, Bloodforge bounded to his feet and started after him. "SALLY!! No, don't leave me! SALLY!"
Ice Guard looked over at her momentarily, and said, "I heard, just to get a laugh, that guy actually put his hand down another guys robe. He got a nice black eye for that, and the poor victim, oddly enough, was the one that got razed for the incident."
She wasn't sure how much faith to put in that little tale, but wasn't sure she really wanted to find out if it was true or not. If nothing else, Bloodforge always brightened her day with a laugh, whether he knew it or not.
"Wanna gamble?"
With a startled glance, Dani turned to see who had plopped down beside her. It was none other than the vaugely naked Venom. With a blush she quickly averted her eyes.
"Well, hello, there," he said in a much too chipper voice for this early in the morning. "Don't suppose you'd like to gameble would you? I could spot you!" He rattled a cup with dice in his hand, smiling at her.
Raising one dark eyebrow, she sighed, being sure to look no where but at his face, though she'd be lying if she said she wasn't tempted. "You're addicted, aren't you?"
"Obssession, addiction, doesn't really matter. Come on, it's fun!"
The Hound came over, passing Venom a robe. "I'll play as long as you put this on."
Venom frowned, but decided the clothing was worth the discomfort as long as someone played with him. With in moments the two were on the cobblestones at Dani's feet, rolling dice with staggering wagers. At the sound of running foot steps, she looked up to see a viberently colored Gaafar come running round the corner, his eyes glued to the dice game. Not even slowing down. Gaafar dropped to his knees and skidded to a halt next to the gameblers. "Venom! I've got money! Can I pay? PLEASE?????"
The desperation in his voice had Dani wondering if there would soon be a Gamblers Annonymous stationed somewhere in Britain. Shaking her head, she watched Venom wiggle his eyebrows and grin at Gaafar. "Sure, buddy! And if you need more, never fear. I'll spot you, no problem!"
Happy to keep her own small about of money where it was, but greatly intrigued by the game, Dani flopped on to her belly next to the men and watched the game unfold as travelers, merchants, guards, murderers, tamers, and countless others got reeled into the game, or simply stepped over them to get around.
It was sometime later, when she noticed her friend in the green cloak disappear around the guard building. She knew better than to go back there, nothing but death awaited anyone foolish enough to go back there. What was he doing?
Before she could dwell on it, Venom laughed as Gaafar demanded payment for the last play. Her attention was brought back to them, when Venom asked for a ruling.