January 18th, 1895 - 3BS

Kenna much preferred to work the day shift. It was easier to clean up when the inn was quieter and she was left to clean the rooms upstairs in peace, but it wasn't always that easy. The other maid had sent in sick and Kenna, never one to turn down a chance to earn some extra money. When the pub was rowdy though, it tended to make her a little anxious. The barkeep had given her a shallow glass of whiskey to get her to relax and Kenna had downed it quickly, not really one for the taste. It had helped though and she made it through the next hour or so without too much incident.

After avoiding a few unpleasant conversations and one set of unwelcome wandering hands, Kenna wondered if she would survive the night. She didn't think another glass of whiskey was wise, so she was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. After dropping off a stack of glasses at the bar to be washed, she looked out over the room. It was busy, bustling, but nothing outwardly rowdy going on, which was nice. Maybe it was quiet enough that she could step outside in the back for a moment to get some fresh air and catch her breath. All of this running around, after working all day already, was tiresome.

She did another round of the pub itself, picking up a few things here and there, before thinking she could take five minutes. She approached the bar again, leaning over it let the barkeep know she'd be taking a break, when she was bumped into from behind, sending her into the woman seated next to where she was standing. "I apologize," Kenna smiled haphazardly. "Did I make you spill?" She sure hoped not!

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Hazel McPherson

  

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Does Hazel day drink? On special occasions. These special occasions being whenever she had to go to Hogsmead for farm business. Due to the season, she didn't have too much to offer to sell at the market. Some cheese, a few things glasses of milk, and some cured meat. She had completely sold out of items and just had a collection of returned glass chugs. It meant that Hazel could grab a drink. Luckily, Hogsmead had a bar that wouldn't give her weird looks compared to some of the people that buy her wares.

Sliding onto a seat at the bar of the Three Broomsticks, she motioned to the bartender. "Bass, please." With a small nod, the bartender grabbed the beer for her. Hazel did a small nod to indicate she was opening a tab. She was about to take a drink from the pint when she suddenly had a lady end up on top of her. Luckily, she was able to prevent the beer from spilling on her. It mostly was still in the glass. Her hand was just slightly wet.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Hands' bit wet" Hazel sighed a little, wiping her hand on her apron. Looking at the beer, she took a hearty swig before adding. "Only spilled a little. I'll be fine."

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Kenna Buchanan

  

Kenna grimaced at the mess, pulling a rag from her apron to help clean it up. "I apologize, I got knocked into." She mopped up the mess on the bar top and then pulled out a clean rag for the other woman's hands. Fortunately it looked minimal. Kenna had bumped into plenty of people before and often did so in the crowded pub. It had only been a problem a time or two where a drunk patron was a little more than offended that they'd lost some of their precious drink and then Kenna had to have the barkeeper settle it for her.

Blushing profusely, she stepped back after the mess was cleaned up. Her hands were a little shaky and she was a little overwhelmed. What she wouldn't give to be upstairs cleaning empty rooms and folding laundry right about now. Realizing she was just standing there awkwardly, Kenna smiled nervously. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to working when it's busy."

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Hazel gave the bar maid a dismissive wave. Not much had spilled on her. The beer really on spilled a little on her hand. Placing the beer on the counter, Hazel started wiping her hands on her apron. It was already pretty dirty from her day's work. "Mòran taing(Many thanks). Oh don't worry about it. I need to wash up anyway way when I go home." Hazel smiled a bit before taking a swig from her glass. Waving the bartender over, she ordered another before sitting up a little more straight in her chair.

Looking the bar maid over, she couldn't help but think that they were attractive. While maybe she couldn't openly hit on her and probably sucked at hitting on people in general, the thought at least danced across her mind. Not that someone probably at her caliber would like Hazel's company. She wasn't exactly a popular dinner guest. Outside of her social standing, Hazel generally was just too quiet for people (unless she was drinking). "Usually this busy or just the weather getting people indoors?" Hazel would ask, pushing off her empty glass before starting on the new one that had just arrived.

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Kenna Buchanan

  

The woman seemed to be taking everything in stride, so Kenna tried to relax a little. Merlin, maybe she did need another drink. "Both?" She was sure the cold air outside helped to drive people in. The inn had a warm, inviting atmosphere to it that Kenna found comforting (when it wasn't quite so busy), so she could understand the draw. "I usually work during the day, so I'm not quite used to it." Big crowds had always made her a little nervous and she knew that the people that came into the Broomsticks were generally a little better-behaved than those of the Hog's Head, she had still had enough poor experiences to leave her leery.

Kenna busied herself with clearing the nearest table, not wanting to be rude, but also not wanting to be accused of slacking off either. She brought the glassware to the bar for the barkeep and then wiped down the table, squeaking a little as someone laughed loudly nearby, slapping the table roughly.

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"That's fair. I'm not the biggest fans of big crowds either." Hazel would mutter, before continuing to drink. The general chatter of the bar wasn't super off putting. What bothered her was when she could barely move in a place or where she could feel people starring at her. On busy market days, that's what usually would be happening. Even though people would buy her family's wares, most people would give her strange looks. Some would give her looks because they had paid for her other services before.

Suddenly, Hazel returned to real world after a loud bang and laughing at a near by table startled her. Turning around slightly to see what was going on, she could feel the people at the table starring at her. One of the men at the table was a former client of hers. Fidgeting a bit, she turned herself slightly so the table couldn't get a direct view of her face. While she didn't have any qualms with the works she sometimes has to do to survive.

Sighing a bit, she finished her second beer and ordered another. Motioning over Kenna, she quietly asked "What are they talking about over there?". Hazel flicked her head a little towards the table that had startled her.

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Kenna Buchanan

  

Blushing furiously in embarrassment for her overreaction, Kenna busied herself by wiping down the bar where some of the leftover ale had spilled. "Oh," she looked warily over her shoulder where one of the men was looking their way. Kenna looked away quickly, refocusing on the woman who had asked. "I don't know, I try really hard not to listen." There were some rather unsavory discussions that happened this time of night, under the influence of the alcohol, that Kens really would rather avoid. "The loud sound scared me a little." She added, to explain her reaction before moving away a little bit to pick up some silverware that had fallen to the floor nearby. This night needed to be over, and soon! She wouldn't be picking up any more shifts in the pub for a while, that was for sure.

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Ah. So not a previous customer probably. Just some drunks. Hazel sighed a little, taking another sup from her drink. She hated dealing with drunk men, especially ones that would visit the Painted Lady. Some of those types would get a bit too handsy. It was awful to go through. She could imagine it wasn't any better at a bar. Smiling a little, she shifted her demeanor. She shifted to a softer demeanor "I know what you mean. Loud noises startle me as well in my line of work. Spooks the sheep and that's always a hassle ." She wasn't going to divulge what else she does, Keena didn't need to know that.

"I'm Hazel by the way. Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh (I am pleased to meet you.)" Hazel took another small sip from her beer, moving a little to face Kenna. "How long until your shift ends?" She would ask, only occasionally listening if the drunk men were talking about either of them.

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Kenna Buchanan