Rue steps up to the bar beside Jun, meeting his look directly.  He's definitely looking weary, but he's determined not to waver.

It takes him some time to respond, however, and when he does, his voice is quiet.  "I have seen so many new things after leaving home.  Most of these, I have enjoyed very much."

Rue glances at the empty pitcher and attempts to brighten up.  "You seem very skilled at... being calm, yes?  It is... admirable."

When Bighat calls for places, Orynn mutters, "Finally."

Jun gives Rue the slightest of smiles and chuckles slightly.

"Any skill I have at calmness comes from years of practice. But I will say this,"

He glances over toward Rusty.

"Knowing that Mr. Bighat has extra ink on his ledger definitely relieves some of the tension."

((Sorry for the long delay in responding.  First wifi was being temperamental, then I had to go to work.  Posting now before heading to bed.))

As Rusty finally backs away from the table, Cassie slowly resumes her seat, her stern gaze still fixed on the halfling.

When Jun gets up to head to the bar and Rue follows him, Cassie casts a curious glance their way, but doesn't otherwise react.

Her fists are still shaking somewhat on the table.

As Jun and Rue walk away, a beefy half-orc begins to lower the adventurers into the Portal, to the cheers and salutes of the taproom.  The ropes and pulleys creak under the strain, but her muscles show almost no sign of effort.  In the commotion, the outer door opens yet again -- a rather common occurrence in the Yawning Portal, but it catches your attention this time as a haughty-looking woman enters, nods once in recognition, and heads over to a booth in the corner.  The entrance is loud enough even to pierce Cassandra's anger, but only just.  From the booth in the corner, the woman makes a two-fingered sign to Bonnie, and begins to unroll and study some piece of parchment.

Aerys casually takes a sip of his ale, Interesting... maybe she is keeping record of the individuals heading in to the pit? Maybe keeping track of bets placed?

He leans over to Arvel, while still staring at the pit and the haughty human female and speaks in a low voice, "Are there any bets placed for the pit? Could I, in theory, place a bet on myself to make it out alive, run around the dungeon for a few hours, then come up with a few hundred gold and some fancy stuff and get the extra money earned from the bet... if you catch my drift?"

"Betting on yairself is up to 'ooever is running zee book, I guess. But is zee risk worz zee reward? Zere is a reason zey sharge to lowair you and to raise you back up again. As for moi? It would take zome verry strong motivation to get me down zere."

Aerys glances at Arvel, "Are you scared of what is down there?"

"Scared? Moi? Non. But iz it worz risking zee comfortable life I have set up for myzelf 'ere? Also non. Plus I 'ave to zink about zee Duc and 'is concerns."

Arvel takes a deep drink from his mug, pointing both pinkies at Jun, waggling his eyebrows meaningfully, and winking conspiratorially.

As he moves to place the mug back on the table, it topples and spills a bit in Dekket's direction. Grabbing a handkerchief from his pocket, he leans forward and dabs at the spill while drunkenly leaning against the tiefling's shoulder.

For Dekket:

Jun hears nothing from Arvel as he is busy trying to get the attention of the bartender to get a refill of his water pitcher.

Dekket, helping his friend stand tries to take a peek of the woman over the elf's shoulder. 

Rue looks around to Rusty Bighat and his blotted ledger, wondering what good it would do.  He props himself up against the bar while they wait, looking tired, but his eyes have brightened up a bit.  

He does turn to look as the woman enters, and notes her confident entry - but his attention is easily distracted away from her.

The woman is making no effort to hide that she is hunched over a parchment of some kind, studying it.  Occasionally, she looks up, and her expression alternates between amusement and puzzlement.

An unfamiliar waitress hurriedly refills Jun's pitcher before grabbing a tray of drinks to be delivered to other patrons.

Jun thanks the woman, then motions for Rue to follow him back to the table.

The woman chuckles once more to herself, rolls up the parchment, and places it within the folds of her cloak.  Once more, her eyes scan the taproom; they fall upon each of you in turn, but you cannot be sure if she is looking at you, specifically, or just in generally scanning the tavern.  One eyebrow arches as her gaze flits past an angry but controlled Cassie, and then her eyes return to the doorway.

With the show still not having managed to get itself started yet, Cassie is starting to feel antsy with pent up energy.  Eventually she notices the woman and the way that she keeps glancing at her and her tablemates.

Cassie lets out a frustrated sigh as she stands to her feet, then walks over to the woman.

"Pardon the rudeness, ma'am," she says with an air of reluctant civility, "but is there somethin' you find funny or amusing about miself and me companions?  If so, can you please spit it out so I can address it?  I'm already nae having the best of evenings, and having a complete stranger eyeballing me from a distance is NAE helpin' that!"

The woman looks up at Cassandra and smirks, a mildly obnoxious smile, though not entirely devoid of warmth.  "Cassie, Cassie, Cassie.  I see when they took you off the streets they reined in your temper a bit, but, well, that accent still pops out, doesn't it?"

Cassie stares, a bit dumbfounded that this woman knows her name.

"Uh...excuse me?  Do I know ye' somehow?"