Ash enquires further about the fighting, “Hmm… Korrik? Is this up your alley?”. And to the staff, “Yes. What kind of fights? Fists? Weapons?… Magic?”. 

"As long as we're not talking a duel to the death, I'm not opposed to a bit of friendly sparring, and if coin can be made in the meantime...", he shrugs. "Fists would be preferred, but I can hold my own against weapons... if it's a magic duel... I've nothing to go on the offensive with, but might be able to do some stuff to get to where these fists can do the work. Most magic users don't care to be punched repeatedly. You've seen how far Ben stands from any sort of conflict."

Ash chuckles at the joke about Ben. She raises one hand to her eyeline, turning her soft paw this way and that, as if seeing it for the first time... “I can’t much understand this ‘magic’ stuff… but weapons and fists?”. She tenses her forearm, and inch-long claws flick out of her fingers. “Weapons, or fists… these, I understand!…”. She nods and smiles her ambiguous, toothy, feline perma-smile. She looks over to the bar staff as her claws slowly retract away out of sight.

((To be fair, who likes to be punched repeatedly?))

((I'd generally prefer repeated punching to repeated stabbing...))

((If there's an option, sure. Most of the time you just have what you have!))

"Yeah, I can do a few things, but I'm happy to leave most of the magicking to Ben."

((He is incredibly good at it. Just ask him.))

((Don't even have to ask him, just leave an opening for him to speak up...))

((If he doesn't tell you who would?!? It needs to be known.))

((Once Ess is all grilled up, he can be Ben's hype man.))

Crap I can't see that video! It says it's not available in my country :(

There was a moment where Ess would've said to the group one night at the line, when all of the patrons had left and the staff was closing up the shop. Hannah had also retired for the night. The staff are so busy and tired they don't really hear this conversation and subsequent song ->

"Bros. Um... I don't really know how to say this.... er, I mean ask it I guess... but I've been working on a lil' song and wanted to let you hear it before I ask Hannah if I can perform." he glances at Ben quickly and then continues "Ever since I got to Marshswamp I've been feeling like a little bit of an island boy bruh. Now my good homeboy Ben, I'm not trying to steal your thunder or anything like that my bro. It's just I think I've got a real banger here and bros and Ashy I'd love to let you hear it."

He grins real wide, showing his teeth like if he was already grilled up. 

Then, without waiting for permission or if you are even interested in entertaining it, Ess breaks out into song. 

This is what it sounds like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR4sxAyOp0Q

Once it's over, he looks at all of you and says:

"So? What do you think? Ima gonna get Hannah to let me perform it one night. Ben bro, maybe you can put in a good work my man?" He winks at him in a really really really filthy awkward way.

Then he then does the familiar hand sign.

Over to you. lol

**those grillz in the video are exactly what Ess is going to get as well. He also had mentioned a potential new hairstyle he was looking at.

((That relationship would end like in the video I suspect.

The best part is that they posing in front of nice white closet doors. How did you find that video Klein?))

Ben blinks at the end of the song, having been completely unprepared to be assaulted by an ally in a public space.

"That Ess... Well that was something special. Too special to share with just anyone and certainly some that should be shared at a larger venue than the Net."

He looks to Ash and Kay desperately for support.

Persuading as hard as he possibly ever persuaded before (min 20): 25

But apparently is too shocked to put words together as well as should.

"Whaaa... What does 'Island Boy' mean? We've not been to any islands. Marshswamp Boy? Though do you want folks thinking of you as a boy?"

Korrik pops up and dishes out some freestyle.

"Yo, I'm s Marshswamp man, my name is Ess,

Your momma wants me, under her dress!

My mouth is full of metal and bling,

Imma step back and let my bro Ben sing!"

"I need a drink."

He stands up and walks to get said drink.

"Nah, that's to complicated... it'd probably be more like... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man... I'm a Marshswamp man..." 

Ben tosses back a shot of brandy and quickly orders and downs another upon hearing Kay's suggested lyrics.

(Again, I will retroactively respond properly to everything I'm behind on whenever the heck I can get this game going again, but in the meantime I couldn't resist.)

Ess responds to Kay. "YES BRO. The first one was WAY too complicated. I like the second one WAY better my long time home boy."

"YO... YO..."

and he sings the song again, the one I sent earlier. But with Kay's lyrics. He orders a drink with Ben as well. "Let's get CRUNK MY HOMEY!"

Will you all get drunk with Ess?

"Crunked? By the gods Ess, I need another drink and then I think I need to lay down."

Ben is going to his room, strain lines apparent on his face. He mutters as he goes something about,

"Music these days, nothing like the classics! Or the future ones I am writing..."

((I think that Ben might be the oldest in the group? How is Kay?))

(Mid twenties.))