Phoebe looked about nervously as she walked in, with Cackle following closely behind. The walls were mostly wooden, though packed with clay to keep out wind. The tavern was empty aside from a passed-out patron at one table and a barkeep close to nodding off behind the bar, which sat along the wall opposite the door. The walls were generously decorated with furs and animal heads mounted on plaques. A set of stairs next to the bar headed upstairs, following the wall back towards the door. The barkeep, a grizzled and wiry old woman, started awake at Cackle and Phoebe's entrance.
Cackle was wearing something very different from the brown shift that he'd made when he took to human form. He was wearing a brown tunic with a long, deep, rich cape and shoes adorned with something shiny. His legs were covered only by a skirt made of strips of leather that came to just above his knees. Phoebe tried not to look at his legs, uncomfortable with the way they looked for some reason. They looked... nice? Too nice? Phoebe shook the thought out of her head and focused on the barkeep.
"We ain't servin' ale n'more t'night," she said. "I gots a couple o' rooms, but..." she looked between Phoebe and Cackle for a moment. "Willn' yeh be needin' one'r two?"
Bewildered for a moment by the woman's nearly incomprehensible accent, Phoebe looked uncertainly to Cackle. He confidently strode forward, walking around Phoebe and leaned against the bar. "My good madam. My bodyguard and I were on our way east to Beckam when the wheel of our carriage simply shattered against a particularly large stone. In addition to two rooms, do you suppose you know anyone who could repair it? It was a fair walk from here, so it can certainly wait until the morning."
Cackle waved his hand in front of the old woman's face, and as if he were doing a trick, a gold coin appeared from between his fingers. The woman looked at the coin, her eyes narrowing. She licked her wrinkled lips and put her hand out. "Two gold fer th' rooms, 'n I'll be seein' what I c'n be doin' 'bouts findin' yeh help."
Cackle raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that rooms were only two silver each. Is finding help really so expensive?"
The woman scowled. "How'n th' blasted--"
Cackle shrugged. "Your inn has a good reputation, madam. And may I say," He leaned forward a bit towards her. "I'm pleased to see that some of the things said about the beauty of its staff are wholly accurate."
The old barkeep's demeanor instantly shifted. Phoebe was actually a bit startled at the speed that the woman's face shifted from scowling to smiling and faintly blushing.
"Oh, yeh scoundrel, butterin' an ol' biddy like myself. All right, all right, I'll be takin' th' one gold coin n' be sure to have a bit o' food brought quick-like to yer rooms." Cackle placed the coin on the bar, took a step backwards from it, and made an elaborate, showy bow towards the woman. She giggled and took the coin. She left in its place a couple of keys and pointed to the stairs. She used her other hand to move one of the keys slightly towards Cackle and winked.
"I'm hopin' yeh sleep good n' well in th' room what's unlocked by this here key. Be ringin' th' bell in it if'n yeh want t'be kept a bit more comp'ny."
Cackle gave a suave smile and winked back, taking the keys. "I might very well do that, madam. Thank you very much."
With that, Cackle turned to the stairs, followed closely by Phoebe. Once Phoebe decided that they were probably out of earshot of the barkeep she asked, "Were you flirting with her!?"
Cackle shrugged. "Yes. And?"
"Why would you flirt with someone who looks at least triple your age?"
Cackle chuckled. "Because to me, she looks positively young. Centuries-old being, remember? Doesn't hurt that I apparently look exactly like her deceased husband did when he was young. Besides, it helps to keep in the good graces of your host, especially if they think you're rich."
"That reminds me. How did you have a coin on you?"
Cackle rolled up a sleeve and showed her the skin on his arm. As Phoebe watched, an array of scales grew from it, bright and lustrous, and almost exactly like gold in appearance. "Not anywhere near as soft, but if you powder it and mix it with in the right proportions of clay, dragon scales of the right color look exactly like gold. The best part is, if she ever figures out what it actually is, she won't be mad because it's actually worth way more."
The scales slid backwards back under his skin and faded away, leaving only a forearm. Cackle nodded towards one of the doors and handed her a key. "Call out if you need me. I'll hear you."
Phoebe hesitated. "That's my room key, right? Not the one she wanted to... meet you in?"
Cackle lifted an eyebrow and grinned, the corners of his mouth stretching a bit further than looked strictly natural on a human face. "Well, it's good to see I won't have to explain to you the birds and the bees! And no, that's your room key. I'd never miss an opportunity to meet with someone so eager!"
Phoebe felt her face flush, heat blossoming over her cheeks as she hurriedly bid Cackle good night and rushed off to her room.