2020.05.09 - A Toast to Small Victories
The battle was won, but it was only a battle and there was still more to do. While others tended to Ciaran to make sure he was in one piece, Taliesin changed into some fresh clothing and headed downstairs to the bar. Not caring who is behind the counter he finds himself a bottle of whiskey and serves himself. He's left his hair in the braid and he has on a pair of clean jeans and a black tank top that is showing off a good portion of his tattoo. For once the leaves do not rustle in an invisible wind on his skin as he can't be arsed to keep up that illusion. "Fucking hell." He mutters into his glass as he once again contemplates leaving for Iceland.
After a shower and a change into some fresh clothing as well, Lucien makes his way down to the lounge. This time, he's in a pair of jeans that are not black, and the shirt that he wears that hugs his build is a dark red. New clothes for the previously monochromatic fae. He makes his way over toward the bar and leans up against it next to Taliesin. "How are you holding up?" he asks once settled there, and motions to the bartender for a glass of bourbon, neat.
Taliesin's attention is taken away from his glass when Lucien approaches. For a moment he isn't sure who he's looking at as he is used to the fae being in all black. "Oh I'm fine love, just rattled a bit. It's not my first time dealing with outsiders, but last time we had an army." He pauses for a beat. "And a whole dragon and it was still a struggle. Not that I doubt anyone's ability here, but I am worried." He says before he finishes his glass and pours himself another. "So I drink. You?"
Noah is looking quite nice, actually, all clean and in his cute little shirt with the animated cloud on it. He, unlike the others there, hadn't been in any sort of scuffle. He pops up from behind the bar, staring at both Taliesin, who he does know, and Lucien, who he doesn't.
"Is Ciaran alright? I haven't been able to see him yet. How did everything go? Are you okay?" He looks -very- concerned and settles a cup of hot tea in front of himself. He doesn't work at the lounge, or the club, but it's apparently not unusual for him to be behind the bar, or making his own tea.
"A whole dragon? As opposed to a half-dragon?" Lucien asks with a slight quirk of his lips, poking a little fun before he nods to the bartender and takes up his glass, lifting it to take a sip. "It's something to be worried about. Those are just the offshoots of whatever's actually out there. Whatever we're going to tangle with is going to be bigger and meaner." His expression is a little bit more grim, then. He lifts his own glass, "So, we drink." There's a slight blink when Noah suddenly pops up from behind the bar. "Ciaran's exhausted, but uninjured," is his response.
"Well yeah, a half dragon is only half as effective as a whole dragon." Taliesin smirks, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Yeah that’s what I'm worried about, just how big the next thing is going to be and not all of us have giant magical swords. I held my own, but honestly I felt more like a liability out there." Turning to Noah he gives him a reassuring smile, and reaches over to touch his hand. "He'll be okay, he just needs some rest."
Noah squeezes Taliesin's hand and sips his tea, then comes around the counter and toward the fellows. He pauses and looks for a moment like he might climb up into Taliesin's lap, but instead takes a seat on the stool next to him. He peeks around Taliesin over at Lucien and blinks a few times, then smiles sheepishly. "Oh, hello. I'm Noah. I don't think we've met," he says as he nods to the stranger. "I'm glad everyone is okay, truly."
"The thing is, not all of us are going to always have the big flaming sword or the precise right tool for the job. However, what would have happened if Rey was there without us and all of those dogs attacked him at once while he was fighting that thing? They could have killed him even if he killed it. The thing is, we're stronger together," Lucien says as he leans against the bar. "Even if we're not the ones plunging the magic sword into the big beast's heart, we are the one who is bleeding it out, weakening its allies, and helping those who can. Never underestimate the part you play in a fight." His gaze follows Noah as he makes his way over to a seat and then he says, "Lucien," by way of introduction.
"I just have sword envy, it's hard not to with one so large and flaming." Taliesin grins but nods his head. "I know we all have our parts to play, and I'm mostly here just to chronicle the battle but you're all rubbing off on me and I'd hate to see any of you injured." He gives a weak smile before he watches Noah settle in next to him. "Oh fuck where are my manners." However they've already introduced themselves. "I'm sure if you want to head up a bit later he wouldn't mind a snuggle." Taliesin says as he rests his hand on Noah's shoulder. "Though I'm sure it would take a whole lot to kill Rey, more than just a few dogs. Even if they have a lot of mouths." He shivers a bit at the memory of that huge wolf.
Lucien can't help but chuckle a little bit at that and says, "It is an impressive sword." He can't argue that at all. His own knives are plain, serviceable, but not enchanted or special in any way at all. He lifts his bourbon to his lips and takes another swallow from it. He shrugs his shoulder to Taliesin then and says "I'm not trying to undermine Rey's ability to defend himself. I'm just saying that a swarm of dogs with multiple mouths is a lot for one guy with a sword, even a very impressive guy with a sword."
Noah smiles softly and nods to Lucien again. "It's nice to meet you, and it's really good to see you're alright. Is....Rey is okay, yes?" Noah looks at least relieved to know that Ciaran is okay, and half-nuzzles at Taliesin's hand when it rests on his shoulder. The talk turns to that of swords, which Noah knows very little about, but he looks quite curious. "I don't actually think that I've ever used a sword," he muses quietly, sipping at his mug of tea.
Taliesin nods his head. "No you're probably right, he'd at the very least get his hair out of place and we all know we can't have a Knight with imperfect hair." He's not there to hear the teasing but Taliesin does it anyway. "It's not all that hard really, you just stab people with the pointy end, or slash at them. The longer the sword the harder it is to get close to you. Granted a ranged weapon is usually best if you don't want to."
At the bar, Taliesin, Lucien and Noah are at the bar, two men have alcohol while Noah has some tea. There is a slight dour note in the air, even if Taliesin is trying to crack jokes.
"What do you do?" Lucien asks of Noah, curious, since he's never met him before, his glass of bourbon halfway to his lips. Then he takes a swallow of it, setting the empty glass down and motioning for another. "Knowing a ranged weapon and a blade isn't a bad idea. Keep them at a distance, but if they're close, knowing how to handle a blade is good, too. I've seen more than one archer felled by something that got the drop on them."
Noah laughs at Taliesin softly, brushing his cheek a few times against the fellow's shoulder before sitting up straight in his seat. "You're so funny," he says quietly, the slight scent of vanilla and sandalwood hanging in the air around him. He smiles warmly toward Lucien and shrugs his shoulders. "I'm a university student, and I also am a barista at the Hidden Grove cafe." It's certainly an honest answer, even if maybe it's not what Lucien was particularly asking. "I actually try not to fight as much as possible."
Taliesin drapes an arm over Noah's shoulder and gives him a quick squeeze. "I am hilarious." He says quietly as he refills his glass and takes another swig. "It's good to be trained in both honestly, sadly I lack any ability with a ranged weapon, maybe I should fix that?" He sighs and shakes his head. "Honestly I am far better at talking myself out of problems and fights." When Noah mentions his profession he smirks. "He makes a fantastic cup of tea." Which maybe he should be drinking that, but Tali isn't always smart.
The office door opens, and Rey emerges. He's wearing jeans and a t-shirt, looking far more casual than he often does. Seeing the others gathered in the bar, he flashes a grin and says, "I see we've had the same idea, though it seems I'm a bit late to the party." He makes his way over to the bar, stepping behind it, and leans against it, looking over what everyone else has in hand. "So," he drawls in a playful tone, "what are we drinking, my friends?"
It was actually what Lucien was asking, and so he seems satisfied with the answer, "What are you studying?" He thanks the bartender for the refill on his bourbon, then. "I can throw knives," Lucien says, "Which isn't a very long range, but it's something. I might pick up something else. If you want to learn, I'd practice with you," he offers to Taliesin. "Not that getting out of fights isn't the better choice most of the time -- sometimes it's just not avoidable." When Rey approaches, he smiles and says, "Hey," then glances down at his drink. "Bourbon."
Noah looks over to Rey when he arrives and smiles brightly. "It's so great to see you, Mr. Rey! I'm just having tea. It's a mango green that I'm quite a fan of." He smiles back over to Lucien and sips his tea. "I'm studying writing now. Lots of poetry and such. I...want to be a writer, one day," he says more quietly, wriggling in his spot at the barstool. He looks over to Taliesin, then, and leans against his friend. "I maybe should learn how to fight, one day, especially with everything going on."
Taliesin smirks up at Rey as he holds up a bottle of whiskey that he borrowed from behind the bar. "Oh, just drinking away the thoughts of outsiders. They give the best nightmares." He says dryly as he leans back on his barstool. "That and talking about your giant sword." Turning to Lucien he nods his head. "It appears I'll be sticking around for a while, so I'll take you up on that offer." He nods to Noah and tilts his head. "That explains the notebook, it's a great profession, there is a lot you can do with it." He says encouragingly.
Rey pours himself a bourbon as well, smiling at the others, and says, "Well, that sounds splendid. I shall join you, I think--particularly since, as Taliesin points out, there's nothing pleasant about the memory of our recent encounter." He raises the glass to the others, then takes a long sip. Falling quiet, then, he listens to the conversation before further breaking into it. He does, though, flash a smirk at Taliesin for the comment about his sword.
"You know," Lucien says to Taliesin gently, "I can help with the nightmares, too, if you want." He leaves that offer there, however, for Tali to accept or not if he likes. He then says to Noah, "I'm sure that if you want to write, that you will. If you have stories to tell, or verse in your heart.. share them." He nods in agreement with Rey, "No, not much pleasant to remember there.. but good that we all were able to work together and make it home safe."
Noah sips again at his tea and settles his mug back on the bartop. He leans toward Taliesin and kisses his cheek, then stands up and takes care of his mug behind the bar. "I hope that I'll be able to write something nice. And, I hope that you'll all be able to have much better dreams. I think I'm going to go check on Ciaran, and make sure he is alright. I know he's okay, but....I do miss him," he murmurs as he rubs his arm. "I hope you all have a great night," he bids before heading upstairs.
Taliesin nods to Lucien. "I'll let you know if they get that bad, besides I'm sure you would much rather wait until my dreams calm down and become more entertaining." Turning back toward Rey he nods his head. "I will say though, it was great to see you at work again. I hate the reason but damn you make it all look so easy." He ruffles Noah's hair as he gets down off of the stool. "Give him our best, I am sure he'll feel much better with you around." He watches Noah trot off before he sighs, obviously trying to lower the danger of their situation in front of the young witch. "I mean, it's probably just one or two right? We should be able to handle this without phoning the home office, right?"
Rey nods to the departing Noah, smiling, then turns a more serious look on Taliesin and Lucien. "If this situation escalates to the point where the Erlking has to call a Hunt--or worse--then it will get much more grim before it improves." He sips his drink again, expression grim, then sighs, shaking his head. "As you've alluded to previously, Taliesin, I'm uncomfortably reminded of the Outsiders. My instincts say there almost certainly must be a connection, but I dearly hope that I am wrong."
"It's part of what I do," Lucien explains to Taliesin, "Deal with people's nightmares." It's not something he lists in his job description as a courier, but as he gets more comfortable with the members of the Sylvan Court, he allows a little more of himself to be known to them at a time. He's not quick to trust, but he's been slowly settling in. His attention shifts back over to Rey and he nods, not entirely knowing what that means, but it sounds grim. "Isn't that what we're already doing? Hunting it?" His attention shifts back and forth between both men as they speak, taking it in.
"Well if you're that gung ho about it, pop by later and see if it sucks." Taliesin says to Lucien with a toast of his glass. When Rey mentions the hunt, Taliesin frowns and shakes his head. "Let us hope that it does not get that far, it would be better to handle this without His Royalness getting involved. If we're not careful with his son we might be the target of said Wild Hunt." He winces at that idea before he turns to Lucien. "We are hunting it yes, but the Wild Hunt is something completely different. Consider it like dropping a bomb on the problem, there is a large chance of there being collateral damage." He says to put it delicately and is careful not to use the Erlking's name.
Rey looks to Lucien and shakes his head. "No, sorry--not hunting. Not only that. If The Erlking calls a Hunt, I mean--" He cuts short as Taliesin explains, nodding along, and says, "Indeed. Leave it to our dear bard to make matters clearer! I should say, if The Erlking calls *Wild Hunt*--then this will become a much greater affair than it has thus far been. And I shall of a certainty ask to join it, regardless of said... potential for collateral. Or, perhaps, in hope of somewhat limiting same." His eyes flicker with just a hint of those kindling embers that they get when his passions are aroused, but it vanishes beneath the lids as he looks down at his glass, clearly considering the words he's just spoken.
Lucien tilts his head a little to the side, as though unsure about Taliesin's response, and then shrugs his shoulders, letting it go. Instead, he takes a long swallow from his bourbon and motions for another, letting the alcohol warm him and just listens. When it becomes more evident just what a Wild Hunt might mean, he says, "I see. Better to take care of it on our own before it gets to that point, then."
Taliesin nods his head at Rey and shrugs. "We'd likely all get wrapped up in it one way or another and I am sure we would have a better chance of risking life and limb then. It's hard to resist the pull of it if you don't have the fortitude to do so." Taliesin has avoided it thus far, but he's heard /all/ the stories. Taliesin frowns at Rey and reaches over to lightly touch his hand. "We're not going to let it get that far, this isn't like last time, and Ciaran has a good team ready to go." It should be enough, he hopes. "We will, but we need to be more prepared next time, perhaps I should look into getting my blade enchanted, or blessed or something."
Rey looks up at Taliesin, smiling at the encouragement, and he turns his hand over to clasp Taliesin's and give it a squeeze. "You're right, of course. I just--well. I would, ideally, prefer to avoid... such escalation. And so, we shall have to take steps to ensure it is so!" He lifts his glass, smiling again, and says, thoughtfully, "An enchanted blade does seem in order. If you like, I can place some magic upon yours--or, perhaps better still, I could see if I can lay hands on a blade from the Court. I may know one or two possible sources for such a weapon." Looking then to Lucien, he chuckles. "I apologize. I had no idea when I welcomed you among us what task I would be placing before you."
Falling quiet while the other two talk, Lucien focuses on the task of drinking. His third glass, and that begins to start a sort of pleasant buzz as he shifts on his seat at the bar, folding his arms on it and resting against them, his expression somewhat distant and thoughtful as he listens to the talk between them. It's only when Rey addresses him that he glances up again and studies the man, "You've nothing to apologize for, and it was I who offered to help, remember? You didn't lay this at my feet. I chose it. You've given me a home, and people. It's not something I've ever really had before. But I plan on defending it with whatever I've got, such as it is."
Taliesin smiles at his oldest and likely only friend up until now and squeezes his hand back. "I'm always right, I know I've been gone a while and you've likely forgotten that, but you'll remember soon enough." He says in a smarmy tone, though he does nod vigorously. "Yes, to all and any of that. I don't typically like to be in the middle of battle, but I would hate to have someone injured because I brought a spoon to a magic fight." He laughs a it before turning to Lucien as he speaks. Taliesin needs a little more before he gets a proper buzz going, but he is quickly falling down that path. Reaching over he'll clasp his shoulder and nod. "Having people is good, and so far everyone here is great people. And if you can eat nightmares like you're suggesting then we might need to keep you around as long as we can."
Rey pours himself another as well, wordlessly gesturing with the bottle toward Taliesin's glass to see if he'd like to be topped up. "Well, especially after your showing earlier, I'm doubly glad to have you. I'm always glad to have another friend, but a friend who will also fight at your side? The best sort." He flashes Taliesin a knowing grin. After all, they've been comrades in arms more than just the once, and it's certainly only made their bond stronger. "For no end of reasons, I've always found that family is as much the people one finds along the way as it is the people one is born to. That is to say, Lucien: welcome to the family."
Normally, Lucien would immediately flinch away from someone suddenly reaching over to touch him, but he doesn't when Taliesin does it. He doesn't even tense, not like he did when they first met and Ciaran leaned in toward him. There's a trust there, and the normally guarded fae seems comfortable enough with the touch. He even offers Taliesin a little bit of a half smile before making a face, "I don't /eat/ them. Do you /know/ what sort of nightmare shit people dream up?" Then he smiles a little wryly. "But yes, I can help with them." He offers a little bit of a smile to Rey and says, "Never really had one of those, either." He glances down at his glass, and then he lifts it to the two men. "To Family, the one you choose."
Taliesin holds his glass over and smirks. "You don't even need to ask." Because tonight is for drinking all of the drinks. He does notice that Lucien is a little more comfortable with random touching and pats him again. "Yes, because if someone is willing to slog through demonic ichor with you, you know they're worth keeping around. Reaching for his glass he downs a fair bit before he laughs and flashes that grin right back at Rey. Holding up his glass again he'll clink it with theirs and nods. "Chosen family is better than what you're born with, trust me. Except my mum, she's better than everyone else’s." He says with a smirk. "Looks like you're stuck with us for a while love."
"Cheers," Rey chuckles, reaching out to clink glasses with the others. "And, well, I'm quite fond of my family in all respects, but even so, I'm equally fond of my 'found' family, so I'll agree with the main spirit of the sentiment." He drinks, then, and after a long sip sighs contentedly. "Well! I'll say this. I certainly find myself in a better frame of mind now than before. So, that at least I shall take as a victory, for the moment if nothing else." He resumes sipping his drink, lounging casually against the bar.
Lifting his glass, he clinks it against the others then takes a swallow from its contents before setting it back down. He accepts the patting with a little smile and toys with the glass a little bit, running his fingertip around the lip as he considers the liquid within. "Good," he says, "We should claim every small victory that we can find." He lifts his eyes to study Rey.
Taliesin smiles. "Here here." He says in response to Rey's words. He laughs as Rey says he is feeling better and he touches his chest and blows slightly in his seat. "Of course you're feeling better. You’re drinking with me and that is the absolute best. It should instantly boost anyone’s esteem of themselves." He smirks at Lucien when he mentions celebrating. "Well, how are we going to celebrate this extremely small victory?”