Raise a Glass [OPEN]

[lordshield]

Who: The XV Cast and You!
When: June 6th
Where: Curti Center, Jiminy's Juicery (bar)
What: After saving innocents from the Dream Width, some people just need a drink.
Warnings/Notes: Alcohol consumption, possible violence, whatever people do in bars.

Their first foray into the search and rescue business in the Dream Width had been intense, to say the least. Stressful, heartbreaking, exhausting, and enlightening were other words some might use to describe the experience. After a night of rest and a day to somewhat sort things and people out, the next evening brings about a mighty need to head to the local tavern. Some drink to forget, some drink to remember, some drink to relax. There are even representatives of the Bard's Guild providing live music. You can try to make a request, but chances are they don't know your foreign songs.

Maybe you were invited by one of the excitable young men from Lucis, or maybe you came on your own. There's enough room in the bar for quite a few people, so long as they're of age. Sit right at the bar, or pull up chairs around a table, the choice is yours.

[OoC: Make your own toplevel or tag around. Please put content warnings as necessary. Have fun!]

Comments

[chocobosnap]

"Cor..." Prompto breathed because he wasn't expecting that reaction. He shuffled slightly as though he wasn't used to being told such nice things, because he wasn't. The list of people in this world who wanted him was incredibly small.

It made him blush to have Cor claim a spot on that list.

"Noct won't let me anyway." He offered a weak little smile. "I have so many reasons it should be me but I-" He sucked in a breath. He's never done anything of value, he wasn't good enough to be family to his family. "Anyway, we want to make it so none of us die. No one's trying to die. I promise. I just can't lose him."

He knew he was sounding desperate, like Noctis was his world because, well, he was.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus lets himself be dragged close, nose to nose with Gladiolus, and then get slammed against the wall and pinned there by him. That was the point of provoking Gladio- to hurt and be hurt, to seek out punishment for his failure, to trade memories for bruises for the rest of this damned night.]

You're as much a failure as your father was. [He hisses out the words, his head cleared by the pain of those shoves against the wall and the adrenaline pumping through him.

The mention of his sister, as soon as it leaves Gladiolus's cruelly smiling mouth -he's never looked more like Ardyn, is Ravus' last coherent thought- drives all thought from his mind completely. There is only wild berserker fury, and while Gladio's fist goes through the wall, Ravus' flesh hand seizes at Gladio's throat, bypassing the flimsy collar of his tight-stretched excuse of a shirt for a more secure grip on the bastard. He balls his magitek fist and drives it into Gladiolus' side, ignoring the stab of pain it sends to his shoulder as the imperfectly integrated arm transfers the shock of the impact to the scarred flesh to which it was mounted.]


How dare you! I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill you, [he pants, unaware of what he is saying in his rage. The Curti Center doctor had warned him to be very careful of the arm and to use it sparingly until he could get a properly fitted one in Myste Aura, but all consideration for the tech or for the nerves in his arm are completely gone. Ravus draws the arm back to punch again, for no reason other than it is his best and only way to really hurt Gladio the way he deserves to be hurt for what he said.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[It should not be a surprise to Ravus- who could meet Lunafreya and not love her? Only someone devoid of humanity like the Emperor or his Chancellor could be corrupt enough to wish her harm.

In his quest to protect her, Ravus had missed so many opportunities to be kind to his sister. Now they are beyond him, even more out of reach than the king's sword or Noctis' magic. His only hope now is that kindness to her love will somehow reach her spirit and bring her peace. It makes since to his wine-addled brain, anyways.]

I failed her so many times. But you...You brought her happiness. That stupid notebook...whenever the dogs brought it back...she radiated joy.

[The news that the sword reached its destination is more than a weight lifted from his shoulders. It is salvation from the darkness devouring him from within. The tears fall openly. In the next life, Ravus can face his sibling without regret.]

Maybe now...she can find peace.

[hashtagdaddy]

[How dare this son of a bitch call his dad a failure?! The moment his fist breaks through the wall and Ravus' hand rises to grasp his throat, Gladio bares his teeth and tucks his chin enough that the grip isn't perfect.

He barely feels the hit to his side, rage and alcohol working in a wonderful tandem to dull the physical pain, and he huffs out a snort when Ravus starts panting death threats. As if this pitiful excuse for a man could take him on now - Gladio might have heard some terrible news today but he's still in peak physical condition (excluding the drunkenness) and he refuses to allow Ravus to keep the upper hand.]

Better men th'n you h've tried n' failed. [Further ducking his head and lifting up his shoulders, he works to dislodge the hand around his throat while using his free hand to reach for that damn metal arm. With the hand still gripping Ravus' shirt, Gladio hoarsely roars and gifts Ravus with another pull-slam into the wall as he finally finds a grip on the prosthetic.

Muscles swell and ripple as he begins pulling at the arm while putting as much weight into keeping Ravus pinned as he can. He's going to rip that damn thing off and beat him with it.]

Th' truth hurts, dunnit. [The words are barely audible, almost lost in the heaving breaths and rumbling grunts as he works to tear arm from shoulder.]

[warpstriking]

Oh, Shiro. If only you knew...

Noctis listens with as much rapt interest one could give while intoxicated. "Really? Huh..." That is interesting, though. "Maybe ours did. It was kinda stuck in the depths, so..." No place to spread out its wings. It's kinda sad, really. Except he remembers how much it hurt and he's kinda glad it wasn't freely roaming the surface? Especially with all the shit already going on up there.

"Namuch to say 'bout it. We got to what looked like the bottom of the ruins, noticed a bunch a' square 'tiles' on the ground and decided to poke one. It descended an' we found out it wasn't just one, but a series of cubes. With no exit until ya either found the hidden chamber with and elevator to the Jabberwock's lair, or a large room filled with daemons." Guess how he found that one out. "Oh yeah, and every cube move or two there'd be daemons that suddenly appeared. That was fun after the second day."

[sonoftenebrae]

[Red drops being to seep through the white fabric of Ravus' coat at his left shoulder where his blows tore open old scars. He groans in pain and frustration as this fucking gargantua of a man literally disarms him, ripping at the arm until the final strap on the harness snaps and the limb separates.]

You don't...deserve to live... [He surrenders his tenuous grip on Gladiolus' throat to strike out at Gladio wherever he can reach, pinned though he is. Since the brute is bearing his weight, he kicks out as well. It's nowhere near the damage he could do with his sword in hand back home, and the Shield's hide seems harder to pierce than an Iron Giant's. The apparent lack of damage only fuels his anger, driving Ravus to struggle harder to leave some sort of scar on this man. Words, then, what words does he have to bury into Gladiolus' flesh, to make him bleed?]

They. should. have. let. this. accursed. world. die. [He spits through clenched teeth.] There is nothing. in our star. worth Lunafreya's life.

[No you, Amicitia, and certaintly not Ravus.] Noctis, too. His life, traded for yours, his weak, defective shield. All the good die, until only the trash like us remain.

[warpstriking]

[He can't think of anyone other than Emperor Aldercapt and Ardyn, either. She always had a way of brightening everyone's day and life just by walking into their vicinity and smiling.

Yet to hear that his stickers and few words had brought even a smile to his beloved's face, like hers had to him... It both brings a smile to his face and felt as though a knife had cut him. Because he knows. He knows that pain of having so many opportunities to be kind, to show how much he loves and cares for not just his father; but for those around him.]

It's... good to hear.

[Even if it took Ravus an entire bottle of wine to say it.]

I hope she does. Luna... she more than deserves it.

[She deserved the world.]

[regisrex]

These are words that Regis hasn't dreamed of, but hearing them is so good. So, so good. He hugs tighter, and rests his cheek on Noct's hair.

"Good. There's... there's nothing like dad hugs, after all."

Oh. Ah... moving on.

"Sleepy is fine." So long as it's not queasy. "Just rest like this a bit, all right? I'm not going anywhere."

[regalblaze]

Ignis is a bit disappointed that his pun about cactuars and stinging flew away without being noticed. But then again- it was a weak one. Diligently, Ignis takes a shot, frowning at the burn of the alcohol and taking a deep breath.

"The cheap hard drinks are usually more alcohol than flavor," Ignis says as he eyes the dart board. He's a cooking snob, sue him. "But, out of curiosity, I will check it." Because when it comes to drinks and food, he enjoys finding out about new stuff. Maybe this brand isn't bad despite it being cheap.

He throws the dart and hits 4, closer to the center.

[regisrex]

Cor is not wrong, really, and Regis knows it in some way. But what is at all familiar to him has gone preciously rare, and barbed, at that, so he clings to every last shard of familiarity. Lucis Caelums are cats, after all.

And Cor gets a very deliberate pout. "Of course. But even if you were up before noon, I probably didn't find out until after. Just a guess, based on how he is."

Fondly, though, so fondly.

[regisrex]

Oh...

Oh!

Clarus's reaction was far too close to surprising, considering part of where Regis's thoughts had been leading. Almost.

For now, the green irises shrunk as his pupils dilated, and his fingers twitched, wishing to reach up and cup the grizzled cheek. This wasn't.... he wasn't who he should have been, so far displaced in time from everyone. And he could respect that. He needed to respect that.

But Clarus. Clarus had not rushed to his side out of obligation or habit alone. Whatever the intervening years had brought, someone vying for Regis's interest still rankled, at least.

His voice was very soft, and the smile, still more layered than his usual in any one-on-one conversation with Clarus, was far less part of the mask.

"I didn't say that. He flirted with a handsome younger man, not with Regis Lucis Caelum."

[lordshield]

Clarus looked perplexed for a moment at the words Regis chose to use, then it seemed to click. "He didn't know who you are," he stated in conclusion. "And how did you react to him?"

It wasn't that Clarus was trying to be over-protective... He had a vague idea of where Regis was in their history, but regardless of what was happening between them then it did not give him any right to claim Regis now. Given the 35 years difference in age between them...

The old man sighed, shaking his head like he was trying to release an errant thought from his brain.

"I think I need some fresh air," he mumbled, staring a bit harder at the contents of his glass before downing it in one gulp.

[hashtagdaddy]

[If this were another time and another place, Gladio may have found this whole thing amusing. Not the blood starting to stain Ravus' coat and drip onto the floor - there's nothing adorable about making someone bleed. But watching, feeling Ravus grow more and more frustrated as not a single blow caused anything more than minor discomfort - that is hilarious to him.

With the metal arm limp in his hand, completely torn away from the enraged man still pinned to the wall, Gladio suddenly realizes the fight is pretty much over. Physically, there's nothing left Ravus can do to him and they both know it.]

Weak? Hah, you're the one without an arm. Again. Looks t'me like you're the defective one. [The words rumble out of him as he unceremoniously drops the now-useless arm onto the floor. A mirthless chuckle follows the satisfying 'clank' it makes, Gladio's amber eyes staring directly into Ravus' own heterochromatic gaze.]

They were both better'n that. Better'n us. [Fuck, feelings are coming back. Feelings that aren't rage or blind hatred. And Gladio far too drunk to stop talking now.]

Traded their lives f'r a world that won' understand. An' I failed 'em both. Shloulda been there. Shoulda died instead. [His words get quieter as he speaks, and he leans forward until their bodies press together and they're once again practically nose-to-nose. He's not sure which eye he finds prettier.]

Y'gonna shut up now? Cuz if y'don't I'll shut tha' pretty mouth for you. [Astrals, how the fuck much did he have to drink?!]

[spaceforged]

"Restless?" He asks, with a touch of concern. He knows that feeling. It's part of why he prefers being tipsy to being drunk. Drunk he doesn't move around much or do anything. Tipsy he's social and will move when he feels like it. "I'm Shiro, by the way. I live in the residence near the massive red wings."

He traces the wings in the air with his fingers. Sometimes he feels a bit guilty about how they dwarf the other buildings. Then he remembers he has the Lion far away from Zarkon.

[spaceforged]

"One story." He agrees and looks up at the ceiling. Which one? The Robeasts are not really all that bad. Finding the Marmora is personal. He's really damn drunk. Shiro flicks his hair out of his eyes. "I don't mean using the same magic you used before. It might be possible to recreate the protection with magic of this world."

Anyway. Story. "Anyway, story time. Okay so back when we were new to being Paladins we needed training. We were supposed to go visit a gauntlet of sorts. Except Coran got kidnapped because of his bar debt and to get him out they sent us out to get something of equal worth to a ten thousand year old bar debt."

It sounds nuts. He pauses and shake his head. "...We were tracking it to a planet and got attacked by-" Another pause and he takes a sip of water and looks at Ignis with one eyebrow raised. "Wait. Do you have any specific things you're afraid of. Bugs, body horror, etc? I'm really drunk and I need to know this before I keep going." At least he sounds concerned and a touch worried.

[regalblaze]

"Mmm," Ignis taps his fingers against the counter. "...perhaps. But again, I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to create a rune to fill it with the... with the replacement magic." It's a good thought, to make an attempt at it- even if the runes end up being temporary and work around 12-24 hours.

Ignis has no clue who Coran is, but from description Shiro just game him, he sounds clumsy and very bad with finances. "A ten-thousand-year-old interest laid on a bar debt. I can't say I want to be in his shoes." It sounds like an interesting story though.

"Things I'm afraid of?" There's a long pause. "Not really... I fought molten lava daemon giant with my daggers, slain snake size of two houses, speared a naga with a polearm and broke off centipede's legs." Another pause, then he raises his eyebrows. "Ah. Noct behind the wheel. That sends a shiver down my back despite the fact that he's not as bad as he used to be."

...that counts, right?

[spaceforged]

He stares at him. "...how many days were you stuck down there?" He ventures as he sets his drink down. For now. He keeps it close. He has a feeling he's going to want to drink more. The daemons had been awful looking as it was. He can still recall how his arm how glowed with blue silver light.

The bayard's shapes in there had been the same ones Zarkon used. He assumes that's because of how he'd seen Zarkon use it and not the bayard itself making commentary. Shiro shoves those thoughts aside. "Maybe the original Jabberwock down there had wings but, over time...?" That's a bit sad but at the same time.

Yeah. Thinking along these lines reminds him there is a time limit on his friend's life that's horribly short. He puts it aside as gently as he can manage. "Anyway, it sounds like an ancient prison or trap for the daemons."

[warpstriking]

He holds up two fingers, then a third when he realizes that he's missing a thing. Completely unphased by the stare. "Two days, three nights." Just thinking about it makes him feel tired again so he rests his forehead back on the cool surface of the table. "Never been so happy to see the tent."

Because, camping. They were too exhausted to even make it to an inn. The haven was right there. "No idea. There was only the one," he replies. He'd be more than happy to spitball ideas about the bayard shapes if he weren't so drunk. "Only reason we went there is because the daemons stole one of my family's glaives from his tomb. The Jabberwock ate it."

Yeah; try not to think too hard about that one, Shiro.

[spaceforged]

He nods. Okay so Noctis used to be pretty bad at driving. He won't remember this or he'd offer Noctis some pointers. "The thing to know about this whole thing is Coran and the Mu of the quadrant actually made that debt up. Acted out the kidnapping to sell it more. They wanted to motivate us to find better unity and there was a pretty bad problem about to hatch free of a moon. Two for the price of one."

He sighs, and continues slightly exasperated but that's the booze. He's not all that upset about it. Compared to other missions that one wasn't so bad. "So we were trailing this lead on the item and were attacked by a giant bug...does your world have praying mantis?"

[sonoftenebrae]

[The last time Ravus had flown into a rage like this, Ignis had had the good sense to sooth, rather than provoke, until he wore himself out fighting and calmed. Gladiolus, though, keeps poking.

Does he think Ravus doesn't know he's defective now, useless? He was born the son of a matriarchal line, knowing that his sister was doomed to die while he lived because he could never inherit the Oracle's power. That helplessness has hung over him like a shadow since they day the prophecy was confirmed.

He's acutely aware that the battle is over, that in his current state, he never stood a chance. He's going down, but not without one final dig.]

That bastard Arrrdyn had to save you when I bested you. You ran like a dog, tail between your legs. You were never going to be enough to save your king.

[He squirms against Gladio's hold, heart pumping with adrenaline that now has no outlet. Their faces are so close, each panting breath he takes is shared with Gladio.

When he sobers back up, he'll make excuses. The drink, the grief, the pent-up aggression, the utterly foreign sensation of being physically overpowered.

Y'gonna shut up now? Gladio asks, with his smug, infuriatingly handsome face and his hard body shoving Ravus painfully against the wall. He could shut up, and limp home, and keeping replaying those last days in Altissa over in his mind....

Or fuck that.]

Make me.

[Before they can make any more of a spectacle of themselves, the bar's bouncer grabs both of them by their shirts and hauls them apart. The two are propelled, unceremoniously, out the door and into the sidewalk in front of Jiminy's Juicery.]

[[ooc: We can continue this over here.]]

[sonoftenebrae]

[At a wave, the Bartender pours Ravus a glass of the bourbon Ignis has been drinking. Ravus swirls the amber liquid in the cup, delaying his words.]

The Oracle is the bridge between humanity and the Astrals. Our line has long communed with the Gods' messengers. We have always known the price of the Covenant to our Blood.

[From there, it was no great leap to conclude the prince's fate as well. Ravus does not meet Ignis' eyes.] I know not if it is more kind or cruel, to be told that which cannot be changed.

[Because Ravus knows now, it could not. He had tried to defy fate to no avail.]

[suigojin]

If it makes Ignis feel any better, his pun wasn't terrible, Gi was just distracted and missed it.

"Let me know how it tastes. I've never actually had it and honestly I'm afraid to try." Gi's not much of a cook himself--he can so that he doesn't have to live on takeout or overpriced restaurant food but it's nothing special.

It's his turn at the board again, and clearly Ignis hasn't had enough to drink, because he aims for and actually hits the bullseye this time.

[regisrex]

"Didn't flirt back." Calm and reasonable. And reassuring. He knew... he knew. But that didn't mean that he could stop loving Clarus. He never had been able to, after all.

His eyes dropped for a moment, after his Shield's statement, before smiling up a little again, at him.

"On your own?" A guy could hope, right?

[lordshield]

That was... oddly relieving. Again Clarus reminded himself that what Regis did was his own business, but also... having his childhood best friend flirt with his son sounded awkward. Best to avoid it altogether.

"Finish your drink," was his only response, but Regis would recognize it as an invitation to come along. He wanted to break that mask off his face, and this wasn't the place to do it. Maybe it wasn't the time either, but he had less discretion and judgment right now with the booze flowing in his blood.

[regisrex]

Regis's eyes widened very slightly, mostly because he had most of his drink still and he was not planning on getting very drunk, for very good reasons, but... There were things that were more important. And he could definitely handle this much.

"Gimme a moment."

He still didn't gulp it all at once, but it was drunk sooner rather than later.

"I'm done. All yours." And more than ever determined to not fuck up tonight. (Or ever, though he knew that one wasn't possible.)