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

II

[shinra_dog]

Reno wasn't sure if this was the place or time, but he did owe Ignis some explanation eventually. He'd walked up just in time to hear Ignis' words.

"To be fair, you could make the case we shouldn't be here, either," Reno pointed out as he sat across the table from Ignis. "But since the universe already stomped all over that..."

He raised his glass to finish his idea.

"You doin' okay?"

[Drop the bomb]

[shinra_dog]

Reno applauds at the display with a grin. He hadn't gone for any fancy shots, kept things cheap and simple, but even he was surprised no one had done this yet. Reno wasn't sure what he expected of Kenichi but it wasn't quite this. Then again, Saori had blown his expectations out of the water as well.

If ever there were "cool parents" ... Saori and Kenichi were probably it.

"Yeah, show 'em how it's done, Pops!"

[lordshield]

Clarus was just slowed enough at this point that it hit, and hit hard. The whole bar might hear the crash of Cor's fist against the elder man's jaw, the sound of teeth clacking together. The Shield was already reeling, and then the shove. It was almost comical, but it was the opportunistic push that sent him crashing to the ground.

Thankfully he was able to keep his skull from hitting the hard floor, and after a moment to collect himself, he was back on his feet and lunging at the smaller man to try to grapple him and get him in a headlock.

[immortalmarshal]

Cor moves as soon as his foot is free, too pissed off to do the wise thing and end the fight right then and there by walking away. Instead, he grins wickedly as he sees Clarus fall onto the ground, and he moves in just as Clarus gets back up.

Big mistake, since his own, slower reflexes left him wide open to find himself within a headlock. "Ack--!" He beats on Clarus' upper arms for a few moments; if that doesn't work on letting him go, then Cor will try to stomp his own heel on the bigger man's toes in retribution.

[lordshield]

Clarus used his weight and his hold to bring Cor down to his knees, so he wouldn't have as far to fall if Clarus ended up needing to choke him out. He was holding fast, restricting breathing just a bit, but still leaving plenty of room for air.

"If you'd shut th' fuck up for once and lissin," he slurred, his jaw still hurting and beginning to swell. "We were betrayed, you lil' shit. We got hit from the inside. That's why Regis an' I died. So ex-fuckin-scuse me for exercisin' caution with those 'round prince Noct."

[hashtagdaddy]

The second shot burned less and Gladio would blame any possible wetness in his eyes on the perfectly succinct and hearfelt toast his father had offered up. The days after Insomnia's fall had been difficult, and that was putting it mildly. He's known his father had to be dead and in the time he spent waiting to hear about Iris, Gladio's only thoughts centered on his blood family and on protecting his found family.

But here in this world, his father was alive and Iris was here too and he couldn't ask for more.

Picking up the third shot, Gladio took a moment to think on what his next toast would be. Deciding on a few words, he lifted his glass.

"To a good man, a great father, an' a damn excellent Shield." How could he not honor his father? With an earnest smile, he gulped down the third shot and again set his glass face down on the bar.

[immortalmarshal]

Cor is finding it a little hard to breathe, but he's not quite giving up just yet. Even as he's forced onto his knees, he tries in vain to pry Clarus' hold off of him.

And then those words hit, and he just...freezes, the words sinking into his liquor-addled brain.

"...what." He growls. "How the hells did dat happen? Who's th'bastard I gotta kill when we git home?"

[lordshield]

Clarus didn't push, either. He nodded to acknowledge Reno's presence, but waited for the younger man to initiate conversation. He himself was a very direct person and preferred to get things over with, but this wasn't his issue to fix. Stil, he recognized the behavior in others that had worked under him in years past, and so it was up to Reno to open the door on this one.

He motioned for the bartender to bring them another round of what he'd been drinking before he acknowledged Reno's words. "It was. But it's not the worst I've been through." Turning to face Reno completely, he offered an understanding shadow of a smile and placed a comforting hand on the redhead's shoulder. "More importantly, are you alright after that fiasco?"

[lordshield]

Finally, the boy was losing some of his fight, which was a relief because Clarus wasn't sure how much more he had in him.

"Drautos," he answered as he tentatively began to release Cor, though he was ready to re-initiate his hold if Cor started to get uppity towards him again. "Titus Drautos was General Glauca the whole time. We were all blind t'him." Even Cor.

[littlemhigan]

"From my fifth nameday te nearly my twenty-fifth, aye. War drove my da' and I away from our home an' we settled with some other refugees. It was shite livin, till I started makin' a name for myself in Ul'dah. I was set te be a gladiator, but the adventurin' life took me instead, I suppose."

Castor plays with her shot glass a little. She's not uncomfortable with this topic so much as she's just self-conscious about it; not unlike her first few weeks in Ishgard.

" 'S not much different here, to be honest. I'd made somethin' of meself back home, ye see. Managed to get Da into the city; had some gil to spare, usually. Here's...well, there's much that's familiar, but more that isn't.

"What of you? I'm sure this is a step down from fancy livin'."

[immortalmarshal]

Thankfully for Clarus, Cor isn't going to try and hurt the older man some more at this point. But when he hears that name, his blood runs cold for a few moments. Drautos was Glauca, the man who burned Tenebrae, who invaded and burned Galahd...He killed his brothers?

"...that fuckin' little two-timing Gods-damned traitor!" Cor swings his fist once more...but at a chair this time, breaking the seat right in the middle. His cry could probably be heard by much of the their fellow patrons around them.

[suigojin]

"...Tongue action."

Ignis probably doesn't mean it in anything resembling the context Gi decided to take it in, but it doesn't stop Gi from snorting and failing to hold in laughter. It's a good thing the drinks are shots and therefore small, since it's very embarrassing for tequila to exit through one's nose. Not that he's had experience with this or anything.

"Would it help later?" It's either a terrible joke or a terrible pick-up line, but either way it's terrible but he doesn't feel too bad about it. His turn at the dartboard is momentarily forgotten while he waits for Ignis' reaction.

[lordshield]

It was with the breaking of the chair that Clarus remembered that they were in a public place, and there was indeed a bouncer watching them apprehensively as if trying to figure out what exactly to do about the geriatric throwdown.

The Shield was the first to stand, brushing any dirt off himself and reaching for his wallet to offer a decent sum to the bouncer. "We'll be out of your hair. Sorry for the mess. This should cover it."

He turned expectantly to Cor, giving him a look that told him to behave or else, and then made his way out of the tavern. They could talk outside.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus raises his glass to that. Fuck the Astrals and the star they rode in on.]

You've no cause to apologize to me. Go if you wish.

[At a glance, Ignis still seems shaken. Ravus nods in his direction.]

Take care on your way home.

[littlemhigan]

"Sounds like a story there, but I ain't about te pry. Ye ain't gonna do any adventurin' in this shape anyrate."

Castor looks around, finally noticing and then waving her Moogle over. "Benny, love, bring us some water yeah?" the moogle 'Kupo's quietly and flutters off. "Ye tellin me that yer Da showed up, here, the same age you are? Sounds as though The Keeper's got a bone te pick wiv ye."

[shinra_dog]

Reno smiled tightly, embarrassed, but he gave a curt nod. "I feel like I've made a terrible impression," he admitted. "But..."

He took a breath and self-consciously rested his hand over his scarred forearm, covered though it was with his sleeve. "They're old wounds. The universe just continues to bring them back, for whatever reason. But I promise you, I'm not crazy."

He wouldn't have blamed Clarus for thinking so, after seeing what he'd seen. After seeing what Reno had been convinced to believe to such extent that he would finally try to tear himself apart.

[lordshield]

"I'm sorry to hear that." Truly he was. The refugee situation in Lucis hadn't been great for some time either, but while trying to solve the problems of the people was a headache, he knew he couldn't possibly hope to sympathize with them. Their pain and struggles were so much more than he could hope to understand.

"You have the opportunity to make something of yourself here as well," he pointed out, though didn't push it further unless she so chose.

"More like falling off a cliff, yes," he agreed. "I was..." How to carefully word this... "I was one of the top-ranked officials of my kingdom. Here I am nothing. I don't resent it, and I know I'll manage, but it's certainly been a change." He chuckled then. "The hardest thing has been leaning to cook for myself, if you can believe it."

[sonoftenebrae]

[He eyes the man, noting his otherworldly appearance. He does wonder what he'd see in the memories of a man like that.]

That phenomenon only happens in the skies, from what I understand. There is one way to ensure your past remains your own- do not return to the rift.

[Ravus certainly does not plan on going back...unless someone from his world is in need of rescue.]

[sonoftenebrae]

What words could you possibly...?

[Ravus should refuse, on principle, but he is so astonished by the offer, intrigued by what justification Clarus thinks he can present, that he stays.]

Very well. Speak. What peace do you think you can grant me?

[lordshield]

[To speed things along, Clarus motioned for a passing waitress and gave her gil, telling her to get whatever Ravus wanted and to keep the change. With that out of the way, he turned his attention back to the young man.]

Your mother's killer has met his just end. I was told by a Glaive, Nyx Ulric, that he met a painful death in Insomnia. After, of course, taking my life and King Regis', if that brings you any solace. And the icing on the cake, he was serving the crown while serving the Empire as a double agent. So our foolishness was our downfall.

[His words have bitter edge. He's never understood Ravus' complete hatred for Lucis when all they'd ever done was attempt to be allies and friends to Tenebrae. The skirmish at Tenebrae had been nothing short of an ambush and a massacre, and there was only so much anyone could do in that situation. But the boy was blinded by his sorrow and rage, and it only festered over the years.]

You've found your justice all around.

[lordshield]

One of the advantages, or disadvantages, to getting older was less sensitive taste buds. Of course the alcohol still wafted into his nose and threatened to clear his sinuses, but he didn't react to the elixir as he once might have.

The last bit got a bit of a wry look out of the older Shield. Some shield he was, him and his king both dead. But... he mentally reminded himself that they'd made their peace and knew that night would be their last. Well, they'd calculated it would be, anyhow. And their sacrifice was for their children. He knocked back the third without a word before reaching for the fourth, no hesitation this time.

"To my son, who has made me prouder than any father in this world or any other." Clink, drink, and down.

[lordshield]

Clarus dropped his hand from Reno's shoulder, but not his genuinely concerned expression. This was where being an experienced father and empathetic commanding officer came in handy.

"Reno, we've all seen some shit. We've all made mistakes," he assured his friend. "You were a younger man then. You've learned, I presume, from the experiences and bettered yourself with the knowledge."

It was all information Clarus filed away, for what purpose he didn't know, but filed away nonetheless. For the moment he had no intentions of turning anything against Reno, but they both knew each other as dangerous men. Reno would understand that he was keeping cards up his sleeve just in case.

[regisrex]

"Mm." Regis didn't point out that, no matter how adult they were, if King Mors were to show up and act like he had no care or responsibility in the world, it would break them. He either didn't need to, for Clarus was merely soothing him, or there was no use. In either case, he took the comfort.

The rest...

Regis sighed, and straightened a touch, only enough to look at Clarus and try to gauge just how different a few months longer stay turned perceptions.

"Talk to me." Not pleading, and certainly not a command. But a request all the same, green eyes clear and calm. "If not about whatever you are avoiding about Eos, then about this place."

[regisrex]

"Oh, so that is why it was." It was such a good pout, too, even though his eyes sparkle with amusement at the reasonable explanation. And at least Regis isn't too affectionate. Merely a touch too close. The number of people he's comfortable like that with was almost very small, anyway.

"Did anyone show you mercy, water bottle, and aspirin? Or did you discover those later?"

They weren't a cure for hangover, more like relief, but they did help.

"Not many people ever win drinking contests with Clarus." So, so fond. Whatever Cor remembers about these two from thirty years ago? The reality was probably even more so.

Sigh

[regisrex]

"Ah. Ignis does that, does he? And yet he is the one who cooks?" Because that sounded like a repeated offense, and Regis can guess. "He must make up for it spectacularly."

Yes. Dad is curious about everything.