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

[warpstriking]

I. The Calm Before the (Drunken) Storm

Well, that had all escalated rather quickly. Noctis had been the one to bring it up in passing in general that they should probably unwind, maybe get a drink. Especially considering how rough some of the memories were. There was also the excuse of forming a sense of camaraderie between those who've been here a couple months and the fresh meat newcomers, but it really was just an excuse. At least to him.

Normally, he only drank in the privacy of his apartment, but that poor thing is like rubble now and that simply encourages him to walk up to the bar after making sure Prompto was in a more secluded part of the bar that wouldn't racket up his anxiety further. Besides, he knows how he gets a few drinks in. So he makes himself comfortable at the bar, waiting for the bartender to get to him as he looks at the selection on the shelves behind them...

II. Ninety-Nine bottles of Firagaball on the Wall...

Later in the evening already has Noctis relaxing just a little bit more relaxed as he orders his third shot of a cinnamon whiskey he found was oddly similar to one they had back home. And, after the canned coffee shenanigans his first day here? Eh, not looking a gift chocobo in the beak. He was to the point it was a kind comfort as he lightly clinks the glass on the table and downs it.

The familiar burn is so much better than the other kind of burn, if you get what he means.

"Um," says a slightly concerned Ivory, as she nurses "Shouldn't you slow down, kupo?"

Noctis only motions to the half-eaten slice of pizza on his plate in front of him. See? At least he's responsible and not drinking on an empty stomach. He's fiiine. (He's not fine everything sucked.)

III. Let's Cling Together

It's almost 23:00 judging by the clock on his slate, which his moogle just checked to be absolutely certain that he had his asterisk set to ninja instead of- "Noct-?" Wait, where did he...? "Oh, Good King's sake..."

There is a very distressed moogle looking for her royal pain of a companion, but really, she shouldn't be too worried. He can't get that far without his preternatural warping ability (thank the gods). There's also less chance of him just roll-

No, no he's just sitting at another table. And if it's with someone he knows well enough? Well, he hopes they don't mind their personal space bubble being invaded. Otherwise, he's just sitting there in his chair, eyes a bit glossed over and suddenly feeling very chatty for once. At least, about anything other than what got them here in the first place. (It's embarrassing that all he knows is ballroom dancing, mmkay.)

...Yeah okay, and if he isn't grabbed by one of the others he might just be rolling around because he's too drunk to actually parkour. Acting like a cat high on catnip. Yep.

[OOC: If there's another thing you wanna do with Noct feel free to poke me. Otherwise, I'll match your formatting. o7]

III. Because ig dad hugs and drunken getting him home? Unless other plans for the latter.

[regisrex]

The thing is? Regis is also a little drunk. Because this place has been too much, and there is nothing that he can do about any of this. Not even about getting home to Father, who does need him.

But... He has not gone missing on Clarus or Cor. They would have told him. So maybe, just maybe, it's all right to be here for as long as he is.

Except alcohol certainly isn't making him feel cheerful. Quite the opposite, and he suspects that if he keeps on going, he might end up in tears, and he knows there are a number of people who would not like to see that. At all.

So, here he is, trying to keep his future son off the floor. Maybe.

"Hey. Easy there, Noct."

idk I'm just winging it

[warpstriking]

To be fair, he hasn't really even left the room. Ivory just fails at perception checks.It doesn't help that she's also been drinking, so there's that too.

But that's fine. Completely fine, except Regis seems miserable so clearly what he needs is a hug. Mmmyep. Don't mind him, Reggie. Just gonna half-drape himself because whoo boy, not his dad, too. One sad drunk in the family was bad enough, and said drunk is currently head-on-table groaning about something or other. Hm, maybe he should... eh. Sorry not sorry.

"I shtopped..." Oh dear, maybe he should have stopped before that last drink because it briefly registers that his words are slurring before he thinks screw it. But it's true. He did stop drinking anything that wasn't water. He just noticed the sad look and, in his current state, though this needs be remedied. With a hug. That he wouldn't do even while sober since he was like, ten. "Hangin' in there a'ight?"

Huh. Maybe this was why Cid's accent was always a bit slurred.(Nah.)

Yup understandable

[regisrex]

One thing that Noctis probably doesn't quite know about Regis: Regis basically the opposite of dislikes touch. So the hug? Very much welcome.

It even makes him smile, soft and true.

"Stopped is a good thing, so long as you're fine. Though I'm probably asking Sidra for directions to take you home. And I'm fine, thanks. It's good, seeing everyone have fun."

No falsehoods. Other than the 'fine' part, but it was close enough.

II (I have no clue where this will lead, I'm just winging it)

[regalblaze]

"Yes, he should," a familiar voice joins in.

Ignis takes a seat next to him at the table, placing his drink down as well. He's not going to lie, he's been drinking too. But not at the speed Noct has been going. Ignis wasn't counting but that looked like the third shot in last ten minutes.

"And before you say anything," Ignis raises his hand to stop Noct from talking, "I'm not here to stop you from drinking. Just to tell you to slow down." Or you'll get sick and throw up in fifteen minutes.

(that's the point of this log.jpeg)

[warpstriking]

Noct pouts. No really, pouts because he knows his limits. Why you both gotta be like this?

"Et tu, Igs?" he mutters, before gently pushing the shot glass away for a moment. Just to placate the two. See? Slowing down. It gets a slightly relieved sigh from Ivory, who flutters back to the bar to ask for a glass of water for her charge. Leaving the two alone for a bit.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[regalblaze]

Because he's your advisor and friend. He's not sure about Ivory though.

"I just don't want you getting sick in the middle of the party," Ignis adds lightly, taking a casual sip of his drink. He watches Ivory fly away then refocuses on Noct again. The amount of memories Noct went through- that's going to leave a toll.

"Gil for your thoughts?" The man prods gently. But it's fine if Noct ends up not wanting to talk. That's just how things are sometimes.

III Because we decided this

[spaceforged]

...he had been afraid everything would get crazy. He's had to move about and quell little problems. It's something to focus on after the terrible things happened in the dream width. He'd started to relax as the familiar action of managing others and making sure they're alright settled all his nerves. It doesn't chase away the phantom pains but, better than nothing.

Until his friend Noctis starts moving about the room and he loses track of him. "Noctis?" He pulls himself away from one small spat that had started to escalate until he cooled it down and scans the room. No unruly black hair. He catches sight of his moogle and ignores his own drunkenly recounting some adventure to someone else's moogle. "Noctis?" He tries again, slipping between tables as he tries to locate him.

He finds him rolling around on the floor like a cat. Dear God. He kneels down beside him while Wimbledon drifts by, "You know I once traded a used-" He tunes it out. "Come on, up off the floor. This isn't a safe spot with this many people drinking."

quietly laughs

[warpstriking]

Noctis has no idea how he wound up on the floor. He really doesn't. But it's cool and he kinda feels a bit hot? Must have been all the cinnamon whiskey. Either way he's comfy, rolling about and somehow dodging the foot traffic for the most part as he almost giddily grins as he passes his friends unseen.

He really should have stopped after the third round he lost of sinking ship but who cares? This is fuuun.

It's only made worse by the fact he currently has his ninja asterisk equipped so not only is he unseen, his movements are unheard as well until he chuckles once or twice. It's not long after that he notices that familiar weird poof of white hair on black fuzz and buzz-cut sides. Heh. It looks like a baby white chocobo's tail feathers. Why'd he not notice that before?

"Heeey Shiro." He stops rolling and waves, which is probably the best time to really grab him so he doesn't keep rolling. "Did anyone ever tell you that your hair looks liiike schomeone stuck a baby white chocobo's butt on your head?"

[spaceforged]

He sighs. Now he'll never unsee it when he looks in the mirror. Great. "No, that's definitely a new one." Shiro reaches out to grasp Noctis's shoulder. If he doesn't get a hold on him now he'll probably lose track of him again. Then he'd have to seek him out and he doesn't have dragon sight yet. It would be like 'Where is Waldo: the lost friend edition'. No. "Let's get you to a chair. Okay?"

Maybe he can get some water into him after that. Probably a long shot but he likes to have hope. Even if he can't he can at least keep an eye on him.

[chocobosnap]

Prompto's entire experience with being drunk at the moment, was miserable. He was in a bad mood, a miserable one, and filled with a disgusting level of self-pity and hate and maybe he shouldn't drink.

However, it was far too late for that, because he was drunk.

He didn't have time to ruminate when Noctis sat down beside him.

"Hey Noct." Prompto smiled, because his best friend never failed to get a smile out of him.

[warpstriking]

Noctis noticed the long look on his best buddy's face, so after he got back from his Grand Adventure™ with Ignis and their quest for bacon, he excuses himself and leaves Iggy to Gladio, who.... might be as drunk as they are. Whoops.

Ah well, he and good decisions broke up a while ago, so he just silently makes his way over and plops himself down beside him, placing the wrapped package of pork product in front of his bestie and leans in close. Placing his own in the table in front of him.

"Heyyy Prom," he smiled back, nudging the thing to him. "Speccy and I got bacon buns. Figured you'd want one."

[chocobosnap]

"Shouldn't..." Prompto admitted, but he was also drunk and hadn't eaten anything like a responsible person. It smelled good too, but really, he knew better. If he ate it, he was going to regret it.

"Looks so good though." He hesitated a moment before shrugging, fuck it, and began unwrapping it.

"I can hate myself more tomorrow." He muttered under his breath. "Thanks Noct."

I - Let's get this bit of awkward out of the way...

[boomchucka]

There was a person that Selphie had been intentionally avoiding for the past couple of months. The last time she had seen that face was back after a world had been saved so naturally, she had her reservations about bringing up old memories. Granted, she hadn't the old man very well either but she couldn't let her own worries get the best of her. Perhaps, and Selphie was hoping beyond all hope, that everything would be fine.

After the earlier debacle with the barkeep, Selphie has opted to remain with the sugary drinks as she founds herself nearby Noctis as she hops up on a barstool to get a better look at the spread that the bar was offering. Contrary to the dark look that the barkeep was giving her, she smiled sweetly at him before propping her elbows and looking at the young man beside her curiously. She doesn't let the look linger for too long before she brings her attention back to the drinks on the wall.

"So..." she began conversationally. "What do you recommend?"

[warpstriking]

Noctis blinked, not really expecting to have a complete stranger approach him. Let alone strike up a conversation. It wasn't like he really had much of a "come talk to me" vibe going on. In fact, he's trying very hard to just try and figure out what the hell half of these brands were.

"Huh?" He turned slightly, no sign of recognition in his eyes at the girl's voice or face. He waved it off. "Dunno. Don't recognize any of 'em."

[boomchucka]

Selphie eyed Noctis curiously as she leans in a bit closer to get a better look at him. Not quite that short, pale, very messy hair. She's reminded of a description of someone with that kind of appearance not too long after they had all arrived. She tried to hide the mildly surprised look on her face as she realized that she's seen that face before. The lack of recognition in meeting her is leading her towards a conclusion that this is not Ardyn.

"Hmmmm... I've just hit the legal drinking age around here and I grew up in a military academy so I'm not really familiar with them either." She confessed.

Getting out of Noctis' bubble, Selphie turned her attention back to the selection of drinks that she can't really get a good look at. She could ask the bartender if he'd name off a few bottles at random but their relationship wasn't exactly cordial at that point in time. There was one to find out two little pieces of information that were burning a hole in Selphie's mind as she eventually leaned forward over the counter to get a better look at the bottles.

"I wonder if they have any of the same drinks they had at Aqures Ixen?" She wondered out loud while dropping an intentional hint to see if this person is definitely not who she thinks he is.

II

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus had seen Noctis when he entered the bar, but had not approached right away. After reaching the end of one bottle of wine and telling the bartender to leave the second bottle on the table, he wanders to the king's side. His body and his tongue are both loosened with drink, though he walks with deliberately over-exaggerated straight posture to prove that he is still completely in control.]

You.

[He waves has hand at the moogle to shoo her.] Leave us. I must speak to his Noctis. [Wait, that doesn't sound right. His highness. Close enough.

He leans toward the king, not swaying at all probably.]

Were you with me earlier, or was that a...a construct of my mind?

[warpstriking]

[It was probably a good thing that he didn't, considering how they both were likely emotionally raw after what transpired in the dream. He was still swirling the golden liquid in his third glass when he hears that sharp pronoun being tossed in his direction and tenses. Great, just great.

Ivory seems about to protest when Noct holds up his hand to stop her.]

Ivory. [A note of warning. Even drunk and swaying a little, he was not about to start something here.] Get us some water?

[Because giving the buzzed moogle a task was a better option than allowing her to start a bar fight she'd lose even to someone who doesn't have an asterisk yet. He's that strong on his own. The moogle huffs, but does flutter away to the bar. Already complaining about ungrateful otherworlders. Excellent. She'll be rambling the poor bartender's ear off for a while now.]

Ravus. And yeah, I was.

[He finally gets to greet the other and confirm his suspicions, before gesturing to the empty chair across from him. Ravus wasn't quite to the point where it looked like he was going to topple over at so much as an errant breeze, but Noctis figures it's best to offer anyway.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus glares, then sits, then glares a little more. Finally, he remembers what he came over her to say.]

Forget what you saw. It was not yours to see.

[The memory is still hazy in his mind, and he hopes drink will dull it further, but while he still remembers, he must speak up. His voice goes softer, the way it had when he had spoken to Lunafreya.]

She...would not be ashamed of her tears, but... she would not want them to add to your burden.

[He's not tearing up, thinking of how much stronger his little sister is...was. He's just...turning away and blinking because the air quality in this dive bar is so poor.]

III because I have no self control

[littlemhigan]

Castor does not often trip.

She never trips.

She just tripped. And with none of her usual grace, either; alcohol has her senses good and clouded and her arms and legs feel like lead. She lands heavily next to whatever the hell she tripped over and turns an angry drunk glare at...

Oh it's Noctis. Sleepy guy. Sleepy neighbour up at unholy hours guy kid.....hey.

"Th' fuck're ye doin on the floor?"

I lied I just did a new comment

[warpstriking]

Well, congratulations. You've joined the tripped over something club. He chuckles quietly to himself until he thuds into something solid and moving, and stops flat on his stomach. It's likely not going to be a good idea but the floor is cool and-

Oh. he's being addressed. Riiight.

"Tripped." It's a simple enough answer, but he ain't gonna say much more on it. Not in his current state. "Floor's nice."

[littlemhigan]

"Oh. Me too. Think it was yer leg."

Castor rolls a little onto her side so she can actually look at Noctis properly. "'S nice yeah. But 's not good te stay here. People're walkin. An' trippin'."

slings this sloppy drunk princess over her shoulder

[moogleshield]

Somewhere along the way, the party had begun to thin. Someone shouted in her ear (she couldn't tell who) that they were taking Prompto home, and she had since lost track of both her father and her brother in the late night shuffle to last call. Someone (again, she couldn't tell who) asked her to keep an eye on Noctis for a little bit, and Iris had assumed that this would be an easy enough task. Of course! Leave it to her! What could possibly go wrong?

Well.

Let it be known that she's not averse to people being close. She goofs off with Gladio all the time, and is the first one to lean in for an impromptu selfie with Prompto. But Noctis is different. It's always kind of a tease, a sort of how-close-can-she-get-without-being-too-close sort of game that probably only ever existed in her own head.

She's also not averse to people letting go, as long as they have someone there to keep an eye out. Life is short, and in the world they call a home, happiness isn't guaranteed. There's a lot of darkness there, even without the encroaching night.

So Iris is glad that he's finally getting a chance to let go, because it's good every once in a while. But as he gets dangerously close to crossing that make-believe line she envisioned, the more... fidgety she gets. She hasn't said anything yet, buuuuut the balance between trying to be a good friend and mentally hyperventilating because someone you really kind of like more than just a little is a lot more friendly than usual...

tl;dr the struggle is real and she doesn't know what to do with any of this right now. NOCT WHY.

[warpstriking]

There was a reason that, back home, he never drank in public. Or alone, for that matter. Even if it was rare in the year he was legally allowed to when he didn't drink a year underage because he was the law's son. He also hadn't had any alcohol since the fall of their home, so that also hadn't helped his already lower tolerance level. (But then, when one of your comparisons is Gladio... well, it gets a bit skewed.) Still, he didn't seem to be that bad at first. Head resting on the table with a now-empty glass of water and a wrapper of some sort wadded up by his hand.

That was before she sat down next to him, which practically invited the affectionate drunk to start leaning more on her than the table. He'll feel bad about this in the morning, but it's just a lean, right? That shouldn't be too bad, riiight?

"Mmm?" Though there's just one thing. He's still vaguely decent at telling when someone is uncomfortable. Or maybe that's more because he hasn't had anything but water to drink for the last hour and he's starting to sober up just a little bit.

"Everythin' OK, Iris?" You know, aside from waking up in a strange world and seeing your king and childhood friend/crush drunk off his ass and now starting to cling to her. No biggie, right?

III

[shinra_dog]

Reno had to admit, he was worried about his young friends. They weren't that young, he supposed, but he knew what damage he could do to himself at that age when shit was bad. And shit had been bad. But a chatty, even messy, Noctis was better than the alternative.

He instinctively put out his hand when it looked like Noctis might slip from his seat and subtly looked to Clarus across the bar to let him know everything was alright. He didn't mind. Reno wanted to bring this young man into the Brotherhood, after all -- it was only right he take some responsibility for him.

"No worries," the redhead assured Noctis. "You were sayin'?"