I Never Will Play the Wild Rover No More

[unheiring]

Who: Luca Aurelius and YOU
What: It's a bar log. For all your drinking needs. Make your own top-levels and have your own bar-related fun here.
When: End of March up to just before the event
Where: The Watchtower Bar
Warnings: Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.


It sure has been a month, hasn't it? And it's probably been made all the worse by the fact that Luca has been keeping the bar closed more often than not. Someone's had a lot on his mind, you see. Even when the bar has been open, Luca's presence has been missing, with only the spirit to tend to any, well... spirits you might have needed! There's no stew over the fire, or anything like that. It's great for drinking, but not much else.

But he can only wallow in misery for so long. And by that, we mean deal with the spirit occupying his walls, staring at him somberly every time he refuses to open the doors.

So, finally, toward the end of March, the doors to the bar open. One night at first. Then a second. By the third, it's the longest stretch they've stayed open since everything went to shit! Moreover, a pot of stew always seems to be brewing, a fresh deck of cards has been laid out on the table, and a new, makeshift dartboard has been prepared.

Well. If ever there's been a time to party, it's now. Grab your alcohol from your host, or do your own thing. It's about time the Grove got to relax.

Comments

[unheiring]

[Luca seems to be throwing himself into his efforts around the bar. Early in the day will see him fiddling with the hearth. He seems to be trying to get the simmer just right on the stewpot. More than once, you might catch sight of him thrusting his whole hand straight into the fire. Maybe you should stop him? Or watch as he pulls his hand back, watching it as it blazes brightly with still smoldering flames. He shakes it off after a moment, before finally leaving it be.

If he catches you looking, he’ll just roll his eyes.]

It’s not nearly as bad it looks.

[If you’re a late comer, Luca has taken his place behind the counter by now. He’s more than happy to pull down anything you might ask for. You can even ask for recommendations. Though he might be a little more curmudgeonly about that. Just don’t ask him for advice, especially if you’re off your ass drunk.

Or do, I’m not your dad. Just don’t expect actual help.

(Or maybe do. He’s a bleeding heart.)

Of course, as any given night comes to an end, Luca might start to make eyes at you. His own posture is beginning to show the slightest signs of exhaustion, even though he tries to pretend they’re not there. He will approach eventually though, with a rather brusque clearing of the throat.]

It’s rather late, don’t you think?

[winterfrosting]

[So the Watchtower is something Dark Cacao has assumed this entire time was, well, exactly that. A Watchtower. He hasn't explored it yet largely because he wasn't sure if someone lived there- it seemed closed down until recently, after all.

Tonight is the night though, and he walks in. Not in his full armor at least, but instead his under armor leathers and shirt.

...huh. This looks more like an inn or tavern than an outpost. He blinks, steps back out to make sure he didn't' walk into the wrong building, then comes back in.]

Hmm...

[Poor man looks a bit lost]

[soundsurfing]

[ HEY IT'S GRAMPS. The now-very-human-cause-qwest-done blonde grins as he watches the in, out, and in. ]

Nah, try again, Pops, you might get it in another round.

[ At least the voice is familiar? ]

[winterfrosting]

[He scoffs]

So, this is a tavern then... is that Beat?

[You are no longer dog! That's good(?)]

behind the counter // sillies after they Feel Bad for a while, as is mandated in the lore-

[purifier]

[sudden hoof noises from across the way, clompclompclomp

yeets himself into a stool and spins around]

Lu. [the stool is spinning] Make me food.

[this is what you signed up for are you happy with yourself luca]

[soundsurfing]

The one and only, yo! Come over, have a sit, drink! I prolly shouldn't be here but who gonna kick me out. The fuck is a tavern?

[ He may be a few inches shorter now that he's no longer standing digitigrade but he's still fucking tall. And beefy. ]

[winterfrosting]

[he smiles and nods, coming over and sitting. Seems he doesn't take the full moon attacks personally!]

A place you can drink and buy a meal. Sometimes even a bed for the night.

[soundsurfing]

Oh! Cool! That sounds like a hotel.

[ He's really glad DC seems chill about the attack, but just to be sure, Beat will buy a round for DC - enjoy the ghostly serve he's not gonna bother Luca - of whatever he's drinking (it's alcoholic). ]

Hey uh....... thanks, man. Fer that night. I was outta my mind.

[ And if DC looks close enough he can see the wolfsbane is still there, peeking out of Beat's hair. ]

[winterfrosting]

Your companion explained it to some degree. That the moon made you into a beast. I am glad I learned it was you- you may not have a head otherwise.

[So casually!]

[soundsurfing]

Ye... that's the thing, I don't think it was the Moon.

[ He reaches up and pulls a wolfsbane flower off, wincing, and dropping it onto the table. ]

Think I'm corrupted, like wid Elsy an' the lil' girl, Nina or whatever. 'Splains the bite I woke up wi- hold up, yo, you'da taken my head off?!

[winterfrosting]

[he picks up the flower to examine]

If you were an intruder, yes.

behind the counter

[winterfrosting]

[Huh. That is certainly some kind of stew, but it has a scent he doesn't recognize. Cacao approaches curiously]

May I ask after the food you are cooking?

[soundsurfing]

.... Damn. That's pretty fuckin' hardcore, Pops, but I get it. But also, damn dude.

[ It looks like just a flower, never mind it's sprouting out of Beat's head. ]

[winterfrosting]

In such circumstances you can not hesitate. Hesitation costs lives.

[He 'hmmm's over the flower]

I do not recognize this bloom, but if they are growing from you corruption is a fair assumption.

[forwander]

[The World's Worst Bird has Arrived™ aka from the workshop he realised that the bar was open finally and decided to see what the deal was. As expected... it's a tavern. Passenger doesn't know what he was expecting... more drunkards dead on the floor, maybe?

Either way, he'll sit himself at a table near the wall and just sort of... people-watch. Eavesdrop, really. Are you having a loud conversation? He's listening. Woefully at the bar, drunk as hell? Recorded in his memories forever, and probably going to be shared with Sesa later. Do you suck at darts? Passenger Will Remember That.

If he sees you people-watching him back, he'll politely offer a wave and a,]

Do you care to sit with me for a spell?

[Otherwise, you're probably one of the people he's watching. Do something embarrassing enough, and you may find him walking up to you just to comment,]

Quite the display. Are you a little too far into your cups?

[Feel free to tell him to shut the fuck up at any time.]

[soundsurfing]

Ice fuckin' cold. But ye, I feel ya.

[ When DC is gifted a drink from Beat order coming in, it's just a typical beer. That's all Beat can handle himself, really. ]

Funny fuckin' thing. It's Wolfsbane, yo. Poisonous to werewolves. It shoulda killed me but here I guess it just.

[ Gestures. You know. ]

[winterfrosting]

Hm. Cruelly ironic..

[He picks up the beer and moves to sip... then wrinkles his nose at the smell]

This Root Beer smells oddly sour.

[soundsurfing]

Jus' my luck, brotha.

[ ..... The sniff makes him blink, then sniff his own? Did he order root beer?? ]

Uh... mine don't smell like root beer. [ A little sniff of Dark Cacao's. ] Neither does yers, yo. Smells jus' like normal beer.

[winterfrosting]

[He blinks down at it. Some other kind of soda then? It's certainly lacks tartness so it can't be juice. He finally shrugs a little and sips.

His eyes bug slightly. Bitter and sour! But to his Ridge sensibilities he actually... kinda likes it. He nods]

Acceptable.

THE LORE HAS SPOKEN

[unheiring]

[Luca startles at the noise, spinning around quickly and reaching for a sword he doesn't have on his person. The second that he processes Zahliya's form, however, he finds himself simply sighing in exasperation. He nods to the hearth.]

Is the stew not good enough for you? Have you something to say of its flavor?

[His tone is... teasing? Almost?]

[unheiring]

[Even if Luca hasn't shown his face much, he's still kept a watchful eye on the new faces that have come through. The man, with his large sword and commanding presence, has been a curiosity to Luca. So much so that he watches the man as he moves about the bar, albeit covering his spying up as he cleans a glass.

He plays the part of a busy and slightly surprised businessman as he's approached, though. The glass is set down, before he considers the question asked.]

Rabbit. Albeit one slightly infused with some sort of moss. I can assure you that I have cooked it before, however. There will be no ill effects on your health.

[winterfrosting]

Ah, rabbit.

[That perks him up, though the rabbits he's thinking off are quite a bit more... rice... based... than what's in the stew]

What do you charge.

[unheiring]

[As a bartender, Luca's job is to people watch back. People watch, and of course approach with a bit of alcohol in kind. He has a jug of wine in one hand and a glass in the other. The latter is extended in offering, but not yet set down.]

You would look far more natural if you had a glass in hand. [His voice is... not quite flat and unamused, but certainly not Excited about Passenger's snooping.] Otherwise, you will find yourself approached by those that would rather not be spied upon.

[unheiring]

[At that, he can't help but let out a bark of laughter. He doesn't sound particularly amused, though.]

Truth be told, I don't expect I'll ever understand the conversion rate here. But it isn't as if I have to pay to restock. [A shrug.]

Take what you wish and pay what you will. A shell or so should suffice, two if you wish for a drink to go with it.

[winterfrosting]

Very well.

[He will dig around in his pouch for some shells- he took to scrounging soon as Vanilla explained their purpose to him, and places two on the counter]

You have my thanks. I have... been lacking in meat since I arrived.

[he loves Vanilla, he really does. And respects his desire to not eat living things. But crumbs he kinda misses some hearty jelly meat]