You Guys Had A Rough Month(s), Time To Drink

[unheiring]

Who: Anyone and everyone.
What: It’s a bar log, throw your characters on here.
When: After the Arbor has gone away but before the snakes come to play.
Where: The Watchtower Bar
Warnings: Alcohol, per usual.


Well, it’s been a long few months. A lot of you have died. Some of you probably repeatedly. But there’s good news to be had. The bar is still open, and between Luca and his spirit companion, there’s plenty of hands to pass everything around. In fact, Luca actually seems to be encouraging it. Anyone found to be in a state of melancholy is encouraged to stop by.

It isn’t just alcohol, mind you. Anyone in need of a hot meal will find one waiting for them on the hearth. Rather than stew, he’s serving something else this month. And of course, there is the usual assortment of cheeses to go around.

He’s also set up something special. All of the tables are more pushed to the side than usual, leaving a fair bit of room at the center of the room. Set up nearby are the records he’d received for the holiday, playing some more lively tunes. Need a dance? You’ll have one. Just mind the hearth, he can’t exactly move that.

Luca, of course, will put it best. “Come and revel. The months have been long and cold, and we know not what tomorrow brings.”

Comments

[ichoosefight]

It seems like he might have the wrong idea again, but she thinks maybe she's done enough psychic damage for one day. She gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder and gently pushes him in the direction of the bar. She will accompany him, as his partly-straight buffer.

"How about a rum and coke? Nice and simple." And it won't burn out your insides if you're not used to rum. She certainly isn't. She does kinda like it, though.

[outofsynth]

That's helpful, and Min-Gi appreciates it. It wouldn't be so surprising if she left him to her own devices given her current impression of him. He isn't quite sure what to make of her, but he's grateful she isn't abandoning him.

"Yeah, okay," he agrees, letting out a shaky breath as she guides him. He's had rum and coke. It's nice, and better yet, something he could find back home. "Rum and coke sounds good."

[ichoosefight]

It would probably be easier if he had a better handle on his situation in general. Steph can sympathize, and she still hasn't quite decided what she thinks of him, either.

She orders his drink and sets the rest of hers down before settling into a stool.

[outofsynth]

Steph can't exactly be blamed given all the red flags Min-Gi seems intent on raising, but on the plus side even if he seems uncomfortable he doesn't seem to be looking to cause trouble. He's a little tense as he nurses his drink, but looks more bewildered than anything else by how open everyone is.

"I should probably warn Ryan."

Ryan is flirting with a snake man. Luckily he's no longer enveloped in his tail, but there's so little ambiguity.

[ichoosefight]

She glances over at Ryan and bites back a grin.

"I dunno, he seems fine to me."

[outofsynth]

Ryan does look unphased. Maybe he doesn't realize what's going on, but he's also a lot better at taking things in his stride compared to to Min. He's been on his own before, so Min-Gi knows he can take care of himself. It'll probably cause less problems if he fills him in on what kind of a bar this is later.

It takes him a while to say anything, but eventually he turns back to his drink.

"Yeah... I guess he's okay."

He still sounds worried, but. It's Ryan. He'll be okay. If nothing else he doesn't need him to intervene right this moment.

[ichoosefight]

She takes another sip of her drink and looks sidelong at Min-Gi.

"So... you gonna stay? It's not like they'll bite. Without permission, anyway." Just looking at some of the people here she can tell they're that type.

[outofsynth]

It's a good question, and maybe if Ryan wasn't having fun it would be different. But Min doesn't want to be a buzzkill, and he hadn't been having a bad time exactly even if he's not the party animal that Ryan is.

He gives an empty laugh at Steph's joke, glancing around as though he's not sure he trusts that's not about to happen.

"Yeah. I mean... I'm allowed to. Right?"

He's not exactly sure what the etiquette there is, but if he's providing business he's pretty sure he should at least be tolerated.

[ichoosefight]

She raises an eyebrow, amused.

"If you weren't allowed you wouldn't be here, trust me. It's a bar, not a private club."

[outofsynth]

"Right." That makes sense, but it's a new experience. Why would he know that?

"Then I guess we'll stick around. Just for a little bit."

[ichoosefight]

"Good! I'm glad I didn't scare you off."

[outofsynth]

"Of course not. It's probably better to know sooner, right?"

Not that he thinks anyone is going to pay that much attention to him. He usually blends into the background fairly well. But at least he knows where he is now and it's probably better he learns that around someone with a lot of patience than someone he'll get himself in even more trouble with right away.

[ichoosefight]

'Of course', he says, as if she didn't just watch his brain break multiple times over the notion of homosexuality. Still, being willing to stick around in spite of that is worth a lot in her mind.

"Definitely better to find out before somebody beats you up about it."

[outofsynth]

That's another weird thought, that at least one he reacts less overtly shocked by. It probably helps there are people in this room who look very much like they could kick his ass.

"Yeah. Not that I would..." That feels important to clarify given the entirety of this conversation. "But you hear way more about the other way around where I come from."

[ichoosefight]

She hums thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand.

"It's not exactly all love and acceptance where I'm from either. But people are at least aware that it's not okay to treat people like crap, no matter what you might think about them. Figuring out it's none of your business who people choose to sleep with is kind of a work in progress."

[outofsynth]

"Yeah. I know that."

At least in theory. In reality it might be more ingrained than he'd realized. Min toys with the cup his drink came in, wishing he could push down the dread he can't explain away if anyone sees without either looking like a major asshole or revealing way more about himself than he wants to.

"Thanks for not assuming I'm just a jerk."

[ichoosefight]

The smile she gives him now is gentle and sympathetic. She doesn't usually get the benefit of a doubt, so she always tries to give it to others.

"Thanks for not turning out to be just a jerk."

[outofsynth]

That makes him feel a little better about it. It doesn't seem like she's simply trying to placate him. She has no reason to. Hopefully he's calmed down enough for her to let him prove himself before running off and warning everyone what a homophobe he is.

"It's okay." Which. Seems like kind of a silly response, but look. This has been an awkward conversation. Why wouldn't it continue to be awkward. "If you want to talk to other people you can. I promise I won't be weird around anyone else."

[ichoosefight]

She snickers.

"I'd be careful making promises like that. Especially with booze in hand."

[outofsynth]

He kind of grimaces at that, resting heavily on the bar.

"Trust me, I don't have any plans to make myself look more stupid than I have already."

[ichoosefight]

If only it were that easy... But she won't go and kill his buzz.

"Best of luck. I, for one, am perfectly comfortable right here."

[outofsynth]

At this point Steph is definitely not obligated to stick around, so it's reassuring that she hasn't taken the out. Min nods, offering a slightly more relaxed smile now she's sticking around of her own volition. Maybe she does feel like she needs to babysit him, but he's trying to believe otherwise.

"Thanks. I'm pretty okay here too."

Mingling can come again later, once he's had a little more time to adapt.