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

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.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dude, beer's fine.

[Fine isn't exactly a high bar, but while he has had good beer... fine is a more typical experience, and speaks a lot for the way he typically chooses drinks when they're out like this. It's reliably there, doesn't make him stand out, and it's affordable on a budget.

But the cider? It's better than fine. He's glad Ryan sold him on it.]

Dude, beer is okay. At best.

[It's playful bickering just for the sake of it though, just to tease. He doesn't turn down beer if it's what's around, or if it's what he can afford, but there's usually way more interesting choices available.]

That's because you haven't tried the good stuff.

[Neither has Min, really. He's by no means an expert, and Ryan knows that. Mostly it's just fun to back and forth like this, without any real reason or conviction.]

[Ryan laughs!]

The good stuff? Wow, I had no idea I was here with a beer expert.

[He's not. They both know Min isn't, but sometimes it's fun to just lean into the bickering. It's warm and comfortable between them, and that's reason enough.]

I'm a total connoisseur, man. I can't believe you didn't know that.

[He laughs at the absurdity, knocking back more of the cider before he leans close enough to whisper.]

Don't tell anyone, but I think I like this better than any beer.

[He's bolder than Ryan is expecting, but he certainly doesn't hate it. If he's a little pink in the face it's just the drinks he's had, obviously. It's not at all that he can feel Min's breath against his ear.]

Yeah? Hm...

[A soft hum, as he pretends to debate it. He already knows the answer though.]

Eh. I guess I can keep your secret for you. Wouldn't wanna ruin your beer expert reputation, after all~

[Except for all the ways he does want to right now, but he can't go there. It's a careful line he's toeing, and he can't cross it.]

[Min-Gi's blissfully ignorant that anything he's said or done could be behind that pinkness. He pulls back, just happy to be spending time with him. He doesn't think too hard about the warmth he feels around him. It's easier not to.]

I knew I could trust you. You're a good friend.

[It's more sincere than a bit should be, but Ryan won't hold that against him.]

[This should be devastating to hear by now. And it is, in its own way! But he's gotten great at smothering it by now. He barely skips a beat, and his smile even stays right where it is! Min might be being more sincere and genuine, but for Ryan it's a signal he should stop for now.

He slides back - not far, but out of intimate whisper distance.]

Of course! That's what friends are for, right?

[He's fine. Totally fine.]

And hey, if you can name even one beer that's better than just okay, maybe I'll give one a shot. Maybe.

[It's a stupid nudge back to the subject - mostly because all the beer here is in casks like a fantasy novel, so it's not like he could try anything Min suggested - but that makes it sort of safe too. Ryan can't exactly prove him wrong.]

Right.

[Min remains oblivious, feeling none of the upset that Ryan does. He's come to be good at not thinking about the things he can't have over the years, to the point where it's actually more difficult to try for the things he really wants by now, or even think about them outside of dark and lonely moments.

He fake huffs instead, finishing off his cider so he can turn and order another. He does still having some catching up to do and he doesn't want to keep him waiting forever.]

What's the point? It's not like they're going to have them here.

[But they totally exist and he definitely knows what they are.]

[Ryan shrugs!]

Guess that means you lose by default!

[Oh no, too bad. But surely Min's pride can handle it, right? Just like it can handle a little teasing?]

But yeah, doesn't matter anyway since the cider's way better. [He nods to Min choosing it again on his own.] At least defeat tastes good?

[He isn't going to rush Min though - honestly, it's probably good for him to have to wait a little bit, though he can admittedly feel the buzz waning now.]

Why do I lose? It's not my fault they don't have the same brands here.

[Yeah, no. Ryan's totally won, but Min doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of an easy victory.]

The cider's good though. I don't mind drinking that tonight.

[It's definitely working quicker than the beer, though part of that may be he's actually drinking it at a reasonable pace.]

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

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