Closed Live While We're Young [Calen]

[Tallis]

Date// Day 69 – Winter - 512 AV Location// The Shipyard There was much to celebrate in the shipyard this day. The construction of a large vessel had just been completed and, as was the tradition, the sailors and craftsmen were getting ready for a large celebration on the newly finished ship. Much like a House Warming party, this was a Ship Warming party – all the partying and drinking, minus all the gift giving. When the work day came to a close, anyone involved with the building of the ship would be invited on board for a party that would last the night. Tallis hadn’t been directly involved in the building of the ship and he definitely wasn’t one of the sailors that were to be the new crew of the vessel, but word of the party had spread to his ears and he had decided that he wanted to join the celebrations. After all, nobody would really care who was there after a couple of Kelp Beers had been passed around. Tallis waited to go down to the shipyard after the setting of the sun. The reasoning for this was two-fold. First, the cover of night would be quite useful as the young mage tried to sneak on board. Secondly, there weren’t many early party-goers. Most people would finish dinner before making their way down to the shipyard. One of the rules of a ship warming party was that no food was allowed on board. The only mess allowed on the ship would be kelp beer. After all, nobody would be in any condition to clean the boat after the party. An even bigger no-no was vomit. Anyone unable to hold their alcohol would be promptly and unceremoniously ejected from the ship. Watching as the sky turned pink, orange, and then crimson as the sun slowly melted into the horizon, Tallis was satisfied that it was finally dark enough for him to sneak onto the ship with almost no hassle. The sunset had been beautiful, and Tallis took it as a good omen. Making his way out the door, Tallis managed to spy a group of about a half dozen sailors who were winding their way down to the party as well. Tailing the group, Tallis managed to make it on board quite easily. The sailors had already had a fair share of kelp beer and hadn’t even noticed when Tallis had wiggled his way between them as they made it onto the ship. There were already several sizeable crowds on the ship and large barrels of Kelp Beer had been rolled onto the boat. Sailors and craftsmen were trading tall tales, telling jokes, singing, dancing, and generally having a good time. In fact, in the main body of the deck were two sailors having a wrestling match. Ringed in by a hooting and hollering crowd, Tallis slipped by to the railing of the deck completely unnoticed, managing to grab a mug of kelp ale as he did so. The sky was quickly darkening and Tallis could already make out several stars in the clear night sky. This was going to be a fun night. A sudden crash interrupted his thoughts, and the crowd behind Tallis erupted in cheers. It appeared that a victor had been determined in the wrestling match. Pushing his way into the crowd, Tallis saw a large bear-like man, waving his arms in the air and eliciting the reverent cheers of his captive audience. He was looking for a new opponent! And he didn’t have to wait long. Another man made his way into the ring, slightly shorter than the current champion, but with broader shoulders. Bets were quickly placed, and the men locked arms. It would be a close fight. Tallis joined the cheering as well, egging the men on. Perhaps after the fight, he would make his way down to the hold of the ship. He could faintly here music emanating from under the deck, and there was sure to be some wild dancing. The night was young and Tallis fully expected to have the time of his life.

[Calen]

Calen yawned as he walked the streets of Zeltiva, a mixture of too tired and too slovenly to cover his mouth. He didn't even bother to look apologetic as a woman eyed him with disgust clear in her eyes as she walked past; she simply wasn't pretty enough for him to bother. Calen was many things but a man of falsehood was definitely not one of those things. Though he held a certain respect and appreciation for hygiene and manners, he was not an overly zealous pursuer or practitioner of either. He kept himself healthy, odor-free and, in his eighteen years he had only ever been challenged to one duel, which he remembered both fondly and with a pang of regret, so he figured he must've been doing something right. Impressing stuffy old women he happened to be walking by didn't exactly rank high up on his 'to-do list'. However, getting stinking drunk at a sailor party, definitely did. If someone had asked him where he had heard about this party he wouldn't have been able to tell them much. It involved Calen attempting to fall asleep in a corner of the Wright Memorial library, a few talkative young ladies and quite a bit of eavesdropping. Mostly eavesdropping, actually. But nonetheless, Calen had awoken at his usual time, some time around midday, taken a look outside, realized it wasn't the evening, gone back to sleep and awoken again not too long ago. Satisfied that the party would have gotten at least somewhat interesting by the time he stopped by, Calen had set off. Precipitated only by his grabbing of his lute and slipping into his usual outfit of almost all brown, with the addition of his wool hat, Calen now found himself making his way over to the shipyard, intent on both playing his lute poorly, drinking himself sick and dancing until he was exhausted. Obviously, Calen knew nothing of the subtleties and traditions of a shipyard party, but that didn't mean he didn't intend to enjoy it. As he walked, it dawned on Calen that he was walking past a fantastic view of the sun setting in the west. Interestingly enough, this was quite literally the case, as he was, currently, walking past the juncture at which he could turn onto either east or west street. Smiling to himself, despite his lack of appreciation for such sentimental drivel, Calen couldn't help but stop, turning to admire the view as the sun dipped ever lower. He took in the iridescent hues that hung about as the golden disk descended and was embraced by the horizon. Calen did not know when he started walking once more, but he did know it had been at least five or so chimes, as he felt notably stiff and relatively chilly. All the same, he would not have traded that experience, not even for a fistful of gold mizas....Though, the offer did sound a fair bit tempting. As he neared his objective, the only clue telling him it was the ship where the party was being held being the cheering, laughter and roaring he heard aboard, Calen was accosted by a man he knew instantly to be a drunk sailor. Only a sailor could be this stupendously intoxicated and yet still capable of both speech and fine motor function. It was practically a skill. Smiling as he found himself thoroughly amused by the man's loud shouting and accompaniment to the deck, Calen soon found himself in a crowd of people watching two men duke it out to the amusement of the surrounding people. He also found himself holding a tankard of something that smelled and look unappealing, but seemed to be quite popular among those present. 'Oh yeah. I am definitely going to enjoy this night' Calen thought to himself as he took a sip from his tankard. It took everything he had not to splutter and spit the liquid out. 'WOW!' He exclaimed, generating a wave of chuckles and pats on the back from those who surrounded him, many of which hit the lute he had strapped to it, causing it to strum a sour note. 'That is foul!' he thought to himself as the people turned their attention back to the fight.