Open light it up.

[Lysaea Frostfawn]

As soon as she was handed the drink, Lysa immediately started to make quick work of the drink, not particularly seeming like she cared about manners anymore. Tipping her head back slightly, she lifted the cup in the air and pressed the rim to her lips, letting the contents pour inside her mouth with ease. It wasn't any use for her to drink it slowly was it? Eyes focused on her own drink, she didn't bother to take in the people around her and what they were doing.

She was going to drink herself into oblivion. She couldn't remember the last time she had bothered to get herself drunk. Well technically speaking, she did but she was a little hazy in the memory department as of that moment.

Good she thought, a grim smile working it's way onto her face.

Pouring the last of the drink inside her mouth, she ordered another - it took more than one to get drunk - and was soon enough downing that one down too in fluid motions.

Slightly slamming the cup onto the table, her slowly ticking mind considered ordering another one. Poised to raise her hand and mouth gaping a touch, a moment's hesitation hit her.

Lyyyssa, you've already had a feww so itll be bettr if you didnt,

She wasn't that fussed if she was crazy enough to start having a sub-conscious. Let the crazy come. She'd already hit the stage 'insane' a while ago.

Slouching back in her chair, she let herself drift away into a world where Yowls and Grassbears lived happily with one another when she heard Grace's voice bringing her out of her fake world.

"Come Dance!" the words sunk in.

Lysa couldn't help but groan.

"Urgh..." she let out "But I suck at dancing, 'specially when I've just drunk," she moaned, fingers clutching the edge of the table as she slid further in her seat.

Trying to ignore the woman, she gave a loud sigh of defeat as she felt herself get dragged onto the dance floor.

"Noooo," she whined as Grace begun to dance in a mock seductive manner.

Rolling her eyes at the woman's next comment, her smarter side of the brain currently being subdued managed to work.

"You dancing like a Kelvic polar bear," she retorted. She had seen those things before in the Icewatch in Avanthal. She never thought they could dance. Especially not when they appeared to amble around clumsily whilst in animal form.

However, despite her comment, she let her body sway in motion. Grace was right after all. Being a lonely drunk was certainly not gonna gain her any real fun. Sure she could meander the depths of her own brain but that was all imaginary.

Relaxing her muscles, her eyelids began to flutter downwards. Listening purely to the music, she started to feel the rhythm and begun to sway her hips and move to the music. Letting her multi-shaded pink eyes to bat open, she smirked at the other woman, tilting her head to the side before speaking.

"You know I'm surprised. Usually I fall flat on my face," she said, her speech slightly slurred.

[Vanator]

Kavala's strange boat bobbed smoothly on the water, but not enough to make the landbound Drykas uneasy. Van looked at Reven, smiling softly as she spoke, assuring him he did not need to leave the party on her account. "Too steal a moment away with you? It's worth every tick." He laughed and pressed a kiss to the Kelvic's cheek.

Vanator was curious as his bondmate dug into her pouch, producing a necklace. It was a lovely piece of work, and the Drykas bowed his head as she slipped it over his head and around his neck. Van looked down at it, wondering how his young bondmate could afford such a gift. When Reven nestled again next to him, he met her hazel eyes. Even as she complimented how he looked in the jewelry, Vanator saw a pensive cast to her gaze, and wondered what hidden thought had passed through her mind.

"Thank you Reven, its beautiful, I...you didn't have to.."

Vanator's gaze turned back towards the Alements. Stefan stood at the dock. The bard and the Kelvic's gazes met, and something unspoken passed between them. The Drykas wondered what had connected the two, some past encounter? The moment was not long, and with a smile Stefan turned and slipped back into the tavern. Not long after, through the open door to the storeroom, the sound of the bard's mandolin and smooth voice carried to the dock. It was a moving song, and Van smiled to himself, grateful to Stefan for the sweet song.

"Come with me..." Vanator urged Reven, taking her hand and leading her back off of the boat. They walked the few steps closer to the open door, where they could hear clearly Stefan singing. Placing one hand on Reven's hip, taking her small hand in the other, Vanator pulled her against him and began to lead Reven in a dance, small steps and motions at first, a Drykas dance often shared between lovers. His smile widened and he looked down at the young cougar woman. "We can still be part of the party right here." Tucking his head against the soft mane of the Kelvic, they danced as the sound of Stefan's voice and his strings lifted over the din of the crowd, a stolen moment Vanator savored measure by measure. His lips shifted closer to Reven's ear.

"I love you," he whispered as the last words and notes of the song faded.

[Grace Lechar]

Grace laughed, somewhat amused by Lysaea's drunkness. Grace herself was barely feeling a buzz, only one drink in her system. She knew she could do a few more Ale's before she got worried, and so Grace let the music flow through her. Lysa was less enthusiastic but somewhat of a better dancer. Her slow pace was a bit more Graceful than the movements Grace managed to spit out.

"You dancing like a Kelvic polar bear," Grace grinned at the insult, somewhat worried at Lysaea's less than sober position. Lysaea began to sway her hips, a bit slower than the upbeat tune but at least she was dancing. "You know I'm surprised. Usually I fall flat on my face."

Grace slowed her own movements for a while, looking around the room as a thought occurred to her. She was supposed to keep an eye on Lillian! The small Konti would be hard to find in the crowd and Grace's heart began to pick up. She stopped dancing and swiveled on her feet looking for the child. Just then Grace caught sight of her, hanging out with another woman form the Sanctuary that Grace felt like she should know better.

"Lyn'nice! Lillian!" Grace called across, glancing back at Lysaea who was beginning to enjoy herself. Comforted with the fact that she wouldn't be passing out any time soon, Grace hurried over to the two Konti's. "Are you going to come join the fun Lillian?" Grace leaned on her knees to get closer with the girl, who smiled at her. Lillian nodded enthusiastically, and Grace held out her hand for the girl to take. As soon as she did, Grace swooped the blonde child up, spinning her in the air once before landing the girl on her hip and facing Lyn'nice again. Grace pleaded with her eyes, she wanted to get to know this woman. She had a few people to get to know, and what a better way than an icebreaker? And what a better icebreaker than dancing? Anyway, as Grace held the child, she almost forced the woman to spend time with her, as she was holding the little ball of mischief that she was supposed to be watching. "Lyn? Care to join us?"

Thoughts - "Common" - "PC Talking" - "NPC Talking"

[Reven Heath]

Hearing her bondmate struggle for words, a smile finally cracked on the Kelvic's features as she brushed a hand into her hair. “Heh, I wanted to get it for you, Van. It was something I saw and thought you would wear well. It looks like I was right.” Thin fingers reached over to touch the necklace, it's color startling against the green shirt he wore. Her shame had been snuffed for the time being, allowing her emotion to run freely through the bond.

As always, he took the air from her lungs.

Hazel orbs peered up to gaze at him but she noticed he had turned away. Following his actions, Reven saw in the doorway, a familiar frame and brown mop of hair. Stefan had tried to be discreet about his presence though both individuals were about to pick up on him. Reven offered him a smile she was not sure he could see before turning away. The man had been sweet, admiring even, but emotions that lingered for him were that of pity. The Kelvic felt bad in a way that made her uncomfortable to even think about. Stefan was a man of talents, she knew. He would be okay.

Her point proven by the soft, delicate tones lifted from Alements, Reven allowed a giggle past her lips, oddly comforted by the music. She was not, however, expecting to be pulled from her seat next to Van but was thankful for it. The further distance from water, the happier she was. They approached the back door once more and for a moment, the Kelvic suspected her bondmate was leading her back to the crowd. “Van— Oh..!”

Vanator's arms encircled her frame, pulling her to him as he began to dance slowly to Stefan's music. His presence wrapped around her, his scent all she could smell, Reven couldn't help lean into him while she followed him with simple steps. It was more than comforting to hold him so close and nestled her cheek onto his shoulder, dancing with him.

How odd to think that so little time had past and he had become so much to her. Their dance was a reminder of his neglect through the winter and the first few days of Spring. Before, at the Masquerade, this was all she had wanted to do and finally, after their fears were met and barriers broken open, she was able to embrace him as tightly as she wanted. Reven was able to know him in a way that most people couldn't understand. It was so much more than the connection and, as he guided her gently to the music, her form leaned into his, the cougar knew he felt the same as well.

Reven lifted her head to look at him but she was halted by his words, professed to quietly, it sent a shiver down her spine. A tick went by before the realization dawned on her that he had confessed exactly what she had been feeling since their bonding. Her feet were unmoving as she pulled back to gaze at gold flecked eyes. Was it because of the bond? Maybe it was, but Reven would see it in his eyes that he meant it. The cougar wasn't worried about his confession being a lie. She would be able to feel it in the bond or even see it on his features. His eyes... that's what she counted on in times like this. They were steady, almost amused, but full of new, wild love the Kelvic reflected.

Not a word uttered past her lips as her hand came to greet his cheek with a gentle caress. Leading him forward and leaning toward him, Reven graced her lips upon his in a soft kiss that lingered for many ticks. Pulling away, the feline pressed her forehead to Van's and smiled.

Closing her eyes, she let out a breath. It was right. He was right. They were right.

“And I love you, Van.” Her hand slid to his torso, resting just above his heart. “I know you've felt it everyday...”

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice had moved a ways from what was becoming a semi-drunken dance floor, less Lillian get trampled by careless dancers high on liquid happiness. Tucked into a quieter corner she sat with Lillian and ordered another pot of tea, Lillian's choice and they sat there under the soft lights having a informal 'princess' tea party as Lillian had named it. A princess tea party. She couldn't help but grin at the young girl as they sipped their tea. Here she was playing princess with a little girl in an herbal bar, but strangely she was completely comfortable sitting here. It was a shame that she was to bear an Akalak boy instead of a Konti daughter. It would be all rough and tumble instead of tea parties. Oh well, Van would be able to train him. Lyn'nice sipped her tea thinking of how true that old saying was, it takes a village to raise a child. Thankfully her village was the residents of the Sanctuary. She was lucky to have them. Lyn'nice chatted away with the child, about childish things and Konti things. Lillian's mother had died giving birth and she doubted anyone had taught her anything about being a Konti. Did she know how to swim? Or that she could breath underwater? Did she even know she was a Konti and not just a little human girl? Besides Lyn herself, Kavala was the only other Konti around. But, Kav had her own kids and was always working so hard on so many things. She would have to teach this little girl so much about herself and her own culture. The chat continued, "and so we'll have to go swimming sometime, it's really easy you'll see!" Lyn'nice gave Lillian a smile. Lyn'nice had lost track of the time she and Lillian had been talking, when a woman scooped up Lillian. Her inital reaction was to seize Lillian back from whatever drunk had decided to take her. Once she saw who had Lillian she relaxed, it was Grace a member of the Sanctuary. She didn't know her very well, but Lyn trusted her with Lillian. "Heya Grace, enjoying yourself?" Lyn asked seeing that Grace most certainly was. She was hesitant when asked to join in the dancing. But she really didn't have a choice, did she? Putting on a brave smile she looked at Grace, "Yeah, I guess. Sure!" She got to her feet, brushed off her simple white dress, fixed her blue scarf, and followed Grace to the impromptu dance floor. She gave a glance at Caelum as she passed by tempted to ask if he wanted to dance, but he seemed busy with one of the pod members so she let that thought fizzle out in the back of her mind. He probably wouldn't want to anyway...

[Chandray]

Chandray had been looking at the tattoo and Kels bare chest with some interest and she felt a bit disappointed that he had covered it again so quickly before she had a chance at tracing the tattoo with her finger. It seemed Kel had few words, but she must admit he was informative regardless. In just a few sentences he’d managed to lay bare a number of things going on in the room, who did what with whom and why. If the man was even trying to live up to common standards for what to say and not to say, it didn’t show. He wasn’t smooth, to put it nicely. Blunt, brusque and bluff was a good description of what she’s heard so far. She felt amused. She had looked at the people he pointed out. The man Kel called a shark, his own pod-brother apparently, was the same man nearby who had been mumbling to himself about Kenash. The way Kel spoke, it didn’t sound like the two of svefra were particularly good friends. She was under the impression Kel felt outshone by the pod-mate and he seemed to resent it. His words made the pod-mate came off as nothing else than a coldhearted womanizer out hunting for “trophies”. The kind of personality that would try to persuade unknown women to things just for the sake of it, it seemed. More, it didn’t sound like the two women were any important to Kel either - one of them was referred to as “soulless one” the other one as “that one”. It didn’t seem like Kel cared about them much enough to bother with their names. If he knew them. He had called Chandray “woman”, instead of using her name. It wasn’t a winning approach if he aimed to “find somebody” this evening. Then again, perhaps he wasn’t interested in “finding somebody”. Or even anybody. Perhaps he just wanted to drink more. How could she know the reason for his lack of courting skills - he was maybe not even trying to make a good impression, just speaking like he would speak with anybody, any time. Who could know what he was thinking ... Chadray had thought Kel was totally charmed by the dark black-eyed beauty, enamoured even. But now he was calling her “soulless” and when he said the other man had “tried to be with her” it sounded like he wasn’t jealous or hurt at all, just informing Chandray about facts she really didn’t need to know. The other girl, “that one”, was mentioned like in passing by and maybe even with a touch of despise for her being easy prey. And he seemed to speak more about the pod mate than about the women. What did this mean? She had no answer, but was pondering the question. She had been planning on helping him make the chactawe jealous by giving him a kiss or two, but now she stopped to think. Did he even want the chactawe? She could hardly start to suggest ways to make the black-eyed woman want to come and snatch him back if he wasn’t even interested. It would just make her come off as foolish and with the impression Kel had made she could already imagine his comments. Chandray changed her plan a bit. She would try to figure out more first and tell him about the “win chactawe sheme” later, if she found out he wanted it,that was. For now she just gave him a lighthearted laugh and continued to gaze seductively into his eyes, like she was looking for something deep down there. “A fishing game.” She laughed again. “The game of shark and harpoon.” Playfully. “Don’t you like to play that? Tell me, why are you calling the beautiful chactawe soulless ? To me it looked like you were trying to court her and win her favor. But perhaps she belongs to your pod-mate and you are going to lose? In that case you could counter by showing them how little you care and how fast you can find somebody else ...”

[Kel Tempest]

The Svefra couldn’t decide what to make of this woman. She seemed interested in him but whatever game she was trying to play, seemed to have teeth. She seemed innocent on the outside but he felt like there was more to her than met the eye. Something lurked just under the surface and his natural curiosity wanted to know what it was.


Kel held back a laugh that threatened to bubble to the surface at the mention of a fishing game. He knew he was a cocky loud mouth that felt no remorse for his actions and did whatever he pleased. Some people seemed to consider him less intelligent because of those traits or looked down on him as a lesser person. It didn’t bother him though, if anything, it gave him an advantage. They underestimated him. And that was a mistake they would soon regret if they weren’t careful.


Kel mused as he thought about what people thought of him. Sociopath. That’s what Tydus said he was. A man who’s behavior was antisocial, often criminal and lacked a sense of moral responsibility for his actions. It also meant he had no social conscience. He couldn’t deny it; it pretty much summed up his personality. And he loved it.


Kel toyed with his jug of ale, swirling the contents. He looked down at the healing cut across his hand. He had a matching one on his other hand from a sword from a fight with a bandit. He looked up at her, a wry grin on his face.


“Fishin’ game, eh? Well here’s teh’ thing princess,” he leaned in closer until he was only a few inches away from her face, a roguish light dancing in his eyes. “Teh’ Oceanus gnosis be givin’ me power to control teh’ fish. So actually it ain’t bein’ a matter of who be winnin’ but when do I want to be teh’ winner.”


He leaned back in his original spot and smirked at her again. He wasn’t motivated by money, women or boozes. He didn’t get jealous of what other people had. What drove him was the unsatable longing for adventure, the thrill of danger and the adrenaline rush that combat brought. Everything else was politics. Relationships, professions, it didn’t matter, they were all different levels of schemes for individuals to get what they want, whether they admitted it to themselves or not. He wasn’t going to play their games. He lived by the beat of his own drum.


He cocked his head and looked over at the Chactawe. “Aye, that be Shijara. Have yeh’ been lookin’ in her eyes? They be black. Sucks in teh’ light? Come come, it ain’t be that hard to understand.” He winked, showing that he didn’t actually believe it; he just enjoyed making fun of her.


“We be knowin’ each other from a while back. I can’t be losin’ what I don’t have now can I?” He lifted the pitcher of ale, and took a swig. “N what about yeh, eh? Any men fer yeh? Or women if that’s what yeh’ be preferin’.”


The Svefra whistled loudly. The sea otter slowly came over to the table, a slight limp in his step. The two had recently gone out hunting bandits and had both been wounded in the leg. Jenkins had taken a mace to the side and the Svefra a bladed boot jammed into his calf. Kel was healing fairly quickly, having been patched up but Jenkins was taking a little longer to recover. The sea otter curled up around Kel’s boots.


“Aye, meet Jenkins. He be my tavan. He be recoverin’ from a blow to the leg by a mace. Jenkins here got hit by a petchin’ bandit.” Kel patted the hilt of the kukri blade that rested against his lower back, “Don’t be worryin’ though. They got what they be deservin’.”


He watched her face, waiting to see how she would react to his words. He wasn’t specific about what he had done to the bandits but he wouldn’t hesitate to jump into the details. Both had met a violent end. He could always tell the caliber of a person based on how they reacted in combat. He was curious to see what she thought of killing.

NoteSo I recently did a solo where Kel was injured before this thread so I'm going to edit in some injuries into my previous posts. So just know that Kel has a slight limp in his right leg and a slash mark across his hands.

Legend

Fratava

Kel's Common

Kel's Thoughts

PC/NPC Common

[Caelum]

“And hope,” the proprietor added to the end of Adi’s toast. The smile he gave her crinkled the corners of his eyes before they dropped to the Vantha’s wrist. Calloused fingertips slid over soft olive skin, tracing the swollen tissues that cushioned the hairline fractures irritating the bones of Adi’s wrist. The bard’s music and the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses and even the dissonant rush of the waterfall beyond the colored windows fused to a low hum in the back of his mind. Quick as flame lighting, the ethaefal snapped his consciousness into pieces. The first piece was given Nikali’s ranuri power that chugged a dozen different desire into his bloodstream pallid as the phantoms of memory. He sifted through them slowly, carefully, while the second piece of his mind was dedicated to the art of healing. Rak’keli’s gnosis power brightened the flesh on the back of his right hand with a golden opalescence, pouring healing power into the Vantha’s arm to disperse gathered blood and make room for fresh, oxygenated blood to nourish the injury and restore cell structure. Syna’s strange gift to her sunborn was also applied, joining the incredible array of divine magic manifesting itself subtly through Alements. The blessing of the sun goddess allowed Caelum to age the vantha’s injury a day even as he manipulated a shallow jut of bone back into its rightful place and quickly began to wrap her wrist. The muslin wound about Adi’s palm, crisscrossed halfway to her elbow, then tucked back again into a neat, somewhat pliable brace to protect. “Don’t use that hand to lift anything for a minimum of three days,” he cautioned. “By the week’s end, it should be fully restored; but I want you to come to me here or at the Sanctuary if the pain or swelling returns. Oh, and drink this –“ He pulled a small, glass bottle of herbal tea leaves from the glittering selection behind the bar to set it in front of her. “At least twice a day. It will help.” That third piece of Caelum’s brain had been devoted to everything and everyone else. It focused on Tydus even as the world came softly back into focus and he considered the svefra for a long moment of quiet. At length, he smiled and poured both of them a second round of rum shots. “Good,” he told Tydus. “It has to do with some imports.” And eyes. Eyes and ears on the coastal routes. “You can start docking at any time, just leave room for our catamaran. I’ll be around here, so come by in the afternoon sometime. We’ll go into detail.” Who wanted to discuss private business right now? Not Caelum. Not, at least, of this variety. Tydus struck him as the sort to likely understand. The Sanctuary ladies dancing with his own daughter caught Caelum’s attention and his smiled deepened a few notches. “If you’ll excuse me for a minute,” he murmured to Tydus and Adi and slipped away, passing Elise in a quick exchange of conversation then disappearing into the kitchen. Outside the sun completed its setting, sinking below the horizon and bruising the sky with wildflower colors. A minute later, Caelum re-emerged, only now in his night-skin of a Drykas. Windmarks coursed his skin and his clothing was the same, of course, though a little looser as he was several inches shorter and his carriage was not nearly so statuesque. He took a tray full of fresh drinks with him around the bar. The drinks were delivered to a variety of tables before Caelum ended up slumping against the edge of one, watching Lyn’nice and Grace, Lysa and Lillian with some amusement. OOC : I have no set plan for this thread. If things start to wind down, I will have Caelum do “last call” and everyone can post a close if they like. That can be sooner or later, doesn’t matter to me. Y’all let me know if you have a preference.

[Sunette]

Footsteps fell quickly along the street, the sound of a pack jostling bouncing off of the lining buildings. Sunette had managed to lose her group some time ago after they had left their horses at a stable (that she would more than likely never be able to find in this place,) the paranoia that they would find her at this point was shrinking considerably. Her lips formed a small smirk as she though, I'm finally free… Her pace slowed abruptly and she halted, readjusting the bag on her shoulders and taking in the city around her that she had yet to really examine.

This place-- Riverfall-- it was spectacular. The buildings were all on the ground, all built in cubical form. Each one was different in its own little way; some more subtle than the next, but ever so present to her. Some buildings had stained glass-- beautiful in design, and so different than she had seen before. Her hand trailed absentmindedly to the pendant around her neck, touching it lightly with her fingertips. Had her mother ever seen such a sight as this? Would she enjoy it nearly as much as I am?

Sunette started up again, walking forward slowly as she trailed down the street and continued to gaze at the world around her. She'd had a couple of days to get used to the sky and the feeling that she wouldn't fall off the Earth, but she continued to enjoy the beauty of how different it looked each day, each hour. Now that it was dark, it was full of dark blues and purples, but sprinkled with stars she still was not accustomed to. Her hand continued to hold her pendant, twirling it between her fingers.

Grrrrrl.

When was the last time I ate? This morning?

Probably a good idea to find some food. Not that she couldn't just eat the food she had with her, but what was the point of being in a city if you aren't going to experience the local cuisine? Her eyes began darting for somewhere with something she could eat before she realized… She had no idea where that would be. What did the people here even serve? She sighed lightly to herself, a sign catching her eye. Alements. The glass past the patio was amazing-- She began walking toward it without realizing it. Upon reaching the building, her fingers ran across a section of the glass, making a point to not scratch it with her claws. Each one was the sky. That beautiful, beautiful sky.

Snapping back to reality, she realized she was stroking a window. Well… That's wonderful. Hopefully no one noticed. She quickly moved to the door, trying to pretend like that hadn't happened as she slunk in. So many people. So many people. She decided to keep her head down for the moment and not draw attention to herself anymore than she needed to.

She looked around the room, admiring the way everything seemed to flow together seamlessly. And, luckily enough, there was food available on several of the tables. Food that she knew she could eat. She made her way to one of the cherrywood tables, picking out several pieces of fruit and placing them in her palm, her stomach growling almost audibly once more. Seemed soft enough for her to manage. She decided to take a couple pieces of cheese, too, just to try it. Once she had a nice handful of food, she made her way to the edge of the room, plopping on a divan and sliding her bag off of her arm to the floor. Her dainty fingers took a single piece of fruit and lifted it to her red painted lips and tossing it in. Delicious~

[Tydus Tempest]

For a long moment, Tydus simply listened. He heard the exchange between Adi and the man. He took the time to look up at the being's head, curiosity ablaze as he noted the presence of horns. At first, Tydus had not noticed, partially out of apathy but more so due to the simple fact that he had other things to think about. Tydus had built the habit of looking at people in the face as they spoke, which he came to realize allowed others to trust him more readily.

Only shady dealings happen with a skittish stare. The thought sent the Tempest scattering into a memory as he watched with vacant stare as the horned man treated the lovely Vantha's wrist. Part of him wondered if Tydus had worsened her injury in their night together, but she had neither brought it up nor showed further signs of irritation. Not that he could really tell what those signs were. It struck the man that he had completely withdrawn from the conversation, noting only when he looked towards Adi that he had somehow disturbed her. Her tone when she spoke to him concerned, shocked, even.

Tydus looked to the woman, shaking the apprehension he was feeling from the horned man, though when he spoke again, Tydus could not help but listen. Every bit of information he had to give about the job that he was to give Tydus was interesting, to the extent that he wished to know more, but the dismissal of the subject quickly alerted Tydus to its importance. It was not to be discussed at this moment, obviously not for it was an evening of distraction. Tydus found thoughts whirling through his skull as the proprietor walked away, as if unwell. Concern flickered in his mind for the man, but he decided to not act upon it. There was no cause to.

Instead, the Svefra found his attention upon the two shotglasses of rum on the bar's counter, a formed grin upon his features as he took both and gingerly passed the glass to Adi. "Ah, the fines' drink in the land. Caelum's a proper host, he is. What a nice thin' to do, righ'?" Every attempt was had to push the surprise from his features, to suppress it entirely, his features turning from astounded contemplation to that of his marked grin, eyes of Laviku's blood filled with the masked arrogance of his Svefra heritage as he looked to Adi. He raised his glass, offering it to toast in Adi as he says, "Didn' join the last toast. But t'health and 'appiness."

The Svefra's gaze fixed itself upon Adi, though he also allowed himself the barest of cursory glances past her. He could see Stefan in the distance, the bard conversing with the Lia Callipsia. Part of him was surprised, an angry sort directed towards the Lia herself for spending her time lounging around and speaking to the drunkards while Tydus had been working to further relations with connections in Riverfall.

Am I the ONLY one in the Pod that sees a need to build? Whatever... tonight's meant to be a night to unwind anyway...

Though, in truth, Tydus felt anything but relaxed. His body shook with a mixture of anxiety that he knew only the drink in his hand could cure. Once the glasses clinked together in toast, he would consume the cure and savour its burn once again. He felt the sloshing of the rest of his flask against his waistline, having stowed it away again. He felt the pull of more consumption arise like a fire in him. The desire to ebb away the looming darkness of thought was an addiction greater than that of Hypnosis and alcohol itself. He savoured the drink for its effect, though there were other ways of clearing one's mind, as well.

The image of Stefan and Callipsia burned in his mind for one last moment before he produced his flask, pouring a mouthful of the rum down his throat.