[Open] Week 209: In The Absence of Enemies

[Valero]

In the Absence of Enemies​

---

Vitae, a tavern located in the Esquilinium district, the Ruby Jewel of Terminus, grew busy as the night began to darken. Despite the cold Hiemis winds that the night brought, a few small bands of people drank and smoked with their friends just outside of the shuttered street-side windows. Inside the Vitae, every table was taken by as many people as could fit around it and more. The dim lights spread out across the room gave the place a warm atmosphere, though they were a contrast to the radiance of the bar. A multitude of hues beamed from behind the counter due to lights placed behind the bottles on the shelves. It was impossible to lose sight of where a patron should go to order their next drink.

On an ordinary night, the tavern was a great place to socialise, get drunk or both. On that particular Silendies, however, it was even busier than usual. That was mostly due to the careful planning of one individual and a handful of his contacts.

It had been weeks since the survivors of the Black Portal mission had returned and Deni would wager his favourite pistol that not one of them would be the same again. Even when they arrived back in Terminus, there had been so much rebuilding to do after the chaos the daemons had caused. The morale of the city had plummeted. Fortunately, one particular velen knew how to have a good time and he had reason to want to. He and his friends had been pardoned of their crimes for their bravery and dedication to defeating the foes of Terminus. He felt like celebrating. That was why he had spent days spreading his posters across the metropolis, urging people to get down to their local pub and cut loose, have a few drinks with friends or strangers, it didn't matter. It seemed his idea had worked.

The pelagic rogue shivered as he slammed the third empty shot glass on the counter. A few strangers cheered. A balding laicar on a stool next to him shook his head.

"Yeah, that's more like it!" Deni shouted with a devilish grin. He had only been waiting on the others for a few minutes, but he'd already started the drinking games.

"Anyone else think they can drink me under the table?"

Note

This collab is for EVERYONE. It doesn't matter if you took part in the Black Portal PMs or not, or whether you're bringing a PC, NPC or both into this thread, or even whether you're going to commit to more than one turn. Let's have some fun!

​

 

[Mystydjinn]

"Most of the bar I bet," mumbled a rough woman's voice coming from the entrance to the bar.

The rough voice was attached to a cloaked figure wielding a sharp pair of red and green almonds and the smallest semblance of a grin the shade of sunset.

Aelflead pulled her cloak's good off her head, releasing her messy ponytail from its fabric binding and tucked fuschia ribbons behind her ear while she scanned the room. "Feels like the whole city's here," she murmured under her breath.
Wc [86]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Aeria and Diamantus arrived together. The spurii had her halberd alongside her, the metal tip sheathed by a leather guard, but still conspicuously by her side. It seemed that since she’d returned from the battle of the Black Portal, the weapon never left her side. It was, for all the world, like some sort of deadly security blanket. It gave her a slightly dangerous air which was countered by the weary look her face seemed to wear more lately. However, Diamantus had cajoled her into going to Deni’s party, insisting that she get out of her tiny apartment and do something besides getting lost in her thoughts.

For Diamantus’ part, she hadn’t been to a good party in a very long time and she was about due for some fun. She wore her best brass-buttoned coat, a pair of jaunty trousers and had her cutlass securely belted to her waist. She never went anywhere without it, always prepared for whatever might come her way. The only that she wanted to come her way this evening was shots of fine Pelagian brandy.

Aeria took a seat next to Deni on a stool and flashed him a smile. “Well, I see you’re getting down to business already! I guess we need to join in!”

The velen next to her nodded in agreement and clapped Deni on the back with a meaty hand. “I heard what ye said about drinkin’ ye under the table. I’m about ta find out if I c’n do it!”

Aeria turned her attention to Aeflead and flashed a smile at her too. “I see you decided to get in on this little shindig too. Good to see you, Aelf! Fancy sharing a drink or two with me?”

[289]

 

[Dysney]

Squished between Deni and a laicar fellow who had been downing beers like water, Ignis sat in her infamous red cloak. Perhaps the enlil would never see the world the same way after the mess she had been through in the past two years --the Black Portal Mission had only been a culmination of her misadventures into a grand finale-- but some things had gone back to the way they had been before, namely, she wore her favorite cloak. The other familiar presence was that of her familiar, Amicus, a mons infans perched on the pale avian's shoulder. The leafy woodland spirit was roughly the size of a large cat. Cheerful, beady eyes peered out from between his leaves, and a bowl of berries was tucked against his stomach.

The pale woman was thin, a bit too much to be healthy, but her deep brown eyes were merry and her face had a slight flush to it from the glass of mead. The sweet flavor was complimented by a tangy spice (Ignis suspected the addition of Ghost Tree fruit) and left a warm sensation on her lips and in her throat after each sip. The easy smile on her face and the slightly tousled appearance of her black head-feathers indicated that this was not her first glass. Claw tipped fingers curled around the wineglass, raising it to toast the entrance of some familiar faces.

Though Deni, Aeria, Diamantus, and Aelflead were new additions to her life, Ignis didn't regret meeting them, especially the first two. The velen and calmer spurii had become central to the avian's life. She wouldn't have survived the past two years without them.

"Good to see you!" Ignis cheered. Then, she added, "Glad you could convince Aeria to come." A dip of the head towards Diamantus accentuated her gratitude.

The noise, the friends, and the pleasant buzz of inebriation made for a pleasant night and much needed relaxation for everyone present, especially those who had been on that thrice-damned mission. Ignis just hoped that more of her adventures would center around celebration as opposed to running from the law or fighting demons.

[356]

 

[Redfin]

Busy busy. There had been some hopping nights, but none quite so much as the one Cicely found herself in at that moment. She was the bartender and owner of Vitae, so it fell to her to make certain everything ran smoothly, from making drinks to getting other orders out in time. Sweat gathered on her brow that she barely had time to wipe away. Her blue hair was pulled into a long ponytail. An apron covered her simple green dirndl. It helped accentuate her figure, which always made the customers happier.

Everyone was happy that night, and why shouldn't they? For the time being, Terminus was safe and at peace. It was great for Cicely. She managed to avoid most of the unpleasantness and be there for the party.

Cicely pointed to Deni. "Yes, everyone should take him up on that challenge." Because all those drinks still costed exa to purchase.

[152]

 

[Valero]

Deni grinned with wide eyes. The alcohol already began to affect his mood, though aside from that and the empty shot glasses, there was no visible sign that he’d drank anything. He greeted those familiar faces as they flowed into the tavern.

“Aeria! Welcome!” he shouted over the din of voices that reverberated around the dimly lit common room. As she reached the bar, one long arm wrapped itself around the spurii’s shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. The other grabbed Aeria’s companion and he hugged her too, despite the fact that he didn’t know who she was.

“Oh, that’s some fighting talk,” he said to Diamantus as her heavy hand hit his back. “You’ve got a good attitude, I think I like you already. And that’s an interesting accent. Are you from Pelagia?”

The comment behind the bar caught his ears before his fellow velen acquaintance had a chance to respond. The pale rogue twisted his torso, creasing his viridian buttoned shirt.

“See? If the bartender agrees it must be a good idea!”

Deni turned his head to face the rest of the room, though he did lean closer to Cicely. He pointed at the familiar ones consecutively.

“Aelf, the redhead there. Aeria, the one that just walked in. Oh, this brave lady here!” - he patted Diamantus on the shoulder - “And the lovely Ignis here. Of course, I saved the best till last.”

After passing a wink to Ignis, he turned back to Cicely.

“Get them whatever they want and put them all on my tab. I’m not going to let exa hinder such a fine evening!”

[269/657]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Aelflead gave pause for a moment at the sound of her name being called, then shrugged. She initially planned to just poke her head in and leave, but free drinks were enticing and it's not like she had anything special to get up for in the morning.

So the redhead allowed herself to return the friendlier spurii's smile, albeit with less exuberance and deposited the massive auritium weapon plaguing her shoulders against the coat rack at the bar's entrance. One or two can't hurt. "Sure, why not lady."

With this in mind, Aelflead strode to the bar's counter with a small nod to the already slightly drunken host and his motley crew, then to the bartender while she scanned the wall behind Cicely for drinks.

Wc[125/211]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Diamantus smiled her toothy smile at Ignis. “Oh. It was goin’ to happen. Ye know exactly how persuasive we velen can be when we really want something. I’m sure Perfide over there has taught you that lesson already.”

When Deni spoke to her, the velen nodded. “Pelagia born and bred! Now let’s see what kinda damage we can do, Denisis Perfide!”

Turning to Cicely, the velen laid a heavy handful of exa on the table, pointing to the back shelf bottle of fine Pelagian brandy. “I’ll take the bottle. If that ain’t enough ta cover it, just let me know and I’ll pay whatever it takes. If I am not mistaken, that is one of the finest bottles of Pelagian brandy that I’ve ever seen.”

For her part, Aeria returned Deni’s greeting with a bright smile that she couldn’t suppress, as she took a seat next to him. “I’m glad I came, Deni! Now let’s see...what should I drink?”

Once Cicely had grabbed the brandy bottle for Diamantus, Aeria caught her attention. “Barkeep! What would you recommend drink-wise? I’ll put myself in your hands!”

Even the reluctant Aelflead was heading for the bar already and that had to be a sign that the convivial atmosphere was catching.

[497]

 

[Apeiron]

Patrons nearest to the entrance of the Vitae found their celebration momentarily interrupted when someone came stumbling through the doorway.

Dressed in plain clothes, the young man was nearly unremarkable. If not for the pock-mark on his right cheek, and the unusual bracers that he wore, he could pass as another laicar farm-boy visiting the city. With dirty-blond hair that was cropped short enough to be military, and smokey-blue eyes that were as wide as dishplates, Ioannes Furvus came crashing down to the floor of the tavern with an unceremonious “oomph.”

Ioannes flipped onto his back and stared out the doorway, where three individuals trailed him.

The first was Kaeso, the enlil soldier who laughed as he entered, one hand cradling his stomach while the other covered his face. Grey feathers fell down and around to frame his face. In armor, Kaeso looked intimidating by his sheer presence, and out of armor the man was perhaps more intimidating with the numerous scars that checkered his body from years in Aridus’s gladiator ring.

“I didn’t think you were that light!” the enlil joked.

The remark earned him a punch to his arm from the second person, Flavinia. The spurii grenadier shot a look at the Kaeso that could punch holes in walls, and said, “You break something in here and I don’t know you. Break the kid, though, and I feed you a grenade for your last meal.”

“Ah, come on. All I did was give him a little shove.”

“With your foot,” came the third voice of Brother Paulus. In his typical fashion, the monastic healer trailed in after Flavinia and had his hands hidden up opposite sleeves. He leveled his own stoic glare at the enlil soldier and added, “And while I would be more than willing to heal Ioannes, I might not find myself quite so moved to do so for you. Should something happen.” He punctuated the statement with a humorless smile.

Rolling his eyes, Kaeso, relented, “All right, all right. Come here.” He reached down and pulled Ioannes to his feet. “Don’t get your robes twisted, brother, I was just having some fun with the kid.” A big, shark-toothed grin spread over the soldier’s face, “After all that happened, I figured even you two would be up lighten up a little!”

The other two replied in-time.

“This is me, ‘lightened up.’”

“I am overcome with joy.”

Kaeso just rolled his eyes again before throwing an arm over Ioannes shoulder. “Come on, kid. Let’s get something to drink.”

 

[Mystydjinn]

Aelflead, ever ready to punch something, instantly tensed at the sound of the doorway crashing open and her hand instinctively found her knife.

After a while of watching the rowdy group settle into the room, Aelflead blinked with mild surprise when she recognized the one who'd entered the bar on his face. Its that timid guy from the ship, I guess those are friends of his.

With her concern abated Aelflead resheathed her knife and stole another glance at the blue-eyed terran and shrugged. He's got some spurii with him so he can't be all bad, she thought. Besides, it was a party and the wide-eyed blond seemed like tame enough company, even if his friends were a walking thunderstorm. At the very least he'll be a good counterweight to the rainbow squad over here. She spared a glance at the giggle squad a couple steps away as she thought this, deadpanned, and briefly wondered if the group's cheeks ever got sore before turning her attention back to the blond and his boisterous group.

Maybe if I can get his attention his buddies'll break off, she thought and turned to look over her shoulder and fix the blond with a smoldering look from under her bangs, and shot him a come-hither motion with her hand.

She was laying it on thick, but she needed something to talk to that didn't look like its face was ready to split in half. Even if it was a starry-eyed, laicar, farm boy sans his giant, grumpy, eight-legged cat.

Wc [263/474]

 

[Redfin]

Cicely let out a polite chuckle at Deni. "Yeah, I will require payment as things are ordered, sir. There is far too much customers here at the moment, so it'll just make things easier. Thanks." She flashed him a bright, toothy smile.

She turned over to Aeria. "For you. On a joyous night like this, I recommend the yellow bird. It is a floral drink with rum as the base and hints of anise with a sweet finish. It has a bright, golden color." As she was speaking, she scooped a bit of ice into a cocktail glass. Afterwards, the ingredients. Rum, Galliano, triple sec and lime juice. The ratio, two parts to one to one to one.

Cicely shook everything together. Her movements were quick and snappy, giving maximum mixing in minimum time. The ice was tossed, its job of chilling the glass finished. The drink was poured in. The gentle, golden color of the Galliano shining through.

[311]

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

“Stop right there, criminal scum!” A hand slapped down on Ignis’ shoulder and squeezed tightly. Just as the enlil turned to look, shock and consternation on her face, Keydis let go and laughed, holding up her empty hands. “Kidding, kidding! They pulled that shit with me, too!” She pulled a wrinkled sheet of paper from a pouch at her belt: it had her face, a bounty, and a ‘Void’ notice.

The young laicar woman stood out from the crowd, almost obnoxiously so, starting with her short and spiky brown hair with bangs dyed red and her sun-kissed tan -- a rarity this far north. Although her face was youthful and unblemished, there was a fire in her violet eyes and her cocky grin. She wasn’t that tall, but even beneath the layers of clothes, she was clearly made of tightly packed muscle: Ignis was probably still feeling a little sore from the casual slap. Keydis was wearing a tight red undershirt and matching black pants, with sturdy grey plates sewn in to the abs and thighs. Her boots were sturdy, knee-high black leather. She had unique armor, almost like tightly woven black and violet dragon scales, starting at her neck, covering her chest and both shoulders, reaching down to her left elbow. A long red glove with golden Aridusian designs covered the rest of her left arm while her right was wrapped in black leather straps. Both the red glove and the smaller black one on her right hand were fingerless.

A half-cloak, black wool, draped over her right shoulder and an axe handle peeked over her left. A series of red and gold Aridusian sashes dangled from her left hip, and a sword handle peeked up from among them. Keydis went up to the nearby laicar man, easily a full head taller than her, and coaxed him out of his seat, ignoring his slurred complaints as she took his seat. With her own bounty stowed away, she looked at Ignis again, then held a hand out. “Name’s Keydis. Word around is that you’re a hero now. Kind of glad I wasn’t in town, else I’d have turned in your bounty and then where would we be?”

[366/366]

 

[Valero]

“You’d be full of holes, most likely,” Deni replied casually, but loud enough to make sure the young laicar woman heard. A self-impressed smirk remained strong on his face as he rummaged through the pockets of his dark grey trousers, but his blue eyes rested on Keydis for longer than they had on anyone else. If he didn’t know anything else about her, he could tell from the way she carried herself that she was tough. Probably dangerous. It was fortunate that it was a night for celebrating.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners? The name’s Deni,” the velen rambled, reaching one long arm past Ignis to grasp Keydis’ shoulder in the same friendly yet rough manner that his avian companion had received.

“It looks like we’ve all got cause to be merry,” Deni added, nodding at the void wanted poster as Keydis stashed it away. The velen finally pulled his hand out of his pocket and placed a handful of exa on the counter, before carefully shifting it towards the toned laicar woman.

“So first drink’s on me.”

[179/836]

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

Keydis gave Deni the same appraising look he'd just given her... and came to a far less flattering conclusion. Still, the laicar returned the smile and reached into another pouch. After counting up the exa on the counter, Keydis dropped her own handful of coins, just a bit larger. "Next one's on me, then."

[54/420]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Aeria took the drink, slid her payment to Cicely across the counter and sipped at the golden liquid. It was flavourful, warming and floral. She looked up with a smile on her delicate features. "That's delicious! It was an excellent choice. I'm sure after this one, there'll be more."

While she sipped her drink, she turned to face the newcomer who'd just put her exa on the counter, deciding that it was time for an introduction. It was a party, wasn't it? Although she hadn't been to many parties in her life, Aeria understood it was the general custom to make acquaintances. She caught Keydis' eye and gave her a nod. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure. The name's Aeria. Aeria Luxus. I have one of those fancy pieces of paper from the Conexus as well. We seem to be a bit of a club in here tonight!"

She let her gaze meet Keydis' own and saw a mixture of frankness and impudence in the other woman's eyes. Whoever this person was, Aeria had a feeling that she'd be interesting to get to know better.

[683]

 

[Shadowthread]

”Well, aren't you a rowdy bunch!” The athlete shouted with a smile as he stepped into the Vitae, the muffled sounds of celebration seeping through the door. Black pants with a few excess dark belts strapped on his waist more for style than function and a plain grey sleeveless shirt covered the athlete, leaving his toned arms exposed to the cool breeze outside, short and spiky silver hair was unkempt and flowed freely as his azure eyes gazed deeper into the bar.


There were a few faces present that he recognized and naturally he started to approach them, but not before stopping to get a drink,weaving through the crowd with little effort.


[115]

 

[Dysney]

The merry atmosphere brought a satisfied expression on Ignis’ face. “If you're feeling so generous, then you can pay for this,” the avian said, gesturing with the wineglass in her hand. She pecked Deni on the cheek. “And maybe one more. One more of these please, Cicely. I forgot what it's called, but I like it.”

Ignis jumped a bit when Keydis grabbed her shoulder, but the laicar woman was calling the accost a joke and pulling out a voided bounty. With the threat gone, the enlil laughed and shifted in her seat to keep an eye on the newcomer. The dim light in the bar shone on the pale woman's sharp teeth.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, it's no surprise you're so persuasive.” The enlil gave Diamantus a conspiratory look.

“Criminal scum?” Ignis repeated, smile unfaltering, “I like to think of myself as someone who got in over her head. I'll take hero, too, though. What's in a title after all? They're just a way for people to convince themselves they know you.”

Her brown eyes trailed over to Deni to assess his reaction after his casual threat.

“Now, now, I think we can all be civil,” Ignis interjected. Fortunately, her partner relaxed and introduced himself, gripping the short haired laicar's shoulder a bit too tight.

“A pleasure to meet you under these circumstances, Keydis.” The sharp smile remained while the enlil took a calming sip of her mead and let her feathers settle. “I don't think we want to know where would have been if we hadn't managed to send those blasted demons back to Infernalis. They're the real enemy, I tell you. Far worse than little old me. But that's all in the past.” Ignis waved her free hand as if to dismiss the events of the past two and a half years.

“I think it's best we start in a new chapter, hmm? Or you could tell us of your adventures while you were off having fun. Now that would be a tale worth repeating.”

[342/698]

 

[Apeiron]

“What’s this?” Kaeso muttered, sounding amused. He stopped dragging Ioannes for a brief moment and leaned in close to the gunsmith. The enlil’s shark-toothed smile became cocky grin as he teased, “Not even a drink in your hands and already you’re catching attention of a woman.”

With blood rushing to his face, Ioannes began to feel more uncomfortable than he had moments before. It was one thing to have everyone look your way in the heat of battle, when you were awash in the powerful glow of otherworldly power. It was quite another to be in a bar and have the attention of anyone. Especially after the entrance he’d just had.

“I--” Ioannes stopped himself as his brow furrowed and he recognized the woman. She had been arguing before with Laria’s friends back in Navalle. It was only then that the gunsmith caught sight of more familiar faces. His face brightened with a smile. Clarifying, he said, “She was on the ship. Probably just wants to introduce herself.”

Kaeso fixed Ioannes with a blank stare, but let the laicar out from under his arm, muttering in a deadpan tone, “Yeah. Introduce herself. That’s exactly what that looks like.”

Confused, Ioannes brushed off the enlil soldier’s remark and headed towards the group. As he got closer to the spurii woman he held out his hand and introduced himself, “Ioannes Furvus. I don’t believe we had time to talk on the ship. I’m a friend of Laria’s.”

 

[Mystydjinn]

Beneath her welcoming smile, the redhead snorted at the sight of the man's blush and had to fight to keep her smile inviting and stop it from becoming a smirk. I didn't peg him for the flustered type... She had expected what looked like teasing from the man's companions, but the flush of embarrassment on his face was a pleasant surprise. Now that it had been revealed, the more devious part of her mind went to work.

How far can I take this? She wondered and made a show of casually tucking her cartilage bangs behind her ear to play up her coy look and hide her red eye behind her bangs.

"Aelflead Kirastes." She took his handshake with both her hands in a gentle grip, unlike the handshake she gave when she was on the job. No hand-crushing business grip today, she was having too much fun playing up the suave demure damsel act.

"I remember, you were the one with the vorax, right?"

Wc [165/639]

 

[Valero]

After one more deep smirk, Deni finally drew his eyes away from Keydis and towards the commotion that had just entered the tavern.

The kinner! And… was that the glowing guy?

The velen suddenly thought that he had made a mistake. A reasonable portion of the people that gathered in the Vitae had been fighting alongside him. If they kept turning up… well, he doubted the tavern would hold everyone that had survived the mission.

Deni forgot all of his troubles at the sight of Aelflead’s behaviour with the newcomer though.

“Well, I guess she does have a soft side after all,” he muttered, with brows raised. He turned back to the counter and glanced at Cicely. She was practically juggling three drinks, so he leaned over the bar and motioned over one of the other bartenders.

“I’ll have some of the green stuff there,” he said and pointed to a bottle of familiar velen whiskey. As soon as the man turned his back, Deni turned to Diamantus and took the bottle of brandy from her, tilting his head back for a swig. He elicited a satisfied sigh as the alcohol burned down his throat, then placed the bottle back on the counter in front of his fellow Pelagian.

“So, Pelagia, eh? I’m from further south of the city, a place called Vallo Caerulo. If I remember correctly, you certainly drink like a Pelagian!”

[234/1,070]