Spirits and Conversation

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I was taken by surprise, when, out of the blue, a beautiful, and somewhat drunk, woman approached me and started whispering to me, telling me of her companion. When she pointed him out, I realised it was the one I'd been watching most of the night, and I once again glanced his way. Yet again, I wondered at his appearance. No D'Angelline was he. No, he had the look of somewhat else. And he was also well on his way to being inebriated. Not surprising, given where we were.
I was once again struck by something, something about him that spoke to me on a level I didn't quite understand.
It was for this reason that I nodded, smiling a bit to myself when she kissed my cheek and tottered off, back to her table. As she spoke to the man, I nodded again, half to myself, then rose and, after leaving a few coins on the table, headed for the door. It had been a good while since I'd been at all interested in another man, but this one had certainly caught my attention.
As I waited, I leaned against the wall of the winehouse, and when the pair came through the door, I watched as they both grinned a bit drunkenly up at me.
Wondering if I wasn't getting myself into something I shouldn't, I none the less nodded and offered a hand to Odette for support.

[Odette Lamberte]

‘Twas a certainty that I was needful of the support offered by the handsome man, and I accepted it without falter, gripping it steadily as I moved in a little closer to him. “We’ve a bit of a journey ahead of us, in order to see a maiden home. It shall be made in as short an order as possible.” I promised with a wink, coming to rely on the fellow more and more as we struck a path towards my residence.

“My mind is sluggish from ale though tell me your name once again.” I momentarily glanced up at my escort’s face, smiling and leaning more against him as the streets shifted precariously with the slight movement of my head. As a further attempt to square my vision, I widen the stance of my footing though even that seemed burdensome, for the streets seemed opposed to an equal balance.

[Eyvind Loevess]

I walked with the pair toward Odette's residence. I watched her with care as I stole glances at the other man. Now that he was closer I could get a better look at him. While my head felt like it was floating quite well, I was not quite as inebriated as Odette. I was glad for it, though the nervous side of me sort of wished I could just pass out and not have to continue on with the night after Odette was gone. Liquor or not, part of me was surprised that I was even going toward this venture.

I thought briefly about Uruz then, what would he say if he knew that I was following this man. He would not be pleased. This thought gave me a pause, but I looked over at him and knew that I would go through with it. There was an excitement running through me that I had never felt before and I needed to know if it was indeed him that was causing it.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

The lady seemed to be a bit worse off than her male companion, and as I helped her down the street toward her home, I had to wonder if her proposition to me was merely a drunken lark, and if she would remember all this in the morning.
When she leaned against me and asked my name again, I chuckled, then answered, "Ryahn Debois, my lady." I flicked a glance at Eyvind, asking his name with my eyes. I didn't recall if she'd mentioned it earlier, so surprised had I been when she approached me.

[Eyvind Loevess]

Ryahn, I thought, a name that I would probably not forget in a long time, if ever. I liked it, it was strong but not gruff. "Eyvind Loevess," I said by a way of introduction.

[Odette Lamberte]

Introductions between them were settled, I would at least that much, once my intoxication was slumbered away. I steadied myself more against Ryahn, and giggled softly as I thought somewhat of what they would do when I was no longer in their company. I rather liked what formed in my mind's eye.

"And I am Odette Lamberte. Tell me somewhat of yourself, Ryahn. I can surely see that you are in good health.." I reached up momentarily to feel at the muscle of his upper arm and grinned. "...and handsome. "

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded at Eyvind, the beginnings of a small smile on my face. Then I looked down at the lady who was leaning even more heavily against me, and that smile grew. I gave an awkward little bow, then steadied her, hoping my move wouldn't unsettle her precarious balance.
When she squeezed my arm, I had to chuckle, "Carving wood and making furniture hold me in good stead, healthwise. As for being handsome, well, I can only say that my d'Angelline blood helps out quite a bit there."

[Eyvind Loevess]

He was a basic craftsman, as was I, sort of. I was more of an assistant to a basic craftsman, though of course we didn't craft in wood.

"Sounds like you lead a simple life," I said. "I work in a black smith. It's dirty but at the end of the day I can say that I enjoy my work."

[Odette Lamberte]

I grinned as they conversed, relying heavily on Ryahn to see that I would not stumble and injure myself as we traveled closer and closer to where I resided. It was yet early for my companion to be at home so I gave myself no reason to fret that he be about and suspect that somewhat was amiss.

I gentle patted Ryahn's arm as we approached my humble doorstep. "Do take care of my friend." I replied before grinning widely at Eyvind. "And you take care of him." I winked then carefully strode away from the pair of them, opening the door and stepping inside.

"My thanks to the both of you. May you seek a most fitting reward, from the other, in seeing this fair maiden home." I granted one last look at them before closing the door and stumbling towards the bed to rest.

[Eyvind Loevess]

Odette left and I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Here I was with this man and I was unsure of what to do next. I was not as drunk as I had been, though I was no by means completely sober either. My thoughts were confused. So, I did nothing but look over at him hoping that he would somehow clear things up for me.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

It was easy enough for me to support the lady, even as she weaved her way toward her home. Once we reached her doorstep, I smiled and helped her up the steps. At her parting words, I nodded, flicking a glance at her silent friend. Just before she went in and closed the door, I bowed slightly, then watched as she closed the door behind her. Glancing again at the silent, and apparently ill at ease man beside me, I thought he didn't look at all like he really knew what was going on. So I said what I was thinking, hoping to put him at ease. "It seems to me like you haven't completely settled on this." I raised one eyebrow in question, then decided to have pity on him, "We needn't really do this now, if it makes you uneasy." I smiled faintly, "For myself, I usually prefer to at least know the person I'm interested in a little before getting to this stage." I smilrked, "But then, I'm just a simple country man."

[Eyvind Loevess]

Ryahn's words eased me a little, he was at least conscious enough to see I was uneasy. What I did know is that I did not want to terry here for long since I feared Uruz showing up and somehow figuring out how I felt. It was the first time I had ever wanted to keep anything from him.

"How about one more drink?" I asked, "I can handle one more without being in Odette's state and we can get to know one another." I smiled, almost embarrased and added, "maybe by then I'll know what I want to do."

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, glad my words had achieved the desired result of setting him at ease. And I wouldn't mind a drink or two more, either. I had a strong feeling that he'd never done anything like this before, and while my own experiences with other men were few, I felt like a veritable expert, in comparison. With a slight grin, I slapped him on the shoulder, "Lead the way."

[Eyvind Loevess]

With Ryahn's slap I started walking back toward the bars. He would not have to tell me twice. Though the gesture was innocent enough it felt like my skin had tried to hold onto the feeling of his hand. It was strange but not exactly unpleasant.

"Do you have anyplace in particular that you favor?" I asked. I was to distracted by him and the previous events to have a care about where we were going.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I covered a laugh with a cough, then shrugged, "I haven't been living in the city long enough to have any favorites. The tavern we were in before is fine."

[Eyvind Loevess]

I had already started walking toward the direction of the Cockerel so I continued that route. 'How long have you been here?" I asked.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I was relieved to have a topic of converstaion that was something I could easily talk about. "In the City? About a month, give or take a few days." I wasn't surprised that we were headed back to the Cockerel. "And you?"

[Eyvind Loevess]

I thought for a brief moment, how long have I been here? Because of the illness I suffered much of the time was a blur. "I have been here a little longer, but less than a year. We arrived not to long before the plague hit the area and I don't honestly know how much time I spent under it's spell. If I had to guess though, I would say half a year."

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, "Plague, yes I've heard about that. I'm glad we came here after it was all over." I paused thoughtfully, "Was the place we took lady Odette to your home?"

[Eyvind Loevess]

"No, I told him. That is the home that she shares with her lover," I paused for a moment before adding, "and my companion from Skaldi." I looked at Ryann for a brief moment, not sure what I was looking for, a response I suppose. But, I spoke again before he could and added, "I grew up with him in Skaldi and acted as his right hand man, at least until we had to run for our lives." I was still a bit haunted and bitter about that affair and I'm sure it showed in my voice. I should have seen it coming or done something more to help Uruz keep his home.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I'd very much thought he was Skaldi. It all went hand in hand with the rough hewn, rugged handsomeness. "Then where are you staying?" was my next question. I would admit to my own Skaldi blood, if and when he asked.

[Eyvind Loevess]

"In Uruz' blacksmith shop," I told him. "I assist him with creating his wares as well. How about you?"

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I chuckled, then held up my tanned and scarred hands, "I'm a woodworker. I make furniture, and do a bit of carving."

[Eyvind Loevess]

I looked at Ryahn's hands as he held them up. I let my mind wonder, for just a brief moment, at how they would feel doing something other than wood working. I then put the thought aside deciding I need to regain the liquid fire in my blood before entertaining such thoughts. He was at ease and it was helping to put me at ease, just slightly.

We were back at the cockerel and I opened the door for him to step inside. "Do you have a drink of choice?" I asked.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I shrugged, letting my hands fall back to my sides as I stepped past Eyvind. "Not really. I suppose I'm more partial to ale than I am to wine, but anything will do."

[Eyvind Loevess]

"I am not much of a wine person either," I said. I got us both a glass of the basic hops available and pointed toward a table at random, "would you like to sit there?"

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I was far too busy watching Eyvind to care much about where we sat. So when he came back, drinks in hand, I just shrugged. "Anywhere is fine." Then I hesitated and looked around, finally spotting a table tucked away in a darker corner. "Over there." I pointed the table out, then glanced back at my companion.

[Eyvind Loevess]

I looked at the table that he had picked, it was off in a corner, a good table for one who didn't want to be bothered with prying eyes. I nodded my agreement and headed over to the table, setting his down at one seat and then taking the other.

I took a long drag on the beer. It felt better than it tasted. I put down my glass, has empty and then looked at Ryahn fully in the eyes, for probably the first time that night. It was easy to drown out the crowd and pretend that it was just the two of us here. "Does it ever bother you," I asked him, "having feelings for another man?"

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I sat with my back to one wall, my chair tipped back slightly as I held my mug of beer. I didn't drink, though, more interested in watching Eyvind instead. When he looked at me, I grinned, and shook my head. "Not really. I am half d'Angelline. I was raised here, and there's no shame in finding love, or in it finding you."

[Eyvind Loevess]

I almost blushed but then I envied Ryahn a little. I love Skaldi in it's own way, but to feel free to be who you are, I realized then how much in denial I had been about myself. I was not just picky about the women I dated, I had been unattracted to them all. Even Odette, who was cute and fun, was not that attractive too me.

"I haven't had that luxury," I said, looking at him briefly before looking away and around us. I was starting to get annoyed with my shyness, not a trait I normally possessed. "I have only bet here for a short time."