Caution: Carousing

[Antoine de Silvain]

Another weekend, another bar. This time it was Le Poulet Gauche. Entering the rowdy establishment, I sidled up the bar and ordered a pint of ale.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

Seeking to be rid of some of my family for a while I went out for a drink at a disreputable establishment. Anymore I found that so many of my near relatives found their way onto my to kill list that it was hard to keep track of matters. It put me into a particularly foul mood and most had the good sense to avoid me when I was cranky and vexed. That could easily be seen by the way the patrons of Le Poulet Gauche parted as I entered.

[Antoine de Silvain]

The pub seemed to grow silent as a cantankerous looking Shahrizai entered, and I let out a low whistle to break the silence and the tension.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I heard a low whistle and looked over at the twit who emitted it. It was a low brow pub and it had been a while since I let my tensions vent so I calmly went over and grabbed said twit by the scruff of the neck and the seat of the pants. "Excuse me sir" I then proceeded to toss him head first over the bar. The bar tender who was accustomed to my larks had already cleared the more expensive bottles from the twit's likely landing site.

[Antoine de Silvain]

I let out a yelp of surprise when he grabbed me, but when he tossed me over the bar, I came up swinging. After crashing into a wall of glasses and landing on the floor with an unceremonious thud, I jumped to my feet. "What in the seven hells?!" I shouted, before launching myself back over the bar and at the man, pinning him to the floor. "What kind of man are you?"

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

The twit reacted as expected and I was ready for it. One does not gain a reputation as being one of the finest swordsmen in the land by being slow. So I began side stepping and ducking as I felt the tensions drain from my body. The lad managed to get hands on me which is saying something as most usually cannot even touch me. The crowd was on their feet and cheering with drunken glee at the spectacle. In answer to the twit’s question I responded in good humor “quicker and more skilled than you apparently” I punctuated my words by hooking his heel with my left foot and sweeping his legs with my right.

I was playing after all because if I was serious I would have already reached for one of the leaves of steel I always kept on my person and blood would already be flowing. This was simply a good natured brawl in a disreputable establishment. Though the fellow would likely not find it as good natured as me if he ended up flat on the floor with the wind knocked out of him as I expected.

[Antoine de Silvain]

He flipped me over and I landed on my back, knocking the wind out of me. Coughing, I stood up. "All this for a whistle?" I asked disbelievingly, even as I raised my fists. If he wanted a fight, so help me, he would get one.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I quirked a brow at him and rested my hands on my hips “well it has lightened the mood and if you were not seeking some small amount of attention then why did you whistle?”

[Antoine de Silvain]

"Throwing someone over a bar is hardly a small amount of attention, my friend," I said, cocking my head. Then I laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, now that the tension is gone, let me buy you a drink! What'll it be?"

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I tisk, tisked him I do not have many friends but I decided not to even go there. “Make it a double and I shall consider” I waited his reaction gauging the distance between him and the window in case he vexed me. The tender knowing my tendencies was already eyeing his window and looking worried. I have no clue why the fellow was getting his knickers in a knot I always paid the damages.

[Antoine de Silvain]

"A double, then," I said, still grinning but a little less eagerly. "A double what?"

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

“Brandy will suffice thank you” and with that I slunk toward one of the over turned bar stools and righted it before slithering up and onto it. I then lazily planted my elbow on the scarred wood of the bar and my chin in my hand as I watched my new friend through half silted eyes. At the same time I made a mental note to toss people over bars even more often as it seemed to cut down on the tab significantly.

[Antoine de Silvain]

I nodded. "A double brandy for my pal here," I told the bartender, "and a fresh pint for me." The bartender snorted, but handed over the drinks. I sat down next to the man, and lifted my mug. "To your heath," I said.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I simply raised my glass and took a gulp of the fiery liquor. I was not an overt chatter box and despite the improved humor I was still rather inclined to brood.

[Antoine de Silvain]

I took a sip of my ale before facing the bar, occasionally eying my new drinking buddy sidelong.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I caught the side long glances and mildly asked “are my breeches unlaced or something because you keep starring?”

[Antoine de Silvain]

I shook my head. "It's just curious," I said. "You go from attack mode to sullen silence, all in the space of minutes. What's got you so wound up?"

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I quirked a brow "and I should tell someone I do not know all this information why? And by the by that was not attack mode at all. You are not even leaking any bodily fluids."

[Antoine de Silvain]

"Only by the grace of the gods is that so," I replied. "If there had been any glasses in the way, I might be bleeding to death on the floor."

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

“Are you always such a whiner or are you just having a particularly good evening? Dear gods man this is Night’s Doorstep you dam well should not show up here unless you are willing to deal and/or looking for a little physical activity.”

[Antoine de Silvain]

"Whiner?" I asked incredulously. "As far as I can tell my tone has been entirely civil. If I need to loosen up, maybe you need to learn to control your temper."

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I shook my head “tone has nothing to do with one who is babbling like a brook about the many ills that have befallen them.”

[Antoine de Silvain]

"So you've got a temper, and you're deaf," I said. "The only ill that's befallen me that I've spoken of is your manhandling of my person, and I took that in good fun."

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I just cut my blue gaze at him and grinned a bit while shaking my head. If he could not hear his own incessant whining then who was I to go further in pointing it out to him?

[Antoine de Silvain]

Stupid git, I thought, before taking another gulp of my ale.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

He fell silent and that suited me just fine as I was content to sit on my stool and sip my drink.

[Antoine de Silvain]

I finished my ale and stood up. "Good night, sir," I said.

[Gadleon Shahrizai]

I simply inclined my head at the fellow. I always took some perverse satisfaction in taking down prigs a notch or three.