Returning Home is Bittersweet
Who: Rahal (bluelamphinian ) and Jeremy (
loser_blonde )
When: after Rahal arrives back from Chisha
Where: the tavern
What: Rahal and Jeremy have a drink to celebrate Rahal coming home
Notes/Warnings: nothing to be worried about
Even with the small amount of closure going to Chisha offered, coming back and nearly immediately getting into a fight with Culgan and Seed had grated on him. He need a drink, even though he knew he was awful with alcohol. So he'd settle for really strong tea, something to help him sleep and take away the pounding in his head. And hopefully having Jeremy's company would help too. He entered the tavern, looking for the blonde - not sure if he would be buried behind papers or just a light haired beacon in the gloom.
Jeremy sat back in his chair with a leg up on top of the table he occupied. There was already a bottle of rum in the middle of the table and next to his glass and another for the person he was waiting for to arrive. He lowered his leg back onto the floor when a waitress passed by and gave him a disapproving look. After she walked by, he noticed Rahal come through the door then waved a hand and whistled.
Rahal spotted him more for the whistle than the waving hand, but it hardly mattered. He made his way over, pausing to ask the waitress for their strongest tea before settling down across from Jeremy. "Have a fun day with your paperwork?" he asked.
"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, I'll finally go in. Mostly 'cause I feel bad leaving that poor little girl Alanis with that fiasco." Puts a hand through his hair to flip some of it outta his face. "What about you? I didn't know about your friend and all that. Uh, you really alright with all of that?"
Rahal waited to reply until the girl carrying his tea arrived and he'd taken a rather large draught, hoping it would help his headache swiftly. "I'm as all right as I can be. It's not like I can do much about it, and I'm a soldier. Death... isn't something we are allowed to mourn for to long."
"Yeah..." Jeremy hadn't been in the initial unification war of his country long enough to see much death among people he knew or anything.. but after his memories of Kooluk's fall were restored, it was unfortunately a lot easier for him to relate. "Maybe you won't have to deal with anything that depressing again for a long time."
He only wished. This fight with Culgan and Seed was nearly as depressing and certainly not helping. He took another long sip of his tea. "One can hope. I think I just need to find something to do more often now that I am back here."
Takes a small drink himself before answering. "Well, this lady, Chrodechild, is holding these sparring sessions now. There's a couple different fighters practicing at these things. You could blow off some steam and keep yourself occupied with that, you know?"
"Oh, the Lady and I did have a match scheduled. But I had to leave to... see my friend off," he recalled, his fingers tapping the earthenware mug. "But I was also thinking more of a job. I do have to pay Kathy for all the supplies I use taking care of Flail."
"A job?" He thought about it for a second. "If you wanna help me out being a paper jockie, be my guest~ Ha! .. A-ah. But in all seriousness, I don't really know. I think that chick, Nei, is always tryin' to rope people into helping her out over at the theater."
"I was more thinking taking up Stallion's old delivery business. I do some tailoring work too, but it's not really enough. Flail is quite expensive, as you can imagine," Rahal smiled, his tiredness showing in the shadows beneath his eyes.
Jeremy nodded when he remembered that. "Oh yeah. There ain't nobody doing that as a private business around here anymore. Bet it's slow now, too," he closed his eyes to smile back sort of, "Hey, she's a lady so she's gotta have the best care, man." Always taking the side of a woman, no matter what species.
Rahal laughed at that. "That she does. I do wish sometimes she had a companion of her own species though," he mused, pursing is lips just a bit before sipping the last of his tea. "Do you care for something to eat? I'm suddenly feeling hungry."
"Huh.. nah. I don't ever eat here anyway." Pours himself another glass of rum and lifts it slightly. "This is enough for me."
"I thought that was bad for you," Rahal noted, motioning for more tea and placing an order for a sandwich, not sure he could manage much else. "What have you been doing besides getting a new job? I haven't seen you around for a long time."
"I've been clean for a month! And it was the most horrific month, just so you know." Jeremy doesn't take a drink though after that statement. "I'm always just sharpening my swordsmanship. There ain't too many fights around here though so I'm not sure what the point of me training is." There was also him slowly getting used to some new memories, but didn't see why he should mention it at all.
"Letting your skills rust is never a good idea," Rahal pointed out. "You'll never know when they can be needed and who knows? They might be necessary for a job once the merchants leave."
"Ah, yeah. I guess so," Jeremy leans back in his chair, "So you're just looking for or setting up for a job yourself then? You sure get down to business after such a long trip. You should remember to relax."
Rahal shrugged. "I don't do well when I have nothing to do," he said. "I'm used to being so busy, being a Commander now and all and even before then as a Captain and so on down the line that I just don't know what to do when I do have free time. I feel... useless."
"I kinda know the feeling." He sat up again. "But when I got that feeling, I traveled to the next town or wandered off somewhere. I'm not used to staying in one place and around civilization so long, honestly. Even after all these years, I still feel a little out of place. It just takes a while to get some semblance of comfort."
"I don't know if I can ever be comfortable," Rahal admitted slowly, looking down at the leaves left in the bottom of his cup. "As much as I felt I needed a break from being Commander, now that I have it I feel... lost."
"You sound like you think a lot," looking up at nothing in particular, "that may be one problem. Or you should find a better distraction from whatever it is you're thinking about."
He almost had one, but... well, best not to think on that. Perhaps Jeremy was right. He did think to much. "I think a job might help with that. Give me something else to think about and something to actually do."
"Yeah, now you're talking!" Jeremy finally takes a drink. "If you keep thinking like that, you'll start to see. Just make sure you don't step off any walkways anytime soon or you'll wind up lost again real soon!"
"I thought they fixed that problem with the well you got caught in," Rahal smirked, recalling the time Jeremy vanished into some sort of well or underground stream or some such and didn't reappear for at least a week covered in muck and smelling like a pile of horse dung to boot.
Jeremy tried not to choke on what he was swallowing. "H-hckk-!" Breathes evenly nooow. "I-I'm sure they have....! My luck isn't so bad as that. Falling in twice." Sighs. "Well, at least you don't look as mopey as you did earlier." Even if it was at his expense.
Rahal actually laughed aloud a bit at the other's chokes. "Somehow, I think your luck is that bad, but if you whistle loud enough I'm sure someone will hear you this time, my friend."
J-just because my luck stat is pretty abyssmal, it doesn't mean anything. Damn. "I yelled and nobody noticed!!" Putting his hands in the air. "But really. I don't plan to let that happen again!" Drinks again to hopefully get his mind off that altogether.
Rahal laughed a bit louder, smiling as his meal order came and digging into it with more gusto than before. Laughter truly was the best medicine. "Perhaps you could help me with the delivery business."
"Delivery? Heh. I ain't really known for being prompt or speedy. If fightin' or teachin' isn't involved, I just fall flat. This Harmonia thing was mostly outta desperation." Jeremy folds his arms across his chest. "We can still hang out outside of that anyway."
"I'd like that very much," Rahal said once he'd polished off the first half of his sandwich, but stopped when his stomach gave a protesting twist. For a minute his face scrunched in discomfort and he pushed aside the second half. "I need another swimming partner besides Flail."
Actually took notice of what Rahal was going for once, but didn't say anything either. "Oh, well, as long as I get to go in the water while it's still warm. I can't stand the cold." Obviously ain't looking forward to the winter months.
"The lake water isn't warm, but it feels rather nice as compared to this dry heat," Rahal commented, pressing a hand to his belly as it gave another twist.
Dry heat? For a guy in such layered clothes and armor on top of it all, Jeremy didn't seem to realize how hot it was- "You alright there, man?" Maybe it was whatever stress and the recent travel finally outpouring a bit..
"I think I'll be okay. I rationed myself on the road, I think I just ate to much to fast," he assured the other.
"So you haven't eaten much in a while..." He uncrossed his arms. "You don't wanna call it a day and head back to your room or somethin'?"
"I think I'll be fine if I just let it settle," he shook his head and asked the waitress for a lighter tea.
"Ah, well, alright then." Is drinking yet again, but at least he looks like it's finally gettin' to him a little. Guess he is human afterall.
Rahal sighed and rubbed his eyes after the first few sips of tea only served to upset him further. Maybe Jeremy had been right, but it was loathe to loose the other's company. "I'll probably need help fixing up the delivery station, if you ever got bored of paper work," he offered with a shallow smile.
Jeremy pushed away his glass at last and then responded. "Maybe. I wouldn't mind too badly I guess.." A little unconvinced that the other was totally fine.
"It would give you something to do," Rahal reminded him, loosing track of the conversation as his stomach did that odd little twist - tighter now, harder, his face paling a bit.
"Yeah, you've got a point there." Had his eyes closed thinking just at that moment so he doesn't realize Rahal's ill look yet.
Rahal opened his mouth to say something, then suddenly rose as his stomach went into full revolt. "Excuse me," he gasped, hurrying for the door with a hand clapped over his mouth and the other over his belly.
Jeremy blinked when Rahal had bumped the table gently when he turned to leave. He was still just sitting there and had tipped back a little in his chair from the surprise. When he looked over to the door, it looked like Rahal was already on his way out. "U-uh."
Rahal went around the corner and crouched in the bushes, hugging is belly as he vomited up the half sandwich and tea, the bile tasting revolting on his tongue.
He simply left their drinks and stuff on the table after finally snapping to his senses. It was a good minute at least before he reached the door and looked around when he opened it. "Hey, Rahal?"
The first answer he'd get was the sound of Rahal dry heaving and spitting the last of the bile to the ground, then a groan. "Sorry about that Jeremy," he said weakly, wiping at his mouth.
"Hey!" Jeremy walked up to him and put his arms out since he mostly didn't know what he should offer or what. "I don't think we need to be going back inside there," motioning at the tavern doors, "you gotta lie down."
Rahal came forward and leaned against him, his stomach settling now that the intruding food had been banished. "Perhaps. I haven't really sat down since I got back," he sighed.
Jeremy was jolted slightly, but at least he had his arms out already. He hoisted him upright a bit, but didn't let go yet though. "Can you walk or..?"
"No, I shall spare us both the indignity of you having to carry me," Rahal chuckled, a bit raspy. "I can make it with some help."
"A-ah, alright." He just put one of his hands around Rahal to support him in case he felt tipsy or something.
Tipsy was so not his problem. They plodded along in relative silence till they reached Rahal's room, glad he got the door open without to much trouble. "Thank you, Jeremy. I'm sorry I turned our get together into... well, something unpleasant."
"Eh, don't worry about it. It's nothing I haven't seen or anything. Next time we should go outside or somewhere more calming. All of that atmosphere and your traveling stress probably wasn't a good combination." Jeremy put his hand behind his head.
Rahal smiled at the blonde, glad for his presence. "I'll come find you tomorrow, give you a break from all those papers," he said, mostly to give himself something to do too, but he figured Jeremy wouldn't mind the interruption.
Jeremy smiled slightly back. "That would be a nice idea~" he looked pretty relieved about that, "Just make sure you get plenty of rest though, alright? Don't want you gettin' sick again."
"Of course, doctor," Rahal managed a light smile. "Good night then, and thank you," he nodded, heading inside and waving before shutting the door. Without even thinking he shrugged off tunic and boots and slid into bed, almost immediately asleep.
loser_blonde )
When: after Rahal arrives back from Chisha
Where: the tavern
What: Rahal and Jeremy have a drink to celebrate Rahal coming home
Notes/Warnings: nothing to be worried about
Even with the small amount of closure going to Chisha offered, coming back and nearly immediately getting into a fight with Culgan and Seed had grated on him. He need a drink, even though he knew he was awful with alcohol. So he'd settle for really strong tea, something to help him sleep and take away the pounding in his head. And hopefully having Jeremy's company would help too. He entered the tavern, looking for the blonde - not sure if he would be buried behind papers or just a light haired beacon in the gloom.
Jeremy sat back in his chair with a leg up on top of the table he occupied. There was already a bottle of rum in the middle of the table and next to his glass and another for the person he was waiting for to arrive. He lowered his leg back onto the floor when a waitress passed by and gave him a disapproving look. After she walked by, he noticed Rahal come through the door then waved a hand and whistled.
Rahal spotted him more for the whistle than the waving hand, but it hardly mattered. He made his way over, pausing to ask the waitress for their strongest tea before settling down across from Jeremy. "Have a fun day with your paperwork?" he asked.
"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, I'll finally go in. Mostly 'cause I feel bad leaving that poor little girl Alanis with that fiasco." Puts a hand through his hair to flip some of it outta his face. "What about you? I didn't know about your friend and all that. Uh, you really alright with all of that?"
Rahal waited to reply until the girl carrying his tea arrived and he'd taken a rather large draught, hoping it would help his headache swiftly. "I'm as all right as I can be. It's not like I can do much about it, and I'm a soldier. Death... isn't something we are allowed to mourn for to long."
"Yeah..." Jeremy hadn't been in the initial unification war of his country long enough to see much death among people he knew or anything.. but after his memories of Kooluk's fall were restored, it was unfortunately a lot easier for him to relate. "Maybe you won't have to deal with anything that depressing again for a long time."
He only wished. This fight with Culgan and Seed was nearly as depressing and certainly not helping. He took another long sip of his tea. "One can hope. I think I just need to find something to do more often now that I am back here."
Takes a small drink himself before answering. "Well, this lady, Chrodechild, is holding these sparring sessions now. There's a couple different fighters practicing at these things. You could blow off some steam and keep yourself occupied with that, you know?"
"Oh, the Lady and I did have a match scheduled. But I had to leave to... see my friend off," he recalled, his fingers tapping the earthenware mug. "But I was also thinking more of a job. I do have to pay Kathy for all the supplies I use taking care of Flail."
"A job?" He thought about it for a second. "If you wanna help me out being a paper jockie, be my guest~ Ha! .. A-ah. But in all seriousness, I don't really know. I think that chick, Nei, is always tryin' to rope people into helping her out over at the theater."
"I was more thinking taking up Stallion's old delivery business. I do some tailoring work too, but it's not really enough. Flail is quite expensive, as you can imagine," Rahal smiled, his tiredness showing in the shadows beneath his eyes.
Jeremy nodded when he remembered that. "Oh yeah. There ain't nobody doing that as a private business around here anymore. Bet it's slow now, too," he closed his eyes to smile back sort of, "Hey, she's a lady so she's gotta have the best care, man." Always taking the side of a woman, no matter what species.
Rahal laughed at that. "That she does. I do wish sometimes she had a companion of her own species though," he mused, pursing is lips just a bit before sipping the last of his tea. "Do you care for something to eat? I'm suddenly feeling hungry."
"Huh.. nah. I don't ever eat here anyway." Pours himself another glass of rum and lifts it slightly. "This is enough for me."
"I thought that was bad for you," Rahal noted, motioning for more tea and placing an order for a sandwich, not sure he could manage much else. "What have you been doing besides getting a new job? I haven't seen you around for a long time."
"I've been clean for a month! And it was the most horrific month, just so you know." Jeremy doesn't take a drink though after that statement. "I'm always just sharpening my swordsmanship. There ain't too many fights around here though so I'm not sure what the point of me training is." There was also him slowly getting used to some new memories, but didn't see why he should mention it at all.
"Letting your skills rust is never a good idea," Rahal pointed out. "You'll never know when they can be needed and who knows? They might be necessary for a job once the merchants leave."
"Ah, yeah. I guess so," Jeremy leans back in his chair, "So you're just looking for or setting up for a job yourself then? You sure get down to business after such a long trip. You should remember to relax."
Rahal shrugged. "I don't do well when I have nothing to do," he said. "I'm used to being so busy, being a Commander now and all and even before then as a Captain and so on down the line that I just don't know what to do when I do have free time. I feel... useless."
"I kinda know the feeling." He sat up again. "But when I got that feeling, I traveled to the next town or wandered off somewhere. I'm not used to staying in one place and around civilization so long, honestly. Even after all these years, I still feel a little out of place. It just takes a while to get some semblance of comfort."
"I don't know if I can ever be comfortable," Rahal admitted slowly, looking down at the leaves left in the bottom of his cup. "As much as I felt I needed a break from being Commander, now that I have it I feel... lost."
"You sound like you think a lot," looking up at nothing in particular, "that may be one problem. Or you should find a better distraction from whatever it is you're thinking about."
He almost had one, but... well, best not to think on that. Perhaps Jeremy was right. He did think to much. "I think a job might help with that. Give me something else to think about and something to actually do."
"Yeah, now you're talking!" Jeremy finally takes a drink. "If you keep thinking like that, you'll start to see. Just make sure you don't step off any walkways anytime soon or you'll wind up lost again real soon!"
"I thought they fixed that problem with the well you got caught in," Rahal smirked, recalling the time Jeremy vanished into some sort of well or underground stream or some such and didn't reappear for at least a week covered in muck and smelling like a pile of horse dung to boot.
Jeremy tried not to choke on what he was swallowing. "H-hckk-!" Breathes evenly nooow. "I-I'm sure they have....! My luck isn't so bad as that. Falling in twice." Sighs. "Well, at least you don't look as mopey as you did earlier." Even if it was at his expense.
Rahal actually laughed aloud a bit at the other's chokes. "Somehow, I think your luck is that bad, but if you whistle loud enough I'm sure someone will hear you this time, my friend."
J-just because my luck stat is pretty abyssmal, it doesn't mean anything. Damn. "I yelled and nobody noticed!!" Putting his hands in the air. "But really. I don't plan to let that happen again!" Drinks again to hopefully get his mind off that altogether.
Rahal laughed a bit louder, smiling as his meal order came and digging into it with more gusto than before. Laughter truly was the best medicine. "Perhaps you could help me with the delivery business."
"Delivery? Heh. I ain't really known for being prompt or speedy. If fightin' or teachin' isn't involved, I just fall flat. This Harmonia thing was mostly outta desperation." Jeremy folds his arms across his chest. "We can still hang out outside of that anyway."
"I'd like that very much," Rahal said once he'd polished off the first half of his sandwich, but stopped when his stomach gave a protesting twist. For a minute his face scrunched in discomfort and he pushed aside the second half. "I need another swimming partner besides Flail."
Actually took notice of what Rahal was going for once, but didn't say anything either. "Oh, well, as long as I get to go in the water while it's still warm. I can't stand the cold." Obviously ain't looking forward to the winter months.
"The lake water isn't warm, but it feels rather nice as compared to this dry heat," Rahal commented, pressing a hand to his belly as it gave another twist.
Dry heat? For a guy in such layered clothes and armor on top of it all, Jeremy didn't seem to realize how hot it was- "You alright there, man?" Maybe it was whatever stress and the recent travel finally outpouring a bit..
"I think I'll be okay. I rationed myself on the road, I think I just ate to much to fast," he assured the other.
"So you haven't eaten much in a while..." He uncrossed his arms. "You don't wanna call it a day and head back to your room or somethin'?"
"I think I'll be fine if I just let it settle," he shook his head and asked the waitress for a lighter tea.
"Ah, well, alright then." Is drinking yet again, but at least he looks like it's finally gettin' to him a little. Guess he is human afterall.
Rahal sighed and rubbed his eyes after the first few sips of tea only served to upset him further. Maybe Jeremy had been right, but it was loathe to loose the other's company. "I'll probably need help fixing up the delivery station, if you ever got bored of paper work," he offered with a shallow smile.
Jeremy pushed away his glass at last and then responded. "Maybe. I wouldn't mind too badly I guess.." A little unconvinced that the other was totally fine.
"It would give you something to do," Rahal reminded him, loosing track of the conversation as his stomach did that odd little twist - tighter now, harder, his face paling a bit.
"Yeah, you've got a point there." Had his eyes closed thinking just at that moment so he doesn't realize Rahal's ill look yet.
Rahal opened his mouth to say something, then suddenly rose as his stomach went into full revolt. "Excuse me," he gasped, hurrying for the door with a hand clapped over his mouth and the other over his belly.
Jeremy blinked when Rahal had bumped the table gently when he turned to leave. He was still just sitting there and had tipped back a little in his chair from the surprise. When he looked over to the door, it looked like Rahal was already on his way out. "U-uh."
Rahal went around the corner and crouched in the bushes, hugging is belly as he vomited up the half sandwich and tea, the bile tasting revolting on his tongue.
He simply left their drinks and stuff on the table after finally snapping to his senses. It was a good minute at least before he reached the door and looked around when he opened it. "Hey, Rahal?"
The first answer he'd get was the sound of Rahal dry heaving and spitting the last of the bile to the ground, then a groan. "Sorry about that Jeremy," he said weakly, wiping at his mouth.
"Hey!" Jeremy walked up to him and put his arms out since he mostly didn't know what he should offer or what. "I don't think we need to be going back inside there," motioning at the tavern doors, "you gotta lie down."
Rahal came forward and leaned against him, his stomach settling now that the intruding food had been banished. "Perhaps. I haven't really sat down since I got back," he sighed.
Jeremy was jolted slightly, but at least he had his arms out already. He hoisted him upright a bit, but didn't let go yet though. "Can you walk or..?"
"No, I shall spare us both the indignity of you having to carry me," Rahal chuckled, a bit raspy. "I can make it with some help."
"A-ah, alright." He just put one of his hands around Rahal to support him in case he felt tipsy or something.
Tipsy was so not his problem. They plodded along in relative silence till they reached Rahal's room, glad he got the door open without to much trouble. "Thank you, Jeremy. I'm sorry I turned our get together into... well, something unpleasant."
"Eh, don't worry about it. It's nothing I haven't seen or anything. Next time we should go outside or somewhere more calming. All of that atmosphere and your traveling stress probably wasn't a good combination." Jeremy put his hand behind his head.
Rahal smiled at the blonde, glad for his presence. "I'll come find you tomorrow, give you a break from all those papers," he said, mostly to give himself something to do too, but he figured Jeremy wouldn't mind the interruption.
Jeremy smiled slightly back. "That would be a nice idea~" he looked pretty relieved about that, "Just make sure you get plenty of rest though, alright? Don't want you gettin' sick again."
"Of course, doctor," Rahal managed a light smile. "Good night then, and thank you," he nodded, heading inside and waving before shutting the door. Without even thinking he shrugged off tunic and boots and slid into bed, almost immediately asleep.