Private The Bilge In The Bucket Drown Your Sorrows

[Caden S. Freemont]

"Asta is...good." Caden squinted as suddenly his vision blurred for a moment. He checked to make sure his glasses were still on. They were, in fact. His vision snapped back to normal and he blinked. The stool beneath him seemed slightly less stable than before, and he laid a steadying paw on the bar top. It seemed the Tinge was already taking effect. You did down three shots in one go. He looked at Izakis and Willow, his awareness tracking a split second behind his vision as he vaguely wondered if he was going to survive the night. Then again, it might be better for everybeast if he died.

"Couldn't go killing more beast's mums if I'm dead," he muttered. A moment later he realized he had spoken the thought out loud. Hoping nobeast heard his words, he coughed and tilted his head to each of the beasts beside him in turn.

"Not friends, they just showed up a minute ago. Never seen either of them before. This one's Izakis, that one's Willow. They both seem to think I need somebeast to talk to. Do I look like I need somebeast to talk to?" He threw back more of the cognac, one eye twitching.

 

[Willow "Longshanks"]

"Apologies, Miss Izakis..."

He mumbled a little sheepishly after the Skink had said her piece, then nodded along with her.

"Ah, of course! Please forgive me, Caden, Izakis, I'm a little deep in my cup already... it's been quite some time for me."

Then the cute Barmaid set before him another bottle of wine. He gave her a big (perhaps dopey) smile and nod before wrapping his long paws around the neck of it, holding it as carefully as one would hold a live goose.

"Keep the rest for a tip then, hm, Miss?" He grinned, sliding across the necessary gilders and a few extra from his coin purse.

"The Stoatorian Guard, hum? Can't say I'm familiar with it, but I'm quite new to Bully. Seems an honorable position in title alone." Then Caden looked him over in a most concerning way and he shivered as soon as he looked away, feeling suddenly rather vulnerable all of a sudden. "I am... very sorry, Caden... I find—"

Then the Albino Marten was addressing the Jill across from them. They traded some companionable words, then Caden began to swim slightly in his seat. What was it that he'd had to drink again? Odde Tinge? Worrying...

Even more worrying were his next words: 'Couldn't go killing more beast's mums if I'm dead.'

Willow felt a deep pit being uncovered in the depths of his stomach and his heart dropping somewhere to search it. Then Caden spoke again and his heart lurched somewhere closer to the bottom of that pit.

Perhaps... it was time to leave before he got himself hurt. "Again, my apologies, Caden... erm... I'll not impose myself any longer if my presence is not wanted."

 

[Izakis]

Izakis listened intensely to the conversation between the beasts around her, trying to piece together how to navigate this suddenly thrown net of social connections. Caden had someone who he knew nearby, the new guy, Willow, was friendly and harmless, if a bit too apologetic after her rebuke. Of course, that cute vixen behind the bar was now entangled into it all. The situation was complex and clearly was not helping Caden, and as such she moved back just enough to make sure he had space to breathe, at least on her side.

However at his comment regarding... well everything, Izakis could pick up what was the reason Caden was here. Guilt. Pain of actions done. She was very focused on him before as she had imposed a task of helping him upon herself. Now however, after his muttered comment? She already knew enough to maybe report something interesting back, while also knowing how to navigate this very delicate situation.

"Well Caden, you misunderstand. I don't think you need ssssomebeast to talk to per sssse. As most mercenaries I know, you need companionship and camaderie..." She started slowly. "sssSpeak or not about what happened, but at least be assured you aren't left alone to rot with your thoughts." Izakis said before while reaching her tail to put the cognac in front of him.

She then turned to the other beasts. "Pleasure to meet you Vihma." She spoke to the weasel while putting her right claw on her chest to slightly bow. "I think I saw you before in various places in the harbour before... but nonetheless, I am but a someone who likes to be there for those who sssstruggle."

"And you Willow, no need to be so ssssheepish. Just make ssssure to give sssspace to the one who's going through the pains of life now." She mused to Willow and have him a small bump into his arm, realising how lanky he is.

Following that, she put down her glass and reached to the pouch under her tail, pulling out three of rolled tobacco into what was known as cigar, offering it to the group with a genuine smile.

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose smiled as the weasel seemed inclined to take the advice, then blinked as the jill apparently recognized the older jack who'd addressed her by name and they got to chatting. She felt a small pang of longing for that sort of community, but even most of the regulars here didn't seem to know her name. She moved down the bar, busying herself with tidying up the space as she listened in. Her ears pricked up at something the jack muttered, and she was sure for a moment that she must have misheard. "Sorry," she apologized, "bu' did ya say summat 'bou' killin' mums?"

"Well," a ferret jill, older even yet than the jack, remarked as she approached the bar, "I hope you no include me in dat." She had a Hanshiman accent, though lighter than that of some of the sailors who had come through the Admiral Rainblade Inn during Mina Rose's youth. She also was wearing a Stoatorian Guard uniform, which was a bit of a surprise to Mina Rose; she didn't figure there would be many foreigners in the guard. Then again, her cousin was in it, and he was Fyadorian - that was kinda foreign, wasn't it?

The ferret jill moved between Vihma and the jack, giving them a look of concern. "You two are okay?" she inquired, looking between them. "I no tink to see eitter of you here. Vihma, I tinked you would be wit' Morgan," she addressed the weasel, "but I goed to look for her and no finded her. I suppose we find a friend instead." She glanced at the jack, looking a bit skeptically at the drinks in front of him. "Caden, you are okay? Is Asta and Daniil okay?"

 

[Vihmastaja]

Vihma's eyes tracked the albino marten as he steadied himself, going a bit wide with the comment about killing.

It was something drunken, seemingly random, but the weasel felt a flicker of confused unease anyway. Memories of blood and despair in the dark came and went - the marten had probably meant nothing, certainly didn't know anything of her past. She supposed he probably killed some beasts' mums back during his days as a mercenary - she knew he'd been fighting a long time, and the math just worked out that way. Still, it was an odd thing to say, and didn't speak well for his feelings at the moment.

In the end she summoned a stiff lip and took another drink from her ale as Caden introduced her to his not-friends, pushing the unwelcome thoughts from her mind. If anything was clear from the short exchange, it was that the older marten had sought out his drink for stronger reasons than her own. Whether conversation was something the jack needed or not, she couldn't say - but Caden looked like he could use a friend.

The tall fox - Willow - seemed to make to leave then, and Vihma, setting her drink back on the counter, thought to say a word to keep him there. Before she could, Caden's other not-friend companion, the lizard - Izakis - spoke first, doing a better job with her words than the weasel might have, lizard-accented or not, and then gave her a friendly greeting, complete with a little bow.

Vihma returned Izakis' gesture in spirit with a slight smile and a deferential nod of her head - somewhat more pronounced than intended, what with the alcohol coursing through her veins.

The lizard stood out in a dull memory or two, perhaps. Vihma didn't know any lizards, though she'd seen many over the years. Her thoughts drifted back to scenes at the Opera House not so long ago, but another more familiar voice woke her from her recollection before she could make a connection.

"Eirine?"

Vihma turned in place to face the shorter ferret, her back against the bar, feeling a wave of small guilt at the mention of Morgan's name. The weasel made to speak for herself, but thankfully she asked after Caden next, a beast she felt needed the ask more - more than she needed to spill her guts and complicate life for her jillfriend's mother, anyway.

"'e said Asta was alrigh'. Think 'e's feelin' guilt abou' some beasts 'e killed."

She half-turned again to finish the last of her drink, hoping she'd been somewhat helpful. Guilt was a terrible thing. Vihma could remember the way her mother had seemed haunted by her past, by all the souls she'd taken. She'd killed beasts of her own in her time on Urk. Somehow it'd not gotten to her yet, but maybe it was the sort of thing to catch up eventually.