sticksandbones | I Never Will Play the Wild Rover No More

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I Never Will Play the Wild Rover No More

Who: Luca Aurelius and YOU
What: It's a bar log. For all your drinking needs. Make your own top-levels and have your own bar-related fun here.
When: End of March up to just before the event
Where: The Watchtower Bar
Warnings: Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.

It sure has been a month, hasn't it? And it's probably been made all the worse by the fact that Luca has been keeping the bar closed more often than not. Someone's had a lot on his mind, you see. Even when the bar has been open, Luca's presence has been missing, with only the spirit to tend to any, well... spirits you might have needed! There's no stew over the fire, or anything like that. It's great for drinking, but not much else.

But he can only wallow in misery for so long. And by that, we mean deal with the spirit occupying his walls, staring at him somberly every time he refuses to open the doors.

So, finally, toward the end of March, the doors to the bar open. One night at first. Then a second. By the third, it's the longest stretch they've stayed open since everything went to shit! Moreover, a pot of stew always seems to be brewing, a fresh deck of cards has been laid out on the table, and a new, makeshift dartboard has been prepared.

Well. If ever there's been a time to party, it's now. Grab your alcohol from your host, or do your own thing. It's about time the Grove got to relax.

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[don't mind a Child slipping in while luca is messing with the fire. he isn't going to bother the guy, at least not at first... then he sees him stick his whole ass hand in the fire and inhales, sharp but soft. still probably loud enough for luca to hear, since hunter isn't too far away.

he hasn't actually seen anyone else use magic yet, here.]

[Luca's attention snaps to the both the moment he draws a breath. His eyes narrow, studying the boy. His hand is withdrawn from the fire, careful as can be, and none the worse for wear. The only thing that seems to linger are long, talons that flicker out of being as they adjust to the colder air.]

Can I help you?

[unfortunately for both of them, the somewhat confrontational look luca gives him speaks to hunter's instinct for defiance, and his own face pulls into a scornful glare.]

Actually, you can. You're the proprietor of this establishment?

I am. And you...

[Luca looks him up and down, before the corner of his lips ticks upward. It's a smirk that's none too kind.]

You look far too young to be in this establishment.

[wow. hunter rolls his eyes so dramatically it actually aches a little.]

Oh, please. I've raided far seedier places than this. A lot nicer ones, too...

At any rate, my age isn't your concern. [buddy it literally is.]

[Insult him? Fine. Insult the bar that his father put so much effort into? That's a line you don't want to cross. The feathers on Luca's neck ruffle upward, while the air around him seems to briefly shimmer with heat.]

You'll find that as the proprietor of this place, it is my exact duty to know your age. [The waves of heat seem to dissipate, though there remains a faint glow to his eyes.]

I'll ask you one more time.

[okay, actual hostility. for just one second, he's torn between flight or fight. given that flapjack swoops out to take staff form in defense of hunter, he ends up standing to meet luca toe to toe, ready to fight...

... and then he just stares for a moment. the magic, the claws, the feathers...]

... Are you a harpy?

[Luca doesn't intend to actually fight the boy. Probably. But between the insults and general stubbornness, he has to set a standard. If the kid thinks he can get away with anything around him, then his reputation would only suffer.

In many ways, he doesn't expect the child to arm himself and meet him head on. While he keeps a stern face, his brain is already scrambling for a way out — one that wouldn't damage what the kid thought of him, or get said kid killed.

And then he asks that question. There is the - obvious connotation that makes his stomach tighten uncomfortably. But there's no malice there, just... actual curiosity. Somehow, that baffles Luca even more. While his feathers are no less ruffled and his eyes no less aglow, his brows raise into an expression that's far more taken aback than on guard.]

What the hells kind of question is that?

[... what kind of a question is "what kind of question is that?"]

The... inquisitory kind?

[more staring. hunter straightens up a little, since luca doesn't just attack outright, and points at him as he elaborates.]

You're clearly a magic user of some sort. You had talons, at least for a second, and you're all... feathery.

[When Luca looks the boy up and down again, it's with far more scrutiny than before. He weighs his words heavily. "Harpy" was a term that had fallen out of use many centuries ago, used as a blanket for his family. More often, it was used in reference to the women of his line, but it had begun to evolve into a more general perojorative over time.

The only reason it wasn't any more common was the fact that his own blood had begun to die out.

Nevertheless, the familiarity with the term has Luca on edge. Yet even as suspicion grew, something else put his mind at ease. "Magic user" didn't go hand in hand with the former term. "Blessed" would have been the right word.

Well. Perhaps there was only one thing to do.]

You. Where are you from.

[well. if they're all trapped here, it's in their best interest to not kill each other. not that they should have a reason to, if neither of them is strictly human.

... if nothing else, at least he can be friendly enough to get information out of luca.]

I'm from the Boiling Isles. And you?

Boiling Isles. [Quite unlike anything he's ever heard of. Which makes this whole conversation purely... coincidental. It's almost frustrating, the fact that he got so worked up over something unimportant.]

Renova. A place that does not take kindly to having its people called harpies. I would mind your tongue in the future, boy.

[oh, this jerk.]

It wasn't an insult. [necessarily.] And my name isn't boy, it's Hunter. [very "you're not my dad" energy right now.]

Hunter. [He corrects himself with a roll of the eyes.] And while I do not suspect you were trying to insult me, it was an insult nonetheless.

Now then. About your age?

[ohhh he wants sooo badly to snap that luca shouldn't be so sensitive. that he's acting like a baby.]

I'm old enough to be bigger than you.

[hold on, before luca can clock him, flapjack phases back into his bird form and audibly scolds hunter with a sharp chirp. the witch huffs and tucks his chin down in submission.]

I'm sixteen. [peep!] ... sir.

[Ohhhh, Luca comes so close to decking him. 16 is nearly an adult where he's from. It's close enough. And it's obvious that this kid deserves a reality check. Thankfully, the sight of his sense-talking bird manages to stay Luca's hand. For a minute or two, at least.]

Sixteen. [He casts a glance toward the sign indicating the age limit to the bar, then carefully shifts his posture to hide it.] Then I'm afraid that I legally cannot serve you. You'll need to leave. Do not make me ask twice.

[hunter was the best of the best as a scout. he follows luca's gaze, and grunts when the man moves to obscure his view. he's just going to sidestep luca to get a better look at the sign.]

[Ah-Ah! Luca leans with him, hand extending to flick Hunter right in his beak.]

I said leave. I will not ask nicely again.

[FLICKED! he looks just about ready to fight once more, but he gets his flyaway snatched in flapjack's beak and yanked toward the door.]

Ow ow ow -- okay, okay, Flap, I get it, fine!

[once he's released, he turns to huff and glare at luca once more.] I wasn't interested in your swill to begin with! [he WILL slam the door on his way out, THANK you!]

[Luca actually looks amused as he watches Hunter go. There's something about the little bird that, when paired with the fit that the boy throws, absolutely tickles him. He should probably feel a little worse about harassing a kid but...

He started it, right? Definitely...]

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I Never Will Play the Wild Rover No More

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