Fort Weyr - Gemstone Tavern
The dim lighting by the flicker of candles lining the walls is enough to offer a view of a room decorated in such a way as to be tastefully appealing. Each piece of furniture and decoration is chosen to accent another piece, and so on and so forth, matching and tying the whole room together in a theme that's separate, and yet at the same time unified. Tables line one wall, dimly lit by candles hanging in sconces all along. The bar along the far right wall is made of richly toned mahogany, tooled by a master and polished to shine with the soft glow of wood at its finest.
Candles strategically placed add to the atmosphere, accenting, punctuating. Towards the back is an open fireplace, constantly burning with a bright light, warming the tavern on cold nights and serving as a gathering place for patrons' story-tellings. Across the room, lush pillows and soft-covered floors promote relaxation at ease. Just before the pillows is a long stage, so full of its own vigor and memory - nicks here, marks there, scuffs from footware and other things - that it's possible to imagine the shows put on for the patrons without necessarily seeing the performances.
The tavern. It's… well, a tavern. And at the moment there are people there, doing the usual tavern-going things, minus the bar brawl, which hasn't happened yet. Business is bustling more or less, not the least because three riders at a table seem to be intent on drinking. Well, B'ky has klah, though there's an empty plate and two empty glasses of definitely not klah beside him. He's looking from R'lin to A'di andshaking his head gently at the both of them. /They/ have alcohol. B'ky chuckles quietly, "I'm not sure if it's helping so much as.." but he's too polite to say it. Or perhaps he's just unsure of how to phrase it. He's moped at A'di before; it's always ended with the latter fleeing. B'ky knows better, so he puts on a thin smile and just shakes his head. "You don't want to know," is said rather flatly to R'lin, in regard to the closet, and the other bluerider is given a faintly exasperated look. "I'm fairly cetain that's the definition of a weyrmate," is pointed out to the other bluerider, with some amusement.
R'lin only has two empty glasses… make that three. He's just finished that last one before leaning back in the booth and resting his head on the cushiony surface. A deep breath is taken before he join in the debate. "Sorry A'di… but I think unless you kick him out or if it's totally… you know…" he's obviously fishing for a word, and having some trouble catching it "um.. well, if you're…" apparently saying what he means without being /too/ blunt is problematic "sleeping together… then yeah, you're weyrmated." At least he's dropped the closet subject, right? I wonder, does Pern have that saying at all? Or did that get left behind on Terra. "But it's not all bad right? You have someone to snog. Not to mention…" jaw gets slammed shut there.
Apparently the bluerider is fond of showing his displeasure by letting out an annoyed snort. Yes, the bluerider already has one or two glasses before him, but it's very apparent that the beverages are already taking their effect on the small rider. Being short has its disadvantages sometimes, it doesn't take much for the alcohol to take effect. "It's silly." A'di is quickly saying, "It's not like I /asked/ to get myself stuck with him. It just…sorta happened, and then it spiraled until there was nothing I can do about it." There's a quiet groan as A'di drapes an arm over his face. A soft blush does tint the bluerider's cheeks. "Sleeping together?" The blush only gets worse. Lucky for B'ky, he's not really the focus of A'di's attention anymore. He's got his hands full with a certain greenie. So it probably wouldn't end up with him fleeing. "I hate that sharding closet, all sorts of silly stuff happens in there."
A'mar is being shoved into the tavern, looking rather much like he'd rather be /elsewhere/. Shoving him? A Roc wing greenrider, Jesikali. "You're /going/ to drink, because I /can't/." she's muttering at the man, shoving him right up to the bar. A'mar? Well, he looks absolutely stunned. "Er, ah, little help? Someone? Please?" But asking tavern patrons to get him out of drinking? Yeah… Probably not the best idea. Jesikali shoots the shoved bluerider a brief look, and notes, "I've got my green waiting just outside, with Caldoth, she'll /know/ if you come out sober. But I've got to get back to Kalim. Drink up!" she orders, before heading back the way she came. Poor A'mar?
B'ky simply nods in agreement with R'lin, the bluerider still looking faintly amused as the greenie apparently attempts to find the right words. With a sigh, B'ky just shakes his head gently. It's a weyr, after all; that sort of thing isn't exactly new. Or uncommon. "It hardly seems like a casual relationship if he's living with you," B'ky comments simply, sipping his klah. "Even if you're only sharing a bad, ah," he pauses, noting the other blueie's blush, too polite to go on, still. Though there is another nod in agreement with R'lin, B'ky chuckling quietly, "I would hardly complain about having someone to snog," and it's probably a good thing B'ky can hide behind his klah mug, because he's probably turning a little pink there. Good thing he has something to hide his face. Somewhat. Right, he /does/ have alcohol in him. Just enough, apparently. Clearing his throat, there's a lovely distraction of poor A'mar over there, and B'ky raises a hand to invite the other bluerider over, calling a quiet, "A'mar," in greeting. That departing Roc greenie is given a thoughtful look, as B'ky recognizes her as one of his wingriders.
R'lin says "well… I thought" R'lin can't be blamed for making assumptions, especially with some alcohol on board. And with said beverage the politeness factor has dropped just a tad, but at least he stopped there with that thought. "Guess I haven't had the right kind of experiences in a closet… or would that be wrong. dunno. I mean, I've hid in them lots. For some reasons the aunties never looked there." And, apparently his brain is wandering off again. There's a shake of his head and a scoot down the bench until he can lean against the wall, turning in his chair and pulling both feet onto the seat. There we go! Extra support and still able to stay in the conversation. "Snogging… none of that for me either." Perhaps a slight pout graces his lips but at least it doesn't linger. A'mar admittedly only gets stared at for the scene his entrance involved, at least until he gets over to their table. Which he should, after all it's the happening place…"
A'mar frowns back at the greenrider's exit, and then shakes his head, pondering finding a quiet table in the corner in which to soberly wait until the green dragon gets tired or leaves… But then, B'ky is calling a greeting, and inviting him over. "Ah. Ah, hi." he mumbles, heading over to join the wingleader. "I, ah. Apparently I'm supposed to get drunk." he mutters, with a grimace. His argument against drinking, thankfully, goes unsaid. It would not be well received in a tavern. "Snogging?" he asks, wrinkling his face up in disgust. Seriously? Is A'mar still /twelve/? "No thanks…" Nope. A'mar appears completely uninterested in that. He eyes A'di curiously, and snorts. "You can take Jesi if you like, she's a short one. Must be all of five feet." And A'mar? Nearly six and a half feet.
B'ky coughs politely behind his klah mug, murmuring very quietly, "They may have good reason not to look there." About Rlin's commentary on old aunties and closets. Ahem. R'lin does get a faintly sympathetic look, in regards to having no one to snog, though B'ky merely sighs and sips his klah. One brow arches at A'di's.. rant? ..over there, B'ky giving the other red-faced blueie a thoughtful look for a moment, "Perhaps.." does he have enough alcohol in him to suggest that? A pause, "Perhaps you should.. find another bucket?" Yes, yes he does. A'mar is given a curious look, B'ky commenting somewhat wryly, "I suspect.. you certainly won't be the only one," and his gazes sweeps over the other two riders currently getting drunk. B'ky shakes his head again, and then gives the bar a considering look. He's not quite tipsy even, but either that glass of whatever the day's special was.. was stronger than it appeared, or he's losing his ability to hold alcohol - which admittedly wasn't that great to begin with.
R'lin hasn't had any more to drink after finishing that third! And from the looks of it he's rather done, resting chin on knees except for those times that for some reason he feels the need to speak. "But.. snogging is fun!" is exclaimed perhaps just a tad bit too loudly. "Though, guess I'm not an expert or anything… only snogged Cal… well, other than flights but those don't really count do they? And ususually…" And he's back with the rambling and quickly fixates his attention on something else goin on within the group to avoid continuing that strand of thought. Luckily it's just a snerk (though audible) about a bucket.
Apparently all this talk about A'di's relationship with D'iv is embarassing the bluerider, for he's suddenly getting to his feet, muttering to himself. "I'm gonna go check up on my weyr, and make sure the pink isn't taking over my weyr." Or perhaps he's going to go find what he did to that bucket he carried around with him just for smooching. Who knows. Either way, soon the bluerider is dissapearing, he's on a mission.
A'mar frowns at B'ky's drink absently, then shrugs, waving over a bartender, to order the same as the wingleader. The drink arrives shortly, but A'mar just eyes it for the moment. "Flights… flights don't count." he agrees. "Flights shouldn't count." he mutters, taking a tentative sip of his drink now. "Caldoth caught Jesi's green. Now we've got a /kid/. But it was just the one flight…" he grimaces, and eyes the drink. "…but at least… at least I don't have a /weyrmate/." and he eyes the departing A'di, at that.
"It is," B'ky agrees quietly with R'lin, on the subject of snogging, though the bluerider is still hiding behind that mug, and regarding the bar. Glancing back, B'ky shrugs slightly, "Flights don't mean anything.. unless you want them to." Faranth knows, he'd have loved to have had Avi's last flight mean someting, but the man is weyrbred, and knows better, really. A'di's departure has B'ky looking faintly apologetic, though there's less sympathy than amusement in his expression now. There is a quiet, "Ah, good luck," wished to the other bluerider, and B'ky just shakes his head again. "Congratulations," is said to A'mar, when the man mentions having a kid, B'ky smiling slightly and saying, "It isn't always a bad thing, to have a weyrmate," and then he sighs, giving the bar an even more focused look, as if he could will the bottles over there to.. do something. Or perhaps he's just troubled by something else now. Who knows, with B'ky.
R'lin blinks seemings more than slightly confused. "I don't get it.. why is weyrmating so.. horrible?" As in, why are people seeming so very opposed to it. "I mean, it's kinda nice knowing you've got someone there." The confusion is either covering up sulk or he's simply not sulking, that is indeed an option. A'di gets waved off with a hand as he departs before the greenie gets distracted once more. "Kid?" blink. "Yeah, congratulations… and flights /don't/ count, not in the liking people way. Or cheating way." He's luckily avoided the other consequence of flights so far, and hopefully will keep it that way. Eyes focus on A'mar fully for a moment, head slowly canting over to one side. "Oh.. I don't know you. I'm R'lin." and that same hand used for the waving is held out, doesn't matter that it's his left.
A'mar sighs, and shakes his head. "I get the feeling Jesi wants… more. Or something. Looking in the wrong weyr, though. I'm not /into/ girls." he mutters. Somehow, he's not doing a very convincing job of seeming older than twelve. "Or guys either, I guess. I … I don't know. Never been in a situation to find out." he says, with a shrug, taking a proper - if small - swig of his drink now. "Shardin' Caldoth only chases greens with female riders, he /wants/ there to be babies." he mutters, taking another swig now. Well, at least he's not /resisting/? He blinks a little at R'lin, and tips his head. "Ah, A'mar. Rider to blue Caldoth. Father to Kalimar." Well, he /is/. "…and twenty-seven turns of age. As of today." Because apparently even /he/ knows he doesn't act it.
B'ky just shakes his head slowly, with a soft, "I have no idea," in reply to R'lin's question about weyrmating. "I was weyrmated.. eight turns; I don't regret it," and he sighs heavily, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose before sipping more klah. Clearly, the topic of conversation is sending him right back into mopey, but at least he isn't drinking alcohol this time. B'ky simply tilts his head at A'mar then, "You should.. probably tell her that," suggested quietly. If B'ky were drunker, he might just have offered to put A'mar in such a situation, but still being sober and having a clear-ish head on his shoulders, he simply shakes his head gently, and then with another slight smile wishes the other bluerider a quiet, "Happy turnday, as well."
R'lin drops his hand back down to drape over his knees as it's not taken to shake. At least the newest addition to their mopey party did introduce himself. "Nice to meet you… and.. happy turnday?" Apparently at some point the waitress brought them a plate of appetizers, probably to counteract the alcohol that was being consumed. This of course allows R'lin to toss a piece of bread at B'ky after that sigh. "Stop moping." And that's all the attention the wingleader gets for the moment. "You don't know?" It's not actually incredulous like it could be, just a question. "Kinda like me, I'm not good telling if I like someone, or if someone likes me.. Cal pretty much had to beat it into my skull… not that she likes me anymore… well, not like that." And back to the rambling.
A'mar sighs, and shakes his head, staring down into his glass. "I… I keep /trying/. I think she /knows/. She keeps steering the conversation back to the baby. She… she doesn't want to… to hear it." he snorts. He seems oblivious of the opening his previous comment might have left, about not knowing whether he was interested in men, which is probably for the best, really. "I… ah. Well, there's no-one I particularly, er… /like/. Not in that way. Flights… are all Caldoth's doing. I'm only echoing him. If he loses… I seem to get over it pretty quickly." he shrugs. "Women have come on to me, even tried to smooch me, and my only reaction is to be /puzzled/. Surprised." he rolls his eyes, and finishes off his drink, ordering another. Is he getting slightly tipsy? Well, he sure is talking a lot. "I'm /quite/ happy all holed up alone in my little weyr. /Really/." He's not trying to convince himself, /he's/ convinced, he's trying to convince Caldoth.
The wingleader is giving the bar another look, likely pondering just getting drunk, if only to have something to do rather than simply sitting there sipping klah. Then again, he knows what would happen, and just goes back to the klah. B'ky gives R'lin a vaguely irritated frown, "I am not moping," and brushing a few crumbs off his his shirt. The rambling gets another sigh; sitting in the dragon infirmary doing paperwork and worrying, or listening to these two drunkenly talk about depressing subjects? B'ky is beginning to eye the door now, the way he was looking at the bar a moment ago. A'mar gets a similar sigh, though B'ky really has nothing to say to that - not while sober at least - though the man does attempt to look sympathetic.
R'lin apparently doesn't find the conversation depressing, and he's hardly drunk. He's just very tipsy, there's a difference. His words aren't even slurred at this point. Not to mention they likely won't as he isn't actually touching alcohol at the moment. "Are too." is puncuated with a tongue being stuck out at the wingleader. So there. Knees fold down until he's sitting crosslegged and more upright. A'mar is peered at for his description of his single situation and gets a grin. "Kinda like me? Well, not the happy alone part, but the not suddenly going 'I want to jump that person'…" But at the same time, apparently A'mar has only had women trying to smooch him, so that's really not the whole picture. So it's simply the greenrider's duty to do what he does next. That'd be leaning forward, hands on the bench to stabalize himself, and plant a kiss on A'mar's lip. It can't be a snog unless the kissee kisses back so it's must a smooch.
A'mar eyes B'ky and shakes his head. "Looks like mopin' to me." Right. He lifts his second glass, and notes, "You need'a loosen up a bit." Really? /Really/? Mr. Drinking-is-bad, suggesting /drinking/? He must be drunk. "I /am/ happy alone. I've got Caldoth. An' now I've got a kid, a baby boy. I don' need no /weyrmate/." he snorts, raising the drink again, but he lowers it when R'lin starts leaning forward. "Uh?" …and then, the kiss. A'mar /stares/. It's definitely just a smooch, A'mar is too shocked to really react. "Huh." is all he says afterwards, furrowing his brow thoughtfully.
B'ky blinks at the two over there, and despite the faint flicker of amusement on his face, he quite suddenly decides that the dragon infirmary might be a good place to be right now. With a slight headshake, and a frown for them agreeing about the mopery-even if he is totally moping - B'ky slips out of his seat and makes for the door, a quiet, "If you'll excuse me, I should return to Avideth," spoken as he departs. A'mar's suggestion that the wingleader loosen up has quite the interesting effect on B'ky, the man's shoulders hunch slightly as he actually flinches a bit, and then walks out of the tavern. Alas, poor blueie, has an incurable case of the grumpiness today, apparently. But back to paperwork he flees.
R'lin rocks back in his seat and tilts his head to peer at the person he just smooched. There seems to be little to no offense at the simple response of 'huh'. Giving A'mar time to finish whatever the brain behind that furrowed brow is doing, he turns his attention to the fleeing B'ky. There's a pout about that at least and a wave offered. "Take care, and send your blue my wishes!" And after that there's a quieter "Shardit." under his breath. Shrugging he focuses back on poor A'mar. "So, conclusion?"
A'mar is still a little distracted, but he manages to frown at B'ky's flinching shoulders. "It was only a suggestion." he mutters, shaking his head, and falling quiet again. "…conclusion…" he frowns. "I… guess that's a no?" R'lin is just one person, and it was just a surprise smooch, that's a rather small sample set for determining like or dislike of an entire gender. But really, A'mar seems mostly confused by it. "I guess I just don't see the appeal." In smooching? He eyes his drink, and frowns. "I had heard that drinking was supposed to encourage…" his eyes go wide, and he turns back to the exit. "/No./ I am going to have to have a /talk/ with her tomorrow." he mutters, though it doesn't stop him from taking another swig. When in Rome, and all that.
R'lin actually grins at the 'no' and gives a little nod. "Fair enough." It actually doesn't seem to bother him at all. "Though really, you'd have to smooch more guys to figure it out, and probably girls.. but I wouldn't really recommend going around smooching everyone." There's a confused blink at the sudden jump and then a snicker. "Don't be hung over when you do? Won't really help… but yeah, if you don't wanna be with someone, don't let them believe you do."
A'mar scowls at his drink. "It's all so /complicated/. I… Well, I'm weyrbred, born and raised in Fort, but my parents are crafters. And then I impressed when I was twelve. Made for a very confusing childhood." He does blink a little bit, as if wondering why he's /saying/ all of this. "Part of me, most of me, just wants to cut and run, but part of me thinks a child needs two parents, and I'm not busy enough to have to foster, /really/. My own parents were busier, and they managed, raised us three… and Caldoth /really/ wants me to have children, he longs for the pitter patter of tiny feet in the weyr… but I don't, I don't want to give Jesi the wrong idea." he snorts, and shakes his head, knocking back a hefty swig of the drink. Yeah, if he keeps this up, he definitely will be hung over tomorrow.
R'lin sits stares at A'mar, well, minus the blinking, a lot of blinking actually. But apparently he listens to the entire outpouring of history and current events, not to mention feelings. Hrm. "My older brother raised me?" shrug. "And he wasn't all that um.. good at it I think. But I turned out fine. He's a rider, decent age gap too." At least he hopefully turned out fine. "Really, your choice, and you can go and tell her the whole 'I want to take responsibility for junior'" no, he can't remember the kids name right now. "' but I'm not interested in having a romantic relationship with you.'"
A'mar nods slowly, and really doesn't seem to notice, or mind, that R'lin can't remember A'mar's kid's name. After all, why should he? "Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense… That's so straightforward. Seems like there's some sort of /trick/ to it, I've been looking for the /trick/. People and their obsessions with /relationships/. Makes no sense to me." he mutters. But clearly he'd never considered that it might /actually/ be as simple as it seemed. "By your older brother, though? That… must've been interesting."
Well, relationships aren't exactly simple, but telling someone off can be simple, at least in theory. R'lin tilts his head. "More of a trick to stay /in/ them, not a trick to stay out. staying out should be easy…" unless you're easily pushed around or gullible. "Yeah…. interesting." is said with the slightest wince. "He'd be a great example of what not to do with relationships.. though I think his last one still works…" Not a shining role model, obviously. Shifting again he stiffles a bit of a yawn. "I need klah." gets muttered before he jumps back into bits of dialog the other said. "Relationships are nice."
A'mar chuckles slowly, and nods. "Well, I suppose, there is that. Easier to stay /out/, and out is what I want. Just got to hope she doesn't go all freak out and say I can't see the kid, but, without me, she'd have to foster him, she's way busier than I am." he notes, with a shake of his head. "I… I hope she takes it okay." Probably be a good idea if he /doesn't/ mention that bit about having to foster the kid, though.
R'lin isn't entirely good at this sort of thing, and is back to drumming fingers, though this time his leg so it's not such a noisy fidget. "Sounds good to me?" He's never been in that particular situation after all. Instead of offering advice he simply stares vacantly at the other rider for a spell.
Melech slumps into the tavern, bleary-eyed and unshaven. He stands in the doorway for a moment, surveying the lay of the land, but the moment that he spots the bar, he zeroes in on it. He's surprisingly quick to get there, given that a moment previous he looked like he was about to fall over. He drops into a seat at the bar, and plunks some currency down as he orders a drink.
A'mar frowns a little belatedly, reaction times dulled by the alcohol no doubt. "…relationships are nice, though? How? I… I don't get it. I don't /see/ it. Just seems like more hassle than its worth. Sure, my parents are happy together, but they're the /exception/. My brother has had more partners than I've had hot meals, and my sister is pure as the driven snow," or so /he/ thinks, "and two guesses which is /happier/." It's the sister. Naturally. He wouldn't bring it up if it didn't serve his point. Of course, one could hardly classify the brother's experiences as 'relationships', /really/. A'mar gets unsteadily to his feet, frowning as if only just realising how drunk he's gotten, but he doesn't let it stop him. He casts a glance around, and settles on someone at the bar. "You! There!" Melech. He raises an arm to point at Melech. "Come settle something. I think relationships are a pain, a bewildering mess. He thinks they're /nice/."
Melech seems to be accustomed to being called 'you there', since he glances up with a cocked eyebrow and a carefully crafted look of innocence. "Mm?" Once he realizes that no one is accusing him of anything, however, he frowns a little, and glances between the two men. He waits to answer until his drink is delivered, so he can carry it with him to the booth. Once armed with a full mug of something nicely alcoholic, he saunters over, to plop himself down on the opposite side of the booth. He takes a long swig of his drink, then finally says, in a philosophical tone, "Well. It all depends on who the relationship is with now, don't it?" He glances between the two, then grins slowly as his gaze focuses entirely on R'lin, inspecting him with some interest. "I imagine even I'd feel nice in a relationship with /him/. It's all perp…persec…pers…It's all in how you look at it, innit?"
R'lin simply absorbs the rambly rant that he's getting tossed at him, head tilted to one side, and then the other. "I've seen both. Bad and good. Good ones are nice. But none are ever simple. I think they can be worth it." His stance needed clarification, if he actually manages to be clear that is. And then someone else is called into the mess and he glances upwards to see who the heck A'mar is yelling at. Blink. He didn't notice someone come in, then again normally you don't actually pay attention to everyone going in and out. There's a point over across the table as this swaggering stranger makes the same point as he's trying, well part of it. The who it's with making a difference and… wait… there's a confused look followed b a somewhat belated blush. "Uh.. right." He's still agreeing, sort of. Though there's a bit of a shift.
A'mar frowns, and shakes his head. "Shards, even the /best/ relationship I've seen, there've been fights, struggles, difficulties. Don' seem nearly worth it." he decides, with a firm shake of his head. "I'm perfectly happy on my own. /Perfectly./ Wish Caldoth'd just quit it already. I'm not gonna hook up with some girl just so I can have the bazillion kids he wants me to have. It's not happening." At Melech's suggestion of a relationship with R'lin feeling nice, the bluerider eyes the greenrider, frowning a little. A looong moment of silent /eyeing/ follows. "…eh. Maybe. I can't tell. Only just met 'im."
Melech doesn't take his eyes off R'lin, because A'mar is not nearly so interesting. "Hmmmm…" he responds to A'mar's comments. "But life's borin' without a /little/ bit of excitement. Don't blame ya 'bout the kids, though," he says, and takes a long drink. He glances aside at A'mar, and gives just the slightest frown. "Hmmmm…Well. Yer too late. I called dibs." Because R'lin has no say in this, apparently.
R'lin is getting dibs called… and discussed by two men. Though really, he's already smooched one of them but that wasn't for actual interest. It was more of a 'okay, lets see if you might like guys more than girls' kind of thing. Plus he's had a couple drinks. But this? this is a little different. And he's definitly shifting in his seat and A'mar is getting a little bit of a wierded out look that turns briefly worried as the bluie contemplates him. The admission of not knowing causes a relaxed slumping of his shoulders and some relief to appear on his face. "Um.. yeah, you gotta work at relationships… they don't just um… happen." Flustered? Maybe a little.
A'mar gives Melech an odd look. "You can't call dibs! Not on a /person/!" And A'mar continues to act /twelve/, despite the fact he is in fact celebrating his twenty-seventh turnday. And a father now. "And I don't mind boring! Quiet! Peaceful!" Not with him raising his voice, it's not. "And I've /got/ Caldoth." he adds, with a shake of his head. "What could a /relationship/ possibly provide that Caldoth can't?" /Well/… Though, if you take flights into account… "You gotta /work/ at them, right. What's the point? It all seems a little forced to me." he notes, finally going quiet, so as to finish off his drink.
The Gemstone. A tavern that's been getting less business now that the sports lounge has been rennovated well enough to attract people to it's core. However, sometimes the noise from the pool table, the racket on the horse radios, the chants of people betting on the wrestling match just…gets too much. Thus, a woman finds herself making a trail to the gemstone. She's trying to keep a low profile however, considering the low key fashions tonight. No big hats, no fancy dresses. Just some snug trousers and a ruffled up blouse sinched at the empire-waist with a ribbon, leaving the fabric to billow a bit out to not give her too snug of figure on top. Her hair is down and she keeps her head turned away from the men at the bar. Certainly not highly favoured after drawing all the business back into the Weyr proper, but what Weyrwoman wouldn't do such a thing if she could? Thus, she evades most formalities and slinks into the tavern to take up a seat near the gentlemen currently fighting over R'lin. As it is she looks like a simple woman, pretty but definitely not commanding as a weyrwoman is thought to be. She orders a drink as she casually pays attention to the hoo-hah at the next table.
Melech gives a slow grin to A'mar, though there's a lazily calculating look in his eyes as he scratches his stubbly chin. "Well, sure. I mean, that /is/ what /old/ people want outa life, right? Me, I'd get bored silly…" His eyes narrow a little. "I dun even /want/ to know whatcha do with /Caldoth/, mister. I mean, how would that even /work/? Physic'ly, I mean…" He glances toward R'lin, grins, and winks. "And I can too call dibs. Just did." Under the table, Melech crosses his legs, and brings a foot up to nudge at R'lin's knee. "So, whatcher name, sweetness?" he asks, all innocence and charming grin.
R'lin points at A'mar as he exclaims the 'no dibs' rule. There's definitly emphatic nodding there, oh yes. There's two options here. Either the greenrider would be two wrapped up in this conflict to notice anyone new entering the proximity of thier table, or his darting eyes would latch onto the first person who does. And there's a Kessa. "Weyrwoman!" is called out with an almost happy but definitly desperate tone. But he does go back to the convesration at hand. "R'lin" is said to answer the question about his identity, though there's a slight disgusted look at even going there with the dragon thing. And then there's a dignified squeak as he's startled by a nudge.
A'mar juuust keeps drinking, though he does splutter a bit at Melech towards the end. "/Old/? /Caldoth/? I… you… No, that's not what I meant at /all/! I, I don't even /think/ of … of…" he blinks, stunned. After a moment, he murmurs, "I /don't/ even. Huh." A breakthrough? Perhaps. Downright cryptic, though. And then, then R'lin is calling out Weyrwoman, and A'mar looks up, blinking. "Ah, er. Hey. Weyrwoman." The title is added belatedly, and he stumbles over it a tiny bit. Well, it's a long word, and he's quite drunk.
Kessa seems to heave an exasperated sigh when R'lin calls out her title so loud, when clearly she was trying to avoid the Gemstone owner's eye. Quite a few turn their faces to look and she promptly tries to shroud it with a hand, turning her face toward the three gentlemen at the booth. Cover blown and all, she decides to take her drink and mosey herself over toward their booth, invited or not invited. Sliding out of her current table she makes covering the distance look easy enough, sliding in beside Melech with a short, "Hi," given to him. She clears her throat, "Don't mind my company I hope boys? Consider this an informal-" she waves her hand around in gesture, "-atmosphere. I was quite intrigued by the conversation any how. Dibs on R'lin I hear?" She casts her eyes at them all, one by one to see their reactions. Even so, she shrugs a bit and takes a rather long sip of her drink.
Melech grins at R'lin, pleased as punch to have received a name, given his jumpiness and quiet. "R'lin…" he echoes, though he has to glance aside with a cheeky grin at A'mar. Whether it's because he feels like he won, because he was joking, or a bit of both… Well, that's not clear. And rather than clarify that, he just takes a very long drink. When Kessa slides in beside him, he scoots obligingly to let her in, sending her the same welcoming, slightly dazed grin that he'd been giving A'mar. "Well, /hallo/! It's a real pleasure, /weyrwoman/." He at least doesn't say it quite as loudly as R'lin. Her comment causes him to flick a glance to said greenrider, then back again. "Oh, yes. I called it." After a beat, something occurs to him, so he ammends, "Though I'm willing ta make an except'n fer Flights. That goes without sayin', don't it?" Her permission to treat the atmosphere as informal doesn't seem to make much change. Then again, there's a very real chance that he doesn't know how to behave formally.
R'lin at least looks a little sheepish at the sigh he gets from Kessa, but the relief is there anyhow. Maybe either the estrogen or the rank will calm things down a bit? "no.. please… sit." and she's already sitting so he doesn't need to continue with the polite host thing. The color returns to his cheeks as even she joins in on that particular conversation. A'mar gets his attention for a moment before he winces. "well, whoever that was will be happy. I think you're smashed." At least he's probably going to keep occupying that seat so nobody else can. Finally his wavering attention wanders back to the unknown man. "And don't I get to know who is attempting to claim me?" There's a little more calm now and an eyebrow raised to top it off.
The last phrase you'd use to describe this young man would be "upstanding citizen of Pern." First of all, there's the hair. If it can be called hair. It's generally kept cut short, if only to avoid itching at the neck, but it looks like it's only made passing acquaintance with a comb, at best. Brown locks twist at random angles. Then there are the eyes. Consistently droopy and reddish, as though he enver quite gets enough sleep. He seems to be permanently recovering from a hangover, complete with 5 o'clock shadow. His features are just slightly too awkward to be classically handsome, with a small nose and big ears. But it's is just as well, since his physique is too scrawny to ever properly balance a classically handsome face. Somehow, however, when he grins it all comes together into the kind of glow that only happens in a person who is truly living and loving life at full speed.
Consistent with his slightly off-kilter features, this young man's clothes seem to be a mish-mash of styles. A simple blue tunic covers his chest, but over that is slung a beaten grey jacket that seems inspired by the oldest of the newer trends that arrived along with all this fancy new technology. His trousers are a worn dark brown, and slightly big for his narrow hips. They seem just barely held up by a makeshift rope belt tied at the waist. His feet are just barely visible under the cuff of the large trousers, protected only by a flimsy pair of pink thongs.
A'mar nods a little at Kessa. "Er. Infern… in-norm… that. Right." Informal. Yes, he's definitely drunk. He frowns a little at his now empty glass, as if unable to understand just why it's empty. "Er. Who drank all my booze?" he asks absently, frowning at the glass. He's quite deliberately ignoring Melech and his cheeky grin now, which is probably for the best, but he does occasionally /eye/ the man, warily. Also, drunkenly. "That, that was Jesikali! I di'n't get why she was so upset 'bout not bein' able to drink for so long." A pause. "Still don' get it, but wouldn' mind another of these." he decides. "Drinkin's not so bad as I was told. Put me off the stuff, never even tried any till now." Hopefully he doesn't decide to /share/, later, because, if it was enough to turn him off of alcohol for so many turns, probably no-one here really wants to hear it.
Kessa lets one of her eyebrows pop up just slightly at the greeting in which Melech bestows upon her, "Kessa, if you don't mind. I'm off duty." Assuming a Weyrwoman can ever /be/ completely off duty - this might be the closest as it gets. She swallows a bit more of her drink, polishing it off matter of fact. Propping her chin upon a bent wrist, she listens with a captivated expression on her face to how Melech has claimed dibs, "Well, that's not entirely true-" she interjects, "-I don't think you were the first to claim dibs on him. You'll have to talk to Calria about that. She had him since candidacy, wasn't it?" She curiously glances at her fellow clutch sibling with a wink. Thereafter her gaze drifts to the rider seated next to him, regarding A'mar and his current condition. Yet, her attention wanes at even this, looking mildly interested in attracting the attention of a passing bar maid. Brought about by a wave and a bit of pressed mark to the palm, she successfully orders another drink for herself. She drowsily tries to keep her attention hopping between the three, the attempt at following routes of conversation evident. Though she seems to have her gaze stray back to A'mar, the poor drunken blue rider. "First time out drinking?" She hefts her glass up, "Cheers to that." A pause with a soft smile, "I'll be joining you soon A'mar." In drunken bliss! Slosh! She finishes off half of her /new/ drink.
Melech glances back at R'lin with a bemused smile. "Hmmmm? Oh! You c'n call me Mel," he offers, and sticks out his hand for R'lin to shake. Regardless of whether R'lin accepts, A'mar's continued drunken ramblings eventually draw Melech's bemused gaze. "Man…Seriously… Learn ta hold yer booze. What kind'a Rider /are/ you, anyways?" Speaking of booze, Melech turns up his mug to drain the last of his drink, and plops it back to the table with a mournful sigh. He glances aside at the weyrwoman, balefully. "Kessa, then…Nice ta meetcha. Hey, barmaid! Another for me, eh? An' one for my friend there?" The revelation that there's a woman involved draws a thoughtful frown to Melech's face as he pays the bar maid and leans lazily back into the corner of the booth. Suddenly, after a moment of deep thought, the blissful grin returns. "Oi! Well, she c'n join in tha fun. I ain't prejudiced."
R'lin interjects with a "I think you don't need another…" as A'mar discusses the idea of some more alcohol. "You're gonna regret it tomorrow…" Look! He's speaking words of wisdom, you might want to jot the date down, it might be historical. At least he redeems himself by blurting out a response to Kessa's brilliant mention of a weyrmate. "Me and Cal haven't been together for at least six months…" and then realization dawns on his face "I probably should have left that out, huh." the mutter moves on to giggling, as apparently he hasn't had as little drink as one might have expected. "Oh yeah.. sure… you should go ask her if she wants to. Klah." The last word is tagged on as the waitress appears. "Please."
A'mar raises his empty glass to the barmaid as she comes around, ordering himself a third. Why not, right? "Jesi… Jesi made me. Said not to leave unless I was right sloshed. Don' rightly know why I went along with it now, 's not like she's my weyrmate or anything. Don' 'ave one. Better that way." Yes, yes, yes. He's just repeating himself now. He giggles then, yes, /giggles/. "I bet she reckons this'll make me take 'er to my bed, if I'm so plastered I've no idea what I'm doin'. Well she's got another thought comin', cause I'm not takin' /anybody/ to bed. Ever." he decides. "…unless Caldoth wins a flight." He frowns a little at R'lin, and shakes his head. "What business is it of yours? Yer not my weyrmate! I don' gotta answer to /no one/." Perhaps it's too late to be thinking about regrets, seems like he's pretty far gone already. "I'm gonna /drink/. It's /my/ turnday, you can't tell me what to do." Ah, going back to acting like he's /twelve/. Really though, if he keeps going? He's liable to pass out.
"Waaaait wait wait wait -wait-!" Kessa puts her hand up, all attention suddenly focused in on R'lin, "You… are single now?!" She openly stares at R'lin, "Really, I thought the pairs that got together during weyrlinghood would've lasted through the ages. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but wow. That's news to me," course it's hard to keep up on gossip of everyone's lives these days, what with her own to deal with. She tilts her head at Melech, "I guess you've got dibs then-" she scowls at him, meaning to poke him in the shoulder with a slender finger tip if she can, "Just don't be hurting him. He's like a brother." She fluffs her hair up and then flips it over her shoulder, leaning a bit on the table now, musing over the turn of events. Still as A'mar rambles a bit, she puts in to joke, "I doubt you could do anything in your condition anyway, even if she did manage to drag your drunken self to her bed." She chuckles a bit while the men giggle. Rather amusing for sure. "Happy turnday!" she suddenly offers when A'mar provides that bit of information. Another clink of glasses if she can manage to knock hers against theirs.
Melech gives a slow, pleased grin as R'lin reveals that he and this mystery-woman aren't actually together. Clearly, the fact that he was so quick to reveal this means that he wants Melech! He wants him /bad/. But Melech is patient, and just winks at R'lin. "You don't jus' go call dibs on a /lady/. Nah…With the ladies ya gotta be all slick'n stuff. Butter'm up. Then you beat someone up for 'em, and tha's as good as callin' dibs, ain't it? Guys are simpler." As his shoulder is poked, he glances to the side at the weyrwoman, and his brows raise. A slow grin, lights his face, and he glances back to R'lin. "Hear that, m'friend? We've got th'blessin's of th'shardin' /weyrwoman/. If that ain't a sign, I don' know what is…" And about that time, the barmaid returns, carrying two drinks for Melech and A'mar, plus a klah which is plonked down in front of R'lin. Melech doesn't waste any time making a dent in his newly full glass.
R'lin gets yelled at for attempting to keep someone from quite as much misery? That gets an annoyed look and abruptly crossed arms. Not to mention a bit of ignoring dabbed on top, can't forget that. Anyhow the weyrwoman is having a coniption and that deserves immediate attention. "Uh… now…. right, she's even had another boyfriend since plus some drama… you really are out of touch." That may not have come across as intended but he's sliding his mug closer instead of caring. And the grand plan on how to woo a lady gets an eyebrow raised over his mug as he carefully takes a sip. "Right, you go beat someone up for Cal's heart, lemme know how that goes, actually have a couple witness." Oh yes, now Mel is getting a cheeky grin.
A'mar tries to act all offended, even going so far as to try and stand up again, but he wobbles terribly, and then falls back onto the bench with an 'oof'. Okay, /not/ such a great show of strength. "I could too do anything." What, like /stand/? "I could! If I wanted to. But I don't. I don't /ever/. It, it doesn't remotely interest me." he points out, grabbing at his drink as soon as it arrives. Mmm, boooze. Oh dear, what /has/ Jesikali done to the man? Hopefully the hangover will set him right again. He eyes R'lin blankly at the annoyed look, but doesn't seem about to argue. He's got a drink now, arguing would be cutting into prime drinking time.
"That's what happens when you don't pay a lady enough attention—" she says rather lecture like to R'lin, "Ahh foo.. out of touch. You try to stay on top of over two hundred people's lives and see how out of touch you get." She waves a hand at him anyway, "Go get it on with this fellow here. He's practically drooling all over you. Might as well let him play with your bum." Ooo. She must've been drinking before she got here. Not a typical Kessa thing, that's for sure. Something must be souring her mood to get her to say such crude and mean things - mean for her anyway. She slides out of the booth then, deciding to leave before the conversation gets too hot, although she moves to A'mar and whispers a bit, "I'm sure you could! But if you don't want to, then there's no making you. Pity." She shrugs a little, taking her drink with her as she makes for the door before doing anything else embarrassing and out of character.
Melech takes R'lin's cheeky grin and teasing as flirtation. At least, if his wider grin and suddenly even more interested gaze are any indication. "Oh, I d'no about that. Havn't even met th'lady. I mean, I'm sure she's nice'n all, but…" He trails off, and leans forward a little, as though to impart some grand secret. "I think't might be more fun ta beat some'n up fer /you/, y'know?" Then Kessa starts talking, and he just bursts into laughter. "Oi! Tha's right! Listen to 'er, R'lin. Really, though, I ain't picky. You can play with /my/ bum, if ya'd rather," he offers, with a teasing flutter of eyelashes. As Kessa takes herself out, Melech makes a point to wave after her with a grin. "Nice ta meetcha, Kessa!"
R'lin actually gapes at the mention of not paying a lady enough attention from Kessa and safely closes his mouth without saying anything. He can't down a drink other than klah, so that's exactly what he does, wincing as it burns a little. And no, not the alcoholic sort. After Kessa is gone there's a little sputter which has a nice repeat as Mel continues where the weyrwoman left off. "You know… " and he just gives his head a shake. Tapping A'mar on the shoulder he offers a little grin. "Can I get out? I'll even pick you up a refill." He's trying to offer some sort of extra motivation to get the man on his feet.
A'mar goes red at that whisper, and blinks, staring after Kessa. 'Pity?' he mouths, turning his gaze to the glass in front of him with an incredulous stare. "Er." Processing… Processing… Wait for it… "…no. I don't get /people/. Not now, not ever. Rutting animals, the lot of you." he decides, now eyeing Melech, and snorting. "Some more'n others." he shakes his head, and stumbles to his feet. "I… I reckon I'm drunk enough to sat'sfy ol' what's-'er-face, so, so 'm gonna go now. Jus' need'a get 's far as the door…" Caldoth waits just outside, naturally. /Just/ outside, pressed up against the tavern wall. The blue is an odd one, really doesn't like to be separated from his rider, and, with A'mar /drunk/, the blue is likely to be even /more/ concerned and clingy than usual. "Uh?" He blinks at R'lin. A refill? "Oh. Sure." he adds, taking a few steps out of the booth, eyes on R'lin. "Refill?" Right. His glass ought to be empty first, right? He frowns at it. It isn't empty yet. But he immediately sets to /making/ it be empty. No, there's no way the bluerider is making it out of the tavern tonight, not under his own steam, any way.
Melech snorts a little at A'mar. "Tha's just human nature, now, innit?" he replies, philosophically. He lifts his glass in a mock toast, and upturns it to drain the last. Only then does he realize that R'lin is escaping, but at least he has enough self-control to try and trap him there forever. Hey, he's not /completely/ out of control! "Nice t'meetcha, R'lin," he says, with a bright grin. "I'm livin' here now, by th'way. So I'll be seein' ya, eh?" His gaze lingers on R'lin a moment, but finally drifts back to A'mar. "Awright, whateveryernameis…" He gives a heavy sigh, and pushes himself to his feet. "I's about that time, I 'magine. Let's go, eh?" If A'mar will let him, he's going to help him to the door. Hopefully R'lin is watching!
R'lin shamelessly offered a bribe he had no intentions of following through with, but he actually doesn't feel guilty at all. That's refreshing. And A'mar is in good hands, well…. helpful hands, well… let's just stick with hands. The greenie gives both of them a nod after placing marks down on the tablet and making his way to the exit, without the hindrence of A'mar.
A'mar slurs, "'S A'mar." by way of introduction to Melech. "An /you/!" he points a rather unsteady finger at R'lin. "You! Owe me a drink!" he shouts, drunkenly. But the bluerider seems unable to really chase R'lin down to /get/ that drink. He does rely on Melech's assistance, though he's sure to note, "On'y as far as my blue outside, Caldoth can take me the rest o' the way. /Alone./"
Melech glances aside at A'mar, quite a bit more steady. He's had more practice at being utterly smashed, so at least he doesn't let him fall. "Nice ter meetcha, A'mar," he retorts, smirking with bemusement. He watches R'lin make his exit, then glances aside at A'mar, speculatively. He takes in all the instructions, then gives an utterly innocent grin. "Sure 'nough, sure 'nough. Not ta worry 'bout me. I mean…I don' think ya could take me jus' now, anyhow," he says, as though he really couldn't care less. "I mean, ya might have a stroke 'er somethin'. Wouldn't want ter getcha killed."
A'mar stumbles out the door with Melech's assistance, snorting. "I don' need your help." he protests, but notice how he does not remotely try to make it on his own. "An' I /could/ handle anything, I /could/, I jus' don' /want/ to. Least of all, /you/." Wow. That's a bit harsh, perhaps. "An' I'm not old, or frail, or whatever you think." He never did give his age, did he? "Or broken! I'm fine! It's perfectly normal to not be interested in women. Or men. Or anyone." he mutters. "Perfectly /normal/." Okay, that, he might be trying to convince himself. Not having nor wanting a weyrmate is one thing, but not even wanting /any/ of the weyrmate 'perks'?
Melech gives a hearty laugh to all of that. "Oh, I dunno 'bout that. I mean… Ya don' even /know/ what I'm cap'ble of," he teases, not at all phased by the harshness of A'mar's comments. Apparently he's used to it. Go figure. "I'd prob'ly have ya passed out in…oh…a minute flat. Ya might last five jus' fer pure stubborness, but I wouldn' waste th'time it'd take ta get up there with'cha jus' fer /that/." He continues supporting A'mar through the whole trip, and even agrees with him. "F'course i's normal! I mean…I would'n be in'ersted either, if I was jus' gonna pass out…."
A'mar gives Melech a long hard look, and finally decides, drunkenly perhaps, "Yer alright." though, anything else he might have said is cut off by the sight of Caldoth. "There you are! Hey, er, you." No, A'mar wasn't paying attention when Melech introduced himself. Well, either that, or he's too drunk to really tell who exactly is helping him to his dragon. He /is/ pretty drunk. "Er. Tha's Caldoth, the small craggy blue there. Gimme a hand up, will you? I, I'll be fine from here, once I get up there, really."
Melech smirks a little, and rolls his eyes. "F'course I am. Yer not gonna be in th'mornin' though. Drink water 'fore ya go to bed, eh?" he suggests, bemused by A'mar's sudden turn around. The blue is regarded with some admiration, at least. "Oh ho! Well, he's a beaut, ain't he? Nice ter meetcha, then," he offers with a sketchy salute to the dragon. That done, he does indeed give A'mar the boost he had asked for, steadying himself against the blue's side a little as he does so. "A'course ya'll be fine. Who ever heard'a dragons droppin' their riders, eh? Goof…"
A'mar settles in up on Caldoth's neck, nodding down at Melech. "I. er. See you 'round prob'ly. 'M a potter. 'prentice." Translates to: Probably not supposed to go out and get drunk. Whoops. "Er. Okay, Caldoth, up." he murmurs, closing his eyes tight and going a bit green around the gills when the blue actually /does/ take off. Poor poor man, he'll be lucky if he keeps his food down for the duration of that flight, let alone at all. No, he won't be drinking again any time soon.
Melech grins back at A'mar at that. "Yeeaaah… I'll keep't ta myself if anyone asks whatcher were up ta out here…Clear skies, A'mar," he offers, and takes a step back before the wind from Caldoth's ascent can completely knock him over. He watches A'mar and Caldoth take off, and when they're finally gone he just laughs to himself and wanders back inside for another drink.
