|
Post by Chiefy on Dec 16, 2017 3:51:22 GMT
"Huh." Valatrak poured himself some whiskey. "No idea what that means, but alright. So what brings you here to this humble little cafe?"
These guys looked nice enough. Maybe they'd be friendly. Who knew.
|
|
|
Post by Athaia on Dec 17, 2017 11:36:51 GMT
"Aaah, civilization!" Burke let himself fall onto the bench in the little booth that Virdon had selected, and stretched his legs under the table. "We should come here more often, Al. Feel what it's like to be just like everybody else, y'know, like real people, once in a while."
Virdon silently agreed with him. It felt strange to be back here after months of being in story - hardly a day had went by when their author hadn't dragged them through yet another scene. Not that he was complaining; he now felt real and solid in way that he had last felt when their story had been on tv. Maybe even more so... back then, his backstory, his inner life, had been flimsy at best.
But these new stories had been hard work. Their author had been relentless, as if she had wanted to make up for all those years they had been fading away, almost forgotten. There simply had been no time to go out and have a beer or three. "You want something?" he asked Burke.
"I think I'll start with a beer and then see how it goes from there," Burke said thoughtfully.
Virdon shook his head and turned his attention to the other two patrons at their table, first time visitors to the Subreality Cafe. "And you?"
Zana didn't immediately react; she was staring at the other guests who were sipping their alcoholic beverage of choice at the neighbouring tables. "That human over there has red eyes," she whispered. "Do you think it's a mutation?"
"I think it's not a human at all," Burke muttered. "See, people here come from lots of different stories. Like... lots of different worlds. Different universes, really. We can be grateful that not many Writers remember this hangout here, otherwise we could meet a lot of nasties."
"No, the nasties have their own café, I think," Virdon said.
Burke sniffed. "Yeah, do you really want to share a beer with Harry fucking Potter?"
"For now I'm glad I don't have to share it with Urko," Virdon said dryly. He took the apes' orders and made his way to the bar, sparing the red eyed guy only a quick glance. At another table, a couple in medieval clothing was whispering to each other. The Café was it usual quiet self, low music playing in the background.
He didn't mind; he had enough excitement in story.
"Not much traffic," he greeted the barkeeper.
The man shook his head and began to pull the beers for him and Burke and, surprisingly, Galen. "Not enough Writers sending their characters this way. Although this Cafe had been as good as dead after the Scribe died, so I can't complain. At least we're back in the game at all."
"Hm." Virdon leaned against the bar and surveyed the mostly empty room.
Maybe it would get better over time. More Writers, more characters... more stories.
They just had to persevere.
|
|
|
Post by Chiefy on Dec 17, 2017 11:48:56 GMT
"We're attracting a lot of attention," Artex said, nodding subtly in the direction of the newcomers. Valatrak's gaze flickered towards them briefly before returning to his drink. One of them had definitely been staring. Hell, were those talking APES? Reminded him of that movie he saw where apes took over mankind, actually...
"I happen to identify as male, thanks," he called, without looking up. "Wouldn't mind you using 'he' and 'him' pronouns."
He could also swear the dark-haired human had asked Shadow to dance the first time they were here.
|
|
|
Post by naynish on Dec 17, 2017 11:50:28 GMT
"Heads up, strangers!" Quill shoved open the doors of the cafe with a luxurious stretch, cracking his back audibly. It was his first time in a cafe since...gods, it had to be since they'd left Stornhaz, trading all those quaint eateries for cookfire meat on mission and whatever delicacies Baba Kallah could craft. But this one looked like a clash - coffee and mead, all in one place. At least it was quiet, though, which was saying something. Ever since they'd climbed into Aksel's cart and headed north, well...
He tried not to frown when Tatiana slipped in beside him, folding her arms as she followed his gaze around the room. No one here looked particularly threatening...at least, not in any way that made Quill think that he and Tati couldn't handle themselves. Besides, no one was brawling...yet.
"Finally," Tatiana announced, "somewhere I can order a drink and not risk all these weeks of recovery. I smell coffee."
"Don't get too cozy, Saddlebags," Quill warned as they swaggered to the counter. "We're just here until our arc picks back up. You know, once Ashe and Aden are done being tortured."
Tatiana snorted. "Well, by the look of things, everyone's taking a breather right now. Who do you want to bother? That red-eyed fiend, the old man at the bar, or the pretty boy and his hairy companions?"
Quill squinted between the two groups. Red-eyes looked plenty occupied enough with his own companions, and the barkeeper was occupied with the blond-haired man, but the other three...
Quill shrugged. "Might as well introduce ourselves. What harm could it do? Besides, that bandayo with the dark hair...something about that look in his eye."
"I see it, too," Tatiana grinned mischievously. "Let's go and make friends."
She left Quill to order a coffee and a mead, swaggered to the booth, and stuck our her hand.
|
|
|
Post by Athaia on Dec 17, 2017 13:02:24 GMT
The hand that appeared suddenly under Burke's nose didn't hold his beer, which was disappointing, but it seemed to belong to a female, which was... he let his eyes trail up the arm it belonged to. A young woman with dark, curly hair and a glint in her eyes that told him that she was looking for some fun.
Ah, civilization.
Burke took her hand and smiled his most dazzling smile. "Hello there! I see they're really taking pains to upgrade this café. These here are the best seats, but I'm willing to share." He scooted aside on the bench without letting go of the woman's hand.
|
|
|
Post by naynish on Dec 17, 2017 14:05:53 GMT
Tatiana flopped down beside this more-than-amenable stranger, all smiles and shooting a quick glance at Quill. He looked like he was contemplating striking up conversation with the pale-haired stranger at the counter...most likely doing his best to ignore her.
Well, that was fine. He'd made it clear in the mountains that things would remain platonic between them. That didn't mean she shouldn't have other kinds of fun.
"Self-sacrificing and handsome," Tatiana purred to her new friend. "I clearly chose right. The name is Tatiana. And you and your companions are...?"
Strange-looking, she finished silently, shooting a glance at the man's companions. But for company, beggers couldn't be choosers.
|
|
|
Post by Chiefy on Dec 18, 2017 0:09:52 GMT
Bloody hell, more people. This place was picking up speed quick. Valatrak finished his drink and let his gaze sweep across the room casually. Talking apes, guys in medieval clothing and pretty neat looking armour, and spacemen. Well, it couldn't get any weirder, at least.
But first he needed more alcohol.
"Y'know, I could do with another round," he said, untangling himself from Shadow. "Anyone else want seconds?"
Every hand shot up.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'." Valatrak crossed to the bar and ordered a few more drinks. He caught a few words from the conversation there and frowned. Hell, he felt old sometimes.
|
|
|
Post by naynish on Dec 18, 2017 10:34:25 GMT
Quill noted, casually, the red-eyed fiend moving up to the counter for drinks. The barkeeper had bought him a mead and a coffee for Tatiana, but seeing as how she was busy with the others...
He sidled down to the pale-haired man. "You look as if you could use more than just one drink," Quill remarked, still keeping watch on red-eyes. "Woman troubles?"
|
|
|
Post by Chiefy on Dec 19, 2017 12:38:03 GMT
Valatrak could feel eyes on the back of his neck as he waited for his order to arrive. Bloody hell, what did it take to be left alone for two seconds? Surely he wasn't THAT interesting...
Well. Guy with red eyes and a metal arm. You couldn't get much weirder. He spared a brief glance back at the white-haired guy. Harmless for now.
|
|
|
Post by Athaia on Dec 20, 2017 18:53:50 GMT
Virdon sighed deeply. But of course, if one was standing at a bar, alone, and with something alcoholic in one's hand, it had to be because of a woman, right?
"No." He took a draw from his beer. "If it was about a woman, I'd have a whiskey."
He followed the other's gaze. A dark haired women was sitting next to Pete, laughing and flirting. "If that's your girlfriend, you shouldn't waste your time with me, mister - Pete doesn't hesitate to get to know the women he finds attractive, and he's very, ah, successful with basically all of them." Not that the girl looks as if she'd need much persuasion... more as if she saw him first and decided to hit on him. Knowing Pete, he'd give them another five minutes before they'd either start making out on the dancefloor, or vanishing into the backrooms.
|
|
|
Post by naynish on Dec 23, 2017 20:14:00 GMT
Quill glanced at the booth, and...all right. He had to admit, Tatiana looked like she was well on her way down the road to another successful conquest. And maybe that was his fault, for making her think that kiss had meant nothing. Well, it wasn't really his business, except...
Except that it absolutely was.
"If it comes to a fight, I'm prepared to knock your friend's teeth down his throat," Quill said pleasantly. "If you're not all right with that, you may want to come with me."
He snatched up their drinks without waiting for an answer, and sauntered toward the booth.
|
|
|
Post by Chiefy on Dec 24, 2017 8:11:25 GMT
Valatrak turned away with his drinks and caught a glimpse of the woman's companion, striding towards the bar. That usually didn't bode well. He set the tray down at his table and straightened again.
"I'm gonna go order some food," he said carefully. "I don't intend to get drunk just yet."
He walked back to the bar before any of the others could argue.
|
|
|
Post by Athaia on Dec 24, 2017 10:10:40 GMT
Virdon raised his brows. "You'll knock his teeth out? It seemed to me that it was your girlfriend who took the initiative there. How about talking to her first instead of going for the simpler solution?" He turned around to lean against the bar and took another draw from his beer. "I'm not going to babysit either of you - I came here to enjoy my beer in peace." He was sure the other had heard him, even if he ignored him completely.
And by god, that's what I'm going to do. I have enough excitement in the story.
His leg was fine here, and it was such a relief to be pain-free after weeks of hurting constantly. Virdon was fiercely determined to enjoy this respite - it wasn't going to last long, knowing their author. He had been called away for some waiting and fretting, but that was just the silence before the storm he felt was coming. Everyone would be hating him in-story, for a long time, probably; he hoped he'd be allowed to come to the café more often then.
The younger man left, to fight with Pete, or with his flirty girlfriend, passing the red-eyed man who was making his way to the bar. Virdon slightly raised his glass in greeting; this fellow at least looked as if he wanted nothing more than enjoy the relative peace in here.
|
|
|
Post by naynish on Dec 24, 2017 10:19:42 GMT
Quill was burning with resentment.
He didn't like the implications that pale-haired bandayo had made- what, we he supposed to pick a fight with Tatiana, instead of the man with his hands all over her? Not that he hadn't done it before, but somehow, it felt wrong. Maybe because there were so many strangers here who looked like they wouldn't mind escalating a spat between friends into a full-fledged bar brawl.
Or, maybe, because he didn't have any gods-forsaken right. He'd started it, hadn't he?
-
Tatiana watched Quill walk toward the booth, and grimaced. Here it comes.
She was startled when he slid the drink to her, and dropped into the booth across from her and Burke. He sprawled, the way he usually took up more space when he was feeling insecure. But he hadn't thrown a punch yet, so, that was good.
"Well, if Tati likes all of you, that's good enough of an introduction for me," Quill drawled. "Stranger, you know your friends look like monkeys, right?"
|
|
|
Post by Athaia on Dec 24, 2017 10:44:59 GMT
XD XD XD Zana felt her fur bristle. "And you, sir, are a pig!"
|
|