[closed]

[blacklord]

Date & Time: 01/24 onwards
Location: civic gardens usually, or just generally out 'n about
Characters: Bariyan e Kodhi (blacklord), Martin Darkov (theguideless), Ranka Lee (symbioses), Koltira Brightdawn (brightdawn), Ico (hornedomen) POSSIBLY MORE TO BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE
Summary: Catch-all log for timeswap Bariyan 'n flower shenanigans
Warnings: timeswap Bariyan is weird

---

01/24 | martin darkov | civic gardens
01/25 | koltira brightdawn | THE GREAT OUTDOORS idk
01/26 | ranka lee | civic gardens
01/27 | koltira brightdawn | a bar
01/28 | ico | civic gardens

Comments

[1/27 | A BAR]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira has no other clothes aside from his armor and tunic, but he supposes that the latter will suffice for now. If his stay becomes any more extended, he supposes he'll have to look into something new. But, at present, his mind is only occupied by what's in front of him: the polished bar counter, the hum of other patrons talking and laughing, and the as-yet empty seat beside him.

Koltira adjusts his collar, unthinkingly, just as something for his hands to do. He's not nervous, precisely, but he likes Bariyan. He wants their time together--however much they might have--to go well. So he watches the bar's entrance, keeping his smile in place, trying to be cautiously optimistic.]

[blacklord]

[ As he's still unfamiliar with the city, Bariyan manages to get himself lost again while searching for the bar. It's only through the help of some kind strangers that he manages to get there eventually, though he doesn't look or feel very guilty about being late -- he's always been a tardy person, throughout his entire life.

When he spots Koltira, he grins and moves over to slide into the empty seat. He folds his hands over the bar and tilts his head to look at Koltira. ]

Sorry. I got lost.

[ Bariyan unfolds his hands to shrug his jacket off. Underneath that he's wearing a black shirt and jeans; after he'd recovered from the shock of his initial arrival, he'd been quick to replace his blood-stained clothes. Realizing how much colder it was here than in Kharta had spurred that process along, as well. ]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira makes a 'forget about it' gesture with one hand.]

I'm just glad you weren't unceremoniously abducted.

[Once Bariyan's seated, Koltira calls over the bartender. He asks for wine for himself, then--]

--what would you like?

[blacklord]

Er-- [ Bariyan's gaze flicks up to the unfamiliar selection of bottles behind the bar, and his eyes threaten to glaze over. He has a brief discussion with the bartender before settling for a dry martini.

While waiting for their drinks, Bariyan turns back to Koltira. ]

What, are your companions often abducted?

[brightdawn]

Well, I do come from a land blanketed in dark forests ... and adjacent to a great many irritable, cannibalistic trolls. So it wasn't unheard of.

[He grins.] Trolls probably aren't very common here, though.

[blacklord]

I should hope not. I can't say I'm prepared to deal with that sort of thing.

[ Their drinks arrive. Bariyan eyes his suspiciously and takes a sip. He lets the liquid roll over his tongue, slowly, and suppresses a frown. He's honestly not very sure about the taste of this. ]

[brightdawn]

[A martini is not the kind of drink Koltira--particularly this version--would recognize. He eyes it as he sips his wine, which to his mind is also a far cry from what he's used to--but then, he's used to stuff fortified with special fruit and magic, so that's hardly surprising.]

You don't seem very happy with what you've got, friend. [He swirls the liquid in his glass.] How do you feel about wine?

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan tries another taste of the martini, as if hoping that it would magically get better over time. No, still the same as before. Not necessarily bad, just... not a taste that Bariyan's accustomed to. He sighs, and sets his glass back down, then smiles at Koltira. ]

I quite like wine. But here. [ He nudges his glass towards Koltira, gently. ] You can try, if you'd like.

[brightdawn]

Trade you.

[He offers the wine, which is a dark, bittersweet red. The martini he gives the same expression of skepticism as Bariyan had, but he picks it up and gives it a shot anyway. Hmmm. Not too bad, really.]

Interesting aftertaste ...

[But he's still drinking it, because it's new and exciting, if nothing else!]

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan likes Koltira's wine much better, as he'd expected, but he doesn't take more than a sip before trying to return it. It's rude to just take someone else's drink! ]

You can have the rest of it, if you'd like. [ Indicating the martini. ] I won't mind at all.

[brightdawn]

[He takes another generous sip, holding the glass with one hand and waving Bariyan off with the other.]

It's got to be a real trade, then! Keep the wine. I can always get another glass.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan makes a small protest (are you certain?), but does take the wine back, and drinks from it again. He very much likes the taste of it. Much sweeter, far more palatable.

He nods briefly back towards the martini. ]

That one's too strong for me, I think. I hope you're having a better time with it. [ Bariyan swirls the glass, and frowns. It's already more than half-empty. He's drinking much faster than he'd intended to. He sets the glass down for the moment and grins at the other man. ] How well can you hold your alcohol, Koltira?

[brightdawn]

[He's going at a decent pace, and the martini is nearly gone--but the glass was also a bit smaller compared to the wine, to be fair. He signals to the bartender for another; the drink has grown on him. He side-eyes Bariyan with a smirk.]

I'm no dwarf, but I manage well enough.

[He takes a deep drink from the fresh martini once it's placed in front of him, as if to underscore the point.]

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan laughs, shaking head. ]

That wasn't a challenge. I figured as much, anyway. You'd probably drink me under the table.

Not, ah, that I intend to see if you can. I'm not sure that either of us have enough money for that.

[brightdawn]

[Aww, too bad. His attention diverts at the mention of 'money', though, as he actually ... has no idea about the currency here. Koltira withdraws some gold pieces from a pouch on his belt and scatters them on the counter; they glow dimly in the weak light.]

Hmm. I hope she'll accept these.

[blacklord]

Hm... [ Bariyan looks over at the bartender, who is busy tending to someone else at the other end of the bar. Then he picks up one of the gold pieces and examines it. ] Not sure.

[ He reaches for his jacket and digs around in the pockets until he produces a plastic card, and sets that down next to some of Koltira's coins. ] I have this, too. It's worked for buying other items here.

[ But he pockets it again, quickly, and laughs as he pushes the coins back to Koltira as well. ]

Did you invite me out here without thinking of how to pay? Or were you expecting me to take care of it? [ Bariyan neither looks nor sounds offended, or even surprised -- his eyes are crinkled with amusement. ]

[brightdawn]

[WELL ... THAT MIGHT BE ... a slight blush on his cheeks, there. Ooops. He hadn't thought about it, honestly. He had just assumed that gold would be sufficient, because it always has been, and why would anyone deal in currency that wasn't real?]

Er, that is--I thought I would be able to take care of it. Ah. Perhaps not? [He rubs the side of his face, clearly chagrined.] My apologies.

[blacklord]

[ Aww. Bariyan's charmed. He leans in, taking note of the blush, laughing as he reaches out to pat Koltira on the shoulder. ]

It's all right. Keep your coin, Koltira -- I'll take care of this one. You can make it up to me some other day.

[ Or... perhaps not. Bariyan was still not fully convinced that he would be around long enough for that. This all seemed so dream-like, so temporary; surely he would awaken soon. Back to the edge of a cold blade.

Some of the warmth fades from Bariyan's expression as he draws back, though his smile remains. He deems now a good time to finish off the rest of his wine. ]

[brightdawn]

I will, of course.

[If I can. He means what he says, but the future is as much mystery to him as anyone else. Better to take it moment by moment, especially in these strange circumstances. He drinks down the martini; soon he'll be in the market for a third.

Koltira glances at Bariyan over the rim of his glass.]

Careful with that wine. It's a deceptive sort of drink.

[blacklord]

Is it, now? [ Bariyan watches as the bartender refills the glass, and gives her a smile and a nod when she finishes. He drinks deeply, regardless of Koltira's warning. ] I could use a little deception in my life.

[brightdawn]

[He watches Bariyan with concern, though his own actions are beginning to take a toll on him. He feels somewhat more lightheaded than usual ... perhaps he ought to slow down with the martini.]

Ah ... if you keep on like that, I'll have to carry you out of here.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan sets the glass down and laughs. He turns in his seat to face Koltira, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, eyeing the other man up and down. ]

That'd be unfortunate. I'm not sure if you'd be able to.

[brightdawn]

[He makes a 'tch' sound in his throat, leaning forward.]

Please! I could could do so right now, were I inclined.

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan leans in as well. He picks up his glass again and drains it, slowly. Then he raises an eyebrow. ]

I don't know. I may be shorter than you, but I'm still quite heavy.

[brightdawn]

[His eyes flick from the glass to Bariyan as he replies. The light, airy feeling of being just a bit drunk pervades his mind, and he wonders if Bariyan is feeling similar.]

You do look solid ... but --

[He flexes an arm, grinning.] These aren't just for show, you know.