'Cause maybe then I could sleep at night

[obliterating]

Date & Time: Tonight, around Midnight
Location: Anduin's SAD LONELY APARTMENT
Characters: Responsible Adult obliterating and Sadface Mcsadteen thewhitepawn
Summary: Anduin is upset. And there's one thing that cures upset. Company, and casual drinking.
Warnings: Booze. Not too much, but booze. Anduin maybe talking about ALMOST DYING.

Within the hour he was knocking on Anduin's door, bottle of whiskey in hand that he'd managed to grab on the way over. He was certain he paid more than it was worth, but it wasn't something he was too bothered over. His clothes were plain- thick fabric pants and a plain shirt with sleeves, and a leather belt.

"It's Thassarian."

Comments

[thewhitepawn]

Of course, the prince had drank before - granted it was wine and done so sparingly, but still. All the same though he eyed the bottle of whiskey with a sort of wonder before letting his gaze slide back to Thassarian, managing a small smile.

"Don't worry, this doesn't seem like something either of them need to be aware of." They would certainly have worse things on their mind if they returned. For now though they were gone and Anduin ached - and this was a good distraction. Slowly he reached for the bottle, hefting the weight of it in his hand.

"...Thank you." He glanced upwards once more, tearing his gaze from the bottle.

"I could get two glasses. Do you want some?"

[obliterating]

"I'll have a little."

He nods. It reminded him, keenly, if his youth. Of stealing away to the city and drinking far too much, stumbling home with one arm wrapped around William's neck to help steady himself. William did much the same. It was always like that- when he was needed, he always propped someone up.

"Don't drink too much." He says it with almost a smile, and chuckles coldly. "You don't want to regret it in the morning."

[thewhitepawn]

There's a hint of ...something in his eyes at that last admonition. A teasing sort of annoyance that means he isn't really annoyed - just putting the face on for show. It fades to a smile a moment later as he moves towards the kitchen, returning with two glasses for the pair of them.

"I'll definitely try not to drink too much. The last thing I need is a hangover." Although if some helped him to sleep, well ...that would be all the better.

It took some work to get the bottle opened, but eventually he was pouring a modest amount into each cup and settling back. He had to wonder what had given Thassarian the idea - but he certainly wouldn't be complaining.

[obliterating]

He took his own cup in hand and raised it slightly.

"To you, your highness." There's no sarcasm in his tone, and he takes a drink. He can halfway taste it, but it's probably for the best that he can't all the way.

Finally, he speaks, because he can tell that something has to be bothering Anduin. Something's going on, why else is Anduin having trouble sleeping? When he would stay up at night worrying, he always had a hard time getting rest.

"Don't like an empty home? Or is something else bothering you?"

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin raised his own glass as well, nodding his head. Perhaps not the cheer he would have chosen but ...the meaning behind it is nice enough. His own first drink is ...much smaller than Thassarian's, grimacing at the first taste of the whiskey as it burns down his throat to create a sort of warmth in his belly.

But at least he didn't cough.

The second sip goes down easier, though even now he's still careful not to drink too fast or too much. The prince almost seemed as if he might ignore Thassarian's questions altogether before finally settling back, fixing the Death Knight with a somber expression.

"Nightmares, Thassarian. Nothing ...important, not in the grand scheme of things, at least."

[obliterating]

"Well, if it's something you want to talk about, I'll listen."

He shrugs. "If not, that's fine, too."

He was good at listening, but he wasn't the type to pester people until they spilled what was eating them. If someone didn't want to speak, just wanted company, that was fine, too.

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin was silent for awhile, drinking in slow, careful sips as he considered the others words, his offering a tempting one. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about current events, after all.

"What is your last memory in Azeroth?" He asked by way of beginning, pressing the glass to his cheek as he waited.

[obliterating]

"It had been a few weeks since the battle of Andorhal."

He frowns.

"Since I lost the battle. About a month. I was...waiting on orders from the Highlord."

He doesn't really want to tell Anduin, but surely Anduin knew that he simply abandoned the town they had lost and alerted the Knights.

[thewhitepawn]

"I see." That was ...quite some time ago, and it shows in the way he glances down, taking a swifter drink, pausing to pour himself some more before offering to do the same for Thassarian.

"A new continent was discovered on accident. I was returning home from visiting Velen when our ship lost course and crashed. That's a good place to start, I suppose." He murmured, settling back.

[obliterating]

He nods, letting Anduin refill his cup and then taking a drink.

"I see. Were you harmed when it crashed?"

Anduin looked alright, now, but he couldn't be certain how long ago that was. Odd, that time would be so different here. To be honest, it confused him, but he would accept it for what it was, now. If people could come from different places, different times wasn't that far of a leap.

[thewhitepawn]

The burning was subsiding bit by bit now, giving way to an almost-comfortable sort of heat coiled in his belly. The whiskey was bitter, compared to the wines he had tasted, but strong ...good to talk and perhaps later, good to sleep by.

"No. Not directly." He chuckled softly, "I managed to survive on my own for awhile, though I was taken captive by the Horde for awhile - when I escaped I began to make my way farther through this continent. Pandaria, it's called." There was a wonder in his eyes as he spoke, a softness to his words as he looked at the Death Knight, taking another sip - though smaller this time.

"I tell you this to explain what happens next. It is a beautiful place, but the emotions have power of their own there. The darker emotions - hatred, greed, pride, anger ...they can manifest into powerful beings called Sha that can terrorize. Garrosh Hellscream... he managed to get ahold of an item, a large bell that could sow discord and transform his warriors." He took a deep breath then, closing his eyes to center his thoughts.

[obliterating]

He nodded. Anduin was well into his story, and he wouldn't interrupt him. Though this...place, this new continent. The "Sha" stirred something in him, a worry, a knowledge that his kind should never see this land.

Anger, hatred, these were things that drove many Death Knights. Sometimes they had little but hate to keep themselves moving. It was certainly what drove many to return to Northrend...

...and were he honest, he understood why.

A glance to Anduin. This prince was much younger than Arthas, when he had sailed to the frozen north with him. There was light in Anduin, but not so much that being in his presence bothered him. There was something almost humble about the prince, and he appreciated that. Arthas had been a king, his will absolute.

He would not want to follow another prince blindly. He had lost everything, and would not make that mistake again.

He respected Anduin, but didn't feel he was someone to hold to lofty ideals. Anduin was, after all, only a human. Humans made grave mistakes, had deep flaws. He was certain that Anduin would make his share of them.

But if he could at least offer him a voice that had seen where one prince had gone wrong, if Anduin would listen...that would be an honor beyond what he thought he deserved.

He took another drink.

[thewhitepawn]

Thassarian's silence was a source of comfort for Anduin at the moment. He had yet to fully talk to anyone about his experiences in Pandaria since his arrival in this new ...place. The prince had no desire to burden his father with thoughts of what was to come ...and of course the idea of illuminating what lay in wait for Jaina horrified him.

But Thassarian was a Death Knight, and beyond that, strong. He trusted in the strength he had been shown thus far. The character that was beyond just Death Knight and existed simply as a part of who Thassarian was.

Anduin took a deep breath and a gulp of whiskey and continued, grimacing at the burning sensation that had suddenly returned.

"I found out about a mallet meant to counteract the discord of the bell - created to bring harmony instead. I was supposed to wait - but there wasn't the time. I stole away and there was someone already fighting against Garrosh - I can't even tell if they were Alliance or Horde, that's how thick the smoke the ...miasma was. Garrosh turned his own Orcs into monsters for the sake of strength, and I believe robbed them of what they once were in the process." He felt sick for a moment and set the glass down, staring at it curiously before finding his voice once more.

It was good to talk about it; he needed to talk about it to someone who wouldn't fret overmuch.

"I can remember healing them. Tossing all of my strength into keeping them alive while they fought Garrosh's champion. And when he was defeated I ran forward, and I tried to reason with him." He had talked to Hellscream before, after all, as a child - but it was different now, Garrosh was different.

"I struck the bell, destroyed the chaos he was reaping and in his rage he struck the bell with his axe ...and it came tumbling down atop me." There. He had said it. His eyes squeezed closed for a moment, relieved for the burden he had just admitted to, taking another drink, needing the strength that it provided before daring to look upwards into his companion's eyes.

"That's when I came here. As the pieces were falling on me. And now and then it's all I see in my dreams. His face, the bell falling, the stench of that miasma..." And the worry of the unknown he would someday, hopefully, return to.

[obliterating]

"I see."

He nods after Anduin finishes speaking, and frowns a bit as he looks at his cup, his cold hands wrapped around them. He wanted to ask more, but he knew he would rather not having to bring up the topic of dying. He shifts a little in his seat, and finally speaks.

"You're still breathing. Your heart...I can still hear it." Sometimes, the sense drove him mad when I spoke with the living. But now, it was an odd sort of comfort.

"Whatever happened, you're alive now. You survived." Here, at least. He wasn't certain what would happen if Anduin returned.

Perhaps he was another that this place was kinder to, like Koltira.

"But I don't blame you for having nightmares. If I slept, I'm sure I'd have a few, myself." He nodded. "I used to stay awake at night, worrying myself sick. But sometimes, it's just better if you let yourself accept the present for what it is, and what you can make of it."

He takes a drink.

"Easier said than done, I know. But what you did was good, it was noble." He glanced toward him. "Just don't make a habit of it."

[thewhitepawn]

"For all I know I somehow managed to get away at the last second." He certainly didn't feel dead - as Thassarian said, he had a heartbeat, he was breathing ...either way, he was alive now, even if his condition back home was much less certain. The Death Knight would be treated to a small smile as he finished off the second glass.

That is what I think I'm going to do. Just learn to accept what has happened and move forward. I don't normally dwell like this-" he frowns, studying the empty glass for a moment, swallowing.

"Thank you." And Anduin managed a small smile that blossomed into a grin a moment later, shaking his head as he fought off a light chuckle. "I'll try not to."

[obliterating]

"Good." He settled back, nodding. It was a grim sort of joke- princes that went off and did things for the good of all, well...that didn't end well last time. Better to can the heroics. Lead, but not recklessly.

He smiled slightly, and this time the gesture seemed genuine.

"Feeling any better?"

[thewhitepawn]

"I ...I am ...though I had better not have any more of that." he gestured to the bottle, giving Thassarian a small grin.

"A little to help me sleep and help me talk of difficult things ...too much and I probably wouldn't be fit company tomorrow." A little color to his pale cheeks was fine, but there was no need to make himself sick.

"Thank you, Thassarian. For everything."