Piss-drunk and pining, -Wystie

[Akedhi]

Felix is drunk. He is slumped face-down on a table in his favorite tavern, an empty mug that used to hold ale in front of him. He misses the way things were, and therefore, until he gets rid of this set of merchandise, he's going to drink a lot.

It's not a solution, by any means, but did he say he wanted one?

No. No he did not.

Therefore, he is drunk.

His hair is a mess, as usual, and his clothes are wrinkled from having been slept in for the past several days. He doesn't feel like bothering with his appearance. If he wants someone other than Sarah - which he doesn't, but shh - if he wants a girl, he can just pay for her and be done with it. So there.

[Wysteria]

And a lady he well knows slides into the seat across from him.

Unlike Felix, she copes with stress by being obsessive with her appearance. She looks good - good and stubborn and stormy.

[Akedhi]

"Nnngh."

He doesn't want to talk to her. She hurt his pride (and maybe his heart too, assuming he does have one. He probably does. Maybe it's just small.)

"Wha' d'ya wan', Sarah?"

Why can't she leave him alone?

[Wysteria]

"Shut up and listen."

She's going to be blunt. And harsh.

He hurt her too, walking out like that.

"We aren't anything special," Because you don't want us to be. "But we're still in the same business. I want to do business."

[Akedhi]

He frowns. Lifts his head and leans on the table, resting his chin in his hands - because otherwise he'd flop down again.

"Bus'ness?"

What kind of business would she want to do with him?

His forehead creases.

"Whaddya mean?"

[Wysteria]

"I have seven. Young. Able-bodied. Not lacking any limbs. You want 'em?"

Blunt, blunt, blunt.

It's easier than feeling anything.

She's keeping the little horse-girl. She's fond of the kid, and the kid can be seed money if and when she ever decides to go into the business again.

[Akedhi]

He takes a moment to process this.

"Why're y'gettin' rid'f 'em?"

It does not make sense - they're profit. They're a lot of profit.

He is confused.

[Wysteria]

She's tempted to say it's none of his business.

"It isn't so fun anymore."

For one thing, the edge of profit she's turning is ridiculous - it's practically stable. A warehouse, iron cages, chains? Hired guards? She'd never been able to afford those before, and she finds she doesn't want to.

The job's getting boring. That's why she tried turning her hand to training, just for something to do.

She shrugs.

[Akedhi]

He tilts his head. His brain is a little soggy, so he's having trouble figuring out just exactly why it wouldn't be fun.

"'cause y'miss me?"

There's a certain guilelessness to the way he asks the question.

He wouldn't have asked it, sober.

[Wysteria]

"Well, duh."

She never said she didn't like him.

"You want 'em or not? They're pretty docile at this point."

You won't get any trouble from my kids.

[Akedhi]

"Sure. 'tir'men' cash."

For the non-drunk, he said 'retirement.' He's nearly thirty, you know. That's old for this line of work - even with Fidrus around to handle the muscle, he's still getting too old for this.

He's practically middle-aged.

"Miss ya too."

He misses her a lot.

[Wysteria]

Nod.

"Why's it got to be marriage or nothing?"

She doesn't get it.

And now business is over and he isn't going anywhere... she had to ask. She just had to.

[Akedhi]

"'cause I wan'... 'cause..."

He scowls.

"'s no fair, askin' me when 'm drunk."

It really isn't fair. He can't think clearly, and what he wants to say just... even drunk, he knows that's the best way to chase her away forever. Or thinks it is. Or something.

[Wysteria]

"Like you'd talk to me at all, sober."

Would you?

She wishes that he would, but oh she is too cynical to hope.

[Akedhi]

"Y'lied t'me, Sarah. Y'strung me 'long f'r... f'r years, an' 'm s'pos' t' jus' go back t' th' way 'twas?"

He wants more to drink. Drinking makes it easier. Unfortunately, he's already had more than enough.

He knows this because it's making him dizzy just to lean on his hands.

"An' we'd'a made such g-grea' par'ners, an' y' jussh ... Fuck, Sarah, 'm no borin'."

Is he?

[Wysteria]

"I didn't say you were."

She likes you. She doesn't like marriage.

How is that hard to understand?

[Akedhi]

"Did too."

She said that marriage to him would be just as boring as marriage to Mordekai, who, let's face it, is a nice kid and all, but rather dull. At least in Felix's opinion.

"Y' sai' it'd be borin' marrie' t'me."

[Wysteria]

"Marriage isn't the same as the person in question."

Marriage is... marriage is sitting quietly all day while your husband takes care of things. Marriage is asking your husband's opinion on everything before doing it. Marriage is instant obedience.

No matter who you're married to, marriage sucks.

[Akedhi]

"I wan'ed ya t' marry me an' be m' par'ner, was borin' 'bout tha'?"

She isn't making any sense at all. This is not entirely because he's drunk.

[Wysteria]

"Partner. Lackey."

You mean lackey.

She has rock-solid certainty on her side, does that count for anything?

[Akedhi]

"Fidrush is m'lackey."

He shakes his head. He's all foggy.

"Yer no' an ugly wolf-man-thin', are ya?"

[Wysteria]

"Do I look like one?" She asks challengingly.

He's being confusing and making her head hurt. She needs a drink.

[Akedhi]

"Nah."

He smiles the innocent smile of the utterly sloshed.

"Yer byoo... beya... Fuck."

He also cannot pronounce beautiful, at the moment.

[Wysteria]

"Yeh."

Hmph.

"I'm still giving you elves. Where d'you want 'em?"

It was, perhaps, not clear they were a gift. Now it is.

She can't exactly let them run free. They'd tell the clans on her.

It'd be a shame to kill that many kids for no reason.

[Akedhi]

"Pretty!" he says triumphantly. See, he did know what he was trying to say, it's just that his tongue was not cooperating.

"Only better."

Frown.

"'ve got a place fer 'em."

He just doesn't quite know how to direct her there at the moment.

"... wha're y' gonna do now?"