Drink Between Friends

Log Info

• Title: Drink Between Friends
• Emitter: Nemori
• Characters: Nemori, Slixvah, Eztli, Jay, Robert
• Place: Lower Trades
• Time: July 17th, 2022
• Summary: Another night of drinking, though this time the alcohol is a flight provided by Eztli and it's held in Robert's smithy rather than the loud and busy Fernwood. Slix elaborates on some of her own woes and issues while Jay reassures her he's okay with whatever consequences may come. Robert joins them, and Eztli imparts upon him a thoughtful gift. Hugs are shared.

Nemori is late in the forge this evening. One of the downsides to this being a place of business is that when business is good, she has precious little time to work on her own projects. And while this whole gig may have started as a means of deliberately trying to make herself valueable enough to not be discarded out of hand, the shadow elf has found a true passion in the working of metal. In the repeated hammering, battering it into the shape she imagines, without any hint of complaint on its part, until it becomes the tool or weapon she desires. In a sense... it is the sense of control which brings her satisfaction. Or at least, some of her satisfaction.

So it should be no surprise that she wishes to hone this art. Which is why Nemori finds it frustrating when she's forced to make nails and horseshoes and axes and knives for other people. Practice makes perfect, yes... but she burns to apply her growing skills to her own ends. Which sometimes means staying late. Like tonight. She is currently slightly bent over the anvil with a smaller smithing hammer, working a small bit of mythril into a wire shape.

A figure is ambling down the road from a new direction, them holding a waterskin in hand as rust red and white wings are held loosely behind them. Last night was... a mess. But glad she was that a friend helped her out of that.

Slixvah chugs the water, her making a 'bleh' sound as the medicine mixed within coats her taste with a bitterness. But it was helping.

The sound of hammer on metal catches her attention, and she slows to a stop by the closed gate of Robert's Smithy. She watches. Waiting for a moment to interrupt the focused mul'neissa.

"Heya Mori," she finally calls out after a long moment, reaching over to unlock the gate and glide in uninvited. She's much more subdued than usual.

Third time was the charm, right? Eztli couldn't keep getting turned down or side tracked for going out drinking with Nemori indefinitely. Or if she was, it wouldn't be for a lack of trying.

And it was time for another attempt. The small white and brown scaled makari gathered up all the bottles from her room, and took off for the trades district where she was hoping Nemori was still around. It looked almost comical, seeing the tiny makari with the large cloth bag in her arms that clacked with every step. She's at least able to make it to the gate, where she watches the work for a moment, before going in like Slixvah did. "Hi Nemori! I thought you might still be around tonight. And you too, Slixvah! Good to see you both, how's it going?" she greets happily. "Everything okay, Slixvah?"

• tink-tink-TINK, tink-tink-TINK* Nemori pauses in her hammering, then holds what appears to be a small link made with the mythril wire. Flattened in four spots, and curved, the link looks less like the link in a chain and more like a very small, oblongish, warped and twisted disk with a hole in the center only slightly smaller than the object itself. The glow from its heat from the forge has faded, though it is undoubtedly still hot to touch.

Whatever inspection is was subject to, Nemori sighs and shakes her head, reaching the tongs over to release the bit into a ceramic bowl.. the series of clinks it makes indicates its not her first reject. She sets the tongs aside, then, and puts the hammer down so she can reach for her clay mug, scoop it into the barrel nearby.. and then dump it over her head. A second gets filled for her to drink from.

Only then does she finally turn and address the forge's visitors. "My apologies. I thought I was close to the design I wished... but it is not yet quite right." Then she hesitates. Perhaps it was Eztli's observation which tips off her own perception, and she takes a closer look at Slixvah. "You sound unwell."

Slixvah turns a bit to spy Eztli, her eyes crinkling in a light smile. "Oh, heya Ez. I'm uh..." It's unlike the bird woman to be uncertain. A sigh leaves her, but she's still smiling. "No, not really, but I'm better than last night. Thanks for askin', honey."

She watches the apprentice at work from afar a moment overlong before she steps in, her addressing the drenched Nemori. "Last night got a little wonky after you left is all. On me. I'm good now tho, Tegri got me," she intones. "What's got ya flummoxed?"

She finds a seta nearby, eyeing whatever Ezlti's clanking payload is.

Eztli was lingering at the gate, fumbling at the gate with her hands mostly preoccupied. "Oh, well, hope you're feeling better Slix. Would some drinks with friends help?"

Eztli looks to Nemori, stopsn, and blinks. The small makari went back to fumbling with the lock even longer.

"Well, it's only a matter of time until you get it Nemori, I know you will." Eztli reassures once she finally manages to close it, and she works on finding somewhere to set the large bag down. "And what about you? Are you up for some drinks tonight, Nemori?"

Nemori gestures vaguely. "I ultimately wish to forge myself a shirt of mythril. Similar to the one which Robert made for Integrity." Cradling her clay cup in both hands, she sits down on a nearby stool, leaning forward to allow the water in her hair and shoulders to drip off over the floor. "The metal is lighter than steel, it is true.. but it is a combination of its strength and weight which truly gives it a reputation for being light. It requires less overall metal.. but because of this, you cannot simply forge chain links as you might with cruder metals. You could not capitalize upon its weight nor is strength... you would have an overabundance of the latter, and thus lose out on the former. So the links take a more specific design. Flattened to provide coverage, twisted to link smoothly with the others and move fluidly..." Another gesture, and then another sip from her cup. "I think I am finished for the night. I will melt the rejects down into an ingot again tomorrow. I think.. I think a drink or two sounds lovely." Because she didn't overindulge the night before.

Slixvah's gaze lingers over Eztli, a feathered brow raising at the fumbling. A white gloved hand raises, a spectral hand helping assist with getting that situated. "... drinks, again? Eh. Sure. Why not," she murmurs, not entirely enthused but willing.

She bobs her head along with Nemori. "That sounds pretty neat-o, Momo. Wish that armor stuff didn't fuss with gettin' in the way of wavin' my hands 'round. 'cause if it didn't I'd ask if ya'd make me something ta keep me safe. There's a lot ta metalwork, ain't there? At least if you goof up, you can always start over."

Speak of the devil, or the devilishly handsome young attorney, and he will appear. A fluttering of wings, a light thump outside, and a loud cawing announces the arrival of the bluejay Egalrin, "Nemori! Nemori! Are you there?"

"Oh! Slix! Eztli! Hi. Hi!" He's behind the small makari at the gate, coming in after her.

And as if to taunt the mul'niessa, though he wouldn't be aware and wouldn't do so deliberately, his mithril shirt is visible underneath his waistcoat, the small rings glittering brightly. He also overhears Slix's observations, "Oh, you should get a mithril shirt. I've seen quite a few casters wearing those, I don't think they interfere too much."

He's not rubbing Nemori's failures this evening in; he's simply oblivious.

"Oh uh, yeah, thanks Slix." Eztli chuckles, finding a table in the area to set down the bag with another cacophony of clacks. "That sounds useful, I'm sure you'll get the technique for it down. I wouldn't mind having armor either, but, yeah, just gets in the way, you know?"

"You don't have to drink if you don't want to, Slix. It won't bother me." Eztli chuckles. "As for Nemori here, I figured I have no clue what you like to drink, so I'd figure it out. I got white wine, red wine, a rose wine, dandelion wine, a few bottles of ale and stout, a bottle of bourbon, and just some grain alcohol too. So, hopefully there's something you like in there!"

"Oh, hello Jay! As is obvious, I've got plenty of drinks, so you're welcome to some if you want!"

"I am here, Integrity," Nemori answers. Then she looks at Slixvah. "As Integrity says, this armour is supposed to be friendly to arcanists," Nemori agrees. "Some of our house wizards would be girded such.. though the crafting techniques of home are different still. I do not know what kind of enchanted enhancements may have been involved.. perhaps some that favoured ritualistic casting even more." The shadow elf shrugs, then finishes the last of the water in her mug before rising to set it aside and begin the process of closing everything up. Which isn't too involved... most of the smithy had already been closed for the night. Nemori had only taken the tools she needed and enough material to work the forge for a while. The only real thing of note is the hammers and tongs getting put away, and the small amount of mythril, mostly transformed into reject links, locked up.

After removing her heavy apron and hanging it along with her smith gloves, she proceeds to produce a handful more of the earthen clay mugs. Perhaps not the most refined vessels to be sampling wine in, but then again... this setting is hardly refined. "Yes.. there is a certain amount of relief in knowing I can often simply recast or reheat and hammer anything I make a mistake upon. But it takes time. And energy. And some metals do not take kindly to being reforged. Thankfully I do not work with those." Yet. "I suppose we had best get to pouring, then, if we are to sample everything."

Slixvah all but freezes as she hears a familiar flutter. A glance to the side to spy him, and her demeanor changes. She looks off to Eztli's stash of alcohol, a hand rubbing at her neck as she shifts in her chair. "H-Hey Blue," she greets. "Uh... I'll just take bourbon. Thanks, Ez."

"Eh. It gets in the way. And I got a wand that does the same thing. It's no biggie. I was never one to do what was popular anywho," she opines after the talk about armor. "Oh, thanks Mori for the cup."

She glances to Tegri, then scans the other two for a moment before she parrots to him in their native language, expression softening, "Hey, um, Blue. I... just wanted to thank you for taking care of me last night. I really needed someone. I can explain more if you want." <Auran>

"Oh, I could try drinking again. I had to stop while I was recovering from the sewers." A damaged constitution pairs badly with alcohol. He tilts his head, examining the offered wares, "Doesn't grain alcohol make humans blind, or is it wood alcohol?"

He hops over to Nemori, "Just wanted to see how you're doing. How your project was coming. Looks like you're done for the night. I'll check on you tomorrow!"

Leaving him to address Slixvah. His eyes are bright, his feathers preened and he makes a beak-rubbing gesture in her direction even though he doesn't make contact. "It's okay! Anything for you. Sure! I'd love to listen, you don't have to if you don't want to, and like I said last night, you can stay." <Auran>

For the benefit of the others listening, he explains, "Was a hard night, last night." A glance in Nemori's direction, "Elves and family."

Eztli took a seat down, realizing how tiring carrying all those bottles around was, as she pulls all of them out of the bag. She was watching Nemori going about locking up, before she turned to the others. "Well, that way you can keep at it, so that's good! You'll be like a knight in shining armor, or a cleric in shining armor, I guess." Eztli laughs. "So, what will you have first? Gotta start somewhere, you know."

Eztli took one of the larger bottles and popped the cork, before pouring some of the bourbon into a clay cup. She snaps her fingers once, before offering it to Slixvah. "Cooled to the perfect temperature to bring out the flavor, while leaving a bit cooler to account for the ambient temperature." She explains. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, but it sounded windy. And no! It's just not really a flavored alcohol, just tastes like, well, alcohol really. Don't worry, I didn't get it from some backwoods dealer, it's from a reputable source. No need to sue someone for damages, Integrity."

"What's this about elves and family though?" She asks, a touch nervously. There's a glance back to Nemori herself, too.

If Nemori were a good person, she'd let the two egalrin know she'd picked up a bit of their language in the recent months. But.. she's yet to be accused of that particular label. And she was recently reminded that even friends sometimes have reasons to hide the truth from friends. Of course, since a particularly surprising revelation not long ago.. let's just say, Nemori's been plagued by an unrelenting feeling that everyone has something to hide from her.

Is it going to bite her on the backside sometime in the future? Probably.

In the meantime, she feigns obiviousness to Slixvan and Jay's exchange, holding her cup out for a pour from the currently opened bottle. "I would like to dry the dandelion wine next," she tells Eztli. Then she looks at Jay. "I am close. If I can but master the link I need to make... the rest should be straightforward with standard techniques. Working the mythril itself is becoming familiar."

Slixvah gives a thankful nod towards Eztli. "Also I'm super sorry babe for what I'm about ta do." She takes the perfectly chilled cup of bourbon. Pops her waterskin she was sipping on. And dumps it into the cup to water the hard liquor down. Capped off, she reclines back, carefully drinking from her more mild drink. "Thanks Ez."

The rust red egalrin shakes her head, firmly. "I can't stay, Integrity," <Auran> she chitters back in that windy language, but it drops out to return to the Trade tongue. "But I can explain why. I owe that much. But it uh, deals with witchcraft," she puts out there, touching a topic she doesn't bring up none too oft.

She glances to Eztli's worries, and Jay's mentions. "Eh, just ran into some dawn elves last night. Nothin' biggie. Talked about fam some, but it petered out all fast-like."

Jay doesn't adulterate the bourbon offered, picking up the cup but refraining from sipping for the moment. He shrugs his wings, "Oh, Patches, a Sildanyari elf, has a troubled relationship with her mother. Allegedly. Something Nemori can relate to, although she doesn't like dawn elves."

The bluejay continues to demonstrate that he has little to hide, and even some difficulty being discrete. At least he's qualifying things with 'allegedly'. He nods to Nemori, "Neat, I'll try to come by earlier and watch."

After which, he fixes Slixvah with a long stare, "You can stay. I'm immune to curses. I'm a lawyer. If curses worked on me I'd be dead ten times over for every case I've failed." So, at least ten then, allegedly. "It's magic and there are plenty of ways to figure things out, wiggle room, loop-holes."

His demeanor and bravado soften a bit, his wings pulling in. "I like you. I want you around. You have to stay. I'll take it on the beak."

"You're... supposed to only put a small splash of water in." Eztli half chuckles, half sighs. "Ah well, it's that you're able to enjoy it that matters."

"I thought you might like to try the dandelion wine, Nemori." She grins afterwards, tapping the glass on that bottle. "I saw it and thought of you, that you might want to try it."

Eztli pauses at the mention of sun elves, and there's no mistaking what was almost a frown, hidden by her own mug of bourbon as she attempts to drink it. She gives up and pours it in through the side. "Ah, I can understand that. I hope it was alright Nemori, and you're alright."

With a moment of silence herself, she stops and listens to Jay for a moment. At least that was something to get rid of the last vestiges of a frown.

Nemori immediately sips from her cup, the bourbon undilluted.. and she grimaces. Maybe it's the alcohol. Maybe it's the mention of the dawn elves. Maybe it's both, each reinforcing the other's distastefulness in her mind.

She takes another sip.

"The one was as pretentious as I could have expected from a sunb... from a llyranesi, if not more so. The other... welll... I had hopes, but I do not think she holds the same venom for her mother as I do mine." She takes another, deeper drink.. then coughs at the burn as the liquid goes down her throat. It takes her several seconds to recover, and her voice is raspy when she speaks. "But I am forced to admit.. perhaps there are some among them who are not without merit."

Rather than think of the awkward moment at the end of her portion of the previous night, she says to Jay, "I intend to spend what free moments I can working on it, and you are welcome to come observe when you are able, Integrity. Perhaps when I am finally finished it you and I can compare it to Robert's work."

The egalrin woman bobs her head along with Nemori. "Yeah. One kinda had a stick up their arse. The other was cool. Cute too ta boot."

She takes a moment to drink her diluted mix, getting about half of it down before Slixvah stares at Jay as he rambles on. In the middle of it, a long sigh escapes her, and the clay cup goes >clunk< against her beak. "Blue. I... listen." Her gaze rises some. "I like ya too. Which is why I'm gonna explain somethin' to ya. All of ya."

Missing Eztli's reactions for her face was affixed to the floor, she holds up a white gloved hand. "I don't advertise what I do. I'm a witch, plain and simple. Th' thing is tho, because this sorta magic ain't... documented well, stuff gets, well, weird. Dependin' on what ya do."

The hand lowers, resting on something intangible in the air. "There's an underlyin' theory, about all people. Fate. Luck. Chance. It's not actually random," she elucidates, two fingers walking along the air. "Everyone you meet, everyone you run into. Everything is connected. Woven. Maybe Animus did it. Maybe Navos. Who knows. Someone somewhere let folks like me dabble with it."

A finger curls around something unseen, twisting and slowly wrapping around it. "I see the threads. And where I go, the frayed ends mend themselves. The longer I stay, the more the tapestry flows without harm. Without mistakes."

"But laws of conservation apply. Where one weals, another woes." Her gaze falls to Tegri. Eyes sad. But resolved. "That is why I cannot stay, Blue. It ain't that simple like ya think it is."

"Oh?" Jay tilts his head to the side, opening his beak in a grin, "I thought the one with the stick up his ass was cute."

A quick quip, while he thinks. His head bobs, he's silent for a bit. This stretches on.

"Okay I understand your example and you've made a compelling case, but I think the summary hides potential solutions. Magic isn't my specialty, but there isn't some counterweight options? A fetish to absorb the woe that you can throw at a foe? A portal to the negative energy plane to just dump the badness in, or you deliberately rip some threads to relieve the tension?"

His eyes fix on her, "if you're saying bad things will happen to me if you stay around, I'm saying, I'm okay with that. I'll invite in the chaos."

Proving that he doesn't know what he's asserting, allegedly.

Eztli coughs while she was drinking, and stops to scratch at the base of one of her horns. "It's not a competition of who can hate their parents the most Nemori." The small makari weakly chuckles. "But, that's good you're able to see some merit in some of them. Could I stop by and watch too? That sounds nice, and I wouldn't break your concentration by asking a bunch of questions or talking, hopefully."

The small makari sighs, and pats Slixvah on the shoulder, before she goes to opening the dandelion wine. "Yes, I knew you were a witch. But we're all friends here, and we all live long lives, and I hope we all will. And that means there's time. If witches are still a new thing, then they'll get better understood with time. And there'll be a way to figure out how to manage your luck, I think. If bards can pluck at the weave the way they do, then I think you can figure out how to manipulate it better, and more safely."

"It was not competition. I had merely thought I might try to bond with the sunblood over a little bit of matricide. I judged her hatred to be not quite so... complete," Nemori offers. She's probably joking. She takes another, smaller sip, feeling her belly start to heat up a little bit from the bourbon.. then finishes the cup off as she holds it out now for a smpling of the wine. "The forge is always open, Eztli. To friends." Speaking of friends...

Nemori glances at Slixvah. It's not that she wasn't listning to Slixvah's explanation. Or not understanding. But it's hard to argue with something when you have no ability to perceive or fully comprehend the nature of the argument.

At the same time, she has no wish to see one of her few friends leave. "I have heard of such things as lodestones. Or stones of ill fortune. Perhaps one of those could balance your.. gifts."

Slixvah shakes her head, weakly chuckling. "No, the lady in the coat. She's the cute one. Miki-mo-names was... a bit much."

She watches Jay. An odd and ill fitting expression of seriousness crests her as she diverts all her attention into listening to the legal eagle weasel the evil sneevile of her fortune upheaval. "... gods Tegri, I wish I could do that. But ya gotta mind that like... life ain't that grand when all the randomness is taken out. If I put all that woe in a fetish... all that's left is good. And while that sounds grand? It ain't. I let it run its course for a long while before, and I got ran out of my aerie for it."

He affixes her with a gaze. She affixes her attention to the bottom of her cup. "... no. The opposite will happen. Only good things will happen to you. But you can't learn life without the bad," she murmurs as her shoulder is pat by Eztli. That gives a slight perk to her posture. "... I sure hope so, honey. I sure hope so..."

She slows, the last of her watered drink gone as a familiar dull burn rests in her veins. A blink. "Wuh..?" she murmbles to Nemori. "What'cha mean, Momo?" Slix inquires, interested. "Is there really a bad luck stone? Shit, give me twenty. Hell, I'll lug a whole person's worth of 'em around."

"You're cuter than that scrawny dawny was." Jay says, his beak wide in a grin, hoping to score... points with both Slixvah and Nemori. His whimsical aire doesn't fade, "Well, I've been stabbed, and sickened, and terrified since we've adventured together so I don't think your 'everything will be only good' aura has been strong enough yet."

He chuckles awkwardly, "Well.. that's one reason to be run out of an aerie." He doesn't elaborate.

"If it'll help hanging around you, I'll swallow a bad luck stone too."

Eztli continues sipping on her bourbon, and given her size, it didn't take too long to get at least somewhat tipsy. "That's, well, if you did, I hope they deserved it, Nemori." Eztli sighs. "That's good, I'll probably pop in from time to time!"

"That's, a really good idea, too!" Eztli nods. "It's worth trying, I think. Could do a lot of good!"

The small makari seems in good spirits with good spirits, and she pops open the wine bottle to pour some for Nemori, and herself, as well as everyone else. "Yeah, she is really cute." Eztli agrees while finishing Nemori's drink. "Slixvah is, I mean."

Nemori gives her mug of dandelion wine a few swirls, studying it. She did admit she enjoyed the flower... her expression shows equal parts dubiousness and intrigue. While looking at it, she says, "I only heard it in passing and it was regarded as a cursed object.. not so much made as the result of a failure to properly mold the magic of good fortune into an object. A drastic failure. But even a rumour suggests such a think could be possible." She gives a shrug, then takes the plunge, putting the mug to her lips and tipping it back.

Sip.

The shadow elf lowers the mug, considering the liquid upon her tongue, then swallows it. She frowns, looks into the cup again. "This... is good," she finally says. "Different from the vintages of home. Decidedly better." As for conversations of who is cute and who is stuckup and who thinks who is cute.. Nemori, with fabled elven agility, sidesteps offering any opinions in that regard. "If it were to mean you remaining with us, Slixvah, I will spend time investigating if such a thing can be recreated."

That being said, Nemori begins to participate in earnest over the sampling of wines and liquors. Which means she in short order becomes unable of offering any truly inspiring insight upon anything, her conversational ability degrading into little more than supporting comments, the occasional poor taste joke, and probably a few embarassing slips of the tongue.

Slixvah gives a light shrug. "I dunno, Blue. I may be cuter, but I don't have, ya know..."

She gestures vaguely in arcing motions. "... the gurdy."

A beat to pause. Which soon breaks as she can't help but burst into laughter, whatever that was dampening her expressive nature snapping. "Ah, shit, I needed that. Anyways, my 'everything will be cool' vibe is a slow bake. You sure as hell can tell when I twist fate tho'. I do it all the time when we're out and about doin' stuff. There's loads of times where I nudge somethin' in the right direction."

She blinks, then holds a dismissing hand. "/Please/ don't eat stones unless you're into that. I don't wanna have to explain that to the Defense," she laughs, half serious.

Her cup is refilled with wine this time, her offering a thankful nod towards Ezt-

She pauses. Tilts her head to the side. Sky blues glance about to those present before she sits back on her work stool. One leg crosses over the other, and she swirls her wine. "I see..." she whistles quietly to herself. <Auran>

She shakes her head, looking over to Nemori. Her eyes smile. "I appreciate that, sugar. But don't worry about it too hard. After a while dealin' with it, it just means I shouldn't sleep 'round the same spot more than a couple nights in a row. It's a slow burn. But... I wouldn't say no to a stone of misfortune or somethin' like that."

"Yes... she has a great... gurdy." Jay chuckles, his eyes bright. He watches Nemori as she compliments the wine, and he nudges another glass toward Eztli, "I'll have some of what she's having."

"Well, maybe you can rotate houses and that will slow it down. Like I can usually stand my sisters in small doses or one at a time, but all three get wearying."

Bob's yawn beats him to the smithy. It's followed by a quiet groan and the mild crunch of his soft boots on the loose stones and grit between the cobbles. His gait hitches when he notices the light and life inside the workshop but smiles as he comes into view.

Tonight must've been an occasion; the kaftan he wears is new and vibrant in deep blue with yellow trim complimented by an equally-fine (and yet-more elaborate) shawl. He wears a subtle amount of eyeshadow and patterns are painted around his hands and wrists-- on his arms, too, as his sleeves fall back when he lowers the shawl.

"Another late night?" He wonders, as friendly as he is tired.

"I'm glad you like it Nemori, I'll tell you where I got it later. When I remember, I went to a few spots to get everything." Eztli laughs. It stops, and she looks to Slixvah. She blinks once, and huffs.

"Yes of course you can have some!" Eztli exclaims quietly, happy for a change from her own embarassment. "It's made from dandelion flowers that they ferment, It's quite nice."

And suddenly, Robert was showing up at the smithy. Eztli turns around, and grins. "Robert! Good to see you, we're all here just relaxing. I brought a bunch of drinks for Nemori to try, and everyone else too. And since you're here, I can finally give you that gift I promised! I was getting tired of waiting for a good chance to give it to you, honestly."

Slixvah snickers, shaking her head as she sips on more of the wine. "I rotate inns constantly. Three is usually enough. Perhaps I could... drop on by more often," she hums, giving Tegri a wink before she leans back on her stool to rest against a wall. "Trust me. I gots thirteen of the suckers. I know /exactly/ what ya mean Blue."

Her attention shifts a bit towards the approaching figure. She perks up. "Robby Bobby! Hey!" she chirps happily. "You lookin' spiffy, handsome! What minor debauchery you up to? We ourselves here are just relaxing in a bit more... calm environs, you might say."

She shares the look with Eztli, just smiles with her eyes, and drinks the dandelion wine. "There's also water right over there if ya want that," she tacks on towards Robert, but her attention seems to be shifted towards whatever the gift mentioned was.

"Thirteen? Wow! All sisters?" Integrit asks, tilting his head. He's sipping bourbon and wine now, both are quite enjoyable. "I'll get to the water later."

He stares at Robert's finery, "oh! Right, you asked if we wanted to join you. How did it go, more nieces on husbandry block?"

"My thanks," Bob responds, glancing down to smooth at the long garment. He laughs and shakes his head at Jay. "Another night for that," he corrects, kicking one boot up just enough to consider it. "These aren't my dancing shoes."

Returning to the other egalrin, he explains: "Shufharsz and Codrin named my youngest grandbaby today. Eibhear. It was a small thing but still a very big thing," he beams. "So..." he waves a hand down his attire indicatively.

"-- and now I'm glad for making the detour." The big man's hands *pop* as he claps them together and steps towards Eztli. "I hope you don't mean to spoil me..."

"Another place to stay is good!" Eztli chuckles. "Guess you didn't need my dancing tips though, Jay, and after I went throughh all that trouble to relearn it. I was an only child, so, I can't say I know what it's like. Sounds, hectic, though."

"Oh, I'm probably going to spoil you, but don't worry, it's really no big deal." She hums, reacing into her bag and shifting around, before she picked out the object in question, a relatively large hardwood chest with a brass latch on the front, which she set down on the table.

"You said you were in Dragonier for some time, so I figured you might appreciate this. Probably heard of it, even if you didn't try it." She continues, opening up the chest to reveal a velvet lined interior, and a large dark glass bottle, with a golden dragon breathing fire hand painted proudly on the label.

"Dragonier dragonfire distilled brandy. I don't know how many bottles are even still around now, so save it for a special occasion, okay?"

Slixvah quietly laughs into her cup. "Naw Blue. Brothers and sisters. Gotta big nest. Very, very hectic!"

She beams at Bob. "Awww, that's great! I'm glad ya got ta be there!" Slix coos.

The bird woman turns her attention to the poffered box, her feathered brows raising as she leans forward in curiosity. Her brows rise. "... holy moly smokin' cannoli, Ez..!" she murmurs, glancing to look up at Robert.

Integrity's eyes go wide lie tea saucers, "Where? How did you get that?" The beauty captivates him, to say nothing of the promise of the contents. He stares.

Still, his mind wanders, "I'll put up some ribbons, so it's more like home for you."

The artificer is certainly taken aback by the reveal. He opens his mouth to speak but the words catch. He blinks, searching out a crate and sitting heavily. He clears his throat and wipes one half of his face.

"I--" His voice trembles on the most unsteady of foundations. Blue eyes glitter as he drags his hand down his face and he offers a short laugh in wonderment. "My wedding-- one of my old officer compatriots brought... Agard...

"It's too kind," he sighs, wiping his face again. "Impossible." He curls a fist in front of his mouth, nodding as his cheeks glisten. "This is a wonderful kindness, miss Eztli..."

"It's, I'm not going to lie and say that it's not kind of special. Even when they were still being made, it was only a very limited amount of bottles a year." Eztli weakly chuckles, not really expecting that reaction, so she rubs the side of her snout.

"Don't worry, don't feel guilty, it's yours. I had, when everything happened there, I met one of the distillers afterwards. He gave a few of the bottles to me, he couldn't carry them all with him anyways."

The small makari sighs, and moves to rub at one of her eyes instead. "So, it's just a thanks, for helping out everyone on our adventures, and for keeping me, and Nemori and Jay and everyone else safe. And heling Nemori to find a passion for smithing with your influnce. I don't think it's too much at all, really."

Slixvah snorts, reaching out a hand to rest it on Tegri's shoulder. "That'd be kind of ya."

But still, she can't help but let out a long and happy, "D'aaawwwwwwwwwwwww," at Robert's reaction. "Hug! Hug! Hug! Hug!" she chants, swaying a bit in her wine and bourbon laden stupor. "Only if ya wanna."

"Yes! Hug! Hug! Hug!" Jay cheers, popping out of the mesmerization. "It's an amazing gift Eztli. Wow. You shouldn't downplay it, that's a lot to carry along without knowing why."

He waits, watching for the hug.

"Yes," Bob agrees with one more nod before wiping his eyes. "I find myself overstepping as of late-- so I don't want to assume..." He glances side-eye at Nemori, staring down deep into her cups.

The Cerenzan stands and sorts out his clothing, making sure the kaftan drapes properly before he takes the two steps to stand near the sith-makar. "It's been an absolute pleasure to get to know all of you since coming to this city. I thank the Muse every day for putting you in my life and inspiring me at every possible turn.

"And I think you, especially, miss Eztli for one of the nicest and most thoughtful gifts anyone has ever given me. Every day I see this it will remind me of one of the happiest times of my life."

And if the short makari will allow it, Bob will wrap her up in the biggest, warmest hug a dadventurer can manage.

"Oh, of course I'm going to give him a hug if he wants one." Eztli chuckles to Jay and Slivah, grinning wide and leaving her seat finally. "Don't worry about putting it in a wine cellar either, the box is enchanted to keep it at a proper temperature." She adds, before shaking her head. The small makari stepped over, and gave Robert the biggest hug she could manage, which wasn't particularly impressive. But the thought was there. "Now, you're welcome to some of the other drinks here, Robert." She chuckles in the hug. "It'd be a shame for it to all go to waste!"

-End Scene-