The sun had just crested overtop the trees, rising from the horizen and casting a new days light upon Jastrey. With dark circles under his eyes Jael emerged from the woods and approached the Tavern. Stumbling inside he ignored anyone else that might be in there at such an hour and went straight to get some food and drink. With a giant plate of chicken and biscuts in hand and a large glass of mead in the other Jael flopped down into a chair the plate and drink clattering onto the table. He was tired and was obviously showing it. A smile formed on his face and he began the meal by finishing off half of his glass with a satisfied sigh afterwards. There he ate his meal, not paying to much attention to the rest of the tavern but still aware of his surroundings.
" I do not sleep like a human does, I slep when I feel ready to rest." leofrick sat across from Jael and began to cut his food into chewable pieces. "But my question to you is, why do you come here this morning looking so ragged as if you have not slept in weeks?"
Delvin leaned casually against the support beam of the tavern nearest Jael, hood raised and arms crossed over his chest. He offered just the slightest cluck of his tongue as he watched the man drain his glass of mead and simply shook his head, "The old hair of the dog, I see" he gave a little chuckle before pressing the heel of his boot against the beam behind him to push himself away from it. He fell into stride, swooping in and taking the seat opposite of where Leo was asking to sit, manners be damned.
Hands moved up to lower his hood, piercing blue eyes glancing over the plate of chicken and biscuits Jael had sat down with. With a tilt of the head he'd gesture towards the only person attending the bar at this hour, a smile curved upon his features, "Chicken, biscuits, potatos of the mashed variety and a side of your finest tangy dipping sauce my good sir!" he chuckled, "Oh, and another pitcher of mead, best to start the day oblivious I suppose" while he waited on his food to arrive he'd begin to hum a little ditty. He'd pause long enough to smirk at Jael, "Keeping your blade sharp and your shield at the ready I hope, I don't think we've seen the last of that certain someone".
"Delvin my elven friend, how are you after our excersion?" Leofrick looked at the elf siting next to jael who was in a better mood than the human next to him. Leofrick ate part of his potatoes and half of his bread with a fresh draft of mead next to his plate waiting for him.
"Well fact being I have not slept yet today.", Jael said to Leo, giving him a tired smile, "I probably should have headed straight to bed but I was so thirsty!"
With that he lifted up his mead and drank some more. "It was a good night. A very good night. That... that is probably all I can say."
Then Delvin made an appearance and Jael watched with much amusement as Delvin did the things that Delvin does. Jael began to chuckle and then laugh aloud, an almost drunk smile reflected on his face from the lack of sleep. "Delvin. You are hilarious my friend. And yes yes, I am always ready to fight.", Jael put his hand on his longsword that still hung from his side as if to reassure him.
"You two went on an excersion ey? Sounds like that could have been fun."
Delvin blinked blankly at Leofrick for a second, head tilting to the left as right brow quirked incredulously. "I don't recall any particular excursion, the airship debacle?" he'd inquire, his tone conveying his curiosity, "I vaguely recall growing incredibly angry and being thrown by my knickers straight off the ship, tumbling towards the void, landing on another ship, and being immediately incarcerated with the others who managed to lose their balance" his gaze grew distant for a moment, remembering the swirling darkness of the void, his mind transposing the images of tentacles sprouting from the darkness to try and ensnare him during his descent. A chill ran along his spine which caused him to snap out of his reverie just as his food was delivered. That familiar smile replaced itself upon his features as he looked to the server, "Many thanks, my good man!".
For a moment he was quite entertained by his food, sawing away at a biscuit with his butterknife intently. "Or do you mean the temple of Drathenix?" he'd ask, his biscuit falling in two as to provide a resting place for one of his, "Crafty puzzles, plenty of flying dinocritters, I'd say it's about like most of the temples I've plunged myself into unawares" he laughed a bit as he proceeded to dip the biscuit in the mashed potatoes. "I was off tending to a few personal matters when everyone else went hunting for Scorch, I still intend on cutting the wyrm's tongue from his throat when I get the chance, however" he gave a big grin as his concoction was coated in the tangy dipping sauce, "Yum yum" would be all he said before opening wide and engulfing a bite.
With sauce still smeared across his face he'd blink at Jael, nefarious little grin playing upon his features, "Hilarious, yes, but wise in my old age!" he chuckled. "What is this need for sleep anyway?" he paused for a second to sip at his mead, "You do seem to be spread thinner than the lard on a begger's biscuit" he appeared legitimately concerned for his friend."Something troubling you?" he'd inquire.
Jael watched the one sided exchange between Delvin and Leo with great amusement. He did his best not to laugh but a chuckle came through every now and again. Though at the same time it was sad as well. It was obvious that the void had gone and messed with his mind.
"Wise indeed friend.", Jael said, composing himself before talking, "I am spread quite thin... But I could not be happier to tell you the truth." Again he gave a dumb smile dulled by lack of sleep and the little alchoal he had partaken, "It is just lack of sleep, give me a day and I will be back to myself again. No worries."
He chuckled and added, "I could not be happier and yet I have not been drunk for at least three or four days."
The door to the tavern quietly swung open, emitting a hooded Lia still slowed from the pack against her back. She held the door, guiding it to a silent close before pushing herself towards the barkeep. The corner of her eye perseived the small trio enjoying an early breakfast and a lump dropped in her stomach. Her movements stiffened as she passed them at a distance to reach the bar's attendant, a hand nervously adjusting the hankerchief she'd tied around her neck. In a low voice that was hardly above a whisper, she ordered a glass of water. One was produced before her from the attendant, who polietly requested if she wanted anything else in an equally low voice. Lia shook her head and took a long swig of the cool, clear liquid. The Ixifar quietly turned back towards the door, aiming to slip back out undisturbed...or even unnoticed.
Delvin shot a glance towards the hooded form that entered the tavern at a shuffling pace, the corners of his lips tugging into a mischevious little smile. Of course it was early, the three of them among the only souls in the tavern at this hour and Lia's form was quite distinctive even hidden behind her hood. "Why are you all the way over there?!" he'd shout, "Come sit with us, lil miss scootsalong!" he gave her a warm grin before taking another big bite from his biscuit, then paused. "Never mind the fact I'm eating your cousins"
Delvin smirked towards Jael once more, "has to be a woman, or treasure" he laughed, "Those are really the only two things worth being tired and sober for in this world". He finally found a napkin on the table and proceeded to clean his face of the sauce that smeared it.
Lia winced and sighed. There was little point in trying to sneak out now, so she resigned herself to shuffling over to the table that the three sat. She took an empty seat to the side of Leofrick and Jael and continued to sip at her water. For now she kept to herself, keeping her head bowed so her hood would shield her face.
"And i thought elves had some dignity even whilst eating, but you master Delvin have proved me wrong. But yes come sit with us my dear, we mean you no harm, I'm sure someone will share something with you." Leofrick moved over for the small Ixifar to sit next to him. "Would you like some vegetbles?"
He watched as Lia slowly made her way to the counter, shuffling along with that scarf or whatever it was around her neck. She looked sickly and her voice sounded anything but health. "Yes come sit with us Lia. Don't leave so soon.", Jael vocalized his agreement with Delvin. A grin was plastered on his face from ear to ear at Delvin's name for Lia.
Though all that disappeared when Delvin returned to talking to him. Jael's face became slightly red in response and he gave a suprised look at Delvin. "Well... Erm... Perhaps.", Jael finished off his mead hoping it would calm his nerves before stumbling out of his seat to get a refill.
He placed the full glass firmly on the table. "Lia you do not look well at all... Is everything alright?", Jael asked the nervousness from before gone, concern reflected in his voice, "And you should really eat something, it would help you feel better."
Akon strolled in, seeming rather light and jovial, at least for her, as she entered the tavern with graceful sweeping steps. She made her way over to the table, pulling from her pouch at her side hot, warm, and delicious sugary cookies, and set two infront of LIa. "Eat them. That isn't a request, it's a command." Akon said sternly, though she was light in nature. The tone of her voice was certainly definite however. She then let a gentle hand rest on the back of LIa's neck casually, smiling slightly and nodding to the rest of the group. "Morning." She greeted them, then turned towards the fae mail's corner at the back of the tavern, walking towards it as she undid the pouch of fresh baked cookies at her side.
Jael raised an eyebrow at the sugar cookies that Akon withdrew from her pouch. Jael smiled as Akon addressed them, though a light hint of nervousness showed through as well. "Morning.", Jael said simply, watching abscent mindedly as Akon made her way to the back of the room. He did not seem to pay any mind to the chicken or mead infront of him, despite how hungry and thirsty he was before.
Lia eyed Akon with a cocked brow. It was odd to see the Uordeq conduct herself with an almost happy air. But then for the dark-eyed woman to produce the sugary-biscuit food that Lia had learned was called cookies...something was off. Her blue eyes flicked over to Jael as Akon grasped her neck delicately. The Ixifar drew in a sudden breath through her teeth, as if reacting to something abruptly cool, and her head snapped back towards the warlock who was walking towards the back of the tavern. Lia turned her blue gaze back to the human. A light smirk crossed her lips despite herself. "Tch, maybe it's true...one master to the next..." She muttered to herself while grabbing onto one of the cookies.
Seeing that the Fae wasn't in, Akon merely nodded, and grabbed a parcel tag. She wrote out "For Glimmer - From Akon." On the tag and left them in her "To be delievered." Section. She then made her way out of the tavern, giving one more nod to those at the table, and dispearing out of doors once again.
Lia shrugged and munched a little on the cookies, staying out of further conversation at the table. Her eyes followed Akon once again as she slipped passed them back outside. The expression on her features elluded to the thoughts turning about in the Ixifar's mind.
"I've dignity in droves dear Deqi, but it's hard to always look dignified when your thirst for life is unquenchable" he'd state towards Leofrick as he raised his glass for another long drink of his mead. With a satisfied sigh he'd place the empty vessel back upon the table and cast a grin towards Jael, "Ah, I'm right then!" he would jeer at the man, "Who do ya got eyes for, eh?" a slight snicker escaped his lips before he'd turn his attention towards Lia. "I see you've yet to pass your stones, I can't say I envy your plight" he uttered, his brow furrowing with worry. "If ever I can help you need only ask"
As Akon approached the table he'd offer her a nod in greeting, though for the most part his attention fell back towards his food.
Jeal gave a slight smile as Lia began to eat the cookies placed infront of her. He nodded goodbye to Akon in turn and went back to enjoying his meal after a minute or so. He was in the middle of drinking his mead when Delvin asked him 'who he had eyes for'. At this he slammed his glass back onto the table and fought hard to not spew the mead across the room. Finally he managed to down all of it and gave a long sigh. "Uhm... Yeah... Cant... Dont...", he paused for a minute to collect his thoughts, "Erm... Well perhaps this is not the time or place for me to be telling you that." Jael said, looking around the tavern.
Lia let her head lower under the cover of her hood, as a large smirk crept across her face. The human's stammering and the elf's open curiosity was enough to thoroughly amuse the previously down-mouthed Ixifar. That, and she knew exactly who Jael 'had eyes for' as Delvin put it, and not only that, but who seemed to 'have eyes for him' in return.
Delvin quirked a brow at Jael's reaction, and the shower of mead that almost was. The corners of his lips curved upwards into a mischevious grin as he took notice of Lia's hidden smirk. A single digit tapped upon his chin as the cogs in his head turned for a moment, only to slam to a sudden halt as a conclusion was leapt upon.
The digit continued to tap at his chin as he addressed Jael, "Akon sure was light on her feet this morning, she almost seemed relieved" the tapping digit fell to point at Jael, "Jael you dirty hoot lover, you're doing the hibbity bibbity with the bloody pit maiden herself aren't you!?" he exclaimed as his grin grew far more mischevious than it ever should.
Lia started coughing after the elf's outburst. It seemed she'd inhaled her cookie before she could properly swallow. Though, there was a humored glint in her eyes as she attempted to free the sugary particals from her throat. If one listened closely enough, one might hear the undertones of laughter mixed in with the Ixifar's coughing.
He took another bite from his food and a drink of his mead to wash it down. He did not catch Lia's hidden smirk and while he saw Delvin's reaction he choose to ignore it for best he could. As soon as Delvin said 'Akon' Jael dipped his head down and as he listened to what Delvin said his expression was one of shock with a slight twist of horror all while on the verge of bursting out laughing. He held the expression for roughly three minutes before he was able to say anything.
"Wh... D... Delvin! What the pit Delvin! I-", Jael stammed to say what he did, unable to formulate any real words what so ever. "I- She-." It was obvious Jael would not be cured from this state of stammering very soon. Eventually he gave up for a while, face as red as the darkest of red wines. "Delvin... I hate you.", he almost whispered though anyone could tell he did not mean it.
Unable to contain herself, Lia gave out an abrupt burst of laughter. This carried on for a little while, though she managed to calm down a bit to catch her breath. Then her blue gaze caught a glimpse of how red Jael was and her ears percieved the whispered 'Delvin...I hate you.' This did it's work at setting her off again, but she did her best at trying to temper it.
Delvin blinked in suprise as Lia started choke chuckling, looking quite confused he'd simply slide her the remainder of his glass of mead, "here, you need this more than me" with that he nodded and turned back towards Jael to meet his gaze for the remainder of the three minutes with contented smirk. As Jael muttered his garbled responce Delvin would snicker, "Ah! I'm right then! Well, you'll be better for it. Won't have to worry about freezing in your bed come colder Mests, not with the flames of the pit at your back!" he winked to the human playfully all the while calling the server over for another round of drinks.
Jael pushed his food out of the way and planted his head on the table. "Uhhhhhhhg", Is all that Jael said as he lifted his head and returned it to the table. He shook his head repeatidly in a 'no' sort of motion. "Delvin... By the Immortals stop.", he said, again at almost a whisper. It was all so funny but entirely to embarrising for Jael to handle, holding up his hand he said loud enough for at least everyone at the table to hear, "Order me the strongest drink that they have please."
Lia, though still greatly amused, seemed to be calming down from her fits of laughter. She shoved her second cookie in her mouth and quickly washed it down with the remainder of her water. With a final grin at Jael and Delvin, the Ixifar stood from her bench. She gave Jael a squeeze on his shoulder as she passed the human. "May as well release you fist of feathers, Jael. Delvin's a good elf to trust." She suggested, with good humor, then casually dragged herself out of the tavern.
Delvin chuckled at Jael as he buried his face on the table, "As red as your face is you're likely to burn your visage into that table" he snickered before leaning over and patting his friend on the back, "Come now, I'm through picking on you, you can sit up" he chuckled before waving down the barkeep once more, "something strong and tasty, if you would sir!" Delvin couldn't help but smile at the mention of him being trustworthy. As Lia made to leave he'd just nod to her, "be careful, something still feels off".
He sat up now, his face not as red as before. "Yes... would not want to have a permanent impression of my face on this table now would I.", he gave a nod to Lia as she left, "I did not plan any of it, just kind of happened. Id tell you to keep it quite but it might be a little late for that, at least this is early in the morning still."
"Good Morning Jael, you obviously did not sleep well. May i sit with you whilst I dine this morning?" Leofrick stood next to Jael with a plate of vegetables and bread with a glass of mead in his other hand.