[closed] when the rain starts to pour

[shieldwalls]

WHO: aveline + isabela
WHAT: you know, girl times
WHEN: early Solace
WHERE: The Herald's Rest
NOTES: drinking, language, and who knows... it's Aveline and Isabela.

It's not often that Aveline frequents The Herald's Rest. Too loud, too busy and crowded for her liking and she wasn't that big of a drinker. It was different than nights at The Hanged Man back in Kirkwall, where they all gathered together and drank, played cards.

But tonight found her taking up a seat at the bar and waving over the bartender. She looks around, noting that everyone looks so relaxed and like they were having a good time... it was almost hard to believe that this was a fortress that contained the defensive side of this war. Still, Aveline could hardly blame anyone for taking the time to unwind away from the reality of it all. Isn't that what she was doing here?

Comments

[easternseaqueen]

"So, what's in your mug tonight?"

Ever a familiar presence, Isabela slides into the seat beside her.

"Not usually like you to drop in here. Something on your mind?"

[shieldwalls]

Aveline doesn't look up as the pirate saunters over, recognizing her footfalls and voice as she slides in next to her. "Rum. I'm told it's one of the more passable drinks served here."

Which could be true, or not -- but she misses the expensive spirits she'd purchased, sadly left back in her cellar, things she'd occasionally partaken of.

"You'd know that. What, here every night are you?" That was being unfair, she realized too late. "To answer your question, I can occasionally unwind a little." It's a surprising confession.

[easternseaqueen]

"I live upstairs. It's hard to not be here every night," Isabela quips.

She glances at Aveline's mug. "The rum isn't bad, but what I have my boys send up is considerably better. Though don't you usually unwind by hitting things?"

[shieldwalls]

"You ever going to live somewhere not over a pub?" At least it's actual quarters, not shared with anyone. Her own living arrangements were not familiar, like sleeping in the guard barracks all over again.

Oh? "And what might that be?" Color her curious, but something that's more than just 'passable' would certainly not go amiss for Aveline. "Normally." Actually -- another means usually involves Donnic. But seeing as he's not here... "I can only smack dummies with a sword so much before it loses it's effect."

[easternseaqueen]

"I do when I'm on my ships."

She chuckles low and warm.
"Aveline, I'm an admiral now. Anything I want, I can have. So every few weeks or so, I have a case of real Rivaini rum sent up here. Helps keep the chill away. I've got a bottle upstairs if you want to try some."

[shieldwalls]

A small quirk of a smile. "Alright, Admiral Slattern." She falls into the easy, almost affectionate nickname. Aveline tosses a few coins on the bar for her half finished rum, gesturing towards the stairs. "Lead the way."

[easternseaqueen]

"You know, for all that you call me that, you never take me up on it," Isabela teases as she leads Aveline upstairs.

Isabela's quarters are surprisingly comfortable--plenty of silk cushions and things to chase away the chill. The pirate queen pulls out a bottle from a crate stashed behind her desk.

"Now, this is a proper rum," she says with satisfaction, pouring out two mugs.

[shieldwalls]

"I didn't know that was an offer on the table. In which case I'm sorry to disappoint." She trudged up, getting a look at the room. Nice.

Aveline takes a seat on one of the cushioned chairs. "Thank you. For sharing, that is." A pause. "You've settled in well here, haven't you?"

[easternseaqueen]

"How many times have you actually seen me tell someone "no", Big Girl?"

She shrugs and sprawls out in her chair.
"You know me--I'm a giver. It's not so bad here. Best paying jobs, I can tell you that."

[shieldwalls]

"I could probably count the times on one hand."

Now that, is a good drink. Much better than the stuff she'd left downstairs. Aveline takes a long pull from the glass. "But that's not the only reason you're still here, is it? It's not like you can't find well paying work elsewhere."

[easternseaqueen]

"Exactly."

She all but drains her glass.
"I could. But this is the best paying. You don't think I'd stick around this long on dry, frozen land otherwise, do you? Though I don't think you've told me why you're staying here. How is Kirkwall possibly surviving without you?"