[open] together we can see what we will find

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Cade, his smarmy brother Callum, you!!
WHAT: Cade's life has been turned inside out and upside down. His brother has chosen a terrible time to visit, but has resolved to make the most of it. Come be part of the trainwreck.
WHEN: late Solace
WHERE: mostly around Lowtown
NOTES: There's gonna be a lot of drunken debauchery, and both brothers are going to do things likely both stupid and offensive, so if that's not your bag then you might want to steer clear.

It all began when a blond man strode into the barracks in the Gallows, whistling to himself as he perused the numbers on the doors and finally knocked on one. There, Simon was treated to the sight of someone very familiar and yet not: he resembled Cade, but taller, healthier, and significantly more charming. His name was Callum, and he had come to find his little brother, whom he knew to have just returned to Kirkwall.

Thus they went from the Gallows to Lowtown, where the little brother in question was found in the inn where he'd begun to take up residence not a full day previous. An exceedingly awkward greeting was had, a brotherly razzing that might have been less menacing if they had seen each other at any point over the last twenty-seven years, and the decision to celebrate Callum's visit with a night on the town.

Cade, being who he is, was unable to say no-- and, in his current state, thought a sustained poisoning via alcohol might just be what the doctor ordered.
And the rest... is not yet history, but it's about to be.

I. The First Night

The brothers Harimann and Simon have begun their night of carousing with a visit to the Hanged Man, where Callum diligently ensures that no one wants for a drink or a laugh. They're at a table towards the front, the older brother chatting effusively to Simon and the younger staring into his mug. Callum is quick enough to smile and greet anyone who should come their way, with an offer to join them.

Anyone remaining in the tavern long enough to see them leave might note that Cade can barely stand on his own, but at least it can be inferred that he gets home safely.

II. The Second Night

a. Back in the Hanged Man for another session, tonight is all about catching up. Callum, however, quickly grows bored with Cade's reticence and total unwillingness to pick up girls, and not-so-subtly ditches him at their table in favor of chatting up any locals pretty enough to catch his eye.

b. This ultimately resolves in Callum disappearing into one of the upstairs room with a few ladies, where he remains indefinitely. Cade remains at their table, idly spinning a coin with his head resting on his hand. Either he has total faith that his brother is coming back, or he's too drunk to stand.

III. The Third Night

It starts the same as the others, then Callum starts talking some shit. Any Fereldans in the pub are the subject of his mockery, and it isn't long before things escalate. [I would like this to be one thread, even if multiple people join!]

IV. The Following Morning

A badly-bruised and aching Cade awakens in a cell with no sign of Callum or memory of how he got there. He is, at least, relieved to find that this is not the dungeon of the Gallows, but the drunk tank of the City Guard.

a. Perhaps someone comes to collect him and pay his bail, either in a timely fashion or ...not. [one thread only please, first come first serve]

b. The rest of the day is spent nursing a hangover and trying to come to terms with what's been going on. Callum is nowhere to be found, which is cause for some concern.

V. Special prompts

If you'd like a character-specific scene that isn't covered above, hit me up!

Comments

[faithlikeaseed]

The question tickling away in the back of Myr's mind through all of this is just who this fellow is, who sits in the middle of a crowded bar with a tiny little voice like that and a demeanor meek as a Chantry-mouse. The diffidence in response to his question is obvious, and he takes Cade's words at face value. "Right. Then we'll stick together and punish him for that last one," he says, cheerily enough--and flashes a grin Kitward in return for the compliment.

It's really tempting to point out he hasn't got eyes any longer, let alone a good one, but that feels like it may be a little too much with Cade around. Instead, he lapses silent and lets Kit take point; he's the latecomer and could do to learn the lay of things as they were before he arrived.

[onlyhymns]

Looking a little surprised to be addressed, Cade checks over his shoulder toward the stairwell, then shakes his head. "He's my brother," he mumbles, clearly none too happy about it, "he's just visiting." As for the second half of the question, he doesn't answer; he doesn't know what he does now.
Folding up his hand, he pushes the cards toward Kit to be shuffled again. Though still decidedly put out, at the moment he looks more tired than anything. Stupid Callum.

[ragweed]

"Then we'll stick together and punish him for that last one."

"Oh c'mon," Kit scoffs, but he's laughing as he does so, his grin wide and amiable, even though Myr can't see it. "Go easy on me, I'm but one man here."

He accepts the cards when Cade hands them over, fitting them neatly back into the deck to be shuffled. He arches his eyebrows, not missing the tone in Cade's voice. "So you're stuck as a babysitter then," he observes dryly. Looking up the stairs after Callum one more time, he notes, "Seems like he's just fine on his own here."

[faithlikeaseed]

"Easy on you, serah? I can't even see the cards; how much more of a handicap do you need?" Myr's tone is mock-incredulous and belied completely by his answering smile for Kit.

He leans in to rest his elbows on the table while Kit shuffles again, lacing his fingers together in front of his face. "More than fine," he adds to his friend's assessment, tone wry. "If he's been upstairs since before I got here." He supposes the guy could be in the jakes, but then he certainly would not be "just fine".

"D'you have somewhere else you'd rather be?" he asks Cade, as a follow-up. "This doesn't seem like your idea of a good time."

[onlyhymns]

The first trace of Cade's smile appears as he nods to Kit, but it's a melancholy smirk, not an expression of happiness. "I haven't seen him for almost twenty years," he mutters, with the implied conclusion, 'and I've barely seen him since then.'
He doesn't want to think about what Callum is up to above them, and sneers slightly when the implication is made. Myr's question interrupts his thoughts, and Cade blushes suddenly, put on the spot.
"I'd," he begins, but hesitates, his situation suddenly hitting him again like a sack of bricks. He wants to melt into the floor. "No." The easiest answer, and hopefully they won't pry.

[ragweed]

At Cade's monosyllabic response, Kit glances at Myr with the intention of sharing a glance with him--and then remembers, belatedly, that his friend can't see. He takes hold of his cigarette to take another drag off it, then taps the ashes off into a small tin tray on the table, considering.

Then he smiles at Cade, an expression at once understanding and encouraging. "That's all right, salroka," he says and picks up a few of the cards, nimbly toying with them. "Here--let's try another game--I'll teach you kids Wicked Grace."

[faithlikeaseed]

...Ah, right. It's certainly in Myr's nature to pry, but even he can hear the something behind that "no" that warns him off further questions.

Satisfying his own curiosity isn't worth further upsetting someone who already seems miserable.

"Sounds fun," he replies cheerily to Kit's offer. "That's one I'd always wanted to pick up. We're still going to win, you know." Pure bluster, of course. But hey, if he can't even see the cards, he'll be fantastic at bluffing, right?

(Probably not.)

[onlyhymns]

Cade doesn't fare super well at Wicked Grace, but he's not horrible either, especially since he's gradually sobering up. He even comes close to cracking a smile once or twice, but it always dwindles as he checks behind him at the stairs, the activity from above growing quieter by the hour and unlikely to yield an errant brother.
In the early morning hours, when the other two have had enough of cards, Cade is quick to reassure them that he'll go home soon, Callum will be any minute now. The next morning he wakes up in the same chair, smelling of ale and smoke but no worse for wear. At least the evening came out bearable after all.