The Bird and Baby’s Tavern
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This room echoes with a nearly constant din as voices rise and fall in conversation. An atmosphere of warmth and cheer predominates, and the walls have been painted a dark red. There are several tables for diners; many line the wall to provide for more private discussions. A board hangs in a highly visible location; it pays tribute to the history of the dining room and includes sketches of some of its more well known denizens. A menu, written out by hand, indicates what selections are being served. If the aromas emanating from the kitchen beyond are any evidence, the food is certain to please. In the back is a smaller room where isolated gatherings can be held.
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You can go: Foyer <NE>, Kitchens <S>, Out to the Courtyard <SE>
Contents:
Wolves and Foxes Game Set
Pricelist
Clift, the Tavernkeeper’s Assistant
Merek comes walking in from the courtyard.
Lorcan leads the way into the tavern and slides in along the bar with a comfortable familiarity.
Merek follows him in a few feet behind, stopping a moment to take a deep breath. Grinning and shaking his head, he comes up to the bar himself and sits next to
Lorcan. “I gotta say, I have only been here twice, but it seems to smell better each time.”
Lorcan chuckles. “Hardly surprising, I will admit.” He motions to Clift and orders a mug of rum.
Lorcan purchases a mug of buttered rum from Clift. Clift gives Lorcan a surly look, but goes to get it anyhow.
Merek grins, eyeing Clift, then leaning over and mumbling something to Lorcan. Then chuckling, he reclines, motioning for Clift as well and ordering some Fried Bacon.
Merek mumbles “Quite the /jolly/ fellow Clift is eh?”, to Lorcan.
Merek mumbles “… … /jolly/ fellow Clift is eh?”, to Lorcan.
Merek purchases a fried bacon from Clift. Clift gives Merek a surly look, but goes to get it anyhow.
Lorcan laughs, and covers it with a cough and a sip of his rum. He nods to Merek, one corner of his mouth tipping up in amusement.
Merek’s countenance lightens as he looks to his bacon and grabs one. He reclines, sighing contentedly. “I must say, for the short time I have been here… and as I have told a few others.” He continues, saying the latter part rather quickly, “Coghill has proven quite a great place to settle down.”
Lorcan wraps a hand around the mug and leans an elbow on the bar. “Ah. Well,” he grins faintly, “As I’ve told others, it is quite the welcoming place, so long as one doesn’t mind that in a small community like this, everyone knows everything about everybody else.”
Merek nods slowly at this. “I suppose it would in a town this small… ” he hehs, taking another bite of his bacon. “I bet that has caused some commotion before. “
Lorcan smirks, and then a frown darkens his pale eyes. “You could say that…” he says more quietly.
Merek eyes him carefully, saying nothing right away. After a moment, he shrugs “Well, it would seem like those things work themselves out… seeing as I have yet to encounter such commotion… Or really see the scar–” his voice trails off, as if remembering something. Then shrugging once more, he eats some bacon.
Lorcan drinks as he listens to the other man. He raises a brow as Merek cuts himself off, and gives him a moment to finish the thought, if he so desires. Then he says, “Yes, well, some things are gradually forgotten over time, except by a small few. In that, time makes it go away.”
Merek listens to Lorcan, nodding at the last. “Indeed… time seems to heal most wounds. That, or… they are forgotten at least.”
Lorcan stares into the mug in his hand. “Healed, perhaps. But some things are never forgotten.”
Merek searches him a moment, then looking down at this bacon. Running a hand through his hair, he raises a hand motioning for clift to bring him a mug of rum. “I suppose… forgive me if I brought back some… uh, /unsettling/ memories Lorcan.”
Lorcan takes a long draught and waves a hand. “Ah, forget about that. Everyone has some cobwebs in their past.”
Merek lets his gaze drift down to the mug, rapping his fingers on it absently before taking a swig. “Indeed. Well… “he grunts, sitting up and resting his arms on the bar. “Hopefully I shall not be the one to create more cobwebs in the future ” he chuckles wryly.
Lorcan laughs a little. “Have no fear of that. Though no matter what you do,” he leans forward conspiratorially, “I guarantee the old ladies will be gabbing about it.”
Merek’s eyes widen in mock disgust. “Oh great… Me as the talk of the town.” he chuckles “I think I will stay out of that light as long as possible ” he grins, taking another good swig, and sighing “So! Lorcan, I see you are a well gifted stonemason, you have a nice home and are pretty settled in… have you any plans for your future? Or do you just plan on /this/ being the rest of your life?”
Lorcan’s brows draw together and he chuckles. “I’m not completely clear on what you mean by “this,” Merek.”
Merek waves his hand across the tavern. “Oh just being a mason the rest of your life… Or have you any other aspirations? “
Lorcan rubs the side of his jaw thoughtfully. “I’m a simple man, Merek. I do my work, and take pride in it, and take care of those dependent on me. I s’pose that’s all the aspiration I have.”
Merek takes a piece of bacon, munching on it as he listens to Lorcan. “Well met Lorcan. ” he nods. “and a noble life to lead indeed…”
Lorcan takes a swig. “Not sure that I would call it noble. It is what it is.”
Merek raises a brow to him “How not Lorcan?”
Lorcan frowns, rubbing a thumb along his mug. “Noble implies there being some great in it. I don’t see the way I live my life to be greater than anyone else – I take care of my responsibilities and that’s the end of it. There’s nothing grand about it.”
Merek’s brow furrows at this. “Truly you are correct that noble implies greatness with it. Though, from what I have seen of you and having worked with you for a couple weeks now, you are a hard working man whom tends to his responsibilities diligently. What is /not/ grand about such a thing?”
Lorcan looks down at the bar, looking embarrassed and uncomfortable. “I think,” he says after a moment, “That we are going to have to agree to disagree on that point.”
Merek nods to him politely, seeming to let it go. “Indeed…” he returns, letting out a soft sigh and wincing slightly at his reaction.
Lorcan takes a drink of rum and falls quiet.
Merek swirls the drink in his mug, tipping it back and taking a swig. Saying nothing, his gaze grows sober as he reclines once more.
Lorcan glances over at his companion. “And you, Merek? Enough about me.”
Merek looks back to him, waving his hand. “Oh, aspirations… sure. ” he chuckles dryly “Rather… er, nearly impossible for a man such as me to achieve. “
Lorcan muses, “Sometimes it’s the having that’s more important than the achieving, I s’pose…”
Merek laughs, nodding. “Well that may indeed be true, but when your aspirations are so far fetched, at least in my eyes, they may become useless daydreams rather then productive motivators. “
Lorcan rests both elbows on the bar and studies him. “All right, *now* I’m curious.”
Merek grins, taking a breath once more “I suppose you could say mine are two fold… ” he hesitates “eh, well three… I /suppose/. First and foremost… Knighthood. Though. “he spreads his arms wide at this. “As you can see, I am no man of noble heritage nor one whom is skilled with a sword. ” he chuckles once more, motioning to one of his cuts before continuing. “Secondly… in following the footsteps of my father before me… to become as skilled a stonemason as he. ” he lets out a breath, stopping there for the moment and taking a drink.
Lorcan chuckles at the first, but nods approvingly at the second. “Now that,” he says, “Is a noble aspiration for any of us with such skilled fathers. If I am half the stonemason my father was, I shall die happy.” He grins.
Merek pounds his fist on the bar, then pointing to him. “Well met indeed Lorcan! I could /not/ have said it better myself… “
Lorcan chuckles and raises his mug to him.
Merek’s follows suit, then letting the mug down on the bar and keeping his hands clasped on it, his grin still plastered on his face.
Lorcan catches Clift’s eye, and the tavernkeep gives him a flat look but refills his mug without any other compunction.
Merek watches the brief exchange between Lorcan and Clift, letting out a low chuckle.
Lorcan raises a brow at the other man and smirks slightly.
Merek grins wide, his eyebrows wagging. He grabs a piece of bacon. “It would seem that my masonry wish shall be the only fruitful one, but I am contented with it… But I digress”
Lorcan throws back a large swallow of rum, and wipes his mouth on the back of his hand. “And the third?”
Merek hehs, nodding at this. “The third… I suppose, is to start a family. ” he pauses, taking a small sip of his rum ” I may yet be a bit young to now, but, regardless, it is one aspiration. ” he finishes, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, silver dollar sized, stone disk. Fingering it for a moment, he sets it down gingerly on the bar.
Lorcan nods, eyes falling back to the mug in his hand. “Well now. There is *that*.” His voice is more somber and he hehs before grinning. “Emperor knows my mother wants little more than to see me wed. ‘Lorcan,’ she says, ‘I want to see my grandchildren before I die.’” Lorcan’s voice pitches higher as he imitates his mother.
Merek snickers at this. “Well then, I suppose that is something you are looking at increasingly these days. ” grabbing at a chunk of bacon and popping it into his mouth. “Forgive me if I venture too far in asking this… but have you your sights set on any?” he asks, his tone good natured.
Lorcan smirks slightly. At Merek’s second question, he glances at the other man sharply. Seeing no malice, Lorcan grins a little and shrugs. “Now, that would be telling.”
Merek tilts his head and nods, his expression amused, “Indeed… nor did I really expect an answer. ” he chuckles
Lorcan shakes his head with a faint smile. “Those old ladies…” he warns.
Merek laughs “I see how that information could spread fast… ” he shakes his head, taking a rather long swig of his rum.
Lorcan drinks. “Yes, well…my mother is one of them, you see,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.
Saeryn comes walking in from the courtyard.
Merek is sitting at the bar next to Lorcan. He laughs once more “Now that…is the twist, now isnt it? ” he grins.
Lorcan laughs as well, a little louder than usual. “Something one must learn to live with, I daresay. There are certain things I would never hear the end of. Ever.”
Saeryn comes out of the kitchen, brushing flour off of her hands and apron.
Merek smiles broadly, shaking his head. “I doubt you wou– ” he stops suddenly, catching sight of Saeryn exiting the kitchen. He takes a breath, looking unsure for a moment, before continuing. “…would. ” he finishes, his voice growing somber.
Lorcan grins. “That my friend is a certainty.” His brow creases as Merek sobers, and he looks over his shoulder in Saeryn’s direction. “Ah, Miss Saeryn,” he greets her with a smile and a raise of his mug, pale eyes bright.
Saeryn catches sight of the pair as Lorcan greets her. Her eyes widen as she sees Merek there as well. However, she hesitantly walks forward and gives a quiet greeting. “Good eve, Mister Lorcan… Merek…”
Merek searches her a moment, nodding to her hesitantly. “Good eve, Saeryn.” hereturns, his voice low, but not unkind.
Lorcan’s brow creases and he looks between the other two. He eyes his mug and takes a long swig.
Saeryn tucks back some hair and then folds her hands in front of her. Not looking at Merek, she asks, “How are you both faring?”
Merek swallows, grabbing at his small disk on the bar and putting it into his pocket. “Well… I suppose. ” he offers, his unsure expression increasing. “And you?”
Lorcan’s expression becomes slightly bewildered. He sinks into quiet observation, nursing his mug and venturing only a sincere, “I’m well.”
Saeryn glances momentarily at Merek and then answers, “That’s good to hear. I’m well, thank you…”
Merek nods to her politely, his jaw clenching. Turning slightly, and eyeing his drink, he takes tips it back, letting out a soft sigh as he finishes.
Lorcan continues to look confused, head tipping to the side. He takes a sip from his mug and then asks Saeryn with a gesture to the kitchen, “Finished for the day?”
Saeryn nods again, focusing on Lorcan. “Yes, I just finished… I was kept a bit late today.”
Merek looks down, a flicker of sadness flashing over his countenance. Remaining silent, he swirls the rum in his drink, his gaze growing distant.
Lorcan glances out the tavern door, which is propped open, to see it has grown dark. He finishes off the last of his rum and taps his chin. “I daresay I should be heading back to the settlement, myself. Can I walk you home, if you’re going?”
Saeryn also shoots a look that way and then nods. “I would appreciate that, thank you… Merek,” she hesitates a moment, “will you be coming?”
Merek blinks as she addresses him. “Uh, I suppose I shall… ” Tipping his mug back, he finishes his it off. Then looking to the last few bits of bacon, he decides to leave it and stands, looking to Lorcan.
Lorcan stands, nodding as Merek joins him. He glances at Merek, hesitates, and then offers his arm to Saeryn.
Saeryn takes Lorcan’s arm, offering him a slight smile. She glances at Merek, but not as if she feels guilty. Though she does look away again quickly.
Merek eyes the two, his countenance paling slightly. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he sighs, waiting for Lorcan to lead.
Lorcan notes both these reactions with a slight raise of his brow before heading out into the town.
