[ P ] you only come out at night

W

ork was something the female could not break away from. The minute she woke up and right before bed- was all she thought about. Every now and then, she would think of a particular individual. But she tried her best to push those thoughts away. She could not afford to be distracted from her work. Calla had a rather long day, hard patients to work with, an she was just so tired. She wanted to just let go and have a free night to do what she never did. To live. To be free of the mental chains she had secured herself to. When she decided to do this, the sun was already descending for the evening, allowing the moon's chance to light up the night sky. The sunset was beautiful. She did not recall the last time she had actually taken the time to sit and watch it, seeing all the colors blending with one another to signal the end of the day.

The Drunken Seagull was a name she would not forget. It was such an odd name, to think if a seagull did actually get drunk. It would be an interesting sight to say the least. She had to wonder if the owner of the establishment had actually witnessed such a thing and thought it would be a sufficient name? Calla figured she would never get the chance to ask the owner, but it was a nice thought. She had overheard some of the more rough and tumble soldiers talking about it in passing, so she knew where to go. As she got closer to the bar, she saw the drunk patrons already stumbling from the building.

The smell was rather strong and when she walked in, she could tell that many of the patrons had not bathed in some time. It was loud inside there, as though the doors had been sound proof, not allowing any of the volume to disturb the outside's peaceful nature. She walked up to the bar and was asked what she wanted. Not really sure what to order, she gave a soft "Something that tastes good?" She hoped the bartender would give her something good, but she really had no idea what to expect.
@Declan

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

As he stepped into the bar he was met with a loud jeer from another patron. He lifted a paw and hollered back in his direction, recognizing him as someone he vaguely knew outside of this place. A customer seemed rather likely and Declan liked to be on good terms with them, if possible. Made his job easier. But he wasn't here to work tonight, he was here to relax... except that would be a little more difficult to do when he spotted someone familiar at the bar. He had to do a double take because he noticed Calla sitting up there, talking to the bartender, and he thought for a moment he'd gone entirely mad.

He snorted and shook his head, just wondering what the hell she was doing here when he sauntered up and sat down next to her. "Get us the usual. It's on me," he commented to the man before he could find something to give to her. The bartender turned away to get their drinks ready and Declan took his chance to ask her "what the hell are you doing here?" His tone wasn't angry, in fact it was rather amused. Had she come out here looking for him or looking for a good time?

He glanced around the place and everyone else seemed to be minding their own business and it wasn't until the bartender slapped their glasses of fermented berries down before them that he returned his attention to Calla.

art by alz

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he bartender looked at Calla as if she were a fish out of water. She didn't belong there. Anyone that looked at her could tell it was obvious. She swallowed a lump in her throat, starting to feel nervous and if this might have been the worst idea she had ever come up with. Until a familiar scent graced her nose, and his voice danced among her ears. Declan. She didn't want anyone turning their attention on him, so she made sure not to speak his name aloud. She didn't know if he had any work associates here, and she definitely didn't want any soldiers knowing that she was here with him. "Hello, to you too, stranger..." she said in a playful tone. She had half a mind to ask what the "usual" was, but she decided to wait for it to be placed before her. She turned her head to look at him, his miniature burning suns for eyes caught her attention as usual. She gave him a soft smile. "I thought about what you said. I should give myself time off... but then I realized I don't know what that looks like, feels like..."

Work too hard without an idea in the world how to play. "I wanted to see why this place was so special to you, and the others..." she gave a quick glance around to all the many drunk patrons chatting and laughing with one another. This place was very lively, so it was definitely a culture shock for her. When the drink was placed before her, immediately she lowered her nose to sniff at its contents. She could see the berries sitting in the liquid. She stared at it, and then looked at Declan, "what is it?"

@Declan

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

So she had taken his words to heart, it seemed. Good. She didn't need to let the Army run her into the ground -- she needed time to herself, everyone did. She continued on and he nodded his head, quirking as mile and then rolling his shoulders in a slight shrug. He was surprised she'd managed to find this literal hole in the wall. "Well you're quite brave for coming here... or a little foolish, I can't tell which. This place isn't exactly on one the guards frequent," he said, though his tone was still playful and not at all angry.

She turned her attention to their drinks and he flashed another grin before throwing his back. "Fermented berries," he said.

"They've got quite the kick." he warned, clearing his throat a little as he lifted a paw to his mouth. If she wasn't a drinker she might not like it but there was only one way to tell if you did and that was to try it. He wondered if she would.

art by alz

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ith his comment about being brave or foolish, she flashed him a smile. "I do feel rather brave. But I also have a feeling that you would not allow anything to happen to me." She gave him another smile, this one a little on the flirty side. Calla was forcing herself to loosen up, though it was rather hard and very much effort went into her acting. She was supposed to be having fun, so this was how everyone else in the world probably had fun. She had been missing out, but not any longer. As he told her what they were, she had heard of the fermentation process, looked into the science behind it, but never really delved too far into it. She was familiar with it, but also not. She placed her paws on either side of the glass, feeling the chill of the liquid and berries inside of it. The condensation on the outside of her glass seeped onto her fur. This was it. No turning back now. Unfortunately for her, other patrons around them could sense her hesitation and their eyes lingered on her, waiting to see what sort of reaction she would give.

"Fermented berries... how bad could it be?" asking aloud but mostly a rhetorical question posed to herself. Tenderly, she wrapped her lips around the edges of the glass and knocked her head back, forcing the berries from the container to her mouth. The taste was horrible. Even the berries themselves were no longer sweet. She wanted to spit it out, but carefully she placed the glass back down and the taste was painting a clear picture of disgust over her face. Wanting to get rid of the berries, she quickly chomped them into pieces within her maw, as quickly as she could, almost like an alligator trying to devour its meal. When she no longer had any in her mouth, she shouted out, "water please!" A small roar of laughter erupted from the bar. Calla's ears pinned to her head, but she didn't want to be seen as some scaredy cat. The bartender gave her a glass of water, which she happily started to drink from as though she had been roaming the desert for centuries and had no drop to drink.

Wanting to act like she was much cooler and could handle it, she tapped her paw on the bar countertop. "Another round for me and my friend please." She was going to learn to be able to handle this, one way or another.

@Declan

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

"Is that so?" he teased, noting her flirty smile. This was a different side of Calla he'd not yet seen and he quite enjoyed it. He wondered if her bravery would get her into trouble tonight or if she'd make it out unscathed. He wasn't about to let anything happen to her and mostly the other patrons stayed away since he sat down. She took hold of her glass and knocked it back like a pro but he could see by the look on her face that she didn't like it one bit. He stifled a little laugh when she set the glass back down and asked for some water. At least she hadn't coughed or sputtered her drink everywhere!

A few others around them laughed too but he only shook his head, the smile still on his face as she asked for another round.

He tipped back his own drink before the bartender brought them some more and he inched her glass her way before slowly sipping on his own, eyeing her from the rim of his glass. "It's an acquired taste," he said knowingly. "But you don't have to drink it if you don't want to." he didn't want her to think there was any pressure to drink around him and if she didn't finish what she had, he would gladly.

art by alz

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n acquired taste for those who wanted to be poisoned daily? She had tasted terribly disgusting herbs and flowers before, but nothing compared to the vile liquid that fermented those very berries. How could something take away their sweet flavor and replace it with something so disgusting and hot - but not the the touch. It was a wild concept that she did not understand in the science of alcohol. Maybe if she read up on it, she could understand it. But was it worth it? That would be a waste of her time. It had nothing to do with work, and then she thought - well, maybe she do more things that Declan said. Learning to make alcohol might be something fun for her to do. It would be something that was separate from work, and maybe help her to relax - or whatever he had said. With his comment, she placed a paw on top of his and looked into his eyes.

"I would not do anything I didn't want to do." With that, she removed her paw, looked to the cup of fermented berries, took a deep breath, and clasped it in her maw again. This time it went a little better. Immediately after, she moved for the water glass and drank what seemed like half of it in one big gulp. The water, though a small help, did not accomplish much in removing the taste from her mouth. "So... how many of these can you do?" she asked with a smirk on her face, as though challenging the male to a competition. Now whether she would actually partake was a mystery in this moment, but it didn't hurt to see just how Declan would react.

@Declan

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Delcan smiled as she threw back another before asking him how many he could do. He threw his back then looked at her with a smile before shaking his head. He could put back a lot. "I don't think you could keep up with me," he said. Especially if this was her first time drinking. She would get a few in, feel good for a while and then feel dreadfully sick. "But I'm not looking to get trashed tonight, so maybe we should... head out?" he asked curiously. If she wanted to stay, he would, but he didn't like the way some wolves were eyeing her up if he was being honest with himself. He knew that look all to well, one that screamed they'd found an easy target.

He pushed away from the bar, his paws on the counter as he turned his head to look at her inquisitively. He wondered if she'd want to stay and drink or if she'd rather head out into the night with him. She'd probably have a better time not getting shitfaced.

art by alz

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ound two went down the hatch, and the water had been quite desired. She finished the glass of water after he had answered her. "That may be true.." It was true, Calla had been doing well, but the alcohol hadn't set in yet. Who knew how things would change once it finally did? Declan wanted to leave, and Calla then realized how many others had been watching them... her. As he moved from the bar, she went to do it as well, only moving to stand and walk, it kicked in. Calla stumbled to the floor, and instead of whining about it, she laughed. It was a thunderous laugh, a true indication she was drunk - a feeling she had never held before.

She got to her paws, giggling like a student of the college after someone uttered the word "butt" during lecture. She was giddy, happy, and feeling the liquid courage that erased the fear from her mind. This place was not safe, and there were many in there that would probably love to take advantage of the intoxicated naive girl. Calla headed for the and turned one last time to call out to the bar, "Thank you for your hosp-hopsitablity..." which fell on deaf ears, no longer interested in the drunk girl and protective male guarding her. With that, she walked out into the night air.

The stars were so bright and the moon itself was glowing with a radiance that could match the sun's glare. "Oh wow..." she said as her head was fully back and her pale green eyes focused on the shimmer above their heads. "Have you ever seen anyfing so beautiful?" she asked with a hiccup. It was hard for her to stay still, but she didn'tmind. It almost felt like she was swimmingbin the ocean during the rolling tides, just standing in the road. "So.. what do you want to do?" she asked him as she moved closer, no longer focusing on the sky, but now him and his beautiful eyes. "Your eyes are the most beautiful color, like two blazing suns. I shouod call you Blaze," she joked with a laugh.

@Declan

code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It would seem by the time she went to stand, the alcohol started kicking in and she lost her balance. She stumbled to the floor and Declan was quick to move to her side and see if she was hurt. It wasn't until he laughed that he shook his head and chuckled with her -- she probably wasn't too badly hurt right now but she might feel that in the morning. She'd only had a couple drinks but apparently that was just enough. He stood by her and offered a shoulder to lean on as she hiccupped a farewell and they stepped into the night.

It was brisk, but not cold, and he felt that would sober her up real quick if anything. He barely felt a thing after the few drinks he had but he was feeling rather warm. It was that nice place before you started getting drunk. He pulled his gaze to the sky as she did, commenting on the beauty of it all. He smiled at the silvery stars above, thinking of many things but one in particular. His gaze was pulled back to her as she moved closer. He felt her fur brush up against his and while he'd been offering to help her stand, this seemed more intimate than that with the way she was looking up at him now.

Declan's ear flicked at her flirtatious remark and he cocked a smile, laughing a bit in amusement. "Calla, are you flirting with me?" he asked in faux disbelief.

He was a little surprised but also attributed it to the drinks she'd had. Then again, he knew better than anyone that alcohol didn't magically make you a different person it just sort of... unlocked the real you, in a way. It lowered your inhibitions and made you say things you might never say out loud.

He couldn't deny he liked the attention but... even if he didn't have someone else to think about he wouldn't have wanted to take advantage of her either way.

"We should get you home... do you live near here?" he asked. He wasn't sure if they were in for quite the walk tonight or if she lived nearby. Hopefully she wasn't too far from the Drunken Seagull. He didn't want to leave her alone in the night with nobody to watch over her in her current state. He knew the type that prowled around in the dark.

art by alz