when i walk in the club, all eyes on me (open prompts + one closed)

[invigorates]

Who: Lioriley and all of u drunks
Broadcast: Nah
Action: The Iskaulit. Specifically Varric's Space Bar
When: Idk all month probably.

PATRONS
[ with their time aboard the starlight over, lioriley has dedicated most of her time to working in the space bar. more often than not she can be seen waiting tables, taking the time to stop and chat with both familiar faces and strangers alike. sometimes she even gets behind the counter and attempts to mix drinks — with varying degrees of success — and takes notes on the strange combinations of drinks that people order.

she's always scurrying about somewhere, holding trays of drinks and food above her head to try and avoid smashing into anyone that happens to stumble past. the only time she really stops is if someone looks particularly down, like they're drinking themselves stupid to forget their problems, and she always makes sure to come and see them.

feel free to harass her. ]

CO-WORKERS
[ and for those that work with her, you can bet your ass the elf is always coming over to chat between dealing with customers. she doesn't ever complain so much as comment on certain people's mannerisms when they're drunk.

maybe you losers can get a drink together!? she can't get drunk, and she doesn't really care for it, but hell, she'll do it anyway if a bro needs some company. ]


A MONK WHO ALWAYS BREAKS THEIR SHIT (sanzo)
[ lioriley doesn't know how it happens every single time, but once again, without fail, sanzo has managed to rile up one of the other bar patrons. and once again lioriley is the one to try and jump into the fray to stop them from busting up another part of varric's bar.

there's a lot of swearing involved, punches being thrown, and she's pretty sure sanzo's about two seconds from threatening the man with a gun - if he hasn't already. the dark elf slinks between the both of them, one hand pressed to either man's chest like she honestly has enough strength to try and push them apart (no). ]

Enough! I will not have you breaking anything else tonight! [ personal bias has her calling for one of the bouncers to escort sanzo's opponent outside. and once he's gone, she turns to the monk, arms folded over her chest with an expectant look. EXPLAIN. ]

Comments

[theirinurpants]

[ Look, Lioriley, it's your favorite sulky manchild king! And he's... well, it looks like he's trying to get shitfaced. Again. In his defense, he has other reasons this time, and perfectly good ones, but boy, he sure does manage this pretty often, doesn't he? ]

I'll have another, please. [ Yep, still polite. And he tips well. ]

IM GONNA assume they exchanged names before ok

[invigorates]

[ it's really too bad that they have to keep meeting this way. lioriley would much prefer him sober and happy, as opposed to shitface drunk and miserable.

regardless of his mood or his reasoning for being there though, she still has to interact with him. partially because it's her job but mostly because she feels bad, and she knows what it's like to have no one to talk to when you really really need it. so she heads over, pouring his drink as always. ]

Perhaps one day you will be smiling when I come to serve you. [ she pulls a chair out, taking a seat diagonal from him. ] Are you all right, Alistair?

sounds good to me!

[theirinurpants]

No. I'm not.

[ He's a bad liar, so he's not even going to bother while drinking. It's just a bad day all around. ]

Have you ever felt guilty for something you know you had no control over?

[invigorates]

[ she really should have seen that coming, and yet the question surprises her nonetheless. her answer would be a resounding yes, for that is something she has felt her entire life — still does, even now. ]

I am familiar with such a feeling, yes. [ simply put. she tilts her head. ] Do you mind elaborating?

[theirinurpants]

[ He's too drunk to manage this explanation very coherently, bear with him. ] There's someone here - I mean - I'm not - the right... me.

[invigorates]

[ uhm??? she just stares at him, trying to discern what exactly he means. it takes her a moment, but she... thinks she gets it? ]

You are from a different time, then? One you have yet to be, that others may recall.

[theirinurpants]

No, it's not time. It's... worlds. There's... other mes. I'm not the right one. I was supposed to be her husband.

[ Yeah, that's right. CONFUSING. ]

[bastardmonk]

[ As far as he's concerned, the jackass had it coming. How the hell is he responsible for his short temper when people are constantly trying to egg him on? Good thing for the other guy that he punched like a sissy. If he'd been any more riled up, Sanzo would absolutely lose his shit when Lioriley put a hand on him.

Really, she saved the other guy. So what if calling upon the powers of Heaven & Earth is a bit severe and maybe wouldn't work in this place. He'd definitely try. Even if he had to strangle the bastard with his sutra. She turns to him with that expectant look, and he has the gall to reach into his robes to draw out a cigarette. He raises an eyebrow at her. ]

Asshole had a big mouth.

[invigorates]

[ unfortunately, there's no rule that states he can't light that cigarette inside the bar — so she does nothing to try and stop him. even if she would love to because she absolutely hates the smell of it; and there is plenty of smoke billowing about already. ]

So you say in regards to most that annoy you. [ she sighs, shifting on her feet slightly. ] What did he say to enrage you this time?

[bastardmonk]

[ He does what he wants, god Lior. Though if you told him no, maybe he'd comply. ]

Not my fault everyone's so damn annoying. [ At this point, it probably is.. ] If he'd have minded his own business, he wouldn't have gotten punched in the face.

[invigorates]

[ that doesn't answer her question! ]

You could easily just ignore him. From what I saw, he was unabashedly drunk to begin with — 'tis likely he knew not what he was saying.

[bastardmonk]

Consume wine, but don't let the wine consume you. Clearly he deserved what he got. Maybe next time, he won't get pissingly drunk.

[invigorates]

[ this argument will never end if they keep going. lioriley sighs, waving her hand dismissively. ]

Regardless, I would prefer that you did not do it again. And if you do — [ because she has a strong feeling he will. ] Please settle the matter outside. I do not wish to have Varric's bar destroyed on my watch.

my thirst is real (varric)

[invigorates]

[ 4am and the last patron stumbles out the doors just before they close behind them, leaving the remaining employees to clean up any messes they may have left behind. 5am they finish, and while everyone else leaves, lioriley and and varric remain, as they always do, to talk for a little while longer before they eventually part ways.

tonight their conversation lasts longer than usual, strays from idle talk into something else — talk of card games, of all things. varric suggests something, lioriley has no idea what it is but her interest in both learning new things and spending time with varric inclines her to accept. and soon they're both sitting down at one of the tables, glasses of ale beside them (she hadn't the heart to admit that she has no taste for it), cards dealt. ]

I hope we are not gambling with real coin, for I fear I may lose it all.

[merchantprince]

[He doesn't blame her for not touching the ale with vigor. It's crap and he knows it.]

That's why I keep it small. 100 credits or less.

[He grins at her and fights off a yawn. It's getting toward bedtime for him, but he still has plenty more to do tonight.]

Here, I'll teach you how to play diamondback. [He shuffles a different deck of cards and deals them. Just a few cards each. He arranges them face-down at first.] Alright, that's your hand. If you've got anything matching, that's a damn good hand. If you don't then act like you do.

[He looks over his own cards. After some consideration, he pushes a few coins onto the table.]

How are you liking it here?

[invigorates]

[ a crinkle of her nose. lioriley takes her hand and examines her own cards. a flare of color in the glowing lines on her skin reveals something — either a great hand or a poor one, it's hard to tell — while her face remains as steadfast as she can manage.

she looks to the coins varric pushes forth, then to his face to try and read it. nothing. she opts to set only a few coins forward, not wanting to risk too much so soon. to his question, her almost hilariously serious expression softens significantly. ]

At the bar? I adore it. [ she says with a bright smile, ] The patrons are a bit more rambunctious than I am used to, but I do not mind it. There is a life here that I have not witness in years — you did a magnificent job.

[merchantprince]

[Lioriley's not that bad at bluffing so far. He watches her eyes, not the cards.]

Thanks, but it's not really me. You and Fenris and Nami, you guys do all the work. I just sit around.

[Granted, he did build the thing-- or pilfer the pieces-- but really, he doesn't do shit. And he knows it.]

If it was just me it'd be pretty damn sad, that's for sure.

[invigorates]

'Tis all of us, including you, for you are the one that brought us together, after all.

[ she meets his gaze, still smiling and it has nothing to do with the cards in her hands now. ]

You give yourself such little credit, Varric. How many times have I seen you entertain the entirety of the bar simply by telling a story?

[merchantprince]

I admit there's some talent in that, but it's nothing like standing on my feet mixing drinks for sad sops.

[He runs his finger along the edge of his cards.]

Do you fold?

9332804932 YEARS LATER

[bryces_pup]

[What, exactly, Riona is doing here is not clear. Here to drink, of course, but she's... not doing a great job at it. She's got a glass of liquor in front of her, but it's been left mostly untouched for the hour or so she's been here. Mostly she's just been staring at the bar counter.

When she finally does take a drink, it's gotten warm. Which is entirely her fault.]

May I have some ice?

[Asked with an apologetic glance.]

[invigorates]

Of course.

[ she regards riona for a moment, debating whether or not she should speak to her first, or make sure her drink is properly refreshed beforehand. she decides on the latter, vanishing for a few moments before she ultimately returns with the drink refreshed, filled with ice. she sets it down, then sits afterwards. ]

You do not look well, my friend. Are you all right?

[bryces_pup]

Thank you.

[She takes a sip, the blast of cold welcoming on her tongue.

As Lior sits next to her and poses her question, she frowns, considering.]

I cannot say I am not well. Just... a lot on my mind. Doubting myself, wondering if I did the right thing. You know, that sort of nonsense.

[invigorates]

[ she's already spoken to alistair at this point, but she's not entirely certain she should bring up that particular issue — on the off chance something else is bothering riona instead.

maybe she can coax it out of her, carefully. gently. she legitimately wants to help, after all. ]

'Tis hardly nonsense. Would speaking of it help at all?

[bryces_pup]

...Perhaps. Though it is a bit of an odd issue, and I would not want to keep you from your other patrons.

[invigorates]

If it was any trouble, I would not have sat down. Do not concern yourself. [ she shrugs. ] Speak, and I will listen.