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

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

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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.

[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.

'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?

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?

Oh, it is not so bad.

[ she glances down at her own cards, then to varric again. she squints, he looks confident. ]

I take that to mean withdrawing. I will not. [ oh shit plot twist. ]

Lay 'em out.

[He lays down his cards. Four of a kind. Not a bad hand at all.]

Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight? Because you do.

[ she sets her own down. a pair — pathetic in comparison. her lips part to comment on the fact that he just won (she thinks), but his next words throw her off. ]

I — I cannot say that you have, but... thank you. You look quite handsome yourself. You always do.

Flattery will get you everywhere.

[He looks over her cards, nods approvingly, and sweeps her chips over to his side of the table. He deals them both another hand.]

It occurred to me the other night that I really don't know much about you. You ever try to put down roots somewhere? Got a lovely lord or lady waiting for you back home?

[ she looks her cards over, tosses a few more coins into the center of the table, and then promptly falls silent.

as always, when such a question inevitably arises, the elf takes a moment to figure out how to answer. he deserves something, for all he has done for her. ]

No lord, no lady. 'Tis only I. [ leylines flicker, eyes cast downward. she's known it all along, but saying it aloud strikes something in her. if — when she inevitably leaves this place again, she will be alone still. ] For the first time in centuries, I have found my 'roots' firmly placed within my homeland of Maligrae. Before that I had wandered the world, thought to adventure. [ a laugh, mirthless. ] I was young, then.

I'm not big on adventure, either. Too much traipsing around in swamps and forests. And that's not even counting the weather.

[He's obviously an adventurer by the way he dresses and conducts himself, but he complains about it more often than not.]

Home is home though. You can't really replace it. Even if half the people leave and it gets burned down, it's still home.

Do not misunderstand — I enjoyed those adventures, did not mind the forests, the swamps, or any other such difficulties. But I enjoyed them far more when I was not alone.

[ said without thinking, dark eyes still focused on the cards between her fingers. it's not a bad hand, she thinks, the leylines on her skin brightening significantly as she realizes it. ]

Is there someone waiting for you back home, Varric?

Yeah. It's the people who make it. [He notes this little detail about her leylines. His hand is poor, and he sets his cards down while he considers what to tell her.]

Bianca's the only woman who waits up for me. [He takes a drink.] I miss her. Staying up until the wee hours giving her a good polish, tuning her, calibrating the cocking ring... [... yeah, ok.]

[ is she supposed to play her hand now? she's not sure. she doesn't ask, just listens to his response — unable to hide the smile that finally breaks through the frown on her lips. an answer she should have expected from varric. ]

Perhaps some day Atroma will be kind enough to reunite you, one way or another. [ doubtful they'll just drop bianca off here, but hey, they've done weirder shit, right? ] Though I will admit, I would be sad to see you go.

[He leans forward.] I'd be sad to leave. I've got nothing but hell ahead of me, or that's what everyone says.

[He slides the chips over to her side of the table.]

I fold.

Others from your world said as much? I... hope that they are joking, or at least exaggerating.

[ she looks down at the chips, excited that she somehow managed to win even if it's just because he folded. she sets her cards down — a full house, or the diamondback equivalent, i guess. ]

I believe I am starting to understand this a little better now. [ she chuckles. ] Do you wish to continue? I know it is getting late...

They're not. Apparently a portal opens and demons rain down on the world. I know, I know-- shit happens, can't do much to stop it, but in at least one version of the events...

[His lips press into a frown and his eyes soften. He shuffles the cards idly, but doesn't deal them yet.]

I just don't want to get there and see my best friend die.

[ I just don't want to get there and see my best friend die. that hits home, and it hits home hard. the elf's expression falters, her faint amusement now replaced with a harsh frown and a very obvious look of distress.

without hesitation, she reaches across the table and sets her hand atop one of his, caring not whether it hinders his attempt to shuffle the cards further. ]

Perhaps you will not. There is no telling what the future holds, Varric, but I ... I pray that you will not have to suffer such a loss. [ she knows what that's like, and she'll be damned if varric has to go through it. ]

[He doesn't pull his hand away. The contact is odd to him, because he's older and adults in Thedas aren't terribly touchy, but he's okay with it. Hawke is such a big figure in his life and losing her, even if it's only in one timeline, hurts like nothing else.]

Yeah, she got here and she's fine. Since then I've been telling myself it's just a bad dream, that what I heard isn't what happened at all. That it couldn't happen.

[He sucks in a breath through his teeth.]

Sorry. I know this isn't exactly good conversation.

[ feeling no resistance, lioriley lets her hand rest there for a time, fingers occasionally squeezing as if to silently reassure him. ]

There is no need to apologize. It is... good to speak of such things, no matter how difficult it may be. [ not that she talks about things like that, but no one ever said she had to follow her own advice. ]

It is understandable that you are worried, of course, but 'tis likely nothing at all will come of this. Regardless, you should take advantage of the fact that your friend is here with you. Many would wish they could do the same.

That's what I intend to do-- [He catches her gaze. His eyes seem dark, almost amber with intent. Maybe that's how he's always looked.] -- whether they're someone from home or not.

[He squeezes her fingers back, and for a moment, his gaze falters.] ... Yeah. I'm not ready to go back yet.

G-Good. [ the words are whispered, almost lost on her lips entirely when she lifts her gaze to meet his properly. there's something in that look she can't quite place, not yet, but it still makes her breath catch in her throat.

fingers twitch, still gripping his with no intention of being the first to let go. ]

Nor am I ready to see you off. Let us enjoy the rest of our time together, shall we? [ her head cocks to the side, her expression softening once more as a smile creeps over her lips. ]

[The light returns to his features, making them rough but friendly. He breaks contact not with a shy glance but by picking up his drink and taking a big gulp. God damn.]

One more hand, [he says, and deals the cards again. It's impossible to tell what he drew.]

[ honestly? taking a swig of disgusting ale doesn't sound like a terrible idea. she doesn't do it though, but the thought is there.

her mind has since wandered far from the game they're playing, so when she gets her own hand this time, her face is completely readable. not a terrible hand, but not great either. he could probably win this round. she puts only a few coins in this time, then looks up to him. ]

Do you fold, Varric? [ my god is she... is she teasing him?????? ]

[Varric triples her bet. If she wins, she'll get all their winnings tonight. He meets her eyes and grins.]

Nah. Lay 'em down.

[He reveals his hand. Five of a kind, only possible in Wicked Grace.]

Oops, looks like I win.

[ two pairs. she obviously lost, and varric confirms as much.

did you just cheat you son of a bitch. ]

I am glad you did not convince me to wager more coins now. [ she shoves the cards forward for him to shuffle. ] Whatever will you buy with your sizable winnings? [ MORE BOOZE? ]

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

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