RP:To Our Future

Summary: Leo, Dez and Sidd get to know each other better.

08/23-24/2017

The Jolly Roger

Leoxander didn't have a lot to do. Between Sidd and Eleanor, the Jolly Roger was in good form, cleaned and organized almost too much to his liking. But he was putting away the bottles, stacking them behind the bar below the Jolly Roger flag in an intricate pyramid, based on their brew. Whiskey bottles right, Vodka on the left. Rum a stack above, Gin a little higher. Ale and beers in rows aside and a few other varieties on the shelves above. The warehouse was fairly empty compared to a few nights prior, hanging lanterns lit but still, creating a dull but comfortable ambience and reflecting on freshly swept or well mopped hardwood floors. And yes, Leo was there, his expression ever the same without a smile, his attention mostly on nothing at all as he worked with a bottle in front of him from behind the counter, which had pulled a stool around to rest on. Even if he wasn't the best bartender.

Leoxander was finishing up the stacking and stocking before he would rest.

Sidd pops open the door the the Jolly Roger and steps in, his attention first to the door frame. Unlike times prior, Sidd looked halfway presentable. Boots were shined up. No holes in his pants. He was even rocking a nice looking button down shirt. The mohawk stood high, and the shiner was a little visible, but he definitely looked presentable. The backpack hanging off his shoulders was thrown down with a heavy thud, the sound of metal within being the most noticeable noise to echo out. And protruding from an open flap? Several pieces of wood in various lengths and thicknesses. The sound of rattling glass bottle had the human turn toward the origin, two fingers held up in a peace sign as he spotted Leoxander. "Oi! Yo! How goes? I uh, hope you don't mind. The other night, when you guys did your creepy basement thing, I noticed some loose trim around the door, and a bit of rot in the corner. Brought some stuff to giv'r a bit of a touch up."

Dezerae : A few moments after the previous entrant arrived, the feline pushes the front door with minimal strength, her other arm occupied with a small bundle fidgeting about. Dezerae was not in her usual attire of trouser and tank top, instead donning an oversized robe, perhaps to protect the bundle held close to her chest. Crimson hues flutter over the two present, both familiar for the most part. The place was deemed safe and she decides to wander close to the two, handmade sandals offering a soft ‘pitter-patter’ to alert them of her presence. Once she finally reaches the bar, her hand raises to brush the hood of her robe from her head and disclose a slightly annoyed expression directed toward the out-of-reach rum bottles. Gaze flips to Leo briefly with a faint, “Why?” before falling onto Sidd. Only meeting him once, she’d pause to look him over, not issuing a greeting right away.

Leoxander lifted his gaze to the door through the hair that fell in his eyes, but the glare relaxed when he recognized Sidd. He even took in his attire, and might have to seek advice from the man in the future for tips. As it were, Leo had worn that black shirt for days, sleeves rolled and rumpled to his elbows. "S'goin' on, mate? Best have a drink first before you get to work." He appreciated Sidd, didn't know why the kid was so adamant about helping out the business, but Leoxander was in no place to argue. So he didn't protest any of the supplies carried in, but he wasn't exactly the type to help without request, either. Then he saw the crimson Cat wandering his way, and something relaxed in his stare. He raised his jaw to her, and without request, set up a tumbler and a bottle of spiced whiskey on the table for her. As he didn't know Sidd as he knew Dez, he'd wait the man's request. "You two know each other?"

Leoxander glanced at Dezerae, "Why what?"

Sidd curses under his breath. This had been his longest sober day in a while. Drinking always got him into weird places. Real weird places. Like on boats that sink, or in caverns that were nowhere near home. C'mon Sid. You can do it. Just. Say. N- "Ah, what the hell! I'll snag a beer if you don't mind." Bastard! As he approached the bar he lifted a shoulder, "Not a whole lot. Ending out a nice day with some work. How ya been?" Then as Dezerae made entrance, Sidd turned and gave her a careful glance. She was familiar, right? It was when the hood fell that those features were recognized- mostly in passing. "Nah. Didn't get a chance for introductions. Was a busy spot that night!" Polite, Sidd offered a hand to Dezerae, "What's shakin'? I'm Sidd. Nice to meetcha."

Dezerae unclasped the hook around her neck and shrugged the robe off her shoulder so that to abandon it onto a nearby stool. As the article of clothing was discarded, the small dumpling that was held to her chest was a tan half-grown pup, nestled easily in the crook of her arm. Also with the new critter accessory, the woman was in a sleeveless tunic and flannel tied about her waist. She gives Leo a quick wave of gratuity toward the tumbler, despite knowing that it wasn’t rum. Her gaze transfers from the liquid to Sidd again, his lively disposition making her…well, stare for the most part. When everyone’s attention is directed toward her though, the woman blinks, before nodding, accepting the gesture. Her handshaking was out of practice, so he’d need to forgive her. “Ah, hi. Dezerae. Nice to meet you too.” And quickly, in response to Leo, “Why is the rum bottles so high.” Statement, not a question.

Leoxander popped the top to a bottle of Rynvale beer, or ale as they called it, but it was better than the watered down stuff they offered on the mainland. He placed it before Sidd as the introduction was made which he witnessed with a neutral expression. "Yer tellin' me, mate." He commented on Sidd's remark, before he lifted his bottle to take a drink and observe the two. His reaction to Dezerae was a shrug, and he glanced at the stack of bottles created, which would be likely to come down if things were in turmoil as they had been in the past. "Guess I was just tryin' to be fancy. Think it should change? We could switch spots." Gladly. Leo was no bartender. Hated the position, actually. "Sidd here cleaned quite a bit of the room. An' she..." He motioned with his jaw toward Dezerae as he lifted his rum. "She knows damn well more than she should." That was his introduction for the new friend, and the old friend who was never a friend in the past. But perhaps the best he had, now. "How you guys holdin' up here?"

Leoxander looked between the two.

Sidd would first have his attention stolen by the little bundle in Dezerae's lap. "Oh man. What do you have there. He's soooo cuuute. Hi puppy!" The human reached in and gave the pup a bit of a gentle head scratching- probably to the feline's discomfort. She would learn quickly that Sidd had no boundaries. And yes, he did in fact hear himself, as he was swift to retract his hand and latch onto that beer, his voice deepening when he stated, "Uh. I mean. Cool pup." Bottle tipped, a sip taken, and Sidd found himself planting an ass cheek against the stool behind him. "More than she should, eh?" he would address first. "Sounds like a dangerous position to take. That's cool, that's cool." Finally, the human would chuckle as he answered Leo's question, "Survivin', I guess. Better now that I've been exploring and getting used to some of the landmarks. Being able to navigate kicks ass."

Dezerae was uncomfortable as Pillow (the pup) is suddenly touched. Always the hovering pet mother, she was visibly resistant but with the animal relishing in the affection, Dezerae was forced to allow it. Once he pulls away, she placed the small pup on the counter top, grazing her fingertips against his temples. “Thank you. He is cute.” She left the critter to be independent so that should could indulge in her whiskey, crimson gaze peering over the rim of the tumblr as the two men spoke. Being accustomed to how Leo looked and his antics, her focus rested primarily on Sidd, scrutinizing him as discreetly as possible. The introduction given for her made her brows furrow and pulled her attention back to the blonde, “What’s that even supposed to mean?” Of course she wasn’t offended, but she honestly felt she was the most unaware of the happenings of Rynvale. “I’m alive,” was her follow up response to her inquire and with that, she takes another sip of her whiskey.

Leoxander resisted the urge to groan. Great. Another animal lover. He wouldn't interfere in that moment. The rogue had done his best to ignore the extra accomplice in the scene but it was no longer an option. "So I guess you know yer area." He said to Sidd as he lifted his bottle to take a drink, before he looked to Dezerae. "I was never any good at this, Cat. You know better than most. I jes' figure you might both be on the tally for what we have to do. Stir the pot. Stake the game. Be more than jus' a pawn on the board, if that makes any sense. I hoped to find a few that matter in that sort." His words were always obscure, but might make some sense if someone cared to read into them. Mostly, Leo just drank, and sought to fight for results. "Sidd, you should join us. We're gonna change the fuggin' world, yanno?" He looked at Dezerae. "Wouldn't be the first time, right?"

Sidd took that opportunity to interact with Pillow a little more, rubbing the pup's chin in a playful manner. The guy had a huge soft spot for dogs, especially. He always thought about getting one, but he never had the time. The human didn't quite get the scrutinizing vibe from Dezerae, but he would occasionally glance back and scope her out in return. She was a quiet one. He liked the quiet ones. Not only mysterious, but you know when they finally exploded, they went off like a damn powder-keg. "Cat?" he first asked, looking between Leo and Dez. "Nickname, I take it?" A grin. A swig. And suddenly his attention was on Leo with a perked up brow. "Come again? Change the world? Whatcha mean, dude?" Sidd was always into that sort of idea. Making a difference. Even if he came off as a lazy ass drunk that only wanted to party and play music; Deep down, there was something there that had always wanted to make an impact.

Dezerae notices the lycan’s distaste for the adorable puppy but knew it wouldn’t be the first time he’d been apprehensive toward her pets, specifically one of the arachnid variety. But he wouldn’t remember that. Frequent glances were sent toward Sidd and Pillow as the woman mutters to the lycan, “You’re rambling. And you should be more lovable; he’s practically your kin.” She finishes off her whiskey tumbler and takes the moment of quick recruitment to grab Leo’s rum bottle and pour herself a refill. Sidd’s regard to her ‘nickname’ caused Dez to wrinkle her nose, “You can call it that, but don’t make it into a habit.” The lycan had grown accustomed to calling her such, probably a rebuttal to her own pet names. Finally, she brings her newly poured tumbler to her lips, though speaks before taking a sip, “You’d be surprised. Rynvale is a dangerous place.”

Leoxander sniffed, drank another drink, and looked between the two. He might just be in another dream, but he offered a shrug. "It's happened. I remember a time we fought for what we wanted. I'm hopin' that time has come again. Just as everyone else works for what they believe, this place is worth savin', I think." Leo seemed to have a moment of nostalgia, as he finished off his bottle of rum, set it down, and looked between the two. "There were once wolves roaming these lands. Pirates. Refugees. Those that weren't quite what the rest of the world wanted to accept. So... I guess that's what we're going for again. And... I think this island was the escape for that." He murmured those last few words as he began to clean up behind the bar, avoiding eye contact for the most part. "But I don't think I'm right for that role to lead, anymore. Eleanor. She's the one to figger it all out. I believe in her." He said nothing more after that, but nodded to agree with Dezerae's words. Rynvale was dangerous. And so was he.

Sidd looked up from his playful adventure with the pup, now leaning against the edge of the bar as he listened in on the words spoken. First he would smirk at Dezerae and he mild warning regarding her 'nickname'. Tiny, redhead, yeah. Better behave around this one. Another that could probably whup his ass if he got out of line! "I'll keep that one in mind." he retorted, then looking over to Leo. Now, Sidd was still pretty damn new to this world. He knew nothing of either of these two, or any sort of things they had experienced in their past. But there was something in Leo's eyes that Sidd recognized. Something he could relate to. First he would offer, "That sounds groovy, really. In all honesty, when I first stepped foot in here, it reminded me of a place I used to hang out when I was home. it's got that..vibe, y'know? Kind of why I keep venturing back here to help out. I'm down with savin' the place." He made a fist, index and pinky finger lifted- A gesture of sorts. Listening further, the human grinned wide. Yeah, he knew that feeling. Being a damn outcast looking for a place to belong. So, he chimed in, "Yo. That is totally up my alley. I know I'm still not exactly tight with you guys, buy man, those sort of ideals- I stand by'em. Power to the people. The freaks. Hah." His beer bottle was lifted- a miniature toast to the pair.

Dezerae was pretty much the opposite of the two, quiet and not really rebellious. She was honestly here for a drink or two. Or five. Still, she propped her arm against the counter, resting her bottom against a nearby stool. She cradled her cheek in her now propped palm, using her other hand to swirl the rum and bring it to her lips. Silently, she observed Leo as he sermonized his experiences, dark gaze flickering back and forth between his gestures. The red head wasn’t the revolutionary type, but she’d keep that part, that compliant and timid persona, to herself. Instead, she doesn’t respond to him, allowing Sidd to take the lead of the audience, his retorts seemingly more aligned with Leo’s comments. Once the beer bottle is raised, the feline woman smiles softly, mostly because she’s again lost but amused with the two men, and lift her own tumbler before drinking from it and dropping a hand on Pillow’s head.

Leoxander regarded Sidd's words with a nod, and he seemed very tired all of a sudden. Perhaps weary thinking of a place that this very warehouse once was. "I can relate to that, mate. That's why I want you to stick around. See if you wanna keep up with that vibe, as you say. I guess I've got this reputation where I'm not too keen on talkin' to anyone, but that's a lotta years and blood in the make. I hope you stick around." It was more a compliment than he had given to anyone, probably in half of a decade. And he lifted what was left in his bottle in that toast and salute. He didn't miss Dezerae's smile, and even looked her way, but still didn't manage one of his own. "To our future, I guess." With that he took a drink. And from there, he headed back into the kitchen to make certain it was cleaned up enough just for the next gathering, should there be another.

Sidd poured what was left of the beer down this throat, a half-stifled belch returned out the same orifice. "Hah. 'Scuse me." he said, trying to still be somewhat polite. He was still in that mode" Be polite, kind, make an impression. He really didn't want to scare the hell out these people. Not until he got to see what they were like over time. For now, it was an introductory, get-to-know-you phase. "hah, thanks dude. I'll giv'r my best." he said to Leo in return. When the guy popped out back to the kitchen, Sidd leaned in to Dezerae, voice barely above a whisper. "He alright, ya think? Seems to carry a lot of baggage. Sorry if it's not my place to pry or whatever. Dude's cool, just want to make sure he's all good." This of course would be in reference to Leo's obvious trip down nostalgia lane and reflections.

Dezerae assumed that the departed Leo would want her to have his bottle. He gives her a slight wave of the fingers as the lycan disappears in the back and as she begins to pour herself another drink, the low whisper in overly sensitive ears catches her by surprise. “Ah.” A soft audible nose that reveals how startled she was but she recovered soon after, offering Sidd a slight smile. “Ah, he’s good. He does that sometimes. But he’s cool, no worries.” She drops her tumbler onto the counter, looking into the contents before glancing toward Sidd again, “Sidd, was it? Tell me, how did you find the Roger? I’ve been in this world for a while and hadn’t step foot in here before until a few weeks ago.”

Sidd slaps palm to face as he thinks about the first night he stumbled into the joint. "Ah man. Weird chain of events, really." Collecting his empty bottle, Sidd wandered around the other side of the counter to dispose of it properly. He figured Leo and El trusted him enough not to rob the place- he hoped. "I wasn't here long. Main land, I mean. I had just found my way out of this town, Larket, and headed east. Wound up in Cenril? I needed work, so I looked around. And there was this boat crew, down at the docks. Fishermen, I think." He laughs, the memory alone made him cringe at the absurdity. "Anyway. Once I was on the boat. They all got weird. The captain said a lot of weird skeevy crap. Like, I figured these guys were gonna molest and murder me- that Kinda skeevy. So as soon as we docked over at the port, I booked it. Fast." A hand scratched at his stiffened mohawk, head shaking as he recalled that night. "I didn't know where I was, so i just explored. You know? Just to get a feel for the place. Then this, the Roger, popped up into view. Something in the gut told me to go in. And here we are." An affirmative nod issued, Sidd then adds with his expression softening. "Though you know what's messed up? I never told Leo or El this, but damn. This place, the building, it's like a friggin' carbon copy of a place I used to hang out at. Not even kidding. The furniture is different, but the building, the layout. It's eerie. Wild, eh?" Sidd looked around momentarily before turning the tables on the red-headed feline. "What about you? What brought you here?"

Dezerae coaxed the pup to rest again, his small body attempting to move onto all floors to frolic. She listens quietly and patiently as Sidd speaks, occasionally directing attention to the pup to make sure he was still there. The comment of the carbon copy resonated mostly with the feline, nose wrinkling as its done a lot this evening, “I know the feeling. Not really the building but the…feeling in this place reminds me of another. But that’s neither here nor there.” She takes another sip of her rum, inwardly debating if she should grab another bottle from the wall. But that would involve climbing onto a stool and with her being four drinks in, she decided against it. He roundabout of the question retracts her attention, crimson hues falling on him once again, “Me? Ah, well to Rynvale, Leo brought be here. Well, first I got lost. Then found him and Eleanor, and he asked that I stay. So that’s why I’m here. I’m more of a Kelay gal myself but you know, traveling is good for the soul.” Dainty fingers rake through her hair, pushing strands from her face. Her next question is blunt and doesn’t seem to fit with their conversation, “Do you only drink beer?”

Sidd looks at Dezerae with a bit of intrigue, her own experiences throwing him off guard. In truth, he was glad that he weren't the only one to feel some odd connection to the place. "Hah. That's awesome. Yeah, those two seem to be pretty cool people. El's got the thickest accent I've ever heard, but she seems like she's real nice. And Leo, dude's got this way about making you feel welcome, oi? Really helps when you feel out of your element." Soft thudding of his boots resonated about the room as he made approach to the door, once more taking a brief inspection of the damage. He had planned on working through the night again to get the place fixed up. "yeah, I totally got that vibe from ya. You prefer the quiet, huh?" A chuckle. "And hell naw. Beer's what I drink to be sociable. I prefer a good pint of whiskey when available. Only problem is, I have this habit of waking up in places I shouldn't be. it's got me into a lot of trouble."

Dezerae grazed her hand over a yawning pup, nodding in response to the compliments of the two blondes. “They are something.” Fingers massage the pup’s temple before she slips from her stool. As Sidd wanders toward the door way, Dez drapes her robe of the critter, pretty much swaddling him into a secure hold. “I do prefer the quiet. Just something I’ve become accustomed to, really. Is that bad?” She throws on her flannel, tugging at it as she watched Sidd silently. Dezerae fit the quiet stereotype well. One arm cradles the pup in the crook of her arm, the other grabbing at the neck of the rum bottle. A few moments after his comment, she’d easily made her way beside him at the door, “Here. Rum is good for you (not really) and you’re in a safe place, the Roger. Just enjoy it.”

Sidd shook his head at first, her question met with a laugh and an answer. "Hell naw. You do you. Some of us are loud assholes that like to cause a ruckus, and some of us are the quiet observant types. It takes all kinds to make this world keep on turning." A wink and a smile. He noticed then that she had gotten up, looking like she were about to head out. He reached for the offered bottle, with a nod to accompany his thanks. it would keep him going for a bit, at least! " Hah, thanks... Cat." That sly grin would tell her he was being an ass for the sake of, well, being an ass. "Headin' out, I take it? If so, it was nice to officially meet ya. I'm sure we'll chat again, soon. I got a lot of work to do out here."

Dezerae bounces the pup in her arms as one would do with an infant. The tactic was so that the critter wouldn’t try to leave from her arms. “Keep the world turning. That’d be nice.” She appreciates the fact that he takes the bottle, his acceptance leading to a more clear mind on her part; the feline knew she could down the bottle if she wanted to. But she wasn’t going to mention that just yet. His thanks and the drifting ‘nickname’ cause her brow to raise but it’s quickly replaced with a coy smile, “Right. No worries. And I need to go, the pup is falling asleep. Or at least I need him to sleep. But it was good to meet you as well. Good luck with…what you do at this time.” She raises a hand in a meager flutter of the finger before meandering out the door.

With everyone having gone for the evening, Sidd once again stayed behind to help out with repairs to the Jolly Roger; Everything from the door frame and trim to loose floorboards and even some areas where rot had set in.

~Fin