Another Round|Haven, Ilyamen

[Northen Light36]

"Oh, so you're Garrick," Roni remarks with a grin. "Well, nice to meet you too." Inwardly he chuckles at the man's visible unease around Jewel. "Better tone it down, my dear Jewel," he murmurs into her ear. "The gentleman isn't one of us. You wouldn't want to scare off Vi's little friend would you?"

[Kender Bard]

"I almost feel it'd be my duty to drag him to the temple and toss him to the priests to broaden his horizons," Jewel snorted quietly back. "But now that you're here I think I can manage to stop teasing the poor boy."

Virgo glowered slightly at Jewel, when she wasn't looking, but only briefly.

"This place IS getting dull," Isata complained. "Where did you plan to go to next, Vi?"

Virgo pulled out a feather from a pocket and placed on the top of the table, then gave it a little puff of wind and set it to spinning gently. When it stopped moving, she glanced out the window and announced, "The Tipsy Mermaid."

"They have the best drinks!" Isata exclaimed in joy.

"Actually I highly enjoy their food," Virgo remarked. "Which is good because this place's scraps aren't fit for pigs."

"Roni just got here," Jewel pouted, but stood up while the three girls dropped a couple coins to pay for their collective drinks. She took Roni's hand, twining her fingers in his and flashing him doe eyes. "Oh well."

Virgo didn't glare at her this time but there was definitely a tenseness about her as she briskly began blazing a trail through the tavern for the others to follow. Once outside, Isata seemed to want to take the lead and strode ahead, singing at the top of her lungs (fairly poorly) highly enjoying the frowns and stares she received for doing so.

On impulse, Virgo started to reach for Garrick's hand but shied away at the last minute and instead grasped his sleeve gently. Feeling stupid, she let go quickly and murmured something incoherent.

Isata did a half circle jump and started to walk backwards as she asked Garrick, "What's your poison? We'll have a drinking game when we get there."

[Northen Light36]

Roni grins at Jewel, tickling her side a little teasingly before letting go of her hand and warping his arm around her waist. "Bet he's the first one to fall under the table if he plays," he mutters to Jewel, glancing at Garrick in amusement. "Poor guy looks more innocent then most of the guild kids," he adds softly, with a chuckle.

[Darastrix]

Garrick turned his head to blink at Virgo in confusion and was about to ask what she'd said when Isata grabbed his attention again. "Wine, I suppose," he replied. "I've never had anything else."

[Kender Bard]

"Pfft!" Isata snorted. "We'll fix that. All right we'll get you wine but you have to try something from each of us. I'm fond of whiskey myself."

Virgo grimaced slightly at that.

"I like Khelekian Wine," Jewel answered a little loftily, referring to the bitter, colorless drink that was first made there. She grinned and leaned into Roni. "Though it does make me awfully, ah, open minded..."

Virgo bridled again, briefly, but answered softly, "I like brandy and wasail. I think you'd like wasail, Garrick."

"We'll find out soon enough what he likes hm?" Isata laughed and led them into the tavern. This one was much cleaner, less full, and brightly lit. They didn't have to nudge and push to get a table and the service was prompt.

Jewel made sure to get a seat next to Roni, putting herself between Virgo and Roni quickly. Virgo hesitated a second before reaching out and pulling Garrick to sit next to her, putting him between herself and Isata.

"You're going to miss all the spring fun when you go up north," Isata complained to Virgo while waiting for their drinks to arrive.

"I know," she answered quietly. "That's part of the reason I brought Garrick, you know. Besides to meet you guys."

"Well I'll keep you company while quiet and sullen is gone," Isata proclaimed. Virgo, despite the insult, smiled faintly.

[Darastrix]

Garrick have Isata a small smile as well, after he'd seen that Virgo didn't seem to mind what she'd said. Women related to one another oddly, he decided. "She's not quiet and sullen," he protested mildly. "Well...not sullen, anyway."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh she can though," Isata laughed. "She'll out-mope anyone if you let her. A few years ago, that is. Back when she was young and had more reason to be pouty."

"I've matured," Virgo protested.

"I wouldn't quite say that," Jewel teased, reaching over to poke Virgo's chest before taking her drink once they arrived.

"Oh, good, drinkies," Isata remarked happily and took her own. "All right, Garrick, you have to try one sip of everyone's. Who first?"

Virgo rolled her eyes and sipped at her wasail.

[Darastrix]

Garrick, who'd looked down at the table and blushed again at Jewel's teasing, raised his head to answer Isata. "I think I'll try the...Khelek wine," he decided. It couldn't be that different from what he was accustomed to, could it? It was wine, after all.

[Kender Bard]

Jewel grinned widely and pushed her glass towards Garrick. "Take a sip and don't spit it out or I'll be cross," she warned him. Isata had a hand up covering her mouth to smother her giggles. Virgo just grinned slightly and watched.

[Darastrix]

Garrick gave them all a puzzled look and picked up Jewel's glass. "It's clear," he noted, surprised. How did they make clear wine? Not even white wine was completely colourless; it was usually a pale, transparent yellow. Did Khelek have actual white grapes? But no, that was ridiculous. A white fruit might exist somewhere, but Khelek was too cold for grapes.

"This isn't an actual wine, is it?" he murmured, swirling the drink in the glass. It didn't look like wine, didn't smell like wine, and the taste....

Garrick took a modest sip and set the glass down, one hand flying up to his throat and his eyes wide. Whatever it was, it burned. He didn't notice the taste so much as the feel, though he did have the thought that Khelek's wine tasted absolutely nothing it.

[Kender Bard]

Jewel laughed at his expression, pulling her glass back. "I guess the Ices enjoy a little fire after all, don't they?"

"Are you okay?" Virgo asked, amused. Isata burst into laughter as well.