Drinking Buddies

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 7th June 2011

Characters: Wirnan, Sofeya
Description: Sofeya meets Wirnan at the Tavern.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 6
Notes: Takes place after "Some Things Are Private"

Wirnan

It wasn't often that Sofeya got to eat at the Tavern, but she was
splurging. She took the few marks she had to pay for a meal and then
slipped into the building and then chose a spot, out of the way, where
she could get a good look around the room. Her eyes darted about to
those who were there and she sighed. The server came and went once the
order was given and Sofeya sat at the table, elbow on it, chin in her
hand.

He stomped into the tavern. He was angry. He'd needed to get away. Shard
the vow he'd given to himself. He couldn't stand it anymore. Kaya had
pushed him to the brink and all Wirnan wanted was to forget, even for a
moment that his entire life was in ruin.

Marching up to the bar, he ordered, "Give me your strongest drink." He
placed his marks on the table as he replied, "And keep them coming."

Sofeya's eyes darted to the door when it opened, then started to fall,
only to do a double take. She stiffened as she saw who had entered.
The Steward!

Oh she knew who he was. But every time she saw him - which wasn't that
often to be honest - she had noted how much he had looked like her late
husband. Shards, even closer he looked a lot like him. She froze where
she sat, eyes unable to pull away from the man. She heard him speak -
Wirnan even sounded like him. Her hands clenched but she still didn't
look away.

He almost felt the eyes on his back. At first the glance he shot in her
direction was more of a glare, for he felt that whomever was watching
him should mind their own business. Yet when the fell on a woman, his
gaze softened. Thank the stars she was nothing like Kaya, else he might
have felt the urge to scream even then.

Turning back to the bar, he grabbed his drink and downed it with one
swallow. "Another," he rasped, letting the harsh liquor nearly burn his
throat. Maybe, just maybe, that feeling would help him forget how awful
his life had become.

The server came with her food and Sofeya didn't even acknowledge her.
Wirnan looked a lot like Bailer. Even sounded a little like him. They
could have been brothers. In a sudden motion, she picked up her bowl
and her mug and then stalked her way over to sit next to Wirnan, "You
look like you could use a friend." She commented, a sly smile slipping
over her lips.

He was staring down into his cup when she'd approached. He shrugged at
her words before letting forth a sigh. "A friend would be nice.
Wirnan," he said, pointing to himself, not bothering with bulky
introductions. Seeing her meal he called the bartender over. "Can I get
what she's having?"

"Sofeya." She stretched out an arm, long supple fingers offered for the
taking. She glanced down at the stew she had ordered and smirked.
"It's not bad." Though he hadn't really asked how it was. "Nice to
meet you Wirnan." She noted his mug and motioned to the tender to take
care of it. "Long day?"

He took her hand before nodding his head. "Been a long set of
sevendays," he mumbled, thanking the bartender for the fill of his mug.
"I believe I've seen you around the Hold, am I right?" He squinted his
eyes as he looked at her. He couldn't be certain, but he thought he'd
passed her in the corridors now and again.

"Yes." Sofeya lifted her mug to her lips and took a long sip, but her
eyes never left the Steward. Yes, not quite the same. There were
definitely differences - but there were so many similarities too. She
found her heart twisting and it made her mouth turn down and finally
that gaze broke as she let it fall to her bowl. Her spoon played at
her stew before she lifted to insert a bite into her mouth. "I'm sorry
to hear that." She said finally, allowing those eyes to come back up
to Wirnan's face.

"Were you ever married, Sofeya?" Wirnan asked, feeling the need to share
his troubles as the bartender brought forth the bowl of stew and
refilled his glass once more.

"Yes." The word was clipped but Sofeya answered it and took another
long pull of that drink before she managed to say anything more.
"Once. But he died." And then the stew takes place of any more words
she might say.

"Sorry," Wirnan stated. No, he did not want something like that to
happen to Kaya, but he sure wished things weren't the way they were. He
took tucked into his stew for a spell before having the bartender bring
him a beer instead of the harder drink. "I do have to wonder," Wirnan
said, his tongue a bit looser with the drink, "if sometimes we are
better off alone."

"Sometimes I think the same thing." Sofeya finished off her own ale and
then worked on her food, eyeing the drink exchange. She glanced back up
at him. So much like Bailer, yet so different in other ways. It was
uncanny, unsettling. And yet... "Have you tried their red whiskey?"
She asked. "It's very good. So is their burnt brandy."

"Maybe I'll have one of each," he remarked. It had been a long sevenday
and he was tired of the pretenses and hoped to lose himself if even for
a spell. "You should sample the berry liquor. One of the journeymen I
met awhile back introduced it to me. Just enough sweetness combined
with the right kick." He'd already motioned for the bartender to bring
him one of the drinks she'd recommended. More marks were placed on the
bar and the cups were easily filled.

"What brings you here tonight?" He asked. He wasn't sure what led him to
ask such a personal questions, but perhaps it was his desire to share
his own troubles with someone. Though, in truth, Wirnan didn't know if
he would dare to tell anyone of the Hold just how distressed he was in
his current marriage.

"I just needed to get out of the hold." Sofeya still had too many
memories, but it was too difficult to simply pack up everything and move
on, especially alone. "What about you?"

"Yeah, you could say the same for me. Out of the hold. Out of my home.
As far away from the reality that is my life right now as possible,"
Wirnan grumbled, drinking from his cup again. When he sat it back down
he was pleased to already be feeling the buzz from the alcohol. How
many drinks had he had in such a short time? He couldn't quite recall.
"Why wouldn't someone want children, eh?" He asked, looking at her. "Do
you have children?"

"Not living." Sofeya eyes drifted back to her food, pain sifting over
her features. Even now, the loss of those babies still pained her.
"Three. None made it to term." The last words were almost a whisper
and only Wirnan could hear them, just barely at that.

"I'm sorry," he said, reaching over a bit awkwardly and clumsily to pat
her hand on the bar. "My wife doesn't want children." It was Wirnan's
greatest sorry and the reason he was here even now.

"Thank you." Sofeya looked up at the admittance and her eyebrows shot
up. "Really?" She found that was a rather odd idea. She'd never known
another woman who didn't want children. "But you do." She motioned to
the tender and then ordered two more drinks of the berry liquor as
Wirnan had suggested. "Doesn't sound like much of a wife."

Wirnan was well into his cups now and his tongue was much looser
because of it. "I'm not sure she can actually _have_ children of her
own, but I thought we could foster some. She rejected that idea, too."
He sighed, resting his forehead in his hands. "I don't know if I can
live all my days this way. I've always dreamed of children." Wirnan
simply nodded his thanks to the tender when he slipped another glass in
front of him.

"We might have fostered some." Sofeya's hand slipped a little closer to
Wirnan's, then slowly came to rest upon Wirnan's arm. "I'm sorry." She
offered, her free hand lifting the liquor to her lips. When they had
both finished, she ordered the burnt brandy, the smoky flavour pleasant
to the palate.

Wirnan tossed a few marks on the counter in payment for the drinks they
were sharing. He couldn't help but look more closely at her, even
through his already clouded mindset. "You seem like a woman who
understands a man, Sofeya," her name slurred a bit on his tongue. "I
only wish my wife could be more like you."

A smile slid over the woman's luscious lips and she leaned forward. Her
tunic was already tied in such a way that ample cleavage was borne, but
her motions carried it further, promising much more beneath the fabric
that bound her breasts. "You're very kind to say so."

He _was_ a man, and a rather sotted one at that. His eyes took in the
breasts that all but spilled forth from her tunic, beckoning to him.
Wirnan didn't know how long he stared, but he _did_ finally shake
himself and turn his gaze back to his glass. He cleared his throat,
realizing, at least slightly, how his actions might have been
perceived. "I'm glad I found such pleasant company tonight," he
murmured, finishing off another drink.

"So am I." The woman almost purred. She hadn't had _quite_ as much to
drink as Wirnan, but she was definitely feeling buzzed. She reached up,
letting her hand play just beneath her throat, fingers darting over her
skin. The bar tender took little notice of the two and their
conversations, just kept filling up whichever glass was empty. "Have
you ever had redfruit and orangefruit wine?"

"I don't think I have," Wirnan slurred a bit, his tongue darting out to
lick his lips, both at the thought of the wine and the way her hand
skimmed just above those luscious breasts that kept drawing his eye.
"What where we talking about again?" He asked, tearing his gaze away
and noting that his cup had been filled again. His mind was very foggy,
though he was happier than he had felt in quite some time.

"It's quite tasty." There were enough marks to cover the meal and the
drinks - evidently he'd given more out in his inebriated state. "But it
seems that I am done and should go back to my quarters...though...it is
rather dark." Her gaze shifted toward the door, then back to Wirnan.

"Would you be willing to escort me back to the hold and to my
quarters?" Her lashes fluttered daintily, dancing against her skin.

"Sure," he murmured, finishing off the last of his drink. "Wouldn't
want a nice lady like you walking back all alone." Wirnan stood, swayed
a bit, but grinned nonetheless.

Sofeya hadn't had as much, buzzed, but she was steady on her feet. She
eased over to Wirnan and slid her arm through his, holding it a bit
closer than necessary, elbow brushing against her bosom. "Thank you.
You are very kind, Wirnan." She purred, leading him toward the door.

He walked with her across the grounds as they made their way back to the
hold. All was quiet for the most part as it was later than normal and
many people had likely had already settled in for the night. Wirnan
stumbled a bit as he walked, feeling the effects of the alcohol. "Which
way?" He asked her, wondering where her rooms were located.

"This way." Sofeya murmured, pressing him toward the left, down a long
dark hallway that led to the residence's quarters. Her eyes gleamed in
the lower light, just enough to make it where they could see where they
were walking, but dim enough to suggest that anyone out and about
really ought to be in their rooms. She tightened her hold, letting his
elbow brush against her more. "It's not too far."

He really didn't pay much attention to her closeness or the way she
held his arm. Wirnan was making sure he put one foot in front of the
other and didn't embarrass himself by sprawling onto his backside. "Tis
very dark down here, I'm glad I didn't let you walk alone," he
murmured, some of his sounds coming out a bit slurred.

"Yes. It is very dark." Sofeya agreed. One more turn and down a
little ways and she stopped in front of a doorway. She opened it, then
motioned inside. "Please, come in for a moment." Then she took his
arm again in an attempt to lead him through.

"Um," he frowned, trying to get his thoughts around him, but alas it
was a failed attempt. "Just for a moment," he finally agreed, finding
his rational thought long since gone with the drinks he'd consumed.

Sofeya's smile widened and her eyes fluttered at the Steward. Into her
parlor she led him, a small, simple room for one with a simple position.
There was only one chair, but she led him to the bed and motioned for
him to sit. A small chest of drawers and a tiny sideboard stood on
opposite ends. She went to the side board and pulled out two cups and
a bottle. It was a brandy that wasn't the best quality, but did the
trick on nights when memories came to haunt her. Or when she had a
guest who might want a little something. She stopped the bottle, then
picked up the glasses and carried them over to Wirnan, handing one to
him. "I thank you for your kindness, Wirnan." She purred as she
lowered onto the bed noting that he had chosen to remain standing. Oh
well, if she had her way, that wouldn't stay long. "So tell me...I know
you like children." Her free hand come up to play at her ties, teasing
the strings. "What other things do you like?"

He walked with her, but he didn't sit when she offered. He reached a
hand out to steady himself on the end of the bedpost, but even drunk he
knew that certain things were _not_ acceptable. He accepted the cup she
offered with a nod. Lifting it in toast, he drank.

"Sofeya," he started. "Thank you for the drink, but I shouldn't have
come in. I need to go."

"You should stay. Make yourself comfortable." Sofeya lifted one leg and
crossed it over the other, making sure the skirt was hiked up enough to
show a goodly amount of flesh. Her foot bobbed up and down and those
eyes glittered in the dim light as her hand left the ties to pat the
bed. "Come sit beside me."

"I...I can't," Wirnan replied, though he hadn't missed the hint of flesh
he'd seen. Truth was, though, that it wasn't _her_ flesh he imagined,
but rather that of the woman he had left in his quarters. "Thank you
for the company, Sofeya, truly, but I...have to go."

Sofeya frowned. Shards, the man. "Fine." She shrugged and waved
toward the door. "You know the way out." She, however, was going to
sit there and finish her drink.

He did turn, then, and make for the door. He glanced back at her one
last time before opening the door and vanishing into the darkness.

Last updated on the June 13th 2011

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Drinking Buddies