OPEN ( ⚠ there ain't no motive for this crime )

[hairysituations]

WHO: Varric (hairysituations) and YOU.
WHEN: Anytime between 6/11-6/16.
WHERE: Pleasure District, The Mistress's Girdle.
WHAT: Varric's bartending at a semi-seedy bar, which means: general CR building, networking, drinking, gossiping, flirting, setting drinks on fire, bonding, witty banter, getting drunk, whatever your little heart desires.
RATING/WARNING: Language, will update for anything else.

i.

[ the bar's not too bad for a place called The Mistress's Girdle. smaller in size, with patrons who aren't exactly the kind of people you'd want to be out on a dark street with at night, wooden bar, table, and chairs that smell faintly of beer and wax. he'd taken up working there as soon as he found it; it was charming in a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of way.

he's standing behind the counter (yes, provided with a special thick mat to give him an extra few inches to reach the bar without a problem), keeping busy while its slow by drying glasses and arranging bottles.

slow enough that it's easy to make conversation, so he does, whoever happens to be sitting at his bar: ]

You want me to get something for you? [ he drops a glass down onto the bar, ] Or are you just in the mood to keep me company? Boring tonight.



ii.

[ it's getting well into the evening and Varric's been practicing setting drinks on fire. they're supposed to be his specialty, and hey, he can appreciate a little razzle dazzle as long as it doesn't burn his eyebrows off. so he's behind the bar alone, keeping his hands busy by mixing drinks and using his own little tricks to light the glasses on fire.

when he gets a particularly nice one (small long stemmed glass with a ring of purple fire lighting up around the rim, turning blue at the edge of the flame thanks to chemicals) he pushes the drink to someone sitting at the bar: you. ]

Have one on the house. You look like you could use a pick-me-up.

[ he pauses before adding ] You wouldn't think I need to say this, but you'd be surprised—blow the fire out before you drink it.




iii.

[ he's nearing the end of his shift, cleaning up some of the seating area, straightening chairs and wiping off tables that have gotten a little too grimy, even for this bar's tastes. there are a few people still sitting around and drinking (this place never closes, it seems) but they're mostly quiet.

he stops by a table, ]

Oh, is this— [ and he bends down, scooping up something into his hand to offer it to whoever happens to be sitting at the table next to where he found it ] ... yours?

[ there's hesitation in his voice because it's ... a pair of panties. black lace. classy, but still: ... what? Varric lifts an eyebrow. um???? ] Should I ask?




iv.

[ Varric's off his shift but just hanging around; no harm, not when he can use a drink himself, and there are people around for some fun. he's sitting more toward the back of the bar, reclining back in one of the wooden chairs, shuffling a deck of cards idly.

when someone catches his eye he grins and gestures for them to come over with two fingers, ]

Up for a game?

[ he holds the cards up, twisting his wrist, ] Been a while since I've gotten to play anything.



v.

[ WILDCARD. respond with a prompt of your own if your character would be getting into any wonky nonsense in his general vicinity of standing at the bar making drinks. or right outside. you wanna be passed out drunk and fall into the garbage cans? you do that, my friend. it's yours for the taking. Varric will also be cutting anyone who looks like they had waaaay too much to drink off. ]

Comments

V

[onerous]

[This isn't her sort of scene, even if her regular clothes make it seem like she's ready to go out clubbing or something anyhow. She walks in with purpose, pausing long enough to scan the people milling about, before making her way to a table to speak in low tones with a woman there.

There's a brief commotion as the woman bursts into happy tears, hugs a startled Yuri, and leaves an equally baffled date behind as she hurries home. Yuri and the date stare at each other for a moment of awkward silence, before Yuri bows hastily and retreats to the bar.

She pauses, recognizing Varric right away.] Tethras-san-- Ah, I mean. Varric. [There's a hint of a smile, a sheepish expression as she catches how she addresses him.] I didn't know you worked here. [Yuri glances around the bar curiously; honestly she's never been in one before] You're settling in well?

3

[sayonaradumbass]

[the real question should be why what store brand panties did he steal from the store, clearly the packaged kind, in order to pull this stunt on someone in a bar just for that spotlight. hes that kind of kid

also what the fuck kind of fake id--]

Oh, those? Yeah, they're on lend...they got girls that gotta be American here. Names like Shauna, [insert a sigh here] gotta be classier for this dump.

ii

[freeinghorror]

[He had just gotten off work and decided to sooth his throat with something wet to drink. Talking to people who had too much spare time and not enough real dates always made his throat scratchy and while tea was plentiful enough at his apartment, sometimes he just liked to see what the humans were doing.

That and it was also a way to spot anything really interesting to do on his off days.

Jinga looked at the flames on the glass and then glanced at the bartender. His mouth curving into an amused grin, he rubbed the tips of his fingers along the rim of the glass, smearing flames and chemicals alike on his skin, and watched for a moment at the flames flickered before blowing them out.]

Duly noted.

[hairysituations]

I guess that makes us even; I didn't know you hung out here.

[ he'd seen the exchange, of course, and while it was a bit odd he remembered what she had told him about her powers. maybe it had something to do with that? he'll nose around, sure, but he knows better than to launch right into that. rude. ]

Guess you could say that. Helps that I know a few people already—I'm the one that's late to the party.

[ he gestures to one of the stools in front of him, ] Take a load off. Unless you have somewhere else to be?

[ like.... more seemingly charitable acts with using awesome powers? ]

[hairysituations]

[ at least Varric doesn't give a shit about 'underage' patrons; if they're old enough to feel regret, they're old enough to drink. but tossing panties on the floor when there's not a girl in sight? c'mon man. this is just getting weird.

he drops the panties in the table in front of the kid, eyebrows still cocked. sort of amused, sort of... wondering what this little scheme is, exactly.

plus he's got no idea what 'American' is. his accent might be from there, but in his world, it's not actually a place. ]

So you're leaving it on the floor as... what? Bait?

[hairysituations]

There you go. Now we don't need to worry about lawsuits.

[ because he's bolting if he's gotta be involved with the law in any way. gone. but he winks, wearing a little grin of his own. It's, after all, a joke until that shit actually happens.

that's probably enough setting drinks on fire for now, so he starts wiping down the counter where he'd been working. ]

Much as I'd love for something exciting to happen.

[freeinghorror]

I usually don't bother with lawsuits; they are not satisfying in the least and what would I need money for?

[Considering that his food costs a lot demon souls are not cheap he had no other needs. The trappings of wealth are fun, but he was perfectly comfortable with just an overly large couch and one lamp.]

Excitement around here tends towards the annoying like that ViViD game glitching or ghosts showing up to possess people and really not worth the effort.

[onerous]

[She looks immediately embarrassed and shakes her head] I don't! [Don't get the wrong idea!!! she wants to say, but she has a feeling she's taking it a little too seriously.] I'm not sure I'm even the drinking age here-- or if there is one...

[She's got a couple months until she's the right age for her country, but who knows how things were done here.

But Yuri's pleased to know he doesn't seem to be having too many problems--or, at least, nothing pressing that he's willing to share about which is...probably just as good? Either way, she takes the offered seat, resting her hands elbows on the bar and her chin in her hands] I don't have anything else today. She was my last customer.

You said you were the late one-- Does that mean you have friends from your world here?

[hairysituations]

[ 'what would I need money for' is something Varric's rarely heard before. not never, but rarely. his thoughts mostly align with: so he's a rich guy, or just doesn't care. either way, anyone who wasn't interested in calling the authorities on him for something stupid sounded fine to him. ]

Good man. Keep on that.

[ he rubs a glass dry with a rag, offering a shrug of the shoulders. ]

Not exactly what I'd consider excitement. The kind I'd like, anyway.. [ excitement in its purest meaning, sure. but he'll pass on the game glitching and ghosts showing up to possess people. he's really not about that life. ]

At least it makes a good story.

[hairysituations]

Yep. And some other people.

[ he pulls a glass out, leaving it on the counter in front of him, ] You've been through your world up and vanishing, everything the crazy game spits out, and you still have energy to help people? I think you deserve a drink if you want one. What's age got to do with it?

[ he is a bad influence, probably, but c'mon. c'mon. some alleged rules are just silly. ]

What do you want? Or do you want me to surprise you?

iv.

[animated]

[ This place isn’t really Charlie’s sort of scene, but he wants to see all of what the city has to offer, day and night. He’s already been around the shopping district a dozen times, so it was time to see what else there was.

And, well, he could go for a beer. Why not, right?

One stop at the bar later, the wizard is +1 beer and looking for a place to sit when the man at the back beckons him over. Well, that’s sure not shady at all, but Charlie’s willing to humor him. He’s confident he can take care of himself, anyway. ]

That depends. What are we playing?

[freeinghorror]

[He could make a comment about the man part, but Jinga wasn't going to bother with it. Instead he tasted the drink, arching an eyebrow at the taste. Well, he couldn't say that it was bad, but it wasn't something he would order on his own.]

Everyone has their own idea of excitement. Now, I like a good battle with a worthy foe, or, barring that, a dinner date with my wife, but circumstances have made that last option moot.

[While fighting Ryuuga was fun, he missed just hanging out with his wife, hunting down strong Horrors and eat them. As it was, he just had a little glowing blue butterfly to keep him company.]

What is your idea of excitement?

[onerous]

I like helping people. [She smiles slightly, eyeing the glass hesitantly.

Look, she really shouldn't. She was never really interested in drinking back home, but she was starting to understand the adage of being driven to drink thanks to the weird crap going on.

Yuri gives Varric a quiet, accusing sort of look as if to say 'this is your fault' before she nods] Alright, I'll give in this time. Just one drink. [But she has no idea what to try. She looks at the drinks other people are nursing around the bar, but she can't tell anything just from looking.]

Can you make something sweet?

[hairysituations]

Whatever we both actually know. I'm not picky.

[ he's already tried to play wicked grace with a few people but he hadn't gotten too far with that one; apparently it wasn't as common here as it was back home. so simpler games worked best, and he'd already learned a few basic ones from customers and on his own. ]

Like... Twenty-One? I can deal. [ he drops the cards onto the table. ] ... Or Poker, you can play that with two.

[hairysituations]

Something sweet for the sweetheart. I think I can manage that.

[ he won't make her drink more than one! ... probably! with a sweet drink, she won't need more than one; those tended to be heavier on alcohol than your basic ale or beer.

he grabs a few bottles and begins to mix— a chartreuse and bright blue, mixing in the glass to make something that definitely looks sweet. hopefully she likes tropical flavors. those tend to cover up the taste of vodka and absinthe easily. with a touch of grenadine, it should be a good balance of sweet but slightly tart drink. don't worry, it's in a classic glass— which means it's small. ]

Here you go. [ enjoy that with some ice. ] So how exactly were you helping that one?

[hairysituations]

The 'good battle with a worthy foe' thing sounds alright. [ he can't exactly agree on the second one seeing as he's single and will be forever single, but hey, dinner with a lovely lady; sure sounds like a good time to him. ]

Something interesting. See, I'd rather watch someone fight a worthy foe and then write about it later. Travel, drama, comedy, romance.

[ he shrugs his shoulders, ]

A tale unfolding. Less ending up running from a bunch of people crazed from mob mentality and more heroics [ he places down a glass he'd been cleaning to make gestures with his hands ] or, at least, some sort of reason for it.

[animated]

[ Charlie shrugs, slipping into the seat across from Varric. ] Either of those is fine, but I’ll warn you, I’m rusty.

Actually, no. I’m Charlie, but my card game skills are rusty.

[onerous]

[Yuri makes a small noise of protest, about to insist she's not sweet, really, she's just... being.. nice? Which is being sweet?? With that logic ti seems silly to protest, so she simply resigns herself to this. Which is fine, really, because what he's doing with the alcohol is fascinating.]

I didn't know it came in so many colors. [Alcohol in general, she means. She takes the glass and turns it, impressed, then tries a taste. At first she winces--alcohol burns and it surprises her-- but it's not bad. And it is sweet enough for her tastes] It's good-- you're really good at this.

[She drinks slowly though, debating on how much information to actually give as she looks back at the table that's been occupied by someone else, the date having left shortly after Yuri's departure.]

Her friend was missing. I thought it was going to turn out worse than what it did-- [That is, in her limited experience with finding 'lost people' most of them time they wound up dead. Finding someone alive is a novelty. She shakes her head and continues] But, actually, it was just a misunderstanding. He was avoiding her to surprise her and she thought he'd gone missing because he wasn't answering her and she couldn't find him.

But, I'd rather it be something like that than the alternative. I told her where he would meet her, so hopefully they work things out. [She pauses and tilts her head, thinking about it] I think he wants to confess to her, actually.

[hairysituations]

[ he chuckles, putting away the bottles. maybe he went a little crazy, but there wasn't any harm in showing off what he'd learned how to make, right? that's what happened when you spent hours buffing glasses and listening to the daily gossip. point is: it amused her. which... was the point. nailed it. ]

Yeah? Sucks for her date then. Assuming she likes this guy back.

[ he can see it now. the two embracing while her date watches from a distance, holding an umbrella in the rain. are the drops running down his cheeks rain... or tears? but he slowly turns, looking up at the sky, knowing one day he too will find the one his soul longs to be with. or someone with low standards. ]

I've got a soft spot for happy endings. Or... supposedly happy endings. It's less happy if he confesses and she says no, but. Eh. [ he shrugs his shoulders. ] That's just another one'a life's plot twists.

[ he grabs a beer for another guest that sits at the bar down at the other end, sliding it to the guy before looking back at Yuri ] You happy?

[hairysituations]

[ he chuckles, ] But now I gotta call you Rusty.

[ he shuffles the cards, leaning up in his seat ]

The name's Varric. If you don't care, Twenty-One it is. If you win I'll buy you your next drink.

[onerous]

I think she does. I think-- I hope--it'll go well for them. Maybe she'll tell me if we see each other again. [She's curious too, okay? Sue her, she likes a romantic happy end. And the emotions she picked up during the hug the woman had given her had given her enough suspicion that everything was going to be a-okay.]

At least 'm reasonably sure it won't end up like something out of Romeo and Juliet. [Yuri pauses and realizes that that reference likely went right over him] You don't know that story, do you?

[You happy? is a surprising question too and she sits up a little straighter. This isn't the type of question that normally would require thought, but she honestly doesn't know how to answer for a moment, because--] ...Yes, actually, I think I am. Strange... [???? it's not supposed to be 'strange' yuri stop] I never really thought about it before, but I guess I am happy.

[sayonaradumbass]

Do I look like I'm trynna bait some rabbit? [don't answer that, but Kaneda will cock an eyebrow at Varric right back, chin in his palm]

I had a fight to the death over 'em, that' all. I was winning, too.

[animated]

I guess there are worse nicknames.

Works for me on all counts. You win and your next drink's on me.

ii

[followorders]

[Locus looks up from his drink - whiskey, neat - to stare at the colorful concoction offered to him.]

.........

[It's looks like something his partner would drink, which means, it's not his taste. Still, those words catch his attention.]

Why do you say that?

[He asks without taking the drink.]

iii.

[seakingbait]

Oh! Thank you.

[The young woman sets down her glass of sparkling apple juice to graciously accept the undergarments. It was good to reunite the panties with their owner, but Varric may notice that wearing them would be difficult. Instead of legs, a bright pink fish tail swishes happily under the bar.]

These are from my shop. I'm taking home a little bit of everything to figure out what my best inventory is.