TRP: Goro, Hansel, and Larkin (Barfight)

**Izzy:** at 9:26 AM

[SETTING: Day 144, the day after Goro returns from
Calimport. Evening in a portside bar.]

Hansel had been posted up in the tavern for a while. It was
good to get away from the estate, clear his mind, get blindingly drunk and not
have to think about shit. In other words, the house was empty today and he
didn't want to be alone. The more he drank, the more continuing to drink and
avoid thinking seemed like an excellent idea. He knew this was a cycle he fell
into, but what was the harm.

Eventually, the harm was that someone bumped into him by
accident, and he shoved them away, and they shoved back, and then he was
scrapping with a couple of humans and another half-orc, none of whom were on
his side. That was fine. He had enough fists for all of them. Portside bars
like this -- they didn't even care. The bartender just backed up and moved some
glasses out of their way, and went back to her job, while half the patrons
watched on and took bets, and the other half ignored the situation completely.

There was a mixture of dismayed groans and cheers when
Hansel's fist slammed into the last human's face and she went down hard, and
didn't get back up. He stumbled in place from the force, breathing hard,
bleeding from a split lip and eyebrow, knuckles raw, and looked around to see
if there were any other takers.

Nope.

The crowd backed away slightly and started going back to
their business, and the woman on the floor's friend helped her up. Hansel went
back to his seat at the bar and sat heavily, spitting blood onto the floor and
wiping it away from his lips. Good fight. Good day.

**Jen:** at 9:58 AM

"Well, there ya go!" Larkin took a triumphant swig
of her whiskey, emptying it yet again, and held her free hand out, beckoning.
Sabac made a face and slid the coins over with a mutter. "What's the
fucking chance, that many against one."

"Yeah, but that one's big. And he's got the look of a
brawler. You gotta learn to look at the small things, Sabac."

Running into Hansel was the last thing Larkin had been looking
for when dragging Sabac out for a night among old friends but as it turned out,
staying put had been a good choice. She collected her price and let the coins
drop into her wallet. They clinked merrily.

 She waved down a
waiter and ordered another glass of whiskey. They had the good stuff here. Hm,
maybe she could even get some more drinking money out of this, come to think of
it. She glanced over to where Hansel hunkered. He'd had poured a lot of booze down
his throat already but so had she and it'd put her in a mood to fuck with
people.

"You want a chance to get your money back?" She
asked Sabac. "Just step up by one gold. C'mon."

Good thing Sabac was a gambler and not a very bright one when
he was drunk, so after she'd pitched the bet to him and lured him in with the
prospect of getting his money back as well as seeing Larkin getting her ass
whooped, he agreed. Larkin got up and threaded through the crowd, over to
Hansel's table and sat herself on top of it, making his cups rock and spill.

**Izzy:** at 10:11 AM

Hansel looked up from inspecting his knuckles -- trying to
decide if it was worth it to dump some whiskey on them, keep the ragged skin
from festering -- immediately snarling. These fuckin' people needed to leave
him the fuck alone. He'd fuck all of them up if he had to. Sounded kinda fun,
actually.

Oh. It was Larkin. Sitting up on his table like it was a
fuckin' chair and grinning at him toothily. Fuck, he hadn't realized she was in
here. Probably would've gotten out if he'd seen her. But she was the one coming
over to him, so it was -- fine? All right. He should ask her how she was doing
or something.

He turned the snarl into a grin. "Fuck do you
want?" Nope, that wasn't it.

**Jen:** at 10:14 AM

"Eh, just wanted to say hello." She reached for
his full cup and turned it over.

**Izzy:** at 10:15 AM

He watched her casually spill his beer all over the table
with a blank expression, then looked back to her. "What the fuck,
man."

**Jen:** at 10:18 AM

"Whoops. Sorry. Slipped. Here, lemme-" Larkin
twisted around, looking for a waiter. None was nearby but at the table next to
them, a mug sat unattended. "Lemme get you a new one." She grabbed it
and set it down before Hansel.

**Izzy:** at 10:21 AM

Hansel narrowed his eyes at her. She was playing at
something.

He decided to play along and reached for the mug.

**Jen:** at 10:24 AM

As soon as his fingers touched the mug, she reached out and
knocked it over. Beer spilled over his fingers and into his lap. Also soaked
into her pants but fuck it.

Larkin gave him her most innocent smile. "Helm. I'm so
fuckin' clumsy today."

**Izzy:** at 10:28 AM

Hansel jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "So were you
not fuckin' here when I just fucked up three people at once? 'Cause there's
just one of you. I'm pretty drunk but that's some basic fuckin' math." His
tone stayed mild.

**Jen:** at 10:34 AM

"Sure was, and fucking thank you for that." She jangled
the coins in her wallet. "Sabac thought you couldn't do it I but knew
better. Didn't tell him that, though." Larkin grinned and turned around to
wave at the thief, then to Hansel said, "Also didn't tell him how unlikely
it is you'd beat me up. Was fuckin' right, wasn't I?"

**Izzy:** at 10:39 AM

He wasn't sure if he should be flattered or insulted. Little
shit just assumed she could walk up and spill drinks on him and fuck with him
and he'd just take it, did she? Well, she was fucking right.

He glanced over at the friend she waved to, who looked surly.

"Fuck you," he commented. "How much're you
makin' off him? I want a cut."

**Jen:** at 1:07 PM

She chuckled. "Two silver for every dick move I can
pull on ya 'fore you choke me with my own tail." She glanced at Sabac
again who squinted at them. Seemed time to put up a show.

"'kay, deal. Just play along, will ya?" She leaned
in an patted Hansel's cheek, baring teeth at his bloodied face. "Why don't
ya get a bit angry, huh? Make it look real. But don't break anything."

**Izzy:** at 2:36 PM

Hansel knocked her hand away and slammed his other fist on
the table, jarring it enough that she almost came off it. "Y'wouldn't lie
to me, would you? Make more than that and not tell me about it? I know you're a
real fuckin' honest type, Larkin."

His face stayed calm, because he didn't think Larkin's
friend could make it out anyway. Besides, he was well aware of what his face
tended to look like when he wasn't even trying to look angry.

**Jen:** at 3:14 PM

"Aw, Hansel, I sure fuckin' would." She slid down
from the table, landing a bit crooked and wobbling on her feet. Fuck, maybe
that'd been one whiskey too many. She laughed and steadied herself with one
hand on the table and another on Hansel's shoulder. "Not this time,
though. Pinky swear." She held up the finger and let her other hand drop
to his hip - then snatched the axe secured there out of its hanger and hopped a
few steps back.

"Neat thingy!" She said aloud and tested the blade
with a thumb. "Bit too small for a beefy guy like you, though. You shave
your balls with that or what?"

**Izzy:** at 3:19 PM

He stopped himself from snorting. She must be about as drunk
as he was, wavering around like that. Still fast, though. Maybe just faking it.
He grabber her shoulder to hold her in place and snatched the axe back.
"Perfect fuckin' size for carving up li'l tiefling fucks," he
snarled, and in an undertone added, "Best you got?"

**Jen:** at 3:44 PM

"Seems like it. You should'a been more careful with
that last one, got some stains on you." Larkin poked a finger into his
chest and, when he looked down, flicked it up to hit his nose. She raised an
arm to shield her face out of reflex, cackling with laughter.

**Izzy:** at 3:51 PM

Goddammit. He was supposed to keep a straight face. She
couldn't do shit like that.

"All right," he warned. He shoved himself up and
flipped his table off to one side with a crash of glass and wood, making other
patrons fall back away from him again. Which was good -- if anyone was too
close they'd realize that when he grabbed the front of Larkin's tunic and
hefted her up to slam her back into a nearby support beam, it wasn't much of a
slam at all.

And they might've heard him mutter, "Kick me,"
under the growl.

**Jen:** at 3:57 PM

Larkin let out a whoop when Hansel lifted her up - briefly,
very briefly concerned she might have miscalculated this game. But when her
back hit the beam with too little force and she heard him whisper, she grinned
again. Still on the same page. Screw the money, this was heaps of fucking fun.

Her foot snapped out and hit him between the legs. On his
thigh, rather than his groin, and with more speed than force.

**Izzy:** at 4:33 PM

Hansel stumbled back, dropping her -- made like she'd really
hurt him, hunching over and baring his teeth. He swiped an axe from his belt
and flung it at her head. Well, a bit over her head. He second-guessed it the
moment it left his hand -- it'd seemed like a great fucking idea for half a
second, really put on a show -- and then he remembered he was drunk and not
always the best aim with those things.

But it thunked harmlessly into the wood above her head, just
between her horns. Closer than it should've been. He grimaced in apology, and
gestured subtly for her to come at him.

**Jen:** at 4:45 PM

She hissed as the axe came out and flying at her, very
convincingly because truly scared. Fuck, that was close. Too much of a show
here now, even for Larkin's tastes. Judging from Hansel's face, they were kinda
on the same page there.

She'd considered flipping out a knife but a tiny, sober
voice in the back of her mind suggested, that might be a really damn stupid
idea. Alright, maybe listen to it for one.

Out of the corner of her vision, she notice Sabac getting up
from their table, wide eyed and shoving his way through the crowd; not few of
which were already taking bets again. Shit, maybe Larkin should've let him in
on this, they could've ripped off the whole room. She waved to him, giving
Sabac a cheery smile. "Don't worry, I got this!"

He didn't look like he believed her but stayed where he was.

Larkin turned back to Hansel and took on a fighting stance.
Nothing serious, not too low but weight on the balls of her feet. Okay, maybe a
small knife. The one in her sleeve, barely a finger long, nothing more than a
toy. She let it slip into her hand and waved it at Hansel, doing her damndest
to look menacing with it.

Probably looked hilarious.

**Izzy:** at 4:59 PM

Okay, yeah, fair -- he'd escalated to weapons first. And it
was a small knife. Basically a toothpick. He'd fucking thrown an axe at her
head. She could probably stab him with that thing and he'd barely even notice.

... Huh.

He charged at her, going low and scooping her up onto his
shoulder for a second -- probably legitimately knocking the wind out of her for
a moment, there -- then twisting to throw her down onto the nearest table,
making it wobble and an abandoned bowl of stew flip over onto the floor by
slamming a hand against the wood a second before she actually made gentle
contact with it.

Fuck, he was never going to be able to come back to this
bar, was he. Ah well. Worth it.

While he was still close to her, he hissed, "Stab
me," then pulled back to snarl down at her, pinning her by her throat --
hand tense and white-knuckled and barely touching her.

**Jen:** at 5:19 PM

Larkin wasn't sure but she'd swear Hansel had just told her
to stab him.

Yeah, even if, that wasn't gonna happen. Never stab someone
if you don't mean it. Expecially not drunk. First rule of pretense bar fights.

Instead, she dropped the knive and reached up with both
hands to smack them against his ears. Hitting with her heels instead of her
cupped palms but from her perspective, it looked good enough. Hansel probably
knew the move on a personal level.

**Izzy:** at 5:29 PM

Hansel winced -- ow -- and made a show of flinching back,
but didn't move his hand. She was supposed to stab him. Or give him a nice
long, shallow slice that would bleed like all hell and make it look good. Then
he could shrug it off and more people would bet on him. She knew how this
worked, right? Damn.

But he had another idea, anyway, because Drunk Hansel always
had extremely good ideas.

Disguising it under another growl and getting down closer
into her face, he said, "Hey, do that tiefling thing where you set me on
fire. It'll be fuckin' great."

He knew tieflings had to get hurt for them to do that shit,
though, so he shifted to sink his teeth into her shoulder. Just a little -- not
enough to break the skin, just pinch a bit.

**Jen:** at 5:44 PM

"Ow! What the hell!" Larkin flinched, startled by
the sudden pain and before she realized he wasn't really biting her, she had
snapped her fingers and a bright red flame raced up Hansel's arm holding her.
The air immediately stank of burnt hair and before she could do more than curse
again, the fire found their liquor soaked clothes and the puddle on the table
top.

Larkin pushed free of Hansel, trying to swat out the blue
flames that ate at her pants but only made them spread. A moment later, someone
pushed her over and emptied a beer or two over her.

**Izzy:** at 6:07 PM

Oh, shit. Drunk Hansel hadn't thought this through. They
were both fuckin' soaked in something flammable. If only this could've been
avoided by her just stabbing him like he'd wanted her too.

And some fucking idiot was dumping beer on Larkin like that
was gonna fuckin' help.

He shoved them away from her, the snarl genuine this time,
and yanked her to her feet. He knew tieflings had that fire resistance thing,
but still, shit -- that fucker dumping alcohol all over her was making it a lot
fucking worse.

His initial plan had been for her to set him on fire, and
for him to run out roaring dramatically and leap into the bay to put himself
out. He guessed she was coming along with him, because he wasn't just going to
leave her there. She probably wasn't going to like it, though.

After he'd made it out the door and started for the nearest
dock, he remembered that he was, in fact, also on fire, so rather than pitching
Larkin into the water, he just went with Plan A and jumped in, dousing the both
of them and pulling her back up to the surface, coughing out,
"Sorry."

**Jen:** at 6:34 PM

Larkin had been in the middle of shouting "Lemme the
fuck down, I'm not fucking burnin!" or something along the lines, when the
water came rushing in. She swallowed a big gulp of it, breathing some of it in
and when Hansel pulled her to the surface again, she had no choice but to cling
to him while coughin out what must've been bits of her lungs.

Fucking hell.

"The fu-" she tried but only more saltwater found
its way back into the ocean.

**Izzy:** at 7:37 PM

Shit. Much, much too late he realized that this was another
Drunk Hansel plan, and now instead of being slightly on fire, Larkin was
slightly drowning. Great job. Fucking flawless execution, idiot. God.

"Fuck!" He floundered a little and figured out how
to brace her against his chest, so he could lift her up higher in the water and
give her a solid thwack to the back, get the ocean out of her lungs.
"Fuck, I'm sorry. Shoulda just fuckin' stabbed me, achi, I'm tellin'
you."

At least the cold shock of the bay had sobered him up a bit.
Better decisions from here on. Hopefully. He started moving them towards the
nearby ladder back up to the boardwalk.

**Jen:** at 7:55 PM

"Ow! Ouch!" She spluttered as he slapped her back
but the remaining water came out and she could breath again. She let herself
hang limp then, only holding onto his shirt with one hand, content with being
dragged. Half drowning was fucking exhausting. This had not been part of the
plan and the two-something gold Sabac owed her weren't near enough anymore.
He'd have to by her a lunch for a week now, and new pants. At least.

"With your fucking luck? Would've ended up getting
blood poisoning or some shit. Or someone would've stabbed me for stabbing you.
Must've been a good show, though." She glanced up at the dock as Hansel
pushed them closer and above the edge of it, she could see the tops of a few
heads outlines against the street lights. The gamblers coming to see how their
bets had turned out.

**Izzy:** at 8:07 PM

Damned if she wasn't right about his luck. But he glanced up
when she did and saw the edge of the crowd coming to check on them, and had a
new thought. This one couldn't also be bad, right? He was sober ... ish, now.

"Fuckin' -- quick, act like you're holding me
under," he hissed, and plunged straight down, belatedly moving to support
her legs as he realized he didn't actually know if she could swim, or how well.

**Jen:** at 8:19 PM

What next? The water was damn cold and draining the buzz out
of her as well as her motivation for bumfuckery so she just patted at Hansel's
head in the water, trying to get him to surface. "The fuck man, don't-
stop doing that. Act's fucking over." Unsuccessful, she grabbed onto the
ladder to pull herself up and get a better look of the crowd.

"Hey! Get fucking lost, will ya?" She flapped her
hand in a vague shooing motion."Show's over! No one fucking won. The big
guy burned and I drowned, fuck off!"

**Izzy:** at 8:21 PM

Hansel didn't resurface.

**Jen:** at 8:40 PM

"Hey, Hansel!" She shouted at the dark water.
"Cut it out already!" He didn't though, and after a beat she groaned
and slid back down into the water again, deciding he must not be able to hear
her. Whatever was the deal with this guy, going stab me, burn me, drown me.

Oh, right, Larkin realized belatedly. There'd been
something.

Welp, she sure wasn't gonna do him that favour now, so she
splashed around where he'd vanished a moment before. There was nothing, though.
Only empty water.

Oh. Oh fuck. She splashed some more, kicking her feet to try
and feel something, waving her arms under the surface without luck. Fuck, Mask,
what the hell. The thing about his bad luck had been a fucking joke and now he
was drowning? Something must really hate that guy.

Without much of a second thought, Larkin dunked under,
blinking her eyes open to peer into the darkness. Her night vision on land was
excellent but under water it was - hazy. And the saltwater stung, making
everything blurr even more.

She spotted a shadow up ahead that was darker than the
surrounding water. He was deep down already. She kicked up to the surface, took
three deep breath and held the fourth, then dove down again, aiming for the shadow.
Her fingers found a bushel of floating hair, then a collar and she tugged on
it, trying to drag his weight up but failing.

Shit, shit, shit, shit.

Chest tight with the held breath and something else, she
used her grip to pull herself in. Pinched Hansel's cheek to wake him up and
when that didn't work, tried pushing him up rather than pulling. Slowly, way
too slowly, they started to rise.

**Izzy:** at 9:25 PM

Hansel twitched when someone grabbed his hair. It was too
dark to see -- Larkin? The hell was she doing? Had she not heard him? The bit
didn't work if she fuckin' saved him from drowning. He was supposed to be dead,
down here.

He waved at her vaguely in the dark, but she didn't seem to
notice -- too dark, and she was moving around too much herself to notice the
current he stirred up. Goddamn, she was being persistent, though -- she pinched
him and he winced, then she started pulling and pushing him towards the
surface. And she'd been down here for a while now. He knew he could hold his
breath for a long time, but --

Oh, fuck. Shit. Larkin didn't know that, and she must not've
heard him -- or he hadn't heard her tell him to come back up, because once
she'd started to move away, he'd left himself sink down further so none of the
bystanders would be able to see him.

Shit, she thought he drowning.

He grabbed back at her and lunged for the surface, dragging
her up, and pushed her above the waterline a second before he broke it too,
coming up coughing because his body had reflexively tried to suck in a
surprised breath.

"What the fuck, Larkin? I'm a fucking pirate, I can
hold my goddamn breath." He coughed, not making a good case for himself,
here, and wiped water out of his eyes. Glanced up and saw the bar patrons gawping
down at them, bared his teeth at them. Most of them took a step back. Could've
still gotten their damn money, for fucksake.

She'd been trying to save him, though. Shit. He coughed
again. "You all right?"

December 8, 2018

**Jen:** at 8:16 AM

Larkin gasped for air, big, greedy gulps, then spat out more
of the fishy bay water she'd sucked in when Hansel - drowning Hansel had
suddenly grabbed her. She rubbed the wet hair and salt water out of her face,
blinking against the burning sensation in her eyes, and stared back at him.
That idiot. That big fucking rampant idiot.

She punched him. A damn petty strike, paddling and out of
breath as she was but he'd fucking earned it.

**Izzy:** at 12:37 PM

Her fist smacked into his jaw, snapping his head to the side
more from surprise than actual force. She was pretty fucking tiny -- didn't
pack much of a literal punch.

"All right, yeah, fair." He pushed his wet hair
back and wiped the saltwater out of his eyes that the strike had splattered
into them, and started back towards the ladder, tugging her with him.
"Said you shoulda just stabbed me," he muttered.

**Jen:** at 6:07 PM

"Yeah. Yeah. Sure fucking should. The hell were you
thinking?" She let herself be dragged, too exhausted from the dive to
swim. Hansel could do her that one favour.

Up on the dock, most of the crowd dispersed, their interest
lost since no one got their ass kicked anymore. Going to reclaim their drinks
and bets rather than watch two sodden morons climb out of the bay.

"Larkin!" she heard Sabac call. He was also
standing out on the wooden walkway, making the-fuck-was-that gestures at her.

"I'm okay," she called back. "You owe me like
five fucking gold for that."

"You fucking set me up."

"Oh, yeah?" She tried to think of a rebuttal but
came up blank.

"Yeah!" He shouted, then waved them off.
"Fuck this, I'm gonna go home. Don't drown, will ya?"

 "Uh-huh. Hey,
you heard that Hansel? Don't lemme drown." Larkin let herself hang limp
and blew a few air bubbles into the water. The sobering effect the shock of
being on fire, then flung into the bay had had wore off and the buzz was coming
back. And so was the awareness for the cold. She really needed to get some dry
clothes now, and a stiff drink.

**Izzy:** at 7:11 PM

He snorted, pulling her further up from the water's surface
-- hooking an arm around her ribs to carry her up the ladder. Was she still
drunk, somehow? That was impressive.

The crowd had cleared out by the time they made it up, and
he kept hold of her without thinking about it right away, looking down at the
scorch marks that were mainly concentrated on his arm, but had spread across
his body a bit. He was cold enough that the pain was numbed, but it'd come
back, crackling his charred-black skin. She hadn't been fucking around with
that one. Goddamn.

Then he had the cheery thought that he could just wander
back to the estate and ask Goro to heal him, and Larkin would probably like
that as well -- he wasn't sure if the two of them had had time to see each
other yet.

Hansel set Larkin on her own feet, keeping his hands on her
shoulders since she seemed like she might be unsteady on her feet. "Hey.
Larkin. Hey. Goro's home, at Mishka's estate." He grinned. Hang on. He was
still drunk, too, somehow. "You wanna come see him and get him to heal
us?"

**Jen:** at 7:26 PM

Goro? Goro was home and the motherfucker hadn't visited yet?
Hell yeah, let's go see him and give him a piece of her mind. And maybe force
him into a drinking game. That'd be hilarious.

She was still fucking drenched, though. And it was cold.
"For fucking sure, but... uh, hang on." Larkin pulled off her shirt
and squeezed it out, dumping half the water in the bay on the street, then also
poured out her boots. When she'd pulled everything back on, she pointed into
the vague direction of south and declared, "Let's fucking go!"

Larkin got a dozen steps down the street before she had
enough of walking. Fuck this. She slumped against a wall and groaned.
"Changed my mind, it's too fucking far. Imma just head back to that
bar."

**Izzy:** at 7:33 PM

Hansel scowled. "Nah, achi, fuck that." Goro would
want to see her. And she had been on fire, even if it was a lot less than he
had been. "C'mon."

He grabbed her wrists and ducked under her arms -- not the
easiest thing, being a foot higher that she was -- to tug them over his
shoulder, then straighten to pull her up onto his back. If she'd hold onto his
neck, the he could support her legs, but he wasn't sure if she had the presence
of mind to do it himself and this worked just as well as anything for him.

"I gotcha." He started off towards the estate,
only stumbling a little

**Jen:** at 7:47 PM

"No, no no nonono," Larkin protested as Hansel
hoisted her up but couldn't find the willpower to give any actual resistance. Ah,
fuck. What the hell.

"Ugh, okay," she said and slung her arms around
his neck. "But that doesn't mean I'm one of your damn kids, alright?
Oh." She burped and snickered. This express ride wasn't too bad but it was
shaking her stomach. Hopefully they'd make it to the estate before the whiskey
decided to exit the wrong way.

**Izzy:** at 7:58 PM

"Wouldn't fuckin' dream of it," he muttered, shift
to hold her a little more securely. He met Kheman would fucking hate this. No
doubt Kheman would want him to stay far away from his daughter as possible. But
-- she was an adult. And anyway he couldn't just leave her to pass out in the
street, not after her friend'd left her.

Fuck, that scam could've gone so much better. They'd both be
a little richer for it now, and that'd sure make the burning and the almost
drowning go down a little easier.

"Next time do what I say," he grumbled. "Like
I don't fuckin' know what I'm doin' in a fake bar fight."

December 9, 2018

**Jen:** at 8:38 AM

"Yeaah," she slurred against his back, "not
gonna be stickin' knives into you. Nice try tho."

Wait, that sounded way too friendly. And Larkin wasn't
friendly with Hansel, she was mad at him for traumatizing her dad.

"Uhm. Not because we're pals or anything. Pa said to
keep you alive so that's what I'm doin'." Yeah, that'd do. Clarified that
one.

They kept walking in silence after that, or at least Hansel
walked and Larkin was doing her best to hang on, shivering in her wet clothing.

"So, 'bout the money," she said after a while, growing
uncomfortable with the ride. "Don't worry, I'll get our share from Sabac.
He had a good show, that's gotta be worth something. But next time be gotta
bring him in to take the bets."

Ugh, not next time. What the hell, Larkin, now it sounded
like she wanted to spend time with Hansel.

"For the money, I mean. Not 'cause I had fun."

**Izzy:** at 9:26 AM

Hansel grumbled wordlessly over the 'nice try' thing -- it
wasn't like he'd been trying to get her to kill him. This time. She'd waved a
toothpick at him for Eldath's sake -- it would've barely even hurt. He shifted
her into a more secure position so she'd stop jostling around so much, and hopefully
not puke on him, scowling as she brought up her dad.

He sulked along for a while, figuring he'd just get her to
Mishka's and so Goro could heal her -- see if some of Samantha's clothes would
fit her to give her something dry, and maybe Goro could convince her to just
crash there. He knew without asking that she wouldn't want him to walk her
home, but he also knew he'd end up worrying himself to death if he didn't.

Grown woman, he reminded himself. But also -- Kheman's kid,
who he'd seen sketches of as a toddler, and heard stories about first words and
first thefts. Kheman didn't want anything to do with him, but if Hansel could
do anything, it was make sure Larkin didn't pass out in the street on her way
home and drown in a puddle of her own vomit.

Then she brought up the money -- their money -- and implied
that she did, in fact, actually have fun despite herself. He grinned.
"Next time I'll pick a fight with too many people and you can bet
against'em. Then you come in and have your friend bet on you. Give'em a good
show and set me on fire again." Hunter used to pull that trick.
"S'how we did it when we were pirates. Was always fuckin' fun for
me."

**Jen:** at 9:50 AM

"Uh-hu. Fire. Sure." He'd shifted her into a better
position and now that she didn't have to hold up so much of her weight anymore,
she kept drowsing off every few steps.

Larkin woke with a jolt when Hansel set her on her feet
before the entrance doors to Mishka's estate. She teetered on her heels for a
second, then caught her balance. Rubbed her eyes and groaned. Good gods, her
head was still spinning but the cozy part of the buzz was long gone. Hopefully
Goro had a spell for hangovers - or maybe she's just need a beer to keep the
level.

"Oh man, you look like shit," she said when she turned
around and saw Hansel in the light of the porch lamps. Wet to the bone, bloody
nose, scorch marks all over him. "Let's get the fuck inside."

**Izzy:** at 10:07 AM

Hansel snorted. "Yeah, an' you just look like a pleasant
spring day, yourself." He pushed open the front door, guiding her in with
a hand on her back since she still looked a bit unsteady on her feet. He wasn't
entirely sure she hadn't dozed off on the way.

It was late -- the lamps had been lit -- but not so late
that anyone would be in bed yet, and Hansel didn't particularly feel like
wandering all over the entire house to find Goro, so he just bellowed his name
at large as he started for the kitchen. A bit to eat and some water would be
good for Larkin. Maybe some whiskey for him.

**Lina:**  at 10:17 AM

Goro was standing at the counter, halfway through one of
Samantha's dinner rolls when he heard the front doors slamming and Hansel
shouting his name. Eyebrows raised, he headed for the entrance hall and ran into
Hansel and Larkin coming his way, bloody and singed.

"What the fuck!" Goro dropped the rest of the roll
and went for his wand, leaning to the side to check for any assailants in
pursuit. "What the fuck happened? Did you kill them all?" He scanned
the two of them up and down, trying to determine who was more badly
hurt--Hansel had more burns, but Larkin was reeling on her feet and--smiling.
What the fuck.

"Are you drunk?" he said. "Did you assholes
blow up another bar?"

**Jen:** at 10:26 AM

"Goro. Goro, you're back!" Larkin moved forward,
stumbled and caught herself on his shoulders. She gripped him tight and looked
him straight in the eye. "Goro, I'm dying of fucking hypothim- firmy- uhm.
Hy-po-ther-.... Goro, I'm fucking freezing. And so is Hansel. Probably."
She turned her had to glance at him, then back at Goro. "He's so big, I
dunno if people that big freeze. We jumped into the bay. Was rad."

**Izzy:** at 10:32 AM

Hansel grinned at her excitement, then looked back to Goro.
What, like they were always blowing up bars? It'd been one time.

He went over to quickly kiss the top of Goro's head, saying,
"I'm gonna find her some dry clothes, chatichi. Be back." He turned to
go find Samantha.

**Lina:**  at 10:39 AM

Goro pulled Larkin in tight for a hug. Shit, she was freezing.
He chafed his hands up and down her back then pulled her away at arm's length
to examine her injuries better. The singeing on her was superficial, actually.
Probably mild hypothermia, though.

Then Hansel came by and kissed the top of his head, and Goro
froze, hands still on Larkin's upper arms. He glanced up at her face and found
her staring, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, after Hansel.

"Uh," he said. "So, let me heal you. The, uh.
The burns."

**Jen:** at 10:43 AM

"Fuck me blind, Goro," she blurted and snapped her
eyes back to him. She pointed after Hansel. "What the - when did this -
was that what I fucking think it was?"

**Lina:**  at 10:44 AM

"Huh, what's that now?" Goro said, focused
intently on running his wand over any scorch marks he could find.

**Jen:** at 10:48 AM

"Are you seriously making out with Haeth and Hansel
now? Ouch!" She shifted and jerked at the prickling of the healing spell.
"I mean, good for you man, I've been telling you you need to get laid but
what the hell. Who's next in line, Roddy?"

**Lina:**  at 10:56 AM

Goro snorted and started giggling like a kid. He shoved the
wand back in his robe and hugged her again, wrapping her up as best he could to
get her warm. "I missed you, Lark." Then he lowered his head and
whispered in her ear. "Fucking help me, I like him so much I don't know
what to do, and Nixie's back and she's so fucking perfect and I don't know what
to do with all these people, Larkin."

She'd said Mishka's name, too, but that... that wasn't going
to be a problem. That was going to be easy. Not even worth bringing up.

**Jen:** at 11:06 AM

Larkin wrapped her arms around Goro, hugging back tightly.
She had no idea what on earth was going on with Goro and no capacities to
decipher any of it but fuck it if she hadn't missed that weirdo, too.

"Goro, are you... are you drunk, too?" She asked,
still not letting go. "You're being weird and I fucking love it,
but-" she snickered, "but seriously, you drunk? What's going
on?"

**Lina:**  at 11:09 AM

"Stone cold sober. That's the worst part. I can't even
sleep it off." He pulled away and checked her over again. She shivered. He
dragged her by the arm into the kitchen and positioned her in front of the hot
woodstove. "There, stay there until Hansel gets back with dry clothes.
How've you been? Anything new?"

**Jen:** at 11:17 AM

"Man, Skyport's damn boring without you. Fucking missed
you." She pulled off her boots and socks, then stretched out her feet to
the fire and began rubbing some feeling back into her toes. "Renar's had
me busy, though. City's pretty much back to normal, now. There've been some
shifts in the power structures but other than that," she shrugged,
"same 'ol shithole. I'm good, tho." She looked up at Goro then and
for the first time noticed how changed he looked. Shorter hair, sun burnt. His
whole demeanor seemed different. "How've you been? You look... better than
last time. A lot."

**Lina:**  at 11:29 AM

Goro smiled and settled down next to her on the floor.
"Yeah, I'm uh... I'm good. Calimport was good. We should go there for a
visit sometime, and I'll introduce you to people. Mishka's got his
teleportation circle set up now so it's not too hard to make a trip over
there." He tugged at a loose thread on his robe. "I went there to
clear my head, and yeah, I'd say it did the trick. Feels even clearer now that
I'm back here, though. I'll probably never say these words again, so enjoy 'em
while they last, but I guess I have Diva to thank for making me realize what
makes my life worth living."

He knew he sounded weird. Sappy. That was enough of that.
"Anyway, you look like a drowned rat."

**Jen:** at 11:43 AM

Larkin stared and just nodded along, unsure of what to say.
He had changed. That or he was high on something. Either way, it was like a
complete transformation from the wreck he'd been four weeks ago and somehow, it
made her want to hug him again. He seemed genuinely happy for once. Fucking
heartwarming was what it was.

She looked down herself and tugged at her sodden shirt. It
came off her skin with a smack. "Oh... yeah. That's because I almost did
drown." He looked at her weird and Larkin realized there was probably more
of an explanation needed. "I accidently set Hansel n' me on fire. He bit
me 'cause I didn't wanna stab him. Had to jump in the bay to put it out."

**Lina:**  at 12:18 PM

Goro nodded slowly. "He bit you... because you didn't
want to stab him... you know, I might be better off not knowing the whole
story." It sounded like friendly drunken shenanigans, anyway, which made
him wonder... "You two are pals now, then, or?"

Fuck, he hoped she'd say yes. Oh, that sounded great.

**Jen:** at 12:36 PM

"Uhm..." Were they now? One night of faking a bar
fight together and getting piggy-back ride from Hansel didn't make them
friends, that much was certain. Larkin considered just shrugging it off. But
then again, tonight she'd once more not managed to stay as cold with Hansel as
she wanted to be. Should be. Who else could she talk to about that if not Goro?

Larkin twisted to check if Hansel was around but the hallway
seemed empty. She leaned closer to Goro and lowered her voice. "Goro, the
thing with Hansel is... y' know, thing is, we're not pals now, no. But I do...
kinda like him? Okay, yeah, I do. But I shouldn't 'cause of what he did to my
dad. Pa wants me to stay as far away from Hansel as possible. You get what I'm
saying?"

**Lina:**  at 1:39 PM

Goro lowered his voice even further, and switched to
Infernal for good measure. "What, cause he's afraid Hansel's gonna eat
you? Look, you told me yourself Kheman thought he looked possessed. I asked him
about it and I know something had him in the head. Wasn't his damn fault. I
don't know what it was but I'm gonna figure it out and make sure it doesn't get
him again." He caught himself before he started to ramble. "I mean,
all of you by all rights should've stayed away from me after Diva, but you
didn't."

Goro didn't know why he was saying all this. Hansel was his
people, not Larkin's. She'd made it damn clear she put family first. Still, he
couldn't say nothing. They both meant too much for him not to try.

**Jen:** at 1:48 PM

"Yeah, that's because I love you, you sick son of a
bitch." She rubbed her face which was starting to sting with the warmth
returning to her skin. "Look, I don't... " She turned to look behind
them again and switched to Infernal as well. "I don't think he'd do something
to me. Fuck, I actually bet my ass on it earlier. Nah, Goro, what I meant
was... how the fuck could I be friends with a guy who tried to kill my dad?
Pa's been in the Sanctuary for months. I feel like a fucking traitor every time
I... catch myself not hating Hansel."

**Lina:**  at 2:43 PM

She sounded so fucking torn up about it. Goro tried to
imagine how he'd feel if Hansel had tried to kill Amari, or something. He just
couldn't get over the not his fault thing. Joan had stabbed Amari and nearly
killed her, and Goro had never held it against her because it'd been Diva
making her do it.

"I understand," he told Larkin, even though he
didn't. "I... I'm sorry, Lark. That's all I've got."

**Izzy:** at 4:05 PM

Samantha, it turned out, mostly wore dresses, and Hansel had
a serious frown to himself as he imagined Larkin wearing a dress. But she went
through her closet and managed to find some pants and a tunic, and he brushed
off her concerned attempts to get his own damp clothes. Found a blanket himself.
He hated having her do things for him, even though he knew it was her job.

Then he stopped by Mishka's room -- Mishka was out still, at
some function -- to drop his weapons off and change into a different shirt, a
softer, thicker one with longer sleeves. Mostly because he wanted to hug Goro
without getting seawater on him. And Hansel was warm, like Larkin had said,
warmer than a human -- if she was really that cold, still, maybe she'd let him
help, and him being all soggy and cool would just make it worse.

He paused for a second. That was probably a bad plan. She
actually might stab him if he tried to hug her. Ah well.

He headed back downstairs, blanket and dry clothes in tow,
and hesitated before he got too close to the kitchen. Those two probably had
some catching up to do, and he didn't want to interrupt, so he dawdled for a
while in the entry hall -- but Larkin really did need to get dry. If they were
in the middle of something, he'd fuck back off once he'd dropped this stuff off
for her.

His footsteps probably announced his presence well enough,
but he still knocked on the door frame as he came into the kitchen, where
they'd sat down close to the woodstove. For a beat he was filled with an
unearned fondness at the sight of the both of them, and then it faltered when
he realized they weren't talking, and they didn't look happy.

He cleared his throat without leaving the doorway and held
up the bundle of dry cloth. "Clothes. You'll have to cuff up the pant legs
but -- uh, they're dry. Blanket too. You should spend the night, we got
room." He'd meant to say that firmly, but now it just came out awkward. He
looked more to Goro and gestured briefly over his shoulder with a raised
eyebrow and doubtful expression, asking silently if he should go.

**Lina:**  at 4:12 PM

Goro pushed himself to his feet and pulled his wand back
out, then pointed to an empty chair. "Siddown, big guy. You're
injured."

**Izzy:** at 4:17 PM

Hansel scowled and grumbled about how he was fine and sat
down anyway.

**Jen:** at 4:28 PM

Larkin grabbed the bundle of dry clothes and began wriggling
out of her wet ones. They stuck to her skin and she had a brief struggle with
her shirt as it refused to come off over her head and tried to suffocate her
for trying. She got it off and kicked it at the stove, followed by her boots,
pants and underwear. Fuck this, everything was just cold and wet. She pulled on
the spare clothing, blissfully dry, and went off to search the kitchen for food
while Goro patched Hansel up.

She hunted down a piece of cold roast and half a bottle of
wine. Perfect measures against slipping into a hangover. She took both over to
where the guys sat, having zoned out on their conversation completely, to
eavesdrop. She had questions and was about to unload some of them.

**Izzy:** at 5:01 PM

Hansel glanced Larkin's way, then turned his head away
abruptly when she started getting undressed. There were other rooms. She
could've just ducked away for a second. He guessed she didn't want to go far
from the stove, though, which was fair enough.

Comforting blue-silver warmth spread through him as Goro
healed his burns. They weren't that bad -- mostly just looked nasty. (That was
how it felt right now, anyway; if he'd crashed without getting healed he was
sure he'd have a different opinion in the morning.) "The jumping in the
bay thing, and the burns, uh -- we were trying to scam people," he
explained, in case she hadn't. "Betting. Y'know. Not actually
fighting."

**Lina:**  at 5:12 PM

"Hm." Goro offered no reaction as he continued
scanning Hansel for injuries, making sure he'd gotten everything. Ah, the
abrasions on his knuckles. If Larkin weren't in the room Goro would've brought
Hansel's hands to his lips and offered to kiss them better. "Well? How
much did you make?"

**Izzy:** at 5:14 PM

"Fuck all, 'cause she wouldn't stab me."

**Jen:** at 5:19 PM

"Would've gotten it if he hadn't tricked me into
setting him on fire. We were fucking soaked in liquor." Larkin joined
them, chewing on a piece of meat, then washed it down with a swig of wine.
"Anyway, boys. There's some real weird shit going on here and I wanna know
all about this." She gestured between them. "This 'specially.
Talk."

**Lina:**  at 5:20 PM

"Sorry, you're going to have to be more specific."
Goro grinned assholishly at her.

**Izzy:** at 5:21 PM

Hansel kept his mouth shut.

**Jen:** at 5:23 PM

Larkin squinted at Goro. Lil' shit. "So, who's fucking
who now and how'd all of that happen?"

**Lina:**  at 5:30 PM

"Larkin." He feigned a gasp. "Do you mind?
You're in the presence of a holy man. So vulgar."

He thought dimly of the conversation he'd had with her right
before leaving, where he'd confessed to sleeping with Mishka and been a
sputtering, blushing fool about it. Interesting how quickly he'd become
comfortable with the notion of fucking since then.

**Jen:** at 5:43 PM

She drew back a bit, surprised and grinning. "Man.
What've they done to you? Y' know I thought going on a ship with Haeth was a
stupid fucking idea, 'n to be honest," she pointed at him and chuckled,
"this is kinda creepin' me out. But it's great. Fuck." She laughed and
took another drink from the bottle. "Seriously, tho. Are you like...
together now? And what about Sugar?" Without thinking much about it, she
held the bottle out to Hansel, eyes still fixed on Goro.

**Izzy:** at 5:45 PM

Hansel accepted the bottle without looking at her and
chugged some before realizing it was Mishka's wine. Ugh. Effective, though.
Anything to make this stop feeling so goddamn awkward.

**Lina:**  at 5:49 PM

"I, uh. Been meaning to talk to Sugar about it. But you
know, I just got back. I've barely seen her." He didn't want to answer her
other question. He didn't fucking know what the state of things was, just that
Hansel had said he didn't want to break Goro's heart. That wasn't exactly a
standard relationship form.

**Jen:** at 5:59 PM

"Uh hu." She looked at Hansel, who was hiding his
face behind the bottle. Well, this was awkward. She stuffed her own face with
the last of the roast to bridge the silence while thinking about what else she
really wanted to know right now.

Sugar. Had she talked to Goro already? Apologized? Shit,
Larkin didn't really want to think about her. The girl was just confusing.

Oh wait. Goro hadn't answered the whole question. She put a
hand on his shoulder and leaned on him. "Buddy. You still haven't told me
'bout why the two of you are suddenly hookin' up. You know I'm gonna pester you
with this 'till you snap." She looked at Hansel again. "Or you wanna
tell the story?"

**Izzy:** at 6:02 PM

Hansel gave Goro a desperate look and shook his head
rapidly. He didn't want Hansel telling this story. Who fucking knew what would
come out of his mouth. Fuck no.

**Lina:**  at 6:11 PM

"Fine," Goro said. "The captain of our ship
was secretly a drow who tried selling her passengers off to driders. I got
dragged off. Hansel and Mishka came to get me." He paused there, still,
still amazed by it. They could've just fucked off and saved themselves but they
came to save him.

Larkin was looking at him funny. "It's a long
story," Goro said. "Then Hansel... well, you know, I'm still not...
are you getting the picture yet? This is ridiculous."

**Jen:** at 6:17 PM

"Uhm... no. I'm not." She cocked her head, thinking
for a moment. "Nah, sorry."

Hansel saved Goro, though. Apparently. Well that... was kind
of reassuring but also didn't resolve her inner conflict about the guy.

**Izzy:** at 6:29 PM

Ah, fuck. Fuck. Hansel was going to say something. Words
were going to come out of his mouth. He was exactly the amount of tipsy to have
better judgement, and then not listen to it.

"There was, uh, fuckin', drider webbing -- so Goro went
out in this bay to clean it off --" stark goddamn naked -- "and he'd
used this fuckin' spell to protect me, but it was goddamn stupid, would've
gotten him hurt instead, and I told him off for it, and he talked back --"
fuck, god, he was babbling -- "and it was really fucking --" Goro
tugging on his wrist without backing down, Goro eclipsing the sun above them,
Goro's fingers digging into him as they drifted in the bay, Goro nestled
against him in the captain's quarters, scrambling away and then coming right
back --

He thunked the bottle onto the table and hid his face in his
hands, like they wouldn't have already seen the flush. "Listen, fuck you.
Both of you."

**Lina:**  at 7:01 PM

There was just something amazing about watching this
gigantic, scowling half-orc turn all flustered and red while trying to explain
something. While trying to explain Goro. Goro was the one getting that reaction
out of him. Knowing that made him get that damn fluttery feeling in his chest
again, and he was glad to be sitting down.

"So as you may have gathered," Goro said to
Larkin, while gesturing at his own face, "it was my tender soul and
enchanting beauty that drew him in and ensnared him. Any other questions?"

December 10, 2018

**Jen:** at 3:03 AM

A dozen snarky comments flitted through Larkin's head but
she dismissed all of them. They were having a moment here; she wasn't sure
exactly what kind of moment but it was... sweet. Hansel's face got dark with blush
and Goro seemed to outright glow. Seemed like a dick move to ruin it with
sarcasm.

Seeing Goro with Hansel though... that gave her a sting.
Shit, if they were a thing now, she'd have to keep being nice to Hansel. Which
was... a relief in a way? Fuck, now she was looking for excuses to like Hansel
again. Get your act together, she told herself. That's the guy who turned
berserk because of a weird storm. Halluzinates voices in his head that tell him
to kill people she loves.

Not that she really believed Hansel would harm Goro but...
what if? Maybe she should make a point here. Just in case.

"Uhhm. Nah, I'm good. That's...uhm. Sweet." She
coughed and wished for the bottle back in her hand. "Just so you know,
Hansel. If you do anything... anything to hurt him - I won't give a shit 'bout
what Pa wants. I'm gonna be after you and I'll have every one of Renar's men
behind me. Make you really damn sorry, if you get my meaning." That wasn't
technically true, since she couldn't command the gangs. But if she had to,
Larkin would cash in every favour and pay any price Renar demanded to make it
happen.

She coughed again into the awkward silence that followed,
not looking at any of them. Ah, shit. She should've just kept her mouth shut.

"Uhm, anyway. You two look... happy. That's nice. I'm happy
for you. Gods, someone get me a drink."

She grabbed the bottle out of Hansel's hand and emptied it,
shutting herself up before she could blabber more bullshit.

**Izzy:** at 10:13 AM

Ah, right, there was the Larkin Basha he knew. He
appreciated that about her -- goddamn ruthless.

(Except when she was trying to save his life at the bottom
of the bay. Hahah. Yeah. He was going to be thinking about that for a while.
Larkin should want him dead by all accounts, but he was getting used to the
idea that she ... didn't. Maybe not just because Kheman wanted him to suffer.
Maybe.)

He nodded. It was reassuring, really -- her being protective
of Goro. Good to know she had his back like that. And if he knew anything about
Bashas, it was that they didn't make idle threats.

"Yup. Fair." He wished she hadn't taken the bottle
back -- drinking would give him something to do with his mouth other than blurt
out some embarrassing shit about how the last thing he wanted to do was hurt
Goro, Larkin, because he loved him so goddamn much, all right, and it meant a
lot to him that Goro had people like her in his life to look out for him, and
Hansel planned to do anything he could to keep her around, but it wasn't just
because of that, it was because he fucking cared about her too, all right,
whether she liked it or not or was able to admit it, and he'd had a really
fucking great time causing trouble with her in the port, and --

Instead he propped his elbows on his knees and physically
put his hands over his mouth like he might throw up. Where was Mishka. Mishka
needed to come save him from this situation. Goddammit.

**Jen:** at 2:21 PM

Larkin broke the next stretch of silence by announcing she'd
fuck off now and crash. Hansel insisted she'd rather stay and sleep on a couch
- the one in the library seemed to be of excellent quality - and with Goro's
help talked her into it. Didn't need much convincing anyway. The opportunity to
keep catching up with Goro about his vacation and not having to go out into the
cold again that night was just too good to turn down. And, as it turned out a
few hours later, it was indeed a great couch to sleep on.

**Izzy:** at 3:58 PM

[timeskip to the next morning]

Hansel rolled out of bed, doing his best to not wake Mishka,
and shambled down to the kitchen before he really remembered the previous
night's ... adventure. Weren't they supposed to go take care of clearing out
that castle today? Why the fuck had he thought it would be a good idea to go
out and get drunk and get into a fucking series of fights? Fuck.

He chugged some water and carved a couple thick slices of
bread off yesterday's loaf. Samantha wasn't up yet -- he tended to wake up
early -- so he stoked up the stove and let the bread toast while he sat with his
head resting against the table. At least Goro had made him sit down and get
healed. Oh, god, and then he'd said some shit, hadn't he -- couldn't quite
remember what he'd said and what he'd just thought. Fuck, hopefully most of it
had stayed in his head.

When the bread had gotten nice and crispy, he buttered both
pieces generously, put a couple more in to toast, and ate them while he waited
on a couple mugs of tea to steep. It was a bitter mixture, but he added some
honey to make it more palatable, and it'd help with the hangover.

Once the second round of toast was done, he piled everything
on a tray -- with butter and a knife for spreading, and the jar of honey in
case he hadn't gotten the tea sweet enough, and a glass of water for good
measure -- and carried it up to the library. Larkin was still passed out on the
couch, scowling in her sleep under a blanket.

Hansel set the tray down on the coffee table and nudged her
shoulder -- briefly, and backing away quickly in case she was the type to wake
up swinging -- then grabbed his mug and collapsed into the cushy chair at the end
of the coffee table, yawning.

**Jen:** at 4:18 PM

Something touched her shoulder. Lightly and Larkin almost
wrote it off as a dream... she was warm and drifting, about to sink back into
sleep. Then the touch registered as real, not imagined, and a heartbeat later,
Larkin sat upright, fists clenched in the blanket. It took her several more
moments to orient herself. Couch. Library. Not her room, Haeth's estate. How on
earth....oh. Right. Her eyes fixed on Hansel sitting a few feet away and the
events of the last night fell into place. And so did the reality of her
hangover.

Larkin groaned, drew the blanket tight over her head until
it covered all but her nose and collapsed back onto the couch, burying her face
in the cushions and waiting to pass out.

**Izzy:** at 4:22 PM

Hansel nodded sagely and took a sip of tea. "Yeah.
Fuckin' agreed, achi."

**Jen:** at 4:25 PM

"What's that word?" she asked into the pillow.
"Aji. Ac-ci. You keep saying that. Ac-hi."

**Izzy:** at 4:29 PM

Oh, right. Shit. No reason she'd know Orcish, he guessed.
Now he had to explain himself. "Uh. Means like ..." Friend? Comrade?
What was least likely to get a knife thrown at him, he wondered.
"Crewmate. In Orcish."

**Jen:** at 4:37 PM

"Uh-huh. Well, I gotta trust you it's not an insult I
guess." She shifted to lie on her side, blanket still drawn over her head,
then took a peek out of it. Fuck, it was bright in here. Why. Why.

There was food on the table, she noticed then. Untouched and
a mug of something steaming and a glass of water beside it. A second cup was in
Hansel's hand. She squinted at the food, scowling at the thought of asking her
stomach to put up with any of it. Well, maybe the water. And whatever was in
the cup.

"Is that.. for me?" she asked, lifting the blanket
just enough to look at Hansel.

**Izzy:** at 4:48 PM

"Nah, it's for the invisible third person in this
room." Actually, to be fair, Mishka could easily be invisible in the room.
"Yeah, it's for you." He gestured with his mug and took another sip.
Goddamn, she looked suspicious about it. A joke about how he wasn't trying to
poison her might not land. "Figured you'd be as hungover as I am."

**Jen:** at 4:51 PM

"You don't look half a shitty as I feel." She
considered just lying down again but as her senses started waking up with some
delay, the water looked more and more tempting. Gods, her mouth tasted like
rat's ass. She reached out for the glass and downed it in one go.

**Izzy:** at 4:58 PM

Damn. Maybe she was worse off. He guessed if they poured the
same amount of booze down their gullets, he'd end up suffering less since she
was so much fucking smaller. Should've probably just gotten a pitcher of water.

"I'll take it as a compliment. Tea'll help." He
yawned. "S'bitter, but that's what the honey's for. Picked it up from ...
someone. I dunno." It'd been Kheman, but he probably shouldn't bring that
up.

**Jen:** at 5:09 PM

Damn, this was so... nice. He'd made her fucking breakfast
and a hangover tea. Like he was parenting her or something. Fucking weird. (To
be fair, Finch had made her tea too, sometimes, but after he'd just dumped her
out of bed if they had to go somewhere.) She should probably say something to
this.

"Uhm. Thanks," she tried and took the cup. She
blew on it, then tried a sip. It was bitter.

"So... ah..." she said, then realized she had no
idea what to actually say. Small talk with Hansel? Probably not her thing. She
tried to cover her awkwardness by taking another sip.

**Izzy:** at 5:28 PM

Hansel tried to not look too pleased with himself, which
wasn't too hard considering he felt like shit. But he'd entertained the idea
that Larkin might be growly at him this morning and refuse any sort of
hospitality. They'd gotten along on the ship when they were both drunk, and
they'd gotten along the previous night when they were both drunk. Getting along
hungover was usually worse than getting along sober.

But this was all right. She'd even thanked him. He nodded.
"Sleep well?"

December 11, 2018

**Jen:** at 9:18 AM

"Dunno, can't remember." Larkin had slept like a
stone. This was what time travelling must feel like, excluding the headache
maybe."But this couch is really comfy."

It gave her the urge to just lie down again and sleep the
whole day... but now that she was awake and aware who's couch this actually
was, dragging herself back to town to crash on her cot still seemed preferable
to getting coddled by Hansel Granger in Mikhail Haeth's house. What the hell
had she gotten herself into last night? She'd drink the tea, say goodbye to
Goro, then fuck off.

Larkin made herself drink more of the bitter tea, debating
whether moving to get the honey was worth the effort, and eyeing Hansel over
it. Look at them, sitting and having tea together. Bonding over a hangover.
That...had to stop. Maybe she couldn't make herself not like him, that didn't
mean she should hang out with him.

"Hey, why are you being so nice to me anyway?" she
said to her cup. "Chit-chatting, making me breakfast n stuff. I mean,
appreciate it, but why though? We're not... friends. Yesterday was just,"
she shrugged, still not making eye contact."Was drunk off my ass. You
realize there's a pretty good chance I'm gonna be trying to kill you sooner or
later, right? I was serious about that."

**Izzy:** at 9:51 AM

Hansel shrugged. "Yeah, probably."

He still thought about that. The night he'd told her about
the storm. Mishka had been gone, the world had been ending, his past catching
up to him. She'd refused to kill him before she'd even talked to Kheman about
it, but if her father ever changed his mind -- he didn't doubt her. Figured she
could probably outlast him, too. He could fight off a dozen of the Basha's
soldiers if he needed to, but eventually he would have to sleep, and she could
pick locks and slip a knife into him before he even woke up.

And now he was fucking with Goro, who was her family too,
because apparently Hansel had needed to give Larkin Basha another reason to
hate him.

He didn't think she did, though, 'cause she wouldn't look at
him when she insisted they weren't friends.

He sipped at his tea again. "I mean, shit, you rather I
picked you up and tossed you out the window? Just bein' civil." He grinned
at her. "Can't a thief and a pirate be fuckin' civil to each other?"

**Jen:** at 10:05 AM

Larkin gave a short laugh before she could stop herself.
"Yeah. S'pose a pirate is just a thief with a ship under his ass
anyway." She gestured the sign for identifying a fellow criminal, then
groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. All this light and sitting upright
made her dizzy. She set down the cup and curled up under the blanket again.
"Lots of people I know would do that. Kick you out the door in the
morning. Land thieves aren't just one big family y' know."

**Izzy:** at 10:35 AM

Hansel didn't respond at first, because what he wanted to
say was that it sounded like Larkin needed a better crew, and she fucking had
one right here if she'd just let them. He remembered her telling him, when
they'd both been fuckin' plastered, that her uncle had just let her learn how
to defend herself on the streets instead of taking care of her -- how that'd
gotten under his skin but he'd managed to not say anything about it. Wasn't his
business.

"Yeah, well, pirates're more likely to carve each other
up than be friends, but." He shrugged again. "When you're crewmates,
you're crewmates." Until you were starving to death, and your best friend
made you kill and eat her, and it started something you weren't able to come
back from.

He turned to look out the nearest window. Sky was clear this
morning.

**Jen:** at 10:56 AM

As a kid, Larkin had always wanted to be a pirate. Every
time her dad came home with his sunburnt face, salty clothes and a new scar to
tell her a story about, she'd gone days and even weeks after pretending to be
one and later wishing she could follow after him. Climb the rigging with him
and roam through the pirate towns hiding in the archipelago off the Calish
coast. Instead, she'd continued being a gang kid, a pickpocket and an alley
rat.

Larkin almost said it out loud, how she'd thought about
going out to sea with Pa but that seemed... too personal, too baring. If she
let him in on her private thoughts, it'd be taking one step closer to his.

Instead, she made herself sit up again, then, after the rush
of dizziness wore off, stood. "I'm gonna head out now. Do you... uhm, you
know where my clothes went?" She tugged at the borrowed sweater.

**Izzy:** at 11:10 AM

"Where you left'em. Should be dry now." He'd seen
the crumpled pile next to the woodstove when he'd started the fire, thought
about straightening them out, and decided to go sit down and be miserable while
his bread toasted instead. Samantha might have gotten up by now and tried to
smooth out the wrinkles.

Hansel tried to think of some reason Larkin should stay a
bit longer. He didn't know what she had to go home to -- probably presumptuous,
but he was guessing it wasn't much. "Oughta eat something first,
though," he tried, gesturing to the toast. "Keep you from passing out
on the walk back. I'll fuck off if you want." He straightened in his seat
to show he meant it.

**Jen:** at 11:19 AM

"Eh, don't bother. If I get on that couch again, I'm
not gonna leave today." She eyed the bread. It looked tasty but she didn't
think her stomach was awake enough aleady. "I'll just grab my stuff n'
book it."

Larkin rubbed at her eyes and temples, stifled a yawn, then
gave a little wave. "Anyway, thanks again for letting me crash. And the
ride. Uhm... bye."

**Izzy:** at 11:38 AM

"Yeah, all right." He settled back in the chair,
not happy about it but not going to push it. "More for me then, achi."

For a second he wondered if he should give her her
Candlenight gift now, before she hated him again. Nah. Thanks for the ride --
he had no intention of saying it out loud, but that was goddamn cute. More than
he'd ever thought he'd get out of her.

He raised a hand in return and downed the last of his tea.
No big deal, her leaving now -- he'd see her at the castle, he figured. Maybe
next time she'd hang around a bit longer. Maybe even act like she actually
wanted to.

[END]

Title: Barfight. Summary: Larkin and Hansel run into each
other and stage an impromptu barfight to scam people. Things go wrong, but Goro
heals them up; then Larkin finds out he and Hansel are together and grudgingly
admits to herself that she doesn't hate it (or Hansel).