A drunken reality tastes less bitter

Liam Horne The Town Drunk (+) intelligent, witty, intuitive (-) negligent, selfish, miserable I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour, but heaven knows I'm miserable now.

[m-etonymia]

[defectivetowndrunk]

Compelled by Curiosity [Malik]

[silentandswift]

"Yessir. Have a’good day guardsman."

Mal just shrugs when Liam pulls him along. The guardsman either believes them or is too bored with the entire situation to pay attention; either way, they walk right out the front grates, which creak behind them. Malik pulls Liam along, leading him out of side of the inposing building, before dropping the act. He pulls free from Liam’s grasp, rights his shoulders and has a clear smirk on his face. The transformation is nothing but a handful of small changes, but it changes him into an entirely different person.

"A bit early to be getting drunk, isn’t it, love?" Mal asks with a tut of his tongue. The adrenaline of success and mischief never seem to lessen, and Mal has an added spring to his step. He looks the man in front of him over with a critical eye, making sure Liam won’t be causing any more trouble. He seems sober enough to understand how close he was to getting flogged, and that’s good enough.

"Next time, Liam, let us not hop any high fences meant to keep the common folk out? I doubt you have the coin to bail yourself out, and Morgaine won’t be around forever."

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Early? Perhaps... When one day melds so seamlessly into another, it's just so difficult to tell."

Liam laughed, absently stretching out his back with a satisfied grunt. He had no work to be getting on with, the last bit of trench digging he had gotten involved in had ended just the other day. Thankfully. It had been such a bore! Not a single bright spark there, he'd had no fun at all. However, it had given him enough money to get himself a little oil for his lamp at home and just a bit left over to quench his thirst at the tavern.

"My dear Morgaine shall be around forever, she is a stubborn one."

He smiled fondly and tucked his hands in the folds of his tunic. If he was sure about anything it was the fact that between he and Morgaine, she would be the one that lived longer. Though, admittedly, he sometimes surprised himself by the fact he was still going. But here he was, drifting through life and doing... Not good, he supposed, but alright. For now. However long that would last.

Liam sighed and shook his head. How morbid! It was not a time for thinking about such things. Slipping a smile back onto his face, he took his attention back to Malik. 

"As for hopping fences... Deny having fun, I dare you. But you shan't be telling the truth."

[defectivetowndrunk]

Compelled by Curiosity [Malik]

[silentandswift]

Good boy. Malik lets his shoulders dip slightly in relief as Liam plays along, and he has the guard eating out of his hand in no time. He doesn’t flinch when an arm wraps around his waist, and the guardsman seems less and less confused as they talk. Mal’s grateful; a seasoned slum guard would have had Liam in shackles before Malik could even talk. It seems as if the Pantheon is smiling down on them on such a sad event, and Mal will take what he can get, where he gets it.

"Thank ye so much, guardsman. Poor Billy here, his Ma left him wandering ‘round the family farm and a mule knocked him right between the eyes. It’s a miracle he’s still alive."

Mal taps ‘Billy’ on the shoulder, squeezing his fingers between Liam’s dirty tunic to hit a key pressure point. It causes discomfort more than pain, at least with the pressure Mal’s putting on it, and if he was one of Mal’s boys, he would have his reward for a loud mouth very swift-like. Nevertheless, Mal now has to keep his role, stay convincing, and get them both out of there are quickly and quietly as possible.

"Ain’t a higher God out there, sir than the belief has it. Nothin’ short of a good prayin’ m’aunt’s doing right now, hoping this varlet would be returned right to us. You’ve done m’family a high honor, guardsman. We’ll leave you t’peace now."

[defectivetowndrunk]

Liam squirms a bit from the warning pinch to his shoulder, grinning but nonetheless resigned to behave himself for the moment. He would never go as far as to seriously upset the man, certainly not with the things you hear rumoured to be his workings. Malik was in the middle of a thick, far-ranging and incredibly well spun web... And as drunk and daft as Liam could get, he was no fool and would do what he could to refrain from getting tangled. 

Besides, he'd had his fleeting moment of petty payback and that would do him! He lightly patted Malik's chest in a sign of surrender and clung lightly to the front of his clothing. He wanted a mentally touched, dependant cousin for his little performance? He shall get one of the finest calibre! Enough for a passing playwrite to offer him a career in acting! With a laugh at his own musings, Liam looked up at Malik, an adoring smile plastered across his face.

"Are we going home now, Cousin? Will you play with me when we get back? Show me that game with the dice again?"

Dropping his grip on Malik's clothing and drawing his arm back from the other's waist, Liam instead took his hand, grasping Malik's fingers tightly. With a light bounce on the heels of his feet, Liam glanced back over his shoulder and nodded towards the entrance of the Church grounds. 

 "Do let's go home~!"

[defectivetowndrunk]

Compelled by Curiosity [Malik]

[silentandswift]

Oh goodness. The morning is shaping up to be nothing short of interesting as the drunk man in front of him attempts to scale the fence. Once he scrabbles over it and does a terrible job at hiding his presence, Mal can only laugh at the situation. The mop of curly hair in front of him finally strikes a chord, and Malik remembers exactly who he’s following.

Liam is pretty to look at, but Malik doesn’t like playing with other people’s food. Mal buys him drinks every so often, and Liam is a wealth of gossip and town rumor. It’s a fair trade, if you ask Mal, considering he is the one who has to root through all of the lies and deceit and pick out what is actually real. He knows for a fact that Liam and Marcus have tumbled at least once, and it’s enough to keep him out of the other man’s pants. Besides, Malik never pays for sex. He doesn’t need to.

A simple running start launches Malik off of the building and onto a lower ledge. A younger guard is stuck on Church patrol, and Malik almost feels sorry for the poor lad; being stuck guarding a room reserved for empty-headed bigots is not his idea of fun. From his spot Mal drops down, out of Liam’s line of sight but close enough to the church that he’s able to hop the fence in a fluid motion. The patrolman hasn’t seen Mal yet, but it’s only a time before he sees Liam. Mal ducks behind a lavish decorative column, out of sight from anyone within the Church walls.

There are multiple ways to go about this, but Mal doesn’t want to draw attention to himself, Liam or the Church as a whole. While disabling the young, inexperienced guard wouldn’t he hard, it would draw more attention than it is worth. Just as the guardsman lays eyes on Liam, Mal turns the corner, his face lighting up in relief and recognition.

"Oh thank ya High Lord, guardsman," Mal starts in with a southern accent, laying it on thick. "M’cousin here, he’s tapped in the head. Unscrewed, ya know?" Malik wraps an arm around Liam, hoping the man is sober enough to play along. The guard looks confused, and he obviously doesn’t know the slums well enough to know who Liam is. Good.

"It’s alright, Billy. I’ll take ye home to Ma and she’ll fix you right up." Mal comfortingly taps Liam on the arm, treating him like a defunct small child. If anything, his drunken stupor will just help the act.

[defectivetowndrunk]

Liam near on high leapt out of his skin at the sudden voice coming across the lawn from the Church corner, so focused as he was on the guard. However the patrolman seemed to be just as surprised apparently not expecting the presence of another either. Liam frowned. He knew who that was. They had drank together, that was for certain... Or rather, Liam had sat with him and more than happily accepted the drinks that the other offered. 

The confused look remained as the other reached him and, with such familiarity that any onlooker would believe them to be related, rested an arm about his shoulders. Liam smiled as the realisation hit him- Malik! That's who it was, high up in the Guild or... Something like that. He never did have a good head for remembering things of politics. Still a little bemused by the voice that certainly wasn't Malik's usual accent or even pitch, Liam couldn't help a short burst of laughter. The guard was sucking this straight up!

Was this a game? Surely. he would play too!

"Cousin... Ah, cousin! I was just... Lookin' for you."

With a sickeningly fond smile, Liam slipped his arms about Malik's waist and squeezed, nestling into the man's shoulder and looking back over at the guard with an almost shy expression. Now he was no proficient actor, but he could play the victim and he could play the fool no problem, and this was looking to be a mixture of both aspects. Though 'tapped in the head' was it, Malik had said? How rude! He was going to get a little back for that one...

"I knows how much you just love the Church, Cousin, thought you might be here! Tell the man, you tell him how much you love comin' to Church, Cousin."

[defectivetowndrunk]

Compelled by Curiosity [Malik]

[silentandswift]

The death of a young, pretty lady will always be mourned, publicly. It’s something Malik learned very early in life, which is why all of his best cutpurses are out and about this morning, integrating into the crowds. The most wealthy members of the kingdom will be on parade today, no one willing to face the wrath of Duke Steelblood and his terrible temper. While Malik did not know much about the girl, other than the fact that he was supposed to meet with her, he does know all too well how to rob a rich man blind.

After an early morning meeting with Rodric, Mal tucks his hands into black breeches and roams the Marketplace. The streets are filled. Clothing stalls have lines backed up, with folks looking for appropriate linens to wear to the funeral of a Duke’s daughter. Food stalls make a pretty penny off of those who feed their grief with tangibles, and even the jeweler has business, with street rats realizing just how short life can be and buying some opal for their favorite missus. A spot of particular importance is the inn. Well, it is not the inn of the town, but it is the inn in which alcohol runs the loosest and the most noise will come from for the day. 

Mal isn’t heartless, he’s just a business man. He sends the younger girl, Mina, into the heart of the pub. Mal has Marcus playing catch up in the noble stables as punishment for failing to provide him with sufficient dues last weekend. He route follows a dunken, familiar face over to the Churchyard, although the funeral isn’t set to take place until the evening, and the actual service isn’t set for the Church at all, but the fairgrounds. Mal follows the drunken man, eyes shining in amusement as he  sneaks past a small group huddled in the street to tail the man.

[defectivetowndrunk]

It wasn't until he was firmly over the gate and brushing grass off of his knees that Liam realised he didn't have anything one could call a plan of action. But, surely, this was his style! He was, in a word, a drifter and frankly (in his own opinion by any means) he was rather good at it. If one doesn't seek a goal then one doesn't get disappointed by failure and any bonuses in life that do come along were to be celebrated with even more vigour! Liam smiled. It was all well and good standing here thinking about the living of life, but he must get on.

With an air of such casualty that any onlooker would think the man had no worries in the world, Liam took to strolling lightly towards the Church. The gravel path crunched beneath his feet and he tutted. With a neat sidestep, he took himself onto the grass instead. Of course, visitors to the Church were not technically supposed to tread on the lawns... But technically, he reasoned, he wasn't really there for visiting purposes and was free to take no notice.

That's logic for you.

It hadn't really crossed his mind that the place might be being guarded, and it was with an air of surprise that he spotted the patrolman turning the far corner of the building and walking down the front of the Church. Liam paused in his stride in a manner akin to a wild rabbit sensing a predator. Of course, he would be fine if the patrolman didn't spare a glance this way... But as he stood stock still in the open, he wondered how unlikely that would be.

[defectivetowndrunk]

Compelled by Curiosity [Malik]

If there was something Liam would genuinely count himself a part of, it would be the town's rumour mill. Not only was he often a character in the stories weaved and spread about (a colourful character at that), but he rather delighted in a little listen and tell himself. And goodness wasn't the town full of rumour this evening! The supposed story on everyone's lips being that of the late Lady Elyssia, found quite dead shortly after the evening's dealings at the Church. 

While not usually one to be particularly concerned with the welfare of the upper classes, this was turning out to be an interesting tale indeed and quite had Liam's attention. Some rather wild accusations were flying about... Based on what evidence was unclear, since the authorities were apparently keeping the truth of the matter hushed for the meanwhile. A suspicious act in itself.

Liam laughed to himself as he walked (or, to anyone watching him, staggered) through the street. His destination was, of course, the Church. He was on a mission of the utmost importance. That was, to go and see if he could find out anything interesting about what was going on. Apparently, the one that found the body was still up there. Think what he might learn! He would return to the tavern with news and more importantly fact and he would be celebrated! A hero of the people!

He snorted, amused by his own humour and came to a stop outside the Church gates. Of course, while a celebration seemed perhaps the least likely event, he might at least be able to get a little money and a few drinks in exchange for some information. And that was worth it; he'd just finished off the last of the whiskey he'd had stashed at home. Besides! What was the worst that could happen? He'd gotten away with more than a little trespassing before. Everything would be fine.

With a grin, he started a clamber over the Church gates. Not sober enough to give a damn about the noise he was creating, the gates clanged and the chains binding them shut rattled. But with some determined effort (mainly concentrated on not falling off) Liam hauled himself over the bars and dropped down into the grounds.

[defectivetowndrunk]

A Forgotten Discovery [Solo]

Sitting on the floor of his shack (if you could grace it with a label even of that calibre), Liam pulled his cloak tighter about himself. Lord it was cold! The chill was settling in fast this year. He looked over at the single oil lamp in the room, almost wistfully. He had ran out of oil for the thing last week and had not yet held some money back to buy more. Spending the evenings in the dark he didn't mind, but this perishing cold? That was another thing entirely! Even if the lamp wouldn't provide that much heat, the glow of light and illusion of warmth from it would be enough. 

Liam sighed, annoyed. If he hadn't of gotten kicked out of the tavern so early this wouldn't have been an issue in the first place. It was always light and warm in those places. It hadn't even particularly been his fault. Well... Alright, he'd started the argument but there had been no reason to toss him out so quickly. The drunkard leant back against the wall, peering through the slowly settling gloom at the surrounding squalor.

...What about starting a small fire? There must be something about here the he could burn. He'd use a taper on one of the lights outside to light something. But what? Slowly, on his hands and knees, Liam crawled about the room, shifting aside empty bottles and other less-than-hygienic debris. Anything would do, he’d pull a little wood off the bottom of the door again if necessary, he was already used to the draft. So really, what he needed was some sort of kindling, something like…

“Paper.”

Liam turned his attention to a box tossed, seemingly without care, in the corner of the room. Clambering over to it, he pulled it away from the wall and started going through the contents. Memories, mostly. Parchments and even a book or two from his brother’s last days at school. All of his own belongings like that had been thrown years ago, but this lot seemed… More important, somehow. After a moment of silence, Liam tutted, scolding himself. This was no time to get nostalgic. He’d not had enough to drink to excuse himself for it.

These would do. Maybe it would even do him good to burn such things. It’s not like they had any other use anymore. He pulled a little more from the box then stopped. Now there was something he had not seen in a long time. He lifted the book from the box, brushing dust and dirt off the cover. The scrawled writing on the front, scratched into the battered leather cover read:

Journal of L. Horne. Started on the 5th day of the 3rd month Age of 14

His quest for warmth forgotten, Liam sat and started flicking through the book. Half of it was illegible or stained, written when drunk or no doubt upset. He turned to the last entry in the book, the writing shaky and the sentences strained. He read it through a couple of times, the memory of the evening coming to mind as if it had been days ago, not years. He’d lost interest in keeping track of the world by then, stopped writing. Thoughtfully, he ran his fingers over the page. There was still plenty of space left in the book.

Perhaps with all this change that was coming to their dear little town, he should start keeping track once more.

[defectivetowndrunk]

~Headcanon~

Liam doesn't particularly have a favourite haunt where he holes up to drink, not particularly out of choice but because he ends up getting kicked out and temporarily barred from certain taverns for his mischief. Because of this, he'll end up drinking wherever will take him in that evening. Since he circulates, he'll often begin to recognise the regulars, one of which being Mal who he will occasionally go and bother for booze and a laugh.

[knightkit-deactivated20140116]

Of course! The more the merrier.

Both the jousting and the swords.

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Marvellous~! Ah, the jousting you say? But I had though that was only open to knights... And you're too fair of face to be a cheat, so by all logic you must be a knight! Should I salute, m'lady~?"

"I've never met a female knight before. What's that like? Interesting?"

[anunexpectedassassin-blog]

"You can leave any time, sure you have much better company in mind… Especially with that company being a drink you obviously want, and in your mind need."

"I wouldn’t go as far to say that we’re all the same… But everyone has a secret, and everyone has something they’re ashamed of. Even if they haven’t admitted it to themselves."

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Yeah, alright, alright. I know when I ain't wanted around anymore. I'll leave you to your brooding and... Such."

"And I will get that drink. Somehow. And I'll enjoy it doubly in your honour, sweetheart."

[knightkit-deactivated20140116]

Why yes you do. I at least feel the need to celebrate for myself if no one else does.

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Oh, well, I shan't pass up a reason to celebrate! If I may join you of course~?" 

"What did you win?"

[knightkit-deactivated20140116]

I won swords and jousting. I just.. I can’t believe I won the jousting.

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Oh, hello..."

"Do I hear some celebrations going on over here~?"

[defectivetowndrunk]

Prize Priorities [Tourney Para]

Liam honestly had no idea how he was still competing. Firstly, he had three quarts- or was it four?- of whiskey inside him, gracious courtesy of Morgaine. Secondly, his head was pounding and the chequered board kept fluctuating the longer he looked at it. Thirdly… Well, he was just bored at this point. He’d won three games and this one was heading in the same direction.

The problem was, those that didn’t know him assumed him to be stupid. Just another dim slumrat, an easy win. This was not the case. The fact often made him unnecessarily smug. He’d gotten his education, if not a particularly fancy one, and he knew how to work a chess board. Admittedly he’d made his share of mistakes during his games… Only to be expected through the alcoholic haze. But he had a natural knack for wrangling and had managed to turn them back to his advantage.

But he was fast getting fed up, not to mention it was chilly being sat here unable to move around. And he was dying for a drink. Sighing, Liam gave a glance around the area. There were so many people! He’d expected to see a lot in the combat tourneys, but the chess one too? Was it really worth all this hassle for one hundred and fifty pieces of gold? He was starting to think not.

An impatient cough from the woman opposite him took his attention back. She motioned, with an unsettlingly smooth gesture, to the board. Apparently it was his move. Absently clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Liam dragged himself upright and confidentially leaned over the table between them.

“Oi, sweetheart. You want to win, yes?”

The woman looked him over, seemed to make some connection in her mind and scowled, recoiling from him slightly. Liam laughed. Not what he was after. Not right now, at least. Grinning with an air of sickly innocence, he leant his elbows on the table top and rested his chin in his upturned palms.

“Give me enough coin for a few goes at the bar and you can have this game. Worth it for a shot at the prize winnings, right?”

She seemed to consider this a fair moment. Eventually though, she nodded, dipped a hand beneath the table and came back up with a small change purse. With a positively wolfish smile, Liam extended a hand and the woman placed the small bag in his palm. A little lighter than he was looking for, but should get a couple in for both he and Morgaine.

“Much appreciated, sweetheart. And good luck, because I would have won in three more moves.”

He stood, giving her a sly wink before walking over the grass, slapping the nearest judge on the back and announcing his resignation. Ducking out the area, he practically skipped back to the drinks tent. A heavier pocket always meant a lighter attitude.

[anunexpectedassassin-blog]

"I don’t avoid it, I accept everything for what it truly is, and most of what this world is, is simply not happy. I’m sure if everyone took a second to look around for once they’d realize it to."

"We’re all guilty of being such, that’s who most of us are anyway, purely human and subject to our own vile tendencies. There’s nothing to thank, while I may be stubborn and cold as you say, I don’t think of myself as any better than anyone of these parts. We all have things we’re ashamed of, right?"

[defectivetowndrunk]

"...It's giving me a headache goin' round in these conversation loops. That or the hangover's coming back with a vengence, must be time for a top up."

"But yeah, alright. I'll concede to that. I mean, I personally don't bother holding much pride anymore or bother to get ashamed of anythin', it's to much of a hassle. But you're right. Everyone has their pasts. Everyone fucks up. We're all the same breed, at the end of the day."

[anunexpectedassassin-blog]

"How is being realistic a shame? If anything I would consider it a blessing."

"Can a woman not be set in her ways? Although I do take pride in being set in my own, as should everyone. I suppose that would be the best we can hope for."

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Not being realistic... This sort of odd avoidance of happiness you have. Or feeling for no need of it. I think that's a shame. Not my place to say though, I guess. Never is."

"What do I know anyway, right? Without my drink, I'm fuckin' miserable. Might as well add 'hypocrite' onto that mental reference list I'm sure you're makin' about me, I'm kinda surprised you gave me the time of day. Kinda appreciate it actually."

[defectivetowndrunk]

Mischief to Manage [Morgaine]

[blacksheepmorgaine]

Morgaine wasn’t sure if the event would have been as funny if she hadn’t had two drinks before but for now it was the most exciting, and funniest part of her day.

That was normally what happened with Liam. He was dependable in that aspect. If she ever needed a laugh, or just a good time, once the two of them got a few drinks, they both seemed willing for just about anything. Though the next mornings might be painful and a bit hazey, it was still worth it in the long all.

It didn’t take long to get back to the drinks tent and the two of them had a whiskey in hand. The drink went down quickly before Morgaine looked over to Liam.

"Well after all that excitement, looks like I have a swords tourney to be heading off too soon."

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Thank you, you're a star, my dear."

He looked at the glass a moment, if considering it thoughtfully. He supposed he should try and make this one last if Morgaine was going to be absent for a while. Though it was a bit of a stretch to keep it for the whole sword-fight. Especially since he'd more than likely have to wait to see Morgaine actually get in the arena. 

"Mm, that's true... I'd wish you luck, but I know you don't need it."

And true enough, he had full confidence in her. He'd seen her fight of many a man with those blades of hers, which he assumed she would be using. Liam had never seen her use anything else. Morgaine had some sort of attachment to those weapons of hers. Which was fine by him; she was skilled with them.

"I shall have to think of a chant for you, something lewd and awful and that will annoy the surrounding spectators and hopefully distract your opponent."

Liam shot her a grin. He had a little while yet, he'd think of something suitable to belt out as she fought.  

[anunexpectedassassin-blog]

"None at all, is it so hard to believe just don’t have a need for it?"

"Then we finally have a common ground, just as you don’t set aspirations I don’t fool myself into a grand happy ending. Like you said I’m alive, and for now that’s good enough."

[defectivetowndrunk]

"Well... Alright, sweetheart, I just think it's a shame, that's all."

"And fine... I think we're both as stubborn as mules on our points. Which ain't always a bad thing. Though I don't think I ever met a woman so set in her ways. Agree to disagree, shall we?"