(2021-09-29) The Bros of Bruuk's Corner - The Dashing and the Dastardly

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	Ben and Sil have their weekly outing to Bruuk's Corner in Ironforge. This week they're joined by Misses Meriane Donnach and Glynara Cragheart (senator's daughter) for conversation about families (cursed and otherwise), names, and romance novels.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Bros of Bruuk's Corner

Silvestre waves at Ben.
Bennarin grins. "Hey, Sil. Got you a beer." He slides it over.
Silvestre catches the beer with one hand, and picks it up to take a drink. Then he says, "Thanks, Ben."
[Bennarin]: I am buyin' everyone's beers tonight, I decided.
[Merìane]: Hello! Are there any Cobalt Company people in here?
Merìane peers at Tisa Martine searchingly.
Bennarin tips his head toward the stairs at the unfamiliar voice from below.
Silvestre perks up at that. He calls, "Yes! Cobalt people right here!"
[Merìane]: Aha!
[Merìane]: I knew Uncle Elo wouldn't lie!
Bennarin surveys Merìane with interest. "Uncle Elo? Uh, also, I am buyin' drinks tonight. Get you one?"
[Silvestre]: Whoa, what? He's really your uncle?
[Merìane]: He's not really my uncle. But he was almost married to my mom and then sort of became like a son to my grandfather, I guess? So I call him Uncle Elo. I'm Meriane Donnach! My mother was Mirielle Crawford, his ex-fiancee! Apparently. Hi!
[Merìane]: You can call me Meri.
Bennarin looks a little bemused by this whole chain of relations, but nods solemnly.
[Bennarin]: We are not really cousins, in that case, miss. Have a sit.
Bennarin nods at a chair.
[Merìane]: Oh also do you know Sir Sevastyn Black? He's my sweetheart. Oh are you related to Uncle Elo too?
[Merìane]: Not that I'm actually related.
Silvestre looks a bit dazed by the explanation. "I feel like I oughta contrive some way of bein' related to him too."
[Merìane]: Do you know Fionette Crawford? She's in Cobalt Company. I am related to her, though we don't look anything alike. Except for the freckles I suppose.
[Bennarin]: I am his … son? Adopt. Not actually blood. He's married to my aunt. Ma. Uh, also adopt. My aunt an' him adopt me, I mean. Hi. I'm Ben.
[Merìane]: Hi Ben! It sounds like your family is also very complicated!
[Bennarin]: That is a way of putting it. So. Drink?
[Merìane]: Sure! I should warn you I'm a fire mage, though.
[Bennarin]: … does bein' a fire mage mean you … ain't drink beer, or …? What would you like, Miz Meriane?
[Merìane]: Oh, being a fire mage just means maybe I shouldn't be around anything too -strong- in case I make it explode.
[Silvestre]: I'm Sil! My family is really simple. Fionette… she was the one who punched somebody, yeah?
[Merìane]: Fionette punched somebody?!?
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I dunno details. Jo just mentioned it once.
Merìane looks to Ben. Does HE know details??? her expression says.
[Bennarin]: Fionette punched Cole but he asked for it. I mean he actually did, he wasn't bein' an ass or somethin'.
[Merìane]: Who's Cole?
Silvestre looks at Ben. "Huh. He's kinda odd."
[Bennarin]: Colson Aspenwood. Also a paladin. He knows your … Black. Sir Black? Who is also a friend of my aunt's. Ma's. I ain't met him yet, though.
Bennarin signals to Edris Barleybeard and points at Meriane. "The cherry thing, Edris."
Edris nods and bustles off to get a glass of 'the cherry thing.'
[Merìane]: You haven't met Sir Black yet? He's the most amazing man in the world.
Silvestre looks sceptically at Meriane, but says, "I have not met him yet. I'm sure he's great."
[Bennarin]: Reckon we're all about to, from what I hear. My … Mr Ference and Aunt Nir think pretty high of him. He's … your fellow?
Bennarin looks Meriane up and down again. He may be trying to determine her age.
[Merìane]: Yes, we're terribly in love. It's like something from a novel. He's — a bit older than I am, but he tragically lost his wife in the last war and he needed someone happy and bright to bring him back to life, like the earth after a long winter!
[Bennarin]: Oh.
[Silvestre]: That does sound like a storybook. *Sil says, taking a sip of his beer.*
Edris Barleybeard reappears and sets a glass of something very red and fizzy in front of Meriane. She bobs a curtsey and returns to her post by the stairs.
[Merìane]: Oh…! Oh, it has bubbles!
[Merìane]: What's in it???
Merìane pokes it.
[Bennarin]: Gonna be honest, I don't know. I know a lot of gi— uh, ladies here like it?
[Silvestre]: Uh, cherry, they said?
[Glynara]: Well look who et es! Ben Hazan! An'… have we met? *She tips her head at Sil and Meri.*
Bennarin sits up and lifts his beer to Glynara. "Hey, Miss Glyn! Drinks on me."
Merìane greets Glynara with a hearty hello!
[Merìane]: Hi, I'm Meri!
[Silvestre]: And I'm Sil Silentstep. *Sil follows suit and lifts his beer in greeting to Miss Glyn*
[Glynara]: I woon't say no to a drink or two. How're the three of ye t'night?
[Silvestre]: Doin' good!
[Bennarin]: Miss, I am doin' real great.
[Glynara]: Real great? Great!!
Glynara smiles at Ben.
Bennarin grins back at Glynara.
[Merìane]: Silentstep! Ooooh, that sounds like something from a book, too. I've… been reading a lot of books lately.
[Bennarin]: You read any Steelbloom ones?
[Merìane]: I've read ALL the Steelbloom ones, oh LIGHT.
[Bennarin]: Oh yeah? I read a couple. I know people like 'em.
[Silvestre]: Like maybe the hero? *Sil asks hopefully*
[Bennarin]: Oh, c'mon. Silentstep is definitely a hero name.
[Bennarin]: Not even a question.
Silvestre grins at Ben.
Bennarin waves at Edris again and points to Glynara.
[Merìane]: Yes, Sil, I swear there WAS a book where the hero was … SilentSOMETHING. Or something very like it. A roguish and dastardly yet charming hero with a secret heart of gold!
[Bennarin]: Aw, that's Sil. Except the dastardly. He ain't dastardly.
Glynara purses her lips at all this talk of romance novels, making a face that suggests she would never read such a thing. The face is a lie.
[Merìane]: Oh, that's almost disappointing.
[Merìane]: I've always wanted to meet someone dastardly.
[Merìane]: Do you know anyone dastardly I could meet?
[Bennarin]: Uhhh, I bet we could think of someone if you give us a minute.
Merìane giggles.
Bennarin looks at Sil.
[Silvestre]: I could try dastardly on for a while. *Sil makes a menacing face. He then ruins it by smiling.*
[Bennarin]: I dunno, Sil. I just don't think you got dastardly in you. *Ben shakes his head sadly.*
[Silvestre]: Probably not many dastards in Cobalt anyway, *Sil muses*
[Bennarin]: Oh! Ginevieve. She count as dastardly?
[Silvestre]: I still have not met her!
[Bennarin]: Damn, Sil, you have got some circus luck there, I'm tellin' you.
[Silvestre]: I don't know, what makes dastardly, exactly? Just bein' mean?
[Bennarin]: But no, I don't think it's just meanness. I think you gotta be, like — malicious. Connivin', and stuff.
[Silvestre]: Huh. *Sil thinks* Not a thing I'd assume of people. What about Sharpgear? People say he kills folks.
[Bennarin]: Like the kind of character in a book or a play who would wear a cape and twirl a mousta— oh hey, yeah, Sharpgear's got the moustache, ain't he?
[Silvestre]: Maybe the moustache is enough? I don't know about malicious and conniving though…
Bennarin ponders this, and drinks more beer. Edris returns to set a pint down for Glynara. It is good Dwarven ale this time, not 'the cherry thing.'
[Bennarin]: Yeah, dunno neither.
[Bennarin]: Think it's got to be more than just the moustache. It's a character thing. Personality.
[Bennarin]: Maybe havin' a dastardly personality means you are more likely to like a moustache, though.
Merìane is actually taking notes on this.
[Silvestre]: And probably good fashion. I think dastardly people have good fashion sense.
[Bennarin]: Oh, yeah.
Bennarin nods firmly.
[Glynara]: Aye, well, a moustache wi'ou' a proper beard is right suspect.
Silvestre points at Glynara.
[Silvestre]: Exactly. Dastardly.
Bennarin nods respectfully at Glynara.
Glynara enjoys her Dwarven ale.
[Merìane]: Sir Black has a moustache, but also a 'proper beard.' A really nice beard, actually.
Bennarin nods politely.
[Merìane]: He's the opposite of dastardly. The Light practically shines out of his pores.
Silvestre tries to imagine this, and shudders.
Bennarin nods again politely. He drinks some beer.
[Bennarin]: He sounds very nice, miss.
[Silvestre]: Sounds like an amazing guy.
[Merìane]: If he sounds "very nice" I'm not describing him properly. Yes, he's amazing. *She beams at Sil.*
[Glynara]: Are ye lot all with Cobalt Company then? I know ye are Ben.
[Silvestre]: Oh yeah, I've been in since like the beginning.
[Bennarin]: Sil's one of the first Cobalts I met. She is — uh. Not. *Ben nods respectfully at Meriane nonetheless. No slight intended.*
[Merìane]: I'm not with Cobalt Company! I'm with the Argent Dawn! *She sits up a little straighter.* They do take mages, you know, if they're good Light-fearing types. My gentleman-friend Sir Black was one of the founding members, and he recruited me.
[Merìane]: Before we became romantically involved, that is. We fell in love after that.
[Bennarin]: And Sil, Miss Glyn was the interview right before me when I join the Company. She is — oh, is that right?
[Glynara]: I was right before ye??
Bennarin returns his polite interest to Meriane.
[Bennarin]: Yes, miss. I seen you comin' out before I went in. I thought I mention this before?
[Glynara]: I think I didnae realize ye were bein lit'ral.
[Bennarin]: I am mostly pretty literal, miss.
Merìane giggles at Ben.
Bennarin arches a sly eyebrow at Meriane and drinks.
[Glynara]: Well tha's a good way tae be. Makes it easier tae understand ye.
Glynara smiles brightly, showing her dimples.
[Bennarin]: Yes, miss.
[Glynara]: So what's the news t'day? Anythin good?
[Bennarin]: Yes.
[Glynara]: Or bad but entertainin?
[Glynara]: Do tell!
[Silvestre]: A bit.
Merìane peers at Ben searchingly.
Silvestre looks to Ben.
Merìane drinks her fizzy cherry thing.
Bennarin sits up. He is glowing a little. He glances at Sil and then back to the two ladies. "I am goin' to have a baby brother. And also I am courtin' Miss Ismene Callis."
Merìane cheers at Ben.
Merìane claps excitedly for Ben.
[Bennarin]: So that's why I am buyin' all the drinks.
[Merìane]: Who's Ismene Callis?
[Glynara]: Mizzy? The li’l manager type lass?
[Silvestre]: Priestess who works with us at Cobalt. And one of my best friends!
[Glynara]: Sees to the office an' things?
[Silvestre]: Yeah, she does that.
[Merìane]: Congratulations!
[Silvestre]: And she didn't get fired, with the restructure.
Bennarin nods gravely.
[Merìane]: And a baby brother, how unexpected!!
[Glynara]: Of course they wouldnae fire Mizzy! She's the only thing keepin' tha' place in one piece!
Bennarin nods firmly at Glynara and lifts his pint to her.
[Bennarin]: She is a good girl.
Silvestre nods at Glynara.
[Silvestre]: She keeps us all in one piece.
[Merìane]: Wait… didn't Uncle Elo sort of… just get married?
[Bennarin]: Yes miss, he did.
[Merìane]: When's the baby coming?
Glynara frowns like this is an Inappropriate Question.
[Bennarin]: May. Beginnin' of.
Merìane counts on her fingers, VERY inappropriately.
Glynara frowns more, but seems very interested in Meri's math.
Bennarin also watches this with interest.
Silvestre looks at Meri, face neutral. "Are you uh… finding this confusing?"
Glynara beckons Meri over.
Merìane leans in.
Glynara whispers to her.
Merìane whispers back.
Glynara looks SCANDALIZED.
Bennarin raises his eyebrows at the whispering.
Merìane looks a little smug.
Merìane and Glynara both take simultaneous drinks to hide smiles.
Silvestre looks over at Ben, like 'some of these girls, am I right?'
Bennarin looks back at Sil like 'you are very right, bro.'
Merìane now looks very, very thoughtful…
[Silvestre]: So yeah. Great news! Healthy baby on the horizon!
Bennarin raises his pint again. Edris Barleybeard arrives to set another one on the table, possibly misinterpreting the gesture. Or possibly not, as Ben finishes the current one.
Glynara raises a drink to Ben. Cheers!
Silvestre raises his own drink and takes a big swig.
[Glynara]: Tha's real excitin’! No hope fer a baby sibling fer me; I dinnae think Da will ever remarry.
[Bennarin]: Aw, I didn't know your ma was — I'm sorry, Miss Glyn.
Merìane appears to be very, very lost in thought.
[Glynara]: Oh aye, she didnae make it through the last war. But I know she's with the Light now. She was one o' the faithful like tha'. Pretty unusual a' the time.
Bennarin nods solemnly. He glances at Meri.
Silvestre nods soberly at Glyn.
[Glynara]: I know her spirit watches over me; 'swhy I have such good luck all the time! *Her voice remains chirpy and cheery.*
Merìane still seems to be Plotting Something, eyes far away.
[Bennarin]: Well … bless, miss.
Bennarin has an Eye on Meri now even as he addresses Glyn.
Glynara eyes Meri too, now that she sees she does not have all the attention. What is that girl up to?
Merìane seems to notice the eyes on her, and then startles slightly, smiling. "Oh! Sorry, drifted off a bit. Thinking about Sev…"
[Merìane]: Sir Black, I mean.
Silvestre is oblivious to Meri's scheming for the moment. He looks back at Ben and adds, "I had one more bit of kind-of news, from yesterday. I went back down to Booty Bay for the evening."
[Merìane]: OOoooooh, Booty Bay!
Bennarin raises his eyebrows and leans toward Sil, putting an elbow on the table.
Glynara listens intently to Silvestre.
[Silvestre]: I think I saw my sister down there. I don't know why she'd be down there, less she was actually looking for me.
[Bennarin]: What? Sylvie? No shi— uh, no way.
Bennarin sits up again, brows knit.
[Silvestre]: I saw her just a second, and she looked real surprised and almost like… scared?
[Glynara]: Tha's real suspect.
[Bennarin]: So she saw you back?
[Silvestre]: Yeah, pretty sure. Unless there was a rotter behind me or something I didn't see.
[Merìane]: You never know, in Booty Bay!!
[Bennarin]: What was she doin' when you saw her? Where was she at?
[Silvestre]: Oh um… there was a lotta rum… I guess I was down by the harbor? There was some goblins 'round there. I saw her like by a doorway.
Merìane giggles at Silvestre.
Bennarin is leaning toward Sil again. He looks very focused, and not very amused. Not even by the rum.
Glynara frowns slightly.
[Glynara]: I take it you an' yer sister dinnae get along?
Silvestre looks to Glyn, and says, "No, ma'am. I ran away from 'em all."
[Merìane]: I'm a runaway too! Uh, they found me, though.
Glynara frowns more.
Silvestre looks at Meri. "Oh, I'm sorry! Hope you got away again?"
[Merìane]: Well, sort of. I don't have to do what they say anymore, at least.
Glynara is just frowning at everyone now.
Bennarin frowns into his beer. It is his turn to be lost in thought.
Silvestre notices Ben's intent expression. "What?"
[Bennarin]: You think your dad was there? Ain't he go to Booty Bay sometimes on business?
[Silvestre]: Huh, maybe? He goes all around the world. Or did. I dunno. Maybe Sylvie and Simon run things now, they're like almost thirty. *He says this like it is impossibly old*
Merìane nods, this is very old.
[Glynara]: I cannae imagine runnin' away from me family.
[Merìane]: I'll bet you can't imagine my family, then.
[Bennarin]: Miss Glynara, I think you have been real blessed in your family, an' that's nice. But everyone ain't.
[Merìane]: Very, very true.
Glynara 's eyes go a little soft and sad, at that.
[Glynara]: I'm real sorry to hear that.
[Glynara]: Fine folks like you deserve a good family!
Bennarin raises his pint somberly to Glynara, and gives her a little nod.
Silvestre smiles at Glyn and raises his pint. "If we don't get a good family to start with, we gotta go find one, right?"
[Merìane]: Ben has a little brother coming, and a lady friend!
[Merìane]: So he's on his way!
Bennarin grins again. He can't help himself.
[Merìane]: How about you, Sil?
Glynara peers at Silvestre searchingly.
[Silvestre]: I do not have a particular lady friend. *Sil puts on a mock-despondent face.* And far as I know, no siblings on the way.
Bennarin suppresses a grin at Sil's specification about particular lady friends.
[Merìane]: Oh, I like how you say particular, like you might have some nonparticular lady friends.
Merìane giggles at Silvestre.
Glynara looks gently scandalized.
[Merìane]: With a name like Silentstep you could probably have all the lady friends you want!
Glynara frowns with disappointment at Merìane.
[Bennarin]: "He is the first Silentstep, of House Silentstep, y'know."
Bennarin nods solemnly.
Silvestre nods proudly. "Yep, first one. It's a good family name. I know 'cause I made it."
[Bennarin]: Ladies are gonna line up to get that … name.
Bennarin has had a couple of beers already.
Silvestre grins at Ben.
[Merìane]: You can just make up your own name?? That's amazing!
[Glynara]: Pretty much all names start ou' tha' way.
[Silvestre]: Apparently, yeah! I talked to a lawyer and all.
[Merìane]: You're a nice looking fellow, Sil. Not that I'm flirting. I belong to Sir Black BODY AND SOUL, FOR ETERNITY. But if I were some other girl I would definitely find you handsome. So I'll bet many girls do. What do you think, Glyn? It was Glyn right?
[Glynara]: Yes, Glynara Craghart. Like the Senator. 'Cause he's me da.
[Glynara]: An' I suppose he's handsome enough as barefaced human types go.
Glynara smiles at Silvestre.
[Silvestre]: Oh, wow! You do have a great family. *Sil smiles at her*
[Glynara]: The best family, in my opinion. But I guess tha's a good opinion tae have of one's own family, aye?
[Silvestre]: Yep, I think the Silentsteps are a good bunch *He grins at Ben again* And it doesn't hurt with the ladies.
[Merìane]: My family's cursed. LITERALLY CURSED.
[Silvestre]: Oh, what? Like by Medivh?
[Merìane]: No, my family's from up north. Medivh was a… down here thing.
[Merìane]: But my grandfather annoyed some… hedge witch or something? And got cursed or something. So says cousin Fi.
[Bennarin]: Aw, they used to say that about my family. Cursed, I mean.
[Bennarin]: Pretty sure they was all just assholes though.
[Merìane]: To cursed families! *She raises her fizzy drink, or what's left of it.*
Silvestre reflexively raises his beer and then says, "Wait, is that a toasting thing?"
Glynara laughs at Silvestre.
Bennarin waves at Edris Barleybeard and gestures generally around the table at everyone. Edris very pointedly does not sigh — she makes an 'I am not sighing' face — and heads downstairs to the bar again.
[Glynara]: A dwarf'll drink tae anythin! And yer in a dwarven tavern, so…
[Silvestre]: To cursed families? *Sil says uncertainly, but then very decisively downs the last gulp of his beer.*
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Well, more like, to gettin' out of cursed families, an' meetin' or makin' non-cursed ones.
[Glynara]: Aye!
[Bennarin]: Like, I bet the Silentsteps are gonna be not-cursed as hell.
[Silvestre]: Super not-cursed. *Sil nods enthusiastically*
[Merìane]: Are you going to try to find a special lady friend? Or be all roguish, and cat around and whatnot?
Merìane peers at Silvestre searchingly.
Glynara frowns at Meri.
[Merìane]: I think if I hadn't met Sir Black right away I'd probably be catting around all over the place. So it's good that I met him right away. I'd have gotten the absolutely worst reputation. But now that I've met him, no one else could ever compare!
[Glynara]: Aw, that's sweet. *Her smile is a little strained.*
Bennarin drinks the remainder of his beer in a couple of long swallows. He has nothing to say on the subject of catting around. Not at present.
Silvestre gives Meri an innocent look. "I would say I am waiting to find a particular lady friend, but that don't mean I can't meet some other ones along the way."
[Merìane]: I think that's usually how it works! Or so I've heard, and read.
[Glynara]: Aye, I've thrown out a couple o' rotten apples, still waitin' for the righ' fella.
[Bennarin]: I mean, sometimes you have got to meet a lot of ladies before you know which one to be particular about.
Glynara eyes Ben up and down.
[Glynara]: I dunno abou' a LOT.
[Bennarin]: Well. I said sometimes.
Silvestre stifles a laugh.
[Merìane]: At least a few, usually! Unless a magnificent silver-haired knight just happens to literally ride up on a horse and rescue you.
[Bennarin]: Maybe sometimes you are … lucky. Like Miss Meriane there, yeah.
Glynara sighs. "Tha' sounds nice."
[Merìane]: It was!
[Silvestre]: That would be a hard one to top.
Merìane sighs dreamily.
Merìane looks at Sil, and then suddenly bursts into wild giggles.
[Bennarin]: Sil, would you like a silver-haired knight to ride up on a horse an' rescue you? I would not have guessed.
[Merìane]: Some men like that sort of thing!!
[Merìane]: There's nothing wrong with it! Or so I've heard and read.
[Glynara]: Aye, I go' a cousin goes tha' way.
[Bennarin]: Yeah but I feel like Sil is more likely to do some rescuin'. Like, with a knife between his teeth, swoopin' out of the shadows or somethin'.
[Merìane]: Ooooooh.
Bennarin nods gravely.
Silvestre looks baffled for a moment, and then blushes. "I did not… I mean, I don't know if… I meant for Meri… not that I wouldn't…" he latches onto Ben's comment and adds, "Yeah, I could do the rescuin'."
[Merìane]: Just not in a knightly way.
[Silvestre]: In an almost dastardly way? *he asks hopefully, with a smile*
Edris returns to distribute another round of drinks.
[Bennarin]: Naw, Sil, you'd rescue in a dashin’ way.
[Silvestre]: That sounds good. Dashin'.
[Glynara]: I gotta go fer a man, meself.
[Merìane]: Got to? Or want to?
Glynara blinks, like she's not sure how to process this question.
[Merìane]: Would you prefer a knight or a rogue, Glyn?
[Glynara]: Oh, a knight, fer sure! Cannae have Senator Craghart's gal runnin' aroun' with some good-fer-nothin' rogue.
[Merìane]: But a dwarven knight with a nice big beard?
[Glynara]: Aye! Sounds parfect!
Glynara and Meri giggle at each other.
[Silvestre]: And nicely… barrel-shaped? Yeah, I don't know what dwarf girls look for.
Bennarin laughs.
[Glynara]: Big solid chest, thick luxuuuurious beeeard. Nice fuzzy chest tae snuggle up against!
[Merìane]: … You're sort of describing Sev?
[Glynara]: Shorter.
[Silvestre]: 'cept he's too tall for a dwarf.
[Silvestre]: Yeah.
Merìane giggles.
[Glynara]: I dinnae want tae have tae stand on a chair tae give 'im a kess.
[Bennarin]: There's a beardy knight dwarf fellow in Cobalt. What's his name? Tadget — no, that's … Tadget.
[Bennarin]: Somethin' like Tadget.
[Glynara]: Fer real??
[Silvestre]: Tadget has not got a beard. She was a little thing.
[Silvestre]: Um… Tadagen?
[Silvestre]: I went out fightin' with him once!
Bennarin snaps his fingers and points at Sil.
[Bennarin]: That's the one, yeah.
[Glynara]: I havenae met 'im! Wot's 'e like??
[Glynara]: Is 'e good lookin?
[Glynara]: How old?
[Silvestre]: Uh.
Merìane giggles.
[Bennarin]: He has … got a beard. And he's a paladin. And a dwarf?
[Merìane]: Never ask men if other men are good looking.
[Silvestre]: I did not really evaluate his looks.
[Merìane]: Even if they notice they have to pretend they don't, for some reason.
[Silvestre]: He's so handsome, you'd love him. *Sil deadpans*
Merìane giggles at Silvestre.
[Bennarin]: What? You can ask men that. I say all the time how Sil here is the prettiest fellow I know.
Bennarin waves his beer at Sil. It's hard to tell if he's joking.
[Silvestre]: And I just accept the compliment, 'cause I know I am.
Bennarin nods solemnly. "He does."
[Merìane]: Well Sil is awfully pretty. DON'T TELL SEV I SAID THAT.
[Bennarin]: … I will not, miss.
[Merìane]: I'm sure he'd be terribly jealous. *Meri may be confusing Sev with herself.*
[Bennarin]: Well, I would hate for Sil an' Sir Black to have to fight. Sil is real good with a knife.
[Merìane]: Sev could beat anyone in a fight.
[Silvestre]: I will not tell Sev, if ever I meet him *Sil puts a hand over his heart* Though I suppose he'd see then, that I am very pretty.
[Bennarin]: Oh, yeah. I bet he'd understand once he saw Sil.
[Merìane]: Sev could have beat ANDUIN LOTHAR in a fight.
Bennarin peers at Meriane.
Merìane seems absolutely certain of this.
Silvestre sets his empty beer on the table. "I guess I probably better head out. I'll do the dishes tonight, right Ben?"
[Merìane]: Oh, you live together?
[Bennarin]: Oh, yeah. Thanks, Sil.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, roommates!
[Silvestre]: See you back home. *Sil smiles and waves* And see you all next time!
[Glynara]: I never met a man who did dishes!
[Glynara]: I guess if it's only men livin' taegether though… Nah. Dwarf house, dishes'd just pile up twice as fast not gettin' washed.
Merìane laughs at Glynara.
[Bennarin]: Well, I do the cookin' mostly.
[Glynara]: An' you cook? Human men are awful strange.
[Bennarin]: Yes'm, I do. I like to.
[Merìane]: Do you think your lady friend will want to cook for you?
Glynara seems interested in his answer too.
Bennarin considers this. "You know, I dunno if she knows how to cook. I ain't think she do. She is real good at … embroiderin'? And she has got amazin' penmanship."
[Bennarin]: But if she can't cook, I do not mind. I'll just go on doin' it. I done it for my ma and for Aunt Nir.
[Glynara]: Tha's fascinatin'.
[Bennarin]: Is it?
[Glynara]: I just en't used to hearin' about menfolk doin' that kinda thing for their women.
[Glynara]: Seems… well, I guess humans have their own ways, hm?
Glynara dimples sweetly.
[Merìane]: I think she's really lucky to have you.
Bennarin reddens.
[Bennarin]: Aw, hell, naw, Miss Meri. You should know her, really. She is … a very fine girl.
[Merìane]: I'm glad! And I hope you find someone nice too, Glyn. A bearded dwarven knight!
Glynara giggles at Merìane.
Bennarin nods. "Tadget. Uh, not Tadget. Look him up."
[Glynara]: Well, I got plenty o' time. Only twenty-five.
[Merìane]: I'm twenty-three!
[Glynara]: Aye, but that's older for humans.
[Bennarin]: Wait, twenty-five twenty-five, or twenty-five in dwarf years?
[Glynara]: … Just… same years as everyone?
[Bennarin]: Oh.
[Glynara]: Seasons turn the same fer us all, aye?
[Bennarin]: Sorry, I get age-countin' confuse. It's hard to know what the numbers mean between different people, yeah?
[Merìane]: Right, but humans get old faster.
[Glynara]: Oh, aye, well, like, we can have babies until we're like two hundred.
[Merìane]: Oh goodness!
Bennarin whistles.
[Glynara]: So aye, no rush here.
Glynara giggles at Merìane.
[Merìane]: I probably only have ten or fifteen more years, so I'd better hurry! I want to have at least six children.
[Glynara]: Oh my.
[Glynara]: I… one or two'd be plenty for me.
[Bennarin]: Uh, wow. Six?
[Merìane]: Yes. I have to make up for the Crawford Curse, you see.
[Bennarin]: I mean, I reckon you got more like fifteen, if you're twenty-three. My Aunt Nir's forty-five, y'know, but she's a … outlier?
[Bennarin]: Six in ten would be … tough to pull off.
[Merìane]: Forty-five??? She's the one having a baby? Oh my!
Bennarin nods proudly. His aunt is an outlier.
[Merìane]: My mother is younger than that I think!
[Merìane]: She must be tremendously healthy!
[Bennarin]: Well, she is a priestess an' a healer an' she is … I think she is in real good shape at her age.
[Merìane]: How lovely! She must be so excited.
[Bennarin]: She is now. She was pretty worry at first.
[Merìane]: My mother stopped being able to have babies after me for some reason. She's very frail.
[Glynara]: How sad…
[Merìane]: Do they have names picked out?
[Bennarin]: Marie.
Bennarin tries not to smile. He's had too much beer to pull it off.
[Glynara]: I'm named fer some ancestor o' mine who helped design the Milit'ry Ward.
[Glynara]: Me da' wanted me to be someone who Built Things. Like, not necessarily lit'rally.
[Glynara]: But tha's why he named me fer an architect.
Bennarin nods gravely. "I am named for both my grandpas. And my ma."
[Merìane]: I am named… I don't know why I'm named what I'm named. I think my mother just liked it.
[Merìane]: She says it a little different, sort of Lordaerony.
[Merìane]: But my dad says it like Mary-Ann.
[Merìane]: Mom says it more… May-ree-ahnn, or something.
[Bennarin]: Well, it's real pretty either way, Miss Meriane.
Bennarin definitely says 'Mary Ann.'
[Merìane]: Thank you!
[Merìane]: Speaking of pretty, I should get back to Sev, so he doesn't worry about me.
Merìane gets heart-eyes.
[Bennarin]: Yes'm. I should go too at this hour.
[Glynara]: Real nice chattin' with the both of ye and gettin' the latest news.
[Bennarin]: Miss Glyn, I am real glad to see you again.
[Bennarin]: And Miss Meri, it was nice to meet you.