(2022-07-27) Bruuk's Brothers: Getting Weird

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	Ben is joined for a subdued evening at Bruuk's by Kaleyah and Cambrin. A stranger offers commentary.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: The Bros of Bruuk's Corner

+ Show additional content warnings

smoking, alcohol, alcohol consumption

[Kaleyah]: Ya look familiar, ever been out th'sounds near Kul Tiras? Got them stout leggies…

Tisa Martine says: moves away from Kaleyah, taking her drink with her.

Upstairs, Ben is leaning on the table, his head propped on his hand, doodling idly in a notebook. There is a pint of ale sitting on the table to one side.

[Kaleyah]: Take that as a no…

Kaleyah watches the woman walk away anyways. "Eh, bottle'ah whatever standard piss ya got."

Bruuk Barleybeard shakes his head and, with practiced ease, slides a dark brown bottle her way.

Ben lifts his head and squints at wall, listening to the voice from downstairs.

[Kaleyah]: Cheers, suppose.

Kaleyah scrapes a chair across the stone floor, awkward and loud. She flops into it and kicks her feet up. Cork in mouth, then spit to the table. She takes a generous, long swig.

Ben gets up, laying his pencil down across his notebook, and ambles to the stairs to peer down.

Kaleyah is still swigging.

[Ben]: Evenin', Kay. *He up-nods genially to Kaleyah, and then says to Bruuk,* Hey, this one's Cobalt. Yeah? With us.

Tisa Martine glowers at Ben.

Kaleyah smacks her lips loudly with refreshed sounding exhale. "Am I, Bennie?"

[Ben]: Yeah, you are. C'mon upstairs. We got a usual table.

Kaleyah kicks up, she shoots a wink at Tisa and slinks up the stairs behind Ben.

[Kaleyah]: Sure is a whole damn table, a'right.

Ben drops back into his seat, closes his notebook and slides it aside. He picks up his beer and raises it to Kaleyah.

[Ben]: Yeah. Ain't usually got it to myself. Got kind of a crowd most weeks.

Kaleyah resumes her lazy sitting. She raises her beer in return and sinks into the chair.

Ben looks around the empty upstairs room. Edris Barleybeard is reading. She doesn't seem too broken up about the lack of crowd.

[Kaleyah]: Lotsa shit goin' recently though, yea?

[Ben]: Guess so, yeah. I wasn't here m'self the last couple've weeks, so. Turnabout's fair play, an' all that.

Ben rakes a hand through his hair and has a swig of beer.

[Kaleyah]: Mmm, whatcha doodlin' there?

[Ben]: Uh. Nothin', at present. Was drawin' some Outland shit. Animals.

[Kaleyah]: Lemme see.

Ben rolls his eyes. He has another swallow of beer, sets the mug down and drags the notebook back over. He flips it to the page marked by his pencil, revealing a doodle of a line of ravagers. It's a pretty good doodle; he has some talent.

The doodled ravagers are all wearing hats.

Cambrin waves.

[Cambrin]: Howdy folks.

[Kaleyah]: Sup.

Ben glances up and grins. "Hey, Cam." He waves Edris over. "Beer for the fellow, Miz Barleybeard."

Kaleyah furrows her brow as she takes in the drawings. "Wowee…" She gently rubs the tip her nose, looking like she's going to flip through but doesn't. "Ain't a judge or nothin' but this s'pretty great, Bennie."

Ben glances back at Kaleyah. His ears turn red.

[Ben]: Uh. Thanks. *He clears his throat and reaches to slide the notebook back.*

Cambrin looks curious. "What's pretty great?"

Kaleyah grabs the notebook and shows off Ben's amazing ravager drawings.

[Ben]: Dammi–

[Kaleyah]: Check'em out. Lil hats!

Ben picks up his beer and hides his expression by drinking again. His ears are still very red.

Cambrin looks puzzled. "Hats? On the giant murder bugs?"

[Kaleyah]: S'cute, yea?

[Cambrin]: Pretty good renderings, though.

[Ben]: C'n I have it back now, please?

Ben's red has spread from his ears to his face.

Kaleyah hands it over, or at least looks like she's going to.

Cambrin chuckles.

[Cambrin]: I didn't know you were an artist, Ben.

[Ben]: Just doodles.

Ben reaches for the notebook.

Kaleyah pulls it away, overcome by the 'way she is'. The notebooks contents are flipped through.

[Ben]: Hey!!!

[Kaleyah]: Betcha he draws nekkie folks…

[Kaleyah]: All good artists do.

The book is clearly a journal. It is generously illustrated, in fact, with other doodles, but alas, none of them are nekkie folks.

[Ben]: Not in that book I ain't.

[Ben]: Give it here.

Cambrin 's eyebrow perk up with interest.

Kaleyah snickers and hands the book over. "So ya agree?"

[Ben]: I got no comment.

[Kaleyah]: He agrees.

[Kaleyah]: He's a good artist.

Ben shuts the journal with a disgruntled snap.

Kaleyah laughs lazily while finishing off her bottle.

[Ben]: You ain't half another Ivri, I swear.

[Cambrin]: The sneaky ladies your downfall, my friend?

[Kaleyah]: Dunno what an Ivri is, but I guarantee I'm more'an half.

[Ben]: Downfall, my ass.

Ben still looks disgruntled, but as he lifts his beer again it's clear he's trying to hide a smile.

[Kaleyah]: He's too easy a mark. Y'can see it on 'is face.

[Ben]: Yeah, that's what it is for sure.

Kaleyah cackles, it is an ugly sound.

[Kaleyah]: An' I got a problem, can't help m'self.

[Cambrin]: What is it with our company's sneaky types?

[Ben]: I could not say.

Ben leans back as Edris returns, to allow her to slide a pint past him to Cambrin.

[Kaleyah]: Means ya won't. Gimme another beer.

[Ben]: Edris, if you please, on account of the lady asked so nice.

Ben makes puppy eyes at Edris, who snorts and sashays off.

Cambrin hides a grin as he sips his beer.

[Kaleyah]: 'Lady', says he. Pfft.

[Ben]: I was bein' polite, see.

Kaleyah 's laughter dies down as she melts into the chair.

[Kaleyah]: Waste'ah energy, Bennie.

[Kaleyah]: Chief ain't here, an' I'm too tired.

[Ben]: I am afraid I am just polite down to my bones, miss. Can't help myself.

[Cambrin]: Aw, don't be so hard on him, Kaleyah. Ben's polite by nature.

Ben tips his head at Cambrin, his gaze still on Kaleyah. He crooks her a grin.

Kaleyah snickers at Cambrin, then looks Ben dead in the eyes.

[Kaleyah]: You.

[Kaleyah]: Are.

[Kaleyah]: Fulla shit.

Cambrin looks curious.

Ben raises his eyebrows. He is the picture of wounded puppydog innocence.

[Cambrin]: Him, or me?

[Ben]: I beg your very fucken pardon, miss.

[Kaleyah]: Him, I ain't know ya that — ahahahaha!

[Kaleyah]: There he is.

[Ben]: That was polite. I was polite. I said 'miss.'

Kaleyah leans onto her elbows, "Cambrin, yea? We did the uh… the mountain thing t'gether?"

Cambrin nods.

[Kaleyah]: Nice ta meet ya.

[Cambrin]: That's right. Cambrin Cooper.

[Cambrin]: I'm a front-liner like Ben here. We try to keep the sharp bits out of our squishy folks.

[Kaleyah]: Stand up guys.

Cambrin looks puzzled.

[Cambrin]: Huh?

[Kaleyah]: Like, uh… class… act?

[Cambrin]: Oh, right.

Kaleyah thumbs her nose.

[Cambrin]: Eh, I'm okay.

Ben looks between the two. He drinks some more. Edris returns to set a beer in front of Kaleyah and he nods respectfully to her.

[Kaleyah]: 'Tween you 'n me, the okay ones're better.

[Kaleyah]: Bless them holy folks, but eh. Feel like I'm suffocatin' round half of'em…

Kaleyah doesn't waste time cracking into the next drink.

[Ben]: Cam is okay as hell. He is the okayest fellow you will meet.

[Cambrin]: So what's your story, Kaleyah? I heard Captain Ference call you Scout.

[Kaleyah]: Well, present, tha's what I am.

[Kaleyah]: Not entirely Alliance employed, mind you.

[Kaleyah]: In-deee-pendant.

Cambrin nods slowly.

Ben slouches back in his chair and lifts a foot to prop his boot against the table's edge. He tips his chair back on two legs, rocking it a little, as he drinks.

[Cambrin]: Guess there's plenty of work on the edges.

Kaleyah drinks slowly, licking the lip of the bottle. "Go in, shiv a guy, steal a thing. Plausible denia– y'know. High ups get to be higher upper."

[Ben]: Reckon you are Cobalt employed now, yeah?

[Kaleyah]: Iunno. Ain't heard nothin' official.

Ben raises his eyebrows and leans forward to set his empty mug down by his boot. "Huh."

[Kaleyah]: Wasn'gonna wait around starvin' so. *She shrugs.* But today was the last job. Came here t'reflect.

[Ben]: Yeah, you strike me as a real reflectin' sort.

Ben lifts a hand to signal to Edris for another drink. She rolls her eyes at him and disappears back downstairs.

Kaleyah flashes a practiced looking grin, it's a little off. "Well, was taught t'try. Least after a job."

[Kaleyah]: Today's was a mess.

Ben raises his eyebrows and settles back again in his tipped chair, lacing his hands behind his head. "Yeah? How come?"

Kaleyah looks between the two. "Dunno if ya wanna know."

[Ben]: Go on, s'what bars an' beers an' buddies is for.

[Cambrin]: Not like we haven't seen or heard some wild and wacky stuff.

Kaleyah flops her head lazily to look behind her, then back to the both of them. "Elves."

[Kaleyah]: The purpley kind, mind you. Get a lil message from the ol' team sayin' t'rally up withem, so's I do.

Cambrin nods along as he sips his beer.

[Kaleyah]: Buncha elves saying they need some insurance for future plans, dunno what they are, don' care.

Ben listens, mild and attentive. He rocks his chair a little again, idly, with his foot against the table.

Kaleyah takes another swig. "Mage bud, bein' all magey, does that portal shit. Bam, we're inta somebody's hold. Orcs all over."

Kaleyah shrugs. "Some pinkey elves were doin' some sorta flashy stuff, big ol' setup. Me an' the other four guys just ransacked the place, took it apart an' killed errybody. Then zip." She makes a motion with her hand. "Back 'ere."

[Kaleyah]: Y'shoulda seen the look on them elves’ faces. Said sommin about wards, I slammed him good. S'weird, he looks a lil strung out, almost took'is whole head off.

[Cambrin]: Blood elves, huh? What kind of trouble that batch was up to?

Kaleyah gently taps the table. "Dunno. Got back and bud said he didn' wanna do another job with me."

[Kaleyah]: Guess he's a lil buggered by the dirty work, says I'm a weird one fer not bein' bothered.

[Kaleyah]: Spent the rest'ah th'day wonderin' why I ain't bothered.

Kaleyah crossed her arms, tucking the bottle against her armpit.

Aubey raised a brow at the group gathered at the top of the steps, glancing over them before making his way towards the balcony.

[Cambrin]: He was bothered… because you weren't bothered… about killing a bunch of orcs and blood elves?

Cambrin watches the stranger in the big hat saunter past to the balcony.

[Kaleyah]: Oh. Nah I killed a buncha people.

[Kaleyah]: Us, them, elves regardless'ah color.

[Ben]: I mean. Different folks got different bothers, yeah? But I am … not real clear on what all you are sayin' went down, exactly.

Ben accepts his new drink from Edris with another respectful nod to her. He turns his attention back to Kaleyah.

Kaleyah shrugs. "I try not t'ask questions so, you’re gettin' the gist. I was told t'crash up anyone on the other side'ah that portal. The end."

Cambrin looks between the two and shrugs.

Kaleyah points at Cambrin, mildly. "Yup."

[Kaleyah]: Iunno. Guess I'm just out one friend.

[Ben]: … okay. Well.

[Ben]: Sorry 'bout that, I guess?

Kaleyah snickers. "Sorry, aint great at explainin'. Had t'be there."

[Cambrin]: Never good to lose a friend.

Aubey stepped back inside, burning down the last of an herbal cigarette and flicking the butt away before moving to light up another from a silver case. "Mercs'r soldiers?" he asks towards the table as he leans back against the doorway.

Ben tips his head back to contemplate the stranger, still rocking his chair back, one boot up on the table's edge. "Mercs."

Cambrin nods in agreement.

Kaleyah just watches, bottle in hand. "Nice hat."

Aubey shrugged, stowing the case and exhaling a wisp of smoke. "Keeps the rain out m'eyes well 'nough."

[Cambrin]: Well, gotta call it a short night here.

Ben squints up at the ceiling. "Ain't rain much in here. 'Night, Cam."

[Cambrin]: Good night, folks.

Cambrin waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!

[Kaleyah]: G'night, s'pose.

[Kaleyah]: Anyways. Sorry for spazzin' Ben. Jus' been a day.

Kaleyah slips her bottle onto the table, half empty.

Ben shakes his head good-naturedly at her. "Been a coupla fucken weeks, you want to know it. You ain't spazzin', s' fine."

[Kaleyah]: Mm. Y'ever get upset at stuff ya get up to? Like… keep ya awake I s'pose?

[Ben]: Shit, yeah.

Kaleyah furrows her brow. "Hm."

Aubey snickered, "Nothin' a bit of whiskey, church, an' more sin won't cure."

Ben glances back at the stranger again, his expression inscrutable. He nods and raises his drink vaguely in that direction before turning back to the table.

[Aubey]: …not necessarily all at the same time, mind. Though if it works.

Kaleyah rubs her nose. "Ya make a habit'ah jus' standin' behind people, yea?"

Aubey shrugged as he took a long drag, speaking through the resulting cloud of blue smoke. "Makes it easier t'stick 'em if y'gotta. 'sides, rude t'sit at a table wit' strangers. Far more polite t'snark at 'em from offstage."

[Ben]: Reckon we was brung up different, but okay. You got your manners, I got mine. *Ben's tone is genial. He tips back the rest of his drink in two long swallows.*

[Kaleyah]: No shit. *She laughs, following suit.*

[Ben]: Ought to be goin', myself, m' afraid. Walk you anyplace, Margrace?

Ben sets his chair down flat with a thud, dropping his foot from the table's edge. He collects his notebook and looks expectantly to Kaleyah.

[Kaleyah]: Long as ya don' touch m'bum.

[Ben]: Okay, but only cos you asked.

[Kaleyah]: Well color me s'prised, ya are polite.

[Ben]: Polite as hell, I told you.

Kaleyah winks and slips off down the stairs, laughing.

Ben gets to his feet and stretches. He slants an affable smile at the stranger in the corner. "Next time, you c'n just ask to join, yeah? Plenty of room at the table."

Ben nods once to Aubey.

[Aubey]: Enjoy yerselves an' don't get jumped by a toothless stumpy fer booze money.

[Kaleyah]: Ya owe someone money?

Kaleyah tries to hide a smile.

Ben tucks his notebook under his arm and jams his other hand in his pocket. He shakes his head. "No ma'am. You?"

[Kaleyah]: Mmm… maybe.

[Kaleyah]: Lead on, Bennie.

[Ben]: I c'n walk you by HQ if you want. Then I got to get a bird up north.

[Kaleyah]: Hate ridin'em.

[Ben]: Yeah? Never done it myself till… I dunno, last year or so. Love it.

[Kaleyah]: Like m'feet on the ground, thanks.

[Ben]: S' fair.

[Kaleyah]: Oh yea, was gonna ask.

Ben arches a brow and glances down at her.

Kaleyah sticks her hands into her vest. "Y'related t'Chief?"

[Ben]: Yeah, since, uh. September?

Ben laughs.

[Ben]: Got adopt. I know, it is weird.

[Kaleyah]: He called ya son. Ah.

[Kaleyah]: Was gonna say, you're a big baby.

[Ben]: Married my aunt. Niris? She is my last blood kin, an' the reason I come north in the first place.

[Ben]: I am a real fucken big baby, yeah.

Kaleyah snickers.

[Kaleyah]: She must be a nice lady.

[Ben]: She is, don't let her fool you. She is a hell of a lady.

[Kaleyah]: Seems the lot'ah ya are similar.

Ben glances toward the townhouse and then back to Kaleyah. He arches that eyebrow again. "Yeah? How you reckon? I ain't a hell of a lady."

Kaleyah squints, looking Ben over. "Ya sure?"

[Ben]: I mean I did shave pretty good this mornin', but.

If that is so, it's hard to tell now.

[Kaleyah]: Pfft. A'right. Sorry drinks got weird. Not that I was 'spectin' t'meet ya there in the first.

[Ben]: Sometimes drinks get weird. It's drinks. *Ben shrugs philosophically.* You come back next time, reckon there'll be more of us there.

[Ben]: Might even be less weird.

Kaleyah idly scratches her nose. "If ya say. Keep my mouth shut, makes it easy, heh."

[Ben]: Aw, hell, you ain't make drinks weird, Kay.

[Kaleyah]: Yet.

[Ben]: Okay, well, you can take another run at it next week.

[Kaleyah]: Mm. Be safe out there, yea?

[Ben]: You too. Serious. You need anything, you lemme know. I'm up to Southshore tonight but I'm around, mostly.

[Kaleyah]: Right. Same t'you, s'pose.

[Ben]: 'Preciate you. Night.

Ben nods to her.

Kaleyah wiggles her fingers in a wave.

Ben ambles off, whistling through his teeth.