#⚔️Drunk and Grumpy⚔️ c; Gael Barahir

[hornedrunaway]

Gael could honestly say that this was the most fun they’d had in a long time. They weren’t the absolute best dancer in the realm, but they easily kept time both with the fast tempo and with Jester. It wasn’t long before other patrons began to join them. The redhead chuckled at their partner’s apparent pickup line, leaning a bit closer to answer her. “Actually, I tend to scare the nicer folks away with my...shall we say, roguish charm,” they smirked wryly, gaining a bit of a flirtatious tone themselves. “You just happen to have a knack for brightening moods, and I find that refreshing.” Perhaps it was the buzz they had going that motivated them to add, “And...oddly attractive.”

The band switched to a more mellow song a moment later, prompting Gael in turn to take Jester in their arms for a slow dance. It was easier for them than the reel had been, but they sincerely hoped that it didn’t make things awkward. “Thank you, by the way,” they suddenly blurted, a thought having entered their mind. “For, uh...trying to get me to come out of my shell. And for being ridiculously sweet to me when I definitely didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry for being such an ass to you.”

Closed starter

For @xlittlesapphirex

The night was young. The small pub was unusually rowdy for this time in the evening, perhaps because of the rather loud group of newcomers who had blustered in earlier in the day. The Mighty Nein, they called themselves. Gael snorted at the ridiculous moniker. They were seated at the bar, watching the lighthearted chaos unfold around them with some disinterest and wishing that they could have just drunk themselves into a bloody stupor in peace. As it were, the fiery-haired Eladrin was only on their third shot of whiskey and barely feeling its burn when the overly cheerful blue tiefling met their gaze. They grimaced and turned to throw back their next shot, hoping that the display of surliness might deter her from attempting to socialize. It didn’t, of course, and they let out a curse when they looked up once more to see her standing beside them.

“The fuck do you want?” they grumbled with a sigh, knowing they would probably regret opening up a conversation. “I’m too damn sober to even think of takin’ someone to bed, and I’m not exactly up for makin’ nice, either.”

[hornedrunaway]

💋 - from @xscamanderbrothersx or @xlittlesapphirex ship of your choosing

Send 💋 if your muse wants a kiss from mine.

@xlittlesapphirex

To say that Gael was completely surprised by Jester’s desire for a smooch was an understatement and a half. They were still getting used to not only being around such a bubbly and affectionate person, but actually being wanted by her. The two had clashed on more than a few occasions because Gael was still struggling to learn to let someone in. They were always waiting for that other shoe to drop. Waiting for the whole thing to blow up in their face. Waiting for Jester to either meet a tragic end or get tired of them and send them away, just like everyone else they’d ever cared about had done. She never did either, of course. She was too stubborn for that.

Eventually, Gael’s walls had formed enough cracks that they began to crumble. It was a beautiful fall day when the little sapphire made her request yet again, but this time, the Eladrin didn’t even let her finish. They quickly grabbed her by her waist and pressed an aggressively passionate kiss against her lips. Several, in fact. When they finally stopped to breathe a moment, there was a cheeky smirk on their freckled face as they muttered, “Happy now, sweetheart?” in their signature light country drawl. Their eyes shown with humor and love.

[hornedrunaway]

Beautiful? Now Gael was the one blushing, their pale freckled cheeks turning a nice crimson shade that quickly spread up their pointed ears. “Okay, I’ve been called a lot of things, but...beautiful is definitely a first,” they muttered with a nervous laugh. “So is nice. I’m usually not this friendly unless I am completely sloshed, and that generally culminates in me and whomever winds up in my bed waking up with massive hangovers and spotty memories. Tonight might be the first night that I actually remember in the morning without having camped out somewhere.”

It felt good to hold her close, they admitted internally. Jester was unlike anyone they’d ever met before. Not only was she drop-dead gorgeous, and apparently a warrior, but she also had a heart of gold warm enough to melt the ice around their own heart. The urge to kiss her back right then and there was strong, but the Eladrin refrained for the moment. There were a lot of people around, not to mention the alcohol involved. Instead, they gave her another flirty smile. “I bet a lot of people fall in love with you, don’t they?” they teased, continuing the dance as another unexpected topic came up. “Join you...?” Their tone shifted, sounding a bit shell-shocked. “Are you sure? I mean, I normally work alone. I don’t...I don’t always play well with others, mainly because most people don’t like how I fight. They, uh...they might see it as...I don’t know, taboo? Unnatural...something along those lines.”

Closed starter

For @xlittlesapphirex

The night was young. The small pub was unusually rowdy for this time in the evening, perhaps because of the rather loud group of newcomers who had blustered in earlier in the day. The Mighty Nein, they called themselves. Gael snorted at the ridiculous moniker. They were seated at the bar, watching the lighthearted chaos unfold around them with some disinterest and wishing that they could have just drunk themselves into a bloody stupor in peace. As it were, the fiery-haired Eladrin was only on their third shot of whiskey and barely feeling its burn when the overly cheerful blue tiefling met their gaze. They grimaced and turned to throw back their next shot, hoping that the display of surliness might deter her from attempting to socialize. It didn’t, of course, and they let out a curse when they looked up once more to see her standing beside them.

“The fuck do you want?” they grumbled with a sigh, knowing they would probably regret opening up a conversation. “I’m too damn sober to even think of takin’ someone to bed, and I’m not exactly up for makin’ nice, either.”

[hornedrunaway]

“A friend?” They couldn’t help the baffled and slightly amused tone that now colored their voice. It was almost impossible not to warm up to Jester, even for someone as stoic and antisocial as Gael. “You’re a piece of fuckin’ work if you really think a guy like me is friendship material, sweetheart.” They let out a laugh, despite themself, and refused to acknowledge the fact that a genuine smile was growing on their face for the first time in years.

“I get the feeling you hear that a lot, though, and that it doesn’t faze you one bit.” They summoned the bartender over for another couple of shots. “So,” they remarked with a mirthful glint in their eyes, “since you’ve managed to pique my curiosity and tempt my sweet tooth, I’m inclined to play along. What do ya say we get a little bit more tipsy, maybe share a dance or two before the night’s over? I’m startin’ to think I might actually want to remember this one~” Flirting wasn’t their strong suit, and they hadn’t really meant to be so forward. Perhaps it was the whiskey talking, but there was was something about her that made Gael actually want to have fun, for once in their miserable life.

Closed starter

For @xlittlesapphirex

The night was young. The small pub was unusually rowdy for this time in the evening, perhaps because of the rather loud group of newcomers who had blustered in earlier in the day. The Mighty Nein, they called themselves. Gael snorted at the ridiculous moniker. They were seated at the bar, watching the lighthearted chaos unfold around them with some disinterest and wishing that they could have just drunk themselves into a bloody stupor in peace. As it were, the fiery-haired Eladrin was only on their third shot of whiskey and barely feeling its burn when the overly cheerful blue tiefling met their gaze. They grimaced and turned to throw back their next shot, hoping that the display of surliness might deter her from attempting to socialize. It didn’t, of course, and they let out a curse when they looked up once more to see her standing beside them.

“The fuck do you want?” they grumbled with a sigh, knowing they would probably regret opening up a conversation. “I’m too damn sober to even think of takin’ someone to bed, and I’m not exactly up for makin’ nice, either.”

[hornedrunaway]

The smile turned into a full blown grin, and the Eladrin’s freckled face lit up with mirthful excitement. They quickly downed their next shot, and as they began to feel a nice little buzz coming on, they stood and made their way over to the house band, slipping each member a gold coin to play a fun reel. They then sauntered back over to Jester and offered their hand. “May I have this dance?” They could hardly believe the words coming out of their mouth, or how smooth they were attempting to be, but there was no turning back, now.

The bartender gave Gael a look that had, ‘Oh, fucking finally!’ written all over it, as if he’d been waiting for the Bloodhunter to get up and do something besides feel sorry for themself. The russet-haired elf had half a mind to flip him the bird, but thought better of it. They had better things to do, at the moment.

Closed starter

For @xlittlesapphirex

The night was young. The small pub was unusually rowdy for this time in the evening, perhaps because of the rather loud group of newcomers who had blustered in earlier in the day. The Mighty Nein, they called themselves. Gael snorted at the ridiculous moniker. They were seated at the bar, watching the lighthearted chaos unfold around them with some disinterest and wishing that they could have just drunk themselves into a bloody stupor in peace. As it were, the fiery-haired Eladrin was only on their third shot of whiskey and barely feeling its burn when the overly cheerful blue tiefling met their gaze. They grimaced and turned to throw back their next shot, hoping that the display of surliness might deter her from attempting to socialize. It didn’t, of course, and they let out a curse when they looked up once more to see her standing beside them.

“The fuck do you want?” they grumbled with a sigh, knowing they would probably regret opening up a conversation. “I’m too damn sober to even think of takin’ someone to bed, and I’m not exactly up for makin’ nice, either.”