Drinks All Around [LE, Open]

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Rayfe hadn't expected so many bright-eyed, hopeful teens with their equally adorable monsters adorning bows and trinkets to populate so much of the tournament. The brawler was used to a different type of arena. One with gasps of terror and exhilarated screams as two freight train level monsters barreled into each other. The sound of spears clanging together, heavy hoofbeats stampeding across the ground, and their riders roaring battle cries seconds before impact. A performance, certainly. But it was meant to feel deadly and look even deadlier. More than the jousting scene and the thrill of the races... he missed his bonded companion.

He kept hearing Ari's frantic cry that ended the match replaying inside his head. Damn it. It was certainly time for breather, and The Apricot seemed like the best place to simmer down for the night.

He had planned on leaving Nyx outside, as he usually does, but the rambunctious Magnox was still riled up from her match earlier that day and began fussing the moment he tried to stray from her. Reluctantly, he led the Magnox inside the building by her leash, informed the barkeeper they wouldn't be any trouble, before settling in the back where monsters were allowed. Nyx immediately began to whine upon hearing the strange jazz music, but Rayfe tossed her feeder ball underneath the table. The young brute swiftly curled underneath the table after the toy. She pulled it toward herself with her bushy tail and began to gnaw at the plastic material and paw at it with her hooves in hopes of obtaining the hidden morsels of monster chow within it.

Rayfe had paid for his drink and planned on nursing it for the rest of the evening. He leaned back in his chair, trying to relax and focus on the music.

[ Mischief Success worsened by 2 for unengaging, then increased by 2 for Magnox enrichment toy ]

[Calico Carter]

Calico's date with Felix had presumably gone well enough to be pleasant, but not so well that they'd gone home together, and Orlok had behaved himself, and she'd promised him an outing, so here they were.

His shimmering wings caught the light beautifully, and he seemed inclined to keep behaving.

Okay, got a little money, I can have one drink.

I can afford that.

Right?

And it was unlikely that she'd run into a kid who made her feel An Emotion that might disconcert her.

Ushered into the "monsters allowed" section, Calico heard the music and danced over to a table, with Orlok fluttering around her as she did.

However the tournament had gone for her and for Orlok, she was plainly feeling all right.

But still poor.

How much?! That's like, one third of a good bicycle!

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Things were peaceful. He was starting to forget whatever emotional turmoil was nagging at him as the alcohol started to kick in. Closing his eyes, Rayfe reached under the table to stroke at Nyx's mane-

She wasn't there.

The inattentive wrangler sat upright with alarm. His blue eyes scoured the area until he saw his Magnox sitting near another table. An occupied table.

Nyx was staring at Orlok's fluttering wings, absolutely captivated by their shimmering beauty. She rumbles happily, jaw agape, with bright eyes trailing after his every moment.

Rayfe stands quickly and hurries over. "Sorry about her." He mutters to the purple-haired woman. Rayfe grabs Nyx's lead and tries to tug the Magnox from her trance. "No sense of personal space with this one. Working on it."

[Calico Carter]

Calico (who had been about to say something tot he effect of 'hey cutie, where's your human?') laughed.

"No biggie. She's cute. And anyway, this little fluttering jerk tends to be eye-catching, so who can blame her?"

She was plainly... not exactly rolling in onz. The ratty yellow shirt-dress, the worn sneakers, the fact that she hadn't ordered anything yet.

"Don't think we've met yet. My name's Calico."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

His tense shoulders slack a bit knowing his monster hasn't done anything to warrant getting kicked out. Rayfe looks Calico over, recognizing the face and the monster accompanying her from the tournament roster. Potentially, his future competition. And Nyx was already at a disadvantage? He tries not to dwell on it.

"Rayfe." He replies simply.

Nyx lows gently, now noticing the human that owns the bright shinily fluttering thing. She is purple and yellow. Much colors. Very pretty. Oh- the shiny one moved again!

"...and Nyx." The wrangler remembers.

He notes her empty table. "Can I get you a drink for your trouble? Anything you'd like. Don't worry about it." He signals to the bartender to put start a tab for the night and put whatever Calico orders on it.

[Calico Carter]

Oh. Oh no. No, no, no...

"That sounds lovely! And hello, Nyx. Aw, look at those eyes..." She paused.

"You two here by yourselves? That's... more the kind of thing I do, being honest. But it's kind of nice to be someplace where I don't feel like the oldest person in the room."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Rayfe shrugs. "Mm. Just us. Nice change of pace from the big city. But... yes, certainly makes me feel old, with all the kids here for the tournament."

Nyx hears her name. She stands up and snorts at Calico in greeting, brushing her snout against the woman's leg. Hello purple. Very purple. Hello!

Rayfe tries not to sigh.

"Sorry. Again. We can get out of your way."

Nyx resists when Rayfe tries to tug her away.

But Mister Very Favorite Person - can't you see how pretty and purple she is? And she knows name! She is perfect.

"Nyx, come on."

Could be purple too?

[Calico Carter]

"It's no imposition."

She winked and reached out to scratch the young magnox behind the ears.

"And if Nyx will vouch for you, I suppose you can stick around too."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Nyx leans so hard into the petting that she nearly falls off balance. She mmmrrrs affectionately and twists her head around to guide Calico's fingers to where it really itches.

She scratches! She. Scratches!!

The corner of Rayfe's lips finally turn up in a crooked smile at her last comment. "Hard to argue with that."

He takes the seat across from her and casually folds his arms. His blue eyes flicker over to the monster fluttering around them. "Who is your friend here?"

[Calico Carter]

"His name is Orlok. Turns out his taste in girls runs to staguars, not that I'm complaining too much. Blitz is a sweetheart."

Orlok's wings fluttered as he surveyed Rayfe.

Blue. Blue was all right.

He didn't seem jealous of the attention Calico was showing Nyx, but he did circle around to perch on the back of Calico's chair, peering over her shoulder.

"Unlike Orlok. You're a little jerk, aren't you Orlok?"

Chitter.

"I mean, I knew he was a blood-drinking mind-melter when I took him in, so it's my fault as much as anyone..."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Nyx eventually rests her head in Calico's lap, her tail swishing idly. Occasionally, she would nudge Calico's hand with her snout to remind the woman about pets. Pets. Always pets.

Rayfe chuckles at that, raising an eyebrow at Orlok. "I see." He tries not to think too hard about how such a pairing works out.

"I haven't seen one up close before. Their wings are so striking. At a distance, I always felt those patterns were tracking me, like three sets of unblinking eyes..." He shakes his head, as if dismissing a memory. "How did you come to have one as a partner?"

[Calico Carter]

"Oh, i trapped him."

She glanced over her shoulder into his compound eyes.

"That's kind of... I'm not a really good trapper, but I got lucky. But it's sort of how I make a living most of the time. Y'know, trapping carnoids and the like? Sometimes I get something a wrnagler wants to buy. But Orlok here... I dunno, maybe he hypnotized me, maybe I just liked how pretty he is, but. Yeah. Caught him with bait, keep him with exasperation."

She smiled down at Nyx.

"And what about you? How'd you snag your human?"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Carnoids?" He echoes, brows arching up. "That sounds like dangerous work..."

Nyx stirs as the attention shifts back to her. Cozy where she is, she simply points her snout up at Calico and lows thoughtfully.

"Nyx is the foal of my monster back home. She was a surprise. But my Magnox is popular with the ladies, so..." He shoots an admirable, knowing look at Orlok. "Trying to find where she fits in with the world. Not exceptionally fast or strong like her parents. But she seems to have good instincts in the arena."

[Calico Carter]

"She doesn't panic, she listens to you, and she's pretty tough from what I've seen."

She looked into Nyx's eyes.

"Seems like a good start to me."

Orlok matched Rayfe's eye contact,,, and flicked his wings slightly.

You handsome devil, might have been the implication.

"Gotta say, the competition here has been an interesting mix..."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Nyx rumbles happily and closes her eyes. Calico's lap might be a good pillow. Nap? Nap.

Rayfe exhales through his nose, unconvinced. "The same goes for every monster I've seen in the tournament so far. But what makes a champion? Lucky matchups? The ability to take hits long enough to survive?"

[Calico Carter]

"Some of it's chipping away at weaknesses. That Warwolf Orlok faced in round one was a lot tougher physically, but easily whammied. Then you have horrible mismatches like that poor Kleeth facing the Maguana in round one."

She sighed.

"I do think luck has a fair amount to do with that."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"...That's what I worry about." Rayfe grunts under his breath. "I could train with her all day and night. But one bad string of luck, and there goes her career..."

He glances down at the juvenile Magnox, his eyes a bit sad. "I want her to succeed. I'm going to focus on addressing her weaknesses before going into the next match. That's maybe all we can do against bad luck."

Rayfe's gaze finds Orlok again. "What about Orlok? Are there things you're still working on with him?"

[Calico Carter]

Sounds like more than her career at stake.

"He's still pretty independent-minded. He's also a little gung ho about getting into melee range so his wings can do their thing, and... he tries that with Riki, I'm not sure it'd work well for him"

She glanced over her shoulder into Orlok's eyes.

"He's starting to think he's a hotshot"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Well. His instincts have served him well so far, haven't they? I'm sure he'll know how to handle the situation. Dragon on fire or otherwise." His vivid blue eyes flick back to Orlok. "Won't you, coldsnap?" That seemed to fit the Saturnadus better than hotshot, in Rayfe's mind.

Nyx has completely nodded off. Her head starts to slide off Calico's lap, at which point the sensation of falling snaps her back to consciousness. She looks around, confused initially, then spots her Purple Goddess and lows affectionately up at her. More nosing and nuzzling follows.

Rayfe watches the young Magnox and sighs. "...I hope we don't have to face you. We haven't socialized with any of the other competitors before now. I don't know if she'll have it in her to battle against someone she likes so much..."

"Although, that would be an interesting way to end the tournament, wouldn't it?" He flashes Calico a grin.

[Calico Carter]

"Well. I felt bad for Desmond and Lucy today- we'd met them, and I like them both."

She sighed.

"Kids."

A sidelong glance.

"I'd also feel bad hurting Nyx here, truth be told. I mean, it's how these things go, but we don't have to enjoy that part."