open;

[prince]

CHARACTERS: Arthur Pendragon and Merlin AND POSSIBLY YOU?
LOCATION: Space Babylon.
WARNINGS: includes XXX gay threesome with Nathan Young.
SUMMARY: I've got something to put in you. Set after this.
NOTES: Drop a comment, get tag-teamed by two ren-faire idiots in the gay bar tavern. Order of You-Merlin-Arthur. Track your threads!


[ Arthur stops berating Merlin the moment they enter and stares around. ]

Are you sure this is the right place?

[ It's unlike any tavern he's ever been to. Of course, he has far less experience than Merlin, who is no doubt aquainted with taverns of all shapes and sizes and therefore has no compunction in bringing him to a space bar. But Arthur feels as though he deserves a drink after arguing about bloody sorcery so much lately. ]

[ He heads for the bar itself, clutching his purse with a couple of gold coins in. ]

Do you think they'll actually serve ale here?

[ Given the strange unfamiliarity of food in space, he doubts it. But he approaches the counter anyway, and he's not entirely out of place in what he's wearing: the coat's brown leather, after all, and the tunic's cut low in the chest, and the breeches are very tight. However he marks himself as a stranger, and maybe an idiot, when he gives an awkwardly jolly hello, smacks the coins onto the bartop sharply. ]

Two mugs of your finest.

[ Who let Arthur order, seriously. ]

Comments

[servant]

Uhm...

[He's really not sure that this is the place. Because even if Merlin hasn't been to The Rising Sun nearly as much as Arthur believes he has, he's been enough to know that it looks nothing like this.]

[It smells a lot better though, and the sights and sounds are interesting. He's still looking around while Arthur orders, the hipster country mouse cousin of Mr. Tight Breeches. But at least he isn't dwelling on the recent deaths, or Arthur on whatever's gotten him so riled up. Merlin looks forward again, nudging Arthur in the side with his elbow.]

Buy me a pickled egg.

[Surely even space taverns have them. Merlin doesn't care if they're blue.]

[prince]

Er, I'm already buying you a drink. I think that's more than enough generosity for one day.

[ And because of the magic of space-time, they're taking whatever they've been given to drink (it's not ale) and going to sit down in the least strobe-lit area of the bar. ]

[servant]

[Arthur, you are no fun sometimes. But it's true that Merlin's only source of money on the ship is Arthur - even though money doesn't seem to come into play very much. Merlin takes his drink and follows after, sipping and looking around all at once. Which explains the wet spot on his tunic that Merlin's wiping at as they sit down.]

I wonder where they have the arm-wrestling.

[Merlin cranes his neck, spots a couple in the corner across the room. ...He's pretty sure that's not arm-wrestling. And even more sure that he should stop staring.]

tag-teamed really is that a promise

[picnmix]

[ Whoever decided to open a bar on the ship without an established monetary system probably wasn't expecting Nathan to show up. Since he doesn't have a remotely regular sleeping schedule, he tends to spend many odd hours mooching off the bar whenever possible. He's already about five shots in when he spots the pair of them (don't kid yourself Arthur, the renfaire gear totally stands out... although no actually it's Merlin's hipster gear that catches his attention), and he doesn't hesitate to invite himself over.

And in tried and true drunk fashion, he comes up behind them and throws an arm over each of them without bothering to say hello first. ]

It's - [ you guys shit actually abort mission, he doesn't remember either of your names. It's okay, he's distracted and has a good out, anyway. ] Did you just ask for mugs in a bar? Are you drinking tea?

lie back and think of england.

[servant]

No, and obviously neither are you.

[Merlin's nose wrinkles a little, and it could be the alcohol on Nathan's breath or the spinach that he just tried to smoke or...who knows, really. Merlin eyes him, a little unsure of his company. You're the guy who tried to say that he knew Gwen intimately, after all.]

Besides, they have to have something to serve the mead in. We can't jut drink it straight out of the jugs, that would be rude.

or ireland if that does it for you

[prince]

[ Arthur shakes off the sudden weight of idiot across his shoulder, ducking away from it and leaving him to cuddle Merlin. Two peas in a pod. Or two idiots in a sloppy embrace, more like. ]

[ He also crosses his arms, obviously not interested in talking about ale. ]

You never showed up for your lesson.

i want u to know i'm listening to lady gaga while i write

[picnmix]

[ Well fine, he can just use Merlin as a prop to stand up straight. But no, he's not actually that wasted, really, and he's standing up straight on his own. He keeps an arm slung around Merlin's shoulders anyway, because who needs personal space. ]

Mead? Jesus, you're very committed to this medieval thing, aren't you.

[ Then a pause, because it takes him a second to actually catch up to what Arthur's talking about. ] Didn't I? No, I suppose I didn't. Sorry, man.

[ He doesn't even sound a little bit sorry. Then, very enthusiastically, as if they have any idea what he's talking about- ] So who's up for shots?

are you singing along

[servant]

[A little panic crosses Merlin's face, because Arthur's just abandoned him with what could be a drunk hugger. He's not opposed to hugs, but Nathan might be a crier too, and that would just be awkward.]

[He does crack a smile though. He sounds just like Merlin when he apologizes to the prince - completely unapologetic.]

The first lesson is just getting whacked about the head a few times.

[At least that's what it looks like to Merlin. Maybe they can catch up tonight! Hell, from the look on Arthur's face, they might both get a first lesson.]

Shots?

[Letting the crossbow joke slide. Just this once.]

[cobaltblue]

[Oh hey look, a bar. He'd heard there was booze here somewhere but hadn't had much of a chance to explore beyond what was available in the kitchens. He pulls up a seat, then raises an eyebrow at the two weirdos playing at knights or whatever they're doing, dressed up like that. He orders something he's told is space tequila and has a sip, grimacing at the slightly off-flavor, then shakes his head and looks over at them again.]

What the hell's going on with you two, is it supposed to be Halloween or something?

[servant]

[Hey! Only one of the two weirdos wears armour. The other one polishes it. Merlin's still waiting for his mead (and likely to keep waiting) and craving pickled eggs when he looks back at the other man.]

I don't think so. At least no one mentioned it to me.

[But since you did, you get the obvious question:]

What's Halloween?

[prince]

[ Arthur's not even wearing armour, for once. Normally he's obsessed with protecting himself around the ship, but it gets uncomfortable when drinking, not to mention near impossible to get out of. ]

[ He doesn't even bother acknowledging the man (because Arthur's the charming sort) and just lets Merlin talk to him. Though he keeps his ear out for the answer to that question. ]

[cobaltblue]

[Just because you're not armored doesn't make you not funny-looking costumed people, especially to someone who's somehow missed mention of the ren faire crowd on board. Church has another drink of the odd-tasting alcohol, then rolls his eyes.]

Yeah, you're fucking hilarious. What's with the getup, then?

[servant]

[Merlin's brow furrows even more. He didn't tell a joke, but maybe that's a good thing since the guy obviously didn't find it funny in the first place.]

[Getup. He glances down over himself, finds nothing out of the ordinary.]

What, you mean our clothes?

[He's medieval, but not blind, and he has noticed that they don't dress like at least half the people on board.]

What about them? They're clean and mended.

[Well, his are mended anyway. Two seasons and counting.]

[heterophobe]

[ you know that scene in a cartoon where one character yanks another behind a curtain with a cane? that's what's happening here when Brian stops peeling labels off of random bottles of alcohol and mixing them up with other ones to piss off patrons and "employees" alike. it's a thing. but right, if Wichita's around or on shift tonight, he's shouldering her out of the way with a very vicious smile. ( i saw them first. you have a boyfriend. ) hot guy radar, he has it and no shame, either. that's what has him standing tall, straightening his shirt and sliding in front of them, elbows on the bar when he gestures. ]

Gentlemen, I'm already looking at the two finest mugs I've seen all evening. [ so what if they're from the middle ages. or homeless, whichever. Brian's not picky and he's had time to rebuild and shape his ego to being rejected on board. the gay community isn't as lively as Pittsburgh's but somehow he's managed. snubbed or shunned, it makes no difference. he's pouring their drinks with a certain air of interest, wondering if they've seen what they're wearing. fucking comic book nerds, he'd think, if he didn't know better. but still the smirk is there and Mikey's in his head (stupid twat) and he wants to ask: so, where's the dragon? but he stops himself.

when the glasses set down in front of them, he's pushing the coins back. money hungry as he is, it won't do him any good here in hell. ] Keep your money, you might need it.

[ not likely. ]

[servant]

Thanks.

[For the drinks, because he's still a little fuzzy on the first thing the man said, though right at the very edge of understanding it as a compliment. And hey, he'll take it. Men really should compliment each other more. Lancelot would! So between the two things, he already likes the space bar.]

You too?

[A bit belatedly, but when in Rome. Merlin lifts the glass to his lips, but not before noticing that it doesn't smell like ale or sweet wine or anything else that goes straight to his head. More like something that will go straight through it.]

What is this?

[prince]

[ Arthur gives the barman a narrow-eyed look that is mostly confusion, though when Merlin responds with you too it's turned on him and tinged with disbelief. Are they — flirting? Is that's what's happening here? ]

[ Well. All right then. That would explain a lot. He's very tempted to just let them have at it. ]

[ The coins go back into Arthur's purse, and a good thing, too, because he's fairly used to getting things for free simply by lieu of his title, has very little awareness of how much things actually cost, and was probably severely overpaying Brian. ]

There's not much use for gold here, I'm finding.

[ He also doesn't ask what he's drinking as he drinks it.

[heterophobe]

[ nonsense! there's plenty of Brian Kinney's hospitality to go around for the both of them, even if only one is capable of appreciating it. personally, he finds it amusing that the one with the purse is giving him a funny look. then again, didn't the women in the relationship stir up most of the problems? not that he's biased or anything.

(ugh, lesbians.) ]

It's what's on draft. [ yes, sure, let's call that draft. it's beer-like. that has to count for something. ] And you don't want to know. The important thing here is that you'll drink it and have fun, mission accomplished. [ or go heave up this morning's stale bread from breakfast and wish you were as dead as it tasted, same thing. that's what decorations that cheap are for!

and he's not one to cushion the blow but he's not in a bitter, life-ruining, piss-in-the-flowers mood tonight. so thankfully, they get to skip there's not much use for anything here and move on to happier pastures. ] Why use money when you can trade favors? Most people here like knowing someone's underneath them. [ well! ] That they can collect from them whenever they want and take whatever they want while they're at it.

[licks]

[Kate has been in the bar for a while. It's not that she's an alcoholic, but she does seem to drink a lot more here than she did back home. It's possible that she just doesn't have anything to do here. She's settled in what passes for an out of the way booth, watching the people come and go.

Considering how many people are on the ship, and how few of them she's spoken to, she's actually a bit amused when one of those people walks into the bar.

With someone else.

Honestly, it's nearly the set-up to one of those odd jokes. Two guys in medieval dress walk into a bar...

She at least lifts her glass to acknowledge that she sees him. It'd be rude to ignore him.]

i'm sorry, sob.

[servant]

[Merlin catches movement from the corner of his eye, turning his head just in time to see the woman lifting her glass.]

[And promptly, mistakenly, thinks it's for him.]

Arthur. I think that woman wants me to come over.

[He nudges the blond man in the ribs with his elbow, other hand raising in a wave that's as awkward as his smile. The space bar just keeps getting better and better, but he needs guidance here.]

oh my god.

[prince]

[ Arthur casts him a deeply deprecating look. ]

Really, Merlin? You? Well, perhaps we should talk to her.

[ And he promptly walks over to Kate with a smile, leaving Merlin in the dust. ]

[ Of course, embarrassing Merlin's just the bonus. He doesn't mind coming to talk with the blonde woman, perhaps buy her a drink, though he's not certain how appropriate that is. He'd done it for Merlin, but then, that's Merlin. ]

Hello. Cooked anything good lately?

shhh. I love it already.

[licks]

[Kate watches with curiosity as the two men seem to have a conversation among themselves. She's giving them an odd look as she takes a drink from her glass. When they start to head over, she realizes this is not just a wave from across the bar thing.

Nope. This is definitely going to be interesting.

As they approach, she sets the glass down, sitting up a bit straighter and turning toward them in the booth.]

Not recently, no. [She hasn't wanted to spend the time to cook. Staying in one spot for too long, considering whatever it was those things were that had attacked people were still unknown targets, she wanted to keep more alert than well-fed.]

Is your friend a better cook than you are? [She'll nod to the dark-haired boy. Yep. Sorry, Merlin, you're a boy.]

[sugarpills]

[ Cheers to him losing his mind.

There is no way Ryan can find this trip through space positive in any way, shape or manner. Of course, it seemed that very few people did; there was only one person on the Network he saw that was actually thankful that he was stuck on this thing, and that's because he was almost dead or something. Yeah, but what about the not-dead? What about people like him, who were going great through life, and then had everything thrown right back into your face?

Well, at least they had a bar. He was there, preparing to drown his sorrows in little brown bottles. Normally, there would be a choice of drug he would use for this kind of occasion, but it wasn't on his person. Or on this ship.
God. Dammit.

Ryan's got one empty bottle to his left, a full one with a recently popped cap to his right. He's too lost in his own thoughts to really take notice of the two strange men dressed up for the Middle Ages here yet. Feel free to say hi to him though, if you'd like! ]

[servant]

[Merlin takes a seat at the bar, arms crossing on the counter and accidentally nudging the empty bottle in the process. It rattles, but Merlin wraps a hand around it before it falls.]

[He glances up to offer an apology, because a space tavern is still a tavern, and it's all too easy for trouble to break out, even when he's not looking for it.]

[He recognizes this guy though, and recalling the details takes precedence. Right, one of the ship's newest, the one missing his dog.]

Hi.

[Merlin offers a smile and wonders if he remembers him. The guy who gave him all the bad news.]

All right?

[prince]

[ Merlin's making pleasant conversation with a stranger. Somehow Arthur's not really surprised, because he's overly chatty and has no social boundaries. The person in question looks about five seconds from two-handed drinking, which doesn't seem very all right, in Arthur's opinion. ]

Don't bother people when they're drinking their life away, Merlin.

[ He murmurs the advice, though not actually particularly quietly. ]

[sugarpills]

[ A voice draws his attention away from the latest bottle. ...Oh yeah, that kid.
The one who told the cabbage jokes!

He wasn't exactly the one who told him all the bad news; from everyone else he asked, it was all the same.

Ryan gives him a little smile at the hello, putting the tip of the bottle to his mouth and taking a few drinks. At least the kid was nice enough to come over for a quick how-you-doin. Even if he did have an interesting choice in attire. It looked like he just came from the Ren Faire.

A new voice attracted his attention. Ryan looked over to an older looking kid. Merlin's friend? ]

Nah, he's alright. [ He would have taken the whole 'drinking his life away thing' a little personally, but hell. It was what he was doing, right? ] All right with you?