Don't Get Too Excited

[Pearce Lockheed]

He was excited to have the young man and his sister living on his property. It was sort of like having a family, one he still wasn't sure he would ever really have, but there was still time for that, he supposed. In the mean time, he had plenty to mull over and be anxious about at the choice of outing.

Zander Brogthamon had wanted to celebrate and while normally Pearce didn't enjoy going to taverns and drinking, he couldn't begrudge the young man the enjoyment. So he'd broken down and said yes. He accompanied the young man to the Singing Sparrow, one of the more popular inns and taverns on the island. He realized they had never really been out anywhere together. Which made him a little nervous in and of itself, but also excited. He wasn't ashamed of their relationship, but he still wasn't certain how other people would take it. He'd never really been publicly with anyone in a while so it all felt a little new.

They had taken the carriage most of the way, the ride filled with the usual small talk.

"Have you ever been here before?" the nobleman asked. He had not. He wasn't opposed to drinking (and was quite accomplished himself, he just didn't talk about it). Pearce glanced up at the sign and pushed open the door, holding it open for his companion. "Drinks are on me." But so is the ride, so try not to get too drunk, was the look he provided.

Aileana DiRossi

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander never needed a particular excuse to go out drinking, certainly he didn't need an excuse to drink with Pearce. Still, he'd dragged him along with the claim of wanting to celebrate the move. As a way to thank him for the new place to live. The carriage ride had been nice enough. Though he was excited to spend some time with him outside of the manor. They didn't often see each other casually in public but he didn't have as many concerns about it as Pearce did.

At the question on if he'd been to the Singing Sparrow before Zander smiled. "A few times actually. One of the barmaids is really sweet." Maybe it was because they were both foreigners. Maybe it was because they'd both seemed so apprehensive around other men. Maybe it was a lot of different things but the boy had really clicked with Aileana.

As he walked in Zander turned to Pearce with a playful pout. "No, no, I brought you out here I'm buying a couple of the drinks." He insisted as he led the man to the bar.

[Aileana DiRossi]

The Singing Sparrow was certainly a hoppin and a boppin and a rockin some robins that night. It was in it's peak busy hour that night, and all hands were needed. Even after much protest and arguing with Roman and Roxanne, Aileana was allowed to help out on the floor instead of being kept in the back where she could sit down and help with the cooking. She'd promised the moment the back pain or her feet started to really bother her she'd go to the back, but really really wanted to be and about despite her current condition. No doubt the siblings were watching her like a hawk. 

She was going to miss her belly she decided after this pregnancy was over. Her large and very pregnant belly provided excellent help with balancing tray's as she moved around the tavern. She was currently on her way to make a delivery at one of the far tables, as she passed by the Tavern door. "Hello! Welcome to the-" She turned her head to look at their new guest, and a bright smile appeared on her face. "Zander!" She called out seeing the familiar face. "Fàilte mo charaid! I'll be with you in just a second, you know what to do." She gave him a wink, before those bright blue eyes she had went and looked to see he had a friend with him. She looked curiously at him, before she waddled on her way. 

Once she made her delivery she wandered over to where Zander and his friend were, holding the tray under an arm while the other rubbed at her lower back. "How have you been?" She asked. That curious look returning on her face as she gave Zander's friend a shy smile in greeting. 


Fàilte mo charaid = welcome my friend

[Pearce Lockheed]

As much as people sometimes made Pearce nervous, he was glad to see the place was busy. Sure, that was more eyes but it also meant more distractions and, hopefully, easier to blend it. Well, unless his companion was friends with one of the barmaids, then that would be a lot more attention. He wasn't surprised though. Zander had that affect on people.

"Alright. You b-buy mine. I'll buy yours." At least, if he had it his way, he wouldn't be drinking that much. It was his attempt to be a little assertive but beyond that he was pretty sure he would cave. He followed the young man to the bar where they were stopped by a very pregnant woman with a tray of drinks who seemed rather excited to see Zander. Pearce offered her a nervous smile at her look.

He had never been to Aldsage or Terrona, but he certainly recognized the language and the woman's accent as being from one of the two, if not the actual words. It wasn't so prevalent in the rest of her speech. But foreigners weren't new to Aralore. Zander wasn't from the island. And really, none of them were. The place didn't matter so much as the people and Pearce was glad to see that his homeland could be so open to others.

"Your friend?" He asked Zander after the woman left to finish her delivery. He wasn't surprised to see her back after and returned her shy smile. She didn't look like she should be up and about, but Pearce got the feeling from her excited personality that being made to sit still did not sit well with the woman. He'd leave the introductions to Zander.

[Zander Brogthamon]

"Mo mhuirnín!" Zander called as the very pregnant barmaid made her way past him. It hadn't been often that he'd used his mother tongue since arriving in Aralore, to anyone aside from his sister. While the two of them weren't from the same island their languages were close enough that it wasn't hard to tell the differences between them. So long as you spoke it. While he'd done his best to hide his accent since coming to the island he noticed it was harder when speaking with Aileana.

"I met her a few months ago, when she was a little less big." Zander was a bit worried seeing her waddling around like a cute duck. Still, he wanted to trust that she knew how to care for herself and when she needed a break. After he ordered drinks for he and Pearce she returned and he smiled brightly at her. "I've been good, I moved from the citizen manor recently." He turned his eyes to Pearce.

"Pearce, this is my stoirín Aileana. Aileana this is my friend Pearce Lockheed."

Mo mhuirnín=my darling
stoirín=little darling

[Aileana DiRossi]

Aileana put her hand on the back of Zander's chair as she smiled down at him. "Really? That's great!" She beamed at him. She couldn't really wrap her head around staying at the manor and had lucked out by being offered to stay at the tavern by Rox and Roman.

"Is Briella happy to be out of there? Where are you staying now?" She asked curiously. Wondering what suitable housing he was in now, and how the little girl was fairing with it. She hoped they'd managed to find someplace where she had free range to play around in, and wouldn't be cooped up inside. A girl her age should be running around to burn off excess energy.

Her bright blues flicked to his friend when introductions were made. "Nice to meet you, Pearce." She gave him another shy smile, and a nod of her head. "Have you boys already ordered?" She asked looking between the two of them. "I think Rox made another batch of what are they called...Those sweet biscuity things? Puts the...chips? Choco...Chocolate!" Her eyes got big as she remembered what Roxanne had told her. "Chocolate chips! And raisins? Right? Those dried out grapes?" She asked for clarification. She was still trying to get used to the different types of foods they had here. "If you want some?" She asked.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce understood enough of Teronna's language to at least know a few words. And certainly enough to know he didn't know these words. While he knew his own language rather well and was very familiar with Tresteria, some of the other isles not so much. But he did his best to pay attention considering he did like words. And he considered all accents much more appealing than his own so hearing it a bit more in Zander was actually quite attractive.

His gaze jumped to the red head as Zander introduced him, first with a blush at the word 'friend' and how that was both endearing and lacking at the same time. And then more so with the fact that even here, his last name was recognizable. Not that he expected everyone, especially foreigners to know who he was, but the Lockheed family was old and quite respected. He had a hand in a lot of set up around the island and he really didn't like to push his name around. It felt insincere and awkward. The nobleman returned the barmaid's smile again. "N-nice to meet you too, Aileana."

He left it up to Zander to share his new residence, smiling at the other man to suggest his support. Pearce didn't mind sharing but it was also the younger man's decision to share about his life and Aileana was his friend. Besides, the noble was already a little nervous about being around so many people and it was easier to relax if he didn't have to talk.

He nodded when she asked if they had ordered something already and his attention remained on the woman as she expressed there were cookies of some sort (chocolate or raisin or both he wasn't sure). The man had a weak spot for desserts of most kinds. "Raisins, yes," he confirmed quietly.

[Zander Brogthamon]

"I'm actually staying with Pearce here, at his manor. Briella loves it there's a garden for her to run around in and she's started wanting to pick up playing the piano." Zanders smile brightened as he talked. The idea of giving his little sister a place where she could be safe and run freely was all he'd ever wanted. He would have taken to sleeping in a box if it meant she got a proper home. Luckily it hadn't had to come to that.

While the term 'friend' didn't feel quite right for Pearce he didn't know what else to call him. They hadn't had a discussion on where their relationship was or where it was going. Certainly at bare minimum they were friends. Very close friends. He knew the man would be a little nervous around someone new so Zander placed a reassuring hand on his knee and glanced at him with a soft smile.

"We got drinks but cookies would be wonderful too." Watching her stumble to find the words was endearing. It had taken Zander months to learn different words and phrases in Aralore. Even now though he struggled to remember things properly. Luckily enough for Briella being as young as she was picking up the new language was much easier. "Though you look about ready to pop, girl. Why don't you sit with us for a while?"

[Aileana DiRossi]

A grin grew on Aileana's face at hearing Zander's little sister was enjoying their new home. "Oh I'm glad! She must really enjoy that. What's a piano?" She asked, looking at Zander and then at Pearce for an explanation. Her brows furrowing. The clanswoman was not familiar with the different cultures of the other islands as Aldsage rather staid to itself and were more focused on their business then the other business of the other islands. They were a bit...barbaric, in their ways one would say, and they had very different culture customs that one might even consider "behind" in times. Aileana was still struggling with the concept of "money" and coin, and having to "buy" things rather than just trading. 

"Ah cookies! That was it, and raisins." She said excitedly. "We don't have those at home, they're...interesting. But very good, yes, Rox made cookies." She rambled excitedly. She laughed slightly at Zander saying she was about to pop. "I most certainly am, I think the midwife said I have a few more weeks, before I officially pop." She said, patting the top of her belly gently. "Oh no I couldn't!" She shook her head at his offer. He was here with a friend! They didn't need Aileana crashing on them. "I'll be okay, I don't want to intrude." She looked between both men and gave them both a reassuring smile. 

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce was glad everyone seemed to find the arrangement to their liking. It was the first he heard of Briella wanting to pick up piano. He used to play a lot. Loved to play. If he'd been allowed a career choice in life instead of what his father wanted or taking charge of his small family, he would have become a famous piano player or composer. Pr at least intended to, anyway. He wasn't sure he was good, but he did enjoy music. "It's a musical instrument. You p-play keys that hit the strings to make n-notes. Like an advanced harp." It wasn't really like a harp but...sort of.

The man took a deep breath at Zander's comforting touch. He got caught up sometimes, especially in new places. He nodded, seconding Zander's notion of cookies with a small smile. Raisins were...not his favorite but in cookies they weren't too bad. Anything with the right amount of sugar was quite good.

A few more weeks seemed about right. Popping...well, the nobleman was mpstly certain that was not how babies were made. It was quite the interesting slang. "It's f-fine," Pearce encouraged. Nervous or not, he didn't see a reason not to met more people. That was sort of the point, he supposed, to have a good time with friends. He noticed the look she passed between the two of them and tried to ignore it as anything more than a look.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander hadn't really been aware of what a piano was until he moved to Aralore either. Certainly he'd heard about them at least but there weren't musical instruments in a farming town. At least not traditional ones. Briella was much more interested in playing music than her brother. Though the redhead did secretly love to sing but the only person who'd ever heard him had been his sister.

Raisins weren't his favorite either but Zander couldn't turn down a good cookie. When the girl insisted that she didn't want to intrude on them he rolled his eyes with a playful smile. "If you would have been intruding I wouldn't have asked you." He stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The redhead had really come to enjoy spending time at the Singing Sparrow and not just for the alcohol.

"I can't wait to meet the little bugger." He cooed sweetly with a smile before he took a long drink from his glass.

[Aileana DiRossi]

Well....if they insisted.... Aileana pursed her lips for a thoughtful moment. "Okay, but only for a short bit." She told them, attempting to appear stern, but failing. She pulled out a chair and carefully lowered herself into it. Setting the empty tray on it side beside her. She grinned at Zander and let her hands rest on her swollen belly. "More like big bugger, I don't think I can get any larger!" She exclaimed. Already she could feel her muscles relaxing in her back from no longer being on her feet, but she wasn't going to admit that it was actually a good thing that she was off of her feet. 

"What do you two have planned for this evening? Just drinks and catching up?" She asked curiously. She was still learning what everyone did for fun around here, as she'd rarely leave the tavern save for going to the market. 

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce felt entirely positive he didn't much belong in this conversation. Or this venue. He belonged next to Zander, certainly, but he felt a bit ignored. Which, honestly, was entirely a good thing. Sometimes socializing in a new setting could be quite a lot for the man. Being a more passive observer at the bar gave him a moment to relax.

He smiled at the woman and the warm manner she and Zander discussed her child-to-be. It was...honestly a little bit depressing personally and he certainly didn't want to bring down the conversation simple because of his own unattainable desires.

"Just d-drinks and catching up," he murmured, flashing a hesitant smile toward Zander. "And anything else he wants," he said more confidently than he felt, but he wasn't afraid to suggest as much.