Ride This Feeling

[Kaiden Dellario]

Despite the negative affinity Kaiden Dellario had with alcohol, he had found himself in many a tavern throughout his life. He enjoyed people, hearing their stories, making them laugh, laughing in return, enjoying the company of others to the sounds of happiness and the taste of good food and the warmth of a fire. Inns and taverns were hubs for travelers and traders and people of all sorts. People like him. It didn't matter where someone was from or where they were going, just that right now, they were here and they could enjoy the moment.

So it was of no surprise to him that after his visit to the famous tea shop, he decided to stay the evening in Vireron City and make one of the local inns his temporary residence for the night. Sure, he could have managed the trip home in the late evening and likely arrived before the middle of the night and he would have enjoyed the ride too, but he was in the mood for company. Even if it was fleeting.

He started with the innkeeper, and then got caught up in a conversation about the alliance with Aralore with some others at the bar, but they were pretty drunk already. Kaiden nursed a single mug of beer and then felt a little bad when he was still there with an empty one so he paid for a second and left a tip and then floated over to another table that was arguing about their favorite tea. Which, considering Tasseomancy was only a few blocks away, made sense. It was still rather hilarious to listen to. And then there was a local bard that showed up so he listened to the man's stories and songs for a while. He was rather good with a lute, but not much of a singer. His stories...his voice was made for stories, not song.

Halfway through his second mug, he decided he needed to cut himself off and head to his rented room before he got more carried away. More than one drink was a lot for him. But he didn't feel too tired and he wasn't nauseous yet. Best quit while he was ahead. He pushed himself up from the table, and sidled out of the chair into someone. Well, maybe he was a little more drunk than he thought. He reached out a hand to help study the stranger if needed. "Sorry about that, friend," he said apologetically.

Jacob Walsh

[Jacob Walsh]

Jacob rarely frequented the taverns for several reasons. The main one being that he was a doctor and if others saw him drinking and becoming inebriated as he often got, they might think less of him and not put their trust in him.

However, this evening he had been in the tavern because someone had called for him. There had been a bad brawl earlier and a man needed some stitching up. He'd refused to leave to go to the infirmary, so Jacob had made the trek to the tavern.

Afterward, the bartender insisted on offering him some drinks, so he gratefully accepted them making pleasant conversation with those around him at the bar, not realizing that he was nearing a limit that never seemed to matter to him, but he wasn't in the comfort and privacy of his own home.
The others at the bar just continued to buy him drinks.

After a while, he finally held his hands up when the bartender was about to bring him another drink. "No, no... I need to head home." Where he could drink some more and pass out. He smiled, those dimples at his cheeks suddenly appearing. "Thank you all for the drinks. I hope you have a good evening."

He stood up, suddenly feeling that rush of dizzy drunkenness, which caused him to stumble a bit, but as he tried to steady himself, he felt someone knock into him, nearly causing him to fall. He felt the hands reach out to steady him and he looked to find Kaiden as he straightened himself out and nodded. "Quite alright..." He stood still, even though the room seemed to be moving, or was he wavering?

[Kaiden Dellario]

He was glad to realize the man wasn't about to press charges or start a fight. From the look on the man's face and that he had nearly fallen over, Kaiden would have guessed the guy was more drunk than sober. But his words sounded clear enough and he was succeeding at holding his own. Plus or minus some swaying back and forth. He didn't remove his hand from the other's shoulder, just in case.

"Do you need hand? Help walking home maybe?" He'd heard someone nearby suggest as much and it had sounded like this gentleman, but he hadn't quite been listening before. Either way, the man looked like he needed to get himself home sooner rather than later.

Kaiden often wondered what that felt like, being more than buzzed. Many people, like this guy, seemed to find it quite enjoyable. But the nobleman never seemed to make it there before he passed out. Probably a good thing, he supposed, but he was always curious.

[Jacob Walsh]

Jacob was far from a violent or confrontational man. Even if he wanted to start a fight, he doubted, especially with his drunken state, he would be no match for the tall man in front of him. He would be incredibly stupid to start a fight with him.

His brow furrowed at Kaiden's question of him needing help? Did he look that bad? Was he stumbling horribly already? He looked at the man with a confused expression and shook his head. While this could have been a ploy to mug and steal from him, Jacob didn't think that was the case- he looked like a nobleman, and regardless, Jacob didn't have much on him to steal at the moment.

He let out a slight laugh, "do I look like I need help?" His tone more questioning him in a curious sort of way, rather than rude or standoffish. Jacob steadied himself and took a step back away from the man, only to stumble a little. He reached out and steadied himself against a chair and laughed again. "I'm fine-- Just fine..."

If only he did this for fun. No, it was more to drown his sorrows and numb his pain. It typically worked. A little. But it never got rid of or made things better in the long run. He knew he should have just gone straight home to do this- now he was out in the public, making himself look like an incapable doctor.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden chuckled. "Yes, yes you do," he said, just as honestly as the man's curiosity had been. Maybe a bit more amused. The stranger wasn't entirely off his feet but from the look of it, he only needed another drink before he'd make a fool of himself.

Perhaps if they weren't entirely strangers, the man would feel better about his offer to help. Kaiden didn't much care for the distinction of commoner versus nobleman. Yes, he came from a family of means, but in Ithias those roles weren't so rigid. Not to mention the king lived among the people more than he did not. "My name is Kaiden. May I?" He lifted one hand to Jacob's shoulder and with the other he gestured toward the tavern entrance.

He had a feeling the guy wasn't entirely pleased with his current public appearance. Still, Kaiden wasn't about the push that man if he didn't wish to move. "Some fresh air might do you good."

[Jacob Walsh]

He gave Kaiden a sheepish grin when he suggested that he did look like he needed help. Jacob silently reminded himself that he needed to stay away from taverns and drinking in public. He was sure to screw up his reputation if he did this more often.

As Kaiden introduced himself and placed his hand on his shoulder, Jacob looked at him curiously until he gestured towards the door. He nodded slightly and began to walk towards the exit, walking fairly straight for a drunk guy. “Yes… Air.” He nodded again, leaving the tavern.

The cold air barely fazed him, mostly because the alcohol coursing through his blood kept him warmer than usual. He turned slightly to look at Kaleb, realizing he hadn’t introduced himself. “Pardon me... My name is Jacob. I don’t usually drink in taverns like this.” For some reason, he felt he needed to explain that. “But I don’t live too far from here… And I was invited out after work… So.” He paused, his words had been slightly slurring together, but not too horribly. “I decided. Why not?”

He glanced down at his feet and suddenly felt like he was walking in slow motion. Was he? And without realizing, he may have leaned forward too much and stumbled forward, landing on the ground. He caught himself on his hands and knees and couldn’t help but laugh at himself. “Oh boy.”

[Kaiden Dellario]

Thankfully, Kaiden wasn't too familiar with the area. Sure, he had lived in Tresteria for a couple years, but he had been serving away in the military most of that. Now that he was back, he was attempting to get better acquainted with the lay of the land. Especialy the people.

This Jacob seemed like a good guy, one who was very conscious of his current state and even embarrassed about it. But everyone let themselves go sometimes and it was often warranted.

"Why not," Kaiden agreed with a genuinely agreeable nod. "Pleasure to meet you, Jacob-oh!"

The guy stumbled quickly and Kaiden reacted out to grab his should and arm a little too late. "You alright there?" He offered Jacob a hand to help him to his feet. He wanted to offer him a hand with walking to so he didn't scrap himself up.

"You got invited out and your friends left you to walk home alone?" He teased with a smile. "So, Mr. Jacob. What do you do if you don't drink in taverns like that one?" He asked pleasantly. It seemed clear that the man was accustomed to drinking. Just not walking drunk.

[Jacob Walsh]

He felt the hands on his shoulder and arm and he nearly swatted the man away to dismiss his help. He was too proud to ask for help, really. But instead, he stood up with the man’s help and nodded to him. “Fine… Just fine.” He assured Kaiden with a friendly laugh. “May have had...just... a little too much... to drink, I suppose…” He paused between his words, perhaps a bit more exaggerated than someone might normally speak. At least he was speaking coherently.

Jacob tried to steady himself, using Kaiden’s guidance for a moment before he nodded, and began walking again as if nothing had just happened.

At Kaiden’s question, he shrugged his shoulders. “I think they all left before me? I can’t entirely remember. Or they were having too much fun. I don’t know.” He waved his hand as if it weren’t a big deal. “It’s fine. Really.”

What did he do normally when he did not drink in taverns? He chuckled slightly before he spoke simply. “I stay at home.” Whether Kaiden meant where he typically drank, or where he typically spent his time rather than at a tavern- he didn’t know, but the answer applied to both. “I’m a doctor, you know… So, I work...and I work… and work… And I just like to go home….and relax. And unwind from the day.” He laughed slightly and shrugged. “But every so often… I get dragged out… because, you know… All I do is work, and I am boring.” He said the words in a mocking tone as if someone had once told him that.

“What about you, Mr. Kaiden?” He used the same prefix he had. “Do you frequent taverns? And pick up drunk men to help them home?” He lightly teased him, clearly joking.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden was quick to remove his hands once the man was upright and under his own power again. He got the feeling the guy wasn't the sort to rely on others very much, but his demeanor remained friendly and so did Kaiden's. The soldier was a mixture of amused and understanding. He didn't get drunk very often himself, but when it happened, he was certainly quite a bit more of a mess than Jacob, so he wasn't about to judge and was perfectly content to maintain the illusion that no stumbling or aid had occurred. He was quite prepared to help catch the man if he should stumble again, however.

Whatever had happened to Jacob's company, they were gone now. And they likely weren't very good company because of it. That, and clearly the man hadn't been having as much fun as them. He was pleased to discover, however, that Jacob was a talkative drunk. Okay, maybe he was usually talkative, Kaiden had no idea, but he smiled all the same. "Quite fine indeed," he echoed in gentle affirmation.

His smile grew as the man announced he was a doctor. "Boring? A doctor?" he scoffed. "I doubt that!" The noble was somewhat familiar, being a soldier, that doctors had quite a tough and dirty job. He believed entirely that Jacob's simple explanation of how much he worked was the truth. From the sound of it, Jacob was the dedicated sort, and that he sometimes needed a few drinks to 'unwind' didn't surprise Kaiden. At some point, everyone needed something to help them relax. "You enjoy your work, I hope?" He asked, a certain amount of respect in his voice.

"I do, in fact, frequent taverns. And help the occasional drunk home," he chuckled, avoiding the implications. That was a serious offense in Tresteria, one that Kaiden was personally uneasy with because he had, in the past, done exactly what that implied. "I'm a soldier by trade. Which, at the moment, is quite boring. I rather prefer it that way." Of course there was always the threat of war these days. The foreigner would take a moment of respite and peace, however. "No need to make your work more arduous."

[Jacob Walsh]

Even as Jacob spoke, he rarely looked at Kaiden, just because he was so focused on his footing, not wanting to trip again. But as the soldier next to him scoffed, Jacob lifted his gaze and looked at Kaiden with a slight smirk. Well, he supposed if things were boring, then it would mean he didn’t have any patients. He breathed a small laugh and nodded slowly. “Ah, maybe I used the wrong word. Not boring… More like… Well.” He thought for a moment, with an expression that looked like it hurt to think. “My life outside of work is boring.” Because he woke up, ate, worked, drank, and slept. Repeat day in and day out. He had no life. “My work is…” Again with the painful thinking. Jacob raised a hand, pressing the palm of it against his forehead. “Ahhh... All-consuming, I suppose.” He lowered his hand then shrugged before turning his gaze back ahead of him.

Did he enjoy his work? Jacob nodded his head profusely. “I do. Yes.” He smiled and let a moment of silence linger briefly before speaking again. “I like helping people. But it’s frustrating when I can’t… So I work harder and try harder so that--” Jacob paused in his sentence and dropped his gaze in a somber manner. No, he wasn’t going to go down that road, especially not while drunk and not with a stranger.

He sighed and ran a hand down his face before he spoke again. “Yes, I like my work.”

Jacob was grateful that Kaiden told him what he did in return. A soldier. It was another profession that could get boring if nothing was happening- much like his. Boring and quiet meant good. But he understood and smiled, nodding. “Yes- Let’s not.” He laughed quietly. “At least not when I am horribly drunk and stumbling. No one would want me stitching up their wounds like this, hmm?”

If it came down to it, Jacob was almost certain that he might be able to manage if the situation was dire- but he’d rather not and risk his practice by getting a bad reputation. “So what does a soldier do when you are not out fighting battles and wars?”

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden didn't mind nor particularly notice the lack of eye contact. It was much preferable the man be able to keep his feet under him. Drunk as he was, he seemed to still have his head mostly attached and while words seemed a bit of a slog, he spoke clearly enough. It was rather attractive. His looks were too, the noble had to admit, he couldn't help but notice. It was that sort of sad demeanor, underneath the warm and glowing bravado of drink. He had something of a soft spot for unspoken sadness. An empathy. A desire to help. Or at least to listen.

There was nothing wrong with boring, in his mind, but there was a point that it became too much. Where the need for excitement and change made normal hurt. "Walking home at night with a stranger doesn't sound all that boring. Spunds risky. Not how I prefer to meet my doctors," Kaiden teased. "Course I am not bleeding so perhaps that is a good way to meet a doctor."

All-consuming... Kaiden had to admit that objectively, he could see why Jacob might want some pther distraction. He pondered for a moment as Jacob trailed off. There was loss in there somewhere, he felt it. That would be the sadness. Not quite his place to press as a stranger, tempted as he was.

"I don't know, your hands seem steady enough," he countered, a hint of respect in his tone and chuckle. "Won't say a word, promise."

He raised an eyebrow and looked Jacob up amd down rather obviously, though it wasn't so obvious in the dark he supposed. Or to a drunk looking at his feet. "This. I do this. I talk to people, walk them home, practice their language, learn their name and address and then later, I come back and nick all their apples." More jokes, considering while he might confess to Elyscia he enjoyed cooking, that...wasn't socially acceptable to announce. Still, he quickly amended himself. "No, I travel a lot. Locally and abroad. I like meeting people. Talking," he shrugged. "I'm no doctor but...I like to help people in other ways." Kaiden avoided discussing his own loss.

One such example was helping a drunk man stumble home without getting mugged or hurting himself. Another was helping a lonely man have some decent, un-demanding company. "Unless you don't like my jokes. Tell me now."

[Jacob Walsh]

Jacob shrugged his shoulders with a bit of exaggeration. Walking home alone in his drunken state may have been riskier than walking with a stranger. “Not exactly how I prefer to meet my patients, either…” He chuckled softly, but at Kaiden’s next comment, he thought for a moment before he nodded in agreement. “Ah..yes, I suppose that is not a great way to meet my patients either…” He frowned and scratched the top of his head. “But I suddenly become everyone’s favorite person when they need help.” He grimaced before quickly waving it off.

Kaiden was just being kind now, as he assured him that his hands looked steady enough. His eyes moved to glance down at them, and he struggled to focus on them. To him, they looked as if they were shaking horribly. “Hmm…” He hummed quietly, a sound as if he were doubting Kaiden’s words. But as he promised he wouldn’t say a word, he smirked slightly and nodded. “I appreciate that…”

As they walked on, he hadn’t noticed Kaiden looking him over, nor did he look back at him as he spoke, telling him of what he did in his spare time. Being drunk, it was more difficult to pick up on jokes and sarcasm, so when Kaiden admitted to following strangers home and learning about them, only to steal their apples. He looked at him with a look of confusion until he told him what he really did. “Ahh…” Jacob let out a small laugh, mostly at himself for being oblivious to the joke.

“I suppose we need more caring people in the world who like to help others…” He sighed quietly. It was true, there weren’t enough and people could just be outright cruel, selfish, and greedy.

He laughed again and shook his head. “Your jokes are just fine… I might just be slow at the moment in catching onto them.” He smirked. “Perhaps next time we meet, I will understand them better.” He laughed at himself before sighing.

Jacob fell silent then as they continued walking, not knowing what else to really say. When the silence was starting to get to him, he cleared his throat and spoke quietly, as if unsure if he should really engage in conversation. Would he remember any of it in the morning? “So… uh…” He hesitated briefly before continuing. “Are you married? Have any children?” He asked, genuinely interested.

[Kaiden Dellario]

But I suddenly become everyone’s favorite person when they need help. For some reason, that struck some chord with the nobleman. He felt so out of touch with people these days and while he would quite like to have people turn to him for help...he supposed Jacob had a good point. It would be nice to be someone's favorite person even when those people didn't need your help. A lot of his thoughts went immediately to the woman he was engaged to. He had a strong desire to make something of that relationship. Whatever exactly depends on the both of them, but it would be nice to have...something.

He wondered then if Jacob was married and quickly decided he was not, after saying something like that.

Kaiden nodded in agreement to the need for more kindness. He rarely saw a reason to be purposely rude or unkind. Unless someone was rude to him first, then it sort of depended on his mood and what they had done to him or someone else he cared about. And while yes, he'd prefer his doctors to be sober, he also understood that no one could be perfect all the time and it was okay to relax. Sometimes. Hopefully the doctor didn't get this drunk every night.

The man smiled at the notion of a next time. "I imagine you will. Or that I might be better at telling them." He wasn't too pressed for conversation considering he didn't want to

He blushed. "To the disappointment of my mother, no, neither one." He almost mentioned his engagement, but Elyscia's introduction of him at the ball still had him...uncertain. "I should like to change that, of course. It would be nice to be someone's favorite person, after all. Even when they don't need help." Clearly that line was still on his mind. "What of yourself, Jacob?" he asked with just as much curiosity.

[Jacob Walsh]

The doctor lived a lonely life these days. Everyone he had loved and cared for in his life was all gone now. He felt that he had nothing left in his life, aside from his career and alcohol to keep him company. He did, of course, have friends, but in his own isolation, he had seemed to push everyone away, or they had simply stopped trying to bother or check in on him. But whenever someone had medical questions or needs, they never seemed to think twice about reaching out to him. It was funny how that worked.

Jacob smiled and let out another short laugh. “I suppose we could both practice understanding and telling jokes better for next time, hm?” He smirked at the thought. “We could get a drink together and sit and pass along jokes and see how we do. Perhaps they will get better and funnier as the night progresses.”

He listened as Kaiden answered his question about whether or not he was married or had kids. As he used his own words about wanting to be someone’s favorite person, Jacob nodded and forced a small smile. That had once been a good feeling to have. Natalia had made every attempt at reminding Jacob just how much she appreciated and loved him. He certainly missed that but also having someone to return that sentiment to.

As Kaiden asked the same question in return, he let his gaze fall to the ground and remained silent for a short while before he shook his head and quietly answered. It would have been easier to lie to the man, to pretend at this moment that Natalia hadn’t died and that he still had a wedding to look forward to. But in his drunken state, it was a little more difficult to pretend. “I was engaged once… But I, unfortunately, lost her.” He did not say anything else or clarify whether he meant that his fiancée and he had split up, or that she had, in fact, died, before they were ever able to marry. He sighed quietly before speaking again. “If you do find that person who makes you their favorite person... My advice would be to hold onto that and cherish it as much as possible. You never know when or if it could slip away when you least expect it to...” He forced a small smile and nodded.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden smiled. He imagined a lot of things got funnier the more drunk one was. At least from his third person point of view. "I can't handle much alcohol myself, but I would like that," he agreed. More for the company and the jokes than the drinking, but he wasn't about to judge.

It was one thing to want that feeling and another to understand it. From the way Jacob had said it, he understood, whereas for Kaiden it was only wistful thinking and desire. The man's reaction to his returned question only confirmed it even more for him. There was some tale of loved and lost there, he knew, even before he said it. He didn't interrupt the heavy painful silence that engulfed them.

Part of him wanted to reach out and comfort the man at his confession. But he didn't know him well enough for that. He didn't know what to say either. He'd lost loved ones before in his father and brother but not in the way Jacob had. "The time you have with people is never enough," he commented softly.

He smiled faintly even with the somber air about them. "So many people have told me," he noted. Most of them strangers to his life, but perhaps not as much strangers to love as Kaiden was himself. "It's good advice. Probably more honest even, after a few drinks," he added. He wasn't trying to make light of the man's grief, but he was hoping to gently move past the moment.

The nobleman glanced at the buildings as they passed by. He didn't recognize the area, but he could make out enough taller landmarks that he wasn't all that worried. "Almost home?" he asked.