Pay Back is Sweet

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

Ronan rarely left Candlelights let alone the village. However, there was something in particular he wanted from the capitol and he'd been saving up for some time to buy it. There was something about traveling out on his own that made him nervous but he was too stubborn to ask one of the others to travel with him. He wouldn't want to bother them after all.

The weather was nice after all and taking a day off of work was something he needed. The merchant had luckily kept his word and held one of the necklaces for him. With a bright smile he idly toyed with one of the black jewels until his eyes caught a familiar figure close by.

How many times was he going to run into the captain? Not that he minded either way. At least this time he wasn't in any kind of distress. He moved over to Sebastian with a smile. "Nice to see you again, captain." He called sweetly.

Sebastian Arcturis

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian had been having a terrible day. To be fair, he didn't often have good days. But this day, this day, was terrible.

It started with the fact that it was entirely too sunny out. Not controllable, he had to admit but when combined with his headache it was frustrating. He had followed Allarick around most the of early morning on a hunt and while his hangover had finally faded, the morning dealing with that and his father had sealed his fate.

Well, not really fate, but he was worried it might lead to that.

He'd been on his way to a late and much needed lunch when shouting in the courtyard and one of his guards scrambling his way attracted his attention. There was some sort of...aggressive disagreement between two nobleman. And here he had hoped it was a servant or something normal and human. The captain stood there for a good half hour while the men shouted and harassed and belittled each other until they lunged at each other and he stepped between them, pulling them apart and shoving them on their way. He knew he had spoken to them, clearly enough to get them to relax, but he didn't remember what.

Lunch ruined, he still had to train amd instruct the other guards. He spent most of it more hands on than normal and got himself quite beat up for it. But it was what he wanted. The aches distracted from any of the mental frustrations of the day.

He was on his way out for a drink when someone said it was nice to see him and he could not imagine why. Sebastian glanced up at Ronan and blinked, stopping where he was.

"Ronan."

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

At this point Ronan was more or less used to Sebastian being the strong silent type. Talking to the man was almost like talking to a brick wall but he found that oddly comforting. Still, something felt off. Maybe it was the way the man said his name. Maybe his general body language. He couldn't really put his finger on what it was or if he was just being crazy. He looked a bit more beat up than the last time they'd seen each other but that could also just come with the territory.

"Well, it certainly looks like you've had a fun day." He teased with a cautiously playful smile. Maybe the man was just hungry?

"If you're free want to grab something to eat with me? I took the day off." Perhaps he was reading too much into it but if anything it looked like Sebastian needed a break. Besides he did still owe him after the other had helped him twice already. The least he could do was get the man something to eat or drink.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Fun day. He snorted derogatorily. "Is that supposed to be funny?" He gestured at himself and the dirt and the bruises on his cheek and the mote than outright frown on his features. "Because it is not." He understood sarcasm sometimes. But this wasn't one of those times.

Ronan's smile made it even more confusing. But honestly he was used to being laughed at. Having been shoved around and picked on and thrown in that stupid hole a few times got him quite used to stupid words and mocking.

Or so he thought.

Sebastian straightened himself and shrugged as if to suggest an apology for the overreaction.

"A drink sounds good." He sort of figured the man had the day off considering he was way out here. That or he had run away. But Ronan seemed happy enough that he doubted that.

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

Sebastians tone nearly made him flinch. There was very certainly something wrong with him. Ronans smile dropped a bit but he kept it up for the most part. Of course he would have understood how he may have come off as if he were mocking the man or making fun of him but he simply wanted to make him smile.

"Let's go get a drink then. My treat." Ronan walked with him a tavern, letting the captain lead the way. He wasn't very familiar with the capitol given that he didn't travel much. So he kept close to Sebastians side as he followed him into the tavern.

When they arrived there seemed to be more people than he thought there would be for the time of day. Perhaps he was just used to the Candlelights bar not getting busy until late at night. His eyes moved around the room until they caught on a table nestled closer to a small corner. A bit further away from the main crowd which was exactly what he would have preferred. Though he wasn't sure if it was where the other man would want to sit.

"Let's go sit here."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Maybe he had been intending for a drink all along. Either way he had no problem leading the way to water. Or alcohol, as it were. He noticed how close Ronan walked to him but made no comment. He assumed the man wasn't comfortable in the city. Though why he was comfortable with him...sure they had gotten drinks that last time but it hadn't been all sunshine either.

Sebastian scanned the crowd and caught sight of only one unsavory type who shared a look with the guard and immediately turned back to his drink. Good. No problems.

The corner table suited him just fine. He took a seat without a word against the wall, settling his feet on one of the other chairs. One of the bar maids stopped by a short while later and while she offered Sebastian a shy smile, she only asked Ronan what he wanted. Bastian came here enough that she knew he wanted at least two drinks.

"What brought you here?" He asked, meaning Ethion.

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

Ronan was at least comfortable enough with Sebastian to know the man wouldn't simply attack him. He was also certain if there were any problems the captain would be able to handle it. As the barmaid came by Ronan ordered a whisky before turning his attention back to the other man. He hadn't entirely expected him to start the conversation. It caught him a bit by surprise for just a short moment.

"Ah, the last time I was here I met a merchant that made very pretty jewelry." His fingers toyed idly with some of the jewels hanging from the necklace.

"I wanted one of the necklaces he made but it was a little expensive so I had to save up for it." As the barmaid brought back their drinks Ronan thanked her quietly with a sweet smile before taking a sip of his drink.

With soft sigh he looked up at Sebastain and rested his cheek in the palm of his free hand. He figured there was no use in beating around the bush and he was genuinely concerned. "You don't seem like you've had a good day." He stated plainly before taking another drink. "I don't mean just from being all roughed up."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Ah, shopping. That thing that city folk did. He...well he had to get new equipment sometimes but considering he lived at the castle he bought little else besides a hell of a lot of drinks.

The captain's dark eyes shifted to the necklace and then away. Expensive. No wondered he had walked so close to Sebastian. He wondered how safe the man would be walking home.

He met Ronan's eyes at his statements and since they were not untrue nor did he had anything to add, he gave no direct reply. Instead he continued. "Did you come here alone?" His tone was blank, no surprise or concern or judgement or emotion. Just looking for fact.

Sebastian took a long drink from his mug and shortly after a second round had already arrived. He waved away the barmaid. If he wanted a third, he would ask for one explicitly.

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

Ronan didn't do much shopping unless it pertained to his work. Usually that took the form in replacing ripped clothing, buying perfume, more rope, things that his clients would like. There were few things he bought specifically for himself but the necklace was one of those things.

When Sebastian didn't expand on how he'd had a bad day Ronan almost pouted. Though he remembered the captain saying something about not liking his pouting and he didn't want to make him any more annoyed. Instead he took to answering the next question the man asked him. "I did. I didn't want to bother anyone else so I thought it would be better for me to come alone." Was that the smartest thing for him to do? Decidedly not. But it was far too late to worry about that.

Instead of stating an obvious Ronan decided to ask a question directly. "What's gotten you so upset?" Though he wanted to make a joke about being grumpier than normal it didn't seem like the appropriate time. At least not at the moment.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He was surprised by his surprise st the answer. Ronan had already proved he didn't care aboit himself. Why would walking alone with expensive jewels change that? It didn't. And Bastian was a fool for thinking otherwise. He had been right before not to care.

"Everything. Nothing. Does not matter," he grumbled, finishing his first drink in another gulp. "Why are you more nosy than normal?" Unlike Ronan, he didn't think to hold his tongue for the right moment. Their first meetings had contained very little about the captain and he was largely okay with that.

Sebastian yawned. He wasn't tired exactly, it being one of those yawns that were a demand for more to breathe. Come to think of it...he'd been thrown rather hard on the ground. Maybe he had busted his lung again? He hoped not.

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

"It does too matter." He insisted firmly as his brow furrowed. Ronan took another drink, not even half way through his first glass. Of course he wasn't even close to being a heavy drinker. The question about him being nosy made him more than a little confused.

To be fair he'd only really asked him one question and pointed out something obvious. That wouldn't really constitute as being nosy. "Does one question mean I'm being nosy now?" He tilted his head to the side slightly before seeing the way the man yawned. He needed to relax, that was fairly obvious at least.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He stated a bit softer with a gentle smile. "It doesn't mean I can't be concerned. You need a break."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Ronan was free to have his own opinions. Bastian was free to ignore them.

He took his second drink a lot more slowly now that he had the warmth of the ale in his belly to keep him company. He wanted more than that. And he was quite in the mood for a fight still.

Certainly Ronan was not objectively nosy. But in Bastians current mood and with what he knew about the man, it was his opinion of nosy. And, well, we all know how opinions were working for the man today. Bastian only grunted in confirmation.

Bastian stared at Ronan with a piercing gaze that he was trying very much to soften. Getting in a fight with the small man wouldn't help. Wouldn't even make him feel better. Would probably make him feel worse.

"A break?" He repeated as if he didn't understand. Certainly he was wound too tightly at the moment, it taking all of his social willpower not to snap at the prostitute because none of this was his fault and Bastian did not actually blame him for being nosy.

Ronan's soft smile did help a little. It was secretly nice for someone to be concerned. He would not say as much. He continued to drink.

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

Sebastians hard stare didn't particularly phase him. At least not as much as it would have any other time. Given that he was able to chalk it up mostly to the man just being in a bad mood. Clearly he hadn't had a very good day. Ronan wasn't going to hold any grumpiness or attitude against him.

The reitteration of the term 'take a break' made him giggle softly. It wouldn't entirely surprise him if the captain didn't know how to relax. It seemed that work was all he really cared about. "Yes, a break." He returned while biting back another giggle. He didn't want Sebastian to think he was laughing at him. "Don't worry about work. Sit out in the sun, get some fresh air, a massage..." He eyed him for a moment and smiled a bit teasingly. "Take a bath."

After a moments thought there was one place he could think about that would be nice. "There's a place just outside of the city. It's really nice if you would want to see it."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He assumed Ronan was laughing at him. He didn't understand why though and he didn't take it personally. The soldier was used to being laughed at and not being understood and not understanding people. It was normal.

Using the word in the definition of itself wasn't very helpful. "I am not worried about work." He wasn't. At least not consciously. He might carry his annoyance around with him, but he didn't worry over it.

Sun, fresh air, massage, bath...his expression grew distant with the words, a slow memory unfurling. One he was still quite conflicted about. He wanted to relax physically, but emotionally and mentally... Sebastian downed the rest if his drink and closed his eyes, massaging his temples with his elbows on the table.

He waved for another drink. "Sure. After this round."

[Ronan "Kitten" Lynch]

"Sure you don't." Whether or not Sebastian wanted to admit it or even if he didn't realize it Ronan could tell. It seemed he used work as some form of escape. If he could focus on his soldiers and training them to their best he wouldn't have to focus on his own problems. He was guilty of that himself very often. It was easy, familiar. At the suggestion of one more round he didn't argue. Given that he was still working on his first drink after all.

Perhaps the alcohol could make him loosen up a bit as well. Ronan wasn't familiar enough with Sebastian to know how to fully help him relax so if alcohol could make his job a bit easier it would help. He decided to stay mostly quiet while the captain finished his last drink and he finished his first. Seeing as the man thought he was being nosy before it might be nice to have some quiet. Though he couldn't help the way he leisurely swung his legs under the table or how he hummed softly to himself.

Once he paid for their drinks Ronan motioned for Sebastian to follow him. Even though he was leading the way this time he still stuck close to the larger man as a buffer between himself and others. Not that he did it consciously. It was just where he felt safest. "It's not far outside of the city. I like to come here and just enjoy the day when I come to the capitol." Which admittedly wasn't often at all.

As the sound of the city faded Ronan led them to a large oak tree next to a crystal clear stream. All was quiet except for the sound of the water and the occasional bird chirping near by. "It's too bright out today so the shade will be nice." Without thinking much into it he reached back to tug on Sebastians hand to pull him to the tree.