You're a gargoyle

[Lillia St. James]

It was supposed to be the day. The best day. The day where Lillia finally beat Nicholas Cawdor at something. She'd wanted it to be during that spar. But nope, something had happened. That first point he'd gotten, bringing her back against his chest had been the start of the bad day. It'd thrown her off her game. Set her up to get angry, to fail. She hadn't wanted that. Cawdor was her rival in every sense of the word, and for once, she wanted to prove that she could be just as good as him.

After a long ass day of drills, running, and more spars (luckily she'd been paired with females and not Cawdor) Lillia had gone home for a long hot bath. Washing her hair, she'd left it down and then had changed into a simple tunic, soft leather pants, and had put her boots back on before she'd decided on going to the tavern. She wasn't sure if Cami was going to be at the townhome or Ashwood, but she left her a note all the same.

The next hour flew by and she was already halfway through her second tankard. She was sitting alone at the bar, in a far corner where she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. It was a busy night, and her muscles were sore. There was a loud group in a far corner, one of which was completely ignoring as it was some of her fellow soldiers that were in her group. They hadn't seemed to notice it was her though, something she was grateful for as she'd worn her hair down for once. She rested her chin on her palm, while she slowly spun around the full shot glass she'd ordered. The liquid was sloshing around a bit and she contemplated how intoxicated she wanted to get that night.

She was having a small pity party, she knew, but there was no winning when it came to the stupid gargoyle. At least in her eyes, which made it discouraging despite how much he pushed. The tavern door was thrown open and another group was coming in suddenly. Her dark eyes lazily glanced over, and she stilled. "Oh fuck no." She muttered. Well, that decision was quickly made, as she brought the glass up and downed the whisky. It burned going down, and she made a face, but she certainly needed it if he was here. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice her and she could drink in peace. She scowled as she brought her tankard up and began to gulp down the ale. Feeling the lightheaded buzzed feeling almost immediately now thanks to her empty stomach and the whisky she just took. She set the tankard down and then tried to duck her head down a bit, not wanting the Gargoyle to land his beady eyes on her and recognize her.

Nicholas Cawdor

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Ugh, what a day!

He'd known as soon as she stalked off in silence that he'd pushed Lillia too far--she was usually coming right back at him with a lashing, either verbal or literal. To see her silently seething...it actually made him a little bit nervous.

Still, the day had gone by without any other incident. It was utterly, completely, terribly BORING. He drifted through drill after drill without a single solid thought in his head, letting his thoughts wander over the trouble with Ioana, worry about Jenna and Rini, memories of Beatie… He barely needed his brain to run laps, lift weights, practice drills. It wasn't until a spar that literally knocked him on his ass because he wasn't paying attention that he realized the day was almost over.

Finally, though, they were free. And that meant alcohol. They all needed to let loose after a day of strictly regimented training, so the tavern was a popular (and noisy) spot to be. He loved being out with everyone, laughing and joking, getting to know them. It was like a home away from home, family away from family.

And, of course, it didn't hurt that there were a lot more women at the tavern than there were at training, and less of them wanted to stab him, too. He was honestly looking for a boost to his ego, something to un-bored him when he spotted a long-haired brunette at the bar. She wasn't one of the regulars from what he could tell--not many of the friendlier ladies wore pants. But she caught his attention, for sure. He shrugged free of his friends with only a wink and a nudge as an explanation and made his way to the bar.

He slid onto the stool next to the woman, propped his elbow on the bar, and started his introduction.

"Hey, I'm--" He stopped. Wait a minute…

There was a two-second pause with a truly dumbfounded look on his face as he recalibrated. But that grin came roaring right back (although more genuine now, rather than flirty), and he slapped Lillia enthusiastically on the back in greeting. He wouldn't have admitted it, but he was pleased as punch to see Little Miss Degraff mucking about with the commoners. She needed to loosen up a bit, and this was just the way to do it.

"Ay! Good to see you, Cupcake! I didn't think you'd like hanging out in a place like this with the likes of us. What're you drinking? I'll buy you one."

[Lillia St. James]

Don't come over, don't come over... Lillia thought in her buzzed state, hiding behind her hair as much as she could. She could hear someone coming over, felt the presence of someone sliding into the spot next her and....Of course it was him. Did she just have a Nick Cawdor magnet on her or something? A sign on her that said pick on me? She internally groaned, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ears. No use in hiding behind the long dark strands now. 

The Gargoyle had found her.

She glared up at him for a second, having turned her head to look at him. It was odd seeing him anywhere else that wasn't the training yard. It was strange to think he had a life outside of it, as did she. That grin could only mean disaster. He was already figuring out how to torture, or harass her next. She knew it! She could feel it! 

His slap to her back was surprising, and she wasn't prepared for it, as she blinked a few times, haunching her shoulders slightly. His hand had left a tingling sensation behind in it's place, and was not something she was familiar with. She was reminded of the similar feeling when she'd been pressed up against his his chest. How her hole body had gotten- Man it was warm in here!

She didn't look at him, and just picked up her drink, and began to drink it, and drink it, and drink it, until she was tipping her head back and swaying a bit in her seat, but not enough to be of any concern. Yet. She set the tankard down, and wiped the remaining foam from her lip. She then turned her body to face him, finally giving him the attention he apparently wanted and arched an eyebrow up at him. "It may be of a surprise to you Cawdor, but I do go out sometimes." She informed him. "It's a tavern, what do you think I'm drinking." She scowled, and turned back to her empty tankard as she flagged the bartender down. He was busy drying a glass and looked between Nick and Lillia, waiting for their orders. "Give me two more shots of whisky, and two ales." She told the bartender. "Wait, actually just give me the whole bottle of whisky." She told him. Changing her mind. If Nick was going to be her company for the night, she most certainly needed a drink. 

She was already placing the coins on the counter for when he returned, and she was determined to not let the Gargoyle buy anything for her. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Geez, who had spit in her porridge? That was you, stupid. Oh. Whoops. He hadn't thought beating her in one silly spar would make her this mad. He'd only been playing by making her admit he won--frankly he did it to see her irritated. He just hadn't realized that would cross the line in to actually pissed at him.

At her orders to the bartender, Nick rolled his eyes. The whole bottle of whiskey was a little outside his price range, but he could at least get the ales.

"Oi, Joey, don't let her pay for the ales, hey? I'll cover them." The man looked between the two of them and raised his brow at Nick, who grinned. "Don't get any ideas, Joey, or Degraff here will bite your head off. We're comrades at war, that's all."

The bartender gave him a look of 'sure, whatever you say' but moved away to get their drinks. From the end of the bar, a pretty blonde spotted them and sashayed over.

"Hey, it's Nicky! You need the usual for your table?"

"Gina! Always good to see my favorite bartender. Nah, just me and my friend here, for now."

The blonde gave Lillia an appraising look. "She doesn't look too friendly, Nicky," she drawled, crossing her arms under her bust. "You sure she thinks you're her friend?"

"Aw, don't worry, that's just Degraff's face. She always looks like she just bit into a lemon when I'm around."

"Whatever you say, Nicky!" The woman winked and whisked off to help another customer.

Just as she did, Joey returned with the bottle for Lillia, which he took part of her coin for, and then set the ales closer to Nick and held out his hand for payment. Nick grabbed it out of his pocket and ceremoniously gave it to him, sticking his tongue out at Lillia as he did. Then he took one of the ales and slid the other to her.

"There, now it's split. It's called a compromise, Cupcake."

[Lillia St. James]

Lillia looked at the bartender, and much to her own disdain, also glanced at the Gargoyle when Joy stood there looking at them. Oh no...Oh no no nooooo. She thought. She was glad that Nick corrected him because she was already scowling and glaring at the idea. Cawdor?  Please. He wasn't her ty- She glanced over at him again, when she heard the female voice. Her dark eyes landing on Gina, and Lillia was beginning to wonder what was taking Joey so long with that whisky bottle. She was suddenly very concerned that she'd have to listen to Cawdor's attempts at flirting with the woman.

She'd gauge her own ears out if she had to... She arched a brow at the blonde as she looked her over. Lillia looked her over as well. She was a pretty thing that was for sure, and she sure filled out that blouse. Had the golden hair, and smile...  Apparently she was just going to have a permanent scowl on her face all night. She couldn't stop the glare thrown the womans way. Maybe it was the booze? Why should she care that Nick was giving Gina his attention? Why was she feeling annoyed, and pissed at the thought? 

She averted her eyes when Nick said it was just her face. Sure it was. He was just as annoying as ever, and she rolled her eyes as Gina whisked off.  She was glad when Joy showed up, and she was already reaching for the whisky bottle. She was about to tell him he forgot the rest of the stack, when Nick paid him for the ale. And yep...More scowling ensuing. 

Her hands wrapped around the mug and she pulled it over though, before she pocketed the coins that hadn't been taken. "I didn't agree to it." She mumbled. Maybe she was going to be difficult just to be difficult. Her day, that she'd thought would be a good one, was ruined. She was allowed to be grumpy wasn't she? "Thanks though." Despite her annoyance at Cawdor, she still had some manners. She uncorked the whisky and then filled up her shot glass from the previous two shots she'd had, and then slid it over to Nick. She could be nice too, and maybe it would get him to go away faster. 


"You going to bug me all night too? Or are your friends going to miss you?" She asked him. Putting the cork back in the bottle, before she took a drink from the ale. Her dark eyes assessing him. Surely he'd have more fun with his friends then putting up with her less than enthused mood. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick grinned when he saw that she was taking the ale despite the scowl on her face. Good. another step in the right direction.

"You're welcome, Cupcake," he answered with a sparkling grin, but that faltered a bit when she slid the shot of whiskey toward him. He eyed the shot glass with skepticism for a moment, then shrugged and knocked it back. Setting it back on the counter, he sent it sliding across the counter so it clinked neatly against the bottle.

"You better believe I'm planning to bug you all night--or at least until you tell me to my face you want me to go. I may be a flirt, but I still listen when a lady tells me to pack my bags." He winked and took a drink from his own ale. "The guys are used to me ditching them sometimes. A guy can only take so much musclehead in one day, you know? Sometimes you gotta break it up a little. You're way more interesting, I guarantee it."

Somehow he felt a little awkward explaining what he'd been actually planning to Lillia. Any other soldier he'd have been right up front that he was looking for a girl to get cozy with. But announcing that to Lillia? He could already feel the blow below the belt that was sure to earn him--especially if she realized he'd thought she was just that girl. Besides, seeing her drunk was sure to be just as fun, if not more. And if she really went through as much of that whiskey as it seemed like she was planning to, he was definitely going to see just that.

"So what do you think, Degraff. Can you stomach me a little longer or d'you need some time to recover?"

[Lillia St. James]

That sparkling grin was near blinding, and she almost hated it. Hated it for what it made her feel. Her gut twisted inside and did these fluttering little flips that were annoying. She didn't like them. Especially when he directed that grin at her. "Don't call me that." She growled. She didn't like the nicknames. She wasn't sweet, she was sour. Prickly like a rose bush. There was nothing sweet about Lillia unless you really knew her.

She watched as the shot glass came sliding back, hitting the whisky bottle. She was released the ale and working on pouring another shot, this time for herself while she listened the to Gargoyle talk. Throwing him a side eye in time to see him wink at her about packing his bags. If he wasn't careful she was going to see if he'd put his money where his mouth was. As he finished, calling her interesting, she snorted before she took to shot. Bringing it down with a hard thud as she drank from the ale mug. Feeling the whisky burn her throat and flood her bloodstream. "Right, I'm very interesting." She remarked dryly, as she turned to look at him. Resting her elbow on the bar surface and resting her chin in her palm. 

His remarks went clear over her head. Not registering that he was there to pick up a girl, and he had set his eyes on her before he realized who it was. Lillia didn't think like that, because she didn't see herself well...like Cami. Girly, pretty, willing to dress up and show herself off. Cami wanted to impress the boy who nearly stabbed her, and here Lillia was wanting to stab a boy so much as interrupting her self proclaimed pity party. Raina was gonna hear about this... 

She scowled as he called her DeGraff. Wanting to correct him, but she didn't. Around here, in the army, she was a DeGraff. Not a St. James. Two ales later, and with that third shot of whisky and nursing her third ale, the alcohol suddenly hit, as the room began to slightly spin, and the noise in the room started to fade out save for her focus on Nick. "Listen, here-" She raised a finger to point at him, but ended up pointing at the space near his head, turning more in her seat, her chin nearly fell of her palm and she had to right herself. "Gargoyle, Yer," She frowned and concentrated on pointing her finger actually at him. Sticking her tongue out to the side slightly while she thought real hard on his direction. "Annoying." She wiggled the pointed finger at him, pleased with herself she'd actually pointed at him. She then scooted up in her seat, clasping the ale with her hands. Carefully, she brought it up to sip from, glaring at him, but since she was inebriated, her glare lost practically all of it's sharpness. 

"Who needs ta recov-rr from you?" She said setting the mug down. "Not meeeeee." She said with a shake of her head. "Woah!" She exclaimed, grabbing the bar counter to steady herself as she shook her head to hard. "Dun do that," She told herself. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick's eyebrows went up at the "listen here" and they only went farther from there. That had happened one hell of a lot faster than he'd expected--the girl must have been toast before he even got there, and that final shot had been all it took to tip her over the edge.

He turned his laugher into a cough when she made herself dizzy by shaking her head. Knowing Lillia, if she heard him laughing at her, she'd probably pull a knife out of god knew where and try to stab him. Better safe than sorry.

Once he'd regained his composure, he stared at her for a moment longer, trying to work out the best plan of action. He couldn't leave her here like this--some of the other guys would have a lot fewer qualms about messing with one of their own, and more than that, they wouldn't object to a pretty girl who was too far gone to argue. He wouldn't let that happen to any girl if he could help it, but especially not Lillia. Whether she thought so or not, they were on the same side.

"You're right, I'm one-hundred percent annoying. Insufferable, if you ask my sisters," he finally declared as he hopped to his feet and turned to her with his arms crossed stubbornly over his chest.

"And that's why, even though you're definitely going to argue with me...I'm walking you home. Joey's going to cut you off, aren't you Joey?" He gave the bartender a pointed look, and the guy rolled his eyes but nodded. "Because you're going to end up on the floor if you drink any more of that. And look, Lil, I like ya, but I'm not going to actually carry you all the way home. So we're gonna go while you can still stand on your own two feet."

[Lillia St. James]

Lillia clung to the bar counter with a tight grip and then turned to look at Nick. She laughed suddenly, as a bright grin spread across her face as he called himself annoying and insufferable. "You said it, not me." She said clearly amused. She eyed him as he hopped to his feet, not liking the stance he was taking with her. She arched an eyebrow at him as his declaration of walking her home and getting cut off. She scowled at him, but even drunk, Lillia knew he had a point. It would look bad for her family if she was drunk in a tavern like she was now. Knowing he was right just ticked her off more. 

"When did youuuuu turn into my mother." She asked him. Her words definitely slurring together now as she managed to cork the whisky bottle, and slide it towards Joey. "Save that for me Joe, I bought it remember?" She told him. She turned towards the Gargoyle then, glaring at the two of him she was currently seeing. "I hate it when you're right." She grumbled, as she hopped off the stool. She also hated the warm feeling she felt in her chest at hearing that he liked her. He wasn't supposed to like her, he was supposed to dislike her. Her hand slipped however, and her legs weren't ready for her weight, and went toppling down to the floor in one fluid motion, landing on her butt while one hand still gripped the counter. She blinked in surprise, and then started to laugh for a second, of course she'd fall. It was just another thing to make this night go horrible. 

"Too late, are you going to carry me now gargoyle?" She called up to him. Craning her neck back to try and look up at him from where he towered above her. "How about you help me walk instead?" She asked as she swayed lightly from where she was at, and she held her arms up to him so he could help her up. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick was relieved that she knew he was right. He hadn't really wanted to haul her out of here by force. People around here knew him, but hauling off a girl, screaming and hollering all the way…. Well.

He watched her try to get to her feet, and he could see her balance go. He just wasn't quick enough to catch her and wound up just flinching with his hands out as her butt hit the floor. Shit. At least she was laughing it off, that could be worse.

Was he going to carry her now? If he had to, he'd do it. Although maybe he could get someone to lend him a horse or a cart to get her where she needed to be…? He wasn't really sure where she lived, actually. Oh. Help her walk? That seemed a bit easier. He smiled softly as she held her arms up to him like a child. It was oddly cute.

"Alright, Cupcake, up you go," he instructed with a grunt as he grabbed her by the forearms and hauled her to her feet. She probably wasn't going to like that sudden movement, so he stayed still for a moment after, watching carefully to make sure she didn't topple right over the other direction. Once he thought she had her balance at least a bit more under control, he moved so her arm was linked through his, almost like a proper gentleman, although he was holding onto her awfully tightly to make sure she didn't just slip out of his grip and back onto the floor. With someone closer to his height he might have put their arm around his neck, but he got the feeling that would just leave both of them with aching backs and no closer to getting her somewhere she could sleep it off.

"Now then...do you know how to get home from here?"

[Lillia St. James]

The Gargoyle was correct in his assumption that she wouldn't like the sudden movement of him hauling her to her feet. She nearly lost her balance, and her hands were forced to grab his arms to help steady her as the room spun. "Woah, too fast." She said. She was staring in the middle of his chest while the world righted itself, and then her head was tilting back to look up at him with wide, almost innocent brown eyes as he moved to her side and linked arms with her.

She didn't even question him and found herself holding onto his arm, a bit amazed at how firm and well...big his biceps was. It had her poking it curiously. Had he always been this muscular? There was no denying that Nick was a big man, built like a wall, and she'd been pressed against him earlier that day. Where was that whisky? She thought as weird feelings began to move around her body.

His question had her pulling herself back to reality and she blinked up at him, taking a moment for her mind to register what he was asking. Oh right! Home! "Course I do, it's out near Ethlund, near the old-" her brows furrowed together as she remembered that that wasn't home anymore. It was burned down and abandoned, along with her parents. Her real parents. She had a new home now. A new family to look after her, but it didn't take that ache and pain away. Even after 11 years, it was still there. "T-That's not right," She murmured with a small shake of her head. He wanted the DeGraff townhouse. "This way." She took a step forward, pulling him along. Her walking was a bit unsteady and she found herself leaning into him as she walked. Once they were outside she pulled them to the right. "This way, Gargoyle," she said in an almost sing-song voice as they moved away from the tavern.

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick snorted softly as she poked his arm. What, was she not sure he was really there? He was pretty damn solid, so she'd better get over that one right quick.

"Earth to Cupcake," he called to her, squinting at her suspiciously. She was downright goofy right now. It was strange, seeing her so helpless. Or...well, not helpless exactly, he had a feeling she'd still find a way to do some damage if she thought he was...a threat...oh, was that what it was? Her guard was down? Hm.

When she finally answered about how to get home, her answer made him frown. Out near Ethlund? That didn't sound right. She seemed to realize that too, except then she looked awfully sad, just for a moment. A bad memory, maybe? Huh.

She was soon dragging him away, though, and he let her lead. Worst case, he'd see if Ioana could help him find someplace for her to crash for the night. Or hell, Mum might help. Even if it was just a makeshift bed in the living room, that would be better than nothing, right? And Mum would make breakfast, and treat her nice.

He was distracted for a moment until she called him gargoyle again.

"Now listen, why on God's green earth are you calling me a gargoyle? D'you really think I'm that ugly? Cuz I'm thinking I'm less a monster and more a Greek god. Apollo, maybe. Or uh, Hercules? Is he a hero or a god?"

[Lillia St. James]

Dark brown eyes slowly drifted up to look at Nick, starting to laugh at his question. Why did she call him Gargoyle? He really wasn't ugly, in fact he was rather handsome with his sharp cheekbones and crooked smile. His teeth weren't perfect, but she found that it added to his good looks, and the way those golden locks flopped on his forehead. He was more of an Adonis, or like he said, Apollo. The literal sun, and she remembered that morning when the sun had hit just right to literally light him up. A gargoyle he was not, but if she told himself that, then she wouldn't get distracted by his looks. It was a defensive mechanism to protect herself, but why from Nick she had no idea.

"Some say he's both." She said. "But Apollo. You're an Apollo." She said nodding her head up and down in confirmation. "You are the sun, Gargoyle." She slurred her word while she poked his arm again. "And you're a gargoyle because you got those beady blue eyes and are rock solid." And you're way to pretty that you turn people to stone. She thought, but didn't say the words. She realized then that Gargoyle was her secret name she had for him. Never intending for him to know about it. He was Goldilocks usually.

The realization spread across her face and she gasped before her eyes were wide as she stared up at him. "You weren't supposed to hear that!" She exclaimed. "Forget I said it! You didn't hear it!" She said, reached up with one of her hands to try and ruffle his hair, as if that would get him to forget that she'd called him Gargoyle. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick made a face. Both? How did you get to be both? That seemed like cheating. But he shrugged it off. No point in arguing with a bunch of dead poets anyway. Especially when Lillia was telling him he was the sun. That made him brighten right up, and he actually stood up a little straighter in his pride.

"The sun, huh?" he quipped. "That sounds better." But too late, she was going right back to a gargoyle.

"Hey! They are not beady," he protested. The rock-solid part he could live with. Heh. He did work awfully hard to be this fit, and if he was being honest, competing with Lillia pushed him to a lot of it. They both liked to win, and they drove each other to be better and better all the time. He was going to credit her with that when she gasped and reeled back to look at him. He nearly jumped at the sudden noise but managed to tone it down to just looking at her like she was crazy.

Not supposed to hear what? The gargoyle thing? She was way too late for that. And now she--

"Hey!" he yelped, ducking away from her hand that almost hit him right in the eye. "Listen, Lil, no reaching for things that aren't holding still. You're gonna poke my eye out."

He caught her hand by the wrist and moved it back down to her side.

"Just...take it easy, alright? I won't hold anything you say drunk against you. I know how it is. One time, I was drinking before I was supposed to, and when my dad asked if I'd gotten into his whiskey, I opened my mouth to answer "no" and instead I puked right on his shoes. I had scrub every floor in the house on my hands and knees after that one."

[Lillia St. James]

"You are holding still!" She fired back at him. At least, his double was holding still, which was what was him. "There's two of you." She declared, trying to focus on, but her vision was swimming as two Nicks merged and then parted. His hand was warm around her wrist, which had her looking down at it. Did he always have big hands? Had she ever noticed before? Or were her hands really that little compared to his?

She glanced back up at him as he told her one of his drinking stories, and she found her lips curling up in amusement slightly, but the smile soon dropped. "This, i=is the worst I've been." She informed him. "I can't-" She one of her legs failed to work and she stumbled forward, clinging to his arm as she got her feet back up under her. "Hold my liquir." She confessed as she righted herself. "I'm usually pweeeeettty good about it, but today sucked." She sighed. "Did your dad make you clean his shoes too? You look like a good shoe polisher." She said tilting her head back to look up at him, but it had her leaning too far back that she nearly fell over again.

"Oh nooooo, Nick," Lillia's face began to take on a look of panic, as she looked down. "My legs, the bones are gone! They're jelly!!" She said as her voice began to climb in alarm, before tears began to swell in her eyes. "I want my leg bones back." She whimpered.