Warm Embers

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander was really glad to have the bonfire party. Of course in his line of work he'd met plenty of soldiers but rarely got to interact with them outside of work. This was a chance to relax, make some friends, drink some ale, be a little stupid for once. With everything going on in his life it was easy for him to forget he was only nineteen. He wanted to act like it a little.

The redhead stood around one of the smaller fires off to the side. Though his breathing came out in puffs it was at least war enough by the fire. Zander was still anxious not being with Pearce. He'd wanted to postpone the whole party but had been talked out of it. While he was having fun his boyfriend stayed in the back of his mind. He missed him. Of course the marquis said he might stop by later it still wouldn't be the same.

Most people that knew Zander for longer than a few months found out he was gay. Still, there were people here that he was...unsure of. It felt safer keeping his sexuality under wraps for one night. As he laughed loudly and playfully shoved one of the soldiers next to him the redhead turned his head to spot a familiar blonde. "Ah, Marquis! Over here!" He waved for Pearce to join them by the fire with his charming crooked smile. "Guys, this is my friend Marquis Lockheed."

"More like boyfriend." A brunette soldier next to him teased with a snicker. Zander shot a quick glare and shoved him hard which only seemed to make the man laugh more. "Shut the fuck up, ya gobdaw fir I throw ya in the fire!" From the slight slur to the redheads words and his accent it was fairly clear he was already tipsy. The one he shoved stumbled a bit, nearly losing his balance, before slapping his hand hard on Zanders shoulder. "I'm just pullin' ya chain, boy. It's good ta meet ya, Marquis."

Zander wanted to hug his boyfriend. Wanted to be affectionate and cover him in kisses. Though that train of thought was cut short as he was suddenly tackled. The redhead toppled over but managed to roll and throw the other man off with a huff. "Ya made me spill my drink!" He shouted while throwing the now empty bottle at the man laughing on the ground.

Pearce Lockheed

[Pearce Lockheed]

Marquis Lockheed was not one for parties. Especially not the sort on the beach with bonfires and drinking. Zander had mentioned wanting to have a gathering of sorts for the men and women he worked with, the soldiers. Luckily he wasn't a soldier himself. Unluckily, he was certain there were rumors about that he had used to be one. And he was, of course, quite close to Zander. While the marquis would not invite himself, he would not turn down an invitation. He much preferred 'accidentally' supplying drinks for the event. His boyfriend complained about it, but Pearce couldn't help it, he liked to spoil his boyfriend.

He'd been feeling well enough to be out and about the past few days and was adamant that Zander have his party, whether Pearce was there or not, Zander needed and deserved a chance to have fun. He arrived a little bit after the party began, but not too late. He didn't plan to stay very long, just to say hello. Of course, he sought out the sassy red head first, finding him at one of the bonfires, and from the sound of it, already a little tipsy.

Pearce found it a bit strange, Zander calling him by his title, but he quickly understood why. There were a lot of people here. Most of them strangers to Pearce, and likely a few strangers to Zander. Enough that the young man clearly preferred to keep their relationship platonic for the evening. He was...surprised but alright with that.

"Zander. Quite the crowd," he greeted his boyfriend with a smile, stepping up to the fire to keep warm. "P-pleasure. Pearce is fine." He'd been about to make some other small talk when Zander was sudden;y tackled to the ground in a mess of ale and giggling. Pearce twitched slightly in surprise but couldn't help the smile that took over his features. He sighed softly.

Sometimes, he forgot he was in love with a teenager. "Plenty more of those, I suspect," he teased. It helped being just a little bit high after all the tea he was supposed to drink.

[Zander Brogthamon]

There were in fact plenty more drinks where that came from. Thanks to his boyfriend who 'just so happen' to buy plenty of alcohol. Plus there were those that brought some themselves as well. There was the smell of someone roasting a boar near by. The redhead had gone hunting a lot for this party in particular.

Zander flopped on his back to give Pearce an upside down, lopsided smile before nimbly jumping back to his feet. "C'mere, fucker!" He shouted as he took his turn to tackle the man that was still laughing on the ground. His language was a bit more crude than what he used at home but being around other soldiers it was different. The redhead put the other soldier in a headlock as he struggled and pushed against him. "Say sorry!" He demanded playfully before he was finally shoved off.

Before the man could grab him Zander jumped up and ran back to the small circle of people. He did want to spend time with Pearce while he was here and his brain could still form memories. "So Pearce, what'daya doin' here with our lot?" One of the others asked as the redhead shoved back the man trying to tackle him again. "How you and Red know each other?"

[Pearce Lockheed]

What was more alarming was the language. The marquis didn't have much propensity or reason to swear in his daily life and while he had attempted to be prepared to hear more of that sort of foul language tonight, it still made him feel a bit awkward. He watched with a bit of concern has his boyfriend appeared to choke one of his...friends? and then the pair of them laugh it off. He wasn't sure how much to attribute to the drink or ho much to attribute to soldiers being a bit like children. Or the fact some of them were children.

He had quite a lot of respect for soldiers. Not everyone could face danger and death and keep moving forward. n Pearce's mind, they earned a bit of leeway in their behavior. They could act a bit more like children considering not all of them would live to grow up.

He chuckled slightly at the younger men's antics, warming his hands with the fire. "Someone has to keep an eye on that one," he said teasingly. "We're friends. I'm a t-tutor in the city. For reading and writing. Zander was once a student of mine. And his landlord." It was all true and he wasn't worried about any of that. After explaining it enough times, it came out much easier now. It helped that he spoke a bit slower.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Children was a way to put it. Most of the soldiers, including Zander, had joined the military before they were eighteen. There were even those in training currently that were younger than the redhead when he joined. They never really had a chance to be children before being thrust into chaos. In small moments like these it was nice to take a breather and be a bit childish.

Though of course not all of them were as playful even outside of work. The comment of needing to be kept an eye on seemed to be enough to make the men around them laugh. "Well that's fir certain." Zander stuck his tongue out playfully before walking to a near by table to grab another drink. Hopeing not to lose this one. Hearing the term 'landlord' seemed to make the men take pause. "Landlord? Christ Red, how much are they payin' ya?"

Zander raised a curious brow before laughing. "More than you." He teased before pressing the bottle to his lips for a drink. This time as he was hit he managed not to spill anything. Still, he laughed after swallowing the bitter liquid and shoved the man back. "The marquis likes helpin' out farmers." He stated plainly with a shrug of his shoulders. "Yer not a farmer though!"

With a mock pout Zander shook his head. "I used'ta be! Fir I had ta join up with you lot."

[Pearce Lockheed]

It was certainly a mixed crowd. While the younger men harassing Zander or each other, the older veterans seemed happy to just relax around the fires and chat. It was early still though, not everyone was as far gone as Zander and he was still mostly there. Pearce imagined it would be a long night. One he wasn't planning to be party too.

He blushed at the joke about pay and Zander's answer. It wasn't like he was letting Zander and his sister stay at his manor as freeloaders, but certainly he was letting them tale advantage of him. If he were to let the carriage house out for real he could make quite a lot.

"The marquis likes helping everyone," Pearce noted, amused, tucking his hands into his coat pockets, glad he had broight a scarf. If not for recent events, he might have gotten a drink himself but he was quite content to not move about the beach anymore than necessary. He wasn't that steady on his feet. Not to mention he probably shouldn't be drinking anyway.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander had been drinking since he started setting up the party. It was the only reason he was even tipsy. Still, he watched Pearce wanting nothing more than to curl close to him for more warmth. If also just to be close to him. It had been such a stressful week since his stroke and the redhead just wanted things to go back to normal.

There was the idea of slipping off with Pearce for some privacy before he left the party. Though he certainly wouldn't do it at the moment. Not with how warm it was by the fire. "Ya want a drink, Pearce?" One asked as Zander took a sip of his. The idea of Pearce drinking made him panic a bit. It likely wouldn't be the best idea for the marquis to be drinking at the moment. Though he wasn't sure he should be the one to say anything.

"Aren't you supposed to be the one offerin' yer friend a drink?" The scolding made Zander chuckle as he shook his head. "I haven't offered him one 'cause I know he's not feelin' good right now." He stated simply with a shrug of his shoulders. The comment seemed to make some of their brows raise curiously as they turned their attention back to Pearce. "Not feelin' well?"

[Pearce Lockheed]

It was always appealing to spent time with Zander and to be close to him. But right now wasn't one of those times. Not in the least because of where they were and who they were with. Besides, it was also healthy to have a bit of space and the two of them had been spending a lot of time together recently. Not the Pearce enjoying being away from his safe place, but the young man had things to do.

He smiled at the offer for a drink and shook his head. "I appreciate the offer but no, I-" And then Zander was talking about him not feeling well which was not what he had been about to say. It wasn't something he wanted to talk about, especially not in front of Zander's fellow soldiers, a lot of which were his own age. It was actually a little embarrassing and alienating. Likely none of them had had a heart attack of stroke at his age. And even those who weren't his age, he doubted they would identify. No, not something he wanted to talk about. But it was a little late for that as a number of them turned to look at him with concern. Pearce gave Zander a look as if to plead with him that he hadn't needed to do this to him, and then sighed.

"I'm fine. But I won't be d-drinking tonight." He almost made a joke about Zander needing help home, but that was...a little too personal and close for comfort. "I have work to catch up on." Which was true, considering how tired he got so quickly. "More for the rest of you, though," he added with a smile.

There, that wasn't so bad.