(no subject)

[rabbitworthy]

[OOM: The tradition of a lifetime takes on a whole new meaning.]


Darius is very much subdued when he comes into the bar today, and he breathes a sigh of relief when he ends up here rather than in the Hob. He can't stand walking into another room where every single inhabitant hates him on sight.

He walks up to the bar, not sure immediately what it is that he wants.

Eventually, though, he asks, "Could I get some white liquor?"

He could stand to kill a few brain cells. He's drinking to forget today.

Comments

[poins]

"How is the white one better?" asks somebody nearby.

Someone who's well into his cups, and smirks at Darius over the rim of a half-finished drink.

[rabbitworthy]

"It's not," Darius says, glancing over at the man. "It's fairly awful."

[poins]

"Why then drink it, and not ask for some good sack," the man suggests, "or aught else that will taste good, and elate your senses, good sir?"

[rabbitworthy]

"Because I don't know of anything else as strong," Darius says, lifting the glass of clear liquid and taking a tentative sip. He grimaces as he does.

[poins]

"Cannot you afford a little liquid with your drink?" the man asks.

[rabbitworthy]

"Yes, but this seemed fitting today."

[poins]

"You wish to eradicate your poor mind in very great a hurry?" the man enquires.

[rabbitworthy]

"Something like that, yes."

[poins]

"Sometimes, a man must do that," the man shrugs. "Sometimes, a working mind is but a hindrance."

[rabbitworthy]

"I think that's the case most of the time, really," Darius says, sounding much more cynical than he usually does.

[poins]

"It would depend on what you plan to do, good sir," the man smirks.

[rabbitworthy]

"I plan," he says, lifting his glass again, "to forget all about today. At least until next year."

[poins]

"What was so bad about today that you must sluice your mind into next year with drink?" the man asks, honestly curious.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae has a pretty decent idea what might have led to Darius looking like he does, today. 'Being from Panem' nicely covers all the possibilities.

So, while it's not nearly enough, there is a plate carrying a gigantic cinnamon roll, warm and gooey with cinnamon-sugar and vanilla icing, being set on the bar in front of the subdued Peacekeeper.

[rabbitworthy]

Darius looks up in surprise at that. It's been long enough since he's been here, long enough since he left home, that he's grown entirely unused to anyone giving him anything like a gift.

"Thanks?" he says, already a bit drunk.

[sunbaked_baker]

"No problem," she says, without judgement. It's good, delicious food, that's all, and he looked like he could use some kindness.

And maybe some bread to soak up what he's been drinking, to help and keep it from coming back up.

[rabbitworthy]

He glances down at the roll a moment. It does smell incredible.

"You really didn't have to. Wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I never have to," Rae replies, equably, setting the kettle on for tea. "So don't blame me for wanting to."

[rabbitworthy]

"Why do you?" Darius asks, taking a bite of the roll.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Because I can," she replies, glancing at him over her shoulder.

(What we can do, we must do. Even the difficult things. Especially the difficult things.)

Because sometimes the whole world seems full of difficult things, and Sunshine knows something about how that feels.

[rabbitworthy]

"But I'm a Peacekeeper," Darius says, forgetting for a moment that that doesn't mean anything here.

[sunbaked_baker]

"If that were all you are, you wouldn't feel the need to drown the part of you that's not a Peacekeeper in drink."

[rabbitworthy]

"I chose to be one. Whatever of me isn't a Peacekeeper I...left at home."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine in unimpressed. He lies worse than she does. "If that were true, you wouldn't be hurting right now."

[rabbitworthy]

"Doesn't matter. I still didn't do anything."

He is hurting, but he considers that to be mostly his own fault at the moment.