Legend of Ransera

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۞ He let out a chuckle at the remark about sleeping in various different positions as he shook his head before making eye contact with Aurin again. It wasn't that same piercing gaze he had, there was a hint of innocence. His lips curled into a grin before he laughed "What are you gonna do, sneak into my house and watch me sleep? Next thing I know you could be breathing down my neck, wanting to kill me for all I know; after all you can't be too careful nowadays..." He shrugged as he made the decision to fully down the cold spirit as he tapped the bartender's desk. He figured that it would be best to dull his senses, to forget about the pain "Another gin for this fine lad here and for me..." He said with a smile as Aurelio adopted the happy-go-lucky approach.

He moved onto his question about his own childhood as he shrugged "I guess, you can say it was great. However, I felt like I always had to play the role of what my mother wanted me to be; there was no sense of direction with her, especially when I knew I needed to be a prime example to life..." He said with a deep sigh "It resulted to my mother becoming overprotective of me, at times she wouldn't let me go out and learn about the outside world, mostly just make me practice magic... I suppose Hytori women are conservative in society" He sighed, furrowing his eyebrows. A frown was visible on his face as he shifted eye contact away from Aurin. It appeared he was in his own deep thoughts. "She was Hytori, almost too proud to be wrong, even though most of the time she was"۞

Aurin smirked, though the lad was right to be leery—not just of him, but of everyone. Then again, Aurin had been called paranoid on more than one occasion. He might be paranoid, but he was also still alive. Then he wondered whether it would be good practice to investigate Aurelio, find out where he lived, and see if he could break into his home while he was sleeping. But that would likely not be taken in the best light for understandable reasons, alas.

In no rush to get inebriated, he continued to sip what he had, though he didn't say no to another. He probably only had a few years on the Avialae, but those years had taught him to take things slowly unless speed was required.

"Would you like to wake up to me watching you sleep?" he asked as if that was the logical conclusion to Lio's joke. But he just chuckled and nodded along to the information offered in response to his other questions.

"There are conservative Hytori and there are liberal Hytori," he said with a shrug. "But I suppose you grew up with a conservative one. I've noticed that many people who are often wrong are also the ones surest they are right." His smirk softened into a commiserating smile.

"Is she here in Kalzasi? Does she approve of your monster hunting? Does she approve of you drinking with strange men who best you in fistfights?" His smile didn't sharpen back into a smirk, and while his tone was gently mocking, he wasn't trying to be a bully or a creeper. He had certainly spent enough time in his Velvet Cabaret nights helping fend off bullies and creepers so the courtesans could ply their arts and trades in relative peace.

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۞ He blushed again, only this time it was more heavier that he could feel the heat against his cheeks. He places his hand on one to cover it up. He laughed nervously as he once again made eye contact "Err... Well, I don't know how to answer that..." He said, looking from left to right as he felt his shyness really come through. He was lost for words as he didn't know how to react, part of him wouldn't mind Aurin watching him sleep, but also the fact he had just met him would seem creepy to him. However, he probably dealt with more creepers at the Velvet Cabaret than he could think off.

Eventually, he continued to listen to the conversation of the other man about the societal factors of Hytori. He was right about his mother being a conservative Hytori, wanting to keep the traditions of her people alive but he was different. He was Avialae; whilst having an Hytori bloodline he is no longer considered to have such right to be apart of that race. It was lucky that he was even born as Avialae appeared to have common stillbirths through their society. However, it didn't help when Aurin hit a nerve. Aurelio sighed as he closed his eyes, displaying hint of sorrow with the way he frowned and furrowed his eyebrow "She's dead... My father, I never knew... She died in a house fire when I was 18... I was the one who dragged her body out..." He said as a tear dropped down from his cheek.

He tried to hide it, thinking it was a sign of weakness to cry, but he wasn't the type usually to sob unless it did cause him a lot of emotional pain. However, he wasn't going to let a sombre event from the past ruin his night. He sighed as he placed on a fake smile, another façade of pure pretence in order to keep his pride high. He offered a rueful smile towards the other man "I'm sorry, it's just..." He paused, not saying anything as he returned to his thoughts. ۞

The fox-faced pugilist was about to say something to leaven his inappropriate humor when Lio kept talking, so he kept quiet to give him space. He knew he was making him nervous, so easing up might allow that to recede. And it seemed to work at first until his questions brought to light an uncomfortable truth. It was strange for Aurin to see a hulking Avialae youth crying, even a little. He found himself staring and came dangerously close to envying him his ability to be so in touch with his emotions, though he supposed if he was an eight-foot-tall winged mountain of muscle, he might feel invincible enough to be emotionally vulnerable as well.

If the outpouring made him uncomfortable, then it was only because he found the lad likable. A random person's feelings rarely affected his own, but in a brief span of time, they had talked, fought, and drunk together and even if Aurin hadn't been fully forthcoming about his own past, he had answered questions truthfully. Perhaps that was the beginning of a bond of friendship. He wasn't so good at that.

But he didn't remove his hand from the small of Lio's back, the slight warmth he had offered abused muscles doing double duty for a bruised psyche.

"You needn't be sorry," he assured him. "You haven't done anything wrong." He sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry to hear that. Rough."

No words—and certainly not his—were going to assuage what for Aurelio was probably the tragedy of his life. All the same, he felt like he had to say something.

"You seem like you're a son most mothers would be proud of." He offered a tight smile whether Lio was looking or not. "I'm obviously bad at conversation tonight, so I give you full permission to change the subject to something you'd prefer." His eyes lit on their next round of gin. To the bartender, "Ah, thanks."

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۞ The Avialae warrior wiped his tear from his cheek, eventually taking a moment to gain his bearings with his emotions as he looked at him “I think she will, even though… I didn’t get a moment to say goodbye since we had an argument; she perished” He said with a deep sigh. After drinking with the vulpine persona of a man, he did find great comfort with him; despite only meeting him once. His eyes became vigilant once more as he saw the hooded man again from before as he noticed him turn away for a moment before reverting his attention back to Aurin.

His bond of friendship appeared to be developing within the banter and the sharing of deep emotions. Despite him becoming emotionally charged with Aurin’s conversation about his mother; it was important for the Avialae to be open and honest about his feelings; also one the most crucial things in an Avialae’s guide to survive society. He looked over at the other male and smiled “Y’know, I’m glad I met you tonight” He said as the bartender delivered his second batch of gin, before he sipped his drink.

He looked back at the other male and smiled, noticing how the pain he had eased throughout the night; perhaps it was the gin dulling his senses as he freely moved his back. It appeared that botanical spirits were the goal for keeping Aurelio revitalised after a fight “Shall we toast, to friends?” He asked as he held his glass high for the other man.

At that moment, he noticed the hooded man was still in the corner of the room as he stood there motionless for a moment before he gulped as he looked back at Aurin pretending to not care about the man as he disappeared to another corner of the bar. It bothered him slightly, as if there was some plot or conspiracy happening around him. He often didn’t get involved in those kind of things, unless a friend had gotten himself in trouble. He smiled and remained amiable to the other man “I was thinking maybe I should come watch one of your shows at the Golden Peacock, I mean who knows… They might ask you to play Princess Hozadke” He laughed as he rolled his eyes “Unless, well there's any other Hytori operas you know…” He said with a sigh reminiscing on the memories he had when he was younger on his theatre experiences.۞

Aurin's lips twitched at the added information. The thing had happened when he was eighteen, he had said. That couldn't have been more than a few years ago. Aurelio was quite tall and well developed, but he still seemed to look out at the world as though he was new to it, at least as an adult.

"Are you?" he asked, though he raised his glass without complaint. In half an hour, he had hurt him, gotten him into trouble with the crowd, and lost him money. There was an innocence about Aurelio that made him uncomfortable; part of him wanted to take it in his stride while the other wanted to protect it as he had not been protected in his youth.

"To friends, then." He drank. It was likely the lad was just being friendly and didn't mean anything by it. There was a politeness to calling relative strangers friends, though Aurin's true friends were few and far between. But he saw his eyes shifting hither and thither; Aurin was too practiced at skullduggery to follow his gaze immediately.

"You should definitely come to the Theater," he said, his smile genuine. "But I'm not a performer, merely the man keeping it afloat financially. I can't sing for shit." He laughed at his own expense. One might argue he was an actor, but he only knew how to act on the fly, not to a script. "Princess Hozadke is on the shortlist, but there are a few Hytori operas in the repertory." He may have been more familiar with the burlesque of Three Little Maids than the trio itself, but he knew from whence it came.

He glanced about and caught the flicker of a familiar robe out of the corner of his eye.

His smile widened as if Aurelio had said something funny.

"But really, who is the hooded man who can't get enough of you?"

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۞ Aurelio watched the other male as he pondered in thought as he tilted his head towards the other man, smiling. His gaze became more feline as his eyes narrowed; it was in the normal tendencies for the other man to be inquisitive about the world, especially if he had only just passed certain tests. When he turned his attention to the other man he glared at him once again as he shifted his gaze to Aurin

“I clearly don’t know him… But, honestly I’ve seen him before, but I can’t remember where”

Aurelio was always sincere about his friendships; there was never a line of broken promises. Or so he thought. There were always hidden flaws in everyone, including Aurin. It was clear he was a man of secrecy, but yet there was a deep respect that you could hold for the man. He had been through rough battles, something which Aurelio had not had any experiences with. There was no doubt that he had felt pain in life.

“Heh, if you can’t sing for shit, then with that foxiness of yours; you can probably dance” He laughed as he knew the aria, Princess Hozadke when he was younger. The story involved obsession, greed and finally hedonistic pleasures. It was a tale for children not to engage in narcissism or succumb to destitution and loss. Maybe it was a tale that Aurelio took with him for a long time.

He could feel the pain easing as he got up from his tea and almost sized up the other male, teasing him “So… you still up for that tango?” He said with a chuckle, before letting out an audible ahh. The drink started to take a toll on him as he began to feel a lot more confident. ۞

"Huh," he said ruminating, though his smile never disappeared. "Let me know if you remember."

His mind was afire, though he played it cool. If the masked man was his past come calling, then they were in danger. That he would investigate the hooded man was a given, though now he had to consider how to play things with Aurelio. Part of why he played the rake was to seem like there weren't people he cared about; they could be hurt to get at him; they could be leveraged used against him. Of course, there was the fact that he wasn't good with actual feelings, but that was beside the point.

Aurelio was a nice young man. He didn't need Aurin's past and problems on his impossibly broad shoulders. Probably best to push him away for his own safety.

He laughed. "I only dance horizontally."

That was a lie. Sometimes he fucked standing up or in various other positions, but that was also beside the point.

"And if you start shimmying and twirling, you're going to raise up some dust and upset your fans again." He smirked. Aurelio suddenly had that expansiveness that came with drink. Perhaps he ought to get him drunk, see him home safely, and then find out whether the hooded man was tailing him. Or perhaps he was tailing Aurelio, as he was apparently vaguely familiar to Aurelio. In either case, they might only be new acquaintances, but if he found information that was helpful to the Avialae, he wouldn't keep it to himself.

A favor done to a monster hunter might be useful in the future.

"How about shots?"

He had managed the Cabaret long enough to know how to move them from simple shots to more exotic body shots and then he could make it look like he was just getting the younger man fucked up to take him home and fuck him. In that case, nobody would think Aurelio was important to him and a suitable target. The worst he would deal with was a hangover.

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۞ Aurelio looked at the vulpine male for a moment; wondering about the hooded man. It seemed he had been popping up, everywhere he went. Even on various assignments with the Slayer’s Keep. However, he didn’t want to worry about that right now.

It was time to create memories, good times.

Aurelio twirled accidentally as he watched the other male; smiling before he chuckled “That’s obviously a lie…” He shouted to his plea that he dances horizontally as he bounced on the floor to the point where one of the floorboards bounced upwards, causing Aurelio to lose his footing slightly and unknowingly catapulting a poor goblin up as it caught one of the beams of the tavern “Gods! Talk about big feet!” The goblin screeched as Aurelio looked up at the ceiling “Get me down will ya! I’m slipping!” He said as the Goblin fell. He was caught by a Hytori male as he glared over at Aurelio.

“Ops…”

He chuckled nervously as he looked back at Aurin “Oh dear, I’m such a clutz…” He said, as the other male offered shots towards him. How could anyone say no to the amount of alcohol the other man was paying for. Especially since they had become good friends through one night of complete chaos. First the battle in the ring; the charming conversation and now what seemed to be Aurelio making a complete fool of himself on the dancefloor. As well as… Some casualties…

The fun part came when Aurin offered shots; he smirked as he tilts his head “Hmm? Shots?” He laughed “Sure, why not…” He said as he seemed tipsy, already simmering with joy. The alcohol took a toll on his system as he was clearly a lightweight. However; he wouldn’t realise that he was signing his death warrant of dignity even further; since he had made himself look like a complete fool tonight. Both on the battlefield and in a public space, all within the span of one night.

That was indeed an accomplishment for Aurelio. ۞

Aurelio's misstep was so slapstick comical that it could have happened in one of the Theater's satyr plays, but that it happened in real life was so unexpected, he couldn't help but laugh. He motioned the Avialae back to him. It was clear that he wouldn't have to do much to get him tipsy enough to convince him to go home, and he would guard his steps. If he had learned anything at the Cabaret, it was how to corral intoxicated people.

"Get over here, twinkle toes," he said, his grin too big to be his signature smirk. Hazel eyes sparkled with mirth.

The bartender had brought salt, lime wedges, and a bottle of amber spirits as well as two shot glasses. He glanced at Aurin, who nodded, indicating he should leave the lot of it.

"I'm going to teach you how to take a body shot," he said. "Do you want me to go first or talk you through it?"

Worst case scenario, Aurelio got so pissed he had to be half-carried home. Aurin thought he could manage, but he would be exhausted and sore on the morrow. Small price to pay to keep the cinnamon roll alive if the hooded man had ill intent. Aurin always assumed people had ill intent until proven otherwise. Or, at least, he was prepared for ill intent. Some called it paranoia; he called it staying alive.

Before Aurelio could elect who went first, he gave him a quick run-down. Lick the salt from a person's skin, take the shot, and then take the lime out from between their teeth. Anyone watching would just assume he was trying to seduce his former opponent, wanting to conquer in him the bedroom as well as the ring. He didn't rightly care what people thought.