Eliot

[fawnthefae]

 Fin was supposed to be taking him to meet a friend, but when he'd gotten a job at the last minute, he'd insisted Fawn Go without him.

"Eliot's nice," his brother had said. "You'll like him, Fawn. Trust me."

And so Fawn had set off to the bar. It was nearly closing time and he moved through the dwindling crowd, heading towards the bar. He was the spitting image of Fin, a bit slighter, his hair much longer. He also dressed far more casually than Fin, favouring tunics over robes.

Nervous, he took a seat at the bar and looked around.

Comments

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I think it's nice," said Eliot. "A good name. It's... poetic. Does your planet have deer?"

[fawnthefae]

"No. Something like, though. Kawari, they are taller, bigger... Um..."

He mimicked antlers with his hands and smiled. "But similar. Yes."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"And are they beautiful?" asked Eliot. "And the young ones rather charming?"

[fawnthefae]

Fawn considered that, then nodded. "Yes. They are pretty and soft."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Ah, there, see. An appropriate name then," said Eliot. He chuckled. "Well, you're pretty, I mean. You like the drink? Fin went shopping with me when I picked up the rosemary."

[fawnthefae]

"It is different. It is nice. I don't... I don't drink, um- Alcohol? I don't have it much, but I like this," Fawn smiled brightly. "You make nice things."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh!" said Eliot, wondering why Fin didn't mention that considering he'd suggested Fawn meet him at the bar. "Don't drink too much then, yeah? I can make you something non-alcoholic... tastes almost as good."

[fawnthefae]

"No! I like, it's good," Fawn insisted, holding the drink tighter, like Eliot might take it off him.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot hesitated, and then said, "All right, well drink it slowly, hmm?" He was an adult, after all, and he hadn't said why he didn't drink. That wasn't any of Eliot's business.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded, but would do as he pleased.

"So you are human, yes? From Earth?" he asked, more comfortable chatting with humans than he'd been when they'd first arrived on the ship.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Human, yes, but not from earth," said Eliot. "It's a rather... lesser known planet. But here I am now! Spreading joy through cocktails."

[fawnthefae]

"Oooh," Fawn nodded, wishing he knew more planets and places. "You like it here? You like the ship? I find it... Cold. Feeling's cold, not warmth cold," he explained.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I can understand that," said Eliot. "Though... I came here to escape something so warmth was not my top priority." He offered a little smile. "I think I am trying to un-thaw myself."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded, then shared something he'd only told a few.

"I didn't really want to come here. I wanted to stay on our planet. They say it will burn in this next cycle, but it is home... It was Fin who thought here was better. Said if we stayed we'd have to leave with the Voss, our bloodkin."

And while Fawn understood why that would have been bad, part of him still resented having to come here.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh." Eliot's face settled into sympathy. "That must have been really difficult. I mean, even though I left for good reasons and much of what I left behind was bad... it was still difficult. How are you doing now?"

[fawnthefae]

Fawn shrugged, because he didn't really know. He was surviving, that was all they could ever hope to do anywhere.

"You left bad things?" he asked.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It's a very long story," Eliot said. "But the short version is..." He chuckled self consciously. "I was a king. But it was very dangerous, and things went badly, and... I had to flee for my life. So now I'm just a bartender. Which mostly I probably prefer."

[fawnthefae]

"Oh," Fawn replied. "You have a crown still? I have a crown, so does Fin. You should wear your crown if you still have it, and make people say nice things before you give them their drink."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot laughed. "I confess, I left my crown behind. But aren't I handsome and charming enough for a kind word?" He winked.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn considered him for a beat, then nodded.

"Yeah, you are, but crowns are still nice."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It did look very good on me," Eliot sighed. "God I really miss the clothes... I bet you look good in a crown, too."

[fawnthefae]

"It never stays on," Fawn admitted with a frown. "Fin's does, his hair is..."

He wiggled his fingers, mimicking the wild curls and waves. Fawn didn't really have that. His hair was long and almost pin straight.

"I was never good at being royal," he admitted with a small shrug.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I still bet you looked good," Eliot said. "But I get that. I was a pretty shit king, overall. But I'm a very good bartender."

[fawnthefae]

"What makes you think that? Just because it went badly doesn't mean you were bad," Fawn said.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot hesitated, and then said, "I suppose I can be a bit hard on myself," he said.