Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"I got hurt because I ran. I won't run again." It's just a soft whisper. There's no steel in her voice, no fire in her eyes. But she means it with everything she is. "I still love you Carver. I always will. I want you to be happy. So help me up into my chair so we can get going." She pauses, then adds with a slight blush, "besides, you and Jass are really, really cute together and I want to support that." And maybe watch a little. 

[Jassinth]

"Thank... you?" Jass offers weakly. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver bows his head, struggling internally for a few minutes before his shoulders slump in surrender. "Okay," he says quietly, and puts the bag down to help her into the chair.

The walk to the hideout is a longer one than he'd like, but Carver stays quiet for most of it. The old hideout is just how he saw it last -- technically it's still their hideout, it's just rare that they spend much time in it. They'd bought a worn old sofa and smuggled it in, moving the various mismatched chairs and the little card table aside to make room; the place was warm and cozy once Carver built up a fire in the steel barrel they used for a heater.

He pulls out two bottles of cheap whiskey, placing them on the card table, and sets to work uncapping one. "I wasn't sure what you liked," he says to Jass.  He leaves the other item in the bag -- he's a little embarrassed to pull out the packet of condoms in front of Merrill.

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill is having a brief whispered conversation with Glimmerwing, whom she had sent off with her knapsack while they were traveling here. Beaming, she presses a kiss to the top of the faerie dragon's head and takes her bag back. "Glim got us some wine, apple juice and..." She pauses, head tilting as she studies what Gilmmerwing had thought fit the bill of 'snacks.' "And, umm, a pound of unpopped corn kernels and a pound of caramels?" She shrugs, then wheels over to deposit the bounty on the table as well. She bites her lip, then looks up at Carver. "Please be honest- do you want me to go the next room and read?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates, glancing at Jass. "Y-yes," he says finally, "but only if that's okay with you. I... I need to get drunk, I don't want..."

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill pushes herself over to him, reaching up to give him a hug. "I just want to look out for you. I'll peek in every so often to make sure you're both okay but otherwise I'll leave you be." She grins impishly, winks, then pulls him down so she can whisper, "good luck with your hunt."

[Jassinth]

Taking a sip of the whisky as he tries to give the other two some privacy, Jass hums softly. Not bad. Rough but surprisingly well flavored for all that. Why do I feel the sudden need to blush?

[Carver Amell]

Carver squeezes his eyes shut, his heart once more saying a little prayer of thanks for Merrill, before he lets her go.

Over the next half-hour, two things become readily apparent: one, that Carver is really bad at reaching people to play card games, and two, that Carver is dead set on getting as drunk as he can as rapidly as possible.

[Jassinth]

"...I forget again," Jass confesses, words still mostly unmuddled by the two glasses of whisky and one and a half of wine he's had. "Is it the spell suit or the armour suit that combines with coin?" As he says this, he lays down his hand, revealing he's gotten them reversed yet again and had discarded incorrectly midround. If he had keep the right cards, he'd have the fourth best possible hand. As is, he has two of spells, which is... much lower. "I am running dangerously low on clothing..."

[Carver Amell]

"Fine by me," says Carver, his accent already slipping thanks to intoxication. It's almost charming really -- he sounds much more down-to-earth and country when he's tired or drunk. "Naked is best anyway." 

[Jassinth]

"That I will drink to!" Jass cries out with great cheer- evidently the clearest sign of intoxication with him is noise. Normally, the ranger moves, speaks and even fights if not with silence than with a strong preference for discreteness. Drunk Jass doesn't give a fuck. Knocking back the second half of his wine, he grins at Carver before lifting up so he can slide his underwear off. "Hmmm. It seems then that my next hand is..." He frowns, needing to try again. "I have no things to bet with. So. I shall bet a kiss!"

[Carver Amell]

Carver throws back some of the whiskey -- straight from the bottle -- before replying, "I will see your kiss and match your bet with my trousers."

[Jassinth]

Jass tilts his head to the side, humming thoughtfully. "Would that mean I have to kiss your trousers if I lose?"

[Carver Amell]

"Or what's under them," he pronounces boldly.

[Jassinth]

Grinning, Jass presses ahnd hand against his bare chest. "Oh my my. I think my kisses worth more than just your trousers then. How about.... A kiss against a kiss?"