𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 II 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕩𝕝𝕚

                         ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Zephyr led them to a bar, the jostling atmosphere bought them warmth, and the aromatic brewing of Fjerdan whiskey and wine with the folk songs played by a group of musicians lightened the mood.

There were a group of greasy old men sitting at one corner, grinning and eyeing everyone around them, unrelentlessly drunk as their beer glasses clanked together in pride, gulping down the very last of sips.

The last Lynn remembered the pungent smell was around a months ago, or maybe a few weeks, her head was throbbing suddenly.

The crows were perched across one of the bigger tables, and as they walked towards them, Nina hurriedly got up and hugged them all, unfazed by their freezing bodies, cupping their faces and rendering their hearts a little bit, trying to warm up their blood.

Inej handed them coats, checking in for any injuries and gently holding their hands. It was only overnight that they had spent without the crows and they hadn't realised how much they'd missed them.

"Two glasses of premium spiced rum please, neat." Jesper called out to the bartender who started filling up the glasses.

Lynn widened her eyes "Jes,-"

"Alright then two glasses of distilled Fjerdan rum please, on the rocks." he jostled smirking at Lynn.

"Are we actually about to get drunk?" Lynn and Vivienne both looked at Kaz who raised his brow, hiding a smirk "It helps with the cold. I wouldn't spend my money on tasteless filthy ru-"

"Demjin, my country's rum is way better than yours" Matthias grumbled, taking a bite of waffles as Vivienne wondered how the hell would Kaz pay for all this.

Nina's flushed cheeks gave out a telltale sign along with her exaggeratedly cheeful voice "Drusje, remember when we came here for the first time! You with your beard, tasting life changing waffles." Matthias simply grinned, nodding.

On the other hand, Cain was already flirting with the bartender, in return of getting free drinks with he gulped down with ease as Vivienne eyed him.

Kaz and Inej looked as fresh as ever, and Wylan was drowsily nestling next to Jesper who was sniffing as he sentimentally told them about a story of how he had to give away Milo the goat in this place.

Zephyr and Daphne were talking amongst themselves, their conversations were really as such that one couldn't just decipher as they overheard it.

Lynn and Vivi nervously looked down at their drinks.

The boozy atmospheric senses bothered Lynn as she clenched her jaw tight, looking at Vivienne "I need some air." she said, her voice rough. Swiftly putting on the coat Inej had given, she was about to walk out when Kaz stopped her.

"You are in an unknown city full of soldiers who could kill you in the hitch of a breath."

Lynn gulped, looking at Daphne as he confusedly looked at her back, and was just about to slump beside Vivienne when Cain squeezed in, smiling cheekily. "You could take my place gremlin."

Vivienne looked at Lynn and shrugged as she downed her alcoholic drink in one go. She felt the hot bitter liquid go down her throat leaving a weird burning sensation, she nearly gagged. She looked back at Lynn who was stifling a laugh at Vivi's facial expression.

"It's horrible. Kinda good though." Vivienne said aloud, as she rubbed her mouth with the sleeve of her cardigan and pushed away the now empty glass far away the wooden table of the bar, scowling at it.

"What do you mean ? It's a beauty." Cain gasped from her side, as he happily chugged down his now sixth shot.

"That's enough." Kaz said, as he grabbed for Cain's tray which had more shots lined up.

"Could you not baby me? Van eck-"

"I am not Van Eck."

"He isn't." Wylan said firmly, he was huddled up in warm clothes next to Jesper in their table and was smiling at Kaz.

Lynn smiled uncomfortably as the rest continued joking around, she felt as if she was slowly being suffocated here, as if the place was closing up, narrower and narrower till it swallowed her itself itself.

"Don't drink?" Daphne sat beside Lynn
who was almost startled by his presence
"Nope" she replied, tight lipped.
Vivienne looked at her empathetically while Lynn just held a thumbs up sign back.

Daphne was silently observing the two "We could get some air if you'd like, Lynn?"

". . .Since when did you get this nice?"

Daphne sighed, wearing his coat and heading towards the door.
"Wait for me!" Lynn called out, following him.

"Strange fellow, the gremlin." Cain said, crinkling his nose "Kaz, one more glass wouldn't hu- OUCH" Cain whimpered as Kaz bonked him on the head with his cane, acting theatrically injured as if shot by a bullet.

"Kaz," Inej called out to him. Kaz hadn't heard her call him by his name in some time. But when she spoke, he wanted to her those words from her again and again.

Kaz, Kaz. Kaz.
The curve of her lips, her slight laugh line, he wanted to absorb it all, he wanted to inhale her soul, to keep all of her.
Maybe he should stop drinking now too.

"-and what will we do about it?. . .Kaz?" Kaz widened his eyes, pushing his drink away.

Zephyr, rheumy eyed, kept narrowing his eyes at Cain who simply wouldn't notice, blabbering on about sword fighting as Vivienne pretended to understand it, nodding and taking small sips of the rum.

Daphne and Lynn were walking silently  in the sidewalk for the past minute.

"I- urm, apologise for the tattoo."
Daphne uttered "I don't like the way it looks, I'd much rather not have it, y'know?" he said, looking at Lynn who nodded.

"You should take it off then, oh, isn't that a Healer's stall nearby?" Lynn pointed out at the shop.

"Nevermind" Daphne sighed,  walking back as Lynn hurried to catch up with him.

"Daph, can we not go back to the bar?" Lynn huffled, trying hard to keep up with his fast pacing. He stopped abruptly.
"What?"
"What?"
"Did you just call me Daph?" he grinned as Lynn looked away chuckling "I have a habit of doing that."

"No you don't, you're just making up a scene to cover your undying confession of love for me" he sighed, stretching his arms wide.

Lynn decided to disregard his presence and swiftly walk past him, looking at the dimly lit shops.

Daphne didn't know why Lynn was avoiding the place, but he did know what it feels like to be trapped somewhere yearning to be let out.
He hoped that whatever reason it was, she wouldn't have to face it anymore.

                       ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶