Let's Rest

Life, Identity

The revolutionists spend the evening chatting and enjoying each other's company on the eve of the revolution.

Fenneck sat down on the sofa and curled up against Erikur as Alexei passed beers around to themselves, Jasna, and Catherine and Vyndius who were sitting together on the floor playing with Gwynsickle. Baegla, Lox and Juniper were arguing in the kitchen as they tried to fix some snacks for the small party. Erikur leaned into Fenneck's ear. "Vyndius and Catherine have been spending a lot of time together," he observed thoughtfully. Fenneck playfully elbowed Erikur. "They're cute together," he said as he observed Catherine's hand brush Vyndius' as they pet Gwynsickle and Vyndius' cheeks became rosy. Alexei plopped himself on the other side of Fenneck and kicked his legs up into Fenneck and Erikur's laps. "Make yourself comfy!" Erikur said sarcastically. Alexei smiled playfully at him. "Happily!" He started chugging his beer. "Don't drink too much before tomorrow," Fenneck warned him. Alexei shrugged. "That's why I'm drinking," he laughed. Erikur started rubbing Alexei's ankles affectionately and Fenneck leaned against Erikur. He was grateful that he still had him and Alexei but he couldn't help but be nervous about what the next day would hold. It could easily be their last night together. Fenneck looked around the room at their wonderful friends and he hoped tomorrow wouldn't end tragically. Baegla and Lox finally figured out the food situation and they brought over a huge platter of what looked like the entire contents of Erikur and Catherine's pantry. "Considering everything goes well tomorrow, I'd say it's no harm in cleaning out the food tonight. Even more so if it goes poorly!" she said cheerfully grabbing a bottle of beer and settling down on the floor next to Jasna. "Should we make a toast?!" Lox suggested. "Oh yes indeed!" Baegla agreed. "Hit us!" Alexei, already tipsy, called out to the stout little halfling. "To kicking the Malenthot's wee-little asses back into the ninth layer of hell where they belong!" he said, raising his bottle in the air. "Cheers!" They all toasted and laughed as they took a drink. "And hoping they don't take us with them!" Vyndius added after the fact, getting a disapproving sigh from Catherine. "What? It happened last time," he said at the awkward glances being shared around the room. Erikur sighed and looked over at Alexei. "Won't they be missing you at the bar tonight?" he asked him. Alexei shrugged. "I put a sign out that said I was sick. It's also a Monday so who cares." He sat up awkwardly and curled up against Fenneck and started playing with his hair. Erikur chuckled at him. Alexei leaned up to Fenneck's ear. "I want to spend the night with you and Erikur," he begged him. "Like we did that one time." He gently rubbed Fenneck's chest and Fenneck noticed Erikur nuzzle against him, clearly on the same wave length as Alexei. Fenneck felt his heart start to pound in excitement at the idea. Erikur looked over at Alexei and Fenneck saw Alexei's demeanor drop and he collapsed onto the couch sadly. Fenneck felt guilt well up inside him. "Well, I don't know," Fenneck whispered to Erikur, trying to see if that was something he wanted as well. Erikur sighed. "Look, if you're not comfortable with it, that's okay," Erikur assured him. "Maybe we could just... see what happens," Fenneck suggested. Erikur gave him a frown. "You said you didn't want to have sex, Fen." Fenneck sighed. "Well it doesn't even matter if we die tomorrow," he countered. Erikur sighed and put his arm around Fenneck. "It's going to work, Fen. I promise," he assured him. "We're going to be a free country within the week." Fenneck sighed. "I hope you're right." He leaned over to Alexei. "Hey, please don't get upset, Lex," he asked him desperately. Alexei sat up and looked Fenneck in the eyes, very intensely for a few moments before hurling all over him. Fenneck looked down at his lap, now covered in vomit and back up at Alexei who gave Fenneck a very sad and remorseful look. "Oh my goodness!" Baegla exclaimed. "Oh my god, Lex!" Erikur leaned over and waved his hands over Fenneck's lap causing the vomit to vanish from his lap and the couch. "I'm sorry!" Alexei said, starting to tear up rather dramatically. "How much have you had to drink?!" Fenneck asked him in shock. Alexei shrugged. "I don't know! I found Erikur's vodka under the sink and took a few swigs when no one was looking," he giggled, falling toward Fenneck. "Okay," Erikur got up and found a bin for their intoxicated friend. "Here. Fenneck's lap isn't a trash bin," Erikur told him. Alexei burst out laughing. "I'd put my trash in his bin any day!" he announced to the room very flamboyantly. Erikur rolled his eyes and sat down on the other side of Alexei to help keep an eye on him. Fenneck laughed and sighed suddenly realizing he'd never seen Alexei this drunk before. Alexei loved alcohol, but he was hardly ever drunk. Erikur seemed to realize this at about the same time and he gave Fenneck a worried glance. Alexei collapsed into Erikur's arms and curled up into him. Erikur kissed his forehead gently. "I'm sure he'll be fine," he said, softly sending a golden wave of magic over Alexei. "Hmmm!" Alexei cooed happily from the warmth and snuggled into Erikur's arms. Fenneck leaned back and smiled at his friends. He saw Jasna and Baegla giving each other odd looks, clearly speaking through magic in their heads together. Lox and his wife Juniper were focused on eating and kissing each other lovingly. Catherine and Vyndius were casually leaning against each other and giving each other shy glances as Gwynsickle entertained them. Fenneck looked over into the kitchen, half expecting to see his mom cooking something in the oven with his father hugging her playfully from behind and begging her to relax and come enjoy their friends. He also noticed the now empty seat next to him and knew Evelyn should be there, curling up against him and trying to get him to sneak off to the bedroom with her. He swallowed and tried to push his thoughts away before he became emotional. "Be safe tomorrow." Fenneck looked over and saw Evelyn walk into the room in her flowy white night gown and curl up on the seat next to him. "I'll be so worried about you." She caressed his chest and leaned into his side. "I'll do my best," he promised her. "I'm scared, Ev," he admitted. She reached up and kissed his neck. "You handled yourself well enough in the mountains," she argued, pulling him back into the couch as she kissed him affectionately. "Look at you," she admired. "My very own knight in shining armor." She kissed his lips and Fenneck reached out to touch her but as he did she vanished as the room erupted into laughter over Gwynsickle doing a card game trick with Jasna. Fenneck looked around confused for a moment before he felt himself wanting to cry. He stood up and walked into Erikur's room and closed the door before collapsing into Erikur's bed. He started sobbing and he pulled a pillow into his chest, clinging to it in the fetal position as he cried. Suddenly he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Jasna who had closed the door behind her as she had come in. She got into the bed with Fenneck and laid down next to him and held him for a moment before she started crying with him. They found each others hands and squeezed each other affectionately. They cried for a while before they finally pulled themselves together and Fenneck sat up next to her on the bed. "Are you okay?" he asked her. She shook her head. "What's left of my family dies tomorrow. At my hands. Of course I'm not okay," she shrugged. "She should be here," Fenneck said, glad to have someone else who actually missed Evelyn as much as he did. Jasna nodded. "I should have told her. I should have tried to convince her to join the cause." She shook her head in shame and Fenneck put his arm around her. "I'm just as much to blame," he agreed. "If not more-so. We shouldn't have had the affair," he said sadly. "If it weren't for me, she would still be alive," his voice cracked as he said the words he'd been telling himself these last two years aloud. Jasna shook her head. "You did nothing wrong, Fenneck. She loved you so much. I never saw her happier than she was in the years she spent with you." Fenneck squeezed Jasna's hand. "Thank you. I know we don't know each other very well but... I did always like you. You were always nice to me and my uncle." Jasna gave him a sweet smile. "I'm sorry about your parents. They were good people," she said. Fenneck sighed. "I miss them. A lot. To the point that I don't allow myself to really think about them," he admitted. Jasna sighed. "I'm worried I'll know how you feel tomorrow," she said. "I know they're bad, horrible horrible people but... they're still my parents. It's not their fault they've become so corrupted," she said sadly. Fenneck squeezed her hand affectionately. "Hey, if we survive this thing tomorrow, I just want to say that I'm here for you. I know Evelyn and I weren't married or anything like that but I loved her deeply and I... I'd consider you family. That is, if you'd have me. I'd like to think you would have been a wonderful sister-in-law." He gave her a small smile and her face lit up. "I'd love that, Fenneck," she said excitedly. "You would have been a wonderful brother-in-law," she told him sweetly. "Did she ever tell you about the baby?" he asked her. She shook her head. "It was a boy," Fenneck told her. Jasna shook her head in defeat. "I should have helped her. I should have taken her to Corellon's shrine. I could have helped her." Fenneck rubbed Jasna comfortingly. At that moment, the door opened and Erikur gave them both a soft smile before closing the door and joining them on the bed. "Hey," he greeted them gently. "You both okay?" They nodded and gave each other a comforting smile. Jasna quickly wiped her face and jumped off the bed. "Thank you, Fenneck. I should head back out." She gave them both a cheerful smile and walked back out into the living room. "Is Alexei okay?" Fenneck asked Erikur who curled up next to him. "Yeah," he said. "Gwynsickle is taking care of him. Catherine and Vyndius went to her room." He raised his eyebrows playfully and Fenneck giggled. "You're not gonna be an overly protective brother about it?" he asked him playfully. Erikur smiled and pulled Fenneck into his arms. "Gods no. She can make her own choices. Besides, I like him," he said, kissing Fenneck on the head. "It's going to be okay, Fen," he said, changing to a more serious tone. Fenneck nodded and leaned into Erikur's embrace. "We should all rest together tonight. You, me and Alexei," he suggested. Erikur smiled. "I'll go get him." He hoped up and left the room for a moment before bring in a very tired and happy looking Alexei who had sobered to a point where he was very rosy and happy about things. He saw Fenneck and waved at him excitedly as Erikur led him to the bed. "Fenneck! You disappeared!" he exclaimed as he sat down next to him and started curling up against him, showering him with kisses. "Lex! Come on. It's time to rest." Erikur laughed and pulled him off of Fenneck and they all squished together on Erikur's bed in a tangled mess. Fenneck drifted off and tried not to worry about what the next day would bring.