Chapter 492 - 493: Captain Talks.

Chapter 492: Chapter 493: Captain Talks.

It’s been a minute but to this day, Bongo recalls fondly the days of his youth. He won’t say he remembers them well , because to a young soldier; drunk on cheap ale and high on a pretty girl’s perfume, the best of nights were often those that went forgotten. And while those days are behind him now –and gods he is pleased that they are; just because he looks back fondly does not mean he is in any rush to repeat them –every now and then, it doesn’t hurt to watch others live them.

And tonight is one of those nights.

He couldn’t have timed his arrival better. The tavern is as lively as he was expecting, with plenty of music and all the merrymakers seeming in high spirits without being... In an unseemly state. He’s sure it won’t be too long though. Not if they’re already playing drink games. Which they are. It wasn’t yet been so long that he doesn’t recognise the one that Rogard and Loac appear to be playing, matched up against Khobi’s young servant and...an unexpected face.

Perhaps not so unexpected, Bongo has to concede after giving it some thought.

They were close when they were younger, weren’t they?

All of them.

Well, there’s still one person missing, but it won’t be long now.

Bongo would be plenty content to hover on the wall for the evening –after all these years spent with his king he’s well accustomed to such things –enjoying the music and the drunkards from afar, but Drogger looks a little out of his element tonight and there’s a convenient empty seat to his right. Not to mention, for someone who considers the young Lord Ynoro such a close friend, he certainly seems to spend a lot of time looking as if his company causes him physical pain. Although given how loudly Ynoro is serenading one of the nearby barmaids, Bongo understands it, a little. He’s not even a terrible singer, by any means, even if half of the words are wrong.

"Do you mind if I join you, Captain?" he greets casually, tactfully sinking into the seat between Drogger and Ynoro. The reason for Drogger’s discomfort very quickly becomes evident; Ynoro has a reputation as quite the animated performer, and most of whatever’s left in his mug winds up splashing all down Bongo’s side. "...I see why the seat was vacant," he admits wryly, and it must be a momentous evening because not only has Drogger Noog set foot in a tavern off his own volition --drinking in one, no less --but he chuckles.

"What can I say?" he admits with a helpless shrug; the look of a man who has finally made peace with his fate, "I’ve gotten used to it."

It’s a good thing that Bongo’s had so much practice at keeping his expression even because the high note that Ynoro hits at that exact moment is absolutely piercing.

"...Who’s winning?" he decides to inquire, gesturing with his mug towards the drinking game for something to focus on while his ears stop ringing. Evidently amused, Drogger’s chuckle rumbles a little louder this time.

"Not Rogard and Loac, that’s for sure," Drogger snorts, which Bongo can certainly believe given the amount of squabbling that appears to be going on. "...I have to say, Bongo, I wasn’t expecting to see you out tonight," he adds conversationally, eyebrow raised, "What brings you here?"

What indeed.

"Official business," Bongo hums vaguely, and Drogger curiously follows his gaze over to where Loac and Rogard are making a fuss over having lost in dramatic fashion. Or not having lost, maybe; there seems to be some debate going on as to the final result. With the volume of the tavern set as raucous as it currently is it’s a little difficult to tell the exact situation from this distance, only that there is an inordinate amount of cussing being exchanged between the competitors and the spectators. Bongo gets the impression that his men have been heckling both teams for the duration of the game, and he wonders if he should be surprised. (He’s not.)

Whatever it is that’s going on has Binny cackling and Vogrid, his teammate, appearing both unsurprised by the outcome and a little taken aback by the uproar.

Bongo and Drogger watch in shared amusement as their prince finally throws up his hands in disgust before childishly stomping over to the bar and then slamming down a handful of gold. Vogrid calls out to him and gets a middle finger thrown back as a round of wine goblets gets slid across the bar. It’s clear from the way Loac gives the wine a sniff and rolls his eyes that this isn’t his idea, but begrudgingly hands one off to Vogrid all the same. Binny cheerily raises the one that finds its way to his hands in thanks and then hollers out for one of the bards to strike up. Some quibbling over the song choice ensues --Bongo gets the impression that the bard’s already played this particular song a few times this evening --but it would seem he’s doomed to play it several times more because the request has the crowd cheering and beating on the tables and gold comes flying at the bard every which way.

Principles only get you so far, so with a long-suffering sigh, the bard shakes his fist at Binny, then shrugs and strikes up to raucous applause. In the chaos, it would be easy for a single shape to go unnoticed, however Bongo’s had his eye fixed on this particular figure since the moment they entered the tavern, and Loac’s just reaching to grab a goblet of wine for himself when a hand reaches out to poke him in the ribs.

Bongo laughs out loud as Loac jumps clean out of his skin, wine leaping over the rim of his goblet as he whirls in place. And the change that comes over his prince’s face in the span of but a dew moments is something to behold; the irritation at being accosted mixed with confusion over how someone’s managed to take him by surprise, followed by dawning recognition, further confusion, and then a lopsided grin as the princess throws back her hood and throws herself at him.

"Official business, you say?" Drogger deadpans, dipping his head deferentially as the princess points over their way; her pink eyes glittering and an excited, conspiratorial smile stretched wide across her face; the look of a young girl who has just executed the perfect surprise. Loac follows his cousin’s gaze, and when they lock eyes across the revelry, Bongo merely raises a hand in greeting. Over his cousin’s shoulders, Loac raises his wine goblet back. And then promptly spills it all over the princess’ dress. She’s smiling too hard to care, so Bongo decides it’s not his place to care either.