[Inclement Weather] Just One Glass...or Bottle [Open]

[Kovac]

Timestamp: 10th Day of Fall, 511 AV Location: The Inclement Weather Purpose: Let off some steam Status: Open Kovac had wandered into the club early. His mood was a bit sour, having warred again with Shayth. Rather than linger in the rider's aerie, or haunt the ranges, he decided a good belt was just what he needed. His drinking had waned in the past seasons, apparently having less woes to drown out, and his girl, hunting and archery instruction tasks had kept him quite busy. The Avora, selfishly, believed he was long overdue for some indulging. The archer slipped into the Inclement Weather, pausing only long enough to see who was tending the two bars. Seeing Tessa at the one on the right, Kovac sauntered up and, with a wry grin and a full length glance at the woman, requested a bottle of wine and a glass. "Its been a while Kovac, where have you been?" She shot him a knowing smile, then pulled a bottle from beneath the bar. "Not this time, hon." Kovac snarked, pointing instead to a shelf carved into the wall behind her, it held several wine bottles of more exquisite design, the necks like twisting spirals, swirls of color in the dark glass. "One of those." Tessa raised her eyebrows. "Big spender now. That endal pay you well?" She teased. Kovac simply widened his grin. "Thanks," he nodded, leaving a pile of pinions on the bar and turning away. There were a pair of musicians at one alcove, a man with a guitar and a petite woman singing. Her voice was graveling and soulful, the guitarist plying his instrument with sloppy, full chords. It was the kind of music that one heard before the crowd arrived, raw and playful, setting the mood for the more intense and raucous dance music that was sure to fill the hall soon. The bare-chested avora spotted an unoccupied alcove, fit with a small table. He made his way there through the few pockets of chatting and flirting inarta gathered on the dimly-lit floor. Moving to the back of the table, Kovac took a seat against the wall, where he could see the going's on. Kicking his booted feet up on the table's edge, the half-blood worked the cork from the bottle, poured himself a glass of wine and sighed, trying to convince the stress in his shoulders to pass. ExpenseFine Wine- 10 pinions

[Aidara]

"Care to share?" It was hardly a whisper in his ear, but it held as much ranchy suggestiveness as possible in those three short words. Sliding up next to Kovac, Addy slipped her now empty glass onto the table. There was a light crust of salt around the edge, the dregs of a fruity mixed drink within the bottom of the glass. The healer, of course, was done from head to toe. Her hair was a lucious wave of aburn curls that fell to almost her waist. Addy had discarded her usual attire for this evening, instead sporting a tight white sheath dress that showed off every curve; it wasn't a common outfit choice for the Inarta, but since when was Addy common? Her skin had freckled more over the summer, delicate dots splattered across her nose. There was a coy grin on her lips, those dimples dancing in her cheeks. It had been months and months since she had last seen Kovac; the Avora stayed cooped up with his bitchy Endal, and Addy did her best to avoid Shyath. Ever since the healer had set her bright green eyes upon Kovac, Shyath had been less then fond of her. It wasn't a big surprise that Addy had also decided to frequent the club earlier than most; with her pregnant girlfriend and double duties, the tiny woman was feeling the stress. She was even starting to get the hint of a wrinkle between her brows. Though she had never been much of a drinker, she had the night off and had decided to indulge a bit as well. The smell of alcohol and apples was heavy on her breath, though her gaze was still bright and alert, her posture straight and her balance steady. She wasn't that drunk..yet. With Kovac sitting, Addy was able to look him in the eye. She leaned against his kicked up feet, turning to the side so that he could get a good look at her while she spoke. "I was just looking for a refill. What a happy coincidence."

[Kovac]

Kovac had not seen Aidara approach, his attention had turned to adjusting the single sontav he wore on his left wrist, his fingers tugging on the leather laces. The voice that uttered those three words were was soft yet sounded so close. And familiar. He had not heard that voice in over a season, he figured. It still dripped with sensuality, something well practiced by its owner, and it stirred a familiar twitch in his gut. Kovac's eyes lifted causally to see Addy. The avora's eyebrows raised involuntarily at the sight of her. Kovac steeled himself, unwilling to give the girl the satisfaction of knowing she stunned him. The healer was beautiful on her off days. Tonight, she was dressed to kill, or have someone kill for her. A wry grin crept to his lips. She was a hopeless, shameless flirt, just like always. And he welcomed it...like always. The archer had not seen her in a long while. When Aidara hooked up with Sira, and made herself an Endal, Kovac was irritated, as if she somehow betrayed him. After all, it was always those two avora versus endal like her sister. Now, she was one of them. That and the fact that Shayth made sure Kovac was steered clear of Aidara and her sister had kept the two from crossing paths. If he dared to admit it, Kovac was a bit jealous as well. Sure, he had double standards. Its not like Sira stole Addy from him. They were friends...flirty ones, but only friends. He had Shayth, and was happy with her. But some habits had proven hard to break. Addy's sudden appearance in his alcove tested that theory. The two, and Sairque as well for that matter, had always shared a barbed relationship built around sarcasm and suggestion, and Kovac was ready to engage. He felt her weight as she leaned against his feet, propped up on the table. His grin broadened, unable to hide his pleasure in seeing her. He tilted the wine bottle until the crimson liquid poured into her used glass. He gave her a generous portion. "So, does the daddy-to-be need a little liquid courage to face her new endal family?" It was a sharp jab, maybe a bit heavy, hinting at his still bruised ego, he had to move quick and hard to recover from the blow she had delivered just standing there in her hugging dress and cascading locks. "How can I deny the woman who saved my life!" He added with a glimpse of sincerity. The avora's legs pulled up and he lowered his feet to the floor, using one to gently kick a chair against the back of Addy's shapely legs. "Sit." He stated, his grin still flashing. "Its been a long time...endal. What has kept you so busy?"

[Aidara]

She sat. The chair that he hooked around behind her knees knocked her off balance and she fell into the seat, though she would like to believe that it looked like she sat of her own accord. The healer was a bit tipsy. "If I need a buzz to face being a "father", it makes me more man than you'll ever be, my dear." Quite proud of her little comeback as well as a hundred times more bold than she already was, Addy sat back in her chair with a little smirk that just screamed self satisfaction. "And I'll take that as a congratulations." The newly filled glassed was raised in a one sided toast before it was lifted to her lips and delicately sipped at in the silence that followed. Surely, Kovac would need a moment or two to recoup from that ego smash (Or, at least that's what Addy's drunk little instinct told her). Slightly glazed green orbs flitted around the room, noting the faces that flashed past and the energetic dancers on the floor. That seemed like fun, maybe she would go dancing. Maybe Kovac would dance with her! Turning to face the Avora again, Addy worked the idea around in her head until she was able to find the words she wanted. "Lets dance!" Yes. So eloquent. Instead, Kovac plied her with another question. The denial, even if it was unintentional on the Hunter's part, put a pout to her lips. At Kovac's slightly resentful tone, there was an arched brow and a smirking twist to her lips. The glass was raised for another drink as she bought herself some time. "Are you really upset about that, or is my perceptiveness failing me now that the drink has gone to my head?" The glass clinked softly on the stone table as Addy leaned forward and put both of her hands on his knees, using them as a grounding to steady herself so she could look directly into his eyes. "I don't think of myself as Endal, you know. And it isn't like I chose this so that I could strut around with a stick up my ass, better than everyone else." Green eyes narrowed and Addy leaned back away, finding there was no need for intense eye contact. The glass was returned to her hand. "I thought you knew me better than that. I did it because I love Sira, nothing more, nothing less. In case you hadn't been paying attention, I introduce myself as Healer Aidara...Not Endal." Another sip and those greens flickered back to Kovac. Relaxing in her chair, talking slow and quiet there was no way for him to gauge how intoxicated she'd gotten; her words were still clear, her thoughts still cohesive. Her attitude was just slightly more brazen, like she was trying to get the Avora all worked up... and maybe she was. "You have an Endal of your own, don't you? A silly question, as I'd heard that she tattooed her name all over your ass. I could get you a collar with some sparkly stones with her name. Would you like that? The only unavailable male in the whole city, and practically a slave to the bitches every whim." Ah, and there was Addy's beef. While Kovac thought the Healer left him behind caste wise, Addy was bitter about his relationship. Even though they were doubly bonded in both Endal and Kelvic ways, Sira and Addy both still had the freedom to do as they please with their bodies as long as their hearts remained true. Addy knew that she would never love anyone like she did Sira...but that didn't mean her feelings for Kovac simply disappeared. She had known the man before Sira, and since Addy was used to getting what she wanted, the unattainable Avora had always presented a certain undeniable appeal to the vivacious Healer. It seemed the two had a lot to hash out.

[Kovac]

As the inarta plopped unceremoniously into the chair, Kovac's grin widened. He topped off the wine in his glass and set the bottle back down between them. Aidara's snarky comment about being more of a man than he did not phase Kovac, and his eyes sparkled at its absurdity. As his own green gaze perused the healer's unusual, clinging dress, he laughed. Addy was as far from being a man as anyone could be. And she knew it. She used it against Kovac so deftly. Neither the inarta nor the half-breed were one's to mince words or fabricate pleasantries, and in the first moments of their conversation, the taunting and baiting commenced. The tension between them, or rather attraction, had existed since the fateful hunting trip organized by Renol. Kovac never really knew if Aidara had a real thing for him, or if it was the thrill of the hunt that drew her. Either way, the avora drank it up like a fine wine, even to his harm. Shayth had not taken kindly to the affections Addy and Kovac displayed, and the rider and her live-in avora had a vehement discussion over the matter. That was three seasons ago. Kovac listened to Addy speak, her mood relaxed and her posture casual. Her demeanor was more bold than ever, but Kovac sensed an underlying friendliness. Maybe Addy acted like this with all guys, but Kovac liked to think it was just for him. He took another swig of wine and looked up at the beautiful woman. He could hear the edge to her words, and he believe her statements were honed by the same regrets his own comments had borne. He laughed out loud. "Well, she has not tattooed her name on my ass, not yet anyway...but I will prove it to you if you'd like." The mongrel's eyebrows raised teasingly before continuing. "Shayth is good to me, Addy, and I love her. When I was in a dark place, she saved me. Seems I am in the habit of being saved by beautiful women." Kovac's smile curled up on one side as he met Aidara's gaze. "Funny how we both found ourselves unlikely residents of the Aeries. But who could fault us? We are just too sexy!" He raised his glass to her in return, a solo toast to their fortunes. "I know you are not like the other endal Addy. You are still one of us at heart." The archer confessed. He swallowed another gulp of the wine, its warmth heating his belly and loosening his tongue. " And I cannot fault Sira for taking you, you make a lovely couple." The half-blood winked. Indeed, They were both lovely. "But for right now...looks like its just the two of us." He turned to look past Aidara towards the dance floor, which had suddenly picked up a crowd. The music was fast paced and the true party atmosphere of the Inclement Weather was in full swing. Looking back at Addy, Kovac refilled her glass with the rich quality wine. He leaned close to the auburn-headed woman, his face dangerously close her hers. "And where do you think I can get one of those collars?" Kovac flashed a wink and a smile.

[Aidara]

Most of what Kovac said by way of explanation was brushed off in simple irritation. Excuses upon excuses, and none of them very good. Smiling and nodding just for the sake of keeping the mood positive, Addy lifted her glass and tipped the rest of it's contents down her throat. "You don't want a collar from me. You couldn't handle it. Let's dance." She wasn't playing around anymore. Kovac had messed with her emotions for long enough. Usually, that was okay. They were both extremely flirty and loved the thrill that came from teasing each other. But Addy was swiftly teetering her way to the drunker end of the spectrum. Never before had the pair locked in their witty dance of words while intoxicated. Though it wasn't really a surprise that drunk people usually lost control of their emotions, but it was particularly dangerous for the already overly-emotional healer. Leaving her empty class on the table Addy lurched forward and grabbed Kovac's hand, yanking him from his chair and onto the dance floor. Yes, he was stronger than she and could easily resist, but they both knew he wouldn't. The press of bodies was stifling as Addy drug them through towards the center of the floor, where the lights glistening on the wall barely permeated the darkness that hovered there. It was the perfect place to do things when one didn't want to be seen. Hazy as her judgement was, Addy told herself that if they went here... maybe Kovac would let loose a little and give her want she so desperately wanted. Though one spot looked no different from the next, they were pushing and shoving through people one moment and at a dead stop the next. "This will do." And she turned on him, using the hand she still held to pull him towards her. The dancing was raunchy and so sexually charged one could feel the tension in the air. Pressing herself right up against him, green eyes turned to pin Kovac's gaze even in the darkness, a sly smirk on her lips as her small hands found his lower back. Slowly, so slowly, she slithered down the front of him, her fingers clawed and dragging down his back, arse, thighs...and then slowly back up again. It was hot, it was sweaty and she was drunk. It wasn't long until Addy bored of her slithering move, either that or no longer had the balance for it, because she was quick to turn around and press her back against him, taking his hands so that they rested upon her hips and holding them there, as if she was afraid he would run away. Grinding back against his hips, a slender arm lifted and hooked around his neck, pulling him so that he would practically curl around her. With her eyes closed, Addy moved to the music, reveling in the power she felt she had over Kovac, unaware of how close his face had actually gotten to hers. She opened her eyes, tilted her head back to look at him and nearly knocked her forehead against his. There was a shocked pause, as if Addy took the moment to try and figure out where Kovac came from, but really she was trying to force her intoxicated innerself to slow down, to not.... And without warning, she kissed him. It was only the beginnings of a deep, passionate embrace, but Addy had shocked herself almost as much as she probably shocked Kovac, and was stilled into inaction; her hands cupping his face, her lips hovering just over his, the desperate press of her body against him all but screaming her need, her want.

[Kovac]

Aidara was forward. It was a well know attribute of the saucy inarta, and Kovac knew it well. But tonight, Addy's typical extroversion was sharper and no nonsense. The subtle innuendo and playful snarks that had defined their relationship to that point had been replaced by a look in her eye that said she meant business. Kovac sensed trouble. Too bad he had not learned to heed that sense very well. So, as Addy's small hand grabbed his and she tugged at him, Kovac stood, downing the contents of his wine glass before allowing the healer to drag him onto the floor. The press of inarta bodies generated heat and a myriad of scents, both natural and artificial, that created a cloud of stimulating aromas. The mass of bodies moved in rhythm, rubbing against them as the two friends moved through the crowd, the dancers writhing and twisting to the primal beat Akvin was laying down. The wine was quickly coursing through the avora's blood, adding to the heat he felt, beginning to erode the thin defense he usually erected when Addy was around that kept him from going too far. When Addy spun around to face him, he did not resist as she pulled him against her. Even has she held him in her green gaze, Kovac began to sway slightly to the music. The lithe inarta slid down his body, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. An alarming thrill raced up his spine, even as she crawled back up, pressed against him. They had never been like this, he and Addy. It was just dancing after all, the avora told himself, but his natural reactions betrayed the truth of his thoughts. The stakes were raised as she suddenly turned and backed into him. Kovac leaned into the new position, letting Addy place his hand on her hips. The mongel's hand pressed into the curve of her hips, pulling her closer against him as he helped her match the rhythm of his swaying. There was no resistance as her slender arm reached around his neck and drew him closer, until he was wrapped around her like a cloak. His head lowered near hers, her unique scent now noticeable above that of the room. Kovac inhaled deeply, distracted by how incredibly close he was to Addy now, and how good she felt pressed against him. Kovac shared a wry grin when the healer's eyes opened, seeming surprised that he was there, even though she was the one that leaned into him so firmly. A snide remark was passing to his lips when, without warning, those lips were stilled by Addy's own. They had kissed before. That one was a good kiss, but this one, this one had the taste of need in it, and Kovac returned it even as he stared at the girl wide-eyed. For a long moment, the two of them stared at each other, their lips so close they could feel the others breath on their mouths. She cupped his face, warm hands soft on his olive-hued cheeks. Their movements subsided, but did not stop. What was he doing? He didn't know. His life was in turmoil. Shayth and he fighting, Rista desperately close to being condemned to a life as a drudge, Chemar's haunting presence. Kovac wanted to escape for a while. Then she shows up. He wondered if Aidara felt the same way, if things were too much for her. The avora's head felt large, free, the affect of the alcohol blurring judgement. But his senses worked well, telling him that the beautiful woman pressed against him, hovering so close, eyes so wanting, needed the same thing he did. A strong hand lifted to the back of Addy's head, entangling in her thick dark red mane. With gentle pressure Kovac pulled her mouth against his again, pausing just as their lips brushed. Then, with a darting glance into her eyes, Kovac engaged her in a passionate kiss free of the inhibitions of the one they shared seasons ago. His swaying increased in time with the music, the hand on her hip holding her firmly against him.

[Aidara]

Addy had no idea where the violent reaction came from. One minute, she was breathless, her heart pounding out of her chest as hell froze over and Kovac actually kissed her back. Barely a heartbeat later, she was wrenching herself away as if he had slapped her, wiping away the remains of his kiss with the back of her hand as the other landed open palmed against his cheek. There was no explaining the anger that made those green eyes flash. It was sudden and unreasonable, even to the woman herself. But her mind was fuddled and foggy, all of her inhibitions modified by the alcohol that mingled with her blood. A drunken rage. "How dare you! Are you trying to get me killed?! That bitch of yours is going to come and gut me alive once she finds out what you did. Once you tell her what you did, when you go crying back for forgiveness. Think you'll lead me on, will you?" And she slapped him again, on his shoulder this time. "Why did you kiss me back? What in the hell were you thinking? You know you don't want me enough to actually do anything about it or cut the strings that the little Endal has attached to your arms and legs, you puppet." The slap that she had intended for his other shoulder turned into a punch as her tiny fist balled right before it slammed into the muscle. She hit bone too, since shoulders were boney after all, and snapped her hand back with a yelp of pain. "Ow! What the PETCH!" And she was on him, pummeling the poor Avora before he even had a chance to speak his defense. She was like a small cat, all nails and teeth, clawing her way over him as she tried to get the advantage despite their height difference. The fact that Kovac might not hit her back didn't even cross her mind. Instead, she was hazily intent on reeking revenge for the wrong she had thought had been done. But Addy didn't really know how to fight, and was instead just flailing her arms and legs against the Avora's unprotected flesh. A small foot found his shin while at the same time her fist found his side. At one point, she got close enough to gouge four long, red scratches from his shoulder over his chest and onto his abdomen. They immediately started oozing blood, as her nails broke the skin. Her anger was like a wildfire, building and burning with no sign of stopping.

[Kovac]

Kovac didn't really know what he was doing either, but he was tired of resisting. Aidara was a tease, it was her nature, and he had always been blessed, and cursed, to be a favorite target of hers. To be honest he was no better, egging her on in bout after bout of "almost" and "so close". But he was ....confused of late, and the relaxing effect of the wine coupled with the grinding bodies gyrating around them, the avora caved and simply called Addy's bluff, taking what he wanted. The incredible satisfaction of the kiss was shattered when the girl wrenched herself away and she slapped his face, leaving a sobering sting. Even in the dim light, as the healer seethed and barked her accusations and insults, the archer could see the rage in her usually sultry gaze. Her verbal assault stoked an anger in Kovac, but the sudden assault of pummeling fists and gouging nails caught him off guard and off balance. The half-blooded hunter staggered backwards as Aidara attacked him, bumping into several dancers behind him as other patrons stopped to watch the enraged woman unleash her fury on the man. Soon Kovac's bare torso was covered in red marks and bleeding scratches. Finally the avora found himself and his own ire flared. With just enough sense not to openly retaliate against an endal in the middle of the club, Kovac grabbed Aidara's upper arm firmly and jerked her off of him. Then he barked at her. "Petching woman! What the shyke is wrong with you!" He had known Addy for over a year, considered her a friend even. After all, he owed the woman his life. He had even seen her snippy and irritable, but never as uncontrollably mad as she was now. He would deal with her, but not in the middle of the dance floor. With another jerk on her arm, Kovac barged through the crowd, dragging the fuming Addy behind him and limping from the pain she evoked when she kicked his shin. Once they returned to the alcove, he pushed her inside and with a single move drew closed the curtain behind him. With a firm shove the angered avora pushed Addy against the wall, knocking a chair over in the process. His hand moved to her neck, tilting her jaw up so he could look into her eyes. His hold was not tight, but it was firm. The skin of his chest still stung from her surprisingly strong beating and the gouges her nails had dragged across his torso. Part of him was hurt to have to treat her like this, and his ego and heart stung from her attack as much as his skin did. "What is going on?! Kovac sniped. His green eyes were narrowed, his brow low and scowling as he hissed through clenched teeth. "For seasons we play, we even kissed. I wore bruises for days for that one! And now...you finally get what you want, and you flip out? You hypocritical bitch! And you can hate on Shayth all you want, but I am with her of my own free will. I get what I want from her as much as she gets what she wants from me. So get off of her ass, and mine!"

[Aidara]

"How dare you blame your relationship problems on me? Did I ask you to enter into an abusive relationship? Since when is it my problem that you two have decided to be...unnatural? It's not. It's not my fault that I was following your advances only to find out that...oh wait... your monogamous" Spitting the last word like it was a swear, Addy struggled against the hold Kovac had on her throat. Though the light headed buzz from the wine was quickly fading, leaving the woman almost completely sober, her anger was unwavering. Perhaps it was because of the adrenaline that was pumping through her veins but the little healer was much stronger than she thought. Wrapping both her hands around the fist that pined her to the wall, Addy pried Kovac's hand from her throat while sending a knee up into his groin. Whether he dodged it or not, she was on him again within seconds. She was a woman scorned. In a polygamous society, where your heart could belong to one person and one person alone while your body belonged to many, it was almost unheard of for something like what Kovac had with Shayth to survive. It was in this face of the unusual that Addy lashed out in confused anger. When she first met the hunter, she had not known that he was involved with an Endal. Even if she had, it wouldn't have changed the fact that he nonetheless flirted with her, egging on her advances and even welcoming them.... only then to shut her down, turn her away and use his relationship as the sole reason as to why he didn't want her. It was such a bizarre concept that Addy simply didn't know how to deal with it. "I am neither hypocritical nor a bitch. In fact, you should turn to your precious woman for that. How she is even Inartan, I don't know, since she is against everything that we stand for. Everything." She was breathing hard now, her words randomly punctuated with flailing fists whenever she managed to build up the energy for it. If Kovac had started hitting back after she pried herself away from the wall, she would be unable to block the blows, though showing very little sign of feeling them. Though it wasn't normal for a man to hit a woman, it seemed almost as if that was what Addy was trying to eek out of him. "I flip out because no matter how hard I push, you back off... and then you push back. You tell me no, and then you hint that you really mean yes. So I push.. and I push... to try and get the real answer, to try and really figure out what's going on here! And just when I think I have it figured out, just when I'm about to give up on you as a lost cause no matter how much it sucks because of how much we both want each other....you do that! You HYPOCRITE!" And she backed away, pressing her back against the wall as she threw a shaking finger towards the dance floor beyond the drawn curtain. Pulled from her world of fury, the pumping music and the cacophony of voices that suddenly accosted her from all sides, swelling inside her head until it hurt too badly to stand, Addy sank to the floor. With her head between her knees, her arms wrapped over the back of her head and her neck, she began to cry.