The wooden steps groaned in protest as Sebastian descended the stairs from the rooms above into the lively tavern, rubbing his hand over the four days worth of stubble he had built up on his face. The stench of ale and stale sweat berrated his senses, but after living with these dirty, dirty sailors for days on a ship, it wasn't so bad. Stormy blue eyes scanned the rather full room for his shipmates.
"Hey Crabs!"
Sebastian glanced in the direction of the yell, spotting Charlie. Sebastian, worse for wear, was waved down by an even younger blonde version of himself. Beat up overalls, no shirt underneath, the man hadn't even bothered to shower or sleep when he got here. A big hand waved Sebastian to the table of his shipmates and a LOT of beer.
Upon hearing Charlie call out to the newest member of the crew, the rest of the men shouted for Sebastian to hurry over. Most had food or were waitingfor it, but all had some form of alcohol. There was even a pint waiting for Bastian when he arrived at the table. He slung himself over a chair, straddling backwards and grabbed up the mug. "So is this one free or are you dogs going tomake me pay for it?" He grinned and up-ended the mug, draining about half of it.
"You'll just get the next round." A slap on his back and the pint raised for a long drag. The other men laughing in unison at that.
"Right, you wish, gents." Another long pull of the beer. God, it was so much better than the rum aboard ship.
Charlie grinned at Sebastian. "Whatcha doing up there, anyway? Wackin' off? We're on land now, mate! There's girls! Unless, of course, they're not your type.." Clearly having spent too long at sea, the young brouge laughed a throaty laugh and was shaken a little by an older guy to his right. Though, the men left any punches to Sebastian, if he so wished.
Sebastian grinned, quite accustomed to the crass humor aboard the ship. Naturally it would spill over to their dinner discussions, but Sebastian didn't quite care. In fact, he'd adopted some aspect of it and was getting worse by the day. Ignoring the mention of other females, Sebastian leaned back a bit and grabbed at his loins, smirking devilishly. "Yeah, well, what with the wife at home 'n all. Gotta get off somehow, right?!" His rough bark of laughter filled the room, dying off as he reached for the pint again for another swig.
Charlie, disappointed with the lack of response, rolled his eyes. "Whatever, mate." He took a long pull of his draft.
"Yeah, that's right." Bastian grinned.
Chatter at the table picked up again, different things, talk of women walking around, talk of the end of their voyage, of what would be done with the money.. it was a cacophony of noise suddenly. Sebastian, at times, felt lost, but found that being with his friends, not having to worry about anything was a good feeling. Plus, he had beer in his belly. Great combination, folks. In fact, he was quite certain this night would be interesting. While most of the conversation wasn't participated in, he did manage to throw in a quip or two that hailed either laughter or had those closest to him throwing punches. When the topic drifted to women..again, Sebastian announced that the next round was indeed on him. Such a nice boy, he was. And he was showered with applause as the now mostly empty tankards were raised into the air. He was showered with pats on the back and calls of "Here, here!" The youth next to him, however, was a bit quieter. He was loud and crass as the rest, but like Sebastian probably had something he was running from or to. He wasn't even sure which yet.
The buxom Lexxie wasted no time getting to the table of young sea lads. They looked to be a merry group with pockets full from a recent trip, and the red-head was quite sure she could part someone from a few of their guineas. Enough cleavage spilled out of her dress to tempt even a saint, and she wore a smile that held secrets in the dark. "Allo, there! Ye blokes look loike ye need some comp'ny!"
As of right now, talk of the female species merely made him think of the lovely woman he left behind in Rhydin and he sure as hell didn't want to be thinking about that right now. This was supposed to be a time with friends to get a bit sloshed and have some fun. So when Lexxie arrived, the same redhead who ahd knocked on his door earlier, Sebastian made his escape. Pushing away from the table, he let the bartender know and then wandered back to his table. Plunking down beside his mate, Sebastian elbowed him and gave the boy a questioning expression.
"Not drunk enough" He gave a somewhat self effacing lopsided grin. A roll of his shoulders and then of his eyes at the woman. "Figured it'd be easier to forget a little pissed. Eh?" He nudged Sebastian right back.
One of the men, the oldest of the little group at 31, hailed Lexxie with a wave of his hand and a dirty smile. "I could sure use some company. Ain't thet right boys?" Laughter followed and Carl waited patiently for Lexxie to make her way on over to him.
"Ye sure do look as if ye need it!" A merry laugh as the woman skirted around the table, touching arms and shoulders and the backs of necks here and there. Fleeting, brushes of touches, nothing lewd, but a reminder that she was there for all those who hadn't seemed to notice her yet.
At that moment, a few server girls arrived with their drinks. Talk about timing, eh? Sebastian raised his glass, for the most part ignoring the very forward Lexxie, even as she brushed against his shoulder. "To the sea and the women who compete for our love of it." A small glance aside to his best mate, silently issuing a drinking match. Who would get it down first?
A brow went up at Sebastian as he picked up the new tankard.
"Race ya."
Carl's smile grew as Lexxie bounced over, slinging his arm around her waist and enjoying the fact that his face was quite level with her chest. She giggled and made sure to push her shoulders back, ensuring that the display was even more impressive up close. He gave her rear a squeeze.
Lexxie giggled. "Ye naughty boy!" A lean and red lips whispered something in his ear, her breath warm against his skin.
Carl groaned at Lexxie's comment and slammed his free hand down on the table, goading the two young sailors. "Drink, drink, drink...!" The rest of the table joined in, pounding their fists to the table in rhythm with their chanting.
Sebastian looked around at his mates and then back to his challenger, raising his tankard. "Yer on, Charlie. Bottoms up!" And with that, the boy up-ended his mug for the second time that night, guzzlign the liquid as fast as he could.
Charlie was a little slower than bastian. Turned out he hadn't had a past with the booze. So, he finished later and with a laugh, foam on his upper lip. "Damn, man!" A hearty laugh a pound on the table. "I demand a rematch!"
"No, no mate! I beat you fair and square!" He laughed and set the empty on the table.
"What, pissed already? " A cockeyed grin and a waggle of brows.
Carl seemed torn between his friends and the lovely, sexy Lexxie who was making it difficult to think straight. So, pulling her into his lap, he pointed a finger at Sebastian. "Come on, Crabs! Give 'im his rematch and then ye can go against us. No one can outdrink Gabe." A thumb jerk to his left towards Gabe who was grinning at Sebastian.
"You heard him!" Charlie bounded off to get a few more pints, returning with them held high over his head. One for Gabe, two for Bastian and one for himself. "Okay then, let's see who gets the title." His smirk was almost devilish.
While she watched, an arm looped about Carl's shoulders companionably, fingers tapping lightly against his shoulder. She let her attention dart from male to male though,not ready to tie herself down to one target just yet. Lexxie had standards, after all.
Sebastian hesitated. He knew that when in situations like this, he was very easily swayed by the words of his friends...and the ale was damn good. Looking at the expecting people all around him, he decided that it wouldn't hurt to have a few more. Grinning, Sebastian yelled bottom's up and then drank like the dickens. And he won. Both times. Think of that! It got almost everyone else clammering to challenge him, and if he werent' careful.. it would soon get out of hand.
