fireindreams

If you're interested in drinking, we could go to one of the bars in town. Or we could find a spot to talk. No preferences.

[Both are good, but if he's being honest-]

A drink sounds tempting. I do still have some bottles I was gifted that we can partake in a quiet spot.

[Something easy for the both of them. It's been a long month so it's for the best.]

Where should I meet you, then? We can walk and decide if you have nothing in mind.

I have no end destination in mind. But if you give me a little time to put my child to bed, I will meet you near the infirmary.

Of course. Take as much time as you need. [ He understands, after all.

When Grimm comes to meet him, he'll be waiting outside the infirmary, as requested. ]

[It does take a bit - they're at that age when sleeping is less of a priority then exploring is. - but after the Grimmchild settles down, he teleports to the infirmary.

Grimm's entrance is a lot less pronounced then usual but that's because it's late and the bag he's carrying has a number of bottles in it and he doesn't want to break them. But here he is, and Grimm smiles when he sees Ekkehardt.]

Good evening, dear friend. Are you well?

[It's been a long month so the answer may vary. He knows it would for himself.]

I've been better. [ He rolls his shoulders, like he's trying to get rid of some unseen stiffness, though strictly speaking he doesn't need to.

He has a bottle of his own. He doesn't want to show up without something, after all. And this one even has a kick to it, as much as he can get from it. It's more about keeping Grimm company than anything else, but he figures that he's earned the right to break out the special bottles this once. ] But I've been worse.

How is your child? Sleeping soundly at last? [ He falls into step with Grimm, picking a direction at random. His false breath comes out in clouds; it's a cold night. ]

Indeed. Perhaps there will be some peace soon.

[It has been A Lot, to say the least. And given the context of all if it, Grimm knows it is not something those affected can simply move past. To heal, to surmount it all, it will take time.

But until then there's this night. A cold night it may be but Grimm remains unaffected by it. The heat within his heart makes it easy to ignore.]

Yes. They are quite the energetic child, so in love with the things they can explore and find that sleep is not a call they are particularly interested in answering. It is charming and I am happy that they have such love for the world...although they do indeed need sleep.

[Okay, he's gushing a little bit. But that's fine.]

[ The love that Grimm holds for his child is always something Ekkehardt is fond of seeing; it's something he can't help but smile about. ]

They're growing up well, then. I'm glad to hear it.

[ 'Perhaps there will be some peace'...Well, he hopes so. In response to that, he just shrugs. As they move closer to Nightfall, things are likely to get more tumultuous, but at least they can snatch a few moments of quiet like this. ]

That might be a good spot. [ He indicates a tree in the distance, just off campus. Its large branches are coated with snow, but it's big enough that there's space to sit underneath without having to deal with it. ]

They are indeed. This school and the people within it are wonderful for them.

[Learning, experiencing and feeling that particular sort of love. It's not something they could have done alone.

With Nightfall coming, the moments of peace are more important. But that's neither here nor there for the moment. There's a dear friend, a snow-covered tree and drinks. That's enough.]

It's perfect. Now then...

[When they reach the tree, Grimm sets down his bag carefully before sitting down himself. What he has in there are two mugs, one of which he hands over to Ekkehardt. He's teleported with wine glasses before but it never lasted long so this was a better option. And then the drinks.

It's pretty obvious that they're related to the Grimm Troupe based solely on the design of the bottles.]

One of my members is responsible for creating these. She has quite a knack for it and they taste wonderful. However it's rather powerful as they were made to affect beings normally immune to the affects of alcohol.

[Just as a warning.]

Is that so? [ There's a short laugh as he takes the mug with a polite nod. ] Well, I haven't been able to get properly drunk for about 17 years, so I have no problems with being a little intoxicated.

[ He's probably going to be more than a 'little' intoxicated, though, knowing Grimm's emphasis on celebrations. Oh well. ] After the months we've had, I think it would actually be rather nice not to have to think about anything.

[ He brings out his own bottle while he talks. It looks nondescript; the decorations are on the glass itself, rather than the plain label. ] This has a little kick to it, but it probably won't be as much as yours. But it's sweet, so it should go down well.

[Grimm cackles.] Well, here is to breaking that 17 years of not being able to get properly drunk. I should introduce you two. I think you would like her.

[Divine had, among other things, the kind of combination of morbid humor and kindness that reminded Grimm of Ekkehardt. The strangeness that comes with living a strange life.

They're probably going to have to help each other back to their rooms by the time this is over. But until then, there's no point in worrying about it. He agrees with Ekkehardt. After the past few months they did deserve to have a drink or six.]

I will certainly like to try it after you've had your first glass. [Because he's not going to hog all the alcohol.] But for now...

[Grimm selects one of his own and fills the mug with a generous amount. He knows his limits when it came to this stuff but right now he wasn't counting. Instead he raises his mug.]

Cheers, my friend.

I'd enjoy meeting her, if you have the time to introduce her.

[ He doesn't want to get falling-down drunk, so he'll try to watch his intake - he doesn't want to become completely useless. Imagine if he had to attend to a patient! It's not as if his work stops for the holidays.

But he thinks, after the last few months, he's earned a drink. Or a few drinks. Some that he can actually feel. He follows suit and fills his mug with a generous amount, clinking his own mug against Grimm's with a smile. ]

Here's to a less eventful January.

[ And with that, he just drains the mug all in one shot despite not knowing, exactly, how strong it is. To his credit, he barely winces as it goes down, even though he can taste, to an extent, whatever's in it that lets someone like him get drunk at all. ]

Well. That's certainly nice. [ He has to wait for it to settle a little, but warmth of this type is something he hasn't felt in a long time. ]

I always have time for my dear friends.

[And even if the end is inevitable, he still has a lot of time on his hands. But that type of thought is not one he'll think about for now.]

Isn't it? [Grimm's laughter echoes in the silence and he drains his own mug, if a bit more slowly. He knows Divine and her sense of humor. While she wouldn't put something in that was harmful, it hasn't stopped her from putting in what she defined as unique either.] I believe she has changed the ingredients since the last time.

[But the silence here is nice and he lets it pass by for a moment. For as loud and bright as he could be, Grimm did value silence.]

It certainly has been an eventful year, has it not? More so then usual.

It certainly has. [ He takes his time filling up another one. Unlike the first, he'll drink it more slowly. He likes the taste. ] A few things exposed that I would rather have broken more delicately to the people I care about, but I suppose it worked out in the end.

[ He's a naturally secretive person, after all. ]

[Grimm hums in agreement as he sips his drink, deep in thought. Indeed, he was in the same boat, having not intended for his own fate to come up the way it did.

Grimm was not as secretive as Ekkehardt but he didn't talk about himself much either. So the memories revealed, the Hunt and the ghosts of what will be...it said far more then he would have normally.]

Do you wish to speak about it with me? I am always willing to lean an ear.

Mmmmm... [ He hums, clearly contemplating it. He takes another drink in the meantime. ] Hm.

I...yes. I'd like to. But I don't know where to start, really. [ Is he more talkative already? He thinks he is. ] It's...

[ He waves his mug around a bit, vaguely. ] Well. You know how it is, I think.

[Divine certainly has added to this drink, he thinks with no small amount of amusemnet. Not that he minds.]

One would say to begin with the beginning of the story but I have always been fond of the opinion that only the person telling it knows when that is.

[A little on the side of loquaciousness, there. But he leans back and stares into his mug.]

For myself, it likely began when that memory you witnessed was. That path, anyway. [He was born before that, obvious.] So where do you feel your story begins?

[ He silently takes another drink from his mug before he answers that. That's a difficult question so he's going to need a drink to deal with that one. ]

I'm...not sure. When I was born, perhaps. Or when I lost my first family, the ones I barely remember. [ He doesn't think he talked about this with Grimm. It's not something most people know. ]

Most likely, it's when I died. Or, well, the person you knew died, I suppose. [ Takes...another drink...it's more of a sip this time. His voice is melancholy, not quite sad but certainly not happy. ] So my death - my resurrection - is where it starts, I believe.

[He has not, no, although Grimm isn't surprised that it never came up. Ekkehardt was a private person and the Troupe Master was content with knowing what what freely given or elaborated on.

And besides, Grimm himself rarely brought up his own family. These memories were never ones that were easy to bring to light.]

We both have come out of death. [Grimm says it quietly, unlike him. Flames can burn bright but softly. He takes a mouthful of his own drink.] Flame and undeath.

[Although he doesn't regret it. Ekkehardt's death was one the Troupe Master detested but he still was here. It didn't end with the death of who he was, just how it won't end with who Grimm will become.]

Quite the beginning, no?

Out of endings come beginnings, it seems. I don't know whether that's fortunate or not. It never feels so at the time.

[ He glances at him, unable or unwilling to hide the concern in his expression. Though he trusts Grimm will say something if it's too much, he does worry.

He always worries. ]

But I suppose that's life. Fortunate that we should ever get a second chance at all, really. Most don't. [ Takes another drink, ]

[That he agrees with a quiet hum. When he was younger there had been many times Alderic had wished his parents survived even if it was at the expense of his own life. He knew they would be devastated in the same way but they'd be alive.]

No, most do not. Even if I desire that they did.

[Ekkehardt too. Grimm loved the person he became but at the same time he wished it didn't come at the cost of such a horrible death.]

I think you would have liked them. My family.

That's always the way, isn't it.

[ Another drink. He's refilling his mug already. ]

They seemed like good people. I'm honored that you think I'd get along with them.

[ He doesn't do very well around upstanding people, he thinks.

...He changes the topic a bit. ]

...I should take you to see my wards, sometime. I don't think you've met them. You'd like them, I believe. [ And he has no doubt they'd take to Grimm immediately. ] And your child would enjoy playmates, perhaps.

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