Where everybody knows your name, and is always glad you came, con't.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

Continued from here.

Johnny's gone to the Tavern, feeling moody. He's joined by Jarmyn, and then to his dismay, Verite. Jarmyn, trying to be friendly, proposes a drinking game and Verite and Johnny agree with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

They've gone through several rounds, with Verite drinking for the bulk of them.

*****

'Ri raises an eyebrow at me. "Really?" she asks, raisin' an eyebrow, 'n I nod. "Not as I can remember, anyhow." She takes her shot as Jarmyn says he's never sung in front 'a folks in public neither, and then 'Ri gives him a mean little smile.

"I've never had a person's name tattooed on me." I blush some as Jarmyn protests, but dunt drink 'cause I sure's heck dunt have that. "I've never had anything pierced but my ears," he counters, and now they're just bein' mean.

"Wait," I say quick. "I ain't had anythin' pierced, so what do I do? I ain't got my ears pierced neither." It's not fair, wordin' stuff tricky like that.

Well, my turn again. "I ain't ever..." Huh. I've done lots 'a the sort 'a thing as pops into my head, and I search 'round for somethin'. "I ain't ever had a kid," I tell 'em. That ought t'be safe 'nough, 'less Jarmyn's got one kickin' 'round somewheres.

Comments

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Not everyone has heard of the devil, John," 'Ri says all calm, like that's any kind 'v excuse. "But yeah, there's somethin' up there and there wouldn't be all these stories for nothing. And you need to know that it's not good to go ther, and that if you do an' anyone finds out they'll tell stories bout you. They don't trust the tower or anyone connected to it even distantly." I nod along t'emphasize.

Jarmyn still looks doubtful. “I’ve heard of the devil,” he says, and 'a course he has. “Way too much, actually. Got a lot of fire and brimstone and preaching growing up. And if that’s the devil, the real devil, which I’m not saying there is any such creature, then what’s he doing here? Have either of you met him? Or is it just people saying things?”

I nod. "I can't say what he's doin' here, though I and a bunch 'v others 'd dearly like t'know." I bet it's got somethin' t'do with all the strangeness come walkin', but that ain't sayin' much 'v use. "And I have met him," I add. I realized it a while ago, when I saw Miss Wanda's new husband. "Here in the Tavern. He was drinkin' with a bunch 'a strange folks as I ain't seen 'round much."

[verite-belrose.livejournal.com]

Guess if I was hearing all this just now, I might be having as much trouble taking things seriously as Jarmyn. And if that’s the devil, the real devil, which I’m not saying there is any such creature, then what’s he doing here? Have either of you met him? Or is it just people saying things?

I haven't got any answers for him an really he don't have to believe so long as he never visits the tower. John though tries again,I can't say what he's doin' here, though I and a bunch 'v others 'd dearly like t'know. And I have met him,Here in the Tavern. He was drinkin' with a bunch 'a strange folks as I ain't seen 'round much.

I stare at John in shock he's met the devil? All I have are stories, well gossip really. Though a few of those say that the devil is shapechanger so people can meet him without knowing it. I shake my head to clear it a bit and then ask, "So what'd he look like? And just how strange were his companions?"

[jaeresteade.livejournal.com]

I am actually listening to Johnny. Just because I don’t believe a word he’s telling me doesn’t mean I’m not interested. When he mentions that he met this person, whoever he is, here, I look around, and then catch myself, feeling five kinds of stupid. Verite looks taken aback to hear that, too, and she asks what it was on the tip of my tongue to, about what he looked like and who he was with.

I don’t know John very well, but I think Verite does, and so I need to ask her privately how much he makes a habit of drinking when he's at the Tavern, to be able to say he’s seen the devil himself here. And if this bad blood between him and her might not be because he’s a little crazy some ways. For now, though, I’m just going to humor him. “I’d like to know that, too,” I add. “Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything.”

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"So what'd he look like?" 'Ri demands, her eyes wide. "And just how strange were his companions?" Jarmyn still looks amused. “I’d like to know that, too. Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything.”

I shake my head. "Nothin' like that. The devil dunt need all that. He was sittin' with some carnies and some folks who I've hardly seen at all, real spooky types who dint sm - move proper at all." Not that I noticed that the time, but lookin' back...

"I only know it was him now, 'cause someone pointed out Miss Wanda's husband t'me, and it was the same man. And Miss Wanda married the devil. So it was him I saw, drinkin' in here."

[verite-belrose.livejournal.com]

Jarmyn adds Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything. And for all he sounds amused it is a good question.

Nothin' like that. The devil dunt need all that. He was sittin' with some carnies and some folks who I've hardly seen at all, real spooky types who dint sm - move proper at all. John says like it should make it all make sense now.

I frown at this and he keeps going, I only know it was him now, 'cause someone pointed out Miss Wanda's husband t'me, and it was the same man. And Miss Wanda married the devil. So it was him I saw, drinkin' in here.

That still doesn't explain it, not really. It's one of those circular things that go round an' round but never really prove anything. I give John a look. "That don't prove he's the devil, just that he's got odd taste in friends." I met the guy at his wedding and he seemed normal enough. More normal than Lucien with his self lighting cigarettes and fire-eyes.

"Really, John, if he's the devil there should be more proof than a couple of weird stories and a circle argument."

[jaeresteade.livejournal.com]

Can’t decide to be sure if this idea that Wanda’s married to the devil is all Lucien’s doing or not, because I liked Lucien. Then again, I’ve never met this Whitman fellow, and now I don’t much want to. But John isn’t making a whole lot of sense and Verite really is, for all she’s had a hell of a lot to drink. Don’t think anybody’s proving anything to anyone about who is or isn’t the devil right about now. “I haven’t had enough to drink to be talking like this,” I tell both of them “So either we need more to drink, or we should all call it a night. I’ll walk you home if you want me to, sweetheart.” And what might happen when we get there I’ll let her decide, but I hope it doesn’t mean a long cold walk back to the Inn for me directly after.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

"That don't prove he's the devil," 'Ri argues, "just that he's got odd taste in friends. Really, John, if he's the devil there should be more proof than a couple of weird stories and a circle argument."

I sigh 'n roll my eyes. "It ain't that alone I tell her. There's a bunch 'a folks as know he's the devil - I only know who it was 'cause I thought back t'meetin' him. You ask Miss O'Hara, 'r my sister Tess, Glass Beddau, Mr. Klavec... lots 'a folks know, but there ain't much you can do at the moment."

Jarmyn dunt seem t'want t'hear none 'v it. “I haven’t had enough to drink to be talking like this,” he says, still with that undertone 'v amusement. “So either we need more to drink, or we should all call it a night. I’ll walk you home if you want me to, sweetheart.”

I wish he'd stop callin' her that. "I ain't tellin' you for my health," I say, "but 'v you dunt care it ain't on my head. I told you, and you can make 'v it what you will," I add with a shrug. "I should head off home then." And he can go talk t'the devil 'f he wants t'know 'f I'm right.

[verite-belrose.livejournal.com]

Johnny rolls his eyes and tells me,t ain't that alone I tell her. There's a bunch 'a folks as know he's the devil - I only know who it was 'cause I thought back t'meetin' him. You ask Miss O'Hara, 'r my sister Tess, Glass Beddau, Mr. Klavec... lots 'a folks know, but there ain't much you can do at the moment.

"Oh..." Is all I can say as he names some of the most practical people in town. That makes it different.

And Jarmyn just doesn't get it. Guess he hasn't seen any of real weirdness in town.I haven’t had enough to drink to be talking like this,So either we need more to drink, or we should all call it a night. I’ll walk you home if you want me to, sweetheart.

I'm about to take him up on the offer to walk me home as I don't think it'll do any good to stay and argue the matter, but Johnny has to come back with, I ain't tellin' you for my health,but 'v you dunt care it ain't on my head. I told you, and you can make 'v it what you will, John sounds angry and I guess I can understand why. He shrugs his shoulders an' adds,should head off home then.

I look over at him and say quick before he can leave, "Thanks for tellin' us John, even if I didn't take you serious before."