Chapter Text
Nael, as the purple fae is currently going by, walked into the Drowsy Dragon with Quasar. Aquila was still healing, and Aegeus was cooking in town, and Kya and Cain had headed to bed for the night, trying not to get constantly distracted with every little thing. And Una had gone to go party with her own group, after some bickering of course.
“Ah, hello Nael. And hello to you too, Quasar, I heard tales of your victory from some of the others. Is all well?” The tavernkeep, Cosmo, asked as they cleaned dishes.
“All’s well! Except for the fact I am dying from lack of a good drink, dear tavernkeep!” Nael grinned as they slumped into their seat, resting their arm on one of their knees, their other hand holding their staff.
“I’m admittedly a bit tired out, but I believe one of your drinks might help me rest tonight. Perhaps something sweet and refreshing to encourage good dreams after this latest nightmare?” Quasar requested.
“Coming right up!” Cosmo grinned as they turned to their drink mixing nook. Nael pulled out their notebook as they watched Cosmo make the drink, taking notes. Quasar watched Nael take notes in amused confusion.
“… … why do you insist on taking notes on tavernkeeping? I’d almost assume you want to be a tavernkeep instead of a thief who can’t stay still?” Quasar asked Nael.
“What can I say? It seems neat, mixing magic drinks, making quests, getting free gossip.” Nael hummed. “Still need to figure out the whole potion stuff though. Can’t find any good potion mixing stuff that can mix with others and affect the stats like Cosmo’s does. It’s frustrating me, like a puzzle you can’t solve but have all the pieces to. Or maybe just missing a piece that is identical to another.” They murmured as they quickly put the notebook away as Cosmo returned with a Hot Chocolate, placing it in front of Quasar who smiled and sipped it.
“Now, anything for you, Nael?” Cosmo asked the mysterious fae.
“Perhaps something both hot and cold, and inspires something creative to think of instead of the dreadful recent history?” Nael smirked.
“… so a gentle tonic then?” Cosmo chuckled and turned to go make it. Heading back to their nook.
“… well, you could have just said what you wanted.” Quasar snorted as he sipped his own drink.
“Maaaaybe, but why would I do that when I can give them a small puzzle. Also, you’re one to talk about using more words than necessary.” Nael grinned as they stole a marshmallow from Quasar’s drink and gave it to Andu.
“Wh- hey! You can’t… ugh, you gave it to Andu so I can’t even be mad.” Quasar sighed with fond annoyance, flicking Nael’s shoulder.
“Oh no you don’t!” Nael grinned, and flicked Quasar’s forehead in return.
“Wh- oh you-“ Quasar was about to retort with another flick when Cosmo returned with Nael’s gentle tonic. Nael grinned smugly at Quasar, having won this small victory against him yet again, and sipped their own drink. Holding their hands on the ice long enough so that they could put the now freezing hands on Quasar’s neck. Which they quickly did.
Quasar, much to Nael’s glee, yelped and snapped his head toward them. “WHAT THE HELL NAEL?!? YOUR HANDS ARE FREEZING!” He screeched, batting away their hands.
“Heheh, whaaat? Me? With cold hands that touched your neck??? I would never! Must’ve been a ghost.” Nael denied, looking away. Cosmo snorted in amusement at the bickering.
“Okay love birds, calm down.” Cosmo grinned. Both Nael and Quasar sent them an offended and slightly flustered look in response. “Nael, I notice you’ve used that name for a while. Is it sticking or are you changing it soon?” They asked.
“… huh, I haven’t changed it in a while, haven’t had the time. Hmm, well, I guess Nael seems too connected to her, and she is dead… so I need something new.” Nael agreed. “Any suggestions?” They asked Quasar and Cosmo.
“Hmmm… what about Thorn? Because you are a thorn in my side?” Quasar smirked slightly.
“Ugh, forget I asked you.” Nael gave Quasar the middle finger. He just snorted in return, expecting it, and continued sipping his hot chocolate.
“Well then, what about Gardenia?” Cosmo smirked.
“Wh- no, if you are gonna use flower languages use a different flower! That does not have any connection to me! No!” Nael’s ears flew down in flustered annoyance as they responded, trying to keep their voice from giving away their emotions.
“… why? What does that flower mean?” Quasar asked in confusion.
“Nothing! It means nothing!” Nael said firmly, looking away. “This is the one time you shouldn’t be interested in flowers.” They said to Quasar, who was increasingly confused.
“Ha, I’m just teasing you, Nael.” Cosmo smiled. “Hm, if you are looking for a flowery name still, I think Wildflower suits you. Or perhaps something simpler, and not flower related… like maybe Raven? You remind me of one, a smart trickster.” Cosmo suggested.
“Hmm… Raven? Simple but accurate I suppose.” Raven decided. “Better than both of your earlier suggestions.” They scoffed.
“You still haven’t told me why Gardenia upset you so much.” Quasar told Raven.
“If you care so much, look it up.” Raven scoffed. “I’m gonna go steal more of Aegeus’ food, Andu is hungry.” They declared, heading out, along with their flower language books in their bag.
“… … pfft, okay. Guess Raven is embarrassed by your earlier suggestion. Could you tell me what it is at least?” Quasar asked Cosmo.
“Ah, well, perhaps you should let them have their secrets.” Cosmo chuckled. “Maybe they’ll share it later. Or maybe you could learn their favorite language.” They suggested.
“Ugh, maybe not, flowers are just flowers, they don’t need to have some big complex language to them. And Aegeus was talking about how we should enjoy the calm while we have it. I plan on taking his advice. And learning a new language that Raven will absolutely tease me about if I get anything wrong does not sound calming.” Quasar stated, looking outside. “… Plus, I have the feeling that Raven is up to chaos again with Aegeus. I’ll come back later.” He sighed.
“Tell me the tale then!” Cosmo grinned, waving as he left the tavern.
Luckily, Quasar’s guess was wrong. Somewhat. Raven was sitting with Aegeus, but for now they were just talking.
“I’m gonna miss not working in a restaurant again. I mean, yeah, adventuring is fun and I don’t regret it at all. But I love to cook too. As much as I hated the customer service side of the job.” Aegeus said with a sigh as he sat down across from Raven, putting down some freshly baked bread and a few jams and butters.
“Well, a change is inevitable, y’know. You can only do one thing for so long before you have to change. Like… like me before Quasar, I hated working together with anyone, now I can’t imagine working without you guys.” Raven admitted.
“Awwwh, I didn’t know you could say something so sweet, Raven.” Aegeus smiled, eyes sparkling slightly.
“Oh shush, probably just the drink softening my words. That gentle tonic has more charisma than I expected.” Raven huffed fondly, looking away slightly as they took a large slice of the bread, giving a portion to Andu. The Andu tax had to be paid after all.
“Well! It was sweet nonetheless!” Aegeus beamed as he got his own slice, giving a very tiny piece to Ramí.
“Your cooking is still insanely good. The Squeaky Lobster is making a mistake firing their best cook.” Raven stated as they ate their own food. “The customers are gonna be upset when they realize that you were fired, and then the Squeaky Lobster will lose all their customers and go bankrupt.” They decided with a grin. “Oooh! Know what we should do! We should open a tavern together! All of us!” Raven grinned.
“A tavern?” Aegeus asked, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah, that… that would be fun! But maybe not here, we wouldn’t want to steal Cosmo’s customers.” Aegeus stated.
Raven nodded as they stood up. “Yeah, probably a few towns over, and maybe not for a few years, after we’ve had our fill of adventuring for a while. And even then, we could still adventure, and could all take turns running the tavern while others ran off with their own regulars!” Raven explained with a grin. “Anyhow, it’s gettin’ late, and I should probably actually go to bed before Andu gets grumpy.” Raven hummed, then snatched the loaf of bread that Argeus made and bolted back to the Drowsy Dragon.
“Wh- HEY!! MY BREAD!” Aegeus shouted with a laugh, more fond and amused than actually angry, standing up and going outside too, spotting Quasar.
“Oh! Quas! Ahoy! How’re ya handling everything?” Aegeus asked Quasar as he headed over to the paladin. “I’d offer some bread, but I’m afraid a thief stole the last loaf.” He stated as he gestured towards Raven, who disappeared down the street that led to the Drowsy Dragon, snatching something from another stand on the way.
“Ugh, of course they did.” Quasar huffed with fond annoyance. “I’l go make sure they didn’t steal anything important.” He added and walked after Raven.
Unfortunately, Raven got to their room before Quasar could intercept, and locked the door. And unfortunately, Quasar didn’t know how to lockpick, much to Raven’s delight because this meant they could hide more things from him.
The morning rose, Raven was up early as usual, only needing four hours, and headed downstairs.
“Cosmo! Buddy! Since we are on break for the next few days, to rest up after that whole issue, you think it’s finally time for you to teach me your innkeeping secrets?” Raven asked as they sat down, leaning against the counter. Andu waved at Captain Beebug, who chittered and waved back.
“You really are insistent on learning my job. I’d almost be concerned you were trying to steal my job from me.” Cosmo joked as they finished pouring what they had just finished brewing for some potions. Which Raven had unfortunately not been early enough to see be made.
“Soooo… is that a yes?” Raven tilted their head to the side with a grin.
“I already showed you the basic thing for quest making.” Cosmo reminded. “And I’ve heard you scribbling down notes while I mix drinks. I don’t turn deaf when I turn my head.”
“… you heard nothing. You were imagining things.” Raven decided. “Accusing me of false crimes, just like everyone’s least favorite Croissant.”
“Least favorite Croissant? I’d assume he’s your most favorite, with how I’ve never seen you eat a croissant and I’ve constantly seen you around the paladin.” Cosmo pointed out. “If anything I’d begin to guess you two were-“
“We are, at the very most, friends. Not what you are insinuating! Do not go down that rabbit hole today! I already hear enough about it from Kya and Una!” Raven glared. “It’s too early for this. I need a drink to wake me up.”
“Ah, of course. Well, what were you thinking of getting?” Cosmo asked.
“Hmmm, perhaps something refreshing? That could give me enough luck to figure out how you make your potions?” Raven smirked.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Cosmo agreed, and turned to their drink mixing nook to make said drink. They came back out soon enough with a Dragon’s Delight.
“Mhhm, just what I was thinking of. You’re forgiven, I suppose.” Raven hummed.
“Forgiven? From what?”
“Your earlier insinuation, obviously. And your accusation before that.” Raven stated as if the fact was obvious. “I do love these cups. But how do your mixing glasses become these gorgeous cups after you hit the bell?” Raven asked as they took a sip.
“Ah, trade secret I’m afraid.” Cosmo smiled.
“Ugghhhhh, you’re no fun.” Raven complained. “You should totally teach me how to make drinks. I could be your apprentice!” Raven’s eyes glinted with excitement.
“Pfft, maybe another time, Raven?” Cosmo chuckled. Raven rolled their eyes at the decline.
“Ugh, whatever.” Raven hummed, eyes darting to the stairs as they heard a paladin coming down them. “Oooh! Did I tell you yet about Quasar’s dance attempts at the festival? Dragon’s, it’s clear that man has never had the chance to dance.” Raven grinned. Raven liked telling Quasar’s stories, but only in front of him.
“Oi! I heard that, you rascal!” Quasar called out in annoyance as he walked over and sat on the chair next to Raven. “They didn’t exactly have a bunch of dance opportunities in the Magocracy. I’m a paladin, not a ballerina.” He grumbled.
“You’d make an ugly ballerina.” Raven decided.
“Wh- who asked you??” Quasar questioned.
“My opinion is always necessary.” Raven smirked.
“You’re wrong about that. You can keep your mouth shut sometimes instead of telling everyone what you think.” Quasar argued, the two spiraling into another bickering contest. Cosmo chuckled fondly behind the counter as they watched. Free entertainment, really. The two loved bickering, maybe even more than they loved each other while not noticing the love was mutual.
The weeks, months, and years went by as expected. Some days harder than others, especially for Cosmo and Kya, mourning a version of Mariyam, of Kerebosia, that they lost. Though some days were brighter, where Raven, or whatever the fae was feeling like being called that day, would cause more problems with the rest of their party. At one point Kya and Raven snuck into Quasar’s room while he was sleeping and just covered his face with glitter pen doodles, some more vulgar than others. Which led to a very angry Quasar when he awoke.
At one point they all agreed their next quest was to teach Quasar how to swim. With the consequence being that if Quasar didn’t learn how to swim he would have to clean the Drowsy Dragon until every inch shined, and he had to do everything Raven wanted for a week. And people say fear is the greatest motivator. So he ended up learning. Eventually.
Later, Cosmo finally agreed to teach Raven how to mix magic drinks. Using the basic five potions that each affect only one stat each. Which the fae took a liking too.
And then their party decided to go on another adventure, though not a dangerous one but rather a calm one, opening a small tavern on the mountainside in Zenyth. Promising to send postcards and to visit Cosmo in Borkam, of course. They called their tavern the Wayfarers Inn. Innkeep, and Aegeus, took the main handle on running the tavern, while the rest of the party helped out. It also allowed them all to have a routine, and the ability to go on breaks.
Una visited when she was in town, mostly for free drinks and to argue with Raven, who now went by Innkeep. Much to most everyone’s annoyance, with the arguing of course. The drinks were free for everyone who had a good story. The food was too. Which, Aegeus served with a grin.
Over the several decades they had several different people stop by. Few stayed as regulars, of course, adventurers had their own journeys to have. Except, of course, for a particularly green loving elf. Which, in Innkeep’s personal opinion, might be their favorite customer.