#sephet

When they swiftly slipped into their usual booth, surprisingly enough it did not take Julian very long to come join Amaryllis.

“My dear! There you are! I’ve been waiting for you allllllll night!” He announced, falling into the bench across from them. Thankfully, his hands were currently free of any drinks.

“You don’t look like you’ve done much waiting at all.”

“You took too long, I got bored.”

 “Sure. Ilya I’m not here any later than usual, you realize that?”

“Ah! Then you’re right on time, I’m going to get you a drink. And one for me too. Or two?” Before Amaryllis could stop him he was off again, quickly making his way to the bar on his long and slightly unsteady legs. Amaryllis had just decided to zone out until he returned, when a man approached the table.

“You Leroux?” He asked, looking over his shoulder. Surely he already knew the answer. Amaryllis sighed, very discreet already. 

“I’m not working tonight, I’m busy babysitting.” They explained with far less charm than usual. Somehow, the man took that as an invitation to sit down next to them. Another sigh. “Was I not clear?”

“Not working yet, or maybe with me it won't be work at all.”

“You’re already being quite the piece of work.” Amaryllis makes no move to scoot away from the man, or give any outward indication that they might be uncomfortable. And they weren’t really, just annoyed on the basis of not wanting to deal with anyone else tonight.

He puts his hand on their thigh. “Fine, work it is then, and I tip real well.” Amaryllis acts like they don’t feel a thing.

“I doubt you have the common decency to do so.” Glancing out into the rest of the tavern, their eyes catch on a head of auburn curls headed back this way. Amaryllis had to deal with this quickly. They were just beginning to conjure a strong suggestion spell to make the man do as they say, but Julian’s arrival beat them to it.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, a stein in each gloved hand. He sounded a little less belligerent than he did a few minutes ago, trying his best to sound stern.

“Buzz off dude, we’re busy.” He squeezed Amaryllis’s thigh, and while they remained indifferent, when Julian’s eyes caught the action he did not. In a flash, the steins were slammed onto the table and the man was being yanked to the floor by his collar. Definitely more vicious than Julian usually operated in fights, but he’d never before felt the need to get someone away from Amaryllis so strongly.

Once the man was on the floor Julian stepped around him, plopping down into the spot he had invaded moments ago. To Amaryllis, Julian this close was a more than welcome presence. He leaned back against the bench and splayed his arms out, staring the man down with a cocky smirk.

“Buzz off, we’re busy.” He mocked, and Amaryllis had to physically bite down on their desire to laugh. The man was clearly angered as he got to his feet, and if Amaryllis had expected what happened next, they would have mustered up that charm after all.

The man reeled back and delivered a swift punch right to Julian’s face. He jolted back up onto his feet at the impact, no hesitation as he threw himself into a fight with an opponent he knew nothing about. Another sigh from Amaryllis. Julian got into bat fights often, but never when this drunk and always as a sort of game. Two people would agree to fight, with rules, people made their wagers, and when Julian was involved Amaryllis stood by for healing afterwards. This was not any of that.

The two were throwing punches, many of them missing completely or were just ineffective from both sides. Hopefully the man was a shit fighter or just as intoxicated at Julian. Amaryllis’s suggestion spell wouldn’t work now with the man’s focus no longer on them.

Thankfully, before Amaryllis could come up with a way to end this that wouldn’t get them hurt, the man hit the ground hard, and Barth was approaching the scene.

“Devorak! What in the world?” The bartender asked, disappointed but not surprised at the scene in front of him. Julian’s lip was split and bleeding, and there was a sizable gash across his cheek. Amaryllis glanced to the hands of the unconscious figure on the floor, who had several rings on each of them. One of them they recognized instantly, the seal of a crooked family that resided in the Heart District. While Amaryllis didn't recognize this particular member, they had experience with the family before, and they were a kind of trouble Julian did not want to get into.

“Ce salaud was harassing me, and Ilya stopped him.” Amaryllis explained. Barth nodded, glancing between the three parties. “Though, we're going to need a room to lay low in, I can't get him home like this. And when he wakes, tell him his assailant was hauled off by the guard, and don't give him names. I'll deal with the rest tomorrow.”

“Ugh, alright. Next time maybe don't knock out whatever kinda bad news he is? Now I’ve got to deal with his sorry ass till he wakes.” Barth complained, but the amused grin he spoke with revealed otherwise. Julian, seemingly out of bravado for the time being, flushed and attempted to stutter out a sentence.

“Er- well, I can- let me ah. Clean up the mess?” He offered, wringing his hands together.

“Yea, your own mess of a face.” Barth then turned to address Amaryllis. “Take him upstairs and work your magic, would you? Take the third room on the left, on the house. My thanks for taking care of the trash.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Amaryllis mock saluted as they rose from the booth. Julian looked mildly offended as they support his weight all the way to the stairs.

“H-he's not the pirate here, you know.”

“Oh? And you are? I still don't believe you.”

“But it's true!”

“Mmmhmmmm…”

The pair make it upstairs without incident, Amaryllis sitting Julian onto the bed, where the exhaustion thanks to what just occurred finally hits him. Armed with a damp rag they sit next to him, tilting his chin about to get a better look at the damage. They hadn't noticed before that his nose had bled too, but all the cuts had already started to clot up. Another sigh.

“You know, It doesn't bother me when you get into fights, but I wish you had just done it for the thrill of it.” They dragged a thumb across his bottom lip, over the cut. Julian took a sharp intake of breath, which Amaryllis did their best not to react to. Passing over again, with magic this time, it was now healed. The only evidence it was ever there at all was the dried blood. “But now you’re in deep shit.”

“Who was he?”

“It's better if you don't know. I'll take care of it, you'll be fine.” They went about healing the rest of his injuries, then gently cleaning the blood off his skin.

“Will you be? Are you okay?” Amaryllis saw the genuine concern on his face and tried to avoid looking directly at him.

“I have it under control. And it doesn't matter, I've had much worse happen. He was merely a pest.” Julian remains oddly quiet as they help him out of his boots and gloves, to the point Amaryllis has to check to see if he'd passed out. Eventually, they get him in the bed and under the covers. “I'll get you some water, you're going to be hungover and sore-” Julian's hand grabbing onto theirs stops Amaryllis in their tracks.

“It does matter, you know.” He mutters, face a little too squished up against the pillow. Before Amaryllis can find the words to argue back he’s out cold, snoring lightly. Gently, they rest his hand back on the bed. Against their better judgment—  the one that tells them to keep their distance, tonight being a great example of why— they run a hand through his hair, brushing his curls away from his face.

“Sweet dreams Ilya,” Amaryllis whispers, “Thank you.”

<3

sephet replied to your post “just throwing myself a pity party [[MOR] I’m just tired of being...”

*hugs* 'your time is not your own' is a shitty twilight zone to live in and I'm sorry you have to deal with it.

Thanks ❤️  I’m just feeling really down because I hadn’t realized how bad things had gotten until I decided to look up when I’d last played Stardew Valley, and then all of that hit like a ton of bricks