The Devil's Nest, Monday, November 21, 2022

[texted3times]

Eric sauntered into the bar and looked at the array of bottles on the bar in front of Tiny. He arched up an eyebrow. "Wild Turkey special?"

Tiny nodded.

"Hilarious," Eric said dryly.

The Devil's Nest was open. And Thanksgiving-y, if you squinted.

[OCD free!]

Comments

[sword_chocobro]

And Gladio was there at the bar eventually, shirtless despite the cold, where the question "Does it actually taste like turkey?" left his mouth at some point, and he found himself more disappointed by the answer than anyone should.

He'd still drink it, of course, and still enjoy it quite a lot, but still. It felt a little like false advertising, if you asked him.

[texted3times]

"I'd ask why you're disappointed that the whiskey is whiskey flavored, but I already know your tastebuds are broken," Eric teased.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio grinned back, preening enough to practically make it look like all those feathers on his back and arm were more than just ink. "What can I say?" he reasoned. "I'm a simple man. If it says turkey, I'm going to expect turkey."

But he did lift his turkey-feee whiskey in greeting.

"How've you been, Eric? Tiny not giving you too much trouble?"

[texted3times]

"I'm afraid the holidays will reignite his olive obsession," Eric admitted.

[sword_chocobro]

"Olive obsession?" asked Gladio, in the tone of a man who was not certain he actually wanted to know, quirking a worried brow Tiny's way.

[texted3times]

"He sculpted a Venus de Milo entirely of olives and that wasn't the low point," Eric said. "The entire bar smelled like brine for a month."

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio made a mental note to look up Venus de Milo later.

"Oh, man," he then said with a huff of a laugh. "Sounds like I missed all the good stuff. But, hey. Maybe he'll branch out and start working with pickles next."

[texted3times]

"Oh, the phallic possibilities," Eric said, snorting. "Maybe he'll keep that for Valentine's Day."

[sword_chocobro]

"Sexy." That called for another lift of Gladio's drink. Appreciatively? Sarcastically? Both? "Maybe I'll even get," ha, get, "to be around for that one. What's a good holiday food for the big one coming up? Maybe he can use something there to tide use all over 'til then."

[texted3times]

"Mashed potatoes?" Eric offered.

Tiny's eyes lit up.

"Not here," he added hastily.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio grinned, almost apologetically.

"This conversation," he noted, "is taking a dangerous turn, I see."

Just be glad Gladio didn't remember enough about Earth holidays to suggest cranberry sauce.

[texted3times]

"I'll need a drink to get over it," Eric said. "Maybe two."

[sword_chocobro]

"Good thing you're in a bar, then, huh?" Gladio snorted. "I'd offer to buy you one, but that seems a little superfluous since you own the joint."

[texted3times]

"Maybe a little," Eric said, gesturing imperiously at Tiny, who brought over a Bloody Mary.

Eric's sense of humor was...something.