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At Max's confession, Corbin looks like he's about to ask a few more questions, but he also knows that some bosses don't like you getting high and want to drug test folks, which is dumb as shit if you asked him. But they can bitch about Max's terrible boss later. Possibly while high.
He nods, giving it some thought. "Well, you ain't gotta smoke if you don't want to, Lucas. You can just say no to drugs and we'll get you somethin to drink instead." He is not about trying to get people to do things they aren't comfortable with.
"Come on, I owe y'all." He puts his arms around their shoulders and ushers them inside.
The Sleeping Lion wraps around the trunk of a tree and has a bit of a dreamlike quality to it. There are piles of pillows in corners, some of them around hookahs. He goes up to one of the Fae that looks like a host of some sort.
A short conversation later and they're in one of the smaller areas, an intimate pile of couches and pillows with a hookah in the middle, clearly meant for comfort and relaxing. There's a menu with some drinks and a selection of drugs, and even a few snacks. Corbin flops down onto a pile of pillows with a bit of a sigh. "Y'all pick whatever you want, okay?" He's going to mostly stick to Mellowlark, and he's happy to show Max how to smoke the hookah.
He nods, giving it some thought. "Well, you ain't gotta smoke if you don't want to, Lucas. You can just say no to drugs and we'll get you somethin to drink instead." He is not about trying to get people to do things they aren't comfortable with.
"Come on, I owe y'all." He puts his arms around their shoulders and ushers them inside.
The Sleeping Lion wraps around the trunk of a tree and has a bit of a dreamlike quality to it. There are piles of pillows in corners, some of them around hookahs. He goes up to one of the Fae that looks like a host of some sort.
A short conversation later and they're in one of the smaller areas, an intimate pile of couches and pillows with a hookah in the middle, clearly meant for comfort and relaxing. There's a menu with some drinks and a selection of drugs, and even a few snacks. Corbin flops down onto a pile of pillows with a bit of a sigh. "Y'all pick whatever you want, okay?" He's going to mostly stick to Mellowlark, and he's happy to show Max how to smoke the hookah.
"Y'know, you're not the only one?" Harry lets out a long sigh. "The things we look after, I dunno, so many of yeh allergic t'knives. Havin' to change a lot, me."
It's so difficult, not stabbing people he likes. Sigh.
"Mmh. Noted." He likes how Corbin sleeps, in that giant pile of blankets and pillows arranged less like a bed and more like a nest. Anyway it's hard for Harry to vocalize what he needs, much better for him to just....take it. Like crawling into bed with a boy he likes and just wrapping around him.
It's so difficult, not stabbing people he likes. Sigh.
"Mmh. Noted." He likes how Corbin sleeps, in that giant pile of blankets and pillows arranged less like a bed and more like a nest. Anyway it's hard for Harry to vocalize what he needs, much better for him to just....take it. Like crawling into bed with a boy he likes and just wrapping around him.
Lucas offers them both a shrug and an easy-going smile. Max can probably guess why he's not jumping at the chance to try, after he let things go a little further than he should have at the bonfire. With some abilities fully restored by his Patron now it's not a risk he needs to take.
"I'll definitely take that drink, Corbin, no worries man." A few won't hurt, and he's looking forward to just chilling out with both of them. As they enter Lucas trails behind for a few moments, he's managed to not duck into here just yet and wants to take in the sights before catching back up, plopping himself down into a small nest of pillows to one side of Corbin and placing his order.
"Thanks," he sighs happily, "I guess you come here a lot?"
"I'll definitely take that drink, Corbin, no worries man." A few won't hurt, and he's looking forward to just chilling out with both of them. As they enter Lucas trails behind for a few moments, he's managed to not duck into here just yet and wants to take in the sights before catching back up, plopping himself down into a small nest of pillows to one side of Corbin and placing his order.
"Thanks," he sighs happily, "I guess you come here a lot?"
Max doesn't have to think hard to guess the reason for Lucas' hesitance. If his powers got out of control here, it wouldn't turn out to be a very relaxing time.
"I'll have a whiskey too." Max chimes in. He flops down on the pillows next to Corbin, looking right at home. Then he waves at Lucas to hurry up and join them. Oh Lucas, always so curious about everything. Max loves him for it.
Now that they are all cozy, Max decides to loosen his tie just a touch. "I'll let you handle choosing what to smoke."
"I'll have a whiskey too." Max chimes in. He flops down on the pillows next to Corbin, looking right at home. Then he waves at Lucas to hurry up and join them. Oh Lucas, always so curious about everything. Max loves him for it.
Now that they are all cozy, Max decides to loosen his tie just a touch. "I'll let you handle choosing what to smoke."
There's a lot to look at, Corbin can't blame Lucas for being a bit curious so long as he doesn't get nosy. Or wander off later when Corbin is less able to keep an eye on him. Not that he plans to get fucked up, not with Max being a complete professed newbie.
He nods at Lucas's question. "I been here once or twice. It's comfy, got that nice ambiance." A lot of the time he was just fine smoking in his room. Or the Observatory. Or the roof. Or any number of places. But sometimes he liked coming here instead.
He doesn't get himself any alcohol, he recognizes that he's going to have to at least moderately babysit Max, so he doesn't want to get completely fucked up. This was his idea after all. He just gets mellowlark and tells the fae taking their order that it's all one check.
It doesn't take long before they have their orders, and while Corbin is perfectly capable of it, he's fine with letting someone else fill the pipe. He takes one of the hoses and hands the other one to Max. "You ever smoked anything? Just like tobacco, cigarettes, cigars... a pipe?" Max doesn't look like he'd have smoked a pipe before, if he smoked at all Corbin would have pegged him for a cigarette kind of guy.
He nods at Lucas's question. "I been here once or twice. It's comfy, got that nice ambiance." A lot of the time he was just fine smoking in his room. Or the Observatory. Or the roof. Or any number of places. But sometimes he liked coming here instead.
He doesn't get himself any alcohol, he recognizes that he's going to have to at least moderately babysit Max, so he doesn't want to get completely fucked up. This was his idea after all. He just gets mellowlark and tells the fae taking their order that it's all one check.
It doesn't take long before they have their orders, and while Corbin is perfectly capable of it, he's fine with letting someone else fill the pipe. He takes one of the hoses and hands the other one to Max. "You ever smoked anything? Just like tobacco, cigarettes, cigars... a pipe?" Max doesn't look like he'd have smoked a pipe before, if he smoked at all Corbin would have pegged him for a cigarette kind of guy.
"I figure it's an awful common allergy, knives. Sorry you gotta deal with it so much." He gives him a nudge under the blanket and squeezes his hand.
"Good." He gets that Harry has a hard time saying things, it's painfully obvious once you had known him for a bit and if you actually paid attention.
He opens his mouth to say something and then closes it, making a little sort of grumbling noise as he curls up closer to Harry, tucking himself against him as a bit of a wind starts blowing over the roofline.
"Good." He gets that Harry has a hard time saying things, it's painfully obvious once you had known him for a bit and if you actually paid attention.
He opens his mouth to say something and then closes it, making a little sort of grumbling noise as he curls up closer to Harry, tucking himself against him as a bit of a wind starts blowing over the roofline.
"'Tis a hardship." He squeezes Corbin's hand back and sighs dramatically again. Sigh. Sigh. Dramatic.
Harry lifts his head for the wind, as though he'll catch a hint of distant seabreeze on it, and curls his arm tighter around Corbin. "Cold?"
Harry lifts his head for the wind, as though he'll catch a hint of distant seabreeze on it, and curls his arm tighter around Corbin. "Cold?"
Corbin watches as the wind stirs his hair and he can almost see him clinging to the rigging of a ship for a moment. Gods, Harry is such a dramatic bitch.
It's great.
He shakes his head from where he's tucked up. "So long as you stay there I'll be fine." Harry is warm, and he's tucked away from any sort of wind, so between Harry and the chimney and the blanket he's downright cozy.
It's great.
He shakes his head from where he's tucked up. "So long as you stay there I'll be fine." Harry is warm, and he's tucked away from any sort of wind, so between Harry and the chimney and the blanket he's downright cozy.
No promises on later, Corbin. One of those child leashes might come in handy, though.
"It is comfy," He grins, putting in his order for an ale. A nice and easy start, something to nurse for a little while as he watches the other two do their thing. "Man, I should totally get more pillows for my room, this set up is great."
When everything arrives, Lucas sits up enough to grab his drink, sipping at it and looks to Max. Color him a little curious for the answer.
"It is comfy," He grins, putting in his order for an ale. A nice and easy start, something to nurse for a little while as he watches the other two do their thing. "Man, I should totally get more pillows for my room, this set up is great."
When everything arrives, Lucas sits up enough to grab his drink, sipping at it and looks to Max. Color him a little curious for the answer.
"It's very comfy," Max agrees, nestling into the pillows again once he has his drink in hand.
At the looks from both of them, he gives a half-hearted shrug. "I tried a cigarette once, but it mostly just stank. And when my dad smelled it on me, he gave me the talking to of my life. My grandma died of lung cancer before I was born. I...didn't know until he told me that day. I guess I took it to heart because I never touched another one ever again after that. And now, where I work, I wouldn't be allowed to anyway." Max looks briefly at Lucas when he says that.
One time Max asked Erik what he thought of smoking and was treated to a nearly two-hour-long tirade about what hell the fifties and sixties had been for vampires all over. The stench of cigarettes permeated everything. A vampire's sensitive nose couldn't escape it. Sometimes, Erik will complain that certain suits he wore from that era still carry the smell like a stain. In short, the vampire can't stand the smell of smoke anywhere near him without getting pissed off.
"Let's just say my employer is, uh, staunchly anti-smoking."
At the looks from both of them, he gives a half-hearted shrug. "I tried a cigarette once, but it mostly just stank. And when my dad smelled it on me, he gave me the talking to of my life. My grandma died of lung cancer before I was born. I...didn't know until he told me that day. I guess I took it to heart because I never touched another one ever again after that. And now, where I work, I wouldn't be allowed to anyway." Max looks briefly at Lucas when he says that.
One time Max asked Erik what he thought of smoking and was treated to a nearly two-hour-long tirade about what hell the fifties and sixties had been for vampires all over. The stench of cigarettes permeated everything. A vampire's sensitive nose couldn't escape it. Sometimes, Erik will complain that certain suits he wore from that era still carry the smell like a stain. In short, the vampire can't stand the smell of smoke anywhere near him without getting pissed off.
"Let's just say my employer is, uh, staunchly anti-smoking."
If Corbin doesn't want to see Harry being a dramatic bitch he should probably stop dating him.
"Sounds sappy." But he's making no move to leave. ANd maybe his arm tightens a little briefly, just to make sure Corbin stays nice and cozy and next to him.
"Sounds sappy." But he's making no move to leave. ANd maybe his arm tightens a little briefly, just to make sure Corbin stays nice and cozy and next to him.
Harry being a dramatic bitch is a feature, not a bug of this relationship. Corbin loves watching Harry be dramatic, and it always makes him smile a bit.
"Hm, yeah guess it kinda does. Good thing I don't mind bein sappy." The thing that stopped him so often was that the words always felt so awkward, but at least that hadn't. That had sounded just fine. Maybe he was getting better at this whole thing?
"Hm, yeah guess it kinda does. Good thing I don't mind bein sappy." The thing that stopped him so often was that the words always felt so awkward, but at least that hadn't. That had sounded just fine. Maybe he was getting better at this whole thing?
It's also part of his job description? Pirate, hello.
He's just a dramatic person, but when he's soft and honest it's when he's being vulnerable.
He makes a faintly disgusted sound, and then presses his cheek to the top of Corbin's head. Don't listen to his words or sounds, Corbin, look at what he's doing.
He's just a dramatic person, but when he's soft and honest it's when he's being vulnerable.
He makes a faintly disgusted sound, and then presses his cheek to the top of Corbin's head. Don't listen to his words or sounds, Corbin, look at what he's doing.
Corbin, still unaware that Max's boss is also an immortal vampire that is his literal master, rolls his eyes at the last bit.
"Well, he ain't here to fire you, so guess his opinion on it don't count for shit." With the bowl filled and the coals placed on top he starts to gently inhale on the pipe, making the coals glow. "Gotta get it started," he explained. "Then when it's goin good you c'n go." He doesn't want Max to think he's leaving him out or something.
It takes a couple of minutes, just long enough for drinks to arrive, and a little plate of some snacks that Corbin had asked for. But then the smoke is flowing, and he hands Max his own hose and gives him a few tips for smoking it. "And make sure you don't get too much, start out small, we got plenty ah time." There is no rush to smoke through the bowl, half the point of smoking a hookah was to sit around and relax with friends.
"Well, he ain't here to fire you, so guess his opinion on it don't count for shit." With the bowl filled and the coals placed on top he starts to gently inhale on the pipe, making the coals glow. "Gotta get it started," he explained. "Then when it's goin good you c'n go." He doesn't want Max to think he's leaving him out or something.
It takes a couple of minutes, just long enough for drinks to arrive, and a little plate of some snacks that Corbin had asked for. But then the smoke is flowing, and he hands Max his own hose and gives him a few tips for smoking it. "And make sure you don't get too much, start out small, we got plenty ah time." There is no rush to smoke through the bowl, half the point of smoking a hookah was to sit around and relax with friends.
Considering Harry had to be under the influence of a literal truth potion to mention that he had anything other than friendly bro feelings for Corbin, he figures it's best not to focus too much on Harry's words when he's his usual self. Harry is like Caleb in a way. He says he cares on hundreds of other ways that have nothing to do with saying a specific set of words.
"Guess I'll just be the sappy one then." He smiles, he doesn't mind, though he wishes he could press closer, but if he did that he'd be in Harry's lap. He had missed just having someone to have close contact with after Caleb had disappeared, and he's aching for it now. And as the wind blows over the roof and moans past their little hidey hole he's kicking himself for not reaching out to Harry sooner. He should have. But there's nothing he can do about it now other than cuddle close wit him and make up for lost time.
"Guess I'll just be the sappy one then." He smiles, he doesn't mind, though he wishes he could press closer, but if he did that he'd be in Harry's lap. He had missed just having someone to have close contact with after Caleb had disappeared, and he's aching for it now. And as the wind blows over the roof and moans past their little hidey hole he's kicking himself for not reaching out to Harry sooner. He should have. But there's nothing he can do about it now other than cuddle close wit him and make up for lost time.
No you don't understand, if he keeps his feelings to himself then one day they'll just go away and stop bothering him and everyone around him! That truth potion ruined his life.
Ruined...as he's wrapped around Corbin and has a maybe date with Caleb (whenever the wizard is returned to them) and can feel safe and comfortable. And. Peaceful? He's never really felt what that's like, but he think he might be enjoying it now.
Ruined...as he's wrapped around Corbin and has a maybe date with Caleb (whenever the wizard is returned to them) and can feel safe and comfortable. And. Peaceful? He's never really felt what that's like, but he think he might be enjoying it now.
Hmmm, Corbin doubts that's how these things usually work. If asked, he would also doubt that Harry's life was "ruined" by the potion.
He's silent for a long moment, thinking about things, about Harry, since with him here the ever present throb that is missing Caleb has ebbed enough that he can think about something other than worrying about Caleb or whatever it was that he was currently distracting himself with so that he didn't have to worry about Caleb. Turning things over in his mind, looking at them from a few different angles. Coming to some conclusions that he should have come to awhile ago if he'd given himself the space to think about them.
"Hey Harry?" He pauses, afraid to say anything more for a very long second and fuck something up.
He's silent for a long moment, thinking about things, about Harry, since with him here the ever present throb that is missing Caleb has ebbed enough that he can think about something other than worrying about Caleb or whatever it was that he was currently distracting himself with so that he didn't have to worry about Caleb. Turning things over in his mind, looking at them from a few different angles. Coming to some conclusions that he should have come to awhile ago if he'd given himself the space to think about them.
"Hey Harry?" He pauses, afraid to say anything more for a very long second and fuck something up.
Ruined.
....maybe. Less ruined.
Well if all Corbin wanted was distraction, Harry can certainly provide that!
Even. If he doesn't really feel up to all of that maybe? Maybe it's just nice to just sit here with a boy he likes who knows he likes him. Maybe it's not the end of everything.
"Hm?"
....maybe. Less ruined.
Well if all Corbin wanted was distraction, Harry can certainly provide that!
Even. If he doesn't really feel up to all of that maybe? Maybe it's just nice to just sit here with a boy he likes who knows he likes him. Maybe it's not the end of everything.
"Hm?"
At Max's looks, Lucas just arches a brow. He can well imagine that Erik wouldn't be happy with the smell. Eshe is exactly the same way, even at her bar, it's no smoking or vaping, because a bar ran by vampires will always know...
That doesn't stop Lucas from laughing at Corbin's comment, just a little bit, before he settles in to watch again. The set up is pretty cool even if he's not partaking.
"Only hot date to get to is right here," Lucas agrees, taking a sip of his ale after it arrives. "It's nice to just chill out like this."
That doesn't stop Lucas from laughing at Corbin's comment, just a little bit, before he settles in to watch again. The set up is pretty cool even if he's not partaking.
"Only hot date to get to is right here," Lucas agrees, taking a sip of his ale after it arrives. "It's nice to just chill out like this."
"You remember, a while back. When... nevermind." No need to bring up the whole potion part, not relevant. "When you were bein real honest about shit? Well, I been thinkin about it. You're more'n my best friend. And I shoulda said somethin' sooner. I like spending time around you. And... I like you." He says it quietly, a little bit worried that he might have waited too long to actually say anything. Or that Harry might think he was only saying it because he was lonely and missing Caleb.
Harry is uncharacteristically quiet while Corbin speaks, even lacking the air of restlessness. There's a tenseness though, like he's considering getting up and yeeting himself off the roof.
He's not....not. There's not a lot of trees to safely land in though, at this height. He doesn't know why he's gotta run, this is what he wanted, right?
..but what if Corbin's only saying it because he's lonely?
........but what if he means it? Harry now understand the reactions Corbin and Caleb both had when he made his confessions. What the fuck do you say. "Yeh don't have to say it if yeh don't mean it," he says quietly, leaning his head against the top of Corbin's instead of pulling away and finding an escape like he kind of desperately wants to.
He's not....not. There's not a lot of trees to safely land in though, at this height. He doesn't know why he's gotta run, this is what he wanted, right?
..but what if Corbin's only saying it because he's lonely?
........but what if he means it? Harry now understand the reactions Corbin and Caleb both had when he made his confessions. What the fuck do you say. "Yeh don't have to say it if yeh don't mean it," he says quietly, leaning his head against the top of Corbin's instead of pulling away and finding an escape like he kind of desperately wants to.
The tension makes Corbin want to hold on, he doesn't think he'd do anything stupid if Harry just up and left, but he really doesn't want him to. But... Harry's like their damn barncat that is more likely to scratch and hiss if you try to hold him tight. So it's hard, but he stays still. Very still, almost like Harry is a wild animal that might start if he moves too quickly.
"I don't do that shit, you know it. I'm nice, but I don't lie bout how I feel." He might not walk up to someone and tell him that he didn't like them, but he wouldn't have volunteered the information to Harry if he didn't really feel like this. "I thought about it, a lot. And it snuck up on me, cause what we got, it's kinda... all tangled up? Bein your friend and bein... more'n that. And I wanted to be sure b'fore I said anythin." He wriggles just enough that he can turn and actually look at Harry.
"I mean it. Swear on it." He gave him a small, soft smile. Would he have said anything just yet if Caleb had been here? Maybe not, but he likes to think that if he and Harry were up here together he'd say it anyway, whether Caleb was around or not. It just... hadn't felt right before.
"I don't do that shit, you know it. I'm nice, but I don't lie bout how I feel." He might not walk up to someone and tell him that he didn't like them, but he wouldn't have volunteered the information to Harry if he didn't really feel like this. "I thought about it, a lot. And it snuck up on me, cause what we got, it's kinda... all tangled up? Bein your friend and bein... more'n that. And I wanted to be sure b'fore I said anythin." He wriggles just enough that he can turn and actually look at Harry.
"I mean it. Swear on it." He gave him a small, soft smile. Would he have said anything just yet if Caleb had been here? Maybe not, but he likes to think that if he and Harry were up here together he'd say it anyway, whether Caleb was around or not. It just... hadn't felt right before.
"No," Max says with a surprising amount of sass, not aimed at Corbin but at the memory of said Master. "He's not. Suck it Erik; I can get high if I want to. Cheers!" He lifts his drink (once he gets it) and drinks.
He helps himself to a snack too while watching Corbin gets the pipe going. His excitement is still mixed with trepidation, just because it's new. But there's no hesitation when it's his turn to try. He takes a careful breath in... and inevitably the smoke makes him cough. He tries not to be obvious about it but, okay, his eyes are watering just a bit.
"Sorry. Sorry. I'll get used to it."
He helps himself to a snack too while watching Corbin gets the pipe going. His excitement is still mixed with trepidation, just because it's new. But there's no hesitation when it's his turn to try. He takes a careful breath in... and inevitably the smoke makes him cough. He tries not to be obvious about it but, okay, his eyes are watering just a bit.
"Sorry. Sorry. I'll get used to it."
"Didn't say yeh were lyin," Harry says queitly. He thinks maybe Corbin might be telling him what he wants to hear. He's done it himself, because it's easier than arguing. He's starting to realize that maybe it's a dick move.
But he listens to what Corbin says, even pays attention even if his instincts are telling him he should cut his losses and run (even though there are no losses here, Harry). Corbin wanted to be sure, it's not dissimilar to what Caleb said, that he could not be sure, that he did not want to say anything untrue until he was.
He's gonna doubt anyway, that's just how insecurities work. But. He smiles back at Corbin, small and soft and unsure.
"Well. If yeh're gonna swear it." Maybe he can pretend to believe Corbin until he actually does?
But he listens to what Corbin says, even pays attention even if his instincts are telling him he should cut his losses and run (even though there are no losses here, Harry). Corbin wanted to be sure, it's not dissimilar to what Caleb said, that he could not be sure, that he did not want to say anything untrue until he was.
He's gonna doubt anyway, that's just how insecurities work. But. He smiles back at Corbin, small and soft and unsure.
"Well. If yeh're gonna swear it." Maybe he can pretend to believe Corbin until he actually does?
Corbin grins and chuckles, feeling the relaxation start to seep in, he knows that he hasn't had enough for it to actually hit him yet, but his brain knows what's coming.
"Damn right we're the hot date." He gets some of a sweet bite sized pastry as Max inhales... and promptly tries to cough up a lung.
He smiles, handing him a glass of water. "Here, have a drink, it'll settle. You shoulda seen me the first time I hit off a bong, coughed for five fuckin minutes." He had been way too enthusiastic about the whole thing, which was why he'd tried to warn Max. But well, there was no lesson like the one your own bad decision gave you.
He took his own drag from the hookah, and he didn't try anything fancy with it, he wasn't here to try and impress anyone after all. He just blew a cloud of smoke out over their heads, adding to the general haze that was omnipresent in a place like the Lion, sinking back into the pillows with a content sigh. "I'll give em this, I ain't sure where they get their 'lark, but it's always good shit." He suspected they added something to it, but he also didn't much mind.
"Damn right we're the hot date." He gets some of a sweet bite sized pastry as Max inhales... and promptly tries to cough up a lung.
He smiles, handing him a glass of water. "Here, have a drink, it'll settle. You shoulda seen me the first time I hit off a bong, coughed for five fuckin minutes." He had been way too enthusiastic about the whole thing, which was why he'd tried to warn Max. But well, there was no lesson like the one your own bad decision gave you.
He took his own drag from the hookah, and he didn't try anything fancy with it, he wasn't here to try and impress anyone after all. He just blew a cloud of smoke out over their heads, adding to the general haze that was omnipresent in a place like the Lion, sinking back into the pillows with a content sigh. "I'll give em this, I ain't sure where they get their 'lark, but it's always good shit." He suspected they added something to it, but he also didn't much mind.
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